Category: Oddities

  • Why did people believe the Bill Gates conspiracies about Coronavirus?

    Why did people believe the Bill Gates conspiracies about Coronavirus?

    It seems we still live in an age of fear, disinformation, cynicism (which as we all know is intellectual laziness!) scaremongering disguised as public relations activity, and fake news. While efforts from the varying modern (as of 2020) distribution channels for information and news are being  made to discourage falsehood — all while maintaining freedom…

  • Editor – Featured in The Guardian

    Editor – Featured in The Guardian

    Hello, editor Jane again. So, as Bear Grylls starts banging wildly on the speculation drum about how videogames are harmful to children – even though Bear does make money from video games… …(and watch him backtrack as soon as he has another media product to sell you, I swear…)- I thought it might be right…

  • Hidden Gems of the UK: OXFAM ORIGINALS

    Hidden Gems of the UK: OXFAM ORIGINALS

    Tucked away between the muso-makkah Piccadilly Records; Wood, Carhartt and opposite some of the city’s hippest cafes: Night & Day, Fig & Sparrow and Pop. “Forget Market Street, visit Oldham Street (and the rest of the Northern Quarter) instead! Much more interesting and exciting.” Ah, Trip Advisor reviews – so true. Oldham Street is where you need…

  • Ash x Dr Martens – Gig Review for Manchester Gossip

    Ash x Dr Martens – Gig Review for Manchester Gossip

    Quick plug! My writing profile is here too: https://www.manchestergossip.com/writer/jane-mcconnell

  • I Like What You’re Wearing!

    I Like What You’re Wearing!

    Begone, saturated market! In a world where everyone’s a fashion blogger – even if, let’s be honest, half the time the blogs aren’t necessarily filled to the brim with quality so much as an indulgent wishlist which plagiarises Stylebubble or Company Magazine; finding a site which manages to be both on the fringe and independent…

  • This Blog’s 2011 in Review

    This Blog’s 2011 in Review

    The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.   Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that…

  • University Fresher? How To Be An Honourary Manc

    University Fresher? How To Be An Honourary Manc

    So, clever fresher, wizened postgrad, city newbie – whoever you are, whatever you love, when you’re taking that giant leap for Mancunia…there are a few little gems you might need up your sleeve. For your now-and-future reference I’ve compiled knowledge form the very best of sources. Namely, what I’ve remembered from my own experiences, and…

  • Zine Culture: Retrospective of Polka Zine, UK

    Zine Culture: Retrospective of Polka Zine, UK

    Not too long ago, I posted an article written for a zine called ‘Polka’, which launched in 2006. A first foray into Zine publishing at the tender age of 16 along with writer Josie O, we handmade and edited one issue and then kinda… wilted. But we were growing up, and that was cool. It…