Clever Towers in Darkness

None of the Cleveratom team have been at their usual desks today in
Chelmsford due to a faulty underground electricity cable delivering no
power supply to Clever Towers.

The guys from EDF are working into the evening (pictured above) to get
us back on, and hopefully we won't have to all work from our homes
again tomorrow.

Phones are being redirected, or call our mobiles (mine is 07947 124359)

Interest rate cut won't help quick enough

Todays news that the Bank of England has lowered interest rates by
1.5% to 3% although a good move..... It won't be actioned fast enough
by the banks in time for the festive season..

As a customer with a tracker mortgage I'll benefit, yet the bank did
not action the 0.5% drop last month in time for this months mortgage
payment, which means this months rate drop will not take effect till
January.

The result, less money to spend during the Christmas period, less
money buying goods and services, less demand, more job cuts.

The need? A firework up the backside of the bank that has been quick
to process an interest rate increase and painfully slow to process a
decrease. There is no point in giving a cut unless banks are forced to
process it quickly.

What happens next? I predict a further cut of 1.0% next month, and
that won't be enough. Banks are greedy.

G.O.L.D. Check your facts!

Flicking through the TV channels on Saturday I was surprised to read
on the episode information for 'Waiting for God' on digital channel
G.O.L.D. that actor Graham Crowden, 'Tom' in the show is referred to
as 'The late, great Graham Crowden'.

Surprised to read this a quick search of the Internet Graham Crowden
(an excellent talent) is very much still with us, with an active career.

G.O.L.D. Check your facts before writing false information..

Google Earth for iPhone

Am loving the newly launched Google Earth for iPhone. Above is the
Chelmsford offices of Cleveratom. Simply tipping the phone about in my
hand alters the perspective on the screen.

With our work at BAFTA with GeoArt yesterday this all fits very nicely.

Manchester Eye

Last night after our meal with our latest project partner (BBC Blast)
I really wanted to go on the Manchester Eye but at £4 per person for a
very short ride it's a rip off.

The last two days in Salford have been great. Cleveratom have been
tasked as project managers for the BBC Blast Truck redesign. Hal and I
have enjoyed working with the team to find out what works, needs
improvement and we are now working to redesign the truck and its
associated spaces to fit with learning needs. Youth panel next!

Great fun.

Northern Trains Overcrowding

And I thought National Express East Anglia was bad! Whoever specified
a two carriage train from Salford to Stockport to cope with rush hour
really needs an appraisal.

Ryanair emails and free ideas

I don't ever remember signing up to receive offer emails from Ryanair
but they arrive almost daily, to the point where Ryanair looks
desperate.

This evening I clicked the link to unsubscribe and was bemused to read
that a further email would be sent to confirm that I had been
unsubscribed when a simple message on the page telling me I'd been
removed is all that was needed.

Here is some free business ideas and advice to both Ryanair and Easyjet.

Ryanair have announced that it will soon be possible to make mobile
telephone calls in flight, Ryanair making money by providing the
connection. Ryanair have finally seen the opportunity to tap into
having a plane full of customers to sell other products and services
(other than tea and Pringles) to on the flight so the could....

Put in screens on seat headrests with access to 30 minute tv shows for
a small fee per show.

Offer on the screens access to the Argos catalogue (and other stores)
so people can order goods while in flight (Ryanair get a cut of the
sale).

Offer me a free flight paid for by advertisers putting targeted
interactive adverts on the screen in front of me.

And finally ... Make it possible for a passenger to book a hotel and
travel while in flight (and take a cut of that transaction). ... TV
screens in headrests don't have to be only about delivering
entertainment.