The final of X Factor #xfactor

It's Friday morning and tomorrow sees the final, finally, of the X Factor 2011. In a lot of ways this has been a good year for the show, and in more ways it has been a really poor show this year. But the final is upon us and I'm looking forward to seeing what they make of it.

My early favourite went out a few weeks ago. Janet Devlin from Ireland was one of the early favourites, but she, like so many, make a really big mistake when then enter this competition. They really believe that they can be themselves, that they can be original or unique, they can be who they are and who they want to be as an artist, and that simply is not the case. The format of the show is that you are forced to sing songs and styles you would never do. Imagine Tulisa having to sing a Chilli Peppers song, or Gary Barlow performing a Rap, it's just not going to happen, so why do they make these wanna-bees do it. It's like asking Justin Beiber to sing country, he would never do and he's quite successful. I often wonder if N'dubz or Take That would have ever won the show, I doubt it.

But this is a TV show and the format works as a light entertainment show. It has boxes to tick and it does it well. And this year we had all the boxes ticked off one by one. We had the joke acts, the comeback kid, the journey, the creations, new judges, controversy and then even more headline grabbing controversy. This year's X Factor was even tickled by a bit of hard "Rock & Roll" behaviour with sex and drugs. And just for the sake of it we even got a few people who could actually sing a little. We will of course get a Christmas Number 1, which is a shame because someone else should win that, and Simon gets a few more dollars into his account. And lets face it that is ultimately what this is all about.

However for the final, I hope that the girl group, Little Mix, beat the odds, and history, and win it. I have nothing against Marcus, except he is boring. And as for Amila Lily, well, I hope if she does win it she remembers to say a massive thank you to Frankie, she would owe that boy big time. Yes she can sing, but she has also been very lucky to have missed certain rounds where she would not have done so well.

The Christmas Number 1 ( #scd #simoncowell #xfactor #Militarywives )

I have posted on my blog about the xFactor before, I don't mind saying I watch the show, and for the most part, enjoy the light entertainment it provides. And this year is no exception, I have enjoyed it, At first I liked Janet, had a liking for Misha B until they stopped her singing her way and now I want Little Mix to win. But equally I won't be texting or calling to vote, and I seriously doubt I would buy an album from them or the winner of the show, not my kind of music at all.

But the Christmas number 1 issue is different. Just about every year it is the winners song that claims that prize and I say, fair enough. If people want it then they have that choice, and good luck to them. But this year, thanks to an amazing man, Mr. Gareth Malone, the honour of that title must be someone else. This is a moment I wish I had millions of followers on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and with this blog so I could really promote the Military Wives Choir. They must be Number 1 this year.

But the likes of Simon Cowell, the XFactor, Strictly Come Dancing do have the millions of followers and they can, must, be the ones promoting this single. Mr Cowell, do the right thing. Over the years these shows have shown support for the troops, they wear thier poppies with pride. But this is real help and this time they need real support.

This is a beautiful song, it has meaning and is sung with meaning and real feeling, everything an xFactor judge demands. It just must be this years Christmas Number 1. Below is the official video, enjoy.............

Have you listened to TED ? #TED #TEDTalks

By chance I came across a series of YouTube video's from an organisation called TED. I was doing some research into the use of video, and the vast and rapid increase of video content for the hotel industry. As is always the case, my industry does appear to be quite a bit behind the curve on this, but the actual use of video is far more advanced than I thought.

So I found this website, www.TED.com, and a video on it that was talking about the use and power of video for what they were trying to achieve. Ted is all about the wonderful concept of sharing ideas and knowledge, and this video was about the speed and benefit of doing so. I must admit that while the video I wanted to watch was only about 18 minutes I was hooked on their site for over 3 hours, watching a whole host of different speakers, and over and over, as each video pasted I kept seeing and believing in the superb power of video.

So to all my friends who are hoteliers, this may not be the first time you are hearing this, but I bet it is one of the first times, when it comes to selling your product, building your SOP's, supporting industry best practise, improving your training and making it more fun, video will be your future. You have been warned.

And as for TED, well I am heading back to listen, and watch, more of the TedTalks. It really is inspiring, creative, inventive and thought provoking stuff.

It's up for grabs now ! ..... #Arsenal

There are moments in life that change everything, there are moments in life that live with you forever and there are moments in life that give you a happiness that can never be equalled. On May the 26th, 1989, I had one such moment. Nothing has ever gotten close to the euphoria, the pure joy, the pride, the passion and the amazing joy in being albe to say, I was there !

The story is well known, Hillsbourgh, the 96, and for us, are job was to just turn up, roll over and let them have it. But this was the Arsenal and this was George & the boys. We had to win by two, something no one had done before, and we did it.

Enjoy this little video, the music is by the Away Boyz, class.

I hope you enjoy.................

What is it with english girls....... #tramexperience

Oh my lordy, what is it with english girls these days, and more over, what is it with them travelling on London Transport.

This vile little madame has a right gob on her and speaks such pure english, she is a wonderful credit to herself and her england, and above all, her child. I bet her mum must be so dam proud, and the scary thing is that she maybe is. How she getss away without a smack I really don't know. I did hear she was arrested, and I wonder if her kid was too, as an accomplice ?

But no sooner has the above been doing the rounds, then this next video starts to circulate, and in some ways this one is even worse.

What is it in the water that is making these young women so bitter, so vocal and so revolting. And is one is arrested and charged will the other one also be? Plus, when you watch these on YouTube you see lots of video responces, most make sense, but a few are just as vile and racist, this could become a real can of worms. Ah Britian today, a land of happy people. 

Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

Monks who have taken the oath of silence, sing the Hallelujah Chorus, And yes, you do need to turn the sound on !!!

I love this, it is funny, it is clever, and yes I would also bet it is fake, but whoever thought it up deserves a lot of credit for such an original idea.

Happy birthday to The Arsenal......#HappyBirthdayArsenal125, #Arsenal

So today's the day, the 1st of December 2011, 125 years to the day the mighty Arsenal Football Club was born. And for me personally I have been a fan for 44 years of that time. It is funny, even for a die-hard fan like myself I have to appreciate that the club were around for a lot longer than I have been and will of course still be here a long time after I've gone. And I make that point because unlike anything else, the "club" is bigger than any single individual, player, manager, director, and fan, we are all the same in that we are just privileged to have been allowed to be a part of the club for a part in the overall history of the club.

I am so proud to be Arsenal, it is the single most important thing in my life. Arsenal, unlike anything else has been with me longer, will be with me longer, and has impacted my life more than any other thing. My love for Arsenal has, and will, never be broken, my commitment is total. In my life I have seen and experienced the bad times. But the joy of being an Arsenal fan is that even the bad times are far better than any other club. We have our bad times in the top division, and the Champions League. We have never been relegated, unlike every other club. So today as we celebrate 125 years of our history, even the clouds have silver linings and are wrapped in red ribbons.

For me the single greatest moment in our history was that Friday night in May 89, the single greatest player was Dennis Bergkamp, and the greatest manager was George Graham.

And now the time has come to start looking forward, and without hesitation, and despite the moneybag clubs, the future is bright, the future is Red & White. Great players have come and gone, but be assured, even greater Arsenal players have yet to be born. Every record of the past 125 years will be broken, and every Arsenal legend will one day look down on even greater ones.

But above all else, the Arsenal will be the club of class, of doing things the right way, the Arsenal way. Thank you my beloved Arsenal, for the past, the present, and the future. Forever Arsenal.