Reviews...

The gadget: Axiotron Modbook

Those of you who haven't heard of it (which I suspect is the majority) will do so now. Essentially is is an apple laptop, but instead of a screen it has an interactive pad for artists. I personally think it is immensely... well cool I guess doesn't describe it in it's full capacity. I have used artist pads before and have concluded that paper is much easier on the hand-eye coordination. However I suspect using this application would be just like using paper but also with the extra bits that come with art programs on computer.
The Book: Don't You Know Who I Am? by Piers Morgan

What can I say? I enjoyed reading it ( I wouldn't have finished it otherwise.) But 'why' is the question I can't answer. I guess the fact that his career was based on the fact he did what he loved (what I love) and succeeded, needs some recognition. The fact that he made a career-in the time period of the book- out of being popular and no other talent, intrigues me; while a part of my brain disregards it as impossible. The fact that in England -a country obsessed more that any other I know (but maybe America) with popularity,- he isn't even famous, he is relatively unknown to the general public in the time he describes in the book. It is the celebrities that know him, fear him, hate him. The story doesn't have plot or any meaning but it is fascinating in it's own right. You get to know his personal writing style rather intimately. It all adds to the heady mix. I think the only reason I didn't stop reading at the lack of plot is because the book portrays a dream world -one way or another- of the general public. Mix that dream land with the slightly smug yet self depicting tone of the whole book and the interestingly distance - but not frigid- tone and you get the best seller it is now.

The writing style I like a lot, I like it because it holds a fascination for me, diary I can do, but diary to the public? The whole point of what is written is the audience, and of the top of my head I can't think of any other publication that is a book and it's sole point it's the audience. A textbook is to inform, a magazine is to entertain, but in this I do not know the point. It is written like a diary, yet it is written for the audience. And I as the said audience enjoyed it, - but as I said above I can't think of a reason - what I wish to know is how do you obtain such a talent: to know what the audience wants before the audience it -or her-self. Experience? Talent? Muse? Luck?

The Series: New Tricks

I wont give to much away, but I'm not to sure how to describe it. The police opens a new department: UCOS which stands for Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad. The head is Sandra Pullman who became disrespected and a general scapegoat for the police since an incident involving a dog and a pistol. She is to hire retired police officers to solve such old cases.

She hires 3:

Jack, who is relatively normal for the fact that his wife Mary died in a car crash and he often talks to her grave in his back garden.

Jerry, who has 3 ex-wife's and a daughter from each of them. Other than that he has many useful concession and a general disregard to the rules (but then again, so do Jack and Brian)

Brian, is a genius when it come to memory and can remember all of police officers records. He can be scary when without medication.

All in all most of the hour long episodes are funny and contain an edge of danger, they all have a good plot but also work well as a wind down after a bad day. I can say anything else to it. If you wish to watch the first/pilot episode:

This is the pilot but I'm not sure how well it will work

This is the first episode and it will work

Both may take a while to work properly. But seriously if you like it I would recommend buying it (I'm personally planning on asking it for my birthday/Easter)

Love Sasha