All change

I'm now attempting to switch over my servers and reunify the website. You may notice a few problems...

Info about the university

This FAQ explains why my first degree was an MA, among other things...

Hawhey the lads

Tonight the glorious Newcastle United take on the largely unpronouncable Zeljeznicar with the prize being the £15m+ rewards of a place in the Champions League. Since I've never seen this much money being made by anyone, anywhere I reckon going to the match counts as some kind of MBA preparation. We're 1 - 0 up, the match should be a formality, but I've given up on believing that anything is certain where the Toon are concerned. 3-1 win.

OK, I was wrong, it was a formality. 4-0 to the Toon, all together now.. Geordies in the champions league, Geordies in the champions leage.... Just waiting for the draw now.

Things to get round to #432

Learn more about Cicero. Seems to have been an interesting chap.

Once Upon a Time

They taught MBA students that auditors were the guardians of capitalism, without whose stewardship markets would cease to function. Fortunately auditors were all trustworthy souls, and while there were a few bugs in the system these were being worked out. They also taught all kinds of basic things about accounting prudence, when to recognise revenue and what should and should not be on balance sheets.

I know this because I've started reading my text books and this stuff is in the first few chapters. This leads me to suspect that either an awful lot of folk just didn't come to their opening lectures back in the 80's or an awful lot of people should be doing an awful lot of time rather soon. Still at least the ongoing crisis in the financial markets (can we believe anything in an annual report anymore?) is going to make class discussions a lot more fun. Maybe its time to start reading the FT (shudder, is there a left wing version?)

B.Aware

Wandered down to the Baltic Art Gallery yesterday to have a proper look at the North East's new 'art factory' as we're told it should be thought of. Comments about it fall into two basic categories

The building is top, looks great from the outside, big and roomy on the inside. They could maybe have varied the size of the rooms a bit more but as a gallery it'll really work. It also provides some great views of the bridges along the Tyne and sits really well with the new Millenium bridge. Apparently the critics didn't like the restaurant at the bottom - they obviously didn't see it backed to bursting (along with its patio) on a Friday night. If they can sell culture to the Quaysides' nightime drinkers they're onto a winner.

The art on the other hand is a bit lacklustre. Aside from the giant nude outlines decorating the building like modern day chalk horses there wasn't anything that really impressed me. Still with the show changing regularly, and the crowds packing in it's just a matter of time before they get it right. Didn't see any evidence of the promised digital art facilities either, but they're in there somewhere.

On the fringes

Time to write up the Edinburgh trip before I start to forget things. Along with the usual street performers, pubs and restaurants I made it to the following shows.

The Pineapple Boys
The Pineapple Boys' show was 'The big bada bing' a surreal montage of impressions stuck together into a plot about the efforts of Al Pacino, Sean Connery and Arnold Schwartzanegger to get a ticket for big Pineapple Boys show in Las Vegas. While the idea of Connery and Schwartzanegger working in a gay chatline run by Christopher Walken to raise cash was a great one it couldn't compare to Jim Morrisson singing in the Cantina Bar from Starwars. Top stuff, with some good mime backing up the impressions but it required the audience to have seen an awful lot of films. If you hadn't seen them you had a problem. Four stars. (three for those who don't watch a lot of cinema)

Live! Girls!
Two comediennes from the north east in a show of loosely connected sketches. While some of the material was strong it betrayed the radio background of its writers with many sketches taking a long time to warm up. While this would have been fine on radio it wasn't worth the tenner I paid to see it live. Still, it did make me laugh, and thats always a good thing.

Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens
This has become something of a fringe classic. A tale of crime fighting aliens from a groovier galaxy on the trail of the Slingback Killer in a universe where plastic has been outlawed this disco musical has to be seen to be believed. Which it nearly wasn't, not realising that the Assembly Rooms had a new venue we headed for the main building... Arriving with ten minutes to spare we suddenly noticed the words 'big top' on our tickets. "How far to the big top?" we asked "I wouldn't like to say" came the reply. Now I don't know what they feed the taxi drivers on in Edinburgh, but the driver we found clearly needed cash for more because he hammered it through the city, delivering us to the venue with scant seconds to spare.

Once in we found a cabaret style venue in a circus style tent, a cast who could belt out a serious line in disco tunes (special kudos to a seriously sleazy Jack) and an all round top night out. Its on in London, its on in New York, its more original than going to see The Rocky Horror Show again so check it out. Five stars.

The Consultants
More radio comedy translated to the stage, but this time faring rather better. While not quite the cynical take on the modern workplace we were promised it was a fine sketch show covering everything from consultancy, to necrophilia and childrens entertainment - with the most sinister puppet to ever take the stage. Plenty of laughs, tucked away in one of the Gilded Balloons' new underground venues. Four stars.

Raw Prawns
Well, they didn't do it for me, but my companions loved this show. Five comedians from Australia all doing their fifteen minute slot. Not really the top quality standup you hope to see at the Fringe, more a reminder of how hard this discipline is to get right. Still some good gags and a fair few laughs. Three stars.

So, all in all the Fringe delivered. Five shows, some gems, no absolute turkeys and a few top nights out. If you've never been, go.