Kim Jong-Un, Lennon, Frost and Lawrence

Good weekend? Same here. Today's topic's are expressed in the title and if you aren't interested in these things please read on anyway and get informed.

Today North Koreans got a look at the man most likely to become there next leader: Kim Jong-Un. However things are not as simple as they first appear, despite all the propaganda and quite frankly ludicrous rhetoric surrounding the leaders of North Korea, it is believed that the actual power in NK rests in another's hands. The power behind the throne is believed by some to be the aunt of the current leader Kim Jong, she was recently made a general. This is part of a wider campaign to restore to the Communist Party itself as opposed to the heads of military. Similar transitions in power have occurred in China, North Korea's closest parallel.

In the UK the science funding cuts announced by the Tories quite rightly continue to spark outrage in the scientific community. A report expected to be released later this week says that cuts to scientific funding will cost the UK economy up to £10 billion. Currently scientific funding is at 6 billion but is due to have a 1 billion cut. However the report warns that scientific breakthroughs and innovation by way of scientific research is one of the few genuine areas Britain can remain a global competitor. Other major economies like Germany, France and China continue to invest as the best hope for long term growth. It seem's pretty stupid to deny ourselves the ability to compete with these nations in such an essential area.

If John Lennon were alive today he would be 70. Ah if only he were. All those years of music we might have enjoyed only a fruitless wish. Instead we are left with Paul Mcartneys earaches of albums. You might have noticed Googles tribute to John, for those who didn't realise you can click the Google/Lennon logo and a short movie plays which is pretty cute. I know sometimes the Beatles and in particular Lennon can fall into the catergory of those artists your socially obliged to like but it still seems a shame he isn't around to celebrate his birthday with the rest of us.

Switching to the literary world I came across this piece of little known poetry by Robert Frost, which reveals itself as a tender love poem in the last line:

Moon Compasses

I stole forth dimly in the dripping pause
Between two downpours to see what there was.
And a masked moon had spread down compass rays
To a cone mountain in the midnight haze,
As if the final estimate were hers;
And as it measured in her calipers
The mountain stood exalted in its place.
So love will take between the hands a face . . .

Just thought I'd quickly share that. Also I recently finished "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by the man known as Lawrence of Arabia. It describes the revolt in Arabia against the Turkish Empire, as it appeared to the Englishman who was so crucial to it's origins. This strange yet oddly pleasing mix of military chronicle, descriptions, philosophies, emotions, adventures and dreams. Winston Churchill described it as a "narrative of war and adventure it is unsurpassable." No literary experience would be complete without this book. It remains much like Lawrence himself brilliant yet controversial.

I'd like to invite anyone who reads this to please feel free to comment or ask questions. I know it's brilliantly written and everything but if anything is unclear feel free to go ahead and ask.

Be casual. Be happy.