I’ve been stuck for the past few days off the internet, caught up in a play (amateur production, don’t you worry) and grappling with several papers. I have admitted defeat to all the work that needs to be done, and I guess I’ll have to adjust my schedule accordingly.

I swear I’ll never let this blog die.

I’m writing articles on paper, constructing and bringing ideas into frution - something which I thank the heavens I’m not short on. I promise each and every one of them will be substantial stuff, but I think I’ll be forced to post once a week.

Another thing: I definitely need a good laser printer. I’ve given up finishing any of the blooks online due to time constraints (and distractions), so I’ll just print everything out, review it and chuck the blook away.

I hope this doesn’t violate any Creative Commons licenses (I don’t think so, though).

The other option I have is to ask for guest bloggers, which we really need if we want to create a blooking community. My schedule is really eating me alive. Wish me luck.

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There’s a funny little piece in Guardian Unlimited about a list of new entrants into the Collins dictionary:

Of course, they’re not new words exactly; rather, they’re words that have been flung at the proverbial brick wall so often over the last 10 years or so that they’ve stuck …

Because the vlog (an internet video journal), the blook (a blog that becomes a book, or vice versa) and the mobcast (an unholy aliance of podcast and mobile phone) are mounting such a determined challenge on the lamestream (traditional media), advances in IT provide a good chunk of the list.

Oh, and while you’re there check out whataboutery, camel toe, and waterboarding! One of which, by the way, is a form of torture.

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Just got off a plane reading The Curious Incident Of A Dog At The Night-Time. Bought it at an airport and then ploughed through it for the duration of the flight.

I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should’ve. A whole party of kids were raising a cacophony and the guy sitting next to me was humming. It was horrible: noisy and claustrophobic, plus the little girl behind me was kicking every few seconds.

A note about the aforementioned book: it was hilarious the first time around (I read the first few pages in Amazon early last year). But as the flight wore on the book grew less and less funny … I’m not sure if that was the way it was meant to be, or if it was the horrible reading conditions on that plane. I guess I’ll never know.

I’ve found a possible equivalent online, though. Horton’s Folly is written so tongue in cheek you can’t help but laugh. A delight to read, nevermind if you never know if it’s fiction or not.

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I recently expressed my desire to read In Search Of Adam - something nearly impossible due to my geographical location. Shipping a book over from the UK just doesn’t bode well for me … in both time, effort and cost.

A few hours after I posted up that wish Clare from The Friday Project contacted me. I was pleasantly surprised … and intrigued.

And so I fired off an email to her - hoping that she could address my doubts about ordering In Search Of Adam from so far away a place. I have to admit - this quick support quite impressed me, and it wasn’t long before I received another email.

Dear Eli

re. ‘In Search of Adam’

We would be able to ship a copy over, however we would have to charge £2.50 extra for shipping, so the total price would be £14.49. Please let me know if you’d like to order a copy

Best wishes

Madeleine James
Editorial Assistant - The Friday Project

And … my hopes were dashed. The cost was quite beyond my budget for a single book, and it would take 3 months (on average) for the book to arrive. The sacrifice just didn’t seem worth it … and so I decided to wait it out.

Hold on a sec, though … The Friday Project replied and connected with me - one prospective buyer interested in one of their blooks. Where on the internet can you get this kind of customer service?

The Friday Project rocks … and I am now a staunch supporter of everything they do. If you’re living in the UK get your grubby paws on one of their books right away - shame on you if you don’t!

PS: Check out the coverage on In Search Of Adam here, here and here.

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Just a short shoutout: my modem got fried in a thunderstorm a few days ago, so I apologize for the lack of posts this week. I’ll be back soon (I hope).

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