The Dilemma

News 2 Responses »
Mar 212013

To watch the news or not to watch the news – THAT is the question.

I don’t know about you, but I am starting to feel quite drained these days when I watch the news and read the paper. It is filled with economic and social doom and gloom and I always wonder what makes news?

If we had a policy that the news had to be an equal distribution of positive and negative news what do you think that would be like?

The news companies will say bad news sells but why can’t good news be equally profitable? Why can’t we be told about the success stories of certain breeding projects instead of just how the ice caps are melting and the threat to the polar bears existence?

For every social uprising and associated war, why can’t be we told about equality and where society and governments are working well together?

For every dark economic forecast, why can’t we be given a positive message of how to make the most of these tough times and to think smarter about money. This could pave the way for much better future money management and financial security.

If we received more encouraging and positive messages from the media we would all have a more positive outlook on life and this energy would flow through all aspects of society.

One of the reasons why I believe holidays are so relaxing is because we take a break from what is going on around us – a big piece of that is the news. We get to be away from the constant barrage of negative messages.

So – to watch the news or not? I guess everything in moderation.

Posted by Hilbre at 12:16 pm

Who are we really?

News, To Make You Think 2 Responses »
Feb 222013

Unless you live under a rock or have zero interest in the Olympics you will definitely have been talking about Oscar Pistorius and like most people, be asking the question – ‘what happened?’

How does a young South African, who became the first paralympian to compete in an able-bodied race in the 2012 Olympics, go from being a national hero to standing in a dock with his head hung low accused of murdering his beautiful girlfriend? Is this another case of just a jealous guy with a dark side who can’t control his temper or really a tragic accident? 

We have now seen so many sporting stars who we think are special because of what they have achieved in the sporting arena, only to discover the real truth behind the likes of Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong and now The Blade Runner.

Do we ever really know anyone? When someone is beautiful or has acting or sporting talent, why do we put them on some sort of pedestal to be admired with the belief that they are not capable of any wrongdoing?

Is Oscar really just a very angry man who had a tough upbringing and had to always compensate for the loss of his lower limbs or could this event have happened to anyone?

If he is found guilty of murder then how do we feel about him? Does it take away all that we thought was impressive and brave or do we see him as two separate halves – the man who ran before us or the murderer? The fact that even the Hollywood Oscars are being overshadowed by this case shows just how affected the world is by seeing someone go from hero to villain.

It doesn’t sit well when you find out something that you thought was – isn’t. How can we ever be sure who someone really is and should we try to know them or should we keep a distance and focus on what they do – not who they are?

Posted by Hilbre at 8:12 am

What a week-end!

News, To Make You Think No Responses »
May 032011

This week-end certainly makes history with the perfect fairytale wedding to start – nearly half the world watching and an unbelievably huge turn out in London itself.

Continued sunshine and no rain. According to BBC Weather, the statistics haven’t been fully compiled yet but it does look like April 2011 will go down as the warmest and driest April on record (never a shortage of a weather stat in the UK).

Two 4 day week-ends back-to-back and as Jamie said on London’s Heart this morning – ended with the capture of the evil man.

It certainly is a week-end of change in the form of a younger and more updated royal family that seem perfectly normal. From the reports of the after parties – in fact sound wilder than most. It has taken 10 years for Osama Bin Laden to be killed – one forgets just how long the Afghanistan war has been going on.

I think we should just take a moment to reflect that this was quite an extraordinary week-end with lots of change to come as a result…

Posted by Hilbre at 7:40 am

We all love LOVE

News, Out and About No Responses »
Apr 282011

Everyone loves a fairytale, especially one that ends with ‘they lived happily ever after…’ Hopefully Kate and William will do just that. They certainly make a lovely looking couple and seem very happy. We are all waiting for the famous kiss on the balcony at 1.25pm (no room for spontaneity at this wedding). Apparently it is ‘not done’ to kiss in the church as explained on one of the many royal wedding websites –

“There will be no kiss during the wedding ceremony,” explained the Very Reverend Dr. John Hall, the dean of Westminster and the man responsible for overseeing the spiritual life of Westminster Abbey. “We don’t do that in the Church of England. That’s sort of a Hollywood thing: ‘ You may now kiss the bride.’ It doesn’t happen here.”

‘No matter what your views are on the Monarchy you will struggle to escape the Royal Wedding mania as little Britain is certainly taking centre stage right now.

It is unbelievable to see the number of people camping on the streets just to get a glimpse of the royal procession. It is estimated that 2 billion viewers will be watching the wedding which is not hard to believe when one sees the number of TV crews set up outside Buckingham Palace – even the Philippines is being represented. We all loved Diana and, for those of us old enough, we remember clearly her wedding day when she walked so nervously down what must have seemed like a never-ending isle in her very large wedding gown. While all the festivities are going on – there is also a debate regarding the need for the Monarchy.

Right now I think who cares about details such as whether the Monarchy should exist – lets just enjoy the wonderful energy flowing all around the world as we watch Kate and William say ‘I do’.

 

Posted by Hilbre at 2:22 pm