Stephen Fry: why you should vote YES to AV on the 5th May

Stephen Fry's brief and to the point explanation of the clear benefits of the Alternative Vote and why voting YES will bring the change that is well overdue for this country.

(Featuring animation by Shaun Askew) http://www.holistic-hamster.com/




Yes to fairer votes - YES to AV - Alternative Vote
http://www.yestofairervotes.org/

Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review

Stephen Fry in America 6/6 - Pacific (Sunday 16 November 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1) This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via a black London taxi. Tonight's episode is the final episode in this six part series, with Stephen exploring the states along the Pacific Coast, and then up to Alaska and lastly over to Hawaii. Stephen began with a cable car ride in San Francisco, California, and he visited Chinatown, one of the oldest and best established Chinatowns in America. After that, Stephen met up with Apple designer, Jony Ive. Still in California, Stephen met the sheriff of Mendocino County and got instructions in firing a handgun. He got to join in a drug bust (after being kitted out in a bulletproof vest) and watched as two suspects were arrested and led away from a farm where cannabis plants are cultivated. In Oregon, Stephen went rafting on the Rogue River. In Seattle, Washington, Stephen visited the Seattle Aquarium, and he said goodbye to his London taxi. Next, he flew to Anchorage, Alaska from Seattle. From Anchorage, he flew in a small plane to Kodiak. After visiting Kodiak, Stephen flew to Barrow (the northenmost town in the USA) where he met up with an Eskimo called Henry, who is a whaling captain. Finally, the last state in Stephen's journey was Hawaii (the southermost part of the USA). On the North shore, Stephen swam with sharks - well actually he was in a metal cage lowered into the water and surrounded by sharks, but very impressive none the less. On Big Island, Stephen visited Keck Observatory and then he went on a helicopter ride over the lava fields of Kilauea. Stephen said he could feel the heat up in the helicopter. And his visit to Hawaii was the end of the series. I thought this episode certanly showed a stark contrast in climate and lifestyle between Alaska and Hawaii. I'm going to miss watching this series. I looked forward to a visit to the USA every Sunday. All in all, it was a good series although there were bits that could have been left out or shortened (such as the visit to the brothel in part 5) and a lot more that could have been included. Over all though I think it probably gave a good view of the USA to the British audience. What are your thoughts about the last episode and about the whole series? Did the series alter your views about the USA in any way? related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review

Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review

Stephen Fry in America 5/6 - True West (Sunday 9 November 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1) This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via a black London taxi. Tonight's episode, part 5, is about the "True West" and started out with Stephen in a hot air balloon ride over a canyon in New Mexico, followed by a visit to an "earthship" (an ec0-friendly house). The walls of the house are constructed from old, used tires, and everything about the house is designed to be self-sufficient. Very impressive, it is too. Next, Stephen visited Los Alamos National Laboratory , where the first atom bomb was made. In Utah, Stephen visited Monument Valley, part of the Navajo Indian Reservation, where he had a basket weaving lesson and was invited to a barbecue with the Navajo. Stephen enjoyed a trip on a very luxurious houseboat (it includes a jacuzzi, which Stephen used) on Lake Powell, Utah. The lake is man-made and has 1900 miles of shoreline. Stephen flew in a WW2 B17 bomber from Phoenix to Tucson, Arizona to see where older military aircraft are retired - "moth-balled, sealed up for the time being" - and parked in formation at Tucson's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the home of the United States government's Boneyard. At the Old Tucson Studio, Stephen took part in a wild west shoot-out scene. He was "shot" and did a death scene, which he played for laughs. In Las Vegas, Nevada, Stephen played a 'spy game' (a team-building exercise involving a fake kidnapping and solving the "crime" by following clues around the city) and he also visited a photographic shoot involving Mormon boys posing for a Mormon missionary calendar. He discussed the Mormon religion with one of the young men. He also visited a brothel just outside Reno, Nevada (the only state where prostitution is legal) and then headed for Lake Tahoe which straddles Nevada and California. He finished this episode with his arrival at the seaside of the Pacific Ocean in California. I have to say that I wasn't particularly impressed with this part of the series. I thought he spent too much time with the silly Spy Game in Las Vegas and the visit to the brothel. What did you think of tonight's episode? related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review

Stephen Fry hates Brits' anti-Americanism

I'm already a big fan of Stephen Fry but after reading this article, Stephen Fry attacks sneering anti-Americanism, I absolutely adore him! (link via telegraph.co.uk) Thanks, Stephen! This American appreciates your kind words.

Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review

Stephen Fry in America 4/6 - Mountains and Plains (Sunday 2 November 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1) This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via his black London taxi. Tonight's show was another whirlwind journey where Stephen visits ten states, from the border dividing Montana and Canada in the north to the border dividing Texas and Mexico in the south. Stephen started with a visit to the border control headquarters in Montana where he strolled the border with an officer from the National Border Patrol and he stood straddling the 49th parallel (sometimes used as a nickname for the entire Canada-U.S. border) so that he was in the USA and Canada at the same time. He met up with a geologist working in Glacier National Park and they discussed global warming. After that, Stephen met up with Ted Turner on his Montana ranch and inspected his herd of buffalo (bison). Stephen mentioned that Ted Turner owns nearly 20% of the bison in the USA. Idaho was next. And a very brief visit it was too. Stephen just stood underneath a sign marking the continental divide and explained what that meant by pouring water to demonstrate (water drains into the Atlantic on one side and into the Pacific on the other) and right after that he was in Wyoming. He met up with a couple who have had particularly close encounters with wolves - they have lost six dogs killed by wolves. Stephen also was pulled on a sled by a team of huskies in Wyoming. In Bismarck, North Dakota, he visited a German diner and ate a deep fried hamburger. In South Dakota, he saw Mount Rushmore and obviously wasn't very impressed - "just a little bit silly" - and even less so with the new work in progress "just down the road" of Crazy Horse. Stephen visited the Lakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota and visited the site of the notorious massacre at Wounded Knee. He also met with Russell Means, an acitivist for the rights of American Indians. He went trucking in Nebraska and visited a truckers shop. In Kansas, Stephen went down a decomissioned missile bunker. The facility was active during the Cuban missile crisis. He chatted with a family that make the underground location, their home. He rode on a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado, and viewed the scenery from a restaurant on the mountain top. Stephen watched "mutton busting" (little kids riding sheep) at a rodeo in Oklahoma which I thought was interesting. I've been to rodeos and never seen that before. He also visted the home of the largest charity in the world, the Salvation Army, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In Houston, Texas, Stephen spoke at a fund raising dinner. He finished this part of the series with a visit to the border along the Rio Grande between Texas and Mexico with the Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, which was sad. It showed how desperate Mexicans try to enter the USA and it was disturbing to see two Mexicans chased back into Mexico and to see one caught, and arrested. At least the show finished on a high note (literally) with three Mexicans who are US citizens, serenading a pleased looking Stephen Fry. related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review Stephen Fry talks about his new TV series (video) Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review

Stephen Fry in America 3/6 - Mississippi (Sunday 26 October 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1) This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via his black London taxi. The third part of the series follows the mighty Mississippi River, from Louisiana in the south to Minnesota in the north. Stephen started this part of his journey in New Orleans, Louisiana, during Mardis Gras and explains that his arm is in a sling because he has a broken arm and it's being held together by 10 bolts. Stephen met a voodoo high priestess and watched a voodoo ceremony. He toured the Lower Ninth Ward neighbourhood in New Orleans which was left devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and then Stephen headed for Angola State Penitentiary. It's become a model of how a prison can work - every inmate has a job. The warden took Stephen on a tour of the prison, where the majority of prisoners are in for murder - 90 percent of the prisoners are locked up for life. He drove to Clarksdale in the state of Mississippi, the home of the Delta Blues where Stephen chatted with the actor, Morgan Freeman at his blues club, Ground Zero Blues Club. Next, Arkansas, for a canoe trip up the Mississippi River, to St. Louis, Missouri, where "It's suddenly turned very cold" and where Stephen met up with a group of homeless people and talked to them as they stood huddled together around an open fire in an empty building. He met a Maharishi psychologist at the Maharashi University in Iowa. Stephen was skeptical about having his alpha waves tested but pointed out that, "Americans do seem to be more open than most to everything that brings self-improvement." In Indiana, he rode up front in a fire truck (something he always wanted to do, he admits), and took part in a training exercise where he was dressed in all the gear, including a breathing mask. Stephen drove to Kent State University in Ohio which is famous because on May 4th, 1970, National Guardsmen opened fire on a crowd of unarmed students who were demonstating against the Vietnam War and the invasion of Cambodia. There were 13 students shot and 4 killed by the National Guard and as Stephen pointed out, "killed by soldiers of their own country." In Michigan, Stephen visited Detroit, the home of motor cars, ("motor city" or "motown"). Stephen met with blues legend, Buddy Guy in Chicago, Illinois. He also saw an improv show at the comedy theater, Second City and (reluctantly) participated in one of the shows. Next he arrived in Wisconsin where it is "exceptionally cold"(-25C). Wisconsin is known for its cheese but as Stephen (quite rightly) observes, "One of the most striking things about America is that cheese generally is appalling - orange and disgusting." He learned to milk a sheep by connecting one up to a milking machine (his comments as usual were very witty and hilarious) and watched the cheesemaker as she made organic cheese from the milk of the ewes. Minnesota (my home state) was the final state he visted in this journey. He observed that in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Mississippi River is almost frozen solid. Stephen also pointed out that almost no one ever braves the cold because they use the skyways. As a Minnesotan myself, I have to add that the famous Skyway System in Minneapolis and St Paul is really fantastic and not just in the very cold winters but also during the very hot summers! Stephen also talked about the large community of Hmong living in Minnesota (originally from Viet Nam and Laos). They are the largest group of Hmong living outside SE Asia. He finished up with "a spot of more traditional Midwestern activity" by snowmobiling out onto a lake and participating in ice-fishing. Stephen caught a sunfish, the first fish he has caught since he was 10 years old. It's interesting how the series is making a real effort to present an honest view of the USA by showing the homeless and poverty-stricken areas of the USA as well as reminding people of some of the shameful episodes in recent American history such as the shooting at Kent State University and the people left homeless after the hurricane hit New Orleans. related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review Stephen Fry talks about his new TV series (video) Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review

Stephen Fry in America 2/6 - Deep South (Sunday 19 October 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1) This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via his black London taxi. Last night's episode - Part Two of "Stephen Fry in America" was another entertaining and educational show. This second part of the series is set in the Deep South. First he visited Arlington, Virginia to watch a ceremony and parade on Veteran's Day. In West Virginia, he joined a shift of coal miners on a trip deep underground. On the way to the elevator that would take him and the others down to the mine entrance, they walked past a sign on the wall that said: Good Morning...Let the Stress Begin. Once down inside the mines, Stephen said, "It's hot, dark and for a man of my height, incredibly uncomfortable." He sampled bourbon in a bourbon distillery (the smallest and oldest) in Kentucky and it was quite funny after a few too many of the "samples" when he said (speaking in the third person), "I think Stevie should have a little lie down." Oh, and on the way to the distillery, there was a very heavy downpour and while Stephen was driving through the rain, he said it gets him when the weather is like that and people invariably say, "This must make you feel right at home." Stephen shook his head and exclaimed, "Preposterous! Give me a nice, steady English drizzle." Next he visited a barber shop in London, Kentucky and had an amusing conversation with the barber. He listened to a jam session of Bluegrass musicians in Tennessee., which he obviously enjoyed. He visited a body farm in Tennessee - where bodies (human cadavers) are left to decompose and studied by forensic anthropologists to study human decomposition and learn about time of death methods - which was gruesome but very interesting. Stephen admitted he has never seen a dead body so he wasn't sure how he would respond. He was obviously very interested and moved by the experience, and said he might even leave his body to something like that. He went up in a hot air balloon (for the first time) over the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. I loved it when Stephen (looking very nervous) asked the balloon operator if he had noticed the power lines nearby. I'm sure I would ask the same question if I was ever in a hot balloon! The operator politely replied, "Yes, I see those but thanks for warning me." Next, Georgia. Stephen was invited to a family gathering on Thanksgiving Day in an old plantation house in southern Georgia. The toast Stephen made at the dinner was quite touching. In Georgia, he was also persuaded to ride on a Tennessee Walking horse (he doesn't like horses or rather horses don't like Stephen!) and his experience was funny to see, as was listening to his comments afterwards. He sure didn't like Miami or Miami Beach, Florida! I've never been to Miami or Miami Beach but after watching last night's show with Stephen Fry's disparaging views (“I’d rather be curled up in a snowy cabin with a hot whisky or, quite frankly, a Horlicks than I would spend half an hour in this rotting place.”) I don't think I will be making any plans to visit the place! I was thinking how people from Florida (especially from Miami) will be upset if they ever see the series and then he admitted how much he enjoyed the trip to "the glorious Everglades." At least he hasn't written off the whole state! In Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, he observed the Board of Pardons and Paroles department in action. He finished up this part of the series by watching a college football game in Alabama. I really like the way Stephen Fry is giving his honest views of each place he visits. His very candid comments are like a breath of fresh air instead of the way most travel shows are presented. He makes me giggle and he makes me think. He also makes me proud to be an American. I can't wait for the rest of the series! What are your thoughts about the series so far? Are you enjoying it? Has the series encouraged you to consider visiting the USA? If you had a bad opinion of Americans, has watching the series helped to change your mind? related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1:Review New World Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Mississippi Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Mountains and Plains Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review True West Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review Pacific Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review

Stephen Fry in America 1/6 - New World 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1 I watched part 1 of this new series and I loved it, loved it, loved it! It was a joy to watch and if all the other parts of the series are as good as the first one, this is going to be a real gem of a show. The series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via a black London taxi. The series started with Stephen Fry lobster fishing in Maine. It was interesting to find out that three out of four lobsters sold in the USA are Maine lobsters. Then he went electioneering with Mitt Romney for the New Hampshire primaries, where Stephen said, "I think that all Americans have a sense of great connection and pride about their democratic beginnings and their sense of being involved in the democratic process." (This is true by the way). And Stephen added his view that, "It's something we could learn in Britain." He went to Salem, Massachusetts to meet a real witch and attend a witches' ball on Halloween, which it turns out is when they (witches) celebrate their New Year. He visted Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he meets Professor Peter Gomes, a black, gay, Republican, Baptist minister. After that, Stephen went down into a nuclear submarine in Connecticut, where it was obvious how thrilled he was to explore all of it and when he spyed the periscope, he asked if he could try it out. His evident delight was so sweet to see. Next, he visted Vermont and went to Ben & Jerry's where Stephen was invited to concoct his own ice cream recipe, and then to New York state to join a group of men hunting white-tailed deer. Stephen looked quite fetching (and very American) in the hunting gear they loaned him including a flourescent orange cap. Stephen visited a Yellow Cab garage in New York and one of the drivers (a very funny character with good stories to tell) rode in Stephen's London taxi and he directed Stephen to the borough of Queen's, (one of the five boroughs of New York City) where Stephen was introduced to some real "Goodfellas" (gangster type guys). Stephen also took the singer, Sting for a ride in his London taxi down Broadway, New York to talk about what an Englishman thinks of New York. Next, Stephen went to Atlantic City, New Jersey where he dressed up (in a cute outfit) as a croupier (a dealer in a casino ) and he learned to deal Blackjack in the Trump Taj Mahal casino. Lastly, he visited Washington D.C. It isn't actually a state but a district (the D.C. stands for the District of Columbia) but Stephen explained that he couldn't leave it out of his journey across the USA. While there he met with Jimmy Wales, the creator of Wikipedia. related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

Stephen Fry talks about his new TV series (video)

Stephen Fry talks to Tim Dowling about his fascination with America and why he simply had to visit all 50 states. (video link via guardian.co.uk) The six-week TV series, "Stephen Fry in America", airs on BBC1 at 9pm from October 12 Read a related post from my blog: Stephen Fry on the road in the USA As an added note of interest, you may be interested to know that you can meet Stephen Fry at a special book signing event in Stanfords London Store in Covent Garden tomorrow (Saturday 4th Oct) between 12 noon and 1pm. I'm sure the event will attract a huge crowd but I will probably be there even if it is a very very long line. I was planning to buy the book anyway so it's a bonus to have the opportunity to meet him too! Edited to add related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

Stephen Fry on the road in the USA

The author, actor, comedian, director and presenter Stephen Fry, has recently completed filming a documentary about his travels via a black London taxi across the USA - visiting every one of the fifty states. Read about Stephen Fry's views of the USA in an article called, Stephen Fry on the road and how for years he admits, I have harboured deep within me the desire to make a series of documentary films about "the real" America. Read extracts from the book of the series, 'Stephen Fry in America' by Stephen Fry. (links via telegraph.co.uk) The six-week TV series airs on BBC1 at 9pm from October 12 I'm sure it will be entertaining as well as educational. I'm looking forward to watching it! Edited to add Related links from my blog: Stephen Fry in America - part 1: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review

Fry's English Delight:(Part Two) Quotations

The second programme of Fry's English Delight on BBC Radio 4, about Quotations (their uses and misuses, and about those who compile quotation dictionaries) was broadcast on Monday (1 September 2008) but I just listened to it today via the BBC iPlayer. It's another fascinating programme about the English language, presented by Stephen Fry.

Fry's English Delight: a new series about language on BBC Radio 4

I enjoyed listening to this fascinating new BBC series today: English Delight, Stephen Fry's three-part series about the English language. If you missed it, you can listen again via the BBC iPlayer. It's very interesting especially if you enjoy learning about the origin of words in the English language. And for those of you who don't know who Stephen Fry is: The Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry- official website Stephen Fry Biography (via The British Council contemporarywriters site) Stephen Fry (via IMDb - The Internet Movie Database)