The United Kingdom Parliament

The House of Commons


The House of Lords
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國會每年有固定時間開放導覽參觀, 學生價5鎊, 我覺得超值得, 內容包括:

Central Lobby:
往北和往南分別是連接往下議院和上議院的走道, 開議期間議員會在此遊說, 據說就是"lobby"這個字的由來

Westminster Hall:
現存最古老的國會建築, William Wallace, Guy Fawlkes, 查理一世曾在此接受審判

Royal Gallery:
有歷代君王的肖像和雕像, 有兩幅巨大的畫是描述Battle of Waterloo and Battle of Trafalgar, 每年國會開議(State Opening of Parliament), 女王會從白金漢宮搭馬車來到國會, 在Robing Chamber穿戴Robes of State and Imperial State Crown, 然後穿過Royal Gallery來到上議院(註一), 在圖右上角的王位上發表女王演說, 宣示未來一年的執政方針(內容是行政部門擬定的)

House of Lords:
Members are unelected and unpaid, 成員包含26名英國國教的主教, 還有一些世襲的成員, 用以前的說法就是貴族, 集會的場所較豪華, 用紅色為主色(註二),雖說是上議院, 其實權力不大

House of Commons:
即一般所指的國會, 也就是平常電視上看到Blair被質詢的地方, 執政黨及內閣成員坐在議長的右手邊, 主要在野黨則坐在左手邊, 職責主要在立法及監督政府

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註一: 為何在上議院舉行? 查理一世在1642年曾率兵到下議院意圖逮捕五名國會議員, 但當時的議長拒絕了這項要求, 從此立下君王不得進入下議院的傳統
註二: 據說英國沒有天然的紅色染料, 所以紅色比綠色高級

British TV

Spent 30 pounds for a 2nd-hand TV and 90 pounds for a 3/4 year of license. Because I use an indoor-antenna, I don't have signal for channel 5. What remains are: BBC1, BBC2, ITV, and Channel 4.

Soaps and Sit-com: unlike some hit U.S. programs we usually watch in Taiwan, British soaps and sit-coms are more down to earth, more subtle and maybe more sophisticated. Settings are usually in a family or between friends. It's more like watching your neighbours or fellow classmates. There's no fancy background music, no canned laughter, no variations of camera angles. A book says watching soaps is like being allowed to peer through the hidden life of neighbours.

Variety show: A famous one is the X-factor. Text-message votes and a panel of judges decide who can proceed to the next week's show. Good performers may earn themselves a record conract and become famous.
台灣的類似節目和毒舌裁判大概也是學這個的
http://www.xfactor.tv/

Reality show: The Apprentice. Several contenders strive for a job under Sir Alan Sugar with 6-figures pay. Each week they are assigned a mission, and at the end, Sir Alan decides whom to be fired. The last man/woman standing gets the job. Once you see the opening of the show, you'll know Alan is not the kind of boss you wanna come across, though u may learn a lot indeed from him. "YOU'RE LIGHT-WEIGHT, YOU'RE FIRED!!"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/board/index.shtml

Quiz show: 謝震武那個節目可能是抄英國的吧, 連音樂,燈光都一模一樣

News: Yes, it looks like news. Nothing could be weirder than Taiwan's.
Sometimes the proceeding in the Parliament is live broadcasted. Everytime I watch that, I feel this country is really civilised.

Others: 有把家中骨董或收藏品拿來拍賣的節目, 園藝節目, 烹飪節目, 像discovery頻道的節目(這類的節目特有水準), 今天才發現一個用日常生活講解經濟學原理的節目, 講到info asymmetry, and how 'credible' signals work to alleviate the problem.

Behaviour Codes

1. Home rules:

Nomatter how small, the British likes to have a tiny patch of green in front of their house. The front garden acts as a public face, tidy but never actually used; whereas the back garden, surrounded by fences, is where they sit and relax.

Their houses are notoriously hard to find. There are at least 60 synonyms for 'street', and these names are usually carefully hidden, which may reflect their obsession with privacy. A home is like a castle where you can seclude yourself by moat and draw-bridge. Since it's your own territory, you've got to furnish it with your own taste.These territorial-marking behaviours can best be seen from their passion on DIYs.

2. Road rules:

Reading is a way to avoid eye contact with strangers. Exceptions to these denial attitude include: being polite, asking for info, amd moaning about traffic disruptions. Both in public transport and driving context, English politeness can be observed in queuing and drivers' courteous conduct. Seldom a horn is honked.

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reference
Kate Fox, "Watching the English."

Coversation Codes

1. Weather Talk
Talkling about weather is always the start of conversation. It functions as:1. simple greeting 2. ice-breaker 3. when u have nothingelse to say.
Example:
A: Cold, isn't it? (hello, I'd like to talk to u)
B: Yes, but at least it's not raining.

2. Grooming Talk

No-name rule:
Hello, I am Bill, fom California (Ok, you're American)
Goodbye, eh..I didn't catch your name...Oh, I am Bill, by the way (Umm, you're British)

Guessing-game rule:
It's not allowed to ask directly, What do you do? Instead.....
A:The traffic was terrible, do u drive to work.
B: Yes, but I work at a hospital, at least I don't have to get in to the town centre.
A: Oh, you're a doctor, then (guess the highest status one)

Female bonding (Counter compliment rule)
A:Oh, I like your hairdo. I wish I had a straight hair like yours...
B:No, my hair is terrible. I wish I could have it short like you...

Male bonding (Mine's better than yours rule)

Long goodbye rule:
Well, see u soon...Oh,yes, we must..goodbye...thanks again...lovely time...must leave, traffic...Fine, really...you must come around to us next time...I'll email u tomorrow...
(God, I thought they were never going to go)

Humor rule:
serious but not solemn, sincere but not earnest. Never take one thing too seriously.
key words: irony, understatement, self-deprecation

Language and class:
upper-middle lower-middle
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loo toilet
sorry pardon
napkin serviette
lunch dinner
sofa couch
sitting room living room
pudding sweet

3. Pub talk:
Bar counter is a place where normal rules are abandoned. It's accepatable to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. You won't see an orderly queue for drink, but all customers and staff are aware of each person's position in the invisible queue.

Rule of argument:
A: What?
B: I didn't say anything
A: Yes, u did.
B: No, I didn't!
A: U did, u said it's my round.
B: I didn't say anything, but now u come to mention it, it's your round!
A: Bull shit! it's Joey's round.
B: Then why are u hassling me about it, eh?
A: I'm not, u started it!
B: No, I didn't
A: Did!

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reference
Kate Fox, "Watching the English."

Westminster Abbey

Like Rome, a historical place was not built in a day. It's the heritage that shines the abbey. There are tombs of kings and queens, countless memorials to the famous and great. Since William the Conqueror, almost every king and queen was crowned here.


© Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey 2003

It's the coronation chair, which has been used in almost every coronation since 1308. The Stone of Scorn, kept in Edinburgh Castle now, will be put under this seat in the next coronation.

WBS Souvenirs

Included in the tuition fee??

Shakesperience

The newly built Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon


The Stage is very close to most of the audiences.

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Henry VI, Part I

Could hardly understand the lines. Basiclly, it was about the war between England and France. After the coronation of the infant Henry VI, France, led by Joan of Arc, exploits the fierce power struggles happening in England and battles to reclaim the French lands lost to Henry V.

Though the stage itself is quite small, they fully utilized the whole space available, hanging in the air, stairs, under the stage, even showing up in the aisles.

Was excited in the beginning, but after 30 minutes, I was so sleepy but can't sleep because I am too close to the stage. So I moved to the back low after the interval, and napped until the death of Joan of Arc. Maybe choose another play next time....

BBC Prom

Inside the venue. Even tennis can be hosted here.



2006/8/15 at Royal Albert Hall

Schumann: Manfred - Overture (12 mins)
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major (45 mins)
interval
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, 'Scottish' (39 mins)
Christian Tetzlaff violin
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiří Bělohlávek conductor

Watching the English

Sub-title: The hidden rules of English behaviour

See if I can finish this book before I leave.
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Aug 27.
Coversation Code:

1. Weather Talk
Talkling aboout weather is always the start of conversation. It functions as:1. simple greeting 2. ice-breaker 3. when u have nothingelse to say.

Example:
A: Cold, isn't it? (hello, I'd like to talk to u)
B: Yes, but at least it's not raining.

2. Grooming Talk

No-name rule:
Hello, I am Bill, fom California (Ok, you're American)
Goodbye, eh..I didn't catch your name...Oh, I am Bill, by the way (Umm, you're British)

Guessing-game rule:
It's not allowed to ask directly, What do you do? Instead.....
A:The traffic was terrible, do u drive to work.
B: Yes, but I work at a hospital, at least I don't have to get in to the town centre.
A: Oh, you're a doctor, then (guess the highest status one)

Female bonding (Counter compliment rule)
A:Oh, I like your hairdo. I wish I had a straight hair like yours...
B:No, my hair is terrible. I wish I could have it short like you...

Male bonding (Mine's better than yours rule)

Long goodbye rule:
Well, see u soon...Oh,yes, we must..goodbye...thanks again...lovely time...must leave, traffic...Fine, really...you must come around to us next time...I'll email u tomorrow...
(God, I thought they were never going to go)

Monuments

Training for the NYC marathon, I've been jogging around the campus and city for the past few weeks. Today, I found a memorial park which has a monument commemorating those who lost their lives in the first and the second World War.

This kind of memorial can be found in many places around U.K. Often you can find one just around the corner in any city or town. An monument must have had its meaning when it was built. Can we say the removal of Chiang's statue reflects the change of public attitude, or simply triggered by political motives?