Chris Somers and Russell Brand - Committee on Addiction (2012)

Very interesting public debate on abstinence based treatment of drug addiction at one side, and the discussion on decriminalization versus legalization of drugs at the other.

I have to say that I am not a fan of Russell Brand's comedy, but his eloquence is fascinating. Very convincing arguments and interesting to see the reactions of the on-viewer sitting behind his left shoulder.

Bird sheet music

A piece of music that was composed by waiting for bird droppings to fall onto giant sheets of manuscript paper has received its premiere. (BBC, 20 January 2013)

"Gratie voor Turing, de homoseksuele codekraker" (deredactie.be)

Enkele prominente Britse wetenschappers, waaronder Stephen Hawking, roepen premier Cameron op postuum gratie te verlenen aan Alan Turing. De informaticus avant la lettre hielp door nazicodes te kraken de geallieerden aan de oorlogsoverwinning, maar viel in ongenade toen bleek dat hij homo was. (deredactie.be, 14 december)

"Als het niet voor de Olympische Spelen geweest was, zouden er nu weer rellen zijn"

"Als het niet voor de Olympische Spelen geweest was, zouden er nu weer rellen zijn", zeggen Jermain (17) en Yoldas (16).

Berichtgeving VRT: "Meer dan een kwart van Britse jongeren gelooft dat de rellen die exact een jaar geleden in Engeland uitbraken, zich deze zomer kunnen herhalen, volgens een onderzoek. De meeste ondervraagden zeggen dat verveling, kopieergedrag, druk van vrienden, jaloezie en angst om de toekomst de plunderingen en geweldpleging van augustus 2011 veroorzaakten. Er is sindsdien, zeggen ze, niks veranderd."

More:

• Een jaar na rellen in Londen: wachten op herhaling (Lia van Bekhoven, VRT)
• A Year On – Riots, Olympics and Inspiration (The Not So Big Society)
• Riots in England (2011)
• The Connection Between Corruption and the Riots in the UK (Femke Van Zeijl)

Brian May built his own guitar with his dad

Although I am a big fan of his musical skills and this is a video clip of 20 years ago, I had no idea that Brian May had built his guitar with his father.

Wow.

The Connection Between Corruption and the Riots in the UK

Taken from Femke Van Zeijl

Today, journalist Femke Van Zeijl (see also 'Burkina Faso Staggering?') wrote a very interesting column about the connection between Political Corruption and the current riots in London.

Although the analysis is simple, it tends to be forgotten very often:

Riots in England

Are the current riots in England rooted into a social problem? (radio interview in Dutch)

Music: Panic by The Smiths












Update 11th August: Ten explanations for the riots in England (BBC)


Update 12th August:

Dismissing rioters as mindless is futile rhetoric. However unacceptable the UK riots, we need to ask why they are happening
--Russell Brand (The Guardian)

Update 17th August: The Connection Between Corruption and the Riots in the UK by Femke van Zeijl