watch tHe skies

So I read and watched with amazement the news on the BBC website that crackpot genocidal maniac Saddam Hussein has been found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

Wow

I mean I didn’t know that people still got hanged. On hearing the verdict my mind shot back to old Robin Hood movies, the thought of a public execution. I wonder whether it will be televised - after all the execution of the guy who had such a tight grip on the lives of so many people for so long could have a massive impact on the stability of the nation - something that would benefit both the US and the UK given the increasing domestic unrest with the cost of the operation in terms of money and lives lost.

Of course a public execution means that YouTube would have the busiest day of its relatively short life.

Would I watch someone being hanged? Interesting question that, and I don’t have an answer. After all the hanging of Saddam will be a historical moment, something that people will talk about for many years to come, until the Americans finally catch up with Osama. However I’m not sure I want to see someone hanged, and yet some part of me wonders what it really looks like…

Good old BBC have reported a recent demonstration in Japan of the latest in android technology. The video you will find on the page features a scarily realistic looking lady with silicone skin, a breathing action and very detailed rubber hands.

Couple that with the bipedal robots I’ve seen on the web recently and we aren’t far from walking talking, human looking androids. Next step Bladerunner? Hmm maybe. The step after The Matrix? Hmm possibly. Although more likely the world will end up like that Two Ronnies thing where the women took over and made all of the men wear aprons.

Thanks to Andy my workshy mate for spotting this one.

Stage Hypnotist turned serious NLP therapist and all round self-improvement wizard Paul McKenna has teamed up with cheesy breakfast show come celebrity magazine GMTV to offer free online phobia cures.

Using a powerful combination of Roger Callahan’s Thought Field Therapy, Richard Bandler’s New Behviour Generator and common or garden Hypnosis, phobias and fears can be quickly and painlessly melted away, all for free by breaking down the mental block and associations built up by your unconscious in an attempt to protect you from a perceived threat. Most of the time our unconscious protects us from real dangers, but in certain situations it can associate danger to creatures or objects that can cause more trouble than it prevents. Fortunately most are easily and immediately cured.

Along with curing people live each morning this week, you can find a video of Paul on GMTV’s website, that guides you through the process for reducing or eliminating your phobic response to whatever it is that scares you silly. Have a look and fill your boots.

However, if you have a phobia that actually prevents you from harm (such as a fear of jumping out of windows or drinking bleach), please leave it where it is - it’s there for a very good reason. Of course if you have a phobia of Paul McKenna then stay away - give me a call and I’ll cure you instead .

Begging time again, people. Two of my friends (Chris and Jackie) from Uni are living out in Cairo and are involved in a fundraising project for CARE EGYPT - a non-profit making organisation that runs development programs in Upper Egypt focused on health and sanitation, women’s education, agriculture and micro-finance. If you would like to find out more about CARE’s projects in Egypt, please visit their website at: www.care.org.eg.

The Energy Challenge is a two-day event, involving hiking, camping, problem solving and teamwork. This year the event will be held in the Red Sea Hills inland from Hurgada. Chris completed the event last year and successfully raised over 2500 pounds for charity.

So if you are feeling charitable as we head towards the festive season, head over to http://www.justgiving.com/chrisbirt and hand over some cash, all of which will be doubled by BP. Just think how far that pocket change that you were going to spend down the pub could go in saving lives…