January transfer round-up - Crazy money, crazy clubs

THE English and worldwide transfer window slammed shut on Monday, with several clubs involved in some very high sales.  Last year, less than £50million was spent in the January transfer window.  This year, Fernando Torres cost more than anyone did in the window put together.

SMASH: Torres trains for Chelsea, can he smash the goals in?

The Spanish World Cup winner moved from Liverpool to Chelsea for £50million.  The West London side smashing the British transfer record in the process.  Torres spent three and a half years on Merseyside, scoring 81 goals in 142 matches, one every two games.  He is eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League, having only figured in the Europa League for Liverpool and will make his Stamford Bridge bow on Sunday afternoon, ironically against his former side.  The 26-year old explained the move today when asked by the media; “I think Liverpool has great ambition and they are doing the right things to get back, but it will take time.  I didn’t have that time.  To prove that Roman Abramovich still has wealth to spend, Carlo Ancelotti was also allowed to bring in the Benfica central defender David Luiz, for an estimated £18million, which could rise to £25million depending on sell-on clauses.

Liverpool didn’t sit on their laurels once Torres wanted to leave and have bought in a new dynamic duo.  Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan who is most infamous with many for ‘that’ handball on the line in the dying stages of the World Cup quarter-final win over Ghana has made the switch to the Premiership for £22.7million.  Suarez, who played previously for Eredevisie side Ajax has already settled into English lifestyle, and managed to come off the bench and score on his debut in Liverpool’s midweek 2-0 success over Stoke City.  

WELCOMED: Boss Dalglish is pleased to have Carroll around

Joining Suarez at Anfield is Andy Carroll.  Carroll, who only made his England debut in November moved from Newcastle United in a £35million deal, smashing Liverpool’s transfer record and the English transfer record.  There had been talk that the young striker had wanted to leave Newcastle and at a press conference yesterday in Melwood, Carroll responded to a question about this situation from one of the journalists; “I have massive respect for Newcastle, it’s my team and my home club.  I’m not going to talk about what happened at Newcastle, except I still have friends and family there and still love the place.  However, I’m a Liverpool player now, and that’s all I want to concentrate on.”  This suggests that Carroll, who has a dodgy off-the-field reputation, was sold to raise funds at St. James Park, or had a disagreement on the club’s direction with Alan Pardew.

By their high standards, Manchester City were fairly quiet this month, although they did fork out £27million to bring in the highly-rated Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko to Eastlands, from VFL Wolfsburg.  As a result, Emmanuel Adebayor has joined Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid on loan until the end of the season.  Roque Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge have also made loan switches on a short-term basis to Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United respectively.  The other shock move in a busy window was the departure from Sunderland by Darren Bent.  Nobody saw Bent’s move coming, or Aston Villa forking out £18million for his services.  He insists it is to improve his England prospects, but that doesn’t mean to say that Fabio Capello will still pay attention to this goal machine.

Elsewhere, Villa also bought in Cameroon defensive midfielder Jean Makoun from Lyon, West Ham signed Robbie Keane on loan from Tottenham and furthered their striking options, with the acquisition of Demba Ba from 1899 Hoffenheim.  Hoffenheim bought in Ryan Babel as a replacement and temperamental Turk Tuncay said goodbye to the Premiership and Stoke City, signing on with Steve McClaren at VFL Wolfsburg.

So, it was a crazy transfer window, with crazy money being spent.  However, everyone seems to have won from these outcomes.  With big money being splashed on, there will be intense pressure on the likes of Torres, Carroll and Suarez to perform for their new club.

Challenger remembered 25 years on

THE space race used to be one of the biggest events through the decades as the United States and the Soviet Union battled for supremacy.  In 1981, the US launched the space shuttle, the first reusable aircraft for space exploration.  By the time of 1986, space flights weren’t of any news to Americans, as they weren’t historic and were considered very safe.  This all changed with Challenger’s ill-fated tenth space shuttle flight.  All seven astronauts were killed when the shuttle exploded on Tuesday 28 January 1986, just 73 seconds after take-off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral. 

On Friday, the 25^th anniversary of the disaster was marked by NASA, with a ceremony at the Kennedy Space Centre.  Widows of the dead, schoolchildren and former president George Bush Snr were present at the ceremony, where a new memorial statue was erected for the dead.  Even today, it is still remembered as one of the most dramatic and catastrophic incidents to have happened live on American television.

Challenger was the 25^th space shuttle mission since operational flights began in 1982.  It was already seen to many as a very reliable spacecraft.  This flight was a special landmark, as among the seven astronauts was the first citizen to go into space; American schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe from New Hampshire.  McAuliffe had won a competition in 1984 to become the first civilian not connected with the space programme to go into space.  Over 11,000 people applied, which showed the country’s addiction to these missions, despite the lack of news coverage.  Due to some unusual faults with the spacecraft and Superbowl Sunday, there were two aborted launch attempts, but eventually – all systems were go for Tuesday 28 January 1986.  It was a clear morning at Cape Canaveral, with bright blue skies and conditions absolute perfect for takeoff.  This disregards the fact of the launch pad dropping to its coldest ever temperatures overnight.    

EXPLOSION: Challenger rips apart into a fireball

Liftoff was greeted at the Kennedy Space Centre to a sense of relief for NASA and delight for the spectators watching.  In schools across America, children packed into auditoriums and classrooms to watch the launch live on CNN; hooters going off and balloons popping at the sight of one of their own, McAuliffe entering space.  Sadly, a mission that was meant to last seven days, ended in tragedy after just nine miles.  NASA’s final command was; “Challenger, going throttle up.”  Commander Dick Scobee’s response was clear too; “Roger, go at throttle up.”  Some recordings then suggest that pilot Michael Smith noticed a problem, as he mentioned “uh-oh” milliseconds before the catastrophe.  73 seconds in, Challenger ripped apart like a fireball into the cloudless sky.  Debris fell into the Atlantic Ocean with the cabin still intact.  However, with an impact speed approaching 300mph, the seven crew members had no chance.  All are thought to have been killed by the impact with the water, rather than the initial explosion.

DOOMED: The seven Challenger crew members who had no chance of survival

The American space programme was badly hit.  The space shuttle was grounded for nearly two and a half years, whilst investigations into the disaster were made.  President Ronald Reagan was deeply affected by the tragedy, paying tribute to the lost seven in a televised address to the nation on the night of the disaster; “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth’ to ‘touch the face of God’.”  McAuliffe’s presence on the flight was well-known, but there was plenty of experience on the doomed shuttle.  Dick Scobee was a former Air Force pilot, Michael Smith had flown aircraft during the Vietnam War and Judith Resnik was a mission specialist, who had led a training programme for American women in space exploration.  The other three to perish were Ronald McNair, Greg Jarvis and Ellison Ozinuka.    

A report into the disaster in June 1986 by the Rogers Commission, which included the first American woman in space, Sally Ride and first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong concluded that a failure of the joint in the two lower segments of the shuttle’s right solid rocket booster had caused the destruction of Challenger.  The unusually cold temperatures prior to the launch, which had caused the rubber ‘o-ring’ to become less elastic, also, played its part in Challenger’s downfall.  During the investigation, it merged that engineers at NASA and Morton Thiokol, the booster rocket contractor had been fully aware of the ‘o-ring’ flaws. 

Recommendations made from the report included design changes to the rocket boosters and joints and in the management structure of NASA.  These were both successfully met with when Discovery relaunched the space shuttle programme in September 1988.  Fifteen years later, the explosion of Columbia in February 2003 set back the programme even further.  Another seven astronauts died when the ageing shuttle broke up on re-entering into the earth’s atmosphere.  Later on this year, the US plans to retire the shuttle, which has had its moments of magic, such as playing a role in the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.  However, we shall never forget those who lost their lives on both Columbia and Challenger.  They gave their lives to the ultimate quest to know more about space technology.  

Skins - New series, new cast, more pressure!

THE time of year has come again, it’s the end of January and next week sees the much anticipated new series of E4’s award-winning teen drama Skins.  The Bristol based show enters into its fifth series, and although everyone should expect some of the usual stereotypes about Skins, such as hedonistic teenage lifestyle choices, sex, drugs and drink – there is a lot of change elsewhere around Roundview College.

Yes, it is time to welcome the third generation of Skins, as once again, the producers and writers have decided to start with a clean slate.  Unlike the last cast cull, which did have two characters in the form of Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario) and Pandora Moon (Lisa Backwell) who provided continuity through Series 1+2 into 3+4, there are no exceptions this time around.  Effy, JJ, Naomi, Cook, Pandora, Thomas, Katie and Emily are no more and have moved onto pastures new.  It’s time for the new cast to fill their boots, and there is no doubt, that the pressure is on.

CHANGE: The new cast of hit teen drama Skins, can they deliver?

This year, there are eight new characters, all with very different backgrounds.  Some of the new actors were chosen from the open auditions held last spring, others with very minor TV credited roles, with only Dakota Blue Richards having a natural acting background.  Dakota starred in The Golden Compass alongside Nicole Kidman and the 16-year old has also been involved in two other high-profile movies.  Now, the London-born actress takes on the role of Franky Fitzgerald and it’s her character that takes the lead as the first episode next Thursday night.  We find out that Franky has moved to Bristol as a last-minute switch from Oxford.  She comes with a lot of emotional baggage, having been bullied at her previous school, and immediately struggles to fit in, especially with the other girls at the college; best friends Mini (Freya Mayor), Grace (Jessica Sula) and Liv (Laya Lewis).  Although Mini takes Franky under her wing reluctantly, she is determined to dig up some home truths that might leave Franky in an even more perilous situation than before.  

The producers have promised that the darker, consequential Series four has been replaced, admitting it didn’t work for the fans.  Skins will return to its hard-hitting approach, with comic appeal and hopefully, some more pleasant endings for the new generation.  To complete the cast, are music mad Rich (Alexander Arnold), rugby captain Nick (Sean Teale), Matty (Sebastian de Souza) and Aloysius (Will Merrick).  After the success of the ‘Naomily’ story in the last two series, there has been speculation of a gay character plot, but the producers and E4 are remaining very tight-lipped about the entire series to date.  Mystery is the best word to describe the goings on.

The lovable and brilliant Doug (Gilles Thomas) returns for a fifth series as head of Roundview and comedian Chris Addison will return in a cameo role as the controversial and cocky college director David Blood.  Model Kelly Brook will also have a guest appearance as a fitness instructor.  Skins has been well renowned for its guest appearances from the likes of Harry Enfield, Ronni Ancona, Pauline Quirke, Paul Kaye, John Bishop, Harry Hill, Morwenna Banks and Simon Day in the past four years, so expect more of the same this time around.

There is undoubtedly going to be more pressure on the third generation, as change has been greeted with a very mixed response from the hardcore Skins fans.  The show continues to remain afresh because of this change in cast every two years, meaning it will still have a place in the TV viewing schedules for a while to come.  With the likes of Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult and Kaya Scodelario all going onto huge movie roles, Skins has been seen as a brilliant starting point for young actors and actresses to really inspire to.  The jury will be out, but it is only fair to give the new breed some time to settle into the new roles.  Judging them on one episode would be very harsh and unnecessary.

So it’s out with the old, in the new, what impact Generation three will have on us?  Find out when Series 5 of Skins begins next Thursday at 10pm on E4.

6 Music Is Reprieved - The Campaign Worked!

BBC Radio 6 Music has been saved this week, after massive petitions and campaigns to keep the station alive, have been approved by the BBC Trust.  The initial plans to shut the station in January 2010 seem to have been overturned.

The governing body of the BBC – which is the BBC Trust, said it was still planning cuts to its digital service, but understood the support fans have for 6 Music, and clearly felt under pressure and a possible public uproar, should their controversial plans had gone ahead.  It is now believed that the BBC is considering its digital radio future, at the next broadcasting strategic review, planned for the autumn this year.

The chairman of the BBC, Sir Michael Lyons is still convinced that there is a lot of uncertainty over the national switchover to DAB.  The government is expecting a switch to the DAB in 2013.  The government believes that by 2013, 50% of people should be listening to digital radio, despite its very slow uptake on sales since it made its technological breakthrough seven years ago.  The high prices and poor coverage reception, might well explain why forecasts of people listening, via the digital format is 22% behind where they should be.  The recession has also played a major factor – with Channel 4 shutting down its digital radio plans back in 2008. 

The Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has pledged his support for 6 Music, and since news of its expected closure were broken in the press, the audience viewing figures have risen by over 50%.  However, there are still plans to trim spending of the BBC Online format by 25%, as well as the full shutting down of the BBC Asian Network.

Whilst 6 Music looks like it has been saved, the traditional analogue TV have finally disappeared from the High Street.  Last month saw absolutely no sales of the old television format for the first time ever, since it was invented back in 1925, by John Logie Baird.  The digital switchover began in Whitehaven, back in 2005 and now 20% of the UK has been converted.  By 2012, the whole of the UK will have a digital TV signal.  

Cadbury's Takeover - Is The Future Bleak?

This blog was first published on February 15th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

    

Cadbury’s attempts to remain a top-selling independent driven company ended recently, when they accepted a takeover bid from American food giant, Kraft. It marks the end of an era for the company and for British chocolate in general. Add to that, and last week’s devastating but expected news of the closing of Cadbury’s UK plant leaves many angry and concerned for the future of such an established brand.

The Cadbury’s UK plant, in Somerdale, Bristol will be shut down by the beginning of 2011 and some 400 jobs are likely to be shed. It is expected that all production will move over to Kraft’s production factory in America, to link up with the likes of Toblerone and Philadelphia spread. It is a sad and sorry state, but expected when news of the takeover reached the stock exchanges in the middle of January.

The blame game for this recent news has already started, with Peter Mandelson attacking the chief executive of Kraft, Irene Rosenfeld. Mr. Mandelson had been assured a week earlier by Ms. Rosenfeld that there were no initial plans to shut down the factory, even if some jobs were shelved because of the expected cut-backs which everyone had anticipated. Mandelson was furious that Rosenfeld hadn’t been honest from the word go, so a possible deal might have been struck to keep everyone happy. Ms. Rosenfeld’s argument was that she didn’t have access to Cadbury’s books. This sounds like a lame excuse, considering this is the chief executive of a massive food chain. Why did Kraft bid then, if they didn’t have 100% access to all of Cadbury’s figures. It’s an extraordinary claim.

So, where does this leave the workers? Quite clearly, they are going to have to find other work, or face joining the depressing unemployment figures from the recession. No guarantees have been made for any decent references either, which is even more startling. Kraft may only have completed their takeover less than a fortnight ago, for approximately $11.5 billion, but already they making a lot of unpopular decisions and making senior figures unhappy. Cadbury’s had resisted their advances for five months, so little blame can be attached to them, as the offer they received had to be accepted, or risk going downhill. However, Kraft’s aims may well have been misplaced, and if they do with Cadbury’s what they did with the Terry’s brand in the 1990’s, then it will end up as an absolute tragedy.

Cadbury’s was one of the last iconic UK brands around, so it is very sorry to see this takeover happen. Though it had to happen for financial reasons, the moral reasons clearly aren’t the same. This is a very worrying time for Cadbury’s staff and its consumers, a bleak future waits as Kraft looks set to throw all of Cadbury’s established history down the toilet seat.

Haiti - Miracles & Stories of Pain

This was first posted on January 25th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

In a world where most of us live in fear with the genuine threat of international terrorism, anti-social behaviour issues and the financial meltdown that could potentially last for years to come, it is when natural disasters occur that makes us stop and think: ‘How lucky are we?’

In the late hours of Tuesday 12th January UK time, a powerful earthquake struck to country of Haiti. It measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, one of the most powerful of recent times and it was Haiti’s worst quake for almost two centuries. Buildings were shattered, hospitals collapsed, prisons crumbled and access roads cut off in one of the poorest countries in the North America area.

Predictions of 2million have been made homeless by the earthquake and the Prime Minister recently confirmed a prediction of 200,000 thought to have been killed. This is unofficial though, and with several aftershocks striking the region after the disaster and a fear of disease striking the thoughts of many, that figure could sadly significantly rise.

In a flash, news reporters across the globe covered the story so quickly. The devastation by the many video feeds and pictures of homeless people clearly suffering has stunned many – especially yours truly. Personally, I haven’t seen such trauma and pain from a natural disaster since the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. Generations further back could maybe recall the horrific earthquakes that struck Mexico City in 1985 and Kobe, Japan in 1995.

In an instant, relief and aid were one of the most important items needed for the suffering. Like the Tsunami tragedy of five years ago, the world has opened its arms into doing what it can. Charities such as Oxfam, Unicef, the British Red Cross and many more have workers over in Haiti, doing all they can to support those who need the help the most. Today, it was revealed that donations from the UK have reached £46million, after another generous donation figure of £4million over the weekend. It is a staggering effort from the UK, considering we are meant to be in the midst of a recession that is still causing financial issues for many.

Last Thursday, Simon Cowell revealed he will be getting music stars from around the world to record a charity song, with all donations going to the earthquake appeal. This week, the likes of Kasabian, Florence & the Machine, Leona Lewis, JLS, Alexandra Burke, Rod Stewart, Cheryl Cole & Susan Boyle are set to record a version of R.E.M’s 1980’s hit ‘Everybody Hurts.’ The single is expected to make millions and storm the UK charts for the next few weeks. Across the globe in America, actor George Clooney and singer/rapper Wyclef Jean have already led a benefit concert on Saturday. Stars from Hollywood took personal calls for donations in a concert called ‘Hope for Haiti Now.’ It was streamed live to millions on the video-sharing site, YouTube. Once again, America has done its bit to help others who need it.

The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince has been the main base for reports to come in of tales of sorrow, woe and miraculous escapes. The villages of Jacmel and Petionville have also been severely hit or majorly affected, almost completely wiped out the map. Remarkably, eleven days after the earthquake, William Extantus was pulled out of the rubble from the remains of the Napoli Inn Hotel, alive. It is these stories that fulfil both a nation and a world’s hope that more can be found alive, however unlikely that is. Miracles are possible.

With the main prison collapsing in the quake, there have been concerns over riots in Haiti, which has had a history for political unrest. The hostile scenes broadcast on TV make the desperation for aid, such as basic utilities like water and food a necessity. Some are looting the remaining local shops still standing, in a desperate attempt to feed their families. Although this is morally wrong, it is quite understandable in these precarious circumstances. Former US president, Bill Clinton, worked for the UN over in Haiti has been worried about the amount of aid coming through. This has been a concern, but everyone is trying to do the best they can in a scenario, which for many is almost unimaginable.

Personally, I have been left shocked to the core by the events in Haiti; I have made a small donation myself to the earthquake appeal, because it is desperately needed to help those who are most unfortunate in this world. These people have done nothing wrong; they don’t deserve what has happened to them. Unfortunately, it is another case of ‘Mother Nature taking its course.’ My thoughts are with all the survivors of the disaster and those who have lost loved in such a sorrow catastrophe. It could take Haiti years, maybe even decades to rebuild from the shattered remains and it might not even recover. However, like the incredible story of William Extantus this weekend, we can only believe there can be more stories of relief and miracles to come from this shocking earthquake.

For more information and how to donate, visit www.google.co.uk and follow the link for more information.