Monday, December 15, 2008

Showcase UK's first podcast



American poet Stephen Kalinich is the subject of Showcase UK's first podcast.

Stephen spent 2008 working with two British musicians: maverick classical guitarist Richard Durrant and dance producer Cal Gibbson.

However 2008 also saw Stephen release an album he recorded 40 years ago with beach Boy Brian Wilson. The album was a never released classic of its time. Maybe its time has come?

Sleeping 9 to 5 (or there abouts)

There aren’t many groups, societies or clubs that I belong to, and none that I claim to have started, but I feel obliged to make you aware of people who find it hard to be creative in company time.

Their solution is getting up early and working from 5 to 7am.

My father wrote his book in the early hours, I’m sitting here in a similar fashion and my friend Carla White has recently used this two hour slot of peace and quiet to create an application.

It’s called "Gratitude!": a personal gratitude journal for the iPhone.

Unfortunately I don’t possess one of these sexy devices so can’t vouch for her creation but Carla is a great coder and, as we are informal members of the 5am club, I feel obliged to point you to her direction.

happytapper.com

or download it from iTunes

iPhone Gratitude App

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Now Is The Time For the Media to Meet Maitreya

Over the coming weeks economic experts will continue presenting ideas on how to resolve the global financial crisis, but not many seem to be thinking about the future.

Proof that the city dealers haven’t learnt from this disaster came with the news that billions of pounds have been lost by hedge funds short-selling shares in German car maker VW

(VW goes from the Beetle to the world's most valuable company, The Guardian)

Even after all of their losses the city hasn’t learnt and their mistakes threaten our way of life.

There can’t be many people in this world who haven’t noticed the recent injustice of our financial institutions receiving billions of dollars in aid, while millions of Zimbabweans are on the brink of starvation.

This planetary imbalance of fortune needs to be addressed and there is one person who has consistently provided a blueprint to a better future for everyone.

His name is Maitreya and His plan for humanity includes: the end of starvation and war, Peace and Justice for all, with adequate food, housing, health and education as a basic right.

Maitreya not only sees our problems as easily solvable but also predicts that by following His plan we can expect this to be achieved within 25 years. All we need to do is see the earth as belonging to everyone and share its resources.

He has been generally ignored by the media for the past thirty years but now, with our economies on their knees, is the ideal time to test Maitreya’s ideas face-to-face and see if they stand up to intense scrutiny. We have nothing to loose and everything to gain.

However the media have always had a problem with who Maitreya is claimed to be and maybe that is why He isn’t a household name by now.

Since May 1975 Maitreya’s plans have been presented by Benjamin Creme during his monthly lectures at Friend’s Meeting House in Euston, London.

Along with annual talks in Europe, Japan and America, Creme says he has been “preparing the way” for Maitreya, once describing his role as a bit like John the Baptist but without any baptising.

Creme is also editor of Share International, a magazine in its 27th year of publication and in that time it has never taken an advert.

As you would expect the ‘share’ in this case is “Share and Save the World” and for Maitreya this is the only way forward for humanity.

In a series of messages given to Benjamin Creme, by Maitreya between September 1977 and June 1982, the idea of sharing was a regular topic:

"The answers to your problems are simple indeed. Many times have I told you that the will to share must govern your lives. Once again, I repeat: without Sharing and Justice, My brothers and sisters, man will know no peace."

(Message No. 133 December 16, 1981)

So who is Maitreya? And what is His background? On Share International’s web site they claim this about Him:

“He has been expected for generations by all of the major religions. Christians know him as the Christ, and expect his imminent return. Jews await him as the Messiah; Hindus look for the coming of Krishna; Buddhists expect him as Maitreya Buddha; and Muslims anticipate the Imam Mahdi or Messiah.

Although the names are different, many believe that they all refer to the same individual: the World Teacher, whose personal name is Maitreya.”

(Who is Maitreya? Share International)

If true this would be the biggest news story the planet has witnessed but maybe a claim the media have found impossible to stake their reputations on with an in-depth investigation.

They might have also had a problem with the notion that they need to invite Maitreya forward. Creme says Maitreya can’t just materialise on TV sets around the world as that action would infringe humanity’s Free Will, something a person of Maitreya’s standing sees as sacrosanct.

The media are also seen as the people’s true representatives. It is them and not politicians or religious leaders who are needed to put Maitreya’s plans forward but only after thorough testing and questioning of His qualifications.

Creme’s first attempt at bringing Maitreya and the media together was a major press conference in Los Angeles on 14th May 1982.

After placing full page adverts in newspapers around the world, ninety journalists from the main news outlets gathered to hear Benjamin Creme announce that Maitreya, The Christ and World Teacher, was living as an ordinary member of the Asian community in London, ready and willing to help humanity.

All the media had to do was go through the motions of looking for Maitreya and He would be able to start His emergence. In a Share International pamphlet Creme explained:

“A well-known journalist would need to be assigned to the task, so that on meeting Maitreya they would have sufficient professional standing to be believed by their fellow journalists.”
Unfortunately no one came forward. And in some respects you can’t blame them as the Share International adverts had proclaimed “The Christ Is Now Here”.

Now from Creme’s point of view he is telling the absolute truth but it must have seemed a very difficult task for the journalists, returning to their editors with the news: “Well, Christ wasn’t there, but Benjamin Creme says we’ve got to go and look for Him and then he will come forward.”

However the story did inspire some freelance journalists and twenty-two gathered at a curry house in Brick Lane, London on 31st July 1985 with the hope of meeting Maitreya, or an envoy.

A humorous account of the evening was written by Alan Rusbridger, the current editor of the Guardian newspaper, who since hasn’t written anything about Maitreya.

No one put in an appearance that evening and enthusiasm for the story diminished but, according to Creme, enough of an attempt had been made to begin the process.

In the September, 1985 issue of Share International he writes:

“Of course, all of us who have worked so hard to bring this gathering of journalists about were disappointed. From the viewpoint of the Christ, however, the evening was a great success. For the first time, a truly representative group of the world's media, East and West, made themselves available to be contacted. This represents a symbolic invitation from humanity to come forward and immeasurably frees Maitreya's hand to act directly Himself.

In the long run, the media have still to make Maitreya known to the world but the work of getting them involved is done. We can now await Maitreya's direct action with added confidence and faith.”
Twenty-two years later and with the same optimism and hope for the future Benjamin Creme is still giving lectures in Friend’s Meeting House and at the most recent (7th October 2008) he said Maitreya’s first TV interview was very close. It will be in the United States, He won’t be called Maitreya but he will put forward His views and ideas.

Creme even gave the audience a time frame in which this would happen and the details have been printed in Share International (November 2008).

Apparently this August, Maitreya gave a bottle of hair conditioner to a woman stall holder the Esoteric fair in Magdeburg in Germany. He told her that: “If you are very sparing, the event will happen before this bottle is finished.”

Maitreya also gave her another sign that the moment was near: “The event will be announced by a bright star in the sky, which will be visible for everybody.”

Friday, October 03, 2008

Familiarity Breeds Yet Again

Since Original 106fm stopped broadcasting I’ve been giving this expression a fair amount of use: "When one studio door shuts, another opens".

Although when it comes to continuing the Showcase, which puts unsigned and independent music on the radio, people seem to be cowering behind the studio door, fingers in ears, exclaiming the idea to be “dangerous”.

Well, dangerous might be a small exaggeration, but what I’m finding is that playing "new music" on commercial radio is seen as a bad idea because, the theory goes, listeners want familiar songs. Songs that they know and love and have heard many times before.

If they don’t hear a familiar song they’ll change channel.

And that’s even with the new music put into a “new music show” with a presenter telling you that there is “new music” about to come on.

It’s surprising the ‘familiar’ theory is so prevalent because pop radio has been with us for over 40 years and by now we should be used to hearing the occasionally different song.

The only person widely associated with broadcasting new music the late BBC broadcaster John Peel and bizarrely enough he became popular before joining the BBC playing new and different music on a pirate radio station.

So even in the late 60’s pirate radio fell into the trap of playing safe.

The message is loud and clear: commercial radio plays music you already know and new music is the BBC’s remit.

Commercial television doesn’t have a problem with untried talent. If you went to ITV chief Michael Grade and suggested he should drop “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent” I am sure he’d suggest you did something unprintable.

These two shows are their biggest ratings winners and although the format maybe familiar the acts aren’t. It is a sure bet that radio wouldn’t have discovered Leona Lewis or Will Young.

I’ve recently been reminded that “radio is a village”. A great analogy to be sure but, to my eye, commercial radio’s current attitude appears more like local gentry, living on a big hill near the village, with a loud speaker on the turret, expecting everyone to love them because of the familiar songs they broadcast.

The only time these gentry visit the village is to collect money from traders, or hand out prizes when ratings are being counted.

If, on these rare visits, they were to collect a few new songs from the village and then expand on that interaction, they might engender some respect, loyalty and more importantly for the traders - show they have a connection with the community.

Advertiser’s current worry is their message falling upon deaf ears because, if people are listening to familiar songs on the radio, are they really “listening”? Are they just treating it as background music?

Of course the other question radio should be asking is “How many times do people switch when they hear a song they are familiar with?”

Commercial radio is an excellent medium for musicians, listeners and advertisers to co-exist but for me the current trend of safety will widen the distance between the station and the community.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Planning for The National Climate March on December 6th 2008

If the points below mirror your thoughts then there is a meeting you should be going to.

No - New Coal
No - Heathrow / Aviation expansion
No to Agrofuels


Yes to renewable energy, energy efficiency, low carbon transport, deep and rapid emission cuts, green jobs.

The National Climate march is going to be a big mobilisation of people concerned about our climate. There is a meeting on 4th October 2008 in London to plan for the demo as well as the year ahead.

Venue: Room G2 in SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), London. SOAS is off Thornhaugh street, off Russel Square – otherwise approachable from the other side from Malet street.

Nearest tube : Russel Square. G2 is in the main building where the Students Union is, up the stairs from the central courtyard.

Date and Time: London, Saturday 4th October, 11.00 am to 5.00 pm

The meeting is organized by the Campaign Against Climate Change who announced in a recent email:

"The National Climate March on December 6th is also part of a Global Day of Action on climate – last year more than 70 countries were involved. Help us build this international campaign still bigger- both for the Poznan Climate Talks this year and the all important Copenhagen 2009 Talks next year.

As well as joining other countries around the world to demand urgent action and climate justice from world leaders the National Climate March will be pushing 3 major issue/demands to the government

No New Coal

No Heathrow / Aviation expansion

No to Agrofuels

While these negatives are balanced by a positive

Yes to renewable energy, energy efficiency, low carbon transport, deep and rapid emission cuts, green jobs..."

http://www.campaigncc.org/

Friday, August 15, 2008

Don't Dump! - Freecycle!

From pianos to old printers people are turning away from dumping and giving away their “almost rubbish” to people living near by.

It’s called Freecycling and these are the groups of people currently doing it in the south’s main towns – there are many others

Winchester - 3305 active members
Southampton - 9419 active members
Portsmouth - 3685 active members
Isle of Wight - 1904 active members
Bournemouth - 6472 active members


The above are main centres we've picked out but there are many other groups who could be much closer to you for example:

New Forest East - 1634 active members
Fareham - 1449 active members
Wimborne Minster - 754 active members

http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK

As they say…
“Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them.

Everything posted must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages. When you want to OFFER something - whether it's a chair, fax machine, piano or an old door, simply send an email to your group.

Maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself? Post a WANTED message and a group member may just have what you're looking for. Alert the group with a follow-up RECEIVED email.”

Saturday, August 09, 2008

The Best Couplet In A Song

A great set of U2 lyrics can be found in 'The Fly' by U2, the first single from U2’s mold breaking album Achtung Baby (1991)

There is one couplet from that song which will always stick with me:

Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief


I wonder if Bono gave himself a large pat on the back upon completing those words because in my opinion it’s one of the best observations put into song.

The full set of lyrics can be read on a web site dedicated to U2 - u2wanderer - it is a joy to use this web site for the layout, content and no pop-ups.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Please Let The Pictures Do The Talking

What a brilliant opening ceremony the Chinese have presented for the 2008 Olympics.

I wasn’t able to see it all but the moments I witnessed gave one hope for the future of mankind. The colour, the precision, the costumes and what a finale! It honestly brought a tear to my eye.

But what really irritated me was the commentators on the BBC broadcast. They couldn’t stop talking. They couldn’t let the action speak for itself. All sorts of scraps trivia were delivered.

It was like being at the cinema and having a couple chatting about production techniques during the whole film.

The moment I cracked was during the pianist Lang Lang’s performance and the presenters continued wittering away about banal and inane things.

I telephoned the BBC to complain but the line was busy so maybe others felt the same. I’ll let you know if my e-mail gets a response.

However should anyone ask you to commentate on such a spectacular event in the future, this handy quote from Confucius should be kept for future reference:

“Silence is the true friend that never betrays.”

The Joy of Compilations

The first single from Birdpen’s debut album On/Off/Safety/Danger is released on Friday 15th August.

It’s called Breaking Precedent and is available to download from iTunes and Napster.



Birdpen first came to the original Showcase’s attention when we received the compilation “The Coming of The Railways” – the best of the south coast’s bands [search on ebay]

Collections like that are an ideal resource and, as the artists are from the same area, give a great musical snap shot of the local scene.

In that 19 band collection I had my first experience of Subgiant, Scarlet Soho, Plastic Toys and Sine Star Project all of which are Showcase regulars.

Last week another fine compilation landed on our desk and not only does it originate from the Isle of Wight but also serves another purpose.

Complied by John Cattle, chairman of the Save Ventnor Skatepark Group the CD “Transitions” is a major part in their fund raising process.

They’ve enlisted the help of Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher from The Bees and on this first volume you’ll hear some old favourites of the Showcase: acts like Jet Harris, Jackson Analogue, The Chancers and Shanklin Freak Show.

But I have also been introduced to the Wight Light Orchestra, The Shutes and The Peas.

This Sunday we’ll be playing three more songs from the album which, for £10, you get 22 bands of varying styles but definitely a high standard. Visit
www.wight-trash.co.uk to buy your copy.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

NY Arts - The Vision of the Resurrection

British painter Donald Pass has recently featured in NY Arts NY Arts - The Vision of the Resurrection

If you want to study his work further the video below gives you more images and excerts from an interview I conducted with him a couple of years back.



or visit www.donaldpass.com

Something big about Subgiant

Every time I meet a band for a Showcase session I am always uplifted and inspired by their art and craft.

With Southampton based Subgiant I was also really surprised at the quality of the sound they produced and also the energy that exuded from their performance.


We squeezed them and their equipment into studio 2 and no matter how many technical gizmos you have; to stand out you need the tunes and Subgiant have them in bucket loads.

They played two songs in the session “Filthy” from the album Global Control and “Stunt Driver” which is a new download.

And if you are a collector of CD’s then get Global Control as Subgiant will only be releasing single pieces of music for a while.

This is “a response to what’s happening in the industry.” Bass and keyboard player, Olly Maw, told us. “It means we can talk to the fans more regularly rather than one big build up.”

This makes a lot of sense. Hours of time and effort are put into making and promoting an album and once released momentum is hard to maintain.

So for bands on Subgiant’s level a track once in a while keeps interest ticking over and continues building the fan base they are picking up from all the festivals they play.

This Sunday they are in session on the original Showcase after 6pm and live at Endorse it in Dorset, main stage, 15:00, Saturday 9th August.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Crop Circles point to August 1st Solar Eclipse

This summer's crop circles seem to have a message.

If you visit the Crop Circle Connector you'll find a very interesting article by Bert Janssen under the pictures of the wonderful formation at Furze Knoll, Beckhampston, Wiltshire.

He starts:

“Most new crop pictures which have appeared so far in the summer of 2008 have told us about the astronomy of eclipses.”

Later on and after some convincing mathematics and astronomy:

“…the field alignment of Furze Knoll was seemingly meant to tell us:

"Your Sun and Moon will line up on Earth's horizon at 20 degrees east of north, for sunrise on August 1 during an upcoming solar eclipse."

http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/2008/furze/furze2008.html

Friday, July 18, 2008

Large body of evidence for large UFO in Texas sky

The mission of the Mutual UFO Network is clear: “The scientific study of UFOs for the benefit of humanity.”

And they have just released a very thorough report into a UFO sighting in Texas in the early part of 2008.

Using the Freedom of Information Act MUFON requested radar documents from the Federal Aviation Administration, military bases and other agencies under.

With this evidence and witness statements they suggest that an enormous craft, without transponders, travelling up to 2,100 miles-per-hour and "turning at angles not possible by military aircraft." was seen above the skies of Stephenville and Dublin in the state of Texas.

The pdf document can be found here: www.mufon.com/documents/MUFONStephenvilleRadarReport.pdf

Or just visit MUFON: www.mufon.com

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Yorkshire Woman Videos Lights In Sky

Mrs Lorraine Senior lives near Woodkirk Valley Country Club, Leeds Road, Dewsbury in Yorkshire.

She's been seeing lights in the sky for quite some time and as she didn't have any proof kept quiet about what she saw.

However once she had captured footage of these noctural apparitions she contacted the Yorkshire Evening Post.

They have some great quotes from her, this is one:

"Sometimes they fly in a triangular formation and shoot off at great speed. I would guess they are about half a mile away. There is nothing in the area but green fields. I'm a believer in them."

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Woodkirk-woman-spots-UFOs.4285639.jp

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Hounslow UFO Video

UFO sightings continue to be reported in regional newspapers and these stories are prompting people to come forward with even more reports and occasional some video.

On Sunday (6th July) people reported strange lights in the sky and then the Houslow Chronicle (July 11th) reports:

“Aaron Rhys Jenkins from Osterley saw three lights hovering above him at the Ashford Roundabout on New Year's Eve at around 3am and recorded them on his camera phone as he watched in awe.”

Full story: http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2008/07/09/more-sightings-of-hounslow-ufo-109642-21303935/

Friday, July 11, 2008

How To Approach A Record Company

Recently I was asked for advice about approaching a record company.

This brought back happy memories of my times in bands where we would all traipse up to a record company, meet someone in A&R, and play them our latest demo.

These were never successful meetings and I doubt A&R departments still allow young hopefuls through the door so this is how I would approach it now.

Find someone whose musical opinion you trust and ask them if you are any good. If they say no then either improve, or give up and stick to the day job.

If they say yes find the record label most suited to your sound; the one you would really love to sign to.

Then find out who is responsible for new acts and try and speak to them. You’ll need to be charming to get past the receptionist. Don’t be put off by a negative response.

Once you have a name; you have a contact. Send this person your demo but make sure the whole package looks impressive: a plain silver CD with a hand written note is going straight into the bin.

So maybe send your trusted friend from above the whole package and see what improvements they can suggest.

And be prepared for a positive response. If they like you they will want to: see you play live as soon as possible and how many albums of material you already have.

Good luck!

Interesting UFO Footage

According to the Islington Gazette

"The startling video was shot at 9.30pm by a 45-year-old mother-of-two from her second-floor home off Essex Road in April 2004. Two weeks later she filmed a second larger unidentified orb that appeared in exactly the same position at the same time -but has not revealed the footage until now for fear of being branded a hoaxer."

You can see both clips here:

http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/content/islington/gazette/UFOFootage/UFOFootage.aspx

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The World Needs Help

The economic downturn is quickly becoming a crisis but, luckily for us, humanity only reacts when the situation gets really, really bad.

Thankfully it’s a financial crisis and not environmental otherwise we’d be looking at a dead planet instead of just negative equity.

But we do have to start looking for a new way of living because this current trend of growth and profit, over health and wellbeing, has been shown to be seriously flawed.

When you consider that India and China need double the current production of oil to reach the same standard of living that Americans enjoy, then it is obvious our current economic model cannot sustain such a level of development.

A different future can only come about if somebody brings a bag of sensible ideas to the table: ideas that offer a solution which gives everyone hope, purpose and a sense of justice.

It seems very unlikely that these ideas will stem from the current crop of elected people.

To put it politely the management of Earth has been inept and the proof of this weakness could be seen at the G8 summit in Japan.

Leaders from the countries at the top of the economic pile discussed the world’s food crisis. Instead of setting an example to us all, by showing sympathy towards the hungry and eating a simple meal, they dined to excess.

So if the top is rotten what about the base?

A new world will definitely be built by the many campaigners and organizations already doing great works spreading help, health and education to people who desperately need it.

And the positive result these people and their groups achieve is constantly reported by the magazine Share International.

The magazine’s editor Benjamin Crème (left) also states that our planet has enough resources for everyone to live a great life and that sharing should become humanity’s goal.

Their motto is “Share and Save The World” and since 1981 they have been spreading this message. In that time S.I. has never taken an advert which is itself a remarkable publishing achievement.

One of their suggestions for a new future has been bartering between nations. Recently the Australian newspaper recently reported that the current food crisis had prompted Malaysia to declare it: “would swap palm oil for rice with any rice-producing nation willing to make the trade.”

If all nations were to adopt this policy it would definitely be bad news for the world’s commodity markets but could potentially be one of the new ways forward for our global society.

So the highlighting of good works around the world and also the proposal of new ideas is two of the strands Share International puts forward.

Benjamin Crème has also consistently suggested we are about to meet a remarkable person: someone who has the abilities to unite humanity in a common purpose with out infringing religious beliefs, political persuasions and even free will.

This person, the Share International web site states: “has not come as a religious leader, or to found a new religion, but as a teacher and guide for people of every religion and those of no religion.

At this time of great political, economic and social crisis Maitreya (left) will inspire humanity to see itself as one family, and create a civilization based on sharing, economic and social justice, and global cooperation.”

This sounds like it has the potential to be the greatest news story since journalism began: to others, contemplating such a story is a sign of naïve utopian madness.

Optimists will agree that this “Teacher” should be given an opportunity to speak, his ideas tested by the world’s media and his answers debated in the community.

And if the ideas seem lacking then we will look for someone else because we need help and guidance and there must be someone who can send us in a new and better direction.

So as a broadcaster I am more than willing to call Maitreya forward for an interview but, as my audience is not as large as others, I’m quite happy to propose that someone from Sky News or the BBC take up the challenge and test Maitreya! You’ll have my full support.

Links: Share International

More and more reports about UFOs in the UK

UFO was like a 'ball of flames'
Mid Sussex Today - Haywards Heath,England,UK


A MYSTERY UFO was spotted in the sky over Heathfield on Saturday night.
The Parker family from Mutton Hall Hill said they saw an object which looked like a ball of flames.

It appeared to be taking the usual flight path of planes coming in northwards from the continent towards Gatwick or Heathrow. But it suddenly veered off to the east before going out of sight.

Karl Parker said: 'I could have been a military flare of some sort as it appeared to go with the prevailing wind.'

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/509/UFO-was-like-a-ball.4265602.jp

UFO sighting in south Norfolk
Diss Express - Diss,England,UK


"I frequently walk my dog at night, but this is the first time I have ever seen anything like that. "It wasn't a plane or anything, it was definitely a UFO”

http://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/UFO-sighting-in-south-Norfolk.4265441.jp

More sightings of Hounslow UFO
Hounslow Chronicle - London,England,UK


The mystery around a UFO seen swooping through Bedfont skies on Sunday deepens as more people contact us with similar strange stories.

Isleworth mum Kimberley Eliadef contacted us, adamant she saw something she could not explain in the night sky on Sunday.

"My neighbour thinks we're all barmy," she said. "But four of us saw itand so did two dog walkers I met in the park. There were three disk-like lights following each other and moving away, then meeting in the middle."

http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2008/07/08/more-sightings-of-hounslow-ufo-109642-21303935/

UFO sighting in Southport during twister mayhem
Southport Visiter - Southport,UK


A UFO was captured on camera as a Southport nature enthusiast snapped away at Sunday's twister.

http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2008/07/08/more-sightings-of-hounslow-ufo-109642-21303935/

Flintshire readers report more UFO sightings
Wrexham Leader - Wrexham,Wales,UK


By Kate Forrester Keen photographer Peter Jones, of Connah's Quay, believes that he has snapped scores of pictures of UFOs across North Wales.

Mystery of Caversham ‘UFO' light
Reading Evening Post - Reading,England,UK


Reading appears to be a hotspot for UFO sightings after another unidentified object was spotted in the skies of Caversham.

UFO mystery: More sightings over Harborough
Lutterworth Today - Lutterworth,England,UK


A FLYING saucer and a snake-like trail of red lights have been spotted by Mail readers looking to the skies since last week's UFO mystery. ...

http://www.lutterworthmail.co.uk/news/UFO-mystery-More-sightings-over.4267933.jp

Did you see UFO over Hatfield?
Times 24 - Welwyn Garden City,England,UK

Have you seen any UFOs in Times Territory or did you see either of the lights reported above?

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

No More Soggy Carrots



The curse of soggy carrots sometimes strikes these orange vegetables in my fridge.

One day they are a tempting, crisp snack only to succumb 24 hours later to a case of the bends!

A possible solution to this soft problem was provided in article published by the Guardian: How To Cut Your Food Waste in 20 simple steps (Tuesday 8th July)

In step 5 they suggest we should be storage savvy and invest in an E.G.G. an "Ethylene Gas Guardian" (left) and, as the EGG web site points out:

“Much of the produce in your refrigerator is sensitive to the presence of even very low levels of ethylene gas. The refrigerator acts as a trap for the ethylene gas given off by the generating varieties, allowing it to build up to damaging levels. Although not hazardous to humans, the ethylene gas leads to the early aging and rotting of your produce.”

I intend to purchase one of these EGG's and will keep you updated as to my progress.

www.4theegg.com

Saturday, July 05, 2008

The mother of all UFO quotes

Here are some more local newspaper reports on the continuing appearance of strange lights in the sky around the UK. They could be spaceships, they could be lanterns but they are providing some great quotes, images and maybe raising expectations!

The best quote this week has come from a mother in Shropshire. She was putting her daughter to bed when they saw something in the sky as they were pulling the curtains.

“The light was out of this world. The light was the brightest I have ever seen in my life. It was just unbelievable.

“Seeing is believing and I believe now we have definitely seen something not from this planet.

“We were covered in goosebumps. It was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.”

The full story is in the Shropshire Star: Readers report light sightings

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/06/26/readers-report-light-sightings/

In the same web site you can read about another sighting, this time from a Pilot…

Mystery sighting ‘may be a UFO' (Shropshire Star - Telford,England,UK) A pilot today claimed strange orange lights over south Shropshire could have been a UFO
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/07/03/mystery-sighting-may-be-a-ufo/

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Police See UFO - And Admit it!

"They are convinced it was a UFO. It sounds far-fetched, but they know what they saw."

That's a quote from South Wales Police who reported that a helicopter crew were almost hit by a “saucer shaped” craft as they waited to land at the St. Athan MoD base in Cardiff.

They even chased it to Devon but ran low on fuel!

Full story here from Laura Clout:

Daily Telegraph - Police chase UFO over Cardiff

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2160814/Police-chase-UFO-over-Cardiff.html

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Loz Bridge & The Box Social

In this Sunday’s Original Showcase we have Loz Bridge and the Box Social in session.

Loz used to sing for the Portsmouth band Suburbian who split at the end of 2007 leaving him to concentrate on his song writing and find musicians to compliment his new direction.

The Box Social includes Showcase regular Andrew Foster on guitar (left) and Matt (right) on a rather beguiling Spanish drum that you sit on to play.

Every Showcase session is always a new experience and it sometimes feels like the old days of recording when we try to get the best positions for the microphones and balance the sound levels.

Afterwards a small amount of reverb is applied to give the songs a “live room” feel but we don’t add compression any more as it seems to take away something from the band’s performance.

I didn’t realise we were part of an “anti-compression” trend until I heard about the “Loudness War”.

Compression has been used to make songs louder and help them stand out on the radio. However if today’s songs are loud, tomorrow’s will have to be even louder!

To counter this vicious circle, and the resulting poor quality sound it produces, the “Turn Me Up” campaign has been started by music professionals Charles Dye, John Ralston and Allen Wagner.

You can find out more about their attempts to bring dynamics back to music at www.turnmeup.org

It will open your eyes and maybe your ears too!