I am the politician and the preacher

The verbal deceit, the unspoken truth

Still the student but yet a teacher

I am the unknown superstar

The father and prodigal son

The saintly demon who is happiest crying

The winner of the race I have never run

Somewhere under my masks I exist

A person never seen and rarely missed

And identity more forgotten than used

A life more exploited than abused

Do you know me? Do you think you can?

I see you looking close – can you see the man?

Under the turmoil there is a peace

A happy depression, a caged release

A life full of harmony, yet not quite a song

Impatient for love, yet waiting too long

They released a few of the trapped – those with no luggage in the hold were released into the cold, for the most part happy to have been delivered North of the Watford gap.

But, within 15 minutes of waiting, the revolt has begun. Not against the weather, the cause of our current calamity, but rather at the BA staff, the aircraft and the captain. Surely there must be something they can do – whatdo you mean the plane needs de-icing?

Kids sitting behind me begin to sing Christmas songs (we are still so close to Christmas they are painfully fesh), which has gone from being one of the most joyous sounds to one which could be compared with Chinese water torture or having a wisdom tooth pulled.

The requests for food are met with disdain by the cabin staff, forced to respond with the meager rations of peanuts and biscuits – people are concerned and only 20 minutes have passed.

The mild scent of the combined effluence of 100 human beings trapped in tube begins to fill the air and no matter how had the airconditioning blows it simply circulates the arrangement of odours around the aircraft.

The obligatory hero business man (probably the chairman of an IT company) offers completely unqualified advice to the cabin staff about how this could be organised better, how, if he was responsible would ensure his (customer) service was better.

Nervous people make paniced telephone calls fustrate by the singing of the children, made worse by another passenger encouraging them in a chorus of “Bob the Builder”

Little sympathy is given for the cabin crew who have been on duty since 5am, it must be their fault we are trapped – noone says it to
them, but the passengers pleading looks beg for the miracle solution which cannot be delivered, and further discussion now moves on to
“surely we could have landed at Newcastle”.

And so we wait. Another message that Newcastle airport has closed again. We wait for our captors to release us – but thier captors (BAA,
the weather, the tower and working regulations) seem to not want us to leave.

Will I ever escape from Teeside?

The Internet has provided access to information in an inter-linked, unmoderated information source, enabled remote learning and connected individuals across the globe in a way never before seen.

And yet, for all this, is the world a better place? Are we wise enough as a species to truly understand the impact of the engine we have created?

For many years, the saying “knowledge is power” has been a driving mantra. In more recent years this has changed as recognition of knowledge sharing has lead to “knowledge plus action equals power”. This is certainly true from a corporate perspective.

At an individual level, I would suggest that the level of information available means that with so many “self declared” experts, “knowlege equals paranoia”.

Has my access to information allowed me to better the world? Locally, no – what it has given me is a whole new set of issues to worry about, manage and get involved in, all of which meet my morale and ethical beleifs, but often I am focused on the world, rather than the piece of me which surrounds me.

It is common to hear people talk about the breakdown of communities whilst the Internet boasts booming online and virtual communities where the “tribe” members have never even met. A neighbour can die, and we do not even know their name, and yet Paris Hitlon sneezes and 20% of the world know about it immediately.

We have homelessness is our streets, a Government which beleives it must take care of us in a way which removes Our ability as individuals, parents and friends to develop and pass on wisdom learnt from experience. Many policies born out of “political correctness” – which should define the principles which we should aspire to, not implement rules which restrict freedom. The web provides a platform for political correctness gone mad. It provides access to unmoderated and unbalanced information which can appear official and certified, and the wisdom to seek out both sides of an argument to develop real understanding has, in many cases been reduced to reading opinions found through a google search.

The Internet has provided new avenues for companies and governments to sell to us – to market to our fears. Ask yourself this, does the fact the your new mobile device gets email, phone calls, SMS and allows you to surf the internet has truly improved your life or just increased the amount of stress you can fit into a day? You have to have to have it though – that’s the really clever marketing – you might the disadvantaged if you don’t, because someone else might be willing to have that additional stress!!

So, we can now communicate with the world – from anywhere on our mobile devices. But we have forgotten how to communicate and care for the environment and people around us.

We can take on so many vital global causes, and yet we forget the needs of those closest to us, those lives where we can truly make an impact. Often these needs can be fulfilled with an investment of just our time, and surely with all our time saving devices there is no excuse, huh?

Nothing to drastic – no unmaintainable promises to change my diet, go to the gym more or spend more time with my family – rather just a change in attitude.

A decision to simply offer a little more of myself to the world and those around me.

To everyone I hope that the best of your yesterdays are the worst of your tomorrows. Peace and much love.

Mark