Parents complain about disabled host on tv show for children

I am very surprised and saddened to read that some parents have complained to the BBC about a presenter with a disability on the programme, CBeebies: How do you explain a missing hand to a child? Parents have complained that a children's TV presenter with one hand is prompting awkward questions from young children. (link via BBC News Magazine) I seriously doubt any children are frightened or bothered at all by the sight of the presenter's disability. I bet most children don't even notice her disability! And if they did, they might be curious and ask about it which would be a perfect opportunity to talk about how some people have disabilities and about how everyone is different. I think that the parents who complained are only showing their own insecurities and ignorance about disabled people. And sadly they are probably passing on their biased attitudes to their children which perpetuates the same insecurities and negative attitudes toward disabled people. What do you think? If you have young children, do you think they would be disturbed or scared by the sight of a presenter with a disability?

Happy Pancake Day!

Today is Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday. In the UK, pancake races are a traditional part of the Shrove Tuesday celebrations. The most famous pancake race is the Olney Pancake Race - dating back more than five hundred years! - which takes place at Olney, a small market town in the county of Buckinghamshire, England. The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race in London is another well-known annual event. In England, pancakes are quite thin (similar to crepes) and usually served with lemon juice and sugar. They are also usually served as a dessert, although there are savoury pancakes too. In the USA, pancakes are much thicker and usually served with maple syrup. Pancakes are usually served as a breakfast food in the states.

Being Human - BBC Three

What a fantastic series, Being Human has turned out to be! I love dark humour and this show is bursting with it. If you have never seen it and wonder what it's all about, I can tell you it's like a British version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer only it isn't just vampires that are in it. The show revolves around three young people sharing a house in Bristol; a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost. I know it sounds ridiculous especially if you don't like that sort of stuff (particularly the horror genre) but believe me it's a very well made series with wonderful actors and brilliant writing. There is never a dull moment. It's very funny and very entertaining. It has the perfect blend of drama and humour. There's the vampire, Mitchell who is trying to give up blood; loveable but neurotic George the werewolf; and Annie the confused, insecure ghost. And then there are the villains - they are as nasty and evil as you can get. The series is rather like a twisted and dark pantomime. Tonight's episode was the best yet. I think the characters are so funny and yet so poignant too as they struggle with each new predicament they get into. I have a feeling this series will soon become a cult hit - if it isn't one already. BBC - Being Human Homepage Being Human - wikipedia page

Million Ponds Project

Pond Conservation launched the Million Ponds Project yesterday. What is the Million Ponds Project? The Million Ponds Project will create an extensive network of new ponds across the UK. Ultimately the aim is to reverse a century of pond loss, ensuring that once again the UK has over one million countryside ponds. I have been considering creating a pond in our back garden but I keep procrastinating. I think this is the year that I will go ahead and create one. I would like to create a traditonal pond to attract frogs and other wildlife but I might start with something small like a barrel pond. Please share your tips and advice about creating a pond if you've created one yourself.

Elderly: reading, knitting, & other mental activities may delay memory loss

Speaking of knitting (as I was in my previous post), I think it's fascinating to learn of new research from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota about how a mental workout such as knitting may be able to delay memory loss: Knitting 'can delay' memory loss Engaging in a hobby like reading a book, making a patchwork quilt or even playing computer games can delay the onset of dementia, a US study suggests. (link via BBC News) This is very encouraging news about getting old. If the results of this study prove to be true, than memory loss should not be accepted as inevitable in the elderly. It also helps to highlight how unhealthy it is to watch a lot of TV and more importantly how wrong it is for elderly to end up in nursing homes where their major "activity" might be watching TV rather than participating in cognitive exercise (exercising their brains). I hope that since I'm a voracious reader and I also enjoy knitting, that I am protecting myself from the onset of dementia!

Free knitting pattern for a police car tea cosy*

Once again, I am amazed by the cool stuff one can find on the internet. I enjoy knitting and I was just searching for some free patterns via Google and clicked on a link to one of my favourite money-saving sites, MoneySavingExpert.com where there is a thread on the Freebies section of the forum, called Free knitting patterns, and included in the useful replies, there is a link to a free knitting pattern to make a Police car Tea cosy via a blog called Motorparks New and Used Cars. How cool is that pattern?! I love it. If you don't know how to knit you can purchase the hand crafted Police Car Tea cosy from Tea Cosy Folk via this link: http://www.teacosyfolk.co.uk/show.php?id=39 By the way, I had to stop and think about the spelling of the word, cosy. It's yet another example of the spelling differences between American English and British English: *cosy [UK] = cozy [US]

Vicky Cristina Barcelona: movie review

My husband and I went to see Vicky Cristina Barcelona tonight. The movie is about two American women - best friends - Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) spending the summer in Barcelona and how things get complicated when they meet a charming Spanish painter (Javier Bardem) and their lives become romantically entangled with him and his fiery ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). We thought the movie was very good. It's one of Scarlett Johansson's best roles yet and Rebecca Hall, the actress who played Vicky stood out too. And then when Penelope appeared, she lit up the screen. It's a very complex romantic comedy and the snappy dialogue and quirky characters are typical of Woody Allen movies. And Barcelona is the beautiful backdrop to it all. I give it 8/10.

American football coach making a difference in tough LA communities

I have never been a fan of American football but you don't need to be a fan of the game to admire the football coach, Pete Carroll. He coaches college football with enthusiasm and a positive attitude that includes taking advantage of "teachable moments" - taking a mistake and learning from it - when the players misbehave and need discipline. But that's not all. He also devotes time to A Better LA, an organization he created that's dedicated to reducing violence - by empowering change - in some of the worst gang crime areas of Los Angeles. Watch the episode from "60 Minutes" about the inspiring coach:
Watch CBS Videos Online (link via the blog, Monkeys in My Trees)

Free theatre tickets for those under the age of 26

If you are under the age of 26 , then you can get free tickets to shows across England via the Arts Council England website. Simply use the search box to find a participating theatre near you and then choose from available free tickets. (link via moneysavingexpert.com)

Rescued chickens kitted out with handknit jumpers (sweaters)

This is a sweet story about how a Norfolk woman who rescued 1,500 balding battery chickens has had a woolly jumper knitted for each of them to protect them from the cold. many stressed out battery farm birds lose their plumage so Mrs Eglen turned to her local community in December asking for people willing to knit jumpers for the bedraggled birds. (link via telegraph.co.uk) If you would like to help out by knitting a jumper (pattern is on their website) or information about adopting a hen: Little Hen Rescue Centre See video of chickens in knitted jumpers Related post from my blog: Buffy the well dressed chicken

Boy age 13 becomes a father - provokes debate about "broken Britain"

The shocking headlines declaring that a boy of 13 becomes a father has provoked a fierce debate by politicians , parents and the media about "broken Britain". Alfie Patten was just 12 when he and Chantelle Steadman, 15, conceived their child. It's very sad. It's also not surprising when you consider that the UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe. I think stories like this are only going to become more common as society breaks down even more than it has already. Unfortunately, too many children don't have loving parents or they are being raised by a struggling single parent without any other family support. Also, there are too many homes where children aren't getting any discipline at all or they are probably being left alone to fend for themselves most of the time. And as more details were released about the case, it was reported that Alfie's older sister had a baby at the same age. It does seem to point to a problem regarding the way the children in the family are being parented. There is another very unsettling part to the whole story and that's the way the story is being covered by the media. It seems to me that at least one of the parents has already shown what disregard they have for their children by allowing the media access to their photos and to be interviewed on TV. A parent had to give consent. It's a shame that rather than try to protect their privacy, the families seem to be doing the exact opposite. And then lo and behold, there is this disgraceful news: Alfie Patten stands to make a small fortune from the story of how he fathered a child at 13. Charming! And what kind of message does this send to teenagers? Yes the media are behaving despicably but the parents had to give their consent to it. They don't seem to care about the privacy of their children. I think the involvement with the media is making the situation so much worse. And I don't think it's right to give the children special status by flattering them with interviews and certainly not by rewarding them with financial deals. In an ideal world, children are allowed (and encouraged) to have a childhood. I think there are a lot of factors (the over-sexualisation of society is certainly a factor) contributing to a story such as this but I also believe the parents are the most important factor. The government can make sure schools provide sex education but it's very difficult (actually nearly impossible) to ensure good parenting for all children. And as if all of this isn't enough to contemplate and discuss, now there is the news of a dispute over who fathered the child: Alfie Patten may take DNA test after two more teens claim paternity (link via telegraph.co.uk) The whole story is turning into a sad, tawdry soap-opera, only it's real life, unfortunately. And it involves children. Children having children. What are your thoughts?

National Nest Box Week 14-21 February

Today is the second day of National Nest Box Week. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) provide a list of which birds use boxes and what type of box they prefer. If you would like to know more, you can send away for a free information pack from the BTO. Related Internet Links: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds British Garden Birds

Creepy Cadbury advert: eyebrow dance

Personally, I think the current Cadbury advert on TV with the dancing eyebrows is very creepy but the advert has become very popular via the internet: How TV ads are taking the net by storm The latest TV commercial from chocolate maker Cadbury, in which two schoolchildren's eyebrows "dance" along to a funky soundtrack, has been hailed as proof that - for advertisers - the internet, not television, is now king. (link via guardian.co.uk) Watch the advert: What are your thoughts about the advert? Do you like it?

Tories launch plan to use empty homes

I've always wondered why the government doesn't make use of all the empty homes in the UK as a logical solution to the housing shortage. Well, the good news is that the Tories (the Conservative Party) have proposed plans to use the empty homes: David Cameron reveals plan to bring empty homes back to use David Cameron today unveiled details of an empty property "rescue scheme" he claimed could bring some of the almost 1 million empty homes in the UK back to use. The Conservative leader said he would change the rules governing the way housing associations spent their money to make it easier for them to buy or rent properties that were lying empty. (link via guardian.co.uk) Gordon Brown and the Labour Government should be embarrassed and ashamed about ignoring the potential of Britain's empty homes. It seems to me that not only is the Empty Property Rescue Scheme (EPR), the perfect solution to the housing shortage but it would also help prevent the increasing practice of squatters*. *when someone is occupying an empty or abandoned property which they don’t own or rent, and without the owner's permission. Related Internet Links: The Empty Homes Agency Report Empty Homes Unlocking the Potential of Empty Homes - Empty Homes Agency Blog

Happy 200th birthday Charles Darwin

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Darwin Day in the UK Today is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of ­Species, Darwin's most famous work. (link via guardian.co.uk) Related Internet Links: Darwin 200: Celebrating Charles Darwin's bicentenary Darwin - Big Idea Big Exhibition - The biggest ever exhibition about Darwin at the Natural History Museum. Special Darwin stamps from Royal Mail - The Royal Mail is issuing ten new Darwin stamps to celebrate his life and work. The BBC is marking Darwin's birthday with several radio programmes The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online The Voyage of the Beagle "blog" and cdarwin Twitter and an interesting article from NPR (National Public Radio) in the USA: Darwin, Britain's Hero, Is Still Controversial In U.S. I have to say that I was shocked after reading this in the NPR article: "There are actually 34 states in the United States that have passed anti-evolution laws of one kind or another," says Krishtalka, "whether it's stickers in textbooks or warnings that 'Reading this book with be injurious to your mental health," ... I think this is outrageous! How can anyone dispute scientific evidence?! Frankly, I'm rather embarrassed that this backward thinking is encouraged (through laws, no less!) in the USA. And to end on a happy note: Send your birthday wishes to Charles Darwin Edited to add: Today is also Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday! Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. Lincoln's Birthday to be Celebrated Across D.C. (link via washingtonpost.com)

"Sam" the koala rescued by firefighter in Australia

If you missed seeing the news about this sweet incident when a firefighter rescued a koala from Australian wildfires, it's on YouTube. Thirsty koala becomes YouTube star A thirsty koala rescued from the Australian wildfires has become a star on YouTube, providing much-needed relief from the disaster that has killed more than 180 people. Firefighter Dave Tree stumbled across the female marsupial, nicknamed Sam, as he was battling blazes in Victoria state and was amazed when the parched animal guzzled down water from a bottle as he held her scorched paw. The clip has attracted more than 30,000 hits on YouTube and Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper is selling photographs of the extraordinary encounter, with proceeds going to volunteer firefighting organisations. (link via RTE News) Sam the Koala Gets a Drink After Fire This incident just gets to me. The poor little thing looks so bewildered and so sweet and I love the way the firefighter is holding her front paw. It's just such a heartwarming story out of all the horror of the wildfires there.

Children offered vouchers to quit smoking

Children as young as ten are being offered WHSmith and Body Shop shopping vouchers on the NHS to give up smoking. The £15 rewards are available to young people under 18 who can prove that they have gone without cigarettes for a month, even though they are under the legal age for buying tobacco. Vouchers for Argos, Boots, Asda and the Co-op are also available. (link via telegraph.co.uk) I think this is scheme is very wrong! The children are being rewarded for doing something they shouldn't be doing. What about all the children who don't smoke? What sort of message does this send to them? Couldn't this actually encourage children to start smoking - in order to take advantage of the programme? What about the parents of these children? Shouldn't they be held responsible? I think the NHS should find other ways to help get children to stop smoking rather than giving them vouchers to spend money in shops. Thoughts?

"Foyle's War" is returning with a new series

I think Foyle's War is one of the best British series on TV and so I was very surprised and quite annoyed when it was cancelled. It was a very popular drama so it didn't make sense for it to be dropped but I figured that was that. However, I read this good news today: Foyled again – ITV revives wartime drama Foyle's War The new three-part series of Foyle's War, with Michael Kitchen returning in the lead role, will start production this spring, picking up after the final episode of the last series, set in the final months of the second world war. And there was more good news about another wonderful British drama: ITV has also ordered four new Agatha Christie adaptations, including a new version of Murder on the Orient Express and three other TV films based on Christie's Poirot stories, which will feature David Suchet continuing his role as the fastidious Belgian detective. (link via guardian.co.uk) I am so pleased about this news! I don't watch a lot of TV but Foyle's War is a drama that I always enjoyed. The stories are consistently intriguing and I love all the attention to the details of the 1940s setting. And more Poirot - that's fantastic news too! I think David Suchet is absolutely perfect in his role as Hercule Poirot.

London restaurant February deal: 'Pay what you think it's worth'

"JUST PAY US WHAT YOU THINK IT'S WORTH" London Restaurant Tears Up The Bills For Its Customers A London restaurant is tearing up its bills and asking customers to just pay what they think their food and service is worth. Peter Ilic, owner of the Little Bay restaurant group, will not present a single food bill to diners at his Farringdon Road restaurant during February. LITTLE BAY - Farringdon171 Farringdon RdLondon EC1R 3AL Little Bay Restaurants

Most expensive property markets: London third most expensive city in world

I don't think the results of this study will surprise anyone: London is the third most expensive place in the world in which to buy property, a study claimed today. (link via independent.co.uk) Most expensive real estate markets in 2009 No surprise - Monte Carlo is No 1 in the Global Property Guide's list of World's Most Expensive Residential Real Estate Markets 2009, more than twice as expensive, at US$45,000 per square metre, as the runner up. Battling for the number 2 position are prime central Moscow and London. Prime central Moscow's US$20,853 per square metre price tag slightly outpaces core Prime London's US$20,756 per square metre, though it is fairer to say the two cities are neck-and-neck. (link via globalpropertyguide.com) Click here for the complete list

Surveillance: Citizens and the State - a report by the House of Lords

Britain leads the world in the use of CCTV. We are the most spied-upon country in the world so it's welcome news to read about a report - Surveillance: Citizens and the State - by the House of Lords that is recommending more restraint over the use of data collection and electronic surveillance powers: Lords: rise of CCTV is threat to freedom The steady expansion of the "surveillance society" risks undermining fundamental freedoms including the right to privacy, according to a House of Lords report published today. The peers say privacy is an "essential prerequisite to the exercise of individual freedom" and the growing use of surveillance and data collection needs to be regulated by executive and legislative restraint at all times. (link via guardian.co.uk) Henry Porter: Reaction to the House of Lords report on surveillance society The House of Lords report on Britain's surveillance society is a devastating analysis of the systems that have been installed by the authoritarian Labour government and the controlling forces emerging in local government. There is no question now that Britain's free society is under threat, and it is time for the public and opposition parties to declare an end to this regime of intrusion. The House of Lords aren't elected but they have spoken up for the freedoms of the British people more than our elected MPs have!

Movie about Morris dancing is cult hit

I love watching Morris dancers and I even included the tradition in my list of 10 things I love about living in England so I was pleasantly surprised to read this news: A film about Morris dancing, described as "The Full Monty with bells on", has become a cult hit after struggling to secure a release in cinemas. (link via telegraph.co.uk) The movie hasn't got a distribution deal yet but I think that might change soon because of the growing popularity of the website for the film: However, its website is attracting 100,000 visits every week and the producers are having to employ assistants to deal with a "deluge" of emails from Morris fans demanding to know where they can watch it. A petition drawn up demanding a mainstream release has attracted 3,000 signatures. Official website: Morris: A Life With Bells On If you are really keen to see the movie shown in cinemas - and doesn't it look like a charming movie? - you can sign a petition: We Want the Morris Movie More links about Morris Dancing: SideFinder : How to find morris dancers in your area The Morris Ring Morris dance from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Another BBC scandal: backlash over sacking Carol Thatcher

It's ironic that just as Jonathan Ross has recently returned to British television - after being suspended for three months because of his vulgar, lewd remarks that were left on an answering machine for an elderly man and then were broadcast on a BBC radio programme - another BBC scandal is being reported in the news. This time, it's about a remark by Carol Thatcher that was made in private and yet the BBC decided to sack her from The One Show. I certainly don't defend Carol's racist remark - describing a black tennis player as a "golliwog" - but I do think that since she said it in private, the BBC does not have the right to fire her. Indeed, it seems very hypocritical of the BBC to make such a harsh judgement about what was said in private considering the "Sachsgate" affair when Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross said much worse on a radio programme that was broadcast! Following that incident, the BBC bowed down to overwhelming public anger and eventually suspended Ross for three months but very controversially, the BBC didn't choose to sack him (Brand simply quit). This latest incident is again leading to a lot of public anger aimed at the BBC as thousands complain to BBC for dropping Carol Thatcher in race row. (link via guardian.co.uk) There is also a BRING BACK CAROL THATCHER Petition I think that since Carol Thatcher's remarks were made in private, the BBC had no right to sack her. A private conversation is exactly that. Is the BBC now becoming Big Brother? And isn't it strange that Carol Thatcher can be sacked over her remark that was made in private and yet Jonathan Ross and other so-called comedians and presenters on the BBC are allowed to swear and make vulgar, disgusting jokes and lewd comments on BBC programmes? What do you think? related posts from my blog: The big story in Britain: BBC and the "Sachsgate" scandal Jonathan Ross returns with jokey apology

Snow storm hits England (and most of Britain) - chaos on roads, rails & airports

Wow! It snowed a lot during the night. It looks like a very pretty winter wonderland (it reminds me of Minnesota). It looks like we have about 6 inches of snow here (in East Hertfordshire), and it's just started to snow again! For those of you not in the UK, this amount of snow is very unusual for the southeastern part of England and even a very small amount can cause a lot of disruption to normal services (trains, buses, schools, etc.). It's not surprising therefore to learn that this quite heavy snowfall has caused major chaos with the roads, rails and airports: Heavy snow in Britain causes travel chaos Heavy snowfall overnight in Britain caused widespread travel delays across the country, including disruptions to flights and London's rush hour Monday morning, and forced the closure of dozens of schools. (link via guardian.co.uk) The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and parts of eastern Scotland. More snow is forecast later and on Tuesday. It's quite exciting to see this much snow here because it so rarely happens. And I have to say that I'm in shock because this time the forecasters were right! Edited to add: Travel has been severely disrupted in London. I've just heard that every bus in London has been withdrawn from service - for the first time in living memory! And I also heard that there are hardly any taxis in service. All but two Tube lines were either totally or partially suspended. Many mainline trains in and out of London were cancelled with Southeastern and Southern services completely shut. Getting in and out of London is a real problem. Related post from my blog: Brrr-itain: it's cold and we have snow! February 1, 2009

Brrr-itain: it's cold and we have snow!

Even though our weather forecast was for much colder temps and snow, I didn't quite believe it because the forecast is so often wrong (to be fair, it's difficult to predict the weather on an island since it can change very quickly and unexpectedly) but lo and behold it did get very cold today and then snow started coming down this evening. Snow and freezing weather threaten to shut down Britain The Met Office is warning of an "extreme weather event" across large swathes of England, Scotland and Wales with up to 10in of snow expected even in the usually warmer south and as much as 1ft on higher ground (link via telegraph.co.uk) Severe weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office. Snow flurries came down really fast and furious for a while this evening (in East Hertfordshire) but it stopped almost as quickly as it started. It didn't amount to much after all that excitement (it hardly ever snows in this part of England and when it does it's usually just a light dusting) although we did get about an inch of snow on the ground. It's very cold too (well, by English standards, not anything like the winter temps in my homestate - Minnesota)so it definitely looks and feels like winter. If you are in the UK, what is the weather like where you are? Have you had any snow? Wherever you live in the world, what is the weather like? I know a lot of American states have been badly affected by winter storms. And in the southern hemisphere, where it's summer, they've had a particularly intense heatwave. Australia has recorded temperatures soaring to 46C (115 Fahrenheit)! When I hear about temperatures like that, I think I am happy to put up with a bit of cold weather.