The French smoking ban

On Jan. 2, the ban on smoking in public places officially begins in France. There is much speculation that the French will ignore this law as they often do laws that inconvenience them.

England adopted the no smoking policy in its pubs and restaurants last summer and it is being obeyed and not noticeably affecting business. People still smoke, but it's less convenient. They have to take trips outside. So, when someone disappears you now have two guesses -- either out for a smoke or to the loo.

Since I'll be in Paris next week when the smoking ban goes into effect, I'll report back.

Brits react to too much control

There are cameras all over the place here, including on the motorways where they are used to enforce traffic laws. Apparently this isn't setting well with some people who are rebelling against the camera boxes mounted on the motorways and are setting them on fire. The group says they have more in store, including a National Cover-Up Your Number Plates Day."

Nike + iPod

I've had this gadget for months, but never bothered to set it up. So, the new iPod Nanos came out recently and they are cool enough that I got one. I figured it would be much easier for my commute on the tube AND I could finally give the Nike + iPod gadget a try.

I popped the module into the Nano before my Saturday run and bingo, it just worked. Very cool. No much set up unless you want to calibrate, which I won't be doing here because I have no premeasured distances to benchmark against. Besides I believe it did a very good job on distance.

During your workout, you can hit one of the buttons on the iPod and it will give you a verbal update of your time, distance and current pace. Then, when you're done, you dock the iPod and it will upload your workout(s) to a Nike website that is quite well done and attractive. I'm used to listening to the radio, but am accumulating so much Podcast material that this will be an excellent chance to keep current. If you have an iPod and you work out, it'd be a crime not to try this.

This is also a great example of the synergy of technology and the importance of partnerships. Nike and Apple, two design and category leaders, get together to produce an elegant solution that plays to each of their strengths and makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.

Brits react to too much control

There are cameras all over the place here, including on the motorways where they are used to enforce traffic laws. Apparently this is setting well with some people who are rebelling against the camera boxes mounted on the motorways and are setting them on fire. The group says they have more in store, including a National Cover-Up Your Number Plates Day."

Merry Christmas!

Leigh and Bart arrived last night after a nine-hour delay in Chicago. They were able to catch a flight out early Sunday morning after missing their connection Saturday night. This despite new blizzards in the Midwest and cancelled flights at Heathrow due to fog.

So, we're all set and ready to enjoy the next couple of days. We are all planning to go ice skating today at one of the many London outdoor ice rinks that go up this time of year. The weather is looking beautiful . . . somewhat milder than recent days. I got out for a run this morning and very little traffic. I'm working part of the day and making traditional Tom & Jerrys as my treat to the office. Maybe St. Paul's tonight!

Tomorrow is a big Christmas dinner with Scottish forerib and Lynne's family favourite, trifle. I'm sure we'll gorge ourselves, but isn't that what Christmas is for? Should get going to start all the festivities.

Merry Christmas to all!

Where the Big Guy is investing

FYI, Bill Gates just put $392 million into the Mexican brewer of Tecate beer. You've gotta respect Mr. Gate's business acumen more than a little, so this is a "take notice" moment.

Tony Blair converts to Catholicism

I saw this news tonight and it's not surprising. I'm somewhat empathetic with the former prime minister. This had been rumoured for some time. I have thought for many years about becoming a Catholic though I've pulled back in recent years as the Catholics have become more associated with the radical right. But, I do appreciate the discipline. The doctrine I don't totally agree with.

Right now, we're attending Holy Trinity Brompton, a C of E church, and thoroughly enjoying it. We love the worship at HTB and the staff, led by Nicky Gumbel, who is a legend in the church of England. But, our vest friends here are Catholics. We took them to a carol service at HTB before Christmas. Maybe I visit their church in Hampstead.

Anyhow, this provides an opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Yesterday, we attended the Christmas Singalong at the Royal Albert Hall, which is an impressive facility. It was wonderful with great music and really brought Christmas home.

To all our friends, Merry Christmas from London.

David Beckham and the Armani pose

The media here is all atwitter over David Beckham's latest product endorsement for Armani underwear. Beckham's provocative pose is causing quite the stir among the British press and beyond.

Beckham the former England football captain and international football (soccer) superstar, is pictured on his back, legs spread, showing off his nether bits as they say here. Today's Guardian had a thoughtful piece in its Media section.

Writer Naresh Ramchandani takes a tongue in cheek look at Beckham's maturity over the years. According to Emporio Armani, "He is considered as one of the world's most talented soccer players and a former captain of his national team, but his image (groin) has come to stand for more than this. He (it) represents a notion of modern masculinity." In other words, writes Ramchandani, the groin has come of age.

Beckham's wife Posh of Spice Girls fame spoils things a tad with her less thoughtful description of her husband's impressive attributes to Perez Hilton.

Meanwhile, the rest of us worry about global warming.

Nifty trick

Thanks to my friend Ged, I'm now posting my blog to both my Spaces and Blogger locations. I'm using Windows Live Writer to do this. I write the blog and publish the same content to both sites virtually as quickly as I was doing just one before.

Portland restaurants in today's Guardian

We take two newspapers at home -- the Financial Times and the Guardian. Today's Guardian featured a nice story on Portland that focuses on the growing reputation Portland has as the home for a number of great restaurants.

Among the restaurants mention is Montage, one of our favouries. It concludes with a note on groceries: Oregon is famous for its agricultural bounty, and its groceries reflect this: the produce is cheap, varied, usually organic and always local, from blackberries to honey to homemade soap and artisan-made bread. I pretty much wept at the thought of returning to my paltry old Sainsbury's.

My favourite gadget

Saw this online and thought it was pretty cool. It's a vibrating bluetooth bracelet that works in conjunction with your mobile phone. The bracelet subtly buzzes your wrist whenever you have an incoming call or text.

If you're like me, I often don't hear my phone ring when I'm outdoors or in a crowded area.

England's hot football Premiership

Forbes has declared Manchester United as the most valuable football team in the world, outranking Real Madrid, primarily based on superior growth prospects for the English league. ManU is given a value of $1.4 billion. The highest paid player is Barcelona's Ronaldinho at $29.5 million, followed closely by England's David Beckham, now playing for the Los Angeles Galaxie. Wayne Rooney is the highest paid ManU player at $17.5 million, though many people here would question that value since he's been often injured and has not turned into the kind of goal scorer anticipated a few years ago.

Favourite Christmas commercial

Not sure if this is UK only or if it's being shown in the US. I think not because I saw another Christmas ad for Garmin that looked more US centric. Anyhow, enjoy . . .

Blog returning to Spaces

Alas, I had one unique request and have moved my blog back to Spaces.

How to train your brain

Today's Sunday Observer carries a story on how to train your brain that bucks common wisdom. Among the three best things you can do are, two sound pretty good -- eat more dark chocolate and have plenty of sex. The third isn't bad either, but more of a European habit -- eat cold meat for breakfast as the Scandinavians do.

All of this advice and more is contained in a new book, Teach Yourself: Training Your Brain. Personal happiness is also important and the book recommends that instead of trying to find perfect happiness, people should seek a new concept the authors have called BLISS -- Body-based pleasure, Laughter, Involvement, Satisfaction and Sex.

Meet Jackie

This is our friend Jackie. She runs a sort of resale "shop" in Hampstead. But, there's really no shop. She sets up her wares in an alley just of the High Street across from Steele's Meat Market, which incidentally is sadly closing after the first of the year.

We "discovered" Jackie shortly after arriving in Hampstead and fortunately before we bought a lot of hosuehold essentials elsewhere. Jackie sells used household items ranging from rugs to silver tea services. You never quite know what you'll discover when you go rummaging through her boxes. Our friends bought a 12-piece setting of fine china in fantastic condition for steal.

We've bought everything from household essentials (an oak end table and rugs) to wonderful pieces that we will cherish the rest of our lives (crystal vases, silver trays). Whenever friends come, they always buy things from Jackie to remeber their trip. Her items are sometimes a bit dirty and needing TLC, but always beautiful and unique once you get them home and cleaned up. Lynne got a really cool ceramic basket of lemons made in Spain that looked terrible when she bought it, but is gorgeous in our flat. And then there's the wooden stool with character we use around the house. Much more attractive than what we'd find at the hardware store.

Jackie also has become one of our best friends. She sets up shop 2-3 times a week and Lynne never misses going by to say hello if not purchase something whenever she's there and we are also in town. The early bird gets the worm, so it's important to take a pass by early in the mornings when she's there. That's how our friends got a solid silver tea set for about half the going price in antique shops.

We like Jackie because she's a regular bloke. She can roll with the punches and give as well as she takes. I guess that's the sign of a true friend.

Tsk, tsk America

Just reading in Forbes Magazine that of the three top selling vehicles in the US are three pickups and no hybrids. I guess I shouldn't be shocked. Living in Europe is definitely starting to color my point of view on the environment and social justice. Increasingly, it's apparent that America just doesn't get it.

I was lucky enough to attend a conference last week on corporate social responsibility in which Al Gore was the keynote speaker. The man who used to be the next president of the United States was brilliant as they say here. If every person in the country could personally hear his message, we would solve the global warming problem tomorrow. Very inspiring. And, he hinted that there may be some surprised form the WH later this year. He was there last Monday to be honored for his Nobel prize.

Best commercial on British TV

This is cool

Geek Alert: What does the future hold

This may be a little too much inside baseball for some of you, but this is an interesting discussion from some top US tech business journalists. Of course very insightful to me, but probably has some interest to anyone else who has any money invested or thinks about the US economy.