UK Turned White!

It’s snowing again…

I am currently sat in my house, just outside Northwich, Cheshire UK about 30 miles from Liverpool and 30 miles from Manchester, looking out of my window I see a layer of ever increasing snow falling and settling on  the ground. It’s been snowing now continuously for about 8 hours.

As I am sitting drinking a much needed steaming cup of Strong coffee (it’s one of those days, when you just wish to be somewhere else or even someone else) I flicked over to one of the many 24/7 news channels and what are they talking about but “Snow”.

I don’t know, what it is about Britain and Weather

Maybe it is just me, but being born in Germany (Paderborn Barker Barracks) Where my Father was posted at the time with the British Army, snow was no great event.

You could pretty much run your life by seasons over there, expecting cold snowy winters, and warm to hot Summers and so on. But here snow seems to bring on panic attacks and over-reaction.

Many places around the world that experience snow, take it in their stride commenting “Blimey it’s a bit cold out there” but none the less just whack on a set of snow chains or a pair of sturdy boots and just get on with it. In Britain, any visitors from similar snow affected climates often look at us in amazement when they hear the stories of the Country coming to a complete halt.

Obviously there are times when snow and extreme weather cause disruption to events and public services, and I am sure this is true for all places affected around the world.

Where I live is quite rural but only 10 minutes out of town, we don’t get the “gritters” down here as it is a country lane, the council grit the main roads, so once you brave the Ice Rink that is our lane,  your on the main trunk routes your fine.

Living here you soon adapt to weather events, we still have regular power cuts in strong gale force winds, and when the lane outside is snowed up and Icy you simply re-arrange your appointments.  If you can you do if you can’t you don’t.

No Excuse for Cities and Towns though

All that said about the more rural areas of Britain, it is a price to pay for the location you live in I guess. The big cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham surely don’t have any excuse for a complete halt in public services?

A bit of snow shouldn’t halt the motorways or main roads, but in the extreme and rare occasions it does, they should surely have a plan to get the cities moving again.

I was at Manchester Piccadilly Station during “Britain’s big Freeze” this January, a meeting I could not re-arrange, I understood there to be delays due to snow, and just gave extra time at both ends, yes the train I was due to get got cancelled and I had to get a Bus that took 4 hours to get home again. But it was what I expected in those conditions,  just put up with it and got home eventually.

But people around me where getting extremely annoyed like it was some sort of personal attack that they were going to be delayed getting home to watch the TV soaps. I met one girl who was stressed out due to choosing to go shopping on the day when there was deep snow lying on the ground already and then nearly attacking the poor station staff member who informed us on the platform that our train will be cancelled and await futher information. Who would choose to go shopping on a day when weather is bitter and slippy anyway?

The business men and ladies all forced to work that day were all resigned like myself to a rather long and uncertain journey back to our homes, the News stated “Do not travel unless it is essential” for us it was, for the shoppers determined to go to the local mall for a day out it was obviously not a good choice of day. So please if you choose to travel against national advice then don’t get aggressive because you can’t get home on time. More to the point to that girl, don’t put it all on us while we have the unfortunate luck to share a train carriage with you. Just put up with it.

This weather is not great for anyone, while snow is enjoyable to the young and to us all young at heart, sometimes we just need to say “ok it is snowing” nothing I can do about it, it will have to wait until tomorrow. For the older members of society and to people who are physically and Psychologically upset, it can feel lonely, isolating, and depressive. All we can do is look out for those people and ensure they are ok. Then just wait for it to pass.

But let it snow let it snow let it snow. Sometimes there is no other option but to wait it out.

What are the first things that come to mind when asked to describe a Christian?

I’ve asked this question of some friends of mine in recent weeks, the main things my friends have mentioned when answering is…

• A Christian is someone who is concerned with making people who don’t follow  their beliefs “See the light.”
• They thought that a Christian’s sole aim in life was to preach the word of God
• They thought a Christian didn’t swear, smoke, drink or have a good time.
• They thought that a Christian lived soley in the pages of the Holy Bible.
• The ability to quote of the tip of the tongue a bible verse or two.

Reading this blog would you be surprised to know that I am a Christian, I mean I attend Church regularly, twice on Sunday, and at least once a day in the week.

It may come as more of a suprise to people (as it did my friends) when they realised I could not quote a Bible verse of the cuff that was perfect for any conversation.

They were equally surprised to see me living like a “normal” person and not keep “harping” on about the life and glory of Jesus.

Christian Fanatics:

You know the type of person: Stephen Baldwin comes to mind in recent days with his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother here in the UK, maybe some people will feel me being overly harsh to this man for the strength of his beliefs. However, I whole-heartedly disagree with his approach in attempting “conversion” on innocent bystanders in that house.

His only aim was trying to force the word of God on his fellow housemates, when one fellow housemate challenged his opinion he retorted “I am speaking the word of the Lord!”

There you have my biggest problem, as a Christian we are meant to spread the word, I do that, without forcing scripture down peoples necks, trying to answer questions in a none biased way.

My personal journey to Christianity was through asking questions, discovering and also disagreeing.

I live my Faith with the principle of trying to answer peoples questions as openly as possible, without bias or judgement, if that person asking questions of my belief leads to them experiencing a deeper understanding of Christianity and then deciding to take the plunge in becoming a Christian then that’s fantastic.

The Difference

Being open to people’s questions, just listening, being calm, being focused, steady and friendly is the biggest “spreading of the word.”  When you choose to take on the Christian faith (More in a later article). It is essential in my opinion to stay stuck on the ground. Still living in the real world.

It’s very easy to get carried away with this new discovery of God, you can become a bit floaty, thinking that you are “saved by God” and now your living a clean blameless life and no matter what, you have Him on your side.

In reality it is not that simple, taking on the faith is hard work, it opens you up to ignorant ridicule, it forces you to examine your life choices and the attitudes towards life.

In my opinion God waits for you to acknowledge His call to you, and from then he works with you to attain what he has planned for you. There is a lot of changes (talking from experience) and you can easily get totally lost in your own thoughts. This is where I am eternally grateful to my/our Parish Priest, the support and space to learn and sometimes ask the silliest questions has formed up my faith.

It did me well to remember that God never drops you in the deep end, no matter how much you feel like your drowning in a new world, of consiense realisation and discovering new moral values. He never gives you more than you can handle. That’s not to say he doesn’t give you a challenge or two, I mean look at Haiti!!!

You may often hear how “God changed my life” type stories. This is totally true, however in my opinion God works within you! Not outside of you, I have apparently changed a lot since finding God, but I still haven’t lost my own original identity, instead I feel that my old self has been developed matured grown and definitely enhanced.

Where it can all go wrong

I know how easy it is to be a bit carried away with the discovery of Jesus, and it does take a bit of concentration to stay grounded. With this new faith you have taken on it can feel like a “God Rush” (I will dedicate a article to this as my next posting).

You can begin to feel a bit above other people, you can start being judgemental towards people who do not believe in your Religion and extremely close minded to others opinions.

This is what I personally call a “Jesus Freak” someone who will inhale the bible and live strictly within the scriptures, blindly believe in what the scriptures are saying and dare anyone challenge the word then they who dared are damned.

Where am I?

Well I love the Bible, I completely believe in God, and actively live in the faith, I do not want to preach to the none believers, I don’t want to impose my opinions and beliefs on anyone else. But I would love to preach to people who wish to listen, see there’s the difference! I want to walk the walk of Christian life with people who want to discover, support people who are searching.

I think Christianity is the never ending journey, there is no end, you only keep discovering, I am neither right nor wrong, I am not better than another person. I am no worse than anyone else.

I respect people for who they are, not what they believe in. If people feel my religion is a cause for personal insult then so be it, it is them with the problem! For those that want to ask questions I am only to willing to share a conversation, I don’t have the right answers but a conversation is also a great education for both of us.

A good friend of mine an atheist, said to me over a pint or two, “I don’t believe in your Religion, I don’t believe in your God, but through talking about it, I can see God does exist although I can’t follow I have a new respect.” For me that was the biggest compliment, and to you who said it and you know who you are Thank you.

Happy New Year!!

Well here it is early January 2010, a new decade, and another new beginning!

I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year, today in Britain we are covered in a layer of snow and have had a week of freezing temperatures, up North near Manchester where I currently live we have had a constant temperature of -2 oC to -8oC.

The weather people at the Met office in London are saying it is the coldest winter in Britain since 1987 and snow like this has been seen since 1976.  It always gets me though that as soon as it snows Britain seems to ground to an absolute stop.

I was born and lived in Germany due to my fathers posting to Paderborn with the Army, over there in mainland Europe and most of the world, snow brings a different routine rather than a complete breakdown in public services as in Britain.

Still it is a lovely experience waking up to proper snow that crunches under your feet. It really feels like winter here at the moment, people enjoy it and stop complaining about not being able to get to work or on public transport. In this weather have fun if you can’t get somewhere then stay at home.

What on Earth:

It’s only January 7th 2010, and already I think I have stumbled upon the most pathetic craze since Pokemon!

It’s called the choking game amongst other things. It’s crazy,  basically it is literally what it is says, a kid or maybe 2 or three strangles them self until they pass out.

They say they get high from it, in fact it is simply that they are cutting off the oxygen to the brain and it can cause all kinds of problems like heart failure to stroke to epileptic fits!

I mean is life really that boring?? Whats worse is it’s all over youtube at the moment with friends filming the happenings as there friends or brothers or sisters go some way to killing themselves.

Honestly if you want to kill yourself for fun, then jump of a building on to a solid surface. Or play Russian Roulette.

No I am not making light of suicide but these kids don’t realise that they are simply killing themselves and may even cause brain damage!

I’d hate to see the youtube video when someone films their friend playing this game on to realise that in fact the friend is no longer on this earth.

But kids playing with their lives is not my concern am just giving my support to the people out there who are trying to stop people from doing this crazy pass time.

This year:

I’ve made a resolution this year, I am going to write more to this site, I’ve been really busy during 2009, but now things have settled down again in to some normal routine.

I’ve had a few emails recently asking me questions about Christianity, I am not a Priest but I will do my best to answer the questions to the best of my knowledge.

Of course there will be plenty more rants and raves coming during this year, and if you have any comments I love to read them and your emails to.

Happy New Year Everyone

Here’s a video of the New Years Eve fireworks in London this year enjoy

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdU-YUSzkUI

Till next time….

Gordon Brown and the Governement plans to Cut the British Forces Post Office (BFBO) in Mainland Europe!

Reading the Newspaper this morning I noticed an article in The Daily Telegraph, regarding the governments plans to cut/close the British Forces Post Office in Mainland Europe! Here’s the link to the article .

I agree completely with what Simon Heffer says in his article.

Having had first hand experience of the BFPO it is one of the most essential services, for servicemen and women and their familes worldwide.

My family are all ex services, and it was during my Fathers posting to Barker Barracks in Padeborn in the then (West Germany) with REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) that I was born.

The posting to Germany lasted for over 6 years, during which time you live completley in that countries territory and by their standards and laws. The BFPO enabled us to send parcels and letters home as well as receive from home.

The men and women serving out in these Countries surely deserve a first class dedicated postal system, lets face it, although you choose to join the Army, there isn’t much choice in where you are posted.

Whilst abroad on a posting you are working/serving your Country, why should a member of the Services or their dependants and families back home be forced to use that Countries existing postal services!?!

Another Cut to cover their inadequacies

The Government again, seem to be attempting to make cuts to recover some of their losses due to this so called “Credit Crunch” or Economic downturn.

They seem to have an obsession with Postal Services, they like to shut down Post Offices on Mass, maybe now they found that they can’t at present shut any more down, so to avert any political backlash they are trying it with the BFPO!!!

In my opinion

The BFPO should remain untouched! OK it may not be financially viable, but then what is in todays financial climate?

But the Armed forces are working for this Country, they are sent there by Government, The Forces are already stretched, and they seem to be asked to do more with less money!

I understand why our forces are out in Afghanistan and Iraq… and it is NOT 100% political, we are out there fighting to keep the terrorists out of Pakistan, where if they successfully infiltrated the insurgents have easy access to Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons, this is why it is important for free elections, so that the the terrorist groups such as the Taliban and Al qaeda forcefully getting political control and forcing their way through.

But we forget the Forces on Posts in Europe, such as Germany, yes maybe originally we were and still are primarily there as an occupying force from World War II but even so we are still there ready for mobilization, they are still separated from family, and remember though it is a choice to Join the Armed Forces, it isn’t their choice to be posted where they are.

Surely considering the Government are deploying the Servicemen and Women to all corners of the world they deserve their own postal service.. Does it matter if it is down the road or in a neighbouring Country?

If the Government in the attempts at cost cutting withdraw the BFPO, and say “use the Countries service” what will they do next?? Withdraw BFBS Radio and Television and say “Use the Countries broadcasters?”

Come on… It seems that the bigwigs are more concerned about developing London’s East End for the 2012 Olympics rather than keep our Armed Forces in a bit of home comfort!!

For me the General election cannot come soon enough, agreed it is a difficult economic environment to work in at the moment, but won’t the pending increase of Value Added Tax to the minimum of 17.5% or more and another few pence on a pint of Beer or Tobacco not compensate for the running costs?

Save the BFPO Online Petition

There is a petition on the official 10 Downing Street Website asking the PM and the Government to scrap this plan!

If you live in the UK and are a UK Citizen Please consider adding your signature. To date there are 41006 signed already the more the better!

The Petition and all details can be found here

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO/

Until next Time….

I thought I’d add them here in what I call my perfect Soundtrack to life! You’ll find a mix of oldies and new ones to. Hope you enjoy it… Let me know what you think!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBbXKsKXyNU

A bit of Richie Havens singing A George Harrison Classic!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqh54rSzheg

Need I say more, damn I miss Smoking in a public place to, nice Smoke Holder!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUBTX9kKEo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_FZVD5lsAw

A Couple of The Who Classics, well they always said I shared the same gene pool as Keith Moon!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZdDxFsopVs

This track runs for over 7 minutes on the Album but here is a version with the Original intro to!! The day when music was a powerful message giver!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dsz4dB6DuM

mmmmm

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

Oh What fun, the amount of information here is worthy of PH.D on it’s own!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C86oH5RwyJg

I grew up listening to this tune thanks to my Dad, it still brings back memories of British Army Barracks in Paderborn West Germany, long live BFBS! If by some odd occurance any REME from Barker Barracks ever see this, Good luck out there! From a “Padbrat” Circa 1980-87, for those who don’t know, it means I was born while in Paderborn whilst my Dad was posted there with the British Army.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8iZ8jIqrQo

Nothing Needs saying here!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkjWwz3kc3Q

Great Bass line on this makes it to me worthy of an Anthem!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxm-4AwtB5w

Damn this Tune is still Shit HOT!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1pMeyy__r0

Well we’re be back with Richie Havens, Here opening Woodstock, with Handsome Johnny and then moving into Freedom. This man is a total Legend!!!

To finish off here are some tracks from The Beatles and John Lennon solo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5gaIXI2Mn4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0usAtAh5y0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwVRzbgC7hc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a4RlRk_klI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcRZSdc8us

www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZtQh5EIgWQ

You can’t beat the original

www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLZ-zW9Ti4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wynYMJwEPH8

Hope you enjoyed this blast from musical history?

Until Next Time……

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pjYGqPPMmA

There are just some things that are hard to understand, the video above is fast becoming a “Youtube” sensation, and maybe rightly so. For once someone within their rights to do so, has stood up to one Chav, and given the goon a bit of his own medicine.

A Chav is someone in my opinion who has taken the decision to be a social misfit, his job in life is to cause as much trouble as he possibly can! The reason I say this is that most are over the age of 16. So it can be scientifically argued that by that age they have formed a sense of society and what is excepted within it.

Psychologically a Chav is a choice and not a socio-environmental consequence.

Usually by the age of 6 we have a good foundation in what is right and what is wrong, we learn by watching and listening to our parents, teachers and those in authority.

Usually in our late teens we go through a rebellious stage, this is totally normal, scientifically the onslaught of hormones sends us into mood swings and the mind matures and reaches out to gain knowledge through this we make our own identity.

Of course we will fight against anything we feel does not agree with our thoughts on life and the society in which we live. This can be a testing time for parents as we often do the opposite to the “right way”! But ultimately we settle down again and move on and develop into unique human beings.

However in the case of a Chav:

He has decided that he is not going to conform, he likes nothing more than to try and stamp his authority over everybody else, he is usually around the age of 16-19 and has not grasped that if he shouts and swears and imposes his will on someone who is more inteligent than him he will be made to feel tiny.

So he responds by throwing his weight around, squaring up to you physically and attempting to intimidate the person he is trying to beat.

As you can see in this video, an adult in “mind” stands and tolerates the childish words, that make sense, he takes the constant goading for a fight, and then he finally breaks and gives the “Chav” a bit of a slap! Whats more the chav falls flat on his backside and then turns into some kind of invertebrate!

This is how the Chav lives his life, fighting then gets a bit of a tap and then crumples. Whats more while this video is in Circulation the Chav who got the slap is continually humiliated. I can imagine it now, while the goon brags about a fight he had last week, and how he put the bloke flat on the ground all his mates will look on youtube and other sites and see the real thing!

If you cant take the heat don’t sit on the cooker!

There is no help for a person who makes the conscious choice to live a life of going against the grain. They can not be rehabilitated, for that to happen they have to realise that there is a different option in life.

Where have the Police gone?

When I was young about the age of this yob, there were Police in your local community, they were like friends that you respected. A “Bobbie” would know you and your family and the rest of your community, and would come in for a cup of Tea and a natter.

A Policeman who knew a lot about what was happening in your area, someone who could have a bit of a laugh and joke with you.

I only got told off by our local Policeman once, as he knew me and all my family the humiliation of being told off for swearing in front of him, and he gave me a clip round the ear and ceremonially marched me off home, and talking to my Mum about my public outburst. That was fine but then you get told off by your parents and that’s worse. By the next day the neighbours had heard and you felt the size of an Ant.

All this without being arrested and issued with an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order), he made a note of my name though and the act of writing it in his little black note book for when he gets back to the station, but the fear of God in me!

Admittedly we were as it seems now a generation of quieter kids, we made our own entertainment, we didn’t spend a day on the Internet or playing games consoles. We actually played out in the rain as well as the Sun. We didn’t want to immediately claim for falling over in the street.

We ate as a family when possible, and if we didn’t like it we didn’t eat it simple! We didn’t have 2 main meals cooked one meal just for me and one for Mum and Dad. These were the days when your Dad gave you a smacked backside and that was that. No need for Social Services and fear of being accused of Child Abuse!

When I was 10 and gave Dad a mouthful of abuse, I was sent to bed without dinner! At worst a bit of sore backside and I NEVER did it again!

Now you get it where the kid will retaliate and attempt to give as good as he gets, not realizing he was the cause of it to begin with!

It’s a real Shame,

Today some people can’t make their own entertainment, that they would rather vegetate in front of a computer game rather than going out and playing football, rugby or cricket. I remember going out and cracking my head open once.. It hurt like hell, and meant My parents had to take me to hospital to get my head stitched back together. But it didn’t stop me going out 3 days later and getting a few grazes. It’s part of living!

Life today is all to soft. We claim insurance for falling over a hole and bleeding, we are scared of getting a bit wet. We throw food away for dropping it on the floor. When did people stop picking up the food and giving it a blow and eat it.

Is it any wonder the new generations immune systems are as weak as a feather in a force 9 gale??

By the way I am only approaching 30 years old.

Until next time……

Well the battle of Saturday night television is here again, ITV 1’s weekend prime time Television is once again dominated by Simon Cowell’s X Factor!

This years series has been great so far, there were the quite frankly tone deaf people thinking they can actually storm to the top of the charts! What is still hilarious is that when the panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dani Minogue and Louis Walsh, give the contestant their feedback, the contestant still looks totally bewildered by the comments! Sometimes I wonder if the auditionee has in fact joined the wrong cue, whilst waiting for the “Liquid Trunction” Jab and appeared on a stage in front of a few thousand people in the audience and many more millions on the television at home.

The addition of audiences at the auditions has made this series much better this time around. It is a long the lines of another of Mr Cowells TV Train, “Britain’s got Talent”. But for some weeks watching the X Factor has been the ideal accompaniment to the weekly take away.

Personally I don’t watch a lot of Television but Saturday nights were a time when as a family we all sat and watched this programme together. A few weeks later the BBC announced the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, another programme some of the family like to watch. These two programmes have been a staple of our Saturday night viewing pre pub.

Strictly Come Dancing or (Dancing with the Stars) in the USA

BBC 1 have decided in the infinite wisdom to pitch this show directly against the X Factor on ITV 1. Whats more is they have actually pushed the length of the programme to over 2 hours of Prime Time television. For anyone still in the dark about Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars (US Version) A group of Minor Celebrity personalities are paired with professional Ball Room Dancers.  They are then judged on their weekly performance, the results of all couples dances are also voted for by the Public and the two couples with the lowest combined judges scores and the lowest received viewer votes has to dance again in a “Dance off”.  The Judges vote to who they want to save for the following week. This part of the proceedings I like to call Strictly Come “Who are they” The better known celebrities are always saved… It’s true, lets face it if you could save someone from your favourite pop group or a retired athlete from 10 years ago who would you save??

But the point is, the BBC have decided to run this show directly against X Factor, so I’m sure I’m not the only person or family that is finding that one evening a week when you sit with your family love or loathe them, and actually enjoy each others company. They have actually caused half the people to disappear in to the other room to watch some bad excuse for singing or some daft dancing.

Yes the invention of Sky + and Freeview/Digital Recording means those who have it don’t miss either show but it does mean that the Beer night starting at 9pm is eaten up by having to watch the show which ever you record a later, which then means we (Well I am getting more thirsty.

But what about those without Sky plus or Freeview +? Well they are are stuck! What is more annoying is the BBC is paid for by the viewer using the licence fee, for those outside UK think of the Television licence as a subscription you have to pay. Another annoyance is in the UK you must have a Television Licence in order to watch all channels although on the BBC use the fee to fund their programming, it also applies to listening to BBC Radio stations too!

Whats even more annoying

Simon Cowell, Judge of X Factor and also the man behind X Factor’s production company is willing to talk to ITV about moving the show out of the slot so it would mean that Strictly doesn’t clash with X Factor. The BBC is stubbornly not moving Strictly because they are out for viewing figures! Does it matter? We pay for thier programmes where as ITV and all other channels are supported by advertising revenue. So it’s pointless the BBC will not loose out by moving Strictly. It’s just the BBC trying to get a bigger Audience Share it matters to the board no doubt.

The BBC have even moved to starting Strictly 30 minutes. earlier than X Factor in a move (in my opinion) to net the viewer share for the X Factor!

But seeing as neither channel are willing to budge then we are left to make the choice that viewers of both shows can’t make. Do you prefer Simon Cowell, Dani Minogue, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dermot O’Leary, or Bruce Forsyth, Tess Daly, Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and a set of Scarsly clad dancers with a group of total novice celebrities.

At least Xtra Factor (Yes you got it X Factors little brother) on ITV 2 has a 1 hr time shift so we can still watch the adorable Holly Willoughby.. at least that brightens my Saturday night anyway!

All I know is it nearly comes to blows about who has the remote control in our house on a Saturday night.

Top marks BBC… (I’m being Sarcastic)

Heres a couple of Video’s of X Factor and Strictly Which do you prefer??

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoAfXc-g7_M

Thanks to the BBC Youtube Channel

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHyL8sD7XfQ

Thanks to Fitrut for this video From Xtra Factor “This man needs some series mental help but hey it takes alsorts”!

Until next time…

Derren Brown Master of Psychological Illusion

Derrens Done it again…

Well I’ve been watching the TV again,  and have been totally captured by Derren Brown’s New Series “The Events” Currently running on Channel 4 Friday nights at 9pm here in the UK.

Who is He?

Derren is a self confessed Psychological Illusionist, who uses the power of the persons mind to amaze and stun his audiences both live and on his television shows.  In my opinion he is a master showman who unlike other so called “magicians” reveals the techniques he used to achieve the “Trick”. Also has a great way of keeping people guessing as to how he achieved the feat.  Which is for the most entertaining bit of his shows.

The Events

Is a series of 4 shows covering the subjects of;

Episode 1, Live National Lottery Prediction

Episode 2, Control the Nation “Could he Stick both Live Audience members and viewers at home to their Seats? More about this later…

Episode 3, Become a Psychic Spy

Episode 4, Casino

Full details of the series can be found here

So in episode 1, could he correctly predict 5 of the 6 numbers that would make the winning combination on the Lotto draw? Video below

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_2h4UH1qaM

and another video showing a video of both the BBC Stream of Live lottery show and the Channel 4 show above, there are legal reasons for why the draw can’t go live on Channel 4 and contract reasons.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmxua_V1AcM

(Video contents are Copyright Channel 4)

Yes as you can see he did correctly predict it!  Still now people are trying to find explanations which is highly amusing to me, however he did it you can be sure it was a trick, either that or he is a mathematical genius!

It's all in the Mind!

Episode 2 How to Control the Nation here’s the one I want to talk about in detail

In this show the concept of Subliminal messages and mind control was examined.

The Idea

There would be a point in the show when a video would be played, after it had finished we wouldn’t be able to get out of our chairs “Stuck to the Chair”)

The Actual “Experiment”

This involved sitting in a Chair and watching a 1 minute video of a white background with lines (Much like an “A4″ feint lined refill pad) swirling around Clockwise and anticlockwise at different speeds and intervals accompanied by some frequency music or (funnel Focus) as I call it was playing the lines and music had the effect of making you feel like you were being drawn down into the centre of the lines if that makes sense? At the end of the minute video we were “told” (this is important) that we would be stuck to our chairs.

My View

Now I know the Human mind pretty well studying Psychology and Music, we spent a lot of time looking at Subliminal Messages/advertising ”The power of Music within them and deeper effects on the subconscious” Today this is referred to as PWA or Perception Without Awareness. Again I have no need to explain this as Derren has given a full description of what PWA is and how it is used here

The whole idea of Sublimation is that an idea is given to you without realizing it you may feel need to buy something after you watched an advert containing a “hidden message” here is a very simple explanation of how it may be delivered:

Your out at the Cinema and on comes on an Advert for a Well known fast food chain, after viewing the promo you are feeling hungry.. This is NOT Sublimation, it is down to clever advertising psychology, the way the food is photographed, the lighting, the surroundings all play a part in stimulating your senses and therefore you feel hungry.

But why after watching 2 minutes of film containing nothing but that Burger or whatever do you suddenly feel thirsty and crave that brand of drink? Remember there has been no mention of it anywhere in the advert right?

N0. there has been, it was somewhere in the film you didn’t notice it could have flashed for a millisecond or it could be that someone in the film wore something with a drink on it. Either way you may just need to pop out and get a large drink before the Film starts.. Or next time your in that Food chain and order that Burger I bet you order that drink brand with it.

They are actually promoting the drink and not the Burger. Clever isn’t it.

OK So in my opinion How did Derren Stick us to our Chairs?

Simple he used Suggestion to make us “Think we were stuck” don’t get me wrong the experiment worked and people were stuck to their chairs including me! Which was er excellent. 

Explanation;

All the way through the show which ran for an hour Derren kept referring back to the video that was going to played at the end of the programme, that caused us to look forward to it and anticipate what was going to happen so expectations play a massive part in the result. There were also pre-recorded sections where a similar “Trick” was used with a lady in a Toy Shop, Derren guided her to select a particular Stuffed toy a Giraffe and also name it a certain name, he left messages throughout like UV ink on books spelling out the name of type of toy she was to choose left pictures of Giraffes in odd places and even mimicked a Giraffe while he talked to her, oh and most importantly he “told” her Giraffe while chatting said like this “Giraffe a favourite type of toy” G’ Have (PWA there). For the “Experiment” he tells you to sit a certain way and then oh an advert break, great timing “anticipation” comes back and says focus on a circle about a foot around your head “Don’t move out of the Circle” see you actually stuck then without realizing it! Video finishes says remain where you sit for a minute or two while he speaks to the live audience, see your in the same postition and waiting anticipating your stuck.  Then he says to us TV viewers now focus on the parts of you that are stuck and try to stand up!! While your think your stuck you cant move because your willing yourself to think of being stuck.

See it is all about suggestion you “stick” yourself to the chair as I did, he confirms to you that your stuck tells you don’t fight it and there you have it can’t move. What worries me is with my grasp of PWA how did I get stuck, I am not sure I think I wanted to be stuck and therefore I was.

Here’s a final Video of a viewer who was Stuck to her Chair during the “experiment”.

And we really were stuck to, it is a “Trick of the mind”.

Until Next time… What do you think?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSwRfLdBRY

Thanks to MissGandMissS for posting this video!

Whats this all About?

Welcome to

Billboblaggins.com, I’m Bill (not a Hobbit and don’t live in Middle Earth). So why Blaggins… Well life is strange, things happen and mostly we don’t notice it. We are left then to have to work with life and sometimes we have to simply “Blag it”! This is a place just to spill my thoughts about anything and everything from what really irritates me or what really makes my mind tick.

What I hope to write about?

A bit of Celebrity Happenings

News Items

Politics

Religion

Music

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Emotions and Psychology of life!

The list is endless and will change regularly, I hope to make a place for a bit of everything if you know what I mean?

Not just another pointless place to republish news articles!

No! What makes this site different in my opinion is that each and every article you see on this site will be written by me and will be MY view on what I see, and I admit now that my opinions are sometimes not very “PC” but they ARE honest. I have no intention of “Slagging people or subjects off. I simply like to share my views and hope I entertain you in the process?!?

The site is totally organic, I intend to begin writing and see where things lead. It will have some structure but it is not a sole focused “Niche” Site. Literally taking what life throws up in my face and writing about it, whether it be A massive Rant or venting my annoyance at something. It is all real.. A Trip into my Mind.

I write a “Niche” Blog over at Great Britains Past and Present and will continue to write to the two sites. Think of this site as a personal journal with a difference.. I will aim to update this site every day or two. I would love to hear your opinions on what I am writing whether you like it or hate it you can mail me through the Contact Page RSS is all up and running also there is an option to subscribe to my updates by email.  This service is provided by Google Feedburner and a link to that is at the top of the site.

And Finally…

I really hope you enjoy visiting, reading, there are many updates to come and hope you enjoy them all if you have any ideas for content please let me know and I will add them, eventually I would like to set up a “Guest Author” section the Worlds the Oyster as they say.

“The Mind is a weird thing lets see where it takes us.

Until The Next Time…..