Sunday, April 20, 2008

Should the Games Begin?

As the Olympic torch is making its controversial way around the world en route back to China, I have to wonder about the spirit in which these games will be played. It’s not uncommon to have controversy surrounding any particular nation hosting the games but this time I think that China ought to be displaying some humility that Asian people are renowned for, rather than sticking out their heads and saying that the protesters are in the wrong. As far as I was aware China had a number of “housekeeping” items it must act on as a part of being granted the Olympic games in the first place, and human rights was one of these very issues.
Tibet has been a human rights issue for a number of years, and the Olympic President is correct in saying that the games are highlighting the plight of the Tibetan people, but it’s not enough to highlight. The Olympic committee should be taking a tighter view of the “rules” they expected China to abide by and which are being so publically flaunted. China has no intention of making good on the human rights issue - this is apparent by the arrogant retorts they are making to the international press about the protesters stopping the flame.

The Olympic games is not an easy thing to take part in, it's not a set of treaure hunts that people only do in order to gain the 'gold'. It's about athletes, about honour, and about national pride, but I fear that these upcoming games is going to find that honour and pride cloaked in a cloud of secrecy, and fear of repercussions should the athletes say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. The fact that our UK athletes were told not to make statements regarding the political situation over there during the games is a testament to the fact that our Government cares more about China than it does human rights; both of those in Tibet, and the British athletes who ought to be able to exercise their right to free speech. The fact that our Prime Minister isn’t making a stand and saying that he won’t attend the Opening Ceremony as a formal protest is despicable. As the leader of a nation where the people have a right to free speech he should be making a stand by not turning up – although it’s understandable that this is likely to be the biggest ceremony he’s likely to attend as a “head of state” and so he won’t want to give it up! How ironic that the once mighty British who defended the underdog are standing by without a murmur whilst the face lift needing French we so often condemn for their past history during the world wars are standing up for what’s right.
The Olympic Games is about the athletes but unfortunately the politics get in the way. I don’t advocate cancelling the games at this stage because that isn’t fair on the athletes who have trained so hard for their chance to compete at this level, but I do think that the rest of the world should be uniting to boycott as much as China as it can as a protest for the way they have conducted themselves once they were granted the games.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Impro Jam – where you’re the star!


I’ve discovered a new improv comedy show called the London Impro jam. The first half is like any other impro show, the audience shouts suggestions and the improvisers have to make it up for their amusement. This is where they then kick it up a notch. The group then invite members of the audience to get up on stage and improvise with the professionals. Sounds scary? Well it would be if they didn’t have a solid structure in place that holds it all together and ultimately makes you look good!
There are 2 directors who guide the whole show, an MC who is on hand to help, and you get to choose which of the improvisers you work with, which means you can pick the one you like the most.

Last month they ended up with the most bizarre storyline. It began with someone at a computer searching for botox injection Birmingham. He decided that he needed to something about his looks, and the current acne treatment he was undergoing just wasn’t doing enough for him. It then got really surreal, as he went on this mad mystical journey through time and space on a search for the ultimate ‘nip and tuck’. It was amazing! Eventually he had chin remodeling in london and everyone lived happily ever after. I know it all sounds surreal and strange, but it really was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time.

The Impro Jam’s next show is tomorrow night. They have a group called Grand Theft Impro performing. Grand theft is headed up by a guy called Alan Marriott who trained Eddie Izzard. There is also a guy called Phil Whelans who you might recognise from Brasseye. It promises to be a great show, so for any of you readers who are free, go to their website www.improjam.co.uk and check them out.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Tackling Binge Drinking

Now that the Christmas season is over, many politicians are crying out about the dangers of binge drinking. On New Year’s Eve, the London Ambulance Service reported it busiest night since the Millennium. Gordon Brown, Britain’s Prime Minister, has made it his personal crusade in which to tackle this scourge on modern British society. And not just the usual suspects of children are being targeted, but the whole of the country is coming under scrutiny.Many solutions have been proposed. Increasing the tax on alcohol has been one, and would probably work to discourage underage drinking. Drink free zones could also work in establishing safer areas in public.However, there is an underlying problem in British society that needs to be tackled. Why are so many people drinking, and in such great quantities? The glamorisation in the media can only attribute to so much of the problem. Binge drinking is something that runs a lot deeper than what can be cured by a political quick fix. For if the government is really serious in tackling the drink problem in Britain, it will take a lot more that just a committee to come up with the answers. On a positive note.Stephen has completely redesigned the oak masters page

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

South Park Is Brilliant!

South Park is brilliant! It is one of the funniest cartoons I have ever watched. When it first aired it was ground breaking - it took awhile for many of the viewers to get used to the unique style of animation, but those who did have never looked back. With storylines that go from beautifully mundane to completely bizzare and outrageous, south park does nothing if it doesn't push boundaries and sometimes say the things that people are thinking but no one feels they can actually utter out load. It is these things that south park shouts from the roof tops by broadcasting them accross the western world!
I bring you here a wonderful example of south park at its best. In this episode a surprise character becomes an alcoholic. He believes that it is a disease, whilst the programme repeadedly insists that it is not, you just have to stop drinking!
"Cancer is a disease... you just have to drink less"
Enjoy. I know that the gibberish mute loved it! (though hogwash decided that cartman needs some serious smart lipo doing. That boy really did eat too much pie)


Friday, May 25, 2007

Good Morning!

2004 « April « London Hogwash

Good morning world!! Ah it's a beautiful non-english day, and ironically that's exactly how we english like it! We don't like it when its cold, we don't look to the cloud covered sky and say "what a beautiful grey!", we don't relish the rain! No, what we all want is to be living in Spain... And this morning thats exactly what it feels like. The sun is shining, its been a warm night promising a warmer day, and there isn't a cloud in sight. Yes, it's a positively great start to what should be a beautiful day... And to top it all off.... it's a friday!!!

So chin up everyone, today's the start of the weekend, and its going to be a good one!



There is a perlane injections clinic which specialise in reducing the signs of aging and getting rid of wrinkles and stuff. Well, our work have decided to give us all a discount if we go to it to make ourselves all beautiful! Daniel reckons his lady Courtney is dead interested in using his discount. He seems happy with this... I wonder if that means she's not the most attractive of women...!?!?

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Time to give Charles the credit he deserves


In a recent interview Prince Charles said that he had faced a “chorus of ridicule” over his campaign to product rare native breads of cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens.  Given this is the same prince who were called “eccentric” for talking to his plants 20 years ago when we was campaigning that organically grown crops were much safer than mass farming, you have to wonder if Charles really is as “odd” as the press likes to make out.  After all, the test of time has proven that Prince Charles was right with attitude towards organic farming – and he has done nicely – financially - out of it.  So, who is to say that he may not have yet another valid point here?

For decades we have called Charles all manner of names for his sideline views, but given the almost daily news stories that we receive these days about the dangers associated with modern farming, we should not be quick to judge Charles’ obvious passionate views of traditional British farming and his campaigns to preserve such.  After all, the alternative is to read stories about another bird flu outbreak at a mass farm chicken farm.  I know which of the two I would prefer to be reading, so let’s give Charles the break he deserves: the time has come to give Charles the credit he deserves.

Good news on the work front.Brett has completely re-designed the glycolic acid peel uk pages

Monday, April 02, 2007

Paris Hilton the super spoiled super-villain!


Ok, so everybody heard how Paris got pulled over for driving under the influence! Her license got suspended and she had to pay a fine. Well, now she’s at it again, she’s driving with a suspended license! Which is… in her terms ‘kina, totally wrong!€�… she was pulled over again on Tuesday caught with the license in question, and theoretically, underline theoretically she should face three months of jail. A spokesperson for the prosecutor says:

"We are confident that we have sufficient evidence that her license was suspended at the time she was driving and that she had knowledge of that suspension."

Paris Hilton in jail is indeed my chilhood dream! But that is something so unlikely to happen that I hardly dare write about it! Still I’ve seen people make fire using ice! And comminism is almost extinct! And I swear the future can be predicted! So, why? Why can’t this little devil of a detail – Paris Hilton, in jail where she belongs – come true?

Ow on a work front. This is what I’m going to change next the glycolic peel uk page