Just had to post this. Here are some great photos (on Boston.com).

The voting forms were sent out recently and should be arriving in my postbox soon. When I get the form I will be voting NO! There are a few reasons I dont agree with the congestion charge.

For one I just dont believe that the money generated from it will be used for public transport. I also dont like how they are hypocritical going on about how people should use public transport but then there are plans to build their own car park yards away from one of the main tram stops in the City Centre.

I think it will increase the cost of living in the city centre as businesses will be voiced to charge more for things.

I also dont believe that people will get out of their cars. We are a nation of people who love our cars so there will still be “congestion”. Saying that I dont think congestion is that bad for many people. The M.E.N. assistant editor Robert Ridley for one has little problems travelling into work.

Its also unclear how much it will really cost if/when it goes through. The prices they have mentioned are todays prices so goodness knows what it will be!!

Even the congestion charge which is in London was in “successful” was because of an established public transport system – the underground – which is horrible in the summer. However, there is still plenty of congestion in London!!

Another reason to vote No is the Department of Transport are trying to play dirty with a biased “promo” video about the congestion charge. It has been taken off air because it was biased!

Another thing that worries me is the effect to the economy – many people visit Manchester regularly whether its once a week or for a few days a week and this increases the amount of money coming into Manchester. Visitors from places such as Bolton or Leeds may think again and go elsewhere.

I personally think the congestion charge is once again another tax for car owners.

(There are also some other reasons I didnt think about which have been bought up in The Manchester Blog. If the congestion charge happens, the council will have to properly install number plate recognision cameras, loads of signs to let them know they are entering the zone, blocking off detours etc. Where is this money coming from? Is it being taken out of the money generated from the congestion charge???)

A few days after winning some Internet Security software, I won a few prizes in the “prize giveaway” on a web design web site/blog. To win, a posted a useful web design related blog. My post was about using web design resources and the web sites I visit daily and why I find them useful.

The prize I won was:

Photoshop World Tickets, Scott Kelby Book Bundle, Layers Subscription, NAPP Membership
Courtesy of RC Concepcion, Host of Layers TV, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, and Kelby Training.
Value: $720 (Tickets & NAPP membership $600, Books $90, Layers Subscription $30)

Based on its position in the post and its value its one of the top prizes!! Thanks Just Creative Design!!!

(Unfortunately since the main part of the prize are tickets to Photoshop World in Boston/Vegas I cant attend. If the prize included flights and accommodation then that would have been great!!! )

A spectacular sighting of a meteor flying over Western Canada was captured on the police cars on-board camera. Heres the video:

Back in November 2007 on a celebrity episode of “Are you smarter than a 10 year old” in the US, they had a women who was on American Idol – Kellie Pickler. She was asked “Budapest is the capital of what European country?” She had no idea. She actually replied “This might be a stupid question… I thought Europe was a country?”. Oh dear!! (I have embedded the video below).

I have said previously that I have started entering competitions online. Its a lot easier than “back in the day” when to enter competitions you had to fill in a postcard and post it, call some premium rate phoneline or answer some really tough question (well occassionally it was tough).

Now you sometimes just have to fill in your personal details, occassionally it will ask you a question but the answer will be in the text above and a fill clicks away on Google!!

Anyway, I won (from Whatlaptop.co.uk) Trend Micro Internet Security suite. I am not sure if its any good (I am sure its better than Norton!!) but I dont really need it since I already have antivirus, spyware and firewall software installed on computer.

Anyone want to buy it???

I thought it would be useful for any web designers/developers out there if I posted some of the web sites I visit regularly to keep up with the latest news and get some useful tips (this was after reading this article). Since I am a freelance web designer, I will also list a few Freelance related blogs/web sites.

Actually I will start of with a couple freelance web sites. Freelance folder and Freelance Switch. Both sites have useful advice for freelancers including interviews with successful freelancers out there. As well as being useful, its an entertaining read.

Now to the web designer related web sites. The first two I visit every day (often several times a day) are Smashing Apps and Smashing Magazine. Both sites have loads on the web site from useful web sites and software, showcases to give you inspiration, how-tos, useful resouces. On Smashing Magazine it quite often showcases some beautiful looking artwork e.g. posters, web sites backgrounds, artwork, etc.

Some other general web design “blogs” I visit regularly and find useful:

• You the designer – similar to Smashing Apps and Smashing Magazine. This site has lots of great articles, sources of inspiration, freebies and more.
• Web Designer Wall – full of “design ideas, web trends, and tutorials”.
• CSS Globe – this site is full of really useful CSS tips and “hacks”.
• CSS Beauty – another great site with the latest web design news. Also has a section for submitting your own work and “showcasing” it.
• Stylegala – latest news and useful sites. Like CSS Beauty you can submit your own web site to showcase and also submit your own news in the public news section.
• A List Apart – deals with the design and development of web content with particular focus on web standards.
• 456 Berea Street - another one of those sites for of useful articles and tutorials.
• Web Development Blog – this site has got some great examples and code extracts of some cool Javascript techniques/effects.
• Web Resources Depot – every day this site has a free web resource for you ranging from a sliding gallery to social networking icons.
• Just Creative Design – a personal blog of graphic/web/logo designer. Many interest and useful articles and resources.

Most of the sites I visit are updated regularly, often more than once a day. Sometimes its hard keeping track of new updates and for that reason I use RSS feeds. Loads of web sites have RSS feeds to help the visitor find out when there are new posts or new news. There are lots of RSS readers from those within the browser such as Wizz RSS or sites like Google Reader. There are also standalone readers. I personally use Wizz RSS. However, the choice is yours – all down to personal preference

If you have had enough of all these web design related blogs, here are some blogs I like to visit which arent all about web design. They are a bit techie though (aka “geeky”)

• Kevin Rose – this is the blog of the one and only Kevin Rose. If you didnt know hes the founder of Digg.com (the place for people to discover and share web content). He also co-presents the brilliant online video podcast show Diggnation.
• Veronica Belmont – the co-host of online video podcast show Tekzilla. She also happens to be very attractive and into gadgets/computers etc.
• Larissa Meek – like Veronica, Larissa is another rather attractive women whos into “tech”. Shes an artist but has been in the past a 3D animator, Miss USA finalist, model, actress and reality TV star
• Jason Bradbury – blog of The Gadget show TV presenter

UPDATE:

Another site worth visiting is Sharebrain – a great resource site for “Webworkers”.

It seems that politicians recently havent got more important things to talk about than reality TV. They should worry about helping run the country!! Today, a cabinet minister (Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy) is saying the judges in Strictly Come Dancing should be “sacked” after John Sergeant quit.

Its been about a year since Fabio Capello has taken over as England manager and so far so good. After 10 games its 5 win, 4 draws and only 1 loss (against France).

Last night England played Germany in Berlin and won 2-1. It was the first time Germany had lost in Berlin for many years. The performance yesterday also gave Capello some problems, but “good” problems. Pretty much the whole of the 1st team couldnt play because of injury with just Terry and James who you would consider “first team”. The whole team played well and especially in the first half it was a brilliant performance. MOTM was given to Upson. Personally I thought it should have been Carrick. Downing also had his best game for England. The only bad point was possible Carson who played in goal in the 2nd half. It was a mess up between him and Terry which led to Germany equalising it to 1-1. I think it was abit of both of there fault, Terry really should have just kicked it clear into row Z.

Its looking good for the future of England football. How things can change!!! Just over 1 year ago it was all looking grim with that clown McLaren and his umbrella!

Im a celebrity has started again … seems ages since it was last on and ages since we last saw Ant and Dec. Its good to have Ant and Dec back!!

The “celebrities” this year range from tennis superstar Martina Navratilova to Carly Zucker (wag and fiance of Joe Cole).

The complete list is:

Brian Paddick (Ex-Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Metropolitan Police)
Carly Zucker (WAG – fiance of Joe Cole)
Dani Behr (former TV presenter)
Esther Rantzen (former TV presenter)
George Takei (Captain Sulu from Star Trek)
Joe Swash (Eastenders actor)
Martina Navratilova (former tennis player who won LOADS)
Nicola McLean (page 3 girl)
Robert Kilroy-Silk (former talk show presenter)
Simon Webb (used to be in the band Blue)

The celebs have been seperated into 2 teams and battle it out in the trials for better meals etc.

So far as expected Kilroy is coming across as a rude idiot. Carly has surprised me as she seems quite nice and normal. I am quite liking George too. Joe Swash didnt start off too well asking Martina Navratilova if Czech Republic was in Prague!!! LOL. George Takei, who I think will win seems great. Dani Behr has been pretty quiet so far but seems pretty nice. There is the obligatory “page 3″ girl and this year it is Nicola who seemed to moan at everything – at the start anyway. So far Brian has come across as being dull, not sure how he managed to run the Met police!

Episode 2 has just finished and it had the bush tucker trial which involved the eating of the horrible bugs and other weird things. It will be on Youtube soon I am sure. You have to watch it!!!  It was Joe v Nicola and she won 5-4. Didnt expect her to do that well but well done!!!! I think the next trial will be Joe v someone else. The next trial will be Kilroy (YES!!!) versus Joe (again!)