Paulo Coelho’s Blog

I discovered Paulo Coelhos Twitter Account and Blog today. This author ( you would expect to be introvert and very sacred about his privacy like authors normally seem to be) is so out there and actually interacting with a lot of his readers, like me. His blog and my blog are basically crossing paths – so these rather philosophical thoughts are very apt – and no one can describe it in better words than the author himself: (I figured it is very hard to read, so here is the link)

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“I stole my bike today”

Yes. I did. In fact I did not have a choice, – the key broke one half in the lock, the other one dangling triumphantly on my key ring. Oh happy day.

So, I went to “my” bike shop – the owner knows me by now. (Don’t ask!) I explained the whole thing, showed my broken key and wow – i got the wonder-tool. Biiig pliers. So, off I went to steal my own bike in broad daylight from my university campus which is full of CCTV and security and – people. But even though it took me like ten minutes to break the wires of the lock and people stopped and looked (one lorry driver shouted something at me) – they did not approach me, nor take pictures or call the police. I was so shocked by this that I in consequence bought a very expensive, very secure number-coded lock. No key incident. No bike theft. Lucky shop owner.

Bike theft in Edinburgh ( 19/02/2008)

By Charlotte Morgenthal

Lothian and Borders Police launched a new operation to prevent further bike thefts in Edinburgh south yesterday.During the operation patrolling police officers in uniform and in plain clothes will be increased over the coming weeks.

MITWorld: Impact of New Media on the Election | MIT World

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Sentencing of Edinburgh’s “Spiderman” sparks discussion

Forth Road Bridge, Edinburgh

What would you do, if you were a plumber, made redundant and have a drinking problem? No, you wouldn’t guess: You could end up climbing the Forth Road Bridge by almost 400 feet. And you could end up in jail.

22-year-old plumber Ross Wilson, being made famous by the Scottish Media as ‘Spiderman’, trying to climb the North Tower of the Bridge was sentenced for seven months last week.

Artwork dividing the nations

Entropa

It might be the most famous influence of the Czech EU presidency: and it does not really have anything to do with politics, nor diplomacy. It is famous for being controversial and offending, even dividing the European member states. I am, of course talking about the artwork by David Cerny, a Czech artist, who has been paid £ 350 000 to create a European project, together with artists from all the 27 member states – he instead decided to do a satirical piece just by himself and some fellow artists.

Having been in the EU Council building in Brussels myself last week I can see why it still seems to be the most important contribution so far from the Czech presidency. Bulgaria, characterised as a Turkish lavatory decided that it was portrayed unfairly and a black cloth is covering now the spot – wiping it off the map of a rather stereotypical gathering of the nations.

For example the UK marks an empty space – for being the Eurosceptic.. Where I thought Scotland is portrayed as a huge playing bagpipe – It was Ireland. Some countries I just could make out with the help of – I ashamedly admit: Wikipedia.

It is sad that a simple artwork can take away the mere meaning of the EU and in contrast bring countries back to their national differences and stereotypes. For me, art becomes satisfactory when it lets my thoughts wander beyond its actual surface. But when you are puzzled to demystify the surface – I find it purely annoying.

BBC video interview with david cerny

“The outcome will be minimal”

MEP Alyn Smith

Scottish Member of the European Parliament Alyn Smith (SNP) joins in the criticism of the UK’s plan to heal the British economy.

Interview by Charlotte Morgenthal

Bail out tussles in Brussels

At a time of bleak economic news where the Sterling is nearly matching the value of the Euro, the pound reaching an extraordinary low today – European heads of state gather in Brussels. The atmosphere is tense.

At PMQs Gordon Brown had a Freudian slip, saying that the government “saved the world” instead of “saved the banks”. At least he is supposed to be the ‘saviour of Europe’. His suggested bail out plan was officially taken up as an economic recovery plan by the European Commission. It is supposed to be decided on for all the other European member states in the current European Council meeting in Brussels.

Sorting out: Recycling Mis-Information

Recycling is not always that easy

Edinburgh City Council made its citizens believe that leaving recycling materials next to full bins would be seen as fly-tipping until last week. A statement on a Council webpage said: “If your nearest recycling point is full, please do not leave materials beside the bins as this is fly-tipping.” Fly-tipping is a criminal offence for which one can be fined or even imprisoned.

Gambling with high reputation

Napier’s Business School (NUBS) might not have the high reputation it is advertising on its homepage where it is quoting the Guardian league table 2007, claiming to be “the number one business school of the UK”.