My Final Message

It has occured to me that life is too short to dwell on the past. Forgive. Forget. Move on. Enjoy each day as it comes - for tommorow is not promised to anyone. Live life. Give love. Take it easy.

Sym
xox

Live Humorous Performance Poetry: "Adam"

A poem exploring why the first prehistoric lifeform bothered crawling onto land 400 million years ago - live poetry performance by satirical humorous poet Adam Taylor.

January Review

Here is our very first end of the month message as we say "Farewell" to January and "Howdy" to February. This post is where Symone and I will give our individual final farewells and also tell you our favourite posts, comments and sent ins!!!!

Robyn's Favourite Post:

My favourite post this month is the poem "Heartache" (Posted 22nd Jan) by the lovely Symone, because well....it's good, ands it's a true testimony to Sym's talents!

Symone's Favourite Post:

My favourite post has to be the poem "Symone" (Posted 11th Jan) that Robyn wrote for me! Who can honestly say that they don't like having poems written about them!!! Plus i was feeling very down at the time, and it really cheered me up =]

Robyn's Favourite Comment:

This comment was made by Peter Hunkinson on Symones thought of the day for 4th Jan because he had really thought about what she had written and wrote a very thought-provoking comment. Here it is (although you will probably need to go back and read Symones thought of the day for it to make any sense!):

"I would say it's a 50/50 thing. A good teacher can't teach if the student isn't listening. Having said that if it's the whole class I guess fingers will definitely need to be pointed in the direction of the teacher. What school is that!

The system is setup to keep us all trapped in a cycle of getting a job, buying expensive things that need debts like houses and cars then having to work to make sure we keep our expensive things.

Word to the wise.... figure out something else rather than the traditional 9-5. The internet offers loads of opportunities. You don't need to become a slave to the government. You dont really need qualifications either - but I recommend them as a way to go when you can"

Symone's Favourite Comment:

My favourite comments have been all the ones by those giving me their support after the death of my uncle and those wishing me happy birthday. Thank you all very much!

Robyn's Favourite Sent In:

Mine has to be the hilarious post from Diary Of A Black Girl, "Toy Boy", posted on January 15th:

"On my way home I decided to pop into Waitrose to buy something nice for dinner. Mid shopping I felt extremely ill and decided to telephone for a cab to take me home. There I sat in the cab, feeling unwell the driver broke into conversation - you know the type looking at me in his rear view mirror, commenting on the area we were driving through remarking how nice it was. We got to my place and sat outside exchanging cash, still talking. He said ‘nice place’ I said ‘thanks it’s OK’ he said ‘do you live alone?’ I paused and said ‘yes’ he said ‘oh why don’t you get yourself a TOY BOY?’ I paused looked startled and said - ‘ ……. BECAUSE I AM TOO YOUNG!’

Work it out folks!

He pushed the change into my hand, looked embarrassed, apologised and drove off hastily.

MEN!

Lauretta x"

Symone's Favourite Sent In:

I liked "The Dream" which was posted on 18th January because it was quite similar to the sorts of things i like to write about in my poetry: Awful men and being heartbroken etc etc..all that lovely stuff:

"I had a dream about you last night

I lay there in your arms

and for a few hours in my deepest sleep I felt completely safe

You always made me feel that way

Safe and warm

Like nothing and no one could ever hurt me

The smell of you fills me and my body tingles

I need you, I ache for you, I love you.

I’m awake now and it all comes flooding back

The worry, the pain, the hurt

But at any time I can close my eyes and remember the dream

by Ananda 2008"

Symone's Back!!!

My other half sent me a text at 10am this morning, telling me that's she as returned from the Big Apple....and has been sleeping ever since!

I won't be seeing her until Monday the 2nd, but she'll be back posting in February, no problem.

It just seems such a shame that she had to go off in the middle of her month!!! and she was enjoying it so much!

Ah well, January has nearly come to a close now and so we move, quite abruptly into February with our new theme: The Opposite Sides Of Love, and i promise you, it wil be VERY interesting!

B&*£$!D

The love has gone now.

Without you I swear I'm lost

I'm all alone. Cold

Symone xxx

Theme for next month!

The theme for February 2009 will be.....

...The Opposite Sides Of Love!

Not all of us look forward to the month of St Valentine, so we'll be exloring both sides of the spectrum! (Expect lots of anti-men poetry from symone! lol)

Rob and Sym

For the Children

Never was there a more frustrating time
Your clipped wings remind you of desire
But the beauty and love that keeps you here
Can never be replaced and journeys wait
But the aching of not moving overwhelms
Distance between my dreams and time frustrate
Knowing that it’s not forever, feeling trapped
They grow and learn quite quickly as years pass
Desire never dies inside but sits and waits
They are stronger now you feel its time now
Desire never dies inside but sits and waits
They are stronger now you feel its time now
The writing flowing from within your soul
You’re afraid because you’ve waited so long to start
Only God knows how the story will end for you

Ananda (aka Diane Corriette)

Are you looking for your Life Path? Awaken with Life Path Unlimited http://succeed.lifepathunlimited.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYMONE!!!

Please Read

Due to a recent bereavement in the family, Symone has had to go to New York and can't post on the blog.

On the plus side, when she comes back she will have a journal of her time in New York to share with us all!

TWO MONTHS!

Our blog has officially been going for TWO MONTHS!!!!! 

Why is tithing such a rip off?

Why is tithing such a rip off when I get such an uplift  and a feeling of love from being in church?  Why isn’t it seen as a gift?

Why do so many people dislike the fact that I give money to my church and my Pastor when they go into a shop and buy ciggarettes or stand in a bar and drink alcohol?

Why is it mainly non-believers who don’t believe in giving money to church and who believe it’s a way to get money out of weak people?

Why aren’t motivational events that uplift you for a few hours and then have you return to your old state of worry and fear a rip off?

Why is it that NOTHING has come close to providing me with the peace, joy and serenity I feel since finding my church GoodNews Ministries and yet to suggest that I give them 10% of everything I earn is met with complete shock?

When are we going to realise that giving is about giving from the heart? Have you ever bought something for someone you love just because you love them and you knew they would love it?Well I give because I know Jesus loves it.

My Pastor can’t do anything if I buy him a cow or a chicken - the old days of tithing. Money is the easiest thing to tithe plus it helps the church to function and I have even been encouraged to tithe my time and smiles (yes you can tithe smiles too  ) so it’s not always about money but to keep supporting my spiritual development my church needs help.

Diane Corriette

Heartache

I want you in my life,
That's not a statment,
That's a fact.
My life is killing me, slowly, I need you back.
Sometimes it makes me angry that I'm still
Caught up on you.
But, it's the way you move, talk breath...
It's the little things you do.

Everyone's heart beats- it's what keeps us alive.
It stops. We all die.
My heart, it beats for you
Each emotion you feel, I feel it too.
I break down,
Crying
On the random sometimes.
It's because of you,
And the things you do to me...
It should be made a crime.

You ignore my exsistence.
Each time I die,
A little bit more inside,
All I need is a 'Hello' or
'Bye'
All I need to know you care,
To prove to myself,
That
Some
Sort-of
Love
Is there.

You have the worlds longsest
History of 'My babyee'
When, will it be my two weeks?
I know I don't have much to offer.
I'm noy blonde or 'gawjus'
or something
or other.

All I can promise is that
You know you will have my heart
Stick with me, we can never part.

This heartache is rediculous, stupid and vain
You could never love a girl like me
This is insane.

My heart is
pouring out to you
alover this page.
My pen burning through thr paper
Praying you'll stay.

But you won't,
Why should you?
When your 'Babyee' is one your arm,
With,
More girls queuing
At the door,
When you turn on the charm

This poem is for you,
My dear,
My Beloved

I Pray...
Someday...
You will realise...
All you need,
All I need,
All I want...
Is
You and me.

The the heartache will end.

Symone xxxx

Racism gone? No. It's all over youtube.

I am disgusted and disturbed.

About 20 minutes ago i was on youtube looking for a video of Obamas speech to put on my blog, and i found an extremley racist comment on a video. I clicked on the commenters name to see where they were from, and discovered a world of Nazi and KKK followers or supporters. Including - wait for it - BLACK nazis and members of the KKK who had "gotten rid" of their race because their race was an "embarrassment".

This persons profile openly insults black people, naming them the most pathetic race on earth and calling them slaves and favouriting a ridiculous number ofracist videos, which i am surprised to even find on youtube. This persons friends, however, were just as bad. One had the KKK as their background and had the same small minded comments. Another praised the name of Jesus Christ, called themselves a true christian and then said black people and jews are scum. Now i may not be a big christian myself, but am i right in believeing that Jesus taught to love all and NOT to judge by colour? and also, was Jesus not jewish himself?

The true hypocricy and small minded bhaviour of these insignificant beings bothers me, but i am not naive. I knew people out there were still like this, and i do not doubt that there will be people like that for many years to come. What disturbs me is that youtube has done NOTHING about it. I looked through the comments of one, and there was a girl saying she had reported their account to youtube and yet it's still there!!!!

PLEASE, HELP ME HAVE THESE PROFILES DELETED: REPORT THEM AND PERHAPS YOUTUBE WILL RESPOND WHEN HUNDREDS ARE REPORTING THEM!

http://uk.youtube.com/user/CoonviIIeUSA
http://uk.youtube.com/user/fieldmonkeys
http://uk.youtube.com/user/expectnomercy6
http://uk.youtube.com/user/whitepoets
http://uk.youtube.com/user/phorn14
http://uk.youtube.com/user/niggerjewsareslaves
http://uk.youtube.com/user/WhiteChristian

From these profiles you will find links to hundreds more, and honestly, it scares me.

YES! I TOO, HAVE OBAMA FEVER!!!

Sitting at my computer, I am seriously struggling to think of something to write. 20th January 2009. A day I will never forget....
Where were you at 5:00? I was in my living room, with my mum and dad, jumping up and down and screaming 'OBAMA!' I do not agree with many journalist who have stated that maybe we are all overestimating B. Obama. I think, in this current predicament we are in- we all long for a speck of hope. Obama.
A mate of mine and I spent the day comparing Obama to Jesus. We joked in chemistry 'HE IS THE SECOND COMING'.
Truly, I am overjoyed with happiness.
I wish Obama all the best.

Symone xxxxx

Extras...Pretty woman scene.

Politics Essay: Socialism

Socialists have disagreed about both the means and ends of socialism. Discuss

Two major issues have divided competing traditions and tendencies within socialism. The first is the goals or ends for which socialists should strive for and the second is the means they should use to achieve socialists ends. The two variations of socialism which focuses on the means are revolutionary and evolutionary socialism while the two that focus on the goals are fundamentalist and revisionist socialism.

Revolutionary socialists believed that socialism could only be introduced by a revolutionary overthrow of the existing political system which was, in most countries, capitalism. The first successful socialist revolution was the Bolshevik revolution in 1917, which served as a model for subsequent generations of revolutionary socialists. Revolutionary socialists seek a mass uprising of the working class to seize control of the economy and create an egalitarian society based on common ownership.

However as the 19^th century progressed, enthusiasm for popular revolt waned in advanced capitalist states such as western Europe. Capitalism had matured and the urban working class lost its revolutionary character. Wages had increased and the working class had more rights and better working conditions. Therefore, evolutionary socialism developed, which believed that socialism would develop naturally and peacefully out of liberal capitalism. The Fabian Society introduced parliamentary socialism in the UK and they believed that socialism could be introduced through political action and education. The political action would come from the creation of a socialist party to compete for power while elite groups could be converted to socialism through education. They believed socialism would occur through a gradual process of social reform and the working class would use the ballot box to introduce socialism, which would therefore develop as an evolutionary outgrowth of capitalism.

Fundamentalist socialism rejects capitalism completely and seeks to abolish and replace it. It sees the main flaw of capitalism as private property and so wants to establish socialism in the form of common ownership and equality of outcome. Revisionist socialism on the other hand only wants to reform or tame capitalism, rather than abolish it. It wants to establish socialism through social justice. This means narrowing economic and social inequalities through welfare and redistribution.

Each form of socialism has therefore subscribed to either revolutionary or evolutionary and fundamentalist or revisionist socialism. The revolutionary nature of revolutionary socialism has led to the pursuit of fundamentalist ends. As revolutionary socialists want to overthrow the existing political system, they disagree with the revisionist aim of reforming or taming capitalism. This means that there can only ever be a revolutionary fundamentalist socialist and never a revolutionary revisionist. The best example of revolutionary fundamentalism would be the communist tradition which envisaged a proletariat revolution leading to an egalitarian society and common ownership. However, revolutionary socialism was greatly undermined by the collapse of communism and the totalitarian implications. There can however be an evolutionary fundamentalist. A clear example of this can be seen in the Fabian Society who still sought to abolish capitalism but believed it would naturally develop as an evolutionary outgrowth of capitalism. Nonetheless there are far more evolutionary revisionists than evolutionary fundamentalists. The most obvious example of evolutionary revisionists is social democracy, more specifically New Labour, which aims to tame capitalism through social reform and nationalization while establishing socialism through increased social justice, using the welfare state and equality of opportunity.

The collapse of communism proved revolutionary fundamentalism to be unsuccessful as its totalitarian implications and often military style approaches to ruling mean people become even more fed up than they were with capitalism and have a counter revolution. The collapse has undermined revolutionary fundamentalism to such an extent that it is unlikely to find broad success again, although it does still survive in a few Eastern countries.

Evolutionary fundamentalism existed for quite a while in the form of the Labour party however the party’s failure to be elected caused them to tame their views and principles, most notably through the removal of Clause 4, and tuned them from evolutionary fundamentalists to evolutionary revisionists. Indeed it appears that evolutionary fundamentalism is the most successful combination as most western countries today show elements of social democracy. In the mid 20^th century the UK had a social democracy in the Attlee government who established the welfare state and developed the long boom of the 50s and 60s through Keynesian economics. Since the Labour party’s removal of Clause 4, however, it has been argued that they have departed greatly from social democratic principles.

Just Another Day (Thought of the Day)

Hi all,
I apologise for not writing, but as they say 'such is life'

As i was sitting in philosophy today, we were showing our 'art' to one another. (I bet you're wondering "what did she show" I showed photographs I've taken) Some 'pieces' were more interesting then others, and some were just plain repetitive. I sat looking out of the window as a piece (a 10 minute piece) by 'Dj ShAdOw' was played by a fellow student. The weather was, well, as it has been for the past few days: Bleak, depressing, and typically British. I sat there as the piece swallowed me, and allowed me to enter my own mind. I thought- something I have not truly allowed myself to do in days- I let my mind wonder. The events of the past few days seemed so insignificant- in the scheme of the entire world. My world collapsed around me 3 days ago, and I guess it hurt. It hurt to see the class laughing, while my world was crumbling. As i sat there, looking out in to the typical British day, I thought to myself '... blimey... To them, it's just another day.'

Symone xxxxx

Extras - Samuel Jackson and Maggie

Politics Essay: Socialism

Distinguish between fundamentalist socialism and revisionist socialism

One of the major issues that have divided competing traditions and tendencies within socialism is the goals or ends for which socialists should strive. Socialists have held very different conceptions of what a socialist society should look like and so have developed competing definitions of socialism. The principal disagreement is between fundamentalist socialism and revisionist socialism, represented respectively by the communist and the social democratic traditions.

Fundamentalist socialism rejects capitalism and seeks to abolish and replace it with a form of communism. Both revolutionary socialists and evolutionary socialists can seek fundamentalist socialism. Marxists use revolution to overthrow capitalism and replace it with a new system. This system would involve a class-less society in which there is common ownership rather than private property and total social equality to have a substantial equality of outcome. Groups such as The Fabian Society, on the other hand, felt that the development of the democratic state made the call for revolution redundant and would rather that the working class used the ballot box to introduce socialism. Nevertheless, they too sought the goal of communism, albeit by pursuing a democratic road.

Revisionist socialism, by contrast, seeks to reform or tame capitalism rather than abolish it. Unlike with fundamentalist socialism, there can only be evolutionary revisionist socialists, never revolutionary. The most obvious example of revisionist socialism is social democracy. Revisionist socialism seeks social justice to reduce economic and social inequalities rather than common ownership. This is achieved through the welfare state which would act as a redistributive mechanism. In the view of revisionist socialism, capitalism is no longer needed to be abolished, only modified through the establishment of reformed or welfare capitalism.

Robert De Niro In Extras

Politics Essay: Liberalism

Liberal democracy is a contradiction of terms. Discuss.

Liberal democracy is the main political force in the developed world, with 2/3 of the worlds states demonstrating features of it. It is a form of political rule that balances the principle of limited government against the idea of popular consent. Although today liberalism and democracy are often regarded as synonyms, liberals did not in fact support the case for democracy until the 20^th century. Even Rousseau, who is considered to have been a key influence in liberalism, felt that democracy was unworkable. These issues are based on the conflicting ideas in liberalism and democracy which now stand as contradictions within liberal democracy.

Macpherson argued that anyone of substance in the 17^th century would have seen democracy as a system of government fatal to the individual and all the graces of civilized government. For liberals there is the concern that democracy can become the enemy of individual liberty as ‘the people’ are not a single entity but a collection of individuals. The first issue with this is that a collection of individuals possess different opinions and opposing interests. The democratic solution to conflict is the application of the majority rule which means decisions would be based on 51%. This leads to individual liberty and rights to be crushed in the name of ‘the people’ which liberals refer to as ‘tyranny of the majority’. Liberals other issue with majoritarianism and the tyranny of the majority relates to the make-up of the majority in modern, industrial societies. The liberal theory of utilitarianism and equality led to an abundance for the few but subsistence for the many and while in theory it is happiness that is maximised, in practice it is wealth. Therefore if society is deeply divided, majoritarianism would expose the rich to a tyranny of the poor.

J.S Mill, a key figure in liberalism, believed political wisdom is unequally distributed and largely related to education. The uneducated poor are more likely to act according to narrow class interests so for them to have the majority would be disastrous. Mill argued that the educated can use their wisdom and experience for the good of others. Therefore he believed elected politicians should speak for themselves rather than reflect the views of their electors. This argument demonstrates a liberal disdain for representative government, a key feature of democracy. Nevertheless, the liberal arguments against both majoritarianism and representative government demonstrate a deeper mistrust in liberals of universal suffrage.

Neither Rousseau nor Jefferson supported the case for universal suffrage and would have excluded the poor, dependants and women from voting. However, democracy became an issue in the late 18^th century when those excluded from political power began to demand their rights. Liberals of the 19^th century worried that natural rights might be used against property. The theory of utility was a safer way of defending liberty than natural rights since class divisions could no longer be ignored and the idea that everyone had the same innate rights no longer seemed plausible. Bentham, the founder of utilitarianism, insisted that when security of property comes into conflict with equality, it is equality that yields. He only accepted the case for universal suffrage when he was convinced that the poor would not use their votes to destroy private property. James Mill also accepted universal suffrage, arguing that workers would still regard the middle class as those in charge of the business of government. A greater sympathy for universal suffrage is shown by his son John Mill who argues for the empowerment of women and against the plight of workers, showing he had moved from a protective to a developemental view of democracy. New liberals, such as Hobhouse, argued that although the doctrine of popular sovereignty might lead to the ‘expropriation of the rich’, the suspensive veto of a second chamber and the use of referendums are valuable device to check a ‘large and headstrong majority’. This reflects the defence against majoritarianism within liberal democracy of having a network of checks and balances that would make government responsive.

Another justification for universal suffrage was made by Joseph Schumpeter who said that al governments ‘discriminate’ against some section of the population, for example no children being able to vote. Therefore discrimination is not undemocratic and it depends on how you define the demos. Schumpter agrees that in contemporary society, all adults should have the right to vote however this does not mean that they will use this right or participate more directly in the political process. This can be seen in liberal democracies today where, although universal suffrage and ‘one person, one vote’ principles are upheld, there has been a decrease in voter turnout. This argument assures liberals that although there is a risk of tyranny of majority by the uneducated poor, the fact that they are uneducated and therefore most likely uninterested in politics means the risk is a lot slimmer.

The final justification comes from utilitarian theorists who developed the notion of democracy as a form of protection for the individual into a case for universal suffrage. The liberal theory of utilitarianism implies that individuals will vote as to advance or defend their interests as they define them, thus protecting the individuals rights. Also, by participating in political life, citizens enhance their understanding and achieve a higher level of personal development, making an educational experience.

Although there are conflicting ideas within liberalism and democracy, the liberal acceptance of universal suffrage, the key feature of democracy, has led to an acceptance to all the elements of democracy including majority rule and representative government. This is because liberals were able to create solutions to prevent the extremes of democracy and democracy also balances out the extreme sides of liberalism. This can be seen with the example of majoritarianism. While the liberal element of checks and balances prevents tyranny of the majority, the democratic element of universal suffrage prevents a meritocratic society. Therefore it can be argued that liberal democracy finds a fair balance between the two theories, thereby strengthening their advantages and lessening their disadvantages.

The Dream

I had a dream about you last night

I lay there in your arms

and for a few hours in my deepest sleep I felt completely safe

You always made me feel that way

Safe and warm

Like nothing and no one could ever hurt me

The smell of you fills me and my body tingles

I need you, I ache for you, I love you.

I’m awake now and it all comes flooding back

The worry, the pain, the hurt

But at any time I can close my eyes and remember the dream

by Ananda 2008

Create your own success with Success University http://www.expand.successuniversity.com

Extras David Bowie

Ricky Gervais - Comic Relief

Politics Essay: Liberalism

Define individualism and explain its implications for the state

Individualism is a core theme of the liberal ideology, although it has now been embraced by the Conservative New Right. It first arose in the early 19^th century as feudal life broke down and the society was understood from the viewpoint of the individual. Individuals were thought to possess personal and distinctive qualities with each being of special value. Liberals view society as a collection of individuals, each seeking to satisfy his or her own needs and interests. This is equated with atomism as they believe society doesn’t exist but is merely a collection of self-sufficient individuals. It is based on the assumption that the individual is egotistical, essentially self-seeking and largely self-reliant, liberals desire to create a society in which each person is capable of developing and flourishing to the fullness of their potential. This belief and the consequential desires of it have many implications for the liberal view of the state.

Liberals don’t believe that a balanced and tolerant society will develop naturally out of the free actions of the individual. Liberals fear that free individuals may wish to exploit others if it is in their interests to do so. Therefore our liberty requires that they are restrained from encroaching on our freedom and their liberty safeguards them from us. Such protection can only be provided by a sovereign state capable of restraining all individuals within society. The argument for the social contract theory developed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke explains the individuals political obligations towards the state. Rational individuals would enter into a social contract to form a state in order to escape from the disorder and chaos of the state of nature.

This highlights the value of the sovereign state to the individual and suggests that political authority comes ‘from below’ as the state is created by individuals for individuals. This implies that citizens do not have an absolute obligation to obey all laws or accept any form of government. If government breaks the terms of this contract then the legitimacy of government evaporates and citizens have the right of rebellion.

The social contract theory expects individuals to recognise it is in their interests to sacrifice a portion of their liberty in order to set up a system of law otherwise their rights and lives would constantly be under threat. This suggests that the role of the state is to protect individual rights and protect individuals from external threats.

The social contract portrays the state as an umpire on society as it is created by an agreement amongst all the people. It embodies the interests of all citizens and its actions are seen to be impartial. Liberals regard the state as a neutral arbiter amongst the competing individuals and groups within society.

Classic liberals believe in minimal state with the states proper role restricted to the maintenance of domestic order, the enforcement of contracts and the protection of society against external attack. Modern liberals on the other hand are prepared to advocate the development of an interventionist state as the minimal state was incapable of rectifying the injustices and inequalities of civil society. The liberal new right regards the state as a realm of coercion and un-freedom as collectivism restricts individuals initiative and saps self-respect and restates the case for a minimal state.

PLEASE READ

Due to recent personal problems, Symone is unable to blog and so we will be posting sent in materials until she can return

If you have articles, reviews, poetry or more that you would like to see on homegrown, then email us at jhnswllms@gmail.com

Extras - Halle Berry & The Plasma TV

Politics Essay: Liberalism

Explain the liberal view of justice

The liberal theory of justice is based on a belief in equality of various kinds. The liberal belief in individualism implies a commitment to foundational equality, where human beings are born equal with each individual being of equal moral worth. This idea is embodied in the notion of natural rights. Foundational equality implies a belief in formal equality and the idea that individuals should enjoy the same formal status in society.

The most important forms of formal equality are legal and political equality. Legal equality emphasizes equality before the law and insists that all non-legal factors be irrelevant to the process of legal decision making. Political equality is embodied in the idea of ‘one person, one vote’ and underpins the liberal commitment to democracy.

Liberals subscribe to a belief in equality of opportunity, where every individual has the same chance to rise or fall in society. Liberals believe social equality is undesirable because people aren’t born the same but possess different talents and skills and some are prepared to work harder than others. Equality means that individuals should have an equal opportunity to develop their unequal skills and abilities.

Liberals believe it is right to reward merit, ability and willingness to work harder than others. This lead to a belief in meritocracy where inequalities of wealth and social position solely reflect the unequal distribution of merit or skills amongst human beings. A meritocratic society is socially just because individuals are judged by their talents and willingness to work rather than gender or race. Social equality is unjust because it treats unlike individuals alike.

Classic liberals believe justice requires that unequal individuals are not treated equally. Modern liberals also have taken social justice to imply a belief in some measure of social equality.

Deleted Scene from Extras "Waiter"

Ricky Gervais - Extras - He'd get a smack straight away!

Politics Essay: Conservatism

Explain the traditional conservative view of human nature

Unlike other ideologies who assume that human beings are naturally good or can be made good, conservatives argue that human beings are both imperfect and unperfectible.

Humans are thought to be psychologically limited and dependant creatures who fear isolation and instability and so are drawn to the safe and familiar and seek the security of knowing their place. This belief has led conservatives to emphasize the importance of social order and to be suspicious of the attractions to liberty. This belief also implies that human beings don’t and can’t exist outside society but need to belong and have roots in society. This has led to a conservative belief in organic society.

Humans are thought to be morally imperfect with immoral or criminal behaviour being rooted in the individual rather than society. Humankind is innately selfish and greedy with the desire of power being the primary human urge. Traditional conservatives explain this by reference to the Old Testament doctrine of ‘original sin’. People can only be persuaded to behave in a civilized fashion if they are deterred from expressing their violent and anti-social impulses. This explains the conservative preference for strong government and tough criminal justice regimes.

Humankinds intellectual powers are also thought to be limited. Conservatives believe that the world is too complicated for human reason to grasp fully. They are suspicious of abstract ideas and systems of thought that claim to understand what is incomprehensible. They prefer to ground their ideas in tradition, experience and history, adopting a cautious, moderate and pragmatic approach to the world and avoiding doctrinaire or dogmatic beliefs. For a conservative, to do nothing may be preferable to doing something.

Toy Boy

On my way home I decided to pop into Waitrose to buy something nice for dinner. Mid shopping I felt extremely ill and decided to telephone for a cab to take me home. There I sat in the cab, feeling unwell the driver broke into conversation - you know the type looking at me in his rear view mirror, commenting on the area we were driving through remarking how nice it was. We got to my place and sat outside exchanging cash, still talking. He said ‘nice place’ I said ‘thanks it’s OK’ he said ‘do you live alone?’ I paused and said ‘yes’ he said ‘oh why don’t you get yourself a TOY BOY?’ I paused looked startled and said - ‘ ……. BECAUSE I AM TOO YOUNG!’

Work it out folks!

He pushed the change into my hand, looked embarrassed, apologised and drove off hastily.

MEN!

Lauretta x

Ricky Gervais - Extras - Wizard! You shall not pass!

Politics Essay: Political Parties

To what extent does the UK still have a two party system?

Political parties are important because the relationships between and amongst them are crucial in structuring the way the political system works in practices. The traditional view of UK politics is that it is dominated by a two-party system. However changes in politics have caused people to argue the extent to which the UK is a two party system.

In 1998, devolution took place through the creation of a Scottish Parliament, a Welsh Assembly and a Northern Ireland Assembly. Devolution has made nationalist parties more prominent. This means that although they may still be minor parties in Westminster, they are major parties in their part of the UK. An example of this can be seen in Scotland’s by-election. The two main parties were SNP and Labour. For a nationalist party to be in Scotland’s two party system shows the significant difference devolution has had. On the other hand, the labour party still won the election. This means that Scotland is a two party system, but has two different parties to England but the UK on the whole remains a two party system as labour still won.

Since 1997 the use of proportional electoral systems for new bodies has improved minor party representation. The two party system is maintained by first-past-the-post system, so this new electoral system means two-partyism is harder to achieve. However, this system is very rarely used across the UK and isn’t used in the general election. This means that when it comes to electing a prime minister, the UK remains a two party system.

New issues which have emerged have also made a difference to the UK party system. These issues, such as war, the environment and Europe cut across traditional party-political battles. Where there is consensus politics on these issues, more people look towards parties such as UKIP, the Green Party and Respect. This is because these parties focus on certain issues. However, these parties don’t get enough votes for them to make a difference to the Westminster two party system as they have a two narrow focus.

There is evidence that multipartyism is becoming more common. In 2004 the European Parliament election saw MEPs elected from seven different parties. Also, the Scottish parliament was controlled by a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition until 2007 and then a Scottish National Party administration came into power. In terms of the Welsh Assembly, there have been three different types of government: a majority labour administration, a minor labour administration and a labour-liberal democrat coalition. With all of these governments, the main opposition party was Plaid Cymru. From this you can see that more parties are having better opportunities for winning power. However, it must be noted that Labour still always won and none of these happened in Westminster. This means that the two party system is still winning, although the labour-liberal democrat coalitions show that the liberal cemocrats are close to creating a multiparty system.

Since 1997, there has been multiple or overlapping party systems, which operate in different ways at different levels. In Scotland and Wales nationalist parties are coming closer to winning, although Labour still ends up in power. The party system in England is becoming more and more complicated as in the midlands, there is a labour-conservative battle, in the north there is a labour-liberal democrat battle and the liberal democrat-conservative battle is in the south. Despite this, two partyism still continues to operate within the House of Commons. This means that despite the regional voting patterns, a two party system still exists.

I think that voting patterns show that we are on the brink of a multiparty system. However while the UK still mainly uses the first-past-the-post system, a multiparty system can never exist.

Diary Of A Black Girl

I recently found this website:

diaryofablackgirl.com

that i really...connected...with. For a start, it is also by two women and it's also by two women of "colour" (as you could probably guess from the website name!)

They basically just talk about things going on in their lives, but the weird thing is, its actually really interesting!!!!

I'm going to post my favourite blog post from the site later today. Its by Lauretta Johnnie and is hilarious, although i have to admit she doesn't write on there anywhere NEAR as much as Diane Corriette does...it's a pity really because hers are always really funny!

Ricky Gervais - The Office - Too Rich

Politics Essay: Political Parties

Why, and to what extent is there consensus between the major UK parties?

In post 1945 there was a lot of consensus between social democracy and one nation conservatism. This was contrasted by the arrival of Thatcherism in the 1970s which created adversary politics as Labour, went further left in an attempt to offset the new right of Thatcherism. Blairism created more consensus politics as he adopted some Thatcherite policies and ideas as well as post 1945 social democratic ideas. In the UK today there is still consensus politics.

There is more consensus politics as parties are becoming more of catch-all parties than pragmatic parties. This can be seen in the election of David Cameron as the leader of the conservative party. He has modernised the party in an attempt to attract homosexuals, ethnic minorities and the poor. This has meant that Cameron is a One Nation tory and has led to similar social policies between Labour and the Conservatives.

In terms of crime, the Conservatives want to empower communities by rebuilding the bond between the police and the public. They believe this will be done by cutting paperwork and reforming the regulation of investigatory powers act. Labour also want to build a better relationship between communities and the police by making it easy to contact the police working with them to agree on local priorities and deal with peoples concerns. Although there is a lot of consensus in this area, as they both want to better the relationship between police and communities, there is also a lot of adversary politics, which can be seen in the way that they would do this. While conservatives would change laws and regulations, the Labour party would just try to create more communication rather than changing laws. This means that Conservatives want to do something big to show change, where as Labour want to leave the law as it is but create the belief that things have changed.

There is more adversary policies when it comes to families and financial help than with anything else. This is because Cameron has stuck with the traditional Conservative family views whereas Labour believe that single parent families and couples need more support than married couples. This can be seen in Labours plans to increase child benefit, cut income tax, extend maternity leave and help businesses such as Sure Start. Conservatives, meanwhile, would change the laws, systems and rights for different types of families such as ending the couple penalty. This shows that Conservatives are more concerned with giving different families different rights to help them and then leaving them to it, whereas Labour gives money to help but doesn’t change any law, therefore help isn’t only for those who need it.

Ricky Gervais - Extras - Timezone Arguement

Politics Essay: Pressure Groups

To what extent are the largest pressure groups the most powerful?

Some pressure groups are more powerful than others as some succeed while others fail. Success in pressure groups is defined by how they affect government policy, their agenda-setting power and how well they can change peoples ideologies.

Large groups means that they have more members. This in turn leads to more donations. Chequebook groups tend to get most of their finance from their members, for example Greenpeace get 90% of their income from their members. This means that large groups tend to be welahty.

Being a wealthy group means that they have financial and economic power. For example, major corporations such as BP and Shell are the main source of employment and investment in the economy so the government will seek their cooperation. For wealthy groups that aren’t business groups will possess financial strength to employ professional lobbyists and public relations consultants.

However, it is the wealth not the size of the pressure group that makes them economically powerful and the biggest pressure groups are not always the most economically powerful. The CBI are more economically powerful than TUC despite the TUC having 7 million members. This is because although some groups may be small, they can exert influence through their policy expertise and specialist knowledge.

Another good part of being a large group is that they can claim to represent public opinion. NSPCC is an example of this as they ensure that their membership levels stay above 1 million. This means that governments are most likely to listen to them because their members can have an electoral impact.

However having good leadership can be a more direct form of influence than having many members. Having a high profile leader, such as Peter Tatchell of gay rights organization, can help as they have some political skills, political contacts and have developed media and presentational skills.

Lastly, the government’s views are a very important part. A group may very well be large and wealthy, however if the government don’t sympathise with their aims, then it wil be very difficult for them to influence policy. For example, Greenpeace are very large and wealthy but the government rarely listen to them.

Loves Sweet Desire

Each tender kiss brings me to you

Softly. Gently.

My love for you expresses itself through my mouth.

Only just touching your arm you bring me closer.

I sink into the feeling of love that starts in my heart and works its way throughout my entire being.

The warmness glows within me, it floods me,

and the kiss becomes harder. Aching now. Loving your taste, smelling your sweet breath.

I feel your firmness against me.

I am here in this moment with you and expressing my love for you is my only desire.

Written by Ananda

Copyright of Diane Corriette.

Looking for your life path? http://www.suceed.lifepathunlimited.com

Symone

S ex on legs and a great behind

Y et also pretty, funny and kind

M any envy your heart of gold

O f all the talents you have to behold

N ever let a dickface make you forget

E very blessing we've had since we first met

24/12/2008

Robyn Loves You <3

Extras: Ricky Gervais "Racist" (HBO)

Politics Essay: Pressure Groups

Why are some pressure groups more successful than others?

‘Success’ with pressure groups is measured by the groups capability to affect government policy, push an issue up the political agenda and the ability to change people’s values, perceptions and behaviour. To achieve these powers, it is considered that a pressure group needs wealth, size, organization and good leadership.

Wealth gives pressure groups large financial and economic power. This means that the government must seek their cooperation, regardless of their ideological beliefs. Business groups are the most powerful of all of these as they are the main source of employment and investment. Because the governments listen to them, they have successfully achieved the ability to affect government policy.

Size is also an important factor. Large pressure groups can claim to represent public opinion, for example groups such as NSPCC ensure that their membership levels remain above 1 million. This also causes governments to listen to them, as their members could have an electoral impact. On the other hand, the groups aims or goals would need to be sympathised with by the Government for if they clashed then the group would be consigned to the status of an ideological outsider. Ideological outsiders have little chance of changing government policy in the short term. Large groups, therefore, do have a high chance of affecting government policy, but only if they also have aims that the government agree with.

Large groups can, however, gain the financial and economic power as more members means more subscriptions and donations. This means that large groups are more often than not wealthy groups as well. This has lead to the creation of many chequebook groups which aim to achieve mass membership but leave campaigning in the hands of full-time professionals. 90% of Greenpeace’s total income comes from its members.

Large groups also have ideological power as large memberships allow groups to organize political campaigns and protests. From this they can rally support, raise awareness and eventually, change peoples ideologies to lean towards their causes or interests.

Organization ties into size for organization helps groups to mobilize their resources effectively and to take concerted action. Therefore, they can gain members strategically and quicker and take political action quickly and effectively. This means that organization can help groups to reach their aims of affecting policy and changing peoples ideologies,

However, to have good organization, groups tend to be wealth and have financial resources. It can also help to have good leadership. Good leaders have acute political skills, good political contacts and a high public profile. This can help them to affect government policy, possibly push issues up the political agenda and the public profile will help them gain more ideological power.

Overall larger and wealthier groups have more policy making and agenda setting power. These are aided by organization and good leadership. The power for policy making and agenda setting is what makes pressure groups more successful as they can achieve their aims easier.

Starting in Entertainment : How to Write Punch Lines

see more videos at ehow.com

100 word review: The Other Rebecca

I really liked this one but couldn't completely appreciate the plot because I haven't read Rebecca by Du Maurier. Still a great storyline though the characters got on my nerves quite a bit. Not because they were badly written but just because of their personalities. I'm sure not everyone feels the same! Definitely a novel for women. I don't think that men could really understand the views and feelings of the main female character. There is a great twist at the end that will definitely take the majority of people by surprise but I personally saw it coming. You won't.

The Lionesses Lair

Pleasure beyond belief. Warm sensual place
Entering this deeply forbidden space
It’s scent attracts you. Desire fills you.
There’s nothing more to do but surrender
You touch. It moves under your direction
You taste. Feel it grow. Give it time to expand
At this moment as you move inside now
You’d give up all you have to control this
The movement starts off slow. Enjoy this time
Go deep inside the lionesses liar
Your heart increases. The Rhythm changes
My Love, sweet desire, nothing leaves us
As the rhythm of my love changes
The relief of ecstasy brings the end

Ananda (aka Diane Corriette)

The Two Ronnies

Politics Essay: Pressure Groups

Why may some pressure groups choose to remain outside groups?

Although there are many benefits to being an insider group there are also many downsides. Firstly, insider groups must have objectives that are compatible with government which means that they wouldn’t be able to address all the issues they want. Outsider groups wouldn’t like this because it would mean sacrificing some of their aims.

Secondly, they must demonstrate capacity to ensure that their members abide by agreed decisions. This significantly restricts the groups freedom of manoeuvre. Outsider groups would also hate this because they would feel ‘domesticated’ or ‘controlled’ by the government.

Also, some groups recognize that outsider strategies, such as petitions, demonstrations and marches are the most likely way of engaging potential supporters and turning them into activists.

Also many outsider groups have been attracted by ‘new politics’ which lean towards more innovative and theatrical forms of protest politics rather than ‘established’ parties, pressure groups and representative processes.

The Two Ronnies: piggy malone charley farley

Politics Essay: Democracy

Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages?

Referendums are a device of direct democracy and are a popular vote on an issue of public policy. They are the most commonly used form of direct democracy today and are used to widen political participation. However, as the UK is a representative, not direct democracy, do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

As they are a device of direct democracy, referendums give the public direct and unmediated control over government decision-making. This means that the public vies and interests are properly and accurately given. It also means they cannot be changed or moulded to suit the politicians who represent the public.

However, the point of having politicians represent us is that they have political experience and knowledge to make correct and justified decisions. Referendums undermine the part of representative democracy as the general public is mainly badly informed, uneducated in politics and lack political experience. This means that although referendums give the public what they want, what the public want could be very bad for the country in the long term.

On the other hand, referendums could be the key to gaining the sufficient political knowledge and understanding. They widen the opportunities for political participation and create debate on particular issues which make the electorate better informed, more educated and more politically engaged. This means that the public have a stronger incentive to think and act politically.

There are advantages and disadvantages with referendums in terms of government as well as the public. Referendums can be considered to strengthen and extend government power. This is shown through the current major weakness in referendums: the government decide whether, when and over what issues to call referendums. This means that they could only call referendums on issues which they support and when they are confident of winning as well as that, governments can frame the questions asked. This defeats the purpose of referendums as the public opinion is moulded to be what the government want.

However this can overcome by establishing processes through which citizens can initiate referendums. The can also be considered to reduce government power. Referendums protect citizens from an over-mighty government as they provide a much needed check on government power. The government has less control over their outcome than it does over parliament. Parliament are elected to represent the public, so f the government are controlling parliament in a way which prevents them effectively representing society, then referendums can be used to make sure that public opinion is still counted.

Despite this, referendums also create an irresponsible government. They allow governments to slightly remove themselves from responsibility by handing decisions over to the electorate. In the UK’s representative democracy, we elect the governments to govern on our behalf, not for them to get us to do it.

I believe that although referendums educate the public well and widen political participation, they cause too many problems with the government. I think the disadvantages with government outweigh the advantages of public participation because the UK is a representative democracy. This means that the country is governed more by the elected government than the general publics opnion so advantages with government should be more important.

Dorothy Parker: A Few Reasons Why I Love Her...

Dorothy Parker... Hmm... Well, her words are like my Bible. She is amazing. I know this is a cliche but, if one day I am half as good as she is, that would be enough. Well... Here's a bit of her work.

Two Quotes:

'Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.'

'By the time you swear you are his,
shivering and sighing,
And he vows his passion is
infinite and undying-
Lady, make a note of this:
One of you is lying'

And the beautiful 'Little Words' (poem):

Little Words
When you are gone, there is nor bloom nor leaf,
Nor singing sea at night, nor silver birds;
And I can only stare, and shape my grief
In little words.
I cannot conjure loveliness, to drown
The bitter woe that racks my cords apart.
The weary pen that sets my sorrow down
Feeds at my heart.
There is no mercy in the shifting year,
No beauty wraps me tenderly about.
I turn to little words- so you, my dear,
Can spell them out.


Do you see now, why I love her so?
Symone xxxxx

two ronnies the phantom raspberry blower

Politics Essay: Democracy

How has direct democracy been more widely used in the UK in recent years

Direct democracy has been more widely used in the UK in recent years as an attempt to widen political participation.

The most commonly used form of direct democracy today is referendums. It is argued that they are the best way of getting greater popular involvement in politics as they give the public direct and unmediated control over the government’s decision making. However, a weakness in referendums at the moment is that there is no public control over when and where they will be used. This means that the governments could only call referendums on issues that they support and when they are confident of winning. This takes away the initial decision making power that the public should have with referendums. On the other hand, this can be solved by creating ways for citizens to initiate referendums. This gives the public the power to vote certain legislation or to force legislators to consider certain policy proposals.

Another form of direct democracy that has been emphasized more since the 1997 labour government is the use of focus groups and opinion polls. A focus group is a small cross section of people who are used to gain insight into wider public views. They are the views of a small sample of the population which are chosen to speak for the whole of society. Focus groups and opinion polls would be used as a way of gauging political opinion and testing government policies to see how the public would react.

In July 2007 Gordon Brown revealed plans for a much wider use of citizens juries, which are another devise of direct democracy. Unlike referendums and opinion polls, citizen juries operate through deliberation and debate rather than the citizens just being asked to give an opinion. This means that they develop a much more balanced and sensible idea of public opinion. However it is argued that citizens juries are only designed to give the impression that the government is listening without them having to share policy-making power.

I believe that although referendums are a good way of increasing political participation, they defeat the purpose of representative democracy, which is what we have in the UK today. I think that focus groups and opinion polls are an effective way for the government to test public opinion on different policies. However, because it is only a small sample of the population I don’t think they could always represent the opinion of the whole society. I think citizens juries are the best device of direct democracy that is used today because the deliberation and debate allows a representative and unbiased opinion to be formed and is the most interactive way for political participation. As for what is argued about it being designed to give the impression government is listening without them having to share their policy making power, I see this as a good thing. The UK is a representative democracy, therefore we do not want the policy making power. Citizens juries allow the public to give a balanced opinion so that the government and parliament can aim to represent us better.

Still Playing

Thinking...
I like d0lls; they are fun to play with.

From my childhood, forever on his shelf.
Keeping clean- no mess!

I remember my younger years well...
Suck suck... Play play
Funny how some things never change.

Still....
Family Guy's on. I like Stewie- Watch him go!!
Nobody can hear the baby's speech.
Silly little Stewie- how sweet...
TEEHEE!!! heha...
Can't laugh too loud,
daddy might wake, tired these days
working late, working

hard. Had to roll over last night,
needed my sleep. 'Tax returns won't do themsleves'
"Neither will I...' came the reply.
He think I'm a wife on a shelf
Up, down, up down.
I do nothing else.

I'm smarter than they think...
He should watch the accounts,
I do more than just stand there
and pout.

Girls like me and...
PARIS HILTON!!
we go hand in hand....

Leave,
the fairy tales,
on my real daddy's lap.
Silent baby- I play and nap

He lay me down
Walked out and closed the door...

'... bye daddy...'

Symone xxx

The Two Ronnies - Full Hieroglyphics Sketch

English Essay: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

Explore Doyle’s manipulation of language to capture the voice of a 10 year old boy

Roddy Doyle uses different linguistic techniques related to lexis, grammar and graphology to creat the voice of a 10 year old boy in this extract.

Doyle uses grammar to show a child’s voice. This is demonstrated by Paddy’s use of mainly simple sentences, such as ‘I didn’t hear it.’ Using simple sentences suggests a basic idiolect that you would find in a child who hasn’t been in education for very long. The monosyllabic vocabulary used by Paddy, ‘when he got to the end of his first lap he stopped’, also suggests a simple vocabulary that a child would have.

Doyle also creates a child’s personality through Paddy’s actions. Doyle shows a child’s immaturity by Paddy’s ‘botty bickies’, slang which would not be used by an adult. He also shows a child’s behaviour in Paddy’s systematic manner of eating things by ‘nibbling all around the edge...’. This shows a child’s detail to small activities that an adult wouldn’t bother with.

Doyle creates a child’s voice in the way he talks. Paddy tells the story in a first person narrative voice. However, not usually found with this type of narrative, Paddy never expresses any emotions or feelings outright as he only uses declarative sentences. Instead of vocally expressing emotion, Paddy shows feeling in his physical action, for example when Sinbad finishes the fanta. Paddy made Sinbad ‘squash the biscuits into crumbs’, which shows that Paddy was angry and wanted revenge. Doyle does this as it is common for children not to say how their feeling but rather imply or show how they feel in their actions.

Paddy’s constant use of declarative sentences are also used by Doyle to show that, like many children, Paddy doesn’t always understand what is going on around him. Paddy says that ‘Ma was getting out of the car’ and admits that he knows ‘something had happened; something’ but the repetition of the word ‘something’ shows that he is completely oblivious to his parent’s behaviour.

Paddy thought his mum had gotten out of the car because it had stopped raining, ‘but it hadn’t. It was lashing.’ Doyle uses the pathetic fallacy to show Paddy’s naivity. The reader realises through the atmosphere created by the pathetic fallacy and the actions of Ma declared by Paddy that the parents had had an argument. Paddy, however, realises none of this and wonders if she has ‘gone for 99s?’

Dramatic irony is constantly used by Doyle throughout the extract. Through the different actions of Ma, Da and Paddy the readers pick up on the subtext. With Paddy, the reader can see that he is worried about where his Ma had gone through his questions and eagerness to rub ‘the wet off the inside of the window’ to search for her. With the parents, when Ma returns to the car and says ‘it was too wet for Cathy’, Paddy thinls nothing of it. The reader, on the hand, knows that she is telling Da that she hasn’t come back because she forgives him, but for their daughter.

Doyle uses the way Paddy tells his story to show his age in the sense that his naivity prevents him from seeing the significance of his parents actions. Firstly, Paddy seems to be thinking aloud at some points as he goes through his thought process. This can be seen when he is discussing the biscuits and says he’d ‘keep the polo till last.’ These thoughts are unnecessary details that an adult wouldn’t have bothered to say.

Secondly, Paddy seems to switch between the two occurrences in the car: the biscuits with Sinbad and himself in the back and his Ma and Da with Catherine in the front. When Ma gets out of the car and Da ‘leaned over and grabbed the passenger door handle and pulled the door shut’, Paddy switches from this to talking about Sinbad ‘licking his hand’ and then back to focusing on Sinbad but then he realised he didn’t know where his Ma had gone so he reverted back again to his parents and started asking questions.

Roddy Doyle uses the narrative voice of Paddy to create the voice of a ten year old by giving his idiolect simple colloquial vocabulary and sentences. He also uses declarative sentences and subtext to create a child’s naivety to their parents behaviour.

Have Patience

Patient.
I will wait.
The flower will open up to me.
I have time.
All day.
Always.
Until the flower will close.
Waiting.
The sun blazes.
The heat bounces off the ground.
And,
The sun seems to kiss the sky.
Summer has only just begun.
I am you...
You are me...
I know this deeply.
I have faith.
I will wait.
The flower will not close.
You'll find me.
In time.
Patience.