It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a whole year since London opened its Olympic curtains to the rest of the world. But just because it’s no longer gracing every one of our TV channels, dominating every piece of radio airtime or appearing in every single shop window, doesn’t mean that the hype is showing any hint of fading. In fact, if anything, it has flourished – thanks to the passion for sport it has reignited with the British public. One of the sports that has done so dramatically is cycling. Thanks to the successes of Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, Britain now has a serious passion for pedaling – as this great infographic demonstrates:
Bat Fans Afflicted By Affleck
Not since the decision to cast Michael Keaton as Batman in Tim Burton’s 1989 film, have so many fan boys gone batty over the decision to cast Ben Affleck as the new Batman. History is repeating itself but this time on a much grander scale. In 1989 the internet was nowhere near its commercial use and fans penned letters to Warner Bros. voicing their disdain about Keaton. Now the focus has fallen on Ben Affleck, who very recently was announced as the new face of Batman to be seen in 2015’s yet untitled Man of Steel sequel. Opinion is fiercely divided and to the extent that 84,000 people have signed a petition against Warner Bros. and their decision to cast Affleck as the new Dark Knight.
Some might be inclined to think that Affleck is coming in second best, based on the fact that Warner initially wanted Bale to reprise the role so much so that they offered him $50 million dollars. After the Dark Knight Rises concluded Chris Nolan’s trilogy, Bale officially stated that he was through playing Batman and true to his word, despite being offered one of the fattest pay checks in the history of film, he refused to return. Many names were subsequently thrown out there – Ryan Gosling and Josh Brolin to name a few. But the biggest surprise has come with Affleck and if life has taught the human race anything, it is that history repeats itself. Keaton was initially canned and yet successful. The odds are thus in Affleck’s favour.
The biggest problem from the side of the Bat fanatics is that they seem to be weighing up the success of the franchise against one actor and this is not fair. The recent Dark Knight trilogy was immensely successful for a number of reasons and not just because Bale was so amazing. The Dark Knight films worked because the right people all congregated under one roof and pooled their resources. This ultimately is the key to the success of any Hollywood endeavour – the right people. The recent success of Man of Steel has proven this too and it’s safe to assume that if the same creative team is behind the new film with the right script, actors, director and production values, then the Bat fans have nothing to fear by Affleck’s casting.
The general lucrative nature of the Batman franchise is sure to generate box office gold. The Batman name lends credibility as a solid franchise so much so that The Dark Knight Rises was recently made into an online slot game, with potential plans to make it into a mobile slots game too. At the end of the day, fans have little to fear by Affleck’s donning of the mask of Batman – he has the two essential qualities required for the role – the grit to be Batman and the charm to be Bruce Wayne. Plus, his recent string of films have all garnered critical and commercial success.
Should You Change Your Name After You Marry? | The Wedding Diary
We live in modern times and tradition is something ever-changing. Some traditional things last, and some just don’t. Others, like a woman taking her husbands name after they marry, actually become controversial. My favourite motto to live by in life is, ‘live and let live’. But, yet, it seems we can’t.
Some woman see submission or sexism when a woman changes her name. But where did that woman get her name? And where did her mother get hers?, and her grandmother? To stop it now feels like closing the stable after the horse has long bolted.
All of this does make me sound pro changing my name, I know. I am in a bit of a muddle with it to be honest. Part of my thinks it is something to do if you have children, so you can be a family u
nit, the stories of woman being stopped at airports because they have a different surname from their children are common. If I have children I certainly don’t want to have a different surname than them. It would just be too weird. This means I have to take my fiancee’s name, he has to take mine or we have to double-barrel our names. That is if we have children. If we don’t, does it really matter? Part of me thinks not.
There is a part in The Crucible when John Proctor has two choices: change his name or die. He chooses to die, “It is my name”, he says; “I cannot have any other”. This is a pretty extreme example but I remember watching TV with a friend. There was a woman with a very long double-barreled surname. My friend commented on the ridiculousness of her name; “Oh, just lose your ego woman!” But it is not just ego is it? It’s your identity. My name is me. Well, actually, my name is a stage name, albeit one that I use for everything now. It belonged to my grandmother, a Lithuanian who died when she was only 40 of kidney failure. Not surprisingly, I would like this to live on. I am only a handful of people in the world with the surname ‘Balavage’. An Anglo take on ‘Bullovich’. You see? Surnames, they change. As does identity. I even pronounce my surname differently than she would have: Ba Lav age, with a quiet ‘V’. At my friends Nick Cohen’s book launch, the amazing writer Francis Wheen complimented my on my surname, ‘Like a glamorous French actress’. I have pronounced it the way he said it ever since.
So when I marry I have a few choices: change my real name and keep my stage name, change my name completely and just keep Balavage for acting, or double-barrel my name. I have until next year to decide, but I am already in a pickle. What to do?
It is not about feminism or inequality. If a woman wants to take her new husbands name, she should be able to, if a man wants to change his, he should and if a woman wants to keep or double-barrel her name, she should be able to without rudeness: it’s her identity after all: Live and let live.
What do you think? Will you change your name?
SUZUKI/METHOD – Native EP Featuring the single Sherbet Out 20th of October News
Recently signed to A1(M) Records, Suzuki/Method are Brothers and founders Adam and Glen Leishman, Michael Mathews, David Boyd and Ben Hounslow who came together during the Salford riots to create their debut EP ‘NATIVE‘. Produced by David Tolan (Delphic, New Order, Primal Scream) and Jim Spencer (The Doves, The Vaccines, 808 State) the EP is full of melody and replete with swaggering anthemic ‘we dare-you-not-to-dance’ chorus’.
Swelling bass lines and cast iron drum beats draped in lush synth textures and jangly guitars provide a pitch perfect soundtrack to Vocalist Adam’s forlorn tale of youth in crisis. It’s this ingredients that makes these industrial dance floor fillers so vitally urgent.
A place where 30 years of dance music culture collides with a wall of screaming guitars and lyrics question and lay blame in equal measure. Crucially however it is the principled and intelligent approach to pop music that make this Salford band so appealing to such a large demographic.
Drawing from a diverse palate of influences ranging from Daft Punk to The Smiths (by way of guitar lines that wouldn’t be out of place on a Parliament record) there is something almost Darwinian in their sound selections and arrangements, where in only the strongest hooks make the final cut.
The video for lead single Sherbet was directed by Bafta film maker Pete Travis, (Ohmah, Vantage Point, Judge Dredd) who agreed to do so after seeing the band perform at London’s Barfly. Set on the Manchester rooftops, it is a fast paced and beautifully shot affair. The band have received BBC introducing, Amazing radio and XFM airplay and the accompanying video to last single Country Cousins notched up 30,000 video plays in three days on MUZTV and NME TV.
Upcoming Shows
29th August Native in the streets @ Manchester town hall Manchester Town Hall Manchester
5th September Native in the streets @ 258 Deansgate, 258 Deansgate Manchester
26th September Native in the streets @ Urbis, Urbis Manchester
27th September Salford Festival Live St Phillips Church Salford
6th October Native in the streets LIVE @TBA (secret show) TBA Manchester
12th October Sherbet Video World Premier, DJ set & Live special Guests Black Lion Theatre Salford
19th October Native EP launch Party & special guest Sound Control Manchester
15th November Sherbet Remix Party & Live Set Kings Arms Salford
Top VMA 2013 Performances Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, N’Sync
THAT controversial Miley Cyrus performance. Made worse with the duet after with Robin Thicke. If you listen to the ‘Blurred Lines’ lyrics and watch the video it will make you very uncomfortable watching Cyrus twerk on the 36-year-old married father-of-one. And the tongue and the crotch grabbing? If she wanted attention, she got it. Rather awkwardly, her father was in the front row.
N’Sync Return.
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Justin Timberlake
Taylor Swift allegedly dissing Harry Styles
Will Smith and Family React to Miley Cyrus Twerking – This is pretty funny.
What did you think of the VMAs? Did you like Miley Cyrus’s performance?
Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Days 22 & 23
So I am on the last week and I am also allowed fruit and dark chocolate now. This past three weeks I have noticed differences to my health and I am now aware at just how much sugar I was putting into my body. Answer: lots. Food companies seem to put sugar in everything. I even got sent water which had 12g of sugar added. Yes, a bottle of water that was 14% sugar. What is that about?
Bananas are 50% sugar, Sauces are full of sugar and so is white bread and pasta. In fact our recommended daily allowance of 50g of sugar a day (for a woman, here is the NHS guidelines on sugar, which should never account for more than 10% of your calorie intake) can be wiped out by eating two things. This is ridiculous, no wonder so many people have diabetes.
The past two days I have had my main meal in restaurants. I have listened to what Laura recommended when eating out. I had chicken on Monday with sauteed potatoes and insalata tricolore to start. On Tuesday I have crab cakes and then a burger. I don’t have any coke even though I want to. I have cocktails as I have to review them (I know, hard life) but I try ones with no obvious sugar, or added sugar.
I haven’t been having tea with sugar bit did yesterday as I had such a bad headache it was debilitating. Going forward, I am going to try and not take any sugar in my tea but this will be a hard and gradual thing. I also hate it when people have a go at me when I take sugar in my tea. The funny thing is that it is tied up in my identity. One friend calls me the only actress in London who takes sugar in their tea. I have always seen this as a huge compliment. Especially against body and health fascists. The truth is I drink a lot of tea, and the sugar adds up. So even getting down to one sugar would be an achievement.
The main thing I have noticed about the programme, other than the weight loss, is that I no longer have those blood sugar crashes. I didn’t think sugar or caffeine affected me, but, actually, it does. I am sleeping better and have a much steadier energy than the highs and lows of before.
One of the great snacks I have been having is egg in a cup. Try it as it tastes amazing and is very healthy.
I am feeling happy and positive. I never thought I would get this far or do this well. I haven’t been perfect but I have done my best and reaped the benefits.
What do you think? Will you cut out sugar?
Boris Johnson To Write Romance Novel?
Currently the Mayor of London, famous for his blonde bouffant, Eton-education and the self-titled bike scheme, who has encouraged thousands of Londoners to cycle across the capital, has set his eyes on even greater success. Not content with having won two mayoral elections, Mr Johnson has set his sights on the world of literature – and more specifically the genre of romance.
Apparently haven spoken at the Melbourne Writers Festival, Mr Johnson said that when he leaves politics he wants to write a “genuinely brilliant rip-roaring airport book. It would be fair to say there is virtually no genre that I have not tried. Romantic fiction, that could be next.”
With that in mind, romance giant Mills & Boon have mock up what they imagined Boris Johnson’s debut novel might look like. Gazing into the distance, Boris is seen atop one of his bikes, with the victorious London Eye standing proudly in the background. We think it is hilarious.
Bermondsey Square | London Gems
I completely forgot about this wonderful part of London until I stumbled upon it last week. It is tucked away, but upon finding it there is plenty to entertain yourself with; an independent cinema; Shortwave, a hotel; The Bermondsey Square Hotel, the restaurant of Masterchef presenter Greg Wallace: Greg’s Bar & Grill, a Sainsbury’s Local and even a ping pong table.
Bermondsey Square has a lot going for it. Even if you are feeling poor and just want to watch the world go by you can buy a snack from Sainsbury’s and sit down on one of the benches.
Last week there was music coming from Shortwave and a thriving night life. The cinema is also a bar with seats outside. People enjoyed themselves and there were people playing ping pong. People with suitcases walked past on their way to The Bermondsey Square Hotel. Bermondsey Square was voted South London’s coolest quarter in Vogue’s annual Secret Address Book. Vogue are bang on. This is a London Gem.
Perfect for: Eating, fun, drinking, ping pong, watching a film, people watching, staying at the hotel…like I said, for such a small square, it certainly packs a punch.
Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN