iblog

Rushda: The world’s biggest fast-food provider McDonald’s has just been approved to have its own McDonalds qualification, different componants of which could add up to count as an actual A-Level under the new Diplomas offered next autumn. McDonald’s is in fact one of a number of new firms which are introducing government-regulated qualifications, other major companies being Flybe and Network Rail.

Many are undestandably critical, saying that such a move could give the illusion of academic rigor and thus give a whole new meaning to the already-ridiculed “mickey mouse degree”. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has, however, given the new ventures his wholehearted approval, reassuring everyone that this does not mean we are dumbing down as a nation. He says on GMTV about the course:

“It is going to be a tough course, but once you have got a qualification in management you can probably go anywhere. I think that is the important thing, companies prepared to train people up which they weren’t doing before, in the way that we want them to do, in a far greater number, so that people have the qualifications for the future.”

It certainly seems though that the government is doing everything it can to get more people getting qualifications, even if it does mean the qualifications have little respectable substance. When universities were asked whether they would accept such a qualification as a genuine one, predictably they were not too keen. Out of the ten admissions tutors who were asked, at least four said that they would not accept the new Diplomas.

Even though they may not be accepted as sturdy A levels, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have insisted that their approval now presents McDonald qualifications as being on par in terms of assessment. A spokesperson from QCA says:

“The Qualifications Credit Framework is a new framework that allows nationally recognised courses to be broken down into units. It is componentised so if a learner drops out of a course or can’t manage to complete they can take those units with them. McDonald’s have achieved the standards for awarding accredited qualifications at Level 3. This will enable them to assess, track and recognise learning that otherwise would be lost.”

Personally I’m in two minds over this. On the one hand, it’s great that vocational workplace skills are being given some recognition and next time I order a burger I won’t end up with a McFlurry, but at the same time the snobby Oxbridge student in me wants to stamp my foot down in outrage. An A-Level for McDonalds? However good it may be for the restaurant chain itself, I doubt this wolf in sheep’s clothing will get a non-McDonalds supper.

Rushda: A photograph taken on Mars by a Nasa spacecraft has sparked much excitement and many debates across the internet, as the photo appears to show a figure similar to that of a man striding across the surface of the red planet. This a new craze to hit net users, many of whom now believe that this is essential proof that there is conscious life on Mars.

The photograph taken by spacecraft Spirit in 2004 can be seen here. As you can see, there is a tiny peculiar shape in the left of the image which looks almost human. Whilst most would say that this is just a coincidental angle on an ordinary rock, others believe that this is something more incredible. Initially when the photographs were viewed after the mission, many were disappointed that there was nothing unusual in them, and only now have they discovered something that may be not so mundane.

What is particularly interesting and amusing is the number and variety of the theories posted online from excited space fans (who may, or may not, have been watching too much science-fiction). Bloggers have said everything from the figure being a conventional alien to the Virgin Mary, or even a mermaid. And the list doesn’t stop there. Garden gnome and Bigfoot are also on the list amongst others. The most popular opinion is that the figure resembles the Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

Funnily enough, if we think about it properly, all the hype surrounds a centimetre of something blurry which is identical to all the rocks around it in everything but its shape (which, too, isn’t very detailed). As Badastronomy.com said,

“A man? It’s a tiny rock only a few inches high. It’s only a few feet from the rover!”

I guess it’s up to everyone to make their own mind up now. Personally, I think we’re all just desperate to hear some good old cosmic goss’ but like others I’m unconvinced that such a small image is anything more than a funny-shaped rock.

Kayleigh: Famous Hollywood actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment yesterday.

Twenty eight year old Ledger was booked in for a massage at his home when his housekeeper walked in on him to tell him, but found him lying unconscious next to a bottle of pills.

Police are investigating the possibility that the Brokeback Mountain star took an overdose.

Heath Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger is devastated and said the death of his son had been “tragic” and “accidental”. Speaking from Heath’s home town in Perth, Australia, he said:  ”Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life,” he said.

Fellow Hollywood actor Mel Gibson said: “I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss.”

The people of Australia are also shocked and saddened to hear the news. The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, described the death as a tragedy, and said: “Heath Ledger’s diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor.”

The successful American actor John Travolta said: “I adored him. He’s my favourite actor. I don’t know how to compare his talent to others but he’s touched me deeply as a talent and it’s a great loss.”

The star leaves behind a daughter, Matilda, 2, whom he had with former Dawson’s Creek star, Michelle Williams, who he spilt up with in September. Michelle’s father, Larry Williams said: “My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family. The saddest thing is that his daughter whom he loved dearly, Matilda will grow up without knowing her father.”

Ledger has starred in many Hollywood films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Monster’s Ball and A Knight’s Tale, and had been nominated for an Oscar in his role in Brokeback Mountain.

An autopsy is due to be carried out today.

Rushda: An actor who worked in a teddy bear suit on the highly popular children’s programme “In The Night Garden”, made by BBC’s Ragdoll Productions, is taking the company to court after claiming that he was mistreated. Not only was the equipment faulty so he could not see whilst in the costume and thereby left to require hospital treatment after falling over, but he was also insulted by other cast members and managers, being forced to continue to work even whilst he insisted it was unsafe.

For viewers, all they could see was the smiley face of the character Tombliboo. According to 28 year old Isaac Blake from Cardiff, however, the reality was much different. He claims that he was completely dependent on cameras to know what he was doing, but even they failed for several weeks and he was left fumbling in the dark in the costume, which was part robot and part puppet. When he complained he was rudely forced to continue and became injured as a result. He also says that another cast member called called him a “bitch” and a “faggot” but that the staff ignored this when he complained. The staff ultimately dismissed him for making a fuss.

Ragdoll productions, which also produced the Teletubbies, has denied all allegations saying that none of the other cast members had experienced any problems and that Mr Blake was actually dismissed because he was rude to staff. Actress Elisa Laghi, 31, admitted she used the words “bitch” and “faggot” to refer to him, but said that she meant it jovially and not because Mr Blake was gay. Indeed she says:

“I’m bisexual myself so I don’t have a problem with people being gay”

The tribunal now continues. If the allegations made by Mr Blake are true, then this is terrible news, particularly for those who have loved watching the programmes. To think that the actors are themselves suffering whilst producing such dramatic displays of optimism for children is saddening and I hope that any injustice on the part of the production team will not go unnoticed.

Steve Robinson: When Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United on Wednesday he became the eighth Premier League manager to lose their job in just five months of the current season. His removal has prompted outcries from the media and fellow managers alike that managers at Premier League clubs are under far too much pressure to produce results.

The trend began in earnest in September when legend Jose Mourinho shocked English football by leaving high-fliers Chelsea, with the media touting poor relations between the club’s owner Roman Abramovich to blame. In the following months, Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol, Billy Davies left struggling Derby, and Birmingham, Bolton, Fulham Wigan all lost their managers. This latest management change has left many fans wondering how many more displacements there might be in this turbulent season.

“If you were put into a job in the city, the first thing you would ask for is time. It takes a while to gel.
“In Sam’s few months at Newcastle he might not have even found out the correct strength of the reserve side. He might have players injured that he doesn’t know much about.
“But with football, it’s absolutely out of hand. It’s so crazy now.”

Martin O’Neil, Aston Villa Manager, speaking to BBC Sport

Many have asked why football managers have been under so much pressure this year. With a massive surge in money from advertising and TV revenue this season, Premier League clubs are all keen to avoid relegation and continue to reap the benefits of the extra cash. Unfortunately, this added competitiveness has meant that teams are under extra pressure to perform. Inevitably, pressure builds on the manager, with whom the buck stops, it appears.

Allardyce took over from previous boss Glenn Roeder in May 2007, but saw a new regime in place within a month, as new owner Mike Ashley upped his stake and Freddy Shepherd stood down as Chairman. From then Allardyce was constantly under pressure from a new boss and from expectant Newcastle fans. However, Allardyce’s departure is a classic example of the lack of time now given to managers to settle into the role and develop the team. Allardyce was in charge for just 8 months and oversaw just 24 games, taking Newcastle to 11th in the division. Surely 8 months is not enough time to judge a manager?

The departure leaves Newcastle searching for their seventh manager in 11 years. Many toon fans will hope that former Newcastle player Alan Shearer gets the role, although he is reported to be happy with his job at Match of the Day. Whoever gets the nod, it will be a tall order to impress a club with such lofty expectations. Whether we have seen the last management casuality of the Premier League 2007/8 season, however, remains to be seen.

Image: Wikipedia

Kayleigh: Scientists have found that living a healthy life can increase an individuals life span by up to 14 years.

Doing frequent exercise, not smoking, drinking in moderation and eating more fruit and vegetables were the key factor in increasing a person’s life, a study by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council based in Norfolk found.

The Public Library of Science Medicine study involved research on 20,000 people over a time span of ten years.

Participants, who were between the age of 45 and 79, were given a point for each of the four healthy behaviours, which were not smoking, exercising, drinking no more than than 15 units of alcohol per week, (which is less than five large glasses of wine) and eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

The results showed that the participants who were aged between 45 and 79, and who followed all four rules were more likely to have lived longer than those who didn’t. In fact of those that didn’t, some died. The results also showed that smokers were 77% more likely to have died during the ten year period.

Professor Kay-Tee Khaw a gerontologist at Cambridge University who led the study said: “The results strongly suggest that these four achievable lifestyle changes could have a marked improvement on the health of middle-aged and older people, which is particularly important given the ageing population in the UK and other European countries.”

Health organisations welcomed the study and encourage people to take note of the findings. Judy O’Sullivan, who works at the British Heart Foundation said: “This is good news and shows that by living a healthy life, people can reduce their risk of dying from heart and circulatory disease.

“By not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, taking regular physical activity and eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, people can improve their chances of living longer.”

I am not a smoker, but I do tend to abuse alcohol on weekends and I should eat more fruit and vegetables, and this research has encouraged me to look after my body more. What better time to start than the New Year- this should help you keep your resolutions!

Rushda: Everyone knows that leading a healthy lifestyle by controlling your diet and exercise is the most important thing for ensuring a long life, but now leading scientists have finally confirmed how true this is, even putting a figure to the guidance by saying that anyone who follows the guidelines will on average increase their lifespan by 14 years.

The recommendations are as follows:

1. Take regular exercise
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables daily
3. Drink alcohol only in moderation
4. Don’t smoke

According to experts from University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council, anyone who follows the four simple things above will automatically boost their lifespan for an average of fourteen years. Not only this but they will encounter fewer health problems throughout their life too. The research involved in producing these results involved analysing the habits of over 20,000 people over a decade where it was found that people who failed on all four of the criteria had more health problems and were in times four times more likely to die during that period than those who succeeded. Furthermore, what is especially encouraging is that it doesn’t even matter if you are poor or overweight, fulfilling the above will still help you just as much.

Professor Kay-Tee Khaw, who led the research says:

“We’ve know that individually, measures such as not smoking and exercising can have an impact upon longevity, but this is the first time we have looked at them altogether. And we also found that social class and BMI - body mass index - really did not have a role to play. It means a large proportion of the population really could feel health benefits through moderate changes.”

This is great news and should encourage everyone to take the simple steps highlighted in order to have longer, healthier, and no doubt happier lives.

Rushda: It may be a very obvious part of raising a child but surprisingly many parents are neglecting reading stories to their children at bedtime. Experts say that the benefits to the child are easily underestimated as it not only boosts literacy but is also great fun. The schools secretary Ed Balls, as well as launching the first ever “national year of reading” in a decade, is also encouraging all parents to share a bedtime story with children daily as this could be one of the most important parts of their childhood.

Balls has said that the dropping literacy standards in the UK compared to other countries in Europe is partly because children have been brought up to enjoy reading less. But he argues that a ten-minute read before bed every night would be enough to kickstart their enthusiasm, and it should be as routine as “brushing their teeth or having a bath”. Indeed the success of such activities may be clearer when we see that many leading authors have sworn by their own experiences of bedtime reading as an essential part of growing up and forming their careers in later life. For example, the poet laureate Andrew Motion says:

“[I loved] the Mary Plain books, which my mum read herself as a child, and one book called Tim Minds the Shop. She started when I was very young. I went to bed, said my prayers and had a story. It went on 15 minutes and my brother and I always begged for it to go one longer. Perfect, really.”

Similarly the best-selling author Philip Pullman, famous for his His Dark Materials trilogy has said that he was always read to by his Mother, favourites including Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. He said:

“Children don’t need simple language, they need beautiful, rich language,”

He also warned that parents shouldn’t get excited about using the stories as a way of teaching their children phonetics at the expense of the actual story:

“Reading is not about phonics, it is about fun. It is about the jolly japes the cat in the hat gets up to, not about CAT.”

Parents should take note that reading is essential as a way of encouraging children to use their imagination and have some fun as well as become more proficient at language. In today’s busy world where parents don’t seem to have much time for their children, it is also something that brings family members together, and it doesn’t matter what age you are, for being able to enjoy a story can be appreciated at all ages.

Rushda: Alternative medicines and treatments such as aromatherapy and homeopathy will start to be regulated this year by the government for the first time. Not only have alternative treatments always been regarded with some suspicion before for how well they work, but their very dubious nature has allowed many practitioners to take advantage of the fact that there are no rules and they have been able to market whatever they like to gullible clients. Thus a new organisation called the Natural Healthcare Council, backed by the Prince of Wales, will make sure that certain minimum standards are met in both the medicines offered and the abilities and professionalism of the practitioners.

Even though some alternative remedies are regarded as bogus by many, millions of people in the UK regularly use them. Indeed, it is estimated that £130 million a year is spent on complementary medicines with the figure sharply increasing by the year. The scheme will cover all complementary treatments such as “aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, nutrition, shiatzu, reiki, naturopathy, yoga, homoeopathy, cranial osteopathy and the Alexander and Bowen techniques”. Surprisingly studies have also shown that over two thirds of people in Britain believe that such remedies are valuable, many even claiming that they are the same or even better than conventional treatments.

It is therefore worrying that currently, unlike conventional medical practitioners, anyone can actually set themselves up as a reiki or reflexology professional and they would not be breaking any laws, leading much of the public into thinking that they are actually qualified. Now, the public will hopefully be able to ascertain the quality of different practices by checking if they conform to the government standard. Though joining the scheme is voluntary, businesses will lose out if they fail to give customers any evidence of their professionalism.

As Ian Cambray-Smith, of the scheme, says:

“Although it is a voluntary scheme, we believe that in dealing with misconduct by therapists it will be almost as robust as statutory regulation, and as tough as we can make it. Suspension from the register will be the ultimate sanction. It will be good for practitioners, good for patients, and even good for the NHS. If there is a complaint, the council will convene a board of lay people, plus two practitioners, to review the case. If it is proven, a second board will determine what disciplinary procedures to take.”

Personally I am very sceptical about any alternative treatments, as they are probably harmful at worst and placebos at best. Whatever your views on them though, it is clear that there will be a lot of hoaxes amongst the genuine treatments. Therefore any proper regulation on the part of the government can only be a good thing.

Virgil: We’ll all have come across flu at some point in our lives. Less commonly referred to as influenza, it is a dangerous virus that spreads during winter and causes as many as 1,000,000 deaths every year (4,000 in the UK). To combat this, most people are strongly encouraged to get an annual flu vaccination, and this demand sets drug companies into a manufacturing rush each winter. However, the problem for such companies is not so much the quantity as the quality of the drug; because the virus mutates over time, it needs to be constantly altered to fit the particular strain that is circulating.

It is for this same reason that people have to have the jab again and again to maintain immunity. This is of course expensive, as well as tedious for patients, resulting in many people simply not getting the jab at all. However a new vaccine produced by drug company Acambis hopes to be able to tackle all possible mutations of the most common form of the virus, Influenza A. The drug, appropriately named ACAM-FLU-A, works by targetting a particular protein named M2 that is present in all strains of flu. Previous drugs targetting different proteins showing up on only some of the strains.

In a limited human trial, 9 out of 10 patients developed lifelong immunity to flu, however Acambis scientists are now working to perfect the drug before larger human trials. Dr Michael Watson is very confident:

“As a universal vaccine, ACAM-FLU-A can potentially overcome many of the drawbacks of existing influenza vaccines. It can be manufactured at any time of the year, and could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic or potentially used routinely to ensure population protection against future pandemics.”

It is the notion of a pandemic that scares most experts. Analysts claim that a pandemic of the human form of bird flu across the world is “inevitable”, and that when this arrives it could kill as many as 50,000,000 people. At this sort of scale, the “winter-only” drugs currently in use would be much less effective in stopping the virus, which would mutate as it moves around. But will the new lifelong jab prevent this kind of catastophe? Whilst it has the potential to immunise most of us to most types of flu we are likely to encounter, Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, states that “larger trials and tests on a wider range of viruses will be needed before the full potential for pandemic protection can be assured.”