Harry Potter fever

By Abi Simpson

It's been a busy week in the wizarding world!  First comes the news of three new Harry Potter films, and now I have discovered the magic that is a Harry Potter themed hotel.

Warner Bros announced earlier this week that there is going to be a new trilogy of Harry Potter films, released every 2 years from 2016.  Some would argue that all good things need to come to an end, which is very true, but can you ever have enough Potter?

The first of the three films is going to be based around one of the textbooks used in the original trilogy, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. 

It will follow the adventures of Newt Scamander (fictional author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them') in New York's hidden community of witches and wizards, seventy years before Harry Potter first reads the book at Hogwarts. 

This film is set to be very different from the original trilogy and so shouldn't risk audiences boring of the same plots over and over. Not that you could ever be bored of Harry Potter!

In addition to this the Georgian House Hotel, near Victoria Station in London has launched it's new Harry Potter themed rooms.  

Not only can you spend the night in a Hogwarts themed bedroom, but you can book the full Harry Potter package, which includes a tour around all the London sites used in the film and a trip to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour, to see all the original costumes, sets and props.

If that isn't enough to satisfy anyone's Harry Potter fix, then I don't know what is!  The countdown has begun, no pressure JK.

Work begins on Bournemouth pier approach

My first piece for the Rock!

The many faces of Renee Zellweger

The media has gone wild over Renee Zellweger's 'new' face, during her recent appearance at the Elle Women in Hollywood awards.  

There is so much more to someone than just their appearance.  Renee has had a very successful career and has recently overcome an eating disorder, and yet still the focus is on her new look.

Is it really so hard to believe that people change as they get older?  No one looks the same at forty-five as they did in their thirties!  Even if someone does decide they want to change their look, as long as they are happy, what should it matter to someone else.

Renee is going into this new chapter of her life, as a happy, healthy and carefree woman, and that is what is important.  

By Abi Simpson

Extremism crackdown promised in new Conservative manifesto

By Abi Simpson

The Conservative Party have announced they will include stricter rules on extremist groups in their 2015 manifesto.

Their plans include banning orders and ‘extreme disruption’ orders on organisations thought to be linked with extremist groups. 

Home Secretary Theresa May was among the high profile speakers, on day three of the conference.  She said that ‘British values will prevail in the battle against extremists. 

Mrs May feels that access to communications data is vital in cracking down on extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS).  The data would include details of who is speaking and when they’re doing it, the information would not include the content of the conversation.

The current issue is that the government are seen to only attack those who are directly linked to violence.  The real problem lies however, in those that are involved in extremist groups but appear to be compatible with the British way of life.  It’s these groups that are radicalising impressionable minds and leading our young people abroad to war zones, such as Syria.  It’s believed that nearly 500 jihadists have travelled to Iraq and Syria, from the UK, already.  These groups are the ones that will be challenged under the Conservatives new proposals.

Currently there is a statutory duty for public bodies to have a counter-radicalisation strategy.  The new legislation will enhance powers of the Charity Commission to close down radical organisations which use charities as a front.

Improvements will also be made to the current process which restricts extremists from obtaining positions of any significant authority, such as teaching in schools. 

At the moment organisations can only be banned if there is evidence that directly links them to terrorism.  The new rules will allow banning orders to be imposed if the government ‘reasonably believes’ they pose a threat to the public.  The ban would mean an immediate review by the High Court, which would make membership or funding of the organisation a criminal offence. 

This would be a good start to tackling the problem we have in Britain of extremist groups hiding in our system.  We are too accommodating at the moment, and stricter rules do need to be put in place.  Whether that is by voting Conservative and seeing the above put into place or another suitable method, it’s unclear.  But the one thing that is clear, is that something needs to be done, and it needs to be done sooner rather than later.  

Christina Briggs - I want the government to pay me to lose weight...

By Abi Simpson

Christina Briggs wants the government to pay her to lose weight.  She has had a weight problem since the age of 6, and claims up to £15 thousand in benefits every year, but insists that healthy food is too expensive.  

Ms Briggs feels that she should be given an incentive to lose weight.  For example being paid £1 for every pound she loses, or being given healthy food vouchers.  Some people may argue that living longer and being healthier should be enough of an incentive.  But is it that simple, or is the problem primarily psychological?

Currently Christina weighs 25 stone and has a BMI of 50, which has a drastic effect on day to day life, not to mention the long term issues.   She knows she has a problem and openly admits she needs help but simply doesn’t know where to get it. 

The weight gain began at just 6 years old, when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and the medication meant she put on weight more easily.  This followed by a pregnancy at 15 all contributed to her size.  

Some people will argue just eat less and exercise more, but is it really that easy.  Christina can’t afford gym memberships, and having been teased most of her life, finds it hard to go for a walk or run in public, for fear of being laughed at.  This isn’t just a psychological problem, physically she finds it difficult to pluck up the courage to even get beyond the front door.  The idea of going outside is genuinely frightening.  It becomes a vicious cycle which starts and ends with comfort eating. 

Katie Hopkins who is currently doing research into weight gain normally holds an unsympathetic view when it comes to obesity, with the harsh but fair stance of, just stop putting food into your mouth.  However in this case she seems to be more understanding, due to her recent weight gain as part of her research.  She believes a lot of the problem is psychological. 

Christina comes out with few excuses for her size, but many reasons for which to lose weight, such as being there for her children.  This is the attitude that is needed, and Katie has said that the only way you’re going to get anywhere is by admitting you have a problem in the first place, and then actually wanting to do something about it.  

Even though she wants to be there for her children in the future, does she really think she is doing them any good by feeding them frozen meals and pizza for tea every night?  Christina’s worried for her own health, and knows what she’s doing to herself, so why would she put her children through the same thing, by encouraging a poor diet?

Ms Briggs agrees with the taxpayer in that they shouldn’t have to pay for her to be able to lose weight, she doesn’t want gastric band surgery or some fancy gym membership, she just wants help and healthier food to be more widely accessible to all incomes.  She admits her initial thought of a government voucher on healthy food would not work, but a reduction in the cost of healthier food for everyone may make it easier for some people.   

It could be argued that the benefits she’s on accounts for more than enough money to do a healthy weekly shop.  Just don’t buy junk food and takeaways, buy fresh fruit and vegetables just less of it.  Is money an excuse or is healthy food genuinely too expensive? 

Weight loss is only partly about reducing your intake of food, it’s also about overcoming the psychological barriers.  You have to want to do it, you have to be determined.  There is no magic wand cure, you just have to be honest with yourself.