Some links for you:

• 50 Trend-setting Design Studios and Agencies | Inspiration – Birmingham-based Tak! get a mention in what is an international list of 'Trend-setting Design Studios and Agencies"
• David Byrne Journal: 04.03.09: Liverpool — Tips from a Fan – Oh look – now he's talking about Liverpool. Did he not leave the tour bus in Birmingham? Maybe, like this post describes, I should have written him a fan letter pointing out the stuff in Brum worth taking a peek at.
• David Byrne Journal: 04.01.09: Newcastle upon Tyne/Gateshead – I was so hoping David Byrne would write something about Birmingham in his tour journal. He didn't. Instead he's done an epic post about the wonders of Newcastle/Gateshead: "After our show at the Sage, a symphony hall encased in glass caterpillar skin, a local friend of Mark’s mentions that there is a bike path that leads to the sea, and there’s even a bike tunnel under the river somewhere downstream. The next morning is gorgeous and sunny, and Natalie, Jenni and I head out, cross the Millenium ped bridge and head west towards the North Sea [….] I should be working for the local tourist board"
• Digital Birmingham – Blog – Birmingham Open City – Announcement of the bid we won at Digital Birmingham as part of the Timely Information for Citizens pilot funding.

Some links for you:

• Crunch Time | Media Enterprise – Useful summary of the Screen WM/Creative Republic Crunch Time event by a MA Media Enterprise Student from Birmingham City University
• Design for Purpose: Crunch Time event by Screen WM & Creative Republic – Stehpen Walls from Tomorrow People Design Agency on the Screen WM/Creative Republic Crunchtime event
• Meshed Media » Blog Archive » Tips for no budget marketing – Notes from the no budget marketing session at the Screen WM/Creative Republic crunchtime event
• (Towards a) West Midlands Digital Strategy – I've put up all the words of this report at last. It's there for anyone to comment on: "in avoiding a technologically determinist approach the region can instead focus on creating the right conditions for innovation to flourish."

Some links for you:

• David Byrne Journal: 03.15.09: Copenhagen — Sink or Swim? Arrogant Bastards Want Your Help – David Byrne’s take on the banking crisis: “There were no reins, and anything that made money was OK; just like at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, that reckless culture and behaviour was part and parcel of the whole deal.” I saw him at Symphony Hall on Sunday – he didn’t talk much on this particular subject but he did play some great songs, new and old. And he had dancers – loved it!
• Advantage West Midlands – Real Value for Money from Advantage West Midlands – “The National Impact and Evaluation Study […..] shows that Advantage West Midlands generates an overall benefit to the region of £7.45 for every £1 it invests.”