Fifth of Britons ‘want to ban’ Google Glass

Summary:

More and more uses of wearable technology are being developed, like internet-connected heart rate monitors, wearable GPS systems and products which monitor footfall and distance travelled through its trainers. Besides that, there is Google Glass, spectacle frames that allow users to record video conversations and read messages via a panel on the right eye. In an interview among 4,000 people, half of them said the privacy concerns might put them off buying the glasses and over sixty percent agreed that these devices should be subject to regulation. Despite all the concerns on privacy, still more than a third intend to use wearable technology when it becomes widely available.

Words: 108

Own opinion:

I am intrigued by Google Glass, or impressed is a better word. Twenty years ago we saw movies about wireless phones, touch screens, talking computers, internet, voice commands et cetera and now we can already read our mail through special spectacles. I really think technology moves forward quickly. On the other hand, we should definitely keep our privacy in mind. Looking at the twenty year old movies again, we also have a pretty good idea of all the things that could go wrong. Forewarned is forearmed.

Words: 86

Source:

Jennifer O’Mahony (2013, 4 June). Fifth of Britons ‘want to ban’ Google Glass. Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/10097688/Fifth-of-Britons-want-to-ban-Google-Glass.html

Student turned down for punting job as he is ‘too ugly’

Summary:

Ben Cronin wanted to fund his second year of studies by working on one of the boats on the river Cam. He and his friends went up to one of the guys running the boats asking if there still some jobs available and apparently the man answered: “Sorry mate, you have to be good looking to do this job.” Ben was really humiliated because of this, he felt embarrassed and it has had a huge effect on his self esteem. Because of the way the handsome looking fellow talked to him, Ben never wants to punt on the river ever again.

Words: 101

Own opinion:

Well, I must say, Ben is not the best looking guy I have ever seen and somewhere I can understand that beautiful people are more attractive for a company to lure tourists. On the other hand – although it does not seem very likely – Ben could be a super fun guy. Somebody who knows a lot about nature and the River and all the sightseeing information. He might be super entertaining and sociable and chatty. I really oppose to judging people on their looks, I think it is important to look tidy and clean, but apart from that, people should first look at what kind of person you are on the inside.

Words: 111

Source:

Hayley Dixon (2013, 2 June). Student turned down for punting job as he is ‘too ugly’. Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10094086/Student-turned-down-for-punting-job-as-he-is-too-ugly.html

Animal trainer goes from TV fame to the dogs of war

Summary:

Kate Nicholas used to be a shy young dog trainer, who participated in Britain’s Got Talent with her dog Gin. Now, five years later, Kate has turned into private Nicholas. She has joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), where she works in the puppy development section and trains puppies to sniff out bombs. She now also stars in a three-part series called Animal Heroes which follows the people working with the animals. Nowadays, already more military dogs have served in the Afghan campaign than in the whole WWII and the British army has more horses than main battle tanks.

Words: 100

Own opinion:

Working among soldiers, this piece really interested me. I have shown my students documentaries on these sniffing dogs and it is really cool to see how good they are at what they do, how the soldiers admire and fully trust these animals, put their lives in their noses and to see the bond between the handler and the dog. They fully understand each other. Of course I have thought a lot of what kind of job I would want if I every  joined the army, and this would certainly be on top of my list.

Words: 95

Source:

Ben Farmer ( 2013, 2 June). Animal trainer goes from TV fame to the dogs of war. Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/britains-got-talent/10093093/Animal-trainer-goes-from-TV-fame-to-the-dogs-of-war.html

London soldier killing a conspiracy? *

Summary

On May 22 2013, a young soldier known as Rigby, was killed in broad daylight by to believed-to-be-terrorists. The first video clip shows us the theory of this being a hoax, of this being propaganda against the Islam. The man on the videos shows us how a woman with a little shopping trolley is cut out of the clip and he shows us that there only is blood on the killer’s hands, not on his face or clothers, neither on or around the victim. In the second video we hear an eye-witness talking about the whole incident and what he saw. The last video shows us an amateur video from the bus and the interview with one of the killers, in this interview you do see the woman with the trolley walking by.

Words: 133

Own opinion

I must admit that when I first saw all the footage, I was surprised with how relaxed all the people around the scene were reacting. Nobody screams, nobody cries, nobody runs and even the interviewer does not seem impressed by the knives the killer is swinging in front of his face. I am not a great believer of all the hoax theories on attacks, but I must confess that he did make me think. In the third clip you see the woman casually pulling her trolley, not at all bothered by the wavering knives, the blood, or the dead body. It is a bit weird.

Words: 105

Source:

(23 May 2013). Youtube. London soldier killing a conspiracy? Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ADoDerhdGU

(22 May 2013). Youtube. Soldier killed in London: eyewitness tells machette attack. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0SybVHGZqU

(24 May 2013). Youtube. Volledige speech van Mujahid Woolwichverdachte. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmaARlLkAw

Vox Pop *

Summary:

In the 1940’s there was the accordion, in the 60’s Rock ‘n Roll came to Europe. Guitars need amplifiers. The owner of a small music company in Dartford, Tom Jennings, started making them. He started with the AC15. The Shadows seized upon this sound and wanted a bigger and louder amplifier. Later the manager of an unknown band, The Beatles, came and he and he asked for free speakers with the promise that this band would never use anything else. The Beatles got the speakers and within a year VOX found itself promoted by the biggest band of all time. The early shows of the Rolling stones also were a showcase of VOX equipment. This is how Dartford became the powerhouse of British rock and roll. After a bad decision, VOX came into trouble. VOX is still alive now and owned by Korg.

Words: 143

Own opinion:

I thought this was a very interesting program. I love music and everything around it. It was cool to see all the old footage and to see how certain bands became big and how this brand of amplifiers grew and became super popular. I did not know anything about amplifiers and now I know you can even throw them of the stairs. I just had a quick look on Marktplaats and I saw that the original amplifiers (the bigger ones The Shadows wanted), the AC30 are sold for over one thousand euro’s. That is pretty impressive I think, for a fifty year old amplifier.

Words: 104

Source:

Lain Lee. (27 December 2012). BBC Four. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54s3386KZVI