• Steampunk Holmes website: http://www.steampunkholmes.com/p/video.html 
• KickStarter INFO
  

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I am not sure if any area on earth exists that is more beautiful than North Yorkshire, with its Dales and Moors.  The North Yorkshire Dales National Park offers breathtaking scenes of densely green rolling hills, sheep grazing, thatched-roof cottages, and medieval ruins.  Utterly idyllic!  And the North York Moors National Park offers immense, windswept heather moorlands…which are utterly dreamlike.

Info for Yorkshire DALES

Info for Yorkshire MOORS  

While in the moors, experiencing Rievaulx Abbey is a must!  RIEVAULX ABBEY INFO

Carr House Farm
While I have not stayed at this B&B in North Yorkshire, I do think it sounds very promising!  CountryFile Magazine voted it one of the UK’s Top Ten Farm Stays.  CARR HOUSE FARM  

Map of North York Moors National Park

Downton Abby is currently filming.  I love seeing these pictures of the actors in their period costumes covered by puffer coats!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9231183/Downton-Abbey-filming-the-next-series.html?frame=2204961 

Britain is abuzz this week with the Leveson Inquiry, which is questioning media mogul Rupert Murdoch, exploring allegations that Murdoch’s companies allowed phone hacking to gain insider information about celebrities, royalty, and ordinary citizens.  Yesterday, the first day of questioning, Murdoch claimed he knew little about the hackings and agreed with the suggestion that underlings probably didn’t inform him because he might have stopped the practice.  Questioning also revealed the depth of links between the Murdock family and certain members of the British government.  We’ll hear much about the Leveson Inquiry this week in the media as witnesses, which include news reporters, company officials, police, and politicians, are called upon.

What is the “Leveson Inquiry”?

Last July, Prime Minister David Cameron called for an independent, two-part inquiry into journalistic ethics and appointed Lord Justice Leveson as Chairman of the Inquiry.   The Inquiries Act 2005 grants the Prime Minster authority to form this inquiry, and it allows for the summoning and questioning of witnesses.  

The Leveson Inquiry’s task is to examine the culture, practices, and ethics of the press and to recommend more effective policies and regulations that maintain freedom of the press while encouraging highest ethical standards.

How you can follow the inquiry

* Anglophiles wanting to follow the intrigue can listen to the hearings live HERE
(Video streaming expected to be Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m GMT., excluding lunch break between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.)

* Anglophiles can also expect to hear Brits voicing their opinions about the hearings on  talk radio LBC (London’s Biggest Conversation).  Listen HERE

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UPDATE 6:00 p.m. ET --  Guardian Tweet:  "Rupert Murdoch denies getting preferential treatment from politicians" 


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It’s April 23rd--Happy St. George’s Day, England!  Woo-hoo!  

If you’re an American who doesn’t know what St. George’s Day is, think: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  You know—one of those “non-holiday holidays.”  While out and about, the English will hear the occasional “Happy St. George’s Day!”  In pubs, lads (if they’re aware of the day at all) may buy another round of ale, toasting the day.  BBC will dedicate some programming to it.  But really, not much else happens.  

St. George, the patron saint of England (and numerous other countries), was born in Turkey, became a Roman soldier, killed a dragon (Editorial comment: Suuure he did), saved a princess, and later got beheaded for refusing to denounce Christianity.  Thus his status as "Christian martyr" and propensity for being snatched up as a patron saint. 

The English used to celebrate St. George’s Day.  In the 1500s through 1800s, it was a big deal, but the Edwardians got bored with it.  Currently, there is a fledgling movement to start celebrating the day again and to even legally declare it a public holiday.  We’ll just have to bite our nails as we wait with anticipation.  

Meanwhile…Have a happy St. George’s Day’s!