'Auntie Beeb' has lost all sense of decorum!

Sheeesh! Is nothing sacred anymore?

On BBC1 just now... in between the ending of Traffic Cops and the 10 o'clock news, the duty presenter said:

"Now... on BBC2... a couple of reasons to join Graham Norton... Katie Price!"

Funny maybe... I do have a sense of humour... and I don't mind a bit of... well ok, maybe even a lot of political incorrectness... I do enough of it myself... but.... come on... do we want it from presenters on the BBC? Where's all the decorum gone at 'Auntie Beeb'? Oh... which reminds me... wasn't it the BBC who censored Carol Thatcher for remarking about 'golliwogs'!!

In any case... I'm afraid... Jordan just doesn't do it for me. I like my 'couple of things' to come with another thing... a brain up top! Oh... and as I understand it... they're false anyway aren't they? What do I know about such things!


Read more about Jordan (Katie Price) @ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cafe Grumpy... a little corner of Gibraltar in the 'Big Apple'

My old friend John Cortes, the 'man at the helm' at GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) wrote to me recently giving me the 'heads up' on an interesting story... about a little corner of Gibraltar in the 'Big Apple'... New York!

Cafe Grumpy, with two branches in New York City and soon to be three, is run by Caroline Bell and her husband Chris. Caroline has firm Gibraltar roots as she is the daughter of Gibraltarian Lucille Cortes and Nick Bell, who worked at the Gibraltar Branch of Barclays Bank in the 1970s.

Cafe Grumpy has a coffee shop in Manhattan and another in Brooklyn and will soon be opening a third New York venue... and they all sound like the perfect place... for a 'grumpy old Gibo' and coffee lover like me!

Cafe Grumpy has just been voted as "the best cup of coffee in New York" by a 'Readers's Choice' poll in the distinguished Eat Out Awards 2009 - Best restaurants and bars in NYC - Time Out New York!

Gibraltarians who visit New York should not fail to call at a branch of Cafe Grumpy for the best coffee in NYC... and no doubt a warm welcome! To find all their current locations click here.

Coffee and Gibraltar connections in the US of A

The connections between Gibraltar, coffee and our cousins across the pond do not end there.

I am subscribed to Google email alerts for 'keywords' I am interested in... and naturally one of them is 'Gibraltar'. Recently, I started to receive 'alerts' about posts and websites talking about 'The Gibraltar'. I was also seeing them coming up on my Twitter tweets... with many people mentioning they had just enjoyed a 'Gibraltar' or similar!

Intrigued, I of course had to have a look... and was amused to find that this relates to Cafe Grumpy... indirectly I understand (though my 'informed sources' could be wrong) and an interesting new fad in trendy 'Stateside' cafes... over a particular cup of coffee that has become highly sought after and known as 'A Gibraltar'

Here's a write up about it.. in Espresso News and Reviews @ TheShot.coffeeratings.com. They're not very complimentary... calling it "The Gibraltar: Fool’s Cappuccino"... indeed, they would like to 'defrock' it! Oh dear! lol

According to Espresso News and Reviews, 'The Gibraltar' originated in San Francisco (where they are based... what a surprise) and has since spread to Los Angeles (Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea), New York (Cafe Grumpy naturally) and now London (Climpson & Sons).

Anyhow... not wishing to embroil myself in this particular debate, (which sounds to me a bit 'up their asses' anyway), but in order to explain a little more to you about 'The Gibraltar', I thought you might be interested to read what else Espresso News and Reviews have to say and why they wish to 'defrock' a cup of coffee:

"The purpose of this post is to demystify, debunk, and, well, defrock the Gibraltar before the misconceptions behind this invasive species are allowed to propagate any further."

ha ha... Serious stuff!

So what is the Gibraltar? Espresso News and Reviews explains:

"Technically speaking, it’s the registered name for a line of glassware tumblers from Ohio-based Libbey Inc.

So what does any of this have to do with coffee? Prior to opening Blue Bottle Coffee Co.’s first SF café in Hayes Valley in January 2005, owner James Freeman experimented and tuned variables for his café by making cappuccinos in 4.5-oz versions of these cheap restaurant supply glasses. He offered these practice runs to his staff and to employees of the Dark Garden corset shop down the street.

Word of mouth spread, and these test beverages needed a name. Steve Ford, then a barista and roasting colleague of James at Blue Bottle (and now head roaster at Ritual Coffee Roasters), apparently found inspiration from the packaging for these glasses.

Thus the Gibraltar was born out of a combination of happenstance and an inside joke. Except now the joke has gone global."

It has indeed... as has their snotty, 'up their ass' tone!

I wonder what Caroline Bell might have to say about this?? I am very much hoping she has not been tainted by this sort of inane 'faddy' twatishness that seems to surround the Cafe glitterati in some corners of the US... after all, she is of Llanita blood... and in my experience we are far more down to earth... and 'feet firmly planted' than that... well usually we are! Here's hoping!

Having said that.. and being a coffee lover as I said... I would love to try a cup of 'A Gibraltar'... see what all the fuss is about. I'm going to have to see if I can organise a trip sometime... maybe even to Caroline's Cafe Grumpy in NYC!

MI5 gets the message on Scientific Advice... 40 years too late

I read today, with complete incredulity... that the British security service MI5 is recruiting a chief scientific adviser to ‘lead and co-ordinate’ its scientific work.

WHAT?? Does this mean that the British security services... in 2009... in the 21st century... hasn't had a 'chief scientific adviser'... for years already?? Unbelievable!!

But... there you have it... according to the Beeb's Science and Environment website... that's how things are with our spy catchers.

Despite being shown the way long ago by the likes of James Bond and 'Q' for over 40 years, (Q first appeared in 1962 in Dr No) our frontline defences on security have not had someone scientifically advising our spies... during all this time. Amazing!!

Ah well... better late than never I suppose one would say with typical British phlegm. I wonder what the cousins make of this??

Anyhow... apparently, the the job is being advertised on the MI5 website, with the successful applicant expected to use their expertise to thwart terror operations around the world! (You don't say!)

Candidates for the ‘unique and challenging’ role need to have ‘world-class scientific expertise and credibility’, ‘excellent strategic skills’, ‘outstanding influencing and communication skills’ as well as a successful track record of ‘managing critical projects and processes in a complex environment’.

The post will take up two or three days a week, the advert says. Hmmm... so only part time too! It gets better!

According to the Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Beddington, the new recruit will have to keep up with the latest scientific developments to ensure British intelligence stays one step ahead of the country's enemies.

If all this wasn't so serious... it would be laughable... well it IS laughable but... I'm still amazed... stunned!!

Here's something I strongly recommended to applicants... James Bond 007: Q Manual... and I would add to whoever is selected... the best of British luck to you mate... you're going to need it!!

Oh... I just had a brilliant thought! I do recall a very suitable candidate may have recently become available on the job market. I am led to believe this chap is apparently very good with poison (hmmm.. but not so good with computer literacy)! Perhaps our man at Westminster... the esteemed Guido Fawkes might like to offer a good letter of reference??

Read more on 'Q' and James Bond on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Search for more on 'Q' and James Bond at Amazon.co.uk

RIP Jade

It was with great regret that I heard of Jade Goody's passing this morning.

Such a sad irony... that she should pass away from us on Mother's Day.

Perhaps, in a way, it is quite fitting as her main concern in her latter days was all for her children and making sure she left behind enough to provide for them and ensuring they get the education and upbringing that Jade herself was never able to enjoy. She's left a great legacy for them... and maybe for all of us too!

My condolences to all her loved ones... who will forever have warm lasting memories of her!

RIP Jade! xx

Facebook Book of Condolences

Facebook users may be interested in this 'Book of Condolences for Jade'.


Cervical cancer screening

Cervical cancer screening prevents cervical cancer.

Cervical screening is sometimes known as the 'smear test'. At screening the doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from your cervix using a spatula or a small brush. They examine these cells under a microscope to look for any unusual changes. Read more...

Help fight Cancer - Donate to Cancer Research UK

Join in Action Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ

Internet Blackout NZ - A Week of Action Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ.

Join The New Zealand Internet Blackout to protest against the Guilt Upon Accusation law 'Section 92A' that calls for internet disconnection based on accusations of copyright infringement without a trial and without any evidence held up to court scrutiny.

The word is already out and hundreds of people are learning about this law (even Stephen Fry).

Gibraltar in popular culture

I've been trawling around the net recently, looking for any Gibraltar Blogs I may have missed. Disappointingly, it seems I haven't missed much. If you're interested, I have linked any I have found on my sidebar... those of any note anyhow. If you run or write a blog related to Gibraltar... then let me know!

However, whilst surfing about, I revisited a favourite page about Gibraltar on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, which includes loads of information about the politics, economy, history and culture of Gibraltar.

Poking about, I came across some interesting notes on Gibraltar... in popular culture and I thought I would share them with you.

Film

* The film The Silent Enemy was filmed on location in Gibraltar in 1958. It is a dramatisation of the period during the Second World War when Lionel "Buster" Crabb served as a mine and disposal officer in Gibraltar while frogmen of the Italian Navy's Tenth Light Flotilla were sinking vital shipping.

* The opening scene of the film The Living Daylights (from the James Bond film series) takes place in Gibraltar.

* In the German-language film Das Boot, a German U-boat struggles in its attempt to get past the British Royal Navy in Gibraltar to relocate to a base in the Mediterranean sea.

Literature

* Anthony Burgess's novel A Vision of Battlements (1965), chronicling the troubled love-life of the British soldier Richard Ennis, is set in Gibraltar.

* The satirical novel Gil Braltar by Jules Verne (1887) describes an almost successful attack by our famous apes on the fortress of Gibraltar.

* 'The Day of an American Journalist in 2889', an 1889 Jules Verne short story, also mentions Gibraltar as the last territory of a British Empire that has lost the British Isles themselves.

* Raffles' Crime in Gibraltar by Barry Perowne, a Sexton Blake story, is set in Gibraltar in 1937 (U.S. title: They Hang Them in Gibraltar).

* Scruffy by Paul Gallico is set on Gibraltar during World War II. It follows the steady decline in the size of the Barbary Macaque (our apes or monkeys) colony and the possible fulfillment of the superstition or legendary prophecy that Gibraltar will fall to the enemy if they disappear.

* As Molly Bloom is a native Gibraltarian, references to Gibraltar appear throughout James Joyce's Ulysses (1922). A sculpture of Molly Bloom as imagined by local artist Jon Searle is on display in the Alameda Gardens.

* Arthur C. Clarke's novel The Fountains of Paradise mentions the 'Gibraltar Bridge', a novel infrastructure connecting Europe and Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar. This is no longer so far fetched as plans are currently being looked at to build such a bridge.

* John Masters book The Rock is a collection of short stories set in Gibraltar: These range from a story set in prehistoric times to one suggesting a possible future for the Rock.

* In Maud Hart Lovelace's book Betsy and the Great World, the heroine goes on a cruise to Europe and makes a stop at Gibraltar, where she learns about its history and legends, and goes shopping.

Music

* In 1782 Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed a fragment for voice and piano to celebrate the Great Siege of Gibraltar titled Bardengesang auf Gibraltar: O Calpe! Dir donnert's am Fusse.

* The Beatles' song The Ballad of John & Yoko identifies Gibraltar as the place where John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married.

* In 1952 American country singer Frankie Lane had a song called The Rock of Gibraltar, which made it to #20 in the US Top 40

Notable or famous Gibraltarians

Notable or famous Gibraltarians include:

* William George Penney was a physicist responsible for the development of British nuclear technology following World War II.

* John Galliano is a four time British fashion designer of the year.

* Albert Hammond is an international singer, songwriter and producer.

* Henry Francis Cary (1772 - 1844) was a translator and poet.

* Thomas William Bowlby (1818 - 1860) was a correspondent for The Times in Germany and China. He was captured and imprisoned by the Tartar General Sengge Rinchen whilst on correspondence duties in Tongzhou, Beijing.

* Frederick Stanley Maude (1864 - 1917) was a General who led the successful campaign in World War I to capture Baghdad over the winter of 1917.

* John Beikie (1766 - 1839) was a merchant and political figure in Upper Canada.

* Don Pacifico (1784 - 1854) was a Gibraltar-born Portuguese Jew, most famous for the Pacifico incident, as described in the book Don Pacifico: The Acceptable Face of Gunboat Diplomacy.

* John Montresor (1736 - 1799) – Gibraltar-born military engineer in the British service active in North America, his amorous exploits inspired the best-selling novel Charlotte Temple.

* Gustavo Bacarisas (1873 - 1971) was a Painter.

You can find more books, music, films and other items of popular culture related to Gibraltar by visiting our Gibraltar Online Book and Film Store or exploring the graphic links on the right sidebar here.