Samantha be Rhyll

Rather a depressing weekend with events in Norway and Amy Winehouse's death dominating, which if nothing else may have provided relief to Rupert Murdoch for taking News International of the front pages. Being at work when both incidents occurred provided for an even more confusing image of what was happening as rumour and updates were second hand at best and coming from sources that were not sure of the situation. In the case of the Norwegian attacks the talk was of terrorist attacks with people immediately jumping to conclusions and blaming Islamic fundamentalists with radio hosts still looking for reasons why they may be a target in the evening on my way home. I wondered about the claims that these were Al Qaeda tactics with the bomb falling in this category but the shootings sounded more reminiscent of somebody with a grudge like an upset teenager in an American high school. Reasons that Norway may be targeted were suggested but seemed vague even when it was announced the culprit had been arrested and was said to be a Norwegian national with eye witnesses describing him as white and blonde. This was not enough for certain media outlets such as The Sun who blamed Al Qaeda on their front page the next day.

   All the details are still not yet in but from what has so far emerged is that the attacker was a far right extremist that took his dislike of multi culturalism to shoot predominately white people.

   The death of Amy Winehouse has created more talk of the 27 club as if it were a curse rather than what started as a coincidence and has become a cult. It is probably the case that more musicians have died at the age of 75 but do not have the iconic status from having died young for it to be commented upon. As it happens those that do die young will do so for a number of reasons but predominately the artists often quoted have some sort of inner demon or being young and rich over indulge in their addiction of choice for a few years before it takes its toll.

   Again it is too soon for Amy Winehouse's cause of death to be announced with early reports of an overdose of ecstasy as yet unconfirmed but the shock of this tragedy is also accompanied by a sense of not being very surprised. This somehow makes it feel a bit worse as you wonder if anything could have been done to prevent her death.