Will you be moving with the BBC Lollipop?

As I flicked through the Guardian yesterday past their two page spread on the recent uprisings in Libya I wonder how long this ripple effect in the Middle East will last. However the latest article on the BBC’s move to Manchester turns my mind away from Muammar Gaddafi’s horrific counterattack on his own people.

Journalists like Melanie Phillips believe the move is, “more than ridiculous,” and could be “potentially disastrous,” Lollipop however believes this could be the best move yet.

“I’m so excited sis my chances of working for the BBC and interviewing all the celebrities have practically tripled!”

“I thought you wanted to work for Topshop Lollipop?”

“Well, everyone needs a backup plan sis,” explains my younger sister as she clicks off Justin Bieber’s Twitter page and goes to the BBC North Jobs 2011 homepage.

“Maybe you could get a job on BBC breakfast seeing as less than 50% of the staff are actually planning to leave London.”

“What? Why don’t they want to move?”

“Because their whole life is in London Lollipop- they don’t want to unearth their entire families just so that the BBC can become less “London-centric.”

My Lollipop suddenly looks confused, “London-centric?” she asks. “People that are primarily focused and concerned with London sis,”

“Oh right. Well I can understand that they don’t want to leave their homes but they work for the BBC. Many would do almost anything for those kinds of jobs.”

I nod at my sister’s words as I continue to read the article, shocked that many like sports presenter Chris Hollins have refused to move to Manchester and that others apparently fear politicians and celebrities will not want to travel to the city. I read the article aloud to my sister who also cannot believe these statements.

“Celebrities and politicians are used to travelling all over the world though sis. Look at Justin Bieber on his My World tour. He is coming to Manchester and I have tickets so it is clearly not a waste of time or money for him,” argues Lollipop who has been working on her banners for the concert ever since she purchased tickets for Bieber’s gig at the MEN arena.

“Yes Lollipop, clearly the majority of the BBC team don’t realise that Manchester is the place to be unlike Justin Bieber who knows how to keep his Mancunian fans happy.”

“Exactly sis!” exclaims Lollipop totally unaware of the hints of sarcasm in my voice.

Yet as usual my 15-year-old sister does have a point. Celebrities and politicians are constantly travelling therefore BBC employees who are against the move to Salford Quays should not use this as an excuse.

Currently where I work three out of nine staff could be made redundant as libraries across Britain are either closing or being forced to scale down. More and more jobs are on the line. More and more people would do almost anything for the lucrative pay slips some of the BBC Breakfast staff are given including moving  a couple of miles to a newly refurbished Media City in Manchester.

Across the world in Libya people are deeply concerned for their lives yet over in Britain BBC employees are concerned about uprooting their family to a truly modernised city.

I guess we really are poles apart.

“Oh my gosh sis, Bieber is auctioning off his hair for charity after his amazing haircut, how exciting!”

“Yes Lollipop, it is truly amazing.”

Is Bieber Fever becoming a national epidemic Lollipop?

Before I can even flick through today’s Daily Mail my sister, Lollipop has already seized the newspaper from my hands and almost screams with excitement as she starts to read aloud the article entitled, “Beiber Fever.” I however am more interested in Britain’s pressing political matters as Prime Minister David Cameron is still raging about unelected judges giving thousands of rapists and paedophiles the chance to get off the sex offenders register.

After Lollipop has finished ogling over her idol at his movie premier of Never Say Never I snatch back the newspaper and soon become appalled by the Supreme court’s ruling. The judges argued that keeping serious offenders on the register for life was “disproportionate” and a breach of their right to a private and family life. However Home Secretary Theresa May strongly disagreed. She said, “these are rights of course that these offenders have taken away from their victims in the cruellest and most degrading manner.” I wholeheartedly agree. “Unless they are proven innocent they should have no such rights,” I exclaim as I show Lollipop the article.

“Why are you showing me this article when Justin Bieber’s article is so much more exciting sis?”

“Because this could affect our rights, the courts are putting former criminals first instead of our public safety Lollipop.”

“I guess when you put it that way it does seem more important than Justin’s movie premier.”

“Of course it is Lollipop! Cameron is pushing even more now for a Bill of Rights that would contain a series of non- negotiable declarations about the rights of the individual accompanied by their responsibilities. But support for the courts means dramatic changes will have to wait at least four years.” I explain to Lollipop as she quickly reads the article.

“I cannot believe some Liberal Democrat MPs are actually supporting the courts sis.”

“I know Lord Carlile argued that the judiciary is just carrying out its normal tasks of interpreting the law as it is.”

“Well then they should change the law,” suggests Lollipop as she turns the page back to Justin Bieber’s movie premier.

If only it was that simple I wonder. The Tories can only pledge to put more Conservative plans to crush the courts at the heart of their next manifesto in 2015. Victim groups and charities like the NSPCC will have to wait at least four years until the possibility for change comes.

Although I can understand Strasbourg’s rulings to prevent criminals like Al Qaeda terrorist being sent back to their home towns where they could be tortured Lollipop and I find it hard to understand why a rapist should deserve a second chance.

The judiciary seem to be the unfortunate messengers of this disturbing announcement. Once again my Lollipop is right. The law must be changed. This political bickering is not justifying any side’s case. So until 2015 comes along I shall remain silent in reference to this case and enjoy laughing at the screaming young teens at Bieber’s purple carpet event instead.

Yep. Bieber fever has definitely become a serious national epidemic girls.

What will Lollipop be wearing during fashion week season?

As I trawl through the guardian’s various web pages desperate to escape the repetitive news reports that Hosni Murbarak has finally stepped down in Egypt I suddenly notice the glossier more glamorous pages that are reporting on the New York Fashion week.

Now this is definitely more mine and Lollipop’s style! I show my sister the various online galleries that shows model after model parading down the catwalk in beautiful gowns and designs. “They all look so incredible, even the photos taken backstage look so chic,” explains my sister clearly wowed by each couture image.

“Yeah they are pretty special and soon fashion week will be hitting London so we have to be prepared Lollipop and learn from our New York Fashionistas.”

“I know sis 18- 23^rd February, don’t worry I have marked it down in my diary so that we’re all dressed up for next week.”

“Good work sis, Andre Leon Tally has already made an appearance Lollipop he hosted The American Express CFDA/Vogue Fund Fashion catwalk show in a long black outfit.”

“Really? I love him in America’s next Top Model,” cries my sister.

I however am more interested in the Vogue fund fashion catwalk which gives young talented designers an unparallel opportunity. As nearly all of the Fashion Fund’s 70 past finalists, including Rodarte, Phillip Lim, Marchesa, Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang featured their look in the 60s show. They are now household names in the world of fashion therefore such an event shows just how influential fashion season can be. This is perhaps why the show decided to target consumers rather than the press encouraging them to spend more rather than wait for the sales as all the looks that were featured are actually available in American stores.

I explain this too my sister who is now even more eager to invest all of her weekly spends into another trip to New York.

“Oh my gosh I just want to fly over there right now sis, at least for just the weekend.”

“Unfortunately we do not have that kind of money Lollipop.”

“Life’s so unfair.”

“Don’t worry London fashion week is coming up soon Lollipop,” I remind my sister, yet she seems totally absorbed by the New York articles to even care. With my sister’s obsession with Canadian star Justin Bieber and American shows like Gossip Girl and 90210 that sizzle with high fashion I am not surprised by her excitement over New York style. Even across the internet huge online fashion stores like ASOS are also embracing the state’s fashion week. Like Vogue they’re encouraging shoppers to spend more on the newest trends as New York fashion week becomes more consumerist than ever in order to survive in our suffering economy.

This does not mean though that the styles are drab and dull. I love young Manhattan-based designer Jason Wu’s autumn/ winter collection which apparently had quiet a royal theme to it.  With, “embellishment, gilded embroideries, more than 15 different types of lace, and crystal beading on everything from felted-wool, drawstring parkas, boyish tuxedo-trouser suits, and sweatshirt-tops, to extravagant long gowns worthy of a State Dinner at the White House, accessorized with lace masks,”  his look were incredibly regal. With the British royal wedding soon approaching I would definitely love to turn up wearing one of these looks if I were a guest.

I snap out of my day dream of attending the wedding of 2011 and turn to my sister who is scrawling through various Twitter and news pages to see if Justin Bieber will be making an appearance during fashion season. Sadly she is only coming across reports and pictures of the Gossip Girl cast. I smile at her as she averts to looking at pictures of Bieber’s “Never Say Never” premiere on Wednesday instead. “Have you seen what his supposed girlfriend Selena Gomez is wearing sis?” asks my sister, shocked at the state of  the American TV star, “She needs to be at the New York Fashion show instead of at his premier so she can get some much needed fashion tips,” suggests my sister. I cheerfully scroll through the pictures with her, happy to not be reminded of Egypt’s political struggles for at least just a few moments as head is soon bombarded with frivolous fashion thanks to my Lollipop.

What will Lollipop be wearing during fashion week season?

As I trawl through the Guardian’s various web pages desperate to escape the repetitive news reports that El Hosni Murbarak has finally stepped down in Egypt I suddenly notice the glossier more glamorous pages that are reporting on the New York Fashion week.

Now this is definitely more mine and Lollipop’s style! I show my sister the various online galleries that shows model after model parading down the catwalk in beautiful gowns and designs. “They all look so incredible, even the photos taken backstage look so chic,” explains my sister clearly wowed by each couture image.

“Yeah they are pretty special and soon fashion week will be hitting London so we have to be prepared Lollipop and learn from our New York Fashionistas.”

“I know sis 18- 23^rd February, don’t worry I have marked it down in my diary so that we’re all dressed up for next week.”

“Good work sis, Andre Leon Tally has already made an appearance Lollipop he hosted The American Express CFDA/Vogue Fund Fashion catwalk show in a long black outfit.”

“Really? I love him in America’s next Top Model,” cries my sister.

I however am more interested in the Vogue fund fashion catwalk which gives young talented designers an unparalleled opportunity. As nearly all of the Fashion Fund’s 70 past finalists, including Rodarte, Phillip Lim, Marchesa, Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang featured their look in the 60s show. They are now household names in the world of fashion therefore such an event shows just how influential fashion season can be. This is perhaps why the show decided to target consumers rather than the press encouraging them to spend more rather than wait for the sales as all the looks that were featured are actually available in American stores.

I explain this too my sister who is now even more eager to invest all of her weekly spends into another trip to New York.

“Oh my gosh I just want to fly over there right now sis, at least for just the weekend.”

“Unfortunately we do not have that kind of money Lollipop.”

“Life’s so unfair.”

“Don’t worry London fashion week is coming up soon Lollipop,” I remind my sister, yet she seems totally absorbed by the New York articles to even care. With my sister’s obsession with Canadian star Justin Bieber and American shows like Gossip Girl and 90210 that sizzle with high fashion I am not surprised by her excitement over New York style. Even across the internet huge online fashion stores like ASOS are also embracing the state’s fashion week. Like Vogue they’re encouraging shoppers to spend more on the newest trends as New York fashion week becomes more consumerist than ever in order to survive in our suffering economy.

This does not mean though that the styles are drab and dull. I love young Manhattan-based designer Jason Wu’s autumn/ winter collection which apparently had quiet a royal theme to it.  With, “embellishment, gilded embroideries, more than 15 different types of lace, and crystal beading on everything from felted-wool, drawstring parkas, boyish tuxedo-trouser suits, and sweatshirt-tops, to extravagant long gowns worthy of a State Dinner at the White House, accessorized with lace masks,”  his look were incredibly regal. With the British royal wedding soon approaching I would definitely love to turn up wearing one of these looks if I were a guest.

I snap out of my day-dream of attending the wedding of 2011 and turn to my sister who is scrawling through various Twitter and news pages to see if Justin Bieber will be making an appearance during fashion season. Sadly she is only coming across reports and pictures of the Gossip Girl cast. I smile at her as she averts to looking at pictures of Bieber’s “Never Say Never” premiere on Wednesday instead. “Have you seen what his supposed girlfriend Selena Gomez is wearing sis?” asks my sister, shocked at the state of  the American TV star. “She needs to be at the New York Fashion show instead of at his premier so she can get some much-needed fashion tips,” suggests my sister. I cheerfully scroll through the pictures with her, happy to not be reminded of Egypt’s political struggles for at least just a few moments as head is soon bombarded with frivolous fashion thanks to my Lollipop.