London, I’m Coming Home (Qype does London)

London, I’m Coming Home
Chris Osburn
Qype does London
January 11th 2009

I’m sitting here at Hartsfield International Airport (ick) in Atlanta waiting for my flight back to Heathrow (double ick). Despite the prospect of an especially sinister case of jetlag and an ever increasing pile of work waiting to gang up on me across The Pond, I’m more than ready to return. Three weeks is a long time to be away. I miss my wife, my kitties, my daily routine and the city I call home.

Read the complete London, I’m Coming Home post at Qype does London.

Hope for a Chugger-Free London!

I really don't like the litany of street canvassers clogging up London's already crowded pavements. And, I know from a (very) brief stint as a "chugger" in my early twenties that, despite the fact that most of the folks out on the streets have big hearts and good intentions, there's a lot of bullshit involved. Anyway, here's a reassuring report from the BBC about a new Intelligent Giving study confirming that chuggers are indeed an "inefficient way of giving and they give charities a bad name and they harass people and put them out - and we think that's behaviour that charities shouldn't be indulging in."

Call for street canvasser boycott
Charity street fundraisers should be avoided by people looking to make donations, a watchdog has warned.
BBC News
Page last updated at 20:35 GMT, Monday, 24 November 2008

We reached a pretty solid conclusion: never give to street fundraisers," the report concluded.
"Instead, find out which charity you really like, and give via its website."

Read the complete article at the BBC News website.

Gratuitous kittens photography blog post (Qype does London)

Gratuitous kittens photography blog post
by Chris Osburn
Qype does London
August 6th 2008










For [our cats'] veterinary needs, we’re taking them to Amwell Veterinary Practice because, in addition to being close and convenient for us, the folks running the show there are incredibly professional and full of love for animals.

Read the complete kittens photography post.

Clerkenwell and good: up in arms! (Qype does London)

Clerkenwell and good: up in arms!
by Chris Osburn
Qype does London
August 2nd 2008










… I can assure you that Clerkenwell is not a seedy part of town … It is a safe, central and desirable location known for some of London’s best pubs and restaurants. Indeed, St John (recognized as one of the 50 best restaurants in the world) is just down the street from me. I regularly walk around here late at night with no problems and feel comfortable when my wife or our female friends walk alone at night here …

Read the complete Clerkenwell post.

Comparing London/New York Police Body Count

London versus New York in this brilliant post by Emiana, whom it's nice to see blogging again!

Body Count
by Emiana
Emiana
Friday, May 09, 2008

I cannot help but wonder what are the differences in culture, police training, gun laws and other factors that create such a staggering difference in statistics between two fairly similar cities? An old crim law professor of mine always said to look at the body count before anything else. I'm looking and and there's work to be done.

Click here for complete post.

Tube Strike: Here We (Don't) Go Again

Three day Tube strike announced
A 72-hour strike on the London Underground is planned by rail unions in a row over safety.
BBC News
Last Updated: Friday, 28 March 2008, 12:18 GMT

A strike from 1830 GMT on 6 April to 9 April is planned by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA).

Click here for complete article.

London Lost & Found: Pizza Money Payback?

This was taped above the postboxes in the lobby of the building where I live. It speaks volumes about my neighbours and how they socialize. Hilarious. If you can't read it, here's what it says:

Could whoever it was (Thomas?) who borrowed money from me the other night for pizza please put it in the postbox for Flat 8? (Shame I have had to ask for it back)

Londonist: Accessing Wheelchair Accessible London?

A recent convo with London Blogger Meetup organizer Andy Bargery led to me writing the following post for Londonist. If you have any ideas, please join in the discussion!

Accessing Wheelchair Accessible London?
by Chris Osburn

Londonist

March 6, 2008

A man rolls into a bar. Sounds like the start of a dumb joke? It’s not. Wheelchair-enabled people like going out in the evening as much as anybody. What does appear to be a joke is how difficult it can be to find info about wheelchair accessible pubs et al in London. We did a bit of online snooping and were dismayed by the lack of resources out there.

Click here for complete post.

Health Nut: A Smoothie for Winter (Londonist)

Health Nut: A Smoothie for Winter
by Chris Osburn

Londonist

January 21, 2008

Is it just us or has everyone in London been ill this winter? Plenty of us Londonistas have. Sore throats, coughs, sniffles: you name the condition, we’ve suffered from it. If only we’d known sooner about Innocent Drinks' new lemon, honey and ginger concoction.

Click here for complete post.

People Don't Walk in Hackney after Dark?

Smith admits London street fear
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has admitted she would not feel safe walking around London after dark.
BBC News
Last Updated: Sunday, 20 January 2008, 11:59 GMT

In the interview with the Sunday Times, Ms Smith was asked why she would not feel safe on Hackney's streets at night. She replied: "Well, I just don't think that's a thing that people do, is it, really?"

Click here for complete article.


Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008

Quality of Life: It's Better "Over Here?"

UK living standards outstrip US
Living standards outstrip those across the Atlantic for first time in over a century
David Smith, Economics Editor
The Sunday Times
January 6, 2008

LIVING standards in Britain are set to rise above those in America for the first time since the 19th century, according to a report by the respected Oxford Economics consultancy.

Click here for complete article.


Photography courtesy of edmittance's photostream on Flickr.

Text-a-Toilet in Westminster

Find A Toilet By Text
By Jemimah Steinfeld
Londonist
November 29, 2007

... using the latest mobile technology, people who wish to subscribe to this service pay a mere 25p ... and voila, info on the nearest and available toilets sent to your phone. In addition, due to certain Oxford Street and Victoria superstores registering their own facilities through the scheme, even those with delicate rear-ends can appreciate the service.

Click here for complete article.

London to Ban Plastic Bags?

Londoners 'back plastic bags ban'
More than 90% of Londoners have called for action to tackle the environmental impact of throw-away plastic bags, according to a survey.

BBC News
Last Updated: Thursday, 8 November 2007, 12:18 GMT

Almost 60% of those who took part in the London Councils consultation supported an outright ban.

Click here for complete article.


Photography by Chris Osburn © 2007

Tuesday, 13 November 2007 update from the BBC here.

Accolades for London's Public Transport? Really?

I find all of this a bit hard to believe, but here are three articles about how wonderful people seem to think public transport in London is.

London tops city transport poll
World travellers have voted London the best city for public transport, for the second year running.
BBC News
Last Updated: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 07:10 GMT 08:10 UK

Travellers also considered London to have the most costly transport system.

Click here for complete article.

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London Transport's Bronze Medal
By Cate
Londonist
October 3, 2007

Although station cleanliness and comfy seats may not initially strike you, it is, apparently, one of the most luxurious transportation systems in the world.

Click here for complete article.

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TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Top 5 Cities For Public Transit
by Jorge
Inhabitat
October 2, 2007

Add to all this the infamous double decker buses and you end up with one of the best transportation systems in the world.

Click here for complete article.


Photography by Chris Osburn © 2007

London's Religious Ghettos

Religion not race segregates city
London is far more segregated on religious grounds than by race, new research reveals.
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 4 September 2007, 13:07 GMT 14:07 UK

Only 3% of London's seven million residents live in areas classed as racially segregated, but 25% live in religiously-segregated neighbourhoods.

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of Kipaloki's photostream on Flickr.

Sickboy's Old Street Wedding Chapel

A recent work on Old Street by graffiti artist, Sickboy, provides a perfect backdrop for a few impromptu wedding photos:

Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007.

London Lost and Found: Money in per Month

Family planning doctor suggests patient needs exorcism!

File this one under WTF. I had to read this article twice to make sure it wasn't a joke!

Doctor 'prescribed an exorcism'
A family planning doctor prescribed an exorcism to a woman during a routine appointment, a medical tribunal heard.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 9 July 2007, 16:40 GMT 17:40 UK

Dr Joyce Pratt, 44, allegedly told the patient she was possessed by an evil spirit and suggested she visit a priest who could take the problem away.

Click here for complete article.


Photograph courtesy of mondoagogo via Flickr.

No More Smoky Pubs in the New Smoke-Free London

As insidious as smoking is, it has added to the ambiance of pubs in London for a few centuries. It will be interesting to see how things go with the new smoking ban that takes effect today. If the bans in Scotland and New York serve as examples, then the new law should achieve its intended result - less people dying due to cigarettes. However, an increase in home fires is a feared possibility, and an unfortunate consequence is the closing of London's shisha bars. All in all, the ban's probably a net positive. Still, the following quote by one well known smoker might be worth considering:

I think non-smokers should be barred from buying anything a smoker has created.
- Joe Strummer

Photography by Pint Champion © 2007

Need more info about the ban? Here's a Q&A from the Times Online offering Everything You Need to Know about the new smoke-free London.

London's most romantic tube stops?

London's romantic Tube stops revealed
By Valentine Low, Evening Standard
gulfnews.com
09:13:00 o'clock BST 27 April 2007

A Transport for London spokesman said: "This confirms what we have long suspected - that the Tube can be a tunnel of love."A Transport for London spokesman said: "This confirms what we have long suspected - that the Tube can be a tunnel of love."

Click here for complete post.