Happy Mother's Day! CoolManchester's greatest ever TV Mums
Mar 18th
First of all I want to say that my mum is the greatest mum in the world and that will never change...but to celebrate Mother's Day I thought I'd take a look at the top five greatest mums ever seen on TV and celebrate why they are just so marvellous 
1. Sophia Petrillo
Sophia was mother to Dorothy in the Golden Girls, but also played mother to Dorothy's best friends Blanche and Rose. Always with a massive pasta meal on the table and a story to tell, Dorothy was meant to be Sophia's carer but we all knew it was the other way around.
2. Amy Pond
Amy is the current companion and also Mother in Law of The Doctor. She deserves a mention because I don't think there has been anyone in television history who has raised a child before giving birth to them..... Its not confusing at all!
3. Marge Simpson
It would be impossible to compile a list without mentioning this lady... she needs little introduction at all. She's been looking after baby Maggie, 8 year old Lisa and 10 year old Bart for 24 years now... a seriously impressive acheivement!
4. Edina Monsoon
You may think this is a strange choice, Ab Fab's Eddie is not exactly a conventional mother, but despite all the mistakes she has made she has brought up two very well rounded and successful children with Serge and Sapphie. On the surface she may not appear to like her daughter much, but people will have HELL to pay if you ever cross her.
5. Susan Kennedy
Susan has to be the ultimate TV mum. She raised her three own kids, adopted a couple more and acted as mother to many more teenagers stopping off at the Kennedy household over the 18 years she has been on Neighbours. Long may it continue!
So those are my choices, do you agree with them? Are there any shocking omissions? Let me know what you think in the comments section
Coalition For EQUAL Marriage - Don't Let Bigotry Stop Two People In Love Getting Married
Mar 11th
Today is the day when The Catholic Church are stepping up their campaign against gay marriage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17329902
I'm not going to get into a debate about my issues with the Catholic Church's "morals", but I urge you to sign this petition FOR equal marriage and stand up against this homophobic campaign:
Whether you agree with marriage or not, every adult should have the choice.
This has NOTHING to do with religion - all faiths are allowed to follow their own beliefs - this is about equal CIVIL rights, with which the Catholic Church should not have any influence over.
Manchester Metrolink: Paying More for an Inferior Service?
Mar 10th
At the start of 2012 Metrolink prices went up by as much as 13% on some tickets, well above the current rate of inflation which is around 3.6%.
Since this increase if fairs you would expect that the additional revenue would pay for the improvement of the service but take a look at the Manchester Evening News headlines from the beginning of the year onwards:
Stuck on a Metrolink tram ... again
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/comment/blogs/s/1487853_stuck-on-a-metrolink-tram--again
Commuters and football fans face travel chaos as Metrolink service suspended on Altrincham line due to points failure
Metrolink chiefs review plans to replace 'unreliable' older trams after four break down in a fortnight
Metrolink fails again: Broken tram at Prestwich brings more delays to commuters
Metrolink bosses apologise after latest tram failure on Mosley Street
Passengers frustrated after another day of tram delays, but Metrolink bosses say: 'We're trying very hard'
Metrolink commuters hit by yet more delays as tram fails at Piccadilly
More Metrolink delays for commuters after points failure at Cornbrook
Commuter delays as Metrolink system grinds to a halt - 24 hours after the last breakdown
Its not a good set of news stories is it? To be honest I don't mind paying more if it meant the service would improve, but it obviously isn't. If you need to start work in the city at 9am, you need to aim to be getting on the tram at about 7.30 for a 25 minute journey as the morning trams are so full at 8:00 you have to cram yourself in like a tinned sardine. The newer yellow Metrolink trams have even less seats, just to take more away from any chance of a comfortable journey.
Double trams would be a great solution to this problem, but I have yet to see one at peak times. The earliest I have seen them is 08:50 when the congestion has eased.
Another infuriation is that is so easy to get on a tram without paying, and during peak times there are no inspectors to be seen. Are the honest passengers having to pay more to cover the cost of the dishonest ones? Seriously, how much would it be to install something as simple as a turnstile at the entrance of each station? It seems like the only solution Metrolink have to these problems is to charge people more to cover the lost revenue.
Like me, many people now rely on public transport to commute into work as drivers have been priced out of parking in the City Centre on a daily basis [this includes Sundays, thanks Manchester City Council!] and we are all getting frustrated.
Am I being harsh on the service? What do you think? Let me know your views in the comments section
Rebellious Jukebox Single Review
Mar 7th
Rebellious Jukebox
Killer On The Dance Floor
Single Review
By Andrew Barclay
'Killer On The Dance Floor' is the new single from 'Rebellious Jukebox', and brought to you by Longevity Records.
The band describes themselves as ''art-house rockers''. This new single is a dance tinged almost New Wave track, and I can hear echoes of late 70s Bowie in here, which is no bad thing. Of course it's wrapped up in modern production, similar perhaps to the 'Pop' album by U2.
Carl Beuselink’s vocals are detached sounding, as if he's observing matters, but still very much in command of proceedings, and it’s hard to believe at times this is the work of a three piece, such is the momentum and drama built up within the song. If this single is any indication of how good the forth coming album is, then it looks like we are in for a treat. The single is out on March 12th.
The bands Facebook page is at:
https://www.facebook.com/RebelliousJukeboxOfficial
And the band's label home can be found at:
The Suns - Jessica
Mar 7th
The Suns
Jessica - Single Review
By Andrew Barclay
The Suns are a new five piece who are releasing a new single on March 27th by way of digital download.
The song in question is a melody filled number called 'Jessica'. It sounds like something you'd have heard recorded for Sun Records all those years ago, and brings to mind bands like Creedence Clear Water Revival, The Shadows, and if it’s not too much of a stretch, the king himself, Elvis Presley.
The singles strengths lie in its simplicity; it’s a two and a half minute stride down mellow lane, with friendly backing vocals, a killer melody, and spritely guitars. I’ve not heard much by them, but what i have heard has left me wanting more, and I’m sure that 'Jessica' will be a song I’m playing plenty over the coming summer.
Look out for the single release, and info on the band at :
