£6m is a lot of money

A couple of months ago I wrote about how I eventually managed to get my incorrect parking ticket overturned. Turns out this enterprise is indeed a nice little earner for Glasgow City Council. An article in todays Evening Times confirms that last year wardens issued 193,850 fixed penalty notices in the City, generating six million pounds. There's plenty of meat in this subject, not least because as I accepted a 'Conditional Fixed Penalty Notice' from two of Strathclydes finest a fortnight ago. I wanted to fight it but going to Court against the Procurator Fiscals Office is an entirely different kettle of fish. Sadly, you can expect another blog post about FPN's in due course.

This stopped me in my tracks

I don't usually blog about internet stuff, but I came across a link to this video yesterday and it completely shook me. Its not telling you anything you don't already know, but it puts its point about perception and reality across really well. The cynical spoiled dark side of my heart thinks that its a neat marketing angle. Dove going after the ugly dollar (to paraphrase Bill Hicks). Maybe they are being genuine - but I doubt it. Just like Innocent, the squishy drinks company, its name sounds like some really careful consideration went into it... which makes me suspicious when I probably shouldn't be.

PG aaargh 3!!!

Given the sheer explosion-tastic-ness of Crackdown and GOW's addictive strong bloody violence my third game has been put on the back burner quite a bit. Spent a few hours switching between in-car and bumper but its making no difference, I'm still really struggling to climb the learning curve. What frustrates me is the unforgiving nature of this game - any deviation from the best line and its nigh-on-impossible to make up the ground, and don't even think about clipping the barriers. Maybe this is one of those posts that in six months I'll look back on and say, I was just struggling with its 'newness' and look at me now. Or will I just be playing Forza 2 instead?

Filling the hours

I'm absolutely hopeless at doing nothing. At home today, spending time euphemistically 'resting'. Jules got me Gears of War when she was down the shops, but I just can't play shooters when the suns out. Daft I know. I'm more cautious than sore. Just sitting here, expecting it to get worse - like do bruises take time to show? Never try to write anything when Air is playing, they are too melancholy for words. This new album is really lovely though.

Rather them than me

Been playing a lot of Crackdown and Ian has written a nice review, so I shan't repeat him. I will say one thing. The thrill of jumping is not to be underestimated - its just fantastic. I am little scared of heights though I did manage to make it to the top of the Eiffel Tower once. Churn. Using the stick to peer over the edge of some buildings has been making my stomach roll in a similar fashion. Saw these guys cleaning the windows next to us, and it made me think of the game. Strange that.

The thrill of the new

I recently bit the bullet and finally bought an Xbox 360, but a post on that will follow shortly. What caught my eye today was a sign outside GAME in Sauchiehall Street. Get one of the last guaranteed PS3 pre-orders, they're going fast!!! At least that's what they'd like you to believe. It’s all about marketing, and given that stratospheric cost of the machine here in the UK I wonder how likely Wii-style price markups are for early adopters? The machine looks prohibitively expensive before you buy all the related paraphernalia, wireless this, advanced cable that, memory card and a multi-tap (I jest, but you how mean Sony can be). Oh aye, stick a couple of games in there and thats another ton on the price. Expensive. However, a bit of history is required - I'm sure similarly insane prices were around when the PS2 was launched. Popular bundle prices were in the four hundreds, and I'm sure I remember seeing an original import Playstation in a game store in London for £650. Factor in ten years of inflation and the current prices look good value. Go figure.