There was an article in the Sunday Times today about the idea of allowing prison inmates to work while they’re inside and earn up to £10,000 a year to spend on porn mags and cigarettes. Oh, and they’re doing graphic design.

Yes, apparently the evil criminal mind is particularly suited to grasping the intricacies of kerning and layout, with serial bigamists displaying a penchant for logo creation and international money launderers finding that they are adept at matching to a Pantone swatch. There is a well-meaning graphic design company called Barbed which recruits prisoners as designers – After they’ve got their certificate from Shillington College of course:

Prisoners have all undergone an intensive four month training programme and will be taking apprenticeships and other work-related qualifications, so standards will be as high (if not higher) than work on the outside.

I didn’t realise they’d seen my portfolio. And the best part? Their income is tax free, not to mention the free room and board they’re getting. On the other hand doing the graphic design for KFC could be seen as a punishment in itself, client meetings are a bit awkward and they have to take an armed escort on press…

OK, first let’s get something straight – I WANT to buy an iPhone, I really do. I’ve been waiting for this sucker for the best part of a decade and to be honest I think I’ve shown extraordinary and uncharacteristic patience. Now, though, my patience is really going to be tested…

Apple released the iPhone officially in the UK today on the O2 network, so of course the doors were flung open at 6:02pm. (Give whoever was in that marketing meeting a medal) Forget the fact it’s not 3G, forget the fact it costs nearly £300, and forget the fact that I still have 5 months of an Orange contract to see out – I did so very want to merrily join the queue as I strolled past, but my sanity returned, and after putting some distance between me and the Carphone Warehouse’s shiny display stands and sinking into the clammy tube train seat I tried desperately to be at one with the decision I’d made.

I’m going to wait. It won’t be easy, but I can do it…

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OK, so Lewis Hamilton didn’t quite manage to become the F1 World Champion this year, to be honest, I couldn’t care less about the rugby or the football, I have as much interest in following them as a typical Eastenders storyline, but I do follow F1 and I really did want to see Lewis make it to the number 1 spot. I think everyone is kind of forgetting that he came 2nd in the championship in his first ever year, which is one hell of an achievement, and he pulled off some dazzling driving moves while doing it, his relentless progress back up the field this weekend being a prime example. Well done Lewis, you did us proud and we’ll be watching next year because we know you won’t be happy with 2nd for long…

Posting the great Vodafone ad which has been running all year here, and if you’re curious, as Ron Dennis would say, in the interests of fairness, you can see Fernando Alonso as well. After all, he’s a racing car driver now too you know…

As was widely expected, Apple finally got round to launching the iPhone in the UK this morning at an event from the London Apple Store. Mr Steve Jobs himself made the trip over to make the announcement alongside the head of O2. The iPhone will be released on November 9th exclusively through O2. You’ll be able to get one from Apple, O2 or from the Carphone Warehouse.

I’ve been waiting for the iPhone for years now, I mean YEARS, and I’ve read so much about it all that I guess I was only going to be disappointed. No 3G for Europe, no 16Gb model, no MMS or unlock options. I knew there wouldn’t be but I couldn’t help hoping. It will be a standard 18 month contract, but we’ll get ‘unlimited’ data plans. (These are bizarrely actually limited)

I’m stuck with Orange until April, so rather than buy out early I think I’ll end up waiting for the iPhone v2 with 3G and maybe video calling & iChat. Let’s hope I don’t crack before then – it IS very lovely and it’s calling my name…