Facebook's Gone Carrot Crazy.

First it was “Bring Back the Wispa”, now Facebook are in the news again with a slightly different campaign…

To buy Carrots.

Thousands of people from all over the world have joined a group on the social networking site, which encourages the participants to go out “panic buy” the veg.

Over 91,000 users have joined the Facebook group called “On May 15, 2008, everybody needs to go out and panic buy carrots”.

I was invited to this group and wisely I clicked “ignore”…I wonder why?

But there were obviously some people up for the challenge!

The members plan to go out at 2pm on May 15th and buy as many carrots as they can.

I can see ASDA and Tesco rubbing their hands together thinking…Kerching!!

But what on earth are 91,000 people going to do with their weight in carrots. Surely you can only have so many without turning, well…Orange!

Fortunately, someone thought of this and added a sister-site (also on Facebook) suggesting ways of using up the vegetables.

They suggest May 16th should be a "taproot-based generosity and carroty philanthropy".

This is helping the homeless to you and me.

The 986 members plan to use their carrots to make soup and other dishes to give to the needy.

All sounds well and good but what about those that don’t eat vegetables? Another night without supper?

However, the group created by student Freya Valentine, has aroused criticism. Apparently it isn’t fair to deprive other shoppers of carrots.

What?! Surely there is enough to go around!

In protest, another Facebook group has also been created named…"Don't add to world hunger, don't panic-buy carrots".

I very much doubt that’s how world hunger started, but I am sure the 29 members will definitely make a difference.

One thing is for sure…91,000 people will be able to see better in the dark by the end of May!

Join the carrot campaign at:
http://uclan.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9801981146

Art Attack.

Yesterday saw the London Art Fair open its doors for the twentieth year to exhibit the work of both British and international modern artists.

The show, as you can imagine is not necessarily for everybody’s tastes.

For those who were expecting Van Gough or Leonardo Da Vinci, I am afraid would have had a wasted trip.

Art and Auction Magazine promised:

"A modern and contemporary art fair where collectors at all levels of experience can browse and mingle in style."

To be honest, looking at the pictures of the work displayed…I can’t see neither art nor style. With everything up for sale, the buyers must have more money than sense.

The first picture that caught my eye was Banksy’s aptly named “Shark and Trolley” and let me tell you, it did exactly what it said on the tin. The painting is of a burning trolley being circled by sharks. Art?

As I kept flicking I came across something that could only be described as ugly. A pencil drawing of…well…I don’t know but it looked like something that had died. Never the less it was created by the apparently ‘great’ Henry Moore. Heard of him? No me neither.

Of course…amongst the monstrosities, there was some rather interesting finds such as Gerald Laing's The Kiss showing Amy Winehouse and husband Blake embracing.

Not art but it was an improvement on everything else I could see.

But one piece that did catch my eye and got me thinking was artwork offered by Russell Young.

Looking at it once, it showed the very famous pictures of Ian Bradey and Myra Hindley after committing the moor’s murders.

However, after taking a second glance I realized it wasn’t what it first appeared but it was in fact Kate Moss and on/off boyfriend Pete Doherty as the evil duo.

To be honest…this baffled me.

Why on earth would such a link be made? Please…What are the similarities between the two couples?

It is sickening.

I literally cannot for the life of me understand such a gesture. To be compared to two of the most evil people of the 20th century has got to be devastating, especially when they both have children of their own.

If this is art then…No thank you, I would rather have Picasso anyday.

The London Art Fair is from 16-20th January at the Business Design Centre, Islington.
www.londonartfair.co.uk

PETA's Sex Education.

Understandably they don’t have the reputation for being the family of world’s best mothers at the moment, but surely the Spear’s women don’t deserve the latest offerings of abuse aimed at them.

PETA have made an example of Jamie Lynne Spears in their new “Sex Talk” commercial, drawing links between the sixteen-year-old star and the need to spray and neuter animals.

Do America have nothing else to talk about apart from the fact Britney’s younger sister is pregnant? I mean come on…we hear about it everyday here in the UK and it is normally girls a lot younger who are ‘in the family way’.

The 30 second advert premiers in Friday during “Good Morning America” and features parents who encourage their daughters to be sexually active. During one conversation, a daughter asks her mother “What if I get Pregnant?” and the mother replies “Pop out all the kids you can…If it has a pulse, you should be wrapped around it!”

Surely not?

I don’t think PETA’s issue is with the underage children here…but with their parents! Surely they don’t go on like this in the real world? Or certainly not that I am aware of!

PETA's president Ingrid E. Newkirk said:

"Just as Lynne Spears is under scrutiny because of her underage daughter's pregnancy, people who fail to spay and neuter their animals should also be feeling the heat."

The advert apparently tries to ‘draw a link between unwanted pregnancy and spraying and neutering children’. So…is that how we are supposed to be treating the sexually active of today?

To be honest…I think I am in shock at the idea of it all.

So what…She is sixteen. She has had sex and…She is pregnant. I am guessing it wasn’t planned but she has realised her mistakes and is making the best out of a bad situation.

Shouldn’t we be helping her rather than suggesting she should be banished? She is expecting a baby….not killed one.

In 2006, Britain saw its youngest mother ever at only 11 years old. Young yes, but doesn’t everybody make mistakes?

I think it is easy for people to jump the gun and suggest that these girls are terrible and a disgrace. And it certainly should be up to the parents to take the blame for ‘encouraging their children to have sex’ as PETA suggests. They are teenagers…they can’t be watched 24/7!

To make comparison to unwanted babies and the neutering of animals, to me, is disgusting, inhumane and utterly outrageous. Maybe they should be out their doing something rather than preaching to the world through pretentious and self-righteous adverts.

As the saying goes…Actions speak louder than words.

I have the up most respect for any teenage girl who goes through with a pregnancy at a young age. I have exactly the same amount of respect for any teenage girl who decides that it is too young to have children and opts out.

As women, we have a choice. Surely it is about time people realised that and stopped looking down on teenagers because they 'do it!'

It’s only sex…get over it.

Tattoo too far?

It is a craze that has been around for centuries and around 6% of the population have one -but what is the fascination with tattoos?

For many it is a form of expression, using their body as a canvas for their beliefs and values. Whereas some people enjoy the sensation and become addicted to the pain.

With more and more celebrities such as David Beckham and Amy Warehouse making them stylish, when is it time to draw the line?

New Zealand born Lucky Diamond Rich is currently holder of the Guinness Book of Record’s, Most Tattooed Man title. After spending over 1,000 hours in the chair, the sword-swallowing, juggler is covered head to toe in a collection of colourful designs which includes his eye lids, ears and even his gums.

Or...How about something a little more sentimental?

I am not just talking about having “mum” on your arm or your children’s names on your shoulder.

A man that managed to take ‘sentimental’ that one step too far was Alan Jenkins. He was in the news last year after spending £870 and 20 hours getting his wife’s face tattooed on his back. Surely a sign of dedication? She certainly didn’t think so when she traded him in for a younger model.

Understandably it was a gesture of affection, but in this case the tattoo will last longer than the relationship…Idiot!

So is it a good idea to get someone’s name on your arm? Or your favourite band on your back? You also have to look into the future…Will it still look as good when your 80 to have the Manchester United badge on your calf or Winnie the Pooh on your shoulder?

Probably not.

Who's been Bitten by the Baby Bug?

They are forever the height of fashion, first to be spotted with the latest of gadgets and always looking for the next big thing, but as far as the latest celebrity craze goes, I don’t think I will be following in their footsteps anytime soon.

It seems the New Year “must-have” in Celebrity-Ville is the baby bump and it is already being sported by anybody who is well…anybody.

Dior baby grows will be flying off the shelves with the likes of Nicole Kidman, Lily Allen and Jessica Alba all expecting in 2008. Even sixteen-year-old Jamie-Lynn Spears has jumped on the bandwagon announcing earlier this month that she is also expecting.

No wonder we are having such a baby boom.

A fortnight in and new arrivals already include Christina Aguilera’s son Max Liron Bratman, and Harlow Winter Kate Madden, Nicole Ritchie’s newborn daughter.

But by the looks of things, there are many more to come.

Bond Girl Halle Berry looks fit to burst and as for Jennifer Lopez, her bump isn’t the only thing growing…so is speculation that the Latina singer is expecting twins with husband Marc Anthony. Understandable considering the size of her!

Although it seems as though the baby bug is more infections on the other side of the pond, it is just as prominent here in the UK with radio presenter Edith Bowman expecting her first child in June and ex-Eastenders star Tamzin Outhwaite not long afterwards.

And of course…How could we forget my favourite celebrity of the moment…Kerry Katona, is also expecting her fourth child later this year, and rumours are rife that it will be the first boy for the Iceland-Mum and her husband, Mark Croft.

Don’t think I have forgotten those that haven’t quite won the baby race yet. But it’s not like they aren’t trying.

It was reported earlier this week, Victoria Beckham has started her pre-pregnancy diet to get her body ready to carry a child and husband Beck’s is keeping his fingers crossed for twin girls. Well…If anyone can do it, Golden Balls himself can!

One this is for certain though, the stork will be working over-time this year to deliver the celebrities there Gucci wrapped bundles of joy.

It only leaves us to wonder…who will be next to push their gold-plated stroller down the red carpet?

If the tabloids are to be believed, Amy Winehouse has promised her jailbird husband a baby for the New Year and then there is Melanie Chisholm who has made it more than clear that she want to have the next spice baby.

There were also rumours of Geri Halliwell wanting a sibling for little Bluebell and TomKat hoping for a playmate for daughter Suri.

I guess we will all have to sit tight and see what 2008 brings.

The L Word.

It is a word that "never ends". A word that is so passionate and tender. A word that is used too often and usually too soon.

The word is…Love.

We all feel it, towards our families, our partners, and our friends but is the idea of loving someone becoming extinct?

A parent’s love is unconditional…or that’s what I was brought up to believe. But you only have to turn the TV on to find Jeremy Kyle or Trisha trying to sort out some feud between a parent and their “unruly children”.

Does it make us lose faith?

Not for me.

I know that my parents will always be there for me, no matter what. They have been there for me in the past and I am eternally grateful, and now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I hope they know that I will always be there for them.

But what other kind of love is there? Is everyone else just there to fill in the gaps?

After seeing P.S. I love you; I am not sure how I feel about the L word.

Every time I see a romantic film, my gut reaction is “Will I ever find someone like this? Someone to sweep me off my feet and give me butterflies in my stomach?”

I am hopeful, but I think guys like that only exist in Rom-Com’s and our imaginations. (Sorry to my fellow singletons…Shattering your dreams like that.)

But one thing the film did make me realise is that you don’t need romance to make you who you are, or make you loved.

Holly (in the film, not me unfortunately), was lucky enough to find the man of her dreams, who loved her just as much and cherished her until “death us do part”.

Of course, like all films do, this was sooner than expected and as the story goes, Gerry (her belated husband) guided Holly through her grievances by sending letters and messages after he died.

In my eyes this was thoughtful, romantic, and utterly beautiful. My friend, Kerry, on the other hand thought it was ‘disgusting’ and ‘selfish’…So unromantic!

But the ending put the whole film into context for me.

For all she didn’t agree with the marriage, particularly like her daughters choice in husband or think the whole letter idea (much like Kerry) was a good idea…Her mother was the saviour.

It turns out in the end…after a lot of speculation and questions – How is he doing it? Is he still alive? How did he know she would be there? – Holly’s mum was helping him out.

To me…That is love.

I hope one day I do fall in love, find the man of my dreams and live happily ever after like in the movies.

But I know that I will always have people who love me for who I am and will always be therefore me, whether they agree with my decisions or not.

I know I have people to rely on, and people who can rely on me.

And I also know that my loves for them can never be altered in any way, shape or form.

For me…That’s what Families are for.

Love.

Sweet dream are made of....what exactly?

We all want to be someone, go somewhere or do something.

Life is full of dreams, hopes and ambitions we strive to achieve. But What is life without a dream? Would there really be much point in us hanging around without one?

As children, we all have a vision of what we want to do when we 'grow-up' -singer, teacher, fireman - they are all dreams we push ourselves into making a reality.

At one time we simply would have been happy having one goal. But as we grow, so do our dreams and aspirations.

We get older and wiser to the world in which we live and we want and reach for more. Wether it be more money, a higher position at work or to lose a few pounds, we are always striving for something.

Life is a pathway leading us through our dreams. Every stage in life has something else to conquer...School, Uni, Marriage, a family.

We may stumble. We may fall, but should never let is alter what we want to achieve.

But imagine waking up one morning to realise there was nothing to do. Nothing to strive for. Nothing to beat.

Life would be pretty meaningless, wouldn't it?

Langston Hughes said: "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."

He was right.

On Thursday, Sir Edmund Hillary died. The first man to conquer Mount Everest. He showed such strength, passion and determination to reach his goal.

He achieved something that nobody could ever deny...his dreams.

But they don't have to be big. Wether it be getting a promotion or riding a bike, reaching your goal is like getting to the top of that mountain and flying the flag.

All dreams are important.

They build our character, give us strength and allow us to concentrate on an ultimate goal.

Keep dreaming. Keep achieving.


Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008)

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

Change is an interesting concept. We can't see it happening but when it does, everyone - good or bad, has an opinion on it.

From birth, change is an inevitable part of life. We don't enter the world the people we are today...we change and grown. We aren't born with the ability to walk and talk, we watch, learn and then have a go.

For many people, change is seen as a threat. Nothing will be the same and they don't like it. Some people get stuck in a routine and reap in the continuity - its familiar, safe and works for them.

But unfortunately, it will never last.

As humans we are always looking for ways to better ourselves.

We are currently in the very regular post-Xmas cycle. Every January, like clockwork, the celebrity fitness DVD's line the shelves, every diet under the sun is tried and tested in the glossies and most woman have the "this year I will definitely do it" attitude.

So why is change so bad?

Pauline R. Kezer once said "Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights."

So surely change is a part of everybody, big or small, we all need change to reach our dreams and make us the people we want to be.

It would be a sad day if we were all the same.

If I was still the person I was only 5 years ago...I would be your average Westlife loving, acne ridden teenage girl. But more importantly I would be the shy 15-year-old who would go along with whatever was said or done, wouldn't say boo to a goose and was happy disregarding my own feelings for others.

For me, change wasn't inevitable, it was compulsory.

I had to toughen myself up, find my voice and think about me for once. Well the latter is still not true but I certainly wouldn't be the person I am today if I carried on the way I was. Apart from anything else, I am not that big of a Westlife fan anymore.

My point is...everybody changes. They don't do it for anyone else, to be liked less or more and they certainly don't do it to different.

They do it be themselves.

After all...If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

The Slippery Slope of Celebrity

The more I see her on TV or the front of magazines, the more she seems to baffle me.

Kerry Katona was splashed all over the Sunday newspapers once again this week with allegations that she was hit by her mother-in-law at a New Years Eve house-party.

Every week it seems to be something new.

Appearing on This Morning yesterday, the pregnant loud-mouth was talking about her cocaine addiction and how she has overcome it. But has she?

She was quick to suggest that the newspapers would no doubt, once again print that she was on drugs while doing the show and to be honest, I don’t think they would be far wrong.

Now don’t quote me on it but slurring worlds, rolling eyes and her general brash attitude suggested to me that maybe the addiction is not water under the bridge.

The mother of three also swore on her unborn baby’s life that she was attacked by Mark Croft’s mother during their New Year celebrations.

Fit mother? Sure, why not!

In 2005 she won I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here! and everything seemed to be going well for the ex-Atomic Kitten star, until she split with husband Brian McFadden.

After the divorce everything seemed to go down hill...Bipolar depression, several stints in rehab and her marriage to Croft has ensured that the star is never out of the media glare.

It was only last year she was involved in a hostage situation when masked men broke into her house, locked her and her youngest daughter Heidi in a room, while Croft showed them to the valuables.

Strange? Yes, I thought so too.

It is a shame…she had the potential to be a house hold name for good rather than "what has she done now?" being the question on everyone’s lips.

But, Kerry Katona isn’t the only one.

More and more celebrities are hitting the top just to slide straight back down to the bottom again.

Maybe it s the media’s fault – we build them up to knock them down. But this has been the reality for many years so what make them think that they are any different?

Kerry Katona, Britney Spears…Who’s next?

It’s sad really.

Is it really the taking part that counts?

What do Ricky Hatton, Lewis Hamilton and the England football team all have in common? They are all losers. There is a well known saying – "It’s not the winning, but the taking part that counts" but is that really true? Is winning not the main goal when competing?

There is something inside of every one of us, no matter how big or small, that drives us to be winners. We want to be the best, we want to be acknowledged, but most of all…we want to be remembered.

2007 was the year to beat Britain in almost every sport, with the rugby team coming back empty handed from the World Cup, Hamilton didn’t become Grand Prix champion and even more surprising, the football team failed to make Euro 2008. But why is it all so shocking for us Britons? Are we all too patriotic and expect too much, or have we built our sporting hero’s up too high?

We live in a country where the media builds you up to knock you down. One minute David Beckham is a footballing hero, the next the country is in mourning because he is sent off. Sport stars, celebrities and wannabe’s accumulate most of the column inches in the red tops and glossies, hating them when they win and hating them even more when they lose.

This has been seen in the recent coverage of the Hatton fight against Floyd Mayweather. Support was huge for the British champion, even after losing, but it won’t have been enough for him as a competitive sportsman. He won’t be proud he took part, more disappointed that he didn’t win which has been suggested in the rumours following, that he had considered resignation.

We seem happy to accept the taking part, getting a pat on the back and being told "better look next time." But while that is practised at primary school sports days, it does not ring so true in the professional spectrum.

But what about just trying your best? Surely there is more reward in losing after trying your best than doing a half arsed job and having to live with the repercussions.

But don’t reach for those tissues just yet, don’t roll over thinking we are all losers here in Britain. There are still a few people holding the torch of success and keeping the light of success burning for the country to see.

Joe Calazaghe, rightfully so, was named 2007's Sports Personality of the Year. A few years to late if you ask me, but never-the less after a decade as world champion, it was about time his success was acknowledged. Beating stiff competition from Hamilton and Hatton, it just shows that column inches and tittle tattle will one day lose out to victorious and well-deserving winners.

It is about time that more of Britain’s less talked about winners are acknowledged for their dedication rather than heralding people like David Beckham, Tim Henman and Jonny Wilkinson as being sporting greats. Fame over shadows talent, suggesting that the true stars won’t be mentioned when playing against a famous face. More people like Calazaghe and Amir Khan should be recognised for what they do – winning rather than just taking part.

We have to learn to stop building up someone, to knock them down and treat the losers like champions when they aren’t. We need to start rewarding the true stars of Britain; after all…if losing was a sport, we would definitely be the winners.