gair rhydd: The Riddler

Royal appointment

The question of whether Prince Harry should be allowed to deploy with his unit to Iraq seems like an end in itself, but in reality, it isn’t at all. Whether he deploys or not doesn’t really end the debate of whether, in the days of high media coverage and royal celebrity, the Royal Family should, in fact, be allowed to serve on the front line at all.

The Beginning of The End

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Ranting is the preserve of the columnist, whether you’re in the mood for it or not. Any opinion writer worth his (or her) embittered salt should be able to find some target to spew their vitriol at, or at least find something that vaguely deserves a discussion.

New ideas, same solutions

A new report released by the United Nations top experts has been hailed as a turning point in global warming by the BBC. Once again though, I fail completely to see what is so groundbreaking about it.

The other side of simplicity

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Nothing makes me recoil like something that is obviously, simply and clearly the right thing to do. Any campaign that seems to be the realisation of morality in simple form generally makes me worried.

Budging students off the agenda?

Budgets are fascinating things. No really, don’t give up on me yet. This one has been really interesting, because its underlying message has been deeply political.

Stating the truth?

Why, oh why, would you plagiarise your personal statement? According to The Times, five percent of people do. And most of them, unsurprisingly, get caught.

Rids’ Room 101

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Right. Generally I discuss some issue here but this week’s format will be slightly different. I intend to discuss a number of things that have been on my mind, looking at some of the most underrated and overrated things going, while pointing out any important nuisances or grievances on the way. Two reasons for this, one, because I think it might make a nice change and be marginally less boring and two, because, in fact, I can. Here goes:

State of the Union

For those of you lucky enough to have sat through four glorious hours of AGM last week you’ll have seen the birth of our new rising democratic institution, Student Parliament.

Yey or ney? Yey

A new movement is passing through the union. Reform has finally begun to come to the body with arguably the most latent potential in the entire building. I’ll break the suspense now, its not the still somewhat rubbish burger bar in Solus, although that should be next on the agenda. It’s student council, soon to be student parliament, a an idea this column covered in an early edition last semester

MOD Disgrace

If there is one message that has come out of the last week of news it’s that accidents happen in war. News services have recanted that mantra ad nauseam. Every known manner of specialist, expert, serving officer or rent-a-quote former general has been wheeled out to add weight to the argument, all in an attempt to quell the backlash and anger at the death and subsequent cover up (which the MOD denies) of Lance Corporal Matty Hull near Basra in March 2003.

Love thy Neighbour

It’s great to be around at this time of year. The anti-English sentiment, the base passions and nervous rivalry that one puts along with any sporting event where the two old rivals play each other is a joyous thing to behold. There’s nothing like being in a country where you are made acutely aware of how much the locals hate your birth nation. Welcome to Wales and the Six Nations.

Royale Casinos

Personally if I had several million quid and a football stadium sized space earmarked for use as a public entertainment venue I’d build a football stadium, but then there’s no accounting for taste. Nonetheless, a super-casino seems to be the next best thing you can do with it.

Crumb de la crumb

One of the concepts in this world that really disturbs me is the idea that our venerable institution could ever be in any way superseded by Glamorgan Polytec… sorry, University.

A bloody problem

It seems pretty obvious to me when it comes to blood donation that if you can, you should. It’s much like digital television in that respect, but not as entertaining.

Where Annan fears to tred

Have your say [22]

Student council were given the opportunity to discuss the situation in Palestine last week, and whilst the proposal fell at the first hurdle, it is still right that they had a chance to do so. If students are concerned about an issue it should be discussed in council.

Turn on the lights

The perceptive amongst you might have noticed a small gang of students knocking around outside the Union looking as green as an envious Hulk after a dicey kebab.

Gair Rhydd

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