UFO alert! UFO alert!!

In case you didn't hear, UFO alert!

We love it. Yes, the acronym that really drives traffic to your website (http://www.derryjournal.com/, in case you're interested) or indeed your blog (well, you're here, aren't you?) is back.

UFO's have been spotted at Culmore in Derry ('What?! Again?!' I hear you cry). See http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Is-Culmore-Road-a-UFO.5597998.jp

Got an email from a correspondent in that area this morning -

Hey there,

Hope all's well. Great story in today's paper about the aliens. Where in Culmore was the guy from? Should we reinforce the house in ---- Park against alien attack? Strange how the aliens picked the more upmarket end of town to appear eh? Perhaps fearful they'd get their hubcaps nicked if they parked in, say, Ballymagroarty. . . I kid.

I'm sure aliens are seen just as frequently in Ballymagroarty. Anyway, the idea of UFOs getting their hubcabs nicked . . .

My reply -

Hi,

Talked to our reporter and the man wants to remain anonymous but she's seen the video and her comment - "It's mad, mad, like. People are saying, could it be Chinese lanterns? but there's no way."
Could it be planes? "No way, there's about twenty of them. It's mad!"
So sounds like it's mad . . .

UFOs have been spotted quite a bit but it's hard to point to anything really useful that all this alien activity has done for mankind. Until now - the Journal's web traffic went through the roof when we posted our famous 'tax disc' UFO (again in Culmore, as I recall . . .)

The aliens over Culmore in a rather fetching 'V' formation . . .

An aid to inspiration

Here's something we're going to encounter more and more. My blog now appears to have taken on a life of its own. I logged in and came directly to this 'new entry'. Not a home button in sight, and all I wanted to do was to add Leona O'Neill's blog to my 'Blogs I'm following' category (actually I find it hard enough to follow my own blog - we're all time poor these days).

The point is, it's the blog that's doing this. It's taking the decisions - I have the illusion of free will. It's like the friendly woman in Starbucks who immediately starts the Venti Cappuchino. Soon my car will be heading straight for the Journal office, even on my day off (what's that? - ed. (had to put that in)). The porridge will be on first thing in the morning, though I feel like LIDL's fruit and nut muesli. We already have 'predictive text'. When I go up the town later, the staff at Next will already have the 6 months - 9 months boy's babygro at the checkout (scary). Staff at the Green Oaks retirement home have me pencilled in for 2035 (hopefully). The funeral oration is already prepared ('But perhaps his most glorious moment came when he rescued the Observer . . '). 'God' has the hairs on my head counted (or have I read that somewhere before?) The computer will automatically put every second part of the sentence in brackets (like this).

Anyway, what was I talking about . .

A real test for Google Images - what you get if you put in 'Martin McGinley at 80, still harbouring [or rather, 'harboring'] the illusion of 'free will''

Magical Glenlough

Frank McNally of the Irish Times must be on his holidays in Donegal. And clearly he's had a look at a copy of US painter Rockwell Kent's excellent book, to be found, among other places, in the library in Letterkenny. Kent spent time in remote and magical Glenlough, a valley near Glencolumbkille.

Or, since Frank's featuring Glencolumbkille a lot (it was Fr McDyer and the composer Arnold Bax in another column) it might be that excellent local guidebook he's using for ideas. Anyway, it's all good stuff. See
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0827/1224253337118.html


Latest on Rockwell Kent includes a three-hour documentary. John Cunningham at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny is the man to talk to. Incidentally a local historian in south-west Donegal, Christy Gillespie, reckons, after intensive research, that the case backing up local legend about Bonny Prince Charlie being in Donegal (as well as being in Glenlough, he left his razor in a house in Ramelton, it seems) is looking a strong one.

And when we talk of Glenlough, we remember the great fiddler from Meenacross, James Byrne, whose life was cut short last year. His solo album was called 'The Road to Glenlough' after a waltz of his.

I did a piece about a walk to Glenlough for the Irish Times. Haven't got it to hand, but you can read the highly impressive first paragraph at -

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2004/0827/1091051900256.html

Home ideas

Lot of wasted space in your hall? Why look further than the new 'Euro Trio' from Bathstore?! -

Is nothing sacred?

Startling news just in by email -


Press Release

Churchill - The Greatest Briton Unmasked
Nigel Knight

"I have not always been wrong. History will bear me out, particularly as I will write that history myself”
Winston Spencer Churchill
"Nigel Knight lays siege with well-informed gusto to the legend of Winston Churchill” - Martin Bell

3rd September 2009 is the 70th anniversary of the British declaration of war against Germany and it comes at the time of a startling re-assessment of Winston Churchill’s role.

In the popular imagination, Churchill is the greatest Briton but in his compelling appraisal of Winston Churchill’s political career, Nigel Knight reveals in his book ‘Churchill – the Greatest Briton Unmasked’ that not only is there little truth in this picture of his wartime premiership, Churchill’s strategy was in fact disastrous both in peace and war.

Such is the interest in this reassessment that Intelligence Squared has organized an event on 3rd September when Nigel Knight will debate this issue with –
Professor Norman Stone
Pat Buchanan Senior advisor to three US Presidents and
two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination
Professor Richard Overy
Antony Beevor, historian
Andrew Roberts, historian

From the debacle of the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War when he was First Lord of the Admiralty, to his contradictory economic policies as Chancellor; from his wartime blunders, and to the post-war period when he was marginalized by world leaders, this provocative new book shows how history has conveniently forgiven Churchill for momentous mistakes.

Backed up by rigorous research, Nigel Knight sheds startling new light on the life and career of Winston Churchill, shattering the sentimental myth of Churchill as ‘The Greatest Briton’ and forcing his legacy to be reappraised.

Nigel Knight is a lecturer in British Government at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge. He is the author of Governing Britain Since 1945.

Press enquiries please contact: Nigel Knight on 07771 530 829, nvk21@cam.ac.uk.
Or Sally Goodsell 07881 828 041, sg@international-marketing.co.uk
Intelligence Squared, www.intelligencesquared.com/events.php
David & Charles publishers, www.davidandcharles.co.uk

Obama's holiday reading - 3,000 pages

Reading 'Netherland' at the moment, by Corkman Joseph O'Neill (and it's really happening, it seems most novelists are younger than I am . . ) . Anyway, here are details from the London Independent of Obama's holiday reading in Martha's Vineyard this week -

On top of the pile stacked on Barack and Michelle's bedside table at the 28-acre estate they have rented for $35,000 (£21,000) on the western tip of the Massachusetts island is Hot, Flat and Crowded, the climate change polemic by New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman. Subtitled "why we need a green revolution", it makes a leftish call to arms regarding the future of the planet.

Mr Obama's second choice is historian David McCullough's magisterial biography of John Adams, the often underrated second US president, who was the subject of an award-winning HBO docu-drama last year.

The novels include two crime thrillers: Richard Price's Lush Life, and The Way Home, a novel by George Pelecanos set in Washington, DC – which, much like Obama's best-selling autobiography, explores the relationship between a father and his son.

Completing the set is the novel Plainsong, by a little-known writer called Kent Haruf. Set in a small town on the Colorado plains, its existence on the reading list may reassure voters that Middle America has not been ignored by their metropolitan commander-in-chief.

Publishers are keeping a beady eye on whether the famous "Obama bounce" – which has helped sales at the first family's favourite clothes stores, such as J Crew – will continue to apply to their troubled industry. The President's endorsement is said to have lifted sales of Joseph O'Neill's novel Netherland about cricket in Holland and New York last year.

The books were unveiled to reporters on Monday afternoon, at an official press briefing. Although world leaders have in recent years become accustomed to leaking details of their holiday reading, cynics often wonder if the lists might actually be little more than the fictional concoction of spin-doctors.

George W Bush caused bemusement in 2006, when he attempted to bolster his academic credentials by alleging that he was reading L'Etranger, by French existentialist Albert Camus, in translation.

Imagine him having to read it in translation . . .



Came across what looks like an interesting link along the way (searching Google Images for 'George W. Bush looking brainy') if you're interested in photography - http://ldesign.wordpress.com/category/epa/

True Romance

A former Journal man is anxious to keep us up to date with events in Durham and forwards this report from PA -


DRUNK NEWLYWEDS SPENT WEDDING NIGHT IN CELLS
By Tom Wilkinson, Press Association
A couple spent their wedding night in the cells after they were arrested at a bus station for being drunk and disorderly, police said today.
Newlyweds Harry and Claire Arnold got into a row with a security guard who asked them to stop smoking as they waited to catch a bus home from Durham.
Police were called and they were arrested, but the custody sergeant took pity on the couple when he heard they had married that morning and gave them a caution rather than making them each pay an £80 fixed penalty.
The couple were married at Durham Register Office on August 10, with 40 guests, in a ceremony that had taken four years to plan.
Afterwards, their twins Thomas and David, aged two-and-a-half, were christened.
They celebrated at Coxhoe Workingmen’s Club, with friends and family, including daughters Claire, 15, Emma, 12, and Caitlyn, 10, and Mrs Forshaw-Arnold’s father, David Forshaw.
The couple then had a romantic dinner for two at the Water House, a Wetherspoons pub, in Durham.
It was on their way home that trouble flared.
The bride, who wore a garter bearing a plastic imitation gun, said later: "Both the ceremonies went really well.
"But it was a nightmare wedding night. I was crying my eyes out. I was devastated.
"The police said ’We’ve never had a bride and groom in before’."
She was allowed home in the early hours and was given a lift in a police car.
Her husband was released at 4.30am and had to walk five miles home to Coxhoe.
A Durham Police spokesman said: "The couple had been celebrating, having got married in the morning and having their children christened in the afternoon.
"They took exception to being asked by a security guard to refrain from smoking inside the bus station.
"Eventually police were called and they were arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
"They were taken to the city police station and admitted the offence.
"They could have been issued with £80 fixed penalty notices but because it was their wedding day, the custody sergeant decided they should both receive a caution."

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

It's our book club choice and we're meeting next week. Think there's another John Boyne novel on the agenda too but 'The Boy With The Striped Pyjamas' was the only one I could see in Eason's yesterday.

It's a short book so got it finished last night. A truly enjoyable and moving read, even though I'd already seen the film. Have to say that as adaptations go, the film is a very successful one.

In terms of other comments on the book, if you were being picky you might pick up on the POV - fairly rock-solid Bruno, which really works, but occasionally drifts off into other characters, not needed really. Last chapter could have been an epilogue. It's a funny book too. Certainly one of my memorable reads of the year (okay, I know everyone else probably read it last year . .)

Also finally got hold of Seamus Heaney and Dennis O'Driscoll in a second edition of the paperback. Pity I didn't have the spare cash when the first edition hardback was still about. Have read the intro and the chronology of significant events in Heaney's life - it's been a full one. As per the question he asks, probably more poetically - what did you do with your life?

Good to see he's recovered well from the stroke, which can have a catastrophic impact for some, subtle effects on others. There's the occasional mention of his good friend, the late David Hammond, a reminder of a fine character I used to enjoy getting the occasional postcard from. I also had the novel experience of hearing myself speaking Irish in a TG4 programme about him. Didn't realise Joan Newmann, denizen of Kilcar, was in the Belfast Group, as was the late Jimmy Simmons, who ended up having the Poet's House in Falcarragh with his wife Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons.

http://johnboyne.wordpress.com/

Book online - Seamus Heaney: the making of the poet, by Michael Parker

Yong on song

Yong Rubin gets in touch by email, intriguingly entitled 'Smiles of comfort and leave him' -

find out if she knew her; but not succeeding in this, she turned This led us to speak of Mr. Catlin's gallery, which he praised through the States, their general characteristics are easily

Looks like another one for the redoubtable secretary, Ms Doherty. . .

Things move fast in Senegal

Email just in -

Nice To Meet You.

How are you doing in life, I Want to introduce my self to you before i could go further, am a lady chisom. by name From the Continent of africa(Senegal) i came accross your profile which real spoke nfine of you so i decided to drop a note to let you know that i am intrested in you for friendship. Please i will like you to email me back in my email address so that i can send you my photos.(chisom.love@yahoo.com) This is my email i am waiting to get a reply from you.

THANKS. chisom. I Love you

----------

Dear Chisom,

I am replying on behalf of the editor, who is busy at the moment. He says he can't recall the circumstances of your meeting, although he does remember an Elvis impersonator Frank Chisum. As the name is spelt a little differently, perhaps Frank is not related. I include a photo from irishshowbands.com

Thank you for your email,

Ms Doherty

Signs of the times

Just through - bit sad to read this somehow . . .

CLASSROOM ANTICS

Traditional school pastimes like writing notes, birthday bumps and marbles are on the verge of dying out as kids ditch them in favour of gadgets, according to new research.

Other playground and classroom antics on the verge of extinction include making rubber band balls, collecting stickers and making daisy chains.

Researchers found children now prefer to text friends, listen to music or play games on their mobile phones.

The statistics emerged in a study of 2,000 parents and children by Stabilo, which produces handwriting instruments specially designed for children.

Top 20 antics from 25 years ago -

1. Pass notes around class
2. Write on desks
3. Marbles
4. Collect stickers
5. Make daisy chains
6. Skip
7. Hopscotch
8. Bumps on birthdays
9. Write lines as punishment
10. British Bulldog
11. Paper, Scissors, Stone
12. Swap things with friends
13. Cat's Cradle
14. Kiss Chase
15. Make paper aeroplanes
16. Chinese whispers
17. Ring-a-ring of roses
18. Flick rubber bands
19. Arm wrestling
20. Make a rubber band ball

Top 20 antics kids do today -

1. Text friends
2. Surf the internet
3. Listen to music on an MP3 player
4. Pass notes around class
5. Make calls on a mobile phone
6. Play games on a mobile phone
7. Swap things
8. Play handheld video games
9. Collect stickers
10. Go on social networking sites such as Facebook/Myspace
11. Skip
12. Email friends
13. Paper, Scissors Stone,
14. Talk to friends on MSN
15. Make paper aeroplanes
16. Write or draw on desks
17. Hopscotch
18. Make daisy chains
19. Flick rubber bands
20. Thumb wars

Another life

As Christy Moore says, everybody needs a break. So myself and the SO are heading into the blue yonder for a bit . . .

Relax and Detox with the New Wellness Menu
At The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, in Sorrento

With an abundance of Mediterranean ingredients to hand Vinenzo Galano, the Head Chef at The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has created an enticing new ‘Wellness Menu’ for guests this summer.

The ‘Wellness Menu’ is low calorie cuisine; dishes are created using specific cooking methods to maintain the nutritional value of the superb local ingredients. Indulge in a mouth-watering healthy menu of just 540 calories, including Pumpkin soup with goat's cheese and mint, Grilled hake hamburgers and refreshing homemade sorbets.

New smoothie drinks, made with organic fruit and vegetables that are high in antioxidants and with relaxing and regenerating virtues, will be offered at the pool bar. Try ‘The Sorrento’ made with celery and tomato juices, a concentrate of vitamins and mineral salts, with a calming and detoxifying effect.

At the end of the day, complete the wellbeing experience with one of the Wellness Programs at the Holistic Centre La Serra, the boutique spa of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. For example - The Detox Program which includes a detoxifying and nourishing Detox Body Ritual and an Aromatic Envelopment Massage, to reduce stress and relieve water retention.

The 5 star Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is set in stunning gardens alive with citrus and olive groves perched on cliff tops taking in panoramic views over the Bay of Naples. As well as discovering the healthy culinary delights of Sorrento you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the numerous outdoor activities such as exploring the Archaeological and naturalistic treasures of the surrounding area, with Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius just across the bay.

Citalia offers 3 nights at The Grand Hotel Excelsior from £805 per person
including half board accommodation, airport transfers and flights from London Gatwick.

For further information or booking, please contact Citalia on 0871 664 0253 or visit http://www.citalia.com/

For Hotel only bookings, please call the hotel on +39 081 807 1044 or visit the website at http://www.exvitt.it/

For further press information please contact Lucy at Ann Scott Associates on
020 7823 9988 or at Lucy@annscott.co.uk

Bye for now! Good luck with the weather!

Stephen King and Derry

As we know, everything in the world is linked to Derry, Donegal and the North West. Here, for instance, is the link with author Stephen King . . .

http://www.examiner.com/x-4886-Stephen-King-Examiner~y2009m8d12-Stephen-King-101-What-is-the-importance-of-Derry

I'm back!

Yes, back from holiday in deepest Donegal. And back here - kept getting directed to some other account. So, to celebrate, here's the latest from the blog that keeps you posted on important developments in the world of hair straightening . .

The ingenious PR firm for the makers of that fabulous invention, Gripeze, have a new release -

Get a grip on your fleeing offspring as the new college term starts

(yes, combining hair straighteners with college results - inspirational!)

It's that time of year when thousands of students across the country are preparing for their entry into university life, so why not give a tactful reminder to your excited offspring to think about their own safety.

A recent survey* revealed 85 per cent of women burn their carpets by hot hair tools and 43 per cent admitted they had forgotten to turn off their hair straighteners, leading to burn damage.

So why not give your son or daughter a hot new gift so there is no need for you to worry anymore.

("I just can't bear the thought of my son/daughter going to university! What if they leave the hair straightener on the carpet of their student flat??")

Gripeze is an innovative new product that every student should have. A heat resistant, non-slip silicone glitter mat designed for all hot hair tools. Gripeze helps protect surfaces from heat damage up to 250?C - perfect for a student's hectic lifestyle.

And much more besides. Just to jog your memory, here it is in pink -

For further information, images or a sample please (well, maybe not) contact Jennifer Pearce on 01962 893 893. *Sheila's Wheels

NEXT WEEK - Hair straighteners and the newly-developed bionic fish - EXCLUSIVE!