Idle Thoughts of an Audiophile

Second post...

2009-09-07T00:50:00.004Z

This has too be my favourite show of the week. Guy Garvey + Bird watching... just listen!

Also a nice blog on new bands BBC wise here... and another here

Coincidently bumped into the Smoke Fairies (as featured on Loose Ends) coming onto Rob Da Bank's show on Radio 1... not that Rob got the idea when he was on said Radio 1 institution when said band were on...

And don't forget Speechification! One of the best Radio 4 docs I've ever heard 'On the Top Deck' can be downloaded from their blog...

Oh and Adam and Joe are back on! Got me through my bus journey whaen I was worse for wear after Saturdays URY oldies reunion...

In the words of a URY jingle, it's 'Aural Stimulation...'

First Audiophile Post! Listen to these!

2009-08-07T12:10:00.004Z

My favourite of the week...

RadioLab
New fanatic of this show - get it on the podcast - brilliantly put together and thought provoking too. Thanks to fellow audio lovers Speechification for the tip off. Their blog is well worth checking out and a much better version of this... describe to their podcast for interesting stuff!

A music fave 2nd...
Guy Garvey's Finest Hour - I love the fact he brings a recorder from where ever he goes and creates the links for the show that way, from gigs to aitrports or his bedroom...

Lovely man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00lyfg3/Guy_Garveys_Finest_Hour_02_08_2009

And of course some more science / nature

My favourite science podcast, produced by ABC (Australia) is Ockham's Razor - thought provoking 10 minute essays from academics. Perfect for a short tube journey.

And to be transported far from city life this one is perfect - The Nature Stories Podcast published by NPR.

More later....

Ben

Lenny Henry

2008-11-12T00:27:00.000Z

I saw Lenny Henry at a gig tonight - woohoo!

Olympic medals

2008-08-21T17:13:00.002Z

Haven't we done well? Cycling, sailing, even the odd athletics medal, and we still haven't finished yet - 17 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze at last count... though this may increase.

Still this board by channel 4 puts it in to perspective looking at achievments via GDP, human rights and population size, with some surprising results...

Things for kids to do..

2008-08-15T11:49:00.000Z

Bids cousins are over at the mo... I need to think of some fun stuff to do with them over the weekend with Bids...

Fun stuff with kids...

Hmmm...

Lykke Li

2008-08-13T09:27:00.001Z

I saw this girl at latitude... really nice electropop- see her wierdness on Jools Holland (the very same Jools Holland I watched whilst dazed and dozy after my first day diving in a quarry...)

http://www.myspace.com/lykkeli

And finally...

2008-06-01T09:23:00.003Z

The URY (University Radio York) documentary is being made... courtesy of Matt Wareham in the main as I will be diving in Gozo for most of this week (how cool!).

URY's having its big anniversary on the 14th... tickets still available for those who want to come and celebrate!

Ben

P.S. I need some suggestions for what you want from this blog... I've now moved from Arts to current affairs (and am skint, hence less reviews)... but I thought I could write about... well... stuff... maybe environment with a comic twist...

Fwd: FINAL ARTICLE: Stoney Cove Dive

2008-05-25T16:36:00.001Z

The blog, I admit, has all but been forgotten... however I will update it with things as I write them...

This is the latest for my Dive club's magazine...

Stoney Cove Dive

Gunning out of London on Friday night, I, like John, who kindly chauffeured me to the rolling south Leicestershire countryside (using sausage rolls and wine gums as bait), were unsure what to expect from a dive in a quarry. My relatives, all Leicestershire born and bred, had heard 'stories' about Stoney (what these were they never told me). My own strong inclination was that the stories couldn't have been to do with the quarry but rather the mysterious gathering of youths round the park bench who John and I disturbed as we pulled in.

We met the rest of the Ariel Divers crew at Stoney Stanton's luxury B&B, The Dive Inn. They'd had a hearty curry and drink in the local, whilst John and I were traversing Milton Keynes… jealousy is not the word. We were up bright and early at our lodgings after a rip roaring night of taking the proverbial out of each act appearing on Jools Holland (yet still falling asleep at 12.00).

Getting to the quarry it seemed smaller than I had expected but much more alluring, with plenty of foliage around, an impressive dive shop and a pub overhanging the quarry. The speedy response time of the rescue boat to a false distress call (no-one should shout in Stoney unless they have to) further reassured myself, John and Anna that in the unlikely event we did something daft we'd be whisked to a pot in no time. Not that we'd need to of course, being in safe hands with our Ariel instructors.

As expected there were a dazzling array of divers with their equipment of re-breathers… and dry suits (would it be that cold… gulp!).

Donning my hug (the nickname for the weight belt I had just borrowed from the shop), two layers of neoprene with my other new hood, mask (prescription lenses), boots and fins, I was ready to take my first plunge. Kitted up and with Moira as my instructor and buddy, she reassured me as I plunged into the balmy 8 degrees. There was only a small blaspheme as water trickled down my back that we ascended six metres down into the depths...

For a whole 24 minutes and with 3-4 metres of visibility, we scouted round the many other divers and several Stoney sites, including the plane cockpit and submarine (though I never knew that the Germans had got so far in land!). Looking at (definitely not chasing) the fish, we even saw the famed Pike. The landlord of the Dive Inn triumphantly showed us the pictures of said pike he caught on camera, and was surprised I had seen it on my first day!. Cynics may say this would not be the same fish... but I know that it was.

With Moira not being able to get her weight belt back on after demonstrating a procedure, we aborted our mission, back into a strange world where I didn't need to breath from a tank. I need not be too cocky with the removing weight belt, as on the second dive I removed my weight belt, but from the wrong end. Moira then had to pick up the individual weights below me. I, on the surface, had a little too much air in my BC and couldn't quite stop myself from flapping around in the water. John and Anna, who unfortunately just happened to be above me on the shoreline, were quick to see the hilarity of the situation….

Though on the plus side, at least I didn't use my head to find the submarine (hey John!). Apparently laughter can be heard quite clearly underwater.

Second dive meant going down to 12 metres, and going in the dark (underneath the pub) and performing various OS2 exercises, including mask clears… which as everyone knows are horrible. Taking off a mask underwater in under 8 degrees is horrible, the worst ice cream head I've ever had. If it wasn't written in black and white in the training book I would say it was a the most sadistic act to ask of another diver… (!)

Saturday was the night in which we found out how tiring diving is. As one of the 'young un's' who stayed behind at the pub, we all swiftly slumped into our pints before scurrying back to the B & B. Not even the Led Zepplin tribute act Whole Lotta Led at the local social club could arouse us from slumber. I hoped I'd have my first diving dream that night… but it was not to be.

John made friends with the locals… being a constant source of wonder to them . Having become completely sunburnt on the first day remarkably quickly, John will now forever be given the nickname of red man (its in black and white now John… so its true).

On Sunday Adeline took over tutelage of the buddy pair of John and myself. The glorious sunshine held out, which meant we could fit in another two dives (huzzah!).

Visibility poor (under 2 metres), we stayed at 12 metres, performing more mask clears (boo!) and trying to stay as buddy's. John however had the hilarious tendency to float off and drift down, coming back down to Ads and I much like an angel flying clumsily to the earth .

Finding a stone cross monument even Ads hadn't seen before, swimming through a tunnel and rescuing John more times than I cared to were the highlights of our second voyage that day, our final dive of the weekend.

It's amazing how quickly you can assemble and de-rig kit with plenty of practice over the weekend. As well as getting pretty fit lugging canisters (probably outweighed by the large number of sugary and potato based snacks available after each dive). I even got a go at being dive manager went not diving myself, recording times and air in and out as our divers came in and out of the water.

Everything went swimmingly (ha ha), apart from the slight mishap with my belt. And having my fins float off as I got in for my second dive (swimming back to sure with no fins on is hard work). And having to rescue John 8 times (practice makes perfect). And my tank coming loose while I was swimming… well I thought it went well!

Expecting little more than a splash outside and possibly a wee panic that I was no longer in a central London swimming pool (knowing you had to ascend properly, you couldn't just stand up) I managed to get four out of my five ocean diver training.

I for one am hooked having found a quarry in April not to be that cold (well… at least my brain numbed to it). As far as my fellow Ocean trainees go… well I think they enjoyed it to. Though I reckon Anna can't wait until warmer, clearer waters in Gozo (and I can't wait either!).

Many thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible… (!) I really can't say that enough… it was brilliant!

And I did get my first diving dream on Sunday…

My First Dive article- Ariel Divers Club

2008-05-13T16:39:00.001Z

Stoney Cove Dive

As expected there were a dazzling array of divers with their equipment of re-breathers… and dry suits (would it be that cold… gulp!).

Though on the plus side, at least I didn't use my head to find the submarine (hey John!). Apparently laughter can be heard quite clearly underwater.

On Sunday Adeline took over tutelage of the buddy pair of John and myself. The glorious sunshine held out, which meant we could fit in another two dives (huzzah!).

Many thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible… (!) I really can't say that enough… it was brilliant!

And I did get my first diving dream on Sunday…

2008-01-07T14:21:00.001Z

From BBC News online magazine

The most interesting and unexpected facts can emerge from the daily news stories and the Magazine documents some of them in its weekly feature, 10 things we didn't know last week. To kick off 2008, here are some of the best of last year.

1. Coach travel is the safest form of road transport in the country.
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2. Saddam Hussein's codename while in US custody in 2004/5 was "Victor".
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3. Adding milk to tea negates the health-giving effects of a hot brew.
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4. The word "jaywalking" came from the US slang "jay", a term popular in the early 20th Century meaning a rustic newcomer unfamiliar with city ways.
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5. Cloudy apple juice is healthier than clear, containing almost double the antioxidants which protect against heart disease and cancer.
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6. Dishcloths are purged of 99% of their bacteria during two minutes in a microwave.
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7. A haddock's mating call starts as a slow knocking sound, before turning into a quicker hum similar to a small motorcycle revving its engine.
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8. Newcastle is the noisiest place in England.
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9. The people who built Stonehenge lived at an ancient village in Durrington Walls.
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10. Brazil nuts are seeds encased in an outer shell that weighs more than 1kg.
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11. Astronauts wear nappies during launch and re-entry because they can't stop what they're doing should they need to urinate.
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12. Georgic is a punishment dished out to Eton pupils which involves the copying out of hundreds of lines of Latin.
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13. Tony Blair does not keep a personal diary.
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14. Antony and Cleopatra were ugly.
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15. 10% of university work from across the UK is plagiarised.
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16. Chimpanzees make their own spears for hunting.
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17. Two cups of spearmint tea a day is thought to control excessive hair growth for women.
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18. Burglar alarms, traffic wardens and crowded buses are good news for home owners, signalling an area is on the up.
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19. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hosts a daily radio phone-in show.
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20. More than half (52%) of smokers haven't told their parents about their habit.
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21. Only about half of China's population can speak the national language, Mandarin.
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22. The brief flowering of the cherry blossom tree is taken so seriously in Japan that forecasts are used to plan festivals, and travel agents use them to plan tours.
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23. To be found attractive, women should sway their hips and men their shoulders (although researchers call this a "shoulder swagger").
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24. The are 30,000 wild parakeets in London.
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25. Martina Navratilova has spent four years secretly working as an artist.
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26. Harvesting rhubarb in candlelight helps preserve its flavour.
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27. Drinking, drug-taking teenagers are in the decline, according to a survey by the Information Centre.
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28. Designer discount retailer TK Maxx is called TJ Maxx in the US.
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29. The average duvet is home to 20,000 live dust mites.
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30. Serving anything more than tea and biscuits at a political meeting is an offence called "treating" and punishable by a year in prison or an unlimited fine, under the the Representation of the People Act 1893.
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31. There is mobile phone reception from the summit of Mount Everest.
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32. Anti-Americanism began in Paris in the 18th Century.
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33. Female civil servants in India are questioned about their menstrual cycle as part of their appraisal.
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34. Kryptonite exists.
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35. Denmark is the happiest country in Europe; Italy the unhappiest. (The UK was 9th out of 15.)
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36. A water-tight denial by a politician as opposed to one that leaves room for later manoeuvre - is known as a Sherman pledge. The other sort is called a non-denial denial.
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37. Spiralling obesity rates are forcing councils to upgrade their crematoria, to take wider coffins.
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38. Gerry Adams doesn't own a credit card, so gets a friend to download songs from the internet.
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39. The secret to happiness is accepting misery.
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40. A new three-bedroom house must have at least 38 plug sockets.
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41. There are 1,200 exhumations every year in the UK, but not all of those are part of criminal cases.
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42. Nearly seven out of 10 (69%) of adults are still in touch with at least one childhood friend.
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43. Bernard Manning worked as an armed guard watching over senior Nazis locked up in Berlin's Spandau prison.
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44. Europe has a vodka belt comprising Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Denmark and Sweden, although the drink is also made in countries such as Britain, France, Italy and Spain.
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45. Domestic cats can trace their descent to the Middle East.
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46. Peanuts can be made into diamonds.
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47. The prime ministerial Jaguar is called Pegasus.
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48. You can be arrested for using someone's wi-fi network without permission.
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49. CDs were nearly called mini-racks.
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50. Left-handed people are called sinistral.
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51. Nick Clegg, the Lib Dems' new leader, once took a road trip across the US with his friend Louis Theroux.
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52. There are 17 surviving versions of the Magna Carta - or 17 Magnae Cartae.
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53. Renowned atheist Professor Richard Dawkins likes singing Christmas carols.
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54. The Australian town of Eucla has its own time zone.
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55. Books used to be bound in human skin.
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56. Eddie Irvine is Britain's wealthiest sports star beating the Beckhams into second place by £30m.
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57. Sleeping on the job is tolerated in Japanese work culture, as long as you remain upright and obey certain other rules. It's called inemuri.
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58. The Romans had roadmaps.
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59. The word Blighty comes from "bilayti", the Urdu for homeland.
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60. The Queen took her corgi on honeymoon.
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61. Janet and John were named Alice and Jerry in the United States.
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62. Until the late 1990s, the RAF's nuclear bombs could be activated using a bicycle lock key.
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63. Cats can be police constables.
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64. King Tut had buck teeth.
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65. The Italian Mafia have commandments.
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66. Gun ownership per person in Finland is the third highest in the world.
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67. The brain can turn down its ability to see in order to listen to complex sounds like music.
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68. Of the waste in UK landfills, 0.1% is plastic carrier bags.
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69. Dogs occasionally shoot their owners in the US.
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70. IP addresses will run out in 2010.
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71. An ai is a three-toed sloth from South America (and the word that clinched Paul Allan the title of national Scrabble champion).
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72. Dumbledore is gay.
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73. UN population projections go as far as 2300.
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74. Sheffield FC is the world's oldest football club.
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75. CO2 emissions from shipping are twice the level of aviation.
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76. George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan have had Bell's Palsy - a nerve condition that can result in paralysis on one side of the face.
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77. Leeches are used as treatment for cauliflower ears.
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78. A bdelloid rotifer is a pond-dwelling organism that has survived 80 million years without sex.
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79. Woodwork lessons are known as "resistant materials" in schools.
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80. Adults use maths skills 14 times daily on average and literacy skills 23 times a day.
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81. The opening bars to the theme tune of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em spelt the title of the series in Morse code.
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82. The children who sang on Pink Floyd's number one hit Another Brick in the Wall (Pt 2) couldn't appear in the video because they didn't hold Equity cards.
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83. Jack Straw has intervened in alleged crimes four times, apprehending a person on three occasions.
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84. On average a UK commuter travels the equivalent of two-and-a-half times around the globe over a full working career.
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85. A 23.8lb baby was born in the US in 1879, but it only survived 11 hours.
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86. There is a monastery in every village in Burma.
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87. Relocating crocodiles doesn't work - they come back.
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88. Deep-voiced men have more children.
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89. Being born without an ear is called microtia.
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90. Chickens can be diagnosed with depression.
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91. In Iceland, 96% of women go to university.
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92. Zsa Zsa Gabor is related to Paris Hilton.
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93. Dinosaurs had creches.
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94. Osama Bin Laden is known to fellow jihadists as Abu Abdullah.
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95. In Ethiopia the start of the year 2000 was celebrated in September.
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96. Bees can detect explosives.
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97. There have been at least two children given the name "Superman" in the UK since 1984.
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98. Prison officers are on average assaulted eight times a day.
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99. Each slug eats twice its body weight a day.
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100. Dogs can have two noses.
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Triumph of comedy!!! I think...

2007-11-30T01:55:00.001Z

Last night was the moment of truth... the accumulation of my comedy course... I stepped up to the mic I think I came out OK!

I ran out of Jokes... and told everyone that. But I'm sure that endeared me...

There's a video somewhere... hopefully its not on Youtube already...

WELL DONE to all the guys on my course... I'm just sad I won't get to scream at complete strangers every Thursday from now on...

Now to get off my arse and set up some new gigs....

Ben

Fo all those of the York Biology fieldtrip of 2003

2007-11-23T12:20:00.000Z

On BBC 7 this coming week....

Millport
Another opportunity to listen to the very first episode of this bitter sweet sitcom, set in the small town of Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae off the West Coast of Scotland. First broadcast in March, 2000, it was written by and starred Lyn Ferguson, and also starred Janet Brown, Lewis McLeod and Robert Paterson.

Friday 30th November 2007 at 5pm and 6:30am

Home taping saves the BBC Library...

2007-11-23T12:04:00.000Z

Quoted from the BBC 7 Newsletter:

Some Of Our Archives Were Missing
We would like to thank you the listeners, for making this programme possible. Stuart Maconie presents classic radio programmes, believed to be lost, but now returned to the archives, thanks to BBC radio enthusiasts.

Here are the programmes which have now been returned to our archive:
Sticks Out Half A Mile - Rec. 19/07/1981;
Comedy Parade: Hush, Hush, Here Comes The Bolshie Man - 14/03/1971; Thirty Minute Theatre: The Green Machine - 23/04/1975; Story Time: Eye Witness Accounts - The Great Fire Of London - 20/01/1970; Things Could Be Worse - 15/09/1976; and The Worst Show On The Wireless - 12/02/1975.Saturday at 9am, 8pm and 3am

... Its funny how people who were taping BBC programmes, who could've been cracked down upon, are touted as saving BBC archive... I'm all for it, though now they'd put it up on Youtube, Odeo or Facebook of course...

2007-09-26T12:26:00.001Z

http://play.blogger.com/

Recently uploaded pics from bloggers. How wierd. What a strange inter-connected world we live in.

2007-09-26T12:24:00.000Z

Found this on Andrew Collin's blog- bloody hilarious.

FOO FIGHTERS!!!

2007-08-22T17:28:00.001Z

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/summer/2007/brighton/video/foofighters.shtml

I wasn't there unfortunately, but they did an ace cover of Arcade Fire… ch ch ch ch check it out!

To do... To do..

2007-08-22T17:27:00.001Z

Giz a Job. I'll need one soon…

Going to Northern Ireland this weekend which I'm excited about. Been reading up my Irish History and listening to Stephen Nolan in preparedness for it… I'll hopefully be able to go to the Giants Causeway which is another ambition… Bids has already been over there for a few weeks and loving it..

Then fly straight home to Notting Hill Carnival… which I must all arrange meet ups with me mates… should be a large one.

I'll start writing an intelligent blog one day….

One Big Late post

2007-05-17T13:08:00.000Z

Hello!

Apologies for the huge difference in post times... its become a bit irregular of late...

Been pretty busy this week, mainly with social stuff which has been fun, and dubbing lots of tapes about smoking.

But anyhow... off to Preston this week for One Big Weekend which'll be ace, with a Radio Academy masterclass attached... which'll be fun!

In terms of culture I've been to the National Gallery, which was impressive though full of tourists on that rainy sunday. I've also seen the new Shane Meadows film, This is England, which comes highly recommended, and 'An Inconvinient Truth' for a £1, which is fantastic and stirred up my environmental passions which erstwhile have been dappened in the city smog...

Well worth watching anyway!

I'll post in more detail and tell you about the Radio 1 extravaganza next week...

Ben

2007-04-25T23:54:00.000Z

Hi all,

Photos from my 23rd:

http://yorkuk.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45807&l=8f815&id=222303150

: )

Am I the only one who's not going away this Bank Holiday?

2007-04-08T01:38:00.000Z

No flights booked. No sunny beaches for me.

Nope... staying in London both to keep my exam stressed Mrs company (I'm nice like that), develop my pitch for the Radio Academy production '07 event (the chance to get a documentary on Channel 4 radio/ Radio 1- if anyone knows anything about Student Radio let me know!!!).

However it has been gorgeous today, and with Portobello road on the doorstep I had a jolly jaunt to the market and round Notting Hill, which despite the crowds is always a pleasure to wind between the bric-a-brac and veg stalls, past the expensive boutiques and sampling the cultural culinary delights.

Also booked tickets to Lattitude- an Arts Festival (rather than just music festival) coming

I'm getting my first researched item for national radio (Hurrah!) on April 17th on Night Waves (R3 9.45pm-10.30pm), a piece where I commissioned someone to write about Ellis Island. Working on the Verb next week which is always fun... Ian Macmillan is a hoot!

Anyway, blog laters!

Reviews: The Illusionist, The Verb, Words and Music and the Naked Scientists

2007-03-24T08:39:00.000Z

Busy, busy, busy. Been editing a package and planning my producer hour for the Audio and Music festival this Wednesday and Thurs (a BBC radio in house conference), have been shortlisted for the Radio Academy Dragons Den style commissioning rounds for a slot on Channel 4 radio/ Radio 1(!) and have have an interview on Tuesday for a course.

Anyway the reviews:

Film: The Illusionist is a promising premise. A David Blaine esque Edward Norton is denied his true sweet hear (Jessica Biel) by the devious crown prince. The well meaning Paul Giamiccini as police commisioner, though sympaethetic to Norton, is allied to the powers of authority and has to try and stop his illusions and schemes for the prince. Although beautifully shot this film leaves far more questions than answers (it tries to be a 'it all makes sense in the end book') and, worse still, there is not enough empathy between the characters for you to care about them anyway. Worth seeing for the scenery I guess...

Radio: The Verb is a wonderful programme to listen to, hosted by Yorkshire poet Ian Mcmillan. Last weeks had some rather entertaining poetry recitals and semi french poems, with linked up spell check machines the week before (which sounded rather mad). The shows are always packed full. This week had Scroobious Pip on, albeit briefly

This weeks Words and Music (2 hours of poetry and music) on radio 3 is based on the abolition of slavery. Should be pretty moving and maybe has the first play of Bob Marley on radio 3.

If you haven't discovered them yet the Naked Scientists can be found on BBC listen again, and on podcasts on their website. Excellent, well explained, down to earth science explained for the curious.

Thats all for now,

Ben

Apologies for no posts... a review up date

2007-03-18T01:32:00.000Z

Apologies for my lack of posting, settling in to my new job and volunteering for some extra work with the company has taken it out of me!

Anyway reviews:

Down the Line is an amazing comedy radio show which is well worth listening to when it gets repeated again. Funniest thing I've heard in years. Last one was a little scary though! Found out one of my friends plays Matt the producer...Recorded for Training Purposes, which showcased new writers, is worth looking out for...

Educating Mill was an excellent Radio 3 documentary on John Mill that went out last Sunday- still on BBC Radio's listen again. Interesting take on the philosophers peculiar education.

Talking of Radio 3 The Verb is a wonderful programme to listen to, hosted by Yorkshire poet Ian Mcmillan. Last weeks had some rather entertaining poetry recitals and semi french poems, with linked up spell check machines the week before (which sounded rather mad). The shows are always packed full.

And my favourite radio 1 shows Rob Da Bank and Annie Mac (who I met for the first time the other day. I was over-excited!). Rob Scroobious Pip vs Dan le Sac on the other day- a must to go and see- check them out on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/lesacvspip). Annie plays some amazing dance tunes every Friday night. Preferred her on Thursdays as there was less commercial stuff played and I could listen when it went out rather than after the event (most people go out Fridays) but still by far one of the best radio shows out there.

Saw some very good stand ups at the west one BBC club last Thursday- Trevor Lock is well worth seeing if you can- a verbal assault packing more jokes in a minute than most stand ups do in a night, that you have to be on your toes to keep up with. The two 'trainee' stand ups from a comic relief funding course where very good. Siemens people can be funny!

Finally check out www.odeo.com for free podcasts.

Tara!

...my first Night Waves tonight

2007-03-07T13:17:00.000Z

Hey guys,

... so I'm staying until 11.30 tonight! Still time off elsewhere...

Nothing nmuch to report, still chasing for my Audio and Music festival piece... some interesting BBC gossip which I shouldn't really report and thats about it.

Will come back with some more reviews once I go see some more stuff!

Going back to Norfolk this weekend which will be a welcome change of pace,

Ben

What I've been up to this week...

2007-03-04T14:40:00.000Z

Hey Kids,

Started my new job at the BBC. Broadcast Assistant for 'Specialist Factual' which is fun... working in Arts at the moment including Radio 3's 'Night Waves' and 'The Verb'... I took the pictures here for the programme and found the initiative to find a camera as the department didn't have one...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/theverb/pip/jtqqt/

Otherwise I'm collating guests for my piece for the BBC's in house Audio and Music festival. Hopefully I'll interview Annie Mac which I'm a bit over- excited about!

Went to LSE club night (see my review) in aid of Chinedu's birthday (one of Bids, my wonderful girlfriends friends) and putting up facebook pics as I speak. Isn't social networking great?

Next I'll have to try flickr...

Ben : )

REVIEW: A.F.T.E.R. S.C.H.O.O.L. K.L.U.B.

2007-03-04T14:12:00.000Z

Review: A.F.T.E.R. S.C.H.O.O.L. K.L.U.B., LSE, Clare Market (off Aldwych)

In the LSE's students union, this is very much a trendy student night out, complete with the uber-cool indie trendsetters, emo pranksters and rock preeners. The night isn't student exclusive however and can be a great alternative to the pricier clubs around the corner in the realms of Covent Garden.

However being a student night the beer was cheap (around £2 a pint, though early birds before 11.30 had half price pint offers) which in that part of the city is a novelty and worth the £3 entry fee alone. Again though early birds, the first 100 in before 11 got free entry, with £3 till 11.30, £4 till 12 and £5 or £6 after depending on the production of an NUS card or Flyer.

The multiple of floors meant that revellers could easily separate themselves from the thumping dancing posse to chill with friends in the upstairs bar area, making the night great for those who do want to dance their socks off as well as those who feel safer drinking in the corner. Some nights there may be a second floor of alternative music in the basement, though on the Saturday we went it was taken over by Latino club dancing as a separate event.

In all- great music selections and DJing on the whole, though some of the indie numbers didn't really work, being more anti- dance floor than filler tunes. On my part I loved it... but then I've always been an indie kid at heart.

3 stars ***

REVIEW: Hot Fuzz

2007-02-23T14:01:00.000Z

Hot Fuzz 15 *****

DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright

STARRING: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent and Timothy Dalton

Reviewed by Ben Toone

In their second film outing writers Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg again take a typically brash Hollywood blockbuster format and re-fashion it into the banality of an English setting. The sequel to the phenomenally successful Shaun of the Dead, the film takes its inspiration from action movies, placing a Lethal Weapon-esque film into the rural idyll of a Gloucestershire village.

The film centres around Pegg’s character Nicholas Angel, an outstanding officer in the Metropolitan police, who is reassigned to the sleepy village of Stamford, having proven to have been too good, and his action flick obsessed, local bobby partner Daniel Butterman (Nick Frost). In a town with an almost non-existent crime rate, the pair seem trapped in the tedium of local village policing (dealing with underage drinking, escaped geese and over zealous neighbourhood watch meetings) it seems that Nicholas’s days of high speed chases and drug busts are at an end. Mocked by his fellow policemen, it is only when a series of grizzly accidents take place that Nicholas suspects something more sinister afoot.

Using the cream of British acting and comedy talent (including appearances of Jim Broadbent, Roger Dalton, Edward Woodward, Paddy Consandine and Steve Coogan) the film is a hilarious roller coaster from start to finish, filling both the action and comedy niches just as well as Shaun of the Dead did comedy and horror (though Hot Fuzz has more of its own share of gore sequences).

Although fans of action films will get the most out of this film, homage is also paid to Western’s, cult horror (The Wickerman) British bumbling village comedies and even to computer game formats. This on top of slick editing and plenty of witty dialogue, including jokes of the incompressible dialect of the old boy locals and the use of cheesy action film phrases in West Country accent will make for a veritable freeze frame delight for DVD nuts.

If there were any criticism it would be that the comedic English village setting may be a little clichéd and the film lacks the down to earth realism that made Shaun of the Dead work so well. Given that the film is based on the overtly outlandish Hollywood blockbusters, this can be forgiven and even seen as part of its charm.

In all, the film is smart, funny and has a sheer intensity that make it a must see.

Radio Ryedale and URY archive posts

2007-02-23T13:56:00.000Z

A link to a previous article for North Yorkshire's Radio Ryedale:

http://www.radioryedale.co.uk/story_new_layout.asp?StoryId=3328

and my microsite for my URY show 'Toonage Kicks'

http://ury.york.ac.uk/microsite/toonagekicks/index.php

http://ury.york.ac.uk/microsite/toonagekicks/galaxy.php

I'll look into hosting some of the interviews I recorded (including Elbow, Amy Winehouse and Kasabian) : )

A new site feature: Reviews

2007-02-15T17:33:00.000Z

I've decided I'm going to try and write some regular London reviews to the site. I'll keesome of the chatter, updates on what I'm doing (if it's interesting) and any articles I produce (or at least links to them).

Basically, as a simple country biy I'm discovering London's sites anew and thought I'd document my finds... this may of help to other people or not... please comment! I'll also add in reviews of TV, films and radio as I see/ hear them...

But as I am in a rush packing to go up't York heres a quick overview (some quickie reviews of things I've done recently. I'll limit it to ten words apiece.

For a laugh.

I'll do it properly next time. Promise (all these silly reviews will be enlarged with time.

SITES of INTEREST

London Zoo- Lots to interest in a small area. Meerkats.

Tate Modern- Thought provoking, interesting with slides (it's fine cos' its art).

British Museum- London in Maps Exhibition- London got big very quickly.See Shepherds bush as a bush.

FILM

Hot Fuzz- Bad boys 2 and Scream in rural Gloucestershire. Hilarious.

My First Youtube!

2007-02-15T17:19:00.000Z

Filmed by my better half, a little piece of our Valentines day out to London Zoo...

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dAbnQfJSE8"

and this one:

>

Update 15/1/07

2007-01-15T22:59:00.000Z

Hey Guys,

Was at World Service today visiting Matt and watching some science programming. Got lost around the place but who doesn't!

Back to work tomoorow in childrens... find out the result of my job interview later in the week...

Anyway the main reason for this short update is to alert your attention to previous articles I have penned.... see below!

Ben

Generation Why article:

2007-01-15T22:42:00.000Z

Only one Generation Why? Article so far but this will go up!

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy/yoursay/writers/writer_59.htm

11 September 2006

Oxfam at Reading Festival 2006

Festival reveller, Ben Toone, let's us know what he thinks about Oxfam's presence at Reading.

''The crowds were manic, thank God for the stewards pointing us in the right direction!''

''Hopefully the Oxfam video had an effect on the 40-60,000 strong crowd at the main stage.''

Hot Chip - my highlight of the Carling Stage.

Having been to V festival a couple of times I thought I knew what to expect when I came to Reading, but the anarchy on arrival made it quite a different proposition. The crowds were manic, and the mixture of packed tents from entrenched revellers and confused festival arrivals trudging with camping equipment seemed like bedlam. Thank God for the stewards pointing us in the right direction!

Friday morning I emerged and surveyed my surroundings. Oxfam was pretty prominent on site, with the logo emblazoned on stewards’ jackets and information posts, and with the charity tent central on the main through way to the arena. It’s a shame Oxfam didn't have a dedicated campaign tent at Reading; visiting the tents and signing up to campaigns at my previous V festivals in Chelmsford and Stafford have been a regular feature in my itinerary. However, the Oxfam volunteers with their clipboards did a sterling job mixing with the festival crowd - particular hats off to the fellows in the lab coats.

The Oxfam presence was felt further with the broadcast of the campaign video between bands on the main stage. This fitted in well between the streams of music videos and safety announcements, yet was punchy enough to get the message across. Taking 'Pressure Point' by The Zutons as its theme, the video worked well to highlight the depressing reality for those living in poverty. For example, it reminded us that developing countries are tied to their debt – they are paying back twice as much in interest than they get in aid.

It also reminded us about the need to pile on the pressure to make sure the government keeps the promises made at the G8 in Gleneagles. Hopefully the video had an effect on the 40-60,000 strong crowd at the main stage who had turned out to see memorable performances by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Belle and Sebastian, The Futureheads, Feeder, the Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and headliners Franz Ferdinand, Muse and Pearl Jam. These were all amazing, although my personal favourites had to be Hot Chip on the Carling Stage (see pic).

I had planned to steward before my girlfriend (bless her) got me tickets for the festival and, given the impressive hard work and enthusiasm pressed upon me by this year’s volunteers, it’s definitely an option I'd consider in the future. It may have to be Leeds rather than Reading though - the bonus of the Oxfam dance tent is too hard to resist!

Ghost Town

2007-01-15T22:37:00.000Z

Ghost Town

by Ben Toone | January 30th, 2006

Ben Toone speaks to the guide of York’s (and most likely the world’s) first ghost tour, Mark Graham, and delves into York’s sinister past and spiritual activity

In 1953, 18 year-old Harry Martindale was working in the basement of the Treasurer’s House when he witnessed a troupe of Roman figures, complete with badly-dyed green tunics, spears and armour, who were seemingly walking on their knees through one wall to the next.

No one believed him until some years later when archaeologists began digging around the Minster and found remains from Roman occupation, including the great North Road- the route of which ran exactly where Harry had seen the apparitions. Not only were there signs of Roman occupation, but the road ran one foot lower than the basement’s floor, where the soldiers’ feet would have been.

This world-famous story of the Roman soldiers in the Treasurer’s House was the foundation of what was supposedly the world’s first ghost walk, right here in York. Despite there being a graveyard-to-graveyard bus tour in the late sixties, called ‘Ghost Tours Incorporated’, which looked for Gangsters’ graves in Chicago, Mark Graham, guide and owner of The Original Ghost Walk, assures me that his tour is “definitely an original creation” as far as they are aware. Tours have been running since 1973, but Mark himself has been a guide since 1982 after being “poached” from being a voluntary guide, and took over the business in 1987.

We chose to meet in the King’s Arms, Mark’s pre-tour haunt (excuse the pun). A witty Yorkshire man, he enthuses about the tour and York’s history, occasionally lapsing into his story-telling persona. The use of suggestion with a monotone voice for the grisly detail has caused problems in the past. “We have had people who have claimed to see things on the tour, people who’ve fainted as well. We have to alter the stories now because so many people have fainted,” explained Graham. “It was on executions. I’m not sure whether it was the story itself or the way it was delivered. I think it’s a technique, we did it by accident. So much so that you could almost guarantee someone fainting per night if you wanted to. I wouldn’t, because it’s no fun”.

Much of this fainting occurred in one of the most haunted areas of York (along with the Treasurer’s House) which is on the castle green near the Castle Museum, where public executions took place. There aren’t any places in York, though, where Mark wouldn’t go to due to spiritual activity. “There are only one or two pubs where people feel a tightening of the throat and collapse at the bar. Whether that’s the supernatural spiritual, or spirits of another kind I’m not sure!”
Although unsure that York is the most haunted city in Europe, he admitted that as a tour operator he should say that he does think the city’s size and history mean that people are more aware of the possibility of ghostly goings-on. “I think the reason why York has so many ghost stories is because it’s so old; it has lots of history.

“But I also think when people come to York (often from big cities) they haven’t really thought about the depth and history. When they come here, their minds open, if you like, they are suddenly in awe… they realise for the first time that their blood runs very deep.

“People are more perceptive, more open, more in tune and in feeling with the place. But I also think that, because it’s not a big city, people can relate anything that does happen to something that happened in the past because the documents are there. Whereas if you live in a big city - a modern city, if something unusual happens you start thinking it’s an aircraft going over and so forth. You start thinking of other things, whereas in York there are past experiences to look back on.”

The walks are extremely popular. They run every night of the week from the King’s Arms pub and there have been visitors from almost every country in the world. A vicar from Whitby and the author of Shadowmancer has been on the tour as well as the Church of England’s exorcist, Reverend Willis, “he said that he had done 150 exorcisms in Yorkshire. For eighty percent there could possibly be an explanation other than supernatural, but for twenty percent there was something else.”

Mark has also been on Most Haunted, UK Living’s ghost hunting television programme, with a spin-off soon to visit York. “They try their best to be genuine but in the end they are entertainment. A ghost story, as far as I’m concerned, or at least the most interesting ones […] don’t have a beginning or an end, [it’s] just an event that’s happened. For people like me, that event can be really interesting, but for TV it could be boring, so that they have to razzamatazz it up. But it takes away from people who are a bit more serious. I think they do a good job and they’ve opened the door for a lot of people.”

After the interview I went on the tour, which was excellent. Unlike some of the more theatrical tours, The Original Ghost Tour is all about the story-telling, but the lack of gimmicks makes them no less entertaining since Graham captivates his audience. The tour covers a large part of the city centre, moving from Clifford’s Tower (named after John Clifford who was hung there from a gibbet for a year) and ending by the Minster, with the stories varying from the strange to the humorous and gruesome. They included the cheating ways of the Witch-Finder General with his retractable knife and the subsequent spiking alive of witches, bad smells connected with ghostly activity, and children’s laughter and poltergeist activity on the site of an orphanage by St Williams College where many orphans had died from maltreatment.

Mark weaves these with traditional favourite ghost stories, such as the wandering hand of the 2nd Duke of Buckingham’s ghost in a York pub and the ghostly goings-on in The Black Swan and Golden Fleece, alongside newly found tales to keep the tours fresh and exciting.

“It’s like theatre, we find new stuff and bring in new stuff. It helps the guides and the audience. Recently we’ve been doing quite a bit of work in the Viking Museum [Jorvik] and we discovered that there’s a lot of poltergeist activity there. I like that one because some of the stories we’ve been telling there have actually manifested themselves in the museum.”

The museum had been a hotspot for activity since they discovered the site in the mid seventies. “In one particular room in the museum, which is the last room before you go up to leave, there are human remains- relics. Staff claim that they have seen figures, felt a presence- felt something cold- and I’ve got letters from people who describe what they’ve experienced as being spiritual, and that they have been in the presence of someone they once knew”.

Although he received many more stories of ghostly goings-on from members of the public, they could not be told on the tour due to being “too personal”. He did tell me, though, about three Yorkshire teenagers one of whom worked in a shop in The Shambles and was warned of ghostly footsteps following him down to the basement. Laughing this off, initially, he was terrified to find that the warning rang true.

Earlier I had asked Mark why so many people are fascinated in ghosts. “It’s a question I’ve often been asked and it’s an answer I don’t really have. I guess everyone’s got their own reasons. But I think it’s the unknown, basically, I think it’s something you can never [pause]… end. You kind of wonder. I think that’s what it’s all about: to wonder. We’re all going to die and we wonder what it’s going to be like.”

He himself has never actually seen a ghost, “I’ve seen shapes and shadows that people claim are ghosts, I’ve also heard voices that people claim are ghosts, but I think you’ve got to want to, and I don’t want to”. Mark does, however, have celestial dreams, or out of body experiences, something he brings into the walk; something he has experienced from an early age. He also believes in the possibility of a multi-dimensional universe being the reason for ghosts, “If that’s the case, there are probably these things everywhere.” He did insist, though, that first and foremost he is a story-teller, not a psychic investigator. “If there is such a thing as a ghost, judging by all the evidence I’ve had and from what people have said and what I’ve read, I tend to think it’s how perceptive we are of the things around us, but I think that there’s a law about the afterlife, and that is that it can’t ever be proved. Because if it could, life would be meaningless… so there are messages for individuals to help them through.” “It’s the element of doubt that gives life purpose”.

The Original Ghost Tour runs throughout the year, leaving from outside the King’s Arms pub at 8pm (up on the bridge when it’s flooded).

There’s a concessional rate for students of £3

RAG brings out charity spirit

2007-01-15T22:34:00.000Z

RAG brings out the charity spirit

by Admin | February 20th, 2006

Events a success but more need to get involved, says Ben Toone

It’s inspiring to see the lengths people will go to for good causes, and RAG week highlighted this magnificently. From the conventional bar events, to the utterly barmy and downright cruel, students threw themselves into the charity spirit. The RAG parade showed locals and bemused tourists that students do care about their adopted community, with much of the money raised going to York based charities.

Although I was more of a bystander (moonlighting for URY as part of the new street-party element to the parade) the sheer enthusiasm couldn’t fail to impress. However, despite the huge success and great turnout I couldn’t help wondering why more students weren’t there. How representative was a turnout of 10-30 people per college? How many more stayed at home? How many more are missing out?

To confess, this year’s RAG parade was my first, and in my previous three years at York I had hardly noticed RAG week. Yet when I did get involved the experience was amazing. Hitching to Dublin, sky diving, even speed dating. Having fun yet helping good causes. The feel good factor is hard to beat.

So why don’t more people get involved? Apathy with the Students’ Union is well known, most students’ contact may well be restricted to mentions within this paper or the odd Revolver event. It may well be that apathy towards RAG stems from this. More likely it’s the feeling of lack of time, breaking into perceived cliques, or believing it’s difficult to be involved. Yes, our primary aim at university should be to get a degree at as high a grade as possible, but getting involved needn’t take up huge amounts of time.

It’s the old cliché but your time flies here at York. Three years will go so quickly, so it’s important to jump on opportunities whilst you can. Volunteering, either by fundraising with RAG, YSCA, Millennium Awards or other ways can be one of the most rewarding experiences during your degree. At no other time will there be so many opportunities and like-minded people in one place. I can put hand on heart and say my week’s stint for Kids Camp was one of the best weeks I have had since being at University. Volunteering also looks great on the CV. So get out of your comfort-zone and get involved, even if you do one thing, you’ll be surprised at how good it feels.

Certificate 18, Gillygate

2007-01-15T22:32:00.000Z

Certificate 18, Gillygate

by Admin | December 12th, 2005

Once York’s only gay pub, the ex-Bay Horse, underwent a drastic transformation to become York’s “premier rock pub” four years ago. Located half way down Gillygate (54 Gillygate) and within 3 minute’s walk of King’s Manor, the pub is the only one in York dedicated to the alternative rock scene.

Suitably adorned with posters of punk, grunge and metal heroes on both walls and ceiling and with black painted furnishings and bar, Certificate 18 (or Cert. 18 as known by regulars) tries to hide its old pub roots. It offers the mainline pints, including Guinness, and house spirits, making it no better than the average pub in York.

However it is in its events that Cert. 18 really excels, offering an extra venue for the alternative fraternity to complement the generally more indie/rock-orientated Fibbers and Junction, as well as a perfect excuse to avoid Ziggy’s on a Wednesday. With a band every weekend and dj nights and bands during the week, Cert. 18 aims to please, catering for the punk, hardcore/emo and goth fan in us all. Some nights are free, usually with more local bands or with regular club nights.

Cert. 18’ s previous problem of not opening as late as the clubs should be rectified with later licensing hours, but that still doesn’t escape the fact that the place feels like it has been designed as the Addams Family’s local, just not as scary. It is hard to see how this beats Fibbers’ new Saturday club night in this sense, though the lure of free table football (yes free!) is quite an attractive feature. Cert. 18 is also open during the day, where you can eat your standard pub fare.

It is certainly not the place for a quiet drink by any means, with MTV2 and the like on during the day and with deafening speakers come evening (not altogether unexpected in a rock bar). Overall, Cert. 18 isn’t a bad pub, with the variety of events, club nights (and free footie!) putting it a class above the average old-man orientated pub scene that York is renowned for.

Reviewed by Ben Toone

The Futureheads: News and Tributes

2007-01-15T22:31:00.001Z

The Futureheads, News and Tributes

by Admin | May 4th, 2006

The difficult second album. So often a failure for many bands, but what of Sunderland’s finest? This offering takes a much darker tack than their self titled debut, echoing the punk rhythms and socially concious lyrics of The Clash and The Jam. They have also learned from the success of ‘Hounds of Love’, expanding on the successful backing harmonies throughout.
Fans of the songs ‘A to B’ or ‘Hounds of Love’ may be disappointed here. Although ‘Favours for Favours’, ‘To the Sea’ and ‘Skip to the End’ are standout tracks, they don’t quite share the same anthemic resonance or catchiness.

Several songs indicate a change in style without losing the distinctive Futureheads mark. This is most obvious in ‘Thursday’, which oddly echoes the intro to the Beach Boys’ classic ‘Wouldn’t it be Nice’. The bass driven ‘Burnt’ channels the Pixies’ loud/quiet sound in The Futureheads’ own unique way.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t pulsate with raw passion in the same way as The Futureheads did and, although the new ideas are interesting, sometimes they fall short. The closing track ‘Face’ starts promisingly, ends abruptly and feels like an injustice, closing an unsatisfacory album in an unsatisfactory manner.

Reviewed by Ben Toone

Out 29/05/06

The Futureheads: News and Tributes

2007-01-15T22:31:00.000Z

The Futureheads, News and Tributes

by Admin | May 4th, 2006

Reviewed by Ben Toone

Out 29/05/06

The Raj Tandoori Restaurant

2007-01-15T22:29:00.000Z

The Raj Tandoori Restaurant, Bootham

by Admin | March 14th, 2006

A stone’s throw away from Kings Manor, this restaurant is excellently situated for both history and archeaology students wandering around for a decent meal in town. The Raj’s main offer is a discounted business lunch, an advertised five courses for £4.95. Though I would debate whether this is actually five courses (can you count popadoms and rice as separate courses?) it is a good deal as it also includes bhaji starters, selected curries and an ice cream or coffee for dessert. For lighter appetites there is a light snack lunch for £3.50, the same as above but without the curry and rice.

Although fairly empty when I went in (though it was Tuesday lunchtime) the waiters were prompt (so much so I’d only just finished my starter before my mains came) and the meals were well presented and cooked. There were plenty of poppadoms for starters and a whole array of sauces, and the bhaji and salad starter was also very good. The ice cream at the end was slightly disappointing, only one scoop! It was also a shame that I felt so rushed, but with four staff on for the three people present it’s understandable. In all it’s a good place to get a good quality meal for just under a fiver, probably even worth paying extra for an evening dinner.

Reviewed by Ben Toone

"Campus media continue award success"

2007-01-15T22:28:00.001Z

Campus media continue their award success

by Admin | May 4th, 2006

York University enhanced its standing in the world of student media with the success of its television and radio societies.

At the National Student Television Association Awards, YSTV collected the ‘Best Station Ident’ award after being highly commended in last year’s awards and winning it in 2003. They narrowly missed out on the ‘Best Broadcaster’ category to Loughborough’s student station.

15 stations participated in the awards and conference, which was hosted jointly at Leeds by YSTV and Leeds Student Television who themselves scooped four awards. This academic year has seen award winning performances on all fronts of the student media, including URY winning ‘Best Student Station’ at the Student Radio Associations awards in its first year of entry.

As part of the prize the station gets to broadcast live from Radio 1 on Monday May 29th at the BBC’s London studios, with three URY presenters going on air. The bank holiday broadcast will be on in the 4am-7am slot preceding the JK and Joel show.

Programme Controller Sarah Forster said “”We’re really excited to get this chance to be on national radio, our hard work has paid off. Hopefully it means a lot more people will get to enjoy what URY is about, rather than having to limit it to just York’s students.” The station is planning to continue its outside broadcasts, hosting a live event in JJ’s bar featuring Dublin band Director in week 3.

The event is supported by Leeds group The Hair and campus favourites The Memos. Tickets are priced £2 and are available from YOUR:SHOP.

By Ben Toone
NEWS CORRESPONDENT

"Takeaway on York Campus" article

2007-01-15T22:23:00.000Z

One of my news articles whilst reporter for student paper Nouse.

http://www.nouse.co.uk/author/ben-toone/

The article follows here:

Takeaway set to open on campus

by Ben Toone | June 27th, 2006

The University is set to give the go-ahead for a campus fast food takeaway.

Unlike Your:Shop and Your:Books, Commercial Services is taking charge of the scheme. “It was their idea and their venture” said Nat Thwaites-McGowan, current Students’ Union Services and Finance Officer.

Despite this, the SU are trying to make the venture as well suited to students as possible, having sent out a survey last term canvassing student opinion. “We [the Students’ Union] designed the survey so that the University can get a better idea of what students actually want” said Amy Woods, Services and Finance Officer elect. “We’re trying to keep the decisions as student-led as possible”.

The new takeaway is likely to be situated in Vanbrugh, making use of current facilities . It is hoped that it will be more successful than JJ’s pizza, which is partly kept afloat by JJ’s bar profits.

It will also be kept as fair trade and environmentally friendly as possible in terms of packaging and food.

Thwaites-MacGowan believes the takeaway won’t encourage an unhealthy student diet. “The University is populated with individuals educated to a very high level and as such we always promote choice. Introducing the takeaway on campus would be a good service and has the potential to raise much needed funding for Commercial Services.”

The venture is in its early stages and the scheme may be operational in time for next year’s autumn term, though this has not been confirmed.

Happy New Year everyone!

2007-01-03T19:56:00.000Z

Hope everyone had a great new year and christmas. I'm back working at the Beeb... managed to get a board for a more permenant job so fingers crossed!

Heard a really good philosophy piece on radio 4 today on todays (Wednesdays) book of the week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/book_week.shtml

Really cheered me up this morning on my way to work...

If you want a laugh however you can check me out as Charlie the Cheeky Monkey on Big Toe- Tuesday to Friday all this week:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/bigtoe/

My last facebook post

2006-12-09T23:16:00.000Z

In case you were wondering what I've been up to, here's the latest post I put up on Facebook Its pretty chatty in style, but its a start to blogging anyway. I'll put up some of more intelligent blogs up in the future as well as previous articles (or links to at least) from Nouse (one of York University's student papers), Oxfam's Generation Why?, Radio Ryedale and 205 Radio.
Facebook, in case you were wondering, is a social networking site based around those in higher education (http://www.facebook.com/).

Anyway here's my piece:

Hello Chums,

I am rapidly expanding my awareness of Londinium from Mary Poppins and a Monopoly Board to understanding how these places exist in the real world (i.e. not all placed around a square map and London isn't festooned with Chimney Sweeps). I also found that walking from the British Library to Liverpool Street is a very long way.

Went to the Map exhibition in the British Library which was cool- London used to be so tiny! The 50 years of No 1 albums was better though (as a radio and music buff) and well worth visiting- your able to listen to every track on every album that was No 1 in the charts for the last 50 years which was ace and wasted many hours as I skived off work shadowing at the Beeb. Many happy memories from my tome as a student disc jockey (sob!). Got to talk to a Big Issue vendor for ages afterwards- was a nice guy but don't you always feel guilty when you want to end the conversation and go? From his stories I'm glad I'm living nowhere near Kings Cross...

Starting as a Broadcast Assistant for the Big Toe Radio show in the radio children's department on Monday, having work shadowed and learnt the Joys of Proteous and SAP (don't ask). As a 'Freelancer' I'm on casual contracts, but I'm over the moon as I've finally landed a paid job in the media (and I'm officially not a jobseeker (YAY!) or a bum (thanks Dad!)).

Still got loads of xmas pressies to get, but I'm a bit overwhelmed with where to go in London. I'd prefer to get some eco-friendly/ ethical stuff, but not sure what. I hate the crowds down Oxford street, but as I've left things late may have to brave them and shop down there after work.....

Shout out to Mike Li who should be joining the facebook ranks soon and to JJ and Jade who Bids and I went out with last night in Leicester Square- OK it was Japanese sushi and Italian ice cream rather than clubbing but it was a right' ald larf.

Hmmm.... think I'll stop there. If anyone is working in Central (or West) London and wants to meet up after work I finish at half 6 at Broadcasting House (just off Oxford Circus) so give me a yell.

Hope your all fine, well and dandy!
Signing off...

Ben

Blogger virgin (almost)

2006-12-09T21:52:00.000Z

Hello there,

This is my second foray into blogging, though the first doesn't really count since I only wrote one entry, not knowing what blogging really was... but here I am second try!

The idea is I'll be putting up comment on News/ Science/ Media stories, talk about my experiences as a fairly new Londoner, add articles and comments I have written or have been written about me and experiment with podcasts and audio/ video blogs, though best take each step as it comes!

Please feel free to add comments, shout out support or say hello,

Ben