Internet Explorer

Everyone talks about how the internet and technology are making the world a smaller place. A couple of things happened to me this week which made me realize that, although the internet may be the vehicle, it's really who we are and how we use it which brings us together. A heady concept, but really just an excuse to mention these two events...

Jack, Andrew's dad, die-hard Wiganer, forwarded an email to me with a slide show link of beautiful photos of the 50 States framed inside a cutout shape of the U.S. Topped off with background music from "Oh Beautiful", it was corny but a sweet reminder of home.

Then yesterday, I went to a workshop from the Manchester Literature Festival called, "So You Wanna Be a Blogstar". Turns out one of the instructors was originally from New York City!! Apparently, the only two Americans in the UK Northwest were in the same room at the same time. Man, life is good.

Bring it on Leo

I'm sure you all have been watching the incredible events unfolding in Myanmar; I'd been doing so from the CNN International TV channel in Prague, where I was traveling with my parents. How fascinating that the movement was inspired and ignited by that country's most revered group, its religious monks. This got me thinking... what group could have that kind of effect on the general population in the US (and now for me, the UK!)? Well that answer seems obvious: movie and TV stars. This also got me thinking... heretofore, I'd always cringe when seeing or hearing celebrities promote one cause or another, believing they had no credibility to speak on any of those subjects. However, after considering the powerful influence certain people can have on others (specifically the monks in Myanmar), my opinion on celebrity campaigning has shifted 180 degrees (hmm, is it the same in Celsius; was it ever in Fahrenheit?).

UK v. USA

Well I've been here for nearly two months and I think I've come up with an analogy about the relationship between the US and the UK. Anthropomorphically speaking, the UK are like the proud parents of the US, their independent, feisty offspring. Like all parents, the UK want only the best for their children and hope they will turn out well, with lives that are as good or better than even their own. And the US have grown up to do very well indeed. However, in the end, the parents believe, and the kids will grudgingly agree on occasion, that father (and mum) knows best.

You can have any color, as long as it's black

Well, it's been a while since I was last here, so I want to post something before I leave for Radlett, just outside of London, to visit my friend Colette for the Jewish New Year. Deciding what to see at the theatre is easy here in Wigan because there is only one theatre in town, the Wigan Little Theatre. I was expecting to see an amateurish production but instead, when we went there last night, we had a smashing time! The play, "Straight & Narrow" by Jimmie Chinn, was well written and the actors all gave great performances. I'm no theatre critic, but I have seen a number of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows over the years, and this rivaled any of them. Season tickets anyone?

No, not Punch & Judy...

My initial curiosity was piqued at a local bookstore where they had a section called "Richard & Judy's Picks". When I enquired, I learned that these were the book recommendations of daytime TV talk show hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan (similar to Oprah's Book Club). Anyway, Richard & Judy have one of the most popular shows in the UK and they've been on TV together since 1988. I recently found the show while TV surfing (one of my important daily activities) and wasn't too impressed until I later learned that these two are married.. to each other!! Not only are they married but, at a distance, she looks as if she could be his... much older colleague! At first I was shocked and then fascinated... now I'm just obsessed. Check them out!

Does matter matter?

Three days and three thousand dollars later, I've pretty much unpacked all the things I shipped from America. Did I really need to have them here? Could I not have just started all over? This whole process of packing and unpacking made me think a lot about possessions in general, and our attachment to them. I've observed that we often define ourselves by and through our possessions (and Madison Avenue only capitalizes on this fact). My move to England helped me to let go of this notion (somewhat). For example, I remember once thinking I needed a larger CD collection to show I was a music lover. Well I realized during the move that those CDs were just taking up valuable space and had to go! The conclusion I've come to is this: While having beautiful things is great and should be enjoyed, they could be lost or taken away at any time; so know that there is always more or nothing at all and you are still the same.

Canal du Midi

While visiting my friend last week, we got a chance to walk along some of the Canal du Midi. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean port of Sète and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toulouse is a most enchanting place (when planning your next trip to France, try coming here instead of Paris) with incredible gardens and sumptuous architecture. Music lovers especially will rejoice.