A Salute to Mrs Doyle!

Last week I got all fanboy-esque at the news that Mrs Doyle is joining EastEnders (sort of). That’s why this week, I want to take this opportunity to salute all things Mrs Doyle!

The news is actually that Pauline Mclynn, the talented comedienne who was behind the sheer genius that was the Craggy Island housekeeper, and who has also starred in Shameless, among other things, is set to star in the BBC soap.

Even better, she’s set to take the part of Yvonne Cotton, the mother of EastEnders legend Dot Branning’s recently revealed grandson, Charlie Cotton. It’s a recurring part, but it’s one that’s bound to be juicy as she’s been billed as a character who just might have a few secrets of her own…

A List of Why Mrs Doyle is So Great

So, we know that Pauline Mclynn is a talented actress, and I’m sure Oliver Rawlings blog readers, that she’ll light the screen on fire as the elusive Yvonne. But until then, I want to actually take the time to list just why she’s so bloody marvellous!

· A British Tradition: She may be Irish, but she captured the hearts and minds of viewers west of the Emerald Isle with her love and devotion to that classic British staple, tea. She reminded us all that, yes, tea really is the answer to all of life’s problems.

· A Little Insane: Let’s face it, she was a little insane wasn’t she, and that’s why we loved her. Sane people quite frankly aren’t funny, but those who are just a little off kilter provide us with all the laughs we need to get through the day. Who wasn’t cracking up in that episode where she acted like a One Direction fan when introduced to the new milkman!

· A Strong Character: Despite the comedy element, she was a surprising role model for the youth of today. I’m serious here. She knew her own mind and she knew how to get what she wanted. Even if all she wanted was to make sure you got a cup of tea.

A Method Actor: Have you ever seen a picture of Pauline Mclynn in real life? She’s practically a different person. Knowing that, seeing the transformation the actress undergoes to become the Craggy Island housekeeper is amazing. It just makes the character even more rip-roaringly hilarious!

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Black Friday Madness Hits British Shores

Anyone who reads the Oliver Rawlings Blog knows that I find modern culture fascinating; some of the things that people do in the modern world defy belief and they make fascinating subjects to debate and analyse.

That’s why the American concept of Black Friday has fascinated me for years. For those of you out there who’ve ever watched an American Thanksgiving special, you’ll know what Black Friday is.  It’s the day after Thanksgiving where American stores put on the craziest, most aggressive of discounts in order to draw in the American shopping public. It always works; after all American’s love a good bargain. It’s basically a day in the year where American companies find new ways to sell stuff. It is a tradition that has been around for years; however it’s only been known as Black Friday for the past two decades. It has now become the most lucrative shopping day of the year.

This is something we’re used to by now; we hear about it every time this time of year rolls around. What we’re not used to is Black Friday hitting our stores. Yes, that’s right; we’ve officially been taken over. It started with Cyber Monday, a similar online tradition to Black Friday where online retailers offer similar types of deals for customers. That one’s gained a little traction over here. Now we’ve got Black Friday. Asda, the supermarket chain owned by American giant Wal-Mart can be particularly noted for putting on Black Friday offers. People have been practically biting Asda’s hands off this year to take advantage of these amazing deals.

On the one hand this is certainly a good thing for our economy. We are only just recovering from the global economic crash that devastated us all in 2008. Consumerism drives the economy; it always has. America has benefitted economically from Black Friday for years; the fact it’s the biggest shopping day of the year means that in this one day alone millions of dollars are injected into the American market every time Black Friday rolls around.

However there is a dark side to it. Every year in America there are always instances of violence attached to Black Friday, without fail. This year alone there were at least two incidents on Black Friday across the pond that involved the use of guns. This year we’ve seen a few incidents of violence here that police have had to come in and sort out. Consumers can get violent when they really want something. Do we really want this spreading over to us?

Whether we want it or not, Black Friday is crossing over to Britain; there’s little we can do to stop it. Progress always brings trouble; however by its very definition it also brings growth and change. Considering the fact our economy is only just beginning to recover, maybe it’s something we need right now?

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Oliver Rawlings Asks Everyone to Remember to Use Technology Responsibly

I think the vast majority of us, especially the author of the Oliver Rawlings Blog, agree that the internet is a wonderful thing. Before the internet, life was so much more complicated; we had to walk to the post office or bank to pay bills, we had to pick up a phone if we wanted a chat with our best mate, we had to turn to an encyclopaedia if we wanted to check something. Now, with the internet, all of this is at our fingertips. Need to pay a bill? Online banking! Want to catch up with a mate in Australia? Skype them! Want to look up the answer to a question on a game show? Wikipedia it! The internet has changed our lives so much we even look for love there these days, however we tend to forget just how dangerous a place it can be, especially for teenagers who haven’t quite learned how to use it responsibly yet.

So why am I bringing this up? It may seem odd seeing as I haven’t been a teenager for a few years now. I’m a (somewhat) functioning adult who knows how to handle myself online. However Iwas on the BBC News website this morning (Monday 21^st October) and I saw an article that highlighted just how much of a problem this is among a younger demographic. The article presents the argument that children between 9 and 11 are engaging in extremely risky behaviour online. It backed this up with survey figures drawn up by ISC2 IT Security Education group, which suggests that these children are playing online games meant for a much older, often adult audience and that many are sharing personal information online.

Also the survey highlighted that 18% of the 1,162 children surveyed said that they had arranged real world meetings with friends online and also that a staggering 55% of children accept cyber bullying as a part of everyday life. For anyone, these figures are shocking. I’m all for young people using the internet; I certainly did, even if it wasn’t quite as advanced back then. But I never used it like this; I was taught how to use it responsibly. The real danger here is twofold. Firstly, this could lead them into real danger, especially as they are the more vulnerable members of society; they don’t know how to handle this sort of thing responsibly. Secondly, they could develop bad online habits; even when you’re my age, agreeing to share all your details online is a bad idea.

I am, as you all know by now, a huge technology enthusiast. I believe it’s a good thing. However, it needs to be used responsibly. I learned how to use the internet, like many of us did, through my IT lessons at school. I learned to be careful, to use this medium responsibly. It seems that maybe the lesson to take from these stats is to start educating kids younger.

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