The amazing London homeless choir, Choir with No Name - a choir for homeless and vulnerable people - launch their debut album today!
Watch their "Total Eclipse of the Heart" music video:
Choir with No Name on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChoirwithNoName
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
The World's Perfect Cup of Tea (LoveUK)
This is an amusing video from VisitBritainTV Follow the giant LoveUK teapot in its search around London for The World's Perfect Cup of Tea as decided by the fans of facebook.com/LoveUK. Join Mr Teapot as he takes in some of the capital's most iconic sights, samples the perfect cup of tea and amuses a few tourists along the way!
Twitter: Follow Friday
If you've joined Twitter, or even if you haven't but you read it sometimes, you may have noticed a feature called Follow Friday. Basically, it's an easy way for people to recommend other people to follow on Twitter. You simply tweet the names of Twitter users you like and tag it with #followfriday or #FF.
The hashtag (#) symbol is important because it means it becomes a clickable link which makes it easy for everyone on Twitter to access.
Unfortunately, I've noticed that most people just tweet a long list of names of people they like which is easy to do, but has the unfortunate consequence of cluttering the Twitter stream up and it just becomes a very annoying form of spam.
A much better method (in my opinion) is to tweet just one Follow Friday at a time. It means you have space to provide details about why you are making the recommendation. Here's a few that I posted today, for example:
#FF @Directgov Information and practical advice about public services. http://direct.gov.uk Website of the UK government
#FF @suellewellyn "Journalist. Broadcaster. Communicator." for her informative and friendly tweets. Provides lots of useful links!
#FF @lynneguist An American linguist in England. Tweets about British and American English http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/
Now, I realize you wouldn't have time to use this method for everyone you want to recommend but you can post a few at a time, and then do some more on subsequent Fridays. It does take a bit more thought but I think it means more to the people you are recommending as well to people looking for new followers.
Another very easy way to do Follow Friday is to use your lists. You can tweet the link to a particular list and mark it as #FollowFriday. I've noticed more and more people doing it this way.
Are you on Twitter? What are your thoughts about Follow Friday?
These are my Twitter accounts:
http://twitter.com/ViewFromEngland
http://twitter.com/BookishMagpie
The hashtag (#) symbol is important because it means it becomes a clickable link which makes it easy for everyone on Twitter to access.
Unfortunately, I've noticed that most people just tweet a long list of names of people they like which is easy to do, but has the unfortunate consequence of cluttering the Twitter stream up and it just becomes a very annoying form of spam.
A much better method (in my opinion) is to tweet just one Follow Friday at a time. It means you have space to provide details about why you are making the recommendation. Here's a few that I posted today, for example:
#FF @Directgov Information and practical advice about public services. http://direct.gov.uk Website of the UK government
#FF @suellewellyn "Journalist. Broadcaster. Communicator." for her informative and friendly tweets. Provides lots of useful links!
#FF @lynneguist An American linguist in England. Tweets about British and American English http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/
Now, I realize you wouldn't have time to use this method for everyone you want to recommend but you can post a few at a time, and then do some more on subsequent Fridays. It does take a bit more thought but I think it means more to the people you are recommending as well to people looking for new followers.
Another very easy way to do Follow Friday is to use your lists. You can tweet the link to a particular list and mark it as #FollowFriday. I've noticed more and more people doing it this way.
Are you on Twitter? What are your thoughts about Follow Friday?
These are my Twitter accounts:
http://twitter.com/ViewFromEngland
http://twitter.com/BookishMagpie
Sunday, November 21, 2010
People born before 1983 to British mothers
Sigh. So the saga continues. There is still no equality regarding British citizenship via British mothers.
I've been waiting for news announcing the results of committee meetings by the House of Commons and the House of Lords regarding proposed changes to the requirements for British citizenship via British mothers. Thanks to Michael Turberville, I learned that the House of Commons committee meeting was on 1 Nov, and the House of Lords meeting was 17 Nov to remove the fee of £550. Michael shares this exciting news on his website: The exemption to the fee for 4C applications will then come into effect on the 22 November.
I should be very pleased, right? Well, initially it does indeed sound like very good news however it turns out we are still not being granted automatic British citizenship via our British mothers! I learned this from an anonymous comment on my blog - The fee has been eliminated but the citizenship ceremony fee remains (£80).
This is the latest official news from the Home Office about this change to the law:
Registration of people born before 1983 to British mothers
19 November 2010
From Monday 22 November 2010 those applying under this section will not be required to pay an application fee for registration. Those who are applying in the UK will still need to pay an administrative fee of £80, as this is forwarded to the local authority to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony. The £80 administrative fee should be paid when making the application, but will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful. Those applying overseas will be required to pay a consular fee.
So the discrimination continues! We are expected to make an application and pay a fee for a citizenship ceremony and attend the ceremony. We still don't have 100% parity with the children of British father's. If my father had been British, citizenship would be automatic - no registration required, no fee at all and no ceremony!
By the way, my mother is a British war bride. The majority of people affected by this change in the law are children of British war brides. It's disgusting that the UK is still refusing to give us our right to automatic citizenship. Why are we being treated as second-class citizens?
I'm entitled to automatic citizenship via my British mother - that is citizenship without any conditions. This latest news is just changing the amount of the fee, and it was never just about the money! It's a matter of equality. The administrative fee of £80 to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony, is ridiculous! Why are we required to attend a ceremony? The citizenship ceremony is for immigrants who seek to become British citizens. The children of British mothers are not immigrants!
I'm also outraged to read that the £80 administrative fee...will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful, which implies that we are still having to apply for our right to citizenship and that we can be denied! The word, application seems to me to be the same as registration. It's blatatant discrimination to require an application (which can be denied) and the ceremony (which is for immigrants!).
Why are we still being denied our right to automatic British citizenship?
Edited to add: For your information - via the UK Home Office website:
Applicants for British citizenship use application Form UKM
"Registration as a British citizen by certain persons born before 1983 to British mothers"
Notice it states: Application for registration as a British citizen by a person born before 1983 to a British mother
Completing the application form (note the required information on Form UKM before approval for citizenship!)
Yes, the fee has been greatly reduced but we are required to register - and then (possibly) be approved for British citizenship before attending the required ceremony (which is for foreigners without a British parent). Blatant discrimination!
Related posts from my blog:
Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers
British Citizenship - discrimination
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship
Related blog post via Jims Blog :
UK Continues to discriminate against children of female British citizens
I've been waiting for news announcing the results of committee meetings by the House of Commons and the House of Lords regarding proposed changes to the requirements for British citizenship via British mothers. Thanks to Michael Turberville, I learned that the House of Commons committee meeting was on 1 Nov, and the House of Lords meeting was 17 Nov to remove the fee of £550. Michael shares this exciting news on his website: The exemption to the fee for 4C applications will then come into effect on the 22 November.
I should be very pleased, right? Well, initially it does indeed sound like very good news however it turns out we are still not being granted automatic British citizenship via our British mothers! I learned this from an anonymous comment on my blog - The fee has been eliminated but the citizenship ceremony fee remains (£80).
This is the latest official news from the Home Office about this change to the law:
Registration of people born before 1983 to British mothers
19 November 2010
From Monday 22 November 2010 those applying under this section will not be required to pay an application fee for registration. Those who are applying in the UK will still need to pay an administrative fee of £80, as this is forwarded to the local authority to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony. The £80 administrative fee should be paid when making the application, but will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful. Those applying overseas will be required to pay a consular fee.
So the discrimination continues! We are expected to make an application and pay a fee for a citizenship ceremony and attend the ceremony. We still don't have 100% parity with the children of British father's. If my father had been British, citizenship would be automatic - no registration required, no fee at all and no ceremony!
By the way, my mother is a British war bride. The majority of people affected by this change in the law are children of British war brides. It's disgusting that the UK is still refusing to give us our right to automatic citizenship. Why are we being treated as second-class citizens?
I'm entitled to automatic citizenship via my British mother - that is citizenship without any conditions. This latest news is just changing the amount of the fee, and it was never just about the money! It's a matter of equality. The administrative fee of £80 to cover the administrative cost of a citizenship ceremony, is ridiculous! Why are we required to attend a ceremony? The citizenship ceremony is for immigrants who seek to become British citizens. The children of British mothers are not immigrants!
I'm also outraged to read that the £80 administrative fee...will be refunded if the application is unsuccessful, which implies that we are still having to apply for our right to citizenship and that we can be denied! The word, application seems to me to be the same as registration. It's blatatant discrimination to require an application (which can be denied) and the ceremony (which is for immigrants!).
Why are we still being denied our right to automatic British citizenship?
Edited to add: For your information - via the UK Home Office website:
Applicants for British citizenship use application Form UKM
"Registration as a British citizen by certain persons born before 1983 to British mothers"
Notice it states: Application for registration as a British citizen by a person born before 1983 to a British mother
Completing the application form (note the required information on Form UKM before approval for citizenship!)
Yes, the fee has been greatly reduced but we are required to register - and then (possibly) be approved for British citizenship before attending the required ceremony (which is for foreigners without a British parent). Blatant discrimination!
Related posts from my blog:
Changes to the law on citizenship: Children of British mothers
British Citizenship - discrimination
Guardian's Liberty Clinic - query about British citizenship
Related blog post via Jims Blog :
UK Continues to discriminate against children of female British citizens
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - review
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) is a must-see film for all Harry Potter fans, and since I'm very definitely a fan (as is my husband and our sons) I made sure we had tickets booked to see the film on Friday.
I thought it was an excellent film. The three lead actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) returning once again to their familiar roles as Harry, Hermione and Ron, show just how far their acting skills have come. They managed to convey a wide range of emotions (particularly jealousy, rage, fear and loneliness). I think Emma Watson stands out as the best of the three actors though.
The supporting cast of very talented, well-known British actors (Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy) were fabulous too of course, even when in the briefest of appearances.
The special effects in this film were impressive too. I love seeing all the magical components from the story, made to look so real and believable. The way the lifts transport people in the Ministry of Magic particularly made me smile, and the unusual method of entry into the building, made everyone laugh. I was also very impressed with the extremely clever way the story of the Deathly Hallows is explained.
In this film, Harry, Hermione and Ron are (mostly) on their own and no longer at Hogwarts. They have to use their own resources of cunning (and magic) to evade the evil wizard Voldemort - who is intent on killing Harry Potter - while searching for artifacts (Horcruxes) that hold portions of Voldemort's soul.
The film is true to the book so it is very intense and dark as it's meant to be. I do think parents should heed the movie rating. It's rated 12A in the UK which means no-one younger than 12 is allowed to see the film unless accompanied by an adult. I think children younger than 12 could be very frightened indeed, and it's not really suitable for young children. This movie has some seriously scary moments (torture, snakes, spiders).
Saying that, there are some very funny, laugh-out-loud moments too. All in all, the film won't disappoint those who have read the books and loved them as much as I have. If you haven't read the books, it's still possible to enjoy the film although you might find some of the storyline a bit confusing. You don't need to have read the books but I think it probably would help you to appreciate the film more.
I highly recommend it. I can't wait until Part 2 comes out next year (scheduled for release on 15 July 2011).
I thought it was an excellent film. The three lead actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) returning once again to their familiar roles as Harry, Hermione and Ron, show just how far their acting skills have come. They managed to convey a wide range of emotions (particularly jealousy, rage, fear and loneliness). I think Emma Watson stands out as the best of the three actors though.
The supporting cast of very talented, well-known British actors (Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy) were fabulous too of course, even when in the briefest of appearances.
The special effects in this film were impressive too. I love seeing all the magical components from the story, made to look so real and believable. The way the lifts transport people in the Ministry of Magic particularly made me smile, and the unusual method of entry into the building, made everyone laugh. I was also very impressed with the extremely clever way the story of the Deathly Hallows is explained.
In this film, Harry, Hermione and Ron are (mostly) on their own and no longer at Hogwarts. They have to use their own resources of cunning (and magic) to evade the evil wizard Voldemort - who is intent on killing Harry Potter - while searching for artifacts (Horcruxes) that hold portions of Voldemort's soul.
The film is true to the book so it is very intense and dark as it's meant to be. I do think parents should heed the movie rating. It's rated 12A in the UK which means no-one younger than 12 is allowed to see the film unless accompanied by an adult. I think children younger than 12 could be very frightened indeed, and it's not really suitable for young children. This movie has some seriously scary moments (torture, snakes, spiders).
Saying that, there are some very funny, laugh-out-loud moments too. All in all, the film won't disappoint those who have read the books and loved them as much as I have. If you haven't read the books, it's still possible to enjoy the film although you might find some of the storyline a bit confusing. You don't need to have read the books but I think it probably would help you to appreciate the film more.
I highly recommend it. I can't wait until Part 2 comes out next year (scheduled for release on 15 July 2011).
Christmas advert with Jamie Oliver for Sainsbury's
I love this new advert - Sainsbury's Perfect Christmas, starring Jamie Oliver with the beautiful voices of the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir singing, "All Through The Night":
The advert was filmed in the Yorkshire Dales village of Halton Gill, near Skipton. It's a beautiful advert - very English and the feeling it creates is very Christmas-sy indeed!
Competition from Sainsbury's: Win The Perfect Christmas For You And Your Neighbours
The advert was filmed in the Yorkshire Dales village of Halton Gill, near Skipton. It's a beautiful advert - very English and the feeling it creates is very Christmas-sy indeed!
Competition from Sainsbury's: Win The Perfect Christmas For You And Your Neighbours
Saturday, November 13, 2010
World Kindness Day
Today is World Kindness Day
"When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world." - Harold Kushner
Spread kindness today - and everyday.
"When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world." - Harold Kushner
Spread kindness today - and everyday.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Susan Boyle: 'Perfect Day' music video
I was absolutely entranced when I heard Susan Boyle sing 'Perfect Day' on the (heartwarming) Pride of Britain Awards on TV Wednesday evening. It's a beautiful song and I was amazed to see how she has become such a confident and impressive performer. This is the perfect song for her.
Here is the accompanying music video (shot in Susan's native Scotland) of Susan Boyle's recording of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' for her second album The Gift: I
I love it. I'm asking for The Gift for Christmas!
Here is the accompanying music video (shot in Susan's native Scotland) of Susan Boyle's recording of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' for her second album The Gift: I
I love it. I'm asking for The Gift for Christmas!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Internet Week Europe: London 8-12 November 2010
It's the very first Internet Week Europe this week: 8-12 November 2010
This five-day festival has been set up to celebrate the very best of Europe's digital industry, with events hosted by The BBC, Yahoo!, Creative Review, Google, Lonely Planet, Channel 4 and more.
Read more about it: http://www.internetweekeurope.com/
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/internetweekeu
Also, worth noting, Skype is offering free WiFi at Skype Access-enabled hotspots in the UK this week!
This five-day festival has been set up to celebrate the very best of Europe's digital industry, with events hosted by The BBC, Yahoo!, Creative Review, Google, Lonely Planet, Channel 4 and more.
Read more about it: http://www.internetweekeurope.com/
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/internetweekeu
Also, worth noting, Skype is offering free WiFi at Skype Access-enabled hotspots in the UK this week!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sir Michael Caine interview on BBC Radio 1
Sir Michael Caine talks to Chris Moyles (done on 29 Sept 2010 but I just found out about the video):
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