How could a man that cared about sick animals be connected to allegations of abuse?

I have been following the sexual abuse scandals involving famous television personalities for a while now but I am most shocked at the recent reports involving Rolf Harris. He was one of the UK’s oldest and most admired television presenters and public figures, he has had success as a presenter, artist and musician recently performing … Continue reading →

Lady Gaga pushes the boundaries of pop culture in to the digital music era

Little Monsters everywhere will be eagerly awaiting the release of Lady Gaga’s new album, Artpop (due for release in November 2013) named after the style of art known as Pop art famously used by artist Andy Warhol in the 1960s. The concept of Artpop is the opposite of Pop art. Warhol would tern popular things … Continue reading →

Daniel Pelka, another child victim failed by social services

Last night I was horrified to watch the ten o’clock news and hear the tragic story of Daniel Pelka, a 4 year old boy who endured horrific abuse from his mother and step-farther leading up to his death in March 2012. His mother Magdalena Luczak and her boyfriend Mariusz Krezolek were found guilty of Daniel’s … Continue reading →

Helen Asks: ‘School proms, how much is too much?’

Around this time every year high school students all over the UK are attending proms to celebrate the end of school exams. Getting dress up and having fun is one thing, but some people take things just a little too far. Here in the UK we have adopted the traditional idea of the ‘fairy tale’ … Continue reading →

Helen Asks: ‘Do successful athletes deserve honorary awards?’

Talk of Andy Murray being the next successful sports personality to receive a knighthood for his services to sport opens up questions about honorary awards and who really deserves them. Most of the UK was elated by Andy Murray’s win at Wimbledon last Sunday whether they followed the tennis this year or not. Many were … Continue reading →

Helen Asks: ‘Does Money Really Bring Happiness?’

With both his daughters getting married with no expenses spared over the past couple of years you would have thought Bernie Ecclestone would be enjoying the elaborate celebrations. However in a Mail Online article published 25th June 2013 the billionaire Formula 1 tycoon revealed that, money has never brought him happiness. The billionaire lifestyle does … Continue reading →

Helen Asks: ‘How accurate is the media’s portrayal of Scientology?’

During my time studying Religious Studies I did get the opportunity to learn about UFO religions, cults and other new religious movements. Academics believe Scientology to be the largest UFO religion in the world although many members reject the concept of aliens and prefer to view the practice as a form of self-help or science … Continue reading →

Door to door sellers, just a nuisance or the base of something more sinister?

Door to door selling or ‘hawking’ a term featured in the Channel four show ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ refers to the practice of knocking on people’s doors (more often disturbing them in the middle of their dinner) and trying to flog them overpriced products they don’t need or can get cheaper elsewhere. Sellers use … Continue reading →

Helen Asks: ‘What are the pros and cons of medical trials?’

All over the internet and newspapers adverts offering large amounts of money for medical research can be found. At first thought it seems simple, take a pill or an injection every so often and get paid thousands of pounds. However, there is a catch. These drugs have never been tested on humans before and the … Continue reading →

‘Does dentistry attract criminal personalities?’

A lot of people get anxious about visiting the dentist. What with the pain, drilling and massive bills at the end, it is no wonder why people often avoid going to their appointments. The top reason for dreading the dentist involves being afraid of pain and worrying about invasive procedures going wrong, but if you … Continue reading →