Republican Presidential Nomination – Iowa Caucus Race and the Story so Far

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The race is heating up for the Republican nomination as the Iowa caucus gets ready kick things off tomorrow night. It’s been an incredible race so far with almost every candidate having their moment as the front runner.

The Story so Far

Romney started out ahead having finished second in 2008. Michelle Bachmann appeared to be the the first major challenger as she won the straw poll in Iowa but she has now fallen off and is polling less than 10% in Iowa and 6% nationally. Rick Perry surged in September to 32% and a 12 point lead only to fall way back after a series of gaffes (now at 6%).

Next was the turn of Herman Cain at one point with a 2 point national lead Cain quickly fell away after this clip below and his fall was so bad he was forced to pull out of the race.

Newt Gingrich was next to surge above Romney after doing well in a series of debates. He also held a 12 point lead nationally at one point but this was quickly destroyed by a series of devastating revelations and negative ads. Only a few weeks ago he was 14 points ahead in Iowa but is now in 4th or 5th position.

Ron Paul has surged in the polls in the last few weeks up to Christmas. Paul practically has the internet locked down in universal support of him. He was leading in the polls in Iowa but has fallen back in the last few days although he remains level with Romney. And finally most recently Rick Santorum has come from nowhere at the very end and is threatening to win.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html

Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are now all neck and neck in the Iowa polls. No one really knows who’s going to win.

Candidate Run Down

Mitt Romney – Iowa average 22.8%

Mitt Romney has been the steadiest candidate polling consistently in the 20-25% range. Some would say he’s the man to beat. But Romney is disliked by large elements of the Republican party. Romney is seen as a liberal conservative. He’s been widely criticised by Social conservatives for ‘flip flopping’ on issues such as abortion. Romney has no support from the tea party. The surges by the other candidates shows the parties efforts to find an alternative candidate but so far Romney has managed to knock them all back. A strength and weakness of Romney is his history of business and Wall Street. He may be seen as a candidate who understands jobs and the economy or he may been seen as the millionaire that’s part of the problem.

Romney’s greatest strength at the moment is his electability. A lot of Republicans may not love him but they see him as there best shot at beating Obama. That’s what’s holding the Romney campaign together.

Ron Paul – Iowa average 21.5%

Ron Paul the anti-war libertarian is detested by the Republican establishment and many would say the mainstream media also. Paul is seen as a strict defender of the constitution and civil liberty. He is the only candidate to talk about issues such as the NDAA, the patriot act and SOPA. This combined with his anti-war stance has caused him to win huge support across the internet and with young people.

Paul is the candidate most against the status quo and the current establishment. He wants to cut a trillion dollars of government spending. Other policies include abolishing income tax and the federal reserve, removing the department of education and energy and pardoning non-violent drug users currently in federal prison. Paul is all about reducing spending and taxes and taking things back to the state level.

The mainstream media has called him unelectable largely because of his anti-war stance (Paul wants to bring all overseas troops home). The media vs Ron Paul

Rick Santorum – Iowa average 16.3%

Santorum has surged from nowhere in the last few days. He has been campaigning in Iowa for months with very few resources. He is very popular among evangelical Christians of which there are many in Iowa. The opposite to Paul on foreign policy Santorum has said he would bomb Iran to prevent it getting a nuclear weapon. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SANTORUM_IRAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Santorum has been labelled as a social conservative (pro-life and against gay-marriage) and this may hurt him in future primaries if he doesn’t start talking about jobs and the economy. He has a plan to repeal regulations and remove tax for manufacturers. Santorum was also accused of being one of the most corrupt politicians in 2006 by citizens for responsibility and ethics in Washington

http://www.citizensforethics.org/index.php/press/entry/crew-releases-second-annual-most-corrupt-members-of-congress-report/

More candidates tomorrow

No.3 London Dry Gin Review

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This gin is beautifully packaged and designed in every way. I especially love the key on the bottle. This No.3 London Dry Gin from Berry Brothers & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchants, uses just 3 fruits and 3 spices (the ‘botanicals’ which flavour every gin), The No.3 also comes from Berry Brothers’ home; No.3 St. James’s Street.

This is now my favourite gin. Careful though, it’s 46% ABV. It’s crisp and fresh. I also made a Gin & Tonic with it which tasted perfect. It is pure class all the way. 46% is also the perfect strength for a Dry Martini.

To make a G & T

50ml of No.3 London Dry Gin, pour into high top glass over ice, add a slice of Lemon and stir, then top up with tonic water to taste.

Dr. David Clutton is the only person to have a PhD in gin flavour, the team deliberately set out to make No.3 taste ‘as gin should’ – without the use of an excessive amount of ingredients and distilled in traditional copper pot stills without any over-elaboration. So, with classic simplicity the goal, the experts placed a robust helping of juniper – the key ingredient in any gin – at the heart of No.3. This striking juniper quality was then cleverly complemented by just 5 other fruits and spices; namely, sweet Spanish orange peel, grapefruit peel, Angelica root, Moroccan coriander and cardamom seeds.

From Waitrose RRP of £33.65 for a 70cl bottle, but it’s worth it!

www.no3gin.com or Twitter @No3Gin. 

The Kraken Black Spiced Rum Review.

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The name of this rum brings out legends of the sea. The Kraken was a sea beast of myth and legend, a connotation that suits this strong, rich and black rum. Even the bottle is a reminder of the beast, the two glass handles mimic the eyes of the Kraken.

This Spiced Caribbean Rum has a thick caramel taste, it’s a wonderfully spiced liquor which goes brilliantly with coke (Krakencoke), or in a cocktail like a Perfect Storm: The Kraken poured over ice, topped with ginger beer and accompanied with a squeezed slice of lime.

 

The Kraken is 40%. It is distilled in Trinidad & Tobago from sweet molasses. It is then mixed with 14 spices including cinnamon, ginger and clove. It takes effort and time to make, and you can tell. It’s delicious.

It is a good, strong rum. I have only drank rum once before but this has changed my mind. Next time I’m out I’m having spiced rum. Everything about The Kraken is great, from the bottle, to the ad campaign, to the wonderful taste. It taste’s great neat for those who can take it, but I’ll be having it in cocktails, a lot.

 

RRP £22.99 for a 70cl bottle available mostly everywhere and online at thedrinkshop.co.uk

 

 

Montezuma's Real Chocolate Club Review

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Gourmet chocolate by post, every woman’s dream? I think so. Montezuma’s chocolate club is from an innovative British firm. These handmade chocolates are absolutely divine. They are one of the best things I have ever had come through my letterbox. Perfect for those January blues.

This month the chocolates were dessert themed. They came in three sections, and each section had a bar of chocolate and truffles on top. They were: Dark Chocolate Lemon Meringue Truffles and Milk chocolate with salted peanuts and butterscotch bar, Dark chocolate Eton Mess Truffles and milk chocolate treacle tart bar and milk chocolate apple crumble truffles & Dark chocolate with orange and hazelnuts bar. It’s hard to choose a favourite as they were all as delicious as they were original. The Eton Mess and Lemon Meringue were particularly amazing.

Chocolate by post must be the greatest invention ever.

It cost £19.99pcm for a whopping 600g of hand made gourmet chocolate, including postage. You can have sign up for as long or as little as you want, or give the chocolate as a gift. Though, really, do you like anyone that much?

Lady Gaga Tops Good Celebrities List.

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Lady Gaga Tops DoSomething.org’s ‘Top 20 Celebs Gone Good’ List; Sophia Bush Named ‘Fan Favorite’, Bieber Shoots up the Rankings this Year; New Trend is Couples

DoSomething.org, one of the largest U.S. organizations that helps teens take action on causes they care about, it released its fourth annual ‘Top 20 Celebs Gone Good’ list.

Lady Gaga continues her reign as the star who uses her celebrity to do the most good. Known for her support of gay rights, AIDS, and poverty, she focused primarily this year on bullying, even taking her thoughts to the White House in December. She also announced the creation of her own charity, the Born this Way Foundation, which aims to empower youth and lead them to a brave new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be.

Making a meteoric rise to number two this year is Justin Bieber , up from number 10 last year. His fast rise is due to his prolific work with Pencils of Promise, an organization that builds schools in Laos and Guatemala. Justin is also a consistent supporter of Make-A-Wish, raised funds for charity with his fragrance and holiday album, and recently distributed $100,000 to Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas.

“There are some interesting trends from this year’s list,” says Aria Finger, COO of DoSomething.org. “It’s dominated by young celebrities and we also see so many couples. Last year the list had its first power couple, Ashton and Demi who have now broken up, and this year there are a total of four couples. Doing good is definitely fun in groups.”

For the first time ever, DoSomething.org’s panel of social media and mobile experts incorporated Facebook voting to help them determine the impact of celebrities reaching an audience with their cause. The criteria stipulated giving money wasn’t enough to count as creating impact; instead, a celebrity needed to take an action others could emulate, like writing articles, building houses, or founding an organization. Facebook fans voted Sophia Bush as the first ‘Fan Favorite.’

The 2011 ‘Top 20 Celebs Gone Good’ list:

1. Lady Gaga
2. Justin Bieber
3. George Clooney
4. Will & Jada Pinkett Smith
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Matt Damon
7. Ellen DeGeneres
8. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie
9. Dwight Howard
10. Demi Lovato
11. Shakira
12. Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore
13. will.i.am
14. Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert
15. Nick Cannon
16. Lea Michele
17. Daniel Radcliffe
18. Miley Cyrus
19. Coldplay
20. Taylor Swift

“There are a handful of other celebrities who just missed the cut-off this year,” notes Finger. “We look forward to seeing what they will do in 2012.” Current speculations and predictions from DoSomething.org include:

* Will Jay-Z and Beyonce, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake each use their massive popularity and talent for social change next year?
* How will Zoey Dechanel use her new star power for good?
* We suspect Bieber’s good heart will rub-off on Selena Gomez and catapult her to the list next year.
* With Tim Tebow being the most talked about athlete of 2011, we’re excited to see how he uses his celebrity for good in the coming year.

To determine the rankings, DoSomething.org used its research team and an expert panel, who focused on three elements: popularity, influence, and impact. The first two were calculated using each celebrity’s number of Twitter followers and Facebook likes, as well as their IMDB Pro Scores, Billboard Social 50 ranking, and number of ChaCha inquiries.

For full list and celebrities’ individual charitable impact, visit: Celebrities doing good.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE SEASON 2

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American cable network HBO’s modus operandi seems reliably similar across many of its shows. A large array of characters interacting on an arresting, gigantic backdrop and slowly building up their story arcs with one another before tying them together in a steadily escalating rush to the end. Those seeking immediate, self contained thrills each and every week should look toward FOX and ABC for such shows. This approach extends to HBO’s current hot ticket Boardwalk Empire; an epic, lavish and violent show set in Atlantic City at the beginning of prohibition in the 1920’s and the explosion of organised crime that followed. Central to the action is Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (played by American indie king Steve Buscemi), the county treasurer with an eye for opportunity and loose morals. He straddles the worlds of both law and crime effortlessly ensuring that he, his corrupt sheriff brother Eli (Shea Whigham) and their cronies come out of a situation with their wallets bursting. As the drama unfolds Nucky contends with both infamous historical figures of the time; Arnold Rothstein (Michael Sthulbarg) and Al Capone (Stephen Graham), and with fictional counterparts such as unhinged war veteran/prodigy Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), widow turned mistress Margaret Schroder (Kelly MacDonald) and zealous Federal Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon).

Due to the delayed release of season one in the UK, we had the pleasure of both seasons only being separated by a few months. At the outset of season two Nucky and Margaret are living together seemingly contented. Yet this is shattered when Eli and Jimmy, the latter spurned on by his domineering mother Gillian (Gretchen Moll), lead an open rebellion against Nucky’s leadership with the alcohol flowing into the city proving the key factor. Battle lines are drawn, blood ties are broken and bodies drop like flies as both sides struggle to hold onto what both believe are theirs.

The most easily recognizable aspect of Boardwalk Empire’s quality is its look and design. Every scene, every location and arguably every frame are immaculate to a tee and the cinematography and visual effects weigh up just as much. The show is produced by master filmmaker Martin Scorsese (who also directed the pilot episode) and his influence and sway clearly show and not just in the visual department. As a whole the show engages with the love/hate relationship between America and the almost mythic figure of the organised criminal. There is nothing as trivial as good and bad in this world; the viewer has to use their own moral compass to determine who is the least evil. The theme of betrayal and mistrust runs throughout this season as protégé’s turn against mentors and families against their own. This comes to a head particularly in the penultimate episode where we discover the cause of the friction between Jimmy and Gillian as their story takes a turn similar to Oedipus Rex. The tension is practically unbearable as…well let’s just say things get Freudian. Very Freudian…

The performances of Boardwalk Empire are frequently cited as its major draw. Indeed any show with Steve Buscemi at the helm is worthy of all attention. As well as playing to the strengths of confidence and arrogance that have permeated through many of the characters he has played in the past, there is a vulnerability to Nucky that allows Buscemi to tap into emotional depths that perhaps he has not had the chance to truly reach in previous roles. His roles opposite his brother, from both fisticuffs to graveside revelations, are nothing short of heart-breaking. Michael Pitt proves an almost perfect foil, his youthful charm and handsomeness are a sidestep diversion to Jimmy’s brutality and crumbling psyche under the pressure of demon parents and gangster dealings. His eyes are deep and expressive but there is an underlying darkness that is sometimes genuinely terrifying. Pitt has utilised similar skills on the independent circuit and it’s a pleasure to see them demonstrated on a mainstream outlet. There are equally impressive turns amongst the supporting cast, most underrated amongst them being perhaps British actor Jack Huston as disfigured veteran turned hitman Richard Harrow, a role that despite being delivered beneath a prosthetic mask rings with tortured emotion.

Unfortunately it is in the initial portrayal of its female characters that the show falls down. Model turned actress Paz de la Huerta is saddled with an inconsequential role as Nucky’s former mistress Lucy, a role that could have more impact if it were not for de la Huerta’s inert performance; every line reading is as flat as the Ferns’. Her poor performance would be less distracting if the shows maker didn’t insist on her being nude in the majority of her scenes. Aleksa Palladino fares a little better as Jimmy’s unsatisfied artist wife Angela. Her performance is fine yet she is given little material to work with which makes a particular end of game plot revelation lack the gut punch it deserves. Thankfully there are two roles for women in the show that stand tall and proud; Kelly MacDonald and Gretchen Moll. When we meet Margaret Schroder in season one she appears initially as an oppressed victim who slowly but steadily reacts with confidence and assuredness to her changing circumstances. Ranging from deceiving lawman to fending off attackers via shotgun, MacDonald is a tour de force of vulnerability and uncertainty; her later scenes as she grapples with her personal guilt never lapse over into sentimentality. On the flip side of this Gretchen Moll inhabits the role of Gillian with such chilling venom (‘You will not be disrespected!’) with moments of breathtaking clarity into her characters inner torment. An early scene where she confronts the invalid man who violated her as a child is perfectly paced; drawing in with allusion, steady reveal and a final devastating explosion in violence. A sympathetic villain if there ever was one.
All in all Boardwalk Empire has played like crafty card shark. It knows exactly when to show its big hand yet also feels like its holding a lot of tension back. Every jaw dropping set piece or character moments is bookended by copious amounts of exposition and the sense of characters moving into place though on a large chess board. It is these moments of sheer muscular strength that make the show a force to be reckoned with and earn the patience during its quieter moments. It has been renewed for a third season and after its powerful final seasons there is the strong hope that these two first seasons have laid the groundwork for the true fireworks. Even still below par HBO is miles ahead of the competition and with Buscemi and MacDonald at the helm, anything is possible.

Boardwalk Empire Season 2 finale was broadcast on Christmas Eve. Boardwalk Empire – Season 1 (HBO) [DVD]

Top Five Films Of 2011

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Well okay, maybe that title is somewhat inaccurate. These are my top five films of the year; the ones that moved me, thrilled me, chilled me and left me bowled over by the endless power of the movies. Obviously I didn’t get a chance to see everything that came out though I like to think I gave as much effort as I could to see stuff from across the spectrum of releases. I don’t expect everyone to agree with my choices; one of them I know has incensed arguably more people than it has awed. But like I say it is my humble opinion. Agree or disagree to your content…

1) THE TREE OF LIFE

Terrance Malick’s fifth and most ambitious feature to date, feels like something that we may never see again; a $30 million mainstream film that unashamedly confronts the meaning of life, the cruelty of death, the absence of faith and belief in the divine. Audiences today are so used to having narrative drip thread to them that the astonishingly loose and flowing construction of The Tree Of Life led to outright hostility from many critics and audience members. Despite my initial bewilderment at it through, it stayed with me through the months and on repeat viewings has grown into a profound and deeply moving work. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain are extraordinary as a married couple bestowing their differing views on life to their children. What follows is overwhelming vision of the minutia of family life compared with nothing less than the birth of life itself. For me The Tree Of Life does what cinema should do; it takes the most intimate, recognisable aspects we understand and contrasts them against something unfeasibly epic, powerful and ultimately incredibly moving.

2) DRIVE

Roaring out of Cannes like the greatest Michael Mann film that Michael Mann never made, Nicolas Winding Refn’s sleek, blood splattered romantic fairytale captured the hearts of minds of critic and audiences alike. Ryan Gosling truly cements his star status with a near mute role as a stunt driver by day and getaway driver by night who goes up against the LA underworld (personified by a spectacular and unexpected villainous turn by Albert Brooks) when he falls for troubled Carey Mulligan. The two worlds of the story smack head into each other in a spectacular climactic scene in an elevator. The scenes of extreme violence could have been too alienating yet Refn directs with such flair and panache that nearly every scene makes you hairs stand on end. Throw in the best soundtrack of the year hands down and you have an instant cult classic. I walked out of it like i was walking on air.

3) MELANCHOLIA

It could have been overshadowed by director Lars Von Trier’s poor taste in humour at this year’s Cannes Film Festival but thankfully his intimate apocalyptic drama is strong enough to stand on its own feet as an astonishing singular vision of brilliance. Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg are terrific as two frigid sisters both thrown together by a disastrous wedding and then the arrival of a rogue planet on a collision course with Earth. Filmed in a woozy, dream like palette with very deliberate framing and hauntingly beautiful compositions it takes the difficult subject of depression and manages extraordinarily to turn into a transcendent and oddly uplifting experience.

4) WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Arguably the boldest novel adaptation of the year, British director Lynne Ramsey makes a stunning return to screens with a disorientating and devastating tale of a women living in the shadow of her monstrous son and terrible crime he has committed. Tilda Swinton is reliably brilliant conveying both the mother’s dawning horror at steadily disturbing events and the guilt that she feels for not showing the love she should have for the child. It’s a role that most actresses would have balked at yet Swinton plays it with such mesmerising confidence. As good as she is though the film arguably belongs to Ezra Miller as the teenage Kevin who beneath a seemingly innocent, sweet veneer chills to the very bone. Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long for Ramsey to release her next work.

5) CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS

Having dragged a steamer over a mountain, travelled to the furthest reaches of the Amazon and Antarctica acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog goes into the depths of the Chauvet Cave in southern France to document not only it’s astounding geographical presence but also the oldest cave paintings known to man, perhaps they are the beginning of art itself. Shown in 3D at cinemas, I caught up with the film in 2D and was still floored by the beauty and skill with which Herzog examines these paintings as well as the brilliantly dry wit in his unmistakeable Bavarian drawl as he spends time with the familial team of scientists living in the shadow of the caves and simple yet deeply profound musings on the passing of time and the origins of these extraordinary drawings. When it comes to the vision of nature itself, Herzog is rarely topped.

Londoners Life 19 – By Phil Ryan

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Londoners Life 19 – By Phil Ryan

Well a big hello after my absence. Had to finish off two novels and some other projects. But I’m back in time for my New Year review. London has had a busy old time in many ways. We’ve watched the giant money hole of the Olympics steal more and more of our money, we’ve had a bit of rioting, a bit of demonstrating and a bit of a recession. And how’s it left us Londoners? Well certainly the gap between rich and poor continues apace – some areas in London now resembling scenes from the aftermath of an apocalyptic plague movie whilst other tangibly smell of cash and cashmere. This gap can also be measured in ever sky rocketing house prices. Whilst everyday living costs creep ever higher. So for my review of 2011 here’s a quick list of a few London change indicators.
• Starters in restaurants now seem to cost as much as a main course
• More restaurants have replaced their chairs with those highly comfortable solid wooden thin benches from a Victorian prison
• A trip to the cinema for two is coming in at close to £25.00 and popcorn has broken the £5.00 ceiling
• There’s a new demonstration every day in Town not to mention various permanent demonstrations at tourist sights
• The Oyster card now only offers minor convenience in getting in and out of stations but cleverly hides the ever spiraling travel costs (until you have to top up)
• Parking in London is now only affordable by the wealthy or the desperate
• London Councils have finally abandoned all pretense of caring about their residents.
• Shops have sales every other week
• Sushi restaurants are taking over
So goodbye to 2011 with your momentous world events that touched London but didn’t fundamentally alter it in any way. For keen power player watchers we’ve had scandals and phone hacking saga’s that apart from the closure of the News of the World don’t seem to have changed the main players. Our Bankers carry on as normal apart from those lower down the food chain losing their jobs. So from a Londoners perspective what’s 2012 going to be like? Well it’s going to be more expensive across the board from transport to accommodation. The Olympic gravy train will roll in and out inconveniencing us all (of course TFL will run a fantastic tube service with an extra 6 million people on board) And there’ll probably be another uplifting parade to celebrate the royal baby that will undoubtedly appear in time for the Queens Jubilee celebrations. Closer to home still Hammersmith Bridge will be finally replaced by Lego as that seems more robust than the one they spent millions of our taxes on ‘repairing’. The Mayoral election will shock us all when a surprise last minute candidate bags the top job. Said candidate being that bloke off my big fat gypsy wedding. And London Councils will begin plans to cull the poor.

Looking back I’m left with some of my favourite moments from what I can only describe as ‘spokespeople’. TV and Radio reporters grabbing that all important human interest moment out on the street. So from ‘Rioters in Tottenham’ we had (from young guy number 1 with a hoodie and face mask carrying a large plasma TV) “It’s all about Iraq” (from young man number 2 with a hoodie and face mask number) “It’s about anger. We’re angry about being angry”. From a ‘St Pauls Cathedral Camp protester’ (who looked slightly the worse for wear) “I came to support these people and whatever it is they’re protesting about – it’s brilliant whatever it is and they gave me a tent a spliff and some soup I mean how great is that?” From a Christmas shoppers laden with about ten bags “Yes we’re cutting right back this year” and from some religious loon with a beard “Threatening death for us is an argument it’s not unreasonable”. So Happy 2012 to us all and whether its Ken or Boris as Mayor, whether we win gold medals or flog the Olympic venues for a tenner to a friend of Lord Coe’s as Londoner’s we just won’t care – It’s a London thing.