Monthly Archive for June, 2009

Michael Jackson Dead at 50

Death of a pop legendWell, as I guess most of you have heard, an iconic figure in pop has died at the tender age of 50. Details were released today of his death at the Beverley Hills home where at about midday on Thursday he stopped breathing. He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson’s brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July.

Speaking on behalf of the Jackson family, Jermaine said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour without success. Here is the video of the press release Jermaine has made:

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Unfortunately, perhaps by his own doing (though we may never know) he had a very troubled life and was constantly under scrutiny from the media for his friendships with children. I really haven’t made my mind up about him and possibly never will although I would like to believe that he was just a boy trapped in a man’s body. One thing we can all be certain of is the contribution he made to the world of music, some of which I doubt will ever be forgotten.

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One down two to go….

So……….had my first German exam today (which was fun haha!) but I think it went well. Now I just have two more to look forward to, one on the 17th, July and the final one on the 22nd, July. After that I am officially a free man, a bit daunting really since I’ve been studying for a while now and am not really looking forward to having no particular set schedule, but there you go…..that’s life. Things will change soon enough and then I can divert my energy into something else.

Got a small study group tomorrow because I really feel the need to polish some parts of my German grammar up before the written section of the final exam. Over the last 3 weeks that we’ve been doing German history I have an inkling that perhaps I’ve forgotten a few grammatical things here and there and there’s no way I’m walking into that exam unprepared!!

Oh oh!On an up note, I’ve already started my campaign to find another job (since I soon won’t be going to school daily anymore – and god, what a terrible time to be looking – think economic stagnation) and have found one job in particular that seems perfect for my skills, education and natural talent (sorry, but if I don’t big myself up who will??) and have just received a rather positive response i.e. interview opportunity. Hopefully all goes well, cross your fingers for me!!

Well, still a relatively average summer here but hang in there, it really only officially started the other day and today was quite beautiful in fact, I have a sun-kissed forehead to prove it :)

Australia the New China!

Here we go again.

The Australian government is having another crack at protecting us from ourselves again. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has announced a trial of internet filtering at an initial 6 ISPs.

Welcome to the new China. It amazes me how when China filters the internet, the world is up in arms about freedom of speech although when Australia does it, we are protecting people.

I wonder when we are going to change the Australian flag to a nice shade of red?

Here is a link to the ministers web site and the announcement: doom & gloom

Get together in a grassroots movement and fight back for a free uncensored Internet.

Read this report from Reporters Without Borders.

Online Free Expression Day launched here.