Monthly Archive for June, 2010

George Osborne; The Economic Enforcer

For too many years, the Labour Government under the guidance of Gordon Brown ran the British economy at a deficit, using borrowed money to create jobs in the public sector as part of the the largest programme of gerrymandering ever undertaken;

Today, our new Chancellor, George Osborne, took the initiative and introduced the toughest Budget for nearly a century. He has rightly been dubbed ‘The Enforcer’ by the British press.

George Osborne delivers his first Budget

George Osborne delivers his first Budget flanked by Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander

Like many, I will be analysing the impact of the budget on my finances and those of my family, but what has struck me most so far is the image above…

A Conservative Chancellor delivering a budget consisting of many things that the Liberal Democrats opposed flanked by the two most senior Liberal Democrats; priceless!

Who said that there is never anything exciting in politics?! I wonder how they felt and how their party will react to their leadership supporting policies that they campaigned against just weeks ago.

Believe it or not, the Prime Minister was sitting behind George Osborne, curiously out of shot – perhaps conveniently?

I commend George Osborne and this brave budget. Well done, George – no longer ‘Boy George’ I think!

The ecstasy, then the agony!

I rushed home from the Mayor’s Garden to run some errands and grab supplies before settling down to watch what I had expected to be a glorious England victory over the USA.

With so much talk about the special relationship, and the recent Britain versus USA discussions emanating from the BP Oil Spill disaster, I was hopeful of a resounding victory and things got off to a fantastic start with Gerrard’s superb goal in the 4th minute.

However, that was the point at which we seemed to peak – allowing the USA to come back with a tame equaliser that was only scored as the result of a shocking goalkeeping howler from Rob Green.

Rob Green's World Cup Howler

Rob Green's World Cup Howler

I will never quite understand what happened; he simply seemed to let the ball slip through this hands into the goal. Even the Americans seemed embarrassed to celebrate.

The look on his face said it all – a combination of dejection, shock, anguish and shame.

It could well become a career-defining moment, and the important thing is that it happened now, rather than in a more critical day.

I suspect that the experience of David James is suddenly looking very attractive and Capello will not sleep easily tonight wondering whether or not he made the right selections for this opening game.

That said, we mustn’t underestimate the USA; they are ranked 14th in the world (compared to England’s position at 8th) and have a number of Premiership players in their side.

However, the Press will turn on Capello quickly, and he will have a restless night thinking about what has happened and what could have happened.

Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello looking dejected after the England vs USA World Cup opener

For me, there are several questions for him to answer:

1. Was Green the right choice for goal?

2. Is Ledley King really ready to be playing at this level considering his injury record and lack of match fitness?

3. Was it sensible to leave Walcott at home when pace and ingenuity are of critical importance in a tournament like this?

It’s early days,  but, like many England supporters, I’m feeling subdued and nervous.

The only positives were an incredibly solid performance by Heskey, who was a commanding presence on the pitch and brilliant play from Johnson who is may Man of the Match.

Come on England – you can do better!

Come on England! World Cup 2010 is nearly here!

I am so excited about the World Cup that I have taken a week off work from 11 June to watch the beginning!

Football is clearly something that one never grows out of, because I am just as fired-up by the prospect of England’s opening game against the USA next week as I was about the 1990 World Cup where the late Sir Bobby Robson inspired his team to such greatness  – and where Gazza left his indelible mark on the British psyche with his tearful reaction to his yellow-card during during the semi-final match against Germany.

Paul Gascoigne crying during the World Cup 1990 tournament

Paul Gascoigne crying during the World Cup 1990 tournament in Italy

Looking back on World Cups also shows us how much the world has changed; 1990 World Cup was the first tournament in which African nations featured strongly, with Cameroon stunning Argentina in the opening game – countries like West Germany and Yugoslavia fielded national teams then, but no longer exist in those previous forms.

Football is one of the few things that genuinely brings the world together – even America is getting in on the act now!

The only fly in the ointment for me has been the steady commercialisation of football in the last 20 years – something that some would argue is inevitable, but that makes it no less desirable.

I typically shun the adverts of major brands tied into major sporting tournaments, but the ‘Adidas Originals – Star Wars Cantina’ advert is pure genius and has certainly got me in the mood.

If you haven’t watched this video, you should – David Beckham only has one line, but it is a classic!

Come on England!

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Death of a Nation? Thoughts on the future of Russia

My fascination with Russia started when I was a young boy and was encouraged to learn the teachings of Lenin by my father.

Back then, at the heart of the Soviet Union, Russia was portrayed as a dangerous but powerful enemy that promoted Communism against the West’s preferred model of economic and democratic freedom.

My first visits to Russia were magical – the mystery of a nation that had developed in isolation behind an Iron Curtain creating a people and culture that were so different from what I was used to that I was captivated by its romance of its improbability and novelty. Even the light-bulbs worked in a different way, and it was like stepping into a parallel universe where the same sorts of things happened as in ours, but just differently.

However, when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, many predicted that a short – but brutal – period of adjustment would see Russia transform itself in a market economy and a major world player.

That hasn’t happened.

Third World Poverty in RussiaMan busking in a Moscow Street

19 years later, Russia’s survival as a nation is called into question due to the alarming rate at which its population is declining, caused by a number of factors:

  • 10 million Russians are infertile;
  • Life expectancy of a Russian man is 56 – the same as in Bangladesh;
  • The Russian birth-rate is 50% of what is needed to sustain the population;
  • More than 50% of Russian pregnancies end in abortion;
  • A high percentage of Russian newborns have serious health issues;
  • Many educated, health and attractive young Russian women remain single and do not have children.

According to the Russian government’s own statistics and projections, its population may have halved by 2050 and it may cease to be a viable nation.

What is the future for Russia, a country that combines developed world birth-rates with developing world mortality rates?

This video documentary looks at the issue in detail, with a bleak assessment of life in this once great nation, which I hope will find a way to get back on its feet.

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I would encourage anyone who cares about the future of humanity to watch this documentary.

Classy British R’n'B from McLean

A fantastic song and a great video – and he wasn’t discovered on X Factor

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I’m certain that this will be a huge hit this summer; I’ve already pre-ordered it on iTunes and cannot wait to get it on my iPod.

Interestingly, the beautiful girl in the video is Elarica Gallacher who is best known for previously being in Eastenders and Harry Potter; nice to see that McLean is keeping it real with more British talent!

Elarica Gallacher

Elarica Gallacher

McLean

McLean