Anthony Denny’s blog

Not only have a brought a new life into a world beset by credit squeezes, religious fundamentalism and food shortages, but there's the possibility he might grow up to be one "them".   This desperately embarrassing attempt by the BBC to be down with the kids fills me with horror.

Are the actually people like "Joe the Ska-Kid" living in the 21st century?  If Miles turns out like that he's out on his ear I tell you.  Especially if he goes out with a "plastic".

Am I foolishly over-romanticising my (admittedly unadventurous) teenage years, or is all this bollocks?

...froths the Guardian's Tom Hodkingson who sees the whole thing as a massive neo-con conspiracy to spread the capitalist message and exploit the gullible drones he sees populating the internet.

I must admit that I feel faintly uncomfortable knowing that Facebook's founders have (let's say) divergent political views to myself.  On the other hand if I made sure I only interacted with corporate bodies with an enviable ethical record I'd be homeless,  unable to travel on a train operated by First Group and unemployed (until recently my employer ran a large international arms fair).  So, I'll muddle along.

Besides, with the prospect of Scrabulous being removed from Facebook the attraction is waning...

And in answer to Tom's question?  Because I can't be arsed reading a poem even its writer thought "diffuse and unappealing" when I could be fending off Pirates and reading about my acquaintances social lives.

We've had a baby!  Miles Lucas Denny arrived on the 11th December 2007 at 15.47 (9lbs).  Here's a photo:

Miles

No one tells you how messy birth is.  Or if they did, I didn't listen.

Show us a book that scared you as a child.

Masquerade

That title only really works if you read it in a Yorkshire accent.  Or maybe as Minnie Mouse.

Anyway - after thinking about it for ages I finally took the plunge and signed up for a trial account at emusic.  It gives you 25 free downloads before you have to commit to paying (or cancel), and after that you pay a monthly subscription which gives you a quota of downloads per month.  All the music is DRM free too, so if you decide to cancel any point you get to keep it.

The range isnt as mainstream as iTunes, but it concentrates on slightly more esoteric/indie-label stuff which it what I'm mainly interested in buying as downloads - if I want the new Britney album there are plenty of places I can get it online or offline for a cheap price and I can then do what I want with it (especially now that Fopp has reopened in Covent Garden!). I might not want to spend that much on something I've just heard one track of, or read about so this gives a nice way to sample new music at relatively low cost.

If I get a friend to sign up for a trial they get 50 free downloads rather than 25 so if anyone wants an invite just let me know (this isnt entirely altruistic as I get some free downloads as well for each person I invite, but hey...)

Finally - on the topic of music, I've really got into last.fm now (more than Pandora), although I wish I could get it to sync with what I've played on my ipod rather than just what I play via itunes / winamp.  If anyone wants to add me as a friend on last.fm my username is ant1973.

Thanks to a quick glance at the Intranet at work I've got tickets to go and see this lot at the Royal Albert Hall early next month

One of the last gigs I'm likely to go to before the impending arrival of Denny 2.0

Well, this isn't the most up to date blog in the world is it?

Excuses - been busy with work, been busy with getting the house ready for the impending arrival of the entity I regret referring to as Denny 2.0, and been generally lazy.

But, I'm back from a night out (Peter Ackroyd doing a talk / interview in support of his new book).  Very interesting and a nice way to spend an evening.  Don't know what it is with the literary types though - always very antagonistic toward the poor old hack drummed into interviewing them.  Went to a similar thing with Bret Easton Ellis a year or so ago and he gave the interviewer equally short shrift.

So, other than my literary exploits I've mainly been seeing Prince (who gets better each time - 2 nights left), going to Boston, going to Scotland, going to East Grinstead and working.

Life on the cutting edge of search doesnt get any better.

Thames: Sacred River

Lunar Park