Category: Hype Page 4 of 5

Make My Friends Wealthy: Two Of Two

On 16/10/2008

In Hype, Link, Music, Personal, Uncategorized

I’ve mentioned the band Kyro before on the blog, and as a quick squint at previous posts will show, I think they kick bottom. And that I’m biased as their lead singer Ian George is a friend of mine.

Well, Kyro are no longer together (they went through a couple of name changes before splitting up, which makes me think of the fate of the band Dead Monkeys in the Monty Python Rock Notes sketch), but Ian is now a solo artist, and crikey o’blimey if he doesn’t have a single, Number One Creation, out in collaboration with the group Remember. Have a look at the video here.

It’s really rather good, isn’t it ? Ian’s the chap at the podium, and I think he carries it off rather well – not just the singing, but looking like he’s hectoring the audience too. Of course I’m biased as he’s a good sort, but on the other hand since when we used to work together we’d try to make each other giggle in meetings by saying “Yeah, I’m dealing with that work Ian’s passed me, but the information’s kind of fragmented and …bitty“, seeing him playing the role so well makes me even more impressed.

Anyway, he’s a very talented singer and musician and a jolly decent chap, and the single’s available to buy from iTunes for the piffling sum of 79p (unfortunately I don’t seem to be able to provide a direct link to that or to embed the video, though that might be my techno-density at work), and I gather it’ll be on Amazon and Napster soon too. So, if you like the video (and what’s not to like? It’s really rather different from so many promos, I think), or the song, or just want to ensure you make it onto my ‘Nice’ list as Christmas approaches, why not buy it?

And if you’re feeling brave, you could even leave a comment on Youtube about the video – but if you do… well, you’re braver than me. Folks who post comments there all too frequently seem determined to make Web 2.0 look like a chimps’ tea party, it seems, so I hope you’ll try to raise the standard.

Make My Friends Wealthy: One Of Two

By John

On 15/10/2008

In Hype, Link, Personal, Pictures, Uncategorized, Writing

A quick glance at the column to the right will show the name Stevyn Colgyn, and regular readers will know that I’ve linked to comments and stuff on Steve’s blog before (and he’s reciprocated). What I haven’t directly drawn your attention to yet is the fact that Steve has a book out, called Joined-Up Thinking. Though you might well have guessed that from the picture.

Yes, a real book, with a hardcover and a dustjacket and everything. And I can confidently – and honestly – say that it’s a corking read, as I just finished reading my copy last night; Steve was kind enough to give me a signed (and indeed cartooned) copy a day or so ahead of publication, and even with my slow, finger-across-the-page reading style, I rattled throught it at a good old rate, because it’s fun and addictive stuff, showing all sorts of connections between things which you’d never have known about otherwise (as a huge fan of Twin Peaks, I was delighted to see it connected to Les Miserables, to give but one example).

It’s a lively read, and I heartily recommend it. Try not to be swayed by my bias – Steve’s a thoroughly nice chap, and a friend – because it’s good fun, and Steve writes well, especially when explaining the background to things. Oh, and one short chapter does a great job of debunking a number of urban myths, which I found particularly enjoyable (though maybe that’s because I’m always the first one to hit ‘Reply All’ and type ‘Urban Myth’ when I get one of those e-mails warning me of some unlikely peril, or claiming that I’ll get a gazillion pounds from Bill Gates if I forward it to ten people I know).

You can buy it online – here, for example – and in all good bookshops (yes, and some otherwise shoddy ones as well).

Go on, buy a copy (or more than one), and see why one reviewer referred to the book as ‘Trivia Porn’ (though that’s a better pastime than Porn Trivia – after all, few of us can remember the names of the lighting crew on Naughty Gym Instructors I – VII)…

Please Avert Your Eyes While I Change

By John

On 09/09/2008

In Hype, Link, Personal, Uncategorized

Whilst I’m sure precious few of you are holding your breath waiting for the oft-promised amendments to my website, just a quick note to say that – as you can see – changes really are afoot, so please tolerate the holding page while I shuffle the new stuff into place.

What’s coming, you may ask? Put briefly, more actual content and fewer pictures of me – which I think you’ll agree is definitely an improvement.

In the spirit of keeping you as updated as the website I will, of course, let you know when things are up and running.

Yes, It IS A Pathetic Attempt To Ride The Coat-Tails Of People Who Are More Talented. Still, At Least I’m Aware Of It, Eh?

By John

On 05/09/2008

In Hype, Link, Uncategorized

If you feel – as I obviously do – that there just aren’t enough books available to buy which feature my name, then you may be pleased – as I am – to know that Jess Nevins’s latest book of annotations on the Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill comic series ‘The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen’, “Impossible Territories”, name-checks me on page 12 amongst the people thanked for their help with the content of the book.

Jess is, as the book ably demonstrates, a very smart chap whose talents are well-used in annotating the series, but I also like to think that he realises that even his terrific tome can only be improved by the inclusion of my name. Mr N, I doff my cap to you. Truly, the pleasure was all mine.

I’ve got my copy of the book, and jolly good it is too – if you want to let the world of publishing know that there should be more books referring to my rampantly egotistical self, you can vote with your money here.

Nick Hornby, Tom Stoppard, Richard Curtis, Me, And – If You Wish – You

By John

On 03/09/2008

In Hype, Link, Uncategorized, Writing

The Forever Story is an online collaborative story which aims to raise £50,000 for charity, and you can take part. It’ll cost you nothing at all, and you can literarily (as opposed to literally) rub shoulders with the likes of the writers named above.

Interested? I thought you might be. Here’s a smidgin more info…

‘The Forever Story’ opens with 35 words from Nick Hornby (“For the first nineteen years of his life, Johnny Razor wasn’t Johnny Razor at all. He was Malcolm Weatherly, and he was born in Mile End Underground station on the night of 17th September 1940.”) and after that, like a creative game of pass-the-parcel, anyone can join in and make their contribution. The nifty bit is that every time someone adds a bit to the story, the internet folks TalkTalk have agreed to contribute £1 to Treehouse, an autism charity.

So, I’d politely urge you to click here and make your contribution to the story – it’s for a good cause, and if you take the time to read (or, as is also possible on the site, to listen to) the story so far, you can see that it’s wiggled rather amusingly along the way.

If you’re wondering which bit I did, you can probably find it by doing a search on the site for the word ‘paralysis’. And if you think my contributions’s garbage, then I’d politely suggest that you put TalkTalk’s money where your mouth is, and write something better. In fact, I positively encourage you to do so.

Despite Looking And Behaving Like This, I Am (Amazingly) Getting Married This Year

By John

On 26/04/2008

In Hype, Link, Personal, Pictures, Uncategorized

What better way to celebrate this, my 500th post, than by badly making the picture to the left, which inexplicably makes me look rather cross-eyed?

Well, yes, I’m sure there are many better ways, but it’s done now, so we’ll all have to get over it.

Anyway, 500 posts feels like something of a milestone, and the timing’s ideal in that this week I’ve been fortunate enough to see this blog linked to by the BBC Writersroom Blog and Stevyn Colgan’s blog alike. Forget happyslapping or having a Kanye West ringtone, linking to this blog is what all the cool kids are doing. Oh, yes it is.

So, thanks to you all for your ongoing eyeball time, and hello and welcome to any recently acquired readers – I can assure you that pictures such as the one accompanying this post are not standard practice, so don’t be afraid to come back again soon.

(Apologies, of course, to Gerard Butler for the above. And Frank Miller and Zack Snyder too. But if you think this bit of ‘for my own personal amusement’ non-artistry is bad, you really ought to check out the work of so-called professionals on Photoshop Disasters. Seriously – they get paid for that stuff…)

“It’s quiet. Too quiet, in fact. I don’t like it.”

By John

On 27/03/2008

In Hype, Link, Review, Uncategorized

Apologies for the rather slight nature of posting at the mo – I have things to share (honest), but events keep intervening…

Anyway, to keep you entertained during the meanwhilst, I point you towards this, a bit of my scribbling which has just been published on a Channel 4-related site (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

Yes, Channel 4 the TV station. Multimedia me, eh?

‘Names’ Named, Though Not Entirely Shamed

By John

On 07/03/2008

In Hype, Uncategorized, Writing

In this post earlier this week, I made what Lucy immediately labelled a shameless attempt to bribe the judges of a competition – the aim of the competition being to script, storyboard or even shoot an advert for the new Patricia Cornwell paperback.

Well, it looks as if I wasn’t shameless enough, or perhaps I should have made a better offer, as the shortlist of six finalists has been announced, and I’m not on it.

However, if you scroll down a little further on the page in question, you may well spot a familiar name. Go on, have a look, I’ll wait right here… back now?

I’m rather pleased about it, to be honest – especially as I’ve never written an advert before in my life. Like getting a rejection letter back but with some promising or supportive remark in it, it’s stuff like this that helps keep me motivated, silly as that may sound.

If you want to see my entry, called ‘Names’, it’s here.

LINK: You’re Not The One And Only, As Chesney Hawkes Didn’t Sing

By John

On 28/02/2008

In Hype, Link, Uncategorized, Writing

Got a blog? Got words to spare or a true story to tell? Then you may be able to assist with a charity project which is currently seeking submissions.

You might remember that around this time last year, Mike collected material from UK bloggers in just one week to create Shaggy Blog Stories, a fundraising book for Comic Relief.

Well, that book (which is a terrific read, and still available via the link) raised over £2000 for charity (yay Mike!), and now a new project aims to do just as well (in fact, better – and why not aim high, say I?), and you can help.

Bon Viveuse and blogger Sarah J Peach, along with some of her pals, is compiling “You’re Not The Only One”, a book of blog-writing in aid of War Child. As you may know, War Child is an international charity dedicated to helping children affected by war, and also furthering the cause of peace. So, y’know, not exactly shabby aims there.

To get involved, SJP is asking bloggers (from anywhere in the world) to supply a bit of writing on something that’s happened to them – sad, funny, inspiring, rueful, or whatever, it’s not important as long as it’s true, and something which other folks can either relate to or take some comfort in – hence the title.

More info is available HERE, and the closing date is Sunday 9 March, so you’ve still got time to send something in.

I’ll see if I can put a link in the column to the right of this page, and of course as soon as the book is available to buy I will pimp it shamelessly. In fact, I’ve already donned a pink floppy hat and stackheel shoes, in anticipation (and if that image isn’t enough to send you fearfully scurrying to the link given above, I don’t know what will be)…

Can’t Get Enough Of Your John, Baby?

By John

On 14/01/2008

In Hype, Link, Uncategorized, Writing

Well, if you need more of my words than this blog provides, there are a couple of new places online where you can go…

Given my background, you might be surprised to know that I’ve contributed to this site, which is ostensibly of a medical nature. However, I have indeed been involved in it – and those of you who watch a certain Channel 4 sitcom (recently commissioned for a third series, no less) might recognise the site, as it was featured onscreen in an episode.

Considerably less involved on the creative side, but a name-check nonetheless, is at Jess Nevin’s annotations site for the latest volume of ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. For legal reasons, The Black Dossier isn’t available outside of the USA, so you understand that my contributions to Jess’s annotations are, of course, complete and utter guesswork. Ahem.