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Hey guys,

Sorry it's been so long. I know I'd promised to be a little more regular with my blogs, but it's been a bit mental lately. I will reveal all with Manchester International Festival's press launch in March. Until then, we're back to my perspective on this weird little world we live in.

Offline. That's what Egypt is. If you've missed it, seriously start tuning into this series of events because it seems like such an other-worldly thing to our generation of internet-lovers. A few nights ago, the Egyptian government disconnected it's country from the internet in an attempt to stop the protest efforts against that very government. The New Scientist has the full story here: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/01/egypt.html but what's making my head tick most is what it's making the rest of the world think about it. For most people, including myself, their first thought is that we couldn't live without the internet, especially since most of us now have it on our phones, but on second look, it's so much more serious than that. This is just one step towards a removal of freedom of speech. Not only are people cut off from saying things that others don't want said, but they are cut off from speaking to loved ones around the world. It's all a bit scary if you ask me...

Now, on a lighter note, I've been progressing through my fabulous This Book will change your Life. Time to update you on Benrik's advice for the last two weeks of January? I think so...

Day 17
Write an uplifting message on a bank note.
I'd never heard about writing one on a bank note before, but I friend of mine did a vlog a while ago about leaving uplifting messages on post-it notes in public places. Such a nice thing to do. Now, I'm a true believer in smiling at people - if a stranger smiles at you in the street, it always makes you smile back. So next time you see a smiley face on a bank note, you never know, it might be from me =)

Day 18
Sabotage Hollywood day.
The 18th January advises readers to tell people false endings of films in the cinema... just like said friend of mine used to tell people the false endings to books. Always the same false ending - "They all die". Tee hee!

Day 21
Today, help put an end to loud mobile phone conversations.
Last week I was advised by Benrik to put an end to loud, embarassing mobile phone conversations by recording them and publishing them on the internet, shaming those who partake in such pastimes. I have to say, I wish I'd had this idea when I was on a late train back from London a couple of months ago - A woman spent the entire journey to Manchester Piccadilly talking about how she "obviously wasn't going to sh*g him" to a friend who clearly didn't want to know. She then proceeded to bully said friend into letting her come round to her house at stupid o'clock in the morning so that she could tell her more. I wanted to gag her.

Hurrah for the new blog!

Much love.
CC.