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14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 1 14-19 UPDATE AND ISSUES TO CAMPAIGN ON January 2012
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 2 16-19 Funding Structures Department Education (DfE) to simplify and streamline the structure and processes relating to 16-19 funding. There will no longer be a requirement for local authorities to form Sub-Regional Groups and Regional Planning Groups. The Education Funding Agency will be responsible for making financial payments to general Further Education (FE) colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and other training providers. School Sixth Forms will continue to be funded by local authorities. National Commissioning Framework disbanded.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 3 The Union's 16-19 Funding Campaign – this will be underway with organisations such as the NUS, NUT, Unison and UCU. The campaign will be to fight against cuts in 16-19 funding. The campaign will highlight the impact of the cuts in 16-19 funding and emphasise the loss of skills and opportunities amongst young people if these cuts are not revised. It is anticipated that there with be an eighteen per cent cuts to sixth form colleges and school sixth forms. 16-19 Funding Structures (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 4 Diploma Entitlements Diploma entitlement abandoned. Diplomas to be left to market forces. The bureaucracy and 'unnecessary' cost associated with the requirement that every school offers access to every Diploma line removed. From 2012 onwards, there will be no requirement to obtain approval from the DfE before delivering new Diploma subjects.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 5 The National Curriculum The Review of the National Curriculum Call for evidence – April 2011. September 2012 – new programmes of study for the core subjects made available to schools. September 2013 – teachers of new programmes of study for core subjects to become statutory. September Early 2012 – public consultation on Phase One recommendations including draft programmes of study for core subjects in KS1-4. 2014 – teaching of new programmes of study for all other subjects will become statutory.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 6 Ministerial Statement December 2011 Initial Findings and Recommendations The Expert Panel's initial recommendations advocated that the approach to assessment and pupil progression used in 'high performing jurisdictions' such as the most successful South-Eastern Asian education system should be 'a lesson' that England replicates. That is, that every pupil 'masters' the subject content before a class moves on to tackle the next part of the curriculum.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 7 There should be 'higher expectations' of pupils in maths, English and science. Examples from Singapore, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and Poland include: Ministerial Statement December 2011 (cont'd) – pupils expected to know all their timetables and related division facts by the end of Year 4; – pupils expected to learn about plant and animal cells in Year 6, including how cell division forms the basis of growth (this is not done until secondary schools in England); – a separate section on grammar in the curriculum with 'clear standards' which must be met; – 'high expectations' in recommended reading, including Homer, Chekhov and Shakespeare.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 8 GCSE Reforms More radical reforms of GCSE qualifications. New Timetable Changes for the Curriculum New curricular for English, mathematics, science and PE for all subjects to be introduced in 2014. Ministerial Statement December 2011 (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 9 National Curriculum : Conference Resolution The NUT will continue to campaign against the curriculum being a party political football. No further changes should be made to the curriculum unless they are based on genuinely independent evidence and evaluation prior to full implementation. Campaign for the Union's alternative to the current testing regime and focus on forms of teacher assessment which are under teachers' control. Promote a broad and balanced curriculum that is not heavily prescriptive in content with a narrow focus on traditional subject areas.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 10 The 'Driving Up' of Standards Agenda – A Levels More rigour at A levels – A* grade. The intention to abandon AS levels. More focus on academic qualifications – review of A levels - linear A levels. Rules to be changed so that resits are prevented. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). University entrance examinations for schools/colleges/ more Pre-U examinations.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 11 Raising the Participation Age What will their options be? Full time education – school or college? Part-time education or training if employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week? Training places – employee release? What about employers who do not offer training to their employees? Funding for students to support young people staying on in education and training. Bringing funding levies for school sixth forms in line with college funding will be financially inadequate in order for this initiative to succeed. All young people will continue in education until 17, from 2013, and to 18, from 2015.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 12 More apprenticeships for young people. New youth contract which will include at least 40,000 financial incentives for small businesses to take on a young apprentice. Raising the Participation Age (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 13 Higher Education – Raising of Fees? This undermines efforts to widen access to Higher Education for all young people. How does Higher Education value a wide range of entry qualifications? Aim Higher initiative has been targeted for funding cuts. This was an initiative that supported outreach work between universities and schools to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to consider applying to university. Leading universities have demanded the power to charge unlimited fees in order to maintain their world-class reputation for teaching and research. Already some HE institutions have increased fees to £9,000.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 14 Eighty six per cent cuts to teaching budgets in Higher Education. Unrestricted recruitment of higher achieving students to universities for those scoring the equivalent of AAB grades or above at A level. Higher Education – Raising of Fees? (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 15 Enrichment Activities for 16-18 year olds Funded guided learning hours for the 'entitlement curriculum' (enrichment/tutorial) will be cut by 75 per cent to 30 hours – could lead to a 10 per cent cut in over all funding nationally by 2013. 'Enrichment' in colleges and schools generally means opportunities for students to take part in music, theatre, dance and sports activities, volunteering and charity work. Major cuts which will reduce activities such as sports, music, dance and drama. Annual Conference Resolution 2011 called for a campaign for the restoration of the entitlement fund for post-16 students.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 16 Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) One in five 16-24 year olds can be classed as a NEET – 1.16 million young people classified as NEETs. The number of young people, 16-24, out of work is approximately one million – one in five young people. This year, record numbers of school leavers are expected, many of who will be competing for university places, which will leave thousands of young people without a degree course. The number of additional student places to be halved at universities this year.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 17 What will happen to the previous pledge of a further £55 million to ensure that every young person leaving school in Year 11 has the option of a 'suitable' place in learning? Will this now be honoured? 'Positive for Youth' is a new approach initiated by Government published in December 2011 for a cross Government policy for young people aged 13-19 in England. This sets out how councils, schools, charities and businesses can come together in partnership to support families and improve outcomes for young people, particularly those who are most disadvantaged or vulnerable. Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 18 The Government intends to 'facilitate' local reform, including: Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) (cont'd) – clarifying its expectations on local authorities through revised statutory guidance to be published shortly for consultation of their duty to secure activities and services for young people; – empowering young people by enabling them to inspect and report on local youth services and setting up a national group for them to help 'youth proof'; – investing £320,000 for improved projects to bolster business brokerages; and
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 19 Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) (cont'd) – expanding National Citizen Service to offer 30,000 places to young people in 2012, 60,000 in 2013 and 90,000 in 2014. Many young people face a future of graduating with huge debts and scarce work opportunities.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 20 Youth Unemployment 150,000 school and college leavers unable to obtain a place at university despite many achieving maximum grades. Could be one million young people seeking work by the end of the summer. The Government's austerity measures have put youth unemployment at an all-time high, while university fees are set to treble. UK unemployment rate is 7.9 per cent. For 16- 24 year olds, however, the rate is 20.3 per cent – the highest level since records began in 1992 and among the highest in Europe. Conference resolution states that the Union should campaign vigorously with all TUC affiliates, especially with UCU, for economic policies that put reducing youth unemployment at the centre of the political agenda.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 21 University Technical Colleges University Technical Colleges (UTCs) appeared in the Coalition programme for Government. These are backed by firms including Blackberry, Toshiba, Boeing and Rolls Royce. The aim of these colleges is to improve the quality of vocational education, including increasing flexibility for 14-19 year olds and creating new Technical Academies as part of plans to diversify schools provision. The first new 600 pupil school will be opened in September 2012 in the West Midlands, sponsored and run by Aston University.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 22 University Technical Colleges (cont'd) Thirteen UTCs to offer highly technical subjects to teenagers. Silverstone motor racing circuit is to house one of the first colleges. There will be one in Newcastle to focus on engineering; one in Liverpool specialising in life sciences, backed by the pharmaceutical firm, Novartis; one in Plymouth backed by the Royal Navy. 14-19 year old students will take GCSEs in core subjects, including English, Maths and Science, along with practical courses such as engineering and manufacturing.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 23 University Technical Colleges (cont'd) The idea of a Technical Baccalaureate has been refuted by Professor Wolf: "The only real reason for having a Technical Baccalaureate in reality and practice, would be as a consolation prize for the people who you think cannot do the English Baccalaureate". There is a move to set up a national network of 100 UTCs in the next four or five years. The proposal harks back to Technical Schools, which opened alongside grammar schools and secondary moderns under the 1944 Butler Education Act that created the tripartite secondary education system.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 24 These technical colleges will be selection by the back door. Students will be channelled into narrow separate paths at the age of 14 – leading to a two tier system with technical schools being seen as the poor cousin (sponsored by universities). Selection at 14 – English Baccalaureate and Technical Baccalaureate streams. Labour seems to be backing the development of a new Technical Baccalaureate. The Baker Dearing Educational Trust will be promoting the development of this Baccalaureate. Support has come from the Awarding Bodies – AQA, Edexcel, OCR and City and Guilds. University Technical Colleges (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 25 Studio Schools Studio Schools are a new type of academy for 14-19 year olds which the Government claims will develop employability skills through a project based approach to learning. New Studios Schools set up to 'bridge' gap between schools and the world of work. They are small schools of around 300 pupils, with a 14-19 age range. They can be set up as a new whole school (though an existing school cannot convert to become a Studio School), or as a school within a school, or within a federation.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 26 Studio Schools (cont'd) Twelve approved to open in 2012 – with input from employers like Glaxo, Sony, the BBC and Fulham FC. Six already open. Studio schools offer academic and vocational qualifications but teach them in a practical and project- based way. Study is combined with paid work placements with local and national employers that are involved in the school. Backed by local businesses and employers.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 27 Studio Schools (cont'd) Twelve Studio Schools approved include: the Fulham Enterprise Studio School in Hammersmith and Fulham, engaged with employers such as the BBC, Fulham FC and Age UK: Liverpool: specialising in games development and digital futures; key employers involved include Sony as well as the backing of several universities; the Discovery Studio School in Stoke-on- Trent which has links with employers in the local ceramics industry including Emma Bridgewater: the Da Vinci Studio School of Science and Engineering in Stevenage, offering a curriculum-based on in-demand science, technology, engineering and maths backed by employers including Glaxo.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 28 The English Baccalaureate A new benchmark to measure academic success for those gaining A* to C GCSE grades in English, Maths, a language, sciences and geography or history. Measure that was introduced has branded a large number of pupils as failures retrospectively. Schools and students identified as failures for missing its targets. Selective schools and independent schools have dominated the top ranking of the English Baccalaureate.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 29 The English Baccalaureate (cont'd) Annual Conference resolution was passed to campaign against the promotion of a hierarchy of subjects through introducing the English Baccalaureate. Subjects under threat such as Business Studies, RE, IT, etc. 1.4 million on GCSE qualifications were achieved in subjects not related to the English Baccalaureate, including music, visual arts and RE. This is a top-down measure.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 30 The Careers Service – Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) To campaign for a properly funded all age careers service that supports the 'Raising of the Participation Age'. A national careers service needs to be established. The intent to establish an all age service seems to have been abandoned. At a time of growing youth unemployment, the series of cuts by many local authorities to the Connexions Services – risk exacerbating the damage to many young lives. The cuts made by many local authorities to careers support for young people undermines the steps required to improve social mobility and the achievement of young people.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 31 Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) Children who fail to get 'good' English and Maths GCSE will continue to study these subjects to 18. High quality Maths and English GCSE alternatives will be identified. Reform of league tables and funding rules to remove incentives that have 'devalued' vocational education. The Government has accepted all of Professor Wolf's recommendations.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 32 Consult with employers, schools, colleges, HE and Ofqual to define the criteria of what good vocational qualifications are. New strict rules to be introduced defining which vocational qualifications will count in performance tables. Vocational qualifications will only count if: – they offer pupils proven progression into a broad range of further qualifications or careers post-16, rather than 'narrowing' students' options; – they should be the size of a GSCE or bigger; Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 33 – they have a substantial proportion of external assessment and require students to focus knowledge across their subject; – they have grades such as A*-G (those with simple pass or fail results will be excluded); or – only those qualifications that meet the DfE's 'rigorous' characteristics will count in performance tables. The introduction of new measures to assess the performance of both higher and lower attaining students so schools and colleges do not focus only on students who are on the C/D grade borderline. Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 34 Support 14-16 year olds enrolling in colleges so they can benefit from good vocational training available there. Independent evaluation of Foundation learning. Allow FE lecturers to teach in school classrooms on the same basis as qualified school teachers – this will require change to the law. Majority of 14-16 year olds to be taught an academic core. Young people not to specialise too early as this is a narrowing of their choices and limits their chance to secure further learning and employment in the longer term. Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 35 GCSEs 16-18 year olds to have a coherent and well considered study programme – to follow a broad programme of study. Such a programme is likely to cover contact time, continuation/achievement of English and maths where appropriate, and qualifications that are of a substantial size and are rigorously assessed. Reform of GCSEs to end modularisation and re-sitting. Spelling, punctuation and grammar to be strengthened in GCSEs (which was introduced in 2009). 'Essential' knowledge only in GCSEs. Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 36 Study programmes for these young people to offer high quality, genuine work experience with a focus on achievement in maths and English. Review of the 16-19 funding formula – move from a formula based on funding qualifications to one based on funding learners. This review will consider value for money and what weightings may be needed to reflect the content and related cost of courses. Support for University Technical College to offer full-time technically orientated courses (pre-16 students). Move pre-16 students to study in colleges. Vocational Education (The Wolf Review) (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 37 New Performance Measures League tables to be overhauled to expand the number of measures on which schools are ranked – "to reform performance tables and funding rules to remove the perverse incentives which have served to devalue vocational education, while pushing young people into qualification routes that do not allow them to move into work or further learning". Figures will be published which shows for each school the difference between the lowest achieving pupils, the highest achieving and those performing as 'expected'.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 38 New Performance Measures (cont'd) Recognise through performance tables those vocational qualifications which are most appropriate for the vast majority of 14-16 year olds. (Consultation to have taken place on this.) From 2014, only GCSEs and 'valued' vocational qualifications that meet 'strict' new criteria will be recognised in performance tables. Only the most 'rigorous' qualifications will count in league tables. Consultation out on what rules define 'high quality'; qualifications.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 39 Other qualifications, such as full course GCSEs, established IGCSEs and AS levels, will continue to count. Other qualifications count only if: – they have a proven track record - only if they have been taught for at least two years with good levels of take-up among 14-16 year olds; – they have been taught for at least two years with good levels of take-up among 14-16 year olds; – they have a substantial proportion of external assessment; –they have grades, such as A*G (those with simple pass or fail results will be excluded). New Performance Measures (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 40 School and College Budgets Education budgets are going to be tight for at least the next three years. Schools and colleges will have to do with less and have to make their budgets stretch further. Government intends to level school funding rates at post- 16 down to those of other post-16 providers. Assumption that current college rates are sufficient rates of funding. Levelling down of post-16 funding will have a devastating impact on all schools, but particularly for those in rural areas.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 41 Changes to the Admissions System Anyone can object to the Schools Adjudicator admissions arrangements for state funding schools and academies. Now there will only be one route of complaint. Children of staff given priority over school places – so that children of parents setting up Free Schools can be prioritised. Changes to the Published Admission Number (PAN). New proposals give all schools the freedom to change the published admission number without first seeking the approval of the local authority. This will impact on class sizes. Further campaigning issue for the Union.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 42 Schools popular with parents are to be free to increase the Published Admission Number, allowing popular schools to take extra pupils from other schools. This will leave those schools not expanding with funding difficulties and will also make their fight to raise levels of attainment harder. Another way of closing down 'improving' schools? The requirement on local authorities in England to set up an Admission Forum will be removed. Changes to the Admissions System (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 43 The loss of Admissions Forums will mean that the fairness of arrangements regarding admissions at a local level will be difficult to challenge. How will fair admissions practices be determined locally? Membership of the forums includes representatives of local schools, parents and the community. Admissions criteria would no longer be agreed locally by a properly supported Admissions Forum. If all schools become academies, there will be over 20,000 individual admissions authorities. Changes to the Admissions System (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 44 Campaigning on Education Issues 2012 draft Conference Resolution on School Autonomy, Fragmentation, Accountability and Comprehensive Education and Secondary Education (see separate paper). See 2011 NUT Annual Conference resolutions on 14-19 education (separate paper). Working and campaigning closely with UCU on 14-19 issues. Campaigning against the abolition of EMAs. The raising of tuition fees and the cuts to entitlement funding.
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 45 Campaigning against youth unemployment. (One in ten students are unable to find a job when they leave university; and one in five 16-24 year olds are jobless.) Campaign against countless cuts to local authority education support services. Campaign against University Technical Colleges, Free Schools and Studio Schools. Campaign against 80 per cent of University Teaching Budgets being cut. Cuts to school sports partnerships. Campaigning on Education Issues (cont'd)
14-19 Update (Jan 2012)_HH 24 April 2015 46 Cuts to local libraries. Connexions Services. Youth Services Campaign for a levelling up school/college funding and against the 18 per cent cuts to sixth form colleges and school sixth forms. Campaigning on Education Issues (cont'd)
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By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY
SAN ANTONIO As Kansas' greatest player from its last national championship team, Danny Manning, now an assistant coach, sat on the bench with a notebook and pen on his lap. He watched a group of Jayhawks add to his school's storied legacy.
Another national title seemed like a perfect way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that 1988 championship as the Jayhawks fought back to defeat Memphis 75-68 in overtime in one of the more memorable Monday nights among recent Final Fours.
ROCK, CHALK: Jayhawks top Tigers in OT for third title
"An unbelievable game, an unbelievable finish," said Self as he stood at midcourt before watching his team snip down pieces of the net. Then he acknowledged the perfect timing, the 20th anniversary and Manning's election into the College Basketball Hall of Fame the day before. "It's been a remarkable week."
Now instead of being known just for all their past history — from James Naismith to Phog Allen to Wilt Chamberlain to Manning — the Jayhawks will also be remembered for the present — for Mario Chalmers' three-pointer which sent the game into overtime, for unselfish team play, for relentless defense and for their calm down the stretch.
The victory gave Kansas its third NCAA championship and first since 1988. It was also the first national title for the Big 12 and for coach Bill Self.
"We made so many plays down the stretch and got the ball into our most clutch player's hands, and he delivered," Self said.
With 1:01 remaining, Kansas forward Darrell Arthur, who led KU with 20 points and 10 rebounds, put the Jayhawks within two points of the Tigers at 62-60, setting up the final seconds of frenzy.
With 10.8 seconds left, Memphis guard Derrick Rose missed one of two free throws. Then Kansas' Chalmers calmly hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to tie the game at 63, forcing overtime.
"I had a good look at it," said Chalmers, who finished with 18 points and was named the most outstanding player. "When it left my hands, it felt like it was good, and it just went in."
Self said it probably will be remembered as the biggest shot ever in Kansas history. "When Danny and the Miracles won it late (in 1988) there were great plays being made but none like that."
Said Memphis coach John Calipari, "Ten seconds to go, we're thinking we're national champs and then a kid makes a shot and all of sudden, we're not."
KU scored the first six points in overtime, played aggressive defense and outscored the Tigers 12-5 to seal the win. Calipari said that in OT, the Jayhawks "kind of beat us down."
Self has felt this is a special team since the start of the season.
"Not very often do you combine talent, experience, depth, toughness, so many things," he said the day before the game. "You know, teams like this … don't happen every year. And I've known that since the first day of practice."
The Jayhawks (37-3) played the way they have all season long with balanced scoring and defense.
Though Brandon Rush had been the team's leading scorer in the postseason, on Monday night four players once again scored in double figures. Rush finished with 12 points.
Memphis shot 40.3%, below its 46.7% average. With a 33-28 lead at the half, Kansas was on pace to keep the Tigers below their 80 points a game average.
Kansas guards Russell Robinson, Chalmers and Sherron Collins kept Memphis' Rose in check until he exploded in the second half.
With that kind of defense, plus balanced scoring and a clutch play at the end of regulation, the Jayhawks were the ones holding the trophy as the confetti fell.
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.

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Disney Classics #9: Fun and Fancy FreePosted: April 24, 2017 Filed under: Disney, Movies | Tags: animated films, animated movies, Disney, Disney Classics, Donald Duck, films, Fun and Fancy Free, Mickey Mouse, movies, Walt Disney Leave a comment
This movie is essentially a double feature of shorter stories, and both parts are pretty decent, if flawed.
The linking device is Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards), who sets up both stories. Firstly he arrives in a playroom where he plays a record which plays music by Dinah Shore that serves as narration for the first part.
This deals with the story of Bongo, a circus bear who fed up of his "gilded cage" escapes and winds up living in the woods. He struggles to adapt at first but soon finds his feet and falls for Lulubelle.
Unfortunately, having been raised in the circus he has no idea of bear courtship rituals which apparently involve slapping each other, and he is hurt when Lulubelle strikes him. Lulubelle then gets grabbed by the hulking, bullying Lumpjaw. When Bongo realises his mistake he runs back to Lulubelle and fights off his rival.
I kinda dug this part because the story is quite well done and the action is madcap and fun. There's also a marvellously surreal sequence as Bongo and Lulubelle fall in love, which is rather trippy. I also like that as with Dumbo the film is pretty hard on how circuses treat animals, which is quite ahead of it's time. There are a few parts when it drags a little and the song isn't particularly catchy, but it still mostly works.
Jiminy then finds a invitation to a party and goes to it. Here he arrives at the weirdest party ever. I get that this film comes from a more innocent era, but for a modern viewer it's kinda weird that a grown man throws a party for a little girl which is only attended by her and his two ventriloquist dummies. I guess that in the context of the film the ventriloquist dummies are meant to be real characters, but it still feels odd. Why not throw in another couple of kids?
Also, ventriloquist dummies are creepy as hell anyway, but one of them in particular, Mortimer, will haunt my dreams.
The ventriloquist, Edgar Bergen, then narrates the story of "Mickey and the Beanstalk", with the dummies throwing in gags along the way. Some of these gags actually work, and the dummy Charlie offers sarky commentary and postmodern nods to the story. The story is of course Jack and the Beanstalk but with Mickey in the role, accompanied by Goofy and Donald.
It's worth mentioning that this movie would be the last feature length outing for Mickey where Walt himself provided the voice.
The story is familiar and told with a few changes, Happy Valley is suffering because the Golden Harp has been stolen, and when they grow the beanstalk they find it in the possession of the giant. It's an okay story, but it goes on a bit long and sags in the middle.
There are a few moments where it works, such as when Donald, mad with hunger, tries to kill the farm's cow, which the little girl is appalled by. And Donald is the most entertaining as the barely controlled ball of rage.
Mickey and Goofy are their usual selves and the story is told well enough. The ending where Willie the Giant is shown to have survived is a cop out and a daft flourish the movie doesn't need.
The two part structure actually works, with both stories having enough room unlike in the previous episodic movies. But it doesn't feel like a complete film and the presence of the creepy dummies hurt it a lot in my view.
Disney Score: 5/10.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
BampaPosted: April 21, 2017 Filed under: Personal | Tags: death, family, Life, personal Leave a comment
Farmer Giles looked up in the sky, just as a bird pooed in his eye, said Farmer Giles "Thank goodness cows can't fly"
My grandad died the other week, after a short spell in hospital. He was 86, and when he was admitted it was clear that his time was coming to an end.
The poem at the start is something my Bampa told us when we were kids and in the days after his passing popped into my sister's head.
Memories are what we are left with when a loved one passes on. Memories which define how we carry on the person inside us.
My grandad and I didn't always get on. As I grew into a lazy, geeky teen he must have felt that we had little in common. Bampa had worked since he was 14, and was a traditional man in many ways, he could make things, he could fix things, and I suspect he saw me as soft. My long hair annoyed him and he's often tell me that "two years in the army" would sort me out.
But I know he loved me. And all of his family. He didn't say it, I don't think he knew how. He came from a time when men didn't talk about their feelings, or even admit they had them.
But we knew. It was there in the fact he always asked how we were doing, in the small kind moments and the way he was with us. The pride he had in the achievements of his kids and grandkids. He was never soft, but there was warmth and gentleness there.
He and my Nan were married for over 50 years, and they seem to have spent most of that time bickering. If there is an afterlife they've probably started back up again.
I choose to remember Bampa in his house with my Nan. Winking at us as he deliberately wound her up or teased her. Of telling us the same jokes over and over, but his delight in them and the delivery always raising a smile even if you groaned first.
I remember him telling stories, either of his childhood mischief, no doubt exaggerated, or made up yarns which kept us hooked and begging for a few more minutes before bed. Stories of magic and ghosts, which we lapped up.
I'll remember him whenever I watch football.
Remember the wooden goal he built in the garden so we could play, of his coaching in how to pass and head. Of his criticism of divers and talk of how it had been "in his day", when the ball was heavy and the rules more relaxed.
His patience when I bounced around on the sofa jabbering away, trying to copy the players I loved. I'll remember sitting next to him and my Dad at the Vetch when they took me to my first Swansea game. It rained, but I didn't care. We won and I loved the noise and feeling grown up.
I'll remember him and it won't matter that he'd believe and jump on every health far the paper told him. Or that he gave me grief about my long hair.
I'll remember him for the hero he was to me as a kid, and the man I understood better as an adult. I'll love him for being my Bampa, and a central figure in countless happy memories.
RIP Bampa.
Would You Rather? Part 2: Ghosts, Ego and Killing AnimalsPosted: April 19, 2017 Filed under: Personal, Would You Rather | Tags: ghosts, Life, personal, Would You Rather Leave a comment
Another batch of would you rather questions
Would you rather live as a regular person in a utopia or live in dystopia but you are the supreme ruler?
In a utopia I imagine that living as a regular person is probably alright, maybe a bit dull, but no major worries. I would have to pick that.
While I can imagine that being supreme ruler would be pretty cool, if it's a dystopia that means that there are unhappy people out there and you'd have to deal with them trying to kill you. That would suck, and also could you really enjoy knowing that you'd made the majority of people suffer for your power and comfort?
I don't think I'd do it, so yeah, I'd be a regular guy in a perfect world.
Would you rather be forced to kill a kitten or a puppy?
Damn, this is a dark one. Do I have to answer?
Are we talking forced as in one of those "unless you kill this animal the world ends" kinda deals? Because in that case I guess it would have to be, and don't hate me for this, a puppy. What can I say, I'm a cat person,
Would you rather live in a haunted house where the ghosts ignored you and did their own thing or be a ghost in a house living out a pleasant and uneventful week of your life again and again?
Have the ghosts ignore me. I find it hard to imagine anyone picking the other option. Can you imagine having to go over the same week again and again. Having a house with some ghosts would definitely be the better option.
You would have proved that ghosts exist and could charge people to come see them. It has that going for it, while being a ghost yourself means that (a) you'd be stuck in a loop and (b) you would have to die!
Would you rather be famous for inventing a deadly new weapon or invent something that helps the world but which someone else gets credit for?
You'd have to be a serious egomaniac to go for the weapon option, wouldn't you? I'd hope that the satisfaction of helping millions of people would be enough without the glory and I'd be happy to.watch the good without getting the credit.
I'd rather do that than have a name cursed for inventing something that kills people.
Would you rather move to a new city/town every week or never leave the city/town you were born in?
Moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, so sod that. Especially as I'd be moving where I didn't know anyone. Nope, as flawed as Swansea is, I would much rather live there than have to pack my stuff up every week. And it has perks- a lot of my friends are local, I could go see the Swans and Ospreys and I know the city quite well.
Would you rather get £5 for every song you sing in public or £50 for every stranger you kiss?
As terrible as my voice is and as much as I hate performing, I would have to become a busker or karaoke regular to make that cash. I'm a happily engaged man so have no desire to kiss strangers anymore, so I'd take the singing as I'd earn more money that way.
Would you rather live under a sky with no stars at night or under a sky with no clouds during the day?
This is probably the easiest one this time around. I would pick to have no stars. While they're pretty to look at I just think that clouds are more useful, because of rain and also the British public aren't ready to live in constant sunshine. We'd live in a constant state of barbecues and lobster coloured workmen.
Would you rather wake up as a new random person every year and be in control of them for a year, or one day a week go into a stranger's body but have no control?
As appealing as living as someone else might seem, I think constantly shifting every year would be a drag. So, I guess I'd rather just go into someone else for one day a week as an observer. It might be frustrating if they were making bad choices or doing things you disagree with, but it might be interesting to see the world from a fresh angle.
Disagree with my choices? You know what to do. BETEO.
Why I Don't Care if I Have a Poor Work EthicPosted: April 17, 2017 Filed under: Personal | Tags: Life, personal, rants, work Leave a comment
I read an article recently about why people shouldn't feel guilty about leaving work on time. My reaction was surprise that someone would feel bad about that.
For me I always want to finish on time, if not early, and if possible I like to walk out on the dot without a backward glance.
Leaving late provokes nothing but rage. I give 37.5 hours a week to my employers as agreed, every single second over that is mine and therefore precious.
The only time I would happily leave late is if I worked flexitime, and so knew that half an hour every day Monday-Thursday would mean I could start my weekend two hours earlier on Friday. Or if I worked where you had a decent clocking in system which would add all the extra minutes over a month and pay you for them.
But most jobs don't work that way. I've always for an hourly wage, and in some cases unless you go way over you don't get paid extra. Five, ten minutes over and you're working for free.
So, why should I feel guilty? I've done what I'm paid to do, and I don't owe my employer anything beyond that.
And if I did work a salaried job 9-5 I'd expect and hope to be out by 5:01. I have a friend who was in at 7pm one evening, still at the office. Bugger that. If I stayed that late I'd have a lie in the next day, rock up at 11. Or expect a bonus.
I know some may be tutting over this, criticising my work ethic. Well to them I have one thing to say;
"Strong work ethic" sounds like a good thing.
But who is it good for? Your boss is who.
Seriously, most times someone is praised for their work ethic you may as well be praising them for making it easier for their boss to walk over them.
Staying late? Taking on extra responsibilities and duties?
Who wins? Your boss. They get more of your time for the same price, or more work out of you. If you work somewhere that wants you to routinely finish late or have to do more than what you've signed up for your boss probably needs to hire more staff.
Your strong work ethic helps them to save money by not hiring and paying somebody else. And you're stopping someone else from having a job. Bravo.
The employee-boss relationship is a deal. You exchange your time and toil for their cash. As long as you meet your half of the bargain (agreed hours and duties) then you deserve the payment. If they want you to exceed that they should match that increase, if they're not going to, then screw 'em.
You kept your part of the deal, now get your arse home.
Because nobody is going to be on their deathbed lamenting the fact they didn't spend more time at work. Go home. Have fun. See your loved ones.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
Book Review: Decline of the English Murder by George OrwellPosted: April 12, 2017 Filed under: Books, Reviews | Tags: book reviews (non-fiction), books, books 2017, Decline of the English Murder, George Orwell, reading Leave a comment
Really getting into Orwell's essays and nonfiction writing recently, with this being another solid collection of pieces on a variety of subjects.
The title essay is about the British public's appetite and morbid obsession with murder cases and what makes the best in terms of public interest. He talks about how for a crime to really capture the public interest it should involve macabre ingenuity, and issues of class, love and tragedy. It's an interesting piece and darkly comic in a way.
Other pieces deal with analysis of boys' magazines and what they say about society, the death of what he calls "good bad books" and an account of his time as a hop picker.
All are handled with intelligence and insight, and Orwell is a shrewd observer and commentator. It's an interesting quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and more of Orwell's work has been added to my "to read list".
Verdict: Highlighting Orwell's skill as a writer and his insight these essays show that even on seemingly trivial subjects he can see deeper themes. He looks at what literature shows about the society that births it. Smart and holds the attention well. 8/10.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
Disney Classics #8: Make Mine MusicPosted: April 11, 2017 Filed under: Disney, Movies | Tags: animated films, animated movies, Disney, Disney Classics, films, Make Mine Music Leave a comment
We're still deep in the wilderness years for this one, which is kinda like a pop music version of Fantasia, with this being a series of animated pieces to music. The problem is that in terms of art and music it can't match the earlier effort. This is understandable as this was made during the Second World War and many of Walt's men were overseas or making propaganda. Feature length animation had stopped being a priority and like Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros, this is a package affair.
While those were linked by themes of location, here it's a much more muddled effort and as such the segments are rather hit and miss. As a kid I must have seen some of this as I remember the "The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met", the final part and this is one of the stronger, telling a complete story which uses music well and is quite funny.
Aside from this it all felt new to me. Some pieces like "After You've Gone", "Two Silhouettes" and "Blue Bayou" are incredibly forgettable, and I'd struggle to give many details on any of them, despite having watched it a few hours before writing this.
These are the more serious parts and they all fall flat, with the comedic entries having to carry the film and even here they drop the ball. "Casey at the Bat" a reading of a poem about a cocky baseball player coming a cropper is quite fun, but goes on a bit.
"Peter and the Wolf" is the closest this gets to classical and it's a well done piece, with the different instruments working well and the cartoon style in bringing the characters alive is charming, even if the ending is a cop out.
The hillbilly star crossed lovers who turn up in "The Martins and the Coys" are quite good fun too, even though it is a bit weird to see a bloody turf war turned into comedy. Nonetheless, it's got some nice touches and the ending where the loving couple fall out after marriage is a neat kicker to the story.
"Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet" is sweet enough but rather dull, but the jazzy "All the Cats Join In" is a treat. Capturing the fun, fast paced life of a group of teenagers it's cleverly animated with the artist's pencil adding details as the story progresses. The dance scene is quite good fun, and the energy of the piece lifts the film, although any momentum is utterly lost in "Without You", a mournful ballad of lost love.
All in all this is a frustrating watch with the changes in tone jarring and the lack of a through line to connect the pieces means it never feels like a movie and rather just a collection of shorts. And you wonder why they've been put together in this order.
Disney Score: 4/10.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
Mad MWF: The Road WarriorPosted: April 10, 2017 Filed under: Random | Tags: dealing with idiots, driving, Life, Road rage, travel Leave a comment
The M5 slowed to a crawl as the cars filtered into the inside lane to pass a lorry standing still in the middle lane. In the outside lane was a car facing the wrong way, the driver side of the bonnet mangled, showing the cause of the delay.
Truck vs car.
Luckily all seemed unhurt and two other cars had stopped to help set up those high viz emergency triangle things.
We drove by and moved back into the middle lane, overtaking a black car on the inside.
The driver, a young bloke in his early twenties was on his phone. Not talking but actually typing on his phone as his passenger dozed next to him.
"That guy's on his phone." I commented.
"What?" Asked MWF.
"That guy is using his phone. And we've literally just passed an acc-"
The rest of the sentence was drowned out by a loud blaring horn. The texting driver looked up in shock, his passenger jolted awake, startled and confused.
"GET OFF YOUR PHONE! YOU IDIOT!" Roared MWF.
That should have been it. Admonished for his wrongdoing, the driver should have put down his phone and thanked his lucky stars that we weren't cops who would have handed him 6 points and a £1000 fine.
But it wasn't. Using the phone might have been a one off but he was about to prove that he was a bad driver.
He gunned after us, tailgating before overtaking and cutting us up.
It was a pathetic display of the male ego hurt, with the moron unable to accept he had been called out for doing something criminal and possibly dangerous. He doubled down on the danger by putting others at risk in what was clearly intended as intimidation.
And he wasn't done.
Coming up to a junction he moved into the inside lane and we were passing alongside to carry on. As we were passing he swerved towards us and then took his turning heading for Penshore.
It's a shame none of us got his number plate, but one hopes karma finds him and next time he uses his phone a copper spots him.
It seems like him losing his licence would be the best outcome, as he clearly lacks the patience and maturity to handle the responsibility of driving. His pride hurt his response was to become more reckless and stupid.
Don't be a dick at the wheel, someone could get hurt.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
Would You Rather? Part 1: Missing fingers and seeing the futurePosted: April 5, 2017 Filed under: Personal, Would You Rather | Tags: hypotheticals, Life, personal, time travel, Would You Rather Leave a comment
So, I recently found this list of "Would You Rather?" questions and thought they might be quite good to do as blog posts. It'll give me something to write when I'm blocked and I figure I can run them as a regular feature on the blog. If you agree or disagree with my decisions or arguments then feel free to comment down at the bottom. Let's dive in (decided to shuffle through randomly apart from first three):
Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
Initially I was going to say I'd rather be late because getting there early is a drag and sitting around waiting for someone always makes me feel awkward. But then I thought being ten minutes late would actually be more frustrating, you'd miss the start of things and more importantly always piss your mates off. So I'd go for always being early, and just make sure I took a book or had my phone charged.
Would you rather lose all your money and valuables or all of the photos you've ever taken?
Call me mercenary, but I'd rather lose all the photos I've ever taken. I'd be able to take more photos. Thankfully I'm at a stage where I can still remember all the good times I'd want photos of, and I think it would be easier to live without them than all the cash I have.
Would you rather be able to see 10 minutes into your future or 10 minutes into the future of anyone but yourself?
I'm not entirely sure on this one, because seeing ten minutes ahead for you would be interesting but would rob you of any surprises. Ten minutes into someone else's future might actually be cooler and more interesting. I think if you could swap who you saw that would be awesome, because you could be ahead of the curve on everything.
I'd also be able to be a great reporter as I'd always update quickly.
Would you rather be an average person today or a king 2500 years ago?
I can definitely see the appeal of being a king.
But I imagine that life 2500 years ago would be kinda dull even as a royal. No novels? No pop music? Lower life expectancy? Superstition running wild? Nah, I think I'll stay an average Joe today.
Would you rather have no fingers or no elbows?
My first instinct was to get rid of my elbows, but then I realised how awkward it would be to walk around with constantly straight arms. It would make life so much harder and would mean I couldn't do things like hug MWF or hold my kids in the future. So, I guess I'd have to get rid of my fingers. I just think there's more in place to help with that than to assist an elbowless man.
Would you rather get tipsy from one sip of alcohol and ridiculously drunk from just one alcoholic drink or never get drunk regardless of how much you drink?
Tipsy off one sip would be pretty cool. I mean, it'd be easier to avoid getting absolutely hammered, as you would just not drink past a sip or two, and you'd save money to reach the fun drunk stage.
Never getting drunk would be annoying, you'd go on a night out and just be sober until the end. As someone who needs a bit of a buzz to really cut loose on the dance floor it would mean I'd never dance again, which while no loss to the world of dance would be a bummer as I quite like a boogie.
Would you rather always be able to see 5 minutes into the future or always be able to see 100 years into the future?
If it was a one time thing I would pick the 100 years option because it'd be quite cool to see where we are in a century's time, but if it's something I do a lot then I think the five minutes is more useful. I mean, it'd be great for gambling purposes but also be rather handy for other stuff, like fighting crime. I'm assuming I see five minutes ahead but can impact or react to it. Seeing what is going to happen with no control would just be a pain.
But how creepy would it be to look five minutes into the future and just see nothing?
Would you rather randomly time travel =/- 20 years everytime you fart or teleport to a different place on Earth (on land, not middle of ocean) whenever you sneeze?
I'm assuming you come back, right? Like fart one is forward twenty and then the second fart brings you back? And the same principle for the sneezes, right? For the purpose of this question I'm using that as the rule.
I would go for the farting one. For starters, I sneeze more often than I fart so it's less of an inconvenience, and I also seem to sneeze when I get out of the shower, so I'd wind up just turning up at different places naked and confused. Also, I could jump into a very dangerous situation, like a less fun version of Quantum Leap.
And while that idea might seem funny to you, and might produce hilarious consequences I feel it would more likely create embarrassing and potentially legally hazardous ones.
Top 5 Worst Places to Just Appear Naked:
- A school, I don't want to be on a register or scare/traumatise some kids.
- One of those strict countries where I'd probably get lashes/prison unless I could sneeze again.
- Middle of the pitch during a major sporting event, in front of thousands in attendance and millions, and millions, watching at home.
- Inside Buckingham Palace or the White House, as might get shot by security forces.
- Porn set. I can live without having to compare myself physically to a porn star in person.
Would you rather spend two years with your soulmate only to have them die and you never love again or spend your life with someone nice you settled for?
First of all, I don't believe in soulmates. The whole idea seems daft to me, I think you're a full person on your own and don't need someone to complete you.
Also, I would rather have a long life with someone nice than two years and then loneliness until death. So, yeah, I'd pick the "settle" option, although the phrasing is a little harsh. I think knowing they were going to kick the bucket after two years would actually be even worse.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
My Favourite Films #43: The Princess and the FrogPosted: April 3, 2017 Filed under: Disney, Movies | Tags: animated movies, Disney, Disney Classics, favourite films, films, Keith David, movies, The Princess and the Frog Leave a comment
Long time readers will know that I've been doing the Disney Classics films in order, but I'm going to jump ahead to include this on my list of favourite movies.
This movie was Disney returning to their roots with a fairy tale inspired story rendered in traditional animation and introducing the latest Disney Princess. And it ticks a lot of boxes, boasting a quality soundtrack, a funny script, a great villain and an involving central story. On it's own merits it would rank high on my Disney list but what makes it a personal favourite is a sentimental attachment.
This is the first movie that MWF and I watched together, before we were a couple and just friends. We'd hung out for the day chatting and then put this on as MWF insisted I had to see it. It would be a while after this that we got together, but the movie and the day we spent together when we watched it were when I started to genuinely fancy her.
The movie riffs on the traditional Frog Prince story, but gives it a clever twist. The old tale is retold in New Orleans, at the start by Eudora (voiced by Oprah Winfrey), a black seamstress to the daughter of her white boss and her own daughter, and the boss' daughter dreams of meeting her prince. The seamstress' daughter wants to run a restaurant with her father, but he reminds her that it takes hard work as well as wishing to get things done.
We then jump forward to the 1920s, and the seamstress' daughter Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is now a young woman, still chasing her dream of the restaurant by working two jobs and saving every penny she can. Her social life suffers and her mother worries that she is failing to enjoy her life and is working too hard. An opportunity to get the money needed for the building she wants for the restaurant arises when her old friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody) offers her a catering job as her wealthy father is hosting a big party.
Charlotte, still obsessed with landing her prince is excited as the party is hosting Prince Naveen, a handsome, suave young man.
Naveen (Bruno Campos) is a bit of a playboy and used to having money, although his parents have now cut him off. Arriving in New Orleans with his valet Lawrence (Peter Bartlett) he wants to live the high life but Lawrence reminds him he needs to settle down and get married if he wants to get back on the gravy train.
Naveen and Lawrence meet Doctor Facilier (Keith David), a voodoo witch doctor who reads their fortune and then tricks them into a bargain. His magic transforms Lawrence into Naveen, while Naveen becomes a frog who they lock away. Facilier plans for Lawrence to marry Charlotte, after which he will kill her father Big Daddy (John Goodman) and get his fortune and influence.
Naveen escapes and at the party meets Tiana, who has just been told her bid for the building has been rejected. Inspired by the story he tells Tiana she needs to kiss him, thinking she is a princess. She is reluctant to do until he promises to give her the money for her restaurant. When they kiss, however, it is Tiana who is transformed, becoming a frog as well.
Naveen realises that Tiana, despite her costume, is not a princess and that's why it didn't work. She in turn learns that he is broke. Both then get lost in the swamps and must try to find their way back in order to stop Facilier's plan and return to their human form. Along the way they are assisted by Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley) a trumpet playing alligator who dreams of playing Jazz and Ray (Jim Cummings), a cajun firefly. They are led to meet voodoo queen Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis) who they hope can help them.
The movie works because it's got bucketloads of charm and a host of cool characters. And unlike a lot of Disney movies the leads are among the best characters on show here, with both Tiana and Naveen being very likeable. Their dynamic works brilliantly with the strait laced Tiana clashing with the laidback, pampered Naveen. Naveen oozes suave charm throughout and his carefree approach to life is fun, although he comes to learn that some things require work and that sometimes sacrifice is needed. In the same way he helps Tiana loosen up and realise that there are more important things than work and success.
Tiana is one of the better Princess heroines, as she's shown to be smart, tough and hard working throughout. While she may need her priorities sorting out she is still a great heroine, being very proactive and swinging into action when needs be. She's a very modern princess and works well, telling the audience that it isn't enough to wait for good things to happen, you have to go out and make them happen.
The supporting cast are great, particularly Ray and Louis their guides in the swamp. Louis' stupidity is endearing and his bizarre dream works well, and Ray is just flat out brilliant. With his bayou accent and spirit he is more than just comic relief and serves to educate the leads as to what love is about.
And Tiana's loud, brassy friend Charlotte is a great character, full of life and chattering constantly she could easily be a simply ridiculous character, but the script gives her a chance to show greater depths of friendship, decency and kindness. All of this without diluting her over the top character.
Of course, all the best Disney movies have a great villain and here the film scores a big win with the sneaky, smooth talking Doctor Facilier, wonderfully voiced by Keith David. During his songs and speeches he delivers funny asides and is shown to be a smart, scheming foe. Distinctly creepy at times, it also works because Facilier doesn't have power in a real sense, having received his gifts as part of a deal with his "friends on the other side". It means that he too is under the cosh and the dark forces are kept at the fringes although they do make menacing appearances, and his main skill is reading and exploiting people's weaknesses.
The plot flows well and the development works, with the relationship feeling real and the turns making sense. There's also a gut punch in the final act which continues a Disney trend of actually sneaking in some dark moments into what people dismiss as cheesy and cheery kids films. Even as a grown man it left me with a lump in the throat.
Of course, it all ends well, and the ending is satisfying. It's a very rewatchable flick and the music, influenced by the New Orleans setting is filled with some crackers, especially the villain song and Ray's ode to his distant love Evangeline.
Fun, charming and well done this is one of my favourite movies and high on the list of my favourite Disney movies too.
Disney Score: 8/10.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
Rewatch: Snog Marry Avoid?Posted: March 25, 2017 Filed under: Television | Tags: beauty, effyourbeautystandards, Jodie Marsh, rewatch, slut shaming, Snog Marry Avoid, television, trashy telly Leave a comment
In an old job I used to work a lot of night shifts, and discovered that the gods of late night TV were fickle. They'd occasionally bless you with a late night showing of some obscure movie or a repeat of a quality show, but often it was a wasteland of repeats, infomercials and tedium.
The best options were usually trashy TV- reality shows, light hearted documentaries or the soap operas. At 3am all you really want is something to keep you awake. Nothing too challenging or grim, ideally something fun and light. The two best channels for this were E4 and the now defunct BBC Three.
One personal favourite was Snog Marry Avoid?, which ticked the boxes- light, dumb, easy viewing. But last week I caught an old episode on TV.
It was awful.
I remember it being quite cheerful, jokey and fun. But watching it again it left an extremely unpleasant taste in the mouth.
For those unfamiliar with the show the premise is simple: People are brought in to POD aka Personal Overhaul Device, which was a computer that would give them a "make under". It announced itself as being pro-natural beauty and declaring "war on fakery". Hair extensions, lots of make up, fake tan, fake eyelashes- these were what the show was against and it would transform them into more natural vision.
Now, originally I considered this all quite good fun, but maybe I'm going soft but it really isn't. While still nicer than the US version, which I had to stop watching halfway through one episode, there is a rather nasty side to the show, even if they mask it with montages, upbeat music and Jenny Frost's cheery presenting.
First of all, the whole premise is dodgy as hell. You're basically telling people how they should look (it's predominantly women, but they did have a few guys on the show), and that's not cool. Watching it back it feels like a massive attack on individuality and choice, with "fakery" being bad and a more understated look being good.
They'd choose extreme cases (girl who applies three layers of fake tan, guy who takes 2 hours to get ready etc.) but even these seem a bit mean spirited. They liked how they dressed or felt comfortable that way why give them grief for it? What makes the natural look so morally superior?
Secondly, the title of the show highlights the meanest part.
Once they've dragged the person in front of the camera they'd explain that they'd asked 100 people whether they would snog, marry or avoid the participant (I'm guessing "f**k, marry, kill" would have been a bit too risque a title). We then get a couple of talking heads where the public insult them or explain they would avoid them as they were "trashy" or fake.
It's quite hard watching a young person hearing people talking smack about their appearance so bluntly. While some fire back you can genuinely see that some of them are getting quite hurt by the criticism, and can you blame them? Imagine having to stand there while some stranger says they'd avoid you because you look a mess.
Making it worse is the fact that they then hit them with a percentage, usually quite high for avoid.
As it's usually women in front of POD, it's basically telling them to change for men's approval and ignores the fact that some of those participants may be lying. I think a lot of the guys were being less than honest about which girls they would snog given the chance. Regardless, just because 80 guys say they would steer clear that still leaves 20 who'd snog you, which isn't that bad.
The next part that sucks is that POD is actually a bully. She makes quite nasty gags about what they look like and ridicules them. Jenny Frost is the good cop, making a few light hearted gags about how long it must take them to get ready or how much of their hair is actually theirs, and then POD comes in like an insult comic who then turns preachy.
The contestant is then stripped down to a robe, robbed of anything that is unique to them and scrubbed of make up until they are a blank canvass for the show to turn them into a more acceptable version.
For a show that bangs on about people following trends it seems to be determined that women everywhere should wear pretty dresses and only have tans in the summer. That makeup should be applied in a minimal way and that everybody shun hair extensions.
There's a dull quality to many of the make unders. It turns them into bland, mainstream versions of themselves. For example, here's Jodie Marsh:
Often this is for reasons like the person has to be "taken seriously" or fit a perceived idea of how someone should look when they're a mother or professional. Rather than questioning whether it's fair to judge on appearance the show just decides that they should change to fall into line.
There's no thought given to the fact that the make up and loud outfits are in any way helpful to them. That it serves as a mask or armour for their insecurities or a way of showing their personality, nope, it's just shown as being stupid and ugly.
Last of all is a definite streak of slut shaming, with countless of the girls being called out for wearing skimpy clothes. Even back when I was watching the show and enjoying it I thought this was a weird aspect. Being scantily clad wasn't being fake, was it? And again, this was where the show sided with those who made judgments based on looks.
With a fresh look the cheery, fun vibe starts to crack. The montages are crafted to make them look ridiculous and feature their friends and family ragging on them. Then the partners get involved, talking about how they dress, which smacks of hypocrisy. They started to date the person as they were and now want to change them? That seems like a d**k move.
Jenny Frost talks about how bad the fakery is, but she's not out there without makeup. It's all bollocks.
You could make a show about natural beauty, and discuss things like society's pressure on women to look a certain way. The risks of some treatments and the problems of how important looks are, but this show does none of these things.
It just sits there, smugly looking down its nose at those involved, ridiculing and humiliating them based on their looks. It wants everyone to fit within a narrow field of what's considered attractive and criticises anyone who falls outside those confines.
If you like to wear makeup and fake tan, then crack on. If people judge you on what you wear then screw them, that's their problem.
Watching it again the show is terrible, and I'm going to avoid it from now on.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.


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Go to:
Just Slow Cooking Recipes Home Page
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Italian Style Stew
1 3/4 green beans, trimmed
1 cup thinly sliced onions
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 small eggplant cut into 1 inch chunks
2 large yellow or zucchini squash, cut in 1 inch chunks
2 green peppers, cored, seeded and cut in narrow strips
1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 pound hot Italian sausage
Brown sausage in skillet and drain fat. Place it in slow cooker with all ingredients. Mix well. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until vegetables are tender. This is a very versatile stew. For a vegetarian dish leave out the meat. You can add other vegetables such as cabbage, lima beans, fresh peas etc.
For an extra touch, add fresh herbs such as oregano or thyme.
Some general comments about this recipe:
Can't find database. Query terminated.


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$529 each. So it begins, 26 inch gear is probably going on fire sale this year
Great. I should stock up so I have wheels for the future.
looks like a general sale - 29er carbons 599
Easton Haven Carbon 29" UST Wheels 2012 > Components > Wheel Goods > Mountain Bike Wheels | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop - Mobile
Locals' Guide to North Shore Rides http://mtbtrails.ca/
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FORT WORTH, Texas -- Zach Johnson is in great shape, but then he knows all about being in great shape after finishing runner-up in two of his past three PGA Tour starts.
At 9 under, Johnson is alone in second place, 2 shots behind leader and last week's Byron Nelson champ Jason Dufner, after two rounds at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Johnson led Dufner by 1 shot after Thursday's opening round and it certainly looked as though Johnson might power ahead of Dufner (who shot a 64 playing in the morning) early in his afternoon round Friday.
Johnson, playing in his first tournament since The Players Championship on May 13, where he tied for second, eagled out of the gate and then birdied to quickly cut into Dufner's lead and get to minus-9. But he bogeyed No. 3 and then made par on the next seven holes.
He had the disadvantage of an afternoon start Friday, a day that grew gustier, making for tougher conditions. The morning groups dealt with less wind and cooler temperatures. Johnson is 2 shots ahead of Bo Van Pelt and Tommy Gainey and 3 in front of Tom Gillis.
Starting with the par-5 No. 11, Johnson went birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey and then managed one last birdie on No. 16 to get back to 9 under. He missed a short birdie putt on 18 as the ball just skirted along the left side of the hole.
"It seems like every time I made a birdie I put myself in a pretty difficult predicament to make par," Johnson said. "I finished strong: a good save on 15, a good birdie on 16 and another good save on 17. And 18, I'll take a 4 there. I hit a good putt, misread it. I'm excited about [Saturday]."
Johnson, with three top-10 finishes but no victories this season, is counting on his experience on the Colonial course to get him over the hump for the first time this season and into a second plaid jacket in three years.
He will pair with Dufner for Round 3 as Dufner looks to keep the lead and continue his quest for the rare DFW double. Only 14 golfers have won both the HP Byron Nelson and Colonial, and only Ben Hogan in 1946 won both in the same season.
"It doesn't matter who I play with," Johnson said. "Certainly, Jason and I are buddies. I will enjoy playing with him because he is a friend. It's nothing more than that. He's got a good rhythm about it, about his game right now. Certainly confidence, that's always fun to watch, but it's irrelevant who I play with. I'm not playing against him. I'm playing against the golf course and the conditions and the elements that are presented. So that's my focus."


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National opinion surveys show Ross Perot drawing up to a quarter of the vote as an independent Presidential candidate. But the data-processing billionaire may have the computer-nerd vote largely to himself. An on-line poll conducted by Computer-Based Communications, of Lexington, Mass., shows Perot getting 41% of the vote, compared with 30% for President Bush and 29% for Bill Clinton. It may be a while, however, before this new method of polling catches on. Only 140 users in the Northeastern U.S. have so far called CBC's Argus bulletin board to voice their opinion.
Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal. LEARN MORE


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Rare-earth ions doping effects on the optical properties of sol–gel fabricated PbTiO3thin films
- Authors
- Journal
- Thin Solid Films 0040-6090
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Publication Date
- Volume
- 446
- Issue
- 1
- Identifiers
- DOI: 10.1016/s0040-6090(03)01307-5
- Keywords
Abstract Ce, Sm, Dy, Er and Yb doped PbTiO 3 thin films were deposited by sol–gel method on (111)Pt/Ti/SiO 2/Si substrates. The optical properties of the films were characterized by means of ellipsometry using a HeNe-laser source ( λ=632.8 nm). Real ( n) and imaginary ( k) parts of the refractive index were obtained applying the Fresnel equation. It is shown that for lead titanate thin films doped with 2 mol.% of lanthanide (Ln) ions the real part of the refractive index decreases smoothly with increasing atomic number of the element, with the exception of the Ce doped film. The experimental results are explained taking into account the electronic structure of the dopants. Specific results of Ce are explained by its oxidation state, which has been shown by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to be +4. Additionally, noticeable correlation of the optical properties of the films with respect to doping level was observed.


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Although my mother cooked our day-to-day meals growing up, my dad would always cook something special and different on Sunday afternoons. He loves trying different cuisines and experimenting in the kitchen, but there are a few of his signature dishes that would always suffice on Sunday's if he didn't know what to make, one of those dishes was his chicken soup.
This was no ordinary chicken soup you know, this was a flavorful, good-for-you soup with lots of healthy vegetables and spices. The broth was always so deliciously spicy, it made your eyes water and nose run, but you just kept eating it because it tasted so damn good.
This soup resembles a very popular soup made in Guyana that we like to call, Dhal soup (click here to see a recipe for dhal). Honestly the recipe for Dhal soup is identical to this one except you would just add 3/4 cup of split peas to the base.
My dad makes his base from pumpkin and a little bit of split peas which gives it a different flavor, but still one that is very tasty. The pumpkin will melt throughout the cooking process and give the soup a nice smooth texture. I am generally a soup lover so I couldn't tell you which one is my favorite, but the next time I make Dhal Soup, I will be sure to post the recipe so that you can see the difference in color, texture, as well as flavor (once you make it at home).
- 2 lbs chopped chicken
- 1/4 cup yellow split peas (not pictured)
- 2 skinny cassava chopped into 2 inch pieces (I say skinny b/c the thicker ones are just harder to peel)
- 4-5 edoes chopped in half or quarters if you bought large ones (4-5 is about 1/2 lb)
- 1/2 lb pumpkin chopped into 4 in pieces
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach (1 cup if using frozen spinach)
- 1 green plantain chopped in 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 red scotch bonnet peppers or 3 wiri wiri pepper
- 3 large chicken bouillon cubes (if you have small ones, use 6 cubes)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 1 onion
- 1 gallon of water (16 cups)
(if you like a lot of dumplings then double this)
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 2 lbs chicken cleaned and chopped in medium size pieces
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp cassareep (click here for image)
- Pour 16 cups of water into a large deep pot and bring to a rapid boil.
- Clean, chop, and season the chicken, set aside
- After peeling, wash cassava, edoes, and plantain, set aside.
- Rinse and chop spinach, pumpkin, onion garlic and scotch bonnet then put into boiling water with 1/4 cup washed split peas. So to start with, you will only have the split peas, spinach, pumpkin, onion, garlic, and pepper in the pot. Cover with lid, reduce heat to medium, and continue to boil for 40 minutes.
- After 40 minutes has passed, use your pot spoon to mash the pumpkin on the side of the pot to see if it is soft and disintegrates easily. The peas should also become very soft, if it is not, continue to boil until it is almost disappearing into the soup. You are making the base of the soup here, so if it not done properly, your soup will not meld together.
- Once peas are soft add the plantains, cassava, and edoes along with 3 bouillon cubes, 1 tsp salt, and bay leaves.
- Some of us prefer to have lots of broth in our soup, if you feel this needs more water you can add another 2 cups at this point.
- Turn the heat to low-medium and let the vegetables cook for another 20 minutes until they are medium-soft but still have some give to them. Stir ever so often.
- While the vegetables are cooking, make the dough for the dumpling (it will be a stiff dough which is okay, it will keep together well once dropped into the soup) set aside.
- Cook the chicken in a separate pan in 1 tbsp of oil. Saute until the chicken is cooked and nicely browned.
- Once the edoes, cassava, and plantains are cooked through, add the chicken to the soup. Let the flavors simmer together on low heat for 15 minutes. Give it a good stir.
- Break small pieces of dumpling dough and drop it into the soup. They don't have to be equal in size, just drop 'em in there and watch them pop back up! The dumplings will cook in approximately 5 minutes. Stir the soup as your drop the dumplings in.
- Let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes and you're done!