Commercial: Bad Dollar

My apologies, for I have been late to do some gratuitous self-promotion here. But that should not stop me from telling you that I have had a short story published by the good offices of Bad Dollar. It's called 'Gresham's Law', and you can buy it for your Kindle now.

Chop chop!

UPDATE: If that doesn't convince you, you can read a review of it by James Mitchell here.

Poetry: Double header

Busy busy busy:

1. My review of Christodoulos Makris' 'Muses Walk' is now live over at Sabotage Reviews.

2. A poem I found in Ilona Burton's blog is now live over at Verbatim Poetry.

Carry on!

Poetry: The Essex Road fire/water gala

Inspired by this status update:


The Essex Road fire/water gala
(for Katrina)


On the Essex Road the sport is intense;
now the swimming pool has caught fire.
The action is making bystanders tense.
On the Essex Road, the sport is intense.
Will the blazes break the silver blanket defence?
This one will definitely go to the wire.
On the Essex Road the sport is intense;
now the swimming pool has caught fire.

An audience with The Black Prince

Now available for your delectation over at the marvel that is Smoke: A London Peculiar. Warning: the interview contains hideous scenes of me grovelling to royalty.

TED: Vote Andy, vote often!

So if you think TED talks are getting a little stale and predictable, fear not. There's a talent search for new speakers underway, and you get to vote for your favourites etc etc.

Andy's talk, on our power to alter our own species, I think deserves to be extended to a bigger slot, and go global. NB: I used to work with him, but that really shouldn't sway your opinion. This is genuinely interesting stuff.

Commercial: Happy Birthday Harrison

It's Harrison Smith's sixth birthday today. Happy birthday!

He might not have too many more to enjoy. That's because he suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disease which affects your ability to produce dystrophin, a protein you need to build up your muscles.

I've been lucky enough to have done some work for the fund that bears Harrison's name over the last few months. The fund is raising money to pay for research that will hopefully find a cure for the disease.

It needs your help. Watch this video to find out why.

And don't forget, there's a boy who'd quite like another birthday present too.

Listorama: Facebook status updates vol 25

BetaRish (is)...

is a cad, bounder &c

is in the shotgun formation

So, yes, today will be better

If I wanted to live under water, I’d have asked to be reincarnated as a trout

is inspecting the revels book

‘You but’ changes everything

is warming up his Onegin muscles

The insomnia’s back. Archibald Ingall Stretton people, apologies if you run into The Incredible Grump later

is performing a joint exercise

is aqua triumphalis

is losing to time on points

speaks la langue de bois

is the sound of water

Operation New Kitchen has begun

is being sworn in

was running up that hill

is trying to avoid being didactic

is waiting to make his stock market debut

is having your lunch for breakfast

is doing it down on Camber Sands and Waikiki

is the bo’sun on the ship of state

is having a little bit, and then a little more

has jubilitis

First update from the new (old) iPad

is playing in Ghostland

is drafting told-you-so communiques

is, ergo, soft

has lost his rhetorical power

is demob

To begin, then

is starting later today

The view of rain from my window might not be very inspiring today

is scared by the blank page

Despite being on sabbatical, I am clearly missing the office, as last night I dreamt I had two copy briefs from Emma Huismans to write

will be making a trip to the word shop later

Blue skies. There is something wrong

is a meal for one, with best results from frozen

is too early for Sunday

Today is a day for poetry rather than prose

is trying to make sense out of the pieces of paper surrounding him

has brain clog errors

might be awake

has started the last full sabbatical week. *sobs*

is undermining the rule of law

Treacle day ahoy

is EMPHATIC

is super cute

is bridge building