What a surprise!

I have to confess I am plesently surprised with this film. Mamma Mia! is a movie based on a musical based on the songs of the pop group Abba, for something that is so far removed from the original group I expected this film to have an uneasy relationship with it's musical roots. However is a zesty, feel-good movie that will have you dancing in your seat and singing along if you aren't very careful.

So much so that there should be a health warning on the Mamma Mia DVD cover stating that the songs are liable to get stuck in your head after watching it.

The cinematography is breathtaking - the dazzling blues of the Mediterranean and idyllic locations add to the holiday-feel of the film.


Then of course there are the hit songs - the choreography is inventive and the seasoned cast (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski) appear to have a blast - even if they can’t all sing; they imbue their performances with the ABBA spirit.

There’s no excuse for not knowing the words as there is the option to turn on the on-screen lyrics for all the songs. It's best viewed with a group of friends and lashings of cocktails.
Link
Read more!

Want not - Waste not

The Kitchen Revolution is a book which claims it can save you time and money and reduce your eco impact - with its seasonal shopping and cooking plans.


Stick rigidly to the plan and you will save money by using up all the food you buy; your food miles will go down because you're not wasting any and because the recipes are all seasonal; and energy consumption - yours and the cooker's - goes down because of all the recycling.


The main idea is that you do a weekly shop, then cook a meal from scratch on day 1. Day 2 and 3 are from leftovers but done well. Day 4 is a quick seasonal recipe. Day 5 is from your larder. Day 6 you cook twice of something as much and freeze half of it. Day 7 you eat something from the freezer you made a couple of weeks back.

It sounds like a brilliant plan - the recipes sound fantastic. So I'm going to order I have just ordered a copy

Link

Read more!

Chrisitan Video Games?

I'd love to know wether it is really a good idea to have special 'christian versions' of normal video games. A case in point is Guitar Praise. Guitar parise is much like Guitar Hero.
Gutiar Praise adopts the same concept of "playing" rock tunes on an increasingly difficult level. But it inhabits a gentler world where a bad performance gets you mild clapping and gentle suggestions instead of the raucous boos and catcalls that accompany failure in Guitar Hero.

According to the game's description, "onscreen lyrics reflect Christian values (so that) vocalists can sing their hearts out as their friends play the guitar." As with Guitar Hero, players unlock new guitars and sounds as they progress through the game.

If your parents suddenly walk in, the lyrics will assure them at a glance that despite the hard rocking sound of these songs, they're Christian-approved for households where that's a concern.
Gameplay-wise, this game also differs from Guitar Hero in that there didn't appear to be any ties (also known as "hammer-ons," when you clamp down on a note to carry the sound from another note without strumming again). The whammy bar wasn't as responsive, either.
Link
Read more!

Premium Fuel

Imagine a world where you can select your fuel like you select a good wine. Choosing to fill up your car with a particularly fruity blend; one with plenty of body to give your car some low down grunt.
A zesty, full bodied, thermal cracked desert fuel, with wonderful balance. This fuel totally over-delivers on our hedonist's meter.

100 octane, straight run, and refined to perfection. Suitable for luxury sedans or any foreign luxury car equipped with GPS and/or engine with catalytic converter.

That world has now become a reality
Fine fuelling allows you to buy from among the best fuels available on the market.
Link
Read more!