There's something wrong with that phrase. I'm fairly sure that when Edward I of England persuaded the Welsh that full union would be a good idea one of the terms and conditions was that the Welsh could not be badass, except while pretending to be "British". Longbowmen at Agincourt, Crecy and Poitiers are remembered for beating the French, not for having been most likely Welsh.
One of my Best friends is Welsh. Another of them is Scottish. And I have another good friend who is Irish. I myself am English (And according to my family tree have been for at least 500 years). If we ever went to the pub together I think the latent humour would cause the universe to implode or something. So far we've not caused any major structural damage to the fabric of reality though so that's ok. But it just goes to show that cross border co-operation in the UK can work, despite the claims of french national rugby team coach Marc Lievrement. And long may we continue to do so.
That was an odd blog. Sorry :-/
Friday, 8 April 2011
Thursday, 7 April 2011
So I didn't get cut out of a car yesterday because the fire crews had all been called out to a genuine traffic accident. Hope everyone involved is ok, but seriously, just my luck.
Sooooooooooooooooooo today I am going to try to defend a man who is almost universally despised. Yes, it's "Let's stop hating on Nick Clegg" day (ok, I made that up.)
Mr Clegg has been getting a lot of stick recently, particularly from people my age, for all sorts of reasons. So let's start at the beginning, with the General Election Last Year.
1. Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats didn't do so well in the General Election as everyone thought they would. That's not his fault; that's yours for not voting for him (I say "yours" because I'm not legally allowed to vote being as I am 17)
2. Nick Clegg then despicably saved this country from anarchy by helping to form a Government WITH THE CONSERVATIVES!!!1ONE
Well what else was he going to do? Try for a "Rainbow Coalition" with Labour and the Small Parties? People are complaining enough about compromises now, imagine the compromises in a coalition of anything up to 10 different parties. And imagine if the Liberal Democrats had supported Labour, who had less votes and seats, who pissed them off royally at meetings and who were led by Gordon Brown, the least popular Prime Minister since Anthony Eden, with the support of Peter Mandelson. I'm not going to describe Peter Mandelson. Just give you a few pictures:
So yeah, keeping Labour in power? Not recommended
3. Nick Clegg then sold his soul to the Conservative party in exchange for a referendum and a few concessions. Firstlym there's a bit more than a few concessions; the Liberal's have a stronger cabinet presence than anyone could have imagined and have had a hand in liberalising every Conservative policy. Every one. And as for selling out to the Tories, he hasn't sold out for two reasons. Firstly, he has aligned himself with David Cameron. And David Cameron is the face of the the Tory left, which these days is about the same as the Liberal Right. The Old Social Democrats of the Liberal left can moan all they like, The Lib Dems are not a socialist party. Go and join Labour if you want that, now they've rediscovered themselves. And if Clegg had sold his soul to the Tory Right then we really would be screwed, because the Conservatives for the most part do not see Norman Tebbit as the font of all knowledge and policy. The far right of the Conservative party really are a different kettle of fish to the ones in Government. Would you ever have refused to support Tony Blair because you disagreed with Ken Livingstone, or vice versa? Then don't give up on Cameron because of Norman Tebbit
4. Nick Clegg lied to the nation when he said he would not raise tuition fees. Fact: the Liberal Manifesto said that "A Liberal Democrat Government" would not raise tuition fees. And this isn't a Liberal Democrat Government, it is a coalition and in coalition you have to make compromises. It was a stupid thing to promise in their manifesto (since the only defence left to them is that they didn't know they'd be in power when they wrote it) but they didn't lie and if you look at the proposals properly then they do make a lot of sense, especially for those with poorer backgrounds
So go easy on Clegg, yeah? He's not a bastard, just a guy trying to do his job
Sooooooooooooooooooo today I am going to try to defend a man who is almost universally despised. Yes, it's "Let's stop hating on Nick Clegg" day (ok, I made that up.)
Mr Clegg has been getting a lot of stick recently, particularly from people my age, for all sorts of reasons. So let's start at the beginning, with the General Election Last Year.
1. Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats didn't do so well in the General Election as everyone thought they would. That's not his fault; that's yours for not voting for him (I say "yours" because I'm not legally allowed to vote being as I am 17)
2. Nick Clegg then despicably saved this country from anarchy by helping to form a Government WITH THE CONSERVATIVES!!!1ONE
Well what else was he going to do? Try for a "Rainbow Coalition" with Labour and the Small Parties? People are complaining enough about compromises now, imagine the compromises in a coalition of anything up to 10 different parties. And imagine if the Liberal Democrats had supported Labour, who had less votes and seats, who pissed them off royally at meetings and who were led by Gordon Brown, the least popular Prime Minister since Anthony Eden, with the support of Peter Mandelson. I'm not going to describe Peter Mandelson. Just give you a few pictures:
3. Nick Clegg then sold his soul to the Conservative party in exchange for a referendum and a few concessions. Firstlym there's a bit more than a few concessions; the Liberal's have a stronger cabinet presence than anyone could have imagined and have had a hand in liberalising every Conservative policy. Every one. And as for selling out to the Tories, he hasn't sold out for two reasons. Firstly, he has aligned himself with David Cameron. And David Cameron is the face of the the Tory left, which these days is about the same as the Liberal Right. The Old Social Democrats of the Liberal left can moan all they like, The Lib Dems are not a socialist party. Go and join Labour if you want that, now they've rediscovered themselves. And if Clegg had sold his soul to the Tory Right then we really would be screwed, because the Conservatives for the most part do not see Norman Tebbit as the font of all knowledge and policy. The far right of the Conservative party really are a different kettle of fish to the ones in Government. Would you ever have refused to support Tony Blair because you disagreed with Ken Livingstone, or vice versa? Then don't give up on Cameron because of Norman Tebbit
4. Nick Clegg lied to the nation when he said he would not raise tuition fees. Fact: the Liberal Manifesto said that "A Liberal Democrat Government" would not raise tuition fees. And this isn't a Liberal Democrat Government, it is a coalition and in coalition you have to make compromises. It was a stupid thing to promise in their manifesto (since the only defence left to them is that they didn't know they'd be in power when they wrote it) but they didn't lie and if you look at the proposals properly then they do make a lot of sense, especially for those with poorer backgrounds
So go easy on Clegg, yeah? He's not a bastard, just a guy trying to do his job
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Prison? Me? No Way!
So today's going to be a little wierd. Why? Well to start with we need some background. Warwickshire believes in stopping people from committing crimes when possible, especially young people. So the emergency and justice services run "Prison? Me? No Way!" a day of workshops for year 9 students in schools across the county to dissuade them from committing crimes of any kind. So far so good. These days begin with a fake car crash on the school playground during which one of the occupants dies, leading to the driver being arrested, out on trial and convicted for causing death by dangerous driving. All fine so far. For our school, "Prison? Me? No Way!" is today. Ok. I'm the one who dies in the car.
My morning is going to consist of being soaked in fake blood, sitting in a broken car, having glass smashed over my face, the door cut off with a mechanical saw right next to my leg, being pulled out of the car by a fireman and put in a bodybag for twenty minutes or so. Last year it was a used body bag. Well, a stained one at any rate. It was quite fun last year, and hopefully will be again. Fingers crossed...
My morning is going to consist of being soaked in fake blood, sitting in a broken car, having glass smashed over my face, the door cut off with a mechanical saw right next to my leg, being pulled out of the car by a fireman and put in a bodybag for twenty minutes or so. Last year it was a used body bag. Well, a stained one at any rate. It was quite fun last year, and hopefully will be again. Fingers crossed...
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Concerning Hobbits
There is only one way to begin a long journey. And that's with this music:
So anyway, as I may have mentioned, I went to London yesterday. This involved waking up at quarter to five in the morning, an ordeal I hope I need not repeat for a good time to come. There was then a long coach journey down to Whitehall, and then we snuck in to the Palace of Westminster (taking the time to explain what it was to one of my friends who has been studying politics for a good couple of years). We had a very nice young man show us around and tell us about everything and then we had a nice chat with our local MP about all sorts of things.
That was my day in Westminster. Far more interesting was the suggestion made by one of my fellow students on the coach that eventually it will become the norm to have a facebook page created for you when you are born that stays with you for life. Whilst an initially terrifying prospect, on reflection this sounds like, not necessarily a "good" idea, but an idea that will become reality the way that we're heading. The world is changing and if you don't keep up you get left behind and I'd really rather not get stuck in 2011. Not since I think I'm already stuck in 1911
So anyway, as I may have mentioned, I went to London yesterday. This involved waking up at quarter to five in the morning, an ordeal I hope I need not repeat for a good time to come. There was then a long coach journey down to Whitehall, and then we snuck in to the Palace of Westminster (taking the time to explain what it was to one of my friends who has been studying politics for a good couple of years). We had a very nice young man show us around and tell us about everything and then we had a nice chat with our local MP about all sorts of things.
That was my day in Westminster. Far more interesting was the suggestion made by one of my fellow students on the coach that eventually it will become the norm to have a facebook page created for you when you are born that stays with you for life. Whilst an initially terrifying prospect, on reflection this sounds like, not necessarily a "good" idea, but an idea that will become reality the way that we're heading. The world is changing and if you don't keep up you get left behind and I'd really rather not get stuck in 2011. Not since I think I'm already stuck in 1911
Sunday, 3 April 2011
I don't blog on Sundays
But this is technically me doing tomorrow morning's post early so that's alright. Anyway, I won't be blogging (genuinely just typed belogging there so sorry about that) tomorrow morning because I am off to London to have a look at where the people who run my life actually run it from.
That's right: This place
That's right: This place
So yeah, that means leaving suspiciously early in the morning to get there so no time to blog tomorrow. You will find out loads more about my quest to the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday I'm sure, so I'll leave it at that for now
Saturday, 2 April 2011
The "Light" Thing
I have a problem with sunlight. Now most people assume that it's just me being weird and that I'm pretending to be a vampire or something but it's not (I may end up pontificating about vampires in another post but the sunlight thing is unrelated.) Now when I say I have a problem with sunlight I don't just mean that I burn easily. That goes without saying; I'm pale skinned and red haired and I burn really really easily. And I don't just mean that, being a geek, I don't see sunlight that often, because I get outside more than you'd think. No, I just mean that the sun itself seems to be out to get me and in a very confusing way.
It's my eyes that have the problem; I just cannot focus my vision while I'm in sunlight. It's alright when I'm not trying to do it, but as soon as I try to keep my eyes open or look at something specific and there is sunlight in that general direction (or even just around) then bamn! I can't look, can barely see, start crying, you name it it happens to me. The really odd thing is that the one exception to this rule is the sun itself. "Don't stare at the sun" people say but the sun is the one thing I can stare at.
But maybe I'm just weird. Yes, that seems likely
It's my eyes that have the problem; I just cannot focus my vision while I'm in sunlight. It's alright when I'm not trying to do it, but as soon as I try to keep my eyes open or look at something specific and there is sunlight in that general direction (or even just around) then bamn! I can't look, can barely see, start crying, you name it it happens to me. The really odd thing is that the one exception to this rule is the sun itself. "Don't stare at the sun" people say but the sun is the one thing I can stare at.
But maybe I'm just weird. Yes, that seems likely
Friday, 1 April 2011
Welcome to April
Yes, welcome to April and to the least interesting day of my year.Why the least interesting you may ask and I shall tell you. It is the least interesting day of my year for a good many reasons, some universal and some specific to me.
Firstly, April Fools Day. How very droll. Doubtless the Guardian will try to print some amusing little story which no-one cares about because the Libyan and Middle Eastern Situations are sort of the only news at the moment and doing an April fool about the fight for freedom would be in very bad taste. Why does no-one ever do anything daring on April Fools Day? I would love, the next time it's on a Wednesday, for the Prime Minister to bring questions in the house forward half an hour and then instead of doing any parliamentary business have the entire house sing this at 11.30 :
But Maybe that's just me
Secondly, today my lessons are going to be somewhere between pointless and silly. First double Politics, usually fine but today we begin to study the great institutions of the European Union. As soon as we can think of them. Until then we'll be looking at the actual institutions so I will just be getting more and more irritated that my life is being run from Brussels when I'd quite like it to be run from the nation I live in and am proud of (which is Britain, not England as I shall explain another time)
Then I have a free period. And no real work to do. I don't have enough room in my bag to bring my coursework for History, I've handed in my English Coursework and don't have any essays to write. If I'm lucky I might be able to break into a free music room and get something done regarding BTEC rehearsing. I'm never lucky.
And after that it's double English. Firstly a Faustus/Pardoner lesson where doubtless we will read the rest of the introduction in the front of our copie of the Pardoner's Tale which have been so helpfully photocopied and handed out to us (we might even finish it, you never know) and then discuss something irrelevant to the course. And then an Othello lesson, which will probably be very fun, and will involve biscuits but will not involve a lot of work. Also, our Othello teacher was ill last lesson and may be again. In which case we will do nothing.
I do have a singing lesson later though, which should make the day a bit more interesting, but generally April Fools Day manages to make any day seem dull for the simple reason that it's meant to make things more interesting, and people just aren't funny any more
But Maybe that's just me
Secondly, today my lessons are going to be somewhere between pointless and silly. First double Politics, usually fine but today we begin to study the great institutions of the European Union. As soon as we can think of them. Until then we'll be looking at the actual institutions so I will just be getting more and more irritated that my life is being run from Brussels when I'd quite like it to be run from the nation I live in and am proud of (which is Britain, not England as I shall explain another time)
Then I have a free period. And no real work to do. I don't have enough room in my bag to bring my coursework for History, I've handed in my English Coursework and don't have any essays to write. If I'm lucky I might be able to break into a free music room and get something done regarding BTEC rehearsing. I'm never lucky.
And after that it's double English. Firstly a Faustus/Pardoner lesson where doubtless we will read the rest of the introduction in the front of our copie of the Pardoner's Tale which have been so helpfully photocopied and handed out to us (we might even finish it, you never know) and then discuss something irrelevant to the course. And then an Othello lesson, which will probably be very fun, and will involve biscuits but will not involve a lot of work. Also, our Othello teacher was ill last lesson and may be again. In which case we will do nothing.
I do have a singing lesson later though, which should make the day a bit more interesting, but generally April Fools Day manages to make any day seem dull for the simple reason that it's meant to make things more interesting, and people just aren't funny any more
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