Book Corner
No Logo - Naomi KleinFor the most part we act as small cogs of a large wheel in an even larger system of big business and money. Our capitalist regime creates many wonderful opportunities and illusions of freedom for those lucky enough to be included in it, there are however some serious downfalls of the system. In this insightful book
Naomi Klein explores some of these pitfalls based on years of research she has conducted around the globe.
Armed with her facts and experiences she is able to transcent the glossy PR 'butter wouldn't melt in our mouths' message the world's largest branded companies would have us believe. What remains are these companies' ruthless expantion tactics, disrespect for workers' needs, both at home and even more so abroad and their willingness to exploit the poor to meet their own needs... profit.
Klein is able to restore some faith in us that we are not completely helpless against these giants of corporate business, that in fact we can make a difference. She enlightens us to some of the activities activists have been up to over the years to try to alleviate these problems. The book empowers us to the extent that we might very well get up early the next day and join a rally or a campaign, untill you start reading the next book and become too busy again.
Eye opening book, insightful and enlightening - recommended.
Is punctuality a waste of time?
What is punctuality? It is probably being on time for appointments or meetings so as not to waste people's time by having them wait around for you. But what is the cost of this for you? Getting from A to B aint as straight forward as it used to be and there can be many unforseen circumstances to cause delay to your journey.
Inner city buses, for instance, must navigate their way through chaotic rush hours from 8am to 10 am, 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 7 pm and on top of that get through the randomly dispersed (completely unessesary) 'hole in the road syndrome'. I am unsure of the world wide extend of this practice but, in Edinburgh, we do have a probem with local authorities digging large holes in our tarmac, disappearing for a number of
weeks months, then simply filling them back in again.
As for trains, well in the UK they run at around 70% punctuality. Clearly we cannot rely on this public
service disgrace if we intend to maintain any degree of timeliness.
So what is the cost of being on time? It appears that in order to ensure you're on time for your scheduled one hour meeting at say 10am, you must aim to be there a couple of hours before. A couple of hours that could have been much better spent in bed or on other such important things. And what if on that particular day things go well and you actually end up there two hours early? There is only so many cups of tea one person can drink alone without losing the will to live, and geeez what a waste of time!
Poetry Corner
My First TimeThe sky was dark
The moon was high
All alone just she and I.
Her hair was soft
Her eyes were blue
I knew just what she wanted to do.
Her skin so soft
Her legs so fine
I ran my fingers down her spine.
I didn't know how
But I tried my best
I started by placing my hands on her breast.
I remember my fear my fast beating heart
But slowly she spread her legs apart
And when I did it I felt no shame.
All at once the white stuff came
At last it's finished it's all over now
My first time ever at milking a cow.....
- unknown
So there I am, 5 weeks to go until my final year dissertation has to be signed, sealed and delivered to the powers that be. Time is of the essence as I'm sure you can imagine. I am enjoying the surroundings of the new Craiglockhart campus and am in the zone. The thoughts passing through my body from my brain to my fingertips and onto the flat screen in front of me are groundbreakingly monumental. Astute to the point of pain. The kind of pain I imagine a fully dilated bride feels after 17 hours of labour just seconds before the child passes through her and out into the world. Or the kind of pain that Lennox Lewis felt in the closing minute of his bout with Mike Tyson, Tyson's earth shattering blows bouncing off Lewis' body only making Lewis fiercer as he senses the kill.
But wait. Something's wrong. Where's the screaming baby? Where's the jaw crunching clincher? Instead of euphoric climax I feel dread penetrating me deep at the base of my spine, shooting vertically to my head and scraping across the inside of my skull as I realise what's happening.
"Get out now!", the yellow vested man at the doorway is yelling over the din of the fire alarm.
Yuk. Just what I need huh? 45 minutes stuck outside in the cold while the guys in yellow (standard issue apparantly) perform an eloborate drill on the new building. Upon my return the inspiration has vanished and I am left in a state of anguish with nowhere to direct my frustrations than you. Yes you.
Ever wondered what happens if you poke a penguin? Find out for yourself...
Super Size Me
Having just watched this mostly interesting and often horrific documentary (
Super Size Me) I feel like I might McBarf if I see a
McDonalds (
alternatively) burger again . I knew fast food was bad, but it's really bad!
Every day McDonald's serves 47 million customers around the world, employing some 1.5 million people. They operate more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries around the world across 6 continents (WOW - that's big).
Surely the operators of this global phenomenon have some degree of social responsibility towards their often loyal clientel, to make sure that such a large number of people eat at least some of the nutrients the human body needs to intake each day in order to maintain a healthy well being. Well yes they do, however McDonalds spends millions a year on Washington based lobbyists who spend their whole time ensuring the government does not introduce legislation which may hamper their profit making enterprise. McDonalds is after all a business and its true allegiance lies with its shareholders, not its supersized customers.
So this guy Morgan Spurlock (
blog) put himself on a collision course with the grim reaper simply by eating food from the largest, most widespread 'restaurant' (if you can call it that) on the planet. It must be said that he deliberately put himself in danger by taking part in such an experiment, no one would really
only eat the produce of McDonalds would they? Perhaps not but a lot of people do eat there 3, 4 or 5 times plus a week... for years! Judging by the damage caused to Morgan's body in 30 days, this kind of eating is only going to lead to one place, McDeath!
Rabbie Burns
Rabbie Burns the great Scottish bard, not great enough to be included in the recent, and controversial,
Scottish Book Trust and List magazine 100 Best Scottish Books of All Time. Well I still think he's the best, but would he approve? I think so...
Tae a Fert
Oh what a sleekit horrible beastie
lurks in yer belly efter the feastie
just as ye sit doon among yer kin
there sterts to stir an enormous wind
The neeps and tatties and mushy peas
stert workin like a gentle breeze
but soon the puddin wi the sauncie face
will have ye blawin all ower the place
Nae matter whit the hell ye dae
a'bodys gonnae have tae pay
even if ye try to stifle
it's like a bullet oot a rifle
Hawd yer bum tight tae the chair
tae try and stop the leakin air
shift yerself frae cheek tae cheek
prae tae God it doesnae reek
But aw yer efforts go asunder
out it comes like a clap of thunder
ricochets aroon the room
michty me, a sonic boom
God Almighty it fairly reeks
hope I huvnae shit ma breeks
tae the bog I'd better scurry
aw whit the hell, its no ma worry
A'body roon aboot me chokin
wan or two are nearly bokin
I'll feel better for a while
cannae help but raise a smile
Wis him! I shout with accusin glower
alas too late, he's just keeled ower
ye dirty bugger they shout and stare
I dinnae feel welcome any mair
Where ere ye go let yer wind gan free
sounds like just the job fur me
Whit a fuss at Robbie's perty
Ower the sake o won wee ferty
I knead your butt
Girlfriend: Are you kneading my butt?
Myself: Yes, I like the way my hand fits on it.
Girlfriend: I hope your hand grows with age.
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I have not blogged in almost a month. I feel that if I did not blog for one whole month then I should no longer consider myself part of the blog community.
Blog blog blog blog blog blog blog... Blogity blog blog blog.
Blog.
