TX Independence Day Ties with London

Because New York City reporter in London is originally from Texas...

March 2, 2012 marks 176 years of Texas Independence from Mexico.

The Convention of 1836 declared that freedom. The same year, The Republic of Texas fostered ties with London, Paris and Washington, D.C. by establishing legations (a form of embassy) in each place.
In London, Texas history is marked by libations.
You can enjoy a margarita at the Texas Embassy Cantina near the site of the 1836-1845 legation. (It was closed when the Republic became a state. Supposedly the British Empire supported keeping it independent, offering to guarantee its borders.)
The cantina is just off Trafalgar Square.
The actual Texas Legation in London was in a building that was also home to a wine merchant’s firm. “Berry Brothers and Rudd” is still there on St. James street and has been since 1698.


These are pictures from “Texas Embassy.” It’s just off Trafalgar Square on Cockspur street. Have some chili then head to the National Portrait Gallery for a free drawing lesson. (Drawing- of people, not guns.)

The signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836 by 60 delegates happened in a place called Washington, now known as “Washington-on-the-Brazos” or the Birthplace of Texas. It’s between Brenham and Navasota, (uhhh, okay, north of Houston.)


According to the Star of the Republic Museum, in the 1830’s the fledgling village also had marriages, divorces, lawsuits, balls, horse races, was a hub for medical practices, land offices, hotels and TAVERNS.

















Today, (March 2, 2012) is the dedication of a monument tracing the heritage of the six flags that have flown over Texas. It’s located along Highway 105 in August Horst City park in Navasota.

I went to SMU in Dallas, and attended SMU-In-London’s summer International Communications Program back in 1995. So I found my flag at the London Texas Embassy.

CHEERS! To Texas History?

Sorry Walter

Home in Texas visiting Willie, Wanda and Willamena, I almost feel I owe you (and your agent and lawyer) some money.
While spending an enjoyable evening reading your 1996 book "A Reporter's Life - Walter Cronkite," picked up for a buck at my favorite family run chain "Half Price Books," I notice on the inside flap of my hardcover edition "FPT U.S.A. $26.95 Canada $35.00."

This realization at least curbed my lingering laughter over the use of " babushkas" on the first page of chapter 1.
People in Connecticut know how my former tv news weather cohort Paul Piorek uses the same word on the air (in the winter.) And how for more than eight years he had me repeating "babushka alert" six times by 6:00am.
He used it to mean large warm hat, or scarf, or something.
But then one day on air Paul said a viewer called and told him babushka meant grandmother and we envisioned wrapping a grandmother around your head and probably said silly incoherent stuff on TV.

Would I actually owe money if I reproduce Walter's babushka sentence?

Well right there, first page, after using the word babushkas, Walter has "grandmothers" in parenthethis.

Already the book is worth double the dollar. Plus our Texas connection and that Walter worked for CBS and I'm freelancing in London at CBS---- and add the fact his book incited a blog post- and more to follow: the font in the front flap had two lines though the dollar sign. Typing this up on my iPad I can only get one line through. For all I know that could be a different currency and one day it could mess someone up on Ebay.

And why list Canada? Why the different price? We don't list the conversion of price for other countries we border.
Living in London I was told America didn't trade with Canada (England's commonwealth.)
Oh I stood up for America's vast dealings with Canada- how I used to walk across the Buffalo border and buy stuffed moose (stuffed dog toy moose- another blog post.)
But then I started thinking. What are the stipulations and dealings and why would an intelligent successful person believe America doesn't trade with Canada. Does "trade" mean the same thing in UK as it does in US? The word "arrest" has a very different meaning in England versus America.
It's something to be aware of- so we won't jump to attack words or defend the way we understand a system. Maybe neither is wrong. Or right.

Also made me think- I have no idea what America really trades or what the tax implications are- despite the fact I sat next to a man from 530 am to 9 every day for years- who basically lived and worked on the Canadian border his prior job. (I seem to know everything else about him- including how he broke a fast with a ring-ding while keeping score at a high school hockey match-)
So I can research and I'll ask my former colleague.
Another blog.
So thank you Walter.
And I'm only on page 1.
There are 384 pages.
Readers of my blog might ask Walter and his cronies for retribution if this pace continues. I just peeped at page 384 to write the previous sentence. It's a poignant page. See you there.

The BAFTAS vs OSCARS

The BAFTAS just might be able to help you win next year's OSCAR party pool.
(Breaking news, I know.)
But this year being two weeks apart I noticed the similarities -- such as same nominations, same winners...

CLICK HERE to read the post I wrote for the NEW YORK PRESS CLUB.
Plus some cocktail recipes from both the US and UK for the occasion.
(just scroll down the page once you get there)
And no worries- no mention of who wore what or who stood how. I had my say on "dress coverage" during the 2011 Royal Wedding.
CHEERS!

OOPS.... I called Liverpool a London team???

How does the quote go? You aren't doing if you aren't making mistakes? Or you aren't creating if you aren't being criticized?
I don't know. And if I got the quote correct I don't know who to credit it to because I think I read it on someone's Facebook status page- anyway....

In mere existing we make mistakes. At least I do.
Here is a blog post about saying something wrong on TV News. (It has a Brighton connection:)
And let me put something in writing- it will most likely return in red ink. (That reminds me of my favorite Stephen King book, On Writing. He writes how he learned to keep writing short from a sports editor.
Oh and I read there is a something different in the UK version versus the US version. I really want to find a copy.)

In the meantime I need to put some red ink to my writing.
OOPS.

Recently when writing ON THE FRONT page of my New York Press Club blog, I call "Liverpool" a famed London football club.

AHHH! Let me explain- I was writing about the former General Manager of the New York Mets, Bobby Valentine, who had just accepted the position of GM of the Red Sox.
(He's the one pictured on my right. The GM of the Yankees is on the left.)
The owners of the Red Sox now own Liverpool- so I wrote: "OH and as for the LONDON angle- Recently the owners of the Red Sox bought the famed London football club LIVERPOOL.
No telling what random rant I could keep going on this topic."

Luckily a Brit pointed out how stupid that made me look. :) Imagine, calling Liverpool a London club????
I wonder, worse than me cheering for Chelsea by saying "Go Samsungs?" (That WAS a joke. In American football, the name of the team is on the shirt. Adverts are EVERYWHERE else. Even during the televised game. At least there is a chance to go to the bathroom or grab a beer... )

I wasn't trying to justify calling Liverpool a London team, but I asked- "Didn't the band, the Rolling Stones, consider themselves from Liverpool? And isn't the band known as a London band?"
I don't remember his exact response, but he explained to me the difference and why calling the Liverpool football club a London club would SINK me:)
So, to correct my statement and redeem my knowledge of Liverpool Football Club, established 1892, which plays at Anfield Stadium-- a three-hour and 45-minute drive from London--

Wait... Anfield is nearly four hours from London? The Red Sox play about four hours from New York.
The Red Sox colors are red. Liverpool is red.

The Brit was right! Calling Liverpool a London team was like calling the Red Sox a New York team.

Never again.

But remember it's easier in America. The front of the Red Sox uniforms either say "Boston" or "Red Sox."
This year the front of the Liverpool jersey reads "Standard Chartered."
Let's go Standards!

First Snow of Season in London

Maybe the groundhog shadow theory has some truth. If it sees it's shadow February 2, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, expect an early spring.

Just two days after my ground-hound saw his shadow, (see previous blog post) London got it's first snow of the season and I saw my first fox.

On Groundhog Day: How's the Weather in London?

The question usually comes in a sympathetic voice through half snarling lips, "How's the weather ... in London?"

After living here through all four seasons, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to let in on reality. I guess it also depends on if I'm answering friends from New York or Texas. There hasn't been any snow this season. And the amount of snow that shut down airports LAST season in London wouldn't have even caused LIRR or Metro North delays.  

Plus it hasn't been cold (New England standards.) As for rain- oh that London rain!!! If it falls, it's for a brief period followed by gorgeous crisp sunny skies. ( I guess like Florida.)


And get this- a common term used by weather people on TV here- is CHANGEABLE.  That's the forecast. Not mostly sunny or partly cloudy. Changeable. (I guess like Florida and Texas... and .... )

Since it's Ground Hog day, and since winter hasn't really began yet in London (New England standards) I thought I should report that Denis Dog saw his shadow in the UK.

I've read there is a bit of controversy in the states whether there will be six more months of winter or an early spring since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow (six more months) and Staten Island Chuck did not see his shadow (early spring.) I read it on a breaking news email alert from ABC 7.  I'm still subscribed. Here is the link. 

As for my former station, News 12 Connecticut,
I can't really tell if my favorite weather man Paul Piorek saw his shadow, but he did wear photojournalist Lori Golias' groundhog hat. Lori and I spent several years covering the big event, usually checking in with Bridgeport's Beardsley Bart.

(If and when I find a copy of that piece I'll post it here. I like a good laugh at myself now and then.)

I don't know of any ground hog celebrations here in London, but then I have to admit I didn't really dig around. I did find that next Monday the movie Groundhog Day is showing  at The Prince Charles Cinema.
 It's part of the cinema's "double BILL season." Following Groundhog Day is Animal House.  It doesn't just mean Bill Murray. Clerks and Clerks 2 is coming up- and so is Dirty Dancing with Flashdance.

Quite a good find- if you are in London you can see movies you've already seen elsewhere. Just kidding. This looks like a place to keep an eye one, especially for independent film makers. I'm glad I googled groundhog day London.

New Media New Rules

(Originally posted New York Press Club blog July 26, 2011)
I wonder how many people get their news from their AOL homepage (or other email/social network access?)

While the majority of email reading by me comes directly from the Mail icon on the bottom of my iphone screen, at least once every other day I log on via computer. But of course before you can get to your email, you have the news of the day and ... well it's a full page but off the top of my head I can't remember. I never pay attention because typically the top three news stories are about some diet fad, the hottest celebrity taboo and some cute animal.

Quite frankly, since I moved to London, when I log on, I get UK aol, and I don't even know WHO the celebrity is that is apparently that day's talk of the town. (Did you hear the twitter link I sent a few months ago- I'll look for it and post it here... ) When you log onto AOL in UK, it doesn't say, "You've Got Mail." It says in a female British voice- "You Have E-Mail."
It's strange to me, but I think it's proper English.

Today I noticed some of the news connected to AOL is from the Huffington Post.
Here is a link to one of the top news stories on AOL UK- titled
"Phone Hacking Scandal: Britain's Media Likely To Face New Rules."