If you haven’t heard of or seen Von Hangens’s work, let me briefly explain what it entails and what you should expect.  Von Hagens created a technique called ‘Plastination’; this technique allows him to remove and replace with plastic, dead organic tissue.  Yes, dead and organic does mean; human, animal or indeed vegetable.  Gunther found fame in the early 21st century when he ‘Plastinated’ the remains of human body donors and embarked on an exhibition called “Bodyworlds” or in his native German “Korperwelten”.

Macabre, you might think, and some would agree but for me it’s fascinating and educational, it allows us to see inside ourselves as never before and allows us to understand what we’re made of.  There’s something incredible about seeing the course a blood vessel takes as it meanders and courses through your body in a fantastic evolutionary path.  Von Hagens has over the past ten years or so has ‘Plastinated’ hundreds or specimens, charting our evolution in a style which has become a form of art.  He has also applied his technique to animals such as; gorillas, elephants and even a giraffe, as you can imagine it’s become as much entertainment as it has art, but personally, the biological aspect is one I’m keen to keep.

In recent times, with his work becoming art as much as a look into ourselves and other organisms, Gunther has faced and created much criticism; it seems sometimes he is out to shock rather than provoke debate or provide a look at ourselves, it seems that ‘Crucifixion’ his latest work was more about creating a storm rather than  allowing us a scientific view of life.

The brief for the project was to create a realistic crucified image, but here’s the kicker; using real ‘Plastinated’ human remains, now on paper that sounds great to an atheist like me, but in reality it was also going to cause a huge amount of anger and criticism focussed on Gunther, especially from those who believe in God and the story of Jesus.  I have no issue whatsoever with Gunther’s project, it was interesting to watch him create something that was shockingly beautiful and ultimately something that showed the struggle between life and death.

However, my first thoughts on the programme and Gunther’s idea was that he was intentionally trying to piss the church and it’s followers off.  Careful now.  I have no issue with pissing off the church, I’ve done it enough with this very blog in the past, I do have issue with setting out with the intention to piss them off.  Oftentimes, especially here, it’s easy to get caught in the moment when you write so that your words can become harmful to a certain group of people, we however, don’t hold the moral high ground and certainly don’t intentionally set out to piss you off.

It’s easy to see that Gunther – a confirmed atheist like myself – wanted to do something which he’d wanted to do for a long time, whether this is making a protest or fulfilling some form of ego boost that he may get from controversy, but also a portrait of a man who knows his own mortality and is dying.  We discovered that Gunther is dying.  He has Parkinsons disease and is rapidly deteriorating, it was upsetting to see him struggle to walk, talk and use his dexterity which he is so famed for.  There is too much we can say about Gunther, and I don’t wish to turn this into an obituary before it’s time.

I think however, we must pose a single question.  Would he have done this project if he wasn’t dying?  I think so.  I believe that Gunther would have always created his own Jesus, one day sooner or later, I do feel that the reason it was done is because it was his last wish, his last stand and his very own creation story.

Often, the reason is because I’m taking the piss out of it, whilst watching but often it’s just down to the pure campness and silliness, it’s just amazing, lets face it where else to you get Ukranian’s dancing around in crazy hats or twins that you’d quite like to kill (Jedward).

We’re starting the long road to Eurovision 2012, and it starts here, yes the UK has announced that we’ll have Engelbert Humperdinck representing us, lets see how we get on with that!

For years now we’ve been slowly cutting the education of the past. Places to visit where you can learn about our heritage have been shut down and the wealth of knowledge that these places had is lost.

Just recently Vale Council near Penarth, Wales, has decided to cut funding for Cosmeston Medieval Village a ‘living’ attraction where you can experience first hand what medieval times in Britain were like and learn in depth how people lived in that time.

I should explain what a ‘Living’ attraction is.  A ‘Living’ attraction is just that. Living.  In Cosmeston’s case, it’s staffed by an enthusiastic group of historial interpretors who will teach visitors about the attraction, showing them how people lived, and died in 14th century wales.  From farming, to the black death you can learn how a typical medieval village ticked.

Now, stop me if I’m wrong but personally attractions like this are particularly important to our heritage, people learn better through experience and places like Cosmeston do it well.

We know that most councils are motivated to save money at present but at the cost of our heritage and understanding, I think that questions need to be asked.  In the last year around 20,000 visitors entered Cosmeston Village, yes there’s a small fee of £5 for Adults but isn’t that worth it to learn?

Well, the local Council don’t seem to think so.

There are plans afoot to cut the historical interpretors who dress in period costume and  guide people; therefore loosing the thing that best helps people learn; experience. You will no longer be able to chat to villager; and ask them how their home was built, you won’t be able to see a vast array  of farmed animals and you won’t be able to walk amongst it all and breathe in our rich history.

Should we let it go? No.

We need to fight for what is left of our past and allow future generations to learn about history, a petition has been set up to fight for Cosmeston and it’s one I would like to support, I may not be from Wales but we can’t let a place like Cosmeston go, because once you get rid of one thing, you’ve already signed it’s death warrant.

You can view the Petition here.

The blackouts were in protest to the now, possibly defunct Sopa and Pipa movements chaired in the US law system. The bill had now been dropped or at least put on the backburner for now, but the Internet is changing.

On Wednesday, the file sharing website MegaUpload was shut down by the FBI and it’s creators arrested and it’s content destroyed, the people behind the action was once again the MPA and the copyright Nazi’s.

Now I hate people stealing my work as much as the next person but the US administration is going after the wrong people. They’re fighting the site owners, data centre’s and hosting companies and accusing them of breaking the law, when they didn’t put the content there it was the users who did.

Yes, you can argue that they should be more proactive and stop users uploading copyrighted material but it’s not as easy as that.

Take this website, the servers are US based so therefore we fall under their jurisdiction and have to adhere to their laws, however its developed and ran in the UK so has to adhere to the UK’s laws too, so where does it stop?

Do we need to adhere to everything to keep everyone happy? In short, yes but that’s practically impossible.

Just expect more sites to disappear over the next few months as the governments fight a loosing battle, and a backlash is likely to rise.

Now, I should clarify that I do like getting into the Christmas spirit, I enjoy that I can look at the lights, and I enjoy that I have an excuse to eat a whole box of mince pies and get away with it, but where is that special feeling you get knowing that it’s just one day, it’s no longer the case.

If you wanted to, you could celebrate Christmas from September onwards.  Should we doing that?

I think not.  I don’t have an issue with celebrating Christmas during December, that’s expected, however, I don’t think we should be celebrating the season months in advance.  This year the adverts on tv and online started in September, it’s a bit previous if you get my drift.

I think it’s time we start celebrating later, and enjoying the special time that Christmas brings, it’s once a year for two weeks (if that) rather than three months of bunting and tinsel.

Last year here at Rant Towers, we didn’t change the blog for the christmas season but this year we will be, sometimes you’re just Christmassed out.

Give generously, and support this wonderful charity.

Now I’m talking specifically about the Occupy the Stock Exchange protests in London.  I do not agree with them first and foremost, it’s pathetic that their causing a disturbance amongst honest law abiding public who may want to visit St Paul’s but are being stopped because the ‘protestors’ are too short sighted to see what they’re doing.

I do however, agree with why they’re protesting.  It’s totally wrong that some echelons of society can get away with making money at our expense, I think most people bar the stock brokers and traders themselves would agree with that at least.

Something needs to be done with these people who think they can disturb other people with their pathetic little protests just because, I fear they have nothing else to do.  I honestly believe that there are better ways to get your point across rather than pissing off masses of people and costing the country even more money by having to police these protests.

Steve’s skill, guidance, and incredible foresight made Apple what it is today and provided us all with products and gadgets that are his memory.

We’d like to pass our sympathies on to his families and all that knew this incredible man.

Rest In Peace.

We all know that Murdoch is a great business man, he is ruthless, cold and doesn’t think twice about stepping on other people to get what he wants.  It seems he taught his kids well.  James Murdoch has been actively running the News International business for many years and has inherited his father’s personality.

The Murdoch’s are well known for making a bad story into a business coup, they’ve been doing it since they started.  They have power, many think too much including me.  Murdoch get’s into bed with most politicians to cement his need for power.  It’s a worrying trend, it’s only recently that people are starting to recognise this and see Rupert for what he is.

In the UK we’re so frightened to piss him off that, we try actively not to – especially in Government.  We don’t have free speech, we have what Murdoch thinks we should be saying.  As an independent media outlet, we are not controlled by a company and we can say what we like – within reason.

As you may be aware we cannot actively defame a person’s character but we can provide our view on them.  Murdoch for me, is what’s wrong with everything in the UK media.  It’s frightening that he harbours so much power, it’s even scarier that the politicians that run our country are scared of him.

It’s time something changed.  Personally I’m hoping that the end of The News of The World shows Murdoch and his operating techniques for what they really are, evil, in a word.

Let’s stop pussyfooting around and grow some balls, mainly so we can smack them in Murdoch’s face for what he’s done to the UK media.

The News of The World has been at the forefront of tabloid media for 168 years, and it’s death this weekend, will raise a lot of smiles but also much concern.  The concern will focus on the News International and BskyB buyout/takeover and also how The News of the World will be reborn.  The media circus has long been worried over the BskyB takeover and it looks like this is another attempt by News International to soften the effect that Phone Hacking has had on the company and to make the takeover seem less agressive, and to make people feel as though this won’t happen with Sky.

Personally I would be concerned if News International does get the go ahead to take Sky.  It’s an issue that needs to be looked at.  It’s looking as though The News of The World will be reborn this week at The Sun on Sunday, all the pointers are there, the Web Domains were bought two days ago and it looks like it’ll be gearing up for a release soon.

It’s a shocking and despicable crime they have committed especially against grieving parents and vulnerable people.  I’d like to see it close forever and never be reborn, however, I’d also like to see Murdoch fry.  But that’s just my opinion.

You have to ask; How many if any of the previous and current editorial staff will make it to the new paper, after all, the Chair Person, Rebekah Brookes still remains?