Nelson's Column: #UKIP's Politics of Fear

Friday, 13 November 2015. Terrorists strike in Paris, France, killing over 140 people and injuring hundreds of others. The world mourns. David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn offer their condolences and condemn the terrorist attacks. And France closes its borders to prevent the terrorists from escaping and also heightens security. 

Roast Turkey, Made Easy

It was with some trepidation that I approached the topic of roasting a turkey.I wondered if our readers needed yet another recipe for turkey in November when the cover of nearly every cooking magazine is adorned with a picture-perfect browned bird, while the editors struggle to convince us that, (at last!), the definitive recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is contained within.

Shakespeare Cipher Stories

Did Shakespeare write Shakespeare? Many people doubt that, for various reasons—the most obvious one being that a barely literate actor from the sleepy village of Stratford-on-Avon could not possibly have written with such accuracy and familiarity the many scenes in the plays that invoke the classics or the pomp of nobility and royal courts. Furthermore, no manuscripts by Shakespeare were ever found, and only six Shakespeare signatures are known to exist. The signatures all look different and give the impression they were written by a man who was not used to holding a pen. Some speculate that others’ hands may have guided his own as he wrote them.

UK: Don't Disappear! - #RegisterToVote [Video Included]

Image via HopeNotHate

The following is an email from HopeNotHate I've received earlier today and I'm sharing it here because the advice given in it does actually concern everyone who hasn't registered to vote yet, whatever their political views... 

Definitely worth a read.

Stay visible!

Loup Dargent

Singer Crooner Nat King Cole Story

Nat King Cole was born as Nathaniel Adams Coles on Saint Patrick's Day, 17th March 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. His glorious career as a favourite American crooner ironically started as a bar room jazz pianist.

Although Nat King Cole was a pianist of excellent dexterity, his meteoric rise to musical fame was largely due to his sweet velvety singing, crooning out heart melting melodies that made his throngs of female fans swooned headily!

The King also made history as the first American of African descent to host a television variety show and was wildly popular worldwide even decades following his unfortunate demise in 1965 at the young age of 45 due to lung cancer.

Gazing Through The Eyes Of A Halloween Mask

Masks have mesmerized people from all different cultures and countries from the time of the ancients until this modern day. Masks have been used for many different reasons, from religious rituals, theater to the delightful play of children. Although, many masks are still used today in all these different ways one of the most popular reasons for wearing a mask is in celebration of Samhain, Halloween and magnificent masquerade balls. Masks have such a whimsical allure that you will find many antique masks on display throughout many countries of the world. 

How to Celebrate Halloween Properly

When it comes to celebrating Halloween on October 31st properly, the Americans are the experts. In the UK we settle for half an hour’s Trick or Treating or, if we have no children, we sit in hoping no-one knocks on the door as we forget to get any sweets in.

It’s time we changed all that. Here’s how the Americans do it and how you can do it too.

Final Touches For A Zombie Fancy Dress

The big number of zombie flicks that made a hit on the big screen is enough to prove that people would always find these ghastly characters interesting. The plot is always the same but people still watch for the heck of being scared. Perhaps this is the reason why a zombie costume is still a common preference for many people during Halloween. Just like any other scary character, there would be many approaches in creating the look.

There is a Halloween fancy dress made for children. Halloween costumes that are intended for young ones are usually designed to be more comfortable. Those are not as scary as those that are made for teenagers and adults for obvious reasons. The last thing parents want is their child’s scary costume causing others to cry. Zombie costumes for kids usually have many layers and tattered lining. The colors of the textiles are muted to make the clothes look like it has been worn for a long time. There are also ensembles that come with additional details such as bones and flesh showing through tears in the costume.

Halloween accessories such as fake scars and wound also help a lot in making a zombie look realistic. There are also sets of face paints people can experiment with so they can achieve the greenish pale skin of dead bodies. If they wish to, they can also add bruises to make the costume look more authentic. Understandably, those would be for really scary costumes and not for young ones. Another way of making it fitting for Halloween is by making the costume bloodier. A zombie fancy dress can also be made more interesting by using different types of fake blood. Some are meant to be smeared on the clothes while others are meant to be used against the skin. There are also capsules that people can bite on to make blood ooze out of their zombie mouths.

There are also zombie fancy dress costumes that have masks. Those would be ideal for people who do not wish to put on makeup. It is true that putting face paint on requires a bit of creativity so it may not be for everyone. The downside of wearing a mask is that it can be quite uncomfortable for the wearer. This means that people cannot possibly wear them through and through and would have to remove it at some point during the event. A zombie costume can also be more modern. The look would be much like your ordinary neighbor except that they are already zombies.


Women would also have a lot of choices for adult costume parties with zombies as a theme. They do not necessarily have to look shabby in their tattered clothes. The truth is that there are a number of sexy zombie costumes to choose from. Any common ensemble can be turned to something gruesome by means of using a bit of makeup and face paint. If they wish to, they can even come in a full gown to look like a zombie bride. There can be many renditions of zombies so it is quite a fun role to play.

Submitted by; Sean Goudelock

About Today's Contributor 
Banners 'n' Balloons are the UK's largest retailer of Fancy Dress products. Should you wish to learn more about how we can help you with either Zombie Fancy Dress or Halloween Fancy Dress.

More Zombies Related Stories

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Saudi Arabia: Save Ali From Beheading And Crucifixion! [Petition]

Our pressure is working! The UK Prime Minister just urged the Saudis to stop Ali’s execution. But Germany and the US have yet to speak out. Sign and share urgently -- help save Ali! 

The Glamour Of Holography On The Silver And Small Screens

As the editor of Holography News, it's always fascinating to see the latest trends in holography streets behind the fantastical science fiction world's vision of what the technology should achieve. The interesting thing is that holographic images in films have changed from simple visions in cinema's earlier days to being clones of humanity in more recent productions, while in real life the humble hologram is, for the moment, still used for security and authentication. Although the real life technology has made huge strides, the development it has seen in cinema and television has become a whole different world which now resembles holography in name alone. 

Here's an abridged history of the key film and television programs that have seen holography develop from a moving image, to developing independent thought and life… 

5 Best Movies To Teach Important Money Questions

There are some films that teach us lessons we didn't expect. All that you need to do is look a little deeper at the meaning behind the story to find your own personal parable. This is the basis for any good story telling: to have something beneath the surface that rings true to real life. Seeing a film that follows this rule will always make it a more rewarding viewing experience.

When it comes to learning about money, modern and classic cinema are both full of examples. Check out these flicks that do more than entertain, they also teach us a bit about finances, and the do's and dont's of personal money handling.

The One About The Election-Themed "Canadian Revolution" Music Video [Video + Lyrics Included]

While browsing through my PR Newswire account, the following news item caught my eye:

"TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Toronto-based singer/rapper Gaiaisi (Gaia's Eye) has released a controversial election-themed music video, filmed on Parliament Hill, that is currently going viral, having reached over 40,000 people on YouTube and Facebook in just 4 days since its initial release."

So, as I do love songs with a message, I had a proper look, watched the video... and decided to share it with you.

Enjoy...

Loup Dargent