Author: Tom Coates

I went to see Mission: Impossible 2 last night at a special press screening at the Empire in Leicester Square (I’m having quite the glamourous life at the moment). My honest opinion: it was bloody awful. Totally ridiculous, pointless film full of overblown stunts, empty of plot, totally lacking suspense, intrigue and likeable characters. Thandie Newton is the magnolia (paint colour not movie) of the current crop of actresses. Two stars who exude less passion and sexual fire I can’t imagine. It was like seeing Yogi flirt with Snagglepuss (except prettier). Waste of money (except I hadn’t paid any). In fact it made me so cross, I wrote my first epinion in months…

I’m sorry, but Jeffrey Zeldman rocks so hard and fast he could vibrate himself through a mountain. In his latest article “HTMHell” at Adobe’s site, he comes across as a freedom fighter for independent creative content on the web. And Christ knows, we need more of those. Here’s a sample quote from what must be considered a call to arms, a Manifesto for the true digerati – the people that like to play and create and communicate, rather than the people who consider a “good internet idea” to be selling sportswear (however ineffectively):

“So here we are. Ten years into the largest informational makeover since Gutenberg. Five years since software makers, ad moguls, and multimedia megaliths smelled the decaffeinated freeze-dried Folgers. And how have we harnessed Berners-Lee’s incredible gift to the world? Now that the means of production have been handed to us on a silver modem, what are we doing with them?

We’re selling stuff. Swapping stuff. Buying stuff. And watching the dot-commies hemorrhage ad dollars the way Chevrolet and Chrysler used to.”

After two days and considerable pressure and tension, I hereby reveal my latest design project for Time Out. I’m pretty pleased with it – Time Out’s Complete UK Festival Guide…

No noise from current squeeze since Sunday night. I wonder if that means anything?

I don’t bloody believe it. The new domain name I had decided to buy as soon as my pay-check came through has been sold. This is the second bloody time this has bloody happened. First reptilebrain.com, now subbacultcha.com! I don’t bloody believe it. This one was sold four days ago! I swear to god I am going to kill someone. The only thing I can think of is that Network Solutions is selling information on which domain names people are searching for. Is this possible? Is it being done?

Two brief pieces of site update stuff. 1) This seems to me to be a great idea. 2) I have had lots of translations of Mr Arcos’ unpleasant comments sent to me. Thank you very much everyone…

I have no idea what he is talking about, but I kind of get the impression that I don’t like Eduardo Arcos. Anyone want to translate for me?

Katy and I went to see Honest yesterday at the big première in Leicester Square. I have to say I don’t think I have seen such an absolute pile of twaddle in years. Individual scenes were great, some of the dialogue was really good, some of the camerawork was wonderful, some of the direction was cool. But most of all of it was just awful. Don’t go and see it (unless you want to see All Saints’ breasts).

Best news of the moment – I am sitting at work thinking about this site I am building for Time Out which covers all the summer festivals in the UK when I get given an envelope by my boss. I open it and read the first paragraph: “You have been invited to celebrate the fifth birthday party …” – sounds cool – “of Time Out New York” – sounds cooler – “in New York City in October – all flights, hotel etc included!” – OH MY GOD. All permanent staff are tromping off over the Atlantic for an epic piss up and shopping expedition. How cool is that?!

Mark asked:

“Tom, Katy? What do Brits do on July 4th? This year, instead of shutting yourselves indoors and mourning the loss of this wonderful land I’m presently standing on… How would you like to meet ME? I’ll be in London, England this summer on July 4th, the American Independance Day… that’s funny in so many ways…”

British people don’t do anything particularly special on July 4th! That’s supposedly the day that you colonial types won your freedom from us cruel European overlords. For some reason, we don’t feel any particular need to celebrate that fact. Although every American themed bar in the country gets all jazzed up. And all the Americans do too. We look at them with raised eyebrows, in an indulgent fashion. As for meeting up – that sounds really cool! Why will you be here, again!? Oh and while we are at it, what an earth are you doing up at three in the morning?