You Are Free Not To Criticise

There have been many responses to the strange case of Julian Assange, from the idealistic support of those who see him as a subversive cyber-guerilla hero, to the wild disdain of detractors who believe that the Wikileaks founder is dangerous and megalomaniacal, and, for a whistleblower, ironically obsessed with protecting his own privacy.

However, what has emerged, in the battle between those who are willing to fight to keep the internet free, and those who all too quickly fall into line with the demands of government, is that hypocrisy is alive and well.

The following speeches by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reveal that freedom of speech is guaranteed, as long as whatever it is you wish to say has first been vetted.

Happy Talk

Are you happy? Would you like to tell the Coalition government about it?

The Prime Minister wants to spend £2m of the money he insists the country no longer has on asking Britons how they are feeling. The resulting Index of Felicity will be used to inform us how, despite mass unemployment, repossessions and the denuding of state support for everything from welfare to culture, we are really quite remarkably chipper.

While you are kicking away the ladder, it is always wise to remind the poor fellow desperately clinging to it just how much he will enjoy his fall.

The Conformity of Crowds

In our social networking playgrounds we are fearful to be different least we offend or contravene the rules. The new heresy is not only to have an alternative perspective, but to communicate that perspective. Dispute an online fashion or a beloved digital authority and you are labelled a hater. Where is the love of argument? Why the rush to consensus? Why sign up to the utopian celebration of social media's endless updating of its possibilities without questioning our need for the service provided?

Social networking supports the contemporary myth that we each have voice a worth attending to, while simultaneously seeking to deny the uniqueness and originality of all our voices by trapping us within systems, databases and pre-ordained templates. We are free only to be the same as everyone else.

Were Descartes alive and fiddling with the ends of his moustache in the second decade of the twenty-first century, he might be tempted into a new metaphysical formulation: Others are therefore I am. What’s thinking got to do with it René?

Watch our video of our Website of the Year Awards Reception!

The Good Web Guide Website of the Year Awards from Jez Kay on Vimeo.

For more information on our Website of the Year Awards, click here

A Novel Departure

What of the novel in the digital age?

Is the future Tim Burton’s twitternovel, where anyone can contribute a line in the creation of a story that has the potential to involve millions of writers around the world? Is it the mobile phone novel, which has become a craze in Japan? Penguin has had a go at interactive storytelling, but the excitement surrounding that project was more to do with interactive novelty, than radical content.

At present, we play with our technological tools in search of a new literary art, but find ourselves lost somewhere between form and content. We know there is no sense in carving a longbow in the age of the sub-machine gun, unless we want it for quaint decorative purpose.

Is it time for the novel, as a form, to acknowledge the virtues of brevity? War and Peace was produced in a time when the only distractions were sex and alcohol. Our attention is now so fragmented that even the idea of producing a novel of 300 pages in length seems a little absurd. So how to go on? Twitter proves that you can be a philosopher, a wit and a journalist in 140 characters or fewer. Can you also be a novelist?

The Good Web Cast Show Eight: I Never Promised You A Walled Garden

In 1990 the World Wide Web went live at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Geneva. Sir Tim-Berners-Lee’s hypertext application, which he made freely available, transformed the internet, helping to take it out of the universities and the laboratories, and into all our lives.

This week Berners-Lee warned of threats to the web’s principles of universality and neutrality, claiming that gated communities on Facebook and proprietary spaces such as iTunes undermine the free flow of information online.

This week’s Good Webcast examines Berners-Lee’s claims, and asks, in the battle to control the web, who will win?

And the Website of the Year 2010 is...

This week, over a hundred movers and shakers in the web world gathered at the Royal Institution in London for The Good Web Guide’s Website of the Year 2010 Award Reception, which took place as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

ANYVAN SCOOPS WEBSITE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Shipping & delivery company, ANYVAN.com, was announced as the winner by ex-BBC Dragon, Doug Richard, who commented:

“Entrepreneurs see problems and manufacture opportunities. They come up with innovations the world has never seen before, and they put them to work. AnyVan.com saves money, time and natural resources by connecting those who want to ship something with those who transport things for a living. A simple thought… a simple online solution… a critical change in the logistics of transport, not just for London, but the UK.”

ABOUT ANYVAN.COM

Set up in October 2009, the idea for ANYVAN.com came about one and a half years earlier while Angus Elphinstone, aged just 25, was running a delivery business, White Van Gentlemen. After spotting a gap in the market for cheap nationwide deliveries and shared vans – known in the industry as part loads, he registered the url and began planning the business. 25% of vans travel empty in the UK and 50% travel half full, meaning a lot of air is transported at large cost to transport companies, wasting unnecessary fuel - it wasn't difficult to get the couriers on board with the idea, and ANYVAN.com was born.

Angus expressed delight and surprise at winning the award, "Winning the award was beyond our expectations against such tough competition! As the ANYVAN concept is such a new service our greatest challenge to date is communicating the concept and winning this award will without doubt add further credibility to the ANYVAN brand. Thank you The Good Web Guide."

THE PRIZES

As winner of The Good Web Guide Website of the Year Award 2010, ANYVAN.com will win:

* £1,000 cash to spend on the business and £500 of advertising on The Good Web Guide.
* A one-day photo shoot with Tim James from The Gray Gallery (£1,500)
* A full SEO audit and follow up consultation with SEOptimise (£750)
* A press release prepared by Kenyon Communications on the subject of their choosing with full media distribution (£500)
* Two hours free singing for 8 people at any Lucky Voice venue (£180)

THE JUDGES

ANYVAN.com was picked as winner of this year’s award after long deliberation by a panel of four judges. These included: Sophie Cornish, co-founder of NotOnTheHighStreet.com, Mark Glynne-Jones, founder of JumpTo Consultancy, JumpTo.co.uk and Jamie Murray-Wells, founder of GlassesDirect.co.uk and HearingDirect.com.

The final judge Sarah Beeny, founder of Tepilo.com and MySingleFriend.com was unable to comment on ANYVAN.com due to its partnership with Tepilo.com, but noted: “The Good Web Guide Website of the Year had some fantastic entries and there was some incredibly strong competition. It was a tough job judging the entries as so many of them got very high scores. The finalists all had some aspects which made them worthy of winning.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

The five Highly Commended sites in this year’s award include:

* Ooh.com – “A great concept which is fun to browse and easy to use. It provides a fantastic platform to connect activities and events with people and their interests across the globe.” Sophie Cornish, NotOnTheHighStreet.com

* Made.com – “Appeals on a number of levels particularly for content and functionality. Discounted designer furniture with no compromise on quality, a fact underpinned by profiles of designers and production and nice touches when it comes to tracking orders.” Mark Glynne-Jones, JumpTo.co.uk

* Looklet.com – “Lets people define their personal style and visual identity online, connecting shoppers with their clothing designers worldwide in the process.” Doug Richard, founder of SchoolforStartups.co.uk

* TheSleepRoom.com – "A truly integrated site that makes it remarkably easy to find and buy quality beds, mattresses and bed linen." Arabella Dymoke, The Good Web Guide.

* Findababysitter.com – This user-friendy site helps parents to fulfill very specific childcare requirements without going through an agency, the idea being to save money. It is “developing a niche extremely effectively,” says Jamie Murray-Wells, founder of GlassesDirect.co.uk and HearingDirect.co.uk

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE 2010

This year, we opened up the shortlist to our readers to let them choose the site that they thought should win. Their choice in The People's Choice Award was none other than Netmums.com! A very big congratulations to the team.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Good Web Guide Website of the Year Award is now in its second year and aims to champion start-up web businesses. The judges decided that this year’s winning site should have been trading for at least and have the potential for exponential growth. AnyVan.com is an interesting concept well executed with lots of real-time information available on the site and operates in step with our times, both on the economical and green fronts. It is hoped that AnyVan.com will gain lots of mileage from winning the award.

"The Good Web Guide once again showcases how an entrepreneur’s innovation and creativity can translate into important efficiencies and new wealth for the communities they live in.” Doug Richard, founder of SchoolforStartups.co.uk.

The Good Webcast Show Seven: The Website of the Year Award

The second annual Good Web Guide Website of the Year award ceremony took place on Tuesday 16th November. At the Royal Institution in Mayfair, where Faraday helped make the modern world, a large crowd of web entrepreneurs gathered to hear erstwhile Dragon Doug Richard read out the winners.

The big prize went to ANYVAN.com, while the People's Choice award went to Netmums, whose co-founder Siobhan Freegard described it as being "like X-Factor for websites."

Arabella Dymoke, the MD of the Good Web Guide, spoke to the Good Webcast about why the awards were set up and what they seek to recognise.

The See Through Coalition

It's been a big week for Mr. Cameron. No, no, no, not the visit to China, where our noble premier is pretending to be interested in that country's human rights record to please the Liberals in his Coalition, but the launch of the Transparency section of the Number 10 website, which gives humble voters the chance to check up on the government, a review of which you can read here.

On an extremely similar theme, Seren Lloyd, who occasionally pens casual frippery for The Good Web Guide on matters pertaining to the internet, has come up with a few suggestions for ways the government can make itself even more open to the public.

As they say in Whitehall, if you can't see through it, it ain't transparent.

The Good Webcast Show Six: Fry's Last Tweet

A specially reduced length podcast this week in honour of the subject matter: Twitter and how best to leave it.

With Stephen Fry having departed the microblogging website in what appears to be a considerable huff following the controversy over his views on women and sex, we take a brief look at how to say goodbye to your followers and what impact Fry's leaving might have on the popularity of Twitter.

Look who's Talking Now: Read the latest interviews

Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet tells us what she thinks of the coalition's child benefit cuts and why she always has time for a biscuit. Read the interview.


Catherine Gazzoli, CEO of Slow Food UK talks about why we have lost touch with food, how we can restore this relationship and what her happiest food memories are. Read the interview.

Edna Fry, the devoted and long-suffering wife of Stephen, muses over her   favourite sites. Read more.

Website of the Year Award 2010 closes

Entries to our Website of the Year Award 2010 closed last week. This year's award was once again geared towards small businesses and non-profit organisations, although terms and conditions for entry were left purposefully loose.

The response to the award was good with 1809 entries received in total. Some of the sites entered are fantastic and unknown to us, others already favourites and some that fall woefully short of the mark. This year, we seemed to be inundated with baby and child-inspired sites, selling nappies and kids' clothes and although some of them were fun, in general, we've steered away from then when considering the shortlist.

All the entries have been screened and around 100 were chosen to go through to the next round. The sites range across a number of interests from forums and community sites, entertainment, travel, retail, information, property, services, food, parenting and gardening.

Twenty-four sites were shortlisted and all have something unique to offer, whether it's an interesting concept, useful information or plain fun. To view the full shortlist of sites, and vote for who you think should win in the People's Choice, click here

The Website of the Year 2010 will be announced by ex-BBC Dragon, Doug Richard during Global Entrepreneurship Week (15-19th November 2010), alongside the site that has had the most votes in the People's Choice. The Awards Reception will be held at The Royal Institution in Albemarle Street, London W1 on Tuesday 16th November. Tickets to attend the reception can be purchased for £29.38 inc VAT via Eventbrite. The Eventbrite fee is extra.

The Good Webcast launches!

We've just launched the first of our podcasts as part of The Good Webcast, a new feature on The Good Web Guide. The Good Webcasts will cover topical news and issues relating to the internet in discussions led by GWG Contributing Editor, Garan Holcombe. Joining him are Arabella Dymoke, MD of The Good Web Guide; Emily Jenkinson, its Editor; and Nick Wills, The Good Web Guide's resident tech guru.

Show One discusses the Great Paywall of Rupert Murdoch on The Times and whether it's doomed to failure.

Show Two discusses SEO: what it is and how you crack it.

Listen to the first two shows here and watch this space for the next show, broadcasting in September.

New Designers: the graduate designers who are set to impress

On Wednesday, The Good Web Guide went along to the showcase for graduate designers at The Business Design Centre in Islington and found much to excite.

Graduate designs such as the Cuppa Luck - a stainless steel look tea-set, which can be scratched to reveal a pattern underneath - by Jo Westrop (www.jowestrop.com); magnetic tableware from Oliver Boulton; and a wealth of stunning furniture designs by designer/makers including Jórun Høgnesen (www.jorunhognesen.blogspot.com), Keith Gibbons (www.keithgibbons.co.uk) and Philip Clay of Zealous Furniture Design (www.wix.com/zealousfurniture/design) impressed with their ingenuity and attention to detail.

A new area of the show this year was One Year On, featuring a hand-picked group of designers who have done well in their first year out of college. Beautiful wallpaper from Kate Usher Surfaces (kateusher.wordpress.com), furniture from Robin Grasby (www.robingrasby.com) and mixed media illustrations from Hannah Davies (www.hannah-designs.com) are proof, that despite a tough financial year, with dedication and bundles of talent, new designers can find success.

To find out more, visit www.newdesigners.com

Fashion to follow at the Bright Light PR Press Day

I - Emily (The Good Web Guide's editor) - popped along to the Bright Light PR press day yesterday where I was greeted by Kerri. She showed me around the display room, where a number of Bright Light's fashion clients were showcasing between them a choice selection of clothes, boots, jewellery and lingerie. I found loads that I would have happily taken home myself, including:

These hand-crafted Tall Eskimo boots from Mou. Sarah Jessica Parker has been papped in a pair of these apparently and styles include the antelope cowboy boot, calfskin slipper, eskimo, blizzard and goatskin nanuk.

A dragonfly pendant necklace from Annie Haak. Other designs include charm bracelets that jingle with hearts, tassels, butterflies and dazzling silver charms; long necklaces with angels, birds and other silver pendants; and rings with charms attached.

A colourful scarf from Dominique Mosley, whose collection of a bright scarves have been designed, printed and finished in the UK, making them even more desirable. Perfect for Spring!

A black postman bag from luxury Italian lable Pavoni, which has a host of colourful designs for Spring/Summer 2010.

Other fabulous fashion destinations present were: Chesca, Damsel in a Dress, Getmyfashion.com, Lanky Bird, Simone Perele and Implicite. All ones to watch out for next time you go shopping!

Look Who's Talking Now? Read our latest interviews on The Good Web Guide

Will Ramsay, founder of Will's Art Warehouse and the world-renowned Affordable Art Fair, talks bagpipes, rastas and the artist he thinks you should be snapping up now in an exclusive interview. Read the interview

Bec Clarke, founder of luxury online jewellery site, Astley Clarke, counts Nicole Kidman and Sarah Brown amongst her roll call of famous customers. So what's the secret of her success? Where does she like to escape? And what are her top beauty secrets? Read the interview

Rachel Johnson, columnist, author and sister of Boris, is The Lady's 9th editor. So what’s it like to work at this British institution? How are its fortunes being turned around? And what does it mean to be a lady in today’s world? Read the interview

Enjoy!

The Month: The best book, blog and film of February.

Each month, we do a round up of the best culture, including book, film and blog reviews. Here are some of our favourites for February.


Film of the Month: A Prophet is a true masterpiece from a director in complete command of his material.

Book of the Month: It's Only a Movie - Mark Kermode might not be as entertaining as his weekly performance on Five Live with his long time civil partner Simon Mayo, but Mark Kermode remains by far the best film critic in the country, if only because he's got nicer hair than Kim Newman.

Blog of the Month: I am Neurotic is a blog for those who cannot read blogs without standing on one leg while humming the opening bars of The Bangles' Manic Monday.

Win a luxurious silver French style bed from Flemington Design.

One lucky winner will win this fabulous Luxury Silver French Bed as shown in the photo, chosen by Kylie Minogue for the launch of her Autumn Winter bed linen collection in 2009.

This luxurious King size bed, measuring 1600mm x 2000mm, features striking and beautifully ornate carved decals, curved legs and club feet and is hand finished in luxurious Silver. The Luxury Silver French bed is usually priced at £925.00, and now available on the Flemington Design Sale page with 25% off £693.75.

Enter the draw here http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/?PAGEID=12357

Closes 31st January!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! After a much needed break, we're back and ready to take on 2010. To kick start the new year, here are some of our picks of the month:

Film of the Month: Moon, the feature film debut of director Duncan Jones channels Kubrick's 2001 and Tarkosvky's Solaris but manages to make something new from the fusion. Read our review.

Book of the Month: Open is Andre Agassi's account of his life in tennis and is far superior than the average sports bio. Read our review.

Blog of the Month: /Film (or Slash Film) has news and reviews, trailers, the latest rumours and information on films in production. It covers festivals like Sundance and can count directors like Darren Aronofksy among its readers. Read our review.

And less we forget, here is our pick of the Best Films of the Noughties and the Best Books of the Noughties....