UP Ibalon Bicol: Great Britain

Showing posts with label Great Britain. Show all posts

Lockerbie terrorist should not have been allowed to go back to Libya

9/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Though compassion is virtue, 57 year-old Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the sole convicted bomber who killed 270 innocent passengers of Pan Am flight 103 should not have been allowed to return to Libya. The terrorist is responsible for blowing up the plane over Lockerbie, Scotland en route to the United States in 1988.

Al Megrahi’s terminal cancer isn’t enough to justify such clemency. Barely serving his sentence handed in January 1, 2001, the evil murderer has been given a hero's welcome in Tripoli airport by Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi‘s son and his supporters at the expense of those whom the killer wronged.

The shocking footage of the return only reflected warped values which insulted the memory of the civilian victims, among them innocent cildren. Many observers believed the move was a mockery of justice and a setback in the relentless fight against terrorism.

Giving the notorious killer the pass only opened raw wounds on the relatives of those who died raising speculations that an oil deal between Great Britain and Libya was involved in the decision. If so, the Scottish Court’s ruling made the return despicable.

An investigation to ferret the truth about this nefarious trade deal is warranted. The sentiment is shared by US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen who thinks the decision is motivated by politics. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Robert Muller similarly vents his anger over the decision. Bending on pressure, the British government has vowed to release documents to clarify the issue.

Sixty (60%) of those who were polled about the “humanitarian” clemency were angered. They were of the opinion that the Scottish Court was wrong. Most of them believe the ruthless criminal must die in prison. (Photo Credit: BBC.news) =0=

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Labels: Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, bombing, Great Britain, Justice, Libya, Lockerbie, Pan Am, poltics, terrorism

Conductor and wife die in an assisted suicide in Switzerland

7/15/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

The former British Philharmonic and Royal Opera conductor Edward Downes, 85 and his 74 year old wife died of assisted suicide in a clinic in Zurich, Switzerland after years of failing health. Known for his outstanding musicality and conducting prowess, Downes who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth was almost blind and deaf. His wife Joan was a noted dancer and choreographer who worked as his devoted assistant. The couple had been together for 54 happy years.

A sign of secularist and liberal thinking, ending one’s life at one’s will is creeping into the norms of life. This is exactly what the Downes decided. At their own choosing, in a clinic supervised by a group called Dignitas, they died “peacefully.” The death facility which was founded in 1998 had about a hundred British citizens, many with terminal illness or disability, choosing its service to end their life.

“Dignitas says it is meeting the needs of its members. It says it charges 10,000 Swiss francs ($9,200) for its services, which include taking care of legal formalities and arranging consultations with a doctor willing to prescribe the barbiturates. British law is clearly against assisted suicide, but enforcement has been somewhat lax.”---AP (07/14/09, Lawless, J.)

The legal assisted suicide permitted in Switzerland is backed by a law which dates back in 1942. It allows foreigners from other countries from Europe to come and kill themselves, a controversial practice that needs regulation and deep moral consideration.

The decision to kill oneself surely raises serious ethical and religious questions. A society swept in relativism, it is permitted in some countries like Netherlands, Belgium and states of USA like Oregon. Some accuse Switzerland as promoting suicide as a tool of tourism. (Photo Credit: weeteeth) =0=

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Labels: assisted suicide, ethics, Great Britain, laws, liberalism, moral values, relativism, secularism, Sir Edward Downes, suicide, Switzerland, Totie Mesia

Susan Boyle moves ahead in her bid to win in Britain’s Got Talent contest

5/24/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

The 47 year-old singing sensation who wowed the audience of Britain’s Got Talent last month has qualified for the next round in the talent contest. Susan Boyle whose stunning performance brought 60 million viewers to watch her sing in You Tube will compete on Sunday in a field of 40 contestants---- her bid to win in the final contest on May 30, 2009.

Boyle drew attention when she sang Les Miserables’ “I dreamed a dream” which charmed the TV judges and viewers alike. The plump middle-aged lady with a salt and pepper hair caught the attention of the incredulous audience because of the disparity between her appearance and her angelic voice.

"The youngest of nine children, Boyle grew up in Blackburn, a community of 4,750 people 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Edinburgh, in Scotland — a district blighted by unemployment and crime. Boyle had learning difficulties as a child and was bullied by other children. As an adult, she's struggled for work but had been a regular on her local karaoke circuit and performed in church choirs."---AP (05/23/09, Stringer D)

For the instant attention and phenomenal fame she received, Oprah Winfrey invited her to guest in her show. Boyle who enjoys global popularity had been a favorite to win the contest which is the counterpart of the American Idol in USA. (Photo Credit: Conceptmail.net) =0=

Boyle Advances to the Final Round

UPDATE: May 24, 2009---Susan Boyle once again electrified her fans with a spectacular rendition of "Memory." a song popularized in the musicale Cats. For her commanding performance she is chosen to move ahead to the finals among 8 contestants in the TV show "Britain Got Talent" on May 30. 2009.

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Labels: American Idol, arts, Britain's Got Talent, contest, entertainment, Great Britain, Les Miserables, music, singer, Susan Boyle, Totie Mesia

With more than 47.7 million viewers, what’s up for new singing star Susan Boyle?

4/20/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Most of those who saw Susan Boyle sang Les Miserables’ “I dreamed a dream” were mesmerized, They probably gave her a more rousing standing ovation than Lea Salonga when she sang the same song in the Great White Way. The judges in the Britain's Got Talent were unanimously enthralled by her unexpected stunning performance.

Susan Boyle, the 47 year old aspiring British talent caused a world-wide stir for that singing. She displayed pure talent, rocking her watchers on their seats and earning her 47.7 million viewers as of Friday, April 17, 2009.

Almost everybody instantly loved the matronly Ms. Boyle who dreamed of being as successful as Elaine Paige, the popular singer and actress of musical theatre. Perhaps it was because she epitomized the regular lady in the block with little chance of being noticed in the competitive arena of entertainment.

In a discriminating world, she brought down the artificiality of the glittery musical world where performers are supposed to be young, of perfect voice, pretty face, and desirable figure. For a change, people liked to watch and hear plain Susan.

Yet, B. Saunders in her comment titled “How long will Susan Boyle’s dream last” which appeared in Sunday Star Times (sstlive.co.nz) argues that in order to have a great musical career, a fantastic voice like Susan’s isn’t enough and a certain glamour is needed. Saunders vented her pessimism further saying:

“Poor Susan's private life isn't ideal either. As a child she was bullied because oxygen deprivation at birth had affected her ability to learn. At 47, she is unemployed, has never been kissed, and was recently suffering from depression after her mother died. This is tragedy aplenty but it is not the sort of tragedy that anyone much wants to identify with. That wouldn't matter if Susan was super sexy - in fact it would be great because it would fulfill the tragi-glam requirements.

Susan does not have any sort of glamour factor at all though. What she does have is a huge amount of talent and an even bigger dollop of novelty value.”

It is too early to predict what is in store for Ms. Boyle. Actress Demi Moore is said to have shed tears seeing her sing. Oprah Winfrey has invited the new darling of song to appear in her show before the talent contest winner is known. An admiring fan has a website site set up for the newest UK singing sensation at: susan-boyle.com

According to Chris Matyszczyk (http://news.cnet.com), Visible Measures, a company which tracts online audiences said there are than 200 video clips of Susan Boyle’s contest performance including those which can be viewed in You Tube. She seemed to have garnered more attention than the Iraqi shoe thrower, Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, and President Barack Obama, during his presidential victory address. (Photo Credit: You Tube; AP/ Milligan, A) =0=

I Dreamed a Dream
(from the Broadway Musicale "Les Miserables")

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

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Labels: arts, Britain's Got Talent, celebrity, Elaine Paige, England, English, entertainment, Great Britain, Lea Salonga, Les Miserables, singer, Susan Boyle, Totie Mesia

DNA test disproves Alfie Patten as Great Britain’s youngest boy dad

3/27/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

After the controversy sparked by pubescent fatherhood, Alfie Patten, the kid-faced 13-year old British boy who admitted being the dad of the baby delivered by his 15-year old girlfriend was after all not the father. This was confirmed by DNA test.

Chantelle Steadman, the precocious mother of baby girl Maisie turned out to have shared bed with some older boys other than young Alfie before she got pregnant. (Photo Credit: Stringer/ AFP/ Getty) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Great Britain's 13-year old boy-dad" Posted by mesiamd at 2/18/2009

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Labels: Alfie Patten, DNA test, Great Britain, Paternity, Toti Mesia

Great Britain's 13-year old boy-dad

2/18/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Among the most alarming images I have seen lately is the picture of a four-foot tall, baby-faced Alfie Patten, the British boy who at 13 fathered a newborn girl. Sadly, little can be said, but much has to be done, about the immature kid and his infant whose heart-breaking photo appeared in the front page of the The Sun. The young mom is Alfie’s 15 year-old girlfriend Chantelle Steadman.

"It's an indication that we've lost our way, that people don't know the difference between right and wrong," he said of Alfie. 'The plain fact is society can't proceed on this basis. I think this is an indication of broken Britain,'" said Sir Bernard Ingham, Former Press Secretary of Margaret Thatcher. San Francisco Chronicle/AP (02/16/09, Katz, G)

In another vein, in California, USA, Nadya Suleman, a 33-year old, jobless woman who has been battling emotional instability gave birth to octuplets (8 babies) by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) done a fertility MD against the standard of medical practice. Before the birth of her 8 babies, Nadya who shares a 3 bedroom home with her financially bankrupt parents has 6 children from previous assisted pregnancies.

It's debated how the unmarried woman who lives on welfare will be able to take care of her 14 children. The hospital bills she has incurred are beyond the roof. With meager sense of accountability, she has hired a PR person to handle her book deals, TV interviews, and appeals for donations to keep her kids.

Great Britain suffers from inordinately high rate of teen pregnancies, petty thievery, alcoholism, and rampant street crimes among teenagers. America has problems which mirror these problems as well. As human beings, we think inwardly and ask, “Why? What has gone wrong in our world?” (Photo Credit: Stringer/ AFP/ Getty Images/ SFC)=0=

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Labels: Alfie Patten, behavior, boy-dad, England, Great Britain, human interest, Nadya Suleman, Octuplets, parenthood, pregnancy, sex, social, Toti Mesia

UP Ibalon Bicol

Lockerbie terrorist should not have been allowed to go back to Libya

Conductor and wife die in an assisted suicide in Switzerland

Susan Boyle moves ahead in her bid to win in Britain’s Got Talent contest

With more than 47.7 million viewers, what’s up for new singing star Susan Boyle?

DNA test disproves Alfie Patten as Great Britain’s youngest boy dad

Great Britain's 13-year old boy-dad

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