Squidoo : Lenses by poddys

Bournemouth - Seaside Beaches Holidays Sunshine

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:27:03 -0600

If someone was to mention Bournemouth to you, what would come to mind? If you live outside of the UK, probably not a lot, since Bournemouth isn't on the list of main attractions that you find in the tourist brochures, especially for visitors from the USA. But to the British public, Bournemouth instantly makes you think of the seaside; Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth Beaches or a stroll through The Pleasure Gardens. Since it's birth in Victorian times, Bournemouth has been a place for older people to retire to or to visit on holiday. Since the 1970's Bournemouth has also been home to a number of International Language Schools and so has also a large population of students from all over the world. Bournemouth is also home to some famous people, with a number of celebrities living in places such as Westbourne and of course Sandbanks. Do You Need To Find Somewhere To Stay In Bournemouth? As well as providing a lot of information on Bournemouth and the surrounding area for tourists, this lens is designed to help with finding accommodation, whether hotels, guest houses or rental properties in Bournemouth. There are many hotels in Bournemouth as well as guest houses and also a good number of places to rent. So whether you visit Bournemouth on vacation or on business, there is no shortage of places to stay. /p> Memories Of A Visit To Bournemouth Fond memories might come flooding back of the splendid views of the Cliffs, or the many Chines along the Bournemouth coastline. If you like to go to concerts, shows or the Pantomime, or if you have attended one of the major conferences that are held in Bournemouth, you might instantly think of the Bournemouth Pavilion, or the more modern Bournemouth International Centre (known locally as the BIC) which is an integral part of the town centre. If you are a railway enthusiast, you might even recall the grand old Bournemouth Belle, which used to bring visitors to the town in the good old days of steam. Football supporters will be well aware of AFC Bournemouth, struggling to stay in Division Two in 2008 due to a financial crisis. But whatever the word Bournemouth makes you think of, it has to be related to the seaside. So whether you are familiar with Bournemouth or not, I hope that you will read on and learn more about this wonderful seaside town. Where Is Bournemouth And What Makes It Special? Bournemouth is thought by many people to be the finest seaside resort in England, with it's miles of golden sandy beaches, some of the finest beach sand in the world, the beaches stretching from Christchurch in the East to Sandbanks in the West. With it's backdrop of towering sandstone cliffs, great views over Bournemouth Bay to the Purbeck Hills and the Isle Of Wight, and warm waters, it's a perfect place for a summer vacation. Bournemouth is situated towards the eastern end of the county of Dorset, right in the middle of the South Coast of England. The town gets it's name from the fact that the centre of town lies at the mouth of the Bourne Stream, hence Bourne-Mouth. With the English Channel being warmed by the waters that the Gulf Stream brings from Florida and The Caribbean, the climate here is warmer than it would otherwise be for it's latitude, making the area a very attractive alternative for holiday makers than going overseas to Southern Europe. Bournemouth developed in the Victorian era when it became fashionable to spend time at the seaside, and it grew over the next century into one of England's finest seaside resorts. It is also different to the typical English seaside resort, in that the sea frontage isn't lined with small hotels and guest houses, there is no funfair with arcades, fish and chip shops, people wandering around wearing "kiss me quick" hats etc... Bournemouth has always been a bit more reserved and had a lot more style than many of it's counterparts like Southend, Margate and Blackpool to name a few. Bournemouth has many hotels and guest houses to suit all budgets and needs, plenty of interesting pubs and bars, casinos, concert venues, and night clubs for the night owls. So please read on to learn more about Bournemouth and the area on the South Coast of England where I was born. This Lens Is A Winner Of The Coveted Lens Of The Day Award The Squidoo Lens Of The Day Award for 19th November 2008 goes to this lens about Bournemouth. I put of lot of time into creating this page about the town where I grew up, actually I put a lot of myself into it too, so it's really nice to see it recognised. Thanks so much to Megan at Squidoo HQ and for everyone who visited this lens and helped it get this much coveted award. This Lens Is A Winner Of The New And Rare Purple Star Award A Purple Star was awarded to this Bournemouth lens on 1st May 2009. This page was handpicked by Squidoo's editors as one of the most remarkable pages on the entire site. So if you like it, please remark on it, blog it, share it with a friend, and know you're spreading the word about something really exceptional on the web. Money-off Vouchers and Deals for Popular Restaurants, Shops and Attractions

My Pet Peeves - Those Things That Annoy Me

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:43:48 -0600

MY PET PEEVES is a lens about those little things in life that really annoy or frustrate you. It can be things that aren't designed or made correctly, or things that people do that just frustrate the heck out of you. So what drives you crazy? I added a few of my pet peeves (which by the time I am done remembering them all will probably turn into a list a mile long - or even more), and now I am going to turn it over to you to let everyone know your pet peeves. For me cell phones are one of the biggest pet peeves that people have these days. So many people are either loud and rude on their cell phones in public, or use them while driving. And why do some people insist on trying to eat a meal on a plate with a fork while driving too! The world is going crazy - and it's driving the rest of us crazy at the same time. Driving! Now that's another Pet Peeve! There are so many bad drivers around. We have all seen them, maybe even been one... To let people know your Pet Peeves, just add to the list below. As well as adding your Pet Peeves, be sure to vote for the most annoying things on the list. And tell your friends if you like this lens. So go on, tell us what gets on your goat. It can be something serious, or something really funny. Do crotchety old people get you down? . We could all do with some more laughter, so please add your Pet Peeve to the list. Hot topics right now are rude or inconsiderate cell phone users, and rude people in general. DON'T FORGET to add this lens as a favorite so you don't forget to check when some great new entries have been added. If you would like to be able to participate in the voting or to rate this lens, just CLICK HERE to join Squidoo - it's FREE and you can then create your own lenses and be part of what has to be by far the friendliest community on the net. IF YOU WANT SOME MORE HUMOR then right now THE LAUGHLINE is a great place to visit. This site has some of the funniest jokes to be found on the internet. Need a laugh? I guarantee you will have one here.

Religious Jokes - The Best Religious And Church Humor

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:01:30 -0600

Religious Jokes can be really funny. It doesn't matter whether they are Church Jokes, Bible Jokes or Baptist Jokes, are something that everybody likes. There are even some really funny Jewish Jokes these days - jokes for just about everyone. With the recent visit of The Pope to the United States and Australia there has been a renewed interest in Pope Jokes of course, and more people than ever before are enjoying Christian Jokes. Some Religious Jokes can be crude too, which not everyone likes. But... Just for you... this Religious Jokes lens features only clean Religious Jokes, suitable for all audiences. On this Religious Jokes page you will find all types of church humor that shows you the funny side of religion from a lot of different angles. Some religious jokes are totally blasphemous, featuring Jesus, Mary, The Pope, various Vicars, Ministers and Priests, Monks, Nuns, Adam and Eve, Moses and of course the ever popular Bill Clinton or Bill Gates, who in various scenarios either go to Heaven or Hell. You also never know what's in the Family Bible. There is always something funny happening in Church, Chapel or Temple, whether it's a funny sermon, someone falling asleep in the church congregation, or maybe it's a child's view of religion or God. Church humor is something we all ought to be able to laugh about. If you look carefully, you might even find some video clips of farting preachers... And then what about those naughty Monks and Nuns in the Monasteries and Convents - there must be something going on or there wouldn't be any jokes about them would there. We don't even spare the Buddhist Monks here... Our Religious Jokes are not for everyone - you need to have an open mind to appreciate some of these religious jokes, but they are here for your enjoyment. If you are offended by any type of Religious Joke, please surf elsewhere. But if you are a fun loving person who enjoys looking at life from the funny side, find yourself a pew and make yourself at home. For more Religious Jokes visit THE LAUGHLINE RELIGIOUS JOKES INDEX Wow my lens got the Cool Site Of The Day award for 18th May 2008. For some more good laughs, I invite you to visit THE LAUGHLINE a great collection of some of the best jokes around.

International Calling Cards - Low Cost International Calls

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:06:35 -0600

In the past people usually avoided making international phone calls unless they absolutely had to because of the cost, but in this age of advanced technology there are many ways in which the cost of making international calls can be greatly reduced, in fact it can be even cheaper than calling within the country if you pick the right option. Most people in the past also used to have a phone at home (more commonly known these days as a landline), whereas the trend these days is for more and more people to have a cell phone and no landline at all. This lens will, I hope enable you to pick the right options for you, and to help save you money when making international calls. Getting straight to the point, you can't go far wrong with ALMOST FREE PHONE CALLS when choosing a plan for making international calls from almost any country. Although this lens is aimed at finding a prepaid international phone card for calling from the USA to the UK, the calling card companies that I am going to recommend to you have the best prices for calls to other countries in Europe, as well as international calls to Asia, calls to India and calls to Australia. Right now for example (October 2008), I am paying 1.2 cents/minute to make calls from the USA to the UK, the only additional cost being a service charge of 49 cents per month. That gives me 28 hours of calling for $20, from either a landline or my cell phone. I have had this price for over a year, it's not a special rate, it's the rate all the time. If you see an advert that says 1,000 minutes for $17.95 that looks good right? WRONG! The rate I pay gives me 1,500 minutes for that price. Don't be fooled by large numbers. Not bad you might say, considering you could be paying 25cents or more a minute for using your cell phone. Read on to see how you can do this yourself. There are no catches, it's just a matter of searching for the right calling card that suits your needs. And it's saving me a small fortune. Before I forget, there are also some ways to call overseas for FREE, like MSN Live or Skype, but they mostly rely on you calling from a computer to a computer. I am going to add sections on this also very soon, so if you are a member of Squidoo and want to be notified of the updates, please either join my fan club or add this lens to your favorites. BECOME AN AFFILIATE and earn money by promoting calling cards and also when you buy your own.

The Daily Joke Collection

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:38:44 -0600

This lens is an index of all the humor and jokes lenses that I have created. The jokes and humor collection is growing with every month, so I thought it would be a good idea to list them all in one place, so you don't miss any. As well as the Daily Joke lenses, there is one for each month of the year, I have lenses for specific joke categories, such as Religious Jokes and Golf Jokes. Also with getting older, I added a selection of Baby Boomer Jokes. Finally, my other humorous lenses, such as My Claim To Fame and My Pet Peeves. I hope you have time to visit and enjoy them. Webmasters - Please contact me if you would like to add Reciprocal Links between this Daily Jokes index page and your site. Because this is a lens that is about Jokes and Humor, the site you request must likewise be a Humor site, and also CLEAN since I keep this a clean site. THE LAUGHLINE has a huge collection of great jokes, plus funny pictures and videos as well. I definitely recommend a visit if you are in the mood for some laughter. I guess I must be Addicted To Blogging. If you can't already tell, take a look at the picture of my new computer setup below...

Zecharia Sitchin - Author Of The Earth Chronicles

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:24:45 -0600

Zecharia Sitchin is an accomplished Jewish Scholar whose knowledge of modern and ancient Hebrew, other Semitic and European languages is second to none. He has spent much of his life studying the Old Testament and the history and archeology of the Near East. Sitchin has researched and re-translated many of the ancient tablets from the most ancient cities of Sumeria, Babylon and Arcadia (now mostly in Iraq) and his revelations about the colonization of Earth by peoples from Nibiru, a 12th planet in our solar system about 450,000 years ago have proved to be highly controversial in the scientific and religious world. However, as fantastic as his theories might sound at first, the compelling evidence that he brings into play from the ancient documents that he has translated, chronologically verified in many ways by the Old Testament, are very logical. Although it was ridiculed a lot by the scientific world when it was first published 30 years ago, Zecharia Sitchin's first book "The 12th Planet" and the subsequent books, collectively called "The Earth Chronicles" are now being taken more seriously. The Earth Chronicles in fact make a very interesting read. The books are heavy going at times, with Sitchin trying to describe so much for you to digest and understand, that it sometimes takes several reads to comprehend fully what a chapter is about, but the events and history that he has uncovered is mind-blowing and well worth the read. So much has changed in the last 30 years in our knowledge of the ancient world. There are numerous documentaries on The Discovery Channel and History Channel covering new discoveries about the ancient world, not just the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, but older civilizations that pre-date these, and every year new artifacts are being discovered, and we are being made aware of the deeper understandings of the technological levels of these peoples. If the Gods of ancient Sumeria, ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and ancient Rome were really the same Gods, and also were real beings from Earth's distant past, not just characters from mythical tales, then this does give a whole new meaning to religion and the Gods that mankind worships. I first became interested in ancient civilizations and earth's mysteries while at university, when Chariots Of The Gods was published by Erik Von Daniken. I read many books back then, on Atlantis and other mysteries of the past, and then more recently came across the works of Zecharia Sitchin. Whereas many other books listed strange artifacts and places, they didn't really manage to tie things together, whereas Sitchin paints a full picture, not just of some of these mysteries, but of the whole of man's existence on earth. The Earth Chronicles are really a great read and a compelling insight into our creation. DON'T MISS THE VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS LENS on The Return Of The 12th Planet, Nibiru. It's very scary... This lens was awarded a Purple Star on 21st January 2010.

What's the best breakfast food for staying healthy?

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:11:52 -0600

I didn't always eat so healthy, but as I have got older, I now understand the importance of trying to stay healthy, and starting the day off right (well most of the time) is a good way to help keep your body in shape and to prevent problems later in life. I have to admit that the breakfast plate you see here, of Bacon, Sausage, Baked Beans, Fried Egg and Bubble & Squeak (left over potatoes and vegetables fried up in the skillet) isn't that healthy, but this is the type of breakfast most of us of my generation grew up with in England. I also grew up with Bread and Dripping, dripping being the fat and juices collected from the roasting pan after our Sunday Roast. This was let to go cold in a bowl, and you would spread the fat onto bread or toast, ideally finding a nice lump of jellied gravy at the bottom, topping with salt and white pepper. Now I have to admit that this was something the little porky me looked forward to in the morning, but apart from the fact it's completely unhealthy, nowadays it's hard to find a roast large enough to give some decent dripping. These days I usually start the day at home with a glass of Orange Juice, then when I get to work I have a Banana and a mug of Green Tea. About an hour later I have a good bowl of Oatmeal, with Apple Sauce in it. This saves having to add sugar. Sometimes I substitute Honey though for the Apple Sauce. So that is my way of staying healthy, filling up with good warming filling food. I am curious to find what you deem to be a good way to start the day, or are you a Cappuccino, Bagel or Donut person? Don't forget to vote for your favorite place to eat breakfast - or add your own favorite place to the list

The Daily Joke - February

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:34:16 -0600

We all could use some more laughter in our lives, that can't be denied. Sometimes all we read or hear about is bad news, sad news, it drags you down... This lens has a joke for every day in February to help drive the blues away and make you smile. So, the best medicine for the blues is some good old fashioned jokes - and believe me some of these are probably as old as your great-grandmother - but the old ones are sometimes the best ones. Here you are going to find some good excuses for laughing. I hope to post daily, or if I don't make it, please submit a joke (in the guest book) for everyone to read. I also have another daily jokes list that has been going for 8 years or more on Yahoo. You are also welcome to join my mailing list there at THE LAUGHLINE Enjoy and please pass the lens to your friends if you like it.

My Claim To Fame

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:59:23 -0600

Do you have a claim to fame, anything you have done to give you notoriety? Your claim to fame might be the result of having someone famous in the family, or as a friend, having met a famous person, or having taken part in a special event, appeared on television or in a movie, or (heaven help us) on a show like Jerry Springer... Andy Warhol once said that everyone should have their 15 minutes of fame. Well I can't guarantee you 15 minutes, but this is your chance to let the world know about something that you did that makes you someone special. You can let me know what you feel gives you a Claim To Fame by adding to the guestbook (It's just below the Table of Contents, or CLICK HERE). The best Claims To Fame will be given their own section on THE WALL OF FAME as the list grows - and it is growing nicely! Don't forget that this is your lens - it's up to you, the "not so famous" people of the world to help define it and to make it great. Your Claim To Fame doesn't have to be anything that made you famous throughout the world. What did you do (or can you do) that will make us go "ooooo" or "wow" or just make us fall about laughing... Grateful thanks to Janusz for creating the Wall Of Fame Banner and Button

The Daily Joke - March

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:02:11 -0600

We could all use a lot more laughter in our lives right? That's what I thought - I knew you would agree with me... Inside this lens you will find a different joke for each day in the month of March. If you like this lens, please keep coming back as I add new jokes to keep the laughter flowing. So, the best medicine for the blues is some good old fashioned jokes - and trust me some of these are probably as old as your great-grandmother - well at least as old as mine - but the old ones are sometimes the best ones. A lot of care is taken to try and find jokes that are really funny, and it's not easy to find the funniest jokes, something that will make everyone laugh, because not everyone finds the same funny joke funny. Funny thing jokes aren't they? Do as the doctor ordered, and dose yourself up with The Daily Joke, A Joke A Day, and help drive the blues away. And if you have a friend who needs cheering up, copy the link for this page and email it to them. That ought to help brighten their day too. And just to make sure this lens is suitable for all audiences, the jokes are all clean jokes, so come back regularly for the daily clean joke. Here you are going to find some good excuses for laughing. I hope to post daily, or if I don't make it, please submit a joke (in the guest book) for everyone to read. I also have another daily jokes list that has been going for 5 years or more on Yahoo. You are also welcome to join my mailing list there at THE LAUGHLINE Enjoy and please pass the lens to your friends if you like it. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CREATE PAGES LIKE THIS? You can by joining Squidoo. It's FREE to join, and you can create pages like this one simply and with no programming experience required. CLICK HERE to join Squidoo and create your own first lens.

The Daily Joke - August 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:37:20 -0600

The Daily Joke is a good reason to laugh every day of the month. My Daily Joke lenses usually have a joke for every day of the month, but I thought for August I would do something a little different, with a selection of some of the funniest pictures that I have in my collection. Not only will these be enjoyed I hope, but it should hopefully give me a chance to catch up on finding the best jokes ready for September, rather than having to fill in with jokes of a lesser quality. We start and end with the theme for the month - babies. I did my best to put together some really funny baby pictures for you, hopefully you haven't seen most of them before. So sit back and enjoy, and don't be afraid to laugh out loud, and please forward this lens to your friends if you do like it and think they need a good laugh too. THIS LENS IS ON THE ISLE OF SQUID Submit A Review Of This Lens The Isle Of Squid Directory

The Daily Joke - January

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:04:16 -0600

Everyone needs a reason to laugh. If we didn't laugh then the world would be a dull place. Not only that, if people didn't laugh, their facial muscles wouldn't get much of a work out, well except for when they were eating, so growls and scowls would probably stick on their faces. Just looking at all those grouches would spoil your day before it started wouldn't it! So come on, take a joke or two in to start the day right. It's just as important as having a good breakfast. Give those facial muscles a good work out. If you like this lens and the jokes, please can you rate it and drop me a line in the guestbook to let me know you were here. For some more good laughs, I invite you to visit THE LAUGHLINE a great collection of some of the best jokes around.

The Lion Of Judah Movie

Sat, 30 May 2009 21:39:26 -0600

The Lion Of Judah is a new animated movie that is due to be released at Easter 2009. This film is a heart-warming account of the Easter story as seen through the eyes of a bold lamb (Judah), a lovable pig (Horace), a faint-hearted horse (Monty), a pedantic rat (Slink), a rambling rooster (Drake), a motherly cow (Esmay) and a downtrodden donkey (Jack). These characters are stable friends who are trying to avoid the sacrificial alter during the week preceding the crucifixion of Christ. With epic backgrounds and and a great attention to detail, this is a magnificent period piece. With a blend of drama and humor, the plot follows the animal friends from their stable in Bethlehem to the great temple in Jerusalem, and from there to the hillside of Calvary as these unlikely heroes try to save their friend. The journey takes the viewer seamlessly through the real biblical accounts of Palm Sunday; Jesus overturning the tables in the temple, Peter's thrice denial and with a tense and heart-wrenching climax, depicts the crucifixion and resurrection with gentleness and breathtaking beauty. For Judah, the lamb with the heart of a lion, this is a story of courage and faith. For Jack, the disappointed donkey, it's a pivotal voyage of hope. For Horace, the dirty pig and Drake the ignorant rooster, this is an opportunity to do something inappropriate and get into trouble. Limited information is available about this movie at the current time, the lens will be updated as new information becomes available

The Daily Joke - April 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:23:15 -0600

The Daily Joke - a joke a day for April. A joke is the best medicine for the blues - some good old fashioned jokes - and believe me some of these are really old fashioned too - some are probably as old as your great-grandmother - but the old jokes are sometimes the best ones! Watch for the occasional funny picture too - they aren't in the index. Inside this lens you will find a different joke for each day in the month of April. If you like this lens, please keep coming back as I add new jokes to keep the laughter flowing. I take a lot of care to try and find jokes that are really funny, and it's not easy to find the funniest jokes, something that will make everyone laugh, but I hope you enjoy this collection of daily jokes and will forward the lens to your friends (plus the occasional star rating or adding to your favorites is always welcome). Just to make sure this lens is suitable for all audiences, the jokes are all clean, so come back regularly for the daily joke that won't hopefully offend anyone. I also have another daily jokes list that has been going for 5 years or more on Yahoo. You are also welcome to join my mailing list there at THE LAUGHLINE WOULD YOU LIKE TO CREATE PAGES LIKE THIS? You can by joining Squidoo. It's FREE to join, and you can create pages like this one simply and with no programming experience required. CLICK HERE to join Squidoo and create your own first lens.

Jokes For Baby Boomers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:27:29 -0600

The term BABY BOOMER is used to describe a person that was born between 1946 and 1964. Following World War II, both North America and Europe experienced an unusual spike in birth rates, with troops returning home from the war, changes in lifestyle, better health care etc. This phenomenon is commonly known as the baby boom. Now that the Baby Boomers are starting to hit retirement age, this is causing concern for governments as regards their ability to fund healthcare and other needs as the percentage of the population that is officially old steadily increases. It simply had to happen - we are all getting older, yet at the same time we are reluctant to let go of our youth. We are the generation that grew up with Woodstock and the Hippie years. We saw the introduction of the mini-skirt, the music and dance revolution of the 50's and 60's, and now us Baby Boomers are trying to hold on to our youth for as long as possible. And so, you find men in their 60's sporting pony-tails and dressing like surfing-dudes, grandmothers wearing skirts so short and with skimpy tops that make even their children cringe, and a fortune being spent on revatilization products that will help us retain our youth, if only in outward appearance. This is the age of plastic surgery, Botox and a whole lot of other "solutions" for reducing the signs of ageing. So welcome to OUR WORLD - the world of the Baby Boomer. Getting older certainly has it's problems, but it also gives rise to plenty of jokes about getting old, ageing, the the problems people have dealing with it. This is what this lens is all about - BABY BOOMER JOKES. I hope the jokes and stories you find on this page will help keep you smiling. Don't forget - smiling uses more facial muscles than frowning and helps prevent wrinkles! You might be surprised as well at how many jokes their are about old people and peanuts, or tour buses and travel hiccups. Now you just sit right down and enjoy the jokes. No No. Not that chair. That chair is far too low, you will never be able to get up again. How about this one instead? That's better. I hope it doesn't hurt your back... Sit up straight now, don't slump... Ok, now be quiet and concentrate on the jokes... Wow my lens got the Cool Site Of The Day award for 30th May 2008. If like me you are concerned about working until you are into your 70's because you don't have enough to make ends meet unless you work, you might want to take a look at JSK Marketing which is a blog that has some very good ideas for adding to your income through the internet. For some more good laughs, I invite you to visit THE LAUGHLINE a great collection of some of the best jokes around.

Dorset - England's Historic South Coast

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:56:47 -0600

Dorset is one of England's prettiest and most historic counties and lies in the middle of the South Coast. It is bordered by Hampshire to the east, Devon to the west, Wiltshire to the northeast and Somerset to the northwest. Dorset scenery varies considerably form the north to the south. In the south you have the beautiful beaches that stretch from Christchurch to Bournemouth, Sandbanks and across the Purbeck Hills to Swanage, the Chalk Cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, plus historic towns such as Lyme Regis and Dorchester. In the northern part of Dorset you have wonderful old towns such as Wimborne, Sherborne and Shaftesbury together with rolling hills and fields full of crops and wildlife. Dorset has a history that goes back many centuries. The landscape is covered with Iron Age burial mounds and hill forts, the remains of Roman Settlements and roads, and many other features of interest. Despite all of this, Dorset is relatively little know to most Americans, so hopefully this lens will help to increase the awareness of this wonderful county in England where I was born. THIS LENS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION - 31ST MAY 2008

The Daily Joke - October 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:49:34 -0600

The Daily Joke is a series of monthly lenses that were created to help give you a reason to laugh every day of the month. These usually have a joke for every day of the month, but I thought for September I would do something a little different, with a selection of some of the funniest dog pictures that I have in my collection. Well this proved to be so popular that I decided to repeat the subject for October, so here are even more funny dog pictures. Thanks very much to AJ2008 for sending me many of these wonderfully funny pictures. Do you think that dressing up dogs makes them look cute, or is it ridiculous:? Sit back and enjoy, don't be afraid to laugh out loud, and please forward this lens to your friends if you do like it and think they need a good laugh too. Once you have browsed through all the pictures, don't forget to vote for your favorite. You can only vote if you are a member of Squidoo, so if not, click on the link in the Visitor Book below to register. It's FREE, a lot of fun and highly addictive. I guarantee you will like creating your own lenses.

Golf Jokes - Jokes About Golf

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:34:05 -0600

Playing Golf is a popular pastime, it takes a lifetime of practice, the right equipment, plenty of time, and not least plenty of money. Like everything there are plenty of jokes about the sport of Golf. Many Golf Jokes are based on women trying to get into what was traditionally a man's game. Others satirically involve various religious figures coming back to earth and playing golf, with some hilarious outcomes. Golf Jokes also involve Priests, Vicars, occasionally Monks and also Nuns. And then once in a while, either a Genie or a Leprechaun pops up. Golf Jokes are never boring, often highly original, and frequently some of the best jokes around. For some more good laughs, I invite you to visit THE LAUGHLINE a great collection of some of the best jokes around.

Poole - Dorset UK (under construction)

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:48:03 -0600

Never heard of Poole? Which is quite amazing, since Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world, after Sydney in Australia. 21st May 2008 - This is a New Lens and Under Construction. It forms part of a collection of lenses about the South Of England and has been published to allow the inter-lens linking to be compiled. Please check back soon or add to your Favorites to find out about updates.

Swanage - Dorset UK (under construction)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:05:38 -0600

Laugh Away - All Humor Lenses Welcome Headquarters

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:31:55 -0600

LAUGH AWAY This group is for all lenses related to Humor, Jokes, Funny Pictures, Funny Videos, Amusing Stories etc. ADULT MATERIAL NOT ALLOWED HERE ABSOLUTELY NO R RATED LENSES

Travel as an Insider Headquarters

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:41:41 -0600

ALL THINGS TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD WITH SQUIDOO All Things Travel is open to any and all travel-related lenses. I hope that you will visit and rate other member lenses. You won't be disappointed, and will surely find a few to lensroll with your own lenses. The group is organized alphabetically by lensmaster name, featuring your lenses that belong to this group. If you have more than five lenses, they will be rotated every time this page is displayed. Thanks for your submissions, and please see below for how to support this group by adding a link to your lenses. NOVEMBER 2009... I started to re-organise this group into areas of the world, and also themes, rather than by lensmaster. Please bear with me as I work on improving the look and feel of this group.

Song Lyrics - Lola - The Kinks

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:41:19 -0600

The Kinks were formed in 1963 in North London by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, along with their school friend Peter Quaife and his friend John Start on drums, soon to be replaced by Micky Willett. Their first two singles didn't amount to much, but their third single, You Really Got Me, entered the charts at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and made the top 10 in the United States, boosted by a performance on the U.K. television show Ready Steady Go!. With a loud, distorted guitar riff - achieved by Dave's slicing of the speaker cones in his Elpico amplifier, gave the song its signature, grittier guitar sound. You Really Got Me provided a blueprint for hard rock, and served as template for heavy metal. The group's fourth single, All Day and All of the Night was released in late 1964 and rose to No. 2 in the UK, and hit No. 7 in the USA. In 1965, The Kinks recorded Set Me Free and Tired of Waiting for You, both of which featured a repeated bass guitar riff. Internal problems within the band followed, including fighting on stage, and they fell from prominence for a while, to return with singles such as Waterloo Sunset. They re-achieved their level of fame with Lola in (1970), a clever account of a confused romantic encounter with a transvestite that became both a U.K. and U.S. hit. The song originally contained a reference to "Coca Cola", but the BBC refused to play it as this was considered a violation of their advertising policy. The single then had to be hastily re-recorded with the offending line changed to "cherry cola". The album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround was their most successful since the mid-1960s. The album also featured the group's final U.K. Top 10 hit, Apeman. Further years of obscurity followed, with numerous changes in line-up, with few chart hits other than Come Dancing in 1983. The Kinks performed the last time in mid-1996. Band members have since been focusing on their own solo projects.

A Walk Around Deer Creek

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:15:27 -0600

Deer Creek Country Club is a community on the west side of Deerfield Beach in South Florida. Deerfield Beach is a city on the Atlantic Ocean, at the northern side of Broward County where is meets Palm Beach County. I have been fortunate to live in Deer Creek for almost two years, and it's really a great place to live, especially if you want somewhere that is relatively quite, and safe. Deer Creek Country Club consists of a number of private homes, town houses, and condominiums. I live in one of the condominiums, on the seventh floor of a tower, that overlooks the golf course. You couldn't want for a better view, and with many of the residents being retired or snowbirds (from Canada or the Northeastern USA, they migrate south to spend the winters in Florida), it's fairly quiet too. This lens also features some of the communities that make up the Deer Creek Country Club, including the Deer Creek Golf Club, the Villas D'Este and The Lakes at Deer Creek. You will also find a number of photographs of the local flora and fauna in Deer Creek, in particular the birds, shrubs and trees. I like to try and keep fit, and one way I do this is to take a morning walk around the lake and golf course. This is the story of my morning walks, in photographs from this pretty community in South Florida. This lens was awarded a Purple Star on 21st May 2009.

Christchurch - Dorset UK (under construction)

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:00:02 -0600

Christchurch is a historic market town at the eastern edge of the county of Dorset, right in the centre of the South Coast of England. The town dates back to blah blah blah... It is famous for it's Priory Church, as well as the ruins of an old abbey and many old buildings. It's been many months since I started this suite of lenses about Southern England, and I am really looking forward to completing them, however time has been my biggest enemy to date, so many things to do and not enough time. I am hoping to get back to work on these as soon as possible.

Who Is Poddys?

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:49:44 -0600

I was born in England and spent most of my life there, until 1987 when I spent a year on the other side of the world in New Zealand. I returned to London, and then in 1994 I moved to the USA. I spent 12 years in Indiana, and then relocated to South Florida. In July 2009 I returned home to England, for reasons that those of you who know me will understand, and for those of you who don't, well then you will have to read on to find out. In a nutshell, I am a person who always wanted to travel, but didn't until I was in my late 20's, and then the travel bug hit me. I hope you enjoy my stories as they unravel. So why do I use the name "Poddys"? When I wanted to create my first website, my ex-wife and I thought that we were like two peas in a pod, so we decided to call it poddys. Those times are long gone though, we are now more like runner beans and baked beans - very different in too many ways. But the web site remains and I still use "poddys" as my login for a number of sites. However, there is far more to me than that. I hope you will read on, enjoy learning a bit more about me, my life, my ups and downs, my hobbies and interests, and of course my lenses. So please sit back, relax, and enjoy learning a bit about me, and also my Squidoo Lensography. I do hope you enjoy it. SKIP THE FUN STUFF AND GO DIRECT TO MY LENSOGRAPHY CLICK HERE I am going to add photos as time goes on - just want to get the blurb out of the way first... And there is a lot of blurb to add... Read on and enjoy my friend... Actually this is turning into a full blown book already - and I'm only in the early stages... Think I might have to make this a full autobiography at this rate. THIS LENS IS GOING TO BE A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A WHILE I THINK, BUT I WANTED TO PUBLISH IT SO THAT I CAN VIEW IT AND GET FEEDBACK AS IT PROGRESSES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

The Daily Joke September 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:18:36 -0600

The Daily Joke is a series of monthly lenses to help give you a reason to laugh every day of the month. My Daily Joke lenses usually have a joke for every day of the month, but I thought for September I would do something a little different, with a selection of some of the funniest pictures that I have in my collection. Not only will these be enjoyed I hope, but it should hopefully give me a chance to catch up on finding the best jokes ready for October, rather than having to fill in with jokes of a lesser quality. The theme for this month is funny dog pictures. I did my best to put together some really funny dog pictures for you, hopefully you haven't seen most of them before. I'm sure you haven't seen them all, because some are personal pictures. Can you guess which ones they are? So sit back and enjoy, and don't be afraid to laugh out loud, and please forward this lens to your friends if you do like it and think they need a good laugh too. Once you have browsed through all the pictures, don't forget to vote for your favorite too. You can only vote if you are a member of Squidoo, so if not, click on the link in the Visitor Book below to register. It's FREE, a lot of fun and highly addictive.

The Daily Joke - July 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:27:35 -0600

Finding a way to bring more laughter into people's lives is a hobby of mine. I strongly believe that if we can find a way to laugh at the problems that life throws at us, that the day can pass much better than if we just allow the everyday routine to get us down. So please read on, enjoy the jokes, and above all SMILE. All the jokes are clean. You won't find any adult material in this lens. Only the best jokes, the funniest jokes make it here, and I hope most of these jokes are new to you.

The Daily Joke for December

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:23:21 -0600

The Daily Joke for December just couldn't be anything other than Funny Christmas Pictures. I have a lot in my collection, and I thought that it would be good to share them with you so that you can also get a laugh out of them, which I hope you will, and will forward this to your friends so they can laugh too. Everyone loves Christmas pictures, especially when they are about Santa Claus and his Sleigh, Reindeer, Snow and Snowmen, and Christmas Trees. Christmas is such a great festive time of year, so join in the fun and have a laugh on me. Don't forget, there are plenty more jokes, funny stories, and funny pictures where this came from. All my Daily Joke lenses are listed in The Daily Joke Lensography so please don't forget to drop by whenever you need a good laugh. You can also see this collection and more at The Laughline Christmas Jokes which is a part of The Poddys Directory MERRY CHRISTMAS

Super Heroes Gone Wrong

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:08:37 -0600

I think that in some way everybody wants to be a Super Hero. The idea of being that invincible being with super powers who is capable of saving the universe appeals to even the least macho of males, and the power and muscular physique of a super hero also appeals to the ladies as well. Not all people are built to be Super Heroes though. Even Clark Kent in his civilian clothes has nothing on the people you will see in this lens. Superman would have a heart attack if he were to see some of the attempts people made to look like a Super Hero. So be prepared for some of the most unlikely Super Heroes to appear on your screen.... enjoy... And next time you think it's time to don a Super Hero Halloween Costume - think before you make a fool of yourself... Are you ready to turn into Superman, Spiderman, Batman or Wonderwoman... And Before You Leave Us... Please don't forget to sign our guestbook, and look at our featured lenses on Halloween Costumes by other lensmasters...

Wimbledon Common (under construction)

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:58:00 -0600

UNDER CONSTRUCTION When most people hear the word Wimbledon they immediately think of Tennis, but there is far more to Wimbledon than just Tennis. Wimbledon is a great small town on the southwest side of London. It has lots of great shops, it's on the main rail routes out of London to the South Coast, and most of all it has Wimbledon Common, which is a beautiful historic park and worthy of a lens in it's own right.

Bournemouth Hotels And Accomodation

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:34:13 -0600

Bournemouth is a popular seaside resort on the South Coast of England, and has some of the best beaches to be found in the country. Since it's birth in Victorian times, Bournemouth has been a place for older people to retire to, and for tourists from all over England to spend their summer holidays. Since the 1970's Bournemouth has also been home to a number of International Language Schools as well as becoming the headquarters for finance companies that moved away from London to reduce overhead costs. The town is right in the middle of the South Coast of England in the county of Dorset and has good road and rail links to the rest of the country. Bournemouth is also home to a number of famous people, with celebrities living in places such as Westbourne and of course Sandbanks. This lens will help you to find accommodation in the Bournemouth area, whether it is a Hotel, a Guest House or a Rental Property. For more information on Bournemouth click here. This image is used under a Creative Commons License from Wikipedia

Song Lyrics - YMCA - The Village People

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:39:36 -0600

The Village People are a concept disco group formed in the late 1970s. The group is well known for their on-stage costumes as for their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics. Original members were: police officer (Victor Willis), American Indian chief (Felipe Rose), cowboy (Randy Jones), construction worker (David Hodo), leatherman (Glenn Hughes) and Military man (Alex Briley). For the release of "In the Navy", both Willis and Briley appeared temporarily as sailors. Originally created to target disco's primarily gay fan base by featuring stereotypical gay personas, the band's popularity quickly brought them into mainstream. The group is seen by some music critics as less serious for their camp style, appearance and musical choices. Village People scored a number of disco and dance hits, including their trademark "Macho Man", "Go West", the classic club medley of "San Francisco (You've Got Me) / In Hollywood (Everybody is a Star)", "In the Navy", "Can't Stop the Music", "Sex Over the Phone" and their biggest hit, "Y.M.C.A.". Collectively, the Village People have sold 85 million albums and singles. The group also recorded new materials under the name "The Amazing Veepers". Don't forget to watch the hilarious video clips of people dancing the YMCA (or trying to) and please vote for your favorite, and feel free to add one too. 1977-1979 The group was created by Jacques Morali, who was a French musical composer. He had written a few songs when he heard Victor Willis singing background vocals in a studio. Morali approached Willis and told him, "I had a dream that you sang lead on my album and it went very, very big." Willis agreed to sing on the first album, Village People. It was a success, so Morali and his business partner, Henri Belolo, (under the collaboration Can't Stop Productions), decided to build a real group around Willis for a stage act to showcase and perform their disco music creations. They took out an ad in a trade magazine band which read: "Macho Types Wanted: Must Have Moustache." The first recruit, Indian Rose, Morali literally bumped into on the streets of Greenwich Village. Rose was a bartender who wore jingle bells on his boots. He was invited along to take part in the sessions for the first album. Alex Briley (who eventually took on the soldierman persona) was a friend of Willis'. The other three, Mark Mussler (construction worker), Dave Forrest (cowboy) and the original leatherman, were quickly replaced, respectively, by Dave Hodo, Randy Jones and Glenn Hughes, who all had more experience as actors/singers/dancers. Leatherman Hughes had first been been spotted as a toll collector at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Early on, one of the group's songwriters, Peter Whitehead, even performed with the group for a brief time. Despite the French songwriters, the songs lyrics were all in English as Morali and Belolo used American lyricists. On the first album, they brought in songwriting legends Phil Hurtt and the aforementioned Peter Whitehead. For the next three albums (and on other Can't Stop Productions such as Ritchie Family and Patrick Juvet) lead singer Willis was the lyricist. The band's name references New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood, at the time known for having a substantial gay population. Morali and Belolo got the inspiration for creating an assembly of American man archetypes based on the gay men of The Village who frequently dressed in various fantasy attire.[citation needed] While the song "Macho Man" put them on the map, their 1978 anthem "Y.M.C.A." made them one of the most successful disco groups. In 1979, the United States Navy considered using "In the Navy", another Village People hit, in a recruiting advertising campaign on television and radio. They contacted Belolo, who decided to give the rights for free on the condition that the Navy help them shoot the music video. Less than a month later, Village People arrived at the San Diego Naval base. The Navy provided them with a warship, several aircraft, and hundreds of Navy men. The Navy later canceled the campaign. Their fame reached its peak in 1979. The Village People were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, Vol. 289, April 19, 1979. Willis left the group at the end of 1979, and the group's downfall began. 1980-1985 Ray Simpson, brother of Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson), stepped into Willis' shoes in time for the group's highly anticipated 1980 feature film Can't Stop the Music, directed by Nancy Walker, written by Allan Carr and Bronte Woodard, music and lyrics by Jacques Morali (although Willis penned the lyrics to "Milkshake" and "Magic Night") and starring Steve Guttenberg, Valerie Perrine, Jean-Claude Billmaer, Bruce Jenner, and the Village People. By the time it was released, however, disco had waned and the movie "won" the Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay prizes at the 1980 Golden Raspberry Awards in March 1981 and was nominated in almost all the other categories. Despite that, the song, "Can't Stop the Music" became a Club Play chart hit and moderate radio hit. The soundtrack also featured the talents of "David London", who under his real name Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen went on to become the future lead singer of Toto and one of the main contributors to the Village People's next album. The group was one of the featured guests on a November 22nd, 1980 episode of Love Boat, (7th episode of season 4), entitled "Secretary to the Stars/Julie's Decision/The Horse Lover/Gopher and Isaac Buy a Horse". At the end of 1980 Randy Jones left the group to be replaced by Jeff Olson. In 1981, with the popularity of disco long gone and New Wave music on the rise, Village People replaced its on-stage costumes with a new look inspired by the New Romantic movement, and released the New Wave album Renaissance; It only attracted minor attention and produced no hits. Victor Willis returned to the group briefly in late 1981 to help out on the album Fox on the Box which was released in 1982 only in Europe but did have limited release in the U.S. in 1983 under the title In the Street. Miles Jaye had taken over for Ray Simpson as lead singer by 1983 and contributed an extra track to In the Street. Mark Lee replaced Hodo in 1982. Although their last album containing new material, the 1985 dance/Hi-NRG release Sex Over the Phone, was not a huge commercial success, it fared better in sales and club play than their Renaissance album. The "Sex Over the Phone" music video, due to the rise of video on the Internet, has become a viral video phenomenon. The Sex album featured yet another new lead singer, Ray Stephens. Py Douglas came in to sub for Stephens for some of the group's appearances in 1985. Some information extracted from Wikipedia

Song Lyrics - Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:53:00 -0600

Bruce Springsteen is an American singerand songwriter; he was born 23rd September 1949 in the town of Long Branch, New Jersey. His unique style of rock is full of American sentiments. Bruce both records and tours with his own band, the E Street Band. His ability to express everyday problems people face within his songs has resulted in numerous awards, including eighteen Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, along with a dedicated following around the world, and is known to them simply as THE BOSS. His most famous albums, Born To Run and Born In The USA have have seen sales of his music to over 65 million albums in the USA alone. Bruce first felt the desire to become a musician at the age of 7, having seen Elvis on TV. he bought his first guitar at 13, and played in several local bands while art high school. In 1969 he formed a band that performed in clubs and colleges in New Jersey, and which gathered a small cult following. by the early 1970's the musicians he regularly played with would form the core of what has become the E Street Band. Bruce signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1972. His initial songs were slow to catch on, his being compared by the critics to Bob Dylan Born To Run was released in August of 1975, and Bruce immediately found success. This album did not generate any hit singles, however, although even today it is regarded as one of the best rock and roll albums of all time and his finest work. The songs from this are still played by Classic Rock stations around the world. His first top ten single was Hungry Heart from the album The River in 1980, but he is probably best known for his album Born In The USA which was released in 1984. Bruce Springsteen continues to produce great songs and still tours today, often along with other big names from the music industry.

Song Lyrics - Piano Man - Billy Joel

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:32:06 -0600

Billy Joel is a well known and respected American Pianist and Singer/Songwriter. He was born in The Bronx, New York in 1949. He came from a musical family, and decided to follow that career having seen The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Piano Man was released in 1973, the first in a long line of hit singles.

The Daily Joke - June 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:26:03 -0600

The whole world needs to laugh more often, don't you agree? One way to make people laugh is to tell jokes, and a joke a day, the daily joke is a great way to do it. My master plan for a happier nicer world to live in is to help spread some humor around, by passing the best jokes and funny stories across the internet. If you would like to help me to make this a happier place to live, you can do so by: Visiting my jokes lenses often Laughing at the jokes Forwarding the jokes to other people Telling the jokes to other people Do whatever you can to help other people to laugh and smile at least once a day. Bring some happiness into other people's lives, and then, maybe then your daily troubles might not seem so bad after all. It's not an easy job trying to find good jokes. So many jokes I receive are old, crude and not suitable for including here, or have been already used in another lens, so I maybe have to read a dozen jokes to find a good one, and it gets harder every day. So sit back and browse the latest selection of jokes, which I hope you will enjoy. And if you do like them, please pass the word around, and also please add a note in the visitor book to let me know you dropped by.

Song Lyrics - Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:10:28 -0600

Dire Straits were one of the best known English rock bands from the late 1970's through to the early 1990's. Formed by Mark Knopfler in 1977. The band comprised also his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock ruled the charts, their unique style of Rock Music, simpler than the Classic Rock of the 1970's, wooed new audiences quickly. Their first single Sultan's Of Swing immediately put them into the spotlight. By the time their most famous album, Brothers In Arms was released, with the single Money For Nothing which of course was recorded at Live Aid they had reached the top. Brothers In Arms from their best selling album of the same name is one of their best known hits. From the growling thunderstorm opening, the sad and evocative electric guitar intro, and the first verse, more whispered than sung, through the slow and steady crescendo of the song's intensity to the closing guitar solo, Mark Knopfler's ode about war, in ancient Scotland and today, "civil" and otherwise, is nothing short of a true masterpiece.

Song Lyrics - Your Song - Elton John

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:43:29 -0600

Sir Elton John was born in Pinner, Middlesex in England on 25th March 1947. His real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight, he changed it to "Elton John" in the mid 60's, in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. He was a musical prodigy and started playing the piano at the age of 3. At the age of 11, he won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music and for the next five years, he travelled into central London to attend Saturday classes at the Academy, in addition to attending Pinner County Grammar School. At 15 he had become a weekend pianist at a local pub, playing the old sing-a-long songs that used to be popular in pubs in those days, everything from Jim Reeves to the old wartime songs. Elton played as a backing musician for a number of bands in the late 1960's, and together with Bernie Taupin he began his songwriting career. His first album, "Elton John" was released in the Spring of 1970, but the first single "Border Song" barely made in into the US Top 100. THe second single from that album, Your Song made it into the Top 10, and from that point Elton was on his way to super-stardom. His subsequent great hits, including Rocket Man, Levon and Honky Cat all did well in the charts, but his most famous album has to be Goodbye Yellow Brick Road which includes the hits of the same name as well as Funeral For A Friend and the most famous of all Candle In The Wind written in tribute to Marilyn Monroe.

The Daily Joke - November 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:21:10 -0600

The Daily Joke is a series of monthly lenses with something funny for every day in the month. For November I thought it would be a good time to send out some of the weird news items that seem to come from all corners of the globe these days. I don't think a single day goes by without there being some wacky story about someone doing something unusual, stupid, or some odd event happening. I hope you enjoy the collection that I have for you in November, and don't forget, there are plenty more jokes, funny stories, and funny pictures where this came from. All my Daily Joke lenses are listed in The Daily Joke Lensography so please don't forget to drop by whenever you need a good laugh. For some more good laughs, I invite you to visit THE LAUGHLINE a great collection of some of the best jokes around.

Song Lyrics - Our House - Madness

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:27:10 -0600

Madness are an English pop/ska band from Camden Town in Northwest London that formed in 1976 and were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2 Tone ska revival, achieving most of their success in the 1980's. The core of the band formed in 1976 and included Mike Barson on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman on guitar and Lee Thompson on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth on bass guitar. They were joined later that year by lead vocalist "Dikron". This six-piece lineup lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend's garden. The lineup further changed when they dropped Smyth, who was poor on bass guitar, replacing him with Gavin Rogers, an acquaintance of Barson. Next, McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch football instead of rehearsing, and finally, Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing. After changing their name briefly to Morris and the Minors (a play on words of the famous English car the "Morris Minor"), the band renamed itself as Madness, paying homage to one of their favourite songs by ska/reggae artist Prince Buster. In 1979 their debut album One Step Beyond was released by Stiff Records, and gave rise to the hit singles One Step Beyond and My Girl. One Step Beyond stayed in the British charts for 37 weeks and reached #2. The band didn't want to release any more singles from the album, feeling that they had already released the best material, however they were persuaded to release more tracks on an EP. The result was the Work Rest and Play EP, which was headlined by the song Night Boat to Cairo. The EP reached #6 in the UK singles chart. The band's second album, Absolutely, released in 1980, reached #2 in the UK album charts. Absolutely generated some of the band's biggest hits, including Baggy Trousers, which reached #3 in the UK singles chart, Embarrassment which reached #4, and the instrumental Return of the Los Palmas 7 which climbed to #7. In 1981, the band's third studio album, 7 reached number 5 in the UK album charts and contained three hit singles, Grey Day, Shut Up and Cardiac Arrest. This album was a change in direction from the past. Suggs' vocal performance changed significantly, and his strong Cockney accent from the previous albums had been watered down. The album strayed from the ska-influenced sound of One Step Beyond and Absolutely, and moved towards a more conventional and mature pop sound. Near the end of 1981, Madness released one of their most recognised songs; a remake of Labi Siffre's 1971 hit It Must Be Love". The song climbed to #4 in the UK, and in 1983, the song peaked at #33 in the US charts. In 1982, Madness released their only number 1 hit to date, House of Fun which they played live on the '80s series The Young Ones. The compilation album Complete Madness also reached #1. In November '82, Madness released their 4th studio album, The Rise & Fall. The album did well in the UK, but didn't get an American release. Instead, many of the albums songs were included on the US compilation Madness, including Our House, which was their most internationally successful single to date. Our House reached #5 in the UK music charts and #7 in the US charts. In 1983, their single Wings of a Dove reached #2 in the UK charts, followed by The Sun & The Rain. Their following album, Keep Moving reached #6 in the UK album charts, and two singles from that album reached the top 20 in the UK music charts. The album received some good reviews, with Rolling Stone Magazine giving the album four out of five stars. In early 1992, It Must Be Love was re-released and reached #6 in the UK singles chart. Following that, the singles compilation Divine Madness was released and rechaed #1 in the album charts. Madness then announced plans for a reunion concert, Madstock, which was held at Finsbury Park, London in August that year. The original Madness lineup reunited, performing together for the first time since Mike Barson left the band in 1984. Over 75,000 fans attended the weekend festival, and during One Step Beyond, the vibrations of the crowd jumping up and down in time to the music caused an earth tremor which measured over 4.5 on the Richter scale. A subsequent live album was released, and the associated single, The Harder They Come got to #44 in the UK, with the album reaching #22. The band continued to reunite for annual UK Christmas season tours and held three more Madstock festivals; in 1994, 1996 and 1998. The band are still performing in 2008, with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. This song, Our House by Madness is also the theme song for the new ABC primetime show Opportunity Knocks. It's great to see this song revived and I hope it helps bring the music of Madness to a whole new generation.

Song Lyrics - Low Rider - War

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:02:10 -0600

War was an American funk band from California, who were best known for their hit songs "Low Rider" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". The band were formed in 1969. and War was the first and most successful musical crossover, their music fusing elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B, and even reggae. The band also crossed racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line-up. The band's diverse musical influences and laid back style have helped retain their popularity, leading to sales of over 50 million records to date. War was originally the brainchild of veteran record producer Jerry Goldstein, (My Boyfriend's Back, Hang on Sloopy and I Want Candy) and rock legend Eric Burdon, ex-lead singer of the top British band of the time, The Animals. Eric Burdon & War began playing live shows and immediately found themselves in front of sold-out audiences throughout Southern California before entering into the studio to record their debut album Eric Burdon Declares "War". The album's key track, the Latin-flavored Spill the Wine, was an immediate worldwide hit and launched the band's career. Their career highlight was in 1975 with the release of their album Why Can't We Be Friends?. This album included Low Rider, as well as the title track, both of wihch were hits. The only original member in War's current lineup is Lonnie Jordan (keyboards). On Monday 21st April 2008 Eric Burdon & War reunited for the first time in 37 years to perform a one-time-only concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Low Rider was also sampled by The Beastie Boys for their track Slow Rideon the 1986 album Licensed to Ill. It has also been used in 10 movies, including the Cheech and Chong series, Robots, 21 Grams, Dazed and Confused, Paulie, Beverly Hills Ninja, A Knight's Tale, Gone in Sixty Seconds, The Young Poisoner's Handbook and Friday.

Enid Blyton - The Best Loved Childrens Author

Fri, 23 May 2008 20:17:02 -0600

To most Americans she is unknown, since her books really didn't make it across the Atlantic Ocean, but to use children growing up in England in the 1950's, 1960's and even the 1970's, she was our world. Enid wrote a phenominal number of books, from the Noddy stories for younger children, to the better known Secret Seven series for those a little older, and her best know works, The Famous Five and the Adventure Series. Her books were to us in England the equivalent of The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew in the USA, and every one was full of what us boys and girls wanted - spooky places, secret passages, smugglers, kidnappings, strange goings on, and once you started reading it was impossible to stop. 23rd May 2008 - This lens is under construction. It has been published in outline, due to it's forming part of a group of lenses themed on the South Of England, which is where the author wrote many of here books.

Tropical Items On Zazzle

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:22:49 -0600

Living in South Florida provides many opportunities to take beautiful photographs of tropical scenes. Whether it's the beaches and ocean, the colorful palm trees and vegetation, or the unique wildlife that you get in Florida, the scope is there to take plenty of great photographs that will make wonderful unique gifts. The Zazzle products I have on display here are from my Tropical product lines, a wide range of ideas with a Tropical theme. So whether you would like Postcards or Gift Cards (and matching Postage Stamps), T-Shirts or Aprons, Bags, Mugs, Mousepads and more, you will find them here. I hope you enjoy viewing my product galleries, and maybe there is something you would like to brighten up your home. How about a Tropical poster or mousepad to brighten up your office or cubicle at work and to make the work day pass better with thoughts of summertime. Or a T-shirt for someone special to remind them of a wonderful vacation past, or one that is yet to come. My Tropical gift range has so many unique uses. Why not purchase our Tropical Christmas Cards in advance to tease your friends up North. I am sure you can find many more ways to use these items.

The Daily Joke - May 2008

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:29:23 -0600

If only people could laugh and joke more, this world of ours might be a happier place to live in. People look so much better with a big grin on their face than a frown don't you think? Some good clean jokes, something to make us laugh, is often the best medicine for sadness, to combat stress, and to relieve what might otherwise be a boring or tedious day. So join us here with The Daily Joke, and remember more clean jokes get added every day, so keep coming back throughout the month. The daily jokes here are not in any particular category, they are the best of what I find to add each day. I do also have lenses for jokes in a specific category, like Religious Jokes, Golf Jokes - the list could go on.....

Song Lyrics - Money For Nothing - Dire Straits

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:41:05 -0600

Dire Straits were a great English rock band, formed by Mark Knopfler in 1977. The band comprised also his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock ruled the charts, their unique style of Rock Music, simpler than the Classic Rock of the 1970's, woowed new audiences quickly. Their first single Sultan's Of Swing immediately put them into the spotlight. By the time their most famous album, Brothers In Arms was released, with the single Money For Nothing which of course was recorded at Live Aid they had reached the top.

USA Lenses - Alaska

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:05:48 -0600

Alaska is a Pacific state that is bordered by the Bering Sea to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Yukon Territory to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is the northernmost state in the union.. Alaska's flag is eight stars of gold on a field of blue. Russia sold Alaska to Secretary of State William Seward in 1867 for $7.2 million -- that's about 2 cents per acre. Alaska became known as "Seward's Folly" because many Americans thought he had spent too much for what they considered to be a frozen wasteland. When Alaska became the 49th state in 1959, it was the first state to enter the Union in 47 years. It also increased the country's area by a fifth. Alaska has proven to be far from a frozen wasteland however, with an abundance of natural resources. It still has the largest fishing industry in the United States, with it's supply of salmon, halibut, shrimp, and Dungeness crab. Alaska also had gold. The first major influx of Americans to Alaska occurred during the gold rush of the 1890's. In 1968, a huge 10-billion-barrel oil field was found in Alaska at Prudhoe Bay. In 1977, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed to carry oil across the state. At about 800 miles in length, the pipeline cost $8 billion to build. Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

PFM - Premiata Forneria Marconi

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:42:24 -0600

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) are one of Italy's most influential progressive rock bands. They were formed in the 1960's, achieved worldwide success in the 70's, and made comebacks with a world tour in 2002. Their music is as relevant today as it ever was, and they are playing better than ever. In my opinion, the arrangements of many of the songs on their 2002 Live In Japan double CD are the best ever, better than the originals. The band's name comes from "Premiata" meaning "Number One" and "Forneria Marconi", which was a bakery in Chiari, a small town near Brescia in italy. PFM gained recognition in the early days as a support band to other well known bands touring Italy at the time, like Procol Harum, Yes and Deep Purple. The founding members of the band, Franz Di Cioccio, Franco Mussida, Flavio Premoli and Mauro Pagani are still the driving force behind this legend. You are invited to discover their discography, listen and watch clips from some of their more well known songs, and if you like what you hear/see, I strongly recommend Live In Japan either as a 2-CD set or on DVD. This is the best PFM CD I have heard yet. The concert is great - I added several clips from You Tube on this page so you can get a feel for their unique musical style.

Song Lyrics - Town Called Malice - The Jam

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:47:49 -0600

The Jam were an English mod revival band of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they shared the angry young men outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore Mod style neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes and incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock influences, rather than rejecting them. The raw and energetic beat that one identifies with punk rock was consistent throughout their songs. This song, Town Called Malice is my favourite of all songs by the band. The band had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their breakup in 1982, including 4 number one hits. As of 2007, they remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, hit number one on the UK album charts. When the group split up, all 18 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 60. The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk rock, pop punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs; including the hits Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice. See (Wikipedia for more information)

I've Been There

Sat, 09 May 2009 17:47:14 -0600

I've Been There" is a novel concept for a lens that I thought up a few days ago. I have been thinking of a way to use some lenses about places throughout the world created by other lensmasters, and the idea for this lens gradually took shape. I thought that it would be a great idea if there was a lens where people could describe places that they have been, and list lenses about those places. So what I have done is provided a means for you to tell the world about places that you have been, adding any stories or tidbits that you think readers might find of interest. Send me your story using the Contact Me link, and also up to 5 lenses about places that you have visited. I will create for you your own section in the lens that tells your story. The lenses can be yours, or they can be from another lensmaster. Just please make sure that they are quality lenses, and feel free to tell lens creators that you used their lenses, and with luck we will all get more exposure and traffic out of this. I know that I am looking forward to hearing about all the different places that everyone has been. I hope that you are too. THIS LENS IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO PLEASE IGNORE THE ODD TYPO OR MISSING SECTION. RIGHT NOW I AM STRUGGLING TO FIND GOOD LENSES ABOUT SOME OF THE PLACES THAT I HAVE BEEN TO, SO IF YOU DO HAVE ANY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL BE PLEASED TO FEATURE THEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS TO THE LENS TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT YOUR TRAVELS. THEY WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LENS ONCE IT'S READY FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.

Song Lyrics - Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:28:21 -0600

Robert Palmer was an English Singer/Songwriter, born on the 19th January 1949 and sadly passed away on 26 September 2003, in Paris France, of a heart attack. He joined his first band at the age of 15 while still at high school in Yorkshire, and in 1970 he joined the 12-piece jazz-rock fusion band Dada, which featured singer Elkie Brooks. Robert signed with Island records in 1974. His first single was a cover of Little Feat's Sailin' Shoes, which was a minor hit in the UK, but both the album and single reached the Top 100 in the US. He crossed the Atlantic to New York in 1975, where he released his next album Pressure Drop, which contained a mix of Rock and Reggae. His next album failed to chart however, and he moved again, this time to The Bahamas. Double Fun. his next album, released in 1978 , was a mix of Caribbean influenced Rock. Every Kinda People from that album has become one of Robert Palmer's best loved songs. The early 80's saw a mix of success and faulure, but then in 1985 Robert Palmer had his great breakthrough. The album Riptide released in that year featured the number one single Addicted To Love, which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The years to come saw a mixed success in the charts, but a growing cult following around the world. Addicted To Love is probably best know by a lot of people for it's use in the 1988 hit movie Cocktail starring Tom Cruise.

Save Money Shopping Online With Spree

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:43:32 -0600

SPREE - CASHBACK SHOPPING OF THE BEST KIND There are many affiliate programs around these days, but most people either don't manage to make a success out of being an affiliate, or are scared to try since they don't know how to create a website or to add links to a site. In addition, the links keep changing, the merchants in the affiliate programs come and go, and just maintaining your site can become a full time job and/or a nightmare. Not only that, but with a lot of affiliate programs you only get paid when your earnings form a specific merchant reaches a certain level. You might have $10 here and $5 there but only get paid when each one reaches $25 or even $50, which might take forever - or NEVER... With Spree your earnings go into one bucket, whether they come from 1 merchant or 100 merchants. That means you get paid faster and get paid more. I would like to tell you about a way that you can become an affiliate, save money when you shop, and earn money when your referees shop, for a whole lot less work - yet you earn the same level of commission as other programs. CLICK HERE for more information on Spree and to register, or read on and learn more about this great way to save and to earn money. I hope it all makes sense to you and I look forward to seeing you there. With Christmas just around the corner, this is the perfect time to register with Spree and to make sure that you get money back on as many of your online purchases as possible. Once you take a look at their list of merchants, you won't believe how many gifts you can get cash back on. It's not just books and DVD's, it's travel, electronics, computers, clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and so much more.

Song Lyrics - My Girl - Madness

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:12:58 -0600

Sandbanks - Britain's Malibu (under construction)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:06:53 -0600

Sandbanks is a sandy peninsula in the county of Dorset, in the middle of the South Coast of England. It forms the southern part of the entrance to Poole Harbour, which is the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney in Australia. Sandbanks is only a mile long, and at it's narrowest just wide enough for a 2 lane road, with the harbour on one side, and a row of luxury houses on the other. These houses back onto the beach, making it the British equivalent of Malibu in California. This beautiful spot has in the last 20 years become home to more and more of Britain's millionaires. Gone are some of the older art-deco homes that were built from the 1930's to the 1960's, and in their place are now multi-million pound mansions, owned by major Sports or Television personalities. As of 2008, Sandbanks is the fourth most expensive place in the world to buy property, based on land. LENS UNDER CONSTRUCTION - PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON

Song Lyrics - Going Underground - The Jam

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:14:35 -0600

"Going Underground" was the first single by The Jam and it was released in March 1980. It went straight in at number one in the British charts, a rare achievement at that time, and spent three weeks at the top. It was the first of three instant chart-toppers for the group. The Jam were an English mod revival band of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they shared the angry young men outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam had a different image, wearing Mod style neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes. They also incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock influences, rather than rejecting them. The raw and energetic beat that one identifies with punk rock was consistent throughout their songs. The band had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their breakup in 1982, including 4 number one hits. As of 2007, they remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, hit number one on the UK album charts. When the group split up, all 18 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 60. The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk rock, pop punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs; including the hits Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice. See (Wikipedia for more information)

Song Lyrics - Baggy Trousers - Madness

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:02:38 -0600

Madness are an English pop/ska band from Camden Town in Northwest London that was formed in 1976 and were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2 Tone ska revival, achieving most of their success in the 1980's. The core of the band formed in 1976 and included Mike Barson on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman on guitar and Lee Thompson on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth on bass guitar. They were joined later that year by lead vocalist "Dikron". This six-piece lineup lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend's garden. The lineup further changed when they dropped Smyth, who was poor on bass guitar, replacing him with Gavin Rogers, an acquaintance of Barson. Next, McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch football instead of rehearsing, and finally, Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing. After changing their name briefly to Morris and the Minors (a play on words of the famous English car the "Morris Minor"), the band renamed itself as Madness, paying homage to one of their favourite songs by ska/reggae artist Prince Buster. In 1979 their debut album One Step Beyond was released by Stiff Records, and gave rise to the hit singles One Step Beyond and My Girl. One Step Beyond stayed in the British charts for 37 weeks and reached #2. The band didn't want to release any more singles from the album, feeling that they had already released the best material, however they were persuaded to release more tracks on an EP. The result was the Work Rest and Play EP, which was headlined by the song Night Boat to Cairo. The EP reached #6 in the UK singles chart. The band's second album, Absolutely, released in 1980, reached #2 in the UK album charts. Absolutely generated some of the band's biggest hits, including Baggy Trousers, which reached #3 in the UK singles chart, Embarrassment which reached #4, and the instrumental Return of the Los Palmas 7 which climbed to #7. In 1981, the band's third studio album, 7 reached number 5 in the UK album charts and contained three hit singles, Grey Day, Shut Up and Cardiac Arrest. This album was a change in direction from the past. Suggs' vocal performance changed significantly, and his strong Cockney accent from the previous albums had been watered down. The album strayed from the ska-influenced sound of One Step Beyond and Absolutely, and moved towards a more conventional and mature pop sound. Near the end of 1981, Madness released one of their most recognised songs; a remake of Labi Siffre's 1971 hit It Must Be Love". The song climbed to #4 in the UK, and in 1983, the song peaked at #33 in the US charts. In 1982, Madness released their only number 1 hit to date, House of Fun which they played live on the '80s series The Young Ones. The compilation album Complete Madness also reached #1. In November '82, Madness released their 4th studio album, The Rise & Fall. The album did well in the UK, but didn't get an American release. Instead, many of the albums songs were included on the US compilation Madness, including Our House, which was their most internationally successful single to date. Our House reached #5 in the UK music charts and #7 in the US charts. In 1983, their single Wings of a Dove reached #2 in the UK charts, followed by The Sun & The Rain. Their following album, Keep Moving reached #6 in the UK album charts, and two singles from that album reached the top 20 in the UK music charts. The album received some good reviews, with Rolling Stone Magazine giving the album four out of five stars. In early 1992, It Must Be Love was re-released and reached #6 in the UK singles chart. Following that, the singles compilation Divine Madness was released and rechaed #1 in the album charts. Madness then announced plans for a reunion concert, Madstock, which was held at Finsbury Park, London in August that year. The original Madness lineup reunited, performing together for the first time since Mike Barson left the band in 1984. Over 75,000 fans attended the weekend festival, and during One Step Beyond, the vibrations of the crowd jumping up and down in time to the music caused an earth tremor which measured over 4.5 on the Richter scale. A subsequent live album was released, and the associated single, The Harder They Come got to #44 in the UK, with the album reaching #22. The band continued to reunite for annual UK Christmas season tours and held three more Madstock festivals; in 1994, 1996 and 1998. The band are still performing in 2008, with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years.

Song Lyrics - Up The Junction - Squeeze

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:43:24 -0600

Squeeze are an English band that hit the charts during the New Wave period of the late 1970s, and continued recording successfully in the 1980s and 1990s. They formed in London in 1974, and are known for their hit songs Cool for Cats, Up the Junction, Tempted, Black Coffee In Bed, Pulling Mussels (From the Shell), and Hourglass among others. The band broke up in 1999, but reunited for a tour of the USA and UK in 2007, the reunion being so successful that Squeeze now have dates for a 2008 tour of the USA in August (but unfortunately nowhere near Florida). The band's founding members in 1974 were Chris Difford (guitar, vocals, lyrics), Glenn Tilbrook (vocals, guitar, music), Jools Holland (keyboards), and Paul Gunn (drums), with Gilson Lavis replacing Gunn on drums and Harry Kakoulli on bass in 1976. Squeeze's early career was spent perfoming live gigs in the Deptford area of Southeast London, where they were part of a lively local music scene which included other new bands at the time including Alternative TV and Dire Straits. Cool For Cats, their second LP which was released in 1979, spawned four hit singles, the first Up The Junction which was losley based on the 1960's cult film of the same name, then Cool For Cats, Goodbye Girl and finally Slap And Tickle. The first two of these both reached #2 in the UK charts, and between them brought about success worldwide for the band. Jools Holland left the band in 1980 and was replaced by highly-rated singer-keyboardist Paul Carrack, a former member of the British soul-pop band Ace. In 1981 Squeeze released perhaps their best-known album, East Side Story. This was produced by Elvis Costello and Roger Bechirian, and featured Carrack's lead vocals on the radio hit Tempted. Carrack himself left after the release of East Side Story, and was replaced by Don Snow. This line-up recorded the Sweets From A Stranger LP in 1982. Negative reviews, the stresses of touring, and conflicts between band members led the band to break up later that year, after releasing a final single, Annie Get Your Gun. I remember listening to Up The Junction and Cool For Cats and the radio stations were likening the sound to The Beatles. I used to love this band, still do, and it's a pleasure to create this tribute lens to one of their great hits, the song that first endered me to them.

Song Lyrics - Bad Girls - Donna Summer

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:35:17 -0600

Donna Summer was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is an American singer-songwriter and musician who came to fame during the disco era. She is best known for her number one dance hit singles in the late 1970s, and was dubbed the Queen of Disco. Although she is best known for her disco hits, Donna Summer's repertoire has expanded to include contemporary R&B, rock, mainstream pop, and even gospel. She is one of the most successful female recording artists of the 1970s and 1980s, and she still holds the record for having three consecutive double albums hit #1 on the Billboard charts. She was also the first female artist to have four number-one singles in a twelve-month period. During her eartly career she sang back-up vocals for groups such as Three Dog Night, and issued her first album, Lady of the Night, which included the European hit The Hostage. In the summer of 1975, Summer approached music producers Moroder and Bellotte with an idea for a song. She had come up with the lyric Love to love you, baby as the possible title for the song. Moroder was interested in developing the new disco sound that was becoming increasingly popular, and used her lyric to develop the song into a disco track. Donna agreed to record the song as a demo to give to someone else. Moroder was so astounded with her vocals that he insisted she release the single herself. The song, titled Love to Love You, was released in Europe and was a modest success. The song was also her first big hit in America, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in early 1976. Two Gold albums followed, A Love Trilogy and Four Seasons Of Love, but it was the 1977 album I Remember Yesterday and the song I Feel Love that shot her to worldwide fame. In 1978 Donna Summer played a role in the film Thank God It's Friday and released the single Last Dance which became her third US million-selling single and her first Grammy win. Last Dance has since become a standard track on talent shows like American Idol and The X Factor. In 1979 she released the double-album Bad Girls. What made this unusual for a disco album was that it mixed Rock, Funk, Blues and Soul into electronic Disco beats. The album generated three consecutive million-selling singles, Hot Stuff and Bad Girls which both reached #1, and the #2 hit Dim All The Lights. Bad Girls also became her first #1 song on Billboard's R&B singles chart. With her US record sales at an all-time high in 1979, Donna Summer had a run of five US Gold singles (three of which went on to Platinum status) that year alone. Hot Stuff won her a second Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Donna had continued succes with albums such as the 1983 She Works Hard For The Money but her subsequent releases didn't fare as well. Donna Summer released her first album in 17 years, Crayone in 2008, and she is still active in the music business.

Song Lyrics - London Calling - The Clash

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:04:02 -0600

The Clash were an English punk rock band, who from 1976 to 1986 were part of the original wave of UK punk rock bands. As well as punk rock, their music included a mix of reggae, funk, rap, dub, rock and roll and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, The Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, backing vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion). The group disbanded in early 1986, owing to lack of creative control and the loss of Headon in 1982 and Jones in 1983 due to internal friction. The Clash became a success in the UK with the release of their debut album, but it was the release of their third album, London Calling, released in the UK in December of 1979 that they gained popularity in the United States, when it came out there the following year. The album received wide critical acclaim; a decade later Rolling Stone magazine declared it the best album of the 1980s. The Clash's style and rebellious attitude, along with their music, had a far-reaching influence on rock, alternative rock in particular. Their record label's director dubbed them The Only British Band That Matters, which fans picked up and transformed into The Only Band That Matters. In January 2003 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band wanted to play at the event, but were prevented by the death of Joe Strummer in December 2002. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked The Clash #30 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. See (Wikipedia for more information)

Song Lyrics - News Of The World - The Jam

Tue, 12 May 2009 23:24:00 -0600

The Jam with the distinctive sound of the lead vocalist Paul Weller are an English mod revival band of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they shared the angry young men outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore Mod style neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes and incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock influences, rather than rejecting them. The raw and energetic beat that one identifies with punk rock was consistent throughout their songs. This song, News Of The World was written about the trashy news that is to be found in the tabloids. The News Of The World is a popular tabloid printed on Sundays in the UK. The band had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their breakup in 1982, including 4 number one hits. As of 2007, they remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, hit number one on the UK album charts. When the group split up, all 18 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 60. The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk rock, pop punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs; including the hits Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice. See (Wikipedia for more information)

USA Lenses - California

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:29:29 -0600

California is the most populous state in the United States and it is also the third largest in area. Only Alaska and Texas are larger. California lies on the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by Oregon in the north, Nevada and Arizona in the east, Mexico in the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The landscape changes from the beaches in the west, swiftly rising to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In the winter it's possible to go both surfing ans skiing in the same day. Mount Whitney is the highest mountain peak in the United States outside of Alaska. In the north of the state, in Redwood National Park, you can see the world's tallest tree, which is about 370 feet in height. As well as the mountain ranges, California also shares Death Valley, which is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, with Nevada. California is also famous for the Napa Valley, which is one of the main wine growing regions in the USA. The state of California has so much history and so much to see. It was in 1849 that gold was discovered in the state, culminating in the Gold Rush. You have the historic cities of San Francisco in the north with it's famous Alcatraz Prison, Los Angeles in the south with it's suburbs of Hollywood, home of the movie industry, and Anaheim, home of Disneyland. Further south San Diego and it's world famous zoo. Then the beaches, "California GIrls", surfing, skiing in the mountains. There is probably more to do in the state of California than in any other state. Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

Song Lyrics - Walking On The Moon - The Police

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:32:26 -0600

The Police are a highly successful rock band made made up of Sting (vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar, vocals) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion, vocals). The band became popular throughout the world in the early 1980s, although they had started to achieve a strong audience in the UK during the late 1970's. Their first single however, Roxanne, didn't achieve success on it's original release, but the second time around it caught on, and instantly raised them to the level of a top band. Their music is a style of rock, influenced by jazz and reggae music. Their 1983 album, Synchronicity, was number one in the UK and the US. The band broke up in the mid-1980s, but reunited in early 2007 with the announcement that they were undertaking a world tour. The tour was scheduled from the middle of that year on until mid-2008, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their hit single "Roxanne" and also, to a lesser extent, that of their formation as a group. As was to be expected, the success of the tour proved that the band are still major artists.

Song Lyrics - Cheap Sunglasses - ZZ Top

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:06:18 -0600

ZZ Top are an American hard rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The group members are Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Dusty Hill (bass guitar, vocals, keyboards), and Frank Beard (drums, percussion). The band holds the distinction of being among the few rock bands still composed of its original recording members for nearly 40 years, and until September 2006, they had the same manager/producer, Bill Ham. ZZ Top reached peak commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring many hit songs during that era, but they remain together today and are still touring and releasing albums. ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Nearly as well-known as their music is the group's image: Gibbons and Hill are almost always pictured wearing sunglasses (a nod to their 1979 song "Cheap Sunglasses"), similar if not matching clothing, and their trademark chest-length beards (Ironically, in spite of his own surname, Beard almost always sports just a moustache). In 1984, the Gillette Company reportedly offered Gibbons and Hill US$10 million apiece to shave their beards for a television commercial but they declined, stating "We're too ugly without 'em". See (Wikipedia for more information)

Song Lyrics - Maggie May - Rod Stewart

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:30:01 -0600

Rod Stewart was born and grew up in London, although with his Scottish accent and tartan clothing you would think that he was Scottish. His parents are mixed Scottish and English. With his distinctive, raspy voice, Rod Stewart became noticed in the late 1960s and early '70s with The Jeff Beck Group and then The Faces and began a solo career in 1969. It is amazing what you learn doing research for a lens. Rod played with a band called Shotgun Express in the early 1960's, members of which included Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green, who went on to form Fleetwood Mac, and also Pete Bardens, who will not be known to most of you, unless you are familiar with the rock group Camel. Stewart sang guest vocals for the Australian group Python Lee Jackson on "In a Broken Dream" in 1970. His payment was a set of seat covers for his car. It was re-released in 1972 to become a worldwide hit. His solo album Every Picture Tells A Story made him a household name when Maggie May hit the charts. It is still even now ranked as one of the top 500 songs that helped shape rock and roll. Rod has gone on to record many other great hits, both upbeat rock songs and ballads, and more recently has recorded an album of great American songs from the like of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin.

Song Lyrics - Eton Rifles - The Jam

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:05:44 -0600

The Jam were an English mod revival band of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they shared the angry young men outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore Mod style neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes and incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock influences, rather than rejecting them. The band had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their breakup in 1982, including 4 number one hits. As of 2007, they remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, hit number one on the UK album charts. When the group split up, all 18 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 60. The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk rock, pop punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs; including the hits Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice. See (Wikipedia for more information)

Song Lyrics - Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:44:40 -0600

Bruce Springsteen is an American singer/songwriter, born 23rd September 1949 in the town of Long Branch, New Jersey. Best known for his own style of Heartland Rock, full of American sentiments, Bruce both records and tours with his own band, the E Street Band. His capability in expressing everyday problems has resulted in numerous awards, including eighteen Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, along with a dedicated following around the world, and is known to them simply as THE BOSS. His most famous albums, Born To Run and Born In The USA have helped propel sales of his music to over 65 million albums in the USA alone. Bruce first felt the desire to become a musician at the age of 7, having seen Elvis on TV. he bought his first guitar at 13, and played in several local bands while art high school. In 1969 he formed a band that performed in clubs and colleges in New Jersey, and which gathered a small cult following. by the early 1970's the musicians he regularly played with would form the core of what has become the E Street Band. Bruce signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1972. His initial songs were slow to catch on, his being compared by the critics to Bob Dylan Born To Run was released in August of 1975, and Bruce immediately found success. This album did not generate any hit singles, however, although even today it is regarded as one of the best rock and roll albums of all time and his finest work. The songs from this are still played by Classic Rock stations around the world. His first top ten single was Hungry Heart from the album The River in 1980, but he is probably best known for his album Born In The USA which was released in 1984. Bruce Springsteen has continued to produce great songs and still tours today, often along with other big names from the music industry. Things I did not know about Bruce Springsteen: By the late 1970s, Springsteen had earned a reputation in the pop world as a songwriter whose material could provide hits for other bands. Manfred Mann's Earth Band had achieved a U.S. number one pop hit with Blinded by the Light in early 1977. Patti Smith reached number 13 with Because the Night (which she co-wrote) in 1978, while The Pointer Sisters hit number two in 1979 with Springsteen's also-unreleased Fire.

Song Lyrics - Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:48:47 -0600

Dire Straits were a great English rock band, formed by Mark Knopfler in 1977 and best known for their hits Sultans Of Swing and Money For Nothing. As well as Mark Knopfler, the band comprised also his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock ruled the charts, their unique style of Rock Music, simpler than the Classic Rock of the 1970's, woowed new audiences quickly. Their first single Sultan's Of Swing immediately put them into the spotlight. By the time their most famous album, Brothers In Arms was released, with the single Money For Nothing which of course was recorded at Live Aid they had reached the top. This song, Sultans Of Swing is a great song from their first album, Dire Straits.

My RSS Feeds

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:32:05 -0600

Since I have a lot of lenses on Squidoo as well as various blogs and web sites, I thought it was time to add a lens that brought all the RSS Feeds for my various sites together into one place. On Squidoo we already have Lensographies (a collection of lenses) and Plexographies (a collection of Link Voting Modules). I would like to introduce you to the new revolution - the Feedography I hope that this lens helps you to learn more about me and what I have been up to on the internet lately. If you like this idea, why not create a Feedography of your own. Don't forget to add it to the list of Feedographies on this lens.

Poddy's Squidoo Friends

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:30:47 -0600

This lens is a celebration of some of the wonderful lensmasters that I have made friends with on Squidoo, and that I have shared information with, who have blessed my lenses, helped me out, and in some cases become good friends. This is for you, for all of you, in recognition of everything that you have done for me in what is now almost two years since I joined Squidoo. You are listed in no particular order, someone has to come first, and someone has to be the latest addition as well. Thanks you, all of you, I really appreciate the help that you have given me on Squidoo.

USA Lenses - Colorado

Mon, 11 May 2009 20:02:46 -0600

Colorado is under construction... Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

Song Lyrics - Wild West End - Dire Straits

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:21:38 -0600

Dire Straits were a great English rock band that was formed by Mark Knopfler in 1977. The band comprised also his brother David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock ruled the charts, their unique style of Rock Music, simpler than the Classic Rock of the 1970's, woowed new audiences quickly. Their first single Sultan's Of Swing immediately put them into the spotlight. By the time their most famous album, Brothers In Arms was released, with the single Money For Nothing which of course was recorded at Live Aid they had reached the top. This song, Wild West End is a great song from their first album, Dire Straits.

Emma Of Lulworth Cove (under construction)

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:58:07 -0600

First the book, now the movie, to be filmed at Lulworth Cove in Dorset. UNDER CONSTRUCTION http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/latestnews/display.var.2418839.0.film_shoot_would_put_cove_on_the_map.php New movie, book by Ray Stokes, starring Roger Daltry, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Sarah Paxton Shooting in November. http://www.hdcinematography.co.uk/articles_46497.html http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-potter-news/tom-felton-cast-emma-lulworth-cove-updated-58143/

Song Lyrics - Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:41:37 -0600

Bruce Springsteen is an American singerand songwriter; he was born 23rd September 1949 in the town of Long Branch, New Jersey. He is best known for his own style of Heartland Rock, many songs being full of American sentiments and patriotism, Bruce both records and tours with his own band, the E Street Band. His capability in expressing everyday problems has resulted in numerous awards, including eighteen Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, along with a dedicated following around the world, and is known to them simply as THE BOSS. His most famous albums, Born To Run and Born In The USA have helped boost sales of his music to over 65 million albums in the USA alone. Bruce first felt the desire to become a musician at the age of 7, having seen Elvis on TV. he bought his first guitar at 13, and played in several local bands while art high school. In 1969 he formed a band that performed in clubs and colleges in New Jersey, and which gathered a small cult following. by the early 1970's the musicians he regularly played with would form the core of what has become the E Street Band. Bruce signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1972. His initial songs were slow to catch on, his being compared by the critics to Bob Dylan Born To Run was released in August of 1975, and Bruce immediately found success. This album did not generate any hit singles, however, although even today it is regarded as one of the best rock and roll albums of all time and his finest work. The songs from this are still played by Classic Rock stations around the world. His first top ten single was Hungry Heart from the album The River in 1980, but he is probably best known for his album Born In The USA which was released in 1984. Bruce Springsteen has continued to produce great songs and still tours today, often along with other big names from the music industry.

The New Forest - Hampshire UK (under construction)

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:12:22 -0600

The New Forest is one of Englands newest National Parks. It was created as a royal forest in 1079 by William the Conqueror for the hunting of deer and was first recorded as "Nova Foresta" in the Domesday Book in 1086. 21st May 2008 - This is a New Lens and Under Construction. It forms part of a collection of lenses about the South Of England and has been published to allow the inter-lens linking to be compiled. Please check back soon or add to your Favorites to find out about updates.

USA Lenses - Alabama

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:38:31 -0600

Alabama is a state in the South Eastern USA that is bordered by Tennessee in the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama was the name of an Indian tribe who inhabited the area when the first Europeans arrived in what is now central Alabama. One of the major waterways in the state was named for them and from this river, in turn, the name of the state was derived. During the Civil War, Montgomery, the state capital, was the capital of the Confederate States of America. Because of this, Montgomery is known as the "Cradle of the Confederacy." Another of Alabama's nicknames is the "Yellowhammer State." The state probably got this nickname because its Confederate troops placed yellow trimmings on their uniforms during the Civil War. Yellowhammers are birds with yellow patches under their wings. The Alabama landscape includes forest-covered hills and ridges in the north and dense pine forests, rolling grasslands, and low croplands in the south. Huge cotton plantations using slave labor were once common in Alabama, but today cotton is no longer the primary source of revenue, even though it is still an important crop. Much of the land is now used to grow soybeans and corn as well as peanuts and melons and of course livestock. Alabama also is important to the space industry, with the city of Huntsville being known as "Rocket City U.S.A." because it is the site of Redstone Arsenal, Marshall Space Flight Center, and the United States Space and Rocket Center. Famous people who have lived and worked in Alabama include Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver and Helen Keller. Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

Song Lyrics - Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:32:01 -0600

Peter Gabriel is an English musician who first achieved fame as the lead singer of the super-group Genesis. He was born Peter Brian Gabriel on 13 February 1950, in Chobham, Surrey, England. With his unusual hairstyles and stage costumes, including a full length dress with a fox's head for the classic 1972 Genesis track Supper's Ready from their album Foxtrot, both Peter and Genesis soon gained recognition for their unique musical style and content. Having recorded The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, a highly successful album which followed the first Genesis American tour, Peter left to pursue his own solo career. His first solo success was the single Solsbury Hill. That was followed with several years with no more hits, until 1980, when both Games Without Frontiers and Biko charted, both from his 3rd album. Peter's next chart topper was in 1982 with Shock The Monkey, followed by Sledgehammer in 1986. Sledgehammer was undoubtedly a success because of the accompanying music video, which was the music video of the year, a great achievment at a time when music videos were in their infancy. Peter went on to collaborate with many other musicians, and he has been the driving force behind WOMAD, which has helped to promote World Music. For more information, see Wikipedia

Archibald Russell - One Of The Last Tall Ships (under construction)

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:59:40 -0600

The Archibald Russell was one of the last great tall ships to be built in Britain. My grandfather sailed on her 1st voyage in 1906. Copyright Notice: Many of the pictures used in this lens are used with authorization from their owners. Credits have been included with each picture, and links to the owner web sites have been added in the References section at the foot of the lens. Please respect the copyright and do not make copies of these images. Lens Under Construction. More information to come (22nd May 2008)

Hampstead Heath (under construction)

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:58:44 -0600

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The United States Of America

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:00:00 -0600

The United States of America is a unique country in that it was formed out of the desire for freedom, not out of the desire to conquer another nation. From the discovery of the "New World" in 1492, the USA and it's neighboring Caribbean and Central/South American regions were colonized by the British, Spanish, French, and Dutch. The thirteen original states were under British Rule until the American Revolution. This armed revolt began in 1775, and in 1776 these states joined together to form one union, breaking away from their colonial masters with the Declaration Of Independence. The founding fathers laid down laws based on freedom, and the equality of all men, resulting in t he Bill Of Rights and the Constitution Of The United States. More states were formed over time as pioneers moved out west, the last two that form the current fifty states being Alaska and Hawaii which both joined the union in 1959. By the mid 1800's there had appeared a sharp divide between the northern and the southern states. The northern states were becoming more industrialized, whereas the southern states still relied on agriculture for their livelihood. This divide was deepened further by the issue of slavery, with the majority of the north believing that this should be abolished. The southern states however relied very much on slavery for the harvesting of cotton, and opposed this idea. The political issues resulted in the forming of the Confederacy, and ultimately the American Civil War of 1861-1865. By the beginning of the 20th century the USA was developing into a super power, and ties with Europe were strengthened with their willingness to join in the fight against Germany during WWI. The Great Depression of the 1930's caused economic chaos during which millions of people lost their jobs and were barely surviving. These years also saw the growth of "The Mob" with gangsters such as Al Capone and Bonnie And Clyde. Many old millionaires lost their fortunes as companies went bankrupt one after the other, and at the same time many new millionaires were born, often those who were able to find a way to profit from the misfortune of others. World War II saw the United States withhold from entry into the war, until the Japanese attacked the US Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on 7th December 1941. Following the victories over Germany and Japan at the end of WWII, the USA became the worlds most powerful nation. This document from the CIA provides an excellent guide to the background, geography and economic make-up of the United States. Links to each state work up as far as Colorado at this time. I will update this as new lenses are added for each state Many thanks to www.schoollibrary.com for use of the USA map.

USA Lenses - Arizona

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:27:23 -0600

Arizona is situated in the Southwestern USA and was the last territory in the continental U.S. to become a state, making it number 48. It is bordered by Utah in the north, New Mexico in the east, Mexico in the south, and California and Nevada in the west. Arizona is the sixth largest state in the USA. No one can be sure sure where the state of Arizona got its name. It possibly comes from the Spanish version of the Pima Indian word for "little spring place.", but might also originate from the Aztec word "arizuma," meaning "silver-bearing." The Spaniards first used the name Arizona for their mining camps by the Planchas de Plata mine. The state is nicknamed the "Grand Canyon State.", and many tourists come to visit this landmark every year. The Grand Canyon is recognized as one of the top Seven Natural Wonders Of The World. Arizona has no shortage of historical links. The Gunfight At The O.K. Corral between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday with the Clanton gang took place in Tombstone, October 1881. The famous Apache Indian chief Geronimo surrendered in the state in 1885. The state has changed greatly since the days of the "Wild West", but there are still large areas that retain the feel of that era for tourists. The blend of Indian, Spanish and Mexican influences can be seen in the architecture in the state, as well as in it's customs, foods, and the names of it's places. The nickname for Arizona is the "Copper State" as it is a leading producer of Copper. It is also still a leading grower of cotton. Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

USA Lenses - Arkansas

Wed, 20 May 2009 20:42:42 -0600

Arkansas is situated in the West South Central USA and is bordered by Missouri in the north, Mississippi and Tennessee in the east, Louisiana in the south, and Oklahoma in the west. This region comprising the state was bought by the USA from the French in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Arkansas gets its name from an Indian word meaning, "land of downstream people." One of it's nicknames is the "Bear State" because local Indians once hunted brown bears in the region The state capital is Little Rock. Other important cities in Arkansas include Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Hot Springs. Arkansas fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War, however, in 1864 and 1865, there were both Confederate and Union governments in the state. A dispute over governorship in 1874 practically led to a civil war inside Arkansas. President Eisenhower had to send troops to Little Rock in 1957 to ensure that African American students were admitted to attend a public high school in the state. Racism against African Americans ran high in the 1950's to 1960's with the battles over civil rights. Ex President Bill Clinton was born in Arkansas and later became its governor. . Arkansas soil is fertile, and it's forests provide the raw materials for the lumber, wood product, pulpwood, and paper industries that have become important to the state. In addition to agriculture, the state has vast deposits of oil, natural gas, and bauxite. Ninety-five percent of the nation's production of bauxite occurs in Arkansas. Arkansas is popular with tourists, many of whom visit the scenic Ozark Mountains where you can bathe in hot mineral springs and explore limestone caverns. Hot Springs National Park, which is located in the Ouachita Mountains, is also a popular tourist attraction. Many thanks to www.50states.com for use of the state map.

Madness - Lyrics and Discography

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:44:28 -0600

I created this lens with the wrong address - it should have been MY GIRL. I created a new lens with the correct address, and this one is scheduled to become a Dsicography of the Ska band Madness. Not sure how it happened - I assume I was tired and my brain had a hiccup. Madness are an English pop/ska band from Camden Town in Northwest London that formed in 1976 and were one of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s 2 Tone ska revival, achieving most of their success in the 1980's. The core of the band formed in 1976 and included Mike Barson on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman on guitar and Lee Thompson on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth on bass guitar. They were joined later that year by lead vocalist "Dikron". This six-piece lineup lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend's garden. The lineup further changed when they dropped Smyth, who was poor on bass guitar, replacing him with Gavin Rogers, an acquaintance of Barson. Next, McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch football instead of rehearsing, and finally, Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing. After changing their name briefly to Morris and the Minors (a play on words of the famous English car the "Morris Minor"), the band renamed itself as Madness, paying homage to one of their favourite songs by ska/reggae artist Prince Buster. In 1979 their debut album One Step Beyond was released by Stiff Records, and gave rise to the hit singles One Step Beyond and My Girl. One Step Beyond stayed in the British charts for 37 weeks and reached #2. The band didn't want to release any more singles from the album, feeling that they had already released the best material, however they were persuaded to release more tracks on an EP. The result was the Work Rest and Play EP, which was headlined by the song Night Boat to Cairo. The EP reached #6 in the UK singles chart. The band's second album, Absolutely, released in 1980, reached #2 in the UK album charts. Absolutely generated some of the band's biggest hits, including Baggy Trousers, which reached #3 in the UK singles chart, Embarrassment which reached #4, and the instrumental Return of the Los Palmas 7 which climbed to #7. In 1981, the band's third studio album, 7 reached number 5 in the UK album charts and contained three hit singles, Grey Day, Shut Up and Cardiac Arrest. This album was a change in direction from the past. Suggs' vocal performance changed significantly, and his strong Cockney accent from the previous albums had been watered down. The album strayed from the ska-influenced sound of One Step Beyond and Absolutely, and moved towards a more conventional and mature pop sound. Near the end of 1981, Madness released one of their most recognised songs; a remake of Labi Siffre's 1971 hit It Must Be Love". The song climbed to #4 in the UK, and in 1983, the song peaked at #33 in the US charts. In 1982, Madness released their only number 1 hit to date, House of Fun which they played live on the '80s series The Young Ones. The compilation album Complete Madness also reached #1. In November '82, Madness released their 4th studio album, The Rise & Fall. The album did well in the UK, but didn't get an American release. Instead, many of the albums songs were included on the US compilation Madness, including Our House, which was their most internationally successful single to date. Our House reached #5 in the UK music charts and #7 in the US charts. In 1983, their single Wings of a Dove reached #2 in the UK charts, followed by The Sun & The Rain. Their following album, Keep Moving reached #6 in the UK album charts, and two singles from that album reached the top 20 in the UK music charts. The album received some good reviews, with Rolling Stone Magazine giving the album four out of five stars. In early 1992, It Must Be Love was re-released and reached #6 in the UK singles chart. Following that, the singles compilation Divine Madness was released and rechaed #1 in the album charts. Madness then announced plans for a reunion concert, Madstock, which was held at Finsbury Park, London in August that year. The original Madness lineup reunited, performing together for the first time since Mike Barson left the band in 1984. Over 75,000 fans attended the weekend festival, and during One Step Beyond, the vibrations of the crowd jumping up and down in time to the music caused an earth tremor which measured over 4.5 on the Richter scale. A subsequent live album was released, and the associated single, The Harder They Come got to #44 in the UK, with the album reaching #22. The band continued to reunite for annual UK Christmas season tours and held three more Madstock festivals; in 1994, 1996 and 1998. The band are still performing in 2008, with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years.