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"Help. I bought Michael Jackson Tickets on eBay"

“Help. I bought Michael Jackson Tickets on eBay”

The sudden death of Michael Jackson yesterday raises questions for people who have bought tickets for planned concerts this summer at the O2 arena. I’ve had a few emails from people asking what they should do. Here’s my perspective: First, don’t panic. You may have spent a great deal of ... Read more »
Real Ale Tasting Notes

Real Ale Tasting Notes

One non-snobby reason I like Waitrose is the very real commitment to local produce. And one of the reasons to rejoice about this policy is their selection of bottled ales from Sussex. Selflessly, I have taken it upon myself to shell out, stock up and tuck in for you, dear readers. Hepworth’s ... Read more »
TV Nostalgia: The Adventure Game

TV Nostalgia: The Adventure Game

(It seems like I've been blogging mostly politics these past few weeks. Here's a bit of whimsy... the first in a possibly new series of nostalgia telly posts). The Adventure Game lurks dimly in my memory and sometimes I worry that I’m the only who can recall it. I think it was on at about 6pm, ... Read more »
The Guardian and MPs' Expenses: Loving the Crowd

The Guardian and MPs’ Expenses: Loving the Crowd

I’ve been doing my bit for transparency and democracy in the last day or so, using the Guardian's crowdsourcing tool to scour the thousands of documents related to MP expenses. I’ve reviewed just over 300 pages. It's taken me a fair few hours. Here are a few reflections. Great ... Read more »
Denis Healey and Me

Denis Healey and Me

In the days before blogging, we bloggers had to fulfil our blogging urges somehow. That’s why in spring 1994, with GCSEs looming that summer, I was a keen writer for my school newspaper. Desperate to report more than school fairs where a splendid time was inevitably had by all, I decided to ... Read more »
What no Polling Card?

What no Polling Card?

I didn’t receive my polling card for last week’s European Elections (we don’t have a county council in Brighton). This is obviously not the end of the world. Anyone who’s on the electoral register can just turn up to the correct polling station and cast their ballot. But, frankly, this ... Read more »
Why I'm not voting Green

Why I’m not voting Green

Several people have said to me: “I’m voting Green. I can’t trust any of the main three parties’’ If you’re thinking of voting Green because it’s a fluffy, happy party, I suggest you look a little closer at their policies. It’s not just recycling and renewable energy. It’s an ... Read more »
Caroline Lucas MEP: Green Party Fat Cat

Caroline Lucas MEP: Green Party Fat Cat

The Green Party are campaigning hard as the transparent, sleaze-free, squeaky-clean, anti-expenses party. Their anti-fat cat leaflet caught my eye (see below), so I went off to check out the expenses of my Green MEP (and the Green’s leader), Caroline Lucas. To quote a Green Party leaflet I ... Read more »
MP's Expenses, the Speaker and The Sound of Music

MP’s Expenses, the Speaker and The Sound of Music

News from the House of Commons. The cross-party performance of “Songs from The Sound of Music” has not been cancelled despite the national outcry regarding MP's expenses. As Hazel Blears chirped, as she waved a cheque and donned her wimpole at rehearsals: “the show must go on!” This ... Read more »
The Great Escape Festival 2009, Brighton. Day 1.

The Great Escape Festival 2009, Brighton. Day 1.

The Great Escape is an annual music festival held in Brighton. It’s not really like a festival (in the sense of Glastonbury) because it’s not communal: we all go elsewhere to shit, shower and shag*. The City doesn’t really notice The Great Escape is happening. I think of it as an un-festival. ... Read more »
Wilsondan.co.uk Links 14/05/09

Wilsondan.co.uk Links 14/05/09

This is a fairly disorganised selection of stuff I've been reading over the past few weeks. Imagine this: people make social judgements about the emails they receive. It's an obvious observation with real importance for marketers and worth reading. This article examines the mistakes that ... Read more »
Twitter Politics: Broadcast or Conversation?

Twitter Politics: Broadcast or Conversation?

Jason Kitcat is a Green councillor on Brighton and Hove city council. It’s probably worth noting that I didn’t vote for him: I’m a member of the Labour party. That said, he has responded to my communications regarding recycling when I’ve sent them. For the record, I found his replies to my ... Read more »
MPs Expenses: Some ideas and thoughts.

MPs Expenses: Some ideas and thoughts.

The whole issue of MPs expenses really angers me because ‘I’m following the rules’ is a contemptuous answer that insults our intelligence. The situation is just a bit frothy at the moment with lots of heat and not much light. No media outlets are being particularly clever with their coverage. ... Read more »
'Smash EDO''s Brighton Smash: Rights without responsibilities

‘Smash EDO’’s Brighton Smash: Rights without responsibilities

Peaceful protest is a British right we cherish. That’s why protesters were allowed the freedom of the city I live in yesterday. Marching, demonstration, even disruption to traffic is justifiable. We saw bottles and cans thrown at police, paint splashed on public and private property, protesters ... Read more »