Sir Christopher's Fellowship

Sir Christopher Lee will be joining other film legends such as Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Sean Connery as this year's honouree of the Academy Fellowship by the BAFTA . This award is recognised as the highest U.K film accolade, given out in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution in the arts of moving image.

Lee is mostly known to film lovers from his roles in several Hammer Horror* films such as Dracula, the Curse of Frakenstein and Dracula: Prince of Darkness or for his role in Star Wars II and III. More recently, he appeared in films such as Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Golden Compass, Burke and Hare and Season of the Witch.

My first exposure to Lee's acting was as the major antagonist, Saruman, in The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the ring (2001). Saruman was the first baddie I enjoyed watching and was secretly rooting for in a film, ever! That is perhaps one of the reasons why I enjoy him as an actor. His portrayal of the very knowledgable white wizard drunk with power led me to his other work such as The Wicker Man and the Man with the Golden Gun.

One of the qualities that make me a Christopher Lee fan is his deep and distinguishable voice, which plays a substancial role in his career. Surprisingly, Lee not only lends his voice to acting but he sings too. He is incredible in The Tolkein Ensemble & Christopher Lee Lord of the Rings: Songs and Poems album (I know this because my brother owns every single LOTR soundtrack released)

An award of this calibre is much deserved by Christopher Lee and I'll be applauding him from the comfort of my living room this Sunday. Also I sincerely hope he's around to continue part of the The Lord of the Rings franchise- The Hobbit. It will not be the same without him.

*Hammer Horror: series of horror films made in the mid 50's by a production company called Hammer Films Productions.

INTERESTING CHRISTOPHER LEE FACTS
He was considered for the role of Magneto in X Men before he lost to Ian McKellen.
He was the voice of Jabberwocky in Tim Burton's 2010 adaptation of ALice in Wonderland.
Ian Flemming, author of the James Bond novels is his step-cousin.

Corrective Rape

What is corrective rape?
It is the vicious practice of raping lesbians to ‘cure’ their sexuality. NO, you are not alone in thinking 'This cannot be possibly true.

Until my friend sent me the link to Millicent Gaika's story, I had never heard of such madness. This is an extremely inhumane crime and I can't for the life of me believe such ignorance. As human beings, we know that using force is not an insentive to change a person's mind- we want to do what we want to do.

Corrective rape made me think of the ever long arguement- are we born with our sexuality or does our environment act as an influence. The issue of corrective rape proves that there are some who see sexuality, or rather homosexuality as a defect. In countries such as Jamaica and Uganda, homesexuality is taken has a serious crime that often leads to prosecution...in the form of burning or severe beating that can lead to death.

Religion plays a huge part in the 'fight against homosexuality'. I have been in the presence of muslims while they proudly professed their hatred and disgust towards homosexuality. The Vatican considers it delictum gravius (grave sin). As a Christian I was taught that a man takes a wife and together, they live forever so naturally, a small part of me sticks with my faith while a bigger part of me is aware that a person is allowed to do what ever makes them happy as long as it's not causing harm to others.

Religion sometimes does not practise what it preaches. The 2004 John Jay Report based on a study of 10,667 allegations against 4,392 priests accused of engaging in sexual abuse of a minor between 1950 and 2002 Around 81 percent of these victims were male. Taking into consideration that the leaders of my faith are constatnly being exposed of child molestation and are the subject of many such jokes, then they should really practise what they preach or be silent on the matter.

To conlude, I can count the number of 'happy couple' I know using only half of my ten fingers and though I do not know any gay married couples (mostly becaue they are not legally allowed to) we can all agree that the world is starving for love so we should not condemn people for their such choices.

Click http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_corrective_rape/?rc=fb to sign the petition against corrective rape.

The Critics Are At It...Again

Following the 7 million ratings second episode of Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, I read some bizarre reviews to what I think is an enlightening programme. Critics sometimes don't 'get the message', but instead choose to scrutinize the less important details.

The views of Shelagh Fogarty, BBC presenter on the Nicky Campbell Radio Five show, were not unlike what most audience, including myself thought of the episode:

“I was astonished to see six-year-old girls in boob tubes, miniskirts, high heels and more make-up than you could shake a stick at, receiving communion for the first time in their lives. It seemed so bizarre.”

Another critic, who I think missed the bigger picture, wrote: “This week, we had little girls with the carefully honed hip movements of thirty-year-old prostitutes.”

The most astonishing aspect of the programme was not the midrif bearing 8 year-olds or the costumes (though that is a close second) instead, it was the fact that a community of people were forced out of their homes. They were forced out of homes they built, on land they paid good money for because they failed to get planning permits.

The travellers (as they preffered to be called) were refused these permits too many times to ignore the fact that they were being discriminated against. Another shocking matter is that the council did not offer them alternative homes or a solution to their problem. Instead families: young and old, were cast on the streets and those that prosted were literally dragged out of the way. It seems the world is apparently still not very tolerant.

I especially found the programme interesting because it opened the window to a subculture I otherwise would have none little or nothing aboout. Whether Chanel 4 had the same incentive or not, people are still watching.

A short read...

...to explain the transition of my blogging.
The matters I write about have changed because I have changed. Over the past three years, I have grown more experienced and enlightened and focused. I will not only be blogging for the fun of writing but to educate myself and others. More importantly, I will be posting more than I previously did and give the readers substancial reading material. Good times (:

Try a little dose of PATIENCE

Why oh why do we have to be patient?

I tried it and spat it out. It is not something I enjoy engaging in, in the slightest of ways. Perhaps this is the way it was intended by the Almighty therefore I should not try and fight it. However, I often feel strange if something I've been waiting for 'suddenly' happens when I am least expecting it. Well that is the thing! why do things happen when we are least expecting it? why can we not expect and whatever it is happens? well I suppose that is nature's way of playing with us; like it doesn't play with us enough. in addition to this, I reckon we won't work hard enough if expecting is all the effort we have to make.

I am a fortunate girl and I am very thankful for my hard working parents who provide for me.I have not had a serious job because I have never had to and the ones that I have had is for the experience so that when my education is completed,I will be capable of earning my own. This does not make me conceited or spoilt,instead, it makes me want to makes these parents of mine proud of me that the trust and money they have investment in me to become an insatiably hard working woman is not in vain. I use the word 'investment' because that is what raising a child is- an investment for yourself and for their own future.

Not to distract from the main reason i am writing this, I would like to say again that I am indeed an impatient mofo. My first blog is due to impatience or not. I say it is not because how long does one have to be patient for before it turns into impatience? It seems that when looking for a job- even work experience, is eternity and a day in most cases. It will depend on the individual with the obstacles life throws at us and it is up to that individual to find a way of dealing with it as long as it is in a suitable manner. I have recently discovered writing about my feelings, though I know it did seem like the most obvious after 'talking about it' was quickly discarded.

To conclude, I have decided that it is okay to be impatient, for I am the one that lives with it. Besides if you are so patient yourself, then my impatience should not be a problem ;p