We have lift off…

Watch out for flying motorbikes, Bermondsey Street, London.

I’m taking off – not actually on a flying motorbike Evil Knievel style – but on a plane to Scotland.

(Yes, yes, I know, I’m personally responsible for killing the planet. At least I’m getting the train back.)

So I’ll be even less responsive than the poor performance lately.

But it’ll give me the opportunity to – read my kindle. Assuming it works. The first one didn’t. I’ll be taking the replacement.

It’s about time I had one, given that I’ve been urging you to download the ebook I’ve written – but could only read myself on my computer. Cheeky, huh? But I’ve now rectified the situation.

The “gripping” ebook is called The Obituarist by the way. You can download it for pc, mac. kobo, nook, device, tablet, etc here from Smashwords, or for kindle here from Amazon.co.uk or here from Amazon.com.

As for me, having read The Point in print, I’ll be catching up with Wee Rockets and other work by Gerard Brennan and Dickens.

The trip will also give me the opportunity to distribute some of the NEW and exciting business cards for The Obituarist that arrived today. I also ordered a few postcards too. So if you know anyone who might be swayed by a postcard entreating them to download an ebook, let me know. You can email me their address if you don’t want to put it in a comment – paulwaters99 AT hotmail.com

Just think of their delighted surprise and happy faces when

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Sodcasting

Sodcasters... But they look so lovely. They're probably listening to Price Tag by Jessie J or Ave Maria.

Are you a sodcaster? Or have you been the victim of sodcasting? (Or even the beneficiary?)

Whaddaya mean – What is sodcasting? You’ll almost certainly have experienced it. Unless perhaps you’re American. Because it’s a public transport phenomenon. (So this post particularly goes out to the newly resurrected Exile Imaging, who works in city transit for Austin, Texas.)

So what is it? Sodcasting is the playing of tinny tuneless repetitive beats on your phone loud speaker, or more likely that the sound leaks from your earbuds – thus giving other passengers on the bus or train the joy of sharing your musical tastes.

The music will be bad. Because it has to compete with the rumble of the vehicle. It’ll be distorted because it’s turned up so loud. And it’ll probably be rubbish, because it has been specially made to suit the medium – lots of treble, little or no bass.

I have to admit, though I’m familiar with the phenomenon, I hadn’t heard the term until this week. It is derived from podcasting – combined with a “Sod You” attitude.

And this is the important thing. I heard it on a wonderful radio programme on BBC Radio 4 which

Trunk Monkey

I’m off camping shortly, so this’ll have to be quick.

I should really have packed by now, but the tent is ready and the beer is stowed, so there’s just time to (re?)introduce you to an irresistible motoring innovation – the trunk monkey.

These clips are definitely entertaining.

I know, I know – doesn’t look like a monkey at all. But it’s what they call it. Apes have to put up with a lot.

Anyway – would this persuade you to buy a truck from this dealership? I’m tempted.

I’m also extra scared. It was bad enough having to worry about gun toting drivers. This adds a whole new dimension of driving terror.

Though what happens if one trunk monkey encounters another? Does professional etiquette forbid conflict? Or does is become gladiatorial? Or do they just fake it to look good for their drivers WWF-style?

They’re not bad at bribery either. My favourite is at the bottom

The biter bit (or when political interviews turn nasty)

Blues Brothers remake - in Jordan. As seen on the My Treasure blog at kinziblogs.wordpress.com (She writes about abuse, families and Jordanian life.) Or click on the pic for the original fail site

Politicians are in the firing line in the UK. The general election campaign is underway so some are just weeks away from being fired. (Except for those sneaky quitters who are retiring, thus denying us voters the chance of kicking them out. Drat them.)

Respect for politicians is so low that other disdained groups might think they’re in the clear. Not so.

Here’s a ferocious clip in which the biter gets bitten…