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Chris' Back Page Ramblings

THEORIES OF THE FRIDGE

How does a fridge light turn off? A very boring media lesson led to discussion on this and we made many theories. Firstly, lemmings from the computer game that get lost fall into fridges, and become lighting lemmings. When the door is shut they come out and switch off the light - easy. Obviously its cold in a fridge so they are actually now blue not green as they originally were. Secondly, an elaborate pulley system is used to flick a switch in the fridge when the door closes, conserving energy. Or what about the FBI? We figured that FBI agents know too much to be allowed out at retirement age, so they are shut away somewhere, turning off fridge lights via satellite. Finally, someone said something about a lever that the door pushes when it is closed. What rubbish that is. Or do the lights even turn off at all?

EASTER SUCKS

Easter – a happy time supposedly.  All chocolate and dead religious icons.  A happy time for pet shop owners too.  All the mummies and daddies are buying their little angel a bunny for Easter.  And what a surprise it’ll be.  And what better way to illustrate the birth of spring and the rejuvenation of the world that with a rabbit?  The problem is that these rabbits probably won’t live to see their first birthday.  Many will die of neglect or, especially in the open fields of the West Country, be ‘set free’ to be eaten by foxes, dogs and cats.  Domestic rabbits are weaker and more vulnerable than wild rabbits and cannot stand living rough.  They will die within as little as a couple of days.  The luckier ones will be handed over to the care of the local animal shelter to be recycled for the next Easter.  The ‘A dog is for life…’ campaign worked to open peoples eyes slightly, and still is, so why can’t the produce a similar one for rabbits?

I BLAME THE MEDIA

I blame the media.  For what, you may ask yourself.  For everything, I reply.  The media influences our every move, reaction and emotion.  It can even govern the way in which we speak and what we speak about.  We see adverts for corrupt corporations which we all know are evil, dealing in child labour or poor conditions, and buy the products they force at us form every angle.  This buying only helps them!  Same with telly.  If it’s not selling the latest clothes or must-have gadget, it’s promoting false values to impressionable kids.   It’s not that I want the media all gone but I wish people would realistically think about what they, or their children, are seeing and hearing.  If the people in high places are right and we learn predominantly form the media, not our superiors, we are learning to abide by the wrong rules from the people in power, not what is morally right and we are not able to run our own lives. It is the wrong values that we are teaching to ourselves that I blame the media for and I just wish others could see that it is wrong in that respect.  Thank you for your attention.