The Leveson Inquiry: Who Wins

Call it regulations if you will, I say it’s the end of a free press. The British 4^th estate as we know, love and loath it may be ending with this farce of an inquiry  (The Leveson inquiry into the culture and ethics of the British press) Not since the Watergate scandal has the free press been under such scrutiny. Common sense must prevail or the press as we know it will die and instead of journalism we’ll be left with PR robots that toe the party line and are afraid to break eggs.

Ok, so let me sum up what this inquiry is really about, if its not just here to make the Murdoch’s life uncomfortable. I think we can all safely say that the red tops in this country (NOTW, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily star) have behaved in immoral ways for decades. Until a few stories came out with the celebrities involved not knowing how the information had leaked. Oh the Horror.

Sienna Miller I’m afraid to say I don’t have much sympathy for, the same goes to Max Clifford, Andy Grey, Jude Law, Hugh Grant and all the other fame hungry celebs that seem to think they can become public property with no consequence. They all got substantial pay offs from the NOTW.

I do on the other hand feel some sympathy for the former Royal editor of NOTW Clive Goodman, who was the initial scapegoat to save the skins of Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks both former NOTW editors. January 26^th 2007 Clive Goodman and Private Investigator Glenn Mulcaire were both jailed for illegally accessing the Royal phone messages. Andy Coulson subsequently resigned from his post as editor of NOTW only to become David Cameron’s media advisor for the Conservative party. Clearly it’s not what you know but whom.

Rebekah Brooks whom I admire somewhat, revealed back in 2003 to a Commons Committee that the paper (NOTW) had regularly paid the police for information. Coulson sitting next to her at the time tried to rebuff what she had said but the damage was done. I often wonder why an inquiry wasn’t started at this time, as this worry’s me more than getting frivolous gossip from a celeb’s mobile.

So the shredding begins, the News of the World is closed down, lots of good journalists lose their jobs while Rupert, his son, Mr. Coulson (Dave’s mate) and Rebekah Brooks (again Dave’s mate LOL) remain in uncomfortable coziness shall we say?

This is where the Leveson Inquiry loses me. From the outside looking in I see a national newspaper proprietor and editors clearly breaking the law. So as a straight thinking person I’m of the opinion that these offenders should be brought before a court of law for justice and not an inquiry in to the ethics of the media. If we have laws in place to dissuade the media from using immoral tactics then why not just use them.

Caribbean Cuisine: To your taste…..

Ever since the Wind-rush back in June of 1948, where 493 of the first West Indians landed on these British shores to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War, there has been a love affair with the style of cooking that the first settlers brought with them.

The Caribbean is made up of many different cultures. Throughout the 17^th century settlers predominantly from Asia, France, Portugal, Spain and Africa came with their own styles of cooking and over time the styles fused together to create the Caribbean taste we have today.

From Jerk Chicken, Ackee and Salt fish to the famed Guinness Punch an array of tropical spices and herbs, in modern times called Soul food; West Indians cook from the heart and take their time to prepare their meals.

West Indian Cuisine is some way behind Chinese and Indian cuisine when it comes to being the nations favourite take away. The latest survey taken by the Commerce of Caribbean Cuisine showed the value of Caribbean restaurants in the UK at £21 million. That may sound a big number but it’s a fraction compared to the £1 billion valuation of the UKs favourite Indian restaurants.

Caribbean restaurants take up a mere 2% of the ethnic food trade in the UK country, compared to Indian at 48% and Chinese at 30% that’s a very small percentage.

“It’s about opening up to a new market. Finding news ways to market and sell the food”. Says Mr Stevens, Owner of Mr Jerks in the West Ends Soho “I often get told West Indian food is too heavy and you can’t snack on it, like English people like to do” Mr Stevens continues, “ This made me come up with the concept of a Jerk Chicken Burger or barbeque Chicken burger, which may or may not take off, but I think Caribbean restaurants has to diversify in order to at least maintain our current market share”.

“There are no celebrity Chefs that specialize in Caribbean food, yet we see Indian and Chinese Chefs on TV all the time”. Most West Indian restaurants want the food to feel like it comes from home, so essentially they want to use a restaurant Kitchen like a Kitchen in the Home and economically this does not work.

Supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s have started to sell Patties with different flavours as an attempt to breach the mainstream and have even launched a Halal range.

The recent success of Levi Roots, who successfully went on the BBC’s Dragons Den to get £50,000 funding for his Caribbean reggae reggae Sauce also goads well for the future Caribbean cuisine in the UK. His sauces are in all of the main supermarket chains and he has recently released a microwave package meal range.

On the whole the Caribbean food industry needs a shake up and some re-vamping. “We need more Professional Chefs and different ways in which we present our food to the public” Wayne continues “Caribbean food is the best the World just don’t know it yet”.

www.jerkcity.co.uk

In a survey we asked many people what their favourite Caribbean dish was and whether or not they would welcome fast food style jerk chicken Burgers as Londoner’s are always on the go and like to eat in kind.

We got mixed answers, most people thought that Caribbean food could not really pass as fast food because it simply isn’t and if you try to dumb it down you will lose crucial elements of the food.

Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas and Macaroni cheese came out as the clear winners in our favorite Caribbean dish pole. just behind it came Curry Mutton and every body seems to love a bit of fried plantain.

London Arts

Graffiti: Art or Not

 

As Londoners we are a diverse bunch. We have different taste’s in things like food, (although we all love a curry) music, and clothes.We like to moan about the weather and act surprised when theirs another doomsday story on Eastender’s. But one thing that  divides the most opinion is the graffiti on the walls of our city.

We can look as far back as the ancient Egyptians for early signs of graffiti, although we now know them as hieroglyphics its was still essentially writings and drawings on a wall. Graffiti artist or ‘graffers’ as they are known to their peers take their art extremely seriously, to have your ‘tag’ seen all over a city is a huge achievement. Never advertising a product, they are promoting themselves as artist. To the real hardcore ‘graffers’ this is tantamount to a classic artist having their pieces up in the Tate Modern Gallery.

Graffiti is huge on a global scale. From London to California to Bombay you will find spectacular examples of graffiti.

A stunning piece of graffiti in Mumbai and above a huge memorial piece from Compton, California.

A graffiti artist putting the final touches on his piece in Australia.

In London the range of graffiti is vast. At present we are seeing a creative birth with young artist showcasing their talent on our historic walls. As lots of people strive to become the next Banksy we are witnessing more simple styles of graffiti as opposed to the ones that look like they took as long as the Sistine Chapel given the sizes and amount of colors used.

Here is a reel of graffiti that Roam Magazine put together for your pleasure.

Here are a few more interesting videos about Graffiti in London.

Here are a few website on Graffiti, if you’d like to learn more on the subject.

http://streetartlondon.co.uk/

http://www.ldngraffiti.co.uk/blog/

http://www.thelondonvandal.com/tag/london-graffiti/

Canalway Cavalcade

The Annual Canalway Cavalcade took place last weekend in London’s Little Venice Located in Maida Vale. Being the thirtieth Anniversary there was lots of excitement in the air and even more boats on display. Organized by the The Inland Waterways Association who along with many volunteers work tirelessly to put on a tremendous bank holiday weekend spectacle for the whole family to enjoy. Packed with stalls serving all types of food, snacks and drinks. Not to mention lots of Canal and boat memorabilia. Shows, boat rides and competitions are just a few of the activities to mention on this great occasion, children can also keep their selves entertained on the many carnival rides.

History

The UK canal system was essentially the father of the British Industrial Revolution. Started by the Romans and continued through the Medieval era the Canals were the best way to transport materials, tools and people to the UK’s early building projects. The 16th and 17th century saw major work and improvements on exiting canals starting from the Thames linking the North to the South. This time period is considered the Golden Era of the Canal system as many fortunes were made by people transporting goods up and down the country.

 

Be sure to check out the Inland waterways web site (http://www.waterways.org.uk) you can also check out there Facebook page for more info and upcoming events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crepprotect Launch Party

The lights were shining, champagne glasses were laid out and the excitement was growing as Stefan Maingot launched his new eagerly awaited Product Crepprotect. Crepprotect is an invisible spray, that once applied to a clean pair of trainers will dramatically reduce liquid stains. Co-founder of the product, Stefan Maingot believes that this could revolutionize the footwear industry. “One day people will wonder how they ever lived without Crepprotect”. The Movement is gathering pace at lightning speed with celebrities such as Reggie Yates championing the product.

Roam Magazine was granted exclusive access to the official launch Party held in London’s Soho.

Stefan Maingot: Entrepreneurial spirit

Hey dude, sorry I’m late I’ve just come from a rooftop business meeting in the city” say Stefan as he comes through the door at the restaurant we planned to conduct our interview in. Visibly excited he gives me a firm handshake and orders a Latte. My first question is “What inspires you?” he takes a second and says, “ I just try to see where my imagination can take me”.

“I absorb everything” he says “my spare time is usually spent on a laptop doing research on something or the other, I literally don’t switch off, which can be a problem for some, my ex girlfriend for one” he says unapologetically. He explains that with new technology coming in daily and the growth of social media on several platforms you cant afford not to be on the pulse of things or you will miss the trick.

He uses the current collapse of Blockbuster video as testament to this, “ Blockbuster lacked foresight, I would have closed half the stores ten years ago and made it a mainly online business. You have to watch the trends and not be afraid to make big decisions when necessary”, “We are living in a age where less is more I’m afraid, your presents online is more important than your presence on the high-street”

When I ask about his plans for the future, I don’t get the answer I was expecting. “I like not knowing” he say’s. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. Stefan picks up the salt shaker on the table, looks at it for five seconds, brings his head up and says, “I wonder if I can market black salt” I study him curiously, gazing at the salt shaker, seeing where his imagination can take him….