Threat of terror still lingers like a bad smell and continues to head the world's agenda. Apart from global warming, Al Qaeda are the number one threat facing the UK and the rest of the world. While global warming takes a back seat until someone can figure out how to extract carbon from the atmosphere - something Richard Branson is working on - MI6 officials have a most important job.
A latest scare in the form of explosive packages thrusts the terror back into public consciousness. Alarming is the fact that the explosive material is undetected, it is thanks to a Saudi tip -off that hinders the attack. Thankfully, this finding means security officials can revamp the checks on cargo planes and, therefore, be one step ahead of the terrorists.
Which really does beg the question of how to actually screen holiday-makers? In this politically correct society, we take it upon ourselves to subject everybody to remove their belts and shoes - to humiliate in the process. What is more important? To be politically correct or to use intelligent focus to defeat the terrorists? It is almost 10 years since 9/11 and the subsequent terrorist attacks and thwarted efforts. What is the one thing all these people have in common? They are all of a foreign, dark background.
So, with a clear, open and advantageous identifying factor, we continue to search white people, children, students and little old ladies. I am not a racist, but if I head MI6 defence I will stop and search the middle-eastern/Arabic fellow and not Tom, Dick or Harry.
Obviously, a few well-intentioned Muslims will feel their feathers have been ruffled yet - if they are not terrorists - they will get over it. The fact is, we know the type of people who plot these atrocities so checking the socks of someone's nana is not intelligent focus.
Monday 1 November 2010
Wednesday 26 May 2010
There's no problem a cruise can't sort out...
That's what my dad used to say. He used to love travelling anywhere and everywhere and would try his best to bring my sister and I along. We travelled to a lot of places when we were younger including Colombia, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. The right holiday at the right time can prove enjoyable, eye-opening and inspirational.
My mother, sister and I have just been on a 5* plus luxury cruise around the Eastern Mediterranean for 10 nights. The service was impeccable, the decour was luxurious and the food incredible. The name of the ship was the Equinox, and is one of the new solstice-class ships for Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean.
It is perfect for relaxation and new experiences. Complete strangers are seen as fellow travellers. Every member of staff enquires 'how ya doin?' in the corridors, while every passenger asks the same in the lifts. It is a very American ambience onboard - it is an American company.
The itinerary proves an experience as well. Santorini makes an impact from the start with rough weather and a storm. Locating from the ship to the shore is a task in itself. Once on land, we realise the only way to admire the town - which stands at a mountain cliff-top - is an unusually fast cable car. The lady in front of us hesistates before us and soon opts for the mountain stairs. Once at the top, however, the views are breath-taking.
I love the old town of Rhodes. The whole place oozes templar history. Castle walls and churches mix with modern gift-stalls which sell lots of products. They sell replica artefacts that bear the templar cross - all the more fascinating for someone who grew up with many cultural references to the mysterious Knights Templar.
Another destination that harbours some hidden gems is Ephesus where we took a shore excursion. It proved a wise choice as it includes some great places such as the house of the Virgin Mary, the church of St John and the famous ruins of the Arcadian Way where Anthony and Cleopatra once paraded through.
Still, happily, you can meet some interesting people on-board and get to know them. Every time I think of our friends now I long to be back as we re-enter reality. Plus my photos were rubbish, but, anyway, I recommend a cruise to anyone who has a spare two-grand on them
My mother, sister and I have just been on a 5* plus luxury cruise around the Eastern Mediterranean for 10 nights. The service was impeccable, the decour was luxurious and the food incredible. The name of the ship was the Equinox, and is one of the new solstice-class ships for Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean.
It is perfect for relaxation and new experiences. Complete strangers are seen as fellow travellers. Every member of staff enquires 'how ya doin?' in the corridors, while every passenger asks the same in the lifts. It is a very American ambience onboard - it is an American company.
The itinerary proves an experience as well. Santorini makes an impact from the start with rough weather and a storm. Locating from the ship to the shore is a task in itself. Once on land, we realise the only way to admire the town - which stands at a mountain cliff-top - is an unusually fast cable car. The lady in front of us hesistates before us and soon opts for the mountain stairs. Once at the top, however, the views are breath-taking.
I love the old town of Rhodes. The whole place oozes templar history. Castle walls and churches mix with modern gift-stalls which sell lots of products. They sell replica artefacts that bear the templar cross - all the more fascinating for someone who grew up with many cultural references to the mysterious Knights Templar.
Another destination that harbours some hidden gems is Ephesus where we took a shore excursion. It proved a wise choice as it includes some great places such as the house of the Virgin Mary, the church of St John and the famous ruins of the Arcadian Way where Anthony and Cleopatra once paraded through.
Still, happily, you can meet some interesting people on-board and get to know them. Every time I think of our friends now I long to be back as we re-enter reality. Plus my photos were rubbish, but, anyway, I recommend a cruise to anyone who has a spare two-grand on them
Friday 7 May 2010
Just when you thought it was over...
Currently, there are back-room deals taking place between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Can David Cameron persuade Nick Clegg to get into bed - offering vote reform to a degree as well as meeting half-way on issues such as tax-reform.
Yet, significant differences remain between the two parties. The euro, entering the European Union, and immigration. These are big differences and the deal from David Cameron won't last forever. Understandably, a few hours will pass before Lib-Dem headquarters can take this massive decision.
As for Gordon Brown, he stays in number 10, for now, probably waiting for his opportunity to speak to Nick Clegg. Playing the waiting game like a lot of the media. The one trump-card Gordon Brown now holds is the offer of proportional representation - changing the electoral system in this country so each vote counts towards the main parties.
Nick Clegg has to keep the Lib-Dem supporters in mind and ask what they will think about his decision. There are a number of possibilities during this important period, however, the rapid open offer by David Cameron to invite Nick Clegg is the strong focus at the moment.
Other outcomes include the Conservatives going it alone but incurring much opposition and obstacle - no doubt resulting in the need for another election and campaign (which I think the Tories would win outright). Or they could try and form other alliances with other parties in order to get the majority. Or even Labour could try to ally with the other minor parties such as Labour-loving Scotland where they have Scottish National Party seats.
Yet, significant differences remain between the two parties. The euro, entering the European Union, and immigration. These are big differences and the deal from David Cameron won't last forever. Understandably, a few hours will pass before Lib-Dem headquarters can take this massive decision.
As for Gordon Brown, he stays in number 10, for now, probably waiting for his opportunity to speak to Nick Clegg. Playing the waiting game like a lot of the media. The one trump-card Gordon Brown now holds is the offer of proportional representation - changing the electoral system in this country so each vote counts towards the main parties.
Nick Clegg has to keep the Lib-Dem supporters in mind and ask what they will think about his decision. There are a number of possibilities during this important period, however, the rapid open offer by David Cameron to invite Nick Clegg is the strong focus at the moment.
Other outcomes include the Conservatives going it alone but incurring much opposition and obstacle - no doubt resulting in the need for another election and campaign (which I think the Tories would win outright). Or they could try and form other alliances with other parties in order to get the majority. Or even Labour could try to ally with the other minor parties such as Labour-loving Scotland where they have Scottish National Party seats.
Friday 30 April 2010
Hung Parliment: good or bad?
It seems the election endures for months but we can finally see the finish line. Ironically, neither of the parties look like reaching the finish line. When this happens - as in 1974 - no one party is seen fit enough to lead the country and there is a hung Parliament.
Attitudes differ towards a hung parliament, for instance, Margaret Thatcher thought they were a drag. In a hung parliament any policy or bill proposed by the government will have to be voted for by the other parties. Nick Clegg becomes an important ally for either Labour or Conservatives when this happens. That extra lib-dem power in seat numbers could make all the difference.
All the latest polls show the Conservatives galloping ahead while Labour favour increases slightly with the Liberal Democrats losing some support. Unimaginable, but Gordon Brown seems to be doing better in light of the 'Bigot gate' gaffe.
But Tories can always rely on support from money. Certain newspapers took a recess from journalism on the eve of the final TV debate and, instead, saturated its pages with pro- conservative, anti-clegg, propaganda in a real subtle show of who pays their wages.
Whatever happens this Thursday the sheer amount of interest generated must help people to decide where they stand on politics. Whether they have leanings towards a particular party's ideals or just a frank detachment with politics altogether. Once over, people can get on with their lives and what is most important to them - like family and friends. But a general election like this one is good to keep the politicians on their toes.
Attitudes differ towards a hung parliament, for instance, Margaret Thatcher thought they were a drag. In a hung parliament any policy or bill proposed by the government will have to be voted for by the other parties. Nick Clegg becomes an important ally for either Labour or Conservatives when this happens. That extra lib-dem power in seat numbers could make all the difference.
All the latest polls show the Conservatives galloping ahead while Labour favour increases slightly with the Liberal Democrats losing some support. Unimaginable, but Gordon Brown seems to be doing better in light of the 'Bigot gate' gaffe.
But Tories can always rely on support from money. Certain newspapers took a recess from journalism on the eve of the final TV debate and, instead, saturated its pages with pro- conservative, anti-clegg, propaganda in a real subtle show of who pays their wages.
Whatever happens this Thursday the sheer amount of interest generated must help people to decide where they stand on politics. Whether they have leanings towards a particular party's ideals or just a frank detachment with politics altogether. Once over, people can get on with their lives and what is most important to them - like family and friends. But a general election like this one is good to keep the politicians on their toes.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Nick Clegg is increasingly seen as an important alternative
Latest polls put Liberal Democrats ahead of Labour and just behind Conservatives. Latest polls put Liberal Democrats ahead of Labour and just behind Conservatives. I just need to repeat it to myself in case I haven't quite grasped it yet. Last Thursday's debate between the three leaders was genuinely interesting, but who could have predicted this outcome?
My vote is still in the balance but I had been leaning towards Liberal Democrats even before the televised debate. One of the reasons is a tax cut of £700.00 a year, which would equate to £58.33 a month extra for me. Great, that pays for my student loan repayments. And am I worried about the numbers and if they add up for the economy? Of course not - Vince Cable can worry about that.
The election has interested me since January, but now I believe that history is in the making. It does remain to be seen whether the Liberal Democrats leap can remain as high as it is, but rather than buckle under the added pressure, Nick Clegg seems to revel in it.
The Labour and Tory guns turn toward Liberal Democrats - well, more of a bunch of flowers in Labour's case - but neither tactic holds much conviction. The 'big society' idea seems to have cooled-off in recent days. It was idealistic and inspiring, but no one seems to 'get' it. Incomparable to the Barack Obama election.
The more I thought about the 'big society' the more I realised that money is the true resource of sharing. Letting communities decide in a vote how best to spend an allotted amount of tax money sounds real to me. Using the Internet to cast nationwide referendums on important laws or decisions facing the Government, that sounds to me like a bigger step towards a bigger society. Results could be broadcast along the media channels and give ministers a chance to explain their own thinking on public opinion.
Will Liberal Democrats be any different if they were to get into power and would they open up democracy even more in Britain? That remains to be seen, but if the latest opinion polls are anything to go by, Nick Clegg is increasingly seen as an important alternative.
My vote is still in the balance but I had been leaning towards Liberal Democrats even before the televised debate. One of the reasons is a tax cut of £700.00 a year, which would equate to £58.33 a month extra for me. Great, that pays for my student loan repayments. And am I worried about the numbers and if they add up for the economy? Of course not - Vince Cable can worry about that.
The election has interested me since January, but now I believe that history is in the making. It does remain to be seen whether the Liberal Democrats leap can remain as high as it is, but rather than buckle under the added pressure, Nick Clegg seems to revel in it.
The Labour and Tory guns turn toward Liberal Democrats - well, more of a bunch of flowers in Labour's case - but neither tactic holds much conviction. The 'big society' idea seems to have cooled-off in recent days. It was idealistic and inspiring, but no one seems to 'get' it. Incomparable to the Barack Obama election.
The more I thought about the 'big society' the more I realised that money is the true resource of sharing. Letting communities decide in a vote how best to spend an allotted amount of tax money sounds real to me. Using the Internet to cast nationwide referendums on important laws or decisions facing the Government, that sounds to me like a bigger step towards a bigger society. Results could be broadcast along the media channels and give ministers a chance to explain their own thinking on public opinion.
Will Liberal Democrats be any different if they were to get into power and would they open up democracy even more in Britain? That remains to be seen, but if the latest opinion polls are anything to go by, Nick Clegg is increasingly seen as an important alternative.
Monday 12 April 2010
24 days to go until the election: but does it really matter?
I found out some useful facts on voting in the general election. In my constituency - Kingston and Surbiton - we are Liberal Democrats. So although Labour is in power, my town is still very much Liberal Democrat. Issues like the council tax rate is set by local councillors who are also Liberal Democrats. The important point being that Labour knows the majority of Kingston and Surbiton voted yellow. So it is not whether you voted Labour, but whether your neighbours did as well to gain an overall majority.
I did some number crunching also. The BBC news website has a good guide to your local election called Election 2010. Only 49,750 people who could vote in Kingston and Surbiton did so in the last general election, which is quite a small number when you consider that Kingston alone has 147,000 possible voters. Just over half of these votes counted for Liberal Democrats in the last general election of 2005, whereas a third counted for Conservatives. It doesn't look likely we could ever be a Labour town.
Yet, if the majority of Kingston and Surbiton did vote Labour then we would suddenly become Labour. The Election 2010 BBC website has a list of the potential local MP candidates. There's a point in all this, and I guess what I'm saying is to use your vote.
I get the impression from talking to friends and spending a whole afternoon on the Have Your Say forum on the BBC website that people are disillusioned. A general consensus being that politicians are all the same, only out for themselves and that nothing ever changes. This may be true and if people find politics boring it's because we feel powerless in the process. But I think not bothering to vote is not the way to go.
Imagine if everyone voted in Britain. I can only see it sending shock waves through Westminster that actually people are interested in the way the country is run.
I did some number crunching also. The BBC news website has a good guide to your local election called Election 2010. Only 49,750 people who could vote in Kingston and Surbiton did so in the last general election, which is quite a small number when you consider that Kingston alone has 147,000 possible voters. Just over half of these votes counted for Liberal Democrats in the last general election of 2005, whereas a third counted for Conservatives. It doesn't look likely we could ever be a Labour town.
Yet, if the majority of Kingston and Surbiton did vote Labour then we would suddenly become Labour. The Election 2010 BBC website has a list of the potential local MP candidates. There's a point in all this, and I guess what I'm saying is to use your vote.
I get the impression from talking to friends and spending a whole afternoon on the Have Your Say forum on the BBC website that people are disillusioned. A general consensus being that politicians are all the same, only out for themselves and that nothing ever changes. This may be true and if people find politics boring it's because we feel powerless in the process. But I think not bothering to vote is not the way to go.
Imagine if everyone voted in Britain. I can only see it sending shock waves through Westminster that actually people are interested in the way the country is run.
Monday 5 April 2010
New Tory lead - can Labour repond
Over the weekend, The Sunday Times reported that the Tories claim a clear lead over the Labour party. This only happened in the last week and has to be put down to one of two things. Either the new poster campaign by Saatchi and Saatchi depicting a smug looking Gordon Brown while he states "I doubled the national debt - vote for me," or the clear Tory policy not to increase our national insurance, i.e less tax on our pay cheques.
By not increasing our tax, David Cameron looks to have won extra support. What a turnaround after the budget, where Tory policy looked slim, and the Chancellors debate where both Alistair Darling and Vince Cable ganged up on George Osborne. David Cameron's optimism should not be underestimated. Especially since his unveiling of the 'Big Society' plan.
Modelled on a programme used in America - most notably by Barack Obama - the plan is to create a big society where citizens become more active in their community. Cameron even quoted the famous JFK statement: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
Such a national change in attitude is to be stimulated by a national citizen's service where every 16-year-old will be put on a two-month programme in which they learn to be socially responsible. Another project would have every single adult in the country to be part of a community project, almost like a neighbourhood watch, but with greater say over police and services.
It sounds very honourable and exciting, but sceptics would say that the budget deficit requires more focus. But it cannot be bad to try and copy Barack Obama. This country needs change for the better. David Cameron might be right about 'broken Britain' for various reasons. The pound is failing, there are wars hanging over our head, knife crime and violence continues across the country and a real loss of identity has occurred over religion and race.
If someone is willing to sort these problems out then vote for them regardless of which party it is. Even wavering towards a Tory vote, there is still plenty of time for Labour to make some kind of response.
By not increasing our tax, David Cameron looks to have won extra support. What a turnaround after the budget, where Tory policy looked slim, and the Chancellors debate where both Alistair Darling and Vince Cable ganged up on George Osborne. David Cameron's optimism should not be underestimated. Especially since his unveiling of the 'Big Society' plan.
Modelled on a programme used in America - most notably by Barack Obama - the plan is to create a big society where citizens become more active in their community. Cameron even quoted the famous JFK statement: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
Such a national change in attitude is to be stimulated by a national citizen's service where every 16-year-old will be put on a two-month programme in which they learn to be socially responsible. Another project would have every single adult in the country to be part of a community project, almost like a neighbourhood watch, but with greater say over police and services.
It sounds very honourable and exciting, but sceptics would say that the budget deficit requires more focus. But it cannot be bad to try and copy Barack Obama. This country needs change for the better. David Cameron might be right about 'broken Britain' for various reasons. The pound is failing, there are wars hanging over our head, knife crime and violence continues across the country and a real loss of identity has occurred over religion and race.
If someone is willing to sort these problems out then vote for them regardless of which party it is. Even wavering towards a Tory vote, there is still plenty of time for Labour to make some kind of response.
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