Bill Bryson: British culture is self-absorbed and greedy

Summary:
The American author Bill Bryson criticized Britain yesterday at the Hay Literary festival yesterday.
He described the British culture self-absorbed and greedy.

In 1995 Bryson wrote his book ‘Notes from a Small Island’ with documented observations for over 22 years of life in Britain. The nation has changed and has become worse he says.
‘One thing that is different, and has changed here, is the self-absorption, not just greed.’
‘Everybody is in a hurry now and there is a “the rules don’t apply to me” sort of thing. When I first came to Britain it really was all about fair play and queuing.’

The author compares life in Britain in the seventies with today. People’s lives were actually still quite simple compared with today but it seemed like a really enriched country.’
‘People in general have a lot more money in their pockets but we act all the time now like we are really poor when people are really rich’ says Bryson.

He also compared America’s individual wealth and collective poverty, saying that Britain has also moved into that. However after a visit in Italy, it proves that Great Britain is still ‘a nation of queuers.’

Reaction:

Since this author has observed British culture and people for over 22 years I can believe his opinion. I could agree with this opinion also but I that would not be fair because I have never been to the UK before. What I do realize when reading this article is that I can see this way of living here also in the Netherlands. How true it is that people tend to be more on their own, an individual, and that will transform them into being greedy. The more you want, the more you will eventually need. Considering that material, money and status is so important for people now a days you do become self centered. It could be that Bryson’s opinion is a little to exaggerating and inappropriate by comparing Britain to the US. However, I can imagine that comparing today with 40 years ago, there’s defiantly an enormous difference in the British culture.

Link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1282553/Bill-Bryson-British-culture-self-absorbed-greedy.html

New show for Little Britain pair

Summary:

Famous writers and actors David William and Matt Lucas from the popular comedy show Little Britain are to write and act again in another comedy show on BBC One.

Walliams and Lucas, ages 36 and 38, enjoyed their huge success with the TV sketch programme which all began as a Radio 4 show with characters like Lou and Andy, and Marjorie Dawes.

Based on an airport the two are ready to shake entire UK again with new characters and guests filmed over six part-series. Later this year the progamme is expected to air.

The new show provisionally titled Come Fly With Me will mean "boom time" for "dress, wig and make-up suppliers" according to the BBC head of comedy Mark Freeland.

Reaction:
Little Britain has been a success although it's not my favorite progamme nor my personal interest in TV shows. I do admire these actors and writers for their creativity, humor and success for making such entertaining and funny sketches. It does allow you to laugh at certain serious topics that were meant to trouble you. Especially on politics their sketches are hilarious. I grant these two man the same success of Little Britain for their new show Come Fly With Me.
Hopefully BBC will also experience this success for their network. Is anybody eager to see it? Secretly I kind of are!

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10184408.stm

Very limited career prospects for UK's graduates

Summary:

Half of all graduate students (45%) from 30 UK's top universities see very limited career prospects according to a survey.

Apparently last year graduates took most of the vacancies. From the survey, 26% of all students plan to study further, 16% plan to travel and 14% are undecided. 8% intend to do some voluntary work. That leaves only 36% who are going to intend to start looking for a job after graduation.

The survey found graduates in 2010 expected to owe an average of £17,900, up from £15,700 in 2009 and £11,600 in 2008.
And this, while the salary expectations for law students are the highest in rank following by computing and IT students, engineering students and business and finance students. The lowest salary expectations ly for languages students.

"The recession may be officially over, but, with a record number of students due to complete degrees in the coming weeks and tens of thousands of last year's graduates still looking for work, there is widespread concern on campus that competition for graduate jobs has never been fiercer."


Reaction:

I think because of the economical crisis students are confronted to work extra hard for their education while there is a low expectation for a prospective successful career. To me it seems demotivating if you are a graduate students of one of UK's top universities, knowing that you have little chances for a job, let stand a proper salary to pay your school debts. Too bad for the language students, like us to be English teachers, who work hard to educate these future brilliant top university student while receiving the lowest salary.

Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/10164999.stm

Increasing number of children start with school without been read to

Summary:
In the article the writer shares her experience that she was read aloud to as a child. She mentions a favorite book and the benefits of being read aloud to. The reader's story is a clear example of the result of a child that was read to aloud. Recent research about this matter shows the increasing number of children that are starting school without being read to.

Today the TV plays a big role among the young people but also for adults. In the UK the average adult watches nearly four-and-a-half hours' TV a day. TV does the imagining for the watcher, if your are watching or listening or not at all. This source also injects noxious substances directly into children's brains. Books on the contrary are universally capable of transforming a dusty mind into a bright and active intelligence.

It is time not to forget about the good books that were read and to pass these on to the younger generation.

Reaction:
This article supprts my experience with the young people I teach to at my intern. Young people are not motivated at all to read in order to enhance their knowledge and vocabulary. One main reason why this is so is because the generation now is so busy with technical communication; TV, cellphones and video and computer games. They are being entertained constantly by watching the screen. Many of my students tell me they miss the motivation of reading because they were never read aloud to as a child. I consider this so important for the parents, teachers, and other adults to pass over their experience in reading. To start reading with and reading aloud to children develops their minds into a lush and verdant pasture that will only give profit when they are adults.


Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-ever

Church of England against new ads condoms

Summary:
The Church of England argues that government campaigns should be the most important channel for advertising messages on sexual health. They responded to the government that campaigns should continue to publish advertisement and messages on condoms and contraception.

The Church said tv channels are not applying on to the rules of the new code to protect young people on harmful advertising such as the relaxation of the ban on condoms being advertised on TV before the 9pm watershed – or 7.30pm on Channel 4.

The CoE spokesmen disagrees and points to the fact that there is much to welcome especially the new codes. However the Church of England argues that regulators should not confuse educational goals on sexual health with opening the door to companies looking to make a profit.

Reaction:
I think it is important to educate the young people about sexuality via the media since it's the channel that young people communicate through now a days. However I do agree with the Church that there has got to be certain regulations and rules about advertising these messages on TV. It's important to consider the time, age and content or goal when advertising. Young people should not be influenced in a negative way by watching these advertisements. I find they should not be triggerd to go have sex on a very young age, even if condoms or contraceptions protect you.

Link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/16/church-condom-ad-rules

'Over-cautious' nut allergies information on products

Summary:
Many consumers tend not to believe the 'over-cautious' warnings of nut allergies information on products anymore. According to the Food Standards Agency, shoppers find it difficult to value the risks of products that can contain nuts.
Anonymous nut and peanut allergy patients visited British supermarkets, and found consumers doubting about taking risks of buying products containing nuts.

Hazel Gowland, food adviser for the Anaphylaxis Campaign, says supermarkets and manufacturers should be more specific on nut and peanut allergies guidelines. Apparently the nut allergies information needs to be described with eye catching writing on different location and packed in a different way.

Reaction:
I think it is very important that consumers are very conscious of what they are buying. I think it is essential that consumers read ingredients, packaging and expiration dates and allergy information. It is true that many products are bombarded with a lot of allergy warnings, but that does not change the fact that consumers need to be careful about what they buy to eat. Maybe supermarkets and manufacturers should put allergy foods in a specific order and packaging in the stores, to make it more easy for shoppers to buy allergy aware. People should not put their health at risk just because of the 'over-cautious' warnings on food.

Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/apr/24/experts-warn-crying-wolf-nut-allergies

Summary Political Parleying

For the Britain’s first live on television campaign debate, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, won the debate.

In an intensive debate about many actual political issues, including small humor in between, Nick Clegg discussed with David Cameron and Gordon Brown. Current problems about immigration and crime as being due to the failings of both Labour and Tory governments were discussed publicly. Mr Clegg was keeping his cool while the two others Mr Cameron and Mr Brown were fearlessly bombarding each other with arguments.

Mr Ckegg closed the debate by urging voters not to be put off by “repeated attempts to try to frighten you about a Conservative government”.