Blog
I will never forget my first appearance as a young barrister, arguing an appeal case in the House of Lords. Five of the six elderly men I was addressing listened to my submissions with a stony face that Buster Keaton could not have matched. But one nodded occasionally and even smiled at me. I drew encouragement from his reaction and focused my speech on him, hoping he would persuade his noble and learned colleagues to grant my client’s appeal. When I finished speaking, the Law Lords rose to go and consider their Judgement. As this was happening, the friendly one stood up and said in a loud cockney voice, “Court Rise”. He was not one of the Law Lords. He was the Usher! We learn by experience. |
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One might ask, what does a Lord know about fashion? Apart from wearing an ermine gown once a year at state openings, I have two teenage girls with modeling experience. London fashion week is an economic booster, raking in million of pounds for the economy. It also is a strong source of influence. It states, This is what you should wear: this is what you should look like. This message is powerful, especially to young women. Fashion editors are considered deities, and fashion magazines are regarded as a bible. Some class fashion as art. Textile is one of the most influential of the arts, because we live and spend our lives in it.
But when did the pin-thin look become fashionable? In Victorian times, larger silhouettes were seen as a sign of fortune, health, and prosperity. In the 1960s, a stick thin young girl from London named Twiggy shook the fashion scene. Her thin look quickly personified chic. This style developed into the heroin chic look of the 1980s, which sadly persists today. Presently, most Fashion designers believe that tall, skinny, and non-curvy bodies bring greater appeal to their artwork. |
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For the last 3 years, many of us have had the experience of standing in line at an airport, enduring and not enjoying the experience. We felt herded like cattle, searched, and treated with suspicion. We are told what liquids and other items we cannot take on board the plane. We are just relieved when we have arrived at our destination. Some of us may have wondered whether these precautions were necessary. This week the conviction of three British Muslims, showed us that these warnings are crucial.
Yesterday, Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain, were convicted in a retrial for planning to blow up passenger jets in suicide attacks. The plot, caught in its final stages, was to detonate liquid bombs on 7 airliners whilst flying from Britain to America. It could have killed 10,000 people, so would have exceeded the 3000 killed on 9/11. |
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Motivational Quote of the Day
" "Art is a deliberate recreation of a new and special reality that grows from your response to life. It cannot be copied; it must be created." "
--Anonymous
Film Reviews
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Film review - Princess Mononoke |
Rating scale:  = excellent ,  = good ,  = poor
Princess Mononoke is Japanese in origin and is dubbed in English. It can be described as an animated fantasy adventure film. When young prince Ashitaka battles an evil boar to save his village he gets infected with an incurable disease. He is told to travel to the Far East where he hopes to find release from the curse. He is told to travel “with eyes untainted by hate”. Whilst defending himself from armed men in a neighbouring village he fires his bow with his diseased arm.
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Film review - The Count of Monte Cristo |
Rating scale - = excellent, = good, = poor
The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure film, set between 1815-1838 in France and Italy, based on the book by Alexande Dumas. If you enjoy movie trivia, it is a book mentioned in The Shawshank Redemption. The film focuses on the ideas of friendship, betrayal, greed and ultimately revenge and justice. Edmond Dantes and Fernand Mondego are best friends from different backgrounds. Edmond is kind hearted, poor and has a beautiful girlfriend, Mercedes. Fernand is the son of a wealthy count. Tension increases between the two characters when Edmond gains captaincy of the Pharaon, the transport ship both characters work on. Fernand fails in wooing Mercedes. This leaves Fernand asking himself why Edmond should have so much luck whilst he, the son of a count, should be so unhappy. Fernand is jealous of Edmond and hatches a plan.
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Rating scale: = excellent , = good , = poor
I do not consider myself a movie snob. If a film lacks intellectual stimulation but delivers in other ways, I am still pleased. With Wild Hogs, though, I was offended by the lack of effort that seemed to go into it. The film boasts an all-star cast. Tim Allen plays a dentist trying to prove that he’s not boring. Martin Lawrence is the henpecked hubby on a search for respect. William H. Macy is apparently the comedic relief with a clumsy nature and fear of women.
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Film review - Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith |
Rating scale: = excellent , = good , = poor
The third and final installment of the Star Wars prequels, Revenge of the Sith, delivers some of the most awesome breathtaking special effects. The movie's opening pulls you into an intense and thrilling space battle that doesn't let up for thirty minutes. Lucas' technical wizardry is second to none, whether it's battles taking place on lava worlds or even high powered meetings held in futuristic sky scrapers, one can't help but by impressed with the universe that Lucas has created and the level of detail he's put in. From a purely visual standpoint, Revenge of the Sith is probably one of best movies I've ever seen. However, much of the awe that Lucas generates throughout the movie is shattered by the stiff acting of Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman. Their portrayal as a couple in love was unconvincing.
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"John Taylor - Lord Taylor of Warwick" has been published.