Download your sheets by clicking here.
Choose a sheet you will use.
During the Opening Ceremony tick off each buzzword when it is said by a commentator or particpant.
You could have a drink penalty for each word too.
The winner is the first to tick off everything on their sheet.
Make sure you use the hash tag: #OlympicBuzzwordBingo
http://www.4shared.com/office/VIIMyWZT/OlympicBuzzwordBingo.html
Thanks to Tracy Steadman (@lou_lou1972) for the suggestion to do this!
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Friday, 27 July 2012
Monday, 28 May 2012
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises (a piano sonata)
Here's a new piano sonata "what I wrote"!
The title comes from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and will also be the inscription on the bell at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The sheet music is available from: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/126960.html
The title comes from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and will also be the inscription on the bell at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The sheet music is available from: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/126960.html
Saturday, 26 May 2012
366/147 - Pool Balls
Click here for today's Project 366 - which includes my favourite if this year's Eurovision Song Contest entries...
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Friday, 11 May 2012
Olympic Orbit Tower
Anish Kapoor's ArcelorMittal Orbit, which has just be completed in the Olympic Park, will be the UK's tallest structure.
Here's a short film about it.
Here's a short film about it.
Move to the Beat - London 2012 - Mark Ronson & Katy B
You've probably seen the short ad, but here's the full length track:
Friday, 4 May 2012
Monday, 30 April 2012
BBC Olympic torch trailer
There will be cynics who don't like it, who aren't behind the build up to the Olympic Games, but I think this BBC Olympic torch trailer, with it's tease of the specially commissioned Elbow track that will be used as their Olympic coverage theme tune, is genuinely inspiring.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
100 Days to the London Olympics
Today marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
To me, the Olympics are a tremendous event, something which is inspirational, something which will be remembered for a lifetime, and something which will have a physical and emotional legacy on future generations.
Yes, I accept there are issues about the Olympics.
Some point to the cost of staging the games, whilst ignoring the increased tourism they will bring.
Some point to the potential for terrorism, or to what they consider to be OTT restrictions on civil rights during the Games - but i'd rather the Games went off without incident with everyone safe.
Some point to the corporate sponsors and say that a few of the companies giving money to the Games have questionable backgrounds and records - and I, for one, have some sympathy for their view. I wish it wasn't necessary to have any corporate sponsorship at all. I wish that fast food and confectionary companies couldn't link their names with sports events. I wish that companies with bad human rights records couldn't try to make themselves look good by linking to the Games. It is an unfortunate by-product of the economic system the West has chosen.
Some point to the transportation delays possible during the Games but ignore that there's been plenty of warning and it's up to individuals to make sensible arrangements. Remember, it is only for a couple of weeks.
Some dismiss the sportsmen and women as over paid prima donnas and mostly drug cheats. Yes, that may be the case for a few, and the Okympucs need to look seriously at whether drugs cheats are ever allowed to compete again, but the vast majority are examples of humanity excelling in sporting endeavours.
Some, including me, are hoping the Olympics doesn't become a tasteless orgy if nationalistic jingoism - but fear that our tabloid press will fuel such unpleasant fervour.
But, even if all of those things were true, even if all of them were as bad as they could get, I think the Olympic Games is a fantastic event and one which the UK, an historically important sporting nation, should be looking forward to hosting.
To me, the Olympics are a tremendous event, something which is inspirational, something which will be remembered for a lifetime, and something which will have a physical and emotional legacy on future generations.
Yes, I accept there are issues about the Olympics.
Some point to the cost of staging the games, whilst ignoring the increased tourism they will bring.
Some point to the potential for terrorism, or to what they consider to be OTT restrictions on civil rights during the Games - but i'd rather the Games went off without incident with everyone safe.
Some point to the corporate sponsors and say that a few of the companies giving money to the Games have questionable backgrounds and records - and I, for one, have some sympathy for their view. I wish it wasn't necessary to have any corporate sponsorship at all. I wish that fast food and confectionary companies couldn't link their names with sports events. I wish that companies with bad human rights records couldn't try to make themselves look good by linking to the Games. It is an unfortunate by-product of the economic system the West has chosen.
Some point to the transportation delays possible during the Games but ignore that there's been plenty of warning and it's up to individuals to make sensible arrangements. Remember, it is only for a couple of weeks.
Some dismiss the sportsmen and women as over paid prima donnas and mostly drug cheats. Yes, that may be the case for a few, and the Okympucs need to look seriously at whether drugs cheats are ever allowed to compete again, but the vast majority are examples of humanity excelling in sporting endeavours.
Some, including me, are hoping the Olympics doesn't become a tasteless orgy if nationalistic jingoism - but fear that our tabloid press will fuel such unpleasant fervour.
But, even if all of those things were true, even if all of them were as bad as they could get, I think the Olympic Games is a fantastic event and one which the UK, an historically important sporting nation, should be looking forward to hosting.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
2012 Grand National - the result
And so the 2012 Grand National has happened. Before it was run it was billed as the safest Grand National ever, with changes having been made to several of the historic jumps, and the media has been full of reassuring statements about how things had been improved this year after two horses were killed last year.
40 horses started.
16 horses fell on the first lap - 40% of those that started.
Use of the whip was excessive by many riders in the final run-in.
Only 15 horses finished - that's just 38% of the starting line- up.
Two horses were killed and a third is being treated on the course
So much for it being safer. So much for the horse race industry caring about animals. The BBC commentators ignored the atrocities.
The Grand National is the single biggest gambling event in the UK with something in excess of £200,000,000 being staked on the race today. Clearly there are many who put the chance of winning a few quid above the safety of horses and, even, jockeys. There is no such thing as a harmless flutter. Every person who placed a bet is partly responsible for the deaths and injuries.
It's time for the Grand National to be stopped but, more than that, it is time for all horse racing to be thoroughly investigated. I fear it will only be the death of a jockey that will bring the horse racing industry to change their ways.
40 horses started.
16 horses fell on the first lap - 40% of those that started.
Use of the whip was excessive by many riders in the final run-in.
Only 15 horses finished - that's just 38% of the starting line- up.
Two horses were killed and a third is being treated on the course
So much for it being safer. So much for the horse race industry caring about animals. The BBC commentators ignored the atrocities.
The Grand National is the single biggest gambling event in the UK with something in excess of £200,000,000 being staked on the race today. Clearly there are many who put the chance of winning a few quid above the safety of horses and, even, jockeys. There is no such thing as a harmless flutter. Every person who placed a bet is partly responsible for the deaths and injuries.
It's time for the Grand National to be stopped but, more than that, it is time for all horse racing to be thoroughly investigated. I fear it will only be the death of a jockey that will bring the horse racing industry to change their ways.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
OPINION: Budget 2012
Yesterday, George Osbourne presented his third budget to the House of Commons and today, and for most of the next week or so, the petty bickering, attempts at point scoring, and politicking goes on.
As far as I can see, yesterday's budget tinkered. There were a few good things, a few bad things and just about everything except the so-called "Granny Tax" had been leaked in advance.
Yesterday's budget can best be summed up as "meh".
There was no great innovation on the proposals. There was no vision for the future. There was no sense of a new political ideology or fiscal system.
George Osbourne may as well have stood up and said "Everything increased by inflation. That's it!"
Where are the great pitical visionaries? Why is there no desire to do more than tinker? Where I'd the politics of principle and ideology?
Yesterday's budget, once the dust has settled, will be viewed as a non-event that did nothing for the UK, its citizens, or the wider world.
The UK has become a one-party state, but a one-party state with different faces so that the proles think that change has happened.
Opposition oppose for the sake of opposing but offer no alternative and no vision for a better future. And yet, while they're busy opposing, they refuse to say they'd do anything different or reverse decisions.
We have hit a stalemate in which bland consimerist capitalism is the only choice available and it makes no difference who delivers the budget.
As far as I can see, yesterday's budget tinkered. There were a few good things, a few bad things and just about everything except the so-called "Granny Tax" had been leaked in advance.
Yesterday's budget can best be summed up as "meh".
There was no great innovation on the proposals. There was no vision for the future. There was no sense of a new political ideology or fiscal system.
George Osbourne may as well have stood up and said "Everything increased by inflation. That's it!"
Where are the great pitical visionaries? Why is there no desire to do more than tinker? Where I'd the politics of principle and ideology?
Yesterday's budget, once the dust has settled, will be viewed as a non-event that did nothing for the UK, its citizens, or the wider world.
The UK has become a one-party state, but a one-party state with different faces so that the proles think that change has happened.
Opposition oppose for the sake of opposing but offer no alternative and no vision for a better future. And yet, while they're busy opposing, they refuse to say they'd do anything different or reverse decisions.
We have hit a stalemate in which bland consimerist capitalism is the only choice available and it makes no difference who delivers the budget.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
UK Eurovision entry 2012
I'm not sure about the UK's entry to this Year's Eurovision Song Contest.
It's a very nice song, naive and gentle with a hint of an OTT and powerful end that doesn't really ring true. It's like the songwriters suddenly remembered he has a big voice and had to to tack on the big orchestra with crashing cymbals!
I'm not sure why you'd get Englebert Humperdinck, known for huge belting hits like Release Me and Quando, Quando, Quando and then give him a gentle little ballad.
Maybe it'll grow on me but, of course, Eurovision songs need to win votes on one hearing.
It's a very nice song, naive and gentle with a hint of an OTT and powerful end that doesn't really ring true. It's like the songwriters suddenly remembered he has a big voice and had to to tack on the big orchestra with crashing cymbals!
I'm not sure why you'd get Englebert Humperdinck, known for huge belting hits like Release Me and Quando, Quando, Quando and then give him a gentle little ballad.
Maybe it'll grow on me but, of course, Eurovision songs need to win votes on one hearing.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
BAFTAS 2012: My predictions (and the results...)
Best Film
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: The Artist)
Film Not in the English Language
A Separation
(winner: The Skin I Live In)
Outstanding British Film
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Director
Hugo - Martin Scorsese
(winner: The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius)
Original Screenplay
Midnight in Paris
(winner: The Artist)
Adapted Screenplay
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Cinematography
War Horse
(winner: The Artist)
Editing
Hugo
(winner: Senna)
Production Design
The Artist
(winner: Hugo)
Make Up & Hair
My Week with Marilyn
(winner: The Iron Lady)
Costume Design
My Week with Marilyn
(winner: The Artist)
Special Visual Effects
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(winner: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two)
Documentary
Senna
(winner: Senna)
Sound
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Hugo)
Original Music
The Artist
(winner: The Artist)
Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
(winner: Rango)
Leading Actor
Gary Oldman (George Smiley) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) - The Artist)
Leading Actress
Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) - The Iron Lady)
Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (Sir Laurence Olivier) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Christopher Plummer (Hal Fields) - The Beginners)
Supporting Actress
Judi Dench (Dame Sybil Thorndike) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Octavia Spencer (Minny Jackson) - The Help)
Rising Star
Eddie Redmayne
(winner: Adam Deacon)
Outstanding Debut
Tyrannosaur
(winner: Tyrannosaur)
Short animation
winner: A Morning Stroll - Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Short film
winner: Pitch Black Heist - John Maclean and Geraldine O'Flynn
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema
John Hurt
Fellowship of the Academy
Martin Scorsese
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: The Artist)
Film Not in the English Language
A Separation
(winner: The Skin I Live In)
Outstanding British Film
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Director
Hugo - Martin Scorsese
(winner: The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius)
Original Screenplay
Midnight in Paris
(winner: The Artist)
Adapted Screenplay
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Cinematography
War Horse
(winner: The Artist)
Editing
Hugo
(winner: Senna)
Production Design
The Artist
(winner: Hugo)
Make Up & Hair
My Week with Marilyn
(winner: The Iron Lady)
Costume Design
My Week with Marilyn
(winner: The Artist)
Special Visual Effects
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(winner: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two)
Documentary
Senna
(winner: Senna)
Sound
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Hugo)
Original Music
The Artist
(winner: The Artist)
Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
(winner: Rango)
Leading Actor
Gary Oldman (George Smiley) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
(winner: Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) - The Artist)
Leading Actress
Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) - The Iron Lady)
Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (Sir Laurence Olivier) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Christopher Plummer (Hal Fields) - The Beginners)
Supporting Actress
Judi Dench (Dame Sybil Thorndike) – My Week with Marilyn
(winner: Octavia Spencer (Minny Jackson) - The Help)
Rising Star
Eddie Redmayne
(winner: Adam Deacon)
Outstanding Debut
Tyrannosaur
(winner: Tyrannosaur)
Short animation
winner: A Morning Stroll - Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Short film
winner: Pitch Black Heist - John Maclean and Geraldine O'Flynn
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema
John Hurt
Fellowship of the Academy
Martin Scorsese
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Saturday, 7 January 2012
The Oscars 2012 - the trailer
And so the build up to the 2012 Oscars begins with this trailer for the February 26th ceremony.
US 2012 Presidential election: timetable of primaries
Here's the timetable of the various primaries and caucuses in the US Presidental election.
January 3, 2012
Iowa (caucus)
January 10, 2012
New Hampshire (primary)
January 21, 2012
South Carolina (primary)
January 31, 2012
Florida (primary)
February 4, 2012
Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012
Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012
Colorado (caucus)
Minnesota (caucus)
Missouri (primary)
February 28, 2012
Arizona (primary)
Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012
Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012 - Super Tuesday Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio (primary)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
March 6-10, 2012
Wyoming (caucus)
March 10, 2012
Kansas (caucus)
U.S. Virgin Islands (caucus)
March 13, 2012
Alabama (primary)
Hawaii (caucus)
Mississippi (primary)
March 17, 2012
Missouri
GOP caucus
March 20, 2012
Illinois (primary)
March 24, 2012
Louisiana (primary)
April 3, 2012
District of Columbia (primary)
Maryland (primary)
Wisconsin (primary)
Texas (primary)
April 24, 2012
Connecticut (primary)
Delaware (primary)
New York (primary)
Pennsylvania (primary)
Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012
Indiana (primary)
North Carolina (primary)
West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012
Nebraska (primary)
Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012
Arkansas (primary)
Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012
California (primary)
Montana (primary)
New Jersey (primary)
New Mexico (primary)
South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012
Utah (primary)
January 3, 2012
Iowa (caucus)
January 10, 2012
New Hampshire (primary)
January 21, 2012
South Carolina (primary)
January 31, 2012
Florida (primary)
February 4, 2012
Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012
Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012
Colorado (caucus)
Minnesota (caucus)
Missouri (primary)
February 28, 2012
Arizona (primary)
Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012
Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012 - Super Tuesday Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio (primary)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
March 6-10, 2012
Wyoming (caucus)
March 10, 2012
Kansas (caucus)
U.S. Virgin Islands (caucus)
March 13, 2012
Alabama (primary)
Hawaii (caucus)
Mississippi (primary)
March 17, 2012
Missouri
GOP caucus
March 20, 2012
Illinois (primary)
March 24, 2012
Louisiana (primary)
April 3, 2012
District of Columbia (primary)
Maryland (primary)
Wisconsin (primary)
Texas (primary)
April 24, 2012
Connecticut (primary)
Delaware (primary)
New York (primary)
Pennsylvania (primary)
Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012
Indiana (primary)
North Carolina (primary)
West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012
Nebraska (primary)
Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012
Arkansas (primary)
Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012
California (primary)
Montana (primary)
New Jersey (primary)
New Mexico (primary)
South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012
Utah (primary)
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
OLYMPICS: Volunteers' uniforms unveiled
I'm still eagerly awaiting my letter or email to say whether I have been selected to be a Games Maker at next Summer's Olympic Games.
I got through the first stage and was then interviewed early one Sunday morning at Warwick University. I should, apparently, hear the decision by the end of November (if all is on schedule).
In the meantime, the uniform I'll get to wear, if selected, has been unveiled:
I got through the first stage and was then interviewed early one Sunday morning at Warwick University. I should, apparently, hear the decision by the end of November (if all is on schedule).
In the meantime, the uniform I'll get to wear, if selected, has been unveiled:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)