Blogs by famous people

I was reading the review of a play - 33 Variations - on Broadway in New York, starring Jane Fonda and noticed a link to her blog. I've read a few posts and think her blog is quite nice - very friendly and chatty: Jane Fonda I would love to see Jane Fonda in her play. I hope the rumours are true that she may be bound for the West End in London. I would definitely go to see her play. Here are a few more blogs by other celebrities that I enjoy reading: Neil Gaiman Stephen Fry Jamie Oliver If you are in New York, have you seen 33 Variations yet or are you planning to? Do you read any blogs by celebrities? Which ones would you recommend?

Cool website: London street fashion

LondonStreetFashion is a cool website that aims to "...showcase the latest trends in London fashion, bringing you a regularly updated library of pictures taken on all sides of the capital."

Thanksgiving crafts

It's Thanksgiving Day in the USA next week (November 27) and in addition to indulging in a huge feast, it's traditional for kids to make fun Thanksgiving crafts. I found some links for some ideas for those of you who need some inspiration: Cereal box turkeys Turkey Craft Indian Corn art project Thanksgiving Crafts, Worksheets & Activities DLTK's Crafts for KidsThanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving Crafts from MakingFriends.com Thanksgiving Crafts from FreeKidsCrafts.com Hand Turkey Placemat Simple Turkey Day Crafts Turkey Spoon Craft Garland of Gratitude

20 YouTube clips set in London or about London

This list of YouTube links contains some real gems: 20 great London YouTube clips (link via timeout.com) My favourite is #12 ‘London Can Take It’ - very inspiring indeed!

Ten Twitter sites I like. Do you Twitter?

Do you Twitter? I created an account about a year ago but I never use it.

Recently, I decided to do a bit more research about it and found these useful links:

Twitter: Why It's So Great and How To Effectively Use It
What Is Twitter? A Beginners Guide
via The Guardian Video: How do you use Twitter?
Much Ado About Twitter ("some basic info you need to know")video by NancyMarmolejo
Twitter etiquette: 14 Ways to Use Twitter Politely
5 Terrific (and Unusual) Twitter Uses


And I found some cool Twitter sites:

londonweather
BarackObama
10 Downing Street
TheWhiteHouse
WritersWrite.com
greennews
moneywatch
nomorespending
Twitter Moms
fitnessguy
Okay, so now I'm thinking perhaps I should use Twitter.
Please help convince me that Twitter is definitely worth using by explaining how you use Twitter and share any interesting Twitter sites you know about.

Handy Halloween Links

It's nearly Halloween (Oct. 31) so here are some handy links to help you prepare for the fun: Video: How To Carve a Pumpkin How to make Toffee apples Party Games and Recipes! Make Your Own Costume - Simple Costume Instructions Halloween Crafts & Activities (for young children) Halloween Crafts - Free projects/ideas Halloween Hang-Ups Free knitting pattern for The Curly Purly Pumpkin Jean Greenhowe's Halloween Ghosties - free pattern

Podcasts: 10 favourites

I love listening to podcasts. My current favourites are: 1, Driveway Moments: NPR What is a Driveway Moment? ... Rather than turn the radio off, you stay in your car to hear the piece to the end. 2. This I Believe: NPR Based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, Americans from all walks of life share the personal philiosophies and core values that guide their daily lives. 3. Wiggly Podcast Listen to Heather Gorringe, managing director of garden supplies company Wiggly Wigglers. 4. A Way with Words Public radio’s lively language show, with Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. 5. Grammar Grater a weekly podcast about English words, grammar and usage for the Information Age - with host Luke Taylor. (Minnesota Public Radio) 6. Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing - Hosted by Mignon Fogarty. 7. The Word Nerds A podcast about words, language, and why we say the things we do. 8, The Naked Scientists Podcast - interactive science, medicine and technology weekly live radio show with Dr Chris Smith. 9. The Satellite Sisters - Radio show featuring five sisters talking about women and real life. 10. Amateur Traveler - a travel show that helps you find the best places to travel to. Note: You do not need an iPod to listen to podcasts, as they are simply MP3 audio files that can be played back either on your computer or any MP3 player Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favourites?

Top ten online newspapers & other favourite news sources

I am a real news fiend and read a lot of news everyday. My favourite newspapers online are:

1. The Times
2. The Guardian
3. The Independent
4. The Telegraph
5. International Herald Tribune
6. The New York Times
7. The Washington Post
8. Star Tribune (Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota)
9. Chicago Tribune
10. USA Today

Other news sources I like to read regularly are:

• Habitat - Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles
• Environmental News Network
• Watching America - Discover What the World Thinks About U.S.
• NewScientist - the latest science and technology news from around the world.
• Digital Spy - Showbiz, entertainment & media news
• NPR - National Public Radio (USA)
• TIME Magazine
• Wired News
• Slate Magazine
• Salon
• Newsweek
• Arts & Letters Daily
• The Ecologist

Which websites do you like to get your news from?

Inspired by British cycling winners?

After the success of the British cyclists in the Olympic Games, has it encouraged you to start bike riding? The Independent has provided a useful list of The 50 Best Bicycles Sustrans (co-ordinators of over 12,000 miles of national cycle routes around the UK) is offering you a free information pack to help you get out and about by bike. I would feel inspired to get my bike out more - if it would just stop raining so much! This summer has been nearly as bad as last summer, weather-wise. And this news is hardly encouraging: Britain is set for its wettest August for nearly 100 years (link via telegraph.co.uk)

Taking a year out (or 'Gap Year')

Is your son or daughter considering taking a year out (or 'Gap Year') from his/her education? Or perhaps you are considering time off for a volunteer placement in some far off land. If so, The Telegraph's complete guide to gap years, Gap year travel advice provides just about all the information and practical tips that you may need.

New (and improved?) Delicious

The bookmarking tool formerly known as del.icio.us but now using the simple url, delicious.com have also completely changed their whole look and format. I don't think it's an improvement at all, in fact I think the new and improved Delicious, is awful. I am trying to get used to it but using it is such a chore now whereas before it was easy and straightforward. Now, it's hard to read and difficult to navigate. Because of all the changes at Delicious, I've started posting my favourite bookmarks with a different bookmarking tool, Furl. It's easy to use, easy to read and easy to share - like delicious used to be. Which free bookmarking tool do you use? If you use Delicious, what do you think of the new version? Do you think it's better? Also, have you noticed that whenever something is touted as "new and improved" that it's almost always not?

My Top Ten Favourite YouTube Videos

My top ten favourite (so far!) YouTube Videos on the net: Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams R.I.P. Randy (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight Free Hugs Campaign (official home of the Free Hugs Campaign) Where the Hell is Matt? Do the happy dance with Matt Harding on his global journey Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole aka "The Gentle Giant" (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) Dirty Dancing UK - Julia and James First Dance Mister Rogers defending PBS to the US Senate About six minutes of passionate testimony.He even recited the lyrics to one of his songs. R.I.P. Fred Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) High Power Job I love his parting thoughts: "There's only three things I've ever been afraid of - electricity, heights and women - and I'm married too!" Clay Dyer - The Most Inspirational Fisherman Ever Inspirational Video - The Don't Quit Poem I'd love it if you'd share your links to your own favourite videos by leaving a comment or if you prefer, post a list of your favourites on your own blog and leave a link to your post in my comments.

Knit with Mazz, The Rebel Knitter

In May, I posted about a knitter who got in trouble with the BBC for posting knitting patterns for Doctor Who characters. Today, an article, The rebel within, in The Guardian is about the (infamous) rebel knitter known in the blogosphere as Mazzmatazz, or Mazz. Her real name is revealed to be Marisa Turmaine and she has created 12 patterns for all sorts of weird and wonderful, practical and silly things. for The rebel knitter's guide. The patterns are FREE and there is a handy guide with more information about knittng for those of you new to knitting. Try it! Knitting is a fun and relaxing hobby.

Links about the UK

ChooseBritish

British Nature

Days Out

The Geograph British Isles project

Great British Gardens

Great British Wildlife

Habitat:Daily wildlife & environment news from the British Isles

ProjectBritain - British Life and Culture

The Royal Horticultural Society

National Parks in the UK

Space for Nature: wildlife gardening and wildlife gardens (UK)

UK Safari - about the wildlife & countryside of Britain

UKVillages  - the leading UK community website

UK Parliament

Walking Britain

Where Can We Go - what's on event guide

Wild about Britain - British wildlife

24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museuams, galleries, exhibitions