Duck and Cover

Book Review by Rachel Thomas, March 2008

Joseph Siracusa, Oxford University Press, £6.99 - Nuclear Weapons

Saturated with terminology, this short introduction is a sobering account of the world and its complex relationship with nuclear weapons.

The factual guide is not an easy read, although it manages to neatly summarise Hiroshima's disappearance in a mere nine sentences. Siracusa starkly reminds the reader of the potential devastating impact of nuclear war. His description of the conseqences of detonating a relatively small nuclear weapon in the heart of New York makes the 9/11 attacks look like child's play, and he notes that in 1953 - after the test of the US's hydrogen bomb, "Ivy Mike" - the Doomsday clock was moved closer to midnight - scary stuff.

The book traces the developments of nuclear weapons - the development through post Second World War scenarios, up to the present day - the "age of terrorism", outlining the awesome responsibility which comes hand in hand with possessing nuclear weapons. It also explores public reaction to the procurement and cultivation of weapons.

The book concludes with an examination of the controversial "does the spread of nuclear weapons make the world safer or more dangerous?" debate. We're reminded of the very real threat of nuclear weaponry, specifically that the US remains prepared to initiate the use of such weapons by the decision of one person against a nuclear or non-nuclear enemy. Duck and cover.

It's all gone Pete Tong

Posters up in school. Facebook. Shout out on Radio 1. It was hardly going to be a small party was it? Regardless of Tongy giving a shout out, this 21 bedroom mansion still would've been trashed. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out. All the local kids would've known about this long before Tongy mentioning it. It's not like kids in Cardiff travelled to Devon because they heard a shout out for this party. Do me a favour. Mother mansion should wise up a bit. Tongy's not to blame, the daughter's foolish behaviour is. Anyway, it's not like they can't afford the clean up operation.

Wales Grand Slam 2008

Wales have done it again! For me, man of the tournament without shadow of a doubt - Shane Williams. He consistently produced the goods, and scored the all important points we needed on Saturday. Whilst the press are obsessing over Danny Cipriani, he has nothing on Williams.

Am I proud to be Welsh? Damn right I am.

Bill Bailey - news themes

Rain won't stop us!

Rain is forecast for tomorrow which is a real shame for Cardiff City Council. As they did in 2005, the Council's setting up a big screen etc outside the City Hall for fans to watch Wales open a can of whoopass on France. The only thing is, you can't take booze in (probably because of 2005!), so they want us all to go and spend our hard earned cash on their over-priced beer. Umm....I'm going to the pub. I don't want to stand in the rain with an over priced pint in a plastic cup.

Italy take on Scotland in Rome at 1, England play Ireland at Twickers at 3, and Wales are thrashing France in the Millenium Stadium at 5.

Fingers crossed for Gethin Jenkins to score first - I picked him out in the sweepstake in work!

C'mon Wales!

I am frightened of America

And the worst part? This is for real.

Babies, babies, babies...

The one stop shop for how to care for your newborn. Have a gander.

Wales v. Ireland - triple crown dreams?

Wales haven't beat Ireland at Croke Park for 8 years, but Wales have shown a real fighting streak this season. C'mon Wales! (doesn't bode well that the Ref's English does it?)

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), A Trimble (Ulster), T Bowe (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Bench: B Jackman (Leinster), T Buckley (Munster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), S Easterby (Scarlets), P Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster).

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); M Jones (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Blues), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Bench: M Rees (Scarlets), D Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), G Delve (Gloucester), D Peel (Scarlets), J Hook (Ospreys), S Parker (Ospreys).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).

In Prison My Whole Life

Last night I watched Marc Evans' 'In Prison My Whole Life', a documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal, his trial, the American Justice System, the Black Panthers, and more. The film included interviews with Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker and Snoop Dogg. It's well worth a watch. 5 out of 5. The film was shown in conjunction with the Innocence Network UK at Cardiff University and Director Marc Evans was there to answer questions.

Garfield minus Garfield

Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolor disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against lonliness in a quiet American suburb. More here: http://garfieldminusgarfield.tumblr.com/.

World Against War

I went to the 'World Against War Public Rally' last night at Cardiff University. Speakers included Chris Nineham of Stop the War Coalition, Anne Greagsby - the coordinator of the campaign against St Athans Military Academy, Justin Lewis the Professor of Communication and Head of the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Hassan Juma'a the President of Federation of Iraqi Oil Workers Union, and the contraversial Ibrahim Mousawi - the Editor of Al Intiqad Journal, linked to Hezbollah, whose reputation preceeds him! - icwales. Here's the pics:

Rambo - it's a must!

Forget Monty Python. Forget Fawlty Towers. Ok, forget anything you ever thought was remotely funny. Stop what you're doing. Close down your computer (ok, maybe read this first). Go to your nearest cinema (not an Odeon!) and watch the Rambo movie. I saw it on Saturday and it's one of the funniest films I'm ever seen. Ok, so it's not supposed to be funny, but I laughed until I hurt. During the scene pictured, someone actually clapped - hilarious.

The film's ridiculous, and weirdly there's lots of shots of Stallone's fore arms, but once you get past that I guarantee a good time!

When we left the cinema, me and my mate just couldn't understand where people like Stallone get funding for something like this....