BDT Brew Break

Little Clicks for Big Prizes with Railcard

2012-01-05T21:03:00.002Z

To celebrate the launch of their new Facebook page, Railcard are giving people the chance to win a year’s entry to the UK’s top family attractions – including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Sea Life – with their Little Clicks for Big Prizes competition. All you have to do to enter is upload a photo that has been taken by your child and then turn it into a postcard using their postcard generator. Just visit the facebook page and create your own unique postcard for your chance to win a Merlin Annual Pass for a family of four. They are also giving away Railcard gift cards, worth £26 each, for their twenty favourite runners up.

To let Brew Drinking Thinkings know about the competition, Railcard sent us five postcards through the post – each one suggesting a different family friendly destination that they thought Brew Drinking Thinkings would like to visit. Once all five postcards had arrived, Railcard requested that we tell them which our destination of choice was. Once the destination has been chosen, Railcard will send us a family return rail ticket and a child-friendly LEGO camera so that we can visit the destination and enter a postcard into the competition.

Be snappy with your entries though, as the competition closes on Monday 9th January 2012.

Rick Stein & The Good Food Show Winter, Birmingham

2011-12-13T21:56:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting my second home town (during university) Birmingham, host to the BBC Good Food Show Winter. Where the highlight for me was seeing the almighty Rick Stein cook up a storm in the Sainsbury's Super theatre, for demonstration.

The show was a jam packed day in the large arena at the NEC Birmingham, bustling with shoppers, foodie gourmands and inquisitive cooks. In addition a host of chefs graced the arena, on Wednesday the likes of Stacie Stewart, James Martin, Tom Kerridge, Nathan Outlaw, Monica Galleti and Masterchef Winner Tim Anderson shared their tips and cooking demonstrations.

In the afternoon I had booked to see well known chef Rick Stein, with recipes inspired from his Spain book. Everyone was seated in the theatre (I lucky enough had a second row seat) and get a full view as he was introduced onto stage by Olly Smith, Sommelier and host.

Rick surprisingly was a slightly nervous cook in front of the audience however he revels in live demos because not only can he 'explain the subtleties of the particular dishes but can also communicate knowledge of raw materials, cooking tips and philosophy of good simple cooking'.

He mastered in creating some beautiful dishes at the demo, inspired from his love of seafood and as he exclaimed " not using second hand ingredients, preferring to use fresh, really makes that difference". Being in great praise of his cookery school in Padstow, Cornwall an idyllic location to get quality produce and ingredients.

In awe of his audience he cumbered up a deep dish of Clams with Serrano ham and Oloroso sherry - Almejas Al Jerez and a Chicken in a mildly spiced saffron, pine nut and almond sauce. Simple enough and perfectly keeping the main ingredient of the clams speak to for themselves and the spices of the saffron with almonds and pine nut sauce to infuse together. Two great festive dishes to try over Christmas.

Rick exclaimed, "If you’re cooking for more than four people avoid any cooking that requires pan work i.e. frying or sauteing much better to choose, say, the poaching or roasting of a whole fish or cooking fillets in the oven. You don't want to be cooking in relays!" Some advice I will definitely be taking.

Rick will be in Australia for Christmas this year, enjoying a seafood platter of "Queensland prawns, barbecued snapper and will probably also fit in a spanner crab" .. It's ok for some!

With so many suppliers and artisans of fresh Brit produce, ranging from quality home born and bred meats, homemade chutneys, jams, fruit and vegetables under one roof no wonder it took me over two hours to circle the room once.

With the likes of the Cornish Cheese Co, from Cornwall bringing their “World Cheese Award Supreme Champion” blue cheese, Cotswold Gold, rapeseed oil, from Worcestershire, Woodhouse Farm Leicestershire Meat, Belvoir Fruit Farm Lincolnshire fruity cordials, Napton Water Buffalo from Warwickshire brilliant buffalo burgers, Snowdonia Cheese Co, where I purchased their Amber Mist (cheese laced with whiskey) and The Garlic Farm from the Isle of Wight bringing their range of garlic products.

Some others included deep flavoured smoked kippers and smokehouse products with all things smoked on display, a smoky lover's heaven. Sorrel and Ginger drink, plenty of antioxidants and pungent, sharp ginger in a bottle, all things 'round' from The Little Round Cake Company, heavenly, mini cakes to satisfy those cravings.

I did manage to do some celeb chef-spotting, realising I was standing next to an ever smiling and not known for Monica Galleti buying knives, managing to catch Eric Lanlard's baking frenzy on stage, Tim Anderson and Andy Peters taking food enthusiasts step by step through gyoza making. There were plenty of talks, demos and opportunities to try and taste produce and a heavenly environment to be in if this is what floats your boat, so to speak.

Nabbing up some mini oatcakes from the Oatcake company (which were my loyal snacks while I was on the Candida diet) and The English Providence Sweet Tomato and Chilli chutney, perfect combination I trotted off back to London in anticipation of the Taste of Christmas Festival and many festive food markets to get into the Christmas spirit!

By Selina Periampillai

Marc Jacobs: Dakota Fanning campaign banned in UK

2011-11-10T08:50:00.000Z

It is only a mere few months since, our previous fashion writer, Nikki Lennon wrote an article for BDT on the Jack Willis' fashion scandal that was deemed too risqué for public eyes.

Marc Jacobs is the latest designer to have their ads deemed unsuitable, as the British Advertising Standards Authority has banned UK use of the current Dakota Fanning Oh Lola! advertisements.

It is reported that the ASA acknowledge Dokota Fanning to be 17, however it is not clear within the images that she is of the age of consent. This is conjunction with her short, sheer dress and a suggestively-placed oversized perfume bottle, has led the Agency believe that the campaign has done enough to be deemed to sexualise a child.

Coty, the Marc Jacob's perfume manufacturer defended the campaign, according to the Guardian, by saying that the ad showed no 'private body parts or sexual activity'. In addition, the model was in no way 'inappropriately sexualised' nor was she under-age.

It is no secret that Jacob's is a huge fan of Dakota Fanning; the child-star famously modelled his range at the young age of 12 years-old. Is this ASA decision more than it seems? Is it time for designers to stop targeting children and turning them into adults before their time? What are your views on this particular campaign?

Dakota Fanning for Marc Jacobs Spring 2007

All I want for Christmas is... a TOPSHOP hamper!

2011-11-10T00:17:00.000Z

Yes, you read that right; the high street fashion retailer, TOPSHOP's latest announcement means that it won't just be mince pies and bevvy that are making the hamper-cut this year.

From 13 November until 24 December 2011 customer's can say 'goodbye' to Christmas shopping stress as the TOPSHOP style advisors, at selected stores, handpick items for the hampers in accordance with the buyers instruction. Customers must spend a minimum of £200, however the total cost will vary depending on the value of the hamper. But when all you have to do is pick it up, surely this is a god-send for anyone who is close to a devoted fashionista?

Following the buyer's once over, each item is individually gift-wrapped and boxed up like treasure ready for the grand opening on Christmas morning.

Sounds like a BDT dream come true. Will this be going on your list this year? Are you lucky enough to be receiving one? We want to hear from you. Contact BDT with your TOPSHOP hamper pics and story.

Harry Potter: a final farewell

2011-11-09T21:20:00.001Z

2 December 2011 is due to go down in UK film history as the day millions of fans say their final farewells to a treasured ten-year cinematic relationship. As Harry Potter enthusiasts frantically pre-order the last and final DVD release in time for Christmas, they are also preparing to sit and appreciate the characters which have been (and will continue to be) held so fondly in all of our hearts.

It was this morning that E! Entertainment released an exclusive video of the stars' reactions to the Harry Potter completion. For those devoted fans who sat in the cinema at midnight screenings cheering, sobbing and whooping this video only brings the emotion closer to home and strengthens the rapport the producers, directors and cast have so successfully built with their audience.

Here's to a truly magical ten years and we must remember, as Jo so warmly consoled;

'The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.'

How BDT did Halloween

2011-11-03T13:30:00.000Z

The BDT ladies and their mini BDTers went crazy for Halloween this year. Take a look at how we celebrated the spooky season. We'd love to know how you celebrated too! Get it touch and share your photos and stories - who knows, we might even publish a few.

Mini BDTers get their spook on

Mini Managing Deputy BDTer

Mini Media Manager BDTer with Mini Managing Director BDTer

Mini Travel & Culture BDTers

Big BDTers get their spook on

Steph Saunders

Emily Isaac

Hannah Wallbanks (centre)

Rebecca Evans and JoJo Kirtley

Carrie Ann Walton

Ali Bunn

Treats, not tricks

Tricks, not treats

Pumpkin Carving

Roxanne Wells & family

Ali Bunn & family

Steph Saunders & family

Baby Loves Disco - Spookathon

BDT Halloween Baking and Making

Roxanne Wells & family

Rebecca Evans & family

Roxanne Wells & family

TOPSHOP launches denim section

2011-11-01T15:46:00.002Z

We're big fans of the ol'TOPSHOP over at BDT and their public announcement that they will be launching an online denim section is just what we wanted to hear.

Finding a pair of jeans that fits your bum (without making it look like you're the pick of the bunch during baboon mating season) while finding the right cut for your shape and height is definitely a skill. Said skill is one we are more than happy to leave in the hands of the style gurus over at TOPSHOP.com.

Just announced on the brand's facebook page:

Every girl should own a truly great pair of jeans but if you're anything like us, you'll know that finding the pair you can’t live without may be easier said than done. Lucky for all of us, it won't be anymore! Tomorrow, we're launching our brand new denim area on Topshop.com.

If you have any denim wobbles or worries, let them be heard at the TOPSHOP live Style Q&A which will be help on TOPSHOP's blog tomorrow afternoon from 13:00hrs - 14:00hrs GMT.

We cannot wait! Just in time for winter denim shopping. Score Arcadia, score.

Have a LUSH Halloween

2011-10-31T08:17:00.001Z

Once again LUSH has shown that it is the place to be. Beauty writer, Samantha Raybould, headed down Chester store to be greeted by three wicked witches who were brewing up a storm in their cauldron; some Sunny Side with Cinder for some glimmering bath time fun!

Not only did they have some fantastic themed goodies but the staff are all embracing the spirit of Halloween by dressing up as witches, ghouls and skeletons.

If you love their bath ballistics then take a look at these spooky specials which include Skullduggery an uplifting blend of Lime and Neroli essential oils, Calacas a green shower jelly to energise you on these brisk Autumn mornings and Lady Catrina shaped like a fruity hat has all the zest needed for a revival!

And just take a look at the pumpkin knot wraps. Perfect for wrapping up your haunting ballistics!

There was so much going on and the store was jam packed so head down because the staff are always super lovely, knowledgeable and know how to have fun! Thanks to the spooky (lovely) LUSH ladies at the Chester store for letting Sam take pictures of them and their products in all their glory. We can't wait for the Christmas parties… please tell us there'll be Christmas parties too!

If you missed the fun this weekend, worry not, pop into your local LUSH store today to pick up some Halloween goodies.

You'd be hopping MaD to miss it!

2011-10-27T22:08:00.004+01:00

BDT's Theatre Writer, JoJo Kirtley recommends a show not to be missed in Manchester.

On Tuesday night, JoJo had the utmost pleasure of seeing MaD Theatre Company’s latest production, The Demise and Rise of Bunny Lamar. MaD is a unique theatre company who are, without a doubt- amazing and certainly push the boundaries of modern theatre in Manchester.

Uber excited after seeing the show, JoJo had to let us all at BDT know how fantastic it was and she urges anyone in Manchester to go and see the production, which follows the story of the Bunny Lamar's acting school and their own version of Bugsy Malone with a twist. The cast and crew have clearly worked hard and all of the actors are local talent from MaD's own drama classes.

Set in Bury, The Demise and Rise of Bunny Lamar is hilariously entertaining and truly fabulous; you'd be hopping MaD to miss it!

Tickets are on sale via ticketline for Friday and Saturday, 28th & 29th October, at Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester City Centre.

Ikea's Manland

2011-10-10T10:28:00.000+01:00

Contrary to popular stereotype, not all women enjoy shopping. In fact some of us will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid it however we can’t escape the turgid image of the women out shopping in her high heels and picture perfect hair with the grumpy hunched up man in tow who is bored out of his batter and would rather be in the pub.

Well IKEA have solved this troubling dilemma by creating Manland. Yes that’s right, Manland. Their Sydney store in Australia has come up with a nifty solution to the problem of bored fellas by creating a crèche designed specifically for men. It features comfy sofas, flat screen TVs, table football and hotdogs to keep the fellas entertained while the womenfolk go off and do the shopping duties in peace and quiet without having to feel the daggers of infuriation in the back of their heads.

But hang on; this doesn’t really flatter either of the sexes does it. It reinforces the gender stereotype that women enjoy shopping and men don’t; a view which would have staunch feminists up in hairy arms (feminists don’t wax do they, or is that another typecast?). However it doesn’t do the men of our species any favours either because it’s insinuating that they’re like babies who need a distraction so they don’t run riot in the store.

The metrosexuals of our generation must be hanging their heads in dismay at this creation. No longer do we survive in a world where men have no say in the decor and furniture-buying for our homes, men have an equal say in how their hard equal-earned pounds are spent and perhaps like many they enjoy the traipse around IKEA thanks to the reward of a hotdog at the end of it. Heck, it’s the only reason I’m ever willing to go.

Get help with childhood bed wetting

2011-10-04T11:07:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow (Wednesday 5 October) charity ERIC is launching ‘Elevensees with ERIC’ on Facebook.

On the first Wednesday of every month at 11am, parents can get answers for any questions on childhood continence problems from ERIC Helpline advisors. To take part, just go to the ERIC Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/eric.charity1 and post your question. You can also send direct messages if you would prefer to keep it private. The first forum will focus on bedwetting.

ERIC is the UK’s only charity dedicated to providing information and support to children suffering with continence problems and their families. Continence problems affect 1 in 12 children and young people in the UK. ERIC provides support for issues including bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling and potty training.

The ERIC Helpline is open 24/7 (0845 370 8008) and information can also be found online www.eric.org.uk

All Hail Edward II - Royal Exchange, Manchester

2011-09-14T09:11:00.002+01:00

Theatre: Royal Exchange, Manchester

Play: Edward II

Date: 12^th September 2011

Director: Toby Frow

By JoJo Kirtley

Toby Frow’s updated direction of Marlowe’s Edward II is set in the 1950’s. It starts before the actual performance and outside of the normal theatre space; the foyer of the Royal Exchange transformed into a cosy jazz bar for all to see. The atmosphere is certainly electric as the audience arrive to see a couple canoodling on the dance floor and a live jazz band entertaining the crowds. We are happy and merry. We are all ready to be entertained. We take are seats and watch the characters of this 50’s bar flirt, dance and kiss; smoking roll ups, smudging red lipstick, clicking their heels and admiring each other’s beauty. We are drawn into this ambience, this beautiful, alluring, false sense of security. Then, the real action begins and the gasps and murmurs from the audience say it all as we follow the story of Edward II’s very demise.
The action begins when on the death of Edward I, Edward II, brilliantly played by Chris New, calls for his banished lover, Gaveston (Samuel Collings) to be reinstated from exile. On his return, the King neglects his duties and indeed his wife, in favour of being controlled by his favourite lover. This does not please the king’s nobles who vote for Gaveston’s re-exile. However, Queen Isabella hatches a plan with her own lover, Mortimer to destroy the King. She calls on the nobles to welcome back Gaveston so that they can plot to kill him. Gaveston does eventually return (to an airport arrival lounge) and is brutally murdered. The King, devastated continues to ignore his wife (and duties) but is eventually brutally murdered himself, by a hired hit-man.
Once again, the Royal Exchange has taken a play and made it their very own. Frow’s direction is clever, yet suggestive with a fresh take on this historical play, which is originally set in the fourteenth century. The cast command the stage with confidence and make full use the remarkable set, designed by Ben Stone. Edward II is a physically demanding, brutal piece of theatre where I wholeheartedly struggle to empathise with any character but this is what makes it so tragic. I felt that setting the play in the 50’s was a tall order met wonderfully by the talented cast and creative crew. The use of police adds an interesting dimension to the production and there is almost a strange echo of Margaret Thatcher in Emma Cunniffe’s tormented but vengeful Queen Isabella, especially as she regains power and plots her retribution with an army of policemen behind her.
For me, it was Samuel Collings who absolutely stole the show. First, as the King’s eye-liner-wearing lover; his version of the James Dean look-a-like, Gaveston, was electric and secondly, as his disturbing portrayal of the King’s torturer, which is almost unwatchable.

An enticing and chilling production of Marlowe’s play, which raises its very own questions about the existence, influence and importance of the British monarchy.

On until 8th October, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Walkers Sunbites: The tasty wholegrain crispy snack

2011-09-06T02:14:00.000+01:00

Walkers Sunbites, the tasty wholegrain crispy snack, have added two brand new flavours to their range. Lightly Sea Salted and Cheddar and Caramelised Onion have joined their Sweet Chilli, Sour Cream and Onion and Rosemary cousins in a line-up of ‘natural flavours that charm your taste buds’.

Need to shift the pounds you put on in cocktails over the summer holidays? Attempting to start your Christmas-do diet early? Yeah, we are too. BDT thoroughly recommends picking up a pack of Sunbites. Your standard 25g bag contains just 120 calories - 6 per cent of an adult’s Guideline Daily Allowance (GDA) - but as they are brimming with flavour, you really would never guess.

If you are more concerned by content than calories, you’ll be as pleased as we were to hear that Sunbites are true to their tagline. The ‘Wholegrain Crispy Snack’ really is just that with an impressive 67 per cent wholegrain content, made up of whole corn, whole wheat and Quaker® whole oat flour. That’s an impressive one third of your recommended daily intake of wholegrain. Say goodbye to baddies, Sunbites contain no artificial colours or preservatives.

As the BDT girls are making and effort to add more wholegrain our diets, we love the ‘How to get Wholegrain into your Diet’ section of the Sunbites website. Sunbites are more than just a healthy substitute for your regular packet of crisps; crush them over your salad for an interesting texture or snap over your soup for an autumn alternative.

A taste innovation, the wholegrain adds a sweeter dimension to the snack. While the crisp, yet particularly crunchy texture makes these snacks one on their own. We found it easy to enjoy Sunbites without feeling as though they are attempting to replace a much tastier, bad-for-you alternative.

The extended range of flavours means there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes. While we enjoyed the delicacy of the new Lightly Sea Salted Sunbites, the other four really were a flavour sensation. Unlike many low fat products, this is a snack which does not compromise on taste and the contemporary flavours aptly match the butterfly-laced, voguish finish of the packaging.

Give them a try by heading over to the Sunbites Facebook Fan Page and grabbing a free bag off Auntie Aggie. She’s not going to give up without a fight though; those Sunbites are worth the battle. If they’re good enough for Rebecca Ferguson, they’re good enough for us girls at BDT.

A Weighty Issue!

2011-09-04T22:11:00.004+01:00

Weight; come on, who can honestly hand on heart say that they don't have a issue with theirs? Be it that you feel you are too skinny or even too fat, a bit extra around the waist, or your cankles you disapprove of, we all have something we don't like.

Over at BDT weight is a constant discussion point for us all, we are a woman heavy team so it is very rare that a day doesn't go by were the talk of diet. Between us we follow Weight Watchers, Slimming World, Lighter Life and a do it yourself.

But why is it we strive for perfection so much? We have all read and seen that the magazines airbrush celebs photos.

The nations average dress size is now a 14, so in fact we are normal and we consistently push ourselves to become something that is abnormal!

I myself after baring two rather heavy boys have received, stretch marks an extra two inches around the hips and, dare I say it, saggy breasts. Would I return my boys to get my old body back? Hell no. They give me hours of laughter each and every day and whilst I still have a husband that loves me, why should I care?

So do I ditch the diet and live my life to the full instead? Can I not just live in Bridget Jones' and wear scaffolding for a bra? Only I can decide the weight that I am happy with, however at some point we all need to remember that every now and again that slice of cake or bar of chocolate is just what the Doctor ordered. So kick back relax and remember you are normal.

Hurricane Irene risk forces US shutdown

2011-08-26T23:09:00.001+01:00

For all of us in the UK the weather is the hot topic of conversation, an icebreaker, a way to chat to strangers, something to say when there is really nothing to say.

We have our headline weather, our floods and tornadoes. They wreck lives and homes and cost insurers millions; but can you imagine a storm so severe that is projected to effect 65 million people? Weather becomes a matter for serious discussion.

President Barack Obama is having these serious discussions right now. Hurricane Irene is currently looming off the east coast of the US with seven states including North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut declaring emergencies ahead of her arrival. It is thought that she will take a path from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston - the most densely populated corridor in America.

Irene is expected to hit the coast of North Carolina on Saturday before barrelling northwards to Washington and New York City a day later. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in in parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and in low lying areas of the nation's biggest city, New York.

The storm is already causing transport problems ahead of her arrival. In New York the state's transport network including the New York City subway will close from midday in Saturday. Meanwhile Amtrak, America's passenger rail service, announced it was cancelling train travel south of Washington on the east coast, and airlines have predicted widespread disruptions to flights.

Irene may be an unwelcome guest, but with force winds extending 90 miles from her centre, and tropical storm winds reaching up to 290 miles from the eye, she's someone you just don't mess with.

Congratulations to Amanda Holden

2011-08-26T14:05:00.000+01:00

After their heartbreaking start to the year, BDT were over the moon on Wednesday to hear of Amanda Holden's pregnancy to Chris Hughes.

Amanda broke the news on her website, stating 'Chris, Lexi and I are delighted to announce that I am pregnant and we are expecting a little girl'. The headline was accompanied by the following statement:

The first half of this year has been unbelievably difficult for us and so we are beyond delighted to share this news with you. My first priority is of course my family.I will therefore be adjusting one of my professional commitments accordingly.Due to its physical content this means I will end my contract with Shrek The Musical eight weeks early. I will endeavour to continue the show until the 3rd October. I do however ask you to bear with me as I will be putting myself and this pregnancy first. I have taken medical advice and although I am a strong girl and this is 'once again' a good healthy pregnancy I will absolutely not be taking any risks. Your ongoing support for us this year has been so touching. We are enormously grateful. Thank you so much for your understanding. Amanda xxxxxx

London Theatre Direct

We wish Amanda, Chris and Lexi all the best wishes in the world and look forward to hearing more pregnancy news over the coming months.

It has been confirmed that Kimberly Walsh, friend of Cheryl Cole and Girls Aloud band member will replace Amanda as Princess Fiona in the stage production of Shrek The Musical.

Tesco Invites You To Create Your Own Sausage!

2011-08-21T17:51:00.006+01:00

Have you ever come up with a flavour combination and thought to yourself "Now that would make a great sausage?!" Well, with Tesco Finest's new competition, you could see your daydreams become a reality with their competition to create your own sausage!

The guidelines are "The winning sausage needs to fit with the Finest* range, so think about quality, freshness, provenance and a great tasting combination of flavours" and entries must consist of up to three ingredients that would be added to a British pork sausage to make a fantastically flavourful offering.

Here at BDT we've been doing some brainstorming and we think that a pork sausage with chili, garlic and ginger would be fab, and even considered something a bit more out there like pork and plum.

The winner of the competition will be involved in development, working with the Chef at Midshire Foods in Leicester, as well as having the illustrious honour of having their face on the packaging when their sausages hit the shelves!

Head over to the Tesco Real Food site now for more details on how to enter. Good luck to everyone, we can't wait to taste the winning banger!

Lingerie for 4 to 12 year olds?

2011-08-17T11:35:00.008+01:00

Yes you read right, there is now a lingerie line aimed purely at children between the ages of 4 and 12 called ‘Jours Apres Lunes’, which designs ‘loungewear’ or ‘loungerie’ for young children. It’s quite interesting that this should occur not long after the uproar surrounding Thylane Blondeau’s provocative cover shots for French magazine Cadeaux, in which the 10 year old girl was made up to look like a woman.

These children, or toddlers in some cases, are made to look far more grown up than they are, with faces full of make-up, scantily-clad and lounging provocatively for the camera. But one has to ask, is this ok? Are we Brits really showing our world-famous prudishness or are the French displaying a blatant disregard for our children’s innocence? Surely if we were to search for these type of images without thinking of this designer we’d be in trouble for downloading child pornography, and the photographer shamed as some sort of paedophile? But because it’s a designer suddenly this sexualisation of children is acceptable.

Take a look at the pictures below and decide for yourselves....

Life is gay on Sesame Street

2011-08-12T14:54:00.006+01:00

So it transpires that Bert and Ernie who hail from arguably the most famous street in the world, Sesame Street, are in fact not gay. Who’d have thunk it eh. The Sesame Street workshop has been forced to issue a statement which essentially acquits the pair from any extra-curricular relations with one another following an online petition calling for the Workshops to allow the bachelors to get married on the street.

Lair Scott from Illinois started the petition in an effort to try and show young people that it’s okay to be gay and that homophobia, especially in the media, will not be tolerated in society, however the official statement from the Sesame Street Workshop denies that Bert or Ernie even HAVE a sexual orientation and thus wouldn’t be able to marry. Children all over the world have grown up with Sesame Street and the antics of this pair have been witnessed by many generations over the 40 years they’ve been roommates. The characters were developed as a way to show children that despite vast differences between people, it’s still possible to get on, be civilised and share friendships and experiences together and Bert and Ernie show with great ease that that’s possible.

The notion that they’re gay seems preposterous to those who watched them in their youth, however it could be argued that all the clues are there; they live together, they share the same bedroom, heck they’ve been together longer than most marriages these days! It’s not the first time accusations of hidden agendas in kids shows has been brought up, rumours about the sexuality of Zippy, George and Bungle from the 1980’s show Rainbow are still rife today, and don’t even get started on the character names from Captain Pugwash. However, the show is aimed at pre-schoolers so do they really need to know about such in-depth aspects of relationships at that age or should the focus be more on friendships rather than sexual relationships or sexuality of any kind? Such political undertones are perhaps too complex and unnecessary at such a young age, besides, if they’re trying to teach kids about real world relationships then they’d have to make Bert and Ernie get divorced after a couple of years and have a long and drawn out mediation over the prenup. Hey, I’m just saying...

Discount? Don't mind if I do!

2011-08-10T09:54:00.006+01:00

Our new alternative fashion section has been going down a storm with you folks so here's something to make it even easier to rock the looks that we'll be showing you!

Those lovely folks over at KatesClothing saw that we mentioned their beautiful Steampunk brown suede boots in our Steampunk Head-to-Toe feature and decided to offer a 5% discount off a single purchase to all BDT readers! How fab is that? So get yourself over to KatesClothing, choose something gorgeous and at the checkout enter the code BDT666. Simple as that!

Pop over to KatesClothing to find loads of splendid things like these

Panic on the streets

2011-08-09T10:43:00.005+01:00

Panic on the streets of London

Panic on the streets of Birmingham

I wonder to myself

Could life ever be sane again?

Those lyrics by The Smiths are worryingly apt at the moment. Trouble has been brewing for a few days now. It started on Saturday evening as a candle-lit vigil to honour 29 year old Mark Duggan, shot dead by police during an attempted arrest last Thursday. It stayed as a peaceful protest for two hours whilst 120 of Duggan’s friends and family congregated outside Tottenham Police Station asking for answers. But as rumours spread and darkness fell, there was a change in the atmosphere and hooded youths and gang members started to turn up. By 8pm the violence had begun, Twitter and Facebook were being used to encourage people to join the disturbance and Tottenham soon became engulfed with rioters. As the night wore on, the violence simply escalated further and further. Hordes of people were looting shops and businesses and other buildings were being set alight.

The next morning we were left with some appalling images and a sense of shock. Perhaps what is most shocking however is that Saturday was just the start. The violence and unrest has now spread across the country. It is so far ranging that The Telegraph even has an interactive map on its website. Last night panic and rumour were abound on Twitter – London, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Wolverhampton; the place names were flying about in terror. Some were true, confirmed by BBC news, others only gossip. The feeling of alarm was almost palpable; it was like a horrible game of Chinese Whispers and did nothing to allay the commotion.

By now it has become sadly apparent that far from being any sort of political or civil protest, the riots are just an excuse for criminal behaviour: Arson, looting and violence towards police. Stories of mobile phone shops having every handset taken, jewellery stores being raided, HD TVs, alcohol and clothing being taken, have become commonplace. There were calls for the army to be called in, water cannons to be used. People are starting to ask why the police allowed things to go so far. Why were stronger measures not taken? Why did it take David Cameron so long to return from Italy? And most concerning; will there be another night of unrest tonight? Views are torn with Theresa May, Home Secretary saying “The way we police in Britain is not through use of water cannon. The way we police in Britain is through consent of communities.” but Conservative MP Patrick Mercer declares “I find it strange that we are willing to use these sort of measures against the Irish yet when Englishmen step out of line and behave in this atrocious and appalling way, we are happy to mollycoddle them. If the police want cannon then they should be allowed to use them. I have used water cannon myself and I found them extremely effective”.

David Cameron has now returned to the UK and is due to give a statement this morning. As for further conflict, we can only hope that sense prevails and no more clashes occur – not least because of the damage it is doing to the lives of individuals and to the recovering economy of the country as a whole. To end on a note of hope that society is in fact not crumbling, we can see people banding together this morning for the riot clean up. If you want to join in or support those who are, you can find more information here.

What are your thoughts? Have you or anyone you know been affected? Please let us know.

Our thoughts are with you all.

Kidulthood

2011-08-08T15:07:00.004+01:00

Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau has caused quite a stir lately following her rather provocative photo shoot for Vogue magazine in which she was made up in skimpy clothes and thick make-up to resemble a model who could easily pass for much older than the 10 years she is in reality.

Family campaigners are up in arms about this needless and premature sexualisation of children and are working on an initiative with the government to restrict advertising and media of this nature.

Many of the BDT gang are appalled by the photos which resulted from this shoot, many of them being mothers themselves they are fearful of the free presentation of such a young child in this way but it always pays to look from both sides of the fence doesn’t it.

How many girls when they were little used to dress up in their mothers clothes and put on her heels and perfume and jewellery? Scores of little girls over the generations have played grown-ups and tried to make themselves look older, it’s no big deal and no one scowls at them for it, it’s just that usually they don’t have stylists and make-up artists to help them but really, is there a vast difference between playing grown-ups with your friends and doing it for a magazine?

And what about the thousands of little girls who DO have stylists and make-up artists (aka Mum/Mom) who doll them up for competing in beauty pageants? A quick Google for ‘child beauty pageants’ reveals an endless stream of Barbie lookalike pre-tweens who’ve spent their childhoods perfecting their posture, smiles and learning that if anyone asks you what you want most in life, the answer is ALWAYS ‘World Peace’. The sexualisation of these infants is no different to that of Thylane in her Vogue shoot, it’s just a little more pretty princess in a castle and a little less animal print chaise lounge in a boudoir.

And finally, what about the families who flock to Hollywood each and every year with their mini-me’s in the hope of securing them a glittering future in showbiz and a life of luxury? A new documentary begins on Channel 4 tomorrow detailing the lives of budding child actors, many of whom live with their families in temporary furnished accommodation such as the Oakwood Apartments during the ‘pilot season’ (spring – when casting is done for pilots of new series’). If these children are successful they will be thrust into a celebrity world they’re not prepared for and have little means of controlling and this can be severely damaging to their experience of growing up, you just need to look at the likes of Michael Jackson or Drew Barrymore to substantiate that theory.

So whilst Thylane’s photo shoot is indeed controversial and people are justified in their disapproval or disgust at it, it may be prudent to cast the net of judgement a little wider and appreciate that this is simply one of many examples of what could be considered exploitation and sexualisation of our children. As far as the latter goes, it’s certainly not the worst example which has ever come to light but does prove once again that this is no laughing matter and that our children need to be protected against their adulthood until they’re mature enough to understand it and decide what they want to do with it.

One Plus One Equals Eleven

2011-08-08T12:12:00.007+01:00

If Carol Vorderman was given a 3 minute slot on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk about a piece of research she’s helped commission, and she ended up talking for 4 minutes, what percentage of her original time allocation did she over-run by? Well according to the research she was discussing, not many of us would be able to give her the right answer as it shows that up to three quarters of children who achieve a pass in GCSE maths can’t work out simple fractions or percentages.

The research was commissioned by David Cameron and Michael Gove before the general election and the results are shocking to say the least. They show that almost half of students fail maths at GCSE (don’t get a grade C or above) and that only 15% of students continue to study maths beyond GCSE compared to 100% in some industrialised nations. This obviously has serious implications for these students into their adult life and will no doubt have an effect on the economy – many jobs nowadays call for a minimum of 3 GCSE’s at grade C or above including maths and English and if Vorders is right and 24% of economically active adults are ‘functionally innumerate’ then the futures of our children really could be in trouble.

The research makes 11 recommendations which range from aiming to achieve results comparable to those in top performing countries to making maths a compulsory subject up the age of 18 in an effort to ensure the mathematical prowess of our future generations.

One of the comments Vorders made in her interview pricked up some ears over here at BDT HQ though. The research also showed that up to a quarter of all students are taught by a non-maths teacher and in some areas no students were taught by a maths teacher. There is a nationwide shortage of specialist mathematics teachers in secondary schools and those who have already fallen behind by age 11 are statistically never likely to be able to catch up again but with no specialist maths teachers their chances drop away to almost nil.

Maybe the answer isn’t to make maths a compulsory subject. There are plans to raise the age of compulsory education over the next 4 years so that by 2015 it will be up to 18 so maybe more students will pick maths if option lists are smaller. Perhaps the answer is to find a way of encouraging more of those people who did well at maths to pay it forward and become maths teachers. There has been a massive increase in the number of adults registering on numeracy and literacy courses over the past few years and whilst it’s good that these adults are keen to put right their educational ‘failings’ it’s a harsh indication of the ways in which the UK education system has let them down.

A recent TV ad campaign has made efforts to tackle this void by attempting to show that maths and science are useful and essential skills to have in a range of different jobs from being a cosmetic specialist to a video games designer, however if the specialist staff and teachers aren’t in place in the schools then no amount of enthusiasm is going to help children who are keen to learn. It’s a self-perpetuating problem though – too many children are leaving school without proper numeracy skills which leaves a smaller percentage of those who actually go into teaching with sufficient ability to properly teach maths.

So, what’s the real solution?

Playbook gives the iPad a run for its money

2011-08-05T08:09:00.004+01:00

Well there's something I never thought I'd get to type! Since the iPad was launched Apple's power over all things geek seems to have become unshakable. People have queued through all weather to get their hands on Apple products, they rave about them on social networks and they love them like their own children! But the times they are a changing, and there's a new kid on the block!

(Image Source)

Blackberry launched their Playbook with an ingenius advertising campaign that had us at the BDT office chuckling every time we saw it! The theme tune to "Flash Gordon" combined with some, not so, sly digs at the iPad made sure we all knew that it could do things that Apple couldn't!

And now, only 4 months after its launch in the US, the Playbook has become the number 1 geek search term according to IloveCashback.com, who have seen the Playbook increase in popularity to finally give Apple a real rival in the tech market.

So is this the end of Apple? We don't think so, but maybe it will force them to work a little bit harder now they've got competition!

If you're looking at buying a tablet then make sure you check out the Top 5 Tablet PCs to make sure you get exactly what you want from your new tech!

August - Brew Drinking Thinkings Issue 13 is LIVE

2011-08-04T00:25:00.000+01:00

Brew Drinking Thinkings August issue is now live over on the main website. Check out our Mr. Men special, celebrating 40 years of the Roger Hargreaves series. Other features include Helena Bonham Carter Fashion, lots of yummy recipes and plenty to feast your eyes on over in Film. If you fancy something daring this month don't forget to check out our new Alternative Fashion section or if you're in the holiday mood head over to the brand spanking new Travel & Culture page.

For a full list of competitions and vacancies with Brew Drinking Thinkings - check out the newsletter on our homepage.

We hope you enjoy! We've loved putting it together.