Madeleine's abduction

1. Facts

The three-year-old Madeleine McCann was abducted from the Mark Warner's Ocean Club family resort (situated in the Algarve region in Portugal) on the 4th of May while her parents were dining at a restaurant nearby, checking on her and her twin brothers every half an hour.

Twelve hours ellapsed before the Portuguese police started searching for her, thinking initially that she may have lost her way somewhere and that she would return. The relatives of the family are running down on the alleged incompetence of the local police while the Portuguese public thinks that a Portuguese child gone missing wouldn't be looked for so feverishly. Such notions, however, will not bear in my opinion any fruit in the search for Madeleine.

As the Portuguese law forbids the police to inform the public about their procedures, rumours are mushrooming. The latest say that a woman and a girl fitting Madeleine's description were noticed at a service station and that she must have been abducted by a British national who had insider information about the family's daily schedule.

2. Opinions of the public

The majority of the public sympathise with Madeleine's parents who are at the moment going through every parents worst nightmare and a horrendous ordeal on top of that as their first family holiday has been transformed into a holiday from hell.

The McCann's try to stay positive although every minute that passes without their adorable girl makes it a little bit harder to breath for them.

Despite of the fact that the great majority of the public is aware in what a desperate state the parents are, their leaving their children alone while eating out has sparked off a heated debate. Some parents say that they shouldn't have left their children unatended while others hold that you cannot take care of your children 24/7 and that there is always a risk involved in being a parent.

Be that as it may, the way I see it is that today we are living in an increasingly threatening world and yet we cannot curb our children's freedom because of something that might happen. Abductions are after all few and far between.

Finally, I would like to say that my prayers are directed to the family and I sincerely hope that Madeleine will return home safe and sound.

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6636869.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6629399.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6637469.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6638793.stm

http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1381410.0.0.php

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/05/08/do0803.xml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/07/wtoddler107.xml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6627605.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/04/18/vanessa_today_feature.shtml

Some noteworthy vocabulary I stumbled across while reading my sources:

negligent; negligently;negligence-irresponsible
Mr Brown was found guilty of negligent driving.

to be a part and parcel of something-to be a necessary feature of something
Working irregular hours is all part and parcel of being a journalist.

salutary-formal-a salutary experience is unpleasant but teaches you something

zealous; zealously-someone who is zealous does or supports something with great energy
No one was more zealous than Neil in supporting the proposal.

Tony Blair- a decade in power

This week Tony Blair has marked a decade of living in Downing Street 10. In the wake of this years' Blair's big anniversary, I'm featuring here the unadulterated truth about Tony Blair and his three consecutive terms in office.

1. BIOGRAPHY

Anthony Charles Lynton Blair a.k.a. Tony Blair was born on 6 May, 1953, in Edinbrugh, but he spent most of his childhood in Durham, North England. At the age of 14, he found his way back to Edinbrugh, studying at "Fettes College", a famous independent school, where he is referred to by his former teachers as being"...a complete pain in the backside..." in his schooldays.

After "Fettes College" Blair studied law at St John's College, Oxford University. After graduating Blair joined the Labour Party and won the seat of Sedgefield in the 1983 general election. He was only 30 then.

In his maiden speech in the House of Commons in 1983 he said:

"I am a socialist not through reading a textbook that has caught my intellectual fancy, nor through unthinking tradition, but because I believe that, at its best, socialism corresponds most closely to an existence that is both rational and moral. It stands for cooperation, not confrontation; for fellowship, not fear. It stands for equality".

After being elected into the House of Commons, Blair climbed up the career ladder fast, serving in the Shadow Treasury, as the Trade and Industry spokesman, and as the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy respectively. Finally, in 1992, Labour's new leader John Smith appointed Blair as the Shadow Home Secretary.

As John Smith met an untimely death in 1994, Blair became leader of the Labour Party and introduced a new political policy namely the "New Labour" policy. This policy enabled the Labour Party to win the 1997 general election and Blair became the youngest PM since the year 1812. He was 43.

2. THE "NEW LABOUR" POLICY

The term "New Labour" was introduced for the first time as a Labour conference slogan in 1994. However, it became noted as being part of the new Labour manifesto in 1996 called "New Labour, New Life for Britain".
The "New Labour" policy is seen by the Labour party as a middle way between a socialist and a free market approach, urging public-private partnership, increases in public spending (NHS/education) etc.
Due to this policy, Blair was able to set the minimum wage in Britain and both the inflation and unemployment rates where low. His policy also led to devolution in Scotland/Wales and to a more successful Northern Irish peace process.

Until 2001 more or less everything was going as planned for Blair and the Labour Party. Then the shock of 9/11 came home and everything was turned upside down. The decision of the UK to fight side to side with America in the "war against terror" was met by massive public discontent in the UK, especially after it was made public that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. In fact, the popularity and the membership of the party have ceaselessly declined since 2001 and Labour won the 2005 general elections (their third term in office) with only 35,3 % of the total vote.

The third term in office is overshadowed by the "peerages for cash scandal" which Scotland Yard is currently investigating and the pension crisis as well as calls from the public that the colossal spending on education and health wasn't fruitful.

In the May 2006 local elections, the Labour Party lost over 300 councillors across England to the Conservative Party led by David Cameron. Due to the poor election results, Blair had to have a cabinet restructuring. In 2004 Blair has for the first time voiced his intention of stepping down as PM. This week he said that "in all probability" Chancellor Gordon Brown will become the new PM "in the next few weeks". His exact words were:

"In all probability a Scot will become prime minister of the United Kingdom, someone who has built our economy into one of the strongest in the world, and who, as I have said many times before, would make a great prime minister for Britain."

Although Brown has Blair as his moral support, the polls show that the public wishes a snap election. What's more, Brown is going to face competition in his own ranks by Michael Meacher and John McDonnell.

3. TONY BLAIR'S DECADE IN OFFICE

While Blair said that during this time he has made Britain fairer, stronger and better, the opposition was all too ready to drag his name through the mud. David Cameron, Conservative leader, said that Blair will be remembered as "a successful party leader but not as a good PM." Liberal Democrat leader, Menzies Campbell, on the other hand, accused Blair of "squeezing the values out of British politics" and added that "...he will go, like Mrs Thatcher, with a great deal of disappointment surrounding him."

All in all, whatever Blair's foes or allies have to say, I hold that Blair has re-moulded British politics. If for better or for worse it is yet to be seen.

Some interesting vocab I stumbled upon:

put your foot down-to use your authority to stop something happening:
When she started borrowing my clothes without asking, I had to put my foot down.

buoy up (usually passive)-to make someone feel happier or more confident about a situation:
She was buoyed (up) by the warm reception her audience gave her.

root-and-branch reform (formal)- complete

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6612757.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6612853.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6610623.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6610931.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6612471.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blair (Blair's biography)

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page4.asp
(biography; a day in the life of a PM video; Blair's speeches)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6609015.stm

(people talking about the day they met Tony Blair)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_0mVTOv1qw

(a link where you can laugh your head off; Blair/Bush lovesong)

The French presidential election

As this semester I've been reading two books about expat life in France and as this was last weeks' top news item, I focused my attention on the French presidential election. In the manner of an investigative journalist I've spent this week collecting information on all that is worth knowing about France, the one-time president Jacques Chirac and his potential successors in office.

1. FRANCE: KEY FACTS AND FIGURES

France is the second largest country by area in continental Europe. Two-thirds of the country is made up of mountains, the highest being Mont Blanc (4,808 m).

France has a number of territories overseas which together with mainland France and the island of Corsica form the 26 administrative regions of the country.

The history of France after World War II was marked by the painful period of decolonisation the culmination of which was the creation of the Fifth Republic in 1959.

The French economy heavily depends on the service industry, manufacturing and agriculture. Especially tourism is an economic branch that brings France astronomic sums of money as 75 million people visit France year after year.
Currently, though, the economy is ailing and France has one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU namely 9,8% of the population is without a job.

The economy is in a historic low partly because the government controlls the key industries (public transport, power) and partly because the French laws are rigid and the tax burdens high, so many businesses have great difficulties coping in an increasingly globalised world.

As far as the French society is concerned, France has the fifth largest population rate in the EU (63 million inhabitants). Those who are employed enjoy a high standard of living in comparison with other EU countries and free healthcare. The state also offers subsidised childcare to women who want to start working again after having been pregnant. Accordingly, France has the highest rate of female employment in the EU.
France is also a very popular destination amongst immigrants (4.9 million are currently living in France). However, the immigrant population has been facing grave problems in France in recent years as the government has been unsuccessfully attempting to make them "French".

2. JACQUES CHIRAC'S PRESIDENCY

The office of president is a coveted one in France as the president, unlike in many other EU countries, plays a significant role in implementing the policy of the government. Jacques Chirac was able to hold it for twelve years.

His political career began some 40 years ago when he first became a government minister. From 1977 to 1995, when he had to step down because of financial scandals, Chirac was the mayor of Paris. His presence was such that from the moment people met him, they fell under his spell.

In 1995 and again in 2002 Chirac was elected French president and entered the Elysee Palace, his residence.

What kind of France is Chirac leaving behind?

On the international stage he was successful in repairing the French relations with former colonies. He was also an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq which gained him sympathies in France and some other countries, but this opinion of his also frailed the French relationship with the USA and the UK.

On the home front his policy failed on many fronts. The unemployment has reached enormous proportions, the economic growth is extremely low and because of his suspicion of globalisation, the contemporary French economy is gradually falling apart. What he failed in completely is to bring France in tune with modernity.

3. WHO MIGHT BECOME HIS SUCCESSOR?

The results of the first round of voting, which was held on the 22 of April, say that the second round will see a battle between centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal.


Opinion polls in the aftermath of the first round of voting show that Sarkozy, who wishes to cut taxes and illegal immigration, will win the second round on the 6 of May. Still anything is possible as Royal, who wants to raise the minimum wage and cut French dependence on nuclear power, is only a few points behind Sarkozy.

I promise I'll keep you posted on the French presidential battle whose outcome might come as a great surprise to the French citizens.

My sources:
1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6582479.stm (about the election and France in general)

2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6578581.stm (about Jacques Chirac)

3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6582479.stm (the candidates' profiles)

Virginia massacre

This week's massacre at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sent shockwaves all around the world. Let me, first of all, offer my most heartfelt condolence to all the families who have lost a member.

Secondly , let me tell you that as soon as I heard what happened, I started to read all the news reports just imaginable and I want to write here about what exactly happened and its consequences.

1. FACTS

The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history occured on 16 April 2007 when Cho Seung-Hui shot down two people in a dormitory at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University around 7:15 local time. No one could have predicted that this was only the beginning. Two and a half hours later Cho stormed Norris Hall (an engineering classroom building) and chained the front doors from inside. There he executed 30 people and himself.

2. ABOUT THE KILLER

Cho Seung-Hui, 23, was an American citizen whose family emigrated to the USA from South Korea in 1992. He is described as a depressed and deeply disturbed young man who had come to authorities attention several times before, mainly for his grotesque writing and his harassing of fellow female students. It is reported that he was bullied by his fellow students for the way he spoke and for not interacting socially with other people. He even spent some time in a mental health facility in 2005, but he abandoned it on his own free will.

3. ABOUT THE VICTIMS

His victims were predominantly students who had all their life in front of them as well as plans, friends and family.Their untimely death will never be forgotten.

4. THE KILLER'S MANIFESTO

In between the killings Cho Seung-Hui sent NBC a long manifesto about his problems along with the reasons for his senseless crime. Amongst other things he wrote:

"You had everything you wanted. Your Mercedes wasn’t enough, you brats. Your golden necklaces weren’t enough, you snobs. Your trust fund wasn’t enough. Your vodka and Cognac weren’t enough. All your debaucheries weren’t enough. Those weren’t enough to fulfill your hedonistic needs. You had everything."

5. COULD THE HORRIFIC KILLING HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?

The main evidence that the disaster could have been avoided is the e-mail which reached the students on campus two hours after the first killing. In it stood that there was no reason for the students not to attend their classes and that the situation is under control. If the campus had been secured and classes suspended, many victims would be still alive. The college authorities and the police say in their defence that they had believed the first killing to be an isolated incident.

6. GUN POLICY IN AMERICA

This latest killing raises again questions about the weak American gun laws as Cho easily purchased high firepower weapons. A poll conducted by NBC in the aftermath of the killing states that only 36% of Americans believe that stronger gun control could have prevented the shooting. A great many of them also believe that as America is a free country, having a gun is each citizen's civil right. It is unofficialy estimated that around 192 million Americans own a gun.

7. MY OPINION

I am still in a state of shock because of the massacre. At night lying in bed I imagine how the families of the victims must feel knowing that they have lost a loved one for all time. How tragic. All this young people losing their life because a disturbed young man didn't now how else to cope with his demons. Do I hold that the massacre could have been avoided?I do. As his out-of-the-ordinary behaviour was well-known to authorities, they could have found a way to efficiently deal with it. The campus should also have been evacuated after the first killing. Still, what does it matter now to talk about what could have happened if....
The crucial step to take is to do something about the safety at universities and the American gun law. I sincerely hope this event will have a long-lasting effect on the public and that something will change for the better.

Should Scotland become independent?

This month's Spotlight issue features an compelling article about the Scottish craving for independence.

Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1 May 1707. This status quo may change in the Scottish parliamentary elections due on the 3 of May.

All the opinion polls conducted so far both in Scotland and England point out that people wish Scotland to be independent as well as the Scottish National Party, the Green and the socialist parties.

The main question is- Is Scotland economically and politically powerful enough to make it alone?

Sure enough, the country already has its own legal, banking and education systems. The Scottish Parliament can pass law on health, education and prisons. Nevertheless, the main political decisions (taxation, public policy etc) are still made by England.

The way I see it (mind you I'm no political expert) Scotland should become independent if it were to improve their trade and international relations along with taking responsibility and shaping the country's future alone. On the other hand, if this independence is bound to cause conflict, then it is better to think twice.

The wrong clothes?

In this month's Spotlight issue I have read an short article which infuriated me. It is all about a club in Manchester which doesn't allow customers in if they wear:

a) striped shirts

b) heavily branded clothes (the company's brand is visible on the clothes)

c) checked shirts

d) trainers and sportswear

e) caps

f) big jewellery

and finally g) male boots

What can I say about it? Only that I am still enraged. What has happened with the freedom we are supposed to enjoy in a democratic country? Will this lead to people being denied entry in a supermarket because they have short hair or big ears. I know this sounds far-fetched, but it could happen if clubs like this one expand.

Surely, there are occasions, like funerals or weddings, were there is a dress code, but there most certainly shouldn't be one in a club, where people go to unwind. I'm of the opinion that as long as it is not one of the occasions above mentioned, people should dress like they feel up to.

Or, even better, why not come stark naked in such a club if almost any other clothes or accessoire is a no-go. Your purse would certainly thank you.

importing Irish soil

Last week I came across an article in "The New York Times" that made me rub my eyes in disbelief. There it stood, black on white, that a company in New York has begun importing Irish dirt and selling it for a few dollars per kilogram, shipped to your doorstep.

On the company's website (www.officialirishdirt.com) it is written that the company has shipped $2 million worth of soil so far, more to come.

Most Irish-Americans use this soil for filling in their graves and spreading it under their homes.

My first thought after reading the article was what had happened with the "good, old times" when expatriats sung traditional songs, took part in flamboyant festivals, or wore traditional dresses to express their love to their home land.

Buying Irish soil seemes to me like the daftest thing ever, but at least you don't harm anyone by doing it.

Coca Cola has done it again

In the New York Times Sunday supplement (Standard) I read some time ago about Coca Cola's newest try to pull the wool over the consumer's eye. This time it's a Diet Coke Plus, that will be available this spring, and, allegedly has vitamins and minerals. Akin to Cola's coop, PepsiCo will introduce Tava.

All of this came to life due to the fact that sales of traditional Coca Cola are ailing. People have finally grasped that Coca Cola is a sweetened soft drink.

I find it arrant nonsense to try to sell consumers fairy tales about a Cola that has vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium and zinc in it and could be part of one's daily diet.

Here are some other opinions:
http://www.slashfood.com/2006/12/13/diet-coke-plus-is-diet-coke-but-healthier/

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/03/08/diet_coke_plus_healthy_soft_drink.php

listening to the news

Two days ago I listened to a piece of news that deeply saddened me. It is about Sally Clark, a woman who was sent to jail for murdering her two children. This alone would be horrendous enough, but what is even more appalling is that she was innocent. So, in 2003 the court of appeal finally set her free. But nothing was ever going to be the same again. Not only had she lost both children under mysterious circumstances, but she also was scarred for life during her stay in prison.

Alas, the miscarriage of justice she suffered finally made her commit suicide a few days ago. She left behind her husband, who was always on her side, and her third child.

My first thought after listening to this was how it must have been for her to be accused of killing her own flesh and blood. I doubt any person could live through such grave emotional stress. Then, after some more ruminating, I was outraged by the miscarriage of justice. Thanks to this item of news I became painfully aware that sometimes it is worse to sentence an innocent person than to free a guilty one.

If you want to listen to this, access:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/video_and_audio/default.stm

stress

Stress is ubiquitous nowadays. We are faced with it at the workplace, at university and even in our private lives, which should be safe heavens where the word stress doesn't exist. Astounded by an article I read on BBC online yesterday

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6442001.stm ), I've decided to feature an article on how stress is triggered and how you can combat it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/emotion_stress.shtml

and I have also found an interactive assessment of your individual stress level:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactive_area/assessments_stresstest1.shtml

20 oddest jobs

This is an article I read on www.msn.com
some time ago, but it was so riveting that I decided I'd better feature it on my blog. As you cannot access it via the internet anymore, here it is uploaded for you (it has a promising title "20 oddest jobs"; look for dog food tester and potato chip inspector):

1. Coffin Maker

What they do: Build customized coffins, ranging from simple pine caskets to bejeweled boxes.

2. Potato Chip Inspector

What they do: Oversee potato chips on an assembly line and check for overcooked or clumped chips to discard.

3. Wax Figure Maker

What they do: Mold wax to create figures, often, but not limited to, the human form. Figures are often made in the likeness of people who have achieved historical or celebrity recognition.

4. Foot Model

What they do: Work as a "parts model," modeling their feet for advertisements that feature footwear, lotions and other related-products.

5. Golf Ball Diver

What they do: Search the depths of golf course bodies of water to find lost golf balls to refinish and resell.

6. Doll Doctor

What they do: Repair, repaint and reassemble doll parts to doctor-up dolls that have missing, broken or damaged parts.

7. Egg Inspector

What they do: Examine eggs for cracks and other irregularities before they are graded and stamped for approval.

8. Knife Thrower's Assistant

What they do: Act as human targets for the knife thrower, which can involve mastering feats such as being tied to a spinning wheel while having knives thrown within inches of their bodies, or having objects cut above their heads.

9. Foley Artist

What they do: Use random items and whatever else they can find to create and record the noises used to make the sounds effects in films, such as heavy footsteps, rolling thunder or creaking doors.

10. Solfeggist

What they do: Listen to recorded music and monitor notes in indistinguishable compositions.

11. Snow Researcher

What they do: Collect and analyze ice crystals in snow to study the effects of pollution on area snowfall.

12. Wig Maker

What they do: Create and fit hair pieces such as wigs, beards, mustaches and eyebrows for clients requesting hair for costume or personal needs.

13. Gross Stunt Producer

What they do: Create new ways to gross out contestants on television shows, using insects, animal products and other things considered that could be considered "gross" by society's standards.

14. Mermaid

What they do: Entertain crowds as an underwater performer.

15. Whiskey Ambassador

What they do: Drink and explain the proper ways to serve and savor various whiskeys.

16. Dog Food Tester

What they do: Taste and analyze dog food samples and write reviews on the results.

17. Bonfire Builder

What they do: Gather discarded wood from trash bins, beaches, construction scrap heaps and similar areas to expertly build bonfires.

18. Dice Inspector

What they do: Inspect dice used in casinos for lopsided angles, misspotting and other blemishes that could cause error when the dice are rolled for gambling purposes.

19. Ethnographer

What they do: Research and study single groups of human behavior through fieldwork, observing and questioning participants.

20. Gum Buster

What they do: Remove gum stuck to sidewalks, street benches and other unwanted areas by de-sticking the gum through a steaming process.

p.s. It would interest me which of these professions you find appealing...