Spain is the rightly crowned world football champion. They can add this title to their European title.
The Dutch disgraced the memory of the 70s, since they collected nine yellow cards and a red one.
Spain collected five yellow cards. The number of cards handed out by English referee Howard Webb established a World Cup record, since the previous record did not go over six cards in 1986.
This final cannot be called a classic, but with one to zero Spain still is the true winner of the World Cup 2010.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/worldcup2010/3049624/Holland-0-Spain1.html
My reaction:
Watching this match was not a pleasure at all. I hated the rude manners the Dutch team were portraying. They seemed very nervous and looked like there were no boundaries as it came to becoming the World Cup’s winner. On the other hand, the referee made some decisions that had positive outcomes for the Spanish and negative ones for the Dutch. However, I believe that the Spanish were better after all, so I have to conclude with sorrow: Spain is the rightly crowned champion.
maandag 12 juli 2010
UK recession even deeper than first thought
Today the government said that the recession was even deeper than previously feared. The Office for National Statistics showed that the decline in output was 6,4% in gross domestic product. Earlier they expected a decline of 6,2%.
These new numbers show that this recession was the deepest since the great depression in the 1930s. It was even deeper than the slump of the 80s.
Jeremy Cook, chief economist at World First showed that the recovery is only caused by the state and that consumers did not yet have a part in it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/12/uk-recession-deeper-than-first-thought
My reaction:
The recession seems to be deeper and deeper every time I read something about it. Luckily it is not as worse as in the 1930s: back than a lot of people lost all their wealth and had to live in poverty. Nowadays numbers show that there are people who lost their jobs, but I personally know no one who is in financial problems because of the recession. That is why I always have the impression that it is not as bad as journalist tell us. However, that may be a bit short-sighted, looking at today’s graphics.
These new numbers show that this recession was the deepest since the great depression in the 1930s. It was even deeper than the slump of the 80s.
Jeremy Cook, chief economist at World First showed that the recovery is only caused by the state and that consumers did not yet have a part in it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/12/uk-recession-deeper-than-first-thought
My reaction:
The recession seems to be deeper and deeper every time I read something about it. Luckily it is not as worse as in the 1930s: back than a lot of people lost all their wealth and had to live in poverty. Nowadays numbers show that there are people who lost their jobs, but I personally know no one who is in financial problems because of the recession. That is why I always have the impression that it is not as bad as journalist tell us. However, that may be a bit short-sighted, looking at today’s graphics.
Linda McCartney: the ultimate 70s mum
The new look for this summer is the 70s mum look. Dressed in pale high waist denim and wearing platforms you look exactly like Linda McCartney in the 70s. The reason for this trend is that fashion designers like Stella McCartney grew up in the 70s and have positive memories about this worry free time in their lives.
This summer the wearing of flip-flops in urban areas is not done. Although flip-flops themselves may look okay, most feet are no items everyone enjoys seeing. Above that, if you think of what people throw on the pavements, you should not want your unprotected feet near that filth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/11/linda-mccartney-70s-mum
My reaction:
I love the revival of olden days in fashion. The eighties with the bright coloured leggings do not suit me that much, so I am in for a 70s revival with high waist pants and brown belts!
I absolutely love flip-flops. I love the holiday look they express, I love the way your feet get tanned and above all I love the sound of flip-flops on the pavement. However, there is one absolute requirement: your feet need to look clean and well groomed.
This summer the wearing of flip-flops in urban areas is not done. Although flip-flops themselves may look okay, most feet are no items everyone enjoys seeing. Above that, if you think of what people throw on the pavements, you should not want your unprotected feet near that filth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/11/linda-mccartney-70s-mum
My reaction:
I love the revival of olden days in fashion. The eighties with the bright coloured leggings do not suit me that much, so I am in for a 70s revival with high waist pants and brown belts!
I absolutely love flip-flops. I love the holiday look they express, I love the way your feet get tanned and above all I love the sound of flip-flops on the pavement. However, there is one absolute requirement: your feet need to look clean and well groomed.
Haiti earthquake: six months on
The smell of death has perished in Haiti, but once in a while a missing person is still found in the ruins. However, everyday life is taking over again. Except a few hundred soldiers working in the docks, most helpers have gone back to their own countries again. The aid agencies that stayed are not focusing on emergency relief anymore, but on long term projects.
Haïti, a poor country as it was before the earthquake is now immersed in even more misery. There is a lot of money to help the survivors, but because of lack of leadership most of this money is stashed. The Haitians are disappointed because of all the waiting. There were millions promised for rebuilding, but up to today most survivors of the earthquake are still living in shelters made of wood and waste.
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/10/haiti-earthquake-aid-survivors
My reaction:
After a disaster of this size it probably very hard to get the help organised in the right way. Nevertheless, the survivors have gone through a lot and are in desperate need of a little hope and looking forward to something. Instead, they are still living in their self made shelters and they are trying to make some money by selling small things. It seems that once again poor people are the victims of today’s bureaucracy.
Haïti, a poor country as it was before the earthquake is now immersed in even more misery. There is a lot of money to help the survivors, but because of lack of leadership most of this money is stashed. The Haitians are disappointed because of all the waiting. There were millions promised for rebuilding, but up to today most survivors of the earthquake are still living in shelters made of wood and waste.
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/10/haiti-earthquake-aid-survivors
My reaction:
After a disaster of this size it probably very hard to get the help organised in the right way. Nevertheless, the survivors have gone through a lot and are in desperate need of a little hope and looking forward to something. Instead, they are still living in their self made shelters and they are trying to make some money by selling small things. It seems that once again poor people are the victims of today’s bureaucracy.
maandag 5 juli 2010
Teaching assistant found with more than 21,000 child porn images is jailed for eight years
Syd Beg, a 54 year old teaching assistant from
Beg was snared as part of operation Alba. That is an operation throughout
My reaction
Parents put their trust in teachers and other people that take care of their children. It is terrible that that trust is betrayed sometimes. Children are helpless and they need to be protected against everyone that wants to harm them. I find an eight year sentence not too long, I even think that the five years of supervision is too short. Child abusers turn out to be recidivists very often, that is why I think released child abusers have to be supervised for the rest of their lives. I believe some people can change, but the safety of children is at stake and that should not be the case.
donderdag 1 juli 2010
Internet privacy: identity.com
Facebook is the biggest social network site in the world. When it first started, the posts and photos were for friend’s eyes only, but that changed recently. Now everything is open for everyone to see. One could change his settings back again, but that is a fiddly procedure.
In normal life people think about how to present themselves, whereas on Facebook everything like the way you dress in weekends up to the number of beers you drink are open for everyone to see.
Under pressure from it’s costumers, Facebook set the setting back again. However, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook thinks privacy is over. He even believes that having more identities shows lack of integrity.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/31/facebook-privacy-policy-editorial
My reaction:
People should think of the way they present themselves. In normal life people would dress and act differently in various occasions. To a job interview one would not wear the same clothes as on an evening out. That is not a sign of a lack of integrity, that is a sign of knowing how to play the different roles you have in life. As a daughter you can show your doubts, as a friend you can share your deepest thoughts, and as a teacher you can show your authority. It is completely normal and of all times to show various parts of yourself to different people and in different roles.
donderdag 22 april 2010
Ash cloud over Europe
The International Transport Association says that the ash cloud, caused by the Icelandic volcano, cost airlines 1.7 billion American Dollars.
British Airways lost 20 million Pounds a day, whereas Ryanair and easyJet only lost 5 million Pounds a day. There are two reasons for this difference. British Airways provided for more accommodiation and meals for stranded passengers and their tickets are of a higher value.
The ashcloud has had more impact on the airlines than 9/11, because back then, airspace was only closed for three days.
Airlines hope for state aid from national governments and the European Union.
In contrast with the airlines, trains and coach operators made more money the last few days.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article7103681.ece
Ash cloud over Europe ‘worse than 9/11’ with airline costs of $1.7bn
My reaction:
With the recession in mind, I thought the closing of the airspace could mean a true financial disaster for Europe. Luckily money was made, but by different companies (by train operators, hotels etc.). The airlines could have troubles because of the past few days, but I think the amounts of money saved by not using their fuel could even things up a bit. I find it not easy to think of which party should help the airlines that do need help: national governments or the European Union. This is a European problem, but the airlines are situated in one of the countries and do not belong to the Union as a whole.
British Airways lost 20 million Pounds a day, whereas Ryanair and easyJet only lost 5 million Pounds a day. There are two reasons for this difference. British Airways provided for more accommodiation and meals for stranded passengers and their tickets are of a higher value.
The ashcloud has had more impact on the airlines than 9/11, because back then, airspace was only closed for three days.
Airlines hope for state aid from national governments and the European Union.
In contrast with the airlines, trains and coach operators made more money the last few days.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article7103681.ece
Ash cloud over Europe ‘worse than 9/11’ with airline costs of $1.7bn
My reaction:
With the recession in mind, I thought the closing of the airspace could mean a true financial disaster for Europe. Luckily money was made, but by different companies (by train operators, hotels etc.). The airlines could have troubles because of the past few days, but I think the amounts of money saved by not using their fuel could even things up a bit. I find it not easy to think of which party should help the airlines that do need help: national governments or the European Union. This is a European problem, but the airlines are situated in one of the countries and do not belong to the Union as a whole.
woensdag 21 april 2010
Foreign Accent Syndrome
People with brain damage could end up with a foreign accent of a language they do not speak. This can happen if the part of the brain that controls speech and word formation is damaged. There are about 60 recorded persons with this syndrome around the world. Some sufferers recover spontaneously or after speech therapy, but others do not get their usual accent back.
The syndrome has life changing effects, because it is not easy for outsiders to understand this syndrome. The way you speak plays a big role in how you fit in to the world. With another accent people look at you differently.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/20/foreign-accent-syndrome)
My reaction:
The way you talk has influence on your social status. It is not easy to join a group of people with an accent that is looked on as superior to yours. A foreign language is not always looked on as superior or inferior, but it brings along all kinds of prejudices. If you have, for instance, a French accent, prejudices about the French could stand in your way. I can imagine it is hard to explain to your friends and family that you are not fooling them. Especially the first time you are talking with your ‘new accent’ and you try to explain this is no laughing matter...
The syndrome has life changing effects, because it is not easy for outsiders to understand this syndrome. The way you speak plays a big role in how you fit in to the world. With another accent people look at you differently.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/20/foreign-accent-syndrome)
My reaction:
The way you talk has influence on your social status. It is not easy to join a group of people with an accent that is looked on as superior to yours. A foreign language is not always looked on as superior or inferior, but it brings along all kinds of prejudices. If you have, for instance, a French accent, prejudices about the French could stand in your way. I can imagine it is hard to explain to your friends and family that you are not fooling them. Especially the first time you are talking with your ‘new accent’ and you try to explain this is no laughing matter...
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