As we are going to stay abroad in period 4 of the second year, I thought it would be useful to have another blog, to keep track of my adventures. so, I've created a new blog. you can see this blog on:
stayabroadsheilastuurman.blogspot.com
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Tea and coffee reduce heart disease risk, study suggests
It has always been said that tea and coffee is bad for your teeth. It might be bad for your teeth, but research now show that drinking coffee and tea is good for your health. When you drink tea and coffee regularly are less likely to die of a heart attack. The research also displayed that the chance of getting diseases did not increase after consuming a cup of tea or coffee. The research was tested on more than 37,000 people, which were followed for at least 13 years and tested on heart diseases. When a person drinks at least six cups of coffee or tea, their risk of getting a heart attack reduces to only 36%. The research also claimed on the website of the Telegraph: “This is the latest research into the relative health benefits of two of the world's favourite beverages. It has been claimed that they can reduce risks of some cancers, diabetes, stress and even acne.” (
WOW, I'm quite stunned to find this out. I always thought cigarettes could help you when you are stressed and that you had no chance of getting rid of your acne in other ways than using Clearasil. I think and as research now has shown that coffee and tea has been underrated. I definitely will keep on drinking tea and coffee.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Queen to visit Republic by end of next year
According to mr. Crowen, prime minister of the Irish republic, Queen Elisabeth II will visit the country next year. Last Wednesday David Cameron met the PM and discussed the arrangements for the visit and explained to be looking forward to meeting her. BBC News reported that the visit will be the first since 1921, eventhough there has been talk of a visit for already seven years. While mr. Crowen is looking at the visit as something positive, mr. Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolain seems less positive of the queen’s visit. He explains the following: “Until there is complete withdrawal of the British military and the British administration from Ireland, and until there is justice and truth for victims of collusion, no official welcome should be accorded to any officer of the British armed forces of any rank.”
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/10396449.stm)
I think the visit is a good thing. As so many things have happened over the years, it is a bit strange that the head of the monarch has not visited the Irish republic since 1921. I think they will be surprised that there are things that can be learned from each other.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/10396449.stm)
I think the visit is a good thing. As so many things have happened over the years, it is a bit strange that the head of the monarch has not visited the Irish republic since 1921. I think they will be surprised that there are things that can be learned from each other. Brewery criticised for launching Britain's 'strongest beer'
A brewery in Fraserburgh, Aberdeen named BrewDog launched a beer last year that is said to contain six units of alcohol. The beer called Tokyo is twice as strong as the daily recommended limit. BrewDog claimes that with this beer it hopes the public will take more notice of the binge drinking culture and that they as result of the launch of Tokyo will drink more responsibly. Meaning the company hopes the bring drinking will lighten. Now, Brewdog has launed an even stronger beer which contains “jasmine, cranberries, malts and American hops” (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5920905/Brewery-criticised-for-launching-Britains-strongest-beer.html) This beer is mixed with champagne to create a higher alcohol level. According to James Watt, founder of BrewDog: “Our hard-core beers are loaded with flavour, bite and body so consequently you drink less of them.” James’s intensions seems to be advertising for responsible drinking through education. He wants to educate them about the beer and change their thoughts on binge drinking. I think it is a good way to educate people on drinking less, especially the binge drinking culture. However, I don’t agree with his methods as I don’t think launching a stronger beer will make them drink less. It is just a quicker way to get drunk or to drink yourself into a coma. I think it would be more dangerous if they start drinking the BrewDog beer than the stuff they usually go through.
We all know fast food is bad for us
The British government announced that fast-food will be the death of us, if we don’t keep a close eye on our eating pattern. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, better known as NICE claims that every year 40,000 people die as a result of mall nutrition. Those deaths are unnecessary if we would only look after ourselves a bit better. The article explains that every obese woman knows that it’s not the food, but the person who keeps eating it is to blame. Also the magazines show you different ways of successfully dieting. According to Juliet woods: “These publications sell like (reduced calorie) hotcakes, so it is facile to claim that ignorance is the driver for unhealthy eating and that only state interference can save people from themselves. “
I think the writer is right. The government should educate the people on eating right, because many parents don’t. Children should be taught in school what is right to eat and what is not, so that when they become of age they can enjoy being healthy and still have a packet of crisp when they would like to. If the monarch does not educate people on eating healthy, most of us will end up like the people in the States. Some of the people there have been diagnosed with diseases as a result of overeating and have to undergo major surgery just to fight for survival.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7847471/We-all-know-fast-food-is-bad-for-us.html
Friday, 4 June 2010
Speaker's corner: London black cabs block streets over illegal minicabs
The black cabs demanded the following things:
- Stop illegal touting and ranking up immediately
- Allow black cab drivers to stop to used the toilets
- The Mayor of London should investigate the public carriage office, which oversees the taxi trade
In my opinion the mini cabs should be banned from the city centre of London for a short period of time as result of their misbehaviour. I think a period of 6 months should be enough to make them understand that if they do not follow the rules, there are consequences. I think it’s absurd that things like these happen, especially the part in which the black cab drivers ask for the permission to stop to get a toilet break.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/london/10211958.stm
Friday, 28 May 2010
Blow to PM as Treasury chief David Laws quits
I was very shocked to find that in the new coalition there are still people who do this. After all the comments on the MP's and the payback during the election, there is still an MP that uses other peoples money for himself. I think this is a disgrace and has blemished the new coalition. I wonder how the others think of his actions. I also don't understand that after such a thing, the PM still thinks that David is honourable, when he clearly hasn't been honourable against the taxpayers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7140189.ece
After 75 years the driving test hasn’t really changed much
In 1935 the first driving test was passed by Mister Beele when he reserved around a corner, came to an emergency stop and went through an oral exam. According to the Times after 75 years the driving test has not changed much and was only polished and advanced. The Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning remembered the anniversary that is coming up yesterday. Mister Penning said: “High standards of driver training and assessment are an essential contribution to helping Britain’s roads remain among the safest in the world.” (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article7138594.ece)
The test was introduced in 1934 when it became clear that people who were dying as result of a car accident was highest that year. The number of people dying was 7,343 and has dropped to 2,538 in 2008. In 1934 the Minister of Transport announced three new acts for road safety that are still active today.
I find this too funny all together. It’s so silly that almost nothing has changed since the entire era of the car changed. People can’t even live without one today. I hope that they are going to revise the driving test and see what else they can put in there, to ensure everyone of a license that is complete. It’s only then, that when you receive it you’ll know that you have studied all the aspects to drive safely. to get into the spirit of driving on british road I though we should end with a nice morris mini. Fifth member of child-porn ring exposed leaving phone on bus
I strongly disagree with the sentence he has been given, as you hear more often that sex offenders get a second change around and the second time it’s usually worse. I just don’t understand those people. He had 14 phones with almost have of them containing pictures. This is just sick, he should be in jail and then put in a clinic because this man must have something hanging loose upstairs and it definitely needs fixing!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7138878.ece
Holidaymakers warned over water quality as dirtiest beaches are named
Newspaper the Times has published an article explaining that many beaches in the UK have dirty water. According to a research from the Marine Conservation Society and published in the “Good beach guide”, one of the most dirtiest beaches is the much visited Church beach in Dorset. Other beaches that have dirty water are South Wales, Devon, Lancashire etc., showing that the beaches that are dirty are all popular resorts. The times warn that when you decide to go to the coast for Bank Holiday weekend it is best to go to the beaches that have come through the test with a sufficient. The Marine Conservation Society hold the sewers overflow responsible for the quality of the water. If the water does not improve within the next five years the authorities will advice the public not to go into the water to prevent health problems. The public is advised to go visit one of 421 beaches that haven’t had any problems with the water.
I think this is a serious issue that has to be dealt with, because it will become worse if nothing is done. It’s actually a shame that so many beaches did not come through the test, because the beaches that have such terrible waters are really nice! And apart from that, who needs to swim in the sea when they are already polluted and when we have swimming pools?!? If you are desperate to go to the beach, then don’t go into the water but have a good look at the nice view and other surrounding such as Lulworth cove in Dorset, It’s absolutely magnificent!! I went there in 2008, and the view is just so WOW that you wouldn’t even be bothered to go into the sea.
I think this is a serious issue that has to be dealt with, because it will become worse if nothing is done. It’s actually a shame that so many beaches did not come through the test, because the beaches that have such terrible waters are really nice! And apart from that, who needs to swim in the sea when they are already polluted and when we have swimming pools?!? If you are desperate to go to the beach, then don’t go into the water but have a good look at the nice view and other surrounding such as Lulworth cove in Dorset, It’s absolutely magnificent!! I went there in 2008, and the view is just so WOW that you wouldn’t even be bothered to go into the sea. 
Monday, 10 May 2010
Gordon Brown is quitting...
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has resigned as Labour leader, but might stay on as Prime Minister until a successor is chosen. Gordon is to be replaced as a he suggested to form a majority together with the LibDems.
“ The Prime Minister said: "The reason that we have a hung parliament is that no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country.” (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-quit-in-bid-to-woo-lib-dems-1970273.html)Gordon made his announcement after a long day at Westminster when it first seemed that the Conservatives and LibDems were going to form a coalition. Naturally Gordon would like his own party to be a part of the new majority in Parliament, which meant for him to abdicate as party leader and giving other MPs the space to step up.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-quit-in-bid-to-woo-lib-dems-1970273.html
Influence of Lib Dems in hung parliament depends on staying ahead of Labour
The big question in politics is whether Nick Clegg of the LibDems can stay above Labour in the league for a new government, or will Labour rise? By gaining more votes than Labour, Nick is able to make a change for the first time since 1918, which will boost his career as an MP. The voters lost their beliefs in the party during the second debate and according to the poll ratings the party is losing voters. Even though the party is losing voters, they still seem to be ahead of Labour and can finish second if they don’t lose any more votes. As Labour and the LibDems go head to head, the chance of a hung parliament draws nearer because neither parties are likely to have a majority. Meaning that the conservative might have to make a final decision. I think the LibDems still have a good shot at winning the elections, but the chance that they will rule becomes smaller as neither party has the chance of getting the majority of the votes. I enjoy watching and reading about it, as I can see some similarities with the Dutch elections for the first time. The parties really have to fight their way in to power, which means that neither of them will come out clean!
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-curtice-influence-of-lib-dems-in-hung-parliament-depends-on-staying-ahead-of-labour-1954281.html
What is a hung parliament?
Friday, 16 April 2010
Teenage shooting victim in East London
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7099383.ece
Agnes Sina-Inakoju, a 16 year old girl was shot in the neck in a chicken and pizza shop on Wednesday evening in Hoxton. She won a prize last year for Speak Out public speaking competition, where she talked about racism Today Agnes died of her injury in hospital. According to John Crossley, the Detective Chief Inspector, Agnes was not the target of the youth who shot her. Friends of the victims explained to the police and the paper that Agnes was well liked by everyone. While the police question if the shooting was gang related, a local pie shop owner explains that his son told him that gang confrontation has stepped up over the past months.
My opinion to this subject is, that it is shocking that we hear more of these shootings everywhere we go. Over the past few years, shooting has been in the news regularly. In London, many youths have been killed, whether they were a target or not. I find it ridiculous that you can’t walk the street in the evening without getting shot. What is more weird is that this girl was standing in a shop, so if the police believe that she wasn’t the target, who was? The article also talk about suspects of 14 and 18, which I hope can shed some light on the event that took place.
Agnes Sina-Inakoju, a 16 year old girl was shot in the neck in a chicken and pizza shop on Wednesday evening in Hoxton. She won a prize last year for Speak Out public speaking competition, where she talked about racism Today Agnes died of her injury in hospital. According to John Crossley, the Detective Chief Inspector, Agnes was not the target of the youth who shot her. Friends of the victims explained to the police and the paper that Agnes was well liked by everyone. While the police question if the shooting was gang related, a local pie shop owner explains that his son told him that gang confrontation has stepped up over the past months.
My opinion to this subject is, that it is shocking that we hear more of these shootings everywhere we go. Over the past few years, shooting has been in the news regularly. In London, many youths have been killed, whether they were a target or not. I find it ridiculous that you can’t walk the street in the evening without getting shot. What is more weird is that this girl was standing in a shop, so if the police believe that she wasn’t the target, who was? The article also talk about suspects of 14 and 18, which I hope can shed some light on the event that took place.
New leech species to attack noses
Scientists discovered a new leech species, which had been firstly discovered in Peru in 2007. The leech with one row of large teeth, was discovered when it had to be pulled out of a girl’s nose after bathing in a river in Peru. A doctor in Lima called Dr. Renzo Arauco-Brown who pulled the leech out of the girls nose, send it after preservation to the United States of America. According to scientific research it became clear that the leech prefers to live in body orifices of humans and animals. The name that it was given after research is the tyrant leech king, Tyrannobdella rex.
“The DNA analysis also revealed "evolutionary relationships" between leeches that now inhabit distant regions. This suggested that a common ancestor of this group may have lived when the continents were pressed together into a single land mass or supercontinent called Pangaea.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8623332.stm)
My first reaction to this story is that it’s quite disgusting to find something like that up your nose. According to the website Plos one where I went to get some more detailed information on the subject, the leeches prefer to suck on human blood. The website also explains that there are several other leech species in Asia and Africa to have the same effect as this one. I was stunned when I read it was found up a girl’s nose. Though it is not a typical item that is found in the UK, I thought it was worth mentioning when I found it on the BBC website.
BBC website item: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8623332.stm
Additional information Plos one: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010057
Britain’s first campaign debate
Last night Britain’s first campaign debate took place and was broadcast live on ITV. Whereas Gordon Brown and David Cameron discussed domestic issues, Nick Clegg focussed on being the alternative the voters should choose for. Nick Clegg also made a clear distinction between his party, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives and Labour. During the debate Gordon Brown and David Cameron were in each other’s hair on several occasion in which Gordon Brown tried to win by involving Nick Clegg into the discussion. Based on the ideas that were discussed, the voters decided that Nick Clegg won the debate with 61 per cent, as he could tell the voters something new.
In my opinion Nick Clegg has a good chance of winning the election, as he could make some great changes in parliament. Also, the Labour and the Conservatives’s bickering during the debate without a clear outcome did not do them any good and it’s because of them that Nick Clegg had such a success. I think that a new parliament with fresh ideas might be on the way to achieve much greater things that the other two. After 65 years it is time to try another approach and it might be the Libdems that can get the country back on track.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7099159.ece
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