Category: just-plain-life

A home in New Islington?

Urbansplash's Chips and Islington Wharf

The flat hunting is coming close to the end now. I've seen some amazing places and almost bought a couple but now its come down to two very different developments on the same plot of land. The plot of land is the much talked about New Islington or Ancoats. If you say Ancoats to most people who live in Manchester and they shudder and I see why. Its got a bit of crime problem, no where near most of the places in London I've lived in (such as Woolwich). Actually when I took this picture I had 6 youth come up close and tell me to stop taking pictures of them. Not afraid, I made it clear that I was not taking picture of them. To which I was called a prick while they walked away of course. Anyway that aside, the place is having a major redevelopment and the new tram stop and other things do make it a first time buyers ideal location. Its also just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station and the trendy Northern Quarter.

Question is which development is the one for me? Chips or Islington Wharf?

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Redbull Cola or is it actually Redbull Coke?

Found via 7Deacons, German food scientist have found traces of Cocaine in Redbull Cola.

About a year ago, the makers of Red Bull, the famous caffeine-loaded energy drink, decided to come out with a soda, unsurprisingly named Red Bull Cola. The shared name implied the same big kick. But could the cola's boost — supposedly “100% natural” — come from something else? Officials in Germany worry that they've found the answer — cocaine. And now they have prohibited the soda's sale in six states across the country and may recommend a nation-wide ban.

Now to be honest I'm a bit shocked and I don't think I can really buy another one till I know for sure what's going on. Don't get me wrong I know its only a trace amount (0.13 micrograms) and you would need to drink liters to feel any effect but I'm going to let this one play out a little more. It would be a shame if it gets banned or they can't redo the formula. Redbull Cola was lovely to drink and strangely moreish (i'm kidding). Tell the honest truth, I've been drinking Pepsi Raw the last few weeks instead of Redbull Cola.

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Wake up America, protect your pin

Latest Diggnation includes a story from Tru-TV's (think cheap TV, like Sky3) version of the Real Hustle (yes remember the Real Hustle was first on BBC). The Cash Machine Scam is basically the scam/criminal act of skimming cards at a cashpoint and using a mini camera to spy the pin code. I did try and find the equivalent from the UK's real hustle but its so common and everyone knows it, I don't think the show even bothered. I do however remember a scam where they put a card reader on the outside of the bank's door opener, so you would need to swipe your card to open the door. Most people would swipe there card there going to use inside.

Anyway, the American real hustle video shows a guy putting a skimmer with camera on top of the cashpoint's card entry. A lady comes up and uses the cashpoint, she leaves and the scammer takes the skimmer. Scammer goes to his van, makes a card and then goes to the cashpoint and uses it.

To anyone in the UK, your most properly yawning and thinking so? However in America this is all new, it would seem. Kevin Rose on Diggnation seems to think its some kind of joke. And to be honest, my experience of spending time in America, is consistent with Kevin's thoughts. People don't protect there pin numbers at ATM/Cashpoints. It was natural that the scammers would move in at some point and they must be making a killing there. Time to protect your pin…

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Redbull now in XL 473ml cans

Found in the supermarket the other day, Redbull in 473ml cans. Its noteworthy in my mind because the original can of 250ml can was superseded by the 355ml can which you now find Redbull Cola in. While the other energy drinks companies have moved to 500ml cans which are easily mistaken for Beer Cans, Redbull has stuck to its guns and kept the tall can to hold the new size Redbull. Interestingly the supermarkets have copied the Redbull cans instead of going for the Beer Can style.

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Its all about attention to detail Puma

I've been on holiday recently, yep totally breaking myself off from work stuff for a short period. I actually been doing the boring stuff like shopping, cleaning and arranging. For the first time I've visited the Trafford Centre (outskirts of Manchester) and actually spent a good amount of time in the Arndale (central Manchester). Usually I'm in and out as fast as my legs can take me, but I did a proper look around last week.

Anyway I ended up in the Puma Store because I am looking for new trainers (sneakers, tennis shoes, whatever) and tried on a T-shirt. The T-shirt in question is a special edition which has the name of the city it was bought in on it. So as you can see above he's the Manchester one. I tried it on and thought it was a little too loud but what bugged me the most was the label.


MCN? Where's that then? The thing across the T-shirt is meant to be a airport sticker thing. So why has it got MCN on it instead of MAN which is Manchester's International and only Airport shortcode. So where on earth did they get MCN from? Me thinks someone was making this stuff up and screwed up. And for that reason I decided not to buy the T-shirt. Attention to detail Puma!

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Highlights of the real time web: People care

me

I tweet as I walk into the Accident and Emergency (or the Emergency Room for you Americans) of Manchester Central Hospital, thinking about the advice of my GP early that day, that I should go to A&E right away do not pass go and pick up 200 pounds. I could have a life threating blood clot in my left leg which could move to the heart, brain or lungs.

in manchester central A&E. my birthday weekender is off i'm sorry to say.say. will update why later

The feedback from Twitter followers was amazing and heartfelt. Thank you to everyone who replied, called and texted me. I had a schedule of things I was going to be doing this weekend and now that schedule is cancelled because the doctors have given me some drugs to stop the swelling in my leg, ordered me to not to walk on it much and finally keep it up. So I'm watching movies with my leg resting on a hackday beanbag. I'm meant to do this for the next 3-4 days.

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