Blog to Lead

Pele the Penguin

2007-03-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

A moment of pure art captured with the power of science

Let's get ready to blog! Again...

2007-03-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

Tension is rising as we dive spread eagle into L2L round 11! So this weeks question, whoa hang on a minute I can't give sneak peeks, oh what the hell,

When the clock strikes noon tomorrow we'll all be dueling with our sidearms of dialect on the street of dialogue in a town called debate. What will be the focus of all this conflict... well the new question of course which I can exclusively reveal is,

'Is immigration destroying national identity?'

Well get going my blogging beauties get on LoveToLead, I haven't got anything else to say, except that Jack, well he's back.

Sayonara,

Sam.

Jack's gone and done a runner...

2007-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, Jack was quick to discuss a certain lack of commitment from members of the LoveToLead Team when they disappeared into the wilderness, well guess what...

Yup, Jack's left us. He is, reports suggest, mingling with rockstars and models at some kind of promo event neglecting his L2L duties with a blatant disregard! Who'd choose champagne and sushi-bites with Kate and Pete over the drama of L2L?!?!?

The mere mention of sushi as I read this back to collegues has turned Jason into a slavering creature of the night. In this incarnation he will now race to M&S for pre-packed raw fish for one...god love him.

Sayonara.

Sam.

Enough already with the rhinos!

2007-03-13T03:04:00.000-07:00

With the new question up on LoveToLead I feel it is my duty to shift attention from the ‘shmaltzy cutesy’ miracle of life shenanigans to the ultimate gift, death.

Is euthanasia fundamental to civilised society?

Allow me to wade in with my widow maker of a scythe and deliver an angle on this. I always figured that in the lives we lead only two things really matter, love and death, romantic I know. Of this proclaimed partnership the more significant is death, being that it has a greater rigidity and presence, it’s more tangible.

Thus, death as I see it needs to be courted, dismissed and eventually denied to reach a completeness of existence, a nirvana of sorts. To do this, one must take away the power that death enacts on each and every one of us. The nullifying of the inevitable is an almost impossible task, but euthanasia maybe tied into this. Whether it's right or wrong I don’t know, that's for you, the occupants of the blogosphere to decide over at LovetoLead… sorry.

Sayonara,

Sam.

Shmaltzy cutesy stuff - and I make no apology either ;-)

2007-03-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

Everybody loves rhinos... Those big horned warriors of Africa who stride majestically across the plain. Powerful but gentle.. In one instant able to gore a predatory lion showing too much interest in their young, and in another - nuzzling an infant or showing signs of rhinoadorable affection.

And that's why I thought I'd share with you this delightful link from the BBC Devon website - all about a rhino giving birth live online... Bless it

Now the internet has been widely derided - "Good god" shout some detractors "It's all about porn and filthy individuals selling their illicit wares online". "Oh no" yell others. "The freedom of media and material is corrupting our nations youth!"

Well - to them i say... Here's an example of the internet being used at its brilliant best. A natural phenomenon that the vast majority of the human population will never witness - and yeah, ok, it's kind of voyeuristic, but at the same time, birth is a beautiful thing - and not least the birth of one of these majestic, and endangered, species.

Just imagine the viewers of all ages who have enjoyed something rather magical this morning - and without having to pay a penny! It's a testament to something I believe strongly in... And that's to spend time doing and experiencing as much as you can...

And when you've finished why the hell not blog about it too? :-D

Hurrah!!

2007-03-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

The new question is up!

Can money buy happiness?

And the entries are piling up already - with some quality articles on display - one of which is a poem! Get your words up on the board - meanwhile, I'm off to read what's already there x

lv Jack

I'm feeling great today - and there's more prizes on L2L!!!

2007-03-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

And I just thought I'd share that with you..! Sun is beaming down on the rustic little town I find myself in, and as ice cream drips from the slowly melting cone of raspberry ripple I have furnished myself with, sometimes you realise there just isn't anything better than a fresh spring afternoon. -breathes deeply- And what's more... I have some super news from deep within the Love To Lead vaults!

And i quote....

"And now for some handsome news. As is the nature of love to lead, we here at the hub of the competition are continuously impressed by the quality of the vast majority of entries that come flooding through the virtual doors every week – and it always seems a shame that we can’t reward everyone’s sterling efforts. And, despite a whip-round, we still only managed to raise enough for a pint and a bag of chips…

However, the good folks at Toshiba have relented and offered us another brand new Toshiba Portégé R400 laptop, on offer for the entry (over the whole 16 weeks) that is deemed the very best of all, whatever position it finished in its respective week. The winner will be notified at the end of the competition and crowned king (or queen) of Love to Lead (and if you’re an anti-monarchist, we can quibble about the title).

Whether comic, moving or informed, any article can win."

So yes! We've secured a laptop to give away to the article that is regarded as the very best of the entire campaign... Wherever the blog post was voted - be it first, last or anywhere in-between - it has the chance to win a Toshiba Portégé R400!

If you have any nominations of genius articles that you feel should win... Do let us know won't you?

Oh... and next weeks question is CAN MONEY BUY YOU HAPPINESS?

The little quiz of love and hate.

2007-02-28T07:28:00.000-08:00

Further to my comrades work, I feel that i should too - fill in the quiz that I created... I ought to say too, if anyone else fancies having a go - it would be particularly interesting to see how the love2lead types feel about love (especially hooved mammals and their place in the spectrum!)

Right - here we go!

Sum up love in but a single word (or a couple if you have to) - Champion!

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, love? Oh yes... If Sophie Ellis Bextor (odd choice a lot of people say) came-a-calling, my love would be absolutely, ABSOLUTELY unrequited.

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, hate? Yeah - I think hate can consume people entirely. I wou'dn't be sucked into anything that heavily though, especially hate - just can't be bothered really :-)

Can you love someone, even if they smell repulsive? Hell… would you even sleep with them? Yes - If it was S-E-B. Otherwise i love curry and that kinda stinks. OK, I wouldn't sleep with it (unless I had ordered it on a drunken night, passed out and well... dropped it everywhere) so yes, platonically it's a certainty.

Is it ever possible to buy love? It'll buy you diamond rings my friend - to keep you satisfied... But honey I want the kind of things that money just can't buy... Well said Sir Paul!

What would be worse – hating love or loving hate? Well well - i suggest that whilst hating love will crush your very soul into a miserable loveless shadow with no more emotional attachment than a barnacle to a rusty hull, I also think loving hate may well cause you to become a hateful Pol Pot style dictator with no concept for human emotion except fear.... So probably loving hate is worse...

Is that question as ridiculous as it first sounds? Hell no! I wrote it!

Is love an instant, irreversible emotion – or can it develop over time? Do you believe in a love at first sight... Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time - Bloody hell, Lennon and McCartney write these answers for you!!!

What celebrity do you hate more than any other?Gary Bushell - trash tabloids, crap writer, much dislike!

Which hoofed mammal reminds you most of love…. And which, to you, is the evil hoofed mammal of hate? The pony has to be the hoofed mammal of love - and the hateful goat it's polar opposite!

And do you really think that hoofed mammals, or any animal for that matter, can display such emotions? Yes they can - have you ever seen a little horse nuzzling another one. If I wasn't such a manly type I'd say it was really cute!

Would you physically love someone you hated (just for one night perhaps) if they were undeniably gorgeous? Nope - Sorry Mr Bushell

Are there any songs you once loved – but now hate? No - but I used to hate the Kills and now i love them!

And that's about that - If any of you are moved to tears by my answers... Do let me know - I have an hour to kill and it couldn't be better spent than reading kind - and flirtatious perhaps - messages ;-)

Love (and hate)

Jack

Ok, my turn to fill in the...

2007-02-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

The little quiz of love and hate.

Sum up love in but a single word (or a couple if you have to) - Poets have spent centuries using many words to try and achieve this and rarely do they come close so my point is, i don't dare.

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, love? Yeah sure, i once met this French actress...

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, hate? You might be able too. I cannot. When i hate it curls my world and that just isn't peachy!

Can you love someone, even if they smell repulsive? Hell… would you even sleep with them? Ok my immediate reaction was no and no. But, i love tramps (i like to give them posh food, sushi and vol-au-vents mostly, it makes them a living juxtaposition), and only real tramps mind you and they defo smell so that's a yes and no.

Is it ever possible to buy love? Not in abstract sense of the word love. The physical however is a completely different matter, i mean why pay for what people are willing to give away in exchange for a large glass of vino and polite compliments.

What would be worse – hating love or loving hate? Does not compute... though both are kind of negative, so does that mean hate is more powerful, language wise at least!

Is that question as ridiculous as it first sounds? No! it's like a bragillion more intense than it first sounds. Seriously why are both so depressing? Love and hate are opposites yet when they are placed together in that form rather than cancel one another out, hate wins... Am i making sense... this is seriously bugging me...

Is love an instant, irreversible emotion – or can it develop over time? It can definitely develop overtime... equally though it can happen faster than throwing shapes. When I saw this French actress, whoa, fireworks, big fireworks, like born on the freaking fourth of July baby (the public holiday, not the Oliver stone movie)!

What celebrity do you hate more than any other? I hate them all, except Jennifer Connelly's stare.

Which hoofed mammal reminds you most of love…. And which, to you, is the evil hoofed mammal of hate? Deer's remind me of love. I was almost killed by one recently... and evil hoofed mammal of hate, the kiang, that said though it is kind of cute.

And do you really think that hoofed mammals, or any animal for that matter, can display such emotions? Yes.

Would you physically love someone you hated (just for one night perhaps) if they were undeniably gorgeous? Yes, i would spend a night with Jessica Simpson and she's not even undeniably gorgeous...

Are there any songs you once loved – but now hate? Nookie by Limp Bizkit.

The end.

Sayonara,

Sam

2007-02-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

Inspired by this week's question on LovetoLead, the cuddliest member of our team (Jack) whipped us this here 'little quiz of love and hate'. Well, to be absolutely honest, by 'inspired' I mean heavily coerced by me who occupies the (less than) exalted position of being the world's most easily excitable person when it comes to things like this. In fact, I am finding it so difficult to contain said excitement, that I may be forced to finish this introduction without finishing the final sen-

The little quiz of love and hate.

Sum up love in but a single word (or a couple if you have to) - Glandular

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, love? - Yes. Scarlett Johansson still will not return my calls.

Do you think you can ever be in true, unrequited, hate? - No. Though maybe yes if you're in true, unrequited love. I think there's a very fine line between love and hate.

Can you love someone, even if they smell repulsive? Hell… would you even sleep with them? - Oh, controversial. At a whim I'd say no. Hmm...but, if you think about it, you know when you go over your friends house and they have a really smelly dog and they don't notice it because they're used to it? I guess that'd happen. In short, what I'm saying is that I could love a girl who smelt like damp dog if I got used to it. Maybe. Is she hot?

Is it ever possible to buy love? - I think yes because, to many people, the feeling of love is merely a self-created delusion to mask their own selfish needs. Just because I could sit here and judge them not to 'really' be in love, doesn't make the feeling any less real to them.

What would be worse – hating love or loving hate? - Er?

Is that question as ridiculous as it first sounds? - Yes.

Is love an instant, irreversible emotion – or can it develop over time? - (For the record, I am genuinely loving answering these questions! Nice one, Jack!) This one's tough. I don't want to cop out and say both, so I'm going to say it can ONLY develop over time. Love at first sight is a myth dreamed up by Hollywood to get bums on seats. You heard it hear first, folks!

What celebrity do you hate more than any other? - I don't think I hate any celebrities. Oh, wait a minute. I do hate Russell Crowe. With a vengeance.

Which hoofed mammal reminds you most of love…. And which, to you, is the evil hoofed mammal of hate? - Goats, inexplicably remind me of love. To be truthful, my knowledge of hoofed animals is, sadly, lacking. However, my non-hoofed animal of pure hate must be this owl I saw a few years ago. Normally, I love owls, but this one had a head bigger than mine and its eyes actually DID pierce into the core of my soul and steal my dreams. True story.

And do you really think that hoofed mammals, or any animal for that matter, can display such emotions? - Highly debatable issue this. I would probably argue that (seeing as the entire concepts of 'love' and 'hate' are purely human terminology for what is, essentially, animal instincts interpreted through our own sense of self-awareness) they can not. If we ourselves are animals (as we are) is man not guilty of anthropomorphising upon himself? I'm going to claim that as either the most brilliant or the most stupid thing anyone has ever said, depending on your point of view.

Would you physically love someone you hated (just for one night perhaps) if they were undeniably gorgeous? - No, because I could never find someone I hated attractive. Before anyone gets the idea that this is some sort of noble response, bear in mind that I didn't say that I could hate anyone I found attractive.

Are there any songs you once loved – but now hate? - Yeah, there must be. I used to love Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but then I realised I'm not over 40. 'Silver Star' gives me nightmares.

The end.

Si X x

Blogging Hoodies...

2007-02-23T08:09:00.000-08:00

Fellow blogians lend me your ears and eyes as I give you the front page of, ‘The Sun. Cameron and the Hate-Filled Hoodie.’

Read the full story here.

Ok, so why am I showing you this? Well, it is because this image has spent all day looking up at me as I manage the mechanics and fuel the fires of the infernal machine that is LoveToLead.

Resisting the desire to flip straight to the ‘News in Briefs,’ I instead examined this depiction of youth and politics with a LoveToLead eye. And what do you know something occurred to me… this is about love and hate!!!

This is good, for it has temporarily removed from permanent loop within my head the track, ‘When Love and Hate Collide’ by Def Leppard. This is an affliction that has been bothering me since I first learnt of the new topic. In regards to this, thank you for small mercies, no seriously… have you heard the song?!

Anyway I digress, so about this hoodie… At first I thought what a hateful young man he must be helped, all he needs is love. Then I realised that he is already motivated by love not hate! He loves his gangsta morals, his hoodie, his gang and looking cool in front of mates by pretending to shoot the leader of the conservative party! This leads to the intriguing and now required task of somehow quantifying the abstract. How can love and hate be measured? In the words of poets alone I cry… any other ideas?

Sayonara,

Sam.

Block on the Blog… un-blogging-believable!

2007-02-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

Whoa! The weeks are flying past as we plummet into the closing stages of our shortest month. Round seven is underway and the question for all you blogosapiens to deliberate and then debate upon is,

‘Is hate a stronger emotion than love?’

Well what you waiting for? Go blog…

More on the question to come later, but for now it is necessary to apologise for BlogToLead’s recent static state. Yes, our entries for the past week have been sparse, err… well actually there have been none. This however is not our fault! There is no need for me to crow bar in a flimsy excuse to placate the angry at our absence LoveToLead masses, for there is a genuine reason….

It appears that Simon and Jack were in their efficiency and writing style mistaken for spam-bots, the crazy kids! I quote from the email informing us of the situation, “[The] system has detected that your blog has characteristics that resemble spam…”

Mistaken for spam-bots, that’s just not right Let me tell you if they were going to be mistaken for any sort of robot it wouldn’t be one made of spam! Simon’s intellect bears an uncanny resemblance to the inner workings of Hal 9000, whereas Jack is more the brute of a machine and as such is often compared to the ever so unreasonable and heavily armed ED-209. Well, that’s what I think and just to keep things inclusive, I’ll make a comparison relating to our LoveToLead poet Jay; he would defo, be C-3PO…

Needless to say this case of mistaken identity has all been rectified and we can now all blog wherever we may be once again!

Sayonara,

Sam.

Fishing for compliments... Not likely!

2007-02-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

Thanks for that poem Jase... Wonderful

hunky and chunky i like :-)

Incidentally, just thought I'd post the introductory video that we made for love to lead.... It's all about black and white so - er... we came up with penguins! Epic eh

x lv Jack

Who we are - in rhyme!

2007-02-16T04:30:00.000-08:00

Jack's the romantic, a real ladies dude,
He's hunky and chunky but also quite rude,
His wisecracks are risque, he's never depressed,
His one true love Cathy is wonderfully blessed.

Simon's the brainiac - which means he's quite clever,
A fantastic writer and all round good fella,
At present he's single, I think that's a waste,
That's a hint to all ladies who have any taste!

Sam is the new lad, not been with us long,
He still looks surprised when we burst into song,
Although Sam's a newbie he's willing and able,
His work is blogtastic and he seems almost stable.

I'm Jason. I'm boring. There's not much to say,
Although I exfoliate, I'm really not gay,
I'm married to Songul, who puts me through hell,
I love her and hate her, not much left to tell.

Let me tell you, Wednesday... what a day!?

2007-02-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

Ah, my significant first posting...

Ok, yesterday was kind of crazy, And I'm talking specifically about the activity of the LovetoLeadateers.

Si was once again AWOL for a significant chunk of the day. I mean seriously where does go and what does he do? When grilled on the subject of his absence he mutters and evades replying coherently, suggesting that he *must* get a coffee. On returning from yesterdays bout of vagrancy he gibbered something about spaying strays and headed for the sanctuary of his desk... I am, none the wiser...

Jason, missing - presumed naked, also returned. He re-entered the LovetoLead sphere wearing nothing but a smile and carrying an oriental fan, which he opened and closed vivaciously with considerable aplomb. This flamboyance soon faded though, as he drifted into a mid afternoon nap taken by the fire door, under a duvet of bubble wrap. Tired from his gallivanting we figured, however, where he gallivants nobody knows...

Anyway, this left myself and Jack to field the rabid influx of LovetoLead registrations and entries that came in, on what has already been named (for historical records), as 'very busy Wednesday.' The vigorous rate of entries is naturally a great sign and expectations are high for round six as round five arrows in on it's conclusion.

So with the eloquence of a local radio script... bloggers get in the mix for round six!

Sayonara,

Sam.

Thanks Si....

2007-02-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

An excellent mix of snippets there.... And yes - please take my concern to heart.. But don't let it happen again! As for Jason, he's still missing in action - presumed naked.

Firstly - A particularly happy valentines day to everyone who may be reading this. Whether you are in a long-lasting relationship, embarking on a burgeoning romance or as single as the day you were born - may it be a wonderful day/evening...

Unfortunately my girlfriend has come down with a throat infection, but bookings are set in stone these days and it is with some trepidation that I shall take the poor girl to the 'Kickin' Donkey' restaurant to feast her tender larynx on some particularly wholesome steak - or perhaps a glass of water may be a better plan.. (A damn site cheaper as well.)

We shall see -

As for the rest of the team, happy evenings are assured for Sam and Sylwia who have spectacularly snug nights planned with their respective partners - but as for Simon, he dines alone... Sad, but it does mean that a night on the town could prove fruitful for the handsome devil.

I'm sure all will be revealed tomorrow!

Happy blogging x

lv Jack

Back from the wilderness....

2007-02-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

First off, I'd like to thank Jack for his touching concern about my whereabouts yesterday. Obviously, my dedication to L2L is as impeachable as ever, and it is with a spring in my step and (slightly manic) glint in my eye that I, in the grand tradition of Sunday night television, offer you a selection of some of our past faves from the Love to Lead files....

Chicken 1: I've been thinking of starting a blog.
Chicken 2: What's a blog?
Chicken 1: Oh, you know, a blog. That thing humans do on the computer.
Chicken 2: What, look at porn?
Chicken 1: No, the other thing. You know, they keep a diary.
Chicken 2: Like the farmer?
Chicken 3: No, you dumbcluck, that's a dairy. Jees, don't you know anything? A BLOG. It's the new buzz word for 2007. Actually, I've had one since 2004.
Chicken 2: Well, what would you write about?
Chicken 1: My political views. I can be very interesting when I want to. I have a 3,000 word essay all ready to go, it's in my mind, I just have to peck it out on the keyboard, it really is fascinating, you see, it's all about how these days, power has been centralised to Washington, even if you live in wildest Dorset like we do, and how we really ought to galvanise ourselves to march on parliament ...

"Or Maybe The Vegetarians Would Become Carnivores Once They Heard What The Animals Have To Say"
- MockDuck

I felt hollow, I felt sick and invaded. I felt abused, furious and helpless, all at the same time. I was so shocked I was convinced that I had to be wrong. I told Dom all about it, hoping he would make me see I’d made a terrible mistake, and that it wasn’t her at all. He listened carefully, as he always did, and said ‘Lola, I think you’re right.’

"What People Will Do Under The Guise Of The Internet. Evil Or Cowardly?"
- L'Undone

Foetus: Of course it matters! I need to be prepared. What if I don’t like being a boy or a girl? Why wasn’t I allowed to choose for myself after being given all the salient information? Why did you wait until 30 weeks to bring up this crucial issue?
Joseph: It was out of my hands I’m afraid. And anyway, I’m firmly of the opinion that we should not be allowed to choose whether anyone is boy or a girl.
Foetus: This isn’t about you.

Nature *Must* Decide
The Wonderful World of Joseph McCrumble

Some would argue we are technologically challenged. Some would simply say “why bother?” But getting to live on different planets is simply a next step in the long and winding road of human kind evolving. At the rate we are growing in numbers, where else would we go? Underwater colonies are a solution, but limited still.

Where Else Would Mankind Go?
Words Of A Broken Mirror

These are just some of the articles I've enjoyed over the past few weeks. There are more to add, of course, and I'm sure the other guys will want their say. Have you seen an article that caught your eye but didn't get the attention it deserves...let us know!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Si

Jason and Simon gallavanting in far off climes!

2007-02-13T02:14:00.000-08:00

As Love to Lead rumbles on and the votes fly about with almost no cessation, it is with a heavy heart that I must report a serious lack of dedication from core L2L team members, Simon and Jase.

Not content with being seriously difficult to get in touch with yesterday, the two vagrants have seen fit to take to the roads and flee the suburban L2L hub to parts, as yet, unknown. Whether they are undertaking shady business with large collared mafioso types or simply indulging in hedonistic pleasures, perhaps moored in a fishing yacht in Bognor Regis - I neither know nor care...

All I'm concerned about is their debilitating conduct!

In happier news, we have had an amusingly titled new entry today - 'dead can only dance' that describes communicating with death as worse than the authors migraine! That's pretty bad..! Also, Ma Zone is still in leading the way with her informed article 'Believe it or Not' - but i can sensationally reveal that there isn't much in it - so I predict a frenzied race to win this weeks pukka Toshiba laptop.

Meanwhile, if you see any suspicious looking types decked in Love2Lead polo shirts anxiously scuttling around your local area - tell them to get the hell back here... There's filing to be done!

Take care you blogging bloghounds...

Lv Jack L2L

Blog to Lead - A Cordial Welcome!

2007-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

Across the globe, those with a mind of their own...

Those who refuse to be spoon-fed every 'informative' morsel that the media choose to throw at them..

Those who enjoy making their own mind up about the world...

Sit down and blog!

And it is those bloggers that the world is turning to.

Keen to provide a central forum for debate, we have conceived www.lovetolead.info, an online hub frequented by bloggers of all persuasions to argue their point and comment on other articles, while members of the online community cast their positive votes for articles they love.... and negative votes for those they disagree with.

Oh! And did we mention that the blogger whose post receives the greatest number of votes each week will win a Toshiba Portégé R400 laptop (as demonstrated by Bill Gates at CES 2007 - watch his presentation here)? Also, voters who submit email addresses will be entered into a prize draw to win a Toshiba Portégé R400 (the winner of which will be announced at the end of the competition) - so everyone gets a chance to win!

A new question is posted at noon each Friday -

Come join the debate!