Amazon has a ‘Page You Made’, um, page, that provides recommendations to new music based on what you bought or looked at. All seems good, except it often includes music I’ve already bought from Amazon.

The Tomlinson review was commissioned by the government in Spring 2003 to review education for 14 to 19 year olds. Its report tabled a 10 year plan to produce a truly integrated education system that better prepared pupils for today’s life and society. It includes radical exam reforms and the introduction of vocational qualifications that are valued as much as their academic counterparts.

Indeed, a deputy head teacher interviewed on Sky News today remarked that one of the main benefits of the revised system is to teach children how to learn. This is crucial. It wasn’t until I reached university that I developed this skill – partly because university demands this. Proof of this is in the work I do today. Few of the techniques I use, and none of the technologies I use in my business existed when I left university, a mere 15 years ago. If I didn’t know how to learn I wouldn’t be running Junctionbox Media today.

It seems likely that the government are too timid (maybe because of an upcoming election) to adopt the plan. Instead it will pick the best bits and muck about with a system that needs reform. What’s the point of commissioning a review if all it’s going to do is make A-levels harder (and how long is that going to last?) and introduce a vocational diploma. Sorry, I forgot one: “functional” literacy and numeracy tests. Sounds great huh?

But that’s the problem with the system of government in this country. It’s all about government rather than country. A self-sustaining self-interested group that cares little or nothing about the people that elect it. And the electorate are too docile to change this.

Apple’s Powerbook 100 has been rated Number 1 in a list of 100 greatest gadgets of all time by MobilePC. Sony’s Walkman was 3rd.

No doubt this will cause the Apple masses to swoon once again, and others to remark how it took Apple a further 9 years to get a killer gadget with the iPod.

Whisper this to an Apple zealot near you: Sony designed the Apple Powerbook 100

Two things:

1. If you have a Philips Senseo, beware of leaky coffee pods that clog up the little hole that the coffee gets forced out of. I had one yesterday that caused it to make a very wimpy coffee-making sound, and no coffee. I then had to wait a long time (nearly 24 hours) and eat extra spinach before I could open the lid. Vacuums eh? Lovely.
2. Do not under any circumstances stream music to an Apple Airport Express in your kitchen if that kitchen has an operating microwave oven. (I know, Apple does warn you). If you do you’ll find that music drops out every few seconds before iTunes gives up completely. The solution is to wait until you’ve used the microwave then play your music.

Currently playing in iTunes: GTR Session 6 (Jan 28 2005) by GT vs Project C