What a Year!

Kate's superb idea!
Put the photo's on my blog!

If you want a specific picture, please e-mail me.

Disabled woman sues clothing store

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8116231.stm

Summary

Saville Row store has its media attention, but not positive. Riam Dean says she feels discriminated by the solution that the store thought was right. Riam is missing her left forearm. They did not want her to work in the shop because that would not fit the profile of the shop. She was first allowed to work in the store nut had to wear a cardigan. Later she was pulled out of the store because they thought it was not a good idea. She was always prepared for children who were curious about her forearm, but she never expected that adults would bully her with her disability.

Reaction

I think Riam made the right choice by going to court. If a shop owner does not let you do your job because he thinks you look ‘strange’, he does not deserve to have his own shop, of to be a manager. I can not think of any shop that has ever refused someone to work there because of a disability. In fact, I know several shops that have people working with a disability. Adult people who bullied her away are the most shocking. I always thought that adult people would not do such things.

Ford raising the prices further

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8116407.stm

Summary

Although a lot of companies are lowering their prices, Ford is raising them. This is the third time this year that Ford raises his prices. Ford tells us that they have to do it because of the weak pound against the euro. Mr Sharp tells us that if they did not raised the prices, Ford had to pay an extra 3,500 pounds for each car. He also says that it will not be that much, because they can have a refund of 2,000 pounds when they hand in a car that is more than 10 years old.

Reaction

I do not think that it is a very good idea for Ford to raise their prices. I think that they need to, because they have to make some profit, but I also think that they will lose more money because people will buy another car. People will probably not even buy a new car in this time of crisis, and if they buy a new one, they will by one that is as cheap as possible. Ford will than be one of the companies that has cars that are to expensive.

Spelling machineguns spray room

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/spelling_bee/article6566130.ece

Summary

The Times Spelling Bee competition is a show that keeps people awake. The participants to this show can spell words that most of the adults do not even know. They also do this at a speed that is sometimes even faster than just saying the word. Liam, who is only twelve years old, won the competition by spelling words like, kleptomaniac, cytoplasm and vestigial. A lot of parents and teachers were standing in the public and sometimes did not even dare to watch. A lot of parents were very proud of their children, even if they had not won.

Reaction

I think this kind of competions are very good to show how much knowledge a child can have. They are able to spell words that I do not even know, and that a can not even pronuciate correctly. I think this really suites the Times, because this is a competition that is looking for very intelligent people and is looking for people that are very smart. Ths Times is just the right company to make a competition like this. I hope they will make such a programm in Holland, because I am for certain that I will lose.

UK is falling down

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-to-fall-furthest-into-debt-warn-economic-experts-1716874.html

Summary

People think that the UK will fall further into dept as a reaction to the economical crisis, than any other major developed country. People think that the economy will start to restore lightly in two thousand ten, but they also think that it will take a long wile before everything as back to normal. The level of unemployment is possibly going to rise to ten percent. This is almost twice as much as 5 years ago. Although this is less than other countries like Spain and the US, this is still an incredible increase.

Reaction

I think that the people have the right to worry about the resent crisis. This is something that we can not solve ourselves. We need the help of the government and I think that the government is bound to help the people who need help. Lowering the wages and helping them find a new job as not the only thing they can do. If they really want to help all those people, they have to work harder. If they do not increase their help, it will probably only take longer before they will be out of this horrifying crisis.

!Speakers Corner !Smoking costs 5 billion pounds!

Summary
The costs of smoking are 5 times as high as we thought. We always estimated it around 1.5 billion pounds, but now we know, thanks to a research of the Oxford University team, that its around 5 billion pounds. They also calculated that death by smoking was larger that originally thought. 27% of men’s deaths were caused by smoking. For the women it is around the 10 percent. Treating cancer and all the other medical researches cost the NHS such a big amount of money. This 5 billion does not even include all the indirect costs.

Reaction
When hearing this big numbers I am starting to doubt the survival of men. People keep smoking a lot. Sometimes it is not even because they want to, but because they have the time to. I think that people should be more aware of the dangers of smoking. 5 – 10 cigarettes is already a lot, but smoking 10 – 20 cigarettes a day is already the double amount. If we really knew how close death is when you are a smoker, we should consider if it is worth it. I think that smoking is bad, but when you do not smoke tremendous amounts a week, you should be able to enjoy it.

Alpacas given a summer shearing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/8076523.stm

Summary
The alpacas in Northumberland have to be sheared for the summer. It is a once in a year event, that has to be carried out by a professional. Not everybody can shear a alpaca because the fibre if very valuable. James Dixons was hired to shear all the alpacas who belong to Mrs Shrimpton. She started buying alpacas three years ago. She breads them so that she can use them to gather fleece. Alpacas fleece is the warmest fibre you can get apart from polar fleece.

Reaction
I think this kind of stories are very interesting to read. They just captivating me in a sort of way that I cannot understand. The value of such a article is none, but I really do like to read them. I just like to know these useless facts. I think it is a good idea to shear the alpacas already. This because it is very hot for this time of year. I am also happy that they hire a professional for this job, because hiring a sheep shearer would not be good enough and could be a waste of valuable alpaca fur.

School reopens after flu!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8076680.stm

Summary
West Midlands primary school was closed one day earlier than planned. This because of the high numbers of people who are infected by the swine flu. Seventy-nine out of the four hundred-twenty children at school, were infected. Parents were being cautious and kept their children at home. Therefore the school decided to close. The school had been thoroughly cleaned and will be monitored for a wile. It opened last Monday and less than two-third of the children returned.

Reaction
I think it was a good idea to close the school one day earlier. This because of the absence of a lot of children. They would have missed lessons and that would not be very good. The danger of reaction was also still able so it was the best idea to close the school down. Keeping the school open would be asking for trouble. There perhaps would not be enough time to get the school cleaned up. And a lot of children would miss class.

Last Titanic survivor dies!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8070095.stm

Summary
The last survivor of the Titanic died last week. Millvina Dean, who was only nine weeks when the Titanic sank, says it has shaped her for the rest of her life. When the Titanic sank Millvina’s father died. When the arrived in America they almost immediately returned to England. Only her father died on the Titanic. She went back to Southampton and from there travelled the whole world to tell her story about the Titanic. She never stopped telling because she liked it so much.

Reaction
I think the reason for such a big article is, because she was the last survivor of the Titanic. We all know that the Titanic was build in the UK. She was born in England and the English people are proud to have had her around. She says she likes to travel around the world. I think she really loved to tell her side of the story because of her father. Now she died it is getting clear that the collision with the Titanic is really long ago. Every survivor died and no one is able to continue telling the story. All we have left now are Leo and Kate.

Injured soldier

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8041374.stm
Summary

After 13 days, an injured soldier finally completed the London Marathon. Major Phil Packer lost the use of his leg in Iraq. This however did not stop him from attending the marathon. His goal was to collect £1m for the Help For Heroes organisation. He would not be able to participate in the marathon if the doctors were not there. He was advised not to walk more than 2 miles a day. He also tells us that he did not do the marathon for himself, but for the people who are not able to attend the marathon. He really has a strong passion toward the charity.

Reaction

This is a beautiful article. It tells us the story about a man who fought, and who is still fighting for his country. He is fighting for all the people who need help when stationed in a war zone. And he is fighting for all the people who are not able to fight anymore. He attends the craziest activities, only to gather money for the Help For Heroes organisation. This man is not giving up yet. He is fighting to help those who are in need of help.

Cancer children infected

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8040546.stm
Summary

Researchers say that they have to do something to prevent cancer patients from dying by infections. The also say that it is possible to do that. The treatment to cancer has been improved. Nevertheless, 25% of all the children who have cancer die because of infection and not by cancer. People who suffer blood cancer have a greater change of getting infections because this cancer already lowers the immune system. For a lot of the infections there already is a treatment. This raises the question, why there are still children dying by those infections.

Reaction

I am shocked by this news. They are getting better and better in curing people who have cancer. Dying from an infection during your treatment is scandalous. This can be, and should be prevented. Those people are fighting so hard to get rid of cancer and it is so difficult. We should at least guarantee them that they will not die because of an infection. They really should be more careful with treating their patients.

Pub shootings

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8042393.stm
Summary
Four people were injured during three different incidents. All the incidents took place in the west area of Merseyside. During the first incident three people were injured. Two guys on a motorbike drove by and shot on those people. They were being struck by shotgun pellets. The second incident was in the same street and was a man on a motorbike who shot at a pub. In the third incident a security guard was shot in his leg. Fortunately no one was killed. There is no clear motive.

Reaction
I think this is starting to get normal news. I am not shocked anymore when I read those articles. I am very glad the people were not severely injured. I think this is not something typically English. This happens all over the world and, most off the time in specific problem areas. The people are advised not to drive through the area. This can not be asked. Every area in the world should be save to drive through. Especially in western cultures were we have the possibilities to fight these crimes.

Autistic boy got lost

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8042378.stm
Summary

In Devon there is a major search going on. They are looking for the 17 year old Richard Eckton, who ran away from his carers. Richard is autistic. Several teams are looking for him on land, as well as in the water. It is crucial to find him as soon as possible. They are very concerned about him because he got lost in a woody area with a river nearby. When you see him you must call him by his name. This to make him feel more comfortable. Do not look him in the eyes though.

Reaction

I think it is very wise to start such a large rescue operation. The boy is autistic and is probably not able to survive on its own. Looking on land as well as in the water is the most effective thing they can do at this moment. This shows that they keep all the possibilities open. I hope he is still alive, but I think he might have died. This because of the cold.

Urine spraying man

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7998258.stm

A chemist in Gloucestershire is jailed nine years for the contamination of food and wine in local supermarkets. Four shops were the victim of the man who contaminated goods with faeces and urine.
Some eyewitnesses saw the man walking with a bag which was surrounded by a strong vapour. The damage that was created by Dailfallah had a total cost of £700.000. This was not all because the police found other plans in his house. These would have take place in Bristol and Birmingham. Daifallah, who defended himself, told that he had fantasies about biological weapons. The judge even wanted to jail him indefinitely, but that was against the law.

In my opinion nine year is a bit to long for a man who urinated on goods. If he is able to damage stuff to a total cost of £700.000, there must be something wrong with the police of the shop owners. I think that the police should have caught him much earlier because a man who urinates on goods must be pretty easy to find on the surveillance tapes. However, the man did damage goods to a total of £700.000 which makes it a little more logical to give him a long sentence. Nine years is still way to long. Not even to think about the judge who thinks nine years is to short.

'Warn' of sunburn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7997639.stm

There are researchers who have found an early warning system for sunburn. It is a bracelet that changes colour when to much ultra-violet light is absorbed. The bracelets cost around 20p, which is not a lot of money. The bracelet fits all sorts of skin type, but you have to take your sun-cream protection factor into account. Australia and Canada have already shown an interest in this product. The UK has a lot of people who have suffered terrible consequences from lying in the sun to long. Sometimes you think you are ok but after two days you notice that your skin is burnt. In my opinion this is a welcome product. More and more people have skin disease because of the sun. The bracelet is cheap which will make it a lot more attractive for people to buy. They can use it very easily because they do not have to put it around their wrist if they do not want to. This is one important fact because not many people want a white strip on their wrist. One point that could be improved is the factor that it does not have any way of calculating how long you can stay in the sun when you are using sun-cream.

Just to find out !

How on earth do I know if this is a blog, or just a message?
Well, I thought, lets just write something down.