Seems there is very little to smile about just now worldwide. The quality of our TV news footage ensures we get an armchair seat at the biggest terror events anywhere in the world, the sort of advertising McDonalds could only dream of. So, given that we now have 24hour access anywhere we like are we better off for it? Or are we gifting those fanatics who would do us harm the chance of fifteen minutes of fame?
If you are wondering where this is going cast your mind back a couple of weeks ago and the sight of a black flag with white Islamic rantings on it held up to a cafe window while terrified people were held hostage inside a simple coffee shop. It's an image as much sealed in our psych as the lone shopper in Tienanmen square who stopped a row of Chinese tanks with an Aldi bag and a straw hat.
We in the West are hungry to see such atrocities played out on the world stage, in fact we demand to see what is going on or we lose interest.
Just think a little about what I just said and you may start wondering if the press itself and indeed our own thirst for gossip and information fuels such sieges. Without such huge TV coverage the minority so called radical terrorists would be denied the world stage to get their ridiculous point over. I question the wisdom of allowing cameras so close to these real events.
Meanwhile here in Australia and especially Newcastle it has started to rain after a long dry period. As a thoroughbred POM I have to admit it is the sweetest rain I have ever tasted, it has been in the forties here a couple of times of late and I am savouring the low end of the twenties temperature wise this Sunday morning, you can take the POM out of London....
While reading the broad sheets on line and switching around to Sky News for a few updates on the depressing current atrocities in France, the state of the economy in an ever expanding over bloated Europe, the battles in America ongoing to defeat terrorism and the current instability in world order, something actually made me chuckle and brought me back to earth when I read the big news in Melbourne overnight was a brawl at a darts match. God bless Australia I say. That's the sort of headline the news was meant for!
Right, for me its a quick walk in the summer rain before it all evaporates, I can feel the pitter patter on my head and think back to chilly days dodging downpours while eating fish and chips from rain sodden newspaper while trying to convince the kids how nice the view of the sea is once I have demisted the car screen ..... aaaaahhh now that's a proper seaside holiday!
Have a great and safe Sunday everyone wherever you are right now, remember to enjoy what you have and not to worry about what you don't have, because there is always someone with less.
If you are wondering where this is going cast your mind back a couple of weeks ago and the sight of a black flag with white Islamic rantings on it held up to a cafe window while terrified people were held hostage inside a simple coffee shop. It's an image as much sealed in our psych as the lone shopper in Tienanmen square who stopped a row of Chinese tanks with an Aldi bag and a straw hat.
We in the West are hungry to see such atrocities played out on the world stage, in fact we demand to see what is going on or we lose interest.
Just think a little about what I just said and you may start wondering if the press itself and indeed our own thirst for gossip and information fuels such sieges. Without such huge TV coverage the minority so called radical terrorists would be denied the world stage to get their ridiculous point over. I question the wisdom of allowing cameras so close to these real events.
Meanwhile here in Australia and especially Newcastle it has started to rain after a long dry period. As a thoroughbred POM I have to admit it is the sweetest rain I have ever tasted, it has been in the forties here a couple of times of late and I am savouring the low end of the twenties temperature wise this Sunday morning, you can take the POM out of London....
While reading the broad sheets on line and switching around to Sky News for a few updates on the depressing current atrocities in France, the state of the economy in an ever expanding over bloated Europe, the battles in America ongoing to defeat terrorism and the current instability in world order, something actually made me chuckle and brought me back to earth when I read the big news in Melbourne overnight was a brawl at a darts match. God bless Australia I say. That's the sort of headline the news was meant for!
Right, for me its a quick walk in the summer rain before it all evaporates, I can feel the pitter patter on my head and think back to chilly days dodging downpours while eating fish and chips from rain sodden newspaper while trying to convince the kids how nice the view of the sea is once I have demisted the car screen ..... aaaaahhh now that's a proper seaside holiday!
Have a great and safe Sunday everyone wherever you are right now, remember to enjoy what you have and not to worry about what you don't have, because there is always someone with less.
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