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David Cameron
Posted Jun 22, 2006
And another blog at http://davenicebutknave.blogspot.com
About guess who.
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Latest reply: Jun 22, 2006
Blog
Posted Jan 4, 2006
Started a blog at http://joeotten.blogspot.com/ largely I guess for when some political thing or other needs ranting about.
I don't read other people's blogs, and I guess nobody will read mine...
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Latest reply: Jan 4, 2006
Good books
Posted Aug 24, 2003
I've read a few good books recently which I'm about to recommend.
High Society by Ben Elton. An excellent book. As funny as usual. Grittier than usual. Develops an interesting contrast between the lives of a rock star and a crack whore. (Also recommend Dead Famous, Popcorn and any other Ben Elton)
Tin Men by Michael Frayn. After recent successes, they seem to be reprinting some of Frayn's older novels. I didn't really get "Towards the end of the morning", but "Tin Men" was compelling. Set in a research establishment aimed at deskilling and computerising any profession you think of, it succeeds in lampooning the engineers and the professions they attack. The novel predates computer engineers as we know them - the characters are scientists, and are as brilliantly understood and exposed by Frayn as are other professions in his other works. (Also recommend A Landing on the Sun, The Trick of It and Headlong by Michael Frayn. Not so keen on Spies.)
This is Your Life by John O'Farrell. Perhaps not as good as "The Best a Man Can Get" by the same author about a composer who leads a double life as a student-like layabout, while pretending to his wife that he is working long hours; this book deals with bare-faced pretense at a more professional level. The protagonist develops a wholly undeserved reputation for being a hot new stand up comic. An all too easy satire on celebrity status, but a good read nonetheless.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. More of an incredible story than a good read. There was something at the beginning about this being a story that would make you believe in God. I don't know what that was supposed to be about. Funny in places, but mostly incredible.
How to be Good by that Fever Pitch guy, something Hancock I think. (This was a while ago now.) Excellent story and characters. Seems (from a male perspective) a remarkable insight into a female protagonist by a male author. A fantastic moment near the end when the edifice starts to crumble....
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Should have read sooner I suppose. Something to read if you think you may be confusing happiness with pleasure. Must read if you saw that travesty of it with Leonard Nimoy.
Honourable mention: anything by Tony Parsons or Mike Gayle. (Perhaps just for 30something males)
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Latest reply: Aug 24, 2003
Well
Posted Jul 1, 2003
OK, so here I am. Spend too much time on this already. Will do some more work on the advertising article at some point. And perhaps one on the problems with e-voting later on.
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Latest reply: Jul 1, 2003
Joe Otten
Researcher U229571
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