tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-301033462024-03-07T23:27:32.735+01:00you can't control the messageThinking aloud about everyday things - life, work, culture, spiritual stuff, you know...LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-83073635877461283442007-08-02T09:39:00.000+01:002007-08-02T09:49:08.296+01:00blog:offIt’s ending as it started. More of a whimper than a bang.<br /><br />I’ve said it <a href="http://youcantcontrolthemessage.blogspot.com/2007/06/busy-bee.html">before</a>: blogging is the thing that drops off the “to do” list first when the “real” bites back. And sometimes, when things hurt, stuff happens, life comes in to focus more sharply or just gets busy, blogging goes out the window. And rightly so.<br /><br />I wonder if it’s a bit like friends on <a href="http://http//www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> – sometimes, they really are your mates but most of the time, not. And when mates are really what you need, the internet ain’t going to love you back, buy you a drink, console you.<br /><br />I like to converse, drink coffee, prop up the bar, banter, cook and eat, connect with. Blogging and being - different tools, different times, different needs...<br /><br />I think I’m also (not so) secretly addicted to the feeds. It’s time to stop.<br /><br />I’m not as thoughtful a blogger as <a href="http://benedson.blogs.com/benedson/">Ben</a>.<br />I’m not as witty a blogger as <a href="http://jonnyfun.blogspot.com/">jonnyfun</a> or <a href="http://fatroland.blogspot.com/">Fat Roland</a>.<br />I’m not as incisive a blogger as <a href="http://kester.typepad.com/signs/">Kester</a>.<br />I’m not as dedicated or frequent a blogger as <a href="http://feig-city.blogspot.com/">Mike at feig-city</a> or <a href="http://markjberry.blogs.com/way_out_west/">Mark at Way Out West</a>.<br />I’m not as crafty a blogger as <a href="http://tinkeringtimes.typepad.com/tinkeringtimes/">Sal at Tinkering Times</a>.<br />I’m not as sharing a blogger as L1z at <a href="http://reachoutandtouchthescreen.blogspot.com/">Reach Out and Touch The Screen</a>.<br /><br />I think I’ve basically run out of pixel-based, QWERTY-formulated words.<br /><br />You might still find me at <a href="http://reel-review.blogspot.com/">Reel Review</a> or posting messages about <a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/2006/06/spotted.html">herons</a> at <a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/">Sanctus1</a> but till then, nuff said here at least.<br /><br />You can’t control the message.LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-76959150881424641302007-07-17T18:34:00.000+01:002007-07-17T18:35:44.347+01:00fame and fortune at last...Well, fame anyway...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2007/07/post_26.shtml">BBC Magazine Monitor Letters 170707</a><br /><br />Chuffed.LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-31167431665238080182007-07-12T15:03:00.000+01:002007-07-12T15:08:52.693+01:00creative trespassers... and Richard HammondThis morning (in fact, this week) I’ve mainly been head-down on a focussed task, getting information in from people in a certain format to publish… Both concentrated and dull to some extent.<br /><br />But in amidst that, I had a conversation with a new colleague who mentioned these two snippets of quotes, both of which hugely appealed to me.<br /><br />Richard Hammond (on winning the 2007 Royal Society Junior Prize for Science Books):<br />"Perhaps all children need is the confidence to approach a subject with enthusiasm and an open mind."<br /><br />Arthur Koestler (from his book The Sleepwalkers):<br />“…that this age of specialists is in need of creative trespassers".<br /><br />Nice.<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/richard+hammond" rel="tag">richard hammond</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/arthur+koestler" rel="tag">arthur koestler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/creative+trespassers" rel="tag">creative trespassers</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/royal+society+junior+prize+for+science+books" rel="tag">royal society junior prize for science books</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-10804843427941260052007-07-10T14:14:00.000+01:002007-07-10T14:16:16.648+01:00what matters..."Health is largely an obsession, what matters is can you still sing." <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6272552.stm">George Melly, RIP</a><br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/george+melly" rel="tag">george melly</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-29514439228015199502007-07-10T12:25:00.000+01:002007-07-10T12:27:25.091+01:00notice:- no, i'm still not interested in joining...<img alt="cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com" src="http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cartoons/facebook.gif" /><br /><p>Cartoon by <a href="http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/">Dave Walker</a>. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at <a href="http://www.weblogcartoons.com/">We Blog Cartoons</a>.</p>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-626189569913300102007-07-05T10:56:00.000+01:002007-07-05T10:57:02.330+01:00kapital...<a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0940597/">Kapital</a> – last night was the world-premiere for Greg Hall/ Steve Martland film commission for Manchester International Festival. Apparently the three “Londoners” (those two and Alex Poots, festival director) cooked up the title in a café in Finsbury Park – and I think that about says it all.<br /><br />Simon Mellor said in the post-film Q&A that he thought that Manchester was one of the main characters in the piece. And I couldn’t have agreed less. If you’re a Cockney, why come to a strange city and try and make a “Mancunian” film?<br /><br />My feeling overall was that it could have worked as four short films. Actually, it could have been one short. In fact, I recommend you watch the well-edited <a href="http://www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com/festival-events/gold-event.aspx?id=69615">one minute trailer</a> approximately 75 times instead of catching the full director’s cut…<br /><br />It was like watching an art installation film piece in a cinema; it’s certainly no feature film. Nice try MIF, but features budgets tend to have another nought on the end of them. As a result of that, and I suspect also the providence of the director, this really isn’t a film worth seeking out. More Krap-ital than Kapital.<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/kapital" rel="tag">kapital</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/manchester+international+festival" rel="tag">manchester international festival</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-90637141863495642672007-06-22T15:02:00.000+01:002007-06-22T15:19:16.213+01:00email disclaimerYou know the thing, the lines at the bottom of a big company email...<br /><br />This email may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. It is solely for and is confidential for use by the addressee, unauthorised recipients, confidentiality, blah, received it in error, notify, rubarb rubarb, unless expressly stated, contractually binding, whatever, liability, blah, intended recipient, sanctioned, viruses transmitted, blah, blah...<br /><br />Sorry. Nodded off there for a mo...<br /><br />So it was a bit of a breath of fresh air to get this today - am sure the lawyers would have a field day with it, but hey.<br /><br />We have an email policy* which we would like you to take note of. It’s not the most exciting of reads but it is important. Deep breath - here goes…<br /><br />We love emails; they are quick and environmentally friendly and if we ever print an email we promise to use recycled paper and then dispose of it responsibly. Please try and do the same.<br />This email and its attachments are intended for the above named only and may be confidential. If this email has come to you in error – do not panic! Take no action based on the email, nor copy or show to anyone, simply reply to this message highlighting the error. We would be awfully grateful if you could do this.<br /><br />Although great time and care has gone into creating this email from [company], please be aware that Internet email is not a 100% secure communications medium. Bear this in mind…you can always give us a call or pop in for a coffee instead.<br /><br />Although we have tried our very best to make sure that this email and its attachments are virus free, we do advise that the recipient (i.e. you) ensure that this is the case. Be careful!<br /><br />Oh and enjoy your day. Well done for reaching the bottom - call us for a certificate.<br /><br />*not really an email policy but an important message all the same.LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-1761779376663495352007-06-20T11:14:00.000+01:002008-12-09T21:26:04.233+01:00busy bee<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLhQgh5QSdkQ4qZALaOaT9fTUZGJrYwQ4Wl9X030nzyXX3JelxqpNPvpEAGf4bcw3TrH2LJqiYyEoctboxpYNR5MScN48soSQiLH6yp2chVOcAP_cf7Vj5i8A5KRcNamOjzVNdA/s1600-h/DSC00231.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078087945965972050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLhQgh5QSdkQ4qZALaOaT9fTUZGJrYwQ4Wl9X030nzyXX3JelxqpNPvpEAGf4bcw3TrH2LJqiYyEoctboxpYNR5MScN48soSQiLH6yp2chVOcAP_cf7Vj5i8A5KRcNamOjzVNdA/s320/DSC00231.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have been particularly so these last few weeks (work, life, stuff, more work). But I'm back now. Well a bit more than the last month or so anyway.<br /><br />Blogging - it's the thing that fills a gap when the rest of life's stuff calms down a bit.LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-89418044436923140822007-06-20T11:10:00.001+01:002007-06-20T11:10:52.888+01:00100 days100 days.<br /><br />We wait for news (which you used to bring us).<br />We sign petitions, we lobby, we hold vigils, we blog.<br />We wait in hope.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm"><img height="90" alt="Alan Johnston banner" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/alan_johnston.gif" width="150" /></a><br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/alan+johnston" rel="tag">alan johnston</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-55275745920517759672007-06-07T11:06:00.000+01:002007-06-07T11:09:04.683+01:00webby five word acceptance speech...<a href="http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php">Neat</a>! Here's some I like...<br /><br />News<br />BBC News - Webby: Alan, we're thinking of you.<br /><br />Newspaper<br />The Guardian - Webby: Please free Alan Johnston now.<br /><br />Science<br />HubbleSite - People's Voice: houston we have a winner<br /><br />Artist of the Year<br />Beastie Boys: Can anyone fix my computer?<br /><br />Lifetime Achievement<br />Meg Whitman: Bidding starts at 99 cents.<br /><br />Lifetime Achievement<br />David Bowie: I only get five words? Sh*t, that was five. Four more there. That's three. Two.<br /><br />Person of the Year<br />Chad Harley & Steve Chen: YouTubers, this is for you.<br /><br />Social Networking<br />Facebook - People's Voice: im just here for bowie<br /><br />Fashion<br />ZOOZOOM 'The Original Online Glossy' - Webby: not just a pretty face<br /><br />Lifestyles<br />DIYNetwork.com - Webby: Now let's get hammered.<br /><br />Religion and Spirituality<br />Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - Webby: to all our colleagues, thanks<br /><br />Religion and Spirituality<br />What Is Enlightenment? - Webby: get enlightened, or die trying<br /><br />Youth<br />Nick.com - Webby: have sex, make more kids<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/webby+awards" rel="tag">webby awards</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-52963133632879250292007-05-23T13:18:00.000+01:002008-12-09T21:26:04.776+01:00editors<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF_HqYEDXWGJhiolUKcg503qS1l0bBdDDk6YE4ePwHHYTV2rcm1atLMwqZHs2_TQOrlZNRTYkptOISXOZL4uJgVvyBDXytqC1On4PDO4cK3dW065qr0pWfIh3l6zcP2ImBmJy8g/s1600-h/highlights.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067733640687235570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKF_HqYEDXWGJhiolUKcg503qS1l0bBdDDk6YE4ePwHHYTV2rcm1atLMwqZHs2_TQOrlZNRTYkptOISXOZL4uJgVvyBDXytqC1On4PDO4cK3dW065qr0pWfIh3l6zcP2ImBmJy8g/s320/highlights.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />OK, OK, I’ll admit it. We really wanted to go to Saturday’s The Best Disco in Town Live 2007… But somehow M and I found ourselves standing in the spring sunshine of a Warrington Tuesday evening waiting to see these blokes called <a href="http://www.editorsofficial.com/">Editors</a> instead - and no, Sec C, it’s nothing to do with books! ;-)<br /><br />Last night, two years on from The Back Room, those nearly-Brum boys made their comeback appearance at the <a href="http://www.pyramidparrhall.com/">Parr Hall in Warrington</a>. Yes you read that right – one of the UK’s bands of the decade playing in a municipal hall in a small northern town sandwiched between the urban corridor of Liverpool and Manchester. You may well ask why…<br /><br />Tom Smith was on fire – the comparisons with Ian Curtis are fair, but he’s much much more as well. It’s like he’s got an electric pulse running through his veins, making him convulse and twitch. His guitar’s more like a piece of armour AND a weapon, than an instrument. Chris Urbanowicz wouldn’t be out of place playing guitar with Franz Ferdinand or Placebo, and Russell Leetch as part of Robbie’s backing band (sorry – it was the jeans and suit jacket). And Ed Lay just sits out there at the back, getting on with the real business of bashing your heart into the rhythm of his drumming…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesdx90jarYbfR7_hTDKsTfQ8kox1_7_hAeSVBU-hNSMV2cwuM4IxnQSK7xLvE-gctb5qZnKRiwJEhk1jE8b2D-OhoqX2W8DmRr-O0XbclvRcprg-pGr4TpfQmHZ0QAqby6dsklg/s1600-h/editors2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067733889795338754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesdx90jarYbfR7_hTDKsTfQ8kox1_7_hAeSVBU-hNSMV2cwuM4IxnQSK7xLvE-gctb5qZnKRiwJEhk1jE8b2D-OhoqX2W8DmRr-O0XbclvRcprg-pGr4TpfQmHZ0QAqby6dsklg/s320/editors2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But as ever when you're trying to convey something no-one else experienced, all of that completely undersells them. This unstyled, rag bag of slightly geeky musicians played above, beyond, out of themselves, giving us way more than everything they had, whilst still checking we were ok, they weren’t losing us, it was going ok?…<br /><br />My gig of the year by far – subtle, electric, buoyant, and yes (that awful muso journo short-hand) anthemic. The new stuff from the upcoming album An End Has A Start sounds just as good as The Back Room – maybe even better, but it was hard to tell on one listen… Time will of course tell.<br /><br />And thankfully all this – a neat hour and twenty of short, sharp rocks - without the swagger of the Kaiser Chief’s pitiful attempt at a second album (everything is average nowadays – you bet).<br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/editors" rel="tag">editors</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-54062669463464964512007-05-17T09:43:00.001+01:002007-05-17T09:43:37.736+01:00happy 45th birthday, alan johnston...To Our Own Correspondent, Alan: "For more than 50 years on <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/">this programme</a>, the news has been broadcast from our own correspondents. Today - with apologies to you - I want to send a message to one of our own. Day 66 of Alan Johnston's captivity is also his 45th birthday. Most likely there will be no candles or cake. But my hope is that somewhere, somehow, Alan will be able to listen. His family, his friends, his colleagues all miss him. We want him home. Our birthday wish is his immediate release. Happy birthday Alan."<br /><br />(<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6662195.stm"><span class="byl">Jon Williams</span></a>, <span class="byd">World Editor, BBC News, Jerusalem)<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/alan+johnston" rel="tag">alan johnston</a></span>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-76237986464956579132007-05-15T15:51:00.000+01:002007-05-15T15:52:13.861+01:00birthday wishes for Alan Johnston...<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm"><img height="90" alt="Alan Johnston banner" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/alan_johnston.gif" width="150" /></a><br /><br />Another way to show that you haven't forgotten Alan Johnston's abduction - 64 days today since he vanished - the <a href="http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2080055,00.html">Media Guardian</a> site reports:<br /><br />The BBC's kidnapped Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston turns 45 on Thursday and the corporation has issued an address for people who want to send birthday cards as a show of support. Johnston has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint in Gaza City on March 12.<br />Last week, he was named broadcasting journalist of the year at the annual London Press Club awards, where the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, paid tribute to Johnston and the courage of his family. Readers who wish to send cards should post them to the World Affairs Unit, Room 410SE, BBC Bush House, Strand, London, WC2B 4PH.<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/alan+johnston" rel="tag">alan johnston</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-36892987283008998802007-05-14T12:22:00.000+01:002008-12-09T21:26:05.090+01:00in the middle of the room...Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present...<br />a man whose musical and comedic talents stretch to clowning about whilst singing about funerals<br />the smaller-in-real-life-but-still-somehow-larger-than-life<br />vaudeville-esque<br />tragi-comic musician<br />and Huckleberry-Finn-The-Musical-wannabe (better they never make a reality find-a-star show about that!)<br />...<a href="http://dukespecial.com/">Duke Special</a>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4nSp3CJxGCTEIg6gZfKuyJYN4uz1a0GLjybCQ6I2hEhENS-TxZj-yHIirzbuxZ9U64yWZML-jBBpyr2h9sH7EIDuWcoqIXwycafzE_oL-jvsmsv3TI1f9oCEceiFNv48I0Kqsw/s1600-h/duke+on+stage.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064375835199258226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4nSp3CJxGCTEIg6gZfKuyJYN4uz1a0GLjybCQ6I2hEhENS-TxZj-yHIirzbuxZ9U64yWZML-jBBpyr2h9sH7EIDuWcoqIXwycafzE_oL-jvsmsv3TI1f9oCEceiFNv48I0Kqsw/s320/duke+on+stage.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At the end of last night’s rapturously received <a href="http://manchesteracademy.net/">Manchester Academy</a> gig, for the last encore, he and the band leapt off stage, walked through the crowd, busked an improv number about being in the middle of the room, someone playing the spoons, etc. And then ended with a fantastic necessarily-unplugged version of John Lennon Love. And all about two feet from where we were standing!! I always say that M picks the best spot to stand at a gig… ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup_70vd9qK5rhpA6_xkAgozHwRn0edGLOdkMTBX-Qzfk3FZNIP-aaJcGRthSWa3JEMYGbT3IAks64jCCFVazVho1JRxOp6pmu88G9oLIOW7tVC57ZNtWcg9EmZ_pp3wf_3KFY9A/s1600-h/the+duke.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064376019882851970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup_70vd9qK5rhpA6_xkAgozHwRn0edGLOdkMTBX-Qzfk3FZNIP-aaJcGRthSWa3JEMYGbT3IAks64jCCFVazVho1JRxOp6pmu88G9oLIOW7tVC57ZNtWcg9EmZ_pp3wf_3KFY9A/s320/the+duke.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Catch him now while you can still see him in <a href="http://dukespecial.com/index.php?section=4">some intimate venues</a> – or at <a href="http://greenbelt.org.uk/?a=323&pr=77&amp;amp;amp;day=&genre=">Greenbelt</a>. Do it – or have another boring bank holiday weekend.<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/duke+special" rel="tag">duke special</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-15904045756638113802007-05-04T14:47:00.001+01:002007-05-04T14:47:40.091+01:00breathe deepAs seen this morning on Oxford Road...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/uploaded_images/ads-suck-732702.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/uploaded_images/ads-suck-732700.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/uploaded_images/trees-breathe-795145.JPG"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/uploaded_images/trees-breathe-795142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oxford+road" rel="tag">oxford road</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-76681207510866524532007-05-04T11:01:00.001+01:002008-12-09T21:26:05.248+01:00the day before yesterday...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gDgoD2TnHAo5GXAwwVcH-x691Gk6Ye7yYFZTB-F9-mt8ng4q2GiziBb1lerlmvuOVwJj0L1LLsLaEORyBKDMYcXAQwmbEOj4AefXTf8ZMbtA7w7rwgvsvJcd2OQlRyGx0-t5iw/s1600-h/spring.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060643586513098498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gDgoD2TnHAo5GXAwwVcH-x691Gk6Ye7yYFZTB-F9-mt8ng4q2GiziBb1lerlmvuOVwJj0L1LLsLaEORyBKDMYcXAQwmbEOj4AefXTf8ZMbtA7w7rwgvsvJcd2OQlRyGx0-t5iw/s320/spring.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-76044711123837642192007-04-30T16:13:00.001+01:002007-04-30T16:13:17.344+01:00film sense-orshipToo young to see the film you star in because of the BBFC rating? Then make sure you get it <a href="http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2067536,00.html">shown in Bristol</a> (a la Shane Meadow's <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0480025/">This is England</a>).<br /><br />At last, an authority showing some sense over film censorship - and adjusting the certification to a 15. If only this had happened for <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0313670/">Sweet Sixteen</a> as well. Sadly, it's too late now.<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/BBFC" rel="tag">BBFC</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/this+is+england" rel="tag">this is england</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-1730949342199461082007-04-30T16:00:00.000+01:002007-04-30T16:04:37.244+01:00The Wiki-master interviewA fascinating glimpse into <a href="http://www.artshub.co.uk/uk/news.asp?sId=157577">Jimmy Wales' take on everything net</a>-ty.<br /><br />> So what prevents renegade users editing each other into oblivion, and Wikipedia from becoming the world’s most unreliable resource?<br /><br />> “It’s really about having a good community, having certain values within that community, and making sure the community has the tools they need to monitor the quality and maintain it over time,” says Wales. “Those are the real keys to what makes it work.”<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/wikipedia" rel="tag">wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/jimmy+wales" rel="tag">jimmy wales</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-5962870373945383792007-04-30T11:53:00.000+01:002007-04-30T11:54:51.056+01:00"15 minutes" - this sunday<img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/uploaded_images/15minutes-716641.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>15 Minutes (18)<br /><br />The final in our Heroes and Villains series (and the last in this run of films…)</div><div></div><div>This Sunday, 6th May </div><div>Doors: 6.30pm Film starts: 7pm prompt </div><div></div><div>VENUE CHANGE ** please note that we've moved venues (<a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/blog/">contact</a> for location details) ** </div><div></div><div>If you want to explore the film's themes and issues: Post-film discussion: 9.15pm onwards Evening ends: no later than 10pm </div><div></div><div>Feel free to bring your own food, drinks and snacks. </div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0179626/">IMDB listing</a> and technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/reel+spirituality" rel="tag">reel spirituality</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/15+minutes" rel="tag">15 minutes</a><br /></div>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-36102749676983496342007-04-25T18:03:00.001+01:002007-04-25T18:03:54.570+01:00big voice for the little guys<a href="http://www.howies.co.uk">howies</a> do it again - a wealth of info on good ideas and good people, for our good planet home.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.littlebigvoice.org.uk/">Little Big Voice lectures</a><br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/howies" rel="tag">howies</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/little+big+voice" rel="tag">little big voice</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-69868728650385226412007-04-17T18:03:00.001+01:002007-04-17T18:03:56.199+01:00Alan Johnston<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm"><img alt="Alan Johnston banner" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/alan_johnston.gif" width="150" height="90"></a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-25678369518343040942007-04-11T09:34:00.000+01:002007-04-11T09:38:48.449+01:00life on mars?...Guess what? <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/">Sam</a> was in a coma all along (cf <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Ewing">Bobby's shower dream</a>).<br /><br />Sam's brain tumor and the swelling were the cause of his coma, and once operated on, he was hunky dory and back in the real world. All the 'clever' clues were actually his ward name, the room number, his surgeon... (It was around this time - 15 minutes from the end - that I started shouting at the TV.)<br /><br />Except that once Sam was back, it didn't feel real to him. The life he'd longed to go back to - his family, the present - felt so much less real to him that he jumped off a roof - killed himself - to get back to 1973. And all because he'd promised Annie he wouldn't 'just leave'... Ah...<br /><br />Questions...<br />If the 1973 life that Sam was living in ultimately was and felt more real to him than the present, why did he always want to go home so badly from 1973?<br />And why did he make the 'slightly' drastic choice of death in order to go back?<br />Surely he knew that was a cop-out (pardon the pun) - his mum, his girlfriend, his mates and colleagues would be distraught, guilt-ridden, at his recovery and sudden suicide?<br />One minute he was telling us that it was good to talk about it, the next jumping off the roof - why?<br />A copper of such principle, such a modern, ethical man, wouldn't choose to kill himself for racist, mysogynist fantasy-land?<br />He spent months trying to convince them that their methods made them corrupt, violent, sexist pigs (sorry again) - and yet he chose to go back and be one of them?<br />lf this is all correct, surely it's more accurate to say he was actually more mad than in a coma? Or both - the coma sent him mad?<br /><br />And more...<br />Why did the Beeb commission a second series in the first place?<br />Why did I ever start watching it anyway?<br />lf it's true they made two endings, can they please let us see the other one?<br />Doesn't <a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2007/03/life_on_mars_how_will_it_end.html">Jon Wilde's son's explanation</a> seem so much better, more real, more satisfying?<br />Does it make me feel any better that one of the country's best <a href="http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2051490,00.html">TV critics</a> doesn't seem to know what it means either?<br />Does all this mean <a href="http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2054278,00.html">Janet Street Porter's right</a>, we get the TV we deserve?...<br /><br />So many questions, and nere an answer to be found. Auntie, do the decent thing and 'Gene Hunt' the 80s spin-off now...<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/life+on+mars" rel="tag">life on mars</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-46777001585955176992007-04-08T14:01:00.000+01:002008-12-09T21:26:05.398+01:00resurrection sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkf7TctCRg3OqRQ604dKtrc3EXJUFfl_j-r14D7mtMPj0PfMUKar4tDbxDcA4_9QYBy253CdOqeq5DGEnQAFL4hO8xFcks91thm1ksjplws_QkMDs6X9RCLuWbfYM3eSEE9WNA/s1600-h/LstD.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052155137155690178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkf7TctCRg3OqRQ604dKtrc3EXJUFfl_j-r14D7mtMPj0PfMUKar4tDbxDcA4_9QYBy253CdOqeq5DGEnQAFL4hO8xFcks91thm1ksjplws_QkMDs6X9RCLuWbfYM3eSEE9WNA/s320/LstD.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-9787157483058756052007-04-08T11:27:00.000+01:002008-12-09T21:26:05.446+01:00Be the change...<a href="http://www.sanctus1.co.uk/">Sanctus1</a> and <a href="http://www.bethechange.org.uk/">Be The Change</a> presents the Change the Dream Symposium<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFRgAE6h8sTrGaRYqR419YsOdAD_sIlNC9AqpKBSpNuPgw0a3e1U5Qn8DkGg1jTDTdaEv-pgJ1Wfh6YUWAZG0B1XHKFWa06E8kxMLp4G8IOmpaoWxzBp1V_vAST-gS2XJdC67UQ/s1600-h/btc2.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFRgAE6h8sTrGaRYqR419YsOdAD_sIlNC9AqpKBSpNuPgw0a3e1U5Qn8DkGg1jTDTdaEv-pgJ1Wfh6YUWAZG0B1XHKFWa06E8kxMLp4G8IOmpaoWxzBp1V_vAST-gS2XJdC67UQ/s320/btc2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051002828058778578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Where on Earth are we going?<br />And what can we do about it?<br /><br />These are two of the questions that lie at the heart of Change the Dream. It explores the link between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.<br /><br />Using video clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, inspiring short films, and leading edge information on the state of the planet and its people, the day allows all of us to gain a new insight into the opportunity we have to shape the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions.<br /><br />Monday 7 May (bank holiday), 10.00 - 4.30<br /><a href="http://www.nexusonline.org.uk/">Nexus</a>, Dale St., Manchester, M1 1JW<br /> 0161 236 0100<br /><br />Cost: £10 (£5 unwaged) - any profits will be donated to suitable charities.<br />Fairtrade tea/ coffee provided. Lunch not included – bring or buy your own.<br /><br />For bookings and info, please email bethechange@sanctus1.co.uk<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/be+the+change" rel="tag">be the change</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/sanctus1" rel="tag">sanctus1</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30103346.post-49867606397569206082007-04-08T10:23:00.000+01:002007-04-08T10:26:37.027+01:00a realisation...If you close your eyes and listen hard, the sound of rain on a hood sounds a lot like the patter of rain on a tent.<br /><br />Thought that was worth sharing...<br /><br /><br />technorati tag: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/rain" rel="tag">rain</a>LauraHDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734031988982022378noreply@blogger.com1