Article 14: Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty dies at age of 63

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12115604 

Summary

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, born in Paisley, has died at the age of 63 because of a long illness. He began with a musical career, but he especially became famous from his songs Baker Street and Stuck in the Middle with You (those were hits in the 70s). He recorded this songs with his band Stealers Wheel. Gerry Rafferty had a big drink problem and got a liver failure because of the alcohol. After all he died peacefully at home with his daughter at his bedside. People said Rafferty never enjoyed the fame he got, he hated it. Gambaccini (a BBC Radio 2 presenter) said: "He just wasn't of the constitution to deal with the music business, or to respect it. And thus he found fame and artistic success incompatible, and he became a wanderer, a lonely man, allegedly a drinker. And now we have this unhappy end."

Response

Baker Street is my favorite song from Gerry Rafferty. My father always played that song in the car on the way to France or Italy in the summer holidays. I think everyone knows the songs written by Gerry Raffery. He is a very good singer-songwriter and a big quality of him is to translate his feelings with his songs to other people. Rafferty always wrote songs with a lot of emotions in it. It’s very ironic he wanted to become famous by starting a musical career, but he hated the fame though anyway. I wasn’t a big fan of him, I still like his music though, but of course I feel sorry about his death.  

Article 13: Facebook used in hunt for Jo Yeates' killer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12112077 

Summary

Nowadays detectives use Facebook for campaigns in bid to catch a killer. One example is the mystery of the founded body of Jo Yeates. Her body was found in Longwood Lane near Bristol on Christmas day, eight days after she was reported missing from her home in Clifton. The campaign asked people to contact the investigation team via the social network website, rather than calling them. Furthermore the advert showed the website with all the latest information on it. Spending time on Facebook is part of everyday life for many people, so they hoped it would be very effective. And indeed it worked out, because it was more effective than posters and leaflet drops. Scott Fulton, head of e-services at the force, said: "Additionally there have been over 63,000 views of the news updates on our website, a further 18,000 on the dedicated Jo page and over 70,000 views of the CCTV clips on our YouTube channel. Through the website we have had 260 inbound messages to the incident room through the website”. The crime scene itself isn’t solved yet, though.

Response

It’s a good thing the investigation teams try to solve the crime scene with the help of Facebook. People are changing and Facebook  has become part of everyday life now. Also the investigation teams have to keep up with the times. Anyway they have to watch out of incorrect posted information on Facebook. Facebook is more easy accessible than to make a phone call. Maybe unserious things will be posted instead of only reliable information about the crime scene. But the opposite is possible though: Because of its easy accessibility, people don’t hesitate about posting important information as well.

Rowan Atkinson - Elementary Dating

Article 12: Two missing after Thames boat capsizes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/two-missing-thames-boat-capsize 

Summary

Yesterday evening a small boat, with 6 people on board, capsized on the river Thames in Surrey. Four people, three women and one man, were rescued and taken to the nearby hospital Frimley Park. They had just minor injuries. Two men are still missing and feared to dead. Police and rescue services were started extensive searches immediately, including the use of a police helicopter. Unfortunately there were no signs of the two missing men. Teams of divers were to begin looking for them today. The other rescue teams are continuing the search of the two men today as well. The search is not covered by the coastguard service, because the stretch of the river is not tidal.

Response

I am wondering why the boat capsized on the river. It is horrible to be on that boat while the accident happened, especially when you also know the two missing men. I hope the rescue teams will find them alive, but I think there is no big change at all. It is cold outside, so the two men will be super cooled very fast. Fortunately the other four people had no big injuries.  

Article 11: Control orders are essential for security, warns peer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12106359 

Summary

The Liberal Democrat peer said the control orders on terror suspects were essential for security. It had been reported that there is a change they will scrap them, but there had no decisions been made yet. The government will fail if there will be another 7-July-style attack, because of the scrapped control orders. "We have a commitment as a party in our manifesto to scrap control orders, but there is absolutely no way that we would scrap control orders and leave the country less safe," said Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes.

Response

Everyone should admit control orders on terror suspects are necessary. They have to do everything to prevent a terrorism event. I am sure about the government knows what they are doing. I think they will keep the country safe, even if they scrap the control orders on terror suspects. Then they will find something else to prevent terrorism.