Following my previous blog/rant about public transport, I am pleased to hear that Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced that he is to scrap the western extension of the congestion charge.
The Mayor stood on a soap box in Portobello Road yesterday and told residents and market traders that the £8 per day charge is to be stopped.
The Evening Standard report him saying to the 'cheers from residents and market traders': "The people of London have spoken and we have listened."
Mr Johnson's decision to put an end to the congestion charge in the West end follows evidence that the imposed charge failed to reduce congestion.
Many market traders, such as those residing in Portobello Road have been affected negatively by the congestion charge as it has stopped their regualar customers entering the area.
Boris Johnson took a dig at the former London Mayor - The Evening Standard reports:
“We could have ignored the data like the last Mayor but we will not do that. I want to remove this tax by 2010 and hopefully before. It will be great for this part of London which is already struggling and it is absolutely the right thing to do, especially from an economical point of view.”
As of 2010, the congestion-charge zone will no longer include Kensington, Chelsea, Belgravia, Pimlico and Bayswater.
The original congestion-charge zone by Edgware Road and Park Lane will continue as before.
I spend far too much of my time travelling on the tube. During these unfotunate times, I have discovered a great many (too many) grievances. You may be able to relate to a few if you live in London:
Over-crowded tubes. If you can actually squeeze yourself into a carriage, you find yourself pressed against one or more strangers, head tilted upwards to try gasping for oxygen.
When pressed against said stranger, it doesn't help if she/he/it has (a.) bad breath (b.) bodily odours (and I ain't talking flowers).
When a tube is so overcrowded it can't squeeze you in. I know I have just ranted about squashed carriages, but when you're running late you don't care how crammed that carriage is.
People with bags. A lady carrying a large handbag may not realise that the square area of her handbag is actually the equivalent to a large baby. Similarly, men's briefcases are often on my leg-knocking offenders' list. I think the worst genre of bag offenders would have to be the backpack carriers. They dosh you round the face on the tube, but don't even realise and just keep on walking on in their blissful backpack ignorance. Don't even get me started on suitcases in rush hour.
Eating smelly food on the tube. 'Please don't eat smelly food' signs are there for a reason people.
Listening to your iPod with earphones that could well be speakerphones.
Talking at a high decibel on your mobile phone. Yes, thank-you Shelley, we didn't all need to know that your boyfriend dumped you last night while you were out on the piss.
Drunken louts at night. Especially if they start flirting/talking to you.
Over-zealous couples.
Delayed tubes. An obvious negative, but frustrating and unavoidable all the same.
Getting stuck in a tunnel for a prolonged period of time, especially if it's crowded (please see 1 and 2).
Obese people who take up more than one seat on the tube. It's just selfish really.
Farting. Yes it happens. The culprits are often silent farters whose fartish smells then proceed to fill the whole carriage. Beware if you are standing next to one of these culprits; people may think the smell originates from yourself.
I'm sure I could think of many more, in fact I probably will when I catch my favourite mode of transport again tomorrow.
In the meantime I am actually turning this tube 'rant' into a three week feature. Each week I will write about tube related topics.
Next week please the next tube-blog for Tube Praise.
Chancellor Alistair Darling is to announce a new top rate of tax of 45 per cent. This will apply to high earners of £150,000 or more.
The new rate will come into play after the next general election and will affect nearly 300,000 people, while raising about £1.2 billion.
Today, in another attempt to help the economy, Mr Darling cut VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15.
The Times however reported David Cameron saying that he could not see the long term benefit of these plans: "I think people are going to be shocked when they see the extent of government borrowing."
One possible concern that could derive from the Chancellor's decisions to stimulate the economy is that we may forget the original reasons behind the financial crisis in the UK.
Bankers, policymakers and regualtors have failed the system and this year, we have all had to pay the price.
Let us not forget that the reason we are undergoing a credit crunch is because of these groups of people mentioned above, despite the actions Alistair Darling may take to manage and control the economy.
The Mask of Zorro may conjure up images of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones for some. For me it now conjures up colourful images of peasant girls and men dancing and singing songs on stage.
Yes, that's right - I saw The Mask of Zorro musical at the Garrick theatre in London and loved it.
Interestingly The Mask of Zorro combines its story with songs from The Gipsy Kings, and surprisingly, the result is a fantastic musical with a real Spanish flair.
The musical has lively opening scene comprising of tap dancing and Spanish singing (Gipsy Kings of course). The scene ends with an impressive 'Z' zigzagging its way across the stage in flames, and is reminiscent of the film's same inflamed letter striking its way through the Spanish mountains.
The costumes are colourful and bright, and the two tier stage is successfully employed throughout the show.
The cast gave everything they possibly could to the performance, and this came across in the songs and Spanish dances.
This show is incredibly upbeat and lively and I left wanting to go salsa dancing in Spain! In these depressing times of the credit crunch, this energetic and positive cast is exactly what every Londoner needs.
Rating: 10/10
Below you can view a video of The Gipsy Kings singing live:
My love affair with books began with Beatrix Potter and her furry little animal friends.
Jemima Puddle-Duck often waddled across my thoughts, while I worried that naughty Peter Rabbit would eventually be punished for all those home-grown cabbages he used to munch on.
I later learned the jolly delights that Enid Blyton had in store. I longed to join Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on their adventurous escapades in The Famous Five.
I secretly used to reread the parts when they all went on picnics. Anne's mother would pack them mouth-watering hamper-baskets of picnic food and I loved reading the descriptions of those delectable delights!
The Secret Seven and The Faraway Tree were also a couple of the well-thumbed books that adorned my little bookshelf as a child.
My best friend and I even invented a club called 'The Secret Two' in an attempt to emmulate our favourite ficticious characters. We had stickers, badges and even a secret language! It used to drive my poor nanny crazy.
Yesterday an assortment of Times writers chose the children's fiction works that most inspired them when they were younger.
Caitlin Moran: The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis Ben Macintyre: Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak Erica Wagner: A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin David Aaronovitch: The Bombard, by Henry Treece Matthew Purdis: Pookie, by Ivy Wallace Libby Purves: Moonfleet, by J.Meade Falkner Carol Midgley: The Wishing Chair, by Enid Blyton Simon Barnes: The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling Daniel Finkelstein: Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A.Milne
What were your favourite books as a child? How will the children of the next generation answer to this question? Harry Potter I imagine.
Or perhaps they will only remember DVDs and computer games. Unfortunately I envisage High School Musical to become a notorious children's staple.
Schools that are registered on the new program will be able to claim hundreds of complimentary books. All they need to do is collect and send off tokens from The Times.
In this increasingly technological age, it is almost innovative yet modernist bring back the book.
As The Times wisely say: "Reading is still the basis of education and the beginning of wisdom...The books read at school are a pathway to the stars."
There are countless reasons why people love books so much. A few of these are:
1.) A shelf full of books can come to be an old friend and you grow attached to what each books means to you.
2.) There is nothing better on a cold dark Winter's night than snuggling up by a toasty fire with a good book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
3.) You can take a book anywhere; the beach, bed, the tube or bus, the bathroom...
4.) AND you don't need to plug it in, log on to anything, or recharge. Once a book is bought, it's your trusty wireless friend for life!
5.) Reading can make you a more interesting and knowledgable person (depending on what you read of course!)
In November 2007 a new digital reader from online bookseller Amazon was launched.
It was a fairly unsuccessful attempt to do for reading what iPod did for the music record industry.
This awful device can wirelessly download a book in less than 60 seconds and store up to 200 volumes. It costs a hefty £238.
Apparently it is gentle on the eyes as there is no backlighting. Ink particles are electronically activated and so give the screen the same quality as ink on paper (apparently).
It offers access to 90,000 books, 11 daily newspapers, Wikipedia and internet blogs.
On (digitally enhanced) paper, a great idea. Charlie Tritschler, head of the Kindle project certainly thinks so. The Times report Tritschler saying that the name Kindle came from the “concept of kindling the love of reading”.
Book or digital screen?
If I wanted to kindle or even rekindle my love of reading I would go and sink myself down into the cushy corduroy beanbags at Waterstones with a big pile of books.
I would not go and buy some spangly device that looks like a 'chunky calculator' and start trying to download books - which, by the by, you still have to pay for.
I do understand though that a huge positive to 'Kindle' is the 'save the planet' green factor. By using digital books we would need to chop down less trees for paper.
In my opinion though, the day we start reading book on screens rather than hardback because it saves paper is the day the world goes crazy and we all start using hairdryers instead of toilet roll.
Books for Schools is a blessing that The Times have not disguised. Hopefully we will see more innovative ideas similar to theirs soon.
Read my blog tomorrow on children's favourite books.
Last night the 'Endeavour' space shuttle in the USA launched into space on its mission for 2008.
The BBC report that it is to carry cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).
The shuttle took off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and is also to drop off astronaut Sandra Magnus, as well as taking new equipment for six of the crew at the ISS.
There are to be four spacewalks on this two week flight, so that crew members can work on the space station's solar power system.
The ISS is to receive home improvement
The ISS is to receive home improvement; the crew will install new living quaters with an added bathroom and a galley, according to James Morgan from BBC News.
The crew are also to have two new dormitaries and more exercise clothing.
NASA is planning to increase the station's crew size from three to six in May 2009.
The BBC report that Endeavour crew member, Sandra Magnus has commented that:
"With six people, you really do need to have a two-bathroom house. It's a lot more convenient and a lot more efficient."
Also amongst the cargo that is being transferred is a very heavy water system.
On Earth this refrigerator-sized equipment needs a forklift to lift them. In space however, an astronaut can move them around with little problem.
BBC Online report that Endeavour and its crew are to due to land back at Kennedy on 30 November.
You can see a video of the Endeavour launch last night below:
Conservative MP Mark Field has controversially spoken out about the recent death of 23-year old rugby player Daniel James.
He criticised comments that Daniel’s parents had made saying their son was a ‘second class citizen’ because he had been paralysed.
These comments were made just days after Daniel James had taken his life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland.
At the House of Commons this Wednesday, Mr Field said that: ““The notion of a second class citizen is very dangerous as it implies that some lives are more valuable than others. There is a huge lack of common sense shown here.”
Mark Field questioned our rights to take our own lives and to be assisted in doing so, “The decision should be made by a higher unearthly power.”
The debate in The House of Commons on assisted suicide followed from the recent decision by the court not to change the law regarding assisted suicide.
This issue has been brought into the media light by multiple-sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy who is also terminally ill.
Ms. Purdy wishes to take her life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland, with the assistance of her husband, Omar Puente.
However, she wants to do so safe in the knowledge that her husband will not prosecuted for his assistance on his return to the UK. The law as it stands is a possible 14 years imprisonment for assisted suicide.
The notion of a second class citizen because of disability or terminal illnesses is not uncommon.
The implications made by this notion are dangerous and could be abusive to vulnerable people.
The House of Commons on Wednesday were strongly divided in their arguments with regard to assisted suicide and no conclusions were made.
However, everyone agreed that the issue must be discussed further in government time and new laws on the matter need to be drawn up.
Today my fellow aspiring journalist friend Marriane Halavage and I went to The House of Commons to sit in on a debate about assisted dying.
Debbie Purdy, multiple-sclerosis sufferer who has recently been in the public eye due to her court procedures regarding assisted suicide, was present and sitting in the front row of the public gallery.
She did not however take part in the debate, and was assisted at all times by the MD of 'Diginity in Dying'.
Many different opinions were expressed and well argued throughout the debate.
Interestingly members from the same political parties strongly disagreed with each other.
My stance on assisted suicide remained the same after listening to the debate, if not actually making it even stronger.
My student-journo friend Marianne also stuck to her view on the subject although interestingly we both had completely different opinions on the matter.
Assisted Dying - Do you agree or disagree?
My gut instinct on somebody helping or assisting their loved one in killing themselves is an automatic 'no'.
Firstly, I don't agree that you should drag your loved ones into a sorry mess like this. Surely it would just impinge on their mental health once you have gone.
Also, in today's day and age there is plenty one can do if you are literally losing the will to live, even if you are disabled or terminally ill.
Going to death clinics such as 'Dignitias' in Switzerland, which is where Debbie Purdy plans to go, does not need to become a popular option and hopefully never will.
During the debate, Brian Idon from ‘Care not Killing’ quoted that 1 out 6 people who have been given lethal drugs by their doctors were suffering from undiagnosed depression.
Idon also quoted Lord Carlyle, who said that we fear being a burden to others when we are terminally ill or disabled.
He was not the only one to comment that the organisation Voluntary Euthanasia’ prey on this fear through rhetoric by changing their name to ‘Dignity in Dying’.
The name Dignity in Dying suggests euthansia is a dignified and even brave way to go. However, commiting suicide should not be applauded as brave and courageous.
Mary Wakefield from The Spectator has written a great, short and concise blog on this subject and I must say that I completely agree with all that she says. You can see her blog here.
Please see my next blog for a formal review of one Tory MP's arguement in the debate.
Last August a toddler known as 'Baby P' died in a cot that was covered in blood after enduring horrific abuse.
At the Old Bailey today, the boyfriend of Baby P's mother and their lodger, Jason Owen, were convicted of allowing or causing his death.
Despite there being over 60 visits to the family's house, no action was taken. This is a gross misjustice and I can't believe that over 50 visits were made and no-one actually helped Baby P.
Baby P was subjected to violent abuse from his mother's boyfriend, who is said to have a penchant for violence when he was younger, and liked to kill animals.
The boy suffered over 50 injuries over eight months of abuse; Baby P died unheard, unloved and abused.
The inept Haringey Social Services
There has clearly been some very ineffective workers somewhere in the care scheme. Two days before the child died last August, a doctor failed to notice his broken ribs and back.
Baby P had been on the child protection register of Haringey social services, but remained in the family's care.
Haringey Social Services were also responsible for Victoria Climbie, a child in the bourough who died under the care of her aunt in 2000.
This case is truly shocking, and what is more shocking is that the boyfriend of Baby P's mother or the lodger involved have not been convicted of actual murder.
What is so worrying about this case is that no-one did anything to help Baby P. How many other vulnerable children are suffering silently in the UK?
Please see here for background information on the case by The Telegraph.
My little sister loves The Sound of Music. Once upon a time a favourite of mine also, I happily agreed to watch the musical at the London Palladium Theatre in the West End (Argyll Street).
However, before the matinee performance I woke up full of skeptism. Why had I thought spending my Saturday afternoon seeing some kids musical was such a great idea?
Once in the dreaded theatre we sat down and I tried my best not to be too Scrooge-like about the whole blessed event.
The first scene saw stage filled with nuns holding fake candles. They walked around the stage and through the audience while singing shrilly.
I was already planning my early exit. The Sound of Music? More like the sound of total garbage.
However. Yes, there is a huge however to come.
As I resigned to the fate of my Saturday afternoon, the conductor caught my eye.
From this moment onwards things started to perk up. No not because he was fit, but because he was a delight to watch.
Watching the head of an orchestra elegantly and powerfully conduct its musicians can be likened to watching a graceful solo performance at the ballet.
Actually pretty good...
After the singing nuns thankfully made an exit, the story started to unfold.
My Londonised cynicism that I have grown to love (or hate?) soon thawed as I became reacquainted with my favourite childhood tale.
The stage settings and backdrops of the Austrian mountains were both realistic and beautiful.
The acting and singing were brilliant and it was easy to forget that I was only sat in the back row of a theatre in London, and not actually with the von Trapp family in Austria.
Please see the video below for the film-version Maria roaming the Austrian hills, and of course singing 'The hills are alive with the sound of music'.
Synopsis
Incase you had a deprived childhood and have not seen the film of The Sound of Music, let me quickly relay the plot synopsis to you.
The Sound of Music is set in Austria 1938, during the rise of the Nazi regime.
A young Austrian nun, Maria, is sent from her abbey to govern seven children from a very wealthy household nearby.
Unlike their previous governesses, the children warm to Maria. The wife of Captain von Trapp died many years ago, and since then he has not allowed any joy or music into the household.
However, Maria overwhelms him with her passion for music and his heart warms; the children are constantly singing and happy under Maria's supervision.
Captain von Trapp is a true Austrian and refuses to confrom to the Nazis' regimes. This means that the family must flee from their native country if they are to escape Nazi punishment for remaining loyal to their nationality.
Call me sentimental but...
Maria and the von Trapp family pass their time by playing, singing and simply being with each other.
In a society where many thrive on status, money and technology, it was refreshing to see the often forgotten themes of love, family and yes, music, take centre-stage during the musical.
Call me idealistic or sentimental but I think that the rural way of life of the von Trapp family would be fulfilling.
Maria is a typical example of the 1930's woman. She can sing beautifully, can make her own clothes and has strong family values.
This may sound anti-feminist but I wouldn't mind knowing how to make my own clothes or sing a song without breaking the eardrums of those around me!
Unfortunately, I am not sure how easy it would be these days to find someone like Captain von Trapp and to live in the hills of Austria with seven children just singing the days away. In fact, I'm not sure how easy it would hvae been during Maria's zeitgeist either.
Thoughts on The Sound of Music
The story held everything you would look for... Drama, excitement, politics, history, a love story and childish memories and jokes.
The song lyrics often reflect Maria's life. The governess starts off in a nunnery primarily because she wants to escape from her past life.
In becoming a nun, you automatically are part of something, even if it just a bunch of nuns. You are taken care of and in the safe knowledge that you are doing good.
When Maria finds herself in a romantic predicament with Capitain von Trapp, she escapes again to the Abbey. This time though, the Mother Abbess tells her to reutrn to the von Trapps.
Maria must face her fears and find her own path to climb. Yes, you guessed it; she must 'Climb Every Mountain' until she finds her dream! Please see my next blog for the verse and film clip of this song.
Worth seeing?
Overall, Maria was well cast in the production. In real life her name is Summer Strallen. Interestingly, Summer played herself in Hollyoaks as an actress trying to make it in the theatrical world.
The von Trapp children in the musical were all fantastic ators and sang with passion and depth.
The Saturday afternoon audience were a young bunch, and everyone seemed in a jolly mood after the play.
If you need a shot of happiness and music in your life, go and see The Sound of Music!
The musical has had reviews, with the general consensus being that it is a musical that can bring a lot of joy to the audience.
Charles Spencer from The Daily Telegraph reviewed the musical as:
"A show that restores one's faith in human nature. I left with a sprint in my step and a smile on my face... Suddenly the world seemed a brighter face."
My sentiments exactly Charles.
Rating: 10/10
* If you need a quick shot of happiness and don't have time to see the musical, here are two short and sweet film clips of the von Trapp children singing:
John McCain used Obama’s background as a negative argument towards his opponent during the campaigns, leading to the topicality of the question ‘Who is Obama?’.
In response, Obama sportingly joked that he comes from Krypton, the planet where Superman was born.
But where is Obama from? Who are his family? Every day the new president seems to have a new step-grandmother or unknown uncle popping up all over Kenya and America.
Family is incredibly important to Obama and it is a known fact that whilst he was senate, he always made an effort to be back at home with his wife and children from Thursday to Sunday each week.
Obama referred to his family in his election victory speech, and said that he loved his children ‘more than they could ever know’. He also made a loving dedication to his wife during the same speech:
"And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years … the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation’s next first lady … Michelle Obama."
The family behind Barack Obama
Barack Obama was born August 4, 1961. Obama and his wife have two children between them, Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7. Below is an interview with the Obamas - I defy you not to like them!
The President was born in Hawaii to Barack Hussein Obama from Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white American from Kansas. His parents met while studying together at the University of Hawaii, and married in 1961 and divorced in 1964, when Obama was two years old.
Obama’s father only saw his son once more on a return to Kenya before dying in a motorbike accident in 1982.
Obama was mostly brought up by his maternal grandparents. His grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, died on the eve of the Presidential election.
Ann Dunham, Obama’s mother, died of ovarian cancer in 1995.
The extended family
In an interview in 2006, Obama talked about his numerous relatives, “Michelle will tell you that when we get together for Christmas or Thanksgiving, it’s like a little mini-United Nations… I’ve got relatives who look like Bernie Mac, and I’ve got relatives who look like Margaret Thatcher.”
In Obama’s outer-immediate family, he has seven half-siblings from Kenya, all from his father’s side. Six of them are living. He also has a half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. Maya is his mother’s daughter.
Obama’s paternal step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, lives in a Kenyan Nyang’oma Kogelo village near his other relatives. The village is 30 miles away from Kenya’s main town, Kisumu, which is next to Lake Victoria.
Sarah Obama is a member of the Luo, the third largest ethnic group in Kenya. Many of Obama’s other paternal relations are also members of this group.
Obama’s grandmother Sarah was the third wife of Obama’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama (1895-1979). Barack Obama has been known to call his grandmother ‘Granny Sarah’, although she is not a blood relation.
Sarah Obama speaks mostly Luo and communicates with her step-grandson with the help of an interpreter.
The Evening Standard have reported that Obama's family in Kenya have said that his historic electoral victory is a "victory for the world".
Obama's relatives partied through the night. Kiran Randhawa from The Evening Standard has reported that Obama's half-brother Abongo, 51, "wept tears of joy and relief as the win was was annonunced and heard Barack thank his family for their help."
Abongo viewed the live election coverage on a portable television with his relatives in their native village.
The Evening Standard reports Abongo's brotherly pride: "I never had any doubt my brother would do this. This is a historic moment...for the entire world."
Please see the video below for coverage of Obama's family celebrating in Africa:
Sarah Obama is thrilled for her grandson
Barack Obama's grandmother, Sarah Obama, is a woman of simple means, and has always maintained that the fame and glory of her grandson would not affect her lifestyle.
The Guardian report on her uncomplicated way of living. Sarah wakes at dawn, tends her vegetables, goes to the market and then to bed.
Even on Wednesday night - election night - Sarah continued as normal with her daily routine, turning in for bed early. Other members of the family camped at her house but could not sleep for excitement.
CNN announced Obama's victory over John McCain at 7am the following morning. This time, Sarah Obama joined in all the commotion and allowed herself to be caught in the emotion of her surrounding family.
A few hours later, she expressed her emotional sentiments to The Guardian, "I don't know if I will die of happiness."
When asked if she had any advice for the new president, she said: "He should work very well globally, especially for world peace."
Joy in Kenya
Elsewhere in Kenya where people think of Obama as one of their own, The Guardian report the euphoria to have spread.
Spontaneous parties were thrown in the eastern port city of Mombasa. In Nairobi young men were marching through a slum singing: "Obama don't sleep. The struggle is still on."
President Mwai Kibaki declared today as a bank holiday in celebration of Obama's victory much to the delight of the people of Kenya.
In the village near Sarah Obama's house in Kogelo, hundreds of locals had stayed up throug the night and were danicing whilst watching the election procedures on screen. Barak Obama's father had been raised in this village.
Kenya is not expecting to receive help from Obama. The Guardian reported Auma Obama, the half-sister who Obama thanked in his speech, as saying: "As a family we support Barack, but have not got expectations [of him helping us in Africa]."
"He is an American ... if there any changes to they will be in America and the world."
The Democrat Barack Obama is to become the 44th President of the United States after defeating John McCain in an extraordinary election yesterday.
Obama received 349 Electoral College votes, compared to McCain's 162.
Obama's new position in the White House will bring a resounding end to the Bush years. A change is to sweep through America, and that change is Obama.
The new American President will not be falling into a well-cushioned seat from Bush though. He must take on two £2 billion pound wars and an economy that is in national crisis.
Obama's promises to try and start to solve America's economy resounded strongly amongst voters who saw the financial state of America as the most important issue.
Americans' urgent need and want for change resulted in a turnout in casting ballots that is expected to smash records.
In 2004 123 million people accross America voted. Last night over 130 million votes were counted.
The Times reported today that many poll workers expressed astonishment at the number of people waiting for up to four hours to cast their ballots. For many it was their first time.
In their speeches after the election, McCain and Obama have no bad words to say about each others' opposition leaders.
Please see below for Obama's inspirational and moving victory speech in Chicago last night.
'Yes we can' man Obama is the first African-American president. Today the press has been making many comparisons between Barack Obama and Martin Luther King.
Had 72 year old John McCain become President today, there would have been a huge loss of confidence and faith in America. The US need new political strategies, hope, and a new lead.
Can Obama do it? Yes he can.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
For some bizarre reason, my latest blogs are not showing. To view my more recent blogs, please click '2008' under 'View Profile'.
This is a blog I started during my media-based MA at Westminster Uni. I do still visit it occasionally though! Feel free to contact me charlottehanger@me.com
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