And on

Writer of "The Architects" at London Lit. Festival

Wena Poon | Southbank Centre

Monday, July 12th, 7 pm. "One of Asia's new literary stars, Wena Poon performs from Alex y Robert, a witty novel about the American granddaughter of a famous Spanish bullfighter who returns to Spain to become a matador. Winner of the 2010 Willesden Prize in England, twice longlisted for the Frank O'Connor Award in Ireland, Poon has been lauded by critics for her acute observations of transnational culture."

Moderated by broadcaster and Guardian critic Bidisha. £7 or see link for concessions.

Legendary troubadour on top form

* The video has been pulled due to a copyright claim by Sony

This is cheering, nice to see him having a bit of fun. The audience is really into it, especially when he does the harmonica parts. "High Water" Bob Dylan live at Hop Farm, Kent, July 2010

Jacintha

Real photography

iWITNESS - TomStoddart

"Don't feel sorry when you look at these pictures—feel angry [...]"

Sky fox

Onion Mbeke

Carey but no beach tar

Apart from being a classic, the original version of this is a reminder that "beach tar" is not a new phenomenon. However, in this performance at our local community hall (Wembley Arena) in 1983, Joni changes the line "My fingernails are filthy, I got beach tar on my feet" (for perhaps understandable reasons) to "Maybe it's been too long a time since I've been scrambling in the street". Even Marge nods.

Jacintha

Gold bulla from c. 900 BC found in Down

BBC iPlayer - Northern Ireland's El Dorado: 04/07/2010

The actual report starts about 4 minutes into this radio clip. As well as the fascination with the object, the excitement of people about it is interesting. It's from Radio Foyle.

Summer music

Earl Klugh's beautiful guitar style, unmistakeable. He doesn't play the instrument, he listens to it and coaxes flowers of sound to life in the air, like a good listener who draws fascinating stories from a shy companion. In this video it's a semi-acoustic Spanish/classical guitar with nylon strings.

Respect Festival today 1 to 8 pm

Respect Festival:

This year at Respect...

Our annual festival returns to Roundwood Park on July 4. Promising to be bigger and better the ever the event will feature live music, dance, theatre and martial arts from across the world. Below is a guide to some of the day's events

On the Respect Stage MUSKAAN perform their bollywood wheelchair dance and  Active Aspirations emcee Trix, winner of Brent's Got Talent and fellow emcee Cortex spit some lyrics.  Indian dance group Dancing Nikita Company and Reggae band, The Ruff Cutt, close the proceedings.

At the Arena, Drama Workhouse present Theatre Combat providing inside tips on stage fighting. Brent Youth Circus Company will perform their Heroes and Heroines piece with Albert and Friends Instant Circus hosting a circus workshop.

To launch Brent Dance Month (BDM) there will be a day of dance workshops and performances at the Momentum tent meaning you get a sneak preview of the BDM July program. You won't want to miss the Hypnotik Intergenerational Dance Piece, a fusion of ballroom and hip hop featuring young males and 65 plus  ladies.

For the first time in Respect's history there will be a free 80s Roller Disco for you to show your moves off. Or relax and take in the sights of Roundwood Park with a free horse and carriage ride from The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Think you know your partner inside out? Well put it to the test and enter the Mr and Mrs Quiz. If you fancy learning a new skill, why not try out henna tattooing or demonstrations from the Stonebridge Boxing Club?

There will be loads to do for the little ones with their very own Giraffes Can't Dance tent. This will feature face painting, story telling, mask making and much more.

• View the 2010 Respect Festival programme (.pdf, 1270Kb)

New song by Leonard Cohen

Pump it up

The queen of soul

Storming piano on this and guess what - it's Aretha playing! Is it true?* Superb. On the Cliff Richard Show.

* Damn straight. Here's Aretha playing an extended piano solo: Hard Times.

Stop the leak NOW!

Oil on a beach. Where is the "Can Do" spirit? Put me on the committee deciding how to stop the leak. I simply cannot accept that it cannot be stopped with a large weight of concrete on top of it. The oil will break down over a couple or three years but the leak has to be stopped NOW.

Ossian

University of Plymouth SHORT FICTION results

Announcement

Winner: 'The Underwater Room' – Jill Widner
Runners-up: 'Salt Man' – Jo Cannon 'The Pilgrims and the Half Good' – Louis Malloy

This morning brings news of more accolades for New Short Stories authors, this time Jill Widner and Jo Cannon. :)

Ossian

WH YouTube favourites - Someday we'll all be free

Every time Jacintha is moved to add a new favourite to the Willesden Herald YouTube channel, it will be posted here if practical (not all the videos allow).

The prisoner of Rangoon

Before duty called: pictures show Aung San Suu Kyi as a wife and mother | World news | The Guardian

In another photo the future leader of the Burmese Democracy Movement is tending a barbecue on the Norfolk Broads, where the family were enjoying a narrow boat holiday with friends. Within 10 years she was back in Burma, leaving them all behind in order to fight for what she believed in. It was her destiny, she said, and her family accepted it: before her marriage to Michael Aris, she told him: "I only ask one thing, that should my people need me, you would help me to do my duty by them." (Guardian)

Aung San Suu Kyi's desperate plea to the world - Asia, World - The Independent

In a hand-written letter smuggled out of Burma and passed to The Independent, U Win Tin writes: 'I want to repeat and echo her own words – 'please use your liberty to promote ours'. I want to add more to it. Please bring more and more liberty to us, to our country, Burma. We are starving for it and we are waiting for someone or some institutions or some countries to bring it to us.' (Independent)

Authors Society recognises Carys Davies

Society of Authors' 2010 Awards, London, 15 June 2010

Very pleased to report that twice Willesden Herald short story competition finalist Carys Davies has been awarded the Olive Cook Short Story Award for her story 'The Quiet'. The award, worth £1,000 and judged by Jane Gardam and Jacob Ross, was set up in 2004 and is awarded every two years. Carys Davies joins the impressive list of previous recipients, Claire Keegan, Bethan Roberts and Alison Macleod.

Ossian

The view tonight

The FIFA World Cup 2010 is not working

The din of the vuvuzelas is intolerable. The bone-breaking foot-high lunge tackles and foot stamping, gobbing and jetting of snot by blasé, mercenary and viciously cynical professional footballers is disgusting and degrading. The ball is not a proper football with its visually disorienting patterns that make it hard to address precisely, especially for goalies watching it spin. For tradition and consistency, the definition of a soccer ball should be a sphere made out of hexagonal and pentagonal panels. The result of all these travesties is a tournament in South Africa that is not only tiresome but essentially null and void for not using a proper football. Professional sport has become the sow that eats its own farrow.

Malachy

Stylite cat

Picture by Craig

Catchy music & video for the movie "Boy"

A hit film from the director of "Two Cars, One Night", Taika Waititi (trailer)

How's my driving? Helmet cam

Signpost

Gladstone Park

Recumbent tree

Gladstone Park

Sunday, end of May

Roundwood Park