Quick rant, because this is what the internet is for.

Something's been getting on my nerves recently, perhaps the only thing that's bugging me during this otherwise perfect week: racism.

Or, rather, the media and general public's over-blowing and reaction to it.

It's universally accepted racism is absolutely unacceptable, and I agree with that wholeheartedly; but what I do have a problem with is how the boundaries of what does or does not constitute as racism is almost non-existent, and yet so many people see it as a black and white issue (excuse the pun). This wouldn't really bother me if it wasn't for the vehement outcries that comes out of it. Quite often, it's not even okay to mention or refer to someone's skin colour any more, not even in a friendly manner. Now what's that all about? Does that simple act discriminate, degrade or antagonize anyone? I see no reason why it should. If anything, the fact that it's become so taboo just reinforces this idea that not being white is somehow so bad it shouldn't even be addressed.

I don't know how much colonialist or slave-trading history has to do with all this, but the guilt definitely plays a part in all this. Many act as if racism is a crime against humanity, that the slightest misuse of words is worthy of a witch hunt. Every paper's going to cover the story of one man making 'racist' gestures in a football stadium with great sensationalism, but none will speak of chants mocking the deaths of over a hundred people. Anything done against a non-white (can I say that? Is it politically correct?) will be attributed to racism even before any context is given. This knee-jerk reaction clouds judgements and overshadows the facts, and usually ends up being used by some groups of people to smear opponents, gain support or anything else that would help them achieve their agenda, political or otherwise.

What's happening is that we as a society are becoming more and more obsessed with the trivial things whilst the real discrimination, the real, institutionalised social injustice, are continually overlooked. These two are not mutually exclusive, but surely the latter deserves more attention and that's not what seems to be happening. Instead of creating a more equal world, one free of hate and prejudice, these people who are so quick to get on a high horse and put on a self-righteous attitude calling for severe punishments and condemnation for anyone making the slightest faux-pas is creating nothing more than a world of preposterous political correctness and that, ladies and gentlemen, annoys me to no end.

Shame

Check out this Hungarian poster...well played.

Shame is rather high up on my 'to-watch' list, but I have a feeling I'll have to download it since everything in the cinemas here always get censored.

The World Film Festival is on though, so that's where I've been spending my days.

British citizen or UK resident?

Please spare a minute or two for this petition. Twenty-two years ago, a 15 year old boy, along with 95 others, went to a football match, and never came back.

Kevin Williams died in the Hillsborough disaster in1989, Kevin's Inquests were riddled with coruption, suppressing of vital evidence and perverting the course of JUSTICE, Kevin did not die from Traumatic Asphixia or in an accident I will not pick up his death certificate until we get the course of death put right and the accidental death verdict struck down. Kevin does not relate to the 3.15pm cut off point.I want a new inquest were all the witnesses will be called to give evidence so the jury will know exactly what happened to Kevin at Hillsborough. I have all the evidence under section 13 of the coroners act and have been refused 3 times by the attorney generals office, I want the Attorney General to look at the evidence again and send Kevin's case back to the divisional court recomending a new inquest into the death of my son.

The Hilsborough disaster is very close to my heart, not only because the victims were fans of the football club I love, but because I find it absolutely appalling that a tragedy of this scale was so poorly dealt with. No one's been held accountable for the deaths of nearly a hundred people, the media distorted the truth, their slanders had painted a huge stain on the people of Liverpool, and justice has not been served. Signing this petition could help a mother find out about how her son died, and perhaps provide his family with closure.

This has nothing to do with club allegiances. It is to do with justice, and that, I believe, is a much, much bigger issue than football.

To those who don't get distracted:

How do you do it?

How?

I can't even read a single article on the internet without opening a new tab and looking at other stuff. I have 3 Chrome windows open now, each with at least 10 tabs. I only got through highschool because I had decent teachers and the courses were easy. The entirety of my study leave was devoted to games. At this rate I'm probably going to fail university and perhaps even life itself. How can you people focus for so long?

Bertrand Russell

I was messing around on the BBC Radio 4 site when I found this gem: Bertrand Russell on"Authority and the individual"

I'd read bits of his works ages ago in class and I'd forgotten most of it so it was interesting to revisit it all. Just thought some of you might appreciate some analysis of human nature and society and all that fun stuff.