The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to post a comment on any post. Of course if you already have an account you can still login to ensure your comments are attributed to you, but those who don’t can now post a comment without any long term commitment. Also, on the right you can see some of the recent comments so you’ll always know what the active discussions are. This was the most requested thing we’ve heard from people since our last redesign and we’re excited to see where it leads.

The next change is also something that was heavily requested, and that is a change to the ADS on the sites. You’ll immediately notice fewer of them, but what might not be as obvious is those smaller square ones to the right are specific to this city only and are being sold for a flat rate for a period of time rather than a confusing CPM/traffic/network model. Depending on the city, these range from $7-$175 for a full week. If you purchase one, during that time your ad will be the only one in that spot and will show on every page. We set these up both to make it easier for smaller local businesses to get their ads on our site, and also to help us bring in ads that relate better to our local audiences. Also, keeping these sites online is expensive and every little bit helps.

There are a bunch of other things we changed (including this broadcast function so we can more easily update everyone) but we’ll leave those to you to investigate and take advantage of. Hope you like it, and we look forward to seeing you in the comments!!

Love,
The folks at MBHQ

What i can tell you however is that if you were to be near the Millenium Bridge on Monday at about 7pm, you might see something very interesting.

and bring a banana!!

London, don’t be too scared if you come across a pirate or 200 this weekend, Its Pirate Festival weekend on Southbank, and today is of course Piratecon :D

We’ll be back reaking pirate havock on the banks of the Thames from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th Sunday.

This year all profits will be split between the Golden Hinde Educational Trust and the The Jubilee Sailing Trust (a registered charity that owns and operates Lord Nelson and Tenacious, the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals.)

Let the feather adorned buckled boot madness commence – London Pirate Festival

Start Time:
06 June 2009 11:30 – 23:00

Location:
Southbank Old thames side inn
Clink street MAP (next to the bloody great pirate ship)

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facebook event

Westminster Council is trying to sting motorbike and scooter commuters for up to £400 a year for parking. A forum was set up to give people a voice to challenge this. A few people got riled up and said Really Bad Things, such as:

- anyone who supports motorcycle parking “must accept the consequences of their actions”

- and is time for “the gloves to come off”

OMG! It’s a “hate campaign”!!!! Revolution! Terrorists!

The tiresomely predicable reaction from the apparatchiks at Westminster is to sic their lawyers on the forum, and get it closed down. They throw around unsubstantiated allegations, out-of-context comments and issue threats – including “up to six months in prison or a fine of up  to £5,000.”

Is this responsible government? Is this a council that listens to its people? No – of course it isn’t. It’s as cynical and ignorant as the original idea of the parking charges. Westminster are opportunists, playing the system. You might expect this kind of stuff in China, maybe. But not London in 2009.

One would have thought that Westminster Council would be able to see that reacting to a few robust bits of rhetoric on an internet forum with legal threats would be a REALLY BAD IDEA. But no.

They have done just that.

http://forum.notobikeparkingfees.com/ has been closed down.

All this, of course, is just Westminster throwing a hissy fit because there was a pretty large demo outside (and indeed within) their doors a few weeks ago. One of the main councillors responsible for the new charges got shouted down, and he ran away in panic with his pants round his ankles.

Here’s a link to details of the next demo:   PROTEST!

Group aim to set new “Conga Line World Record” in support of Red Nose Day

http://www.justgiving.com/congaworldrecord
Optimists to raise money by dancing through central London

On Red Nose Day, Friday 13th March, a group of Optimists Society members will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for a Conga Line, by distance travelled. They’ll be doing it to raise money for Comic Relief, get some exercise, have fun and cheer up Londoners along the 17km route.

\Its not to late to take part mail James @ – james@eternaloptimist.net
The attempt has already been “accepted as a New Record Category” by Guinness World Records, who await details of a “Suitable Claim”. Society members will use Guinness standard rules for endurance dance routines. Bringing together a lead “Conga” and 10 team members to follow. Of course the public will also be welcome to join at the back wherever they like along the route.
The route takes in many of Londons top tourist sites. It will start in London Bridge, take in the sights of the Southbank, head past Comic Relief’s offices on Embankment then head up through Westminster into the Royal Parks, through St James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens turning down Notting Hill to Shepherds Bush, through the new Westfield Shopping Centre and ending at BBC Television Centre in the early evening. The proposed distance will be 17km. It will take an estimated 5 hours to complete. Though we might continue to conga into the night if people sponsor us to…

The Optimists Society, is a social-action group promoting positivity and helping people make a difference to themselves and others through simple actions.

Please visit our fundraising page… http://www.justgiving.com/congaworldrecord

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Photographers at risk from law

Taking photos of police officers could be deemed a criminal offence under anti-terror legislation that comes into force next week

Does that make your blood run cold? It does mine.

I took a pic of a police security tabloid pantomine with a metal detector in a tube station a while back, and put it on line:

Under this new legislation, I could probably get banged up for taking this picture, if that proved convenient to the police/and or home secretary.

I am really beginning to hate this government. Jaquie Smith, Jack Straw and the dreary rest of them. I actually wonder if they understand what they are doing. Is it possible to construct the apparatus of a totalitarian state, without being aware of it?

The sooner they get chucked out, the better.

Soon come.

Speakers at the Progressive London conference this month include Harriet Harman, Tessa Jowell and David Lammy from the government; Susan Kramer and Mike Tuffrey from the Liberal Democrats, Labour MPs Jon Cruddas, Jeremy Corbyn, Dawn Butler and Karen Buck; Jenny Jones, Darren Johnson and Jean Lambert from the Greens; George Galloway from Respect as well as leading academics like Eric Hobsbawm and Doreen Massey and representatives of London’s diverse communities.

Saturday 24th January 2009

10:00am-5:30pm (registration 9am)
Congress House
Great Russell St London WC1

Progressive London website here.

Is it just me, or is there something a trifle… uterine… about the design?