More Good UK News on The DailyDust today

£800,000 House To Be Given Away On Twitter
£8m Snowdon Cafe Opens Today
Cue Ride of the Valkyries, Here Comes Twitocalypse Now
No More Ulrika-ka-ka-ka On Shooting Stars
Now Tesco is offering a school uniform for just £3.75
Size Isn’t Everything - Especially If You Are Jamie Cullen
Andrew Flintoff Returns From Injury Early
Ten British bands that changed the music world

£800,000 House To Be Given Away On Twitter

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 09:33 AM PDT

A house featured on Grand Designs is to be given away to one lucky Twitterer.The ‘Underground’ house won plaudits when it featured on the TV series in 2007 but has failed to sell due to the detumescent property market, which is why owner Tim Bawtree, 38, hit upon the idea of giving it away on the popular micro-blogging website.

Rather than charge entrants to the competition, Mr Bawtree will direct them to a home page set up for the house, on which he hopes to sell space to advertisers.

The page is similar to the Million Dollar Homepage, which made student Alex Tew a fortune when advertisers bought squares on a giant grid.

Ninety per cent of the space will have to be sold in order to trigger the offer, but Mr Bawtree hopes to raise £820,000 to cover all costs and to make a donation to the Service’s charity ‘Help for Heroes’.

The software company boss said: “Similar things have been done, but there was no hook. The hook here is that people can win a house for free, which will drive traffic from Twitter to the home page.

“People have promoted house competitions on Twitter, but there was nothing where Twitterers exclusively could win.

One lucky winner will be picked at random, but this is not his first attempt at giving the house away.

Last year, Mr Bawtree organised a competition with a £25 entry fee, but the scheme was abandoned amid fears it would fall foul of gambling laws.

A new ’spot the frisbee’ competition was launched, but failed to take off.

Those interested in taking part should visit www.twitter.com/pixhome

Tip of the hat to the Metro

Image source Here

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£8m Snowdon Cafe Opens Today

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 05:24 AM PDT

After 3 years of planning and construction, the £8.4m visitor centre on the summit of Snowdon is being opened today.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan will officially open the centre, which will contain a cafe, a shop area, toilets and a disabled lift.

It means climbers and walkers will now be able to enjoy a well-earned cup of tea and escape the often ferocious weather on the Welsh mountain. Winds can reach up to 150mph and the temperature can drop as low as -20 degrees centigrade at the summit.

Mr Morgan said: “This new centre will allow visitors of all ages and physical ability to learn more about the mountain’s significance as a unique recreational, environmental and cultural resource.

The new building replaces the previous Snowdon cafe that was built in 1935 and described by Prince Charles as “the highest slum in Wales.”

The new centre is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and has a glass wall built in to allow visitors to enjoy “Wales’ window on the world.”

Although it may seems a long way to go for a mug of tea and slice of cake, the views are sure to make it all seem worth while.

Tip of the wooly hat to BBC

Cue Ride of the Valkyries, Here Comes Twitocalypse Now

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 12:55 AM PDT

Twitocalypse Now

Is the Web 2.0 equivalent of the Millennium Bug almost upon us?

Twitter might be the site that gets all the attention, but it might have a problem early next week. because of the volume of messages going through the system, programmers are crossing their fingers about how people are counting the message.

Twitter recommends that people who write applications that use the service are using 64 bit unsigned numbers to store the ID of each tweet. If they've been using signed 32-bit integers then they can only reference around 2,147,483,647 tweets… then next one would make things go, well, a bit unpredictable.

Wherecloud have brought it to our attention, along with the fact that Twitter is receiving around 95 tweets every second – about half of those are from Robert Scoble.

In all likely hood very little will happen, as the reminder from Twitter to the developers to use the right type of number is being pushed heavily, so the major clients will be fine… but there could be a run of smaller clients that fail to work.

Around 8am on 15th June is the deadline. Will the web service du jour survive?

Find out Monday!

The countdown can be found at www.twitpocalypse.com.

No More Ulrika-ka-ka-ka On Shooting Stars

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 12:13 AM PDT

Ulrika Jonsson recently had a breast lift to reduce her ample chest from 34J to a 34C, she now has a new nickname from Shooting Stars presenters Vic and Bob..

Jokers Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have dropped their Ulrika-ka-ka-ka catchphrase for their comeback series of Shooting Stars - and now call her “Ulrika New Boobs”.

The Swede, 41, had her breasts lifted and reduced after the duo poked fun at her 34J chest on their Christmas show.

The BBC show is returning this autumn after millions tuned into the festive special.

Ulrika told The Sun’s TV Biz: “Basically I get paid so they can take the piss out of me.”

The Return Of Shooting Stars

Now Tesco is offering a school uniform for just £3.75

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:57 PM PDT

Never one to be outdone, Tesco have pounced on a special offer released recently by arch rivals Asda.

Polo shirts will cost just 50p in the summer-long deal for three to 16-year-olds. The offer was announced yesterday, just one day after we wrote about Asda launching a £4.75 school uniform range.

Both Tesco and Asda have a flat price for all ages. Tesco will sell items individually.

Tesco clothes boss Terry Green to the sun: “We’ve worked hard to give parents this price for a great school uniform.”

This is like retail chess - your move Asda..

Size Isn’t Everything - Especially If You Are Jamie Cullen

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:41 PM PDT

Even in the Cuban Heals, Jamie can’t get past the shoulders of girlfriend Sophie Dahl.
In pictures, it always looks as though Jamie, a jazz pianist and singer, has been digitally shrunk but that’s what they’re like for real. The couple are known in showbusiness circles as Little and Large for reasons that do not need explaining.

Sophie says:”We happen to be two people who met, fell madly in love and will probably produce fairly average sized children, hopefully with his more elegant feet, not mine” she says.

Indeed, if you add the height of the pair of them together, they are pretty average, so she makes a good point.

It is us or does something strange appear to have happened to Mr Cullen in this picture?

see full picture in the Mail

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Andrew Flintoff Returns From Injury Early

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:27 PM PDT

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has made a surprise return for Lancashire's Championship game against Durham.

Six weeks after his knee injury during the Indian Premier League, this will fuel hopes Freddie will be fit for England's 2009 Ashes bid under Andrew Flower.

The injury prone test talisman had not expected to play before facing Hampshire at Liverpool next week. Flintoff was not named in the initial squad but travelled north regardless, raising hopes he might be involved in the fixture.

A side strain suffered by up-and-coming opener Tom Smith in the warm up led Coach Peter Moores to give Freddie his first Championship start in eleven months. Coming on first change, the 31-year-old seemingly wrote his own script, having Australian Michael di Venuto nick off with his second delivery.

Questions will remain as to whether Super Fred is 100% fit, after the meniscus tear in his right knee was operated on in April. The ECB were then confident Flintoff would return in time for the currently on-going World Twenty20 tournament.

While England waits with baited breath, we hope he has not been rushed back to action too soon.

Thanks to Lancashire Evening Post for the picture.

Ten British bands that changed the music world

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 01:25 PM PDT

For a small island, we Brits are awfully creative. We've also given the world some hugely influential artists, especially when it comes to popular music. We've come up with 10 British bands that, quite simply, changed music the world over. So, in no particular order, here they are…

Led Zeppelin

Arguably the greatest rock band ever to have graced the planet, there is something undoubtedly special even today about the incredible drumming of the late John Bonham, the pounding bass of John-Paul Jones, the mesmeric guitar playing of Jimmy Page and the unmistakeable voice of Robert Plant. They were the biggest band in the world in the 1970s and, through refusing to release singles, they pioneered the concept of album-orientated rock – despite writing some great songs such as "Whole Lotta Love", "Kashmir" and "Stairway to Heaven". They've sold an estimated 200 million records worldwide, and if you doubted their importance today then just look at the reception they got when Jason Bonham joined them behind the drum kit for a reunion at the O2 Arena in 2007.

The Beatles

The Fab Four from Liverpool were probably the first British band to achieve global domination, and with over a billion international record sales they are clearly one of the most commercially and critically successful groups ever. Their music and fashion sense were both worldwide trend setters, and the 'Beatlemania' that followed them around propelled John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to the status of everlasting international megastars. Despite half of them no longer being with us, they are still a huge draw, and still pull a huge influence on pop culture. Last year they topped Billboard magazine's list of top-selling artists released to celebrate the chart's 50th anniversary.

The Rolling Stones

You couldn't have one without the other could you? The Stones were the other part of the 1960s Brit invasion of America along with The Beatles, and again were immensely successful. They also feature perhaps the best and most consistent songwriting team in the form of singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, a combination that still works today. Thanks to the fact that not too many of their number has passed away, the Stones still tour with a schedule that puts many younger bands to shame and, if they ever do die, they will be immortalised with great songs like "Brown Sugar" "Satisfaction" and "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll". Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, they were voted the fourth Greatest Artist of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.

The Sex Pistols

If ever a band spoke for a disillusioned generation, then it was The Sex Pistols, who shot to fame during the depressing years of the early 1970s, and went on to be one of the most influential acts ever to play music, as well as almost single-handedly creating the genre of punk rock. It's incredible to think of their legacy considering they only ever released one album, the superb 'Never Mind the Bollocks: Here's the Sex Pistols', but it is a timeless masterpiece that will continue to influence musicians for many years to come. Dangerous bassist Sid Vicious may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but they key to their success was the simple, fast melodies of guitarist Steve Jones coupled with the pure, wretched aggression of vocalist Johnny Rotten. While infamous, they did write some superb singles such as the anthemic "Anarchy in the UK", and their spirit will always hit a chord with someone somewhere.

Oasis

The mid 1990s was a great time to be a British music fan, because Brit-pop had infected the world headed by its two leading lights – Blur and Oasis – and it is the latter who get to represent that time period here. While the critics may pick Damon Alburn's Blur every time, Oasis are without doubt the bigger draw, and the more interesting band, mainly due to testosterone-fuelled Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel. If you look past the tabloid stories, you realise what superb songwriters they are, and with hits like "Wonderwall", "Champagne Supernova" and "Live Forver" it is no surprise that they have sold over 60 million records globally. Their third release "Be Here Now" is the fastest-selling album in British music history, and they still draw a huge following – underlined by their most recent album "Dig Out Your Soul" being certified platinum.

Black Sabbath

For heavy metal fans, Black Sabbath is simply the most important band to have ever existed, because without them the genre would not have been invented, From the moment guitarist Tony Iommi struck the first de-tuned, doom-laden chord and eccentric vocalist Ozzy Osbourne wailed over it, these four Brummies – completed by bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward – became the ultimate purveyors of metal. Their self-titled debut is haunting but brilliant, while second album "Paranoid" has some great singles on it and some of the best riffs ever in "War Pigs", "Iron Man" and the title track. While Ozzy left to achieve reality TV fame, Sabbath battled on, and were rejuvenated by pint-sized frontman Ronnie James Dio in the 1980s, and it is with Dio that they still play and record today, but under the moniker of Heaven and Hell. Criminally underappreciated, Sabbath are one of the greatest bands in history.

Pink Floyd

Progressive rock may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the reception that greeted Pink Floyd's famous reunion performance at Live 8 in 2005 underlined in no uncertain terms just how important this band is. They pioneered prog and psychedelic music, and with "Dark Side of the Moon" produced an album so engaging and influential that some would argue it has never been beaten. They are very much an acquired taste, but once you have it you really appreciate just how brilliant they are. David Gilmour is superb both at singing and playing guitar, while Roger Waters is also brilliant – just a shame they don't get on! Floyd were also hugely innovative in creating album art that is worthy of being blown up huge and put in a frame, mainly due to the wonderful creations of Storm Thorgeson.

Cream

Any band that, on news of their splitting up, makes Jimi Hendrix stop playing during a live TV performance, declare his own music rubbish, before launching into a cover of one of said band's songs and holding up the 6 o'clock news deserves a place here. That band was bluesy threesome Cream. They were the first ever supergroup, and the combined talents of singer/guitarist Eric Clapton, singer/bassist Jack Bruce and drummer supreme Ginger Baker made for one hell of a lineup. It's little wonder that they were able to create such great songs as "Crossroads", "Badge" and "Sunshine of Your Love". Their blues-rock style paved the way for bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to follow through and take it to the masses, while their live, jammed performances influenced bands like Rush, Grateful Dead and Black Sabbath.

Iron Maiden

Chances are, wherever you are in the world, at some point in your life you'll have seen someone wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt, which is testament to the London bands worldwide appeal. Maiden have sold over 70 million records worldwide, have released a monumental 35 albums, and still tour relentlessly today – a massive achievement given they've never had the support of mainstream radio. They were pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 1980s, which invaded America and led to the formation of great metal bands such as Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, and their 1982 album "Number of the Beast" is still something to behold. Not only that, their singer Bruce Dickinson is also a qualified pilot, a top fencer, a radio DJ, historian and TV presenter. They still send metal fans across the world crazy today, and recently released "Flight 666" a movie of their 2008 world tour, which saw denim-clad fans of all ages flock to cinemas across the UK for a one-night-only special big-screen viewing.

The Specials

Formed in Coventry in the late 1970s, The Specials are one of the most important bands ever, not just in the development of ska music, but also having huge influence of modern, political-orientated acts like Lily Allen. Their achievements are often overlooked, perhaps because their story is not as easy to hear as that of peers Madness, or perhaps because they are from Coventry, but their success is astonishing; 7 consecutive UK top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, including the huge hit "Ghost Town". They reformed, minus original keyboardist Jerry Dammers, this April for a 30th anniversary tour and the performances were superb, and proved that their music is still hugely relevant today, as well as proving that they are still a great live band.

Have we missed out your favourite band? Are there others more influential than those listed here? Let us know in the comments below

UPDATE BY THE EDITOR: By reading the comments, The Cure should have made the cut, we’ll add them to the hall of fame but won’t remove Oasis, to omit a band that sold the fastest selling Album in British music history would be wrong.

UPDATE 2 - Comment above should have read Radiohead not The Cure..was written in error, The Cure would not make it into the hall of fame, Radiohead would, sorry.