Guy Portman's Blog, page 34
October 23, 2015
5 Books that Affected Me
All of us have read books that have affected us in some way. This week’s blog post is devoted to 5 books by 5 different authors that have affected me, and perhaps influenced my own writing in some small way (2 novels to date, a 3rd coming in January).
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
Post Office is a humorous, semi-autobiographical account of its author’s years of toil at the United States Postal Service. Although its protagonist Chinaski is a crude and cynical man with a misogynistic outloo...
October 16, 2015
My Revamped Blog
March 12th 2012 saw the launch of this blog with a post titled Miami Day One. It wasfollowed 4 days later with a post dedicated to my first and last visit to Taco Bell (Fort Lauderdale). I am not sure anyone other than myself ever read these posts.
Today, 3.5 years and 36,000 page views later, I finally got around to getting a professional to redesign this blog. It was out with the all-encompassing grey, including grey font, and in with a tasteful white and blue scheme with a clear, large, bl...
October 14, 2015
Twitter (part 2)
(This blog post is a continuation from last week’s. I include the first three sections for those who did not read it).
Introduction
The evolution of Twitter since its creation in 2006 has been unprecedented in the history of the Universe. Twitter is currently inhabited by approximately 140 million creatures (though it is suspected that some are robotic). This study examines the role of two of Twitter’s many species.
Aims & Objectives
i). To observe, document & compare the tweeting habits of t...
The evolution of Twitter since its creation in 2006 has been unprecedented in the history of the Universe. Twitter is currently inhabited by approximately 140 million creatures (though it is suspected that some are robotic). This study examines the role of two of Twitter’s many species.
Aims & Objectives
i). To observe, document & compare the tweeting habits of two species.
ii). Use the results to draw conclusions on the given species prospects for further evolutionary progress.
Methodology
...Update and Book Review
You might remember that last week I was so exasperated with issues over formatting my book for CreateSpace that there was a minor tantrum. Fortunately my fourth attempt was met with success and to my palpable relief the odd pages appeared on the right hand side of the virtual book. I am now awaiting the arrival of the proof copy from America. Having paid a priority shipping fee I was under the impression that it was to arrive on Wednesday. It did not. And it did not arrive on Thursday either....
CreateSpace
I have been very fortunate in receiving a great deal of assistance with cover design (see front cover on right of screen), editing and proof reading for my soon to be released book, all of which I am most grateful for. An eBook conversion company is formatting the book for the Kindle, whilst I am preparing the paperback version myself.
Monday
07:00 – The paperback formatting begins in earnest with the downloading of a special Word template courtesy of CreateSpace. With a meticulous eye for d...
The Drought
Looking out of the window, I notice that the rain has stopped, for what feels like the first time in weeks. With no printer ink and an excess of printing to be done, I decide to take advantage of this temporary respite in the weather and head off hurriedly in the direction of the stationery retailer Rymans.
Barely two minutes later I am ordering black Kodak ESP C110 ink, my breathing coming in harried gasps. The shop assistant examines the shelf behind him for what seems an inordinate amount...
Bitcoin
By Guest Blogger – Adam Riley
It’s a story I tell a lot. In 2006 I was looking for a way to prolong my life of sybaritic ennui when I stumbled across an article on gold. At the time it was trading at $400/oz. Having some cash in the bank from various deaths I thought about buying some. Why not? And while I’m at it, get my trotters on some silver as well, at $7/oz. There is a shop near The Savoy Hotel where you can walk out with a bar of bullion as easily as buying a Twix from WHSmith. Even I,...
Wenlock and Mandeville
What represents Great Britain’s cultural heritage, are the embodiment of Great Britain’s Olympic team, the pride of the British public and are made in China? The answer is of course London 2012’s two mascots; Wenlock and Mandeville (Wenlock on left & Mandeville on right). To some they are they are the very essence of this festival of sport. To others they are merely ludicrous and infantile phallic eyesores. London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has skilfully deflected any potential criticism by stati...
Harrods Department Store
Founded in 1834, Harrods has been popular with London’s wealthy residents and foreign visitors for generations. As I enter the shop and make my way towards the escalators, a thought occurs to me. What if you found out that you had won a free gift from Harrods worth between two point five and six times the national average annual pre-tax salary of about 26k? I expect that you would punch the air with delight and jump up and down in the excited manner of a child. But there’s a catch you are tol...
