Reading Roars!

The University of Reading is launching a facility designed to help people think ‘outside the box’. The Innovation Works, as this creative thinking space is to be called, will be unveiled to the world on Thursday 17 November by The Fat Duck superchef Heston Blumenthal (pictured).

The fourth facility of its type in the UK, and the only one in the South East, The Innovation Works will feature two brainstorming sections - a strategy and planning development area, and a chill zone. Users will be able to “bounce” new concepts around thanks to the facility’s curved walls.

Innovation Lab Project Manager Kate Pitts comments:

[The Innovation Works] uses the very latest technology, audio and visual equipment and lighting – it even has walls that you can write or draw on. We guarantee that the lab is unlike any other building you’ve ever worked in. We’re offering a unique experience which aims to change the way people think and work, and provides tangible results that clients can take away to build upon.

Wacky or what?

It is a great idea (did it, paradoxically, come from another Innovation Lab?), and one that will prove popular with businesses. Creativity and innovation are so important in business these days, yet companies give them too little attention. They shouldn’t: look at the iPod - a design masterpiece - and Apple’s soaring shares. The Innovation Works, it seems, is a sandpit for grown-ups, and soon every major corporation, I’m sure, will want to have one.

The Christmas decorations are up in Boots. Other retailers, I see, are also gearing up for their busiest and most profitable period.

And, of course, it’s October. Halloween has not passed. We have yet to light our sparklers and bonfires. For Christmas, lest we forget, is two months away. That’s one-sixth of the year away.

Christmas is largely a detestable and tedious affair. Bad music is regurgitated from the past, garish decorations are hung seemingly everywhere, and the nation succumbs to massive overspending. The festive season is ugly and bloated. So why do we do it, year after year after year? Are we really that sad?

I see two solutions. Either we streamline Christmas, trimming off the excess fat, or we stage it once every four years, like the World Cup and Olympic Games.

Bah humbug.

See also Wool worth avoiding on the Unusually Suspect blog.

Hundreds of rail commuters, myself included, were left stranded at Reading Station this morning due to “severe signalling problems in the Twyford area”.

As the minutes ticked by, I was closely observing other commuters on the platform. Some were predictably on their mobiles, saying that they were going to be late for work, others were having a bit of a chuckle about the fiasco. Several had somewhat blank expressions. Two police officers stood by, so that there would be no lashing out from frustrated customers. Continue Reading »

Classy Reading FC have defeated Sheffield United 2-0 in their Carling Cup home encounter, with forward Dave Kitson scoring both goals.

In the Championship table, Reading are just three points behind leaders Sheffield, whom they have beaten already this season, and are in awesome form.

Leeds United next. Bring them on.

Another festival hits Reading (yawn).

Actually, it’s all very exciting, as the Slug & Lettuce at The Oracle is hosting the 8-week Blues Festival, described in the press release as:

the most amazing, electrifying Blues festival to hit the shores of Reading EVER!!

(Not only does Reading have supposedly city status, now it can enjoy island status, too).

The mini-fest is run by the Jazz Agency. Domestic outfit The Jason Manners Band will bring their soulful blues to the bar on Thursday 27 October and will return on 10 November:

Jason Manners is back also turning out more of his soulful Blues guitar, in his usual exiting format for Week 5.

So can we anticipate an early departure?

In between, we can expect the TJ Johnson Band, performing on Thursday 3 November.

Then it’s The Boogie-Woogie Braves on 17 November, Smokestack on 24 November and finally Tom Mansi and the Icebreakers on 1 December.

So now you know, folks. Get yourselves down to Topshop for a couple of Fosters, before checking out the Blues Festival at the Slug & Lettuce.

Happy Thursday.

Click here to visit the Blues Club @ Slug & Lettuce website.

Topshop and Topman at The Oracle are having a student lock-in on Thursday 27 October from 6-9pm.

The funky retailers, popular with teens, are offering 20% off merchandise and will be providing free booze (Fosters or Archers - just right for the student crowd). They advise all visitors to bring ID.