Blog #3

Harry Potter Encyclopedia is forthcoming

Author of the famous Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling, has announced that she has started working on a long awaited encyclopedia of Harry’s world. After announcing that her first novel for adults will be published coming autumn and that work on the encyclopedia has started, she also stated that there will not be an 8^th Harry Potter book. Although it might still take a long time before the Harry Potter Encyclopedia is finished, numerous fans are already looking forward to it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/16/harry-potter-encyclopedia-jk-rowling

Since I have all Harry Potter books on my bookshelf, you might call me a fan, yet reading about a Harry Potter Encyclopedia being made did not really excite me. For hardcore fans of the books and everything that came with them it might be a welcome surprise, to me it seems unnecessary. At least it is not just a way for the author to make more money. Having earned enough to last more than a lifetime she is going to donate her royalties of the encyclopedia to charity.

Blog #2

Virgin Atlantic plane made an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport

An airplane headed for Orlando in the US had to make an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, London.  After being in the air for only 10 minutes the pilot came out to the cabin to inform the passengers they were going to land again. Luckily all of the 312 people on board of the plane were alright after the landing, with only 4 people suffering minor injuries. The reason for the emergency landing is currently under investigation; the official statement of Virgin is that it was due to a technical problem.        

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-17730154

Reading articles about planes crashing or needing to make an emergency landing has always been something interesting to me. The crashes involving casualties and injuries are never a nice thing to read about. However, the fact that pilots are able to make an emergency landing to prevent worse things happening is something special. It is a skill that has saved many lives, in the past as well as today.  Especially with a flight to the United Kingdom in my near future, knowing that pilots are capable of doing spectacular maneuvers, is a reassuring fact.

Blog #1

Craig Fallon retires from judo ahead of Olympics

Former World Champion Judo Craig Fallon, has announced that he retires from the sport. Only five months before the Olympics in London,  Fallon retires.  The fact that he doesn’t think that he would be able to be a serious competitor at the Olympics, made him make this choice. Fallon had successfully returned to top of the sport after being troubled by injuries. With him stepping down there is a new spot to be filled by a Judoka to go to the Olympics representing England in the category -66kg.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/judo/16874790

Personally I was shocked by reading this article. With Judo being the sport I have done myself for many years now,  Craig Fallon was a name that I had seen before. Reading that a successful sportsman like him retired, so short before the Olympics, seemed odd to me. Yet after reading his motives it even proves more how much of a winner he is. Not wanting to enter the Olympic Games  cause he did not think he would have a shot at winning.  I hope his replacement will be at least as good as he was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmT4ULBqdSI  ( if anyone would like to see this amazing athlete in action)