Poo Patt

I used to jump in cow pats when I was a kid. The news states farmers are looking for pig poo to build high revenues. Words of the such bring me back to childhood memories, walking around fields in Dorset, discovering old roman roads, the smell of grass and jumping in crispy cow patts hardened from the sun. Wellies definitely came in handy!

What sounds can you make with your penis?!

I love nature; it's articles like this which make you appreciate the wonders of the world even more. I am reminded of my childhood days watching David Attenborough Life Planet series with his soothing voice commenting on the characteristics of each animal featured in a episode.

Alcohol No Surprise

Alcohol has been found linked contributing to suicide rates. Are we all really that surprised considering most know this substance is a depressant. Tell me something I don't know already...please!

Giving Blood

In reading about giving blood, I find this article from the BBC really doesn't exactly push the idea and importance in blood donations-they more so focus on the free drinks, biscuits and pain of the event.

Perhaps when writing about blood donations, they should emphasise statistical importance and the comparison of pain which flashes for 3 seconds-to the reward in knowing that your blood can save a life! I think descriptions detailing the feeling of blood giving is mentioned three times, I don't feel the article is supportive enough to justify listing these explanations!

Black and white emphasis needs to be made, if you can take the time out to give blood, feel a slight pain yourself (which is gone within seconds) compared to loosing a life-perhaps some would understand the selfishness in not giving our time as to those loosing their entire existance.

Forgiving Acid Attack

For somebody to become so caught up with their own emotions, and to seek resolve by seeking revenge over a case of rejection. I am baffled.

Ameneh Bahrami is fighting for her attacker to have his own eyes burnt with acid, as he blinded and disfigured her face after throwing the substance in hers. There are two points to this article in which one I can agree with and the other, not:

"He said 'I am going to destroy your life and do something so nobody will marry you'," she remembers.

This all from being turned down for marriage. It actually scares me knowing that there are people out there who want to satisfy their own insecurities by paining others. I feel appalled by human nature:

'Bahrami won her case in 2008, when the court ruled that the 27-year-old Movahidi should be blinded with acid. It also sentenced him to jail and ordered that he pay compensation to the victim.'

But I think this also appals me as well. I couldn't imagine having some sort of power over somebody to feel the same pain one may have been through. It is just not within my nature, to get revenge. However, I do agree with Bahrami's point in wanting to teach people like this, a lesson in hope they would get perspective as well. Realisation of one's action MUST be realised, otherwise who knows what they may do next?:

'... But she is determined to pursue the ruling. "If I forgive, I get nothing for forgiveness," she says..."The same if I take his eyesight, I get nothing. But I want people like Majeed to know that there is punishment."'

Though what feels like double standards is also a very difficult situation to balance. How far should punishment go? I feel like this towards children in school too. As I have got older, it seems the children get smaller, and cheekier! Humans are becoming more intelligent in picking up peoples weaknesses, and children play on these vibes. I think a physical attack only shows a weakness in people, they feel they have to use brute strength to make their point. I find words are stronger than actions, but with words are they not stronger if examples can be attached to them as well?

All the more I am finding news that suggests classic methods of punishment should be brought back into action. Bear with me in trying to explain the following: If the consequence brought about the idea more strongly that if one does unfavourable 'action', they will have to under go another activity-unpleasurable, yet not exactly the most painful. However, this being unpleasurable in the sense that the 'activity' may not end as soon as they would like. Would this mean for those that 'sin', would gain a better understanding into the consequences they set for their victims as well?

Peado Phenomenon

This I find a bit dramatic. If they ask kids to change their school uniform in risk of paedophiles; isn't this the same for adults, to avoid wearing skirts and dresses to further avoid tempting rapists?!

'Chief executive Eileen Prior said: "Creating a link between school uniform and paedophilia seems to be a dangerous and unhelpful one for everyone involved.

"It implies that young people are in some way responsible for the activities of paedophiles, which is an extremely dangerous argument and one which has echoes of the comments sometimes made around rapists and women's dress.'

Again, I find that authorities in society tend to source responsibility onto others if they possibly can. I am not saying that local authorities should take full responsibility themselves, it just seems that alternative methods in handling situations such as the above could be treated better. If there is a problem, the solution seems to be pointed towards what the victim could do, instead of finding ways in targetting the problem itself. Though perhaps, that is the local authories' way in trying to take less responsibility themselves.

Rolling in the Cheese

I have read about this event before, Cheese rolling in Gloucestershire. The concerns with it before were health and safety, perhaps regulations were concerned that the event would get out of hand and people may be put in danger.

I experienced issues like this in film making, the argument is do you seek permission and get rejected? Or keep hush and then score your film! Or in this case, cheese!

It would seem that threats have occurred now in a raise of a participation fee, I am sure this money is going towards running the event-including the health and safety precautions in order to allow the event to happen in the first place! It tires me that such regulations have come into place EVERYWHERE when it comes to health and safety, I am very surprised there are concerns still even when the events are outside. Fire safety and evacuation processes are important and understandably they deserve the attention with health and safety regulations. Though with events outdoors, I continue to get annoyed that everyone wants some sort of responsibility back up towards 'what may occur', yet at the end of the day everyone really just wants to have a good time!

With big crowds, doesn't it just involve common sense. Keep an eye out for yourself and those around you, if this idea was consistent throughout a roll on effect would take place, surely there wouldn't be a problem. It is a shame that such past events, whichever they may be, have got out of hand and initiated the intensity on peoples safety. I know such event in a small village in Caerleon (South Wales) were banned in racing around the area. People would design their own cars as such, some would race around in bathtubs. However, because of health and safety issues, access to public toilets e.t.c the event had to end. Perhaps if we were given a chance to prove that such events can be handled without so much regulation required, more opportunities will arise for other cultural happenings.

Fear In The Apprentice

Again I become amazed by the fact that the underperformance lies in pretty much all of them showing signs of panic. Panic, fear and desperation is among many faces and they don't make any sales. I think we forget that it is even within the tiniest things, such as the tone of our voice which gives indications of ones lack of personal faith.

The fear forms a cloud. It is a shame that it paralises our ability to perform. Stress is slowly killing us, and not always in the most obvious forms.

Falling in love with Mrs Obama

Upon visit to a school, Michelle Obama gets perspective realistic with schoolgirls. It is people like this, who reach out to others that I really admire. There is no grandeur, superficial 'I am doing this to prove my worth and status'. With the Obama's, in my gut instinct it does feel genuine.
'Mrs Obama told the schoolgirls that they had to break through all the barriers of prejudice and self doubt.

 

She had faced the same doubts about "fitting in" when she went to college, she said. "Doubts don't go away, you just learn to deal with them"...

 

Maybe she'd already seen one motorcade too many, as she told the girls the whole point of the presidency was to help young people such as themselves.

"The dresses, the cars, the horses, the carriages... I can watch that on TV," she told them with a shrug.'

In my limited knowledge for what the Royals do for the country, even though this is written by the BBC (with whom I feel in general sometimes they are perhaps too general and scared to tell it like it is in their articles) I value a warmer and more human approach to political figures. Most of the time, when we read about politicians, or the opposite world of 'celebrities' we forget they are people too. The media becomes a dangerous world for those who reluct themselves to representation, automatically they take on a responsibility in creating a respectable role model figure. I believe it is up to us in order to accept or reject their ideology, however I can understand the pressure mounted on each person featuring in the media. What should or shouldn't they say about anything? You could say that the safe option is to say nothing at all, but to me that seems cowardice. For Michelle Obama I completely respect her desire to advise children, and not simply smile and wave. Michelle Obama has a natural grace, she shows her heart and we feel it too; something of which all children would appreciate more, whether it's from a teacher or a school visitor.

Film Found!

Coming from a documentary background, this is pretty cool. More films have been discovered, it's amazing they still work after so many years of being hidden away!

A child called 'Pie' and another named 'Like'

Facebook is inspirational for all... In reading about changing the law to allow children under 13 to use social networking sites, restrictions apply because of cyber-bullying concerns (and assurably peadophile scares as well, not sure why they haven't mentioned that yet), I have also come across the website inspiring some for the names of their children. Everyday Facebook never fails to impress me on its ability to influence and connect the world.

For me personally it also, through a friend's profile picture and in recognising the kitchen tiles, allowed me to see who now rents my old house. Coincidence!

Eww, I would not recommend this either

For what we eat, variety is key. However, this man seems to have taken a different approach to his diet.

Touring assisted suicide

No-one wants to live in an extent of toture, but when it comes to assisted suicide I am keen to learn more about the boundries or circumstances which enable the following decision to be made-yes it is right for you to die...

'Some 85% of the 278,000 votes cast opposed the ban on assisted suicide and 78% opposed outlawing it for foreigners, Zurich authorities said.'

As discussion rises in Switzerland to whether assisted suicide should be banned altogether, and also whether it should be available to foreigners; it comes to my attention to what extent can one recognise when a life is worth leaving-should we see it as giving up otherwise?

From personal experience, I think that people do give up too easily. I don't think people are aware of what support is out there for those who feel less able to cope, I assume most see seeking support as a weakness. Understandably though, it is after all far easier to ignore and walk away from a source of pain or problem than to tackle it altogether. We seek to live in happiness, so unless there is a real exception to this, health being the most common factor, can it be said too much judgement is held against one for admitting they have a problem in the first place? If something just isn't right it needs to be sorted, to continue being unsure about certain things I don't see as worth the wait or hassle. Isn't that like being the living dead itself? A life of misery, just isn't living anymore. Quality of life comes from identifying what we like and don't like, and weighing up the good with the bad. However, it should be recognised that suicide or abusing one self with alternatives (causing a slow death in itself whether it be some of the largest killers at present, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction e.t.c.) isn't the only option in solving our woes, there has to be a more evaluated decision if this seemed the only way for you. With assisted suicide, the question perhaps though is to what extent would the case need to be weighed to justify each assisted death?:

'Assistance can be provided only in a passive way, such as by providing drugs. Active assistance - helping a person to take or administer a product - is prohibited.'

At least there is a balance to how the death takes place, yet if someone is physically unable to pick up the tablets and take their dosage, yet verbalise their decision in wanting them-what does the phrase 'assisted suicide' really mean. Isn't the whole point in 'assisting' the death, it would seem so far it just makes the option easier to take ones own life in an accepted manner . If the case is of having the right resources, anyone can make the decision successful in saying goodbye to the world-however 'violent' the procedure seem right:

'It has said it is looking to make sure it was used only as a last resort by the terminally ill, and to limit suicide tourism.'

I am glad lines have been laid down to what condition someone must be in for them to die. Certainly there must be a percentage of people who are ill that feel a burden to their family and friends. Curiosity peeks to whether the terminally ill, once diagnosed with a life leading to what could be considered a slow death anyways, would take their own lives sooner than later? How much time can you wait it out?...:

'Dignity in Dying wants terminally ill patients with a few months to live to be allowed to get help to die in Britain.'

At least Britain is recognising alternatives for those living and suffering, but for those with 'a few months to live', surely months over years make a difference to their suffering? Shouldn't they may as well continue to wait things out? I am glad there are organisations such as Care Not Killing maintaining the development of the laws in Britain. For Britain it is a good reflection on our own quality of life, and a good reminder to reflect on others as well. Most would prefer a peaceful painless death-so why can't we grant this? The gift to walk away and decide all you can do and give in this world, acts as a last gift to the person wishing to go. Wouldn't we rather our friends or family have the opportunity to take themselves away in a way they wish so, in a way it is a gift for ourselves as well in knowing they went the way they wanted too without suffering any longer.

Some of the above may seem contradictory to my own ethics, so please take everything with some sense of exception. I hope in the future to see euthanasia portrayed in a more positive light.

Sex, coffee, a stroke?

To release an article to claim such extravagances towards our favourbles, when 'a lot more research needs to be carried out', understandably there is an importance to raise awareness of such factors which can deteriorate our health but isn't it wiser to have more solid facts in research than panicking us a little too early?

I think our judgements towards the British health service become more and more sceptical when items such as the above are released-what exactly is our money being put into?