Monthly Archives: March 2011

Londoners Life 10 – By Phil Ryan

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Londoners Life 10 – by Phil Ryan

We often hear of problems in London with parking. The main gripe of drivers being that Councils are now just using high parking charges as a revenue generator. And it is clearly true despite the Councils mealy mouthed explanations. My favourite being that it stops commuters driving to Tube stations and clogging the local roads (this slightly shot down by the fact that parking restrictions are on every single street in every single borough now miles from any tube stations) I tell people you can drive in London you just can’t actually stop anywhere!

And if ever proof were needed recently that champion of fairness and kindness Baby Shrek look alike Brian Coleman the Leader of the Council in Barnet even laughingly said he felt they were never knowingly underpriced. This as he announced they were doubling parking charges for residents in his borough and it was just tough! But this time the residents are taking Barnet Council to court saying it’s unfair. Good luck to them. As a London driver I’m used to being abused and lied to – so it’s nice to see some Londoners fighting back. Of course they’ll lose. It’s the London way. The fix is in. But hey if it makes one idiot local councillor pause for thought it’s got to be worth it.
London sadly has a history of shooting fish (ie all London taxpayers) and in a barrel in this way. In other words once they realise they have a monopoly and there is nothing Londoners can do they rip us off. Higher prices for nothing in return. TFL are a great example of this. Prices go up and up on the Underground and then incredibly the service just gets worse and worse! And travelling conditions are really horrible lately. Squeezing people in like a game of Twister on amphetamines. The tube is getting more and more like one of those Japanese game shows without a prize at the end. And Londoners grimly put up with it. Why? No alternative. Monopoly. The Oyster card now a badge of endurance.

And whilst on Transport issues I notice the Boris Bikes are suddenly coming in for scrutiny. The scheme apparently costing the taxpayer some mad sum of money anytime someone makes a journey. Why is it so expensive you ask? Because of the company behind it and the mug contract signed by TFL and the Mayor. It’s funny how London politicians vanity projects seem to get pushed through despite apparent layers of ‘scrutiny’. Green is always good is the mantra. No matter how ineffective or expensive. After they added up the costs it turns out that the bikes would be cheaper to the public purse if they are just left in the racks and the riders are carried around by slaves in those sedan chairs. And as for the cycle highways ie blue lines painted on the road. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Please don’t get me wrong. I do love the idea of a bike scheme. But not the ludicrous costs. But I must calm down. The sun is out – the Royal parks are still free and looking glorious and the hints of spring in London are everywhere. Daffodils on roundabouts etc.
Fashion Week is over and new spring looks are appearing but the biggest sign is the re-appearance of the outside table.

Londoners can’t resist them. That Parisian air of lolling about watching the world pass by. Admittedly you also get large Buses and Lorries as well. So you can choke on your cappuccino as you ogle the passing public. I don’t get it. Who wants to sit on a pavement? Pollution falling over you as you sip your overpriced beverage.

But hey it’s that cool al fresco London experience. Despite it being five degrees, everywhere I go hardy souls are out with their new shades and iphones blabbing away. And it could just be me but where are all these tiny dogs coming from? They are everywhere. It seems de rigueur now for designer shaded girls and boys to currently accessorize with an animal that looks like an angry rat in a fur wrap. These sharp toothed little rodent dogs perch quiveringly under their owners chairs snapping at anyone who passes by. I’m still trying to work out their function. They’re skin and bone so they score low on the cuddle factor. They can’t do tricks as they’d break. I guess they could be a good defence animal as they can easily be hurled at a mugger. The element of surprise of being hit at fifty miles an hour by a small snarling rodent a great deterrent. (Kidding) Or are they just loyal companions? The jury is still out I think.

But spring is evident in the air. It’s charity time. All the great and the good are filling our airtime with their appeals. Exhorting us to open our wallets. It’s all in a good cause. Red nose this. Flowers for that. Without people dressed as clowns outside Waterloo rattling buckets it seems as if London would cease to function. But Londoners are generous. So when they’re outside in artic conditions sitting at their table drinking a cappuccino with an angry demented rat on a string what happens? Some person dressed as a giant Yellow Cat strides up demanding money for underprivileged trees. Does it bother them? Does it faze them? No. It’s a London thing.

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY SUPPORTS BUAV CAMPAIGN TO END CRUEL COSMETICS TESTS ON ANIMALS

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LONDON: Sir Paul McCartney has declared his support for BUAV’s No Cruel Cosmetics campaign to end animal testing for toiletries and cosmetic products sold in the EU.

Sir Paul said: “Animals should not suffer in the name of beauty. Testing toiletries and cosmetics on animals is cruel and unnecessary. Join me in signing the BUAV’s petition to ensure the sale of cruel products in the EU is outlawed by 2013. Say NO to Cruel Cosmetics.”

 

Despite UK and EU bans on the use of animals to test cosmetics and toiletries, cosmetic companies are still allowed to sell products within the EU that have been tested on animals in other parts of the world.

 

An import and sales ban on animal tested products in the EU is due to come into effect in 2013. However, concerns have arisen that there may be a delay of up to ten years for this to be implemented. In response, the BUAV has launched the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign calling for the ban to come into effect as planned in 2013.

 

If the ban were to be delayed, hundreds of thousands of animals will continue to die in cruel cosmetics tests for beauty products sold in the EU. Thousands of people across the EU have already signed the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign petition, including Sir Paul McCartney, to be sent to the European Parliament. You can sign the petition at www.nocruelcosmetics.org.

 

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of BUAV, said: “We are delighted that Sir Paul has joined our campaign to end cruel tests on animals for beauty products.  Please sign our petition to the European Parliament at www.nocruelcosmetics.org. Together we can show there is no public appetite for animal tested cosmetics and urge the European Parliament to vote against delaying this ban”.

 

Celebrities, politicians, cosmetic companies and citizens of Europe are being urged to sign the Euro-wide petition.

 

 

Spotted! Elle MacPherson

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Host of Britain’s Next Top Model, Elle Macpherson, was spotted in stylish Chelsea Brasserie, The Ebury on Pimlico road, dining on a goat’s cheese salad with friends. The restaurant is known for its fashionable crowd, which might have been why Ms Macpherson, who is on the look out for contestants in the newest series of her show, paid a visit.

Become a Cannes VIP and Star in a film for Stella Artois

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Would you like to star in a film that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival? Actors all over the globe dream of an opportunity like this.

Stella Artois has launching the ultimate film fan’s competition offering would-be stars the chance to play Jacques d’Azur, the legendary ‘King Of Cannes’, in the highly anticipated biopic of his life. In addition to playing the leading role in the film, the lucky winner willalso attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival where the movie will premiere, and will receive movie star treatment throughout their trip. Would-be leading ladies need not miss out on all the fun – the online casting call alsooffers the opportunity to audition for a starring role playing opposite the legendaryJacques d’Azur.

Following Jacques d’Azur’s mysterious disappearance in 2010, Stella Artois launched a search for his rightful heir who was treated to Jacques’ week at the Cannes Film Festival.

Having been missing for over a year, Jacques is presumed dead, and all of Hollywood eagerly anticipates the movie of his life. But the greatest challenge still lies ahead – noactor can be found to play the leading role.
Stella Artois is now kicking off the search for the perfect leading man, using the latest in digital technology to ensure would-be Jacques’ from far and wide have the chance to audition.

The winner of this once in a lifetime opportunity will jet off to Cannes to film their part,and will then be treated to a five star experience befitting their newfound celebrity.
In true film star style, the premiere will be followed by a star studded party at Chez Jacques’, Stella Artois’ luxury, invitation-only lounge at the Carlton Hotel’s exclusivebeachfront property in Cannes.

To enter, budding movie stars will need to film their scenes on their webcam and this footage will then be seamlessly added with the leading lady’s scenes to produce a casting film which would-be Jacques’ can share with their friends and family online. On April 1st, all submitted casting tapes will be put before our panel of distinguished judges who will select a short list of 200 Jacques’hopefuls, to be announced on April 5, 2011. The star of the film will be chosen from this short list.

Visit www.stellaartois.com for details and to apply. Good Luck!

Paul Costelloe – LFW – The Review

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The newly rescued Paul Costelloe opened London Fashion Week with a collection that mixed fun and sophistication for his Autumn/Winter 2011 range.

Bright candy coloured hues of pink, green, orange and yellow sauntered down the catwalk alongside checked tweeds, metallic jaquards, and pchycadelic prints – all keeping with this season’s top gun fashion trends of the sixties and seventies.
The sixties silouettes and details that prevails as being one of the hot trends of this year, played a significant part in Costelloe’s collection.  On women, trapeze coats, boxy jackets and tweed bomber jackets were teamed with skater skirts and accesorized with bright opaque tights and nude platform courts.
Sixties baby doll dresses with peterpan collars and mock button plackets came in bright and checked tweeds, bright watercolour prints and metallic brocade. In the fashion hype for deep stitch detail and colour blocking, Costelloe procured his collection with a flow of bold, statement making pieces.
Detailing came in the form of pleats; most notably at the waist and neckline. With the instilled brightness of the collection, some may have found this a less noticable factor – but us at Frost, found it simply divine.
The Female and Male Fashion show, showed the female models dressed in matching red bobbed wigs in perfect accompaniment with a mix of soft lilac and traffic light Red shades of  lipstick – intrinsic to the quality of Costelloe’s shows.
Menswear styles were slightly more muted and resembed lounge wear, aside from the brightly hued check jacket, the subtler designs included velvet jackets and belts – in keeping with the signature sophistication of the Costelloe Man.

The brand was recently rescued from administration by Cesar Araujo, the owner and chief executive of Portuguese supply group Calvelex, who has set up a new UK based company named Couture Brands.

BECOMING HUMAN MOVES FROM ONLINE TO BBC THREE

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Being Human’s exclusive online extension drama “Becoming Human” will transmit on BBC Three, simultaneously revealing the final part of the mystery to online fans and BBC Three viewers.

A unique 50-minute special of the eight part online series will be shown the week after the Being Human finale, on Sunday 20th March at 9pm.

Becoming Human is BBC Three’s most successful multiplatform commission with over 1.5 million views on the red button and online to date.

Sarah Clay, BBC Multiplatform Drama Commissioner, says: “The reaction from the fans has been brilliant. We commissioned it as a treat for the online fans and they’ve totally got into the spirit of it – analysing daily clues, coming up with theories… One of the biggest pieces of feedback we’ve had is that they can’t get enough of it and want longer episodes. So we hope they’ll be excited to hear that the whole of Becoming Human will be shown as one long episode on BBC Three. With the added twist that the final part of the puzzle showing how Matt died will be revealed on TV and online at the same time.”

Toby Whithouse, series creator says: “We were delighted when Becoming Human found such a loyal and enthusiastic audience online. The reaction was beyond our most optimistic dreams. And so for the BBC to give us this opportunity to share the show with a wider audience is fantastic news.”

Becoming Human was created by Toby Whithouse (Being Human) and written by Brian Dooley (Being Human, The Smoking Room), Jamie Mathieson (Being Human) and John Jackson (Being Human). Following events that unfold in episode two of Being Human, the character of Adam (Craig Roberts; Young Dracula), a Vampire, takes us into a fictional college where he is trying to get himself back on the straight and narrow and it’s here he meets the beautiful, cool Christa (Leila Mimmack; Married, Single, Other) – who just happens to be a werewolf. They strike up a friendship with Matt (Josh Brown; Grange Hill), and the three of them become embroiled in a mystery that leads to more than they bargained for…

Rob Pursey and Phil Trethowan are the Executive Producers for Touchpaper Television (part of Zodiak Media Group), Toby Whithouse is Creator and Executive Producer, Eleanor Moran is Executive Producer for the BBC and Hannah Thomas is producing. The online content and interactivity was produced and managed by Barry Pilling and Garret Keogh at Zodiak Active. The series was shot on location in Wales.

The series was commissioned by Sarah Clay, BBC Multiplatform Drama Commissioner.
Becoming Human will TX ‘Sunday 20th March’ at ‘9pm’ on BBC Three .

Follow the mystery online at www.bbc.co.uk/becominghuman
is the highest performing BBC Three website, offering fans a regularly updated behind-the-scenes glimpse into the show.

Things To Do: Clay Pigeon Shooting

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There’s more to life than watching TV, but sometimes the imagination runs dry. So here at Frost we have decided to put our feelers out to find unusual and fun things to do. The first thing I came across was Clay Pigeon Shooting. This website has some information on it Positive Shooting and I found a cool video on it as well.

Anything you like doing that you want Frost to know about? Contact us or comment below.

Rape: The No Crime Crime?

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There are not many subjects that people want to talk about less than rape. It’s never a nice subject and also evokes controversy. But, in my opinion, what is really controversial is how easy it is to get away with. In fact In 1977, according to one report, 30% of rape cases ended in conviction in the UK. Today it is 6%. The plan to grant anonymity to rape suspects was a surprise inclusion in the government’s coalition agreement in May. It seems to have been dropped by the Ministry of Justice, but the fact that such a law was thought up says little about our government’s respect for women who have to endure such an ordeal. The ministry said it had not ruled out anonymity between arrest and charge, something that is more understandable.

It was not in the Conservative or Liberal Democrat election manifestos, although it had been Lib Dem policy since 2006.

The coalition agreement pledged to “extend anonymity in rape cases to defendants”, with ministers stressing the need to “protect anyone who may be wrongly accused from harmful stigma”.

Prime Minister David Cameron appeared to bow to pressure from campaigners when he said he favoured a “limited extension” to the law to cover the period between arrest and charge.

Campaign group Women Against Rape said they were “glad the government has been forced to back down”.

A spokeswoman said: “Why should men accused of rape have special protection not offered to those facing charges of murder, terrorism or child abuse?

“People are no more likely to be falsely accused of rape than of other crimes. Why this attempt to further discredit and discriminate against rape survivors?”

Conservative MP Louise Bagshawe told The Observer that by “singling out rape in this way, ministers are sending a negative signal about women and those who accuse men of rape”.

The Truth is that 1 in 4 women have experienced rape or attempted rape, 95% of cases are never reported, 23% of reported cases are ‘no crime,’ or thrown out, by the police. Over 66% of reported cases never make it to court and the conviction rate is a depressing 6.5% for reported cases. It seems rape is the easiest crime to get away with. Then there is the fact that marital rape in the United Kingdom was only made illegal in 1994. By Michael Howard.

In a recent article in the London’s Evening Standard Met officers repeatedly breached official rules by writing off rape allegations as “no crime” incidents, a Scotland Yard confidential report revealed.

There was also delays in giving victims early specialist assistance, inadequate record-keeping and failure to arrange medical examinations.

The Met said the Sapphire units had now been reorganised and are run by the Yard’s Violent Crime Directorate.

In fact, it was announced in late 2010 that Scotland Yard boosting a specialist sex offences squad in response to a shock rise in rapes reported in London. Rape was up 37 percent in just 12 months.

Police believe much of the increase is due to women becoming more confident in reporting attacks because of a change in tactics in dealing with rapes, rather than a rise in offences.

There has also been a significant increase in “relationship rapes” involving couples. Which are hard to prove. All of this may have something good coming out of it.

There is a newly launched £21.5 million Sapphire unit, with a central command and new intelligence cell, that tackles sex offences across London.

A spokesman said: “The new Sapphire unit is completely victim-based. First of all when victims come forward we believe them and take their allegations seriously. That is our mantra. Secondly we will turn over every stone to get to the bottom of what happened. We have anecdotal evidence from rape crisis centres and havens to say word is getting round that [victims] will be treated with respect and dignity.”

Let’s all wish them good luck and hope for the best.

 

U.S. STATISTICS From Feminist.com

Fact: 17.6 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Of these, 21.6% were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 32.4% were between the ages of 12 and 17. (Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, November, 2000)

Fact: The FBI estimates that only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police. U.S. Justice Department statistics are even lower, with only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes being reported to law enforcement officials.

Fact: The National College Women Sexual Victimization Study estimated that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experience completed or attempted rape during their college years (Fisher 2000).

Fact: Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) calculation based on 2000 National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice)

Fact: One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. (Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey, National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998)

Fact: Factoring in unreported rapes, about 5% – one out of twenty – of rapists will ever spend a day in jail. 19 out of 20 will walk free. (Probability statistics based on US Department of Justice Statistics)

Fact: Fewer than half (48%) of all rapes and sexual assaults are reported to the police (DOJ 2001).

Fact: Sexual violence is associated with a host of short- and long-term problems, including physical injury and illness, psychological symptoms, economic costs, and death (National Research Council 1996).

Fact: Rape victims often experience anxiety, guilt, nervousness, phobias, substance abuse, sleep disturbances, depression, alienation, sexual dysfunction, and aggression. They often distrust others and replay the assault in their minds, and they are at increased risk of future victimization (DeLahunta 1997).

Fact: Sexual violence victims exhibit a variety of psychological symptoms that are similar to those of victims of other types of trauma, such as war and natural disaster (National Research Council 1996). A number of long-lasting symptoms and illnesses have been associated with sexual victimization including chronic pelvic pain; premenstrual syndrome; gastrointestinal disorders; and a variety of chronic pain disorders, including headache, back pain, and facial pain (Koss 1992).Between 4% and 30% of rape victims contract sexually transmitted diseases as a result of the victimization (Resnick 1997).