Koishikawa Korakuen Originally uploaded by Sifter. Regular readers will know I have quite an interest in Japanese things – stemming probably from my love of Nintendo when I was a child (well, a much younger child than I am now). However, as well as the bright lights and blinking sounds of Mario, I’ve also enjoyedContinue reading “Japanese Reading”
Author Archives: Alex
ViiV: They Want The Show To Go On
Speaking of columns, the Custom PC website has just been updated with the content from the May issue (#32), including my column on Intel’s big living room PC idea, Viiv. “By using existing software, Intel has waded into the mess that currently masquerades as ‘the digital home’. Very little of the digital home is basedContinue reading “ViiV: They Want The Show To Go On”
PSP Games Aren’t All Dull Ports
My first column for the excellent website Bit-Tech is now up, and it looks at two original PSP games, the Japan-only Beit Hell 2000 and Exit. "Although it is a mini-game compilation, it’s a lot stranger than that: having played it for the past couple of months, you could perhaps describe Beit Hell as aContinue reading “PSP Games Aren’t All Dull Ports”
Threadless Sale: For Those T-Shirts That Rock, We Salute You
Everyone’s favourite online t-shirt store, Threadless is having a sale – so if you’re buying in a currency that’s not dollars, their t-shirts now cost about as much as a Mars bar. Which is pretty good when they have rocking designs like this! Perfect to go with that copy of Guitar Hero 🙂 original
Two Rainy Islands: England and Taiwan
Holloway Originally uploaded by Sifter. Dan over at Suitcasing has an interesing post up, briefly and neatly contrasting life in two rainy islands – England and Taiwan. "Many parts of England seem to live in a vast, imaginary world – football is a good example. English football takes place inside a Wagnerian epicContinue reading “Two Rainy Islands: England and Taiwan”
What would waspish historian David Starkey be like as a chat show host?
This is the question that I rather unexpectedly had answered while channel-hopping through the more obscure reaches of cable TV space. More4, the third spin-off channel from Channel 4 (following FilmFour and E4) is supposed to show more cerebral stuff, but even I was surprised by The Last Word, a chat show hosted by historianContinue reading “What would waspish historian David Starkey be like as a chat show host?”
Custom PC South Africa
Custom PC South Africa has just launched. We had a copy in the office last week, and it looks very similar to us, although with a decent amount of their own content, especially in the reviews section, so there’s nothing I’ve written in their first issue. Be interesting to see how it develops… original
Never Lose Your Children In The Winter
Never lose your children in the winter Originally uploaded by baddogsticks. The English language is the UK’s greatest product, export and contribution to history. It can also be a little tricky to master… This excellent pic found on Flickrin the "The Seaside Town They Forgot To Close Down"group. Click on the pic toContinue reading “Never Lose Your Children In The Winter”
The Million Pound PC Feature
CrossFire Originally uploaded by Custom PC. Issue 32 of Custom PC is out now, featuring a group test of cases aided with £30k thermal camera! As well as providing us with some neat insights into the way heat and airflow works inside your average gaming PC case, it was also plenty of fun to playContinue reading “The Million Pound PC Feature”
Writing: In Cold Blood, In Hot Blood
Half way through the film Capote, I did find myself wondering if ‘In Cold Blood’ would have happened had Capote had a weblog, because for most of the film he’s not writing. (Of course, I’m assuming the film’s depiction of In Cold Blood’s creative process is true); but for the vast majority of the film,Continue reading “Writing: In Cold Blood, In Hot Blood”
The Wired Jester 