Noooo!
- 30 Apr 07, 06:06 PM
Sad news.
The award winning blog is no more. "I've been thinking it over for some time now, and I have decided to draw a line under the 43 blog. It is time for me to move on to new things," says .
Travellers on 43 buses should wear black arm bands as a mark of respect.
The World's Maddest Dreams
- 25 Apr 07, 04:08 PM
Mancunian bloggers this week seem to be enjoying one last round of indoor entertainment, before the festival season really gets into swing.
Tim Hall over at (tagline: 鈥淩PGs. Trains, and bands that write 12 minute songs about Hobbits鈥) has been going to lots of gigs lately, including the Deep Purple/Styx show over at MEN Arena:
鈥淎t about 9:30, Deep Purple hit the stage, and launched into 鈥楶ictures of Home鈥. Perhaps it鈥檚 because I鈥檝e been seeing all these bands fronted by 22 year olds, but Purple look old; all grey hair (those that have hair, that is). But they still rock, even now. The setlist included most of the standards people expect to hear like 鈥楽moke鈥 and 鈥楬ighway Star鈥, and enough surprises to keep those of us who have heard 鈥楽moke鈥 101 times before interested.鈥
Several Manc cinephiles have raved online about The Lives of Others (and I鈥檒l add my own rave to theirs, it's an incredible movie.)
writes:
鈥淚 don't expect to see many better movies this year. It's at once a gripping political thriller, a portrait of life in the former German Democratic Republic under the omnipresent Stasi, and an essay in political evil and individual redemption. In its moral seriousness, it reminded me 鈥 negatively - of the number of would-be thrillers I've seen in recent years with contrived and convoluted plot outcomes that were ultimately empty of any purpose other than their own cleverness. This film conveys the nightmarish atmosphere of a society under constant surveillance, the fear, the pressures to compromise, the temptations of betrayal. It also has a marvellous ending that I won't give away, though I will say that film-makers and movie-goers of a postmodern cast of mind might not find it sufficiently obscure or ambivalent for their taste.鈥
And says:
鈥淚nspired by Lenin鈥檚 complaint that he鈥檇 not finish the revolution if he listened to Beethoven (it softened him), The Lives of Others is a mighty movie in which the spy is saved by the art of his subject. But don鈥檛 let that fool you into expecting any other than a hard nosed film of grim reality.
A film of the year contending 10 out of 10.鈥
doesn鈥檛 need to go to the movies. Her dreams provide enough amusement, as evidenced by her recent posting about having The World鈥檚 Maddest Dreams:
鈥淚 had befriended a load of animals who seemed to be living in a giant cage in my in-laws garden. I would go outside to chat to a tiny black (talking) pig and a (talking) chicken who would sit on my head and dangle upside down to look me in the face.
What the hell did I eat last night?鈥
Hmm鈥 whatever it was, send us some!
Alan Ball
- 25 Apr 07, 12:47 PM
marks the passing of former England World Cup winner Alan Ball.
"Ball's reign at Maine Road is folklore now as is his 'I won the world cup' speech," says Bitter and Blue.
- from 大象传媒 Sport
- Manchester Evening News
Let us know if you spot other Manchester Bloggers talking about him.
When is a Blog in Public Meant to Remain Private?
- 20 Apr 07, 11:33 AM
When it began to become clear that a was unfolding at Virginia Tech University earlier this week, I did what a lot of bloggers did and looked to the blogs.
I quickly found a whole cluster of Virginia Tech students on . As I fed these personal accounts to my colleagues in TV and Radio news, I also . For me, it was the most natural of things to do.
I wasn't the only person working for a news agency who turned to the blogs to find stories. One of the LiveJournals that I blogged, and which eventually ended up being read on-air, caught the attention of journalists from around the World, many of whom used the comments facility on the post him, often clumsily, for his story.
But he'd already told his story, right there, on his blog for all the World to see. Or maybe not.
Upon reflection the following day, I realised that I didn't feel particularly proud of the way that journalists, including myself, had descended upon the bloggers. Some of the LiveJournal posters voiced too - needless to say, they weren't too impressed.
I'm told by people with years of experience in news journalism that there is nothing at all unique about dozens, perhaps hundreds, of journalists working the phones, sending emails and doing whatever they can to secure stories from the victims of tragic incidents such as this. Nothing unique, that is, other than the fact that because many of those approaches, including a particularly unfortunate one asking the blogger to "shoot" the journalist an email, are, like the blog itself, published there in public for everyone to see. And guess what, just as some LiveJournal users were upset at the use of the post by the mainstream media, some journalists weren't too happy when they saw that lots of blogs were now quoting them.
Onemanandhisdog makes about the public yet private nature of LiveJournal posts that, I think, is quite worthy of discussion here. He writes:
"I can't help wondering if the nature of Livejournal is partly behind the outrage....the characteristic of Livejournal that triggered the creation of this blog was its community nature. Its system of "friends" and the "friends page" means that most Livejournals are read through Livejournal - it's for talking to a circle of friends, not to the world at large. Barging into that community and asking for comment feels not unlike barging into a pub and asking somebody for comments.
Now sure, journalism has a long and dishonourable tradition of doorstopping the victims of tragedies. But in the digital age, the communities around the victims have voices to express their outrage at the media's behaviour - and that's what we're seeing here."
I think it's a valid point. People can and do use LiveJournal, Myspace, MSN spaces and the dozens of other social networking sites to publish content online. But, for many of them, it's likely they do so only with the intention of reaching an audience consisting of their friends.
My wife and I have a blog that documents the life of our toddler so that friends and family who live overseas can feel miss out just a little bit less on her development. It's all there - the baby scans, the photo taken by a nurse moments after the birth, our first Christmas and some of her first steps. If I linked to it from here most of you would think it's utter rubbish because, let's face it, one family's cute kid is just a smelly, messy, noisy and expensive monster to many others. But for the audience that particular blog that is intended for it's the best blog there is, an irreplaceable repository of memories and moments - some of them very private. At the moment we don't have it password protected, although like on LiveJournals and Myspace pages, that functionality does exist. We don't use it because we don't think anyone is every going to stumble across the blog and because some of the people who read it find it easier when they don't have to remember a username and password.
We watch the closely so we know who visits, when and for how long. It's meant to be private. It feels like it's private. But I know how I'd feel if, suddenly, that blog ended up being read out on some of the most watched Television news outlets in the World.
The opposite is true of non-大象传媒 blog, where I willingly include links to my photos on flickr, my bookmarks on delicious, my dis-used Myspace profile, my often up to the minute twitter posts, a list of RSS feeds I read, the last ten songs I've listened to on my iPod and a map that uses my mobile phone to plot my exact location at any one time. That's a lot of personal information but the blog is intended for public consumption and, like many bloggers, I enjoy knowing that there is an audience that visits, reads, and discusses my blog. I wouldn't care, in fact I'd probably be delighted, if the 大象传媒 or CNN or whoever showed a screen capture of my blog and read some of a post out.
But how can a journalist, or anyone wanting to link to or draw attention to a post know when something that's published publicly online is private?
If I had to email a blogger everytime I linked out to one I'd spend half my day doing that and writing a single post with lots of links would take twice that long.
I suppose a badge showing that a blog has a creative commons license, particularly the version that basically amounts to "do what you please" would be one way to make a fairly educated guess as to whether a blog is or isn't meant to be consumed by a wider audience. But such a badge is only really likely to be used by someone who wants their content to spread, not those who might want to keep their content more private.
So it's over to you - let's hear your thoughts on how the media and other bloggers can better make decisions about whether your content is public or private. Are there some sorts of blogs, profiles or online places that you wouldn't link to if you weren't part of that community? Is there some stuff that is always ok to link to? How do you, as a blogger, make those decisions yourself?
Summertime blues
- 15 Apr 07, 11:26 AM
It's that time of year. The final countdown is on for the end of the footy season. continues to keep us abreast with what happening over at Manchester City.
"Just under 46000 at Eastlands, bathed in glorious sunshine, to watch City continue there recent good form saw a decent performance against a Liverpool side who despite their good form appeared to have their minds on the upcoming Champions League."
.
Clare鈥檚 story
- 13 Apr 07, 09:42 AM
Manchester blogger says that she鈥檚 just about coping with her recent miscarriage, an experience she decided to share with readers of her blog.
鈥淎 lot of the time I think I鈥檓 absolutely fine and then suddenly I will completely fall apart鈥, she told me when I met her, just twenty four hours before she had to go into hospital to have the womb lining removed.
So why did Clare decide to share, in sometimes graphic detail, what she鈥檚 been going through? 鈥淚鈥檓 the kind of person who likes to talk about things and because I鈥檓 a writer and blogger, talking about things often takes the form of writing them down and broadcasting them to the world.鈥
It鈥檚 her way of coping and her readers have been supportive. 鈥淧eople feel moved by what I write,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey instantly feel like they want to say something supportive or helpful or give me a hug. But I think people often want to say something but they don鈥檛 really know what to say.鈥
Clare is already planning on trying again for a child, 鈥淚鈥檓 just really hoping that we get pregnant really quickly again鈥.
To hear the full interview with Clare click here.
If you want to find out more information about miscarriages have a very useful website.
The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external websites
"A natural courtesy"
- 12 Apr 07, 08:06 PM
The hot topic online in Manchester and elsewhere this week is the floated by interweb bigwigs Tim O鈥橰eilly and Jimmy Wales. Their guidelines have unsurprisingly met with a frosty reception from many bloggers. Weighing in from Heaton Moor, political blogger was a bit more measured in his response:
鈥滻t would be nice if everyone agreed with us but this is not the nature of democracy; nor is it the case that debate remains always polite; my advice in these circumstances is for the sinned against to ignore the abuse and carry on trying to making their points. The aim of democratic debate is to win over the undecided and the best way to lose their sympathetic attention, is to descend into rudeness. What about the suggested code? I'd be prepared to support it- what is proposed would not limit free expression- but would hope that, given blogging is not even in its teens, we should give it a chance to mature and evolve a natural courtesy.鈥
On to less serious matters. You may not realise it, but Easter is an especially stressful time for some of us. 鈥淲ho invented this whole chocolate egg thing?鈥 demands , who works in a supermarket. 鈥淏ecause whoever it was I am going to find them and dance on their bloody grave. If I had a pound for every person who has asked me for sodding Easter eggs this past week I would be a rich woman indeed!
鈥漈he special offer eggs have been limited to 8 per customer. Most seem to take this as a challenge blatantly taking more than they need. Others come in demanding we sell them 60 eggs. Erm, no.鈥
Another thing making many people stressed out around this time of year is taxes. s one of them:
Dealing with the Inland Revenue is not easy. Especially when out of the blue you receive a bill saying you owe 拢2,227.40. Even more irritating when you don't actually owe them the money," she writes. 鈥漈hey are supposed to be trained to remain calm on the phone. I was clearly trying the poor woman's patience during our 15-minute conversation, in which I may have said: "If you will let me finish," in a slightly grumpy voice on more than one occasion. Apparently it's my fault. I don't really care whose fault it is because I now only owe them a measly 拢25. Yippee.鈥
Several Mancunian bloggers celebrated Easter weekend by meeting their fellow bloggers for a pint, as the Spring 2007 blogmeet took over the Hare and Hounds on Shudehill Saturday afternoon. Julia from filed a report:
"was there, as well as James from YerMam and guys from We had a nice time, and people were still staying in the pub when I left. The pub seems to be quite old, with lots of period paintings and photographs on the walls. Its karaoke is very popular, with people taking the centre stage to sing anything from Neil Diamond, The Monkees, and Van Morrison. As I was leaving, I witnessed a man in a yellow duckling suit (so I think), with a glass of beer in hand; the suit was unzipped on the back. I suspect he was dropping in after a hard day's entertaining children or giving out leaflets.鈥
Ah, there鈥檚 one at every blogmeet, isn鈥檛 there?
Boob Pencil on 大象传媒 Radio Manchester
- 11 Apr 07, 10:03 PM
I'm not sure if you've been following the moving postings of over on .
Coming to terms with losing a child through a miscarriage must be tough enough, but Clare decided to share it with those that chose to read her blog.
The posts are not for the faint-hearted but Clare says that the support of fellow boggers has helped her through.
I invited Clare to come on to 大象传媒 Radio Manchester to talk about why she chose to share this difficult time so publicly.
You can hear Clare on 大象传媒 Radio Manchester on Thursday April 12 at 3pm.
Listen online at bbc.co.uk/manchester
Spring Cleaning
- 6 Apr 07, 04:42 PM
The lawn in Piccadilly Gardens has been magically resurrected overnight, which means it must be spring. And with the change in seasons, Manchester bloggers seem to have found a new interest in the beautification of their environment.
Craig, our formerly mild-mannered mathematics graduate student, has a riveting account of almost starting a fight at a bus stop on Why? A man threw his barmcake wrapper on the ground. Stand up to litter, man!
Northern Quarter resident and his friends from the City Centre Conservatives have embarked on a spring campaign to clean up the 'hood. Turns out not everyone enjoys the graffiti stencils and tags that lend the nabe its scruffily bohemian aesthetic:
鈥淎s we had a day to clean up parts of the city to show how neglected they are by the council (we filled 8 large bin bags in the Northern Quarter in less than an hour, finding health hazards such as used condoms, bloodied swabs and used needles) we will be taking action on graffiti.
I walked down Dale Street and Church Street today to catalogue the issue in that area and found that EVERY building had some graffiti on it. Although I鈥檇 noticed it and already decided it should be a key aspect of the improvements to our environment, I was amazed that no building had escaped.鈥
Police were involved in a very different sort of cleanup earlier in the week. provided us with on-the-spot news coverage oft just the kind of motorcrash you鈥檇 expect them to be especially interested in. In a post entitled 鈥淐ode 8鈥 We need pretzels,鈥 they reported that 鈥淎 beer truck was involved in a crash underneath the Mancunian Way tonight, causing the closure of a roundabout and re-routing of traffic away from the Premier Travelodge (can this be made permanent?).鈥
鈥漈he truck was laden with beer kegs and some unlucky sod is having to remove every single one before they can tow the vehicle away. At present it's surrounded by a suspiciously high number of police...鈥
Yes, the supercasino controversy is still with us. Many bloggers were surprised by news that the House of Lords rejected the proposal to turn Beswick into Las Vegas East. Surprised, but not disappointed, in the case of
鈥淚ts highly likely that this little piece of contentious legislation, having now caused the government such problems, could disappear for good. The spurious arguments about "regeneration" 鈥 have clearly not worked in this case; since anyone with half a brain would at least question the logic of creating a gambling maelstrom in one of the most socially disadvantaged boroughs in the country.鈥
And has been writing an ode to Manchester Town Hall. He points the way to one of the city鈥檚 secret treasures 鈥 I stumbled upon them almost by accident a month ago myself.
鈥淭hese murals tell the story of Manchester with a Victorian twist and focus on the themes of the day, namely Christianity, commerce and the textile industry. These murals took many years for Madox Brown to complete and his health unfortunately suffered in this time. So much so that following a stroke, Madox Brown completed the final mural with his left hand. Despite this, it is very difficult to tell which of the 12 this actually is!鈥
If you haven鈥檛 seen them, go. No rush, though.
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