London Time Lapse

Have not been to London in over 30 years. I think it has changed a bit since then. 

One building of note that I had followed progress on when they were building it was the Shard - the tallest building in the EU. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard

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Happy Underpaid Employees at Pret a Manger – “Emotional Labor”* Making the Scientology-Like Version of Sandwiches in London, New York, Chicago Etc.

In a whole new world out there in modern business regarding exploitation and brainwashing of employees, mostly immigrants, not native Brits, in London etc.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112204/pret-manger-when-corporations-enforce-happiness

Pret doesn't merely want its employees to lend their minds and bodies; it wants their souls, too. It will not employ anyone who is "here just for the money." Noting that one Pret worker in London got fired soon after he tried to start a union—the company maintained it was for making homophobic comments—Myerscough suggested the worker's true offense was being unhappy enough to want to start a union, since "Pret workers aren't supposed to be unhappy." The sin commenceth with the thought, not the deed. 

*Emotional labor is not itself new. Prostitutes have faked orgasms for millennia. With greater sincerity (one hopes), undertakers calm the grieving, nurses comfort the sick, and migrant nannies lavish on other people's children the love they aren't present to furnish back home. Flight attendants, in the pre-feminist era, calmed jittery flyers by being pretty, friendly, even a little bit flirtatious; this ended with deregulation in the early '80s as airlines stopped competing on service and started competing on price.

In all these instances, emotional labor served (legitimately or not) identifiable emotional needs. That's not true at Pret. Fast-food service is not one of the caring professions. The only imperatives typically addressed in a Pret shop are hunger and thirst. Why must the person who sells me a cheddar and tomato sandwich have "presence" and "create a sense of fun"? Why can't he or she be doing it "just for the money"? I don't expect the swiping of my credit card to be anybody's vocation. This is, after all, the economy's bottom most rung.

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A Yank Abroad – Archbishop Cordileone in England

San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone was recently hanging in London helping rewrite liturgy to welcome women hating, gay hating Anglicans into holy mudder church.

While there he gave a speech at the Brompton Oratory Church, next to the Victoria and (Prince) Albert Museum, a great place to meet tourists, exchange students etc.

Oh to get away from the hustle and bustle of San Fran to save souls in England. A task worthy of a cardinal.

A Father Henry, a simple humble parish priest went to hear the words of the great man Cordileone and gave a perfect, excellent PC review of the speech in his rather extensive blog covering Tradtional church stuff in Europe with pics below.

http://offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com/2013/01/archbishop-cordileone.html 

Abp. Sal Cordileone and  Fr. Simon Henry

http://offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com/2010/11/visit-to-france-for-st-lazarus.html 

Hanging with some friends in Orleans France

http://offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com/2010/11/traditional-rite-parish-in-france_26.html 

Tradtional Rite Church in Orleans

St.Catherines Catholic Church, Stanifield Lane, Farington, United Kingdom (Google Maps)

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Ann Romney – Horsey Team – London Olympics

http://special.registerguard.com/web/opinion/28456787-47/romney-horse-dressage-rafalca-horses.html.csp

Rafalca, a 15-year-old Oldenburg mare owned in part by the Romneys, qualified as a member of the U.S. Olympic team and will be competing in London in the dressage competition — a form of ballet for horses and their riders in which the animals do pirouettes, serpentines and Piaffes, which, according to the International Equestrian Federation, is a “highly collected, cadenced, elevated diagonal movement” in which “the haunches with active hocks are well engaged.” Rafalca, after qualifying, flew across the Atlantic on a FedEx jet (no, they didn’t strap her to the roof) and reportedly dined on an in-flight meal of watermelon.

Understandably, Romney was wary about discussing dressage when NBC’s Brian Williams asked him in London Wednesday about his equine Olympian. “You actually have a horse in the race. What’s that gonna be like?”

“Well,” Romney replied. “It’s — a big — exciting experience for my wife and — and for the person that she’s worked with, the trainer of the horse who’s riding the horse. And — obviously, it’s fun to be part of the Olympics in any way you can be part of them."

Williams followed up: “When is the event, and for those of us who don’t follow the sport, what happens? Are there rounds that — of competition? Is there just one chance? What happens?”

Romney pleaded ignorance. “I have to tell you. This is Ann’s sport. I’m not even sure which day the sport goes on. She will get the chance to see it, I will not — be — watching — the event. I hope — her horse does well.”

Is Romney a Pitcher or a Catcher's Mitt - Top or Bottom in Leadership Skills ?

Romney Trashes London Olympics - He Could Have Staged Them Better

Romney meets in London with somebody supposed to be important. 

Mitt Willard Romney put his silver foot in his mouth again when he compared his 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics with the behemoth British effort for a "full English" style Summer Olympics. 


Put away your earmuffs Mitt. There ain't no snow in London today. 


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18995166

US presidential candidate Mitt Romney has predicted a "very successful" Olympics, hours after talking of "disconcerting" signs in London.

He backtracked while meeting PM David Cameron, after telling US TV Britain may not be ready to stage the Games.

He said all Games saw "small" mistakes and he had seen "great progress" in the UK. But his remarks were later seized on by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The Republican contender will take on Barack Obama in November's election.

In the contest for the Republican nomination, Mr Romney made much of the fact that he delivered a successful Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, when he was chief executive of the event.

Speaking to reporters outside 10 Downing Street, he said he had been impressed by the enthusiasm of "millions of people across Great Britain" who had turned out for the torch relay.

Mr Romney said he "applauded the work of the organising committee in bringing the Olympic experience right into the heart of London".

Hours later, London Mayor Boris Johnson played on Mr Romney's earlier comments while revving up a crowd of thousands of people in London's Hyde Park.

Calling London "the greatest city on earth," Mr Johnson told the crowd: "I hear there's a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know whether we're ready. Are we ready?"