So much to write about, but this comes first – JPEG Baby – A Love Song For The 21st Century

Wandering along Guildford High Street this lunchtime, hunting down some food, I came across a new restaurant, Wagamamas. “Open Monday!” it proclaimed, and my heart sank. Then, a friendly-looking woman in a rather fetching pinney, spying my eagerness to go in, asked if I’d like to sample the food. “Christ, yes,” I replied, “but you look expensive…”.
“Not at all, sir, we’re training today. Everything’s free.”
Everything’s free. That’s like a red rag to a bull. I still harbour my student inclination to take any free offer that comes my way, and I was in that door like a shot.
Now Wagamama is, apparently, famous. I haven’t a clue if this is true – I don’t get out much these days. However, their website seems quite impressive. I burst into the restaurant, and parked myself next to a lady who turned out to be recruiting for a speed-dating agency. My rugged good looks obviously impressed her, and she handed me a leaflet. I explained that my girlfriend may have something to say about me taking up her kind offer, and disappointed, she wondered off to accost some other poor man.
I had a full 2 course meal, washed down with 2 large bottles of Tiger beer. All for absolutely nothing. My stomach was most impressed. No such thing as a free lunch? Yeah there is…

After an eternity away from home, working away in deep Oxfordshire, I’m finally back, revelling in the news that my little village is getting broadband on the 6th August. Regular readers will know of my struggle to adapt when we moved to a non-broadband house – regressing to a slower connection is not my idea of fun. Still, a 56k connection was still serviceable, and we were all resigned to never again being able to be a broadband snob. And then this website leaped up, spread the word at the local elections, shouted a bit, and BT decided enough was enough. Broadband’s Coming Home!

On a day when I find “Warning: may contain sharp edges” on a pack of kitchen knives, The Telegraph publishes its story on “Ludicrous Labels“.

I got an email from Ed Storm this morning. I assumed he was probably offering to send me FREE VIAGRA! or suggesting that my gentleman’s sausage could do with being a little lengthier. Unwanted spam seems to be pouring into my poor little inbox of late and I was about to delete it. But, curious, I read it. “From now, I have a new name” it reported. “So here is my new email address. So there. From Dave”.
I used to work with Dave – he always claimed he had a back-up life. He never did normal things, and was one of the funniest people I’ve met. I suppose his time has come – and a very good name to choose, old thing.

“On 9 April 2003, the front page of the London Evening Standard (circulation: 400,000) contained a blurry image supposedly showing a throng of Iraqis in Baghdad celebrating the toppling of Saddam Hussein. What we are really looking at is an incredibly ham-fisted attempt at photo manipulation.”

“Hello, Police, how can I help?“
“Yes, I’ve lost my glasses.”
Listen to the calls the 999 phone operators have to deal with…

The Incredible phonebox cam!. The number is 01926 424110. An excellent waste of resources, and another thing I wish I’d thought of.

The best shoe company name on the internet – R Soles.

Ever Felt Alone? This girl did, singing in front of an entire stadium, and forgetting the words. Then, a hand comes on her shoulder… Inspiring stuff – here’s the video(4MB). (via MetaFilter)