Its been a while, but to be honest I've not been up to a great deal worth telling you about.
I did however order a new laptop (I'm typing on it right now, you can tell cant you) from Apple.
I know, slightly over exuberant, but you only live once, or not, see other post Death, what is it good for!
We, as I'm sure you know, Apple pride themselves on the recycle value of their laptops, even the glass is green friendly. So, knowing all this imagine my surprise when upon ordering my MacBook I'm given an estimated delivery of 12 days, a little long for a standard configuration, I only added two items of software. Still, what do I know about these things, Its bound to turn up earlier so I'll just sit back and wait.
Around the 9th August I get the email I was waiting for, your product has shipped. Get in there, not long now, looks like the estimate of 12 day was just covering bases in case of delays.
The email also states that you can track via the carriers on line site, live tracking. I'll have some of that, so a quick copy and paste of the delivery reference on the site and I'm in.
Right, where is it then, Manchester, or London, maybe even Ireland, if I had made a list of start points Shanghai would have been a little far down the list, but I would have been correct had I put Chinas largest city. It begs the question why? Why would a company so outwardly green ship a laptop, a stock laptop, half way around the planet. I sat back and watched my laptop journey towards me. Next stop, South Korea, man alive the bloody laptops having a better holiday than me, hope it brings me some photos. Well it was a fleeting visit to South Korea, but at least it got to visit. Next stop Kazakhstan, really! From there my Mac flew to Warsaw in Poland, onwards from there after a quick night stop over to Germany. What a gas, its been to more bleedin places than I have, free post as well. A weekend stop in Germany, maybe a night out at a local nightclub, and then back to the airport hotel for a night cap.
It then arrived, via Stansted and Chelmsford, completely knackered, but with a hell of a tan.
Well when it got to Germany I thought I should phone Apple to vent my splene regarding the awful waste of resources, shipping it from China.
I told them that I had bought an item that you would imagine was in stock at every Apple store in the UK, what they told me defied belief. The chap at the other end of the phone told me that I had not ordered a stock item due to the software I wanted preloaded, this meant that it needed shipping from China.
Me: Well if thats the case there was little point in me ordering the laptop then was there!
Bloke: Why?
Me: Well if every time I need to put software on it it needs to go back to China, as thats the only place where you have people qualified to instal software I'll never get a chance to use it.
Bloke: No, its just that....
Me: I know, I know, but its truly pathetic that it needs to be sent so far, just because it has software installed.
Bloke: I'm sorry about the fact you are unhappy with the service.
Well, to make a short story long I got a bit of a deal at the end, due to me being a moaning git.
There were no holiday snaps, no tales of getting off with some cheap Tablet, no fornicating with netbooks, nope, it would appear to have behaved impeccably on its journey.
So, as a warning to all, by all means get a MacBook, they are great, just dont get the software pre loaded, unless you live in Shanghai, in which case your new laptop will be with you almost before you order it.
The above is meant in no way to assume that all of Apples delivery services are this poor, its just my personal experience, and to be fair, they apologised financially at the end, and lets be honest, we all love a freebie.
One last thing before I go, and you dont hear from me for weeks again, If you can help The Thespians, see previous blog update, that would be great. They are nearly halfway towards their goal.
Cheers
The random rantings of a bloke who wouldn't get a second look in the street.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
The Thespians
I stumbled, via a magazine article, a website which intrigued me the other day. Pleadgemusic.com
A place where, we, us, the great unwashed, can help new, and sometimes not so new bands and musicians get funding to launch such things as debut albums, fund tours or new EPs.
The way it works is, you find a band, or solo artists you like the sound of, and, if you so wish, you can pledge money to them, which goes towards the total they are after reaching. No money leaves your account, unless you pledge via Paypal, until the total is reached. If for any reason they fail in reaching their total then no monies are taken. It must be mentioned that if you do pay with Paypal then the money is taken straight away, it is however returned should the pledge drive fail.
Well, anyway lets cut to the chase.
I found a band that I liked the sound of, and thought I would take the liberty of sharing my findings with you, bloody cheek eh!
The Thespians is their name, Paul, Jess, Phill and Danny. They are after funding for their debut album, which they hope to release, with a little help from their friends, this year.
At the moment they are unsigned and without management, so its a real big deal for these guys to sort this out. They have arranged the studio already, its Parr St Studios in Liverpool, where Coldplay recorded their first couple of albums.
They are offering some gifts as a thank you for pledging, the list can be found here, http://www.pledgemusic.com/artists/thethespians as can details of how to pledge. So, its not actually something for nothing, well, unless you just want to just give.
I sent an email to the band informing them that I was prepared to offer them a smidgen of my blog, in return for, sod all actually, big of me huh, like they say at a well known supermarket, 'every little helps' (other large supermarket slogans are available, but just not as apt as that one)
Well, I've been sent some background info back through from Paul, the bands singer and I would like to pass some of it on if I may, well, I'm going to anyway.
Their sell out EP launch show resulted in them being given a
residency at the legendary Eric’s Punk Venue in Liverpool and the opportunity
to headline the main stage at Liverpool’s Threshold Festival. They
were recently invited to perform at Alan McGee's (Oasis/Libertines) showcase
night in London, ‘Death Disco’ and attracted the attention of BBC Radio 2’s
Janice Long.
Here are a few things that the press have said about them.
'One
of the best upcoming Liverpool bands' Dave
Monks (BBC Radio Merseyside)
Here's a couple of their videos, listen, watch enjoy, and maybe, just maybe, give a little.
Linked with kind permission of the band, many thanks.
If you like what you hear and feel that you can pledge a few bob just click the link towards the top of the page. If you want to see more about them click here
http://www.thethespians.com/
On behalf of the band, cheers.
A place where, we, us, the great unwashed, can help new, and sometimes not so new bands and musicians get funding to launch such things as debut albums, fund tours or new EPs.
The way it works is, you find a band, or solo artists you like the sound of, and, if you so wish, you can pledge money to them, which goes towards the total they are after reaching. No money leaves your account, unless you pledge via Paypal, until the total is reached. If for any reason they fail in reaching their total then no monies are taken. It must be mentioned that if you do pay with Paypal then the money is taken straight away, it is however returned should the pledge drive fail.
Well, anyway lets cut to the chase.
I found a band that I liked the sound of, and thought I would take the liberty of sharing my findings with you, bloody cheek eh!
The Thespians is their name, Paul, Jess, Phill and Danny. They are after funding for their debut album, which they hope to release, with a little help from their friends, this year.
At the moment they are unsigned and without management, so its a real big deal for these guys to sort this out. They have arranged the studio already, its Parr St Studios in Liverpool, where Coldplay recorded their first couple of albums.
They are offering some gifts as a thank you for pledging, the list can be found here, http://www.pledgemusic.com/artists/thethespians as can details of how to pledge. So, its not actually something for nothing, well, unless you just want to just give.
I sent an email to the band informing them that I was prepared to offer them a smidgen of my blog, in return for, sod all actually, big of me huh, like they say at a well known supermarket, 'every little helps' (other large supermarket slogans are available, but just not as apt as that one)
Well, I've been sent some background info back through from Paul, the bands singer and I would like to pass some of it on if I may, well, I'm going to anyway.
Performing live for the first time in November 2010,
The Thespians have since headlined the Liverpool o2 Academy 3 times, the
Dawson's Stage at Chester Rocks Festival (alongside Iggy and The Stooges)
and BBC Introducing Stage at Mathew St Festival.
Last year they were picked up by MTV New York, who licensed,
'The Crash' and 'First Impressions', and labelled them as, 'The next
massive garage rock band, the UK's answer to The Strokes'.
Their debut video for 'Reason To Reason', went viral within days
of uploading it to YouTube and has now racked up nearly 40,000 views, leading
to them being offered the chance to shoot a £20K video for 'Too Fast To Live'
by a top London film studio.
Here are a few things that the press have said about them.
‘I
was mesmerised when I saw them, and blagged a cd to play on my show. Cracking
songs with great guitar riffs. I LOVE THEM!’ Janice Long (BBC Radio 2)
'The Intensity of UK vintage punk with a
brazen social consciousness far beyond their years…. a dangerous combination of
charisma, intelligence and straight up unapologetic honesty' Mine Salkin (Liverpool Bido Lito Magazine)
'The punk four piece followed with a set
that could have come straight out of New York. Catchy riffs and memorable
vocals. These leather clad rebels look set for big things' Richard Denton (Liverpool Live)
Here's a couple of their videos, listen, watch enjoy, and maybe, just maybe, give a little.
Linked with kind permission of the band, many thanks.
http://www.thethespians.com/
On behalf of the band, cheers.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
But I feel the cold!
Have you ever noticed how simpletons don't seem to feel warm, they do however seem to feel the cold. I've never seen, how should I put this, ahem, the touched, without a coat on.
I'm on the bus back from Colchester and there are a couple of folk up the front who I shall describe as' to closely related for it to be healthy' sitting with big anoraks on. Outside it's about 21 degrees and the driver, for some reason, has the heater on, so to describe it as warm would be fair, but still they sit, coats on, inwardly shivering.
I wonder if the part of the brain that deals with sense also has our temperature gauge in it.
Chatting away loudly like they are the only people on here, gets on your tits.
Why do they talk so damn loud?
There are a few people in town who wander around in all weathers who are touched by the hand of incest ,always wearing a coat, it just ain't right.
I know I'm just taking the piss but next time you are out and about in the summer, and you see someone in their coat, mark my words, steer clear.
Now, where the hell did I put my coat.
I'm on the bus back from Colchester and there are a couple of folk up the front who I shall describe as' to closely related for it to be healthy' sitting with big anoraks on. Outside it's about 21 degrees and the driver, for some reason, has the heater on, so to describe it as warm would be fair, but still they sit, coats on, inwardly shivering.
I wonder if the part of the brain that deals with sense also has our temperature gauge in it.
Chatting away loudly like they are the only people on here, gets on your tits.
Why do they talk so damn loud?
There are a few people in town who wander around in all weathers who are touched by the hand of incest ,always wearing a coat, it just ain't right.
I know I'm just taking the piss but next time you are out and about in the summer, and you see someone in their coat, mark my words, steer clear.
Now, where the hell did I put my coat.
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