The Goss, The Pics, The Biz, The News of the World

Photo credit: News International/PA Wire.

It hasn't hit the shops yet and already you can 'pre-order' a copy on eBay for around £5.50 a copy!

After 168 years this iconic newspaper is no more with the last ever edition going on sale tomorrow.

It's the best selling Sunday newspaper in the UK with a current readership of around 2.6 million readers which is more than double the next 'red top' Sunday paper.

Gone are the World Exclusives that have made it famous throughout the UK - I guess the pressure of getting bigger and better Exclusives got so great that they not only crossed the line but kept on going until it was too late to go back and after tomorrow they will be no more.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

TJ Hughes In Administration

Another UK company has just gone in to administration leaving around 4,000 people at risk of losing their jobs.

Founded by Thomas Hughes in 1912, just like the failed Woolworths chain - TJ Hughes is just 1 year away from celebrating its 100th year in retailing.

No doubt in the next few weeks there will lots of bargains to have as the Administrators are likely to try an liquidate as much stock as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Jane Norman Now In Administration

Retail chain Jane Norman is now in administration. 1,600 people are employed by the company that has gotten in to cash flow difficulties which has left the board no choice but to call in the administrators.

Sponsor A Child With Plan UK

For just a few pence each day you could make such a huge difference to a child's life. If you're interested in Sponsoring a child then click on one of the links below to go to Plan UK's website.

Plan have pioneered child sponsorship over 70 years ago and today they have around 1,000,000 sponsors.

So why not make a difference and sponsor a child today?

Mobility Scooter Caravan

Just like the 3-wheel Robin Reliant, this is not a joke.

For around £5,000 you can purchase what they are calling the "world’s smallest caravan" that has been designed to be towed by nothing more than a mobility scooter!

With a top speed or 6MPH you're not going to get anywhere fast. It comes complete with a single-bed, radio, kettle and even a 19" TV!

There's even a YouTube video of it here:

New Series of Red Dwarf Confirmed!!

A brand new series of Red Dwarf has just been confirmed!  TV channel Dave has commissioned the series which will be shown later this year.

Although the official Dave website states that "nothing is 100% definite" it has been unofficially confirmed by Kryten (aka Robert Llewellyn) who will tell you that it's being/been done if you ask him in person.

I'm a huge Red Dwarf fan but to say that Back To Earth was a bit of a let down would be an understatement so I hope they learn from their mistakes and get some laughter in the show - for me it was too silent and either needed a live audience at recordings/screenings to be recorded laughing at the show or even some canned laughter added.  For me Back To Earth was too silent and with all the previous episodes where laughter was added to the shows you laughed along with them and it made it so much better.

Fingers-crossed they don't screw up what it an iconic and fantastic Sci-Fi Sit-Com!

The Kings Speech

I went to see The Kings Speech last night and I have to say it was fantastic!

Set in the early 1900's this film is based on the true story of King George VI and his relationship with his speech therapist who helps him overcome his speech impediment to enable him to speak to the nation and the world when we were at war with Nazi Germany.

Although it's a drama and not a comedy there are some hilarious moments in the film where everyone in the cinema was laughing very loudly indeed!

There is some bad language in the film, but it is in context and adds humour to the situation.

It has become a critically acclaimed film and deservedly so - if you've not seen it yet then I would thoroughly recommend you do so.

Office Pranks/Practical Jokes - Tin Foil

I've always wanted to do this and the opportunity arose this week to do it!  We began work during our lunch-breaks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with the 'grand finale' occurring this afternoon!

On closer inspection you can see we did an excellent job on the phone and as you can see not only did we wrap the contents of his desk, but the desk itself!

 

We didn't forget his drawers (which he forgot to lock) and everything from an individual business card and CD-ROM to his stapler and rolls of tape got wrapped in foil!

I can't wait to see his face on Monday when he returns to work after a week off - he was warned no less than 10 times to stop crossing the line when joking around and this is what happens when you use up all 10 strikes!  We have plenty of other things ready to do should he not get the message this time!

Karaoke Karen - Wellingborough

I was just watching a few videos on YouTube when I came across a very short video of Karaoke Karen from Wellingborough, Northants!

When I was attending Tresham College we used to go down the town at lunch for something to do and most days you would see her outside the Swansgate Shopping Centre dancing away to music on her boombox.

What Is The Point Of Twitter?

 

Ever since Twitter first began, I've never really understood the point of it all.  A few months ago I finally joined up to see what all the fuss was about and after entering a few 'tweets' I still couldn't work out what the point of it was.

I started to follow a friend of mine and soon knew when she was at work, when she was at home, if she was having dinner, getting a drink and a fair few other mundane pieces of information.

I just didn't get it.

I then started looking for some famous people to follow and that's when I started to realise what it's all about!

It's about following people that you find interesting and when you follow the right people you'll start to enjoy twitter and that's what I think it's all about!

I've even started following local business to me such as my local paper so I can see local headlines with a web link, if I want to read more I can click on the link else I just ignore it!

I've recently discovered the Lists function so I've now grouped together all the local people I'm following, people I actually know, famous people and funny people!

One of the people I'm following is @thekeithchegwin who tweets a lot of funny jokes and it made my day when I replied to one of his tweets saying I had just found him on Twitter and hadn't laughed so much in a long while and he sent me a reply!

I'm also following the lead singer of the band Twisted Sister @deesnider and he Re-Tweeted one of my comments and added to it!  In what other situation could I be chatting with a megastar like that?!

If you want to see the people I am currently following on Twitter then take a look at my lists here:

http://twitter.com/andrewfarren/lists

When it comes to Tweeting, I have decided not to Tweet about everything and anything but will mainly Tweet about the different day trips I go on along with the odd thing that I find interesting or relevant to me.

If you want to follow me on Twitter then take a look here:

http://twitter.com/andrewfarren

Best Buy Open First UK Store

This May Bank Holiday weekend the US giant Best Buy open their first electrical retail outlet in the UK - offering fantastically low prices with knowledgeable staff (9 weeks of training each) who aren't on commission and want to help you.

DSG International (Currys & PC World) and COMET are in for a huge shock as more new Best Buy stores are on their way.

I can remember assisting in the Currys 'Big Bang' project where they moved pretty much all the stock in the warehouse out on to the shop floor so if you wanted to buy a TV you didn't need a sales person, you simply picked up the box and dragged it to the cash desk!

They even opened new stores that didn't have a warehouse at all, when a delivery arrived it was scanned on to the system as it came in the back door and went straight out on to the shop floor!  This was a HUGE advancement and now Best Buy is on the scene they'd better come up with another idea this big else they'll quickly lose market share and Best Buy will take over.

Electrical retailing in the UK is about to change, forever.   How will it change?  Only time will tell - we'll have to see how COMET and DSG International fight back.

Twisted Sister!

Up until yesterday, I was under the impression that I owned every single Twisted Sister Album they had released.  On this very rare occasion, I was wrong.

I was unaware that I was not the proud owner of their Stay Hungry album!  Needless to say I went straight on to iTunes (normally I'd get the CD but that would take a couple of days to arrive through the post and iTunes is instant download).

On searching for the Stay Hungry album I came across the 25th Anniversary edition which was only a couple of quid more than the standard album so clicked on 'buy now' and it began to download...

The download was taking a lot longer than I was expecting so I had a look at iTunes to see what it was up to and low and behold - there were 26, yes 26 tracks downloading!  More than double what was on the original album and loads of 'new' songs I had never heard before.

I have had a quick listen to the whole of the album but it was very late at night and I didn't want to disturb the neighbours so only had the volume on low - heaven help them today!  Now that it's day time the volume is going LOUD and I don't care if it's a Sunday and everyone is chilling out and enjoying the peace and quiet, in my neighbourhood they are about to be woken up to TWISTED F@*%ing SISTER!!!

Top Ten Tips On Saving Fuel Costs

Everywhere you look there are 'Top 10' tips/guides on saving fuel and therefore money and I have compiled a few of them below:

• Turn off your air conditioning if you have it


• Shut all your windows (to reduce drag)

So basically sweat like a pig whilst driving along in the summer! From what I gather, if you are driving around town and the like then turn off your air-con and open up your windows as for short trips this is the most economical.

If you are going on a long journey on Motorways etc. then you should close your windows and put on the air con ensuring that you are circulating the air inside the car.

• Reduce weight in your car by emptying your boot - do you really need all that stuff in your boot?


• Check your tyre pressure - underinflated tyres can severly effect your MPG


• If you have it, use cruise control


• If you don't, drive smoothly - don't accellerate or break too sharply.


• Change gears between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm for optimum fuel economy.  Leave your car in gear at all times unless you come to a stop! Coasting down a hill actually uses petrol as you engine will be idleing which uses petrol, by keeping the clutch engaged the fuel will actually be routed back to the fuel tank instead - thus saving fuel!


• If your stuck in a traffic jam, turn off your engine if you are likely to be sitting there for more than 1 minute.


• Make sure your car is regularly serviced etc.


• Avoid short trips - walk to the shop that's just round the corner

So there you have it, there are my top 10 tips to help improve your fuel economy. I'm not a car expert, but what I have done is have a good look around the internet and the 10 that I have listed are the ones that make the most logical sense to me!