Nowhere in Bournemouth polarises opinion as much as the coastal suburb of Boscombe. It has struggled to shake off the negative images that have blighted it for so long. Classed as being in the bottom 2% of economically deprived areas in the UK and notorious for drugs and crime, you might be tempted to think that Bournemouth Borough Council's efforts to re-generate the area would be warmly received. The truth is, despite improvements, Boscombe continues to divide residents.
The latest bout of simpering from the Echo has followed recent accolades awarded to Boscombe. Having recently won the 'Pier of the Year' award, the council were given recognition for demonstrating an ability to outline a long-term vision for unlocking the area's potential. This secured them top spot at the Local Government Chronicle Awards. The Boscombe Spa Village Project is a major component in the award winning strategy. It includes introducing new housing stock besides developments along the sea front and the creation of Europe's first artificial surf reef. This vision has sought to revitalise Bournemouth's poorest relation.
In spite of these efforts, Boscombe still has its detractors and in some cases, with good reason. The cosmetic adjustments may have enhanced the area's aesthetic appeal however the jury is still out on whether the changes amount to something more substantial as deep-rooted problems remain. Cheap social housing catering for those on housing benefit, sometimes affected by various addictions, is still prevalent. The streets are still a great attraction to the insalubrious element of society.
Perhaps the council should be given more support. Renovating the beach huts so as to put them out of the price-range of the average resident wasn't the smartest of moves though there does appear to be a method behind such madness. This, coupled with the reef, has aimed to bring about a more bohemian atmosphere and well-heeled 'surf set', willing to both invest and spend disposable income.
There are aspects of the council's plans for Boscombe that are right to be lauded. Problems remain though and Bournemouth residents are starting to become irked by the constant stream of sycophantic, positive reporting from local media outlets. The issues affecting the everyday need to be addressed too in an attempt to heal divisions.
Monday 29 March 2010
Wednesday 24 March 2010
Reaching Bournemouth's Richmond Hill Would Feel Like the Summit
Walking down Bournemouth's Richmond Hill on the way to catching the bus can be an exhilirating feeling. This might sound like a slightly strange observation but it's a notion that has stuck with me since moving to the town, three years ago. Upon embarking on that first job hunt on one beautiful September morning in 2007, the bustling open space of Bournemouth Square greeted me. This was quickly followed by a trip 'up the hill'.
The towering offices, dominated by Portman House, home to Nationwide, were a gargantuan sight. Bristol and West House, situated opposite, carried an unmistakable air of importance. The Daily Echo offices added further to a sense of metropolitian grandeur. What else is it about this calf-busting hill that appeals?
Could it be the nicotine high one passes through as the hill's transients puff away relentlessly? Is it the historic Norfolk Royale Hotel, a reminder of the charm exuded by memories of the golden age of the British seaside? It is a curious place, casting an almost aloof gaze upon the rest of the town centre. To work here would surely indicate my own arrival into the exclusive club inhabited by those lucky enough to be there every day. I could even have a swift half after work at the trendy Ink Bar. All of these thoughts and emotions have combined, every time I've walked up or down this most enigmatic of hills.
The towering offices, dominated by Portman House, home to Nationwide, were a gargantuan sight. Bristol and West House, situated opposite, carried an unmistakable air of importance. The Daily Echo offices added further to a sense of metropolitian grandeur. What else is it about this calf-busting hill that appeals?
Could it be the nicotine high one passes through as the hill's transients puff away relentlessly? Is it the historic Norfolk Royale Hotel, a reminder of the charm exuded by memories of the golden age of the British seaside? It is a curious place, casting an almost aloof gaze upon the rest of the town centre. To work here would surely indicate my own arrival into the exclusive club inhabited by those lucky enough to be there every day. I could even have a swift half after work at the trendy Ink Bar. All of these thoughts and emotions have combined, every time I've walked up or down this most enigmatic of hills.
Sunday 21 March 2010
Bounemouth Needs Civically Minded Neighbours
Those of us in the know realise that Bournemouth is a hot-bed of sex, drugs and rock n' roll. This is probably the case in any town and we tend not to mind when it's kept out of sight, out of mind. What about when everyday annoyances build up or criminals begin to openly flaunt their wrongdoings? With all the talk of microchips in bins, increased CCTV, speed cameras and soforth, isn't what we need to tackle everyday problems a more civically minded set of neighbours rather than target driven bureaucrats, busybodies and one issue campaigners, oblivious to the whole range of the debate?
Naturally, reaching recycling targets in the borough represents an important measure of maintaining the council's environmental committment. On the other hand, some people feel fitting microchips to bins seems like unnecessary snooping. Many residents are more concerned with the everyday problems they encounter on the streets of the sprawling suburbs. In the pleasant environs of Winton, one idiot has decided to start shining a laser pen into people's windows. Meanwhile, like a scene out of Quadrophenia, gangs of teens ride their scooters up and down the Winton labyrinth late into the night. The noise of their lawnmower engines is incessant. Then again, I am easily annoyed. Still, as residents, aren't these the kind of issues we should all take an interest in to try and make all of our lives a little bit easier? Granted, we probably can't stop people driving certain vehicles but we could still perform our civic duty and have a moan.
I suppose what really gets on my nerves are the few who blatantly disregard the law. In my previous flat in Winton, I used to regularly see a guy dressed in tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt traipse his way along at all times of the night or day. Perhaps he's a regular at the gym in Stokewood Road, I thought. Of course, there couldn't possibly be an innocent explanation. It was pointed out to me by a neighbour, months later, that our athletic friend was no more than a well-known local drug dealer. His hazy clients could apparently be seen on the corner of our road collecting their fixes in broad daylight. Now, he was no 'Scarface' but come on, what are the police doing to protect us from this kind of menace? Or, as I've tried to make the point throughout, should we as residents make a stand against the ills we see around us and not rely solely on the authorities? I'm not saying we should break into his house and seize his herbal remedies as there is the chance he could already be under surveillance, but surely, if it's obvious to the community that there is a problem, it will have come to the attention of the police too?
The majority of us law abiding folk probably don't want to see vigilante mobs taking matters into their own hands. Neighbourhood Watch stickers adorn windows and lamp-posts but are these groups all mouth and no action? There is also the danger that sometimes we can lose sight of the bigger picture and end up focusing our energies on specific tangents ('studentification' comes to mind). Whilst it's admirable to pursue solutions to these problems with a passionate zeal, let's ensure the debate encompasses all aspects of civic life.
Naturally, reaching recycling targets in the borough represents an important measure of maintaining the council's environmental committment. On the other hand, some people feel fitting microchips to bins seems like unnecessary snooping. Many residents are more concerned with the everyday problems they encounter on the streets of the sprawling suburbs. In the pleasant environs of Winton, one idiot has decided to start shining a laser pen into people's windows. Meanwhile, like a scene out of Quadrophenia, gangs of teens ride their scooters up and down the Winton labyrinth late into the night. The noise of their lawnmower engines is incessant. Then again, I am easily annoyed. Still, as residents, aren't these the kind of issues we should all take an interest in to try and make all of our lives a little bit easier? Granted, we probably can't stop people driving certain vehicles but we could still perform our civic duty and have a moan.
I suppose what really gets on my nerves are the few who blatantly disregard the law. In my previous flat in Winton, I used to regularly see a guy dressed in tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt traipse his way along at all times of the night or day. Perhaps he's a regular at the gym in Stokewood Road, I thought. Of course, there couldn't possibly be an innocent explanation. It was pointed out to me by a neighbour, months later, that our athletic friend was no more than a well-known local drug dealer. His hazy clients could apparently be seen on the corner of our road collecting their fixes in broad daylight. Now, he was no 'Scarface' but come on, what are the police doing to protect us from this kind of menace? Or, as I've tried to make the point throughout, should we as residents make a stand against the ills we see around us and not rely solely on the authorities? I'm not saying we should break into his house and seize his herbal remedies as there is the chance he could already be under surveillance, but surely, if it's obvious to the community that there is a problem, it will have come to the attention of the police too?
The majority of us law abiding folk probably don't want to see vigilante mobs taking matters into their own hands. Neighbourhood Watch stickers adorn windows and lamp-posts but are these groups all mouth and no action? There is also the danger that sometimes we can lose sight of the bigger picture and end up focusing our energies on specific tangents ('studentification' comes to mind). Whilst it's admirable to pursue solutions to these problems with a passionate zeal, let's ensure the debate encompasses all aspects of civic life.
Saturday 20 March 2010
Students Preferred Gas, Not Meow Meow Back in '07-'08
I might be a grouchy young man but even I make the occasional appearance at student house parties. Why, I was present at THAT party back in 2008. Yes, the one that made national news. The Facebook party. Do people still talk about that? Whilst I tip-toed through the houses of Bournemouth's answer to the cast of Skins, I marvelled at the number of empty little cannisters lying on the floor. Back to them later.
There's been a lot of media attention on 'meow meow', a mephedrone drug, that has recently killed two teens. Although techically legal, we know it's deadly. The Echo ran a piece on Thursday about concerns for Bournemouth University students, some of whom were known to be taking the drug for recreational purposes. 'Students in drug-taking storm' is hardly an original story although given recent circumstances, obviously this particular piece is relevant.
As I alluded to earlier, on my forays into studentdom in Bournemouth, those in the Winton house party scene seemed to be getting their kicks from air-filled cannisters. Dozens of them littered windowsills and floors, like empty bullet shells. Nitrus oxide, or laughing gas, certainly seemed to be the drug of choice. Easily available and legal, plus not as harmful as harder drugs, a quick burst can give an ephemeral high. At least you might be led to believe it's not dangerous. Doctors have argued that long-term use can lead to depression and brain damage. So, the comparisons with 'meow meow' are there. Although if you're looking for those types of highs, you're not likely to listen to warnings from a square like me.
There's been a lot of media attention on 'meow meow', a mephedrone drug, that has recently killed two teens. Although techically legal, we know it's deadly. The Echo ran a piece on Thursday about concerns for Bournemouth University students, some of whom were known to be taking the drug for recreational purposes. 'Students in drug-taking storm' is hardly an original story although given recent circumstances, obviously this particular piece is relevant.
As I alluded to earlier, on my forays into studentdom in Bournemouth, those in the Winton house party scene seemed to be getting their kicks from air-filled cannisters. Dozens of them littered windowsills and floors, like empty bullet shells. Nitrus oxide, or laughing gas, certainly seemed to be the drug of choice. Easily available and legal, plus not as harmful as harder drugs, a quick burst can give an ephemeral high. At least you might be led to believe it's not dangerous. Doctors have argued that long-term use can lead to depression and brain damage. So, the comparisons with 'meow meow' are there. Although if you're looking for those types of highs, you're not likely to listen to warnings from a square like me.
Wycombe Prepare for Last Throw of the Dice
Willi's Wycombe
Blimey, it's been a long time since my last Wycombe Wanderers F.C blog. Unfortunately fortunes haven't improved much and Wycombe approach the final ten games of the season eight points from safety at the time of writing. February showed promise with a win against Millwall and a point against Southampton however a gutting 4-3 defeat to bottom club Stockport County deflated any sense of optimism. Wycombe have since won two points so far this month as they drew 0-0 with Carlisle United and 2-2 at fellow struggers Oldham Athletic, after conceding a last-minute equaliser.
Today's match at Adams Park against Exeter City, six points above the Blues in the final relegation spot, represents a last throw of the dice. Failure to beat Exeter will almost certainly condemn Wycombe to the drop, having begun the season with boasts of 'not being in the league to simply make up the numbers'. Close examination of the season's failings had begun long before this weekend with the
ownership battle in the summer and subsequent fall-out causing irreperable damage to events on the pitch. All of the concerns surrounding the club and tensions within the fractious fan-base will need to be put to one side in a last-ditch effort to save Wycombe from relegation this afternoon. On the bright side, the reserves have made it through to the final of the Bucks and Berks Cup having defeated old rivals Slough Town 1-0 on Tuesday.
Ahead of the game, defender Alan Bennett has had to return to Brentford, leaving Wanderers short of options in central defence although rumours have since emerged that the Irishman could make a dramatic return until the end of the season. More enouraging for the Blues, Reading defender Julian Kelly has extended his loan until the end of the season having made five starts and he netted the winner against Millwall on his debut.
It's been said before but if Wycombe are to start life in League One next season, they desperately need to build momentum. Picking up a few draws and the odd win simply will not do at this stage. Exeter have an abysmal away record, having won just twice on their travels so far this season and it is the perfect opportunity for Wycombe to kick-start a great escape. Next week is a first trip to the new home of bitter rivals Colchester United. To continue the fightback with a win in Essex would be an especially sweet continuation should Wycombe win today. For now though, the result at 4.55pm today is all that matters.
WilliWycombe is an exile from the fair town of High Wycombe, having once been a season ticket holder at Adams Park. He doesn't get to many games these days and his views are those of the exile, on the outside looking in and should be treated thusly.
Blimey, it's been a long time since my last Wycombe Wanderers F.C blog. Unfortunately fortunes haven't improved much and Wycombe approach the final ten games of the season eight points from safety at the time of writing. February showed promise with a win against Millwall and a point against Southampton however a gutting 4-3 defeat to bottom club Stockport County deflated any sense of optimism. Wycombe have since won two points so far this month as they drew 0-0 with Carlisle United and 2-2 at fellow struggers Oldham Athletic, after conceding a last-minute equaliser.
Today's match at Adams Park against Exeter City, six points above the Blues in the final relegation spot, represents a last throw of the dice. Failure to beat Exeter will almost certainly condemn Wycombe to the drop, having begun the season with boasts of 'not being in the league to simply make up the numbers'. Close examination of the season's failings had begun long before this weekend with the
ownership battle in the summer and subsequent fall-out causing irreperable damage to events on the pitch. All of the concerns surrounding the club and tensions within the fractious fan-base will need to be put to one side in a last-ditch effort to save Wycombe from relegation this afternoon. On the bright side, the reserves have made it through to the final of the Bucks and Berks Cup having defeated old rivals Slough Town 1-0 on Tuesday.
Ahead of the game, defender Alan Bennett has had to return to Brentford, leaving Wanderers short of options in central defence although rumours have since emerged that the Irishman could make a dramatic return until the end of the season. More enouraging for the Blues, Reading defender Julian Kelly has extended his loan until the end of the season having made five starts and he netted the winner against Millwall on his debut.
It's been said before but if Wycombe are to start life in League One next season, they desperately need to build momentum. Picking up a few draws and the odd win simply will not do at this stage. Exeter have an abysmal away record, having won just twice on their travels so far this season and it is the perfect opportunity for Wycombe to kick-start a great escape. Next week is a first trip to the new home of bitter rivals Colchester United. To continue the fightback with a win in Essex would be an especially sweet continuation should Wycombe win today. For now though, the result at 4.55pm today is all that matters.
WilliWycombe is an exile from the fair town of High Wycombe, having once been a season ticket holder at Adams Park. He doesn't get to many games these days and his views are those of the exile, on the outside looking in and should be treated thusly.
Friday 19 March 2010
Tales From the Bournemouth Dogging Scene
Dogging in Bournemouth. Fun, right? Wrong. My fly boy and I used to snake our way to Meyrick Park, allegedly a Bournemouth hotspot for outdoor exhibitionists. The top car park is for straight people, the bottom is a strictly all male affair. Or is it the other way round?
No matter. My companion and I did not plan on engaging in sexual activity. Like two tittering schoolchildren, we just wanted a glimpse of naked flesh to prove the existence of dogging. My old Rover Metro crept lethargically into the night and nary a penis or vagina were seen. Not even a bit of sideboob.
It wasn't wholly uninteresting though. We parked near the bottom section and vehicles did come and go. Any flash of headlight scared the hell out of me but not my intrepid friend. He demanded that I repeatedly circled the car park in vain hope. Once, as I turned in, we did see a pale and ghostly figure sitting in a car. We didn't see his trousers down but I can only deduce that he was pleasuring himself. That's just an educated guess. There was one moment of genuine excitement. We'd left the area and found some seafront parking to light up and have a crafty cigarillo. Soon afer, I spotted a navy Range Rover that I remembered loitering with intent at Meyrick Park. I caught a brief look at the driver peering into the front of my antiquated machine. I roared the old girl into life and a pursuit ensued. Our target recklessly ignored the 'left-turn only' instructions at the exit and thrust himself right. I checked both sides first before doing the same and followed up the hill. Unfortunately I lost him by Esso but there we have it. The seedy world of dogging in Bournemouth is as dull as ditchwater however you never know when a possible sex pervert might trail you.
Next time: Cottaging at Coy Pond. How to bag your man.
No matter. My companion and I did not plan on engaging in sexual activity. Like two tittering schoolchildren, we just wanted a glimpse of naked flesh to prove the existence of dogging. My old Rover Metro crept lethargically into the night and nary a penis or vagina were seen. Not even a bit of sideboob.
It wasn't wholly uninteresting though. We parked near the bottom section and vehicles did come and go. Any flash of headlight scared the hell out of me but not my intrepid friend. He demanded that I repeatedly circled the car park in vain hope. Once, as I turned in, we did see a pale and ghostly figure sitting in a car. We didn't see his trousers down but I can only deduce that he was pleasuring himself. That's just an educated guess. There was one moment of genuine excitement. We'd left the area and found some seafront parking to light up and have a crafty cigarillo. Soon afer, I spotted a navy Range Rover that I remembered loitering with intent at Meyrick Park. I caught a brief look at the driver peering into the front of my antiquated machine. I roared the old girl into life and a pursuit ensued. Our target recklessly ignored the 'left-turn only' instructions at the exit and thrust himself right. I checked both sides first before doing the same and followed up the hill. Unfortunately I lost him by Esso but there we have it. The seedy world of dogging in Bournemouth is as dull as ditchwater however you never know when a possible sex pervert might trail you.
Next time: Cottaging at Coy Pond. How to bag your man.
Tuesday 16 March 2010
On the Buses in Bournemouth Can Be No Easy Ride
Reading today's article in the Echo about Emma Woolley and her husband Chris intimidating a Wilts and Dorset bus driver got me thinking about my own experiences on the buses. Poor bus driver, Zoe Oakley, had to take weeks off work because these wasters decided they would begin a pointless campaign of harassment against her. Unfortunately, unsavoury incidents involving the good folk who use the area's public transport are not isolated.
The Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch services are, by and large, pretty good, run primarily by Wilts and Dorset and Transdev Yellow Buses. They both offer modern fleets of relative comfort and they largely run on time. Ticket prices are bearable and although you get the odd surly driver, they're not a bad bunch. If only the same could be said about some of the passengers. When knocking off from a late-night shift at the Oceanarium one evening, I had the 'pleasure' of riding the number 5 bus back to Winton. Granted it was a Saturday evening but I was still not expecting the following events. Now, before I begin, let me mount a quick-fire defence against those who may feel that I'm jumping on a Daily Mail-esque bandwagon. I'm not. I'm no prude nor a complete degenerate and at 24, I'm certainly no fuddy-duddy. So yes, what I'm about to describe, does matter to the young(er) members of the local populous too.
Anyway, I was (slightly) shocked and embarassed when having been travelling just a matter of minutes, I hear violent retching coming from the back seat. Oh yes, it sounded nice and juicy and a girl of no more than about 15/16 could be seen and heard emptying her insides. The driver, no doubt completely unamused, pulled over only for the protests of the feckless companions and the baffled faces of the rest of us to persuade him to continue. The girls' friends and an assortment of other youths unknown to her seemed to think her paralytic state was a huge joke. She didn'tknow if she lived in West Howe or West Moors or how she was getting there. I think she had a friend with her but no support. She was vulnerable and she wasn't getting any sympathy.
To make matters worse, a German family, obviously on their holiday had boarded at the train station and this is what welcomed them to Bournemouth. There's been a lot in the media lately about how we should feel proud to celebrate our Englishness this St. George's Day. I felt ashamed that evening as the Germans cowered. I love a good drink but until I'm sick on a bus? No thanks. We've all been there when we were younger and tested the boundaries with alcohol. Let's hope this experience taught this young 'un a lesson.
So well done Wilts and Dorset for setting an example and slapping a restraining order on the Woolleys. Travelling by bus in daytime is generally a pleasant experience. At night it can get a bit rowdy but that's to be expected. What we don't want is it to become acceptable for this kind of behaviour and quite frankly, it'll be better for all of us if people like the aforementioned assortment aren't allowed to travel.
The Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch services are, by and large, pretty good, run primarily by Wilts and Dorset and Transdev Yellow Buses. They both offer modern fleets of relative comfort and they largely run on time. Ticket prices are bearable and although you get the odd surly driver, they're not a bad bunch. If only the same could be said about some of the passengers. When knocking off from a late-night shift at the Oceanarium one evening, I had the 'pleasure' of riding the number 5 bus back to Winton. Granted it was a Saturday evening but I was still not expecting the following events. Now, before I begin, let me mount a quick-fire defence against those who may feel that I'm jumping on a Daily Mail-esque bandwagon. I'm not. I'm no prude nor a complete degenerate and at 24, I'm certainly no fuddy-duddy. So yes, what I'm about to describe, does matter to the young(er) members of the local populous too.
Anyway, I was (slightly) shocked and embarassed when having been travelling just a matter of minutes, I hear violent retching coming from the back seat. Oh yes, it sounded nice and juicy and a girl of no more than about 15/16 could be seen and heard emptying her insides. The driver, no doubt completely unamused, pulled over only for the protests of the feckless companions and the baffled faces of the rest of us to persuade him to continue. The girls' friends and an assortment of other youths unknown to her seemed to think her paralytic state was a huge joke. She didn'tknow if she lived in West Howe or West Moors or how she was getting there. I think she had a friend with her but no support. She was vulnerable and she wasn't getting any sympathy.
To make matters worse, a German family, obviously on their holiday had boarded at the train station and this is what welcomed them to Bournemouth. There's been a lot in the media lately about how we should feel proud to celebrate our Englishness this St. George's Day. I felt ashamed that evening as the Germans cowered. I love a good drink but until I'm sick on a bus? No thanks. We've all been there when we were younger and tested the boundaries with alcohol. Let's hope this experience taught this young 'un a lesson.
So well done Wilts and Dorset for setting an example and slapping a restraining order on the Woolleys. Travelling by bus in daytime is generally a pleasant experience. At night it can get a bit rowdy but that's to be expected. What we don't want is it to become acceptable for this kind of behaviour and quite frankly, it'll be better for all of us if people like the aforementioned assortment aren't allowed to travel.
The 'Collected Thoughts' is No More. Welcome to a New Blog!
Hi everyone,
For those of you who used to read The Collected Thoughts of Nobody Special at www.williwycombe.blogspot.com, I'm afraid to say it is no more. Do not fear though, I'm changing the face of my own tiny piece of the blogosphere hence the change to Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs. Why? It may seem like search-engine optimisation suicide however whilst The Collected Thoughts had allowed me to share my thoughts on the rag-tag world of news and entertainment, I'm now narrowing my scope to encompass two places close to my heart and indeed my homes. So from Chair City (High Wycombe, not technically a city but once home to Britain's furniture trade) to Bournemouth, I'll be blogging my thoughts and opinions on what's going on in these two locales. I was born in High Wycombe and spent my years at secondary school in the town however three years ago I moved from Bucks to Bournemouth, England's own Miami with more pimps, whores, drugs and sex than you can shake the proverbial stick at. It won't all be glamorous. I'll be taking a look at the bigger issues affecting both towns and their residents. I hope you enjoy reading and welcome along to Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs, the new blog from WilliWycombe. Watch out for a new podcast too. For the time being, old podcasts will be hosted at www.williwycombe.podbean.com. Follow me on Twitter @ #williwycombe or drop me a line at willgeldart@hotmail.co.uk.
WilliWycombe
For those of you who used to read The Collected Thoughts of Nobody Special at www.williwycombe.blogspot.com, I'm afraid to say it is no more. Do not fear though, I'm changing the face of my own tiny piece of the blogosphere hence the change to Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs. Why? It may seem like search-engine optimisation suicide however whilst The Collected Thoughts had allowed me to share my thoughts on the rag-tag world of news and entertainment, I'm now narrowing my scope to encompass two places close to my heart and indeed my homes. So from Chair City (High Wycombe, not technically a city but once home to Britain's furniture trade) to Bournemouth, I'll be blogging my thoughts and opinions on what's going on in these two locales. I was born in High Wycombe and spent my years at secondary school in the town however three years ago I moved from Bucks to Bournemouth, England's own Miami with more pimps, whores, drugs and sex than you can shake the proverbial stick at. It won't all be glamorous. I'll be taking a look at the bigger issues affecting both towns and their residents. I hope you enjoy reading and welcome along to Arm Chairs & Deck Chairs, the new blog from WilliWycombe. Watch out for a new podcast too. For the time being, old podcasts will be hosted at www.williwycombe.podbean.com. Follow me on Twitter @ #williwycombe or drop me a line at willgeldart@hotmail.co.uk.
WilliWycombe
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Can Twitter Defy the Critics and Ensure Continued Success?
As a tool of the 'Web 2.0' revolution, Twitter represents everything cutting-edge about the new terminology and has helped to define the user-orientated internet. Social networking sites exploded into life in the mid 2000s, driven primarily by MySpace and Facebook. Twitter joined the pack in 2006 and has grown rapidly since its inception. It's a micro-blogging site where users can post no more than 140 characters sharing their thoughts and opinions or they can use their accounts for the purpose of sharing information by posting links with tweets visible to their 'followers' who pick them up in their personal feeds. After a few years in the limelight, is there a continuing appeal that will ensure progressive growth? Some critics rail against Twitter's celebrity entourage, its publicity obsessed quotient and then there is the trawl through the banal that can encompass the average day in Twitterland.
A major part of the attraction of Twitter is that it counts thousands of celebrities as members, all tweeting away to let fans know what they've eaten for breakfast or if they have an album or film due for release. In Britain, high-profile tweeters have included singer Lily Allen and television mainstay, Stephen Fry. Both have had mixed emotions about the site, leaving for personal reasons or in Fry's case, because of criticism from another user, and then returning again. Stephen Fry, known as a prolific tweeter, publicly had a self-imposed hiatus to concentrate on his writing although on last inspection, it appears he cannot keep away with many tweets listed in the last few days and weeks. Alas, is it revealing to have an insight into the mindset of the celebrity, in a world where they can seem awfully detached? Or should we care about every minute detail of their day? Certain celebrities even ask their followers for their thoughts on what they should wear. Interactive it may be, the worthiness of such exercises can be called into question.
Whilst Twitter is indeed a powerful tool of communication as evidenced in its role in sharing information amongst protesters during the aftermath of the turbulent Iranian election of June 2009, it isn't without its critics. Some say that despite the fluidity Twitter affords those sharing useful information, it does also harbour and encourage the inane. Small, 'txt speak' blogs about someone's favourite colour or what underwear someone is wearing hardly stimulate cogent debate or contribute anything to the already fluff-filled blogosphere however perhaps the ability to pontificate on any subject is another part of its appeal.
However as co-founder Biz Stone delighted in telling all users in a recent email, Twitter continues to grow. "In the course of a year, registered Twitter accounts have grown more than 1,500% and our team has grown 500%", he beamed, adding that the company had just hired its 140th employee. On the flip side, how many of these new users are merely cynical e-marketeers, insistent on jamming our feeds with all of their spam? Plus according to reports representing the back end of 2009, Twitter showed a 2% decline in traffic last October. All of its major rivals continued to show positive growth and MySpace, which has lost some of its lustre since the advent of Facebook, has announced plans for an overhaul to strengthen its position. Whereas Twitter on the other hand, is criticised by some for its failure to evolve sufficiently to provide the features afforded by its competitors (third-party applications, photos, games etc).
If Twitter is to ensure a successful future and maintain user loyalty, there will have to be an evolution to keep people interested and to maintain long-term viability. There's no doubting the benefits. Functions such as the 'retweet' enable micro-blogs and their useful information to be shared amongst a large audience. There is of course the added attraction of access into the celebrity mindset that isn't necessarily restricted to a fan page where content is controlled by a management company. Twitter might not be able to get rid of the marketeers who can smell a fast buck however it does need more to distract attention from the multitude selling their wares and the rest of us peddling our fluff.
A major part of the attraction of Twitter is that it counts thousands of celebrities as members, all tweeting away to let fans know what they've eaten for breakfast or if they have an album or film due for release. In Britain, high-profile tweeters have included singer Lily Allen and television mainstay, Stephen Fry. Both have had mixed emotions about the site, leaving for personal reasons or in Fry's case, because of criticism from another user, and then returning again. Stephen Fry, known as a prolific tweeter, publicly had a self-imposed hiatus to concentrate on his writing although on last inspection, it appears he cannot keep away with many tweets listed in the last few days and weeks. Alas, is it revealing to have an insight into the mindset of the celebrity, in a world where they can seem awfully detached? Or should we care about every minute detail of their day? Certain celebrities even ask their followers for their thoughts on what they should wear. Interactive it may be, the worthiness of such exercises can be called into question.
Whilst Twitter is indeed a powerful tool of communication as evidenced in its role in sharing information amongst protesters during the aftermath of the turbulent Iranian election of June 2009, it isn't without its critics. Some say that despite the fluidity Twitter affords those sharing useful information, it does also harbour and encourage the inane. Small, 'txt speak' blogs about someone's favourite colour or what underwear someone is wearing hardly stimulate cogent debate or contribute anything to the already fluff-filled blogosphere however perhaps the ability to pontificate on any subject is another part of its appeal.
However as co-founder Biz Stone delighted in telling all users in a recent email, Twitter continues to grow. "In the course of a year, registered Twitter accounts have grown more than 1,500% and our team has grown 500%", he beamed, adding that the company had just hired its 140th employee. On the flip side, how many of these new users are merely cynical e-marketeers, insistent on jamming our feeds with all of their spam? Plus according to reports representing the back end of 2009, Twitter showed a 2% decline in traffic last October. All of its major rivals continued to show positive growth and MySpace, which has lost some of its lustre since the advent of Facebook, has announced plans for an overhaul to strengthen its position. Whereas Twitter on the other hand, is criticised by some for its failure to evolve sufficiently to provide the features afforded by its competitors (third-party applications, photos, games etc).
If Twitter is to ensure a successful future and maintain user loyalty, there will have to be an evolution to keep people interested and to maintain long-term viability. There's no doubting the benefits. Functions such as the 'retweet' enable micro-blogs and their useful information to be shared amongst a large audience. There is of course the added attraction of access into the celebrity mindset that isn't necessarily restricted to a fan page where content is controlled by a management company. Twitter might not be able to get rid of the marketeers who can smell a fast buck however it does need more to distract attention from the multitude selling their wares and the rest of us peddling our fluff.
Thursday 4 March 2010
February Podcast Now Online
The February podcast for the 'Collected Thoughts of Nobody Special' is now online! I'll be giving a brief commentary on the best of the blog from the past month. To listen, simply click on the no.1 listing at the left-hand side of the blog title page. Alternatively it's available at williwycombe.podbean.com.
I'll be covering the 'John Terry saga', Lady GaGa at the Brits and a review of the past month for Wycombe Wanderers F.C. As always, please feel free to leave your comments and feedback.
Happy listening!
I'll be covering the 'John Terry saga', Lady GaGa at the Brits and a review of the past month for Wycombe Wanderers F.C. As always, please feel free to leave your comments and feedback.
Happy listening!
Tuesday 2 March 2010
The Great Debate; A General Election Special
Willi's News Review 3.1
All three of the main political party leaders in Britain will go head-to-head in a series of televised debates, it was officially announced today. All three leaders had previously agreed to participate in principal and now the defined format has been agreed. Labour's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg will get their chance to convince the electorate of their parties' ability to lead Britain through some of its most challenging times since the Second World War. In the first instance of its kind, broadcasters Sky, ITV and the BBC will screen three debates from the northwest and southwest of England plus the midlands too.
So, in the final weeks before the anticipated May 6 poll, which leader will glean the biggest advantage from TV debates? As it stands, we're heading for a 'hung' parliament with no party having an overall majority. The Conservatives have seen their lead slip to as much as 2% over Labour as the party struggle to convince voters of their credentials. David Cameron's recent keynote speech in Brighton attempted to display what his core values are to deflect Labour criticism that he lacks substance. Cameron conducted his speech without the aid of notes and he will no doubt be feeling confident ahead of appearing on television. Out of the three leaders, his slick approach and delivery may hand him the advantage though he will have to balance style with substance to strike a sincere note with audiences and vital swing voters. Indeed, the Tories have hired the same advisors used by President Barack Obama as he prepared for his round of TV appearances with John McCain. The Tory slogan for the upcoming election is 'Vote For Change', echoing Obama's campaign and with his team of advisers, at least Cameron will be able to match New Labour's spin department.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's confidence must be boosted by latest polls suggesting that he could remain in power, something that seemed unimaginable just half a year ago. Despite lurching from one crisis to another, it appears an increasing number of voters are placing their faith in his government to help Britain emerge further from its worst recession in years. The kings of spin, Labour will have to work hard to dislodge the dour image that he has suffered from since assuming the role of PM. No doubt Brown will attempt to rally support from the public sector, keen to emphasise to them that a future under the Conservatives will inevitably mean cuts and job losses. Playing on fear is nothing new to electioneering and both Cameron and Brown will aim to depict bleak imagined futures should the other party triumph.
Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats could prove valuable should the spectre of a hung parliament become a reality. Labour and the Tories may wish to court their affections to agree a consensus for policy making. Not much has been heard recently from Nick Clegg. Some of the key Lib Dem proposals involve an overhaul of the tax system, an issue that Clegg thinks will be "one of the key dividing lines" between the parties. Clegg's respected Treasury Spokesman Vince Cable devised the plans, which include abolishing income tax for the first £10,000 earned.
These landmark television debates may not reveal anything wholly original about all three parties' plans though they will offer a fascinating opportunity for the leaders to be scrutinised before a television audience. Will either man crack under the pressure? And will we see Nick Clegg sidelined as Cameron and Brown trade insults? It would be nice to think that the debates won't descend into a comparison of past ills. What we need is a blueprint for the future, backed up by decisive action, not a petty examination of every aspect of a past we cannot change.
All three of the main political party leaders in Britain will go head-to-head in a series of televised debates, it was officially announced today. All three leaders had previously agreed to participate in principal and now the defined format has been agreed. Labour's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg will get their chance to convince the electorate of their parties' ability to lead Britain through some of its most challenging times since the Second World War. In the first instance of its kind, broadcasters Sky, ITV and the BBC will screen three debates from the northwest and southwest of England plus the midlands too.
So, in the final weeks before the anticipated May 6 poll, which leader will glean the biggest advantage from TV debates? As it stands, we're heading for a 'hung' parliament with no party having an overall majority. The Conservatives have seen their lead slip to as much as 2% over Labour as the party struggle to convince voters of their credentials. David Cameron's recent keynote speech in Brighton attempted to display what his core values are to deflect Labour criticism that he lacks substance. Cameron conducted his speech without the aid of notes and he will no doubt be feeling confident ahead of appearing on television. Out of the three leaders, his slick approach and delivery may hand him the advantage though he will have to balance style with substance to strike a sincere note with audiences and vital swing voters. Indeed, the Tories have hired the same advisors used by President Barack Obama as he prepared for his round of TV appearances with John McCain. The Tory slogan for the upcoming election is 'Vote For Change', echoing Obama's campaign and with his team of advisers, at least Cameron will be able to match New Labour's spin department.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's confidence must be boosted by latest polls suggesting that he could remain in power, something that seemed unimaginable just half a year ago. Despite lurching from one crisis to another, it appears an increasing number of voters are placing their faith in his government to help Britain emerge further from its worst recession in years. The kings of spin, Labour will have to work hard to dislodge the dour image that he has suffered from since assuming the role of PM. No doubt Brown will attempt to rally support from the public sector, keen to emphasise to them that a future under the Conservatives will inevitably mean cuts and job losses. Playing on fear is nothing new to electioneering and both Cameron and Brown will aim to depict bleak imagined futures should the other party triumph.
Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats could prove valuable should the spectre of a hung parliament become a reality. Labour and the Tories may wish to court their affections to agree a consensus for policy making. Not much has been heard recently from Nick Clegg. Some of the key Lib Dem proposals involve an overhaul of the tax system, an issue that Clegg thinks will be "one of the key dividing lines" between the parties. Clegg's respected Treasury Spokesman Vince Cable devised the plans, which include abolishing income tax for the first £10,000 earned.
These landmark television debates may not reveal anything wholly original about all three parties' plans though they will offer a fascinating opportunity for the leaders to be scrutinised before a television audience. Will either man crack under the pressure? And will we see Nick Clegg sidelined as Cameron and Brown trade insults? It would be nice to think that the debates won't descend into a comparison of past ills. What we need is a blueprint for the future, backed up by decisive action, not a petty examination of every aspect of a past we cannot change.
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