all talk and no action
Monday, December 17, 2007
As 2007 wraps up...
Monthly magazine publishing means we’re already well into 2008. Our January issue went to press over a week ago and we’re now into the February issue so that, and because Gary has posted his list, means it’s time for a random round-up of things I liked this year. In no particular order and not especially comprehensive:
Music
The Dub Pistols Speakers and Tweeters album is a must-buy. It’s got Terry Hall doing Gangsters!
Rancid’s Indestructible album. I’ve come to this four years too late, but it’s brilliant. My car has been in and out of the garage and it’s too cold or wet or ride my bike, so I’ve been getting the train, and Indestructible has been on repeat for almost every journey.
Ojos De Brujo, Bari. Another album that passed me by when it was released. It’s at the opposite end of the spectrum to Rancid - flamenco plus hip-hop, though leaning a lot more towards the flamenco end of that scale. It brings a bit of summer into an English winter.
Books
Blimey, I don’t think I’ve read a single one in the entire year. I need to fix that.
TV
The recent series of Spooks was really good, as was My Name Is Earl. I’m looking forward to the next series of both now that the current ones have ended.
I was really looking forward to Long Way Down but it left me disappointed. It just felt rushed and unsatisfying. I preferred the previous series Long Way Round, though the final episode of that felt the same – the whole of Canada and the US in one episode – too quick.
Sport
Eh?
Tech and games
The Creative Zen Stone is perfect. It’s all I want from an MP3 player – small enough that I can keep it in my pocket at all times, enough memory to hold a bunch of albums to get me through the week and cheap enough that I really don’t care if I lose it.
Windows Home Server. I saw this at CES in Las Vegas a year ago and again recently at the UK launch in London. Both times I saw it I really wanted one. Tranquil PC has been kind enough to lend me one to try so I’ll soon know for sure.
Bloglines has become such a part of my daily life that putting it in this list feels a bit like saying I like water or electricity. But it’s invaluable for keeping up with web feeds, particularly because I can use it at home or work and access the same list of feeds.
Team Fortress 2 is loads of fun and quick enough to dive in and out of that you can play a few rounds in a lunchtime and then get back to work. Unlike...
World of Warcraft, which is a game I can hardly believe I loved. It’s the first of its type that I’ve played, eschewing games like Everquest in the past as the whole dungeons and dragons stuff just sounded boring and tedious. But Warcraft is fun and the learning curve is shallow enough that you can jump and get playing. It’s the only game I’ve ever shelled out a monthly subscription for – until I realised I was losing entire Sunday afternoons playing it and it really doesn’t change as you progress. So I’ve cancelled my account until I get that urge to go and kill another 200 boars in exchange for a pair of crappy felt slippers from the guy who gives me the quest and promises amazing riches. Moist Cornbread? C’mon.
Call of Duty 4 and EA’s NHL 2008 are both worth buying, too. Forza 2 turned out to be too hard for me.
Honorary mention
Wells Banana Bread beer. The review on the Charles Wells site says: “fruity roughness of winter barley and toffeeish sweetness of crystal malt.” I say: “beer and bananas, what’s not to like?”
Music
The Dub Pistols Speakers and Tweeters album is a must-buy. It’s got Terry Hall doing Gangsters!
Rancid’s Indestructible album. I’ve come to this four years too late, but it’s brilliant. My car has been in and out of the garage and it’s too cold or wet or ride my bike, so I’ve been getting the train, and Indestructible has been on repeat for almost every journey.
Ojos De Brujo, Bari. Another album that passed me by when it was released. It’s at the opposite end of the spectrum to Rancid - flamenco plus hip-hop, though leaning a lot more towards the flamenco end of that scale. It brings a bit of summer into an English winter.
Books
Blimey, I don’t think I’ve read a single one in the entire year. I need to fix that.
TV
The recent series of Spooks was really good, as was My Name Is Earl. I’m looking forward to the next series of both now that the current ones have ended.
I was really looking forward to Long Way Down but it left me disappointed. It just felt rushed and unsatisfying. I preferred the previous series Long Way Round, though the final episode of that felt the same – the whole of Canada and the US in one episode – too quick.
Sport
Eh?
Tech and games
The Creative Zen Stone is perfect. It’s all I want from an MP3 player – small enough that I can keep it in my pocket at all times, enough memory to hold a bunch of albums to get me through the week and cheap enough that I really don’t care if I lose it.
Windows Home Server. I saw this at CES in Las Vegas a year ago and again recently at the UK launch in London. Both times I saw it I really wanted one. Tranquil PC has been kind enough to lend me one to try so I’ll soon know for sure.
Bloglines has become such a part of my daily life that putting it in this list feels a bit like saying I like water or electricity. But it’s invaluable for keeping up with web feeds, particularly because I can use it at home or work and access the same list of feeds.
Team Fortress 2 is loads of fun and quick enough to dive in and out of that you can play a few rounds in a lunchtime and then get back to work. Unlike...
World of Warcraft, which is a game I can hardly believe I loved. It’s the first of its type that I’ve played, eschewing games like Everquest in the past as the whole dungeons and dragons stuff just sounded boring and tedious. But Warcraft is fun and the learning curve is shallow enough that you can jump and get playing. It’s the only game I’ve ever shelled out a monthly subscription for – until I realised I was losing entire Sunday afternoons playing it and it really doesn’t change as you progress. So I’ve cancelled my account until I get that urge to go and kill another 200 boars in exchange for a pair of crappy felt slippers from the guy who gives me the quest and promises amazing riches. Moist Cornbread? C’mon.
Call of Duty 4 and EA’s NHL 2008 are both worth buying, too. Forza 2 turned out to be too hard for me.
Honorary mention
Wells Banana Bread beer. The review on the Charles Wells site says: “fruity roughness of winter barley and toffeeish sweetness of crystal malt.” I say: “beer and bananas, what’s not to like?”
posted by paul, 8:12 PM
