iblog

Kayleigh: Tory leader David Cameron has announced he is going to pledge for tougher rape laws in the UK after it was found that rapists in the UK escape being punished more than any other country in Europe. Cameron's plans include teaching pupils in school early on that when someone says no to sex it means 'no' and also intends to put more funding into rape crisis centres. At current, only 5.7% of reported rapes cases result in a conviction, and it is a wonder if all women report rapes with such an off-putting percentage, not to mention the emotional trauma they have to go through. Mr Cameron said:"Studies have shown that as many as one in two young men believe there are some circumstances when it's okay to force a woman to have sex. To my mind, this is an example of moral collapse." At current, the average prison sentence for rape is seven and a half years, with a minimum of five years for offenders over 18 years. At current, there are only 45 rape crisis support centres left in the UK, meaning victims face waiting lists of up to 7 months. Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, welcomed the proposals. She said: "Rape crisis centres are at risk of closing all over the country due to a lack of funding, leaving women with nowhere to turn at a time when they desperately need support. “Women have been let down for years as politicians have failed to prioritise tackling rape. We hope today’s announcements will be the start of a serious debate." According to Rape Crisis, over two-thirds of reported cases are dropped out at the police stage and do not make it as far as the courts. Statistics also show that one in twenty women have been raped, but only a quarter of them report it. Katy Meany, a 21 year old student at the University of Central Lancashire, thinks the plans are a good idea. "Rapists should be sentenced for longer, as the trauma of a rape is likely to stay with that woman for life."

Rushda: The secret behind the intelligence of famous curvy women such as Nigella Lawson may be in their curves. New research from the US has revealed the very interesting finding that curvy women are, on the whole, more intelligent than their waif-like counterparts. Not only that but they are even said to produce more intelligent offspring as well. Apparently the bigger the difference between a woman's waist and her hips, the better. During the study, 16,000 women and girls of varying degrees of voluptuousness were asked to take cognitive tests and the results were striking - the curvy women did better on the whole and so did their children. Evolutionary scientists believe that the result could possibly be explained by the fact that fatty acids found around the hips is most likely to be Omega-3 which has long been said to boost mental abilities. I'm not sure to what certainty we can point to something abstract as intelligence as lying in particular fatty tissue. Many experts too feel that any result at this stage would be a little premature given all the different factors we need to take into account. For example Martin Tovee of Newcastle University says:

"On the fatty deposits being related to intelligence front, it's very hard to detangle that from other factors, such as social class, for instance, or diet."

No doubt curvy women will be very pleased to hear the findings of the study - not only have they long been shown to be the most attractive, now one is saying that they have the best beauty and brains.

Kayleigh: Women who have had one too many after a night out are ending up in hospital with burst bladders, according to the British Medical Journal. The problem occurs when women drink too much and don't realise their bladder is too full, which then causes it to rupture. Previously it had only reportedly happened to men, but now it is effecting women more and more as increasing numbers take up binge drinking. Mr Mohantha Dooldeniya is a surgeon at Pinderfields Hospital. He has seen 3 women in the past year who have suffered from a burst bladder. He says the reason why the bladder burst is because the bladder was full with urine but the person didn't realise they needed the toilet because of the numbing effects of the alcohol they had drunk. He said: "In women, the feeling was because they have a short urethra they are more likely to leak than rupture. A minor trauma, such as a fall, can increase the risk the bladder will burst." This isn't the only problem associated with binge drinking. According to TheSite.org, if you binge drink on a regular basis you could suffer from heart problems later in life. There's also your liver to think about. If battered by too much drink, the liver could develop a disease called cirrhosis. Alcohol also affects your skin too, as it makes you dehydrated and, therefore, it doesn't get the vital nutrients it needs. Alcohol related health problems are also taking its toll on the NHS and it is costing them up to £3 billion a year. This is all well and good, it has certainly put me off drinking too much, but i can't seem to keep away from the toilet when i'm drinking so i don't think i have to worry about this happening to me too much! The problem is the label of a binge drinker, if you have more than a few glasses of wine you are labelled a binge drinker, but the fact is, everyone is different and can handle different amounts. I can certainly handle a lot more when i now than when i first started drinking, but i wouldn't call myself a binge drinker!

Rushda: Designs for London's new Olympic stadium have been unveiled. As the picture on the left shows, the centrepiece will be a giant sporting bowl which will have seats for an audience of 80,000 and the stadium will be located in Stratford, in East London. Construction will begin next April in order to be ready a year in advance of the events. Apparently the costs of the stadium will be a huge £496 million even though the previous budget stated £280 million. Many feel uncomfortable with the idea of this much being spent for a singular construction, but budgeters have reassured everyone that after the Olympics the top tier of seats will be lifted off and the stadium will be able to be used as a standard sports venue with 25,000 seats. The stadium has been designed by HOK Sport, the same architects who designed other world-famous sports venues such as Sydney Olympic stadium and Wembley stadium. Chair of the Organising Committee, also a former Olympic champion, is excited about the project and thinks the plans for the stadium are modern and practical. He says:

"It's a stadium that delivers on everything we said we would deliver on: a stadium with track and field as its primary legacy; a stadium that will be reduced from 80,000 seats in Olympic mode to a 25,000-seater community base."

Though I'm no huge sports fan, I'm glad the excitement and patriotism for 2012 is still going strong, especially after the embarrassing and shocking logo (which, we are reminded, will not change despite thousands of protests). However, I am reluctant to believe that the design for the stadium will melt many hearts - after all, it IS essentially an unwarranted sum of money to pay for what looks like a very bogstandard and uninspiring stadium. It seems that the organisers behind 2012 want to emphasise coolness and youthfulness in everything they produce (see the promotional video for yet more of the same). Yet ironically this is what is making the young people cringe most!

Kayleigh: The government has launched a social networking site for the over-50s so they can talk directly to the government about issues that concern them. The website, called Generation Xperience, introduces topics into its forums, but also allows members of the public to start forums of their own. The topics the site has welcomed so far are "The internet" and "60 goals for the over 60s." The site also lists local events such as music and dance events, and encourages its audience to join in by visiting the government website Directgov. It also links to other websites that might interest the over-50s such as the Government News Network and Age Concern. The site also intends to have its own groups on other popular social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Youtube. The site makes it clear that although ministers will take note of the over-50s, they cannot answer their questions directly on the site. Instead, representatives from the Department of Work and Pensions will keep the site running and up to date. Lynne Williams, 50, believes the site is a good idea. She said: "I don't go to council meetings but I can now talk to the government from the comfort of my own home to voice my concerns now, which is great." Personally, I think the website is a good idea, but why don't they create a site for young people. It seems to me that most young people aren't very interested in politics but if the government tried to interact with them using modern technology that young people use, they might get more of a response.

Rushda: A recent survey conducted by the Television channel UKGold has revealed what people consider to be the UK's craziest laws, with the most voted being that it is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. Believe it or not, the law does still exist on the statute book - and needless to say, so wrong, on so many levels! The 3,931 people surveyed had to pick from a list of nominated stupid laws. Included amongst the favourites was the law against sticking a stamp upside down and the very ironic ban against eating mince pies on Christmas day. The entire list can be seen below:

1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. 2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British king or queen's image upside-down. 3. It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store. 4. Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is banned. 5. If someone knocks on your door in Scotland and requires the use of your toilet, you are required to let them enter. 6. In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet. 7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen. 8. It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing. 9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armou.r 10. It is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls of York, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

Most people will be incredulous to note that all of these laws still exist - probably due to simply never being removed from the book (for example, Oliver Cromwell decided the mince pie law in the 17th Century) or because of some niggling pedantic loophole. I personally had not heard any of them, but they are certainly an amusing read! Maybe this will alert me not to wear a suit of armour on my next tourist trip to London, or alternatively, tempt me to wee in a policeman's hat when pregnant just because I can...

Kayleigh: Students are annoyed as more and more university tutors are starting to use Facebook and MySpace to contact them. Students feel that their private lives are being invaded and want to keep their academic life and social life separate. Research done by The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) showed that universities are trying to connect with students in new ways, and in recent years social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become very popular with young people. This is the latest move in the technologically-driven world. Tutors recently started presenting lectures as podcasts and started texting students to give them academic advice. Gareth Ruston, 20, Police and Criminal Investigation student at the University of Central Lancashire, thinks there are good and bad points of tutors being able to contact him in different ways. He said: "I like the fact that i can text my tutor if I've forgot to ask something, but I don't want them looking at my Facebook, it's my private space for me and my friends!" But JISCs head of communications, Dr Philip Pothen says the move is a good thing. "Universities need to have this kind of information.They need to know how today's students learn; how they take in information." One tutor who uses Facebook to contact her students is Gilly Salmon, professor of e-learning and learning technologies at Leicester University. She said: "I'm very interested in it as a potential way for students working together remotely rather than having to be in a physical space." I'm not convinced though, I like it when a tutor contacts me through my university email, but I would certainly not want them contacting me through my Facebook or MySpace, in fact, I'd hate them to even see it. Employers are also looking at it now, which just adds to the worry, one friend of mine has completely changed his Facebook and Myspace because of this revelation!

Rushda: Most people have probably heard of the mysterious English guerilla artist known as "Banksy," famous for his engaging street graffiti. The graffiti has appeared in London and many other cities around the world. Few would, however, be able to say exactly who this elusive figure is, the topic being one of much controversy in the past. Well, finally someone believes to have caught the artist on film, the picture of him can be seen here. No reliable picture has ever been taken before and the passerby who took it is familiar with Banksy's works. He is convinced that it is him. The photograph was taken in a place called Bethnal Green and shows a man at work, painting together with an assistant, scaffolding and truck. Banksy has always taken strong steps to disguise his true identity but now evidence suggests that the man in the picture is him. In the picture that Banksy has painted, a flower on the wall made of double yellow lines which carry on from the lines on the road can be seen together with a picture of an artist next to it. Banksy has mystified and charmed hundreds of people with his graffiti, with many works fetching hundreds of thousands of pounds at auction. Even Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been buying Banksy pieces. However, it is true that his "artwork" has always been controversial, both in content and the fact that it is unauthorised in many places. Indeed, Tower Hamlet council have decided to treat all the work as graffiti and paint it over. As a spokesman says:

"As ever, priority is given to the removal of offensive graffiti."

Personally, whatever the consensus on the paintings is, what makes me wonder the most is whether the mystery of Banksy's identity is itself part of what makes his works so famous - and indeed if this is the case, whether the popularity will be diminished once he is unveiled.

Rushda: Recent studies into the rapidly increasing use of mobiles has revealed that, on average, Britons send 1,000,000,000 text messages in a single week. Indeed, according to figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA), roughly 4,000 text messages are sent every second. The total over a week is 25% more than a year ago and in fact now totals the same amount as sent in an entire year in 1999. This leaves one only to wonder what will happen in future. When asked what accounted for the popularity of text messages, head of MDA Mike Short said:

"It's convenient, comprehensive, it's on every handset and network and it is cost effective."

It is easy to forget how we used to manage without it, as text messaging has now become an integral part of many people's lives. It really is convenient for all those things that you want to say that don't warrant having an entire conversation. Furthermore, the study also found that text messaging is fast becoming popular in businesses as well as a way of contacting lots of employees at once. As Mr Short explains:

"It's a lot more convenient for a business now to notify lots of their employees about an urgent message using a text message."

The UK now "sits within the top 6 of the global league of countries sending text messages," and it is no surprise why. We live in a fast world where constant ability to communicate is key - whether it be mass texting within companies or short notes to a friend to say you will be late. Though text messaging may not be the most elegant or romantic form of communication (espclly whn typng lik tis), no one can deny how useful it can be.

Kayleigh: Emily Nakanda has resigned from the X Factor after footage on the popular website YouTube emerged showing her beating up another teenage girl in a 'happy slapping video.'

The news was announced on the official X Factor website this morning, after fifteen-year-old Emily was seen to be punching and swinging the girl round by her hair whilst her friend recorded the attack on her mobile phone. Not only this, but she was also shown in another video with a 6-inch knife threatening to cut out a boy's eyes. In the video she says, “I will cut your eyes out! Yeah! Cut you! We’re gonna cut you!” Her mother, Louise Friberg, is said to be horrified by the videos and told press: "As a family we are heartbroken and are very disappointed with Emily's behaviour, we feel that there is no choice but to withdraw Emily from the competition. Emily and all the family sincerely apologise to both Anna, her school and all the fans that have supported Emily. Emily regrets her actions but there is no way, as a family, we can excuse her behaviour. Emily is very sorry to have let the show, Sharon and the viewers down." Emily is the youngest contestant to have ever appeared on the X Factor and was very proud to represent her age group. However, after the stories of the videos had emerged in the tabloids she thought it best to quit the show. Sharon Osbourne, one of the judges and Emily's mentor on the show, told the press: "I am deeply saddened by this whole situation." The videos have now been taken off YouTube.