...is (still) blocked by caravans and lorries. Back to Aber for the weekend. Some grey clouds, but patches of blue sky, the day slowly warming up and turning pleasant before squally showers blew in later that evening. By then, we were sat in the bay window of our room... »

ELC Baby Rattle Shake and throw audible rattle for babies aged 3-12 months. How this toy aids your baby's development: Develops hand and eye co-ordination Stimulates senses, including hearing, sight and touch. Strengthens muscles. Introduces principles of rhythm. Builds tolerance in adults. Develops an appreciation of nuclear physics, the environment... »

The wonder of Woolies It was a Sunday out of season and we were in Denbigh. Think we'd been to the castle, which is worth a visit (especially if you ask for the key for the magic gate that lets you walk around the town walls). Denbigh town centre is,... »

Michael Janke grabs a meter and checks the power consumption of a few household electrical items, chiefly those power blocks we're now being told to switch off if we want to save the planet. His main conclusion is that they aren't worth worrying about if you're still going to... »

And this sort of thing quite clearly runs top to bottom in the shadow cabinet. Very few of them give off that air of quiet technocratic confidence, and they all have plausible-sounding schemes cribbed from American thinktanks. Daniel Davies is my new favourite columnist.... »

One of BB's most-respected research associates has kindly sent a 1930s travel guide to "Aberystwyth and North Wales". We plan to write a whole entry about this shortly (here's a scan of the Aber street map as evidence of our good intentions), but in the meantime we're going to... »

Simon Jenkins enthuses about shared space traffic management in the Graun.... »

Take a gander at this image of Richard Burton and his father in their hometown of Pontrhydfen in South Wales. Burton, the epitome of the local boy made good in pale casuals, strides purposefully along a rough Welsh road trailed by his mining father, a small man dressed in... »

BB was going to write about another horrendous Fedora upgrade experience, but right now we don't want to go back to that place. Let's talk about travel books instead.... »

As part of a fact-finding mission to the remote Southern parts of Wales last week, BB was fortunate - nay, privileged - to take the sea air along the Knap at Barry Island. Walking to the end of the promenade, we came to a large grassed (or perhaps "scrub"... »

Baby growth charts in use across NHS by health visitors are out of date, based on unsuitable data and could cause obesity shock!... »

Everything BB knows about babies... ...Is probably utterly irrelevant to anyone else because they're all different. Nevertheless, with Junior Research Assistant #2 on the horizon any day now, here's a recap of what we've learned from their now more senior associate in the last two years.... »

Round-up of the day's news, first for a long time. Plus ça change.... »

At last, Big Bubbles (no troubles) is pleased to announce the publication of our first book, Tuna and Waffles by Ade Rixon. Available for a measly fiver or so from Lulu, it's a rollicking compendium of student humour culled from tattered ten year old copies of The Courier, and... »

"Incrediblania was a kingdom, though it didn't sound like one. In fact most people who heard its name for the first time thought it was either an illness or the name of a new kind of dance. But it was a kingdom. A rather small kingdom, certainly, but what... »

In yesterday's Observer, Henry Porter wrote about the government's latest restructuring of the democratic process to make it a little more amenable to their requirements. The name of the minister charged with piloting the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (aka. "We'll do what we want" Bill) is Jim Murphy.... »

As an internationally recognised usability pundit who is often chased down the street, I've run out of corporate wallets to shake down so I've decided to pick on YOUR crappy little homepage to boost my self-esteem while grinding your's into dust. Bear in mind that I've worked on all... »

It's October, which means it's: one month to the release of the Doctor Who Complete "Series One" DVD box set; two months to the Christmas special and debut proper of David Tennant as the new Doctor Who; five months to series two! BB hasn't been this unfeasibly excited since... »

Of all the fascinating topics covered by BB, Warrington Bus Station must rank in the top five and we therefore expect our hit rate to treble after this post (so a warm welcome to our two new readers). And the big news for fans of this mighty edifice is:... »

When we look back on the things we've done, we tend to forget the minor annoyances (how hot it was, all the flies, busting to get to the toilet) and the boring bits. It takes on a rosy glow, becoming better in recall than it was in reality. We... »

Those little boxes on forms that say, "Please do not tick here if you are not disinclined not to remain uninformed about our other products and activities" were made for BB. We tick them like a maniac, once we can figure out their fiendish logic. Don't call us, we... »

Manchester City Council recently launched a Challenge Manchester campaign to tidy the dump up a bit, under the slogan "Love Manchester? ImProve it!" Presumably the counterargument to that is "Loathe Manchester? Bomb it!" Or even better, it's the Up Yours Manchester web site and spoof posters ("Helping to keep... »

Doing it for the kids Now that the first episode of the new Doctor Who series ("Rose", or "Rose1.avi" to give it its proper title) has leaked on to the net, it would obviously be ethically wrong, not to mention a waste of an enjoyable surprise, to take advantage of... »

The gap in the photography book market for advice on working digitally in monochrome is slowly filling. I've posted reviews of Darkroom to Digital by Eddie Ephraums and Digital Black and White Photography by John Beardsworth on Nikonians.... »

A bit old, but this Guardian business article is a good summary of the problems facing WH Smiths and by extension, many other long-standing-high-street-names-who-aren't-Tesco.... »

BB looks forward to the day when racism is successfully eradicated from football, since that implies a lot less football players, managers and above all fans, thus reducing the game to a minority sport, at which point the government can ban it for causing cancer or something. But the... »

"The critical issue is that this is a memorial. I don't think any responsible person would want to see people allowing their dogs in it." - Tessa Jowell, Culture Secretary and "Parkie" BB can't think of a more suitable memorial for a member of the royal family than a... »

Preparing for Emergencies - We'll Tell You What You Need To Know This leaflet contains important advice on how to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of an emergency caused by Terrorism. Remember that we are constantly under the threat of such attacks and that... »

"Yes sir, how can I possibly help you?" "Hello, yes, I was wondering if you had any books on a British prime minister...?" "Ooh, we've got lots of books on prime ministers, sir!" "Yeeesss, doubtless you have but I'm having a little trouble locating this particular one. Perhaps you... »

Classic Gold have just suspended Tony Blackburn for "violating station policy" by repeatedly playing Cliff Richard tracks. Head of Programmes Paul Baker wrote in an email to Blackburn: "As I said on Monday, we might carry out research on him, but for now we have a policy decision that... »

Seen ahead in this morning's commuter jam: a large Jag with personalised number plate also featuring the Playboy bunny symbol, and on the rear windscreen a car sticker from The Prisoner gift shop at Portmeirion: who is number 1? It's not entirely clear that the driver appreciated its full... »

Forgive us for banging on about not being able to buy anything we like in the shops, but The heavy price of seeing food as a commodity by Andrew Anthony in yesterday's Guardian contained an apposite observation: "Large corporations like British supermarket chains do not define demand in terms... »

Strident Yanks bawl at audience for two hours. Some laughs.... »

After Iraq, Bush promises to hand back sovereignty to Britain Poll highlights growing discontent with interim Blair administration. Blair brands Opposition, Press, Unions, Robin Cook "terrorists" Proposes sweeping new powers to eliminate "all forms of terrorism" as half of Labour party goes into hiding. Blair enters "health farm" for... »

"Doze!" said my Glamorous Research Assistant with careful emphasis to the ticket lady at Museu Gaudí in Parc Güell. She had already spent several minutes in the queue rehearsing her pronunciation, under my coaching (despite being a self-proclaimed authority, I was too chicken to try my luck on actual... »

BB is off to Barcelona for a break shortly. Are we worried? Nervous? Concerned? Nope, can't wait. And we'll particularly look forward to breathing the same air as a sane, humanitarian, motivated electorate. Hopefully, the numbers of Bush-voting American tourists will be down currently, so there won't be any... »

Years of corporate servility and domestic senility have left BB unable to summon the once-legendary rage and venom, not to mention literacy, that sustained whole articles of tilting at windmills. Reduced to soundbites and "boom-boom" punchlines, we can only sigh apathetically about the following:... »

Felicity Lawrence in the Guardian, on the scandal of those exploited Chinese immigrant cockle-hunters drowned in Morecombe Bay (yes yes, it's shocking - but you'll be buying cheap seafood at Tesco again this week, just like BB): ...Retailers and manufacturers order "just in time" from wherever is cheapest around... »

In the Guardian today, Alexis Petridis sneers at the new digital musicians union for urging artists to take control of their careers and embrace creative freedom. Apparently, it's a well-known fact that record company interference guidance helps the talent to produce much better work than allowing them to "self-indulgently"... »

"Speed is not the major cause of accidents in this country. Dangerous driving and poor road design contribute more to death and injury. The other effect is that people are now so paranoid and fixated with cameras that they spend more time looking at the speedo than the road,... »

Return of the King (pt. III of you-know-what) is a good movie but sadly, it's not half as great as everyone says it is. It's unlikely that it could be that good, unless it was an immersive virtual reality experience. Every review reminds BB of nothing so much as... »

Relax! The Guardian's Best of British/London Blogs written by Londoners in London about London and Londoners' concerns, illustrated with pictures of London (and the odd Guardian link) awards are now out. NB. If you don't live in London, you probably haven't won. (In case you're wondering, BB wasn't entered.... »

Joyous celebrations all round the corridors of power, as evil fugitive and ZZ Top tribute band member Saddam Hussein is finally captured. Following medical examination and interrogation, Saddam is expected to be gift-wrapped and placed under George Bush's christmas tree along with the US 2004 election result. The world... »

This is "La Scala", the exciting new concept in contemporary outdoor, interactive sculpture (it says here) and the latest "enhancement" to the concrete wilderness of the plaza between library, arts centre & student union at Aberystwyth University. As you can see, it has been carefully designed to blend in,... »

An extract from the New Zealand leg of Aidan's world tour: "The boat trip included a traditional Maori welcome, consisting of the presentation of a symbolic twig, a welcome to the craft, after a challenge made using a length of pole carved as a spear. A week later we... »

Another refreshing visit to Aber over, during which BB even saw Aber's first and already notorious sex 'n' drugs shop, Little Amsterdam (on Pier Street should you require any lime green PVC fetish wear, as prominently displayed in the window). It's open today at 10:30. Local church leaders have... »

There used to be a saying that in certain working class constituencies in Britain, one could pin a Labour rosette to a donkey and people would vote for it. The voters in California have reversed this aphorism by showing (arguably for the second time) that they will always vote... »

At BB, we're used to disregarding stories about the return of Doctor Who approximately every six months. Usually, these turn out to be either random, hopeful/less speculation or hype for a half-baked spin-off ("Dr Who returns - in cyberspace!"; "Dr Who is back - as a range of exclusive... »

Hot on the heels of Jarvis' latest rail maintenance blunder, NR announce that they'll be deferring some track renewals to save money. Chief exec John Armitt said: "But safety comes first, and I do not believe these reductions will compromise safety on the railway." In fact, if it keeps... »

When a Kings Cross train derailed on its way out of the station, Jarvis were initially adamant that their maintenance regime was not to blame. A short investigation by Network Rail later however, together with the peace of mind that comes from knowing no lives were lost this time,... »

Round about 1995, I left the University of Wales Aberystwyth, where I had a good wage, academic surroundings, interesting work, sociable students, friends and the chance of a beer almost any night, to take a job near Oxford where I had a better wage and almost none of the... »

The BB bunker (OK...bedroom) is currently rockin' to the sweet soul sounds of The Best Prog Rock Album in the World...Ever, a compilation so authentic that it's a triple album - the horror (look, if you don't want to read about this then fine, sod off back to the... »

The ants are watching you. They know your game. They've seen you eyeing the kettle speculatively. Their spies have told them how you're secretly favouring the woodlice while loudly claiming to have no alliances or bias in public; passing them supplies of rotting wood and funding their training camps.... »

[...Which is a reference to an Etta James song and thus culturally right-on and clever, not offensive or politically incorrect - at ALL - as you might think from reading what follows. Our RNIB donation backs us up and eases our conscience.] Did you know that Tuesday 15th July... »

As wee bairns across the land eagerly await the arrival of the fifth Hairy Plodder book, BB notes the following related news items: After 7,000 copies are stolen from a TNT delivery, Merseyside police warn that anyone caught reading them - we're talking about a book aimed at kids,... »

BB is in the Guardian today, with a short paragraph of penetrating insight on Beckham and United; actually much greater than the sum total of our football knowledge.... »

Currently reading: Bully for Brontosaurus by Stephen Jay Gould, now my other favourite author of readable intellectual discourse alongside Alain de Botton. The late Gould covers an astonishing array of genuinely interesting facts and sniffs out the fascinating, often wryly amusing stories behind them. One of them, and not... »

School Run Sensitive teacher arrives at tough L.A. inner city state school and quickly realises that she will have to adopt some unconventional techniques to reach out to troubled pupils. Unfortunately, she is shot dead during the first maths lesson, after asking one of the younger boys to be... »

"We have always accepted that there will be some very regrettable civilian casualties." - Prime Minister's official spokeman in response to latest Baghdad bombing ...That's big of you. Remember what we said last time? Speaking as a voter, I've always accepted that there will be some very regrettable electoral... »

The Iraqi army is now hopeful that, following recent successes, it will soon have killed more coalition soldiers than the coalition has. However, its top generals caution that the US could still carry out a heavy bombing campaign against allied bases. Meanwhile, it's good to see support growing for... »

BB has started reading Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men", so he can be held responsible for what follows. We know that Michael is a notorious polemicist and conspiracy nut with some questionable claims (although we suspect that many who question them do so from a standpoint of "That can't... »

It's Comic Relief Day tomorrow - fantastic! Not only do we get a day of skiving and messing around at work for charity (this year, the theme is "Big Hair" so we're going to shave peoples' heads - wild! amazing!), but we get a whole evening of quality television.... »

In these times of economic downturn and hardship, many companies are seeking to cut costs and eliminate waste. BB has a strategy guaranteed to trim the payroll: find the person who wrote the corporate mission statement and sack them, because they clearly don't have any relevant purpose. And if... »

"... was seized by gunmen identifying themselves as secret police agents, it was claimed today." "Freeze, we're secret police agents ... DOH!!"... »

"...that makes 'dumb' bombs smart." ...Rejects claims that prototype testing on the President proves it doesn't work. "We said 'bombs', not 'bombers'", clarifies top general.... »

We were hoping to carry an exclusive interview with a leading blogger today but, despite the use of several industrial-strength deep extraction mining tools and the waving around of one of the latest Macs, we were unable to extract him from deep inside his own arse. However, we did catch... »

Does the populist stance on the prospect of war against Iraq recently adopted by (most) European leaders mean that this is the first time the British people have wished the French or the Germans ran the country?... »

Support for British backing of an American-led war against Iraq has increased dramatically in the last 24 hours. Latest surveys show 80% of Britons in favour, after Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed that weapons inspectors had found child pornography on the hard drive of Saddam Hussein's PC. Simultaneously, the... »

providing we have the gun and no one else does. There are so many deserving cases... Dawdle at the checkout: BLAM! Get in our way on the pavement: you're popped. Buy a Coldplay album...well, there just aren't enough bullets even for one of you deluded people. Gun culture worries the... »

that the unusual erm...injuries to Stuart Lubbock, the man found dead in his pool after a party, could have occurred during medical treatment and thus were not the result of sexual assault. We can picture the scene as the medics attempt to revive the victim: "No response! What shall we... »

Which way does the (nuclear) wind blow this week? Will or Gareth? Full fat or skimmed? Gee, so many choices in this modern world... Let's see, last week I liked Gareth and hated Will, and was against bombing Iraq. But now they've blown up a club in Bali, I... »

Things you shouldn't do when overhearing the neighbours having sex: Applaud. Award points for style, endurance and originality. Compete - this is one short step from wife-swapping and besides, they never brought the mower back, remember? Give encouraging shouts of "Hang in there pal, she's nearly finished!" Pop next door... »

BB felt strongly that the two boys excluded from Glyn Technology school for making death threats against a teacher should not be allowed to return. After all, using violent, anti-social behaviour as a means of getting your way should not be encouraged. But then we found out that the threats... »

How has life changed for us all?... »

to sit through all the adverts, trailers for next year's films, studio & chain logos and branding sequences, no smoking warnings and every other procrastinating insert at the cinema is, coincidentally, almost exactly the time it takes you to realise that you're not that bothered about seeing the film after... »

of British Energy could leave Britain facing an energy crisis in ten years' time as the current nuclear power plants reach the end of their lives. This represents an excellent opportunity to justify a large programme of investment in renewable, clean sources of energy (simultaneously reducing our reliance on imported... »

BB finds it hard to take seriously the words of a man who lacks the wit to carry an umbrella in Manchester when it's raining. So it was extremely chucklesome to watch Charles Allen, Chairman of the Commonwealth Subcommittee (Ponchos and Condoms) or something, getting piss-wet through while making his... »

Simon Hoggart, comparing Manchester to London in the Grauniad: "There's a trade-off: nice and cheap versus grotty and thrilling." ...But London isn't cheap. Or particularly nice. Yes, it's an obvious response. BB guesses we're biased, because we're living in Manchester rather than writing about it from a bijou apartment in... »

The IRA bomb "ripped the heart out of the city." The IRA bomb destroyed the Arndale Centre and an outdated and rather ugly M&S store. If we're talking body parts, these were more like the bladder or the arse of the city. To our shame, we rebuilt the Arndale.... »

Six rules for good guys in Bond movies: Don't be the first woman Bond shags, as you are bound to die horribly and brutally a short while later. Although if you've just slept with a wrinkled smoothie wearing a fake tan and a safari suit, this might be preferable. Avoid... »

Compare and contrast (not that there is much difference). How can we mark this momentous occasion? We can celebrate the 600K per year saving to the taxpayer, through no longer having to subsidise her authentic recreation of a privileged 1920s lifestyle. Presumably, the tabloids will all be grateful to... »

(no, we don't read any other papers), Martin Woollacott asserts that "nobody could seriously maintain that much binds most Iraqis and North Koreans to their rulers but fear, routine and lack of an alternative." Which might be true, but applies just as much to Britain as well.... »

The head of the BBC has had a marvellous new idea to encourage creativity amongst his drones: give them "Cut the crap, make it happen" yellow cards to brandish at meetings where they feel stifled by inertia and negativity (e.g. "Oh god, not another cop show/Eastenders special/soapumentary!"). BB has to... »

When you see someone obviously under the influence of mind-altering substances - whether it's alcohol, drugs, mobile phone radiation or the Bible - in a public place, babbling incoherently about a load of complete drivel, do you throw money at them? Do you stop and listen appreciatively to them for... »

Barry Longthorne of Stotes Newingham, Norfolk, yesterday changed his name by deed poll to Fling Fling Fishee Fin and announced his forthcoming nuptials to a two year old halibut kept in a tank at his home. In a statement, Mr Fishee Fin said: "Punishing Microsoft for monopolistic practices by... »

First Direct suggests naming a star after someone - £39.20 buys an unframed certificate of registration and an astronomical chart (astronomical meaning "Christ, how much for that scrap of paper?!!"). The telescope you'll need to view the star, as they're all "outside naked eye visibility", is not provided. A Q&A... »

Libellous and offensive comments made on the Friends Reunited web site about former teachers were "going to land someone in very hot water" promised David Hart, president of the National Association of Head Teachers. "I mean it," he went on, "Unless the person who wrote these remarks owns up... »

As part of its ongoing "war on terror", allied forces last night carried out a bombing raid on Alton Towers, the Staffordshire theme park. Citing "the widespread use and propagation of terror as a means of furthering their aims", NATO commanders authorised a three hour bombing mission designed to... »

Pah,, those stupid Yanks couldn't hit the side of a bu ... oh.... »

As allied forces continue to press a massive humanitarian relief campaign in Afghanistan, Ethiopia and several other third world countries claimed that hunger and poverty were "no longer as severe as first thought". The Ethiopian Interior Ministry released a statement which said that studies had proved that humanitarian relief... »

Civilians, they're like cockroaches,aren't they? Squash one, there are still another ten hiding behind the sofa, which means you've gotta come back tomorrow night and bomb them some more... No wait, I was getting carried away there. But you know, there's a war on and, as the government has been... »

For democracy, substitute oil supplies.... »

...Something that Victoria Beckham will never have to fear.... »

"We should offer incentives to states that are ready to join us in the fight against international terrorism," said German chancellor Gerhard Schröder yesterday. What, pens? Mugs signed by Dubya ("It takes a great mug to spot another one!")? T-shirts with "I'm against terrorism" on the front (and a... »

to say on recent events, as I'm still adjusting my own position on a daily basis (from "Oh god, I don't want to die in a nuclear inferno" to "Yes, string this Bin Lid wallah up by his goolies (providing no poor starving Afghans get hurt)"). However, the humbug detector... »

The JD Wetherspoon pub chain, under its "charismatic" and "eccentric" (i.e. mad) owner, has recently given space to the No-Euro campaign on its walls and beer mats. However, the arguments put forward are so feeble that, even though I probably know little more about the euro (than they or... »

After watching "A Lump in my Throat" last night, the portrayal of John Diamond's final battle against throat cancer, we turned over to the news. Apparently, the government want tobacco manufacturers to reduce the amount of "harmful additives" in cigarettes - like nicotine, perhaps? No, they're worried that the addition... »

I don't understand the fuss over the Amanda Platell video diary and accompanying accusations of "disloyalty" against Portillo. Come to that, I don't understand why she got so upset about Portillo's early maneuvering for the aftermath of inevitable, crushing defeat. But then, I don't understand voting Tory either. Surely the... »

the point is missed. In all the fuss over Timothy McVeigh's execution, complete with vengeful relatives and bleeding heart humanitarians and not least, Dubya's typically gormless ramblings, the American public appear to have overlooked the fact that their army is staffed with thousands of McVeighs, all ready to shoulder the... »

to the people who like to declaim the Bible loudly in the middle of public places: you can yell as loud as you like, but you'll never drown out ... the voices in your head!... »

William Hague has called the last government "the most arrogant, aggressive and intimidatory in modern history". Presumably, he defines "modern" as "since 1997". Otherwise they'd have some stiff competition from the previous governments.... »

I blame the parents. They just give the kids anything they want these days: Sony Playstations, cars, Kalashnikov AK-47 machine guns... I mean, you expect it of American high school students, but not privileged members of royalty. Ungrateful little buggers. Still, if I were the queen, I'd be locking the... »

Tories promise to impale bogus asylum seekers on spikes along Beachy Head "as a warning to others" Enraged Prescott kills three, injures twelve before capture. Tory candidate sustains collateral damage. RSPCA marksman praised for saving school. Widdecombe looks forward to gender swap, marrying Portillo Blair promises renationalisation, redistribution while... »

have egged on our glorious politicians to produce large amounts of their own speciality, namely humbug. The Rhyl Conservative candidate led with the ridiculous assertion that "This country has a long tradition of egg-throwing". We also have a long tradition of laying one on anyone who pisses us off. Given... »

must be one of those crazed control freaks who is chronically unwilling to delegate. Not only does he run most of Italy's media companies, he has also now chosen to run the entire country, as if no one else can quite be trusted to do it right. This is a... »

With the election in full swing, it seems like an apt time to dedicate a song to Tony Blair [let's see if they're even checking their referer logs]. Should William Hague somehow become the next PM (perhaps by enlisting the military in a coup), I'm sure I can always re-dedicate... »

With a general election announcement imminent, my vote remains poised on a knife edge between the Lib Dems (who haven't managed to say anything to offend anyone yet - or indeed anything at all) and a spoiled ballot paper. Personally, I'm inclined more towards the spoiled paper as it clearly... »

Foot and Mouth Message from the Cumbrian Tourist Board The Cumbrian Tourist Board, with the support of the Ministry for Agriculture, Farming and Fishing, would like to reassure the public that, despite the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Cumbria and its deleterious, carbonising effects on animal health, the... »

between two mothers on the Helensburgh-Glasgow local stopper: "EASTER EGG?! Ah sez, 'Doan't yoo give me Easter Egg! Ah'll Easter Egg YOO!!'" That's an expression that you can often also hear in the north of England. There is a certain type of mother who is convinced that life is miserable... »

Darlene Edmunds, ex-wife of a US navy cryptographic expert held by the Chinese, told the Sacramento Bee newspaper, who in turn told the world media, parts of which are even rumoured to be read by the same Chinese who may wish to painfully torture her former husband. "I don't know... »

ever there was a case for calling a man's bluff, it was Slobodan's "You'll never take me alive, ya hear me, cop?!" at the weekend. Sadly, he bluffed.... »

"HALF OF ALL FARM ANIMALS MAY DIE" - Daily Mail, Saturday ...Which is a tragedy because otherwise they were going to live to a ripe old age surrounded by doting grandchildren. "Mark Lawson: It's no accident that every other programme these days involves a car. Is the BBC's latest... »

Only three months into 2001 ("A Space Odyssey", you will remember) and already we have self-adhesive postage stamps!! Is there no limit to man's wily inventiveness and awesome technological capabilities? Surely, flying cars and big, black monoliths are just around the corner. Hold on to your hats, readers! (N.B. Remember... »

UK news: A minute percentage of the country's population died yesterday in a freak accident that was over considerably quicker than the subsequent news coverage. Journalists scrambled to make a Big Deal out of a very short, simple story. Disaster: what went wrong Uninformed but authoritative-sounding speculation from someone in... »

I have the most superb example of corporate marketing non-sense here, intended to exhort me on to higher things during the daily grind and ensure that I am empowered to realise my full potential. It's a wireframe diagram of a square box, with a dotted line arcing out of it... »

According to the Observer, feelings of pointlessness and inadequacy hit many MPs within three months of being elected. Which has an odd kind of symmetry, because similar feelings hit most voters up to three months before an election. (OK, it's a cheap shot, but not without a grain of... »

Rather as "democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others" (Winston Churchill), I am currently trying to decide whether public ownership or private enterprise is the worst method of providing goods and services. Much like communism, it might be argued by radical economists that the reason... »

It was depressing enough to watch Three Kings on video last night, discovering how America: can never fight a war for justifiable reasons; can never properly win one; always leaves behind a bigger mess than there was before, usually involving the deaths of more innocent people. But after it finished,... »

Egotism appears to be firmly back in fashion within rock music. Whereas once it was sufficient in interviews to burble something along the lines of: "We're not bothered about being `the best' or selling the most records. We just do what we do and if people like it, fine." Now... »

Slashdot smartarses, dontcha hate 'em? Always ready to reply to Ask Slashdot queries with something like: "Don't be so pathetic and useless, Linux is designed to be hacked to do what you want! A High Availability solution is easy: just use ifconfig to move the IP, then install your app... »

Big Bubbles takes a hardline view on those participating in the current UK fuel "crisis" (Mondeo Man couldn't fill up and drive to a sales meeting in Bradford! Crisis, crisis! Oh save him, save him! The humanity! etc). With petrol duties and tax so high, we can see only drastic... »