MrBen

Surely better than V in Chelmsford, the "stockbrokers" festival...truely awful and attended by people who buy 3 CD's a year. From petrol stations.

Mikey P big chief nagha nagga of the bhuna. You already have pink cords (from memory). Why stop there? On a budget you have sales at Hackett and Ede and Ravenscroft for classic quality country attire. I picked up a country blazer there last week at 40% of retail (about 190) for which you get real quality and get a tailor to make adjustments. Whilst I apologise for aforementioned "bag rock" and wince at your encounter you will find the worlds best tweed in Scotland with the Harris tweed shop still operating in the Hebrides. We also have great home spun cashmere. As for a non standard shape - I fear you'll need to lay off these curry nights for a while to get a sub 3000 daily calories intake and do some cardio - fast walking or something. Or embrace it and invest in bespoke.

Back in 2002 on a wild weekend in Dublin I briefly met the camp music mogul Louis Walsh at the Morrisson Hotel who in turn introduced me to a girlfriend of his that my hotel security guard later referred to as a "knacker". She ended up naked on our roof terrace overlooking the Liffey shouting "get on with it!" and left 4 hours later with my wallet but leaving behind her shoes. All I recall is the butterfly tattoo on her right buttock.

I've been kept up most of the night by the insonsiderate F&&&&&&* that has been flying his helicopter over my house for the past 15 hours. Anyone got any idea why? I'll be taking an RPG to it shortly.....

MrBen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > self-styled forum stalwart Kind of proud of myself for that one....and from now on I plan to refer to all other forumites in the style and register of a tabloid hack.

Design wise : the Stratocaster - a real design classic of the last century up there with the Spitfire, beautiful curves, and variety of sound in the 5 way single coils. Sound wise: There can't be one winner - it's horses for courses isn't it? The Les Paul rule's for warm fuzzy rock and the Strat for funk, soul and as it was used by my all time west side Chicago heroes: Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Magic Sam it wins for me. I do love Slash too - a real original and brilliant player, he'll never change his Les Paul. I have two Strat's (a US vintage reissue Fender and a Tokai) but if I can afford it one day I'd love to invest in an old Gibson 335....

Signatures are awful. And after the mildly amusing, forgivable adverts and worthy causes we have the worst kind: Those that say "I'm intelligent yet blessed with subtle wit and political nous" and as Sean Mac has demonstrated, even the forum's old guard can get it horribly wrong. Only a few days ago the self-styled forum stalwart was found finishing off posts about Bins on Goodrich Road with the gem "Sedition never entertained". Thankfully now removed. ;-)

Shorty (cool if I call you that?) and Marmorma Man I like your mention of NOTABLE famous people which is something lacking in earlier threads dominated by an incomprehensible Heat magazine style fascination with the two bit actors, DJ's and reality TV goons that rate as important in our world today.

Easty's post is really about Oasis pre '97 and I have to say I agree they were great ion the early years. I don't buy the rip off argument - it's always been the way music has moved forwards Elvis, Zeppelin... the Rolling Stones early stuff is all pinched from Mississippi. My problem is with Oasis now. Their gigs are awful - now basically just like a karaoke football match but with more beer, fighting and about 90% male. There was an article in the paper about this last week "Oasis have found their fanbase niche in a particular white, feral male underclass". Same goes for Kasabian who must be the most over rated bag of croc ever.

Actually this is a good thread...given its world status London is totally rubbish for out of hours delivery - why so? Last time I was staying at my bro's in NY it was great to be able to order anything at any time - fully tested by ordering fresh Japanese after a big night at 4am and amazingly once "English Tea" - proper scones delivered to your door with cream and jam at midnight. Hit the same hour in ED, get home tipsy and what do we have? Answer: Londis, a run the gauntlet walk to Kebab and Wine, or somewhere so far away that the foods cold /you've fallen asleep by the time it arrives. If Surma or Hisar started doing delivery only after midnight to 3am I'd be a taker - but is there a market??

Er...having said that. I haven't actually tried out Time Machine to restore to a replacement machine to see if it actually works - has anyone? It had better! Also, obvious, but you need to keep the hard drive somewhere else or it'll get nicked too.

Ted Max Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- (and not just high-rolling kings of the > universe like Mr Ben). If kings of the universe drive battered 1993 Ford Escorts (that's 1.8 LXi with Spoiler, Ladies) then that's an apt description Ted. And when I'm not high rolling it down the lane to Tesco's in that, I'm backing up my little Macbook with Apples easy to use Time Machine software and a 320 MB external drive. I learned the hard way.

MP - I have to say that I do think they'll get it right for music/internet/email/phone but it'll be a few years yet. If anyone DOES know of a great phone that will fully sync with exchange do tell. I fear I have disrupted the original intention of this thread....so back to clever iPhone tricks and tips chaps...

Today I've been listening to....LANDFILL INDIE.

Ted Max... must be trembling in his boots.

I'm sure there's some app you can buy for ?4.99 that does that

Hold up gizmo loving, Guardian reading geeks. I'm def NOT a fan. Well yet.....here's why: I have a spanking new 13 inch 4GB Macbook and am a long term I Podder so yes, I appreciate the wonders of Apple, the beautiful design and a UI that just *works*. But reality check please - its clever and keeps nerds happy on the 40 into work but performance wise as a phone its just not there. In fact CONVERGENCE isn't there yet. Why? Well here's what I need as a bare minimum just to survive my own daily corporate war of terror. - A battery that LASTS. And I don't mean just 30 mins listening to your Best of Keane on the train in and a ten minute chat to your mate about . I need at least 3 hours talk time and a 2 day charge so that when the CEO of Big Schlong Ltd calls I don't cut him off because I've been playing online scrabble with someone from Orkney or making "clever" sounds like a train hitting an obese cat. - A phone that works in the exactly the same way across the world - from the lounge at JFK to a tapas bar in Madrid whether texting, accessing voicemail or using numbers/speed dials in my address book. - I want the ENTIRE contents of my 80 Gb I pod on it..... including the collection of Buddhist chants my mum gave me, the bootleg I made of Buddy Guy in Chicago, podcasts of The Bottom Line and the full back catalogue of Huey Lewis and the News. - It must be fully compatible with MS Exchange server, seamlessly sync'ing my calender, contacts and Outlook mailbox with support to open MS Office apps for attachments. - It must be light enough to carry about all day and not destroy or sag the lining of a suit pocket (when I'm wearing one). The iphone cant do all of this or even some of this very well. In fact, to my knowledge nothing can which is why after learning the hard way I carry a trusty Nokia (every hotel, everywhere, has a Nokia charger behind reception), a Blackberry and my I Pod touch. All carried in a kind of black weekend bag which makes me look like Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Or a hit man / plumber. Tell me I'm wrong.....

Q: Who makes the best washing machines? Answer: Is to ask a local man who spends his life repairing them. And you may wish to give this gentleman a call. Cliff reckons Bosch is best and whilst usually pricey you can occasionally get them for ?250 on sale if you look around hard. Heis also brilliant at fixing them in SE22 / SE15 if you have any problems.....

Hopefully one of you managed to catch my Brooklyn mates outfit The Phenomenal Handclap Band. After Hyde Park a few weeks back they finished their European tour on Saturday and said Latitude was their best gig yet. So again, thats......The Phenomenal Handclap Band straight out Brooklyn NYC y'all. Check out the live stuff on you tube. Also did a session on Mark Radcliffe last week.

Interesting Macroban - those stats suggest that the average age in SE22 is roughly 34 with a high number of infants under 1 year old - which I guess fits the profile we all have in our heads for nappy valley. In fact.... I'm 34 next month - bingo! Back on topic - its a real pity my 88 year old grandad has just gone home - against the advice of my entire family I took him down from Scotland to visit ED last week and he much enjoyed the CPT and the Clockhouse. Pushing it at 88 for your aunt perhaps but he gets about and can still charm the pants off the ladies not to mention his war stories. Quite remarkable.

Have to say I had a great time yesterday afternoon - was a bit gusty but really enjoyed it. Not many rude boys at all in sight and a real family atmosphere thanks to a rather impressive policing operation around the fringes. Had some of the best jerk pork I have ever had and watched two sheep dogs rounding up some ducks. Also enjoyed that sea shanty band and the cider! Will def go again next year if I'm about.

I grew up in the country amongst fields of golden wheat, mucking out cow pens in my summer holidays and shooting rats with air rifles. Idyllic. So the idea of a country show in Brixton is quite bizzare and I have to see it with my own eyes. I will be going tomorrow afternoon - see you in the tractor section...

Nothing wrong with a good suit gentlemen. It doesn't mean we work for anyone else in a job we despise either. But whilst we are stereotyping, the Gingham shirts, jeans ,and cons just as much a uniform for the creatives. Lets throw in some Crocs / Gladiator sandals for the girls and everyone in East Dulwich looks the same.... WITH THE FOLLOWING NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS: - Surfbobby - the famous organiser of the Barry Barry Run has his own garish yet truely unique style - Sean McGhabaghan - the forum stalwarts walk-in wardrobe of all black is a classic, simple statement that says "Irish Ninja" - Another Sean, this time Sean from Sean's DIY - a gentleman with a coiffured hairstyle that sticks two fingers up to my own gutless short back and sides. Here is a freethinking man of his own means who doesn't give a toss what you think. Hats off to you all.

After an especially good night out (that surpassed my Londis Monster Munch / GQ debauchery ) I recently finished the night with Razzle and a packet of Bassets wine gums. Mrs Ben was not impressed.

ED forum fans of the legendary but eccentric lord of British pop take note: Some last minute tickets have just come back on sale for his rescheduled run at Brixton starting Sunday and are available NOW by running a quick search here Thought I'd just share that....if you're not a fan please ignore/cue heated forum debate. Good day to you all... Mr Ben