Category Archives: Culture

Brits would rather share meal with Stephen Fry than Hollywood stars

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Brits would rather share meal with Stephen Fry than Hollywood stars

* Stephen Fry most popular well-travelled celebrity to share a meal with
* Italian food is British people’s favourite foreign cuisine
* Half of Britons say food is important factor when choosing holiday destination

A new survey by Intrepid Travel has found that more people would like to share a meal with TV presenter Stephen Fry than with Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie or George Clooney.

When asked to choose from a list of well-travelled celebrities, Stephen Fry was the most popular person to share a meal with (15%), followed by Frozen Planet presenter Sir David Attenborough (11%) and adventurer Michael Palin (9%). Just one in 20 people said they’d most like to share a meal with Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie or George Clooney (both 5%). Three times as many people chose Jamie Oliver compared with Gordon Ramsay (6% and 2% respectively).

The poll, which was carried out for the small group travel specialist by YouGov, found that although Chicken Tikka Masala may be thought to be the nation’s favourite dish, Italian food is British people’s favourite foreign cuisine, with one in six (17%) saying it’s their top choice.

Italian was voted the most popular cuisine among 18 to 34 year-olds*, Indian cuisine is the top choice for 35 to 44 year-olds**, while 45 and overs are more patriotic in their choice of meal and most likely to favour British food***.

Almost half of those surveyed who have been on holiday abroad (47%) said that the local cuisine is very or fairly important when choosing their holiday destination abroad. But although almost 9 in 10 with a favourite cuisine (87%) have eaten it in a restaurant, and 8 in 10 have cooked it at home, less then four in ten (38%) have eaten their favourite cuisine in a restaurant in the country that it comes from.

Within the UK, Londoners are the most likely to seek out the most authentic food they can find when travelling, eating from street stalls and markets whenever possible (18%), while Scots are the most likely to stick to Western chain restaurants or familiar cuisines (15%).

“It’s refreshing to hear that British people would rather share a meal with someone famed for their great wit and conversation, than with a Hollywood heartthrob,” says Rebecca McKernan, Manager at the Intrepid My Adventure Store.

“Sharing a meal is a great way to get to know people, their tastes and their culture. That’s why eating in family-run restaurants, local markets and people’s homes features so highly on Intrepid’s itineraries. Whether your favourite cuisine is Italian or Indian, Mexican or Malaysian, you haven’t tasted it at its authentic best until you’ve enjoyed it in the country where it comes from,” adds McKernan.

Throughout February, Intrepid Travel is offering 15% off gastronomic tours in more than 15 countries known for their fabulous cuisine, from India to Vietnam, Sri Lanka to Mexico, as well as destinations closer to home including Italy, Spain and France.

The discounted trips showcase global food at its most authentic, with cooking classes, street food and local markets featuring prominently on many of the itineraries. Trips can be booked at www.intrepidtravel.com/deliciousdiscoveries.

HEARTNUTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

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‘Why not treat your loved one to Heartnuts this year?’

NutsandSeeds.co.uk, a London based company, are introducing a brand new nut or seed to the UK every month. Last month they welcomed Black Walnuts. This month they’re introducing Heartnuts!

Heartnuts are a beautiful variety of the Japanese Walnut. They are a rare and delicious nut that are shaped like a heart and open like a locket – with two heart shaped halves.

Once inside, the small pieces of nut meat will delight your taste buds.

The heartnut has a pleasing taste of a mild, sweet Walnut but without the bitterness. Like walnuts they have the same heart healthy properties of omega 3 and 6 and are packed full of healthy antioxidants, protein and fiber which are proven to be good for cardiovascular health and brain function.

A wonderful nut raw, in cooking or baking, it is especially flavourful toasted. They can be used in any recipe that uses walnuts. Heartnuts make a wonderful pesto and are delicious in cookies and baked goods. The mild, sweet flavour is excellent with cheeses such as feta. 

The Heartnut’s beautiful shells are also great for crafting. The heart shape, sturdy structure, and texture work very well in wreaths and decorations.

If you’re a grower, Heartnut trees are fast growing, hardier and more vigorous than walnut trees, less prone to disease and more tolerant of wet climates. They have the potential to grow very well in the UK and Ireland and NutsandSeeds.co.uk are highly supportive of English growers. Nuts and Seeds already sell English grown cobnuts, chestnuts and walnuts from UK organic farms.

For more information, recipes and to purchase Heartnuts fresh this season, raw and in shell, visit NutsandSeeds.co.uk

NITE WATCHES – WATCHES FOR STYLISH ADVENTURERS!

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Combining innovative design, beautiful aesthetics and high-precision technology, Nite watches are renowned for their reliability and functionality in the most extreme situations – a perfect solution for individuals seeking the true spirit and challenge of adventure.

All Nite watches are fitted with a superb, self powered illumination technology known as GTLS; providing wearers with a constant light source that can last up to 15 years and is just one of the reasons why some models are NATO-approved and used by elite Special Forces.

Nite watches are made to exacting standards, using the best materials, production methods and specifications to create watches in a class of their own. With the design and quality comparative to some of the most highly respected brands in the world, the prices are not- instead representing excellent value to the owner.

The ICON is fashionable and comfortable – as cool and comfortable to wear on the street as on top of a glacier. The contemporary design of the ICON attracts looks with its stylish simplicity, bold large face, 316 grade brushed stainless steel case, brightly glowing Swiss illumination and high quality, studded tan or white leather strap.

Nite watches are the perfect choice for style conscious explorers, adventurers and businessmen. To view the complete Nite watches range for both men and women, visit www.nitewatches.com.

The GTLS technology is a light source emitted by every Nite watch and allows Nite-wearers to see what the time is, night or day, blizzard or monsoon. Each watch face and hands feature minute laser sealed glass tubes (the GLTS – Gaseous Tritium Light Source) – which are internally coated with phosphor. The electrons in the gaseous tritium excite the phosphor causing it to glow continuously without any external power source.

Nite watches are exclusively available from the brand website – www.nitewatches.com. This world-class digital platform is designed to communicate exactly what the Nite ethos is all about. It features a fully compliant and secure online store, where Nite’s products are clearly displayed and explained. There is also a social programme called Unite where customers share their user experiences. Nite believes that nothing represents their brand values better than their customers’ stories.

Seven Tips For Getting an Internship

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It’s a jungle out there, with people finding it hard to even get an internship. Here are seven tips to up your game.

1) Who do you know? Ask around. The best way to get an internship is through people who are already in your circle. Ask friends, family friends and acquaintances. Put a request out on Facebook and Twitter. Think about the six degrees of separation.
2) Brush up on your activities; A pro-active, community spirited person is more likely to be hired than someone who has nothing to say and wastes their time. Make yourself sound as interesting as possible.
3) Lose the sense of entitlement; No-one likes someone who thinks the world owes them a living, you are no more special then anyone else. Arrogance is off-putting, but confidence is key.
4) Work Harder than anyone else. Employers love people who help themselves.
5) Think about what is stopping people giving you an internship, and then remove it. Take the feedback that you are getting from other people. If you are trying to get into finance do you keep getting told you need another qualification? Get it and remove the obstacles.
6) Account for gaps on your CV; Think about what you could say when asked about these. Bad things to say are; sitting around the house or watching TV. Say that you were learning French or something as interesting.
7) Be likeable; It’s obvious but people like working with nice people. Try to smile even if you don’t feel like it, say please and thank you. People will remember you as a good, polite person.

WIE Symposium UK Bringing Together Most Powerful Women

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TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE FIRST WIE SYMPOSIUM UK BRINGING TOGETHER THE MOST POWERFUL MINDS TO INSPIRE AND EXCITE WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

A host of prominent women from the worlds of business, fashion and film will congregate at the Women Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium to lead a series of seminars after successfully launching in America with the support of Donna Karen, Queen Rania of Jordan and Christie Turlington. The event will happen on International Women’s Day, March 8th 2012 and will feature discussions from luminaries including Jo Malone, Kathy Lette and Lynn de Rothschild.

The WIE Symposium will offer a full day of thought-provoking panels, inspirational master
classes and powerful keynote speakers. Tickets will be on sale from 23rd January, available at
www.wienetwork.org at £150.00 per person.

Issues to be addressed at The Hospital Club, London range from the future of girls’ education
to getting women off the sidelines in business and public life and the ‘green revolution’.
Additionally the Symposium will launch the WIE Mentorship Scheme – an initiative designed to
coach and aid young female entrepreneurs through a year of advice and counsel from leading
business women.

Starting the day, WIE is thrilled to announce the inaugural Power Breakfast – an annual event
that will honour 50 of the top female business trailblazers at the iconic London Stock Exchange.
The WIE Symposium is the brainchild of television presenter June Sarpong and former film
executive Dee Poku, who conquered New York with a plan to help women from all walks of
life achieve their full potential.

June Sarpong said; “We are incredibly excited about launching WIE in the UK. The UK is filled
with incredible female thought leaders who are already doing their bit to empower the next
generation. Our goal is to harness the legendary creativity and innovation of London to
empower women and girls across the country and help them reach their full potential.”
PRESS RELEASE 23rd January 2012

Female leaders already signed up to take part in the event include Celia Walden, Julie Woods
Moss (BT), Baroness Scotland and Lynne Franks who join the likes Sarah Brown, Arianna
Huffington, Diane von Furstenberg and Iman from previous events.

International Women’s Day:
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and
celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from
all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities
and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion
parades and more.

The Hospital Club:
Sue Walter, CEO of the Hospital Club says, “The Hospital Club is privileged to be hosting
London’s inaugural WIE Symposium. We share many of the same values around inspiration,
enterprise and nurturing emerging talent and we’re very excited to be joining forces to bring
British women this unique opportunity to learn from each other and be inspired by what the
future holds.”

WIE Founders:
Dee Poku is a social entrepreneur, marketing consultant and philanthropic strategist. Poku is also the owner of Right Angle, a branding and marketing consultancy that develops and
implements innovative campaigns for a cross section of high profile films, non-profits and
consumer brands. Her background includes senior marketing roles at Paramount Pictures and
Focus Features where she oversaw the movie release campaigns for the likes of Al Gore’s ‘An
Inconvenient Truth’; the Coen brothers’ ‘No Country For Old Men’; Sofia Coppola’s ‘Lost in
Translation’ and Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’. She is a member of the British Academy
(BAFTA) and Women in Film.

June Sarpong has become one of the most recognisable faces of British television – as the
female face of Channel 4’s successful Sunday morning strand T4 for the first eight years, June
has become part of TV history. Her groundbreaking Tony Blair Channel 4 special, ‘When Tony
Met June’ saw her being granted unprecedented access to the British PM. She has also
interviewed and introduced some of the world’s biggest names including: Nelson Mandela,
HRH Prince of Wales, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bono, George Clooney and 50 Cent. June is an
ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and also campaigns for the Make Poverty History movement –
she was awarded an MBE on the Queens 2007 new years honours list for services to broadcasting and charity.

Mixed Up Productions presents As You Like It

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Firstly, let me say that I did like it! Time passed quickly while I was watching this production, which is always a good sign.

The physical energy of this production was evident from the outset, with the sparring between the two brothers practically spilling over into the audience. However it was in Scene II, with the arrival on stage of Rosalind (Clare Langford) and Celia (Gabrielle Curtis), that the emotional and intellectual content became equally apparent, drawing this reviewer fully into the narrative. From this point onwards, with one or two exceptions, the pace continued unabated, and, before we knew it, we had reached the interval. The second half was, if anything, more engaging than the first, with one scene blending seamlessly into another, so that on reaching the final wedding scene and closing epilogue, one was left still wishing for more.

Rosalind and Celia were each imbued with a spirit of liveliness and playfulness by the respective actors, both of whom spoke Shakespeare’s words as naturally as modern-day English. Also excellent in that respect were Yvonne Riley and Owen Nolan: the former bringing a chilling sense of menace to the character of Duke Senior, and the latter playing the bucolic Corin in a very laid-back and credible manner. Owen was also responsible for much of the music, along with Catriona Mackenzie and her haunting flute, using Irish folk ballads to bring the atmosphere of the forest to life.

Will Wheeler and Ryan Wichert gave convincing performances as Orlando and Oliver respectively, and Kate Bancroft (Phebe) and Jeffrey Ho (Silvius) were hilarious in their scenes together, although Silvius was quite camp for a man so passionately in love with a woman! Overall, the company acquitted themselves admirably, capably directed by Marianna Vogt.

There are obvious staging difficulties that arise with a cast of 16 in a venue as small as the White Bear. I had a restricted view for a significant amount of the time, and did not get the full effect of the final scene. It would be nice to see the production on a larger stage, which would also give the director the chance to develop her Tent City theme, to which it was difficult to do justice in such a confined space.

I am told that tickets are selling very well, but there are still a few left, so if you fancy an evening’s romp through the Forest of Arden in the company of some talented performers, then make sure and get yourself down to Kennington one evening this week.

At the White Bear, Kennington 24 – 29 January 2012
www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk

Trust in Government Suffers a Severe Breakdown Across the Globe

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Credibility of Governmental Officials and CEOs Experience Biggest Drops Ever, 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer Finds Blame for the financial and political chaos of 2011 landed at the doorstep of government, as trust in that institution fell a record nine points to 43 percent globally, according to the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer.

In seventeen of the 25 countries surveyed, government is now trusted by less than half to do what is right. In twelve, it trails business, media, and non-governmental organizations as the least trusted institution. France, Spain, Brazil, China, Russia, and Japan, as well as six other countries, saw government trust drop by more than ten points. Government officials are now the least credible spokespeople, with only 29 percent considering them credible. Nearly half of the general population — the first time the Barometer looked at this broader group — say they do not trust government leaders to tell the truth.

“Business is now better placed than government to lead the way out of the trust crisis,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO, Edelman. “But the balance must change so that business is seen both as a force for good and an engine for profit.”

Although business experienced fewer and generally less severe declines in trust, it has its own hurdles to clear. Trust in business fell globally from 56 percent to 53 percent, with countries like France and Germany, in the heart of the Eurozone economic crisis, experiencing double-digit decreases. Lack of confidence in business spread to South Korea, where trust dropped 15 points. China was the only country to see a significant increase in trust in business, rising from 61 to 71 percent.

CEO credibility declined 12 points to 38 percent, its biggest drop in nine years. In South Korea and Japan, it dropped by 34 and 43 points, respectively.

In the midst of this systemic decline in trust, a “person like me” has re-emerged as one of the three most credible spokespeople, with the biggest increase in credibility since 2004, and now trails only academics and technical experts. Regular employees jumped from least credible spokesperson to tied for fourth on the list, with a 16-point record rise. Social-networking, micro-blogging, and content-sharing sites witnessed the most dramatic percentage increase as trusted sources of information about a company, rising by 88, 86, and 75 percent, respectively.

“This is further evidence of the dispersion of authority,” said Mr. Edelman. “Smart businesses will talk to employees first, because citizens now trust one another more than they do established institutions.”

The 2012 Trust Barometer reveals that the factors responsible for shaping current trust levels are less important than those that will build future trust.  Consistent financial returns, innovative products and highly regarded senior leadership are the primary factors on which current trust levels lie. However, listening to customer feedback and putting customers ahead of profits are far more vital to building future trust.

“Our analysis shows that the operational factors driving present trust in business aren’t enough to expand trust in the future,” said Neal Flieger, chair, Strategy One, Edelman’s research firm. “The path forward requires more of a focus on societal and employee-facing issues.”

Although business is substantially more trusted than government, 49 percent of global respondents believe government does not regulate business enough. Nearly one-third want government to protect them from irresponsible business practices and one-quarter want regulation that will ensure responsible corporate behavior. “The interventions people are asking government to take are changes business can step up and implement on its own,” said Mr. Edelman.

Once again, banks and financial services declined in trust, and were the two least trusted sectors with France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea recording the most severe drops.  Technology remained the most trusted sector globally.

Media, the one institution to see an increase, saw its global trust level rise above 50 percent. It experienced significant regional upticks in India (20 points), the U.S. (18 points), the UK (15 points) and Italy (12 points).

“As the media landscape dimensionalizes and delivers a wider range of options, it is becoming more trusted,” said Alan VanderMolen, President and CEO, Global Practices and Diversified Insights Business, Edelman. “The media also did an exceptional job this past year of covering the financial problems throughout the EU.”

In Japan, site of last March’s earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster, trust fell severely in three of the four institutions including government (down 26 points), media (12 points), and NGOs (21 points). That loss of trust extended to five industry sectors, including energy (down 46 points), media (21 points), banks (20 points) and financial services (17 points).

“The fragility of trust was never more evident than this past year in Japan, where the government’s lack of leadership and the local utility’s poor transparency revealed huge shortcomings in the command-and-control approach to communications,” said Mr. Edelman.

 

Other key findings from the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer include:

  • The United States held steady across three major institutions, unlike last year when it posted significant declines in NGOs, media, business, and government.
  • Traditional media and online search engines are the most trusted sources of information for people searching for general news and information, new product information, news on an environmental crisis, and company announcements. Traditional media, TV, newspapers, and magazines are still the most trusted sources of information, according to the Barometer.
  • Among 18-29 year olds, digital media is the most popular source for general news and information.
  • With the exception of technology and automotive, South Korea experienced extraordinary drops in trust in every industry sector. Telecommunications, down 32 points to 39 percent, and financial services, down 25 points to 39 percent, endured the largest drops in trust.
  • Brazil saw the greatest drops in trust across all major institutions – government (53 points), NGOs (down 31 points), business (18 points), and media (12 points). At the time of last year’s Trust Barometer, Brazil had just been awarded the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics and President Dilma Rousseff had just been elected. This year’s declines represent a return to normalcy for businesses and the arrest of four government officials for corruption.

Social Fabric Exhibition

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Social Fabric Exhibition: 19 January–10 March 2012

 

Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) presents Social Fabric exhibition at Rivington Place, in which textiles are used to explore colonial history, international trade, labour and militant politics. In the 19th Century Karl Marx’s account of the cotton industry tracked fifty years of boom and bust and the effects this had on workers in Britain and its colonies (and in particular India). Social Fabric cross references different accounts of textile history, focusing on works by two contemporary artists Sudhir Patwardhan and Alice Creischer, presented alongside extensive range of recent and historical archival material.

 

Alice Creischer’s installation Apparatus for the Osmotic Compensation of the Pressure of Wealth during the Contemplation of Poverty tracks the threads that connect cycles of investment, disinvestment and decline. Inspired by a trip to India, the work looks at the economic and social impact of European colonialism and subsequent globalisation. The craze for Indian Chintz caused protest amongst Spitalfields weavers in 1719 and devastated whole sections of its textile industry. This led to Gandhi’s choice of the spinning wheel as a symbol of decolonisation, and caused Nehru to comment that – ‘the history of cotton and textiles is not only the history of growth of modern industry in India, but in a sense it might be considered the history of India.’

 

Since the mid-1970s, Sudhir Patwardhan has depicted Mumbai and its urban proletariat. His painting Lower Parel (2001) shows ‘Girangaon’ (mill village) the place where the cotton mills that transformed the city’s economy and led to the Indian industrial revolution were located. By the 1970s textiles employed one in three of the city’s workers and sucked in migrants from surrounding regions. New social institutions evolved with forms of cultural expression including street theatre, poetry and music and it was a hub for trade union activity and left politics. This painting depicts the area after the mills closed down in the early 80s, superimposing different urban strata – the defunct factories, new small scale enterprises and high rise luxury apartments, invoking the workers’ struggle to keep the mills going and resist gentrification.

 

These two complex works are examined through an extensive display of archival loans and artist interventions, including Company Paintings, Indian Chintz, original journals from Marx, films, photographs, newspaper articles and recordings of mill workers’ testimonies. A curtain and two support structures, a table and wall unit, have been designed by artist Celine Condorelli to display the archival material.

 

There will also be an extended programme of talks and events running alongside, including a symposium on textiles; and workshops with activist and writer Meena Menon. Social Fabric is curated by Grant Watson, in collaboration with Christine Checinska, Nida Ghouse, Shanay Jhaveri, Nada Raza and Karen Roswell.

 

Social Fabric will tour to Londs Konsthall from 6 April until 27 May.

 

Dates: 19 January – 10 March 2012

Venue: Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA

Rivington Place public opening hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11am – 6pm

Late Thursdays: 11am – 9pm (last admission 8.30pm)

Saturday: 12noon – 6pm

Admission: free

 

www.rivingtonplace.org

 

Tubes: Old Street/Liverpool Street/Shoreditch High St

Rivington Place is fully accessible, for parking & wheelchair facilities call +44 (0)20 7749 1240