D Raven's Corner

Facebook and Twitter ARE more addictive than fags and booze

2012-02-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

If you think a Tweet is a bird's noise and someone who gets poked by lots of random people needs a visit to the clinic - then stop being anti-social... network!

And if you're reading this then congratulations - you're dipping your toe into the world of blogging.

But a study published in February's Psychological Science journal revealed that information sharing websites such as Facebook and Twitter (and blogging) - are now all more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol.

And with good reason.

Facebook and Twitter can introduce you to a whole world of new people and cultures – just like stepping outside the pub for a cigarette does following the smoking ban.

And – just like with alcohol – you can speak your true feelings, there's no awkward silences and you don't have to worry about body language.

Don't you see social networks are a fantastic invention that are revolutionising society?

Never before have you been able to vet a potential future partner with such scrutiny on everything from their baby pictures to how much time they tend to their virtual farm.

Or share with the world that every Saturday night you sit in with the same Chinese takeaway with the same person watching the same mind-numbing ‘talent' shows like everyone else.

But on a serious note, these sites do have many benefits.

Users have met their future partners, discovered long lost relatives and uncovered family history memorabilia dating back centuries.

Whether you love them or loathe them social networks are at the forefront of technology.

Humans by nature are social creatures.

Some researchers claim that there are almost 30 million UK Facebook users who log on regularly to social networks.

That's pretty much one in every two people and is remarkable considering 10 years ago nobody in this country had heard of Facebook.

After ten years of pressure a friend of mine in his twenties caved in and signed up last week, wondering what all the fuss was about he hasn't looked back since.

I've been racking my brains and I now can't think of anybody between the age of 10 and 30 who I know who hasn't joined the service.

Like millions of others I love Facebook and Twitter and can't imagine what life would be like without them.

But they should definately be made to come with a warning - like cigarettes and alcohol - that too much Tweeting and poking can damage your health.

Help, my neighbour's house is on fire - what do I do?

2011-10-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Members of Parliament believe the people who voted them in power are too stupid to make a decision on the country's EU membership.

That's the conclusion drawn from a debate which saw 81 Tory MPs vote against David Cameron's plans to NOT give the public a say on whether Britain should remain in the EU.

The European Union is currently in a state of disarray with many countries requiring a credit bail out as the financial crisis deepens.

Cameron claims “if your neighbour's house is on fire, you should help them put it out.”

Euro sceptics say “if your neighbour's on fire you should get as far away as possible.”

Instead, I believe that whatever you do, you should consult with whoever else lives in your property first, not just make a decision and expect everyone to stick with it.

Both the Conservatives and Labour believe we should continue receiving orders and laws from the collapsing European Union and that they shouldn't give the public ANY say on the matter.

The first recorded democracy occurred in ancient Athens, where people did not elect representatives to vote on their behalf but instead voted on legislation and executive bills themselves.

In fact the very word democracy actually came from the words demos kratos, meaning people power.

Surely in a democracy citizens of a country should be able to have their say on as many laws and regulations as possible, let alone choose the people who they are governed by.

A survey suggests that 70% of the British public want a referendum on whether we should remain in a crumbling European Union.

If MPs are representing their public, as to which they are duty bound, then what's wrong with letting them have their say on one of the most controversial Government decisions in the past generation?

Quantum levitation - hoverboards and flying PCs?

2011-10-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

Hoverboards and flying computers could be a thing of the future after a video surfaced of scientists demonstrating a technique they call 'quantum levitation'.

Put simply the video shows quantum superconductors locked in a magnetic field filmed at Tel-Aviv University.

What science can accomplish with this hovering technique time will only tell.

Justice? It's about time

2011-10-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

Families and friends of the 96 Hillsborough victims have been given fresh hope this week after the Government pledged that “no stone will be left unturned” in their quest for justice.

Families from across the borough travelled to London on Monday to meet with Members of Parliament for a long-overdue debate on the Hillsborough disaster last night.

The impact of this can not go underestimated, there were 14,600 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough on that fateful day and 96 never returned home.

Some 18 people amongst the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough that day were from Sefton and many of the survivors remain emotionally scarred to this day.

My father was in the fatal Leppings Lane end and many other members of my family were at Hillsborough that day while my mother was at home - eight months pregnant with me.

The Home Secretary Theresa May vowed not to block the families' 22-year quest for the truth, meaning they could have access to crucial documents as early as next spring and rightly so.

The victims' families say that they hope the documents will reveal if there was a ”stitch-up“ by South Yorkshire Police and then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher following the disaster to shift the responsibility from officers to supporters.

Roles of the emergency services in South Yorkshire Police are also likely to come under scrutiny by an independent panel looking into 300,000 documents which are being studied in preparation for their release.

The highlight of the debate was one of the most moving speeches I have ever seen, by Steve Rotheram.

It can be watched in full or read in the links below.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/video/interview/9935-steve-rotheram-speech-in-full

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-10-17a.662.0

My first Ouija Board - a spiritual awakening?

2011-10-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

It is the biggest question that has plagued man for centuries – are we alone and what happens after we die?

Over the weekend I had a chance meeting with someone who said that not only does she know the answers to these questions, but she can prove it.

I'm not a hard-nosed sceptic, but when it comes to the unknown I deal in cold facts – the main one being I've been alive for 22 years and I'm yet to have a paranormal experience.

The girl was described as a 'white witch' and believes that because of her 'psychic abilities' she can contact the dead by communicating with spirits.

Dutifully, I put her claims to the test and after not being convinced by her inebriated attempts to move a flickering candle just by staring at it – we settled on the old classic.

Let's wheel out the Ouija board.

The room was dark, all windows were promptly shut and the alphabet was scrawled on cards around a circle in thick black pen.

Our host proclaimed: 'We only want to make contact with the good spirits'.

I'd say I'm spiritually open minded but my view is that if you put enough conviction behind your beliefs you can convince yourself that they are correct.

This proved true after I stumbled upon a fake Tarot Reading website and ended up conning friends and family they were speaking to a real psychic (try it yourself).

At the same time many are wary about venturing into the unknown and ghost whispering as there are still many sightings and strange reports that are left unanswered.

So with a sprinkle of peer pressure and my finger on the glass I stepped into my slippers for a dance with the devil.

The three of us had our index fingers pressed down on the edge of the tumbler as an uneasy feeling crept over me, what if all this was true? Was my whole view of life about to be smashed to bits?

“What is your name,” she uttered, our eyes met with anticipation, I'm as open minded as the next spiritual explorer but five minutes had passed and the glass still hadn't moved.

10 minutes...

15....

Still nothing.

Being somewhat of a wind-up merchant I could not pass this opportunity to have a little bit of fun, so hiding my childish grin I spelt out the words 'willy' and 'bum'.

Looking like she'd seen a ghost, the witch's response was: “William Bum – please respond, can you hear me - are you there?”

War on Chuggerism

2011-09-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

“I'm not as bad as you think I am,” were the words I was greeted by upon my daily stroll for my lunch time Boots meal deal yesterday.

A strikingly attractive buxomly blonde, dressed well, polite and smiling, uttered this as she approached, making eye contact and opening her arms in a disarming gesture.

Being single and having an hour-to-kill on my lunch it would have seemed rude to do anything but carry on the conversation – even if she did have her nose pierced.

But I'm not one to be fooled easily, as I've been playing a discrete version of 'British bulldog' with these charity muggers each day for my past 18 months at The Champion.

They have a name 'Chuggers' as wikipedia puts it “Street fundraisers that use various ways of asking for donations on behalf of a charity.”

Or more accurately, Urban Dictionary states: “Paid 'charity' street worker (student) who has been trained to believe that they are carrying out a worthy task, improving peoples' lives by conning Joe Public out of their money.”

They don't stop tracky-wearing hoodies, or penny-pinching old men, they target certain groups, mainly old women, single mums and people who look like they might have a bit of money.

I'm hardly Richard Branson but wearing a shirt and tie while drifting past these people on Chapel Street in Southport is like flaunting a red rag at a bull.

I've heard them all, everything from “alright mate, you seem like a nice guy” to “I only want a hug”, these social parasites prey on the rich, weak and elderly and look to leach money via guilt.

“There's poor children everywhere so give up just £3 a month,” they say as they gobble up their £12 an hour payment plus commission.

Not that I have anything against charities but thrusting a clipboard in your face while mimicking your direction and pace wearing an etched fake smile like a constipated clown is just too much.

If anyone wants to join me in a co-ordinated planned revenge attack on them with a supersoaker and some waterbombs then email david.raven@champnews.com

PICS: Drunk moose on the loose

2011-09-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

Spare a thought for this inebriated moose who made headlines after getting stuck trying to climb a tree.

After eating fermented fruit, the elk became so drunk that in an ambitious attempt to get more fruit it tried to climb up the branches.

The animal's legs then gave way and it became stuck between branches in Gothenburg, Sweden, before firefighters rescued it, leaving the loose moose to sleep off one hell of a hangover.

2011 Riots: The BIG brush up

2011-08-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

It's clean-up time – during the post mortem of last night's riots this picture started doing the rounds on Twitter.

It shows up to a hundred people armed with brushes, mops and dust pans ready to sweet up the mess left behind by the rioters.

Celebrities and journalists have tweeted that their faith in humanity has been restored with Piers Morgan describing these people as the REAL Great Britain.

Meanwhile Sky News did a decent interview with former professional footballer Mickey Ambrose who is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust.

He told Sky News he felt the rioting was also, in large part, due to an absence of parenting.

"There's excuses all the time being made I feel, you know, (like) our children don't get opportunities, they're bored," he said.

"The question I want to ask parents right now is, where was your child on Saturday night, Sunday night and last night?

"How can parents allow their children to be going out at 9-10 o'clock. We saw pictures... of children aged 10, 11 involved in this anarchy."

"I think parents have a responsibility.

"I can tell you now, there was no way my mum would have let me out at 9-10 o'clock at (age) 13, 14 - so it begins at home.

"The schools and the education side of matters, are trying to educate out children in this country. But these are 13, 14-year-old kids."

Mobs ran the streets, the innocent cowered

2011-08-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

Three months ago I was stood amidst 'rioters' witnessing London being torn apart by groups of unruly students setting bins on fire.

But watching footage unfold on TV and Twitter of mindless yobs taking control of the streets and terrorising innocent hard working families this week made me sick to my stomach.

Back in April it was clear then, that the crowd was made up of middle class adventurers and self proclaimed anarchists – disillusioned youths sporting dreadlocks.

None of them looked burly, were armed with weapons or even showed much aggression, this was a sit in, a calm semi-controlled display of disorder.

They targeted the banks, tax avoiders and a minor amount of damage was caused as every action has a cause and effect.

Their cause was to let the Government know they won't take massive tuition fee rises just lying down.

The effect, whether you agree with it or not, was that millions of people became aware of a simmering generation determined to stand up for what they believe in.

People riot for a cause, whether it be racial inequalities, freedom of expression or national oppression.

But this was a chaotic display of mindless aggressive disorder – partly down to a lack of education and a poor upbringing with no ambition or real identity.

Last night thousands of families sat in their homes from London to Liverpool, petrified a brick could come through the window at any given moment.

Unruly rioters ransacked shops indiscriminately taking whatever they can carry, they took over our streets, severely outnumbered police and set cars and shops alight.

Some idiot even ended up posing with his stolen goods and putting it on Twitter.

Trillions of pounds are being ploughed into sorting other countries' problems – from £500m aid packages for Pakistan to billions being spent on the Iraq war.

Last night was a harsh but vivid reminder that we should tackle our own issues and police our own streets before we try and police the rest of the world.

Thankfully the massive clean-up operations going on up and down the country show the rioters were a minority.

But next time it happens please wheel out the water cannons.

Farmers hunt for extra terrestrial pipe-smoking Bono look-a-like

2011-08-03T02:51:00.001-07:00

Whoever said extra terrestrials don't have a sense of humour should take a look at this picture.

Crop circles are a mystery which has baffled generations of farmers and scientists.

The farmers are enraged that on top of their current financial worries they are losing hundreds if not thousands of pounds to aliens or pranksters.

And scientists are continually enrolled in a factual tug of war with conspiracy theorists who believe the markings are a 'sign from outer space'.

Firstly it offers two explanations, there's either a gang of alien pipe-smoking Bono look-a-likes somewhere in the stratosphere or someone's played an elaborate prank.

But scientists believe the answer lies a bit closer to home – in your kitchen.

They allege that pranksters are using a device created using a microwave, it is called a magnetron and is powered by a 12 volt battery.

If true it would make cutting the grass ten times more exciting, I want one.

News of the World to shut after 168 years

2011-07-07T09:23:00.001-07:00

The biggest newspaper scandal certainly in my life time is currently erupting.

News International are to close biggest selling paper News of the World after multiple scandals were exposed.

Tens of the top advertising companies pulled their ads in light of the recent investigation.

No doubt due to further evidence yet to make the public domain James Murdoch decided to pull the plug on Britain's biggest selling paper.

It's early days but media pundits believe there could now be a Sunday Sun.

But what will happen to flame-haired Rebekah Brooks?

David Haye & Andy Murray could make history

2011-07-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

Whip out the deckchairs, lager and obligatory Union Jacks as it could be the most successful British sporting weekend in decades.

Murray could become the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final since Henry Austin in 1938.

And David Haye could become the first British heavyweight since Lennox Lewis to hold more than one title.

Bookmakers might have backed Wladimir Klitschko in tomorrow's showpiece but there's a chance Haye can nick it from under his nose – literally, by fighting on the inside.

There's no doubt the Hayemaker has rattled Wladimir Klitschko in the pre-match build up, with talk of his brother and the Ukrainian confessing his dislike of the Englishman's 'bling bling' ways.

But Haye promises to 'show something different' to what Wladimir is used to and he will certainly need to as he weighed in at 15st 3lbs – nearly 2 stone lighter than the champion giant.

Before the weigh-in Haye tweeted: “I just looked in mirror and have never seen the shape i'm in, before any other fight! RIPPED to bits ;-)

“Just finished final session, I feel great. British support is taking over Hamburg, it feels like Oxford St!! Union jacks EVERYWHERE!!! :-)”

Meanwhile in tennis, the favourite Nadal has admitted he is carrying a foot injury, and will have to have an injection before today's match.

Murray himself is confident he can cause an upset.

With baking forecasts of 27 degrees upwards and clear blue sky's predicted for Saturday and Sunday it could certainly be a double sporting celebratory weekend to remember.

Although I believe the overhyped British boxer will end up on the canvas, the Wimbledon hopeful won't make the final and random heavy dismal summer rain will ruin everyone's weekend.

Spot on prediction or ramblings of an over-cynical journalist? We'll see.

Princess Diana at 50

2011-06-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

Princess Diana will look like this at 50.

That's the claims from Newsweek who clubbed together their top digital employees to Photoshop what she would look like stood next to stunning Kate.

Scientists believe men go for women who look like their mothers, this has added a bit of weight to those claims.

The article says Princess Diana would be Facebook friends with Camilla Parker-Bowles, have 10million Twitter followers and an 'it's complicated relationship status'.

I'm sure Diana herself wouldn't be too chuffed with the story or the pics.

But ethical issues aside, while it might not be a spitting image, the class, sincerity and lack of pomposity shines through from both women.

Unlike Charles on the other hand, who it has been revealed received an extra £298,000 in taxpayer funding last year.

Whatever your opinion on the monarchy, I'm glad we have William and Kate as the fresh faces to represent the nation as opposed to corrupt politicians or worn out pompous royals.

Government to restrict UK 'internet access'

2011-06-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

IT'S bad news that affects almost everyone who uses the internet.

Our Government are looking to spend our money on regulating our web access, taking the fight to internet pirates.

This could mean no more streaming or downloading films, music and television programmes illegally, including live football which has audience figures exceeding millions.

Taxpayer's money is expected to pay to set up a "council" which will look to ban piracy websites.

The plans would be part of the Digital Economy Act (DEA) which allows for websites to be blocked

Jim Killock, executive director of The Open Rights Group, told the BBC: "It is unacceptable for trade groups and the government to conduct policy in this way.

“Censorship proposals must be discussed in public.

“Many of us will oppose any censorship that impacts directly and widely on free expression."

My argument is why spend taxpayer's money to give fat cats more power over the internet?

Surely the fact that millions are prepared to 'break the law' in order to watch streaming football/movies, shows that these businesses are pricing consumers out of their goods.

Businesses should take heed from the music industry, which has been forced to drastically lower prices over the last decade, fighting against pirates won't work.

The beauty of the internet is its transparency - the only way to win these consumers back would be to lower prices and offer incentives to paying customers – not web censorship.

Wasp turns ladybird into zombie to attack predators

2011-06-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

A wasp that transforms ladybirds into a 'zombies' to ward off predators, lays eggs inside inside the insect that later burst out of its abdomen.

It is a natural scene that adds factual weight to many popular fictional films such as 28 Days Later or Alien after it was published on the BBC website.

But researchers believe venom from the parasitic wasp can make insects twitch and grasp to ward off predators before laying their eggs.

The behaviour starts when the parasite breaks out of its body and the scientists found that only 25% of the ladybirds recover from the traumatising ordeal.

The real question people want to know is when will this happen to humans and what will the cure be?

Check out this video of human 'zombies' invading Leicester after the council admitted they had no security measures in place in case of an attack from the (so far) fictional characters.

SpongeBob names new mushroom

2011-06-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

I'LL have some bacon and egg... with Spongiforma squarepantsii please.

Spongebob Squarepants has been honoured by having a mushroom named after him.

The cartoon character is not only a hit with children – and their parents, but it seems biologists have also taken a liking to the fictional sea sponge.

The new mushroom was named by the researches at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and was found in a forest in Borneo.

For more details click here.

UK 2011 Census hacked - or not

2011-06-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

The entire UK 2011 Census has been hacked and everyone's details will be published on the internet.

That is the claim by hundreds of popular news websites who, as I write this, are publishing sensational news stories adding credibility to a ridiculous anonymous blog posting.

Granted, recently Lulzsec have been in the news a lot lately after reportedly hacking FBI, CIA and SOCA affiliated computers.

But the fact credible news sources pounced on what was an anonymous blog post, shows poor journalism from several of the top online news websites.

As anyone who has been following Lulzsec's developments will know, the most accurate way to determine their hacks is by following their 'official' tweets.

Not only was this UK Census rumour not posted on their official Twitter feed, but they then denied any involvement whatsoever.

Saying "Just saw the pastebin of the UK census hack. That wasn't us - don't believe fake LulzSec releases unless we put out a tweet first.

"Anyone in the world can copy and paste The Lulz Boat ASCII art and general lighthearted theme. Smarten up, check the feed first."

This now leaves several of the top UK media outlets red faced who opted for immediacy over accuracy when publishing the story.

Luckily The Guardian was on the case to bin the sensationalism and clear up the confusion.

Will be funny if the blog turns out to be some harmless teenager playing a prank.

Pottermore: Harry Potter set for 'breathtaking' online return

2011-06-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Pottermore: Harry Potter won't make his last appearance in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

That's the speculation which has spread like wildfire amongst film fans after creator JK Rowling posted a highly secretive website suggesting the wizard will return.

The mysterious website is entitled Pottermore and sprang up yesterday.

At first fans claimed it could be a new book but this was denied by Rowling's agent who told Sky News Online it is “an exciting new project which is not directly related to the film.”

Early rumours point to an interactive social network gaming website featuring chatrooms and games where wizards and witches all over the country can talk to each other without owls.

Although it is still shrouded in secrecy, a few Harry Potter fan websites have been given a sneak preview with the Leaky Cauldron describing it as 'breathtaking'.

They refused to disclose anything else so it looks like the rest of us muggles will have to wait with baited breath.

To view the site click here.

Dalai Lama pizza joke flops on Australian TV

2011-06-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

'So the Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop...'

The Dalai Lama erupted into laughter as an Australian television presenter fumbled an attempt at cracking a bizarre joke about pizzas.

You couldn't make it up.

Karl Stefanovic, journalist and television presenter of the Today show, was granted a brief rare interview with the Tibetan leader.

Only instead of asking him questions about world peace and solving famine he decided to blurt out a gag, which then had to be partly translated.

'So the Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop...'

Mr Stefanovic, thinking he gets it, continued the joke by adding 'and he says, "Can you make me one with everything?"'

The play on words were met with an uncomfortable blank stare until eventually the Dalai Lama burst out laughing, not at the joke, but the presenter's attempt to explain it.

His Holiness might have diffused the situation in a cool way but it failed to save the presenter from embarrassment.

He later tweeted: 'OK worst gag of the year with best guest short list. Even I am cringing.'

New Liverpool kit revealed - reds turn blue

2011-06-16T02:02:00.000-07:00

Liverpool have ditched their famous red in favour of 'cyan blue'.

While it is not quite as unnerving as Everton's pink kit, the news will still come as a blow as 'The mighty reds' are now 'The mighty blues'.

The official website sells it as a 'nostalgic nod' to 'Liverpool's first ever home kit back in 1892'.

But I believe it is a final blow by Adidas after the club are to ditch them next year in favour of Boston-based Warrior Sports.

It is a shame how some of the club and the brand's top minds can come up with such a design that will no doubt have a serious impact on kit sales.

Liverpool are RED and Everton are BLUE.

As Tony Barrett tweeted this morning: “Most vivid demonstration of a club's identity is the team's colours. Of course it matters.”

Cameron and Clegg shown who is boss by surgeon

2011-06-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister David Cameron was confronted during a hospital ward visit when a doctor flew into a rage about ward hygiene.

It was a public relations nightmare which was recorded on ITN news showing Cameron and Clegg nervously flapping when surgeon David Nunn showed them who was boss.

Hip patient Andrew Sarton looked on bemused as the two leaders of his country stood each side of his bed, wearing rolled up sleeves, top buttons undone and were ushered out like naughty school kids.

Angered by journalists' and PM aides' lack of respect for hospital hygiene rules, he put them in their place.

PR students should take note at how not to organise a photo call, the video is hilarious.

Forget Facebook it's all about Twitter

2011-06-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

News just in - forget Facebook it's all about Twitter.

It seems the social networking shift is happening again, but this time from Facebook to Twitter.

The latter is currently making newspaper headlines and has done so for the best part of 2011.

Most notably the story in which Ryan Giggs' solicitors were allegedly set to sue the pants off anyone re-tweeting his alleged affair with Imogen Thomas.

And Rooney's hair transplants as also previously mentioned.

But today another incident has occurred (with yet another Man Utd player) and not only does it back up my original point of celebs 'biting' on Twitter but it adds a new dimension to 21^st century journalism.

Defender Rio Ferdinand has had a private - but very public – spat with one of the country's top sport's journalists.

The feud erupted after Mirror sports journalist Oliver Holt brought the issue of Ferdinand's missed drugs test up.

What followed was a tirade of insults aimed at the journo being called 'fat' and a 'c***' in private messages.

The journalist then wrote an article about the messages which highlights, (if Twitter doesn't do it already) how self-centred Premiership footballers can be.

Many journalists, including myself, are using Twitter as a tool to increasingly engage with their audiences.

And as usual Google is keeping ahead of the game this time by starting an “authorship markup” for journalists to collate all of their publications, including social networks and blogs, into one page.

It seems journalists are no longer hidden behind a byline, they are now fully accountable to their works and it has never been easier to interact with them - which can only be good for Democracy.

To highlight this we recently launched picture bylines on The Champion website, although for some reason mine resembles a younger, fatter Kevin Spacey.

Cows guts used as tennis strings

2011-06-07T05:34:00.000-07:00

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have some guts!

Sure it was a great final but like most of the general public watching the French Open the other day I had no idea that the players' could be using cows intestines as the strings.

Animal rights groups are likely to make a racket after this story appeared on the BBC, showing all little-known uses for animal parts.

Some of the more amusing ones;

Hooves – used in fire fighting foam

Horns – to make buttons

Sperm whale squid vomit – used in several high-end perfumes

Sheep placenta – can be a facial beauty treatment

Fish bladder – used as fining agent for some beers

If you are a keen believer of what you don't know can't hurt you – then don't click here.

The five part-series Kill It, Cut It, Use It, starts on Monday 13 June at 2100 BST on BBC3.

Injured man on England's highest mountain rescued after phone pic

2011-06-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

A man who injured himself on England's highest mountain was rescued after taking this picture on his mobile phone and sending it to a rescue team.

He reportedly fell and injured his arm near to the peak of Scafell Pike in the Lake District, but not knowing his precise location, the quick-thinker managed to snap and send this picture.

The team then came to the rescue and summoned an air ambulance.

When there 'aint no mountain high enough for mobile phones technology knows no boundaries.

Wayne Rooney hair transplant pic

2011-06-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

Get on this picture of Vain Wayne before he gets on the plane...

He might have Shearer's right foot but after today he doesn't share his balding crown.

Just before flying to Barbados Roo posted this new picture of him post-hair transplant which reportedly cost around £30,000.

The 25-year-old had the operation at a clinic in London’s Harley Street.

This morning he posted the photograph his 780,000 Twitter followers before leaving for his summer holiday in Barbados.

He tweeted: “Hi all there's my head. It will take a few months to grow. Still a bit bloody to (sic). But that's all normal.”

Rooney later added: 'Going airport now I'll chat to u all tomorrow. #hairwego.'

Fair enough if he shared Andy Carroll's locks but for someone who gets a number one at the barbers what's the need?

Can you imagine if he hadn't have made it on the football circuit?

A scally'd up Kirkby Macdonalds worker investing thousands on follicle repair.

If this isn't proof that money and power changes people then I don't know what is...

(edit) actually, this is.

Meet Roland Bunce - Britain's Next top model

2011-06-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

Roland Bunce will be the country's Next top model as thousands of internet users put the word 'shun' into fashion.

Many have become disillusioned with advertisers using unrealistic airbrushed models and it seems the next generation of trendy teens are finally taking a stand.

The web gives everyone a voice and after reading comments on a number of news websites it is clear people are taking their cyber pitch forks and using the old protest vote.

A competition was launched to find a new model for Next by harnessing the power of social media.

Hopeful hotties

Hundreds of stunners flocked to the website with the hope of making it to the big time only to have been beaten by a man who looks strikingly similar to the numa man.

Thousands of youngsters are continually voting for him to scoop the top prize and become the new face of the iconic fashion brand.

And today after the item spread into national news websites, his popularity has snowballed and the Next website crashed.

You can try voting by click here.

Today it also emerged that the Italian Vogue put three 'plus-sized' models on its front cover in a move to campaign against dieting (and unrealistic weight-loss goals).

Arrivederci anorexia!

Rooney bites

2011-05-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

Twitter is the nail in the coffin for celebrity culture.

I've been meaning to write this blog post about this for a while now but Wayne Rooney issued a 'death threat' to a Liverpool fan yesterday and it sums up my point clearly.

Sure over a few pints on a Friday and Saturday night this thing gets said all the time with the footballer dismissing it as 'just banter'.

And maybe it is.

Or maybe it's testosterone fuelled bile that spills out of adolescents who suffered difficult upbringings and still need to 'look hard' to maintain their self esteem and image.

But Shrek has to remember that he's not a schoolboy in Croxteth any more – he's a multi million pound brand and his reputation and bank balance will continue to plummet until he grows up.

But it's not just Rooney, all sorts of celebrities continue to humiliate themselves on Twitter.

Boxer Paul Smith was receiving abuse off tweeters as were Rooney, Ferdinand and Gary Neville.

Journalist Piers Morgan isn't soft, he knows how to play the celebrities at their own game by poking their egos in the right places.

Neither are a lot of other Twitter users who play the same game and try to make the celebs 'bite' or react to provocative Tweets.

Result: Rooney is all over the news today for issuing a 'death threat'.

But the reason we love celebrities is because we aspire to be them.

Celebs are divine beings who we are so curious to know what goes on behind their private 12ft mansion walls that we invest in gossip magazines and queue up in drogues to get their autographs.

Twitter removes the media, the 12ft walls and lets us realise what they are like on the inside.

Human, like us.

A music consumer study by Bauer Media said industry bosses are even considering restricting stars' tweets as 'knowing too much can kill off rock stars'.

'In this social media age, it's all too easy to follow your musical icons on a minute-by-minute basis,' the Phoenix IV report said.

'There's a consensus within the industry that this ease of access is leading to artists losing appeal more quickly.'

And Celebs who use Twitter are digging their careers an early grave.

Examples of celebs 'biting'

WayneRooney Wayne Rooney

@sam_oldham_LFC I will put u asleep within 10 seconds hope u turn up if u don't gonna tell everyone ur scared u little nit. I'll be waiting

18 May

WayneRooney Wayne Rooney

@WayneRooney I'll put u asleep within 10 seconds u little girl. Don't say stuff and not follow up on it. I'll be waiting

18 May

WayneRooney Wayne Rooney

@sam_oldham_LFC cool bring ur sandwedge girl

18 May

WayneRooney Wayne Rooney

@sam_oldham_LFC haha u know were I train every day kid come and do it good luck.

piersmorgan Piers Morgan

That's what you said to Sir Alex before he paid you £50mill RT @WayneRooney @piersmorgan Stop hanging on to me pls. I don't want to know u.

Piers Morgan

I love it when a dog looks just like its owner RT @WayneRooney My dog George: t.co/uqDGBi

piersmorgan Piers Morgan

@rioferdy5 hope your car is more reliable than you are Sicknote...

piersmorgan Piers Morgan

@themichaelowen And Benchwarmer's about to blow again....

piersmorgan Piers Morgan

@themichaelowen At least I'm a tosser who gets to do a day's work every day - rather than sit on a bench watching his colleagues do it all.

PaulSmithJnr Paul Smith Jnr

@hughes1984 I hope nothing bad happens to you either because if that's how you act in boozers you'll be getting sparked left right & centre.

15 May

PaulSmithJnr Paul Smith Jnr

@peterpan103 And I hate faceless names who offer advice from behind a computer screen. You've had 8 lifetime tweets. 7 about me. Lighten up!

14 May

PaulSmithJnr Paul Smith Jnr

@peterpan103 Go back to them chat rooms, nonce.

14 May

PaulSmithJnr Paul Smith Jnr

@hughes1984 Proper bit? How old are you, 12? Is that your life, making people bite on Twitter? Do you do that to lads in boozers? Doubt it!

Robbie9Fowler robbie fowler

@srh1878 it's smack " head" you f****n d******... If your gonna give stick out , learn to spell

Theatre visit was a true riot

2011-03-30T02:08:00.000-07:00

It was a trip to the theatre that ended up with more drama than I ever could have imagined.

Along with thousands of other tourists last weekend I travelled to London to experience the capital's culture.

Estimates of half a million protesters, including a ‘huge turnout' from Sefton Unison, were out in force on Saturday, soaking up the sun at Hyde Park and peacefully parading the streets with posters and placards.

However, as the day wore on certain groups had made their bad intentions clear, swigging cans of premium lager while daubing walls with graffiti.
As we entered the London Coliseum on Saturday (March 26) night, it was clear things had the potential to turn ugly.

And it did - after coming out of the theatre some two hours later, we were caught up in a crowd of up to a hundred who were intent on causing as much chaos and carnage as possible.
With their hoods up and faces covered, it was clear they weren't London's mainstream middle-class students, nor the public sector workers who had travelled down for the day – these were anarchists, hell-bent on wreaking havoc.

One individual wearing waist-length dreadlocks was screaming anti-establishment profanities and calling for peace before seconds later, launching his empty glass beer bottle towards a small crowd of riot police that had gathered in Trafalgar Square.

The irony was not lost on the authorities, who keeping their composure, marched towards the gang of anarchists where a game of cat and mouse ensued.

Just minutes later, we were herded through near to Charing Cross tube station, where the culprits, seemingly enraged by the police presence, started fires in the middle of the street.

A police helicopter could be heard roaring overhead as hundreds more rioters began to throw anything they could pick up at a small band of riot police.

Within minutes, back-up had arrived and up to fifty riot police charged at the anarchists in a desperate bid to contain the carnage.

Some rioters backed off but others were intent on fighting and some police were even forced to flea the scene as more glass bottles indiscriminately rained down on them.

Reports suggest 13 police officers were injured. While there were at least 214 arrests, mostly for criminal damage, and 53 protesters were listed as casualties with at least 15 taken to hospital.

Sefton Unison leaders hailed a “fantastic turnout” and said that despite the “tiny minority hell bent on violence should not detract from the biggest Trade Union demonstration in living memory.”

On the way back to our hotel around 1am, we passed a parked coach which was full of police.

After a long night, some had fallen asleep on the windows and others seemed worn out, slumped in their seats like children returning from a school trip, waiting to return to their families.

For many, this will have been their first experience battling against anarchists but sadly with the Royal Wedding coming up and further cut backs to be announced, this is unlikely to be their last.

(James) Cameron's Big Society

2011-02-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

The last community created by a Cameron consisted of thousands of 12ft blue creatures in a far away planet preaching about love and the environment.

Fair enough Avatar clawed back $745million, but when Prime Minister David has his turn of creating a 'Big Society' - it won't be so easy.

While they may not be essential life-saving services; youth centres, leisure centres and libraries all play a vital part in building this 'Big Society' and are being butchered by local councils.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the big blue men had places to read, have fun and look after their youngsters.

But the fact still remains, politics can be one of the most boring subjects to read about, people don't know and don't care until it starts to take effect on their own doorsteps.

Numerous newspaper reader surveys highlight the fact that behind motors and sport, the least people like to read about is the goings on in their country.

While I've never really taken much an interest in it until recently, you can't help but be glued to the news of the latest cuts.

Without getting too deep, my view in politics (and religion) is neutral.

Put simply I don't understand how someone can commit themselves to one organisation and deny all of their faults.

Catholics condemn sexual abuse in the church and many Muslims condemn the 'holy' war against the west.

A real test would be to try to find a Labour politician who admits when in power their party borrowed far too much money.

Or for that matter a Lib/Con politician who agrees that the amount of cuts are happening far too fast, far too soon.

Maybe if the country was run by big blue aliens we could all live in peace – watch this outer space.

Gray skies for Sky's Grey

2011-01-26T06:08:00.000-08:00

Ooooo you beauty - pundit Andy Gray has been sacked, which leaves a huge empty gap that no-one will be able to fill – and that's just in his leather seat.

The larger than life Scot has been the star in the Sky football-wise for over 20 years ever since the company begun their vice-like grip on the modern game.

Being honest, I'm made up. For a man who forged a career out of womanising and dirty tactics behind the backs of referees – how fitting should it be that a female linesman was his downfall.

There's having a laugh with the lads about women behind closed doors in the pub but Gray took it to the extreme.

He's reportedly paid £25,000 a week to be at the country's top sporting media outlet – so with that he has a duty to be responsible – both on and off the air.

Funny how Gray repeatedly lambasted the FA to introduce 'modern video technology' so referees could make up for their mistakes.

His error now has been scrutinised by thousands of viewers on video sharing Youtube and has become a global hit.

The video of him laughing at women's football has over 360,000 views, which is now even more popular than his eccentric celebration of Gerrard's Olympiacos screamer.

So Andy, please, take a bow... and shut the door on your way out.

Gervais a genius?

2011-01-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

There ain't no business like show business as Gervais proved this week.

A Brit from the back streets of reading, Ricky who made his fame by taking the mickey, sensationally moonwalked his way down the red carpet by kicking celebrities into touch.

Stars like Robbie Williams and Katie Price have spent the whole of their careers trying to gain fame across the pond and sensationally flopped.

But in just a few hours Gervais managed it; he went from fat but funny man to the top search on Google.

Whoever you are, it takes an enormous amount of talent to outshine stars such as Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro and Johnny Depp.

These icons have been isolated and pampered on their pedestals for far too long now, they have been hailed by the media and American culture has slurped up all the hype.

Hollywood is a dream-land full of famous faces and luxurious places, paralleled with botox, breast implants and flashy cars - in many ways it sums up the American dream.

But Gervais, known in that circle as the tubby crude Brit, was catapulted to stardom and will now be immortalised in the US for the way he set the place alight at the Golden Globe awards ceremony.

The man is a genius.

His comments included;

On the film 'I Love You Phillip Morris' - “Two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. Sort of the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists then. My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke.”

On Charlie Sheen - “It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking – or as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast.”

On Bruce Willis – Gervais introduced him as Ashton Kutcher's dad

On the Sex and the City cast - “Girls we know how old you are. I saw one of you in an episode of Bonanza.”

Most expensive Tweet ever

2011-01-18T06:47:00.001-08:00

Before people get too carried away feeling sorry for babbling Ryan Babel who has to cough up a £10,000 fine for tweeting a pic of a referee in a Man Utd shirt, let's get some perspective.

Babel's tweet was 13 words and 49 characters depicting Howard Webb as being a Man Utd fan. The fine works out costing him £770 per word or roughly £204 per keystroke.

While this could be dubbed 'the most expensive tweet ever' and bad judgement, let's not forget Liverpool signing the former 'hot prospect' was an even worse and more costly decision.

To throw a few statistics out there since signing for the reds for over £10million the hotly touted attacking winger Ryan Babel has scored a measly 12 goals for the club.

In the four years since his arrival, the player who was once dubbed 'the next Henry' has cost the club £833,333 per goal – that's excluding his wages.

Babel's lucrative weekly pay packet has been reported to be around the mark of £60,000-a-week.

If that were true, Babel would have been paid just under £6 a minute from the club, for every day and night, for the last four years.

The player, who reportedly refused a move to Birmingham last year because of his high wage demands, has spent just under four hours (228 minutes) on the pitch this season.

This would cost Liverpool £4,511 for each minute that Babel has spent in a red shirt.

Maybe it is Babel, not Howard Webb, who should be running around the pitch wearing a black and white strip.

Are you Santa in disguise?

2010-12-23T05:46:00.001-08:00

It looks like Santa isn't the only hard-working family man who lives in a land of snow with a dodgy beard and a fat belly to be given the sack this Christmas, gracing Liverpool with his presents (presence).

Inter have just confirmed that they have dismissed Rafael Benitez as coach, leaving him to spend Christmas in the snow-covered suburbs of Merseyside with his wife and daughters.

Let's hope his stay in Liverpool is as successful as the last time he packed up his belongings and headed for the city, where he decorated Anfield museum with a fifth European Cup, another FA Cup and a Charity Shield.

That means I can now add Rafa's name to my Christmas list along with Villa, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Kaka.

Well... we can all dream.

Ice advice

2010-12-21T03:17:00.000-08:00

Millions of Brits spend each week sat inside watching Dragon's Den.

A programme which exercises the creative minds, promotes innovation and competition to solve every day problems with unique solutions.

Now the snow blizzard and slippery ice conditions have gripped the nation, it would be good if the budding inventors could think of something useful.

Instead of wheely suitcases, instant chip makers and finger painting for kids, why hasn't anyone invented slip-proof shoes or tyres that can't get stuck?

What about approaching Duncan Bannatyne with a formula for instant grit?

Maybe even a battery-powered mini David Cameron with an axe that can cut through the toughest of ice blocks.

Or wind-up plastic hot headed footballers like Joey Barton and Wayne Rooney who could clear driveways by stamping on the ice with their size 10 predators.

And if your vehicle gets stuck in the snow, what better way to fix it than a blow-up Simon Cowell doll, which you put under the car and inflate its head 100x.

My personal favourite would be the Jedward teddy, which when pressed, would hurl out a piercing screech, cringeworthy enough to crack even the toughest of ice spots.

Ice Ice Baby!

Paul McCartney and Glastonbury

2010-12-09T03:54:00.000-08:00

A story featured in the news today about yesterday's Paul McCartney tickets selling out in five minutes.

No wonder I couldn't get them but as ever the touts have sprouted up on eBay selling tickets to the gig to the highest bidder.

The tickets retailed at just over £50.

At this moment there's 20 minutes left and they are being sold for a whopping £430 for two.

There's also a buy it now price on one ticket standing at £545.

People can earn more than what would be a weeks wages for most people, just because they have a faster computer or got lucky with one phonecall.

Some are even making a living from this first-come-first-serve venture.

The worst thing is at the moment, while it is against the terms & conditions of the tickets and gigs, there's nothing the police can do about it because it is strictly legal.

Only in some states in America is it a criminal offence to tout tickets and even then eBay has reportedly been soft on the laws.

The only festival or concert to take effective steps to prevent touting is Glastonbury, which makes users register and have tickets which contain the visitors photograph.

However there is some positive news, the woman who complained yesterday about being scammed on eBay has reported that she has received her money back.

Lets hope people tred carefully when buying presents online over Christmas and that more gigs and tour companies follow in the footsteps of Glastonbury.

eBay - a black market?

2010-12-08T03:43:00.000-08:00

Roll up, sign up and you'll get ripped off.

That's what people are saying about online auction sites after Amit Sharma, a 34-year-old with a string of luxury homes made more than £1million from counterfeit clothing on eBay.

The Greater Manchester resident had used up to 30 different eBay accounts to evade detection and sold fake clothings from top worldwide brands.

While being ripped off at a market is obviously nothing new, as anyone who has ever been to Egypt or Turkey will tell you - the internet offers cyber Dell Boys a Harry Potter cloak of invisibility.

No longer are you able to revisit the same store the following week to dispute your goods and demand answers as to why your Nike label fell off in the palm of your hand.

Nor can you push for a refund if a questionable Tommy Hilfinger aftershave brings you out in some kind of rash.

As scam and con artists can just retreat into web as quickly as it is to create a new username and e-mail address.

This week a resident came to the paper to complain about being ripped off on eBay after she posted a Call of Duty game first class to a buyer.

The purchaser's track record on the site was questionable at best and within the hour he bought another copy of the game but for £10 cheaper from a different person.

Only he claimed not to receive the first more expensive item, leaving the lady in question some £46 out of pocket even though she had proof of postage.

A ticket to ride

Whereas just this morning I nipped out of the office to try and buy some tickets to a surprise Paul McCartney gig in Liverpool from Ticketmaster.

While the chances of getting one of the £50 tickets wasn't high, in fact it came as no surprise to see the gig completely sell out within 20 minutes.

The surprise came however, when less than an hour after selling out, tickets started to appear on eBay which will no doubt be sold for more than double their retail value.

In times of economic downturn, the auction giant should increase security before reputable sellers dwindle away and all that's left is Only Fools and Horses.

Simon says

2010-12-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Having received pearls of wisdom today in quotes that seem fresh out of a Morgan Freeman film from a decorated British war hero, I found it only fair to share them.

Having met Falklands Veteran Simon Weston, I could see why companies like ITN, the BBC and a recruitment campaign for the police, love using him to send a message.

The Welshman comes across emotive but sincere in a firm voice, telling a story which he has probably told countless times before, as though it was yesterday.

After suffering 46% burns, enduring countless operations and battling PTSD and depression, not many are more qualified to define the word success than the public figure.

He told me: “Success is not measured by mansions, Aston Martins or Bentleys – a true measure of success is the improvement between where you once was and where you are now.

”Nothing in life is guaranteed, life doesn't owe you anything except the chance to have the same opportunity as the man next to you.”

The big txt rip off

2010-12-01T02:38:00.000-08:00

They all laughed at the man who invented the mobile phone but now you can say merry Christmas to all of your loved ones, friends and family through a device not much bigger than a mince pie.

For over a decade the giants of the mobile phone industry have been charging us as much as 30p per message for over a decade.

With first class stamp prices on the rise, the price of a home made mince pie might seem relatively cheap to send an instant message, albeit brief, to someone a few miles away or in a different part of the country.

But now smartphones are getting smarter and so are their users.

iPhones initially lured in users via the promise of apps - thousands of free and funky games and somewhat useless gadgets and utensils.

The word App made a late but grand entrance into the internet boom and surfed its way into popular culture with a google search of the word throwing up several million results.

But then it was Blackberry's turn to play catch-up and churn out something they thought to be better and more value for money.

Enter Blackberry Messenger.

In popular culture no longer does BBM stand for Big Beautiful Man.

It does however, mean that once you get hold of one of these nifty smart phones you can send as many texts, pictures and videos to friends on Blackberry devices for free via built in Blackberry messenger; as long as you have unlimited data allowance on your contract.

While negotiating the tiny keypad may prove a difficult task for the sausage fingered folk or those with bad eyesight, BBM offers an opportunity not to be missed; saving pennys and pounds this Christmas by sending free festive messages to your loved ones.

Stiff competition

However the Blackberry unique selling point is now facing some stiff competition.

Applications are being released like WhatsApp, which if prove successful, will revolutionise sending personal messages saving users a potential fortune.

With the apps you can send free multimedia messages to most smartphones, whether Blackberry, Android or iPhone as long as you have unlimited internet on your phone contract.

A standard UK text for Orange O2 and most networks on a pay as you go tariff costs 10p.

While a picture message on pay as you go for O2 can cost 25p or with orange it could cost 30p.

So capturing children's excited grins on Christmas morning on your smartphone and sending it to friends and family over the festive period could end up costing a small fortune.

Whereas if you have WhatsApp, or a similar application, and unlimited internet usage it will cost you nothing.

As we break into the second decade of the 21st Century the possibilities of free multimedia messaging are limitless.

Yanks a lot

2010-10-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

Liverpool season-ticket holders could be forgiven for trading their 'Yanks Out' scarves for 'Yanks a lot' ones this week in a shocking twist of fate.After pleading for a rescue outlet to save them from the depths of American debt and despair, their saviour has come in the unlikely form of the Boston Red Sox owners.

In a symbolic gesture to let off steam and to draw publicity to their cause, a handful of fans stood outside Anfield and burned the American flag only a matter of weeks ago.

But now cigar-chuffing millionaire investor John W Henry is at the forefront of the club, the only positive is that surely things can only get better?

Legal appeal pending, chairman Martin Broughton has came out today and pledged it is not a case of 'out of the frying pan' and 'into the fire' for Liverpool Football Club.

While at the same time, in a season which saw Britan's most successful football club plummet into the relegation zone, fans are understandably once bitten twice shy.

The new investors said: “Our objective is to stabilise the club and ultimately return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies.”

To many fans, including myself, this sounds awfully familiar.

However if Henry's bid is finalised and given the seal of approval by RBS and the Premier League, then Hicks and Gillett will walk away £140million out of pocket.

For Liverpool fans going the derby on Saturday, it might be worth asking around to see if the Evertonians have any spare American flags from last year.

Outlook is bleak for the unpopular geek

2010-09-22T03:06:00.000-07:00

It is happening everywhere...

Since the recent blogpost I wrote about the Miliband brothers being labelled 'geeky' - my prophecy claiming that everyone will soon wear rimmed specs and chequered tops is coming true.

For a start, rather than going out on the town, drinking and snorting cocaine, 'cool footballers' for Chelsea and Man City have spent their weekends playing Xbox 360 hit Modern Warfare 2.

According to reports the players 'take the game really seriously' and 'communicate through their headsets and discuss battle plans'.

But it is not the first time the popular computer game in the Call of Duty series has made an emergence into popular culture.

A popular rap song written by Lil Wayne was remixed by a computer game fan to include lyrics from Call of Duty and received over 30,000 hits.

Keeping it real

Talking of rap - at a recent concert I went to at the Liverpool Echo Arena, cockney-jack-the-lad Professor Green turned up, wearing huge black glasses matched by a chequered shirt that wouldn't look out of place at a Star Trek convention.

The Clapton-bred, talented lyricist, swaggered around the stage preaching hip-hop to hundreds of female fans, wearing uncharacteristic clothes.

But I'm not trying to prompt calls of 'sack the stylist' because this morning the BBC have published a feature article on a new genre of music which continues to blur the line between 'cool' and 'geeky'.

Emerging genre

The genre is called 'Nerdcore' and it has been labelled, hip-hop for rhyming geeks.

Nerdcore MC Madhatter McGinnis told the BBC that geekdom is simply becoming more mainstream.

"My personal take is not that nerdcore is getting big but that the whole world population are becoming nerds," he said.

Just wait until Eminem stops rapping about gangster bling and having blonde b*tches to being a computer king and solving system glitches.

Brummys welcome Benedict

2010-09-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

The much publicised visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Birmingham is culture clash of the year.

A German Catholic from Italy visiting one of Britain's most diverse ethnic and Asian communities.

Impressively Mr XVI is fluent in four languages, including English - but not Brummy.

Along with tens of security guards, he went clothes shopping in the West Midlands this afternoon visiting Birmingham's high street fashion outlets.

The trip went smoothly - the only problem was when he went in a mens' suit shop and asked for a kipper tie.

The shop attendant turned around and replied with 'no problem, but how many sugars your holiness?'

...The old ones are the best.

Cheery Cherie

2010-09-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Interviewed Cherie Blair this week predicting to come away with an understanding as to why the media dislike her so much.

Travelled down to Liverpool to the Jury's Inn hotel expecting to shuffle through an entourage of minders and media reporters to ask her about Tony's controversial book launch.

But what I found was the total opposite. Cherie stood in a room talking politely with two nurses from Crosby charity Jospice.

I expected a media-savvy woman with a clued-up cautious view on journalists because of her past experiences but what I found was one of the most approachable people I've ever interviewed.

Cherie sat me down next to her in the other side of this private meeting room and promptly but politely with an eye-catching smile and all the manorisms of a retired headmistress, began to ask about my education and how long I've been a journalist for.

Whether this was a clever technique to divert attention away from herself I will never know, but what struck me was how friendly and seemingly sincere this woman was.

I'd like to think she opened herself up during the interview as she told about her views of life and death.

“I can remember as a girl in Waterloo, I was the eldest child so my grandma made me go to lots of funerals.

“When someone died, we used to draw the front room curtains back then and being a catholic family we also had a lot of rituals.

”We seem to be more closed up about death now, many people are still very frightened about dying and Jospice helps people come to terms with that.“

Of course I couldn't go back to my editor without having asked her about Tony Blair's book, but she replied in a well rehearsed manor: “whatever the media may think, the sales of the book speak for themselves, it shows that a lot of people are still fans of Tony.”

Maybe so, but after 15 minutes with Cherie I am still none the wiser as to why the media dislike her. Top top woman.

A 'Lost' generation

2010-08-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

The highest ever unemployment rates for graduates is giving birth to a lost generation.

A survey released this week shows that up there with politics, bankers bonuses and job interviews, people find that the most confusing thing in their life is the television series 'Lost'.

In the last few years, record unemployment rates, nationalisation of the banks and the whole politician expense scandal has led to complete disillusionment of today's youngsters.

Some 100,000 young adults aged between 16 and 24 are living on state handouts claiming they are too ill to work.

Merseyside Police statistics show that recreational drug offences during July this year have almost trebled since back in 2004.

While nationally, numbers for benefit claimants have rocketed, the vote turnout for England is the third worst since records began.

Blame the rolemodels

Youngsters' role models are people like Paris Hilton, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

While I would gladly trade in my right foot for Wayne Rooney's or my physique for that of Steven Gerrard and maybe my party-reputation for Paris Hilton's.

I wouldn't want Gerrard's ego, Rooney's bad temper nor Paris Hilton's cringeworthy personality.

We are supposed to be one of the most civilised societies in the world yet our youngsters have no money, have no say in how the country is governed and lust over millionaires behaving badly.

A lot of my friends are coming out of university with degrees, some £20,000 in debt to the country and are signing straight on the dole.

But you can not attribute this to the generation that gave us the ASBO, Jeremy Kyle and Jedward. There is simply not enough jobs out there for them.

Gone are the days when you could swing from job-to-job.

In 2008 a friend of mine worked for British Aerospace and has had a number of successful jobs before spending a few years touring abroad.

He returned to England earlier this year finding himself with no qualifications and claims to have recently applied or enquired about more than 75 jobs to no avail.

Many unemployed indie kids, moshers, chavs, emos and skaters are stranded in an identity struggle caused by current and previous governments.

And from record youth employment to record youth enjoyment, with the world wide web and a staggering variety of satellite channels.

Millions of people can afford to spend their time mulling over the complicated plot of Lost.

Many unemployed people are now refusing to move away from their parents homes until they have their own children, spawning yet another 'Lost generation'.

TOP 10 MOST CONFUSING (confused.com)

1. Bankers' bonuses

2. Policies of political parties

3. Global warming/carbon emission policies

4. Pensions, share prices and interest rates

5. The term 'smart/casual'

6. Job interviews

7. Fuel bills

8. Twitter/predictive texts

9. US TV drama Lost

10. Flat pack furniture

It's cool to be a geek

2010-06-16T03:37:00.000-07:00

Tory paper the Daily Mail has labelled Labour leaders Ed and David Miliband's 'geeky'.

So what is a geek?

A search on dictionary.com conjures up “a computer expert on enthusiast” adding that it is “a term of pride as self-reference, but often considered offensive when used by outsiders.”

These are the kind like say... the comic book guy or the mad scientist out of the Simpsons, these were your traditional geeks, back in the 90s.

Chequered shirts and huge round Roy Orbison glasses – note the Milibands have neither.

But the dictionary.com definition is clearly out of date.

Times have changed

Fast-forward 20 years and now it is cool to be a geek. For proof, just look into the hype of the latest iPhone4.

People buzz off it. Everyday-type folk not just your average stereotypical geek with his Deirdre Rasheed 90s rims who gets his kicks from Pacman and 2D tennis.

Not just business people but youngsters, teenagers, 20 somethings, rockstars, footballers and even pensioners are embracing technology with open arms and are racing to stay at the forefront.

What's the difference between an iphone and an iphone 3GS?

Some £200 – but it's got faster internet and it's got x amount more of more gigerbytes and RAM to brag about to your mates.

What was ten years ago, a language only computer programmers could understand, is now hip, cool and state-of-the-art linguistic fashion.

My 15-year-old cousin told me I needed a new phone because apparently mine doesn't have enough RAM or a high mega-pixel camera.

The image of the 90s unfashionable and unpopular geek has slowly eroded out of the present and will forever stay in the form of the comic book guy and Rick Astley.

The comeback

Geeks have been embraced by popular culture moreso now than ever – and if you don't believe me look up this blog in six months when people are wearing their large-rimmed 3D specs with an iPhone4 at hand.

Even the more sociable ones, those who used to attend parties on Friday and Saturday nights are now staying in to catch up on the latest goss on Twitter and Facey.

I've heard it's only a matter of time before braces and chequered shirts come back too - so watch this space.

iPad: The Death of Newspapers

2010-06-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

A colleague's old workplace at the Chorley Citizen newspaper is to be knocked down and converted into a funeral home.

What was once a thriving newspaper office at the heart of the community will be replaced by coffins, dead bodies and gravestones.

You honestly couldn't make it up. Technology boffins will argue it is symbolic of where the newspaper industry is going.

They say today's newspapers are yesterday's news and tomorrow's fish and chip wrappers.

They also say everything that is published in a newspaper is already out of date by the time the paper is printed. This paves the way for a string of successful up-to-date community news websites.

For these websites to overtake newspapers they must first understand the basic principles of journalism, learn the contempt of court act and police their forums with an iron fist.

The technology boffins also say that last weeks introduction of the new i-Pad would be the nail in the coffin for hand-held newspapers and will completely outdo them in every use.

But a friend of mine lives in University student halls and when they run out of toilet paper, someone nudges a local newspaper under the door - somehow I don't think there is an app for that.

England World Cup 2010 Squad

2010-06-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

Fair play to Fabio Capello for dropping some big name bookies favourites when he announced the England squad.

Players who had been odds on such as Walcott, Bent and Baines, all missed out on a ticket to South Africa at the last minute.

Regardless of what your opinion might be on his squad selection, this shows Capello can make ballsy decisions and doesn't just sit on public opinion like Mcclaren did.

It shows that Fabio has a master-plan and he doesn't take any nonsense.

I'm sure it won't effect the moral of the rejected players as they sit with their WAGS and watch from a 62” 3D plasma TV somewhere in the Carribean.

Men are bigger liars than women

2010-05-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

A survey of 3,000 people suggests that men are more likely to lie than women - but more worryingly it also tells us more about the average British male's lifestyle.

Men were most likely to lie about their alcohol consumption and having no signal while women's most popular fib was 'Nothing's wrong, I'm fine' and 'I don't know where it is, I haven't touched it'

Mums are the people mostly likely to be lied to, says the Science Museum who commissioned the survey.

Twenty-five per cent of men say they've lied to their mother, but only 20% of women admit to having lied to their mum.

It found that males in the survey admitted to telling an average of three lies each day compared to women admitting to telling an average of just two.

But it can't be right because I'm sure I went through all day in work on Friday without telling one lie.

Come to think about it, when I got back from the pub that night the conversation went something like this:

Mum: How much have you had to drink?

Me: Only two pints (lie #1), What have you done with the cans of Guinness I put in the fridge?

Mum: I don't know I haven't touched them

Phone rings -

Girlfriend: Why didn't you answer your phone earlier?

Me: I had no signal (lie #2) - why what's up?

Girlfriend: nothing's up, what's up with you are you drunk?

Me: No, I've only had two pints (lie #3)

MEN'S TOP 10 LIES

1. I didn't have that much to drink

2. Nothing's wrong, I'm fine

3. I had no signal

4. It wasn't that expensive

5. I'm on my way

6. I'm stuck in traffic

7. No, your bum doesn't look big in that

8. Sorry, I missed your call

9. You've lost weight

10. It's just what I've always wanted

WOMEN'S TOP 10 LIES

1. Nothing's wrong, I'm fine

2. I don't know where it is, I haven't touched it

3. It wasn't that expensive

4. I didn't have that much to drink

5. I've got a headache

6. It was in the sale

7. I'm on my way

8. Oh, I've had this ages

9. No, I didn't throw it away

10. It's just what I've always wanted

Tory Times

2010-05-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

I've just managed to get through my first working day under a Conservative Government and somehow scraped through unscathed.

There have been no chairs put through the office windows nor a sign of a repeat of the Toxteth riots or a mass amount of people been put out of jobs.

Sat in a pub last night with six of my mates, alarm bells rang out when someone got a text saying Cameron is the new PM.

The night was ruined as the conversation turned from football and banter to finance and budget.

Seven lads, all under the age of 25, none of them having worked a day under a Tory Government, began to speculate as to how bad spending cuts will be, amid record youth unemployment and the highest ever graduation rates.

Haunted by parent's tales of millions out of work, that 'witch' Maggie Thatcher (the milk snatcher) took away free milk from children and vanished the voice of working class Britain, stripping away power from the unions.

The turnout for this election was 65%. Some couldn't vote because they ran out of paper while others complained they couldn't be bothered waiting because of mass queues at polling stations.

These are the fast days of the fast internet, fast microwavable pasta, fast mobile phones – people have OD OCD (on-demand obsessive compulsive disorder).

Here's to hoping that Cameron and Clegg don't follow in Thatcher's footsteps and please the young OD OCD generation with fast solutions to match.

Conspiracy theories - fact or fiction?

2010-04-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Draw the curtains and lock the door - because what I’m about to tell you is completely top secret.

The ash cloud halting all planes this week was just a cover-up to stop people seeing UFOs.
The Government is always watching us and knows more about ourselves than we do.
Aliens with supreme intelligence and technology lived on this planet before us.
Planes have been grounded because of UFOS in the area - not the ash.
World domination has been planned for centuries by leaders.
Flouride is put in our water to dumb us down.
The pope knows the day the world will end.
GM foods cause cancer and serious illness.
Swine flu was created by scientists.
9/11 was an inside job.

These are just a number of conspiracy theories that have been nudged my way via a number of different sources this week.

I couldn’t say I believe any of them. In fact as the list goes on it they get more ridiculous.

Although it does emphasise the powers of freedom of speech in this country.

Unlike information restrictions in China where Google is still fighting a battle to this day, views like this can get through to the mainstream public and they have a right to believe what they want.

But why do people believe in conspiracy theories and why do people seem to be more popular now than ever.

Patrick Leman of new scientist magazine asked the question why do we believe in conspiracies:

“One factor fuelling the general growth of conspiracy beliefs is likely to be that the internet allows new theories to be quickly created, and endlessly debated by a wider audience than ever.

"For instance a conspiracy-based website built around the death of Princess Diana, for example, sprang up within hours of the car crash that killed her in 1997.

“Instability makes most of us uncomfortable; we prefer to imagine we live in a predictable, safe world, so in a strange way, some conspiracy theories offer us accounts of events that allow us to retain a sense of safety and predictability.”

Case closed then - or is it….?

3D glasses - hot or not?

2010-04-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

Twenty years ago they said computers made you look silly and that the technology wouldn't catch on.

Now critics are repeating the same phrases for 3D glasses after two Litherland pubs were among the first in Merseyside to pioneer next generation 3D football this week.

Both The Priory and The Netherton pulled pints for up to a hundred people wearing the required glasses on Saturday to watch Manchester United's defeat to Chelsea.

One local resident at The Netherton summed it up when he said: “I've only had 2 bevies but with these glasses on I feel like I've had twelve not to mention the fact I look like Roy Orbison!”

Pubs that screen the exclusive Sky 3D football matches have to fork out a cost of around £2,500 for the initial system set-up.

The huge cost helps fund the separate special camera that is required for 3D viewing in the stadium and currently the only one set-up is stationed at Old Trafford.

But the landlords of both pubs believe the technology to be popular amongst customers despite the lack of Merseyside 3D coverage.

Ray Pennington landlord of The Priory said: “It is definitely something unique and different but I think it will catch on.

”People were saying there is not much difference at first but the closer the camera is to the pitch the more impact it has. Like when the camera zooms in for throw-ins and replays it really is impressive.

“I think to feel the full impact of it though we would need to see more Merseyside games being covered.”

Gary Butcher landlord of The Netherton added: “We wouldn't have been that busy without it. People liked it and it was a big hit with the customers. I feel it has rekindled a lot of interest in going the pub to watch football as it brings a new experience.”

The top of the table clash was broadcast live by Sky in 3D to more than 1,000 pubs.

Sky will be showing another five Premiership games before the end of the season starting with Manchester United against Blackburn this weekend before the Manchester derby.

The company will find out the true popularity of the 'Roy Orbison glasses' when Sky 3D is rolled out to UK home TVs later this year.

In the meantime I think i'll sit back and wait until they invent 3D contact lenses or 3D laser eye treatment.

How corporate greed greases the wheels of football

2010-03-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Being a regular football match-goer, I often pass those prawn-sandwich-munching corporate folk before and after the game.

You know, the I-get-free-tickets-because-my-company-sponsors-the-club brigade (IGFTBMCSTC) who turn up in suits, wear sunglasses in the winter and think nothing of paying £2 for a cup of tea and £4.50 for a hotdog.

But where they disappear to during the 90 minutes of football is a mystery to many fans and so is what they do to justify their mega salaries of £100,000-a-year plus.

The fact is, football is no longer the working class mans game it once was.

While thirty years ago a match costed the equivalent of a portion of chips. today it costs the same as a fresh lobster dish with a bottle of neat wine.

And as the game takes a more corporate route, young local fans are being priced out of following in their fathers and grandfathers footsteps.

This is highlighted each time a major tournament comes around.

Whether it be World Cup, Champions League or the Uefa Cup, ticket allocations will always favour the 'IGFTBMCSTC club' over loyal local fans.

Today the chief executive of the World Cup 2010 organising committe (and no doubt a member of the IGFTBMCSTC brigade) gave a meaningful tour around Johannesburg to Jessica Alba.

No doubt he wined and dined the sex symbol on expenses before inviting her into the IGFT.... brigade, offering her free tickets to any games she wanted.

I'm no expert but I'm sure South Africa has plenty of people who deserve that tour more than the Hollywood hottie who has no direct connections with football nor South Africa and is married to some bloke called Cash (if you don't believe me).

I guess it just about sums up the attitude of the I-get-free-tickets-because-my-company-sponsors-the-club brigade and the people in charge of football.

Forget the game itself - it's all about appearances and money.

Colegate scandal leaves bitter taste

2010-02-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Would someone please tell Ashley Cole to publicly apologise to Cheryl because this Colegate scandal is leaving a bitter taste in some people’s mouths.

Not just because there are millions of blokes up and down the country muttering to themselves ‘How can you cheat on a girl like that?’

Or because paranoid WAGS are now trawling through hundreds of messages on their Premiership partners’ iPhones wondering if they are playing away whilst playing away.

The real reason is that Cheryl ‘Cole’ is now on the front page of every news paper and news website - you just can’t escape it.

Even when you sign into MSN you get a news pop up with Cheryl’s face minus her immaculately crafted dimples.

So why is that a bad thing?

Cheryl Cole helped wean her ex-boyfriend off heroin and is known for being a down to earth genuine-type girl-next-door.

She also happens to be one of the most sought after attractive pop stars since Britney Spears first donned that school girl uniform in 1999.

Without sounding chauvinistic - or like an obsessive stalker, the fact is, Cheryl makes nearly all other good-looking girls that you pass on the street look ordinary.

And she breaks that stereotype that all WAGS are full of themselves, look down on people with less ‘wonga’ yet sponge off their husbands.

I suppose it means that even if you ‘fight, fight, fight for this love’ sometimes it just isn’t meant to be.

Here’s hoping Ashley joins the publicly disgraced sporting love rats club featuring Tiger Woods and John Terry with a public apology to match - it’s the least she deserves.

The true cost of dementia

2010-02-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

I interviewed a person about dementia this week, I can't remember who he was, or even when it was but he made some very important points.

Dementia itself is no such laughing matter; it directly effects one in three people in the UK and costs the economy twice as much as cancer and three times as much as heart disease.

But the true cost of dementia - losing a loved one and seeing them degraded and their memory erode over a short period of time, is unimaginable for those who are yet to experience it.

"It's a really traumatic exprience for all of those involved, you have to be there for them 24-7 and virtually have to give up the whole of your social life," a 79-year-old man who was forced to put his wife into a care home told me.

"It started with little things like losing track of time and being fussy with her eating. It then got to the stage where she would wander outside in the middle of the night and she couldn't remember any of our grandchildren's names."

Dementia patients require round-the-clock care and unlike other illnesses the thing about dementia is, if you can't care for the patient yourself, a simple free alternative isn't provided on the NHS.

But the responsiblity falls with your local council. They first assess the person's income and joint assets to find out how much they will pay towards their carehome.

"They are taking away my children's inheritence and part of my retirement fund, things that I have worked towards for all of my life - it is unbelievable," the man added.

And you have to feel for him, because this is happening all around the country and is a current major national issue.

It is important that whoever gets in power in this years general election and sits down at number 10, doesn't forget about the true cost of dementia.

Wii Willy wins key

2010-01-20T02:10:00.000-08:00

Prince William has shown that he has the key to winning the Australian public over after he was pictured bowling with children on their wii.

The could-be future king hasn’t visited the country since he was nine months old with Diana back in 1983.

Since then he has grown up into one of the most genuine and popular figures of the Royal family.

And he showed glimpses of his mother, mingling with all sorts of people before allegedly visiting some of the country’s nightclub hotspots last night.

The visit has shown that unlike his predecessors, William appears down to earth and happy to mix with anyone from single mothers to aborigines.

Whereas princes gone by would have gladly labelled them as peasants and had them executed.

What we'd be glad to see the back of in 2010...

2009-12-31T03:23:00.000-08:00

Katie Price aka Jordan

Jordan sums up a lot of things that is wrong with British culture.

The 'glamour model' has appeared on the front page of almost every newspaper and magazine in the last 12 months.

She earned millions through her very public relationship with Peter Andre, yet her talents probably couldn't even earn her a Blue Peter badge.

If selling exclusive rights to her and Peter's televised wedding for over 2 million pounds wasn't bad enough - she also has the cheek to complain about a lack of a private life.

Jordan finished in second place in the Daily Mail's Chav rich list.

Lets hope in the new year she takes the kids to a quiet country house in Devon and decides to take up a vow of celebacy.

The North Face jacket

Originally worn by elderly ramblers and hill walkers in the Lake District, the North Face brand filtered its way through to hardmen such as football hooligans and Ross Kemp.

But now in December, the North Face logo has become a badge of honour for 12-year-old ASBO chavs hanging around outside your Macdonalds.

This durable wind-proof jacket or coat has earned its hardened reputation for being reliable in all forms of weather.

Last January it was worn by pensioners braving the freezing weather hill-walking in the hope of finding a new hobby other than bingo and Coronation St.

By early spring the jacket emerged as a fashion accessary on the football terraces for the token football hooligan.

And by late spring Ross Kemp was seen sporting a limited edition spring North Face anorak whilst interviewing some of the world's most violent mobs and gangs.

But now in the coldest time of our winter, it has become impossible to get some fast food without having to shimmy through a pack of skinny-looking 12-year-olds sharing a cigarette; all wearing North Face.

It looks like what happened to Burberry is now happening to the North Face jacket.

It's a good job I kept my receipt.

Prescription pills - Jacko, Heath Ledger and now Brittany Murphy

2009-12-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

By David Raven

It sounds like a tasteless joke.

But what do Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Brittany Murphy all have in common?

For a start they were all influencial legends of the 21st century whose work inspired millions.

However they also shared a darker side.

They abused dangerous prescription drugs which they took to escape personal issues that ultimately resulted in their deaths.

It is well documented that Jacko suffered abuse as a child and Heath Ledger was an alleged insomniac.

And Brittany Murphy also had issues with bi-polar disorder and depression.

All three were found to be taking powerful drugs that are used to combat depression and anxiety.

The jury is still out on whether the stars needed the drugs that ultimately resulted in their deaths.

In the glossy celebrity obsessed culture we live in - it is just a harsh reminder that celebrities are people too.

People that behind the glamorous lifestyle, have a huge workload that they struggle to cope with.

Jacko has been touring and moonwalking on our TV screens for nearly 40 years.

Heath Ledger appeared in 19 hit films and was also a music video director and producer.

And Brittany starred in seven box office hits and had both a successful music and modelling career.

It would be fair to say it was their admirable work rate and ambition which made them famous.

But that ultimately also resulted in their deaths.

Police hunt for 'bottom sniffer'

2009-12-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

By David Raven

Last month a police report suggested that more than a third of crimes were recorded incorrectly.

And yesterday a man was caught on camera repeatedly smelling a shelf-stacker's bum at a Co-op in Devon.

The man is wanted by police in connection with a sexual assault.

But shouldn't he be charged with arson around in a supermarket?

The police hope that by releasing footage of the incident it will help them get to the bottom of it.

Let's hope they give him a taste of his own medicine by setting their sniffer dogs on his tail as well.

New identity cards could be a waste of time and money

2009-12-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

By David Raven

New identity cards will be available in Liverpool from the end of February.

They will contain two sets of your fingerprints, your photograph and your personal details.

Although they are optional, police have said that the identity cards will help protect us all from crime, terrorism and illegal immigration.

But try telling that to Cynthia Boakye, who's 18-month-old toddler was abducted from police custody after a woman walked into a London police station - with no identification and claimed to be a friend of the child's mother.

The mother Cynthia, 36, was arrested last Thursday and her 18-month-old daughter was in care of the police whilst they tried to contact her nearest relative.

Cynthia was arrested over alleged immigration offences on Thursday.

Charges that can include not having any identification which proves your stay in the country is legit.

The same day an unnamed woman arrived at the police station, claimed to be a friend of Cynthia and abducted the child without being asked for any I.D.

Thankfully the child was later found and the woman arrested.

But it just goes to show that the new identity cards will be a complete waste of time unless the police play their part in asking for them.

X-Factor - John Lennon would be turning in his grave.

2009-12-19T05:02:00.000-08:00

By David Raven

Tonight is the first Saturday night in the last 15 weeks without the X-Factor.

Like all good things, it must come to an end.

But people shouldn't be quick to forget that the show doesn't stop at just 'reality TV'.

If Simon Cowell gets his wish and X-Factor winner Joe tops the charts tomorrow, then it will be our fifth successive X-Factor Christmas number one.

So what does this say about the British youth and the music industry?

Long gone are the days when our talented youngsters like the Beatles and Oasis create new sounds in their bedrooms in the hope of creating groundbreaking new music.

As now the same teenagers join the Wayne and Waynettas of our country in flocking to the nearest X-Factor audition in the hope of being this years hot celebrity.

And next years pantomine stars.