A new review disease

I have noted as late a strange disease that has hit Amazon, and probably other sites too.

It used to be blogspam, or I suppose reviewspam that caused minor irritation; spambots being quite good nowadays and lots of customers objecting to posts that are obviously not reviewing, but advertising, that was the favoured method of getting someone's attention.  It is very unethical, and very naughty.

Nah, there's a new one.  It's as old as Mark Antony and peering at the Amazon site late at night on my Kindle, as often as I do, I'm on to them.  What puzzles me is why they do it.  It is praising an item so effusively that you think "this sounds good" and download it.  But the book is, at best, mediocre.  In some instances, the book is just downright dire.  The truth comes out later with moaning reviews on how they downloaded it on the basis of the previous 5 star reviews and have been left with something taking up another little portion of their Kindle.

I've only seen them on free (for the time being) downloads, but I'm thinking the virus has spread to the paying books too.  My theory is that these guys are Amazon Associates (so am I, but it was a very half-hearted attempt to get thatangellook to pay its way, I have never tried, and don't want to try, aggressive marketing) - eventually these books will be on the paid list, for a price from around £4.99.

The trouble is, the Associates are making themselves look stupid by bumping a complete turkey up the Bestsellers list.  This in turn, causes, one, genuinely good items to sink and be ignored (there are honestly some gems in the free books list), and two, Kindle owners to become disheartened with everything they imagined the Kindle to be.  Most of it is true, they just haven't found the diamonds in the rough.  It also gives the Associates a bad name, just another set of blagging salesmen.

Free books are the window for new authors.  I have bought books from authors on the strength of the freebie.  The shenanigans of these so-called "reviewers" can only cause damage to the market, only minor, but every little bit helps.

I can spot them a mile off now, it's the style of the reviews that are so similar, a hundred different user names but probably only a couple of dozen actual people.  But they are trying to get money under false pretences.  (I have seen one or two that claim to be authors themselves.  Really.  I'll show you some swampland in Florida that is prime for holiday lets.)

How do they sleep nights?  If you do it, please stop.

Aces

Well colour me purple and call me Barney.  This is the first post I've written from that marvellous piece of new Amazon tech called the Kindle.

Memories, like the corners of my mind (Part 1)

I've been in payroll 23 odd years, and it's bizarre that, as I look about and consider whether to maybe have a career change, or at least, modification, because there are too many ghosts, memories, echoes, some good, some bad, some hysterical, some devastating.

It's easy to forget, even in Front Line payroll, that I am paying real people (it is very common to completely forget in Back End) .  This might sound odd, but payroll has a production line mentality so that you don't realise how crucial that commission, bonus, overtime or sickness payment is to an employee.  And although some payslips may make you shriek in fake horror, because they pay more tax than you get net earnings in a year, or the dreaded 'I don't understand my payslip' and you are looking at a statement that would make Einstein consider his career pathway, you either love or hate payroll.  I've seen colleagues come and go, a lot stay in payroll (though there are a few here that are saying they won't go back into payroll again, but that's because most of them have never had the inspiration to try anything else until they are forced to, as they will be), but a few go, and I've heard a lot of bizarre reasons.

"This was just a stop gap until I found a proper career"  (Like payroll is not a career.  Everyone has to get paid some time.  Try telling that to the IPP.)

"It's too easy, I want to try something else" (Read: I am no bloody good at this job and I should leave before the boss realises)

"It's boring." (You've never tried to find the entertainment in your work, have you?)

Actually - the last?  Well, yes, payroll can be mighty dull, but you find your entertainment, particularly in a payroll of the size I work on, which has all the colours of human society, and some of them can speak proper English.  When someone throws a girly tantrum on the phone, you do have a laugh about it afterwards with your colleagues, because that is what keeps you sane.  Boring?  The majority of the actual work, maybe.  The flavours and the satisfaction of doing the crucial and interesting tasks, making "friends" with people over the phone (due to the frequency of your telephone conversations) but sadly you will probably never meet.  Boring? On the whole, no, I love my job, and I will probably cry buckets when I leave.

Home?

The provisional agreement of how much we will get on leaving next year has been made. Course, this starts dreams of how to spend it, but mine started incredibly practical; pay off all annual bills, any debts outstanding, new puta, washing machine (rather than renting it) so that I can probably survive, for at least a year, on the likely lower salary.

However, a new thought came into my head, or the old home sickness if you like, dreaming of my old home. I think I have memories of what it was, not what it became and was growing to hate. There are old ghosts that I need to lay to rest, and people I should see, in case that it is a long, long time before I go back again. So, next spring, I'm going back to the borough in which I was born, for a week maybe, confront the ghosts and come back...home...and maybe free of the doubts, and rid of some of the fears.

Planning

It is maybe 10 months to R-day, although it may be that it could be as long as a year.  This means I have to undergo something totally alien to me - Planning.

I have never been a good planner.  True, I sorta 'planned' our move from London to N Wales, and sorta 'planned' my wedding 20 odd years ago, but it still needed nagging from various parties or even physical manhandling (oo er) for me to get done what needed to be done.

There are some plans in my head, including the practical stuff I could do soon after the dread day (although I am not sure if that is an accurate description) but whether I will actually do them, well, that just remains to be seen.  I know me too well.

There are lots and lots of stuff I have 'in progress'.  I mean, you name it, training on general workplace stuff (what my colleague calls 'clipboard management training'); training on technical stuff such as Java, CSS; training in Knowledge Management, short stories started, not finished; Welsh language learning in progress...actually there is shed loads more that I could state but could never remember.  Oh yeah, thatangellook and SHOTS reviews.  Oh, and keeping the job I've got going, and my sanity, for up to a year.  Oh and yeah, keeping the other half happy.  And...

You get the picture.

Actually, this is me all over.  I Am Work In Progress.  Wouldn't have it any other way.

The Nick N Dave show

Am I alone in my optimism for the new government?  I remember that some people thought, given the age gap, my marriage wouldn't last 6 months.  Here I am, twenty years later, still married to the same guy, and although there is hardly a parallel with politics, the principle is the same.  The apathy and cynicism amongst other bloggers just disgusts me.

I think some people are forgetting that if this all goes belly up, the few that were voting for the LibDems probably never will again.  They could have said no, sat back as the Tories tried to form a minority government, joined with Labour in a vote of no confidence a few months down the line and started again.  Probably getting similar, or maybe more, votes at the next General Election.

You could say what they have just done is potentially political suicide.

On the other side of the swing, you have Cameron, probably desperate since a babe to become PM, willing to take a job on that is a poisoned chalice.  Is this a guy who stopped at nothing just to get power, or does he really want to make a difference?  At the end of it, he could be hero or...um...zero.  And everyone will go back to voting Labour, who spent the last 13 years spending money we didn't have.

So it seems a lot of people, including those idiots shouting 'Tory Scum' at the end of Downing Street want the wars abroad to continue, want their money going in one pocket and out of the other, want no growth in this country, and want a voting system where no party will get a majority and therefore major reform in anything will be impossible.

I vote for change.  Yeah, it's gonna hurt.  But it can't hurt more than the last few years of someone who was not capable of running the country.  Why don't you give them a chance before saying it is all going to fail?  Why not do something radical, such as support them, or if that sticks in the craw, sit back and let them get on with it?  They might surprise you.  Yeah, it might go belly up.  But I for one am impressed that they are willing to try.

A new home

This blog is moving and becoming a web page off my own website That Angel Look. Although I have enjoyed my time here, it's easier to consolidate things.

The blog will contain the same inane ramblings, I expect, along with stuff about a minor obsession I have with Mike Ripley's Angel series.

Hope to see you there. The direct link to it is here

No blog

In a bizarre turn of events, I can't blog from home any more - not sure why, maybe something to do with Zone Alarm or the AVG update? Whatever! I don't blog very frequently, and the thing is... has been seriously overlooked for a long time, but it's going to be even longer, as I am concentrating my writing on my new web site. Link later when it has more than a page. Mebbe I'll transfer my blog to there.

Just when I thought...

Look, no apologies for not posting for a rigidiculous amount of time. I've been busy, and sulking for most of the time I have to admit. Trouble at work. Don't ask.

I was perhaps thinking, had a mere inkling at the back of my mind that Mike Ripley's Angel's Share was going to be the last in the series. Not so. I'm ashamed that the mere thought had even begun to speculate about the merest possibility of crossing my mind. (sorry Douglas).

There it is in the rainforest bookstore (cryptic). In black and white. Sometimes blue and white. Whatever. Angels Unaware. Out in July. Oh yes.

Rollin', rollin', rollin'

The overused phrase "heads will roll" has been overused to mighty capacity lately. If the Inland Revenue are ISO accredited, does this mean they will lose it? The dear old company has just recently passed their latest annual assessment, and I know, for darn sure, if anything like this had happened at our company, you would have seen enough heads to play a game of bowls.

Actually, its not really head rolling. I wonder if Henry VIII, in a fit of religious fervour, or pissed off because the latest offspring was a daughter, again, he stated ' Forsooth, heads will roll'? Or maybe that should be in Latin. Or French. I forget.

It's more like dominoes actually. Firstly, the head of the department gets whacked, who then whacks the manager, who then whacks the team leader, who then whacks the senior, who then whacks the junior.

Just as dramatic, in my opinion.

Site traffic...vroom vroom beep beep (or something)

OK, so my little website is not exactly the M25 of the Internet Superhighway, in fact, it's one of those minor routes that only sheep lorries use, and maybe they just about have the edge. All the same, I am surprised with the number who view the page on a weekly basis. No, it isn't just me, as internet access at work is now severely restricted and I really don't visit my blog that much after I've posted.

The thing is....the thing is....is probably getting more traffic than this blog, oddly, that was totally not the point of the exercise.

Think I'll add a counter to that one too, to see if my suspicions are correct. Then decide what I'm doing right in the other...hang on...I'm part of the 82% revolution, and since I'm never read, this means I have to make efforts not to become part of the machine...omg my head hurts.

Thanks for reading, whoever, wherever and whenever you are.

YOU have something to say

Was browsing blogs today using the link facility in my profile.

Just clicking on North Wales brings up an incredible cross cut of society, amongst other types; some young, some old, some sci-fi addicts, some horror film fans, gardeners, hikers, dog walkers, cross stichers, strange musical tastes and stranger religions and frankly, some downright weirdos.

Unfortunately, the majority of them, although they felt they had something to say when they started their blog, after a week or two ran out of something to say, or maybe just got bored. OK, so I'm not the best at updating my blogs, and such a length of time passes on occasion that I sometimes wonder whether it is worth posting when there is too much to say, or is it just too mundane.

Of course, the reason for abandoning a blog could really be very simple. Lost the password, and even worse, lost the webmail account that you used to sign into blogger. Thus the poor website is lost forever as a piece of history clogging up the web, but never read. However, these lost souls are in the minority. Sadly, I think it is just plain boredom, in the main, or laziness, even worse.

YOU have something to say. Yes, I'm sure that you thought that your blog would become a masterpiece fit for the Booker Prize, but once you get over the disappointment that even your mates can't be bothered to read it, writing, even with poor spelling or with grammar as bad as mine, it can be an outlet for your frustrations and is in fact a piece of history. Oh yes, writing brings out the very personality of the writer. It's what makes them fascinating.

You can't change the world with your blog. You may sell a book (as some have done, and some are trying to do) or you may even get a job (that's happened too). But the likelihood of making a shedload of money from your mundane ramblings are fairly similar to lottery odds. But that doesn't matter, cos this is YOU. Something to look back on later, you may be surprised at how insightful you are, even if you didn't think so at the time. Something you could even show your kids, cos unless you tell blogger to ditch the blog, or you're breaking blogger rules (some sick ones out there I can tell you) it is there forever. Unlike a diary or book, it is difficult to destroy and can't be burned. Why consign it to one post saying something along the lines of 'my first post! look forward to all sorts of excitement!'. Six months later that same first post is still there and looking utterly pathetic. One even said that his blog was 'under construction'. Oh dear. Batteries not included.

So then. Post. If you're not going to post, delete the blog. When you feel the muse upon you, start again, they're free after all. Don't post with 'update later' and don't. It's annoying. It's like saying you'll phone a friend at 9 and wait for them to phone you.

If we've lost the power of actually talking to each other because of the 'net, let's start a new revolution, and be part of the fascinating culture that is 82% of the net. Unsung, never read, sometimes boring but actually a reflection of world society and all its personalities and culture.

Wanted

Sadly, I found that a lot of the blogs that I used to have linked I either don't visit anymore or they don't exist anymore. Some blogs I don't want to link to, as they are somewhat personal and I feel like I'm intruding just reading them.

So, what I want is some more blogs as the list is looking rather sad. Rules are quite simple.

1. Not too popular. It's hip to be square, yep you gotta be the 82% of the web that is hardly read.

2. Do NOT be up your own anus. I can smell bovine excrement at 20 paces. If your life really is that exciting, why aren't you out there living it rather than on the web.

3. Humour welcome, but not mandatory.

4. You might get linked to anyway, whether you want it or not.

Spring clean in Autumn

I decided to upgrade my blog and give it a fresh look.

Those who were on my blog list, if you still read this of course, don't be offended, your link will be back again, just as soon as I find the time to track you all down, check the links still work and post you up there again :-)

Us and Them

In light of the news from the USA today, lyrics from a Pink Floyd track that are over 30 years old, but still powerful today.

Us and Them
And after all we're only ordinary men
Me, and you
God only knows it's not what we would choose to do
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died
The General sat, and the lines on the map
Moved from side to side

Black and Blue
And who knows which is which and who is who
Up and Down
And in the end it's only round and round and round
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
The poster bearer cried
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside

Down and Out
It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about
With, without
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about
Out of the way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind
For want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died

The circus has left town

Nah, not Rhyl's funfair. Oh I'm sure there's a few tears at the passing of the garish monstrosity but I'm not biased (oh sure).

No. At least 75% of the tourists have left. We saw coaches and caravans passing by our window yesterday and inwardly heaved a sigh of relief that we don't have to put up with that lot any more. If only tourists were polite and treated the resorts as they would their own town. (Mind, you perhaps they do, that's the trouble.)

In other news, I note that my last post was about Dean, which has now been replaced by Felix. (I think it was Erin in between which was a mere tropical storm). Gil has already burned (or is blown) out, but Henriette is looking scary. Felix went overnight from category 2 to 5. I mean, the mind boggles. Our hurricane in '87 was a baby in comparison, barely a category 1 if I remember rightly.

Have a look at the USA hurricane site (I really can't be bothered to post a link, go to Google for crying out loud). Click on the satellite pics. Felix is a monster. Looking at the hurricane names link - there may be a Hurricane Fiona in a couple of years.

I couldn't bear to be a mere storm or, even worse, depression. I mean, 'Tropical Depression Fiona' sounds like an office nickname.

Dean

Having an internet radio means that you can access some 6,500+ stations from around the world. We were listening to the aftermath reports from Dominica last night, this morning we're listening to Jamaica. Dean has not hit them yet, and the announcer sounds calm, but you can sense a terrible undercurrent of fear. Joking aside of how incredibly laid back most Jamaicans are (moving in a slow hurry today) or the weather forecasts (its gonna get a bit windy out there) I am very nearly on the verge of tears. They are coming through so loud and clear they could only be just up the road. The faith that is pouring forth from so many of them just makes me realise how blessed I am, when so many Jamaicans are worrying about food, water and even their homes. God bless each and every one of them, they will be on my mind for the next 24 hours and beyond.

A bit of Burberry

According to this I am 18% chav.

Thank goodness for that.

Oh my gosh I feel like a teenager....

In the August edition of "Getting Away With Murder", written by my very favourite author, Mike Ripley, he mentions ME!!!!

I sorta would like to get in contact with him to thank him for the birthday wishes and ask him when he's going to get Fitzroy to change a few nappies. I think though it's going to remain a happy memory, and use it as encouragement to make some headway with "Echoes".

Thank you "The Ripster" if you read this. You made this stalker very happy :-)

The life of Fi

I've decided to keep personal life away from this blog and just keep this one for occasional humour or a shout about stuff going on in the world that's bugging me. I set up "The Thing Is...." yesterday. Not using full names there, and besides it is mainly a very personal blog for general review of my attitudes on a day to day basis. Friends or pyschiatrists may be interested but I somehow think that it will remain the 82% of the web that never gets read, and frankly that's probably all for the best.