Who Knew Swearing Was Periodical?

Apparently the Brits, as you will see from the 'bollocks' and 'bloody arseholes' in this 'periodic table of swearing.'

The Queen would be appalled!

(Via: BoingBoing)

(Image Source)

Turing Apology

In response to a petition signed by British intellectuals, British prime minister Gordon Brown has issued an apology for the British legal system's treatment of Alan Turing in the 1950s.

Turing was a computer scientist famous for breaking the Nazi code during World War II and for his work in advancing computer science and, some would say, founding, modern computer science. He was convicted after admitting to having committed consensual sexual acts with another adult male. As part of the conviction, he underwent chemical castration, which, it is widely believed, led to his premature suicide by cyanide.

Don't Mess With the Brits

I admire Britons for their famous stoicism when faced with adversity. And, in this case, I admire them for standing up for a system that they have used—successfully, might I add—for many decades. In response to the American press and politicians that are trying to use the British NHS as a bad example (forgetting that the proposed plan in the U.S. is NOTHING like the British one), Britons speak up and defend their system. You may read their comments here and find the government's response here.

I have heard a lot of people in the media and around me talk about the NHS and how it is in trouble, but then again what health system around the world isn't? Although not faced with crippling poverty and a drastic shortage of doctors, equipment, or resources, the developed countries are all facing increases in the aging population. We are living longer and our frailer bodies in older age require more care. It is the same in Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, and the United States. We are all similar in that we are all trying to address this challenge. Some countries are doing more and better things, if I may so opine.