June 28, 2006

Binary Translator

For those interested enough (I know, I know, there are none of you), here is the rather wonderful Binary Translator. Never again will strings of ones and noughts be merely strings of ones and noughts to you! Phew.

June 26, 2006

Sealand Burns

Sealand, the original inspiration for Vernaland, has caught fire and been burnt out, according to various online reports.

June 14, 2006

Festival Circuit

Not for me Hay-on-Wye, Cheltenham or Edinburgh. No, it's strictly the music festivals which want me. I intend to be the Hendrix of the mic, playing the feedback and burning my book. To an empty tent, of course.

On Friday July 14th, very early in the morning, I believe, due to my God-given ability to die slowly and quietly with only canvas for company, I will be reading in the Vox 'n Roll tent at the Latitude Festival. I get quite good billing considering no one has heard of me, but I suggest a magnifying glass if you're short sighted.

Then, on the afternoon of Saturday August 5th, I will, at some as yet undefined point in time, be reading at the venerable Big Chill. (I'm not even listed here, but then maybe I should be returning my contract instead of wasting my time on a blog no one reads).

But, if you are of the opinion that the only good thing ever to happen in fields is urban development, fear not. On Thursday July 20th, Michael Smith and I will be reading in the bar of the Hackney Empire as part of the Spice Festival. And later on DJ Memes (Whuttt?/Big Dada) will be playing some tunes. And Trojan Soundsystem are playing in the other bit. Only you can come into our bit for nowt.

June 13, 2006

Listing to the Left

Lists of greatest books are usually pretty shite, not least because you haven't read most of them (and when I say 'you' I mean 'I'). Not only do I do slightly better than normal with Larry McCaffery's 20th Century Greatest Hits but all the ones I haven't read sound great, too.

Larry is a prof at San Diego State University and also invented the term "avant pop," but don't hold that against him. He likes lots of good books that never usually get a shout on these lists. Give it up for Larry..!

June 06, 2006

Being Discounted


I share a rare honour with Paul Gasciogne this week. Not only do we both like weeping (and drinking (though in different ways)), we now share the honour of being "aggressively discounted" by Amazon as a Deal of the Week. What larks!

June 04, 2006

Reading Survival 2

Rule 2: Never read from your book in the front room of a pub to ten people, half of whom are only in there for a drink and a chat after work.

Obvious, really. Ah well...