BLOG 5 - Police to test laser that 'blinds rioters'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8949060/Police-to-test-laser-that-blinds-rioters.html

The police are testing a shoulder-mounted laser that emits a blinding wall of light. The laser can dazzle and incapacitate targets up to 500 metres away. Looking into it has a similar effect to staring at the sun; you have to look away and stop whatever you are doing. The police think that it might prevent a repeat of this summer’s rioting. However, one laser costs £25,000. The technology used is developed by a former Royal Marine command, and the British-based photonic Security Systems hopes to offer the device to shipping companies to scare pirates. Similar devices have been used in Afghanistan.

It seems rather clear to me that the police are trying to prevent British citizens from more rioting, and this laser might be a powerful tool to achieve that. Imagine you are rioting and a police officer aims at you with this laser, you will not be able to either attack him or throw something at him because you will freeze. Definitely, an effective device. Although I believe this device works very well, a careful consideration should be made. One laser costs £25,000 and it is not the time for large uncontrolled expenses, especially not for governmental institutions. However, if a cost-benefit analysis would show that those lasers could be cost efficient, I think they should definitely buy them. Let’s hope the idea alone will scare the rioters already.

BLOG 4 - Lewis Hamilton heads Sebastian Vettel in Brazil Grand Prix practice

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/15892192.stm

The last race of the Formula One season 2011 is coming up, and yesterday was the final Friday training session. The stage is set for a tight battle for victory between McLaren and Red Bull. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton beat Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel to set the pace in Friday practice. Hamilton beat Vettel by 0.167 seconds. After them came Mark Webber (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) and Jenson Button (McLaren). Although, Hamilton was quicker he believes that the Red Bulls will be quicker on race pace. However, rain is forecast for the Sunday race, and that is good news for McLaren and Ferrari. An analysis of lap times suggests Vettel is favourite to take a 15^th pole position though, which would break the record set by Williams driver Nigel Mansell in 1992. Whatever happens though, Sebastian Vettel will be this season’s World Champion for he has the most championship points.

Even though, Vettel will be World Champion, which I think is unfortunate, I hope that one of the McLaren’s drivers will win the last race of the season in Brazil. With the weather forecast, this seems like a true possibility. Especially, Button and Alonso are good racers under wet conditions. Vettel, on the other hand, is only likely to win a race when the track is dry and he starts from pole position. Let’s hope that Hamilton will beat him during the qualification and let either Hamilton or Button win in a wet final race of the year!

 

BLOG 3 - UK women top of obesity league, and men are second – EU survey

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/26/obesity-uk-eu-survey

Research based on data from 2008-2009 showed that British women are most like to be obese in the 19 countries surveyed. Almost a quarter of the British women is obese (23.9%) and 22.1% of the British men are obese. The percentage for men is only higher in Malta. One is obese when he/she has a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. The proportion of obese people tends to increase with age, particularly among women. However, this doesn’t mean that women are in general more likely to be obese. In 10 of the countries, the proportion of obese people was higher for men, and in 8 countries this applied to women. The UK stands out as having a particularly serious obesity problem among the younger generation, though.

To me this article was shocking and I cannot relate to this at all. My own body mass index is 19.4 and since one is obese at a BMI of 30, I would have to gain at least 30 kilos, which is more than half my current weight. Although, I cannot relate to this problem, I think it is important that something is done about it. Especially, the fact that the younger generation has to deal with it more often shows that it only might get worse instead of better. The government should probably start a campaign (if it hasn’t already done that), to prevent this from getting worse. After all, people who are obese generally tend to be ill more often and no one benefits from that.

BLOG 2 - Man arrested over attack on ballet dancer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/09/man-arrested-attack-ballet-dancer

The 19-year-old Jack Widdowson is suffering serious back and neck injuries after an assault in Cardiff, where he was to visit his brother. During a night out the brothers became separated and Widdowson was found lying unconscious a little later. Widdowson was one of the youngest ever members of Bern Ballett, but he may never dance again. A 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault and robbery for Widdowson’s iPhone was also missing. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Davies said: “I wish to thank the press and the community for their support and assistance in relation to our ongoing investigation. It is very much appreciated.” The suspect remains in police custody.

The fact that a robbery like this can change someone’s life completely is horrible. Widdowson’s future plans must have vanished. However, the good news is that there is a suspect who is still remains in police custody. Apparently, the press and the community have helped to locate the suspect and that is promising for the future; perhaps it will be easier to find someone these days with all the modern technology. However, I hope that the community’s help wasn’t just there because Widdowson happens to be a famous dancer. Even though this happened in the UK, it could have happened anywhere and that makes it rather easy to relate to this situation.

BLOG 1 - The court of protection: defender of the vulnerable or shadowy and unjust? (Speakers’ Corner)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/nov/06/court-protection-defender-vulnerable-unjust?intcmp=239

The court of protection was set up in 2007 under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It hears 23,000 cases a year in which they make decisions for people unable to manage their own affairs, e.g. people with mental disabilities. Until last year all the hearings took place in private, but now the judges decide for every case whether or not the media are allowed in the courtroom. Although, the media can come to some of the hearings, the judges still have the final say in what will and what will not be published. Therefore, some believe that the court is corrupt, and that is why they say the hearings should be public.

To some people the court of protection is dangerous and indefensible because they make rulings about abortions, switching off life-support machines, where and whom to live with, etc. However, the court makes very personal decisions about people’s lives. So if one lacks capacity, doesn’t (s)he have the right to the same level of privacy and dignity as the rest of us? I think they do! Perhaps the court sometimes makes wrong decisions, but it is much better to improve their decisions by hearing more experts on the subject (currently they listen to only one expert per case) than letting every case go public.