Happy Birthday

I have just noticed that this is my first anniversary as a member of the blogging community. Despite my paltry efforts (38 posts in 365 days), I'm glad that I've been able to communicate some of my musings in this way. Some have been, admittedly, rather inconsequential; others a bit more substantial - take for example my first post on the BNP in Carlisle. What I've never attempted to be here is a 'serious blogger' - I neither have the time, inclination or skills to become the next 'Guido Fawkes'. However, I do enjoy sitting down and typing what I think. One thing is clear to me - next year, if I teach AS level politics again, I'm going to set up a blogging community for my pupils. This will take debate out of the classroom in into pupils bedrooms and, to use teacher-y jargon 'extend their learning in an out of classroom context.' Nice; anway enough self congratulation..

Recent sign-ups

I sit here, on the cusp of another time at the mighty Crompton House, contemplating two things to which I have signed up.

The first, Spotify - is something that I'm listening to now. To be precise I'm listening to Sky Larkin - a band that I like but as yet do not own the album. *Cut to the chase Craig* Ahem, Spotify is a simple download which provides unlimited access to all the music you could ever want at the touch of a button. Two simple catches - you can't download the songs (but why would you need to - you can listen again and again) and the music is punctuated with occasional adverts, Iggy Pop trying to sell me insurance during the middle of Ladyhawke. Considering the price, this is hardly worth grumbling about. The great thing is that it allows you to listen to albums in full before you decide whether you want to buy them. Sweet! And it's fookin' fast!

Second, LoveFilm. I've heard a lot about this - most of it good. On a recent visit to my cousin in Newcastle (she's pregnant finally!) I noticed that her and Mike were devotees. They couldn't praise it highly enough - you choose the films, they post it, you keep it for as long as you want (you can't get another until it's returned) and the envelope converts into an SAE for easy posting back.

I've cashed my 30 day free trial and order my first film - the Baader-Meinhof Complex. The only downside is that watching them can become a chore - something else to 'fit in; - we;ll see, I'll give it a go...