Time for the return of Gossip Friday with the new ten-story format.
1) Starting us off at story number one is a Glee story. In a bid to raise awareness of the BP oil disaster the rights to the Glee version of Over the Rainbow have been handed over for use.
Here’s the video as posted on Perez:
Link to source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-06-18-glee-helps-the-gulf-coast
2) Fancy featuring in a film? Are you an amputee, don’t mind growing your hair and beard, a Latino woman, someone who can ride and owns their own horse or all of the above? Then you may want to audition for a role in the upcoming film “Game of Thrones” which will be filmed in Ireland and parts will be filled by Belfast company Extras NI.
Men wanting the role will have to start growing hair now and will need to leave it until at least January 2011.
Other skills in demand are the rather vague medieval skills so if you know a little something about any such things then why not give it a shot?
Though I may sound rather sarcastic about the auditions the film itself sounds an interesting idea being described as “The Sopranos of Middle Earth”.
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/10339677.stm
3) Comedian and new host of the One Show Jason Manford claimed on Twitter to have nearly died in a road accident on Wednesday. According to his tweets both driver side wheels blew out and they were sent across the three lanes of the M6.
Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a229590/jason-manford-nearly-died-in-car-crash.html
4) Fergie (of Black-Eyed Peas and a short solo career fame – not the ex-duchess else the following would be slightly disturbing) says that Cheryl Tweedy/Cole/I-Am (interchange as needed) is hot enough to turn anyone and that she’d take her out for a date.
Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a229383/fergie-id-date-cheryl-cole.html
5) Something I didn’t know which shocked me (and follows on from the last story in a way) is that Anna Paquin, star of True Blood and Rogue in the X-Men movies (and for people who don’t know the first two she was also in The Pianist movie) is that she came out as bisexual earlier this year. In a strong show of support her fiancée Stephen Moyer (also of True Blood fame) says he condones what she’s done “100%” and “I’m proud of who she is”.
Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/s59/true-blood/news/a229274/moyer-proud-of-paquins-bisexuality.html
6) Again in a similar vein (get it? Vampire puns are awesome) is the revelation that Eminem supports (well kind of) gay marriage. The phrases of choice selected by Digital Spy are “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell?”, “I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.” and finally “It’s the new more tolerant me!”. To be honest if that’s the best way to vocalise your support then he might have well have kept his mouth shut. Though I’m sure the sentiment is there it seems a bit half arsed and non-committal.
Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a229142/eminem-supports-gay-marriage.html
7) People who can’t stand Sex and the City being revived once more or just dislike Sarah Jessica Parker will enjoy the new story (though I have to say I’m a fan of both – sorry!). A comedy troupe called Uptight Citizen’s Brigade held a mock funeral for the star in which she took a bit of a roasting including the line “She wasn’t Jewish, but her nose was.”
Link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a229055/mock-funeral-held-for-sarah-jessica-parker.html
8) Tom Felton (aka. Draco Malfoy) joked about getting lightning bolt tattoos with other cast members on their bums. The thing is it was only a half joke, it seems he wanted them to get a little one somewhere but they wimped out.
Link: http://celebrity.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153823239
9) I feel sorry for Matt Smith; he had some really big shoes to fill after following David Tennant in the role of Doctor Who. Turns out he didn’t think he was good enough and spent the first month in the role phoning his dad for support. I’m sure that I won’t be the only one to say that Matt has been a fantastic Doctor so far; he really has captured the spirit of the series.
Link: http://celebrity.uk.msn.com/news/gossip/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153823645
10) Sometimes I’m sure that everyone has a problem separating the idea of a character from an actor and so when I heard that the Glee cast were picked on and bullied in real life whilst in school I was shocked. Though the examples used in the piece didn’t seem too traumatising I still find myself annoyed that people can get away with ruining peoples lives like that, bullying leaves scars that stay with people for years after it’s happened if they ever fade at all and so instead of ignoring it as a staple of the playground as is the norm shouldn’t we be educating and correcting people about how destructive it is? Anyway I’ll end the rant there.
Link: http://celebrity.uk.msn.com/news/gossip/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153816580
And so that’s the end for this week as I won’t be able to reach a computer again until next Wednesday just in time for the reviews! So have a great weekend and make sure to check for updates on Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, 18 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
The Grand Return - Review Round Up
So the hiatus lasted much longer than I’d originally intended but now once again it is time to bring back the Round Up!
A couple of changes will be made but this should be the general format once again.
Wednesdays will be review day so I’ll be carrying out a top 3 review unless it’s a special occasion.
Thursdays starting from 24th June shall be opinion pieces written by Alex Nicholson so it should be a surprise even to me.
Fridays will see the return of Gossip Friday which shall now be a selection of my ten favourite celebrity and media stories.
Finally Sundays will see the return of the News Round Up which will also be a selection of my ten favourite stories of the week.
The only warning I can give is that I’m currently in the middle of switching jobs (and cities) which may result in some pieces not making it out on time or at all that week but make sure to follow the Twitter feed or my Facebook status to keep in the know of the latest updates.
Anyway, on with today’s piece – Review Wednesday!
*********************************************************************
Today being a special day with the restart of the blog I thought it best to make an effort and bring a personal review of two cities I’ve visited recently.
Firstly we’ll start with York.
Only getting an evening and part of the next day to get around has meant that I’ve only been able to experience some of the sights of York, for example I would have loved to have gone on a walk of the amazing city walls however I had some more unusual experiences awaiting.
Heading into town in the early evening with friends of my other half to guide me around I first ended up exploring a rather odd shop named “The Trembling Madness”; I’m sure from the name alone you can imagine the oddness I was about to experience.
The front of shop may seem quite small but walking through its true glory is revealed. The back room of the shop contains an extraordinary array of beers from around the globe whilst the floor above is host to South-East Asian themed restaurant. Available in the front of shop is a selection of other alcohol, cheese and various pork based pies (I recommend the pork and apple pie myself) whilst infront of the till itself are some odd confectionary to buy. Curious I sampled a chocolate covered scorpion whilst the other half tried some Thai green curry crickets although chocolate covered spiders were also available. I found the scorpion a bit too crunchy for my liking as well as leaving a numbness of the tongue whilst TOH found the crickets to actually be rather nice. If you fancy treating yourself to one however you may want to think again at a price of £2.99 for one scorpion or a pack of three or four crickets.
Further along the street is a bar run by the owners of the Trembling Madness with another odd name of the “Evil Eye Lounge”. The atmosphere on entering is youthful and energetic with vibrant colours and slightly neo-new-age menus. The selection of beers is once again immense but feeling fruity I opted for a cocktail (or two) which resulted in each time having to pick from the menu what I wanted then being told I’d much rather have something else and have something created off-menu from scratch. Though I do prefer getting what I ask for I must say that these guys know their stuff and the resulting cocktails were perfectly tailored to the flavours that I had asked for (as well as rather alcoholic). If you were going to have a night out around York then the Evil Eye Lounge must be on that list at some point, it would be too good to miss out on.
After indulging in a bit of drink it was time to try the next new thing, a ghost walk. As so many run in the city we opted for a more light-hearted one, no jumpy bits, just more of a tour around the city recounting it’s more colourful days. The walk we took started from the cathedral which runs everyday at 19.30. Though it cost £4 and ran only for an hour it was a fun experience due to the interesting stories and surroundings as well as the pleasant attitude of the guide and genuine good humour.
Following on from there was a tour of just a few of the many bars and pubs of York, none of which were really noteworthy enough to mention due to (unfortunately) poor service as well as a busy environment.
On the following day with just enough time for a quick tour allowed the time for another couple of gems to be found.
Firstly “The Whisky Shop” doing what it says in the name, the shop itself contains a wide selection of whiskies and drinking implements. Good prices and good staff make it a stop on a tour to get a souvenir tipple.
The second and by far my favourite stop however must be the Luxury Ice Cream Company. A small and beautifully decorated shop it was a pleasure just to enter it with its bright pastel colours, camp decoration and almost Carroll-esque seating. My favourite part (and hopefully yours too in the future) was the wide selection of freshly made ice cream for an exceptional price (£2.70 for a 3 scoop tub with a flake). If you ever do get the chance to visit I suggest a mix of chocolate, black cherry and Turkish delight but please make sure you’re hungry before you go, the size of the scoops are gargantuan.
Now for the second stop, Coventry.
The centre of Coventry seemed surprisingly small considering it’s history and importance however there is an odd clash of medieval, 60’s and modern all converging and giving the impression of travelling through time by turning the corner of a road.
The centre of what appears to be the medieval part of the city was the ruin of the cathedral that had been destroyed during the war. Walking around the interior of the ruins can be both beautiful and eerie as artwork with both religious and hopeful statements or imagery. The only way this is spoiled is by the close proximity of the neighbouring church with its modern edges and “in-your-face” art that though beautiful in it’s own way seems more of a badly drawn caricature of the cathedral itself.
Whilst stopping for lunch I found a reasonably priced restaurant with pleasant ambience and an exceptional view of the cathedral as it just sat on the corner of the churchyard with a view of the spire. If you ever want to just relax and unwind in a suitable environment then I strongly suggest you visit the (as they call it) “eatery” with the name “Twenty 4 Bayley Lane”.
Around the corner from the cathedral finds the shopping districts which vary between high and low end swirling together along with the 60s style and modern architecture (as well as a huge statue of Lady Godiva). If the aim is for a day of shopping then Coventry has got to be on that list.
One final place I must mention is an exhibition titled “Life in Coventry” which can be found at the Glass House Exhibition Hall on Earl Street. The exhibition itself is a display of artwork made by refugees and migrants reflecting their personal views, how they view Coventry and images of what they miss or have left behind. Though few have training in art it won’t matter as even the pieces submitted by children won’t fail to have an emotional effect.
Anyway, that’s all for the Review Round Up this week but stop by again soon to check for more updates.
A couple of changes will be made but this should be the general format once again.
Wednesdays will be review day so I’ll be carrying out a top 3 review unless it’s a special occasion.
Thursdays starting from 24th June shall be opinion pieces written by Alex Nicholson so it should be a surprise even to me.
Fridays will see the return of Gossip Friday which shall now be a selection of my ten favourite celebrity and media stories.
Finally Sundays will see the return of the News Round Up which will also be a selection of my ten favourite stories of the week.
The only warning I can give is that I’m currently in the middle of switching jobs (and cities) which may result in some pieces not making it out on time or at all that week but make sure to follow the Twitter feed or my Facebook status to keep in the know of the latest updates.
Anyway, on with today’s piece – Review Wednesday!
*********************************************************************
Today being a special day with the restart of the blog I thought it best to make an effort and bring a personal review of two cities I’ve visited recently.
Firstly we’ll start with York.
Only getting an evening and part of the next day to get around has meant that I’ve only been able to experience some of the sights of York, for example I would have loved to have gone on a walk of the amazing city walls however I had some more unusual experiences awaiting.
Heading into town in the early evening with friends of my other half to guide me around I first ended up exploring a rather odd shop named “The Trembling Madness”; I’m sure from the name alone you can imagine the oddness I was about to experience.
The front of shop may seem quite small but walking through its true glory is revealed. The back room of the shop contains an extraordinary array of beers from around the globe whilst the floor above is host to South-East Asian themed restaurant. Available in the front of shop is a selection of other alcohol, cheese and various pork based pies (I recommend the pork and apple pie myself) whilst infront of the till itself are some odd confectionary to buy. Curious I sampled a chocolate covered scorpion whilst the other half tried some Thai green curry crickets although chocolate covered spiders were also available. I found the scorpion a bit too crunchy for my liking as well as leaving a numbness of the tongue whilst TOH found the crickets to actually be rather nice. If you fancy treating yourself to one however you may want to think again at a price of £2.99 for one scorpion or a pack of three or four crickets.
Further along the street is a bar run by the owners of the Trembling Madness with another odd name of the “Evil Eye Lounge”. The atmosphere on entering is youthful and energetic with vibrant colours and slightly neo-new-age menus. The selection of beers is once again immense but feeling fruity I opted for a cocktail (or two) which resulted in each time having to pick from the menu what I wanted then being told I’d much rather have something else and have something created off-menu from scratch. Though I do prefer getting what I ask for I must say that these guys know their stuff and the resulting cocktails were perfectly tailored to the flavours that I had asked for (as well as rather alcoholic). If you were going to have a night out around York then the Evil Eye Lounge must be on that list at some point, it would be too good to miss out on.
After indulging in a bit of drink it was time to try the next new thing, a ghost walk. As so many run in the city we opted for a more light-hearted one, no jumpy bits, just more of a tour around the city recounting it’s more colourful days. The walk we took started from the cathedral which runs everyday at 19.30. Though it cost £4 and ran only for an hour it was a fun experience due to the interesting stories and surroundings as well as the pleasant attitude of the guide and genuine good humour.
Following on from there was a tour of just a few of the many bars and pubs of York, none of which were really noteworthy enough to mention due to (unfortunately) poor service as well as a busy environment.
On the following day with just enough time for a quick tour allowed the time for another couple of gems to be found.
Firstly “The Whisky Shop” doing what it says in the name, the shop itself contains a wide selection of whiskies and drinking implements. Good prices and good staff make it a stop on a tour to get a souvenir tipple.
The second and by far my favourite stop however must be the Luxury Ice Cream Company. A small and beautifully decorated shop it was a pleasure just to enter it with its bright pastel colours, camp decoration and almost Carroll-esque seating. My favourite part (and hopefully yours too in the future) was the wide selection of freshly made ice cream for an exceptional price (£2.70 for a 3 scoop tub with a flake). If you ever do get the chance to visit I suggest a mix of chocolate, black cherry and Turkish delight but please make sure you’re hungry before you go, the size of the scoops are gargantuan.
Now for the second stop, Coventry.
The centre of Coventry seemed surprisingly small considering it’s history and importance however there is an odd clash of medieval, 60’s and modern all converging and giving the impression of travelling through time by turning the corner of a road.
The centre of what appears to be the medieval part of the city was the ruin of the cathedral that had been destroyed during the war. Walking around the interior of the ruins can be both beautiful and eerie as artwork with both religious and hopeful statements or imagery. The only way this is spoiled is by the close proximity of the neighbouring church with its modern edges and “in-your-face” art that though beautiful in it’s own way seems more of a badly drawn caricature of the cathedral itself.
Whilst stopping for lunch I found a reasonably priced restaurant with pleasant ambience and an exceptional view of the cathedral as it just sat on the corner of the churchyard with a view of the spire. If you ever want to just relax and unwind in a suitable environment then I strongly suggest you visit the (as they call it) “eatery” with the name “Twenty 4 Bayley Lane”.
Around the corner from the cathedral finds the shopping districts which vary between high and low end swirling together along with the 60s style and modern architecture (as well as a huge statue of Lady Godiva). If the aim is for a day of shopping then Coventry has got to be on that list.
One final place I must mention is an exhibition titled “Life in Coventry” which can be found at the Glass House Exhibition Hall on Earl Street. The exhibition itself is a display of artwork made by refugees and migrants reflecting their personal views, how they view Coventry and images of what they miss or have left behind. Though few have training in art it won’t matter as even the pieces submitted by children won’t fail to have an emotional effect.
Anyway, that’s all for the Review Round Up this week but stop by again soon to check for more updates.
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