Time Flies...

Boy and how... September and October seem to have passed by at light-speed. Already it is a week into November, Christmas is on it's way and I have barely even started the shopping. (Normally at this point, all but a handful of pressies have been bought.) I am not very organised!

So why have two months been and gone without me even noticing? I have been busy busy busy!

September:
The month started off with a well deserved holiday. It's been the best part of twenty years since I last visited the Costa Brava. It was cheap and cheerful so off we trotted. I have to admit that I had hoped to rekindle something of my childhood wonder on this trip but I was initially disappointed. Short of gouging out my adult eyes and reinserting my eyes from twenty years ago, I don't think I could ever have overlooked the tired and tawdry surroundings, the graffiti scrawl and the general sense of decay. The hotel was very nice, but not without its problems - mainly location and some very thin walls that meant the light switch next door would woke us up a few times. Also, due to the crap exchange rate between the pound and the euro, it was expensive to eat and drink - both in the hotel and beyond - but we did manage to do a brilliant bargain day trip to Barcelona. We got a return ticket on the train that included a ticket for one of the open-top bus tours around the city at half the cost of any of the organised trips and the best thing was that we got to do what we wanted, when we wanted and for as long as we wanted. My impressions of the region didn't much change over the course of the week, but fortunately we still had a fantastic time. It was definitely worth it.

A few days after we got back from Spain, it was Last Night of the Proms time again - already so soon! We went up to Buille Hill Park at the top of our road for one of the Proms in the Park performances. We were treated to some fabulous musical fayre from the BBC Philharmonic, Juliette Pochin, Jon Christos and headliner, Chris de Burgh. As well as Last Night classics like Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance, the show included a bit of Gershwin, Pirates of the Caribbean and a stunning performance of Habanera.

The following weekend was busy in the extreme. The last big rehearsal for our concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday followed a singing workshop in Huddersfield on Saturday. The workshop covered a number of subjects and was led by Kevin Miles and Dirk Donahue, both of whom work for Disney in Florida. Kevin is the current captain of barbershop group, the Dapper Dans, and Dirk is the current captain of Disney's Voices of Liberty. Both fellas were really fun and fascinated by the fact that us brits pronounce all the lyrics correctly. :o) To finish off the day, the group had the chance to sing with an original Disney recording of God Help the Outcasts.

The last weekend in September was the big show - a Sing Live performance at the Royal Albert Hall! This concert was special for several reasons. First, the venue. The Royal Albert Hall opened in 1871 and has hosted the world's most notable performers. Every major soloist and orchestra has performed at the Hall, including modern greats like Pavarotti, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, the Hall also welcomed classical greats like Rachmaninov and Verdi to the stage. Secondly, this concert was the crowning glory to a year long celebration of a decade of Sing Live. It was clear that this was an emotional experience for Sing Live founders, John Morris and Linda Metcalfe. Our Musical Director, Steven Roberts, was also thrilled to be conducting over 600 voices at the Royal Albert Hall. It was a long, tough weekend, starting on Saturday morning with drive down to London followed immediately by a full afternoon rehearsing - with all 630 performers for the very first time! Sunday was just as hard work, with a second full afternoon rehearsing, this time at the Hall itself. We barely had an hour to break before we lined up for the performance. But all the hard work was entirely worth it. I still can't express how amazing the whole experience was and I would do it all again in heartbeat!

This week we have just started rehearsing for the next major performance at the Bridgewater Hall. The programme will include lots of amazing Disney music, plus musical classics like 'Anything You Can Do' from Annie Get Your Gun. I can't wait!

Exams exams exams

It's exam results time again and, while some teenagers will inevitably celebrate results that reach or go beyond their expectations, others will be wondering 'what next'. I received my Open University result a couple of weeks ago, achieveing a very satisfactory grade 2 pass with 77%. This keeps me on track for an upper second class honours degree or... if I can get a distinction in my final year, I might even manage a first class.

When I was a 'proper' student, back in the late nineties, I was miserable. I'm not fond of students in general so I hated being one myself. I didn't enjoy the lifestyle or the atmosphere and, at the time, didn't really 'get' the whole study thing. The great thing about the OU is that I can study whatever I want. I've chosen a named degree that has certain requirements, rather than the Open degree, which can be made up of almost any subjects you want. However, even on a named degree there is still loads of fleixibility, which has allowed me to tailor my study to my own interests. I can also study when I want - I do most of my work at the weekend rather than during the week, while other people have more time in the week while kids are at school etc. Plus I can continue to work full time throughout my degree. I have a greater sense of personal achievement from study with the OU than I ever found at college or uni because I've done it on my own.

And so, to those teenagers wondering what next after getting their results, I say this: Don't forget the OU. Take time, think about what you enjoy, get a job or go travelling, discover yourself and when you're done and you understand more about the world and your place in it, if it's the path you want to walk, the OU will be there waiting for you. 'Bad' exam results are not the end of the world. It's much more important to enjoy and experience life than it is sit in a classroom (or lecture hall) for the next three years.

The Open University celebrates it's 40th anniversary this year. What follows is a poem written by Matt Harvey, to commemorate the occasion. I don't know about anyone else, but this sums up my feelings perfectly.

OU, we owe you
everybody wants to know you
even those who used to doubt you
can’t speak well enough about you
they say: your founders were fearless
your students are tireless
your tutors are peerless
your media wireless

you’re the College of the Air
your reception’s everywhere

a twinkle in J C Stobart’s eye
that Michael Young could not let lie
that Jennie Lee tenaciously
made manifest reality
they’d an inkling lower income
doesn’t lead to slower thinking
so now some of us are inching
by degrees towards degrees

the never-quite-made-it or told-they-were stupid
the started-but-faded or sidetracked-by-cupid
the just-need-encouragement, gluttons-for-nourishment
the people whose talent was far too well-hidden
the told-that-we-couldn’t-or-shouldn’t-so-didn’t
the course-interrupted, the quite-frankly-corrupted
deep knowledge questers, bereft empty-nesters,
bright-eyed early-risers, complete self-surprisers

…who now all have fuller foreheads
a more complex frontal cortex

for nourishing our neurons
OU, we owe you

in time that’s borrowed, bought and stolen
schedules staggered, bent and swollen
time that’s snatched & time that’s smuggled
every minute of it juggled
we give up bingo, daytime telly
computer games and social drinking
to read Bronte Proust and Shelley
stay at home and do binge-thinking
every sacrifice worth making
now we’re swapping sleep for waking
waking up to our potential
to explore worlds once forbidden us
– it’s why on the residential
things can get a bit libidinous –

for being so inspiring
that you get our neurons firing
and spontaneously re-wiring
OU, we owe you

the wide-eyed wonder-graduate
the famished hunger-graduate…
jotting reading and absorbing
finding empty hours and tables
sending subtle signs to strangers
‘don’t disturb me I am dangerous
I have got a little learning…’

…and it’s not just about earning
though yes, we’re more employable
but when we go out on the pull
we talk a better class of bull
and if we’re not successful
we are much more philosophical

for nourishing our neurons
buffing up our self-assurance
and for being so inspiring
that you get our neurons firing
and spontaneously re-wiring
OU, we owe you

and OU here’s hoping
you always stay Open
for your enterprise is noble
and expanded frontal lobal
may your outreach programme snowball
from Chernobyl down to Yeovil
from Shanghai to Sampford Peverell
may your future now be global
and may some of your post-graduates
win prizes that are Nobel
if a university could get an honorary degree
you wouldn’t get one
– you’d get several

OU, BSc, BA Hons, Phd
we raise a half-full glass to you
from every social class to you
say ‘may the gods look after you’
and
OU, we owe you

Caster Semenya - All Woman?

When an 18 year old girl runs to a stunning victory in an athletics competition, one would expect testing for performance enhancing drugs, but it isn't often that you see the individuals sex being called into question.

Last week, Caster Semenya, a South African runner aged just 18 years old, won gold in the women's 800m in Berlin with a time of 1:55.45. Even before she ran in the final, questions were already being raised about her gender due to her broad, muscular physique.

In general, I agree with IAAF spokesman, Nick Davies, who said "There is a need to make sure the rules are followed". However, this gender test seems grossly unfair to me. It is true that she whooped the rest of the finalists in the event, beating the reigning champion, Janeth Jepkosqei Busienei, by nearly two and a half seconds, but the South African is still two seconds off the world record, which has remained unbeaten since 1983. It's not been made clear where the accusation, or suspicion has come from, but it is based entirely on Semenya's appearance. As far as I can see she is a typical female athlete: toned, muscular with very little bust. The only difference between Semenya and her rivals is the fact that she has slightly broader shoulders and short hair.

It's sad that even now, when women have much greatly equality than we have had previously, that women still have to conform to a set of physical expectations and rules. I wonder, if Caster had grown her hair long prior to this competition, would the same accusation have been made? Perhaps next time she runs, she should wear a skirt and high heels just to be on the safe side?

28 Mathematicians Later

I've seen Shaun of the Dead. I've enjoyed Shaun of the Dead. I especially liked the moment when Sky News anchor Jeremy Thompson is seen giving advice on how to deal with the Zombie plague. Little did I realise that surreal experience would come true... sort of.

This afternoon, Sky News reported that a group of Canadian egg-heads has created a mathematical model for surviving a Zombie attack. Yes, you read that right, someone has actually seriously considered the possibility of there being an outbreak of 'Zombieism'! The study was published in a book titled "Infectious Disease Modelling Research Progress" and concludes that eradication is the only strategy that will ensure the survival of civilisation.

It seems that Sky News got this from Wired, where the story can be viewed in full, here. Whatever the source, it seems that even mathematicians let their imaginations get the better of them sometimes. Personally, I'm going to blame a combination of beer and '28 Days Later' while chuckling at the background footage for the report. I assume it was a group of hapless Sky News employees that were roped in to take a star turn in front of the camera.

Sing Live!

Blog posts have been a bit thin on the ground recently. A busy work schedule will do that to you because there's nothing worse than coming home after ten hours at a computer to sit in front of another computer! So, here I am, wondering what to write about. There's a few things in the news right now that interest me - or irriatate me - but nothing seemed to flow right. Then it occurred to me that I've done some pretty cool stuff recently and not mentioned any of it!

Think back seven weeks (has it really been that long?!?!) what were you doing? I was busy making final preparations to perform at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester: hair, make-up, dress, shoes, hair again, organising water bottles and snacks, more hair faffing... The day mostly involved a lot of hanging around and waiting. Mostly due to the fact that half the band got 'lost' on their way to the Hall. Eventually, however, we had enough brass to get started on the technical call - our first rehearsal with the incredible National Festival Orchestra Big Band. I have been to 'The Bridge' a couple of times with my folks. We heard the BBC Phil performing Beethoven's choral symphony in December last year and then Greig's piano concert and Fingal's Cave (one of my most favourite pieces of orchestral music) earlier this year. But I was totally unprepared to step out onto the choir circle for the first time. Looking out over the empty auditorium from the 'other side' was amazing, nevermind when the band struck up and everyone started to sing. That single moment was almost better than the performance itself. Especially since the second time I stepped out on the choir circle I felt my stomach physically lurch as the empty seats were suddenly filled with bums and eager faces were staring back at us all. Not to mention my looney mates in the back row waving like nutters! Fortunately, any nervousness was relatively short lived. In fact most of the show is a bit of a blur. I remember it being very hot - this was right in the middle of the heat wave - and I remember my feet hurting... a lot! But the whole experience was awesome.

So awesome, in fact, that on July 26th I did it all again on the Bandstand in Kensington Gardens!

We did a selection of music from the Bridgewater Hall and this time around it wasn't just people from Greater Manchester, but we were joined by fellow choir members from Merseyside and the North East. It was a long day and we spent most of it on a very uncomfortable coach, interspersed with walking. We had a bit of time in London before the performance so Steve and I went for a wander around Harrods, which is only a 20 minute walk to Kensington Gardens. Needless to say, we didn't buy anything, but if it was possible to get a mortgage on a £135,000 set of speakers we would have! Steinway apear to make some stunning audio systems as well as stunning pianos! If anything, I enjoyed the performance at Kensington Gardens even more than the Bridgewater hall, simply because I was much more relaxed and we could see the enjoyment on the faces of our audience. But this show was special to me as well, because the 26th of July would have been my brother's birthday. He brought music to my life as I was growing up because he had an infectious passion for it. Plus his stereo, TV and keyboard were always turned up full blast so the house constantly shook. When he died our house became oddly silent. This concert on his birthday was a great way for me to celebrate and remember his life.

One other cool thing about the trip to London was seeing the Royal Albert Hall in the 'flesh'. The R.A.H. looks out over Kensington Gardens and it's the venue for my next performance, which will be on September 27th, and will be hosted by Judith Chalmers. The choir will consist of around 800 people from the UK and America and we'll be performing songs from the musicals of the stage and silver screen. I can't wait! Tomorrow we're having a big rehearsal in Halifax, so it will be an early start for me.

So as you can see, I have been bitten by some sort of crazy singing bug. But what makes all this possible is the fantastic group of people behind Sing Live. The company motto is "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things In Exciting Places". I am just about as ordinary as anyone else and I'll soon be singing at the Royal Albert Hall. If that doesn't fulfill their motto I'm not sure what will... maybe St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican next year!

Harry Potter and the Half Baked Plot

It's been a right busy few weeks - at home and at work (although mostly at work, which leads to 45 hour working weeks, which leads to less time at home, which leads to busy-ness at home!) - but this weekend we managed to shoehorn in a trip to the cinema.

I was really looking forward to the latest installment of HP. Half Blood Prince is not my favourite book, but it's one of those key plot points in the series. The death of Dumbledore signals the arrival of adulthood for Harry, Ron and Hermione and ends with a real atmosphere of change. Up to this point, it has been Dumbledore calling the shots and protecting the children of Hogwarts (although they don't always make it easy for him!) but in the last book, Harry, Ron and Hermione are very much on their own, making their own choices without Dumbledore's guiding hand. It's a real moment of sadness and loss for both Dumbledore and for Hogwarts and the childhood innocence and safety that it represents.

Unfortunately, although I thought the movie handled Dumbledore's death really well (I felt all that pain and sadness that I expected) and the movie was filled with humour as well as emotion, it really left me wanting. Despite enjoying the film, I was left with an uncomfortable pang of disappointment that has taken me all weekend to figure out. My ongoing theory is that if you have read the book, you will not enjoy this film as much as you have the others. The reason for this is that there are certain elements missing that have damaged the plot just enough that any ordinary cinema-goer will not notice, but a HP fan most certainly will. The book spent a good deal of time brooding over the identity of the Half Blood Prince, while the film barely touched on it. The book also had a much more exciting climax with a big battle at the end, in which all the students and teachers of Hogwarts became involved. Perhaps the intention was to cut this out and make Dumbledore's demise more dramatic. If that was the case, it failed miserably because it achieved the opposite. Instead of added drama, Dumbledore's death felt far too easy and far too small for such a significant character.

Something I am glad of is that the movie didn't lose the developing relationships between Ron and Hermione and between Harry and Ginny. This was really handled exceptionally well to the point that these relationships are much more vivid than I remember them from the book. There was some real fun in this movie, some real sensitivity and a lot of great scenes and fantastic effects. But the missing elements will be felt much more keenly in this episode of the series than in any previous one. I may need to see it again to really appreciate how good it is and definitely think a re-reading of the book is in order!

BNP Legal Injunction

It has been announced this afternoon that the BNP faces a legal injunction over its membership and employment policies. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has received numerous complaints from the public and believes that the party's policy of excluding non-white people from membership (and employment) is in breach of the Race Relations Act. The Commission has written to party leader, and recently elected M.E.P., Nick Griffin, issuing an ultimatum that demands changes to these policies by 20th July or else the BNP will face a legal injunction that will force them to adopt inclusive policies.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is charged by law with protecting the British public from discrimination as well as enforcing equality and human rights law in the UK. The Race Relations Act legislates against discrimination on racial grounds, which it defines as 'colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins'.

The BNP repeatedly claim that they are not a racist organisation and that they seek to champion Britain and the British people. However, their membership rules are clearly racially discriminatory and, because Britain is a multi-cultural society that incorporates people of differing ethnic ancestry, by excluding non-whites from membership, the BNP actively excludes British people from membership: people that have not only been born British, but whose parents, grandparents and sometimes even great-grandparents have also been born British.

Order! Order!

So, yesterday, Parliament chose a new Speaker of the House. John Bercow was elected yesterday by democratic process and already some of his peers are throwing their toys out of the pram and whispering about a challenge. Don't they get it? The public aren't interested in their bitching and whining! This guy was elected by them just as they were elected by the public. They have to respect the democratic process or risk looking like stirrers, at best, or at worst, like spoiled children!

The fact is that Mr Bercow was elected because he appeals to members from across the political spectrum. Such a person is exactly the right choice for the Speaker of the House, who must be able to set aside political allegiance. Congratulations to Mr Bercow. I wish him a successful tenure as the Speaker.

Photo credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Big Mac, Large Fries and a dip in the harbour for Ronald

Shore leave hijinks in Chile resulted in a hefty fine for two Royal Navy sailors when they took the concept of a takeaway 'Big Mac' a little too literally. The pair absconded from a local McDonald's restaurant in the Chilean port of Valparaiso with a life size Ronald McDonald statue. The 'McThieves' were ordered to pay £350 damages by the Valparaiso court while poor Ronald ended up face down in the harbour. The two men have formerly apologised to McDonald's while a BBC source in Chile (is that a Chile Source?) emphasised the good humour of the locals, saying that "Most Chileans have laughed at the pair's antics."

Seeing Stars

Belgian teenager, Kimberley Vlaeminck, is in the news today after having a tattoo featuring 56 stars... on her face! The eighteen year old claims that she requested just three stars and fell asleep during the process, only to wake up when the tattooist had moved onto one of the stars on her nose. According to The Sun Online, the tattoo artist, Rouslan Toumaniantz, has defended his work, stating that Kimberley was awake throughout and checked his progress several times. It seems that there was only an issue when Kimberley's Dad found out. Kimberley claims that she is now so ashamed of her appearance that she can't bring herself to look in the mirror and is suing that tattooist for compensation to cover the cost of laser treatment to remove the stars.

When I heard about this story on Sky News this morning a few thoughts occurred. Firstly, while I understand her desire to get a tattoo, I'm not sure why she would have one on her face. I assume that at the age of eighteen it's down to youthful exuberance and a lack of foresight of how this might impact on her future potential. Like it or not, people make judgements based on appearance. Having a tattoo on your face is a very strong and essentially permanent statement that many people will judge negatively. Indeed, many employers ask that tattoos be hidden from sight: an impossibility for Kimberley. Basically, this was a daft thing to do, whether it was three stars or 56!

I'm also not convinced about the truth of her story, although I'm very open to being proven wrong. If Kimberley is telling the truth, I wonder what motive the tattooist had for doing it. He must've known that his reputation, and consequently his business, would be at risk, so why would he continue without her consent. For the sake of art? I understand that there are many tattooists that consider themselves artists using the human body as their canvas. However, I find it unlikely in this case as the tattoo is relatively plain. Also, Kimberley's reaction doesn't quite add up: if you were the victim of such an action, how would you react? I doubt you would happily leave the shop and go home quietly! My reaction would have been to call my parents there and then... maybe even get the police involved. A far more likely scenario is that Kimberley entered into this lunacy voluntarily and then told a porky pie to deflect her Dad's anger. If that's true, I hope she comes forward before Mr Toumaniantz's business is irreparably damaged: costing someone their livelihood so that you can avoid punishment is mean and immoral.

However, as I said, I am open to the possibility that Kimberley is being truthful and I hope that I'm able to keep track of the case as it develops. The most interesting aspect of this story will be how it comes to be resolved. I wonder what a court will make of it? In the meantime I'm sure there will be some further debate on tattoos in general as increasing numbers of people - including women - have a procedure that some people believe is a disfigurement. Personally I think Kimberley's tattoo looks really cool - but I would never in a million years have had it done myself and believe that if she did want something so extreme she should have thought long and hard about it!

Photo credit: thesun.co.uk

Over the Hill

I'm not getting older... at least not for another couple of weeks! Instead, I sat my Open University exam this morning. After three hours of none stop writing that is akin to torture, it's all over - at least for another year. I think I managed to pull a reasonable result out of the exam. I felt confident of the material that I covered and managed to write cohesive arguments in the alloted time. 70% in the exam would get me a grade 2 pass, which would be acceptable. I would be a bit disappointed in myself with a lower result in either the exam or the overall grade. A grade two pass would keep me on track for an upper second-class honours degree... if by some miracle I can get a distinction in my remaining two course, I might even fluke a first class honours! But that's still a long way off... 2011 at least!

Wise Words

A political analysis of the council and European elections is well overdue. But before I move on to that (probably tomorrow) I wanted to quote some wise words from an US valedictorian, Jem Lugo, who was prevented from sharing the following speech with her graduating class due to a short-sighted principle. I found this story on Peter David's blog (please check out some of his other posts as he often has something interesting to say and usually expresses it in a very witty manner!)

QUOTE:

Springstead High School’s class of 2009. Look around you. This is it.

No more essays, no more FCAT, no more required reading. We survived 13 grueling years of school, all for this moment, where we get to wear gowns that kind of remind me of a silk version of a Snuggie, and these hats that make every single one of us look absolutely ridiculous. Hate to break it to you, but no one looks good in these hats. Even you, Ben Noury.

So, I was stuck with this arduous task of extra writing to create this speech, and I decided to make this different. I’m not gonna get up here and start spouting these crazy incomprehensible seven syllable words I probably can’t even pronounce. Why would I want to do that? Last time I checked, we’re done with school. We don’t want to THINK anymore. I would never, ever put you all through that pain. Another thing, nobody in speeches ever tells you what you actually need to know in life. They stand up here and gush about these lofty, inspirational concepts that are supposed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside. You know, I could stand up here and tell you all that I have a dream for this class, that among us are future doctors, lawyers, maybe even the next president, and you guys need to go out there and seize the day! Carpe diem! But really, what good would that do you? How much help will my words be when you wake up tomorrow, and realize that it truly is over? The babied path that’s been set out for you since you were born has ended. You’ve left the womb, the cord’s been cut, congratulations, welcome to your life. Your choices actually matter now, and your future is finally in your own hands. Sure, telling you to seize the day sounds impressive, but how are you going to know how to seize it?

Instead, I’m going to remind you of some basic concepts you can actually apply to your life. Crazy, right?

First off, get money. You can’t do anything without money. Do something with your life where you’re able to have a steady, reliable, source of income. Gamers, I’m sorry, but farming for gold in World of Warcraft is not considered a RELIABLE, or socially-acceptable source of income.

Second, after you have your money, be sure to pay your taxes. I hear the IRS can get pretty nasty with tax avoiders.

Also, don’t get arrested. Sure, the jail lifestyle might seem like a luxury nowadays, but in 20 years, when you’re going for that top-notch CEO position, that misdemeanor you got for stealing a street sign with your friends might just come back and bite you in the butt.

Moreover, take some time in your life to stand up for something. Whether it’s a stance for pro-choice, religious debate, vegetarianism, or even something as simple as cleaner bathrooms, just make sure your voice is heard. It feels good to stick it to The Man every once in awhile.

And though you will be earning your steady income with your job, make sure not to waste your entire life working. You’re making this money for a reason. Use it to have some fun. Go out and party. Use all of your vacation days. Use it to travel. Explore the world. Free yourself from the monotony of the workforce. I promise you, having fun will keep you sane.

Be sure to have that one person or thing that makes you smile whenever you see it. I’m not going to put on an act and tell you you’re future’s going to be peachy. No, life is gonna suck sometimes. Believe me, you’re gonna need that one thing in your life that can always brighten your day, whether it’s a significant other, a dog, a lava lamp, or the blankie you’ve had since you were a baby. Hey, whatever it takes to smile.

A few other basics to remember. Always say please and thank you; it’s always appreciated. Wash your hands when you leave the bathroom; you’d be surprised how many people don’t. Listen to your gut instinct and your conscience. When there’s a choice between the little angel on one side, and the little devil on the other, please listen to the angel. Respect your elders, because one day, you’ll be old too. Plus, they might leave you something in their will. Don’t treat Spelling and Grammar check as a God. It definitely misses things. If you ever achieve any sort of fame or acclaim in your life, don’t mess it up. Think Michael Phelps and Britney Spears. And if your mother would not approve of your actions, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Don’t believe everything you hear or read, and definitely don’t click on every link someone sends you. Some of us have learned that the hard way. Countless times, I’ve been duped into clicking links that sent me to the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” I’m not sure if I’ll ever properly get that song out of my head.

But, the most important thing that I can tell you tonight is to remember where you came from. You were an eagle once. We’ve been through four long years here. Some of us have loved it, some of us have hated it, but we all had to endure it, and for all of us, it’s finally over. What’s Springstead going to be like without us? The academic world is going to be missing some of its top performers, and the sports are going to be hurting without some of their best players. Mr. Pennington is not going to know what to do without his core group of seniors that are graduating. No one’s going to be rampaging through the hallways, brandishing signs with their name. Frankly, Springstead’s going to be a lonely place without us. We’ve survived a lot. Making it out of Spring Hill alive is a feat in itself. Some of us even resorted to hanging out at a busy intersection to pass the time. We’ve gone from going to see A Christmas Carol every year with our elementary school, admiring over the actors, to actually being an actor in the production of A Christmas Carol, being the ones asked for their autograph by the younger kids. We’ve gone from getting our star pulled for bad behavior, to being relocated to STAR for bad behavior. From girls wearing bell bottom jeans to guys wearing girl’s jeans. From listening to N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys, to listening to Lil’ Wayne and Flo’Rida. From wasting all of our time creating a Neopet, to wasting all of our time talking to people on Myspace and Facebook. From collecting and playing Pokemon, to, well, collecting and playing Pokemon. Some things never die. Unfortunately for us, it looks as if High School Musical and Hannah Montana will never die either. You either love it, or you hate, but either way, we survived it.

Four years ago, we showed up for high school, short and innocent, totally baffled by why there were classrooms with the same numbers, and amazed that the water fountains were gold. Then in our junior year, after we had become more knowledgeable and grown taller (well, some of us), those numbers we came to learn so well were completely rearranged, forcing us to be just as lost as the incoming freshmen. The construction period was intense. We were squeezed through tiny aisles created by temporary walls, never making it to class on time. The outdoor lunch tables that some had religiously sat at were removed, and we were relocated to a grander, spacious cafeteria with plasma TV screens that never played anything but ESPN. Those of us lucky enough to get a lunch leave pass during our junior year had no idea that we’d be the last class to have that privilege. Sure enough, everyday you could find at least fifteen people meeting up at PJ’s for lunch. Oh, and you can’t forget the new parking lot rules, that you were trapped in the parking lot until all of the buses left, for fear of being hit by a parked school bus. We all know the countless deaths caused by those kinds of accidents, God rest their souls.

When it all comes down to it, we’re made for bigger things than this. We’re going to get out of here, and we’re going to live our lives, no doubt about that. Just remember to keep in touch. You’ll regret it if you don’t. As I said, there are hard times ahead. There are times where you’ll just sit there and think to yourself, “Man, I lost the game.” Times like that when you’re going to need a friend. Don’t throw away the friendships you’ve made here. One of these people might be able to get you a job someday, or might be able to lend you a helping hand. Life is all about connections.

Now I’ve been talking long enough. We’re all dying to just get this over with. So I’m going to resort to a cliché ending, and quote one of the most influential men of all time, Freddie Mercury. “Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here.” Congratulations class of 2009, we did it!

Dig Out Your Soul

More than six months ago I managed to get four tickets for myself and some friends to see Oasis in Heaton Park. We went on Thursday night and, despite a few problems, had a great time!

Firstly, the music was fantastic. Oasis are very much on form. They played some of their best hits and sounded better than any recording. They were funny and really connected with the crowd to create a really good atmosphere. Their warm-ups were good too. On Thursday we missed out on The Enemy due to illness in the band, but we had the Reverand and the Makers instead, which was an excellent treat. Anyone who isn't familiar with their music should check out 'Heavyweight Champion of the World' or 'He Said He Loved Me' which are both excellent examples of their unique music and witty lyrical style. Kasabian were also excellent. I'm not a fan so hardly knew any of their tracks but I enjoyed their performance very much and will certainly check out their music.

Couple of problems though. The first, a few people will already be aware of, which was a series of power outtages that interrupted the performance twice. The concert had an 11pm curfew which they breached by over 30 minutes. It wasn't too much of a problem for those of us there that didn't have a bus to catch, but for the residents - most of whom are elderly - it must have been a hell. It surely didn't help that the general behaviour of some of the attendees of the concert was pretty poor. Despite police notices that searches for drugs and weapons would be carried out, there was a lot of 'soft' drugs being used and my group also saw two people snorting coke. There were a lot of people at the concert that also managed to get blind drunk. All this means more noise and disruption for residents as people were leaving the gig. It's a real shame because this can only jeopardise any future similar events at the park, which bring millions into the local economy of Manchester and Bury.

There was also a second problem, for which only the event organisers can be held accountable. The way that a municipal park works as a concert venue is as follows: the stage is erected and an area around it is then fenced off. The park remains open to the public but the concert 'arena' can only be accessed by ticket holders. For these concerts the event organisers have sold 70,000 tickets for each of the the three nights. However, the area that's been fenced off is far too small to comfortably accomodate this volume of people. The Milton Keynes Bowl has recently had its capacity increased from 65,000 to 75,000 and is much larger than the area designated for this concert. Take That at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground has sold 50,000 per night. Although the area in Heaton Park is larger than the cricket ground, it's not that much bigger. In the Heaton Park arena there are no designated walkways around the food or drink stands which inevitably means that people resulting in a lot of pushing and shoving and an almost constant crush. I'd be interested to know how decisions were made about the number of available tickets!

So overall, great music, but some disappointing aspects to this concert. I can't wait to find out what my sister in law makes of it - it's her birthday today and she is attending the concert tonight with her partner and my nephew!

"My Vote Doesn't Count": Bollocks!

Today is polling day in local elections all around the UK and in European Parliamentary elections across Europe. If you choose not to go to the polls your vote definitely doesn't count. If you want to make yourself heard in a crowded room all you have to do is open your mouth and speak: so get up and speak already! Mark your ballot any way you choose (because even a spoiled ballot is louder than silence) but for goodness sake, vote!

What Hazel Did Next

Hazel: picking up the pieces of her political career. (photo credit: dailymail.co.uk)

Hazel Blears has resigned from the cabinet. Unfortunately, the residents of Salford are still stuck with her. She claims that she is 'returning to her roots' out of a desire to renew her personal committment to the people of Salford. Rubbish! She's jumped before she was pushed in the impending cabinet reshuffle. The timing of her announcement and that fact that it has come from her and not Number 10 suggests that she is playing a rather skilful political game. Allow me to elaborate.

Hazel must've realised well before now that her position on the cabinet was under threat and she must, by now, also realise that her popularity in Salford is ebbing away. In the last election in 2005, Hazel won with over 50% of the vote. However, the Lib Dems' candidate, Norman Owen, has been making up ground on her with every passing election. Now that Labour is polling lower than the Lib Dems nationally, she must anticipate that the Lib Dems will be nipping at her heels - especially in the event of a snap election! With all this in mind, I believe she has taken the decision to resign in order to distance herself from an obviously failing government with the hope that it will stall her similarly failing popularity here in Salford. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If Gordon Brown is deposed (as the media seems is certain will happen very soon after the European Elections) taking an anti-Brown stance now will increase her chances of being re-selected in a new Labour cabinet. Particularly if she can does manage to boost her popularity. If she is not re-selected for the cabinet, it still isn't a disaster for her: You can bet she will come out fighting to keep her parliamentary seat. She's a smooth talker and an experienced politician - she knows the words that will sooth and charm you and she'll tell you whatever you want to hear to try and sway your support to her.

Don't be fooled: this resignation is more about her political career than the people of Salford!

The fact is that Labour (and the Conservatives) and so completely out of touch with the public that they wouldn't know honesty if it crept up and gave them a big sloppy kiss! Nationally, Labour got it wrong on expenses, they got it wrong on Gurkhas, they got it wrong on fuel duty and locally they got it 110% wrong on the congestion charge, ice rink, propaganda wagon etc etc etc. The Conservatives are no better choice - they only know how to oppose and have no new ideas of their own (no good ones anyway). A vote for Labour or a vote for the Tories is a vote for the status quo. Vote Lib Dem if you want change for the better!

Sam Puttick

How much tragedy can one family bear? Clearly, only so much.

After just eighteen months of a normal healthy life, Sam Puttick was seriously injured in a near fatal car accident. He spent nine months in hospital before he was able to return home but would, sadly, be paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life, requiring 24 hour care. His parents, Neil and Kazumi, spent every moment from then on doing everything they could to give Sam the very best life they could. On Friday 29th May 2009, Sam Puttick, aged just five years old, died from Meningitis at his home in Wiltshire. Shortly thereafter, striken with grief and unable to face a world without their little boy, Sam's Mum and Dad made the 140 mile trip to Beachy Head where they threw themselves off a 400ft cliff with the body of their beloved son in a backpack.

When I was nineteen my brother, David, died very suddenly. He was born with Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus. He was paralysed from the waist down and suffered brain damage as a result of the excess fluid on his brain. My Mum and Dad did their very best to give him a superior quality of life, nurturing his incredible gifts and overcoming his disability one day at a time. He was a wonderful person: musically talented, happy, funny, loving (and perhaps just a little too overprotective of his 'baby' sister!) My childhood is defined by hundreds of wonderful memories of the best family life anyone could hope for. My life since he passed away has been redefined by those same memories and by the gaping hole that his absence leaves in its wake.

For our family, life went on: Mum and Dad have literally travelled around the world (they are touring India at the moment) and we have continued to share many happy memories. But when one person is at the heart of your entire life and the centre of your whole world, it can be unbearable to think of anything beyond the immense weight of your sorrow. In just five short years Neil and Kazumi Puttick enjoyed the joy of raising a child. They almost lost their son to an accident, were given a second chance which they grabbed with both hands, only to then lose him again a few years later. Clearly, this was more tragedy than they were able to face.

This post is dedicated to all the very special people that make life worth experiencing - no matter how long or short that experience, or their contribution to it, is.

David, you made my life richer and happier than it could have ever been without you. I miss you every day. Your girl forever. xxx

Take Back Power

Any regular readers might note that I have resisted the urge to weigh-in on MP's Expenses. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, I'm not sure that there is anything further to add to the debate and secondly when it's all you hear on the news and read in the paper this sort of thing very quickly becomes quite boring. However, there is one point I feel really needs to be made.

Over the last few weeks it has been made clear to the public that a number of MPs have been on the make, exploiting the expenses system to work to their benefit. Some MPs have treated their allowances like a target to be reached, claiming tens of thousands of pounds of money from UK plc. The minimum that an MP will receive as an annual salary is over £64,000. They will earn even more than this if they are on a committee or if they have a seat on the cabinet. Expenses are then paid on top of all this which means that an MP can earn very much more than their basic salary while average earnings in the UK are less than £25,000. With a high proportion of people earning very much less than this it's no wonder that the public are so infuriated

However, it is also important to remember that out of 646 MPs in UK Parliament, the Telegraph have named only 169 (which includes some MPs that no longer hold a seat in Parliament). This means that there are still well over 400 MPs that have not been singled out - probably because any expenses claims that they have made are entirely appropriate and unremarkable. It is also worth remembering that of the 169 named MPs, very few have actually broken the expenses rules. I'm not saying that it's morally acceptable but I am saying that it is understandable. Don't agree? Let me put it to you like this:

You start working for a new company and are told that you can claim expenses for certain items that enable you to do your job - fuel and stationary perhaps. To begin with you claim only for those items that you purchase that are related to you carrying out your duties until... one day, chatting with a couple of your colleagues they point out all the things that you can claim for, and indeed, lots of other employees already claim for. So your choice is this: do you continue to claim only expenses relating to your job or do you start to claim everything you can? Some paper here, staples there, a bit more fuel that you actually used for work... it's not right and I'm certainly not condoning it, but it happens and thousands of people do it and get away with it.

Of course, they aren't claiming £30,000 for gardening with £1600 of that for a 'duck island'!

Essentially, the point I'm making here is that people can be relied on to behave like people, not angels. At the end of the day, many people enter politics on a truly alturistic basis. They want to make a difference and they want that difference to be positive. However, we can only rely on people to behave like people and people lie, they steal, they cheat and they look after number 1. We can't count on anyone (including ourselves) to be whiter than white but that's what rules and laws are made for; to discourage us from doing things we ought not to. The same goes for the government. There are more than a hundred MPs that have made ridiculous expenses claims, but they have been able to do so because the rules are not good enough and they have been able to get away with it because the oversight is not tough enough.

That's why I am supporting the Liberal Democrat Take Back Power campaign. The people of the UK need a government that works for us, not for the financial gain of its members. We need proper oversight and we need proper representation. Labour have proposed no serious changes to the rules - they would like the status quo to remain so that they can keep their fingers firmly in the cookie jar. The Conservatives have proposed only the very weakest of reforms that will make no real difference to the people of this country.

The Liberal Democrats' Take Back Power campaign aims to reform the expenses system in full, ensure the public have the right to sack any MP that has been suspended for misconduct, reform the outdated House of Lords, reform party funding so that the government can't be 'bought' through party donations, introduce fixed term Parliaments, reform the electoral system so that each vote really does count and change procedure to reduce executive power. More detailed information can be found at http://www.takebackpower.org/.

It is important that we take the opportunity NOW to press for true electoral reform rather than letting the government get away with a continued abuse of power. Therefore, I urge everyone to take a stand and sign the online petition. It's time to make our voice heard.

Bank Holidays Are Made for Moby

Ever have one of those perfect moments where you think 'yeah, that's what it's all about'?

It's bank holiday Monday, the sun is shining and it's almost uncomfortably warm (for once). There are kids walking down the street with footballs and riding bikes, families heading out for the afternoon and hardly any cars about. I've just finished a long, hard slog on my last Open University assignment for this year (only two weeks late... oops!) and Moby is playing on iTunes. But not just any Moby, the original and best album: Play; the one from which every track has been used either in a movie, a TV series or an advertisement. Yes, this album is just that good. The music from The Beach came from this album and so did that awesome track that plays at the end of the Bourne movies.
So apart from the bloke over the road that is rather noisely jet-washing the patio furniture and their kids' outdoor toys, it was one of those perfect moments. But we'll forgive him for his ceaseless whirring and spraying noises for now because we're in a really good mood.

A Reversal of 200 Years of 'Progress'

It's been a busy couple of weeks with a number of highs and not-so-highs.

Of the highs, the rehearsals for the Sing Live concert at the end of June are coming along nicely. Even the stress of a horrific day this Wednesday, when a simple airport pickup turned into a three hour nightmare, was very quickly eased by a few bars of 'It Had to be You'. My piano lessons are coming along similarly well - although I wish it was as easy to make my fingers move as fast as my mouth! Finally, Charly, survived a full service with no problems - what a relief!

In the not-so-highs category the top of the tree has to be the Irwell Riverside by-election. In case anyone has missed it, husband Steve was selected as the Lib Dem candidate. You can catch up on the events of the campaign on his own blog.

Being involved in his campaign - including helping to develop (or rather hone) the content of his leaflets and then 'on the frontline' posting those leaflets through the doors of the ward - has been a great experience. Watching the opening of the postal ballots was fascinating (I finally understand the need for all the bits of paper and those multi-coloured envelopes) while actually being able to attend the count in the evening was truly unique: not only because the media were circling like vultures awaiting the inevitable arrival of local political pariah, Hazel Blears, but also because so few 'ordinary' people get to see democracy up close and personal like this. In the end Steve came second behind the Labour candidate, Matt Mold.

All in all, it was a pretty positive result for the Lib Dems. This ward has traditionally been a Labour stronghold - last year they took a 51% share of the vote - so we were really taking the fight to them on their own territory. Steve attracted 18% of the vote (a reduction of only 1%) while the Conservatives and Labour lost out by 4% and 13% respectively. The recent Expenses Scandal has clearly taken its toll. It isn't just Labour that is paying the political price for the government's failure to set its house in order: every one of the major parties lost ground to the fringe parties (The Greens, UKIP and BNP all fielded candidates). Although we obviously hoped for better, given the circumstances losing only 1% share is an achievement.

So clearly I'm not disappointed with the result for the Lib Dems, so why am I not happy? There are two elements of the result that are extremely disappointing: The BNP and the voter turnout.

Until this by-election I have had few encounters with the BNP. I've been aware of them, of course, and will freely admit that I have always held a pretty low opinion of them as a political entity. However, it is not until I actually came face to face with them that I realised just how vile, deceitful and disrespectful they really are. Without going into a raft of detail (which would take me all day to catalogue) I was astonished by the sheer volume of lies and half-truths that they spouted in their propaganda and online on their own websites and particularly on those of others. Worryingly, they also showed absolutely no respect for democracy, even going as far as to suggest that some people should not be allowed to vote. If it's possible, they showed even less respect for the voting public talking openly in a highly derogatory manner referring to the voters as 'stupid', 'thick' or 'sheep' just because they didn't vote BNP. Finally, (and I speak from personal experience) they are downright nasty. Ignoring the disgusting abuse that their cohorts posted in comments on many local blogs, their behaviour at the evening count was akin to the level of school playground bullies. They were both puerile and venomous to other people present at the count as well as the returning officer. It is not just me that has noticed: Leader of the local Labour party, John Merry, has commented on Steve Cooke's blog.

However what disappoints me is not the BNP members or the party as a whole - I would expect little else from an organisation that has its roots firmly embedded in the fascist British National Front - it's the fact that the people of Salford appear to be falling for their rubbish. I don't mind if you choose to vote BNP as long as you understand who and what you are voting for (that is your choice and your right!) but I'm concerned that many voters may not be looking beyond the glossy surface of the BNPs leaflets or beyond their diverting but deceptive propaganda stunts. For goodness sake, if you are considering voting BNP in any election, please please please, make sure you are fully informed. A simple search in google or on reputable websites such as the BBC should reveal why so many people are set against their organisation.

However, no matter what my personal feelings about the BNP (or the mafia that they sent to the count) happen to be, the far greater disappointment in this by-election was the turnout. Only 17.5% of those people who are registered to vote in Irwell Riverside actually went to the trouble of doing so - that's less than 1 in 7 people! As a result, a little over 600 people chose the councillor for a ward of more than 9000 registered voters: that's less than 7% of people in the ward choosing who dictates the policies that directly influence the lives of everyone else. This kind of apathy means that decisions are made by a tiny minority of voters and it also opens the door to the fringe parties making extremely limited public support seem much greater than it actually is. This is not democracy! I'm sure that there are many people who didn't vote that would say 'my vote doesn't count' or 'I don't know who to vote for' or 'nothing will change so what's the point' or any number of similar excuses but the fact is by choosing to not vote you willingly reverse almost 200 years of progress.

Less than two centuries ago only 1 in 7 men could vote. Just 125 years ago less than half of all men could vote and women didn't have any voting rights at all. It wasn't until 1918 - less than a century ago - that any woman could vote in this country and it was only 81 years ago that we achieved universal suffrage. Two world wars were fought to maintain our sovereignty and democracy. Even now there are thousands of British troops protecting our democratic rights against terrorists who would like to see their religious and political views forced upon us, and all around the world their are millions of people that still have either no voting rights or can't vote freely.

Therefore, to those residents of Irwell Riverside who did not vote in this election my question is this: what response could you possibly give me that would justify allowing less than 7% of your community to make this choice for all of you?

Charly Charly

Sad news.... my poor little beaten up motor, named 'Charly Charly' after the last two letters of her reg number, has suffered a severe battering this evening at the hands of mindless thugs. The little bar-stewards smashed the front driver's side and passenger side windows and the rear windscreen in an effort to make off with my valuables. Fortunately I am not daft enough to leave anything of worth in my car so they got away with only a couple of bags for life, a bottle of water and my sunglasses (worth about £20). They did lift my work security pass, OU course book and my music score for the upcoming concert at the Bridgewater Hall this June, but a local resident spotted the culprits dump the stuff at the top of the car park and returned it to me safe and sound.

It all happened this evening in the visitors' car park at the Royal Apartments while I was having my piano lesson. The apartments are a stone's throw (or perhaps a brick's throw) from Encombe Place, the current site of the Salford Youth Offenders Service. This office is currently the subject of a hotly contested restricted document that has found its way into the hands of local residents in the Blackfriars area of Salford - where the council proposes to resite the Youth Offenders Service office. I understand that the document notes that within a half-mile radius of the YOS office there is a significant hotspot of crime - particularly opportunist crime like theft from a vehicle. Local Labour councillors are trying to suppress the document as it is a clear indicator that such a service should not be sited in a residential area. They have even tried to skew the figures (reported in the Manchester Evening News tonight) by saying that these crimes are the fault of vehicle owners for not carrying out basic security. I would like to ask Councillor Lancaster if I deserved to have three windows smashed in my car for the sake of a bottle of water and some books?

Fortunately, the fateful tale of Charly Charly has a happy ending. Thanks to the angels of Autoglass who came out at midnight, my car will be fixed and returned to me in a matter of hours. In the meantime I remain grateful to the two separate residents of the Royal Apartments that witnessed the crime and reported it to the police. Also a big thank you to the police that attended the scene - they were friendly, helpful and professional. And finally a huge thanks to hubby Steve for fetching me a dustpan and brush and doing all the ringing round and fetching and carrying for me. Because of him I was still able to make it to a very successful rehersal for the June concert. Yippee!

What Does Gordon Brown Eat?

Barack Obama has been pap-snapped popping out for a burger - something he can pull off because he's pretty much the most powerful man in politics and can do whatever the hell he likes, but also because his charm and easy-going nature makes it seem perfectly normal. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown couldn't be less normal or more distant from the public. His attempts at YouTube are forced (just like his smile) and he it seems he has been pap-snapped too... standing in front of a Nazi Swastika (apparently taken in a school he was standing in front of a WWII display about Nazi Germany).

So Barack Obama is normal and eats burgers. Gordon Brown is clearly an alien (I wonder if he has the right to live and work on our planet) so what does he eat????

ID Please...

On the news this morning, I discovered that Manchester will be the trial city for the government's hair-brained ID Card scheme. What joy!

Identity cards will cost anywhere between £30 and £60 and, according to Jacqui Smith, will 'increase protection' against crime, illegal immigrants and terrorists. The Home Office press release claims the benefits of ID Cards as:

• a universal and simple proof of identity that brings convenience for organisations and individuals –ending the disorganised use of photocopied bank statements, phone bills and birth certificates;
• control over who can see your personal details – this means no longer revealing details about your finances or personal life just to prove who you are and where you live;
• ensuring that foreign nationals living, working and studying here legally are able to easily prove their identity and preventing those here illegally from benefiting from the privileges of Britain;
• and convenient travel in Europe using the identity card.

Seems great, doesn't it... until you start to really think about it.

Just like any form of identification, it will be possible to clone and forge these cards. They will be stolen and they will be lost. No security system is completely unhackable - a truth that has been repeatedly reasserted, most recently with the banks' certainty that 'Chip & Pin' and 'Verify by Visa/Mastercard Secure Code' would reduce credit card fraud instances of which continue to increase. It might make it more difficult for forgers and fraudsters, illegal immigrants and terrorists - for about five minutes - but like Star Trek's 'Borg', they will adapt and if we rest too much faith in such a system I fear that we will ultimately leave ourselves and our nation fatally exposed.

As for the so-called benefits of the scheme, I keep wondering if the Home Office is trying to be funny. We already have two major forms of identity in this country - the passport and the driving licence. Both of which we have to pay (through the nose) for every time we need to renew or change the details. The passport now contains biometric information and the driving licence has your address on it. Why do we need a further proof of identity? (Which we would also have to pay (through the nose) for every time the details needed to be changed). Convenience and 'control' of my information are paltry reasons to introduce a scheme as such massive cost. I will still have to have a driving licence in order to drive and I will still need to have a passport for travel outside Europe, so why is having extra ID considered to be convenient. Furthermore, I fail to see how this will give me more control over my personal and financial information than I already have. As things stand, I don't need to hand over such information to prove who I am. This seems rather like grasping at straws to me!

I don't agree with the argument that says carrying an ID Card is an infringement of civil liberties. I think it's important to be able to prove who you are and frequently those who try to conceal their identity when requested, are precisely the people who are up to something! What does concern me here is that this will be a huge waste of money - a colossal white elephant. The government will waste billions of pounds (even with the public putting in fistfuls of cash themselves) just getting this scheme off the ground and the most important aim of the scheme (to increase our national security by preventing fraud, illegal immigration and terrorism) is unachievable through this scheme. Introducing a further form of identity does not properly address any of these problems. Fraudsters will be able to forge, clone or steal the cards, if not immediately, then some time in the not too distant future. Illegal immigrants will still arrive here and will just continue to do what they do now: present no form of identification so that they cannot be deported, end up being released, and then disappear into the population without a trace. And terrorism is a far greater problem with far more complex issues than can be solved by a bit of plastic - after all, those identified as guilty of or suspected of terrorism in this country in the last decade, have all been here legally.

At the end of the day, an ID card does not tell anyone what you are doing or planning or what your moral, legal, religious or fanatical beliefs are (neither should it). We need to be smarter than this if we want to combat the problems in our society. This is yet another sign of Labour's inability to approach anything with a modicum of common sense or originality.

Swine Flu

As I sit here watching I Am Legend, the story of a lone survivor of an infection that decimates the human population, it is, perhaps fitting that I should blog about Swine Flu.

Swine Flu, even at the worst projected mortality rate, is not going to kill to the extremes of the aforementioned movie. However, it seems that some people seem to think this is an end-of-life-as-we-know-it scenario. On Friday morning I was driving to work with the radio on (taking a well deserved break from singing practice) and heard someone being interviewed on the morning news criticising what was being done. Although I can't remember it verbatim, the person said something along the lines of "If one person has it on a plane, 100 people have it". This assertion gave me a right chuckle since that kind of infection rate would already mean many hundreds of cases in the UK. The "Catch It, Bin It, Kill It" leaflet that I found had been circulated at work on email. I particularly liked the advice about setting up a network of 'Flu-Friends': Not, as you might imagine a group of friends and relatives that you can infect, but instead, a group of minions that you can train to do your bidding should you fall ill (the leaflet suggests that you can ask them to run errands for shopping and medication for you but surely there's more fun to be had than this?)

This is a serious situation, but I really think some people need to get a bit of perspective. Firstly, you're extremely unlikely to catch it passing someone in the street - even sitting next to an infected person on a plane or train is no guarantee of contracting the illness. Furthermore, the UK is fortunate that we have a good stock of antiviral drugs available and with sensible precautions the virus can be contained so that they should not be needed.

I'm not sure that 'Flu-Friends' classes as a precaution, sensible or otherwise.

No wind farms... but then again...

I could have blogged about so much this evening. Obviously, there's the Swine Flu 'Pandemic' which is no doubt scaring the socks off you by now. Alternatively I could've gone for something totally banal, like the fact that I left my glasses at home and spent the day working through a eye-strain and the resulting headache. However, just as I was about to blog, something was reported on the evening news that caught my attention.

It seems that there is a wind farm in Cumbria, which is only a few years old, that is under threat... by a nuclear power station. Residents are, of course, up in arms at the proposals. The replacement buildings would take up a much greater footprint and would tower above the height of the existing turbines. I can hardly blame them for their concerns - even ignoring the nuclear element, I would much rather stare at a flock of whirring windmills than a concrete box.

However, what amused me is the fact that all over the country people are campaigning against these things. Now it seems the community in Cumbria will have to campaign to keep their wind farm!

Fun Stuff

OK, so serious stuff is over and done with now it's time for the lighter side.

First, I am now inhumanly excited about the new Star Trek movie. I remained so sceptical for so long but now I simply can't wait. Simon Pegg was on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross last night, which only served to inflame my quiet hysteria. I think I might have to book us some tickets for the premiere - preferrably on IMAX! Oddly, after watching Friday Night... I also have a strange compulsion to go and see the Hannah Montana movie. I think Miley Cyrus has been exercising so sort of new hypnosis technique on me: The clue was probably the repeated shouts of "See my movie!" in hilarious fashion throughout Ross' show.

I recently found (or rather, was alerted to) a 'new' TV channel which I have been enjoying recently. Rocks & Co (Sky Channel 642) are modelled on the long running Gems TV (broadcasting on Sky, V irgin and Freesat) in that they offer a range of gemset jewellery in 'Reverse Auctions'. Basically they start at a ridiculous price and 'crash' to a lower, more realistic price and generally keep dropping until they hit the lowest price that they want to sell that item for. It's essentially a game of chicken: which viewer will 'blink' first and buy? If interested in something, the longer you wait the lower the price, but also the greater the chance that someone else will get there first. You can almost hear the masses reaching for the phone with one hand and the 'plastic' with the other! Whether you buy anything at any given time is up to you - I rarely purchase this sort of thing for myself, but tend to buy jewellery for my Mum - but what I'm loving at the moment is the 'window shopping'experience. Rocks & Co have some fabulous gemstones in sizes, quality and varieties that most people will rarely get the chance to see. I highly recommend it but make sure you lock the credit card away first. They have a ring resizing service, but much to my dismay have thus far been unable to resize my credit card! That 27ct Rubellite will have to wait.

Finally, Thursday nights is now music night for me. I have my piano lesson straight after work and then from there I head straight out to Bolton for choir practice! After careful consideration I decided to join SingLiveUK, who recruit amatuer singers for events that they organise all over the UK, and sometimes overseas too. (There is a group at the Vatican this weekend!) I'll be taking part in the performance of Sing The Music of the Big Bands at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on June 28th. Tickets are available online from https://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk or direct from SingLiveUK. Personally, I am very excited and can't wait to get back into singing after 12 years of musical silence! We'll be performing some of my personal favourites made famous by the likes of the Rat Pack and, more recently for the younger generation, Michael Buble and Robbie Williams. Incidentally, I will also be the third person in my immediate family to give a musical performance to a public audience: My Granny was a violinist for the Halle Orchestra many years ago and my Dad performed a few years ago at the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness.

Serious Stuff....

Dear Messrs. Brown and Darling,

I just wanted to take a moment of my time to personally thank you for all your effort over the last twelve months. This year has been quite an accomplishment: One I would not have dared thought possible. Allow me to elaborate.

I am a sensible individual, pragmatic and careful how I spend. However, I admit that in my younger years I was lured by the golden fleece of credit and consequently saught to live beyond my means. Over the years I am sorry to say I built up a reasonable cushion of debt, which, when faced with tough times, I was unable to afford. It has taken me several years but a couple of years ago I became virtually debt free. Thanks to you, I now realise the error of my ways.

There I was, mistakenly thinking that the way to be secure and able to survive any crisis was to minimise my personal debt. But I am thankful to you for showing me the light. Of course I should spend every penny I earn, and more. If I want a new car, I should buy one. That expensive Radley handbag? Why not? A Gucci watch , PRADA sunglasses, and the two week long haul holiday to go with them? Definitely! It makes so much sense now - the way to survive a recession is to spend, spend, spend. We can always pay for it later, right?

So thank you for showing me the error of my ways. And also thank you for helping me to 'hit the ground running' with my renewed responsibilities by ensuring I have a £22,000 personal share in the national debt. You two are bloody geniuses!

Yours,
Kat Middleton
No-longer a Labour voter

Speed Kills....

The news media is rife, today, with reports that the government is to enter into a consultation to reduce national speed limits on trunk roads (A-roads) from 60 mph to 50 mph, as well as making it easier for councils to reduce local level speed limits to 20 mph. It has been reported that "road safety researchers say people hit at 20 mph have a much better chance of survival than those struck at 30 mph" (Sky News). I'm sure, in a few months, the same road safety researchers will add to this blindingly obvious statement by telling us that those who are not struck in an accident have a much better chance of survival than those hit at 20 mph! At what point will they advocate that we all get out and push?

I'm not against speed limits as long as they are sensible, but to me, this plan seems the height of mediocrity: It's an ill conceived, reactionary proposal designed to do nothing more than appeal to the very shallowest of voter sympathies... because who would rather see some poor kid run over at 30 mph instead of 20? Of course, some roads do warrant reduced speed limits - reducing the speed limits around schools has been proven to be very successful in reducing fatalities and there are plenty of twisty rural roads (mostly B-roads) that should generally be driven at only 40 to 50 mph - but that doesn't make a banket speed limit reduction right.

Lower speed limits entirely ignore the root of the issue. We are constantly being brainwashed with the message 'speed kills' but the fact is, it isn't the speed, or even the car, it's the driver (or sometimes even the pedestrian!) that's at fault. A gun is a dangerous weapon but it can't pull its own trigger. I believe that irresponsible and inconsiderate driving is far more dangerous than speed, not only causing accidents but also contributing to congestion (which is a contributing factor in numerous other accidents). Reducing speed limits is also likely to result in more convictions for speeding, while poor driving will continue to go unpunished, I might add. Surely, the police have better things to do with their time?

I am in favour of lowering speed limits where those limits are justified but I am unwilling to support these proposals. It's yet another example of the UK government punishing road users and it will no doubt cost millions to implement. It's about time people took responsibility for their own behaviour. We don't need the nanny state to wrap us up in yet another layer of cotton wool!