The Great Connect

Wanted to say thanks to my readers, this blog has over 10.000 hits since I started it late last year. I forget the day I started it exactly, and what day we hit ten thousand hits….anyway…. I thought it should be noted that you all are awesome. Keep reading, and I’ll try to keep it interesting.

I’m not even going to pretend that this concept is my own, but I’ve been thinking about the social contract most people seem to sign. I only realised a short while ago it existed, go figure. Well I just would like to encourage all of you to rethink and re-evaluate the lives we’re all leading to see if they’re ours or if we’re indebted to “the man” (not meant in a sexist fashion at all gents). This song by the excellent band OASIS is pretty inspiring I think, I’ve always loved it and they inspire revolution in me. I take my meaning from it, but anyway, take your own. I’m personally fed up with being societies lemur…. wow, my first rant. So here it is The Importance of Being Idle, by OASIS:

I sold my soul for the second time
‘Cause the man He don’t pay me
I begged my landlord for some more time
He said “Son, the bills are waiting”
My best friend called me the other night
He said “Man - are you crazy”
My girlfriend told me to get a life
She said “Boy - you’re lazy”
But I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

I lost my faith in the summer time
‘Cause it don’t stop raining
The sky all day is as black as night
But I’m not complaining
I begged my doctor for one more line
He said “Son - words fail me”
It ain’t no place to be killing time
I guess, I’m just lazy

But I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

Sources: Celsias, OASIS

I don’t know about you all, but personally I’ve had enough of the ridiculousness going on at Guantanamo Bay. Today the BBC reports on the destruction of interrogation notes regarding detainee treatment. According to Lt-Cmdr William Kuebler the Pentagon manual states:

“Keeping the number of documents with interrogation information to a minimum can minimise certain legal issues”

This is another example of the lack of justice going on at the facility. If you’d like to help end this and other human rights atrocities please take a look at the Amnesty International website.

Sources:BBC, Amnesty International

I mean…why won’t my boss enact this policy? That’s all I have to say…also, America should adopt the 35 hour work week and give us paid lunches…really healthcare would be nice too while we’re at it. Just a suggestion.

Sources: BBC

Tommy Burns, the legendary Celtic coach died last Thursday after battling cancer. A Requiem mass was held in his honour as family, friends, and fans said goodbye. Farewell Tommy, Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Needless to say, you’ll be remembered and missed by all who knew you. Rest in Peace.

Sources:BBC, Proverb, The Daily Mail

Here’s some shameless self-advertisement. Check out my other blog, An Open Vein, it features creative writing, research, essays, etc. that I’ve done. I opened it in December but I’m now ready to do regular postings on it. So check it out and let me know what you think!

Picture Sources: The Writer’s Workshop

The International Police are requesting worldwide assistance in finding the man pictured to the right. He is charged with the sexual abuse of at least three young boys in images released on the Internet.  Interpol states:

“The man, whose name, nationality and location are unknown is featured in approximately 100 images in a series of around 800, which are believed to have been taken in Southeast Asia and depict the sexual abuse of at least three boys aged between six and 10 years old. The first pictures of the man were originally discovered by police in Norway in March 2006.”

If you’ve seen this man or know his whereabouts or identity please contact Interpol.

Sources: Interpol, BBC

On Tuesday Philippe Quint, a renowned violinist, forgot his 1723 Kiesewetter Stradivarius valued at more than £2m in the back of a New York Taxi. Within 24 hours the driver, a man by the name of Mohamed Khalil, had returned the instrument. The driver was rewarded with £50, a private violin concert, a medal from the City of Newark, and tickets to Mr. Quint’s concert in September. Kudos to Mr. Khalil for his honesty.

Sources: BBC

I’m back from holiday and catching up…… I’ll be posting soon!

Apparently children are worth about £30 billion. According to a recent survey the market in the UK alone pulls in this amount from sales targeted at children. The BBC reported that in the GfK NOP poll 89% of adults believe children are more materialistic than previous generations. The Children’s Society stated adults need to “take responsibility for the current level of marketing to children” because “Unless we question our own behaviour as a society we risk creating a generation who are left unfulfilled through chasing unattainable lifestyles.”

The study and the issues it addresses are quite interesting and bring up important questions: What is our societies obsession with materialism doing to our children? Is this increasing disease such as obesity in our young people? What kind of values are we instilling in our children?  What kind of attitudes are we encouraging? And finally, Will be teach by saying, or doing?

Sources:  BBC, GfK NPO survey