Tired traditions

Aaaaaaaargh – sprouts! Now I love Christmas as much as the next hyper-active 10-year-old but just keep me away from those small, sour, green beasts of doom. Then there is turkey, that most tasteless of meat, and all the thoughtless, tacky, useless presents (admittedly mainly from me).

Wall to wall history..

A bit of the Berlin Wall has popped up outside the Imperial War Museum here in London.

Cold War relic, war museum – makes sense, I guess. (writes Patrick Jackson from the World Today ). There is a cartoon on it, a big face shouting “Change your life”. 

Living it up

Do you love where you live?  Some like their home towns spotless, with neat tree-lined streets, sophisticated restaurants and orderly traffic; others can’t bear the tedium of tidiness and crave a little madness in their lives.

A list of the best cities in the world to live in is about to be published by Monocle magazine.

I’ve seen the list, and without giving the game away — the results are to be announced on Sunday — I reckon they’re a bit tame. But then my choice in urban environments has always been a little unusual.

The Sound of Silence

Mike here – I edit The World Today at weekends and this is my first time on the blog – hello! Have a look at this great article by novelist Susan Hill about silence. She thinks we’re afraid of it. Are you?

Could there be a worse time to fluff your lines?

So Barack Obama had to take the oath of office again after this blunder…..doh! It seems it was Chief Justice Roberts who was at fault . All the same, could there really have been a worse time to trip over your words? If you’ve ever said something you shouldn’t have…weddings, funerals, speeches…we want to hear from you.

What advice would you give Barack Obama?

Less than two weeks to go ’til Barack Obama takes on the most powerful job in the world….what advice would you give him? Plenty on his plate….the crisis in Gaza, the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan. What should his priroties be?

What’s the best/worst cover version of all time?

hello chaps. All around the BBC office this week much humming of the song “Hallelujah”

Somalia – how can the reporter help?

Isa Ali Gedi lives in the Somalia capital Mogadishu. He told us: “I’ve lost 50% of my life. I’ve lost some of my kids. I’ve lost my house, my job. I live like the cats and dogs. I live in a hopeless place.” After we thought the interview had finished, Isa said he wanted to ask us some questions. “What can the BBC do for me?” “What can I tell my three kids?” So what is the role of the journalist? To help or to report?

What’s the most memorable motor you’ve ever driven?

One of the world’s most iconic cars, the Citroen 2CV turns 60 this week. The Deux Cheveaux is an absolute classic but what has been your most memorable motor. Mini Cooper, Fiat Cinquecento, Cadillac, Morris Minor, Mustang…..

China Cheers!

Mark writes…

It wasn’t a bad start was it?. From the drums doing the countdown to that spectacular finale, you couldn’t take your eyes off the Opening Ceremony. I had the privilege – and i can’t think of a better word- of being in a packed bar in Beijing – surrounded by proud – and at times quite emotional-Chinese people.