It's Time - A great video online about marriage equality

I was browsing an Internet forum earlier that I frequent on and I came across this video that someone had posted:

I honestly don't think much else needs to be said.

Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBd-UCwVAY&feature=player_embedded

Farewell Colonel Potter!

Last week the death of the actor Harry Morgan was announced. He had starred in many films and TV programmes during the span of his long career, however many would fondly remember him for his role as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in the TV series "M*A*S*H." It's certainly where I remember him best.
 

"The actor Harry Morgan, who has died aged 96, was best known as Colonel Sherman T Potter, commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in M*A*S*H, the wonderfully witty and sharp television series set in an army camp during the Korean war. He played Potter, an expert surgeon and a father figure in the camp, from 1978 until 1983."

 His character had been involved in both world wars and the Korean war. He played his character with humility, grace, and a presence that was kindly but authoritative. I don't think that is necessarily an easy character to play, so I think it's a testament to Harry Morgan that he pulled it off so well and that so many people recognise him and admire him for that.

   From the same article:

"Exuding an air of respectability, Morgan played the tough but reasonable judge in the famous "monkey trial" of 1925, in which a schoolteacher was tried for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution, in Stanley Kramer's Inherit the Wind (1960), and was General Ulysses S Grant in How the West Was Won (1962). Later he played sheriffs in a number of westerns, notably in The Shootist (1976), John Wayne's final film. When Morgan hears that Wayne's ex-gunfighter has cancer, he starts to whoop and laugh. "The day they lay you away, what I do on your grave won't pass for flowers!" he yells.
    
   Throughout the next two decades, Morgan was active in films and on television, including the TV movies The Incident (1990), Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore (1992) and Incident in a Small Town (1994), in all three of which Walter Matthau, as a small-town lawyer, and Morgan, as a judge, sparred amiably. But it was his Colonel Potter in M*A*S*H that gave him his widest claim to fame, and won him an Emmy in 1980 as outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. He also appeared as Potter in the spinoff AfterMASH (1983-85), set in a veterans' hospital in the fictional town of River Bend, Missouri"

Rest in peace Harry Morgan. A great actor, a true gentlemen.

Source:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/dec/08/harry-morgan?newsfeed=true

Rioters Blame Police for August Riots

A study involving interviews of various rioters at the time of the August riots indicate that they blame the police for the events that took place. A collective study of interviews made at the time indicated the following:

"Analysts, who studied 270 interviews with people who took part in the disturbances, said distrust and antipathy towards officers was a key driving force behind why thousands took to the streets.
A complex mix of other political, social and economic grievances also contributed to the unprecedented trouble, according to the research conducted by the London School of Economics (LSE) and The Guardian.
Out of those questioned, 85% said policing was an "important" or "very important" factor in why the riots happened. It was second only to poverty, which saw 86% of rioters class it as one of the main causes of the four consecutive nights of unrest during the summer"

 And then a little further down:

 "Other major factors included media coverage, greed, inequality, boredom, criminality, moral decline and racial tensions, the study found. Poor parenting and gangs were also said to be an important cause of the trouble, which led to the deaths of five people and saw more than 4,000 arrested."

 This is interesting, but ultimately I don't buy it. Of course the people who were interviewed were biased. They would think that it was the police's fault, with their stop and search methods and the way that the police that area and others like it.
   Now I'm not saying that the police and their methods are perfect, far from it. I understand that the police might need to review and change some of their policies and methods and that they also need to be careful when dealing with certain communities, however it is also a double edged sword. The police wouldn't have to act that way if they weren't faced with so many obstacles, many of which are put up there by the very community they are trying to police, help, and improve. You can't really blame the police for doing their job, what they are paid to do.
   Frankly I would say that poverty, media coverage, greed, boredom, criminality, moral decline and racial tensions are probably more likely reasons than just the police on their own. Not least of all because all those things are more evident in other such area's around London and the United Kingdom.
   
 I honestly don't think the police can be blamed majorly for something which came about because of a number of different factors. Not just the shooting of Mark Duggan and not only because of how the police operate, but because of social aspects.After all, I don't think the shooting of Mark Duggan and the operational procedures of the police alone could lead to behaviour like this:

Sources:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hjZguGlguhwjnT5Hp8WfPBCEX_bQ?docId=B33803981323058941A00003

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/883848-rioters-blamed-sense-of-injustice-and-anger-at-police-for-summer-riots

New sunset pictures

Here are some new sunset pictures, taken on the 24th of November:

There is a third picture but I can't seem to get it to work. It's not really that great though so it's no real bother. Of the ones above, the first one is my personal favourite. But what do you think?

Get out the pitchforks and torches!!!

It's that time again! A celebrity has made a boo boo and has said something not especially PC or appropriate and so of course there is the usual volley of people whose comments range from the sort you make whilst rolling your eyes to full on rage.
  The celebrity in question is Jeremy Clarkson. No surprise there I suppose since he has said made many a controversial statements, whether it's been joking about the car makers Hyundai "eating dogs" or joking about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes.
  What he said was quite silly and he did act like a bit of a buffoon, however as usual I see a volley of dismissals, condemnation and calls for harsh action.

  First off, here's what he said (just in case you live on the moon or in a cave and haven't seen it)

Not very tactful, that is unless he was being sarcastic or joking.
   Of course there was the usual condemnation not just from average Joe's but from celebrities too.

Sally Bercow, wife of John Bercow, Speaker of the House said:

"Seems that some people have only *just* noticed that Jeremy Clarkson is a steaming bellend.."

 So a resounding criticisms there, although to be honest I rather prefer Jeremy Clarkson any day (even with his foot in his mouth) over an attention seeking harpie who constantly embarrasses her husband.

Now UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the BBC to sack Clarkson and it is also looking into legal avenues to take against him. What ever happened to freedom of speech?

 "Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

“Clarkson’s comments on the One Show were totally outrageous, and they cannot be tolerated. We are seeking urgent legal advice about what further action we can take against him and the BBC, and whether or not his comments should be referred to the police.

“Public sector workers and their families are utterly shocked by Jeremy Clarkson’s revolting comments. We know that many other licence fee payers share our concerns about his outrageous views. The One Show is broadcast at a time when children are watching – they could have been scared and upset by his aggressive statements. An apology is not enough - we are calling on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson immediately. Such disgusting statements have no place on our TV screens."

Perhaps it wasn't exactly the most appropriate thing to have him (Clarkson) on live television at that time of day knowing what he is like, however we do have freedom of speech in this country and the presenters of "The One Show" asked Clarkson his opinion and he gave it. To seek legal options because of this is absurd.

   I think Mr Prentis, UNISON, and anyone who thinks further action should be taken against Clarkson should just, well, get a grip. Have a bitch and a moan about him and then move on. Because to take it any further is a waste of time, and quite frankly it's pathetic.


 Links:




http://ht.ly/7KWGD

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEKVUIeAsbA&feature=player_embedded