Friday, August 21, 2009

Then V Now



Since I know my current affairs like the back of my head, I've decided it's time I did a very little bit of delving into politics and world affairs, just cos I don't want you, my readers, to think you're getting no educational benefit from reading this blog. (I have to admit it's been a bit me me me lately!!). So I thought I'd skim through a copy of the economist, and bring you news from "the world" as in - something from outside of my own tiny little life - and here's just 3 of the many news things that you might never have otherwise heard about, be warned, I know nothing of the foreground, background or middleground of these things, just passing them on:
  • Last week the government of Iraq banned smoking in all public buildings, "Have the politicians nothing better to do?" asked a man.
  • There was a bad Typhoon in Taiwan - starting on Aug 6th. Over 100 people dead, maybe 500 more buried in a village called Hsiao Lin.
  • On 1oth of August, in the middle of the day, that'd be the middle of the day on Monday before last, a woman who used to run a Charity called "Save the Generation" in Chechnya was kidnapped with her husband, and they were found dead a few hours later.

News is depressing isn't it? Well not the smoking ban bit but most of the rest of what's there.

My initial idea for this blog post was that I thought it'd be fun to compare this to the Economist of 2 and a bit years ago, (that's it above, on the left - the top of the world one) but it's probably not going to be fun at all, just more of the same. So I'll just inform you that the price has gone up by 60 cent, and the magazine is now 24 pages lighter. Back then oil had hit a new high of 75 dollars a barrel, and everything was growing and optimistic. Weird eh?

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Good job on the bakc of the head photo. I know how hard that is to take.

Unknown said...

*back

I can spell, I swear it.

Drama Queen said...

You see, that's part of your problem, Various, you are too high-brow. If it's politics you want, you should be reading something like the Indo, and if is 'state of the nations', then take the Star of N of the W and count the rapes, guns, knives - complete with all the modus operandi. Much more material there for an elegant novelist like your good self! I mean, this is relevant stuff, girl.....

Totalfeckineejit said...

Have you been drinking? And best of luck with the radio show 2moro.looking forward to it.
Not being good with computers I had a trial run of tuning into Liffey sound radio today and I am warning all potential listeners to not tune in until 10.59 tomorrow.Any earlier and they will be in a jelly like state of semi permanent trance where their heart beats only once every 12 minutes.We are talking dangerous extremes of mellow here, Melloooooooooowww life affecting levels of it.Liffey radio could bring peace to the world ,listen to it and it would be impossible to blink let alone pick up a heavy gun. To try to stay alert I had to prop my eyes open with matchsticks and apply needles,still a languid smile took over my face, all aches left my body, I was jelly,I threw out the tranquilisers,the beta blockers, anti depressants, sleeping pills cans of beer, bottles of whiskey,(ok, the last two are a lie)Man I was gone, I was molten,golden sunshine, fields of corn 'Coz I'm leaving on a jet plane don't know when I'll be back oh, babe I hate to go........zzzzz'

Niamh B said...

Jessica - Thanks, got himself to take it, only realised the irony this morning that my first supposedly not about myself post in a long time starts with a big picture of my own head, and I was actually thinking to myself; "Will anyone say my hair is nice in that?"
DQ - That's a very personal comment, I know my eyebrows are a bit high - that's why I've only shown the back of my head. Yeah - like the tabloid stats idea.
TFE - Yes I have, but not today, and certainly not before that post yesterday, (never ever drink and blog) and maybe - yes maybe before the show tomorrow... you make LVS sound just like the life changing experience that it is... You shoulda been listening on thurs night when I got control of the musical choices for an hour - kylie & the doors, what a combo... Anyway I think there's a documentary on before me tomorrow, don't know what it's about but it might be worth a listen.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Janey Mac! Is you a Dj as well as an award winning investigative people probing broadcaster? Kylie and The Doors do go really well together when i hear one I always walk out the other.
Also drinking is essential to blogginh and pleade ask people why they write,when did they start, what#'s the best thing they've ever written, who do they admire most as a writer,what are their hopes/ambitions/dreams where do they write,can they write on a keyboard or longhand,is there any special conditions they need to write ie drink, stress, ease,tobacco, special pen etc.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Also if they had a week left to live how much of that time would they spend writing?

Niamh B said...

Thanks TFE - they're good ones. Am quite nervous now, not least because some of ye bloggy people are threatening to listen in - ye have no idea how nasal my voice is, I just hope it doesn't ruin the blog for you.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Relax, you're in yer grannies!

Domestic Oub said...

Good luck tomorrow!!!

Niamh B said...

Thanks TFE & DO. I was left in control again during training tonight, resulting in Tim Minchin making his Lucan debut, along with Project Jenny Project Jan, so we've tested the aul ewe tube, and it works... phew.