Your Mac Life Has Moved
24/02/07 11:51 Filed in: Apple
The great Your Mac Life radio show has moved to a new domain it is now at www.yourmaclifeshow.com. If you have never listened to the show then give it a try. It is very informative and light hearted. Shawn is a great host along with Lesa and Sly. Every week they cover the latest Mac news and have interesting guest. They range from home user to the head of the Mac BU.
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Auschwitz-Birkenau
13/02/07 15:29 Filed in: Personal
Recently, my wife and I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in
Poland. We organised a private tour guide who showed
us around both camps. The guides have to pass an exam
before than can take people around and it showed. Our
guide was very knowledgeable.
When we arrived at Auschwitz, I was surprised that it was in the middle of a town. Obviously, the town has been built up since the end of the war, but this was the first thing that struck me. I thought it would be in the middle of trees and fields. It is hard to imagine what went on within the walls.
There are rooms which exhibit human hair, suitcases and personal effects such as tooth brushes, glasses, even one with false limbs. It was bitterly cold the day we visited and by Polish standards, a mild winters day. How these people survived just the cold let alone what the Nazi's where doing to them is beyond belief. Auschwitz was more of a labour and prisoner of war camp. Although there was a gas chamber at Auschwitz, the vast majority of the killings took place at Birkenau. After hearing this I wondered why Auschwitz was the more well known concentration camp. The guide said, that might be true to you, but if you ask any Jew they would say Birkenau. It took 3 hours to tour Auschwitz. It is a sparse, depressing place to walk around. Hardly anyone talking, no rushing around. It certainly isn't like life outside.
After we left Auschwitz we took a the short drive to Birkenau. Here the scale really hits you. You walk up to the top of the tower that stands over the gate and the train tracks go as far as the eye can see. These platforms would have been full with tracks that would have reached from one end to the other.
The shear size of the camp we huge. This is the field and forest location I had expected. A lot of the housing had been destroyed, but you could see how big the place was. The gas chambers were destroyed by the Nazis before the end of the war, but the ruins are still there. This seemed a more cold, bleak place than Auschwitz. Our guide pointed out that selection took place straight off the train and if you weren't chosen to live then you were sent straight to the gas chambers. The Germans even gave out soap and towels to those who were told they were getting showered. They didn't know which fate was to await them.
I am pleased that Auschwitz-Birkenau was not destroyed at the end of the war. It would remain as a symbol of what humans can do to one another. The next time I see those horrific pictures and the conditions that go along with them, it will be much more vivid than before.
When we arrived at Auschwitz, I was surprised that it was in the middle of a town. Obviously, the town has been built up since the end of the war, but this was the first thing that struck me. I thought it would be in the middle of trees and fields. It is hard to imagine what went on within the walls.
There are rooms which exhibit human hair, suitcases and personal effects such as tooth brushes, glasses, even one with false limbs. It was bitterly cold the day we visited and by Polish standards, a mild winters day. How these people survived just the cold let alone what the Nazi's where doing to them is beyond belief. Auschwitz was more of a labour and prisoner of war camp. Although there was a gas chamber at Auschwitz, the vast majority of the killings took place at Birkenau. After hearing this I wondered why Auschwitz was the more well known concentration camp. The guide said, that might be true to you, but if you ask any Jew they would say Birkenau. It took 3 hours to tour Auschwitz. It is a sparse, depressing place to walk around. Hardly anyone talking, no rushing around. It certainly isn't like life outside.
After we left Auschwitz we took a the short drive to Birkenau. Here the scale really hits you. You walk up to the top of the tower that stands over the gate and the train tracks go as far as the eye can see. These platforms would have been full with tracks that would have reached from one end to the other.
The shear size of the camp we huge. This is the field and forest location I had expected. A lot of the housing had been destroyed, but you could see how big the place was. The gas chambers were destroyed by the Nazis before the end of the war, but the ruins are still there. This seemed a more cold, bleak place than Auschwitz. Our guide pointed out that selection took place straight off the train and if you weren't chosen to live then you were sent straight to the gas chambers. The Germans even gave out soap and towels to those who were told they were getting showered. They didn't know which fate was to await them.
I am pleased that Auschwitz-Birkenau was not destroyed at the end of the war. It would remain as a symbol of what humans can do to one another. The next time I see those horrific pictures and the conditions that go along with them, it will be much more vivid than before.
The Verdict
13/02/07 15:18 Filed in: Personal
I have been watching The Verdict on BBC2. I have found it very
interesting to watch. I have always been
interested in the legal process and have to
watched programmes like Crown Court which is
making a comeback on LegalTV. At least once a year
I go to the Old Bailey to watch the Courts
working. I would recommend this to anyone who
wants to see how real life court compares to TV.
It is this difference that is making The Verdict so interesting to watch. It is not scripted and the barristers are real. They are doing their job, their way, but with cameras present. It is also interesting to hear the behind the scenes discussions with the jury. Although they are 12 famous people, I feel their bias and views would be no different to any other 12 strangers pushed together to become a jury. Stan Collymore has been very strong on his view that you must weigh up the case on the evidence you are told, but on the emotions of the witnesses. This is a very noble thought, but is it really possible to do that?
The victim was in great distress while giving her evidence and Stan said we must ignore that. That may be true, but I have this question. If she had been calm, not cried, would that have been used by the jury to show that she was lying and made it all up?
The show continues and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
It is this difference that is making The Verdict so interesting to watch. It is not scripted and the barristers are real. They are doing their job, their way, but with cameras present. It is also interesting to hear the behind the scenes discussions with the jury. Although they are 12 famous people, I feel their bias and views would be no different to any other 12 strangers pushed together to become a jury. Stan Collymore has been very strong on his view that you must weigh up the case on the evidence you are told, but on the emotions of the witnesses. This is a very noble thought, but is it really possible to do that?
The victim was in great distress while giving her evidence and Stan said we must ignore that. That may be true, but I have this question. If she had been calm, not cried, would that have been used by the jury to show that she was lying and made it all up?
The show continues and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
