Recent Manx Radio Interview of Tony Brown Chief Minister of the Isle of Man.

This is the taken from the Opinion Programme 25th October 2009.

A politician who doesn’t have an answer!

Cheers to dtiom.

For those of you that might have seen the teaser adverts in newspaper or on the isle of man today website, the cat is now out of the bag on what and who ed is?

Ed or www.edonline is the new name for Wimanx broadband. I wasn’t sure who or what ed was, but I had a feeling that the campaign had been created by the team at Home Strategic – they like there big chunky graphics and words down there!

I am not sure what I think about the name ‘ed’ for a broadband package but as a current customer of Wimanx I am very impressed with the level of service I receive so good look to them and ed is what I say!

They are giving away loads of ed goodies as part of the launch, so be sure to log on to www.edonline.im and you could be a winner!

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On Friday I noticed a new CCTV camera by Marks and Spencer facing over to Wilkins and KFC. Walking back to work today I spotted another one by the New/Old, Refurbished Courthouse (or what ever it’s called). They look like they are very much temporary structures on poles with a power box at the bottom. I reckon a few drunks or someone fairly nimble could easily move one or even climb up one – if they felt the need.

It got me thinking, who it is or what is they want to monitor? the customers/patrons of KFC v The customers and clientele of Wilkins and the New/Old, Refurbished Courthouse? The Isle of Man is awash with criminals and antisocial behaviour…..?

Who put them there? Douglas Corporation or the police? Or is this the work of Banksy as part of one of his latest stunts?

One thing is for sure. Big Brother is watching. On your way to work, nipping out for morning coffee, visiting the colonel and evening drinks with the boss. They even know what jewelery your buying!

Who is watching you and where?

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On the www.iomonline website today the Treasury Minister Allan Bell say that the ‘Isle of Man faces fresh challenges from a new world order created by the credit crunch.’

Yep fair enough I thought and then my eye catches a glimpse of another story that has had equal or more prominence on the Isle of Man news site for the past few days ‘Hospital cafe customers quick to criticise new operators.’

Oh my god, you want to see the right little hornets nest this one has stirred up! I didn’t know the people of the Isle of Man could be so passionate about two slices of bread and a filling and the price of a coffee! Check out the comments!

Me thinks there will be far more comments on this story than poor old Mr Bells new world order one! Oh well best not cry over spilt beans!

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There is a Mini gathering up at the TT Grandstand on Sunday so if you have any Manx registered Minis in your garage, shed or on the drive (the pre-BMW sort) why not head up there?

Its been orgainsed as part of the marque’s 50th birthday and it all gets going at about 10.30 in the morning.

For more information email John at jonetee@manx.net

Sounds like a bit of a do!

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It was reported today on www.iomonline.co.im that the boss of the Venda claimed that the Manx online shopping portal www.shopiom.com is ‘visionary’.

As I don’t really agree with what Dan Wagner (The Venda Boss) has said or the decision taken by the DTI to use a UK based company and pay such considerable fees using the Manx tax payers cash (Freedom to Flourish in action), I thought I would share with you a some song lyrics of that 1998 classic by the Vengaboys – The Venga Bus, that I have adapted only slightly to indicate my true feelings on the matter, so here goes.

If you cant remember the tune and how it goes, check out this link on youtube so you can get the jist of the tune!

Vendaboys – Venda Boss Lyrics

I like to party (Dan Wagner)

I like, I like to party

I like to party

I like, I like to party

I like to party

I like, I like to party

I like to party (I’m not flippin surprised!)

I’ve got something to tell ya

I’ve got news for you

Gonna put some online retail wheels in motion

Get ready ’cause we’re coming through

Hey now, hey now, here’s what I say now

Online retail happiness is just around the corner

Hey now, hey now, here’s what I say now

I’ll be there for you (for only £265,000)

The VendaBoss is coming

And everybody’s jumping

From Ramsey to Santon

A manx government fiasco

The wheel of fortunes turning

And the taxpayers pounds are burning

So if you like to part with your money

Get on and shopiom

I like to party

I like, I like to party

I like to party

I like, I like to party

Gonna put some online retail wheels in motion

Get ready ’cause we’re coming through

Hey now, hey now, here’s what I say now

Online retail happiness is just around the corner

Hey now, hey now, here’s what I say now

I’ll be there for you (for only £265,000)

The VendaBoss is coming

And everybody’s jumping

Ramsey to Santon

A manx government fiasco

The wheel of fortunes turning

And the taxpayers pounds are burning

So if you like to party

Get on and move your body

The VendaBoss is coming, the VendaBoss is coming

The VendaBoss is coming, the VendaBoss is..

I must admit I really hated that song when it came out, but I am quite liking the new version!

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Well if it already isn’t then it sure wont be long! And it won’t just be the Manx High street.

In one sense I find it really sad to see empty shops along the islands Strand Street, but in another I kind of of think they deserve it and many more shops deserve it too. The thing is most of the time that I physically go into a shop to buy something I am left feeling disappointed with the experience and the service. I often wish you could score the shop on the way out instead of whinging under my breath as I leave through the door.  I really do believe that the general service in shops is dropping whilst my own and that of the consumers in general, expectations are getting higher?

Surely in the current climate business should be bending over backwards to delight customers with high levels of customer service, but sadly this isn’t the case.

May be it’s because on the Isle of Man they have a captive audience so we just accept mediocre service as the norm, but I also think shopkeepers and retailers have just gotten lazy.

I don’t think it is acceptable anymore to simply hang stuff on a rail and expect us to buy it.

I think retailers need to be more creative, with more interaction and engagement with the public or potential buyers, so why not try something different today, instead of blaming the internet for your lack of business!

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I have been running too and from work lately, partly to keep fit, lose weight and save a bit of cash. Yes that’s me!.
I have been really enjoying it, but something really gets to me.

My route takes me up and down Richmond Hill and I am sure every local would agree that the road is not ideal. What really gets me is on the way home about 5.20pm – 5.30pm the amount of drivers that are absolutely flooring it up there on the “dual carriageway” / overtaking lane like complete arseholes to only get one or two cars ahead of the queue. Bearing in mind that it is probably the only place you can overtake on your route south (well at that time of day anyway) I reckon that would lesson your journey time by about 15 seconds! Wow that was really worth it wasn’t it!

The thing is the number of people who do this is pretty staggering, well I think so anyway. I have been doing a rough count to distract me from the fatigue and I reckon it is roughly three cars for every ten. And just to please all you motorbike riders, you are pure angels, believe me!

Sort it out people. I am quite happy for you idiots to kill yourselves, just don’t get me or any other driver at the same time!

And I think I have been quite restrained writing this so consider yourselves lucky. You know who you are!

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Image by d70focus via Flickr

There is a new look Money media in circulation and I have to say I am quite impressed with the new look. Its a more modern layout using softer fonts with much clearer and well defined articles that are much more pleasing on the eye to read.

I also noticed an advert for the new online money media ‘the islands first dedicated business website’ so I checked it out only to find that the site wasn’t live yet and was under construction. I have since noticed that more recent adverts indicate that the site is not launching until early March.

There are also quite a few online news suppliers in the Isle of Man media arena already, maybe not specialising just on business, but certainly covering Isle of Man business news in a fairly substantial way!

The main news providers on the island are:

isleofman.com

iomtoday

Manx radio

BBC news – Isle of Man

3FM

Isle news

Energy fm

The Manx Herald

It will be interesting to see how the new site turns out and also to see if there is any legs still left in the printed version?

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Why you smiling Tony Brown?

I was driving back from a meeting this morning and was stopped at the traffic lights. I noticed  by the side of the road a poster campaign that has sprouted up around the Isle of Man.

You see Tony,  I would guess that in the current economic climate you have to be 100% transparent and it won’t do your popularity on the Isle of Man any good if your not seen to be practicing what you preach in terms of government spending!

Maybe you don’t care, after all when your term is up you can sit back with a nice little pension and enjoy the finer things the Isle of Man.

You have to laugh!

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