MPAC and the Boycott

Whilst on my lunch break at work today I started idly browsing YouTube and somehow I came across a series of video's in which young Muslims (some or all of whom are of Palestinian origin) go into a supermarket and look for certain foods and certain products where the only available types are from Israel. These include such items as dates.
The organisation is called MPACUK, which is the "Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK." Their point is that by buying these items, people are fuelling the Israeli economy and therefore they are inadvertently supporting and funding the Israeli Defence force which commits a series of actions against Palestinians and Muslims which we often hear about in the news.

Here is the first video:





Now granted that woman shouldn't have reacted the way she did, it didn't help at all but she could have just been having a long day or a tough day, frustrated by many things. If this is true then this certainly didn't help. The last thing you want is further drama to hold you up and cause you further grief and something like this is certainly likely to provoke.

Now here are two more video's of a similar nature:









Ok so I hope you have had a chance to watch all three of those videos, now here is my opinion on this.
These people are obviously trying to make a point. They want to get the message across that people should boycott Israeli products because they believe that by buying products like dates it is fueling the Israeli economy and therefore their military actions which are often considered controversial.

They are most certainly going about this the wrong way. If they really wanted to make a point and make it heard and really bash some heads over this then they would go to the head office. They would make an amateur documentary about it where they actually try and get in contact with someone in the marketing department from those supermarkets and confronted them about it because that's where campaigning and media meets.
What they should not be doing is going into random supermarkets and stirring trouble in this way. By taking all the dates and other products from Israel off the shelves and taking them to the supermarket, to then say "oh look they are all from Israel, we don't want these" and to then just walk out doesn't do anything except inconvenience the little people who work at that branch who have no control over this whatsoever.
In at least one of those video's you see a manager being called, the manager of the store but even the branch manager wouldn't have much say over this. The most that the branch manager could do is report the incident and the objection of MPACUK to the head office but I am pretty sure that because the people from MPACUK decided to go down that route all they will get is a rather standard non-cooperative response from the head office.

What good does it do to target random branches of a supermarket? It does nothing. All it does is inconvenience the people who work there, and like you can see in the first video it inconvenience the other customers who if they are like me just want to get on and buy what they want and leave because unlike the people in that video from MPACUK, some people actually have lives and things to do. Not all of us can afford to spend time strolling into supermarkets to cause havoc and provocation in the most nonsensical fashion.

AND THEN.....then they have the audacity to claim it as a victory when they get outside. They get outside and they are smiling and congratulating themselves as if they have actually achieved something good and as if they have made their point so clearly. Also they seem to be under the distinct impression that they might have changed people's minds and maybe planted the seeds of thought on this matter into people's minds. Well I used to work in a supermarket myself and there were now and again wacky people who came in. None this wacky but still wacky, and I can guarantee you that after a few days those incidents were all but forgotten.
I'm pretty sure the people inside those stores whether they be employee's or customers had more important things to worry about so they probably forgot that incident within a few days, a week at most.

If you have read my post from a few days ago you might see I mentioned Keith Olbermann who was up until recently a political commentator on the American news channel MSNBC. He had a segment on his show called "Worst persons in the world" in which he would nominate three people because of things they had done and/or said.

Well once again if I were to have a similar segment I would nominate MPACUK, specifically the four or so people in those videos. Not because theirs was not a just cause, but because they did it in entirely the wrong fashion and in doing so they inconvenienced many people. They also made complete fools of themselves.

"You've just been MPAC'ed," what a farce.



Sources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtSl9L-GHlM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSJRIC_rUFo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFD0HJIBo8

http://www.mpacuk.org/

Who was watching the kids?

In my last blog of the evening, something light hearted (as if my last post wasn't light hearted enough.)
Cingino Dam in Italy isn't entirely vertical but it is still by steep by anyones standards. Anyone but not anything. The fact that it was steep did not stop some goats from climbing it.






















































Those pictures were from the National Geographic website:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/photogalleries/101101-ibex-goats-dam-italy-bighorn-sheep-wyoming-science/#/goats-dam-licking_28159_600x450.jpg


For a fuller set of the pictures visit this website:

http://i.imgur.com/IERh4.jpg

Naked in New York

Artists do some crazy things these days in the name of art or expressing themselves, and Erica Simone is no different. Originally from Paris she had her photo taken whilst she was nude and out and about.














































Wasn't she cold?
Anyway this is my second favourite one!


















Apparently that one was the "most challenging one." I can't imagine why. At least she crossed her legs. I can't begin to imagine what was going on in the head of the people sitting opposite. Perhaps one of the thoughts was "I'm getting off at the next stop and going to the bathroom."

But my favourite out of all of them was this one:


















Aside from the fact that she has a "tramp stamp." I have to say I used to work in a shop for over three years and if someone like that came in I would think all of my Christmases had came at once.
Of course I don't like it just for the obvious reason, I think it's quite a good shot. And by that I mean it's a good picture.
That is my reason...honest! That is my reason and I'm sticking with it!

Anyway if you want to read the full article you can find it here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369962/Naked-ambition-Photographer-lays-bare-nude-poses-streets-NYC.html


Enjoy!!

Violence in London

Today saw another demonstration, another protest. This was a massive protest, well organised with a huge variety of people protesting against the budget cuts. They claim amongst other things that the cuts were too deep and too soon.
This may be true and I don't disagree, however this is besides the point. As usual there were people who caused trouble, who acted violently and who created considerable damage.

There was violence at the prestigious Ritz hotel:

































More window smashing and vandalism at banks:
































And so on and so forth. These are people who are anarchists. They may have a cause but they ultimately use any protest, any excuse to turn up and cause damage. Destroy windows and get into fights with the police. These people are troublesome and the are also bad for the normal people who just want to protest peacefully and get their point across.
They are cowards who get joy and satisfaction from damage which solves nothing and proves no point except that they are despicable. These people, these anarchists are no better than your usual every day yobs who cause vandalism.

If you want to read the full article where there are more pictures then click on the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370053/TUC-anti-cuts-demo-At-HALF-A-MILLION-peaceful-protesters-march-London.html

The people who caused this damage should not only be prosecuted but they should also be made to foot the bill for all of the damage collectively made on that day.

No doubt about it.

Spiders in the Tree's

Last year during the terrible floods in Pakistan hordes of spiders looked for refuge. They eventually found it in the tree's, and that is where they stayed. Over time they all spun webs one by one and eventually the tree's were filled with silky webs.



















Quite incredible. I used to enjoy climbing tree's when I was a kid, but I think that if I was asked to climb this tree I'd probably refuse.

Apart from looking spectacular there is also another positive side:

"People in this part of Sindh, in south eastern Pakistan, near Karachi, have never seen this phenomenon before, but locals are reporting that there are now fewer mosquito's than they would expect, given the amount of stagnant, standing water that is around.
It is thought that the mosquito's are getting caught in the spiders web and reducing the risk of malaria, benefiting local people."

So, everybodies a winner?



Source:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370181/The-ghost-trees-Pakistan-Spider-webs-cocoon-branches-creepy-effect-floods.html

A Boycott of common sense

In the USA there is a man called Keith Olbermann who hosted a TV show for many years until recently called "Countdown." It was a review and and analysis of recent topical news items from political to general views on world matters.
He had a segment called "The Worst Persons in the World" in which he nominated three people for said award because of something they had said and/or done. Usually it was something highly insensitive or controversial.

Since the program no longer exists these awards do no exist, which is a shame because if they did I think the winner would be without a doubt Geoff Boycott. The former cricketer and commentator made some very insensitive remarks about England cricketer Mike Yardy who went home earlier this week from the World Cup because of his struggle with depression. Geoff Boycotts response?

"‘I’m very surprised but he must have been reading my comments about his bowling,’ he said. ‘That must have upset him because it’s obviously too much for him at this level."

Not only are these words insensitive but they are not helpful, and they show a distinct lack of understanding too.
It is obvious that Geoff Boycott should be without a doubt reprimanded so that next perhaps he will think before making comments like this again. Preferably it would be better if he just kept his old fashioned nonsocial views to himself.

Geoff Boycott the insensitive ass receives the Some Corner of the World honorary "Worsts person in the world" award.

Congratulations to him.

References:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/03/25/geoffrey-boycott-angers-mental-health-charities-by-criticising-depressed-player-michael-yardy-115875-23014038/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/2011/03/26/england-players-fury-at-geoff-boycott-115875-23017949/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-1370067/CRICKET-WORLD-CUP-2011-Andrew-Strauss-slams-Geoff-Boycott-Michael-Yardy-comments.html

The Recruitment Game

Due to the recession many cuts have been made. There have been many cuts and ultimately many sacrifices have had to be made. It isn't just the financial sector which has become more difficult, the recruitment game has also become harder.
Before the recession and the financial troubles really kicked in recruitment and job hunting was sometimes troubling and difficult depending on what role you were looking for and of course what qualifications and experience you had. Unfortunately because of the recession the job hunting game has become much tougher, the competition has been raised.
The recession and financial woes have made many employers tighten their belts meaning there are fewer jobs whilst there are still many more unemployed. This has meant that there are invariably more people applying for the same jobs.
Usually the best candidates are shortlisted because of their qualifications, experience, and no doubt because of their CV and how they present themselves.
So does this mean that people who don't have as many qualifications or perhaps none at all will miss out more times than not? Does this mean that people with less experience will be less able to get a job? If so how are people ever expected to get a job?
It seems that even the most qualified people during this recession are finding it hard to find work, that is unless you know a person or are able to get employment another way. Is the government really doing enough to get people of all ages into training courses and education, to make them qualified enough to be able to get the job they desire and achieve the life they truly desire?

The next question after that is are people doing enough for themselves too? It is up to the individual to keep themselves motivated to learn and always be progressing. One problem we seem to have in this society we live in at the moment is we often rely too much on other people. Institutionalised laziness has become the norm.

That aside, I still have to wonder if the fortunate people who already have qualifications and experience are the currently the luckiest. Are they the ones who are being favoured for jobs and where does this leave those who have less experience and qualifications? What really can be done? What really must be done whilst we weather the storm that is the recession?

Your feedback would be most welcome