Swine flu body bags & sensible science

Apologies to anyone having trouble buying tickets for the Oz/NZ regional cinemas (some of whom will be watching the green carpet shenanigans live from Sydney & Auckland, but many of whom won't, unfortunately, as they don't have the right satellite gear) - we're all doing our best to get everything up and running but are battling against technology, holidays and timezones. (The Sydney and London teams are only working at the same time for about an hour each day, which makes everything 100 times more complicated.). Please hang in there and keep trying till you get the right tickets for the right cinema. Here's a  lovely email this morning from the cinema bookers to reassure you: "Nothing like this has ever really be done before - especially on such a huge global scale.  I think what you and everyone involved in London, Australia and everywhere else in the world has achieved is nothing short of spectacular, and I definitely think none of us should lose sight of that!" 

Our big name celeb pulled out because of a double booking. Shucks. So we're really in need of a replacement. Anyone married to Russell Crowe? Or went to school with Baz Luhrmann? Or babysit Kylie's nephews? 

Meanwhile, Team Stupid New York are also looking for recruits. Lizzie's new best friends Eric and Lenny (see pic) from the satellite broadcast company which will be transmitting our 21st September shenanigans out to the world have only gone and donated us a great big office at their production studios. "Would be pleased to have you and your team as houseguests this summer." How extremely lovely are they? It's just Lizzie, Nevette and Dara in there so far, but Rhiannon, Tom and I will be joining them shortly and then we're in need five more pairs of hands. Should be a rollercoaster ride and a half, if the London premiere was anything to go by (that was just the one country, this is 45... that was arrivals by public transport, this is boats... that was one language, this is 25...). Dates: Aug 20 -> Sep 22nd or so. Apply to intern@ageofstupid.net by end of 9th August.  More details here.

Dan and I pitched the secret climate campaign idea (you remember - the one which was launching in July, but is now definitely set for September 1st) to an advertising agency which just might get it onto billboards across the land. Started off fairly intimidatingly with "I can't tell you how many tedious climate campaigns we've had through these doors" and ended with "That is the most exciting idea I've heard all year". Yahey. Methinks they might just do it.... Four weeks to get us onto billboards... how hard can it be? 

A funny thing happened the other day. You remember we bought the old 747, attached? (Thanks again for the loan Matthew). Well it's now at the blacksmiths forge being being turned into X. The dude who runs the place is taking our "don't tell anyone the plan" instructions very seriously and so all his employees have no idea what these strange things they are making are. Most amusing guess so far: body bag tags for swine flu victims. 

Gotta go. I'm off to meet the boss of a very famous and completely perfect Central London landmark in the hope he will agree that we can launch Top Secret round his place on 1st September. Better get on my bike. Speaking of which: arrived at the advertising agency yesterday and made a pointless comment to the receptionist along the lines of "it's very hot out there on a bike" to which she replied "What, really? You came on a bicycle? Do people do that?"

See ya

Franny & Andy

up all night trying to finish the double-pack DVD before i leave for Oz