Epping Forest Crimbo Walk 2010

Superb Christmas day walk around Epping Forest.  Started off at the Warren Pond car park opposite the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge (below left). 

I once worked right next door to the Hunting Lodge in a telesales call centre "selling" water filters.  I left as soon as I found out it was a complete and utter con job.  Unsolicited mail sent from Eastern Europe saying that you have won a prize (top prize a car) and to claim it you should ring this number!  Yeah right.

It was completely dishonest and criminally fraudulent.  It was openingly recognised and laughed at that no-one who replied would win the car.  Yet the managers appeared to believe that this was a completely legitimate business - ripping off the elderly and the vulnerable. Norman Tebbit was the local MP at the time.  No surprises there.  Red raw capitalism - don't you just love it?

The walk itself was lovely and I recommend a stroll to anyone who lives locally.  Pictures on Facebook

The Social Network

"The Social Network" - the film about Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook - is released this Friday. As Facebook and social networking in general has becoming an increasingly significant part of our lives (and is beginning to affect political campaigning and lobbying), this blog is certainly curious to know how Zuckerberg's story will be told. Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, is the chief writer, and although he has "fictionalised" some elements in the interests of drama and legal propriety, Zuckerberg's character and motivation (he created the initial version of Facebook at Harvard as a kneejerk reaction to being dumped by his girlfriend) come across very clearly. Whether this can be classed as a "History" film depends on whether Facebook will last long enough to be considered sufficiently significant, and whether you consider the events of 2003 too close to the present to be reflected on in this way.

If you go to watch it, we would be really interested to hear your opinion (including Justin Timberlake's acting performance...) so please leave your comments below...

PS: Here is a review from the Guardian and an interview with Aaron Sorkin.

Fourth International: East London 2010

This music video so, so, so reminds of "Ed"...who use to try and sell a "newspaper" outside the Malmesbury Estate, Bow...early 1990's (and the rest). 

Who is probably now Head of HR in financial services somewhere in Canary Wharf.

Hat-tip thingy various FB comrades
:)

Remember the Tory Years

Yesterday I went to Wales for a quick visit and updated my Face Book profile so - and was then reminded by one FB friend about the former SoS for Wales - dear old John Redwood.  I remembered this Youtube video - and yes, the Tories are still singing the old same tune.

Can this Goat get more followers on Facebook than HM Treasury Spending Challenge?

Hat-tip to TUC new media guru Johninnit YouTube Channel "The UK government's Spending Challenge Facebook page was launched to huge fanfare. Despite a much hyped web chat between Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Prime Minister David Cameron to launch the page, one week later it had just 70 fans.

Surely even a goat could do better that! So our goat got on Skype...

Show your own appreciation for the goat at http://www.facebook.com/votegoat "

Cameron hopes Facebook can help

David Cameron has asked Facebook's co-founder Mark Zuckerberg to help the government ask for suggestions from the public about what to do about the deficit. See the mutual congratulations here on Youtube. What do you think - a genuine attempt to engage with voters and young people or a cynical ploy to appear open to debate? Have a look at the Number 10 Downing Street website for more video selections from the government.

Facebook Group

Nonsuch HP now has a Facebook Group. If you would like to join, or encourage your friends to join, search for "Nonsuch History and Politics Blog" and you'll find it. We would like to thank Miss D'Souza, our "Facebook Coordinator" for setting this up!