Blog Questionnaire

I am a male and I forgot my age a long time ago. I am studying Creative and Professional Writing and English. I feel that Being Bad is an excellent module and relates well to my other modules. Here we are compelled to think about the various aspects of behaviour, which is good for the creative writer. Being Bad is at an appropriate level and is not too demanding. More topics should be covered. There are many topics that can be included, politics and pornography would be interesting. The format has worked well. The module team was good though there were some better than the others, however that is expected as not everybody can be equally good.

I do not think that small group discussions or discussions in the class as a whole could have improved anything as people need time to think and do some research before they can involve themselves in fruitful discussions. Information and talk from the lecturers would obviously been more useful. The approach taken for this module is excellent. Taking interdisciplinary modules is a very good idea and I think I have benefited immensely from it and I would like to see more modules introduced from other disciplines. I will definitely take PH 2004, when allowed. I will recommend it to my friends. The blogs were an excellent idea, without them the module would have lost much of its utility. If PH 2004 does not have something similar I may not choose it. Two shorter assessments are fine. The module tends to broaden ones outlook of life and increases knowledge on subjects, to which one never really gives much serious thought. The blog was the best part. You do a lot of research and you learn a lot in the process. All the parts of the module were useful. It would be a good idea to increase the blog entries to 35 and the comments to 20. I have enjoyed this module immensely.

Bad Jokes

A gay student in the USA got killed, when he joked with another student and asked him (he was straight and hated gays) for a date. The other student was offended and later he brought a gun to school and shot him. This was an innocent joke made to an bad guy.

However, Jeremy Clarkson, the popular TV presenter got into trouble last year for joking about murdering prostitutes. After completing a lorry driving task he said it had been a hard job and continued:

“Change gear, change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That’s a lot of effort in a day.”

His humorous comments attracted numerous angry complaints. One should be careful with jokes and make sure they do not offend another’s feelings. Even communities have been offended by jokes made about them. The Sikh community were subject to certain jokes, which however were never dared to be made in front of them for fear of violent retaliation. However people realised the Sikhs did not like being made fun of and the jokes have more or less died out completely.

Censuring jokes is perhaps going a bit too far, people should just use their common sense and make sure they do not hurt anybody.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/69349/Clarkson-murder-joke-furore

http://www.brownpride.us/forum/gay-boy-killed-school-parents-blame-school-t17163.html

Comments on Alissa.D.Foster's posting ...Drinks promotion

The general view is that the alcoholism and binge drinking of a few should not have any impact on those who drink responsibly (related to the recent debate on increasing the price of alcohol). Unfortunately if it was as simple as that… Those “few” have risen to an alarming number. Almost a million people visited clinics and hospitals for alcohol related problems, last year.

This is not about being mature about drinking, where alcohol is involved there are bound to be casualties. The question is how many will be enough? Will a million suffice?

One other fact about alcohol, which everybody has heard but nobody seems to take seriously, is that scientifically speaking alcohol has been defined as a drug and quite a strong one as described by our lecturer in his lecture on drugs. The fact that it is a legally sanctioned drug makes everyone think that it’s not a drug or that it is a drug better than the others.

I agree with you completely when you say that a price rise will not have an effect on drinking habits. However I must differ on your suggestion to a more mature public approach to alcohol. The only approach that can be practical and successful is outfashioning it or outdating it, showing it the out door, just like we have done to cigarettes.
Link:
http://lesshatemoreskate.blogspot.com/2009/03/drinks-promotions.html#comments

The Morality of Pornography

The subject of pornography has become very sensitive, nobody really wants touch it. The reason for this is if one is against it he is labelled as orthodox and if he supports it, he may give a morally wrong impression of himself/herself . This posting is merely to give people something to think about.

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In the porn industry women are not humans with feelings and emotions. They are treated like objects to degrade. It is difficult to imagine that a male who watches porn regularly will not have his vision of sex and women impaired.

Feminist movements warn that sexual offences against women may rise (Although in Netherlands and Japan, where pornography is legal, crimes have gone down).

Or one may say, “Let’s focus on morality of pornography, just the morality!”

An opponent of porn may say, “What manner of human beings can possibly transform themselves into nothing more than a whiny whore bitch or a mangy dog stud and call themselves career porn 'stars'? How self-dignity and self-respect can be held so cheap is a capital crime against mother nature in itself!”

On the other hand there are the people who think there is nothing wrong in it. They proclaim it is an exploration of ones sexuality and discovering ones true sexual identity.

While opponents retort that this discovery can easily be made by studying decent sex educational books or programmes.

Who are these people who object? Have they undergone some very strict cultural brainwashing? Are they from a traditional or religious background and consider viewing and participating in pornography – a sin?

The actors in such films have chosen their professions with great consideration; they could be highly educated people and decent citizens. They know exactly what they are doing, what they will gain and achieve and what they will lose. They are not tramps. They have a right to chose, it is their choice!!

Who are these people who object? Can they be people who have had some abnormal upbringing or are they ordinary people just like you and me, who are trying to understand where pornography stands from a moral perspective?

The pro-pornographers seem to have the last word when they say, “It is the courts who allowed it and they have allowed it after considering it from every possible aspect.”

They are right ofcourse, but somewhere something seems to have gone terribly wrong as society is splurged with what seems uncensored pornography. An aspect seems to have been overlooked and it appears it has something to do with some basic level of decency and indecency, some basic level of moral and immoral behaviour, pleas for which have been made but appear to have been stifled by the weight of excessively lenient and liberal judgements of the courts, while those in power look on in cold irresponsible detachment.
Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7972137.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2161484.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice/sex_relationships/sex/porn/

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/12/news/foes-of-pornography-and-bigotry-join-forces.html?scp=20&sq=ban%20pornography&st=cse&pagewanted=1

Comments on Sue’s post, ‘Brothers are bad for your Health’

I must agree with the article that sisters are more conducive to good health than brothers. I agree with it purely out of personal experience for example it has been a very long time since I have sat with any of my three brothers and had a simple brotherly chat. However I am always talking with my two sisters on the phone, it may be of small things of no importance. If I require some information or advice or wish to share a piece of good news, it will be my sisters I will call first. I rarely call my brothers. You feel much better when you have shared your fortunes and misfortunes with somebody – so there you are – sisters are better!
Link:
http://smjl123.blogspot.com/

Comments on Agnieszka's post on ...alcohol....

The general view is that the alcoholism and binge drinking of a few should not have any impact on those who drink responsibly (related to the recent debate on increasing the price of alcohol). Unfortunately if it was as simple as that… Those “few” have risen to an alarming number. Almost a million people visited clinics and hospitals for alcohol related problems, last year. Alcoholism is a serious problem or to define it more appropriately – a serious disease. Once inflicted, one becomes mindless of the health consequences. Binge drinking may be a lesser disease but has nevertheless obtained alarming proportions. One other fact about alcohol, which everybody has heard but nobody seems to take seriously is that scientifically speaking alcohol has been defined as a drug and quite a strong one as described by our lecturer in his lecture on drugs. The fact that it is a legally sanctioned drug makes everyone think that it’s not a drug or that it is a drug better than the others.

I quit drinking about two years ago and I don’t think a price rise will have any effect – more drastic measures are required.

Link:
http://aggiebeingbad.blogspot.com/

Comments on Josephine’s posting ‘Kids?’

I agree with Josephine’s view that it was a film full of shocks. Immorality from its various angles was shown in full abandon – undoubtedly it was disgusting. However I believe its purpose and the effect it may have on kids should be viewed from a different angle. There are a lot of kids out there, who are unsure of what kind of life to lead. Smoking, drinking, taking drugs and having sex might appear to them as something quite exciting. However after we saw this film we felt nothing but disgust. Why would not kids, who also see this film, not feel the same way? It would discourage them from committing such acts and from living such lives. Letting them see the dark side of life will make them appreciate the beauty of the brighter side. It’s what is generally known as learning through comparison and that is how we all have learned throughout our lives.

Link:
http://dantesinferno64.blogspot.com/

Stalking

Stalking is usually defined as receiving unwanted attention. According to the British Crime Survey, last year 9 percent of women and 7 percent of men have reported being stalked. Contrary to popular belief the stalkers usually are ex-partners or friends of their victims. The stalking can be completely harmless or can be of harmful nature.

I discovered the case of film star Uma Thurman being harassed by a stalker called Jack Jordan. Even her parents received e-mails from this stalker saying he wanted to meet Uma Thurman or he would kill himself.

It is said that he sent 20 bizarre letters to Thurman in 2005, while he was in a psychiatric clinic. On one of these he wrote, “I feel in love sometimes and at other times terrified, and test the razor's edge on a ledge."

Thurman also received a picture drawn on a religious confirmation card portraying “a razor blade and a gravestone marked RIP near what appeared to be an open grave.” At one time he said that his hands should be on the star's body "at all times.”

The star said, "I was just completely disturbed," she said. "It was almost like a nightmare - it was scary."

If celebrities like Uma Thurman, who can get extra special protection with a click of a finger - can get “completely disturbed”, and feel the experience as being “nightmare”, how would the ordinary stalked woman feel? What about the child or the parents who know that their child is being stalked by a paedophile? What kind of hell do they go through?

It is easy to stalk people on the internet, through their mobile – all you need is their mobile for 5 minutes. Click on the link below to find out more.

Links:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2006/feb/01/news.g2

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7385162.stm

http://womensaid.org.uk/domestic_violence_topic.asp?section=0001000100220023&sectionTitle=Stalking

Comments on "Rebellious Revolutions are the way forward" by Nicola

An excellent posting - we must always keep an open mind and live in peace with other people’s ideologies even if they contradict our own. Who has not held a belief which he later realised was wrong? We change our views all the time. To question and enquire is the path to the realisation of truth. The important thing is that we have the freedom to express ourselves. The earth revolves around the sun and not vice versa, neither mankind nor religion believed this simple fact once, now both accept it without a thought. It was because of the voice of one man, who rebelled against mankind, which included every preacher of every religious and non religious ideology of the world. Yet there is still much to be achieved in fact there always will be something to achieve so we should never let the momentum of the rebellion decrease or pause.

Sudareth Kumar
Link:
http://www.talktonic.blogspot.com/

Bandits and Outlaws

The stories of outlaws such as Pretty Face Floyd, Ned Kelly and Bonnie and Clyde are all fascinating. Floyd was known to be charitable towards poor people and when he died 40,000 people attended his funeral. He robbed banks, tore up the mortgage papers of the poor and even bought them groceries. He was the only one who actually actively helped the poor.

Kelly they say committed bank robberies to fund the push for a "Republic of the North-East of Victoria", and that the police even found a declaration of the republic in his pocket after his capture. He had received some basic schooling and once risked his life to save another boy, Richard Shelton, from drowning. As a reward he was given a green sash by the boy's family, which he was still wearing at the time of his final shootout with the police. However he did little for the poor during his criminal life. Neverthelesshe was very popular, and it is estimated that a petition to spare Kelly's life attracted over 30,000 signatures, although this remains unconfirmed.

The story of Bonnie and Clyde is even more fascinating, Bonnie had attended high school and excelled in creative writing and even won a county league contest. She was also a poet and has had her poems published. Contrary to beliefs it is said she never fired a gun although she stood by Clyde throughout his/their criminal careers. However they too did more or less nothing for the poor and needful. Infact Clyde did very few bank robberies and did only small time jobs, which included robbing the lower class, people for example owners of filling stations and grocery stores.

Pretty face Floyd (he hated this name given to him by the public) died at the age of 30, Bonnie when she was 24 and Clyde at the age of 25, Ned Kelly died when he was 26. The fact remains that if Floyd and Kelly had worked for the public good within legal boundaries they would have done much more. If Floyd had wanted to help he could have become an industrialist and thrown away more money than he ever did as an outlaw. He could have done social work or joined politics and worked for the good of the society throughout a long life.

The fact is cold and undeniable, staring at us in the face – Floyd and Kelly died young, but imagine how much good they could have done if they had lived their full lives. Half the time they were running away or hiding themselves from the authorities. The lives of crime they chose were unrewarding for themselves and for the public, and we must not forget that hey killed innocent people, which must have been burdening their conscious all the time. They had to kill in order to survive. Bonnie and Clyde as I’ve mentioned before never did anything for the poor. The only part I find interesting is Bunnies interest in creative writing especially poetry. Perhaps this fact aswell as the fact that she was a female helped in portraying them as unique outlaws and ultimately elevating them to the status of a legend.

Links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/may/22/australia.mainsection1

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/books/reviews/6324371.html

Hiding Robbed Cash Not Easy

Robbers may have congratulated themselves on the success of the £53 million Tonbridge robbery but the real problem arose when they had to conceal the huge amount.

1. If the currency notes have had their numbers recorded they are instantly traceable.

2. Laws are tighter now on investments in properties. Bankers, casino or car dealers found helping criminals face tougher punishment.

3. In the event of a large amount being robbed, any abnormal deposit made into a bank account would be immediately reported to the National Criminal Intelligence.

4. The amount can be smuggled out of the UK to safer places, but the smuggling will not be easy and not without risk.

5. Another alternative is to deposit the stolen cash into thousands of accounts to avoid detection. This however is time consuming and opening thousands of accounts is no easy task. First you can't open them in one name because it will create suspicions very quickly. You'll have to engage other people, which is risky aswell.

6. Another alternative is to put money into a network of businesses. For this you need a large network of businesses for a huge amount to be absorbed. However it is still likely to show up in small or medium businesses. A sudden leap in the turnover will create suspicion.

Shoplifting is perhaps still an easier and less risky option!!

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4742362.stm

Creativity and Addiction

There were some famous writers who were addicted to drink or drugs, however I believe that if they had not been addicts the quality of their work would have been even better, they would have written more and would have lived longer. Intoxication dims and blurs the creative mind and qualitatively the output cannot be as good as that of an emotional yet clear mind. They easily develop other mental problems. Dorothy Parker, an American writer and poet tried to kill herself several times. Earnest Hemingway after being released from a mental hospital where he had been treated for severe depression, committed suicide at his home in Ketchum, Idaho with a shotgun.

Two of my admired writers Jack Kerouac and James Joyce had drinking problems Joyce was binge drinking all the time during some years he stayed in Dublin. His drinking episodes occasionally caused fights in the local pubs. Kerouac’s death, at the age of 47, resulted from an internal haemorrhage (bleeding oesophageal varices) caused by cirrhosis of the liver, the result of a lifetime of heavy drinking.

F. Scott Fitzgerald notorious for his heavy drinking, which resulted in poor health and he had a heart attack in the1930s, and the next day he died. He was 44. Charles Bukowski, influential Los Angeles poet and novelist, famous for his womanising and life long addiction with alcohol wasted 10 years of his life when he got disillusioned with publishers and stopped writing. During those 10 years he did nothing but drink. William Sydney Porter who used the pen name of O. Henry was a failure at business, a spendthrift, and an alcoholic, he died in poverty. Dylan Thomas, a welsh poet died at the age of 39 because of drinking.

William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American novelist, film screenwriter, and poet and won the 1949 Nobel Prize for Literature. Faulkner had a serious drinking problem throughout his life. However Faulkner himself stated on several occasions, and as was witnessed by the press, he did not drink while writing, nor did he believe that alcohol helped to fuel the creative process.

Not being a fan of any kind of addiction I personally think that Faulkner’s concluding part that ‘alcohol does not fuel the creative process’, barring an exceptional few (I doubt there may be even an exceptional few though) applies to everybody.

Above is a photo of the famous American author Jack Kerouac, who was also a poet and painter.

Links:

http://partners.nytimes.com/books/97/09/07/home/kerouac-plummer.html?scp=2&sq=death%20of%20jack%20kerouac&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/books/review/Greenberg2-t.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=the%20death%20of%20F.%20Scott%20Fitzgerald&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/26/books/books-of-the-times-a-new-work-on-faulkner-linking-his-life-and-his-art.html?scp=1&sq=alcohol%20and%20William%20Cuthbert%20Faulkner%20&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/books/review/Powers.t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=alcohol%20and%20charles%20bukowski&st=cse

Early Demise of Childhood

In this fast growing modern and technological world children are growing at an alarming speed. Children of today are doing things that were unthinkable in the past and a debate is growing fiercer whether this is good or bad for them. Childhood is no longer a carefree phase, where children only played, ate, laughed and cried. Pre-teens have become adapters of new technology like pagers and cell phones and they now becoming what has been called “Techno-Kids”. This change is blamed on the “Unholy Trinity” of sex, profanity and violence. The child is stepping into the pre-teens, the pr-teens are stepping into the teens and the teens into adulthood. Pre-teens are buying body paints and scents like, “Vanilla Vibe and Follow me boy.” Pre-teens are also more sexually active. There have also been a rise in the violence and crime in the pre-teen group increasing fears about the pace of their growing up.

The pre-teens and the teenagers are alleged to be the vanguard of a new decultered generation. They are isolated from family and the niebourhood, shrugged at by parents, dominated by peers. Then they are delivered into the hands of a sexualised and status-fad-crazed market place?

Or is this merely an extreme exaggeration?

If this is true are the parents and society to blame?

The IPPR, however suggests that school days should be prolonged to develop arts, sports, cadets and martial arts, and advertising aimed at primary school children should be banned.

Others, who consider this fast growth necessary for children in a cut throat competitive world, say that surveys show that children are a lot happier than ever before. They are more intelligent, aware of life and the world at an early age and aim to reach goals, at this young age, which was unheard of before. As for fast growth… this has been the complaint of every parent from times memorable. They think that parents who complain have watched too many episodes of serials like, “Grumpy Old men.”

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7276939.stm

Legalising Prostitution

Prostitution, the oldest profession, as it so often described, has both its advantages and disadvantages. The health risks and the immoral tendency in resorting to prostitutes for sex are well known. The danger of numerous sexually transmitted diseases including Aids is always uppermost in ones mind in case of unprotected sex. However the world is wiser now, protection is always almost used. If protection is used that leaves us with the moral risk…

Why is it a considered immoral to go to a prostitute for sex? If a person has no partner/friend why should he or she not go to a prostitute? Why is it immoral to fulfil this most natural of all needs? If masturbation is considered natural by the vast majority of people, why is going to a prostitute wrong? Except for the physical aspect, are they not similar in other aspects?

The people who do not have a partner to have sex with or those who simply do not wish to entangle themselves in emotional relationships go to prostitutes.

An elderly, disabled...person said, “…clients of these sympathetic and compassionate ladies are, like me, disabled, elderly, disfigured, ugly or socially or sexually inadequate. The prostitute provides the only opportunity for a brief, life-enhancing taste of physical affection. God bless her!”(see first link below - and go to title 'vice is nice') A physically challenged person once told me that if it had not been for prostitutes, sexual intimacy would have become a thing of the past for him.

Then there is another category, which does not fit the description of any of the above – they are the section, who simply likes a change, variety, excitement and adventure…

Another fact to be considered is that a minority can be provoked to commit sexual offences if they are not given the peaceful and harmless option of going to a prostitute. Prostitution is infact acting as a balancing factor in a sexually overcharged society.

What about the prostitutes themselves – are they not occupied in a dangerous profession, which consists the risk of disease and of physical abuse.

For all of the above reasons it is necessary to legalise prostitution under the supervision of the government. It will safeguard the public aswell as the prostitutes.Disease will also be controlled as regular medical checks can be carried out on prostitutes. It would also ensure that drugs and children do not find there way into brothels.


Link to the above:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/apr/06/letters.gender
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jan/27/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation1

Comments on Susan Linford’s post Drugs and creativity

That drug use can enhance creativity in any way is doubtful, For one thing I have tried drinking (scientifically speaking alcohol is a drug) and then tried writing something creative, unfortunately it was a hopeless task. It seemed fine at that time but in the morning when I looked at it I realised how a state of intoxication can never compete with a crystal clear sober mind. I have heard of an extremely few drug addicts, who have become creative writers. Infact drug use will I believe dim the creative mind and ultimately destroy the creative spirit. A drug addict usually has a weak body; a weak body usually always have a weak mind, which can not really be good in the art of creativity. Ofcourse there may be exceptions but…they are just exceptions.

Link:
http://smjl123.blogspot.com/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jan/27/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation1

Tesco Being Bad

Tesco has been criticized by animal welfare and farming groups for cutting the retail price of its standard whole chicken from £3.99 to £1.99 which has increased its sales to 75% but according to the researchers it has also reduced their welfare standards. It has been reported that more than a quarter of broiler chickens have difficulty walking due to the poor locomotion and also chickens are not able to express natural behaviour which is part of the ‘Five Freedom’ principal.

Even with all these criticism, Tesco has continued to say that they do apply the ‘Five Freedom’ principals but according to Hugh Fearnley who is a celebrity chef and a campaigner against Tesco, these claims are out of line with the living conditions that he has witnessed in the standard chicken sheds. A number of questions have been raised about Tesco’s ‘Five Freedom’ principal statement such as, if they do apply these significant animal welfare principals which are quite costly then how are they able to sell their standard chicken at such a low price of £1.99. Tesco has also pushed the prices down so far that some UK farmers are very close to bankruptcy and 2,000 independent stores went out of business in 2008.

Links:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/06/lifeandhealth.animalwelfare

Comments on David.G.Fox’s post “LSD Testing”

I agree entirely to David’s view on not using soldiers as guinea pigs and testing on them drugs, the use of which could result in serious adverse effects. The soldiers should not be utilised in such a way. If drugs have to be tested they should be on volunteers, who certainly should not belong to a force, which is responsible for the security of a nation. Needless to say it should be done under strict medical supervision.However I’m not quite sure of his views on legalising drugs and allowing them to be an individual choice. Other means to tackle drug crime should be explored.

When the time of selling alcohol was extended that in no way improved the alcoholic health of our nation, infact more patients were being admitted to hospitals for alcohol problems. When pornography was legalised that in no way improved the moral health of the nation infact the lives of its people were swamped by it.

This reminds me when I was abroad in India, I read an article in a newspaper regarding the corruption there. It was written against the government in an underlying critical and sarcastic tone and was titled, “Should the government Legalise Corruption?”
Link:
http://davefoxbeingbad.blogspot.com/

Gambling

Gambling has been a popular source of entertainment and income through many centuries and across cultures all over the world. It is however necessary to define gambling. Gambling is wagering of money or commodities of value on an event, the outcome of which is uncertain. This is done to derive additional money or commodities of value usually within a short span of time.

Some say it is an excellent form of recreation and an important source of income for the government. There are numerous casinos in Britain and even the internet is providing different ways to gamble.

No matter where you are gambling in the casino or horse racing, it is common knowledge that the odds are systematically arranged to guarantee the casino or the bookmaker a profit and the gambler a steady loss. Yet gamblers continue to gamble. Why?

According to a psychologist Dr Luke Clark the factors of near misses and personal choice tends to create an illusion of control although the outcome is entirely based on chance. After having played and lost this illusion changes into loss chasing. This situation is one of severe addiction similar to that of drug use. If you are not given the chance to recover your losses, it may result into symptoms of withdrawal as experienced by drug users. A brain chemical known as dopamine which plays a key part in drug addiction also becomes active here.

There are a number of factors, which play a part in compulsive gambling for example gender, age, socioeconomic, family history, stress are all key elements.

The phenomenon of problem gambling is increasing. In Australia for instance, which has the highest number of addicts, which was 290000 in 2001 and the figure has been increasing ever since. The average gambler used to fritter away 1.8% of his disposable income now it has gone upto 3.6%.

In Britain child poverty is increasing because parents fritter away their money in gambling. It affects not only the gambler but all those who depend on him and those who love him. Though compared to drug addiction, it is actually worse because one night of gambling may ruin a perosn and not only him but his family and also those who depend upon him.

Links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/28/gambling.immigrationpolicy

http://www.research-horizons.cam.ac.uk/features/the-psychology-of-gambling.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/28/gambling.immigrationpolicy

Tattoos and Piercing

I have nothing against tattooing or piercing except when they are done over the limit they tend to make the person more ugly. Here are things harmful, which you should look out for if you intend to go for either:

Make sure that the tattooing needles are clean and properly disinfected

Make sure you are not allergic to pigments contained in the ink.

Hepatitis B is the most common form of infection transmitted through the process of tattooing. This is mostly caused by using the same needle over and over again.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted through contaminated ink.

If a tattoo artist presses the gun against the skin too hard, the needles can pierce the fat or muscle beneath the dermas. This may lead to permanent bruising, scarring, and excessive bleeding.

A further disadvantage of a tattoo is the fact that a tattoo is permanent. Eventually, more than 50 percent of the people regret them. There are ways to remove or camouflage the tattoo. Even the most expensive method, removal by a laser-technique, does not guarantee a scarless removal of the tattoo.

Again the danger is when piercing is done by unsanitary equipment.

A piercing is less permanent than a tattoo, but it will leave a little scar on you.

Ask to see the autoclave and sterilization certification. Is it current?

Ask about what training your artist has taken and completed. Are certificates available?

New sterile needles must always be removed from an autoclave bag in front of you. If not - leave immediately!
A study in Australia shows that tattooed people are still seen as delinquents likely to be drug users and carry knives. So what does this mean for lovely Ulrika?

Tattoos and piercing may distinguish a person in a variety of ways, however my personal preference is that the natural skin is much more beautiful than anything else, may be a small tattoo will do no harm but being tattooed like the person above takes it beyond the limit.

Link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2008/jun/16/body-piercing-keeping-it-safe

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hepatitisc/Pages/Testingatriskpatients.aspx">http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hepatitisc/Pages/Testingatriskpatients.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/16/fashion

Robert Mugabe

He has been the head of government since 1980.

He has 6 degrees, mostly acquired during his 11 year imprisonment.

Mugabe ranked No. 1 on Parade Magazine's 2009 World's Worst Dictators list, ahead of Omar al-Bashir (Sudan) and Kim Jong-il (North Korea).

He has been described as one of the recent worst racists. The white minority population there are being robbed of their agricultural land.

In 1980 the Zimbabwe Dollar was more in value than the US dollar. It has become so worthless now that a 100 trillion dollar note has recently been issued. Though people there get trillions of dollars in pay it is not enough to pay for their daily bus fare to work.

He caused a state of hyper inflation after printing trillions of dollars of its currency. The inflation in July 2008 was 231,000,000%

He emerged to prominence in the 1960’s as the African National Union leader in guerrilla warfare against white minority rule. He emerged as a hero.

He is anti-homosexual; he told an audience in 1995, “If dogs and pigs don’t do it, why must human beings.”

His wife is 40 years younger then him.

Even 30 years after ending the white minority rule he still accuses the UK of promoting white imperialism. He has been banned by the EU from entering Europe. Britain and the USA has also banned him from setting foot on their territory. The only time he is allowed to enter in any of the banned states is when he has to attend a UN meeting or to attend any other meetings of International organisations.

He hung on to power even when he lost the elections in 2008. His method of threatening and actually using voilence against the voters if they did not vote for him miserably failed this time

To conclude the truth is that when it comes to being bad, he is one of the worst.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7859033.stm

Comments on Elcocks Hayley’s post “Gambling – When is it too much?

Gambling is one of the worst if not the worst addiction. The reason for this is one can ruin himself so quickly. In one instance a man I knew actually gambled away his house in a single game of cards. When is it too much – the answer to this question is even starting to gamble is too much, because once you have started you slowly get addicted and how addicted you get only time can tell. Once you are addicted it is very hard to stop, even psychological treatment fails to remove the addiction. So my advice to everybody is to stay away from gambling, which has the potential to very easily ruin you.

Link:
http://tinkersrant.blogspot.com/

Jade Goody - Media Coverage

Jade Goody died just recently due to cervical cancer. Like most people I too felt sorry for her to have died at such a young age, leaving behind two motherless children. Many other people are having cervical cancer tests because Jades unexpected infliction. A good thing to be said about her is her efforts to remove the image of her being a racist and a bully. Her public apologies, her visit to India and her brief participation in the Big Boss there are all good indications.

However her rise to fame was due to her stupid and arrogant behaviour at the Big Brother show. Her death definitely did not deserve the media coverage it got, with OK magazine announcing, “a nation mourns the loss of its brightest star.” First she certainly was not Britain’s brightest star and she certainly has not done anything that may have benefited Britain or the society as a whole. Elevating her to such an undeserved status and bringing her to the national stage is a bad example.

There are many workers in the war and famine ravaged countries of Africa, who risk their lives each day and who genuinely deserve this kind of coverage and appreciation but unfortunately never get.

Link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/mar/17/jade-goody-ok-magazine

Comments on Nicola’s blog “Poverty”

I found Nicola’s sentiments on poverty as exceptional because for one thing nobody else has written on the subject, although it is one of the worst problems this planet has. I remember what G.B.Shaw once wrote about poverty, “It is a disease, which not only infects the body but also the soul.” What he meant by this was that when one is worrying about hunger and other basic necessities of life all the time, how can that person think about religion, morality or virtue?

We can all do something about poverty for example I have set up a direct debit and small amount is paid to ‘Save the Children’ fund and another small amount is paid to ‘The Red Cross’ and I intend to do more. When I die I want to feel I have done something to ease the suffering of the world.
A very good piece Nicola, I admire your sentiments, keep it up!

Link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jan/27/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation1

...they worship the ground he treads...

This is not a picture of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man jailed for life on 19 March for having kept his daughter as a sex slave in a cellar for 24 years and fathered her seven children, murdering one of them by neglect. In medieval times perhaps it may have been not unusual for Kings or Lords to have sex slaves, but even in those days keeping a daughter as a sex slave would have been considered evil. Some acts are just beyond bad…beyond words. The shock of this incident hasn’t even died, when just recently another such deed has come to light. This time it happened in Italy and the daughter was kept in a dark room for 25 years and was continuously sexually abused by her father. When she ran away to her brother, he too locked her up for two weeks and raped her.
The daughter has alleged that her brother is also sexually abusing his four daughters. No names or photos have yet been given in the report. For the time being the father and the brother are mystery men.

The horrifying aspect of this case is that that the accused father has a large family two daughters and eight sons, who are defending him and say that ‘they worship the ground he treads!’ Beyond words as I said so I’ll leave it here.

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7968452.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7370208.stm

Comments::

On Lenka Hruzova's post, 'Visiting prostitutes'

A detailed and informative peice full of light humour aswell as conveying the various dangers of visiting prostitutes. This is one aspect of prostitution that I have missed out from my own peice, which I have not posted. Thank you for the information. For those who like making a trip to such places now and then, I think it will be advisable for them to not take too much money with them and to perhaps wear some kind of protective head and facial gear - in event of possible slaps or punches!

Link:
http://fuorinormavisto.blogspot.com/

Infidelity – an unavoidable fact of life?

Infidelity is normally considered as having a sexual or emotional relationship with another person while you already have a relationship of commitment with somebody else. First of all let us discuss its disadvantages. It is generally considered as a betrayal of trust or a breach of a contract. It does considerable harm because once trust is gone it usually takes time to build up. Divorce may follow. Lives of not only the couple but of their children may be adversely affected.

A lot has been said about infidelity being useful if your partner is being unfaithful or is just a horrible person in other ways. You can teach him/her a lesson by having an affair yourself and then presto! He changes overnight into a man or woman of your dreams!

Unfortunately life is not so simple and I must confess that I believe this to be a totally useless method, because as far as I’ve heard good self- example can have an effect on your partner but imitatating your partner is unlikely to bring the desired result. Two wrongs can never create one right. This will lead to more misunderstandings and then to ultimate chaos.

There was someone who wrote in his blog post about this married man, who was having an affair with another woman. When he finally took her to bed he found she was nothing compared to his wife in the art of sex. After this discovery he broke up with her. However did it not occur to him that if he went to a third woman she might be better than his wife? Ofcourse it would have occurred, one single dismal experience would not have stopped him.

Before we go further a word about the cause of infidelity. One of the causes of infidelity that has been so much talked about is because of some defect in the character of your partner. Defect in character like for instance him or her having an affair, being a nag, being violent and so on the list could go on. However there is one other reason...

It is time now to stop beating about the bush and come straight to the point, the truth as I’m sure everybody deep inside is aware of is quite simple really – he or she wants variety…a different experience, a different lover! Unlike the manmade institution of marriage, nature made humans to bond with many and infidelty provides the oppurtunity and thus it is an exciting adventure. The restrictions of morality, religion and civilisation came much later but how successful have they been in eliminating what nature created? There is no cure for this problem except understanding and accepting the various ways a human mind works and deviates. If you are one of those exceptional people, who truly believe in remaining faithful to whomever you are attached to – then either reason with him or her like an intelligent and rational person or turn a blind eye for a little while that is whenever you know he or she is being unfaithful. It’s not very often, usually after very long times somebody may wish to have a new experience. Reason or ignore, he or she will come out of it, they usually do and in the process you will save the family from disintegration
.
Links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/aug/11/bskyb.broadcasting

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2000/apr/14/features11.g22

Comments:
On Sue.M.Linford's post 'Politicians behaving badly'

What the home secretary or her husband does in their private lives is their private affair, but asking the government to pay for the husbands porn videos is going a bit too far… and this when the home secretary’s own expenses are still under scrutiny. Sue's style of writing is as usual brief, factual and without beating about the bush always goes straight to the point. Impressive!
Link:
http://smjl123.blogspot.com/

Goodwin’s pension reduction – A Human Rights violation?

One does gets used to high class living when in the job and simply has to continue his style of living when out of it. A bank, which has been bailed out by the government and is still making a loss has to pay such a huge amount, is very ironic. Sir Goodwin doesn’t seem to give a damn about what the public or the government thinks of him for refusing to decrease his pension. Infact his boldness is admirably pathetic as he is openly demanding his full pension or in other words that he has been bad and will continue being bad. An expert, claims on the BBC news website (link below), that taking away his pension would be against human rights! Nobody is taking away his pension; the row is about decreasing it to maybe a half. Decreasing a measly pension of say £200/- to £100/- can be considered as a human rights violation as that would not be sufficient to live on. However giving Sir Goodwin his gigantic £350000/- instead of a super gigantic pension of £700000/- may be against his legal rights but I fail to understand why it will be a human rights violation?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7916248.stm

Paedophilia

Paedophilia is a world wide phenomenon and is found in every country of the world. It is defined as a psychological disorder in which an adult experiences a sexual preference for prepubescent children. This disorder needs intensive and continual treatment, which, however, does reduce the attraction towards children but unfortunately may not result in a complete cure. Paedophilia occurs in women aswell, though mostly it is the men who are inflicted with it. There are however some offenders, who do not meet the minimum standards to be diagnosed as paedophilic. Though a number of researches have shown different causes of paedophilic behaviour there is still no conclusive evidence of its cause.

The subject reminds me of a film I had seen starring Kevin Bacon as a recovering paedophile. Otherwise a good normal man, the character which Bacon plays, is shown as struggling with his paedophilic desires. He is seen resisting and fighting back this debased carnal craving, which has an impression on the viewer as to make him or her actually sympathise with him.

The above photo is of Andrew Lintern, a paedophile of 55, of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, who was jailed indefinitely after pleading guilty to 31 charges.


Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7947122.stm

Lying, Immoral or Moral?

Lying is considered as a necessary evil. Those small little tiny harmless lies are justified when they induce the smooth flow of our individual and social life and helps us to avoid absolutely unnecessary conflicts in our relationships with others.. A truth which poisons a relationship is much worse than a lie. A lie, which tends to harmonize social or individual relationships, is better than the truth. I remember when I was I was mush younger, a friend, who sometimes acted as the wiser guy because he was slightly older, used to preach that the only situation where a lie is justified is when that lie saves somebody’s life. Unfortunately I now realise that is far from the truth. The author of the linked article says, “What justifies the lie is the benefit of its outcome; if more good than harm flows from its telling, a lie is justified.”

I however dislike people telling lies for no reason at all or simply because they have become habitual or to create a falso impression of themselves or others. A lie must have a reason behind it, a reason which has an underlying good motive.

Plato said, “Lies are not only evil in themselves, but infect the soul of those who utter them.” They infect only if the motive is one of evil, other wise they will elevate the speakers character and cleanse the human soul.

Link
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/1999/sep/18/books.guardianreview11

Smoking

This habit was not simply a habit in those days, it was a personality trait, a sign of maturity a mark of distinction. A long time ago I remember reading a James Bond novel, Flemings original 'Casino Royale' and the book started like this, “Bond lit his seventieth cigarette” (these were more or less the exact words). Nowadays it is rare to see James Bond smoking in the numerous films that are being produced. It is no longer a glamorous habit but rather a sign of ill-health. No longer do young women hold their breath and swoon when they see a dark handsome young man light a cigarette and smile at them. Sadly smoking has lost its magnetic pull and sexual lustre. The glimmer and shimmer of this glorious personality trait is forever lost in the storm of criticism from our health advisors. Now, even wives push their husbands out in the garden or at the door opening if they want to smoke. When the government banned smoking in pubs and all public closed places and even under bus stop shelters, I remember a smoker friend of my saying, “We are being treated like lepers.”
Yes, and I used to be one of them but happily I quit more than one and a half years ago.

When smoking you breathe in poisons that harm your body. The tar and chemicals in tobacco smoke damage your lungs. Some diseases and symptoms:

1. It’s harder to breath because your smoke damages your lungs
2. More lung infections like cough.
3. Cancer of the lungs, intestine, throat, kidney, pancreas and bladder
4. Increases risk of heart attack and stroke.
5. On an average you live 13 years less of your life.

Where smoking is concerned you can write eternally. But I have other assignments to complete…so I’ll end it here.

Link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/smoking-summary

Vegetarians

If you are a vegetarian or a vegan, then you have cut down a major source of saturated fat, the ‘bad fat.’ However meat and diary products contain some essential nutrients, which we need to find elsewhere.

Vegetarians need iron, which we get from green vegetables, some breads and cereals. There is a lot of protein in meat and fish, which we can get from pulses, seeds, eggs, yogurt, cheese and soya.

Selenium helps in our immune system and meat and fish are a good source but we can also get it from Brazilian nuts. Diary products contain iron but there is plenty in green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and okra aswell as almonds and sesame seeds.

However, vegetables must also be given a chance to say something in their self defence. I found this poem, which is a strong pleas against the trend of vegetarianism:

Vegetarians

Vegetarians are cruel, unthinking people.
Everybody knows that a carrot screams when grated.
That a peach bleeds when torn apart.
Do you believe an orange insensitive
to thumbs gouging out its flesh?
That tomatoes spill their braine painlessly?
Potatoes, skinned alive and boiled,
the soil’s little lobsters.
Don’t tell me it doesn’t hurt
when peas are ripped from the scrotum,
the hide flayed off sprouts,
cabbage shredded, onions beheaded.

Throw in the trowel
and lay down the hoe.
Mow no more
Let my people go!

Roger McGough

Link:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Vegetarians.aspx

Kids

It is wrong to consider that this film is nothing but a stupid tale of what immoral teenagers do in society and that it has no effect on the viewer accept that he/she is overcome with a feeling of disgust as to why such films are allowed to be produced. This film is unique in the aspect that it is presenting teenagers engaged in immoral practices of all kinds. The shocking images of Aids, phidophile tendencies, drugs, violence etc… will create disgust not only in the minds of the adults but also in the minds of teenagers. This film is good for the teenagers, who engage in these activities and specifically for those who have an intention to engage. The effect should be very drastic because the movie is so open in its shocking speech and imagery.

I remember an Indian film I had seen called 'Chakra', though that film contained less shocking images, it was about a young man, who smoked, drank and liked visiting prostitutes, where he was treated with great respect being a regular and generous customer. He presented himself as a guy, who knew what he was doing, confident, a worldly wise man and infact a likeable character, a character most teenagers wouldn't mind becoming. You know...the guy, who has a drink in one hand and a beautiful woman in the other. However in the end we find this same man infected with STD, no money, chased by the police for stealing - to conclude he was in a pitable condition. I've never forgotten this film, though I had seen it about 20 years ago. It left an impression on me - an impression that all that glitters is not gold. I was a teenager then, but after watching that movie I never wnated to be like this character.
Link
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/21/movies/film-review-kids-growing-up-troubled-in-terrifying-ways.html?scp=4&sq=kids,%20film&st=cse

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is derived from Greek, meaning “gentle and easy death”, and usually refers to acts, which terminate or shorten life in order to end suffering (Where the patient is diseased and where there is no hope of recovery).

If an action promotes the best interest of every one concerned and violates no ones rights then that action is morally acceptable and this is true about euthanasia.

If a person has the right to avoid the tortures of an incurable disease and the right to a good death, than euthanasia is right and moral.

Since it will continue to take place even when illegal, it is better to make it legal and put in safeguards to minimise abuse.

The right to die, as in euthanasia, conforms to the principle of freedom, the basic foundation on which our British society stands

Money is used on people who have no hope of recovery and who also have no desire to live, why not let them take resort to euthanasia and use those limited resources to cure people who wish to live.

Religion takes a firm stand insisting that euthanasia is against the word and will of God. If humankind has approved homosexuality, suicide and abortion in the face of religious opposition why can it not approve euthanasia?

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7322520.stm

Alcohol

About 60% of all male prisoners and 40% of all female prisoners had been under the influence of drink in a survey recently conducted…and 66% of all government earnings from alcohol sale go into the medical care of those diseased by alcohol. This figure does not include the amount spent on the police to maintain law and order and prisons to punish alcohol offenders. The government does not really make much out of alcohol taxes anymore. The affect it has on your health, pocket and moral equilibrium is devastating. The time wasted on drinking can be utilised in creative activities, which both can be very entertaining and productive.

1. A Survey by The institute of alcoholic studies shows that 70% all crimes are alcohol related.
2. 39% of domestic violence cases involve alcohol.
3. In more than a million violent attacks the aggressors were believed to be drunk.
4. More divorces result from drinking than any other cause.
5. 60% – 70% of homicides are connected to alcohol.
Where crime is concerned the issues are inexhaustible, infact it’s the same where health is concerned.
Mouth and orophangus, oesophagus , liver, laryngeal and breast cancer, altogether 5 types of cancers are caused by alcohol. Unipolar depressitive disorder,
Epilepsy and anterograde amnesia are only a few mental disorders causes by alcohol.
Hypertensive heart disease, Ischaemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, oesophageal stroke, Ischaemic or haemorrhagic varices are some of the cardiovascular disorders caused by alcohol. I can go on to other diseases and problems but I’ll stop here.
Subsitute alcohol with music and poetry, life will become thrice more beautiful.

Link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jul/26/immigration.drugsandalcohol

Comments: Masterminding...minding...Masturbation by Farrish Ashley

Masturbation...minding to take over the world by Farrish Ashley, is a frank, truthful and justified attack on those who still think that female masturbation is still something mythical. We live in a pornagraphy dominated world, yet we giggle when somebody mentions female masturbation.
A bold, factual and realisitic peice. One of the best I've read so far

Link:
http://beingbadwolv.blogspot.com/

A Lovers Blackmail

Sexual backmail by the means of getting friendly or making the victim fall in love is one of the worst. When a friend threatens that he will show a video of you naked making love to him. It is a shock that one is unlikely to forget throughout his/her life. If a person with whom one has fallen in love blackmails in the same manner, it is a even worser shock and the psychological impact will be enormous. One is likely to lose faith in human integrity for a very long time. It doesn’t matter if the victim is a billionaire, the mental suffering will be just the same. It is a degraded act because love the most tenderest of emotions is used.

The above photo is of a blackmailer, Helg Sgarbi, who used to blackmail millaire or billionaire women. He got unlucky when the last woman, a billioniress, decided to go to the police.

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7931925.stm

Masturbation

Egyptian mythology claims that the world was created by masturbation and that even Gods indulged in this practise and actually created other Gods through masturbation. Its immensity is so great that it cannot be ignored. But before Freud and his followers came along to create the round about turn in the theory and practise of sex, all the other intellectuals had one problem. how could they give some ethical justification to masturbation. Could there be a morality about this practise? A practise, which all religions had claimed as degrading and taboo! This dilemma exists even today, however if this most common of activities was self-denied by everyone for whatever reason. It is likely to create much more disharmony in the family and society. People would become irrated, uncontented, frustrated, angry and even voilent towards family, friends and the society in general. Who will deny that masturbation can and is not drastically decreasing rape, molestation and other sexual offences? Bertrand Russel once wrote:

"We should be proud of prostitutes, who are saving our wives, sisters and mothers from all sorts of sexual harrassments, including rape. They are true social workers."

Masturbation is doing more than prostitution can do or ever did. Morever it is known to be one of the safest sexual activites. Research, though inconclusive, shows it may protect a person from prostate cancer.

Links:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Masturbation?Open

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/masturbation-can-be-good-for-the-over50s-1516792.html

http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/masturbation-guide

Patriotism: Discussion for the twelth week.

A lot have been said obout the virtue of patriotism, it is time we look into the adverse effects of this extreme(?) emotion. Emotion or quality, in whatever manner you wish to describe it, it has been the cause of the most brutal wars. It has been the cause of unspeakable crimes against humanity. It has divided humankind into numerous groups called nations or countries and pitted them against each other, sometimes for centuries. Today when we talk about globalisation is not patriotism one of its grimmest oppenents. How can humankind dream of becoming one country or one global unit, when patriotism is tearing it right at its core. Is not patriotism a close cousin of racism or fundamentalism on a huge scale? For the twelth week it would be ideal to discuss the moral status, if it has any, of patriotism!