99 Hanover St Can't Spell (Or Subverts Customers)

Sigh! Why is it always bars? Just like The Kilted Pig it seems 99 Hanover St can't spell correctly or are tricking customers (kidding!). Complimentary nibbles are free, whilst complementary nibbles go well with the drinks. Which is it? Granted it could be both but I'm betting potential customers only care about the 'free' one...

Edinburgh's Shore Sure Looks Still & Stunning

Walking around The Shore is really nice on a bright blue morning and no ducks muddying the waters...

Nescafe Subliminally Sponsors The RBS Six Nations

So Nescafe (not to be confused with Julian Baggini's faux company Nest Cafe in The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten) have a new advert out, just as the Six Nations Rugby Union competition kicks off. It's spooky then that a coffee bean with 'gold' stamps on it looks so much like a rugby Ball isn't it... Let's see how long this campaign stays up after the tournament ends...

Two Meals For £5, Choice Of One Meal

What a great deal in The Grovsenor at Edinburgh West End. 2 meals for a fiver and you get to choose from (reading the asterisk) erm, incredibly there's only one choice! Why not create a more accurate (and honest) advert, 2 Chicken, Ham and Leek Pies for £5..?

Drive Misses Out On Best Soundtrack Oscar Nod

Hmmm, not happy about this.  According to Variety, Drive was ruled out in the category for Best Soundtrack because (according to 'sources') of "two problems: songs instead of score at key dramatic points, and Martinez not being the only composer listed on the official studio cue sheet. Apparently two other names were included as contributing to some cues".  This is a real shame as the music to Drive was exceptional and had a haunting quality the accentuated the film's impact.  Oh well, life goes on.  If you want another hit then here's the YouTube video for the (non-Cliff Martinez) main song, A Real Hero by College.  On the other hand, let's face it this award is destined for The Artist...

Tesco Entrance Man Has Fat Back

I'm not one for normally pointing out people's physical foibles, but when you are a 2-dimensional image on an entrance sign to a Tesco store you really should take better care of yourself so that you don't have a noticeable 'fat back'.

The Rare Semi-Semi-Semi-Colon Key for Half Winks

I was working on my Lenovo laptop the other day and wanted to send a half-wink smilie.  You know, a subtle or sly wink that doesn't require the full ;)  Thankfully my laptop includes the rare punctuation mark the "semi semi semi colon" as seen here.  Perfect, just what I was after...

Exlusive: Vue Cinemas Are Really Into Saving Paper

Have a UK exclusive on Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D (why?) must be a big deal to some people, so it really shows just how much Vue Cinemas are committed to not wasting paper.  Shame the same can't be said about their commitment to quality checking before they print, or just back spell-chekcing...

European Premiere of Pixar's Brave 23rd June in Edinburgh

You don't have to be a member of Mensa to work this one out do you..?  Two years after I correctly scooped the rest of the world with the "announcement" of the highly sought after European Premiere of Toy Story 3 (inspired by what they did with Wall.E) I'm back at it this year with the European Premiere of Brave.  It will be 24 hours after the US launch and the first Saturday of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.  No ifs or buts this time.  4 years ago they did it with Wall.E, 2 years ago they did it for Toy Story 3 and this year they will do it for a film set in Scotland!  So there is something good about the EIFF being in June...!

Polish Student Hangs Own Work In Gallery ... Copycat!

An unknown art student boosts his profile after hanging one of his own paintings at the National Museum in Poland (from BBC News).


Been there, done that...!

Is Hanging (In A Modern Art Gallery) Too Good For Me?

Is Hanging (In A Modern Art Galley) Too Good For Me? I guess that's the question ever self-obsessed egotist has to ask, is my art hanging in the National Gallery of Ireland too good for me? Probab...

Blowing Away The Memories of Last Year

Alt. "Urgent toothpick required by giant" (Thanks Irwin)...

Happy New Year all the same!

Edinburgh Street Party *Almost* Sold Out Day Before...

Well, I was warned many years ago.  Apparently Edinburgh Council have a history of ruining things (according to people I know living here all their lives) and the once great Street Party is now "almost sold out" the day before it takes place... Wow!  Interesting that the Concert in the Gardens and the Ceilidh at the Corn Exchange, plus the £150+ party at Harvey Nichols and £200+ night at The Balmoral have been sold out for weeks / months.  Plus the Street Party used to sell out in October / November with almost 50% more tickets.  It is officially now a shadow of what it used to be, all going down hill since the first cancelled night ~2002.

Christmas Is No Fun Alone (aka Saddest Snowman Ever)

Boxing Day Has Everything (For Trees)

Yes, the is another tree related global warming post. It's Boxing Day and it's about 12°C with blue skies. But like i said the other day, this year the seasons have been quite messed up and this one tree has no leaves, weird buds and green leaves on different areas in the middle of winter, 4 days past the shortest day. Very strange (and no Neil, it's nit because the Scousers have nicked the leaves off the other side...)!

Liverpool Decorate Their Trees With Real Leaves!

It shows how mild it has been this year / Autumn / Winter, this tree at the top of the main street in Liverpool still has its real green leaves on Christmas Eve! To think, this time last year it was -10°C and the base of it was covered in ice and snow...

Winter Cider Wars: Magner's Spiced Apple & Honey Beats Rekorderlig

It seems as if cider is not just a summer drink now. All big name of cider makers have winter varieties out (so nothing from Bulmer's then) but only one can win. And whose is it? Well, starting at the bottom Magner's Apple & Rhubarb and Kopaberg's Cranberry & Cinnamon are both one time tastes (no real desire to taste them again). Magner's Pear & Ginger is a nice twist but it doesn't feel very seasonal. So to the top two, Magner's Spiced Apple & Honey and Rekorderlig's Apple, Cinnamon & Vanilla. The latter is incredibly drinkable and as a nice twist has the option to be served hot in a customer glass, but only half the serving (250ml vs 500ml). Magner's have added warmth to their staple flavour and it's this depth that makes the drink feel more Christmassy. It was very close, but once again Magner's wins the best cider title. Now if only they were following me on Twitter...

Katy Perry Is Going 200KM/H In The Wrong Direction

Who says I don't listen to recent music? ;) Yes I know I'm late to the game but I've had this song "running through my head" lately and it's very familiar. Maybe I've lost my mind... Tell me Katy Perry's E.T. isn't heavily "influenced" by t.A.T.u. (and I know t.A.T.u.)...
First up, t.A.T.u.'s All The Things She Said
Now the newer version by Katy Perry, E.T. 

Tough Act To Follow... Milk on Facebook?

Seriously?  I know companies are desperate to jump on the Social Media wagon but really, who is going to follow "Milk" on Facebook and/or Twitter?

Why Is A Short Guy Advertising To Tall Men?

If "Size Matters", why is a short guy holding a sign advertising clothes for tall men? Sure the sign will be at their eye level, but why not get a tall man to hold it and be seen above the other tall men? Plus surely that guy holding the sign feels really inadequate...

Trams Finally Run Down Princes St in Edinburgh!

It might be off the rails (subtle political comment?) and on the wrong side of the road (blame the German contractors!) but we finally have a "tram" running along Princes Street in Edinburgh. Sadly, this may also be the closest we ever come...