A woman at the top of the Church of England

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20385411

Summary:

This article is about whether or not women are allowed to become bishops. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Right Reverend Justin Welby support this move. A fast majority of Church members are in favour of this change. The traditionalists are strongly against this change.
According to the Church this is the next logical step after the decision made 20 years ago that allowed women to become priests.

This week the Church of England General Synod is going to vote if women should be allowed to become bishops. When the Church votes against this amendment the proposal will be dismissed for the next seven years.
Already one third of all clergy are women. So this seems the most logical step. The difficulty of this voting is that in every House a majority of two-third needs to vote in favour to get this measure legislated. If approved in 2014 the first women bishop could be a fact.

Opinion:
I believe that men and women should be treated equally in every position when both are equally fit for the job. In many professions the opposite sex is accepted, look at the army, the police and fire fighters in these professions women are seen as equal.

After 20 years where women are allowed to be priests I believe it is a logical step forward that women can also be bishops. I cannot see why a man is better at this job than a woman. And where did God say: “This profession is only for men!!” So I hope to hear the news soon that The Church of England and all his Houses voted in favour of this amendment! This would be a huge step forward in a very conservative environment.

Should we cut our veggies on the toilet seat?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20324304

Summary:

This article is about how clean or filthy some places in our house really are.
We are inclined to say that the dirtiest place is our toilet seat but is this true?
According to scientist at an average toilet seat there are 50 bacteria per square inch. The same scientist found out that our cutting board is 200 times filthier. Should we cut our food on the toilet seat than, no but the experts say we better clean our cutting board just like our toilet seat.
The cutting board is dirtier this is due to the raw meat we cut on it.
The dirtiest thing in our household is the sponge and the cleaning clot! But do not forget your cell phone it is as dirty as your toilet seat…and your keyboard hold 200 times as many bacteria.
Our sponge holds 10 million bacteria per square inch and it is not only the amount of bacteria but also the dangerous E.coli bacteria that are in such a sponge makes the sponge dangerous thing. Are we at risk than in our house? We need to replace these things regularly.

Several scientist around the world tested different houses and what they found out is that household above the equator are cleaner that the households below the equator.
Not only objects in our houses are filthy don’t forget the shopping trolleys and the reusable bags. Some people have more faecal bacteria their grocery bag than in their underwear.

If we want to prevent ourselves we need to wash our hands several times a day and certainly after we have visited the little room.

Opinion:

I already knew that the toilet was not the worst place to be when it comes to hygiene in our house. Because we are so aware of the dirt and faeces we can find there we tend to clean it more often. I would have imagined the door handle would be one of the filthiest places we have in our household. Luckily I do not use a sponge but this article made me aware that I had to get a new dishcloth. You forget how dirty things we use every day can get. I do not want to know how many bacteria there are on my keyboard…while I’m writing this piece!! Maybe it is better when you do not think of it too much. And maybe once in awhile we need to get a fresh cloth and clean our cell phone and keyboard. I think I would now!!

And wash my hands a bit more often.

How to reduce preterm births.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20342108

Summary:

Every year fifteen million babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Doctors think this number can be reduced by at least 5%. This could be done by stopping multiple IVF pregnancies.
Experts want to perform more research to find out how to reduce the number of babies born early because this is also the second most common cause of death for children aged five.

Experts say that even in developing countries premature births can be reduced easily.

Two simple interventions are stopping smoking and promoting single pregnancies in IVF treatments. This alone could prevent a few thousand premature births each year.

Some doctors’ say that the effect of preventing preterm birth is very small. They hope to reduce the preterm births in developed counties to 5% and that this would lead to solutions in lower income countries. This should make a big difference on the costs on public health care too.

The effects on both mothers an child are huge. 

Opinion:
I think that if there are measures that can be taken in preventing preterm births this should be done. The effects on children are very high. The first years of these young children are problematic as in eating and drinking because they have not learnt to swallow properly due to all the tubes that took care of their need for food. Researchers found out that a lot of these children have a sort of learning disability. They are behind in social skills too. So not only the effects on health care costs right after these children are born are high even when they grow up they need more special care than children born at a pregnancy term of 37 weeks and up.
There will always be children born prematurely, but if mothers stop smoking before getting pregnant the risk of getting a preterm child is already smaller. In developing counties this kind of information should be spread widely. In developed countries there should be a stop on putting back more than two embryos’ when women have IVF treatment because women who carry more than one child have a higher risk on giving birth before the 37^th week of their pregnancy. Caesareans are one of the problems too, in some countries babies are born this way even though there was no medical need for it.
I hope to give birth in April to a healthy baby born in the most natural way as possible.

Omnishambles Omniwhat?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20309441

Summary:

Every year the Oxford English Dictionary chooses a word of the year. This year the word “Omnishambles” has been named word of the year. The word means: a situation which is shambolic from every possible angle. This word was first used in the political satire The Thick of It. Only this year it has been used in real life too mostly by politicians or about political situations.
Omnishambles was not the only word contesting for word of the year.

Other words where: Eurogeddon, because of the financial collapse in the euro zone and mummy porn due to the book 50 Shades of grey.
The Olympics had an influence in making new words. A new verb had arisen “to medal”. “Games Maker” the name for the thousands of volunteers at the Olympics.

One of the reasons for the judges to choose omnishambles was because it was impressed the judges.
Fiona McPherson, one of the lexicographers on the judging panel, said: "It's funny, it's quirky, and it has broken free of its fictional political beginnings, firstly by spilling over into real politics, and then into other contexts.

Although this word is chosen as word of the year this does not mean that we can find it in the dictionary now or ever.

Opinion:

I love to learn new words and find out new expressions for things or feelings. Even in Dutch I like to know what new words mean or what has been chosen as ‘new word of the year’. Due to new shows on television, multimedia and social media new words are made daily I think. Not all words will be used in daily life and if so not all words end up in dictionaries.
I like the sound of omnishambles, at least as I think how I should pronounce it, but I still haven’t found out how to pronounce it properly. I can not find how to say it because there is no registration of it.  A words as ‘Games Maker’ or ‘Eurogeddon’ is easier for me to pronounce in the right way. I hope to find out whether or not this word will make it into the Oxford English Dictionary.

the last dog...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20121304

Summary:

The popularity of small dogs the so-called “handbag dogs” is increasing rapidly. This causes a downfall on a number of native breeds such as the Sheepdog. The popularity of the Sheepdog and other breeds rose because people have seen them on television. If the registration of one kind of dog is under 300 this breed is considered vulnerable. This breed will be placed at the At Watch List when the number of registrated dogs is even lower. At this point there are 30 vulnerable breeds and four breeds are placed on the List. The Spaniel and Terrier are the most vulnerable breeds so far this year with less than 30 registrations. This is in large contrast with the almost 30,000 Labrador Retriever puppies registered last year.

Are there reasons for the Sheepdogs downfall? Well it needs lots of grooming and exercise and fashion had to do a lot with it.

Luckily there are also some success stories on former vulnerable breeds. The Norwich Terrier has seen a large increase in numbers since last years. This breed increased almost by 100%.

Opinion:

I believe it is sad that the popularity of a breed is depending on television and celebrities. Today Miss Paris Hilton has a Chihuahua and tomorrow she has a Labra Doodle. Those people make the standard of what is hot or not. If you what or need to be popular you look at the rich and famous and do what they do not thinking about the consequences. People intend to forget what a certain breeds need and do not know where this breed is most successful to keep. They just take a dog because of his cute face.

 On the other hand I believe that television and commercials could help a breed. Maybe this is what commercial makers should implement in their commercials. So away with the Retriever on the Cottonelle’s toilet paper packaging and on comes the sheepdog. When this has had the positive impact to increase a certain breed than it is time to use a new breed that is in trouble. Perhaps East Enders could use a lovely Terrier or a Spaniel to keep one of the families busy for a while.

I do think television is part of the successes or downfall of a breed but it could also help a breed in need.

More dead soldiers in Afghanistan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20077291

Summary:

Since the war started in Afghanistan more than 400 British soldiers have been killed. Yesterday this number increased by two. A Royal Marine and a British soldier while on patrol in Afghanistan have been killed. Before the death of this last female only two other British female personnel died since 2001. Sources tell different stories of what could have happened during this attack. An investigation was ongoing. The Ministry of Defense expects to have more information on Thursday. The official report for now says that current operational reports indicate this was an insurgent attack. In witch the Royal Marine and British soldier were killed. The spokesman for Task Force Helmand is very sorry to announce the two deaths and expresses his condolences to their families. Since the operation in Afghanistan started a total of 435 British military personnel have been killed.

Opinion:

I believe it is a pity so many young men and women have to die in a war that is not theirs. I know they are trained to protect not only their own country but also innocent people all over the world. I do think that is a good cause we all need to stand up for those who cannot do that for their own. However I cannot stop and wonder why after 11 years not much has improved over in Afghanistan. The Government there has not been properly build up. The police have nothing to say, rebels still rule and the people of Afghanistan are suppressed. Good soldiers die in a war of which I think cannot be won. Peace must be restored I understand that but I also think that the county is to divided and needs time to start to heal itself without interferences of the West.

doctors face annual skills check after 150 years

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-19992538

Summary:

Regular checks on doctors’ skills will start this year this is the biggest shake-up in medical regulations for more than 150 years. Every year doctors will have to prove they are worthy enough to do their job. If they prove to be insufficient they have the chance to improve their skills or knowledge. The first round of checks will be finished before April 2016.

If doctors fail to keep up the standard of the General Medical Council (GMC) they would be prevented to practice medicine.

 Last year a survey proved that the most doctors do a really great job but 0.7% of the doctors seem to fail miserably. This annual check should give the public new confidence in doctors.

After years of discussion about the way doctors are monitored a few sever incidents made this annual check final.
In the airline industry pilots face regular, on-going assessments, so why not doctors too! The new system should help improve the quality in the health industry. It took the GMC over 30 years if debating weather or not to have this annual check.

Each NHS organisation will have its own responsible officer who will be in charge of the revalidation. This person will assess the GP along with feedback from patients and colleagues to make a recommendation to the GMC every five years. If the GP proves to have had major issues GMC is allowed to the ultimate sanction which is being struck off the medical register.

Opinion:

It took the GMC only 150 years to come up with an annual check for doctors! I am shocked. The last 30 years they were talking about it without any result… I feel sorry for all the patients and family of the patients how end up with sever health problems and in some cases even death due to malpractice of these doctors. The most worrying thing is that some of these so called GP or specialists still practice medicine. They are still able to do people harm. These people have put their trust into these doctor’s hands. How should you as a patient trust a doctor again?
I am glad to see something finally happened and is going to start really soon. I do hope that the rotten apples will loose their licence to practise so that the good doctors are able to do there work right and do justice to their profession!

I want for Chistmas...

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19947073

Summary:

Toy makers have done there utmost best this year to get on top of children’s Christmas list.
Furby our cuddly friend from 1998 has made his comeback. This time even more advanced. His eyes are no longer infrared but two small LCD screens and loads more motors inside to control the Furby. What should make it most appealing for children is that has his own smartphone or tablet add so you get more interactive with Furby.

The new Furby is not the only thing that happened in toy makers land. Apps have enhanced beyond believe. Wowwee made App Gear to create the best interactive levels out of real places. Now you can shoot aliens in your own living room only using your smartphone or tablet.

Even Ravensburger our well known puzzle maker tried to get into the 21 century. After a puzzle is complete it can be brought to life with your smartphone or tablet.

Of course the toy makers did think of the youngest amongst us. Toddlers now have a tablet of their own. Parents don’t have to be afraid of children spoiling over the tablet because of the rubber band that is placed especially for them. What about children's unlimited excess to the internet? It can be protected at age range or bedtime so would you want to use your toddler’s tablet you do not have to use passwords after bedtime because of the time clock you had installed at first.

Opinion:

What a money-makers!! I can imagine children wanting these gadgets! I would have wanted them when I was young. I do not hope my children want them…well they will not get them. I believe it is over the top. I believe in being together at Christmas or Sinterklaas. Spending quality time as a family is how I see Christmas and Sinterklaas should be spent. Playing games see Scrooge for the fiftieth time and sing Christmas carols after diner. I do not have problems with giving each other gifts and spending a bit more on my children but in a time of crisis I can not afford to spend more. However even when there had not been a crisis I would not have bought presents for my children worth more than 70 euro’s.
As long as my children believe Sinterklaas exists we will not celebrate Christmas with presents.
I believe it is wonderful with what the toymakers came up with and I can imagine my daughter wanting the Furby because he is so cuddly and when my son is a bit older I can imagine him wanting the App Gear so he can shoot aliens in his room. If they really want them they can have them but they need to save their money so they learn the value of it.

smoking in cars most dangerous

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19946656

Summary:

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health. What is even worse is second-hand smoking. Researchers have tried to measure how bad smoking in cars is. The researchers tested 85 car journeys and they were shocked to find out that smoking in cars is three times more toxic than in the open air. Even with the window open toxic levels are higher than the World Health Organisation recommends.
Before smoking in bars was banned researchers measured in bars one-half to one-third of the recommended toxic levels on second-hand smoking.
Researchers believe that smoking in cars should be forbidden to protect the children of the parents who smoke in their cars. There are some people who are against it because they feel the next step is a legislation to prohibit smoking in homes. They feel parents should use their common sense.
Others are in favourite of this legislation because it could save lots of health cost on children who due to passive smoking suffer from lower respiratory tract infection, bacterial meningitis, and even in some cases sudden infant deaths.
There are even people in favour to ban smoking in cars completely.

Opinion:

I strongly believe smoking in places where children are should be forbidden. I stopped smoking before I had children and I told my partner he could only smoke outside the house. I believe it is a persons own choice to smoke or not, but a child has no say in this. Therefore the child should be protected at any cause. Researchers showed that smoking in cars is even worse for second-hand smokers than it would be in a bar. If a parent can not be responsible enough to smoke outside or after his journey in his car I do feel that a legislation could be the only way to force people to do better for there children. I do think it is sad that there has to be a legislation to force people to behave better and make sure their children do not get sick or in some cases die.

say farewell to the day of the diesels!

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/%C2%A39bn-to-be-spent-on-railways-qanda/

Summary

In this article we will find out how much money will be spend on which track and what will happen when the track is being renovated also a part of the budget will be spend on a new schedule. The British railway tracks are from the Victorian era and it is time they became from this era. The diesel costs are very high therefore the track should be electric. Electric trains are cheaper and lighter. Because they are lighter they do not damage the tracks a much as diesels do. Only the tracks in England and Wales will be renovated the once in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Scottish parliament and Northern Ireland assembly respectively.

Opinion

I think it is wonderful that the old train system will be up to date. Unfortunately is will take several years to do so. I wonder how many people will experience headaches over this renovation. I meant the people using the train to go to school or work. Commuting by train is great but what if the train does not come and you have paid for it?? Thank god for the Watchdog. They will keep an eye on it. Of course it is necessary to make the change to electricity it should have been done years ago. I hope to go to England once it is done and feel how light the train floats over the tracks…poor Thomas first the diesels and now electric trains!

to pay or not to pay tax

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-1898301

Summary

This article is about not paying tax. Lots of people do not pay their taxes because the government does not use their money wisely. One of the other reasons is that the wealthy like to keep their precious money where it is safest and kept after the best in their own hand, not literally of course. There are even advisors who promote not to pay tax. Around the world there should be some money lying around, stored away in offshore accounts. The amount that is stored away is $21tn. If this would be in government’s banks we would not be in crisis.

To give you an impression how much this is: if it was denominated in $1 bills, it would fill nearly 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Opinion

Everyone has to pay tax. I don’t like to pay tax either but when we all make put in some afford in paying taxes it will not kill us. I can not imagine how people scam the government and not pay tax. I do not know how they do that and I do not want to know. We are part of a society and everyone in there has to pay his or her share. When we do that we can build new houses, roads and see to it that everyone has the same basis for a descent healthcare. Maybe this is the time for the government to do something about this scam. This is fraud on a large scale!

folding cars solves problems

The New Urban Car Problem Solver?

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120613-folding-cars-offer-city-solution

Today we all want to go by car to work, to shop or to even bring our children to school. We commute alot and therfore the space to park and drive becomes less. Now there is an new car that should get commuters out of their car. The VE. This is a car espessially designed to fit the life of a commuter. This car weighs less that 500kg and in some countries you would not even need a licence to drive it.
this car is very small. It wheels can rotate 60% so side parking is like childsplay. When you get out of the car, at the front, the car will fold itself so you can put three and a half VE on one parking place.

The car is not designed for the highway. It can only drive up to 50km per hour and a distance of 75km. Recharcing would only cost 15 minutes. There is no steering wheel but a yoke. To drive you puch the yoke forwards, to break backwards and to go to the left you push left vice versa.
The goal is to use the cars just like bikke-sharing systems. Now it should be a car sharing system where you can lend a car ot go to work with.


I would love to have a car like that if I should work in the city center. I would ride my bike to the nearest charching post and drive to work. Or when I needed to go to buy myself a new outfit. Drive in my mini-mini car to the shops park where I want and no problems parking. How wonderfull would that be!!!
I am concerned about the nature too ofcourse and this would be a great oppertunity to reduse gas emissions also. Less CO2 producing cars, healtier air to breath who would not want this. The oil industry perhaps...well if we go on like this there will not be anything left in a couple of years. I would realy use this future car to commute. I believe it is a step forward to a better and healtier world for all of us.

Missed abortion

Dear students,

The title above is not a title of an article but what happend to me this vacation. I wanted to led you all know what happend and I chose this way. Last Thursday is had an appointment with my gynaecologist and during the ultrasound it showed that there was no longer any heartactivity. I was under the impression that I was 10 weeks pregnant however measuring the baby it showed it died when I was 8 weeks pregnant. The official term is missed abortion.

Yesterday (may 5th) I gave birth to this baby. We buried this baby in our garden. We bought butterflies and a beautiful plant to grow above it. Harry, my childeren and I are very sad this happend. I do not know what to write any more I hope to see you all soon.

Daniëlle :-(

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee (Speaker's corner)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17701477

Summary

This article is about the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elisabeth. Her sixtieth anniversary is something the Britons take pride in. This jubilee is not the first to be held in Great-Britain. Queen Victoria reigned for 64 years.

Also in other countries there have been jubilees of the same kind. In 2006 the King of Thailand marked his sixtieth anniversary and in 1986 the Japanese Emperor Hirohito celebrated 60 years on what is termed the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Queen Victoria had the grandest pageant of them all. She believed she was the grandest lady ever and the public felt the same according to Victoria. Although during the festivities the general mood was fine not everyone shared her opinion.

Now this year Queen Elisabeth reigns over Britain for the sixth decade. During her reign she has seen her monarchy and nation downsize. Britain is no longer an empire. Queen Elisabeth is looking forward to another ten years of reigning over Britain and to have her Platinum Jubilee.

Opinion

My opinion about the Queen’s reign is that I believe she should step down. Although in the article is said that the Briton have a senses of relieve to them that Queen Elisabeth still reigns. She reigned for sixty years now and I believe one should step aside and let a younger person take over. That is why I believe that Beatrix should step down too. Why don’t they?? Does QE believe Prince Charles is not the man to take the job…Maybe not! I don’t see why he should become king. I like to see Prince William as a king and reign over Britain. He comes across more as an adult than his father Britain’s court fool. Should QE wait until William is settled enough with Kate? But when is it enough? In my heart I believe QE will never step down and just like her father die reigning over Britain. I hope Charles has grown up by than or is senile and therefore not fit to become the next king and therefore William has to be Britain’s next king. Hopefully he and Kate have had three or more children and had some time to cherish their time “alone” so they can be the new king and queen of Britain.

earworms

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120411-why-do-songs-stick-in-our-heads/1
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120411-why-do-songs-stick-in-our-heads/2

This article is all about Music that gets stuck into your head.  “Neurologist Oliver Sacks wrote in his book Musicophilia that earworms are a clear sign of "the overwhelming, and at times, helpless, sensitivity of our brains to music".”

This article presents facts about what earworms are and why they are so hard to get rid off. Another thing the article presents is how you can get rid off this horrible tune that will not leave your mind. How nice there is a solution for this earworm problem!

Opinion:

Every now and then I have this earworm in my ear or head what ever you like to say. But most of the time I do not mind. A new song of my favorite artist, that catchy tune from the radio make me feel happy. Some times I like to hum a nursery rhyme that give me a feeling of nostalgia. The only time I dislike to have a song in my head is when it is sinterklaas time of Christmas time or when that new catchy tune is a dreadful song in my eyes. It is good to know there is a solution for when it is a problem.