...and stay up all night!
Having spent the last three months a long way away from rainy/snowy/sleeting (delete as appropriate) Northern Europe, I've really been bitten by the travel bug. It's funny how being away from home for a decent chunk of time opens your eyes to the possibilities of other ways of living.
For example, there are thousands of my countrymen (Brits, that is) floating around the world with a seemingly unquenchable taste for hedonistic pleasure. The strong pound puts us in the best position to get away and see the world, while living it up along the way. So far, the only nationalities I've encountered for whom this travelling lark is so financially easy are the Irish (of course) and the Norwegians (strange but true).
This, along with a number of recommendations, has lead me to compile a list of three party hotspots which I shall be visting in the next two years, all things going to plan. So, in no particular order...
Salvador, Brasil
While Rio takes all the international plaudits for being a hedonist's delight, outside of carnival the real action is happening a couple of thousand miles up the coast in Salvador. Perpertually sunny, Equatorial days set the backdrop for some of the wildest parties anywhere on the planet.
Berlin, Germany
The home of so much fantastic, progressive electronic music. My favourite record label of the last couple of years - Gomma - is based there and all reports suggest that the clubs of Berlin are the place to hear the next sound of dance music. I do like it filthy... Berlin offers plenty of the filth.
Tallinn, Estonia
The countries of Eastern Europe are partying doubly hard as they shake of the legacy of Soviet rule. The current generation of twenty-something club heads are the first generation to have grown up in an independent Estonia and all reports suggest that Tallinn, along with many other cities in the region, are just going wild in the Noughties.
Hmm.... I reckon more will have to be added to this list as time goes by and the recommendations pour in.
Anyways, take it easy.
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Controlling Spending
On of the great struggles we face in the Twenty First Century is keeping our heads above water financially.
We are not helped in this struggle by the constant bombardment we face day in, day out, from companies advertising products we don't need and didn't even want before seeing the advert. I believe this situation is on the verge of changing, largely due to the influence of the internet.
Traditional advertising (TV, newspaper) works because the commerciak images are fed to us while we are already absorbing information. A commercial break, for example, should be a great reason to go and make a cup of tea, do some stretches or have a chat. In reality, we often sit there, transfixed by the procession of short films, usually with higher budgets and production values than the programs into which they are wedged.
The internet - in particular search engines and news feeds - offers us a different way of accessing and collecting information. While Google makes billions from advertising each year, the truth is that the majority of experienced internet users filter out the keyword advertising which accompanies most searches and just go for the good stuff in the middle.
The upshot of this, to my mind, is that people are less likely to buy something just because an advert says they should. They are still, however, just as likely (if not more so) to buy things they don't need.
Which raises the issue of overspending.
With the news that Britain's credit culture is reaching meltdown, now seems like a good time to pass on a few tips that I have found useful for saving money.
Firstly - plan your monthly budget and be honest in your assessments. While this is pretty boring, you will find yourself thinking twice before buying that new digital camera/iPod/pair of trainers when you consider what impact it will have on that holiday you are saving for.
Secondly - earn more money! While this sounds obvious, if you are addicted to a consumerist lifestyle and can't change your ways, it sounds like you need to get yourself a higher income. This can be from having a second job, working overtime or finding a new job. If you love your job and can't imagine changing it to chase the buck, think about that when you are about to splash the cash and plaunge yourself into money worries until next payday.
Thirdly - and my top personal tip - don't take your cards with you! Debit and Credit cards are by far the easiest way to blow money. While it takes a while to get used to, withdrawing a personal budget from th bank one day every week works a treat. That way, when you see that gorgeous jumper, you have to think about how you will get by for the rest of the week if you DO buy it. This is a pretty old-school way of budgeting but works a treat once you get into it.
Finally - get out more! (but not to the pub) Good lord, there are so many fun things to do that are either cheap or free. In Britain, our social interactions are based around a pub culture. Round my neck of the woods, a typical pint costs more than £3, meaning that a typical trip to the pub, including crisps, beer, kebab, it-box and fags (although not for long!) comes in at between £20 and £30. In most other European countries, and particular Scandinavia, this money would instead be spent on getting some decent meat and a few bottles of wine/beer in and having a group of friends over for dinner. If that is too much (weather permitting), head to the park/beach. You enjoyed it as a teenager, didn't you? Why not now?
Saving money can be fun. Yeah!
We are not helped in this struggle by the constant bombardment we face day in, day out, from companies advertising products we don't need and didn't even want before seeing the advert. I believe this situation is on the verge of changing, largely due to the influence of the internet.
Traditional advertising (TV, newspaper) works because the commerciak images are fed to us while we are already absorbing information. A commercial break, for example, should be a great reason to go and make a cup of tea, do some stretches or have a chat. In reality, we often sit there, transfixed by the procession of short films, usually with higher budgets and production values than the programs into which they are wedged.
The internet - in particular search engines and news feeds - offers us a different way of accessing and collecting information. While Google makes billions from advertising each year, the truth is that the majority of experienced internet users filter out the keyword advertising which accompanies most searches and just go for the good stuff in the middle.
The upshot of this, to my mind, is that people are less likely to buy something just because an advert says they should. They are still, however, just as likely (if not more so) to buy things they don't need.
Which raises the issue of overspending.
With the news that Britain's credit culture is reaching meltdown, now seems like a good time to pass on a few tips that I have found useful for saving money.
Firstly - plan your monthly budget and be honest in your assessments. While this is pretty boring, you will find yourself thinking twice before buying that new digital camera/iPod/pair of trainers when you consider what impact it will have on that holiday you are saving for.
Secondly - earn more money! While this sounds obvious, if you are addicted to a consumerist lifestyle and can't change your ways, it sounds like you need to get yourself a higher income. This can be from having a second job, working overtime or finding a new job. If you love your job and can't imagine changing it to chase the buck, think about that when you are about to splash the cash and plaunge yourself into money worries until next payday.
Thirdly - and my top personal tip - don't take your cards with you! Debit and Credit cards are by far the easiest way to blow money. While it takes a while to get used to, withdrawing a personal budget from th bank one day every week works a treat. That way, when you see that gorgeous jumper, you have to think about how you will get by for the rest of the week if you DO buy it. This is a pretty old-school way of budgeting but works a treat once you get into it.
Finally - get out more! (but not to the pub) Good lord, there are so many fun things to do that are either cheap or free. In Britain, our social interactions are based around a pub culture. Round my neck of the woods, a typical pint costs more than £3, meaning that a typical trip to the pub, including crisps, beer, kebab, it-box and fags (although not for long!) comes in at between £20 and £30. In most other European countries, and particular Scandinavia, this money would instead be spent on getting some decent meat and a few bottles of wine/beer in and having a group of friends over for dinner. If that is too much (weather permitting), head to the park/beach. You enjoyed it as a teenager, didn't you? Why not now?
Saving money can be fun. Yeah!
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Well then...
Hello there.
Blogging seems to be all the rage nowadays.
Well, actually blogging was 'all the rage' around 3 years ago and is now just another part of everyday life on the internet. The trouble is, most blogs are really quite boring. Other blogs are deliberately (and overly) provocative and thus equally tedious reading.
I write from the position of someone who works on the internet and spends and ungodly amount of time sifting through blogs and, yes, adding to the steaming piles of cyber-excrement that characterise the blogging community in 2007. Hey... everyone's got to make a living.
I'll give you some examples of what I consider to be good, bad and just plain ugly blogs.
A good blog can be something interesting and useful, such as Matt Cutts' Google related blog. While most people may not be into what Matt is blogging about, anyone working in or around search will be well aware of this well-written and informative blog.
Another great blog, to my mind, is Diary of a London Cokehead. This is a guy working in London's music industry venting his spleen and generally letting the world know what's going on in his life. When I'm in the UK, I spend many weekends standing behind the turntables in various bars and clubs... the London cokehead says many things which ring true.
Finally, on the topic of good blogs, The Guardian and BBC have a tremendous selection of high quality content going up every day. On top of their usual output, the blogs make these two fantastic British sites even better.
The most offensive blog I've stumbled upon recently is that of Peter Hitchens - an outspoken British rightwinger who is opposed to gays, peace, vegetarians and the like. Check out the voice of middle England here.
Alright. Until next time.
Blogging seems to be all the rage nowadays.
Well, actually blogging was 'all the rage' around 3 years ago and is now just another part of everyday life on the internet. The trouble is, most blogs are really quite boring. Other blogs are deliberately (and overly) provocative and thus equally tedious reading.
I write from the position of someone who works on the internet and spends and ungodly amount of time sifting through blogs and, yes, adding to the steaming piles of cyber-excrement that characterise the blogging community in 2007. Hey... everyone's got to make a living.
I'll give you some examples of what I consider to be good, bad and just plain ugly blogs.
A good blog can be something interesting and useful, such as Matt Cutts' Google related blog. While most people may not be into what Matt is blogging about, anyone working in or around search will be well aware of this well-written and informative blog.
Another great blog, to my mind, is Diary of a London Cokehead. This is a guy working in London's music industry venting his spleen and generally letting the world know what's going on in his life. When I'm in the UK, I spend many weekends standing behind the turntables in various bars and clubs... the London cokehead says many things which ring true.
Finally, on the topic of good blogs, The Guardian and BBC have a tremendous selection of high quality content going up every day. On top of their usual output, the blogs make these two fantastic British sites even better.
The most offensive blog I've stumbled upon recently is that of Peter Hitchens - an outspoken British rightwinger who is opposed to gays, peace, vegetarians and the like. Check out the voice of middle England here.
Alright. Until next time.
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