Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Monday, 15 March 2010
Death Cab For Cutie- We have the facts and we are voting yes
New Review published here: Death Cab- We have the facts...
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Palm Oil
It is the hidden ingredient found in masses of everyday food and household products, but what exactly is palm oil and why is their currently such a fuss about it.
Well it is the cheapest form of oil, which is clearly why it is so popular among huge corporations. It is found in Asia, and is responsible for widespread environmental destruction.
The damage it is causing to the environment can no longer be ignored. Watch last weeks Panorama to discover the grim truth about the palm oil industry.
Well it is the cheapest form of oil, which is clearly why it is so popular among huge corporations. It is found in Asia, and is responsible for widespread environmental destruction.
The damage it is causing to the environment can no longer be ignored. Watch last weeks Panorama to discover the grim truth about the palm oil industry.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
It's Miller-Time
Bode Miller stands a reformed man. The former bad boy of the US Ski Team, looks set to be the main man of the Winter Olympics after taking 3 medals in Vancouver with the slalom still up for grabs.
Miller had promised so much for so long. In the Turin Winter Olympics 2006, he was hotly tipped to sweep the Alpine board but dissappointingly came away empty handed. His antics off-piste caused a bit of a scandal and he subsequently fell out with the US ski team.
However, the Miller that skis before us today is a different man, calmer, more focused than ever and more dedicated to the sport. He has finally fulfilled his potential and has taken his first ever Olympic gold in the super combined, along with a silver and a bronze in the super g and downhill. He adds these to his silvers from Salt Lake City in 2002, world championship medals in 2003, 2006 and numerous world cup titles including, most important of all, the coveted overall title in 2008.
Miller has now achieved everything possible in the sport. He stands as the most decorated American alpine skiier of all time, and one of the greatest all-round skiiers to ever grace the piste; one of the few to win Olympic medals in 4 disciplines.
Bode has taken a long road and its been a hard road, but you cannot say he has not done it his way. Who knows where he will go from here. Even Bode probably does not know at this time whether he will continue on the piste. If he does decide to hang up his ski boots, it will be a huge blow to the alpine world. As one of the most entertaining skiiers of all time, he will be sorely missed on the circuit.
Miller had promised so much for so long. In the Turin Winter Olympics 2006, he was hotly tipped to sweep the Alpine board but dissappointingly came away empty handed. His antics off-piste caused a bit of a scandal and he subsequently fell out with the US ski team.
However, the Miller that skis before us today is a different man, calmer, more focused than ever and more dedicated to the sport. He has finally fulfilled his potential and has taken his first ever Olympic gold in the super combined, along with a silver and a bronze in the super g and downhill. He adds these to his silvers from Salt Lake City in 2002, world championship medals in 2003, 2006 and numerous world cup titles including, most important of all, the coveted overall title in 2008.
Miller has now achieved everything possible in the sport. He stands as the most decorated American alpine skiier of all time, and one of the greatest all-round skiiers to ever grace the piste; one of the few to win Olympic medals in 4 disciplines.
Bode has taken a long road and its been a hard road, but you cannot say he has not done it his way. Who knows where he will go from here. Even Bode probably does not know at this time whether he will continue on the piste. If he does decide to hang up his ski boots, it will be a huge blow to the alpine world. As one of the most entertaining skiiers of all time, he will be sorely missed on the circuit.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Death of Cinema?
Today it emerged that the Odeon Cinema chain will not be showing Tim Burton's newest release Alice in Wonderland in its cinemas.
The dispute is based around the fact that Disney (Wonderland's distribution company) want to reduce the films run in cinemas from the standard 17 weeks to a shorter 12 week window, in order for the DVD to be released sooner.
Disney say this process will help to cut down piracy, by bringing the film to customers more quickly. This decision has ramifications not just for this film, but the entire film industry and the cinema as a viable format.
Newer technologies like DVD have already posed threats to cinema as a medium. Despite the uptake of new technology and increase of piracy, the year 2009 was still the most successful year for the big screen. Clearly it still has its attractions.
It is clear that even though other formats are available, people are still willing to go out and pay for the big screen experience. Alice in Wonderland is a 3D film, and clearly the best way to view this film is on the big screen, you simply cannot get the same experience by watching it at home. So the question has to be raised as to why Disney want this particular film to have a shorter window, as it has a huge pull to the big screen. Shortening its window, means less people will get to have this experience, especially in smaller cinemas.
The Odeon chain owns two-thirds of all the screens in the UK so this dispute is going to be damaging for this film, as less people will be able to see it. Ultimately, more people will be turning away from the big screen and towards other mediums, which is a crying shame, because films like this need to be shown on the big screen.
There is nothing like seeing a film for the first time in the cinema, and this dispute poses questions over the viability and the future of the cinema industry.
The dispute is based around the fact that Disney (Wonderland's distribution company) want to reduce the films run in cinemas from the standard 17 weeks to a shorter 12 week window, in order for the DVD to be released sooner.
Disney say this process will help to cut down piracy, by bringing the film to customers more quickly. This decision has ramifications not just for this film, but the entire film industry and the cinema as a viable format.
Newer technologies like DVD have already posed threats to cinema as a medium. Despite the uptake of new technology and increase of piracy, the year 2009 was still the most successful year for the big screen. Clearly it still has its attractions.
It is clear that even though other formats are available, people are still willing to go out and pay for the big screen experience. Alice in Wonderland is a 3D film, and clearly the best way to view this film is on the big screen, you simply cannot get the same experience by watching it at home. So the question has to be raised as to why Disney want this particular film to have a shorter window, as it has a huge pull to the big screen. Shortening its window, means less people will get to have this experience, especially in smaller cinemas.
The Odeon chain owns two-thirds of all the screens in the UK so this dispute is going to be damaging for this film, as less people will be able to see it. Ultimately, more people will be turning away from the big screen and towards other mediums, which is a crying shame, because films like this need to be shown on the big screen.
There is nothing like seeing a film for the first time in the cinema, and this dispute poses questions over the viability and the future of the cinema industry.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Lent
I had pancakes yesterday, as well as many other sweet delights for the final time before lent. Pancakes with chocolate and banana yum, as well as your standard sugar and lemon.
I have decided to give becoming a vegan another go. Last time did not go badly, but I just struggled with hidden ingredients and eating out. This time I am ready to go fully vegan for the whole of lent, no ifs, buts, or maybes.
I am also giving up all cereal/bread/crisps/biscuits/cake/chocolate (regardless of whether they are vegan), in a quest to stop eating unhealthily.
The health kick has started, I need to be in great shape before my trip to South America at the end of April, and I am also running the Sport Relief 6 miles at the end of March. So I have little over a month to get in some serious training. Wish me luck.
I have decided to give becoming a vegan another go. Last time did not go badly, but I just struggled with hidden ingredients and eating out. This time I am ready to go fully vegan for the whole of lent, no ifs, buts, or maybes.
I am also giving up all cereal/bread/crisps/biscuits/cake/chocolate (regardless of whether they are vegan), in a quest to stop eating unhealthily.
The health kick has started, I need to be in great shape before my trip to South America at the end of April, and I am also running the Sport Relief 6 miles at the end of March. So I have little over a month to get in some serious training. Wish me luck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
