Material world ...

Life ...

Seed ...

Sunflower seeds ...


Sun flower ...


Sunflower seeds ...


Sunflower seeds ...

White seeds ...

White pebbles ...

Grey pebbles ...

Black pebbles ...


White, grey and black pebbles ...


White, grey and black porcelain sunflower seeds ...


Hand painted crushed pebble field ...

Hand painted porcelain field...

100,000,000 hand painted sunless porcelain seeds ...

Grey pebbles ...

Porcelain seeds ...

Grey painted people

White sunflowers ...

Porcelain rice seeds ...

100,000,000 Grey pebbles

Grey seeds

Sunflower people ...

Pebble seeds ...

Crushed pebbles

Porcelain people ...

Grey painted people ....




Lives ...

Sun painted life ...

Related:
Tate Modern sunflower seeds artwork contain lead paint [click]

Sunny day ... happy sunday :-)

















Music: Mikis Theodorakis 'State of seige'
Sculpture: Ai Weiwei Sunflower seeds

Fair uni fees?

“I know the world isn't fair, but why isn't it ever unfair in my favor?”

"Democracy is the state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges."

Protest

"Democracy is political or social equality"

"Them and us, is that healthy?"

The result of fear and frustration? Whatever ... no excuse!

"What did I do?!"

Watching the students protests against the treble hike in university tuition fees, Mr Gove, Secretary of State for Education said that graduates won't have to pay any contribution until they start earning 21k. A which level, the repayment would only be 7.50 pounds per month - rising to 142 pounds for earners of 40k+ ... but those who earn 40k are usually, unless they are bankers, are nearing or even past the 30 year old mark and have families of their own to support and need every penny to do just that! 145 pounds per month is a large chunk of non disposable income for such families! ... and for 30 years! With repayment going higher as they earn more too!

Mr Gove seemed adamant and gave a feel that the government will not change it's stand on that hike regardless of what the student's do - he then went on to say that he acknowledged that 'in a democracy', people have the right to protest! And I thought what?! Surely in 'a democracy' people who are angered by a perceived injustice to the point of mass protest have the right to be 'listened to' and a 'dialogue' to follow for all parties to reach a satisfactory solution for all!

Then I remembered this post as well as Dr Grumble's post. Although neither of our kids will be affected by that hike in tuition fees, I wondered; isn't the whole ethos of a 'Big society' to 'care for each other'?!

Well, we do! ... we care for those kids, their livelihoods and their future, for they are the future of this country too.

Can't the government reach a middle ground on this issue of fees? Perhaps put half the burden on the students and half on the tax payer?

Because the majority of the people I know feel that that young woman with the placard below is right to protest!

For the sake of a prosperous future for all, invest in those young people's talent!

I hope the government is listening and will renegotiate on this.

Rigidity is not the answer!

... and on another note, I think Mr Gove's drive for primary schools to concentrate on the traditional values of proper teaching, including reading, grammar, spelling, science and Maths is right - same for secondary schools to concentrate on traditional subjects and proper teaching too! I hope he will also abolish those ridiculous, discriminating and hindering to achievement ability groups to allow children to learn from each other as well so that every child can have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a fair and healthy classroom environment!


[Pictures from protest on November 10, 2010]

Related:

10November protest: Student tuition fee protest breaks into Conservative HQ [click] ... In pictures: Clashes at tuition fees protest [click] ... Nick Clegg Under Fire Over Uni Fee U-Turn [click] ... Marchers Outraged At London Rally Violence [click] ... Rioting in the streets of London..... [click]

24 November 2010: Thousands of students protest against rise in fees [click] ... Protests around the country [click] ... In pictures [click] ... Students stage protests across UK[click]

Higher Fees: The Case For And Against [click]

3 December Alexander trying to persuade Lib Dems on tuition fees [click]
5 December Poorest students to get year for free [click]
6 December Child poverty 'rises' among working households [click]


“All some folks want is their fair share and yours.”

Deglamourising cigarettes ...

“Glamour is what I sell, it's my stock in trade.”

The first cigarette I ever had was given to me by a friend in a fancy holder similar to this one above. I wasn't young either, I was 20 and was preparing for my final exams at uni and the cigarette was supposed to 'calm my nerves down'. For a long time afterwards, all I ever had was the odd cigarette when given one ... then one day, I just went and bought a red and white packet ... and continued to buy them thereafter ... always the red and white ones ....

I hope young kids will not be subjected to such a branded 'open box' invitation too

Then I bought a silver cigarette box and had it inscribed with my neck name inside, and it came with a fancy cigarette holder too ... and it became an image ... part of the persona, and at the time, it was glamorous to have such persona, if you had the trimmings to go with it. It becomes sort of a show :-)

But despite having the silver box, I always bought the same brand of cigarettes. There was this newly developed association between the red and white box and the whole concept of smoking for me, even though I always emptied that packet in the silver box first! I therefore think that it's the glamour and the quest for the persona that goes with that which makes anyone start smoking, then they form the habit and get hooked! It doesn't matter if you start at 10, 20, or more ... it is always that sequence. Plus the perception that cigarettes will do something magical to you as well, be it calm your nerves or suppress your appetite, relax you or give you time to think ... etc. IMO, all these are secondary and are just the excuses you give yourself you are hooked, addicted and can't let go! ... but none are true! It's what to hold in this hand ... and your mouth, instead of a cigarette that is the real dilemma - plus not seeing that red and white box as per habit too ....


I don't think hiding the cigarettes under the counter will do much to deter people from buying, but, would I have bought my first box had there not been the extensive advertising and had the cigarette packaging looked 'similar' to this one above? Never! I wouldn't have wanted to be seen anywhere with that 'ugly' thing, for sure!

"Cigarette packets should have plain packaging to make smoking less attractive.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said "glitzy designs on packets" attracted children to smoking and it made sense to look at "less attractive packaging".

Health campaigners praised the move but smokers' group Forest said there was no evidence plain packaging cut smoking."

Deglamourising cigarettes by using plain cardboard for cigarette packaging 'in the future'?
I think it is a brilliant idea!
Not only for helping kids not to start smoking in the first place, but also help lots of young people and adults quit too!

Well done this time to Andrew! His past marketing experience is paying dividends ... for this one is a winner, me thinks!

:-)

Sam's:

Coming out ...[click]
Magic 105.4 [click]

“Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion.”

Dr Darzi again! Awesome!

"And amid all this chaos, Lord Darzi hath risen! The Telegraph reports that the controversial former health minister has created an iPhone application (or ‘app’ as the cool kids call it) that will allow patients to keep track of their NHS appointments and rate the services they use. When does he ever get time to see patients?!" Pulse ;-)

Awesome, isn't it?! ... with global potential too .... the first in an i-Dr Darzi series? ... or just i-Darzi? ... maybe an i-health PLC too? Why not?! ... meanwhile ....

Add to the taaaaaaall record ...

Dr Darzi has just formed a brand spanking new global health institute and it's already paying amazing dividends! ... not forgetting the loooaaads of money the country is making since he became Global Health and Global Business Ambassador too! ...

“I've been keeping up with everything, ... I can multitask. You have to, or you lose ground. I've been busy communicating with clubs and player agents.”

... and he wants to make a difference to people's health ... around 'The Globe'!


... but as he said in this meeting here, and has always maintained, is that what Dr Darzi really likes to do ... is to take care of his patients!

With Dr Darzi, your life is safe in his hands ... and the nation's health ... and that of the whole Globe!

Controversial?! Indeed! ... Pulse, go eat your socks!

... Come to think of it, don't! ... for it maybe dangerous ....


Absolutely Awwwesome Professor! ... giver, and bearer of good news ... As Always ...


... and where did I put this amulet kit box last ....

:-)


Related:

10 November 2010: Lord Darzi is appointed Business Ambassador to promote the UK's market overseas [click]

18 November 2010 : Trust consultants named as best in Britain [click]

19 November 2010: Lord Darzi launches NHS ratings app [click]

Wellnote by Dr Darzi and [Download]

15 December: Ex-UK minister to lead Qatar’s cancer initiative [click] and [Google]


“As a teammate, or on his own, he's the best — awesome. He is very face-value. You know what you've got with him.”

Wisetalk ... :-)

" All men have one same problem "

Hope you had a quiet Sunday ....


:-)

El Alamein ...

"A picture speaks louder than a thousand words"

El Alamein now ... Well, in part ....

El Alamein 1939 - 1945

Honoured ...


El Alamein behind those beautiful beaches - the battle fields ... it goes up to 45c deep in that desert in summer ....

... fighting in that scorching heat ....

The Brits 'won' the war ...

Commonwealth troops ...

The German war memorial ... built like a fortified castle standing on a hill by the sea ...

With it's dead soldiers stretching as far as the eye can see ...

... and those are the Italians ... this is an imposing structure, proper! ... also by the sea ....

... and their dead, streching ... a truely overwhelming sight, so prepare to shed a tear or two ... if you are the sentimental type

... and everybody looks the same ... they didn't in life though ....

... and this is Carrera marble ... of the best quality ... streching from floor to cieling inside that most imposing of structures ....

... isn't it amazing? Only the occupants can not see it ... the tourists can though ....

... and a museum, in, and in the open air ... plenty of memorabilia .... the biggest war museum on earth! ... because that's what all this is now ... a museum ....

... but there's more memorabilia that lasts to this day ....

20 MILLION of them ... only they are not all so visible ... and none in the tourist areas ...

The battle of El Alamein is not finished, only, no one is in command anymore ....

That's the real 'honour' of war! ... and no one can appreciate war unless they see it all in El Alamein ....


BBC [click]