Ice crystals

(In this second part, we examine the role of advertising, and find that it's not as efficient as the folk myths would have us believe. We also question why sites feel they need to make fast profits in the short term, rather than good ones in the long term.)

(In the first of three parts, we set the scene: debating whether it really is necessary to turn a profit, the limitations of edge cases in general and Livejournal in particular, defining web 2.0, and television is not a good model.)

(Discussing rock stations available in the UK and Europe, and digressing into online and North American stations. Complete with real-time station playlists, where available.)

A few side-notes to Mr. Pokery's recent holiday post: radio in Spain, La Fuega, how to pronounce an ancien UN Sec-Gen's name, and why are car parking charges that precise?

(This week in 1991: Cutting nuclear weapons, outing people in frocks, your name is Mudd, and profiles of Swervedriver, Clannad, Dare, Blur, Bomb the Bass, and Pavarotti. With songs by Hue and Cry and Voice of the Beehive.)

• The arts, Economics is not a science, sport is a religion, Cuil is not wise, Katy Perry is not entertaining, but not as bad as The Saturdays, and Kylie Minogue is not making hits. Honey Ryder are this week's folk we like.
• TV and radio and stuff, The BP Prom, Sandwiches Unzipped, and albums by Eros Ramazzotti and Voice of the Beehive.
• News of the week, Ehud Olmert resigns, Turkey doesn't vote for islamism, it's fine to be blackmailed, but not to upset the blue string soup tureen. And Whakatame.
• Weather this week Thunder, huge amounts of rain.

The new Glickoblog rankings group games into periods; full details are here. Also, how the Upset-o-meter ratings are devised.

Various observations, and the Two Hundred Things one might (or might not!) have done.

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Thoughts on the rumoured return of Tycoon, and on what Channel 4 might do without Countdown.

A week-end in London, saying farewell to a good friend. Crikey, it's hot out there. With notes on Eros Ramazzotti and MP3+DAB players.

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(This week in 1991: Census results are out, Carl Ichan is useless, the Communist Party is banned, and profiles of Five Thirty, The Primitives, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, classical music invades the albums chart, and we review the happenings on the French and German hit parades. Plus songs from ABC and The Shamen.)

(More: The result in full, some analysis, and this quarter's look at the local by-election results.)

• The arts, Damon from Blur's opera, songs hitting their peak three times, and why Blair and Serena have been beaten by a guy with a big cockring.
• TV and radio, Colin Murray asks silly questions, Jenny Abramsky makes interesting points, and DTT's license is awarded for Ireland.
• News of the week, Karadic arrested, Darwins extract themselves from the pool, the saga of Mr. Space Cadet's bicycle, Pellmet's problems, and the Tour de France is won.
• Weather this week Hot. It won't last.

Discussing an afternoon of games, some Smash Hits-inspired lunacy, hurling, and recent counterfactual history.

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A storm in a teacup is summarised in two words and an apposite picture.

(This week in 1991: Kinnock goes nuclear over the Labour party, Gorbachev doesn't go nuclear at all, the World Student Games leads the sport, there are profiles of Michael W Smith, Aretha Franklin, The Wedding Present, and Extreme; and songs by C+C Music Factory and Heavy D And The Boyz.)

Discussion of Major's deserters, sneaky companies, crosswords, Barack de Bouwer, James Masterton's 1992, sound at this year's Eurovision, Gordon Brown makes it up as he goes along, and disquiet amongst the JOpetitors.

• The arts, Bad week for the Hell on Sunday: hoaxed and telling porkies about the number one single. U2 annoys its remaining fans, Amy MacDonald's on top of the world (well, Belgium), we research songs appearing in three consecutive chart positions, and have a perfectly adequate excuse for writing half the albums recap in a foreign language.
• TV and radio, Why it's not Mr. Mugabe, why PBS is guilty of short-termism in closing Bryant Park, and an unexpected appearance on Saturday night television for Ant and Dec.
• News of the week, a state funeral for Mrs. Thatcherism, a cut in the Irish minimum wage, more generation of hot air, Ed Balls gets his knackers out, and the best game of hurling in modern history. And the Belgian prime minister resigns. Should they just appoint Miss MacDonald and be done with it?
• Weather this week Still cool, but warming next week.

A review of a book of letters by (and occasionally to) Groucho Marx.

(More: The problem with Wordpress, and considering some alternatives)