No to visa rules on foreign students

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6388701.ece

Members of the University of Colleges Union (UCU) voted no to the new visa rules on foreign students. These new rules would force university lecturers and staff to spy on their foreign students. Accordingly, “universities must keep a copy students’ passports, report them if they fail to enroll or consistently miss lectures, or if they drop out.” Suspicion of students’ involvement in terrorist activities is to be reported as well. The UCU called this “discriminatory” and “an attack on the civil liberties of international staff and students.” UCU General secretary, Sally hunt added, “Our members are educators not border guards.” The tightened immigration legislation wants them to do policing and surveillance work. Presently, there are 240,000 foreign students in Britain; where as 43,120 of them are Pakistanis. The union will lobby for the abolition of this new visa rule.

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I support the union’s call to abolish this new visa rule. Firstly, University professors, lecturers and staff are there to provide education and not to act as a National Guard or border patrols. Secondly, this new rule is discriminating and an attack on people's civil liberties. It immediately tags foreign students as suspicious elements, thus, are threat to Britain’s national security. It attacks the freedom of movement and privacy among others. Thirdly, certain professors who might have a grudge against a student can abuse this rule. Just by a mere suspicion of “terrorist action”, a student is instantly subject to interrogation. What is a “terrorist action” anyway? Thirdly, in the same article, it is reported that the British immigration law has a loophole that allows foreign students, mostly Pakistanis, to obtain a student visa. This is the immigration people’s problem. Besides, these students entered Britain legally. Lastly, an education institution operates separately from the immigration and border agencies. It has a distinct entity. The education institutions are there to teach and not to police.

Recently Elected Oxford Professor of Poetry Ruth Padel resigned

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/may/26/padel-error-poetry-election

Her historical feat lasted only for nine days. Ruth Padel, the first woman elected to hold the 300-year old Oxford University professor of poetry position. She quit her post last night. She was forced to resign by the “divided opinions” in the university. According to her, it was a “bad judgement” on her part that she sent e-mails to two journalists about the sexual harassment of her rival to the chairmanship post, Derek Walcott. In a press conference, she explained that she did what she did out of students concern on Walcott’s previous sexual harassment issues. She apologized to the Oxford University and to Walcott, whose work she “revered”. A new election will take place after the term of the incumbent professor of poetry Christopher Ricks is finished.

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Ruth Padel's intention to help the students is intriguing. I cannot help but think whether she was purely concerned with the students or she saw it as an opportunity for her to get the position.

Why of all [the] moments she could pick, she chose to send the e-mail about the sexual harassment case against Derek Walcott, during the election period for the Poetry professorship post. Why did she not wait until after the elections? Or why did she not go to the responsible authorities? Why e-mail it to the journalists? Now, she did not only loose her position but she also tainted her reputation. Indeed, a "bad judgement."

North Ireland's first-ever sextuplets

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8065097.stm

Four girls and two boys. These are the sextuplets of the Conway couple of the County Tyrone in Belfast. The couple's natural born babies are the first sextuplets in Belfast and in the UK in 26 years. The upcoming arrival of the babies to their hometown is greeted with a lot of support from thier neighbors, parish priest, councillor and the rest of the community. Everyone is overly happy about the news of their birth. Mrs. Nuala Conway had a Caesarian section delivery at the Royal Jubillee Maternity Hospital in Belfast on May 22. The babies were 14 weeks premature. They are now in the intensive care. As they return to their hometown, great support awaits them according to their local prist Fr. Pat Hughes. In 2002, quintuplets were also born in County Tyrone.

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Every birth, may it be a single or multiple one, is always a happy occasion. It is delighting to know that the couple's community is showing their support to them. From what I know, these kinds of birth have a special funding from the city or local government. They would certainly be needing that especially that they have six babies. Raising one baby is difficult, let alone six. I wish that their babies will be healthy and that they will get all the support they need. They are lucky to have sextuplets because in the future, they won't worry of having another kids. They got plenty in one go. And not everybody is blessed with multiple babies or even single one.

Murdered Boy, Murdered Dream

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/East-London-Stabbing-Jahmal-Mason-Blair-Found-Dead-On-Amhurst-Road-Hackney

His dream to become a professional football player died with him. 17 year-old Jahmal Mason Blair was found dead by the patrolling police at 1 am in Amhrst Road, near Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations yesterday with punctured wound to his neck. A black male, aged between 14 and 18 years old wearing dark clothing is the possible suspect for his murder. The police are looking for witnesses who might have information leading to the suspect. His family left a tribute for him in Facebook while his friends and other concerned public placed flowers in the crime scene. Meanwhile, an anonymous witness said that she heard a fight involving 20 boys at around after midnight. She did not know what happened afterwards. According to Jamal's friend, although he was small, he got a talent in playing football. In fact, he was rising as a star player and just tried-out at Reading.

The autopsy of the victim's body is scheduled tomorrow, 24 May.

REACTION
To lose someone is very painful. But all the more painful if you lose someone in a situation like this --- murdered, and the killer is on the loose. I can relate to the pain Jamal's family is suffering from right now. In 2002, my brother was also murdered and until now, the murderer is at large. We do not know who killed him and why he was killed. In our moments of mourning, we uttered that had he died because of sickness, perhaps the pain we were feeling was not that excruciating, because at least we knew that he was going to die. But the way he died, it was as if he was a stray dog shot by a trigger happy crazy person who was tripping that night. My brother is 7 years dead now and his case seemed to die with him. The local police did nothing than a preliminary investigation and case closed. I think the local government should take up immediate actions to prevent teenagers from hanging out in the streets in the wee hours. In the first place, these teenagers should be at home sleeping by this time. I am really hoping that justice to Jamal's family will not become as elusive as ours. His killer must soon be arrested and punished accordingly. He did not only kill the boy, he also killed his dreams.

Carol Anne Duffy: First female poet laureate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/may/01/carol-ann-duffy-poet-laureate

Carol Anne Duffy ended the four hundred years domination of male poets in the poetry world. She became the first female English poet laureate today. She said she thought long and hard before she accepted the post. She did it mainly because there was no woman poet laureate (yet) and as a sort of recognition to all the great women poets. She told that her public life would be separated from her private life. Having in mind that "it was better to give it [the money] back to poetry", her yearly stipend of 5,750 pounds will go to the Poetry Society. The news of Duffy's nomination leaked a week earlier before the formal occasion. From a shortlist of ten candidates, Duffy ended up number one with the Queen's approval. PM Gordon congratulated Duffy and called her a "truly brilliant poet". She will occupy the laureate post for ten years, replacing Andrew Motion, who wrote poems for the Queen and a rap for Prince William. She was supposed to take the post in 1999 after Ted Hughes death but reluctant because of her lesbian relationship then. Duffy is one of the best selling authors in the UK, with a long list of prestigious awards such as the TS Eliot prize, the Dylan Thomas award, the Whitbread poetry prize, the Somerset Maugham award and the Forward prize. She started to get involved with poetry in the 1970 and earned the title,"poetess". In an interview with Jeannette Winterson, she stressed that she was not a lesbian poet but instead defined herself as a poet and a mother. Aside from her seven adult novels know for its "accessibility, lightness of touch and emotional depth", she also writes poems and picture books for children, plays and edits anthologies. Before Duffy, the first woman to be considered for the post was Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1850 but Tennyson was chosen instead of her. Her predecessor, Motion, gave her two important pointers. Firstly, preserve her private life. Secondly, the laureateship can bring havoc to her writing. Carol Anne Duffy lives in Manchester and creative director of Manchester Metropolitan University's writing school.

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It is a great achievement for the women - in the literary world and in general - to be recognized in this field. Particularly, in a field mainly dominated by men for hundred of years. I have not read any of her books or poems yet. But I will surely do after reading this news. Being a poet laureate is definitely one big of a task. Especially under the scrutinizing eyes of literary critics, there must be pressures. Her courage and reasons in accepting the post is admirable. She made her mark in the history of literature by being the first Scot, first bisexual and first woman poet laureate of the 21st Century. Indeed, an amazing woman and an inspiration to aspiring poets and writers. Kudos to Carol Ann Duffy.

Gordon Brown apologized for MP's Expenses

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5307019/MPs-expenses-Gordon-Brown-apologises-to-public-on-behalf-of-House-of-Commons.html

The country is enraged over the recent scandal of MP's expenses disclosed by the Telegraph. After the public apology done by Tory's leader David Cameron, PM Gordon followed by conceding that it was not only the system's fault but the Government and other opposition parties must share the raps as well. The Labour party leader apologized to the public on behalf of all the politicians and parties during his speech to the Royal College of Nursing in Harrogate today. His spokesman's said that he (PM) was satisfied with all the explanations done by his Labour ministers who "milked the system" and would therefore not take any actions against them. After the PM speech, followed the speech of David Cameron. His colleagues in the Conservative Party's shadow cabinet, Michael Gove (13000 pounds in moving costs), Andrew Lansley (4,000 pounds for house renovation) , David Willets (115 pounds for changing 25 light bulbs in his second house) and Oliver Letwin (2,000 pounds for a replacement of leaking pipe under his tennis court), to name a few, are under investigation for paying their expenses for their second homes with the tax-payers money. Cameron insisted that an acknowledgment from politicians that this had happened and that they were sorry was needed to gain the public confidence back. He also expressed that " it is not just morally desirable but politically essential that our representatives set a good example." Cameron and the PM are both calling for the "cleaning up" of the system. Meanwhile, some warned and were alarmed about the suggestions on the disclosure of MP's receipt to a private auditing firm under the Freedom of Information Act. But PM Gordon's spokesman's dispelled it by saying "there should be a tougher auditing but not at the expense of transparency."

Note: For the details of every MP's expenses, go to this link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/

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The Telegraph is commendable for exposing the MP's in their dubious schemes for claiming expenses. They are exploiting the parliamentary allowances system to support their own lifestyle and second homes. This is outrageous. I am agitated. These MP's should step down from their offices. Instead of providing services they promised to the people during the elections, they are spending people's money for their own luxurious affairs. These kinds of politicians should never be elected again. They are using government positions to have a wealthy life while many people they promised to serve are poor. I am disturbed by the statement of PM Gordon that there would be no action to be taken against his Labour Party ministers who may have "milked the system". Is he serious? Will he allow his party mates to get away with it? As if it is just the most normal thing to do in the world? There must be a collective action to oust these corrupt politicians. There must be something to be done to teach them a lesson. I am hoping that the British people would unite and form a movement calling for a political change and genuine social reforms.

Man complained: "My pizza has no toppings." But later realised it was upside down

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5299709/Man-complains-his-pizza-has-no-topping---until-he-realises-it-is-upside-down.html

The newest YouTube craze is the recording of a call placed by a Welsh man in a supermarket helpline complaining that his pizza had no toppings therefore he had nothing to eat for dinner. Minutes later, he realized that he opened the pizza box upside down. Admitting he was a fool, the man continued to complain that the box "should have been marked with instructions". A certain man named Nicky Labron said that the call was a joke and one of many prank calls posted on YouTube under his name. While ASDA supermarket chain spokesperson said that it sounded genuine, but it was not traceable. He added that ASDA "has no plans of marking its pizza boxes with instructions about how to open them".

To listen to it, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H8HnaTIcmk

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A funny yet odd story. The man's reaction was a bit odd because instead of checking the box first, he called the helpline to complain. Because if it was me, I would do the former. On a reflective note, however, I am wondering whether the ASDA pizza box the man got was a plain box without any information on it. As far as I know and have seen, the maker's name and pizza flavor are usually written on top of the box. With these information, one can tell that that is the opening side. If the pizza box the man got was a plain box, then, it is understandable that the man opened it upside down. He was also right to claim that it should have had "opening instructions." But If the box had the maker's brand on top of it, then, the man must have been really hungry to open it upside down. What I don't understand is the calling part. Nevertheless, whether the calling part is true or not, the lesson of this story is to check first before calling the helpline to prevent making a fool out of yourself in the end, unless, you want to become instantly famous.