Finding something to talk about today was hard. Trying to find something that wasn't related to spying and therefore likely to put me on some list by talking about it made me become slightly interested with a story about a fellow who got a traffic cone stuck on his head, but you require a cleverer man that me to make up a joke about that...
By the way that is my excuse for the quality of this following blurb being horrible/the same as always. (oh good old self-deprecation, my go to move.)
Anywho, let me set the scene (...or find a story.) Nah, actually screw it...I've been looking to damn long. I think I will take this hallowed opportunity you have allowed me to talk a little about Mr. Nelson Mandela. (Still topical, No?)
From all accounts he's one hell of a guy.
Well thanks, for reading.
I know, that wasn't even funny, alright lets get down to business.
As if I really need to do this, but in case you don't know about the great man for some reason, Let me educate you a little.
Nelson Mandela is recognised as the father of true democracy in South Africa, and its first Black President following the fall of the apartheid regime in 1994. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that had been enforced in the country since 1948 which maintained the dominance of the white minority in the country over the indigenous majority. Without wanting to get too righteous about the injustice of this, I hope we can all agree it was pretty wrong. (By the way if you don't think it's wrong, would you kindly just scroll to the top-right hand side of the screen and click the "x", thanks.)
Anyways, Mandela agreed with the with the rest of us, and he did something about it. His campaigns and action against these injustices saw him imprisoned in 1962 for 27 years, till his long walk away from Robben Island prison in 1990. Let me just repeat, 27 years in incarceration for what he believed to be right.
Mandela became President of South Africa in 1994, until 1999. When he retired as "the father of a nation" & all round general badass. Mandela is revered all over the world for his personal sacrifice for his fellow man's profit and this alone makes him one of the most influential figures in World history.
If you think I'm skipping out a few details, then 1. You'd be right and 2. I'd kindly ask you get of my back and go read a book for yourself you lazy...friend.If you're even more uninformed than I thought and you are wondering why I'd bring this up at all then I would first implore you to start watching the news, (It will make you a more interesting person to talk to, I promise.) and secondly add that it sadly looks like Mr. Mandela's life is coming to an end due to lung complications which originate from tuberculosis that he contracted while in prison. The South African nation wait with baited breath (an unintentional pun I assure you) for news, but at the moment reports have been less than positive.
I struggled to think how to end this scrappy piece, so I thought a quote from the man himself might suffice...but then I couldn't choose just one, you're welcome.
"To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."
...or in Mandela's case a Hero.
Until Then.
I'm back like the proverbial bad smell...
Right, lets get to this then. Cambridge University, the bastion of the English elite and the epitome of education in this fair country (I'm from the UK by the way, as if this shit is worldwide) has come under attack today. Surprisingly this has nothing to do with extortionate fees or class conflict, but what some students have called a "shocking" and "horrific" test paper.
Details, Details I hear you fictional souls cry...that's where the devil lies isn't it? Well hold them proverbial horses I am getting to it, didn't your parents ever tell you that patients is a virtue. Well that is a debate for another time.
Enough with this waffle, ready? okay.
A final year Criminal law exam at Cambridge University has been criticised for being "beyond acceptable". The questions contained very graphic descriptions which I will now shameless regurgitate in order to sex up this thing in completely the wrong way.
As those among you willing to read can see there are references to Oral sex, male rape and torture in the question, hardly happy happy fun-time stuff. The reaction to this question has been mixed.
Sebastian Salek, a student who sat the test remarked that, "Some found it funny that a drinking society initiation was mentioned in a question, as the university tends to turn a blind eye to activities like that. Others were quite shocked."
The University itself has remained resolute on the issue. A spokesman for the university saying that, "hypothetical situations are presented in order to test students' understanding of different aspects of criminal law."
I have to say that against my better judgement I find myself agreeing with the University. If you intend to be involved in such a diverse field as criminal law, then you must be prepared for every facet that this title may encompass. While the example the university gave was perhaps a little crass, it was not overtly unrealistic. Maybe just a little.
In my opinion this is just a reflection in part of the sheltered students of the University itself, while I'm not trying to say that the university's example was "normal", it was just that, an example. But at the risk of turning this into a commentary on class, I think I will stop here.
I want to try and make this a dialogue not a lecture, so let me know, what do you think you beautiful people?
Until then.
Sources:
Question - http://i.imgur.com/Rwn0ykj.png
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22753017
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10094492/Graphic-content-of-Cambridge-University-law-exam-stuns-students.html
Forgetting...
although as Magritte said, "The mind loves the unknown. It loves images whose meaning are unknown, since the meaning of the mind itself is unknown."
So ponder that before you start to judge me.
"As sure as the sun will rise in the east...", finish that off for yourselves.
Something will happen tomorrow.
Until Then.
Apparently I still have a pulse. In that case...Incoming, tomorrow.
Until then.
