Broadcast Podcast
In this podcast, Lisa Mitchell, Samantha Mclean and myself are discussing the possible benefits of holidaying in Britain this year.
The end of an era – Goodbye Glasgow Rangers
The blue side of Glasgow are coming to terms with the reality – Rangers have entered administration. Heart-breaking news for Rangers fans, and in my opinion, Celtic fans alike. Any football fan with some amount of common sense must see that the end of Rangers means the end of the Old Firm derby. Also known as THE pinnacle of a somewhat dreary Scottish League. The tension surrounding every game, the war of words before the match, the game itself, and the bragging rights post-game, all at risk of being destroyed by alleged bad business and a tax bill courtesy of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
Craig Whyte becoming the major share-holder in Rangers was riddled with controversy from the off. The press spoke only of his allegedly “dodgy” past business ventures, questioned his ability to even fund the purchase, and in his own words “damage Craig Whyte personally and to damage Rangers Football Club.” In return he claimed the BBC acted in a defamatory manner in regards to comments made about a previous seven-year ban as company director. This week we have had John McFall, the former chairman of the Westminster treasury select committee, calling for the financial regulator to probe Whyte’s takeover of Rangers.
Former owner David Murray, and former chairman Alastair Johnston have waded in with their views. Murray spoke of his surprise of the administration move, and claimed that Whyte knows nothing more now than he did nine months ago when he purchased the club. Mr Johnston echoed similar words stating that Craig Whyte knew the full ramifications of the tax case when he purchased the club. He also questioned Whyte’s strategy in dealing with the court case.
So in what seems like a game of tit for tat, who are the fans and the wider footballing community supposed to believe? I have seen fans dispute this online with many also commenting that they don’t believe it matters. I believe it is crucial in knowing who is responsible if Rangers are to eventually leave this dark period in their history behind. If Craig Whyte’s lack of transparency has been because of criminal acts, then I sincerely hope his tenure at Rangers is a brief one.
The first blog of 2012
Hello all
Well 2012 has arrived, and with it has come a number of so-called resolutions that few of us have any intention of sticking to. One of mine is to get myself blogging regularly, so here it goes. Unlike most other resolutions, I think this will be an easy one to keep as it requires so little time and no will power (Thank the Lord) and I do love my writing. I’m aiming to blog at least once a month with my various abstract thoughts on the stories that have caught my eye over the last month. I don’t intend to offend, only to entertain and provoke thought. Nothing more, nothing less.
When I think to the events of year that we, as a country, have to look forward to is fantastic. Hopefully 2012 can bring our country back to the once relatively happy and prosperous land that it was. I feel that the UK, if orchestrated correctly, can pull itself from the brink of recession to a steadily growing economy. The 2012 Olympics as well as the Jubilee of our Queen will see tourists pouring in from around the world and hopefully give a much needed boost to our ailing economy.
This year also plays host to the most watched political event the world has ever seen. Yes, it really has been four years since the “First Black President” took office, and it’s time for him to fight for it all over again, with the eyes of the world watching on to see who will gain the hot-seat in the Oval Office.
Then comes the end of the year again, and if the Myans 2012 phenomenon is true, then we are all doomed. To be frank, there has been far too much of obsession with “when will the world end?” and too many people have “guaranteed” the end of our planet of we know it. I find it doubtful that this claim is any more credible than the rest. Hollywood played that one up beautifully with it’s blockbuster “2012”. Okay maybe that film made me think about doomsday too much. Let’s move on.
In football we also have another Champions League Final to look forward to as well as Euro 2012, where the English will no doubt, once again see themselves as favourites. Somehow, I think the World and European Champions will take the trophy again with relative ease. I hope I don’t eat those words!
Well, I think I’ll leave it for now on this post. I look forward to ranting again soon 🙂
Craig
University Life
As my first year of university life comes to an end, I am left with a lot of reflection and thinking to do. First year of university is, without a doubt, one of the most positive, life-changing experiences I feel a young adult can go through. The requirements to be successful are by no means only academic. It requires a lot of patience, dedication, and confidence to maintain a happy lifestyle. Outwith university, I have come up against some difficult situations that have severely tested my mental strength.
One of the most challenging things I have found in first year is not the level or quantity of work, but the living enviroment which I have found myself in. Student halls was definately the right choice for me, for more reasons that you might think. The obvious, and most positive reason being the people I have met. Some of the people I live with will be my friends for a long time, if not life. However, something that failed to even cross my mind before moving here were the struggles of living with other people outwith my family. I, personally, have struggled immensly with keeping my patience with people who I live with. The problems that can arise on a daily basis living in halls can be so small, yet so significant. Dirty dishes, people failing to clean up after themselves, anti-social flatmates, noise… I could continue. However, as pain staking as some of these issues have been to me, it has taught me some vital lessons about me, and other people. I have learned to realise that things can not always be about the way you want them, and that the people here come from all walks of life, and a variety of different upbringings. Therefore their attitude towards certain issues can often be polar opposite to yours. However, compromise and assertiveness have definately been two skills I have forced myself to develop.
Academically, I feel like I am on cloud nine. The work set out for the first year of my course has came thick and fast, but the work has without a doubt been extremely enjoyable, and has reconfirmed my desire to succeed as a print journalist.
Roll on September 2011, and second year of uni.
Has Facebook become the new primary school playground?
Since the start of this course I have struggled to come up with authentic, original ideas to post a blog about. This will explain to many of you why I haven’t been blogging. However, today as I read through the news feed on Facebook I came across nothing but nasty, suggestive status updates. This makes me wonder; why has Facebook become the new primary school playground and why do people feel the need to tell their entire friend list who they dislike and why this is?
I personally feel that if you have a dispute with someone, then by all means make the person aware of it. However, posting status updates such as “girls, who needs them?” or “Pfft you’re pathetic mate” is not going to solve anything. It is a petty, immature way of saying that you have a problem with someone, and you want everyone to know. Is this because of personal insecurity? Is this because of true hatred for a certain person? I am not one to pen an answer to this question.
In my opinion, I feel a little etiquette is needed to ensure that Facebook’s main aims are still being achieved – connecting everyone in the world together, rather than a playground for petty arguing and point scoring.
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