The Script Drop A New Album This September!

Oh. My. God.

The Script have just literally announced information about their new album in an exclusive interview with Google+ in a livestream! I am so, so excited! They are my favourite band ever and I have seen them live twice now.. and shamefully cried a lot aswell! 

For those who don't know who these are, The Script are an Irish rock band from good old Dublin (I can't resist Dublin accents!) and they formed back in 2001. The band is made up of three gentlemen and they are; Danny O'Donoghue (my favourite) who is the lead vocalist/pianist who also sometimes plays acoustic guitar in the live shows, Mark Sheehan - vocalist/guitarist and Glen Power who is the drummer. There is also sometimes a fourth man called Ben Sargeant who provides bass guitar for the band in the live shows. 

They have been brilliantly successful during their time in the charts. They have had three albums out and ALL of them have been in the number one spot in the UK and Ireland. Their first album titled The Script debuted back in 2008 which had two hit songs The Man Who Can't Be Moved and Breakeven (Falling To Pieces). In 2010 their second album Science & Faith, a personal favourite of mine, featured the hits For The First Time and Nothing; this album even entered the US Billboard 200 at number three. Their third album simply named #3 was again at number one with the hit song Hall Of Fame where they collaborated with Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am. Danny also appeared on The Voice UK, seasons 1 and 2, before leaving to bring back focus on the and create their new album!

In the livestream, the three lads looked nervous yet full of energy as they answered questions from fans around the world from places such as Holland, Africa, Ireland and the US. They were so sweet and when asked who their superheroes were, Glen said the fans were their superheroes and all of them passionately spoke of their love for what they call The Script Family and how close of a unit we all are by connecting through social media.

Excitingly, they revealed the new artwork (pictured above) and the name of the new album which is No Sound Without Silence. They spoke briefly about the detail of the artwork, what it represents and what we can expect from the album. Luckily I, alongside many others, got to hear 30 second snippets of a couple of songs from the album on the livestream and I have to say I did get a bit emotional (sad I know!) and I can feel that I will love this album very much, possibly more than the others.

The signal on my ipad was a bit patchy at times but I think I heard correctly when they announced that their new single Superheroes is out this Monday from 8am and the album itself will come out the 15th of September! I am so thrilled, I have waited for absolutely ages to hear something new from these guys and here we get a new single AND a new album date!

I hope, like me, you're a fan of this band because they are beyond unbelievable and they are absolutely stunning live. Both of my experiences were heavenly and were exactly everything I ever wanted and more. There is absolutely nothing for me on Earth, just yet, that matches that feeling of seeing your favourite, beloved band on that stage performing.

Also.. new album means a new tour surely!?

I hope so, I can't wait.

The single Superheroes - Monday.

No Sound Without Silence Album - 15th September.

Pre-Order details are yet to be available. 

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Stop Cuts To Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)!

The responsible department for this ridiculousness is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. David Willetts (pictured above), is the Minister for Universities and Science has announced the 'modernisation' of the grant students with disabilities get from the government; the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA).

The original detail of this so called modernisation is a series of cuts in provision, placing the funding burden on Universities and individual students. There is an online petition which highlights the cuts that'll be made and what they'll do:

- Reduce the access to higher education for students with disabilities and dyslexia.
- Reduce successful outcomes with less support meaning lower degree classifications for students who require additional support.
- Reduce the employment prospects for graduates with disabilities and dyslexia.
- Increase the drop out/failure rate in universities amongst disabled and dyslexic students.

This is disgusting and this petition will hopefully gain enough signatures to stop such cuts. As the appeal has had over 10,000 signatures, the appropriate Government department have provided the following response:

"We note the concerns expressed in the e-petition. The aims of these reforms are not to reduce or limit the level of support available to disabled student, but rather to rebalance responsibility between the Government and higher education institutions which now face legal obligations under the Equality Act.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is working with a range of stakeholders including those from the Special Education Needs and Disability sector, in order to advise our policy and develop guidance. Meetings are ongoing to assist our effort in quantifying what reasonable adjustments an Higher Education Institutions would be expected to make, and what Disabled Students' Allowance should support.

This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100,000 signature threshold."

So far this petition, created by Rob Fidler, only has 16,863 signatures and that is pitiful if we need 100,000 to even get a debate sorted out. Yes, I am thankful for those who have already signed it but we need more to make a change. There has been no media interest in this at all and it is up to people online to spread this around as much as they can.

Stephen Fry has even tweeted his thoughts about this:

"Government cuts to Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) – What next? Please sign this petition http://bit.ly/1jDQ8W5  updates at NADP_UK"

I think it is terrible that the less able are being targeted when they're the ones who need specific help in universities. To cut their funding that helps them get the support they need, the Government are not allowing them the same opportunities the other students have. This will give disabled and dyslexic students less chance to complete a degree and less of a chance of getting a job they want like anybody else. The cuts will only lead to further inequality within society and we can't have that.

Here is the petition for you (UK residents only) if you want to sign it like I have.

It will ask for you for personal details but I promise you these are kept safe and not shared with anybody else, it is only for the purpose of the petition.

It closes on the 11th of April in 2015 so we still have a fair bit of time.

To see any changes made, you can follow NADP_UK on Twitter aswell.

I constantly see posts on here, on Tumblr, on Twitter etc. about inequality in society so let's not further it, sign up and share this petition and/or this post on every social media you may have so the government can withdraw this policy statement. 

I only hope this doesn't come into effect because everyone deserves equal opportunities in this world and deserves the education they wish to receive. 

Thankyou for reading and thankyou if you sign up.
Laura.

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Rape Is Rape.

 

This disgusting, supposedly human being is called Lee Setford who seemingly 'lost control' and raped a drunken woman who was passed out/sleeping at his home. The judge seems to think he doesn't fit the 'classic rapist' image and excuses his behaviour! Setford, 29, claims the 24 year old consented to having sex with him but thankfully, the jury believed the woman's story that she had woken up on his sofa to find him having sex with her. They took two hour and half hours to unanimously find Lee Setford guilty of rape following a trial last week. He got five years in jail.

But despite this decision Judge Michael Mettyear, the honorary recorder of Hull and the East Riding, decided to comfort the defendant and believed that Setford didn't rape the woman but just couldn't 'resist' the temptation.

He actually went on to say:

"It's sad to see a man of generally good character in the dock for such a serious offence. I do not regard you as a classic rapist. I do not think you are a general danger to strangers. You are not the type who goes searching for a woman to rape.

This was a case where you just lost control of normal restraint.

It was almost out of the blue that two girls turned up late at night very, very drunk at your home. The victim was the worst for drink out of the two of them. She was completely out of it. I accept that evidence.

She was a pretty girl who you fancied. You simply could not resist. You had sex with her." 

A JUDGE in a COURT OF LAW actually said all of this and incredibly ignored the effects this incident has had on the woman. She has been unable to work for a while, she's had to take anti-depressants and she's no longer happy and has lost her outgoing spirit.

Lee Setford does NOT have 'good character', he has been in prison before in 2009 for battery. He is a rapist. There is no denying it. There are no excuses for it.

There isn't such a thing as a classic rapist either. There aren't different types of rapists, like a bloody chocolate box where there are different flavours of chocolate sweets! This idea completely undermines rape survivors and completely degrades them more than they already have been.  

Rape is not about losing control or restraint. It is full on assault.

It doesn't matter if the person is drunk and/or passed out.

It doesn't matter if she was pretty and you fancy her.

If the person says no or doesn't give consent, you stay the hell away from her.

Rape is rape.

It is NEVER okay.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

The Fault In Our Stars Already Breaking Records!

So if you haven't heard already, where have you been?!

John Green's fantastic book, The Fault In Our Stars, has been made into a film and I, amongst many, cannot wait to see it. The book was John Green's fifth novel, published in January 2012 and its narrative is a 16 year old cancer patient called Hazel. She's forced by her parents to attend a support group where she meets and falls in love with 17 year old Augustus Waters who's an ex-basketball player and amputee.

In January 2012, the film rights to the book were optioned by Fox 2000 and eventually on February 19th back in 2013 it was announced that the film would be directed by Josh Boone alongside a great cast; Shailene Woodley (who's also in the fantastic Divergent), Ansel Elgort and Nat Wolff.

The film is only just coming into theaters this weekend and yet has already become the biggest pre-selling romantic drama in Fandango's history! Although they haven't said how many seats have been reserved to see the film but it has now surpassed The Vow, Safe Haven and Dear John at the same point in their lead-ups to release. The previous record holder was the 2012 film The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams which opened to $41.2 million! It is said that The Fault In Our Stars is to debut to more than $30 million just this weekend. 

It won't matter whether you've read the book or not (although I do recommend you do!), it is bound to be one of the best, if not the best film of this year so far. It'll break your heart and those who have already read the book will know what I mean.

I can't wait to see the film and hope it is as exactly like John Green's remarkable novel which is emotional and jarring. His writing was stunning and beautiful, making The Fault In Our Stars one of my favourite books. It is the most talked about book and film right now and I wouldn't advise you to miss out.

Go and see it this weekend!

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.