I have visited BBC Birmingham on a number of occasions and I have had the privilege of going into…read morethe BBC WM and BBC Midlands Today studios. I honestly felt at home working here and I would love to work at BBC Birmingham in the future if given an opportunity. I worked alongside some famous media personalities in the West Midlands such as Ed Doolan, Joanne Malin and Arshia Riaz. I have also spoken to some of the Midlands Today correspondents. So many fond memories occur when I keep coming back here and as well as the WM radio studios and Midlands Today being here, BBC Asian Network also have studios at BBC Birmingham. And there is also a BBC Shop where you can buy BBC related items such as: DVD's, books, mugs etc. That's not all. You can also tour the Midlands Today and WM studios by going on the BBC Birmingham Tour. Go onto the BBC Tours website to find out more.

I can't deny it, I am a fan of the BBC. I listen to their radio stations, I am a nut for Doctor Who…read moreand love their radio plays. Although the BBC presence in the Midlands has lessened over the years, we do still have the Mailbox visitor centre and hub; so at least there is still something here! I am yet to experience the full BBC tour (which includes a chance to present the weather, see the studios and watch live broadcasts), but I have popped into the visitors centre and the shop for an event recently. First thing to mention.... T.A.R.D.I.S. There is a blinkin' TARDIS in the shop! There are also darleks spotted around the place, so if you're a Whovian - you will be in your element! The shop sells merchandise from many of their well known television series (including lots of Children's toys), so if you have someone in your life who is a fan of a particular franchise; it's worth popping down and seeing what they have. There is a good selection of DVD's, CD's and general branded paraphernalia - so well worth stopping by when you're in the mailbox for a very quick gander. I'll have to update this when I finally get around to doing the tour, but if you've been - why not pop up your experience?

Daily Mail is my guilty pleasure. Sure it is often sensationalistic and it is definitely a tabloid;…read morehowever, it has many redeeming qualities. For tragedies like lockdowns, mass shootings, air disasters, or the deaths of famous figures, Daily Mail is the first "news" source to provide relevant photos, names, ages, and details. It's not without drama! Headlines often read So and So "Breaks Their Silence!" "Doctors Issue Major Warning!" "So and So's Secret Babies!" The comments readers post are often entertaining. Especially when a tornado occurs in the United States and the readers/commenters are just flabbergasted that people would chose to not have a tornado shelter in their home, or would even opt to live in a region that is often tornadic. I'm surprised Daily Mail has been around since 1896. I'm also surprised they offer Scottish, Irish, Continental, and Indian editions. For their coverage of United States celebrities, they generally publish a series of photos of the person or people walking to and from a coffee shop, a store, or in and or out of a restaurant. Often they are "under cover," "makeup free," or "unrecognizable," meaning they aren't dressed and made up as if they were going to a magazine cover shoot. Which becomes humorous after you get their M.O. regarding these "stories." It's fun, too, to learn the British phrases the Daily Mail often uses, such as "nappies" for diapers, and "pins" for legs. Checking the headlines on their app is part of my morning routine. Thanks, Daily Mail for being the first to report important details that Americans want before the United States can officially release a story's details.

A Yelp listing for the Daily Mail already exists and I'm kind of surprised to be the first one to…read morereview it considering its reach and popularity. I'm a fan of the Daily Mail. For many years, the Daily Mail's website at www.dailymail.co.uk has been one of my primary news sources. In recent years, I've also used the app. There are long stretches of time where I check the Daily Mail for news almost daily. My wife and her friends have eye-rolled at me for referencing this publication, but for the most part, I think it's pretty solid. The Daily Mail is not widely considered a legitimate news source because it's a tabloid. However, most of the news articles I've chosen to consume via the Daily Mail have been factual. Yes, the Daily Mail is sensationalist so you have to read its articles with a grain of salt. What I like about the Daily Mail, similar to TMZ, is how they are quick to get right to the point and dig up whatever photos and videos they can on a particular topic. For example, if there's a mass shooting, Daily Mail is good about identifying the shooter quickly and uncovering whatever they can about the shooter, from social media posts to any other sorts of publicly available information. Other media outlets don't do that and ethically, I understand why. The Daily Mail also puts together neat infographics. For example, I thought their infographics illustrating how the United States carried out drone strikes on foreign targets were particularly interesting and memorable. When it comes to photos and videos, the Daily Mail cuts straight to the chase, showing you the most important clips and screen captures. When it comes to reporting, each article is front-loaded with quick and easy-to-read bullet points that summarize the most relevant information. I appreciate that. No, Daily Mail is not perfect, but most of the time, it tells me what I want to know. I also read other news sources such as the Associated Press, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Fox News to see what their version or take might be. At the end of the day, for the foreseeable future, I see no reason to stop reading the Daily Mail. I like it.

I've been fortunate enough to have built up a strong working relationship with Jonny Costello from…read moreFluid who in my opinion, is hands down the best designer in Birmingham and pretty high on the list for the UK. You could be excused for thinking I'm biased as Jonny has handled many projects for me over the years including the branding for my club night 'Hott Date' and the CD artwork for the band I manage Black Market Empire. But his work speaks for itself, check out his portfolio, check out the Fluid portfolio and you'll see where I'm coming from. Easy to deal with and with amazing results the only drawback is they are so in-demand you'll be lucky to get a look in. It's worth waiting if you have time because the finished product will be unique, professional and tailored to your requirements.

Fluid is a high end graphic design agency that have such impressive clients on their list as Sega,…read moreWarner Brothers, BBC, MTV and Disney to name just a few. They cover a whole range of artistic and creative practices from branding to advertising and packaging. I have been lucky enough to work with Fluid on projects before and I can say that they are professional, personable and go above and beyond to make sure that the client is completely satisfied. They have studio in Tenby Street which is in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, a perfect location to drop in and meet with them. If you have need for any of the kind of services they offer and want to go with an agency local to Birmingham, Fluid would be at the absolute top of my list. Highly recommended.