Olympics 2012 - 3

 

Well the games have started, all be it before the opening ceremony, GB ladies soccer team beating NZ 1-0 and USA beating France 4-2.

 Of course there are some who already will not be taking part in the games. Greece with all it’s issues have already sent one of their smallest group of athletes ever, and this has been reduced even more by the banning of Triple jumper Voula Papachristou who was expelled from Greece's Olympic team Wednesday for her comments on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right party.

It was her attempt at a joke Sunday that went viral. Commenting on the widely reported appearance of Nile-virus-carrying mosquitoes in Athens, Papachristou wrote: ''With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!''. Her tweet prompted thousands of negative comments that snowballed Wednesday leading to her being banned.

 

She is not the only one however, Moroccan runner Mariem Alaoui Selsouli, one of the medal favorites for the woman’s 1500 meters has been tested positive for the diuretic furosemide at the Paris Diamond League meeting on July 6. 

 

Selsouli became an Olympic medal favorite after clocking 3 minutes 56.15 seconds in the 1,500 meters - more than four seconds below her personal best time at the Paris event…hmm wonder how she managed that?

 

To me perhaps the most worrying is for the French athletes…

 

A convoy of cars carrying French athletes and officials crawled through central London, enmeshed in a fiendish traffic jam.

 

To their right: A specially created and pristine Games Lane set aside for the exclusive use of the so-called "Olympic Family", much to the chagrin of many Londoners.

 

Alas, it appeared no-one had told the Gallic branch of the lineage.

 

So off they went, trundling east in the direction of the Olympic Park at 2mph, perhaps even grousing at the infamous London traffic.

 

One hopes for the sake of the French that their sprint relay tactics are a little more well-honed.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

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Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

OLYMPICS 2012 -2

I have posted before about the opening ceremony, being full of animals and comparing the three cows to the thousands of people who took part on the Chinese ceremony, now comes a possible block busting leak.

"Previous reports of director Danny Boyle's opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics   detailed an epic retelling of Great Britain's history in three sweeping acts through a massive display of song and dance (and cows). Boyle and company have done everything they can to keep the details from leaking out and spoiling the surprise for the four billion people that are expected to watch it. One more detail, however, leaked out, and it may be the best one yet.

 

The British Sunday Times news paper  reported that Boyle is planning on staging an epic battle for the soul of Britain between the evil Voldemort from the "Harry Potter" series and a massive crowd of flying nannies styled after the iconic British nanny from the book and film "Mary Poppins." The report also said other fictional characters from British literature such as Peter Pan and Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" will make an appearance in the ceremony presumably to represent the mark his country has made on art, literature, and film.

 

 I'm not doubting Boyle's vision for the ceremony or Britain's influence on the world, especially when it comes to England's contributions to the creative world. However, "Harry Potter" and "Mary Poppins" does seem a little shallow when it comes to praising Britain's footprint on popular culture. If it were up to me, the opening ceremony would include a massive battle for the soul of the world between Manuel from "Fawlty Towers," John Cleese from Monty Python and the last five Doctor Whos who join forces to destroy a crowd of rage infected zombies from "28 Days Later".

 

Now THAT'S an opening."

We'll have to wait and see

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

OLYMPICS 2012

Even before the Olympic Games start this Friday there have been many events that hit the headlines some of which are just a little strange.

London conjures images of crowded pubs, which conjure images of pints of beer, which conjure the taste of … Heineken? Well,not really. Which is why having the Dutch brewery's lager as “The official beer for the London Olympic Games” caused a stir in British Parliament.

A few days later there was equal furry in the USA, when it was divulged that the “preppy” style US uniforms were actually made in China.

Talking about uniforms there are some real crackers, the worst of which is the Spanish uniform which has been described as mustard and tomato ketchup, and looks like it can be sold on to Taco Bell. The Spanish “outfit” was designed by a Russian company who also did the Olympic outfits for Russia and Ukrain, and judging by the styles they must have thought paisley was the “in thing”

Mind you it there are afew other outfits of note... The Swiz clothes look like they are from an Autum catalog, and did anybody tell them that Rugby is not part of the Olympics until 2016.

Still feel sorry for poor Venezuela, it looks like none of their athetes would ware the uniforms and they had to show them off on manikins.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

BATHROOM BOOK OF ROMANCE - FRESH REVIEW

STARTING JUNE 4th I AM ON MY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR.
PLEASE STOP BY AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ME AND MY NEW BOOK



My virtual tour stop today was an interview at INSIDE BJ's HEAD

Not only that but also a review...

"Honestly, it's short about 73 pages or so.....and the stories are so different from one to the other.

Thankfully you'll know if you need a tissue or not...the author has put a tissue icon by the title of all the stories the are deemed cry worthy.

Trust me when I say TAKE THAT ADVICE!!!!

I really LOVED that each story is short so you can read one and come back to the book and read another later without feeling like you have to remember where you left off.

The stories themselves are so much fun to read....they could be about real people, which we all know adds to any story.

I think one of my favorite stories from this book was "Why"....it wasn't a tissue story, but it was a sweet story all the same.

No, I won't tell you anything about it other than it takes place in a bar in another country...the rest I guess you'll have to buy the book and see for yourself.

(I know I'm not nice....but you still like me....LOL) "

Thank you so much BJ

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

BATHROOM BOOK OF ROMANCE VIRTUAL TOUR - FRESH REVIEW

STARTING JUNE 4th I AM ON MY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR. PLEASE STOP BY AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ME AND MY NEW BOOK



My virtual tour stop today was an interview at Books Books and More Books

Not only that but also a review...

"...These stories are charming. Little snippets of love… love found, love lost, love lasting, and love fleeting, all the ways of love. Barry Eva brings together a wonderful collection of snapshots of love in all its forms. However, as the Lays potato chip ad says, “bet you can’t eat just one” or in this case read just one."

Thank you so much Mindy

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

STARTING JUNE 4th I AM ON MY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR.

PLEASE STOP BY AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ME AND MY NEW BOOK

STOPS DURING MY FIRST WEEK ON TOUR

During my first week on my virtual tour with the wonderful "Pump Up Your Book" group, I have stopped off at three blogs.

Monday, June 4

Interview at Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, June 5

Interview at The Writer’s Life

Wednesday, June 6

Interview at Review From Here

Please check the various locations and enjoy my answers to the hosts questions.. 

EVENTS:

Last Sunday I was sighing copies of my YA novel "Across the Pond" at Seymour Founders day, as well as handing out flyers about the downloads available of "The Bathroom Book of Romance".

All went well, and it was, at least to start a great day, I had this year a prime location and the weather was sunny with many people enjoying the day. That was until mid afternoon when we were hit with a sudden thunder storm, rain deluge and high winds which sent people and tents flying everywhere.

REVIEWS:

Two reviews on Amazon USA

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fun book!, April 14, 201

This review is from: The Bathroom Book of Romance - Book One (Kindle Edition)

The Bathroom Book of Romance - Book One is a wonderful book, full of short stories about life, love and loss. It's written by Barry Eva, who was born and raised in England, and as you read the numerous tales that fill the pages of this wonderful little novel, you can almost hear his British accent. This book is highly recommended to anyone who loves to read, especially in today's hustling, bustling, busy world. Can't wait to read more from this author!

5.0 out of 5 stars Short stories to make you laugh-smile-sigh-cry., May 12, 2012

This review is from: The Bathroom Book of Romance - Book One (Kindle Edition)

A must for story lovers. I found this a very difficult book to put down, you'll smile then laugh out loud, but it will touch your heart too. I popped it on the book rack in the bathroom to read while in the bath, on my own where I can enjoy some 'me time'. Eva writes skilfully from the heart, the heart of a born storyteller.

 Barry Eva

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

LONDON NOW FRANCE' S 6th LARGEST CITY

London, France's sixth biggest city By Lucy Ash

More French people live in London than in Bordeaux, Nantes or Strasbourg and it is now thought to be France's sixth biggest city in terms of population. What is attracting a new generation of young French professionals to the city? On a wet Friday night in Hackney, a group of young professional women walk into a pub. Laughing about the British weather, they shake their umbrellas, peel off their raincoats and make their way to the bar. Like many Londoners at the end of a busy working week, they have come to unwind over a few drinks. But if you move a bit closer, you realise they are all speaking French. They are not tourists, exchange students or off-duty au pairs. They all work in creative industries, have lived in east London quite some time and consider it home. London has a long-standing French community - but it is no longer confined to the streets around the embassy in South Kensington, where you will find French bookshops, patisseries and pavement cafes patronised by impeccably dressed mothers dropping off their children at the posh Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote I came to London from Paris straight after graduating from art school, just to have a look - that was seven years ago ” End Quote Malika Favre Today there are French people in every corner of London and their numbers have been growing, with the result that in next week's parliamentary election in France they - along with expats in Scandinavia - will be voting for a candidate to represent them in the National Assembly. The French consulate in London estimates between 300,000 and 400,000 French citizens live in the British capital - many in London's cutting-edge creative hub, in the East End. "I came to London from Paris straight after graduating from art school, just to have a look," says Malika Favre. "That was seven years ago and I've no intention of going back." Malika is much in-demand as an illustrator. Her commissions include a bold, playful design for a new edition of the Kama Sutra, an album cover for a French rock band and artwork for a Californian beachwear company. Being in London and speaking English gives her access to a wider client base - Malika sees the city as a gateway to globalisation and also relishes freedom from French bureaucracy. "With a new venture in Paris you always think first of what is going to go wrong. I find the system much easier here - you don't have so many rules and so much paperwork," she tells me Marine Schepens, who works for a fashionable advertising agency, says UK companies are more prepared to give young people a chance because it is easier to terminate their contracts than in France. This fluidity makes employees less risk-averse too. I changed careers a year ago but I would have never done that if I was still in France. I'd have thought, 'I'm so lucky to have a job - I must hang on to it.'" Nadege Alezine, a journalist from Bordeaux, says life in London is not for the faint hearted. She runs a website aimed at the French community called bealondoner.com "If you want security and nice holidays you stay in France. If you crave adventure and want to get new skills, you come here," she says. That is not to say she does not miss France. Sipping her drink, she sighs. "Life in France was easy. You know, good food and wine. I lived near the sea and not far from the ski slopes. And sometimes when London's grey and rainy I think, 'What on earth am I doing here?'" All the young women I met complained about London's over-priced property. London rents are twice those in Paris. "In Brick Lane, we had bedbugs and rats," says Malika, "and for the same money I paid for one room, friends back home had their own flats." Of course, many people living in London have it far worse, but by choosing the East End Malika and her friends are following in the footsteps of her compatriots centuries ago. The French first came en masse to the East End in the 17th Century. These Huguenots, who had endured years of persecution in France because of their Protestant faith, were offered sanctuary here by King Charles II. They called their flight Le Refuge - coining the word refugee. Many settled east of the City of London, where food and housing were cheaper. There are many French street names around nearby Spitalfields Market such as Fournier Street, Fleur de Lys Street and Nantes Passage. The Huguenots were skilled craftsmen but some feared that they were depriving Londoners of work. A protectionist priest, a certain Dr Welton, called them "the offal of the earth". Today competition for jobs is intense, especially among the young, and cross-channel migrants are not always welcomed with open arms. Recently the French consulate commissioned a report called The Forgotten People of St Pancras. It focuses on the young French who arrive in London on a one-way ticket and sometimes find themselves in desperate straits. The Centre Charles Peguy, a French charity in Shoreditch, helps new arrivals to find work and a place to live. Cedric Pretat, one of the advisers, says the numbers have shot up this summer. "Many French people imagine that because of the Olympics, lots of new jobs have been created in London which is not true. But people arrive with this dream." He adds: "Others are escaping from things in France such as family problems, educational problems and areas like Department 93, because people who live in that part of Paris sometimes have trouble finding a job." Department 93 is shorthand for Seine Saint Denis, just north of Paris - the French suburb which is home to many French nationals of African origin and a large immigrant population He adds: "Others are escaping from things in France such as family problems, educational problems and areas like Department 93, because people who live in that part of Paris sometimes have trouble finding a job." Department 93 is shorthand for Seine Saint Denis, just north of Paris - the French suburb which is home to many French nationals of African origin and a large immigrant population To the average French person, it conjures up images of riots, bleak high rises, youth unemployment and racism. It is the most-discriminated-against postcode in France, although ethnic minorities from other suburbs have also had a tough time. Hamid Senni, a business consultant based in London, was one of eight children born to Moroccan immigrants in the south of France. A well-meaning teacher at his school suggested he change his name to Lionel. "Because of your name you will be discriminated against, because of your skin colour, and even the address on your CV can stop you from getting a job," he says. "As for your skills and competencies - none of that counts in France if you don't fit in the box - so I left," he adds. Hamid now advises many French companies on how to diversify their workforce and he lectures at Sciences Po, one of the country's most prestigious universities. But he says that in the early days it was much easier to get someone to pick up the phone, if he called from London than from Paris. I first met him five years ago when he had just written a book. It was called De la Cite a la City and focused on his journey from a rundown suburban estate (Cité) in Valence to London's booming financial district. Hamid suspects the success of the far right in the first round of the recent presidential elections, the highest share of the vote ever achieved by the Front National in a nationwide poll, might have pushed more young French people across the channel. "France is really struggling to create jobs and things have got worse because some people are saying the whites should come first," he says. Cleo Soazandry, another young French national with African roots, has a mother from Madagascar and a father from Guinea. Her parents met in France where Cleo was born. In her early teens, the family moved from Paris to London. "I was really pushed by my teachers here," she says. "Suddenly I realised I could actually become somebody here, be ambitious." Cleo adds that seeing black presenters on television made a deep impression on her as there were virtually none in France at the time. "It's like my eyes opened up when I came here - I think the American dream is also present here in the UK."

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

All Change for Royalty

The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries where the Queen is head of state unanimously approved the changes to succession to the throne laws at a summit in Perth, Australia. The Commenwealth (used to be the pink bits on old maps) are actullay still around 54-nation organisation, which represents two billion people around the globe ranging from Canada, Australia, South Africa. New Zealand, and India to small West Indian islands such as Barbados and Grenada.

Under the old succession laws, dating back more than 300 years, the heir to the throne is the first-born son of the monarch. Only when there are no sons, as in the case of the Queen's father George VI, does the crown pass to the eldest daughter. So Princess Anne, even though Prince Charle's sister currently finds herself way down the pecking order when it comes to assending to the throne.

This is now no longer the case.

This change will apply to descendents of the Prince of Wales. They will not be applied retrospectively. So what it mans is that under the new ruling a first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate) will take precedence over younger brothers. In other word, first come no matter what sex will be the next in line.

That was not the only rule that was changed, the ban on a future monarch marrying someone of any faith except a Catholic, which goes back to the days of Henry VIII has also been lifted. The actual monarch must still be in communion with the Church of England, because after all he or she is the head of that Church. But now they can marry a person from "any faith" without exception.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Was the Declaration of Independence legal?

Was the Declaration of Independence legal?

reported by BBC...

On Tuesday night, while Republican candidates in Nevada were debating such American issues as nuclear waste disposal and the immigration status of Mitt Romney's gardener, American and British lawyers in Philadelphia were taking on a far more fundamental topic.

Namely, just what did Thomas Jefferson think he was doing?

Some background: during the hot and sweltering summer of 1776, members of the second Continental Congress travelled to Philadelphia to discuss their frustration with royal rule.

By 4 July, America's founding fathers approved a simple document penned by Jefferson that enumerated their grievances and announced themselves a sovereign nation.

"When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”

Called the Declaration of Independence, it was a blow for freedom, a call to war, and the founding of a new empire.

It was also totally illegitimate and illegal.

At least, that was what lawyers from the UK argued during a debate at Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Hall.

The event, presented by the Temple American Inn of Court in conjunction with Gray's Inn, London, pitted British barristers against American lawyers to determine whether or not the American colonists had legal grounds to declare secession.

For American lawyers, the answer is simple: "The English had used their own Declaration of Rights to depose James II and these acts were deemed completely lawful and justified," they say in their summary.

To the British, however, secession isn't the legal or proper tool by which to settle internal disputes. "What if Texas decided today it wanted to secede from the Union? Lincoln made the case against secession and he was right," they argue in their brief.

A vote at the end of the debate reaffirmed the legality of Jefferson and company's insurrection, and the American experiment survived to see another day.

It was an unsurprising result, considering the venue - just a few blocks away from where the Declaration was drafted. But did they get it right? Below are some more of the arguments from both sides.

The American case for the Declaration

Did the Founding Fathers have any respect for the law? The Declaration is unquestionably "legal". Under basic principles of "Natural Law", government can only be by the consent of the people and there comes a point when allegiance is no longer required in face of tyranny.

The legality of the Declaration and its validity is proven by subsequent independence movements which have been enforced by world opinion as right and just, based on the fundamental principles of equality and self-determination now reflected in the UN Charter.

The British case against it

The Declaration emerged from the second Continental Congress The Declaration of Independence was not only illegal, but actually treasonable. There is no legal principle then or now to allow a group of citizens to establish their own laws because they want to. What if Texas decided today it wanted to secede from the Union?

Lincoln made the case against secession and he was right. The Declaration of Independence itself, in the absence of any recognised legal basis, had to appeal to "natural law", an undefined concept, and to "self-evident truths", that is to say truths for which no evidence could be provided.

The grievances listed in the Declaration were too trivial to justify secession. The main one - no taxation without representation - was no more than a wish on the part of the colonists, to avoid paying for the expense of protecting them against the French during seven years of arduous war and conflict.


Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

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Is this a new form of "Mad Cow" ?

An animal charity has rescued a cow in South Ayrshire which got its head stuck in a ladder.

Members of the public called the Scottish SPCA after spotting the bewildered beast in a field beside the Troon to Barassie road last month.

An inspector contacted the farmer who owned the Belgian Blue bullock and helped return it to the herd unharmed.

The farmer, who recently took on the lease to the land, said he had no idea how the ladder ended up in the field.

'Surprisingly calm'

Scottish SPCA Inspector Kerry Kirkpatrick contacted the farmer after being alerted to the cow's plight.

He said: "When the job came through my first thought was, this is a wind up, but I arrived at the field to find the cow looking confused but surprisingly calm despite having his head wedged tightly in between the rungs of the ladder.

"The farmer's family rounded up the whole herd into a holding pen and we managed to gently pull the ladder off the cow's head.

"The farmer had no idea how the ladder ended up in his field as he only recently took on the lease for the land. It may have been used to patch up a hole in the fence or it could have fallen off a passing van or lorry. Either way, it's a rescue I won't forget in a while."



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

A Real Cold Case

A murder mystery dating back to 1879 has been finally resolved after a skull unearthed in BBC legend David Attenborough's garden was formally recognised as that of a woman murdered by her maid 132 years ago.

Julia Martha Thomas, a wealthy widow aged 55, was killed by her 29-year-old housekeeper Kate Webster very close to Park Road in well-to-do Richmond, but her head was never found.

The case became known as the 'Barnes Mystery', which gripped London at the time.

Webster, a convicted thief and fraudster, chopped up Thomas with an axe, boiled the remains and gave the dripping to local children to eat.

A box containing human flesh was found in the nearby River Thames days after the killing and one of the victim's feet was found on an allotment.

Webster was tried and executed, but the head was never found until it was unearthed in October by workmen building an extension at the home of Attenborough, the face of BBC natural history programmes for more than 50 years.

Thomas lived at almost exactly the same spot as the 85-year-old broadcaster, while the garden where the skull was found used to be the site of a pub said to be a favourite of the killer.

Alison Thompson, the west London coroner formerly identified the recovered skull as that Thomas. She recorded a verdict of unlawful killing and the cause of death as asphyxiation and head injury.

After reviewing records of the murder from the time of her death, along with census records and radiocarbon testing, the investigating officer was able to provide the coroner with compelling evidence that the skull was indeed Thomas's.

"This is a fascinating case and a good example of how good old-fashioned detective work, historical records and technological advances came together to solve the 'Barnes mystery'," said Richmond borough police commander Chief Superintendent Clive Chalk.




Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry