The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On

The Story of the Second World War Poster

A short film that tells the story behind the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster. Its origins at the beginning of WWII and its rediscovery in a bookshop in England in 2000, becoming one of the iconic images of the 21st century.

Porcelain Unicorn: a powerful film in just 3 mins and 6 lines

This is old news but the film is new to me so I'm sharing it now.

Philips launched a film competition in April, 2010 and on 21 Sept. 2010, Sir Ridley Scott announced "Porcelain Unicorn" from American director Keegan Wilcox had won the winning short film in Philips’ Tell It Your Way film-making contest.

The rules were simple. The three-minute film must use these six lines of dialogue and no more:

"What is that?"

"It's a unicorn"

"Never seen one up close before"

“Beautiful"

"Get away, get away"

"I'm sorry"

I can see why "Porcelain Unicorn" won the grand prize! This is a very powerful film:

Law & Order: UK - Lessons in British Justice (funny!)

This short video is hilarious!

What has America learned from the curious and fascinating habits of British police and Crown prosecutors? Find out!

Law & Order: UK - Lessons in British Justice

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/

The day after the Royal Wedding - recap by Channel 4 News

Channel 4 News presents a recap of the events after the Royal Wedding:

William and Kate Royal Wedding honeymoon delayed as official pictures are revealed.

The wedding guests had bacon butties (bacon sandwiches) for breakfast after a night of partying.

Kate Middleton's bridal bouquet was laid at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior inside Westminster Abbey.

The cartwheeling verger is shown and the identity of the "Dancing Policeman" on the Mall is revealed.

The bride's family returned to their home in Berkshire.

West Wing Week: April 15 - 21, 2011

West Wing Week:
"My Old Number, 23"

This week, President Obama held townhalls in Northern Virginia, California, and Nevada, to speak directly to the American people about his vision for reducing our debt and bringing down our deficit based on the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperity

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment inspection

Video clips from The Major General's Inspection of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in Hyde Park, London on 19 April 2011:



They certainly had perfect weather for this today. It was more like summer than spring, with a temperature of 76F today!

Watch this video! Christian the lion

This is a true story. This video is about Christian the pet lion - and his eventual release into the wild ... and the emotional reunion with his former owners:



I've seen this video many times and it makes me cry everytime. It's just so beautiful to watch.

The T-Mobile Royal Wedding (with fab lookalikes!)

Watch the wedding entrance dance to top all wedding entrance dances. T-Mobile's Royal Wedding Dance celebrates the marriage of William and Kate with the help of a host of royal look alikes and music from East 17!

T-Mobile wishes William and Kate a long and happy marriage.



So funny! I love it.

West Wing Week: April 8 -14, 2011

West Wing Week: 

 "Open for Business"

This week, with the threat of a government shutdown averted, President Obama focused on fiscal responsibility and balancing the need to cut spending and the deficit while continuing to support education, clean energy, and other investments needed to win the future. The Amir of Qatar also visited the White House.

West Wing Week: April 1 - 7, 2011

West Wing Week:

"Windmills? Call Them Wind Turbines!"

This week, President Obama focused on securing our nation's clean energy future, making stops at facilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania; met with Congressional leadership, hoping to avoid a government shutdown in the face of budget disagreements; and kept his eye on foreign policy, discussing world events with foreign heads of state.



via The White House Blog

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

The website for the launch of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant celebrations (for Her Majesty's sixty years of service) is now live.

There will be a spectacular flotilla of up to a thousand boats on the River Thames, Sunday 3 June 2012 in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

It will be the largest flotilla assembled on the river for 350 years!

Royal River Pageant



Register your vessel if you would like to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/

Vintage film clips: England 1924 and 1926

This brief video is so cool. It's a vintage colour film of a charming scene in the picturesque village of Cockington, Devon, England (1924)



and another brief video. This one is Hyde Park, London (1926)



This extract comes from Claude Friese-Greene's 'The Open Road' - originally filmed in 1925/6 and now re-edited and digitally restored by the BFI National Archive.

The rather haphazard journey from Land's End to John O'Groats creates a series of moving picture postcards.

For more information about 'The Open Road' see http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/openroad/

You can watch the whole of 'The Open Road' and 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Happy Birthday Doris Day!

Doris Day is 89 today! I love all her movies, especially when she sings. She has such a beautiful voice.

I loved her in The Man Who Knew Too Much with Jimmy Stewart, when she sings 'Que Sera Sera'



and she sings "The Windy City" and shows her talent for dancing as well as singing in the movie, Calamity Jane:



What are your favourite Doris Day movies?

West Wing Week: March 25 - March 31, 2011

West Wing Week:

"Under the Big Blue Whale"

This week, President Obama focused on the situation in Libya, monitoring conditions on the ground and keeping Congress and the American people informed as the mission transitions from U.S. to NATO command. Education month also continued, with the President making stops at a multicultural high school in Washington, D.C., and dropping in on a science fair in New York City.



via The White House blog

West Wing Week: March 18 - March 24, 2011

West Wing Week: "OCONUS II - Mamalluca"

This week, President Obama remained focused on Libya, receiving secure communications from his national security team as the first family visited Latin America. The President made stops in Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to promote American exports and economic cooperation among the neighbors in our hemisphere.

West Wing Week: March 11 - March 17, 2011

West Wing Week: "Punching Above Your Weight"



via The White House Blog

President Obama: Standing with Japan

President Obama provides an update on the situation in Japan following earthquakes and a tsunami and says the United States is committed to providing support and helping Japan recover and rebuild. March 17, 2011.

Amazing Tsunami video shows rescue of stranded people

Via Channel 4 News:

Eyewitness footage of the tsunami striking northern Japan and the subsequent scramble to rescue men, women and children from the flooded streets:

A Message from George Takei on the Japan Quake and Tsunami

George Takei on the Japan Quake and Tsunami: Gaman

Actor George Takei asks for the world's help for victims of the quake and tsunami in northern Japan. Please donate at www.redcross.org www.savethechildren.org  or www.doctorswithoutborders.org.