It's the moment you've been waiting for...
As the box is lowered into the tank the tension becomes unbearable...
Just who will Psychic Paul choose?
As the slithering tentacles hover over the two boxes; thousands gripped the edge of their seats as they watched the event broadcasted live across German TV...
After seconds which seemed like hours, Paul quite deliberately picked the mussel contained within the Spanish box, devastating Holland fans across the world.
Come on. Seriously?
I know the news is pretty grim at the moment with a gunman having been on the loose, a 15 year old being sentenced for life and a blast from the past regarding the 'spy swap' between Russia and America but I'm beginning to worry the BBC are taking the octopus thing a bit too seriously...
At this rate, I won't be suprised if the BBC hire Paul to be the 6pm weatherman...
Has anyone even thought, that Octopuses are colourblind? So Paul could easily mistake the Bolivian Flag for the German flag or the French for the Italian e.t.c...
Not that I'm saying he could recognise the flags anyhow!
Okay, so technically, this post isn't politically based as usual but thought I'd just point the issue out. Just five hours until we find out whether the 'tentacled tipster' is correct...
Friday, 9 July 2010
The Cotton Wool Culture...
Children are being made to wear goggles before handling Blu Tack, to prevent them rubbing the common adhesive into their eyes in one school.
In another school, teachers are given a five-page briefing on the dangers of Pritt Stick which must be read before use of the glue within the classroom.
Do you remember making the rockets, castles and boats with the empty egg boxes when you were younger? Well, now many schools have banned these for fear of salmonella poisoning.
There have also been reported bans on footballs, snowball fights and conker games in playgrounds across the country.
Here we have another clear example of hypocrisy on the behalf of the government and authorities...
On one hand, the government encourage families to adopt an active lifestyle with the "Change 4 Life" scheme, yet they are restricting children being able to do this through ludicrous health and safety laws within schools...
However, whilst the government enforces such ridiculous acts; it seems to me that Michael Gove is the real health and safety problem for our children...
After mistakenly promising 25 schools that their new building projects would go ahead, Michael Gove now risks further unpopularity through cancelling the Labour government's £55bn Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and suspending projects in 715 schools.
Leaving some pupils sat in schools which are quite literally falling down around them...
Suddenly being hit by a snowball seems kind of trivial...
In another school, teachers are given a five-page briefing on the dangers of Pritt Stick which must be read before use of the glue within the classroom.
Do you remember making the rockets, castles and boats with the empty egg boxes when you were younger? Well, now many schools have banned these for fear of salmonella poisoning.
There have also been reported bans on footballs, snowball fights and conker games in playgrounds across the country.
Here we have another clear example of hypocrisy on the behalf of the government and authorities...
On one hand, the government encourage families to adopt an active lifestyle with the "Change 4 Life" scheme, yet they are restricting children being able to do this through ludicrous health and safety laws within schools...
However, whilst the government enforces such ridiculous acts; it seems to me that Michael Gove is the real health and safety problem for our children...
After mistakenly promising 25 schools that their new building projects would go ahead, Michael Gove now risks further unpopularity through cancelling the Labour government's £55bn Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and suspending projects in 715 schools.
Leaving some pupils sat in schools which are quite literally falling down around them...
Suddenly being hit by a snowball seems kind of trivial...
Friday, 2 July 2010
Classic Hypocrisy...
"VAT will NOT be increased to 20%, instead other less damaging, tax cuts will be made."
- Stated by David Cameron on the subject of the then forthcoming emergency budget in his first interview as Prime Minister with Andrew Marr.
He also stated within the same interview how Labour had made some "outrageous" spending decisions.
Well, is it not just as "outrageous" to lie to the public? Or have we simply neglected the 'restore trust in politics' attitude so frequently displayed during his election campaign?
'Dave' also claimed to be "burying old Conservatism" within the interview but how does the decision to rise VAT from 17.5% to 20% reflect this?
This will devastate the poor and leave families over £500 a year worse off.
Forget the Robin Hood Tax - this budget does the complete opposite.
It seems like the same old Tories to me...
Whilst the smug and smarmy Sheriff sits in his castle, poor Vince Cable struggles to explain the non-exsistent good of the budget to the bewildered peasants in the realms of Question Time...
If I'm struggling to continue encouraging the coalition, it makes me wonder how much longer the Lib Dem MPs will pledge their support to corruption...
Hypocrisy; the act of persistently pretending to hold beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually hold (see also, David Cameron P97)
- Perhaps I should submit this as the new definition for hypocrisy in the next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary?
- Stated by David Cameron on the subject of the then forthcoming emergency budget in his first interview as Prime Minister with Andrew Marr.
He also stated within the same interview how Labour had made some "outrageous" spending decisions.
Well, is it not just as "outrageous" to lie to the public? Or have we simply neglected the 'restore trust in politics' attitude so frequently displayed during his election campaign?
'Dave' also claimed to be "burying old Conservatism" within the interview but how does the decision to rise VAT from 17.5% to 20% reflect this?
This will devastate the poor and leave families over £500 a year worse off.
Forget the Robin Hood Tax - this budget does the complete opposite.
It seems like the same old Tories to me...
Whilst the smug and smarmy Sheriff sits in his castle, poor Vince Cable struggles to explain the non-exsistent good of the budget to the bewildered peasants in the realms of Question Time...
If I'm struggling to continue encouraging the coalition, it makes me wonder how much longer the Lib Dem MPs will pledge their support to corruption...
Hypocrisy; the act of persistently pretending to hold beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually hold (see also, David Cameron P97)
- Perhaps I should submit this as the new definition for hypocrisy in the next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary?
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
The Academy Bill...? Well, it's not going to make anything any worse....
I was hot and tired after 2hours of being couped up in an exam room.
As I entered my house there were two things on my mind; Food and Sleep.
A letter from my school telling me they were seeking academy status was certainly not on my mind. And wasn't welcome.
Fair enough, perhaps this will benefit my own school but what about those less fortunate?
The "Every Child Matters" initiative will become;
"A child only matters if they happen to go to a school which is performing well, too bad if they go to a school in a deprived area with poor exam results and falling numbers"
Surely at a time when we are recovering from a global economic crisis we should be supporting those worse off, instead of increasing the gap between the good and the bad; the rich and the poor?
That's exactly what fast-tracking 'Outstanding' Schools to Academy Status is doing - It's the same old Tories.
It seems to me, that the only argument in favour of this policy is that it won't make anything any worse. And make the 'elite' schools the 'uber elite'.
To me; this is not a valid reason to spend lots of parliamentary time and considerable amounts of money especially at a time when the OBR have just announced that economic growth is not going to be as rapid as expected and with millions still unemployed.
Cheered up though after I received an email from the Lib Dems urging members to support a petition against the Academies Bill and reassurance that it was not a policy included within the coalition agreement.
As I entered my house there were two things on my mind; Food and Sleep.
A letter from my school telling me they were seeking academy status was certainly not on my mind. And wasn't welcome.
Fair enough, perhaps this will benefit my own school but what about those less fortunate?
The "Every Child Matters" initiative will become;
"A child only matters if they happen to go to a school which is performing well, too bad if they go to a school in a deprived area with poor exam results and falling numbers"
Surely at a time when we are recovering from a global economic crisis we should be supporting those worse off, instead of increasing the gap between the good and the bad; the rich and the poor?
That's exactly what fast-tracking 'Outstanding' Schools to Academy Status is doing - It's the same old Tories.
It seems to me, that the only argument in favour of this policy is that it won't make anything any worse. And make the 'elite' schools the 'uber elite'.
To me; this is not a valid reason to spend lots of parliamentary time and considerable amounts of money especially at a time when the OBR have just announced that economic growth is not going to be as rapid as expected and with millions still unemployed.
Cheered up though after I received an email from the Lib Dems urging members to support a petition against the Academies Bill and reassurance that it was not a policy included within the coalition agreement.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Just 17 days in....
The Coalition has met it's first hurdle; David Laws.
It's the 29th May 2010.
And the Chief Secretary of the Treasury; David Laws has resigned, after admitting he claimed £40,000 in expenses to pay rent to his partner.
Already I can hear the Tory back benchers laughing...
The occurance has caused great embarassment for the Liberal Democrats who had taken high moral ground on the expenses catastrophe, arguing they were in a better position than the Tories and Labour after the uncovering of expenses in 2009.
Not only has the crisis bestowed embarassment upon the Lib Dems, but also the loss of a key member of the cabinet described as "exceptionally abled" by Vince Cable the Business Secretary and "good" and "honourable" by the Leader of the Tories and Prime Minister; David Cameron.
Although this situation has no doubt weakened our Cabinet's infrastructure with David Laws being replaced by the 'slightly less experienced' Danny Alexander, it has also shown the strength of this coalition - here we have a Conservative calling a Lib Dem "good" and "honourable".
The Leader of the Tories to be precise.
It's the 29th May 2010.
And the Chief Secretary of the Treasury; David Laws has resigned, after admitting he claimed £40,000 in expenses to pay rent to his partner.
Already I can hear the Tory back benchers laughing...
The occurance has caused great embarassment for the Liberal Democrats who had taken high moral ground on the expenses catastrophe, arguing they were in a better position than the Tories and Labour after the uncovering of expenses in 2009.
Not only has the crisis bestowed embarassment upon the Lib Dems, but also the loss of a key member of the cabinet described as "exceptionally abled" by Vince Cable the Business Secretary and "good" and "honourable" by the Leader of the Tories and Prime Minister; David Cameron.
Although this situation has no doubt weakened our Cabinet's infrastructure with David Laws being replaced by the 'slightly less experienced' Danny Alexander, it has also shown the strength of this coalition - here we have a Conservative calling a Lib Dem "good" and "honourable".
The Leader of the Tories to be precise.
Monday, 17 May 2010
Simply just opening this web page could have you arrested, detained by security personnel and imprisoned for years without trial.
I continue the theme of political inequality from my last post, only this case is somewhat more extreme, the country I talk about is of course; Burma.
The current events in neighbouring Thailand reminded me of the incomprehendable chaos, controversy and inequality that has shadowed Burma for the past 48 years. A chaos which has wrongly been ignored by British government and media. It seems it has been given up as a 'lost cause'.
Over 250,000 Muslims fled to Bangladesh as a result of a major army offensive in 1989. A similar amount followed as a result of further offensives in 1997.
No, this isn't the BNP. This is the Junta; Burma's brutal military government.
The unjust targeting of Muslim communities isn't the only horrific crime the Junta have to boast about...
The Junta have imposed forced labor on 800,000 people, massacred thousands of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators, driven more than 1million people into exile and have carried out murder, rape and torture whilst depriving the Burmese of many basic human rights which we take for granted.
In Burma; torture has become an institution.
So, who are the Junta?
The Junta is the name given to the military government in Burma who overthrew the last democratically elected government in 1962. Since seizing power, the Junta have corrupted Burma Stalin-style; ruling through terror and injustice.
Political gatherings are banned.
The opposing political party; the NLD (National League for Democracy) won the last election with an 80% majority; but the Junta refused to move from power.
Up to 20years imprisonment can be given for simply opposing the Junta's policies; whether this be through peaceful demonstration, simply 'having a moan' or violent protest.
Censorship is heavy - even art exhibitions have to be approved of by the military authority.
And all computers, fax machines and modems (anything that could be used to communicate with the outside world) have to be licensed so only those who are deemed 'trustworthy' by the government can possess them; otherwise it's 15 years in jail.
Perhaps it isn't entirely true to say Western countries have given Burma up as 'a lost cause'... Gordon Brown promised to maintain the pressure on the Junta in 2007 whilst the UN and other international organisations such as Amnesty International have made moves towards taking action.
But, the current economic crisis in Europe and America has brought problems closer to home and many people remain blissfully unaware of the situation in Burma.
I am not saying we launch a full-scale intervention into Burma, although it is needed.
But I am asking for people to strip back their ignorance:
Next time you complain about the government's spending cuts, the NHS waiting lists, the MPs expenses, the deficit, immigration e.t.c, e.t.c... and you realise that our government and society is far from perfect - just think to yourself it could be a whole lot worse - because in Burma; that single complaint could completely change your life; and it wouldn't be for the better.
More information about the situation in Burma and how you can support the campaign to stand up to the Junta can be found through this link:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780
I continue the theme of political inequality from my last post, only this case is somewhat more extreme, the country I talk about is of course; Burma.
The current events in neighbouring Thailand reminded me of the incomprehendable chaos, controversy and inequality that has shadowed Burma for the past 48 years. A chaos which has wrongly been ignored by British government and media. It seems it has been given up as a 'lost cause'.
Over 250,000 Muslims fled to Bangladesh as a result of a major army offensive in 1989. A similar amount followed as a result of further offensives in 1997.
No, this isn't the BNP. This is the Junta; Burma's brutal military government.
The unjust targeting of Muslim communities isn't the only horrific crime the Junta have to boast about...
The Junta have imposed forced labor on 800,000 people, massacred thousands of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators, driven more than 1million people into exile and have carried out murder, rape and torture whilst depriving the Burmese of many basic human rights which we take for granted.
In Burma; torture has become an institution.
So, who are the Junta?
The Junta is the name given to the military government in Burma who overthrew the last democratically elected government in 1962. Since seizing power, the Junta have corrupted Burma Stalin-style; ruling through terror and injustice.
Political gatherings are banned.
The opposing political party; the NLD (National League for Democracy) won the last election with an 80% majority; but the Junta refused to move from power.
Up to 20years imprisonment can be given for simply opposing the Junta's policies; whether this be through peaceful demonstration, simply 'having a moan' or violent protest.
Censorship is heavy - even art exhibitions have to be approved of by the military authority.
And all computers, fax machines and modems (anything that could be used to communicate with the outside world) have to be licensed so only those who are deemed 'trustworthy' by the government can possess them; otherwise it's 15 years in jail.
Perhaps it isn't entirely true to say Western countries have given Burma up as 'a lost cause'... Gordon Brown promised to maintain the pressure on the Junta in 2007 whilst the UN and other international organisations such as Amnesty International have made moves towards taking action.
But, the current economic crisis in Europe and America has brought problems closer to home and many people remain blissfully unaware of the situation in Burma.
I am not saying we launch a full-scale intervention into Burma, although it is needed.
But I am asking for people to strip back their ignorance:
Next time you complain about the government's spending cuts, the NHS waiting lists, the MPs expenses, the deficit, immigration e.t.c, e.t.c... and you realise that our government and society is far from perfect - just think to yourself it could be a whole lot worse - because in Burma; that single complaint could completely change your life; and it wouldn't be for the better.
More information about the situation in Burma and how you can support the campaign to stand up to the Junta can be found through this link:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780
Friday, 14 May 2010
Have we really reached 'new politics'?
The Conservative and Liberal Coalition has been an incredibly exciting moment in British Political History and has certainly defaced 'ancient politics'.
However, how close are we really to 'new politics'?
Surprisingly, we are relatively backwards when it comes to politics compared to many of the developed countries around the world.
Just 3 years ago, in 2007 there were 31million women in the UK compared to 29million men.
Just 3 days ago, only 4 women compared to 25 men were appointed Cabinet ministers = 14%.
How is that 14% supposed to represent the 51.6% of the UK population that are women?
It is quite frankly embarrassing.
Just 34km away and the French have made much better progress with 33% of the seats in their cabinet equivalent being held by women.
In Germany; 36%, Sweden; 50% and Spain 53%.
We are supposedly on similar development levels to these countries but instead we continue to have a Cabinet overrun by white, middle class men farmed in independent, private schools such as Eton and processed through Oxbridge.
Fair enough, many of these members may be intelligent and suited for the job. But at the same time the Cabinet needs to be severely 'diversified'.
David Cameron, Nick Clegg, George Osbourne and Vince Cable; four key players in the Cabinet; all belong to unnervingly similar backgrounds meaning they only cover a narrow social perspective between them. How will they understand how people feel?
Baroness Warsi became the first female, Muslim Cabinet minister in this election. A sign we are making progress - progress which should have happened much earlier in British political history.
How can we lead the way for a free and equal democracy in LEDCs when our own country does not successfully portray this?
However, how close are we really to 'new politics'?
Surprisingly, we are relatively backwards when it comes to politics compared to many of the developed countries around the world.
Just 3 years ago, in 2007 there were 31million women in the UK compared to 29million men.
Just 3 days ago, only 4 women compared to 25 men were appointed Cabinet ministers = 14%.
How is that 14% supposed to represent the 51.6% of the UK population that are women?
It is quite frankly embarrassing.
Just 34km away and the French have made much better progress with 33% of the seats in their cabinet equivalent being held by women.
In Germany; 36%, Sweden; 50% and Spain 53%.
We are supposedly on similar development levels to these countries but instead we continue to have a Cabinet overrun by white, middle class men farmed in independent, private schools such as Eton and processed through Oxbridge.
Fair enough, many of these members may be intelligent and suited for the job. But at the same time the Cabinet needs to be severely 'diversified'.
David Cameron, Nick Clegg, George Osbourne and Vince Cable; four key players in the Cabinet; all belong to unnervingly similar backgrounds meaning they only cover a narrow social perspective between them. How will they understand how people feel?
Baroness Warsi became the first female, Muslim Cabinet minister in this election. A sign we are making progress - progress which should have happened much earlier in British political history.
How can we lead the way for a free and equal democracy in LEDCs when our own country does not successfully portray this?
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