Let's Hear it for Tolerance...

In a move that is sure to ignite heated debate not only about education, but also the direction of the United Kingdom, an undercover investigation by the BBC has discovered that schools under the auspices of the "Saudi Students Clubs and Schools in the UK and Ireland" organisation have been teaching some really interesting content. The investigation also uncovered that this content is being taught in some schools in the UK that are owned by the government of Saudi Arabia.

The schools in question are located throughout Britain and are "teaching" somewhere up to 5000 impressionable students from the ages of six to eighteen. The challenging content includes teaching students about Sharia Law, particularly the more brutal and heinous punishments available. For example, students are being taught that thieves will have their hand cut off for a first offense and then a foot for any subsequent offense.

Interestingly, the students are being taught that the process is humane as the stump where one's hand used to be is cauterised so as to prevent the thief from bleeding to death.

Some of the other juicer educational experiences include reminding students that homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of Allah. Therefore, suitable punishments for homosexuals include stoning them to death, burning them to death, and throwing them off a cliff. The common denominator here being that homosexuals must die for their sins.

Funnily enough, the Jews do not miss out either in these weekend schools. Students are taught that those evil Jews are hell bent on world domination. And, if given the chance they will seek to take over and control all of the world's wealth and resources.

Ultimately, the theme of all this content seems to be "if you do not follow Islam, or convert immediately, then you are going to be damned to hell!"

Nothing like preaching a little love and tolerance, is there?


Apparently, Ofsted, the British educational watchdog, is doing a little investigating of its own and will soon report to the Education Minister, Michael Gove. I might try and see if I can follow this story through to its conclusion, if for no other reason than I am interested in the implications of teaching such content in schools generally.

To be honest, I do not see any problems with teaching the fundamentals of Sharia Law and what punishments are available under that system. It could be done in a manner that is comparative and without bias. However, the teaching of content that suggests that Jews are focused on world domination through control of financial and natural resources combined with the idea that any one who is not Muslim is damned to hell is likely to be much more problematic and controversial.

The anti-Semitism in the textbooks is surely going to get people fired up. The whole affair is likely to see some interesting to and fro in the cyber-sphere on all manner of things ranging from political correctness to tolerance.

I am surprised that I am yet to see the arguments rehashed that suggest within 20 years Britain will be a Muslim State under Sharia Law. Perhaps even the more extreme protagonists will start to suggest that this is the tip of the iceberg and it will not be long before Europe is an Islamic Caliphate. Hence, the poster and the idea that it will not take long to ignite differences to a flash point.

Does it all start with education?

Prince William and Kate Middleton...

A Royal Engagement brings out all the classic headlines. Although, "Kinky Kate: The skanky dress that caught Prince William's eye" was probably not the first headline I would have expected to see.

Nevertheless, here are a couple of pictures (one courtesy of Getty Images) of Ms. Catherine (aka Kate) Middleton before she became the future Queen of England. Perhaps, it was destiny or something. So, maybe she was always going to be the future Queen of England, and it was just a matter of time before fate ran its course.

In any event, these photos come from 2002 and a fashion charity show held at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Even to my aging eyes it looks like she was certain to turn a few heads in the outfit.

Yet, I wonder how the future King of England feels about his wife being described as "kinky" and "skanky"? After all, she was playing the part of fashion model for charity at an event that was charging in excess of $325 a ticket. To be honest that does not sound either kinky or skanky. So what if you can see her panties, it is a fashion show, right? Maybe I am getting old.

Congratulations to them both. May it be a long and fruitful partnership that bring you both much happiness.

Now for the photos...

Pregnant Nuns, Ice-Cream and Catholic Outrage...

Truth be told, I am not a really religious person. I do have my moments of Zen and other spirituality from time-to-time though. However, the fact that a pregnant nun advertising an ice cream product so outraged Catholics that they complained to the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) seems a little over-the-top at first look.

The ad is clearly satire, some might even say it is taking the piss out of the religious concept of the immaculate conception, but when it is all said and done it is best described as an ad of questionable taste (no pun intended considering it is for ice-cream).

The ad campaign was using a slogan "ice-cream is our religion". The ad itself, shows a heavily pregnant nun with the words "immaculately conceived". The beef that those that complained have is that the ad makes a mockery of Roman Catholic beliefs. Maybe it does, but I wonder if these same complainants are so similarly outraged by the excesses of Roman Catholic priests that rape and abuse little boys, and who have done so for centuries. These men parading as priests have ensured that the mockery begins from within the Roman Catholic church itself.

Nevertheless, the ASA decided that even the light-hearted use of such an image was likely to cause serious offense to some, and then banned the image. The advertising agency had argued that its use of religious imagery was legitimate. Unfortunately, the ASA did not buy into that argument. It is not the first time that Ad Agency Antonio Federici has come into conflict with Catholics and the ASA. An ad from last year suggesting a kiss between a nun and a priest was also banned. \

As I said, a nun and a priest getting down to it in a full-on lip lock is hardly offensive compared to some of the things the Catholic Church has been complicit in allowing to occur and then go unpunished for decades upon decades. It is time to take stock and seek out a little perspective. If you are Roman Catholic and you are offended, then that is your right. Express that displeasure through boycotting the product, writing letters to the editors of magazines and newspapers, get your priests to preach from the pulpit. But to seek to ban all expression that runs counter to your beliefs is no different from any other religious group that seeks to control freedom of thought and expression in order to achieve some kind of world domination plan. It is ultimately destined to fail.

When it is all said and done, if you truly believe in an all-powerful omniscient God, then s/he is likely to ensure on the coming judgment day that Antonio Federici and his cohorts get their comeuppance for their poor sense of humour. I am sure that one of the main lessons of religion was something about letting those that are free of sin cast the first stone. And, there was that other one about people who live in glass houses not throwing stones.

Final point, perhaps some of these complainants and those that get to rule on these complaints need to do a couple of Sunday Schools sessions and get back in touch with what Roman Catholicism says about the immaculate conception, it is enlightening; it is not about virgin births but rather it is about freedom from original sin (feel free to correct me if I am wrong).

Ho hum...

Islam -- Music and Singing, Forbidden?

On first thought, my immediate response is, "No". Having lived in Indonesia for many years I have seen many Muslims playing musical instruments, making music, and singing. In fact, each Ramadan there is a group called 'Debu' who do the rounds of the TV channels playing music and declaring their faith to the masses. Even more compelling is that Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens, has realised that music is a powerful tool in getting out the message and has of more recent times returned to the gift that made him famous.

Nevertheless, it would seem that not all Muslims are on the same page when it comes to whether the faith (or Allah) condones the learning and playing of musical instruments and the making of music.

The Daily Telegraph in the UK has an article that claims Muslim students are being withdrawn from music classes in the UK because learning and making music is un-Islamic. The article claims that it is primarily Somalian  Muslims that are withdrawing their children from classes. Yet, 'primarily' suggests that this is not universally only a Somalian Muslim issue.

Music is a compulsory part of the curriculum. So, there are some issues as to whether students can withdraw from compulsory curriculum subjects on religious grounds. There has to be a mechanism for dealing with this in a mutually acceptable fashion that is respected by all involved.

Personally, I cannot see what the drama is with music. Perhaps any Muslim readers who understand about these things can enlighten me as to what the problem is with music that some Muslims are of the belief that it is forbidden.

An Orgasm A Day Keeps The Doctor Away...

So much for the traditional apple doing the trick! It seems that the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, and in particular the office in Sheffield, has determined that rather than an apple a day being the key to good health that an orgasm is just as good for you (story here and here).

Now, the benefits of orgasm according to a brochure produced by the NHS include, among others, improved cardiovascular health. Generally, a healthy and frequent sex life is a key to excellent overall health.

The brochure is somewhat controversial because it is directed at school-age children, and in essence tells children that they have a right to a healthy sex life. This begs the question of whether there is a possibility that students will now think it is better not to give their teachers an apple.

The brochure is also controversial because it seems to take the focus of the developed lines of argument advocating safe sex to concentrating on the main reason people have sex anyway, enjoyment. I guess how much fun is depends on your experience and the experiences themselves. I am sure there are those that do not consider sex to be fun.

On the safe sex front, the brochure does, apparently, advocate self-gratification, or masturbation, as a means of beneficial sexual activity. This is not to say that masturbation is safe sex. If you enjoy it too much then there is always the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

The NHS document, Pleasure, includes a catchy slogan, "An Orgasm A Day Keeps The Doctor Away".

I actually think that the brochure is a good idea, and this is even when I put my father hat on and think about how I would feel if it was Will that was being given this brochure. I am a firm believer in the idea that if people, and this includes children, are to make informed decisions, then they have to be informed.

Keeping on the orgasm theme, here is a classic clip from the film "When Harry Met Sally".

The "10-Pound Pom" Returns...

I have always thought the term was "10-quidder". My old man was a 10-quidder. What his motivations or reasons might have been in deciding to pack it all up in his homeland and head to the land downunder are irrelevant, but the rest, as they say, is history.

The original scheme was one adopted as a means of "encouraging" migrants from the United Kingdom to take a punt on heading to Australia in the period after the Second World War. And, the scheme ran through until the 1960s when my old fella made the fateful decision. A decision, I am sure, that he does not regret.

Ten quid at this point in time is the equivalent of about AUD 21. To qualify a person wanting to purchase a ticket must have a valid working visa in order to be able to work in Australia, and be willing to fly Qantas. The idea is that this is a way of boosting tourism to, and then within, Australia. I am not so sure that it will considering there are only 150 of these 10-quid tickets available on a first in, first served basis.

The tickers will be sold from STA Travel centers throughout the UK from 5 August 2009. However, seeing there are only 150 tickets available, they are not expected to last long. The expectation is the tickets will only last a few hours before being sold out. I am guessing that with some 35,000 Poms expected to gain working holiday visas that 150 tickets might only last a matter of minutes.

There are some additional conditions besides the visa one. Particularly, travel can only occur between 15 August 2009 through 30 September 2009 and 1 November through 30 November 2009. And, travelers can fly into Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

Those that miss out on the 10-quid tickets will get the next best Qantas special which is STG 679 of the equivalent of about AUD 1,400.

For anyone reading this in the UK and who has a valid working holiday visa and is yet to get a ticket to travel, then this might be the perfect opportunity to camp out and get a super cheap flight on Qantas to the land downunder and get your working holiday underway.

For anyone interested in learning more, there is a website, see www.statravel.co.uk/10poundpom.

Revisiting the 2009 Jessup Competition...

The 2009 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition was a lot of fun. The competition also highlights the incredible advocacy talents that are out there in the world. The future of international law looks very sound to me.

The Final Round was between the Universidad de los Andes, Colombia vs. University College London, United Kingdom. The case was, The Case Concerning "Operation Provide Shelter". The competition is run by the International Law Students Association. The competition continues to grow every year and this means that the competition gets tougher every year.

I am proud of the students that I worked with (coached) in this competition.

Here is a short clip of the Final Round.

Sex Discrimination -- Sexy Uniforms at the Rocket Bar

Above is the Facebook picture and below is the offending dress.

It is interesting how news is written.

A young Bosnian Muslim woman who managed to get herself a job at the Rocket Bar in Mayfair and then quit after just eight days has won a £3,000 damages payout because she was made to wear a figure hugging red dress. According to the woman, Fata Lemes (photos courtesy of here), the dress made her feel like a prostitute.

It seems that the Rocket Bar has two uniforms; a summer one and a winter one. The winter one being a loose-fitting black deal and the summer one being the offending red dress that was the subject of the claim. Lemes was so concerned about the look of the dress that she could not bring herself to where it for a shift. However, she had no qualms about getting a picture in it.

The interesting part is that she is reported to have said: "I was brought up a Muslim and am not used to wearing sexually attractive clothes. I might as well be naked in that dress." I guess the key words here are "am not used to wearing" because that must be construed to mean, it is uncommon for me but I have been known to wear the odd sexy outfit.

The social networking phenomenon that is Facebook means that if you are on it then someone somewhere will know who you are and be privy to what you have posted on Facebook. This is the case for Lemes, who has posted pictures of herself wearing clothes that seem far more revealing than the red dress.

Now, for the interesting news bit. The Central London Employment Tribunal rejected her claim for £17,500 as 'manifestly absurd', and was explicit in stating that the dress was not revealing or indecent. However, they did make an award to her based on sexual discrimination in the work place. It seems that the Rocket Bar did not make their male employees where an alternate uniform in the summer months.

Is there a lesson in all of this? Yes, make sure that your male and female employees are treated equally across the board, at least in terms of uniforms.

A Parent at 13-Years-Old...

This particular story out of the UK might have many saying WTF and others simply shaking their heads or others, like me, trying to remember back to when I was 13 and wondering whether this was an outcome I was thinking about.

This is a story of little Alfie Patten, who at the tender age of 13 has managed to get his 15-year-old girlfriend pregnant. Not only did he get her pregnant, it seems that there was a conscious decision to have the child.

Now, I will be 39 this year and I am currently enduring the challenges of fatherhood with our firstborn. I would not say that I am struggling, to the contrary, I am loving it. Nevertheless, I am wondering how well equipped a 13-year-old father and a 15-year-old mother are to be facing these challenges.

By all reports, young Alfie is seemingly a natural and really good with babies. At 13 I would be suggesting that young Alfie is still pretty much a baby himself. However, the pair seem to have the future all mapped out. This includes sharing some of the parenting duties with the baby's grandparents. This is supposedly going to facilitate the pair staying in school and then making the most of their abilities in providing for the kid. Although Alfie seems equally at home with PlayStation and X-Box

The case is an interesting one. It is without a doubt a case to which local social workers will be paying a lot of attention to. Interestingly, the police investigated and decided that it was not in any one's interest to prosecute. This is probably so. A rape charge would seem pretty difficult to sustain and that would leave something like child neglect as a possible charge. Child neglect would also be pretty hard to sustain, unless of course the burden is on the parents to chain their children to the bed.

Let's face it, if the parent(s) have already discussed the "birds + bees" with their kids and the kids go out and do the deed, then really have the parents been neglectful or have the kids just been kids and ignored their parents advice and now have a serious set of consequences to deal with?

It is now that the recriminations will start. Who's at fault? Where did the system fail? Who should pick up the tab on this one?

I do not know that this is indicative of a crumbling social norm in Britain or anywhere else that teenage pregnancies occur. What it is indicative of is a need to reassess whether the idea of abstinence is a sustainable one. Perhaps greater emphasis and more serious levels of sex education (personal development training if you prefer) is necessary in schools so that youngsters are forewarned about the consequences and risks that they face if they engage in sexual behaviour.

At 13, I think I was pretty good on the Atari and I am pretty sure I was not thinking of bedding my girlfriend and becoming a dad. I am not even sure that I had a girlfriend.

Life!

Note:
The photo is subject to copyright (apparently). I tried to contact the paper that I lifted it from but they did not respond, but it can be found here. The photo is accredited to a Lee Thompson.

Corporal Punishment

I need to thank Jakartass for the links that form the basis of this post. It is a topic I had been thinking about, perhaps reminiscing is a more apt word, as my 21st high school reunion approaches. I was on the end of that generation that was the last to see corporal punishment, specifically caning.

Amongst my mates and I getting the cane was a bit of a status thing. We used to keep a running tab across the year to see who could get caned the most. There were some bragging rights to be had for punishable bad behaviour. And it was always more preferable at boarding school to get "six of the best" strokes of the cane than it was to lose leave privileges or sports privileges or the like. We were always caned on the hands. There were no paddling of the buttocks at my school.

I remember once having to wire brush a fence and then repaint it as punishment for having condoms in my locker (different story and has nothing to do with sex) and thinking even 12 strokes of the cane would be better than having to spend two months re-painting a fence.

Interestingly in the more than 20 years since the cane has been banned as a form of punishment there are now more than 20% of UK teachers thinking that the re-introduction of the cane would be a good thing. This is somewhat modified and the re-introduction is being thought of as a measure to manage "extreme"bad behaviour. I wonder what extreme is though?

The results are based on a survey conducted by the Times Educational Supplement and some 6,162 teachers were asked whether or not they would support the right to use corporal punishment.

It seems that the slightly more than 20% of teachers who would support the re-introduction of the cane would do so as the ultimate deterrent. They would do so because they no longer believe that current means of disciplining students is working.

It is not surprising that there has been some surprise at the results of the survey, particularly from groups such as children's rights groups and charities and from the teachers union itself.

The Children's Commissioner for England said, "All forms of physical punishment against children and young people are completely unacceptable and go against the UN convention on the rights of the child, which the UK accepted in 1991. There are far more effective and positive methods of discipline than physical punishment."

I suppose there are some teachers that would like to have the Commissioner do a please explain with regard to what alternatives there are that work as he sees it.

Violence against children is unacceptable. But the key here would be what is the definition of violence? Do we mean physical violence is not acceptable? Do we mean psychological violence is not acceptable? Let's face it a good public dressing down can do as much psychological harm as a few strokes of the cane can do physical harm (strictly my opinion -- no empirical research to back this up).

The reality though is that there are still almost 80% of teachers who would not support a re-introduction of corporal punishment. This means that the chances of this debate getting any serious air time and discussion will require that the numbers get much closer together. When it gets to an almost 50-50 split then there will be a much more interesting debate brewing with a much different dynamic.

Perhaps the alternative to the re-introduction of corporal punishment is to force the disciplining of children back onto the parents. Any infraction of school rules sees the child sent home immediately with a note saying that the child will not be re-admitted to classes until there is a guarantee from the parent(s) that the behaviour will not occur again. If the child re-offends then they are suspend automatically for a week. A second offence would result in a month's suspension. A third infraction would result in expulsion and the problem child can be handed-off to another school to deal with.

The idea of getting the cane when I was in high school meant that in order to avoid it I had to not get caught. It was very much the reward - punishment dichotomy. The punishment did not deter the bad behaviour, to the contrary it taught us to be better on the planning and execution in order not to get caught and not to get caned.

However, if it was to ever pass that corporal punishment was to be re-introduced then the teachers who are granted the authority to do it must pass physical checks to ensure they are up to the task. If the cane is going to be a deterrent then it has to hurt when you are caned. I can remember some of the teachers at my high school were somewhat lacking physically and getting caned by them hurt less than getting kicked in the shins playing football.

Second, they must pass an accuracy test. As I recall it hurt like hell getting caned on the wrists. However, sometimes this was self-inflicted by pushing my hand forward rather than pulling it away. Simply, when word got around that this teacher was a woeful shot then they generally were no longer allowed to cane students and had to get in a proxy to do the deed.

Ah, corporal punishment and high school. Now, those were the days!

The Oldest British Joke

Now the following is said to be the oldest British joke and it supposedly dates back to the 10th Century.

Q: What hangs at a man's thigh and wants to poke the hole that it's often poked before?

A: A key

Now how funny is that?

Prostate Cancer

For those of you wanting to protect the family jewels then it seems a recent study out of the United Kingdom might provide the answer. Researchers from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich have confirmed that broccoli (photo courtesy of Jennifer Soo) has some benefits in protecting men from developing prostate cancer and may even slow down tumour growth in those that have developed them. Now this is not a series of results from lab rats but from human guinea pigs who were fed either broccoli or peas over the course of a year.

For those of you who are not big broccoli eaters, then there is no real need to fear as the results indicate that as little as one serving a week gives the desired results. Despite the positives, the researchers were quick to point out that there was still much work to be done in determining whether a broccoli regime would work for everyone or only the select few.

The results were verified through the taking of tissue samples from the prostate glands of the participants before and during the trial. What the tissue samples showed was broccoli changed how genes linked to prostate cancer act.

However, like any study that publishes its results there will always be a wet blanket that wants to rain on the parade. In this case it is the Cancer Council Australia and their Chief Executive, Professor Ian Olver, who went so far as to say that the results were only interesting. This is a far cry from "promising". Nevertheless, Olver did not dismiss the results out of hand but indicated that larger studies were required to prove the benefits claimed in this 'small' study.

Now, Dr Michael Fenech, the Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO Human Nutrition lab, added that as yet there are no studies that show how broccoli consumption affected levels of PSA, the main biomarker of prostate cancer risk.

The good Dr Fenech then went on to say that "There is also little direct evidence to suggest that eating more broccoli protects you against prostate cancer if you are susceptible due to any genetic or environmental factor".

When it is all said and done, I am a broccoli eater. So, here is to hoping that the munching of all that broccoli has done its job in providing that little bit extra protection to the family jewels.

World Naked Bike Ride -- 2008

World Naked Bike Ride is an event that has been happening for a number of years. However, I do not recall having ever heard of it!

The rides take place in more than 70 countries. It has expanded to include non-pedal power means of transport such as roller skating, inline skating and the like. The ride is to protest "indecent exposure to cars" and in particular the pollution of cars.

The photos are from the Sao Paulo (Brazil) and London (United Kingdom) protests / rides.

This is from Sao Paulo. I have to say there seems to be many more clothed than unclothed people riding bikes. However, it should be added that full nudity in public places in Brazil is apparently illegal! It would seem that the camera person knows which of the riders they want to photograph!

Nah...this is what I call a real kick in the nuts! This is one unhappy copper and it is likely to be one unhappy bike rider who might not be riding a bike for a while if the police officer manages to connect with the big right kick! Take a look at the expression on the copper's face; he's not messing around on this one!

This is a photo from the London event! This fella has a billboard big enough that he could have written a few other slogans for the day. I hazard to guess that he does not get the bike out of the garage all that often!

Saving the best till last! It seems like the route is spectator lined. I wonder why?

Tragic Irony -- Pat Regan

This story is as tragic as it is ironic. Pat Regan was an anti-knife and anti-gun campaigner and it is tragically ironic that she has been found stabbed to death. Even more ironic is that her 20 year old grandson is being held on suspicion of being the person responsible for the murder.

Pat Regan became heavily involved in a movement aimed at restricting access to knives and guns as a means of making streets safer. The shooting death of her son was the tipping point for this involvement and it lead to her founding an organization called Mothers Against Violence.

Her work in promoting the anti-violence message has been recognized and acknowledged by the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair. This work has also been recognized by Princess Anne.

Pat Regan may you rest in peace!

Man Boobs (aka Moobs)

Man boobs are not sexy on any man and it seems that the Court of Appeal of the United Kingdom sitting in London agrees. The effect of the decision means that it is legal to not only look at moobs but to photograph and video them till your hearts content. Simply, moobs are not deemed in the legal sense to be "private parts" and are therefore not sexual in nature.

The reason this case was heard was that a gentleman by the name of Kevin Bassett was found guilty in a lower court of voyeurism for filming the moobs of a fella taking a shower after a swim. The filming took place at a public pool in the changing area where once someone has had a swim there are open air showering facilities made available to wash off the chlorine.

The charges were laid under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act and voyeurism requires that the breasts be exposed for the charge to be made out. The Court of Appeal made a distinction between the breasts of a woman and the moobs of men. Moobs are not deemed to be private parts.

Interestingly, this was not an open filming but rather a hidden camera (in a bag) and there were plenty of children about. Mr. Bassett is a middle-aged man. So, when the camera was spotted you can imagine that there was a heated exchange between Mr. Bassett and the other pool goers. However, part of the Bassett defense was that he was a homosexual man and not interested in filming the little children but only the adult men. In light of the charges brought against him the video must have borne that out and there must have only been images of adult men!

The Court of Appeal ultimately held that the lower court judge had erred in allowing the jury to consider that the images were ones of breasts in the manner intended under the 2003 legislation. The Court quashed the conviction.

So, any fellas out there with moobs -- you might want to keep your shirt on!

Hot-Housing Children

The term hot-housing children sounds like a practice destined to confine children into a life of prostitution. Yet, the term is not quite so sinister as that, at least in theory anyway!

Hot-housing children is the practice of isolating gifted kids with a view to expediting academic success at an early age. Most of us have no doubt read stories of kids deemed to be geniuses and admitted to some of the most prestigious institutes of learning in the world. The simple idea being that if you start them early then they will be productive early.

The case of Sufiah Yusof highlights just how badly this can go wrong. Sufiah was a child prodigy that seemingly had it all before her. Recognized for her academic and intellectual talents as a youngster and admitted to Oxford at just 13 years of age (picture borrowed from The Sydney Morning Herald).

The biggest problem I see, and I am no expert, is that if you are entering university at 10, 12, or 15 years old you are missing out the most fun years of primary and high school! So, you grow up to be a genius adult that has never had the nurturing fun years of childhood. Not being a psychologist seems irrelevant here because this kind of loss of childhood appears to be a recipe for disaster to me.

But back to the story the young genius Sufiah is now a 23 year old prostitute turning tricks for 130 quid an hour somewhere in Manchester (United Kingdom)! Maybe this is her choice and maybe it isn't but whatever the case it is still sad! It is a sad indictment of our community as a whole that we let a kid with so much potential be so poorly cared for and managed that she falls through the net and into a situation that has all the signs of turning into a case of "what could have been"...

Perhaps the answer is not universities for these child geniuses but perhaps some other specialized facility of advanced learning where their respective talents and interests can be developed amongst geniuses of the same age rather than in the broader university scene...maybe we need a genius to work this one out for us too!