In my little piece about Gmail last week, I noted that my journey to work covers many CCTV cameras. In a piece published on the same day at CNN, it was noted that there are something like 4.2 million cameras observing our movements around the British capital. That really does seem like a great number. An American author, Jeffrey Rosen, notes,

Instead of being perceived as an Orwellian intrusion, the cameras in Britain … were hailed as the people’s technology, a friendly eye in the sky, not Big Brother but a kindly and watchful uncle or aunt [source]

Do you really think this is the case? I certainly don’t think of it as the people’s technology, although I will admit to a resigned acceptance of the devices. Overall, I suspect they are a necessary evil in the world we inhabit. Is that a foolish notion?

I don’t watch much reality television, but Digital Spy is telling me that Gary Lucy has signed up for The Match, an upcoming reality show which is set to start on Sky One in October. What fun. I will be tuning in – it makes owning a Sky dish all the more worthwhile. Maybe I should make Gary a future Man of the Moment.

And note to self: when this entry comes up in the ‘On This Day’ link, it’s time to renew my membership to OutInTheUK, which might be OutInTheUSA.com to you or OutInCanada if you are gay and in Canada. Everywhere else it is probably, erm,OutEverywhere. Are you a member? What’s your ID?

So at Waterloo station an hour ago I got a call from my boss – there was a client on the telephone who needs an urgent email – can you help them tonight? On the train, I used my Treo to check locations of wifi spots. Starbucks in Wimbledon is where I am sitting writing emails to customers. It’s tacky and yet cool at the same time. It’s great and also an example of how technology takes over our lives. And it looks like it is about to rain!

Poor Gareth Gates. It seems his career is on the rocks and his record company is trying to rebrand him. Perhaps something good has come out of all the Pop Idol shows. It was widely thought that Gareth was the industry’s preference for the Pop Idol when the public voted for Will Young. Will is still having hit records. I am not sure what it says about the Pop Idol phenomenon. In this instance, the public got it right, but where are now Hear’say, One True Voice, Michelle …

Last September I visited Bush House, the home of the BBC World Service. It was part of the London Open House weekend, an annual event that allows visitors behind the doors of buildings not usually open to the public. This year it’s the weekend of September 18th and 19th. The brochure can be ordered from the official site. If you’re in London that weekend, I would encourage you to find something to visit!

Back Ache Update

I suppose that I should have given you a little update earlier in the week, and I certainly should have recorded it for myself. So, as you can see, we managed to clear a great deal over the weekend – although I thought I had broken the hired shredder unit (but hadn’t). We cleared bags and bags of material away and flattened tons of earth. We placed paving slabs where the new shed is to go (it actually came on Tuesday, but I have no pictures yet), and then, on Monday (after this picture was taken), this fence was replaced with a newer one (of the same style), which doesn’t look like it is about to blow over when the wind gets up.

So, Michael Owen was left on the bench last night for the Champions League qualifier in Austria (Liverpool won 2-0 over Grazer AK). So, will he really be leaving British football for Spain?

This Is London: Owen shows his value on the bench
Givemefootball.co.uk: Benitez refuses to be drawn on Owen
BBC Sport: Owen’s future uncertain

As a public service.

Ericsson no longer makes the DECT 260 telephone, and it seems almost impossible to get support on the phone. If, like me, you have been silly enough to lock it by not entering the correct PIN numbers at the right time, then you might need the universal IPEI code: 0000707402170

So, this was the scene yesterday morning. It’s proved to be a lot harder work than we imagined, and I can hardly walk. Still, they bring the new fence tomorrow (which will look something like the old one, really) and it’s starting to make the place look better. We had an enjoyable barbecue with the neighbours for an hour yesterday afternoon, which gave us a break and – probably – saved PY and me from arguing too much about the laying of the paving slabs.

Thank goodness the weather has been great this weekend – although it has made the work a little harder. This past week has had two torrential downpours, which have brought parts of the transport system to a halt. A little like on this day in 2002.