To be a leader at the moment is a little bit of a poisoned chalice. Difficult decisions have to be made and to please the majority is almost impossible. You might agree with what they are doing or you might not but in this current financial climate nothing that needs to be done can be popular. Austerity, cut backs, budget cuts, project cancellations, price rises, nothing is a popular move.

Think about it who has survived an election recently. Elections in France, UK, Spain and Greece have all resulted in a change of leader.

The big test comes at the end of this year with the USA presidential elections. Can President Obama survive.

Star Wars day is on May 4th. Why May 4th, well its quite simple: may the 4th be with you.

Ok when you have stopped groaning, I do have a serious point. Well a semi serious one. The Star Wars films sparked a huge change in what we expect to see on the big screen. I was 7 when the first movie came out and I can still remember to this day watching that Star Destroyer coming over head (well it seemed like that) in that first scene. We could not wait to get back to the cinema to see the sequel and the threequel (is that a word). All three movies were pretty spectacular.

George Lucas´Vision

Because of the work George Lucas did we now have some amazing films hitting our screens. the latest Star Trek movie, The Avengers (catch the review in our latest film blog) and even the Mission Impossible movie, who knew blowing up the Kremlin would be that easy.

It has been good for us here at SupaSwap with all of the merchandising that is available there has been a wealth of toys, action figures, computer gamers etc hitting the market.

So when you are next watching the latest block buster, think about 1977, when a young farm boy met his mentor Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi and the face of film changed for years to come.

Traditionally it is known as workers day, rather ironic that in many countries in the world it is a day you do not work, but it is rather more poignant with the current economic situation across the world.

Originally known as May day this public holiday did not always fall on the first and conjures up the though of Morris Dancers and May poles, welcoming in the summer.

International Workers Day

However today it is more known as International Workers day and as such it is celebrated in over 80 countries world wide. International Workers Day is a celebration of the international labour movement  and the left wing movement, which has led to right wing governments trying to remove it as a public holiday. Because of this fact it has also been linked to the Communism and many of you will remember the large shows of strength that would be paraded through Red Square in Russia on this day during the Communist era.

This year we will see many taking advantage of this day to protest at austerity measures across europe and the large cut backs really start to hit hard. The future however will be an interesting one. With the economic situation in Europe far from improving, the threat to the single currency still looming and the possibility of a new President in France who does not support such hard cuts, who knows what might happen.

However here at SupaSwap we just get a holiday like most people. Well apart from me who is here writing this blog. Please take note boss!

However 5 years later my pessimistic predictions were brought to fruition with the Challenger Disaster when the shuttle exploded during take off killing all seven astronauts.

 Not All Low Points

The shuttle missions have reached some high points with the launch of many satellites, the launching and fixing of the Hubble telescope and its involvement with the building of the International Space Station. They have even had Russian cosmonauts on flights.

However Columbia also had its own disaster when it was destroyed on re entry 15 minutes before completing its 28th mission.

So today, weather allowing the shuttle will fly for the last time. America is retiring its fleet as it cuts its budgets. Nothing is in place to replace it and NASA will have to rely on Europe and Russia for contact with Space.

Supa Swap would like to take its hat off to all the men and women who have worked and especially those who have given their life to this project. Somehow space will not quite be the same.

Charlene who was 33 years old, was rumoured to have been having second thoughts but last Friday the ceremony went ahead. She is a previous Olympic swimmer and the couple met in 2001 while she was taking part in an event in Monaco.

The two were married in in civil ceremony but this was followed by a Catholic ceremony in the Palace court yard.

The guest list for the event was as lavish as the event itself. Guests included the Bond actor Roger Moore, Karl Lagerfield, Giorgio Armani and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Music for the ceremony was composed by French composer Jean Michel Jarre and the event was caped by an extravagant fire work display.

We all wish them the best for the future.

Who Loves Ya Baby

Traditionally those of us of a certain age will remember the traditional detectives, be it the all very British Miss Marple to the American Columbo. All had their gimmicks, like Kojak’s lollypop and some had their catch phrases.

In recent years, this genre has had a bit of a renaissance. Some of them have been re-workings of traditional stories like Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime writers and others have been quite new, Frost, Lewis, Morse to name but a few.

Most of these programs follow the same format, a crime, usually a murder, followed by our amazing detective deducing who did it. However some like Columbo actually show you who did it at the start.

But there are a few questions that should be asked.

1. Why does anyone live in Midsommer or St Mary Mead. It does seem most likely that you will be killed if you live there so to start with the population must be depleted for all these deaths. But if I had a house there I think by now I would have moved.
2. If you are invited into a room by the detective with all involved in a murder and you did the murder, why turn up?
3. Why do CSI manager to get answers to very complicated science questions within 45 minutes.

Of course these shows are only for entertainment and should not be taken too seriously. However if you want a bit more fun there is a very good film with an amazing cast that pokes fun at the TV and film detective called Murder by Death, worth a watch if you fancy a laugh.

As the restrictions on the news of his activities in Afghanistan were restricted, we followed the rest of the press and reported on the Soldier Price and what he had been up to.

Increased Popularity

Harry’s service in the armed forces with the ordinary rank and file has really endeared him to the nation, changing him from one of the most unpopular to one of the most respected member of the counties first family.

Recently it has been reported that Harry has the opportunity to return to the front line but this time as a helicopter pilot.

Some have, and still do comment that having such a high profile target in the field of conflict could cause great risk to the man and women serving around Harry, but we certainly feel at Supa Swap that the message that his willingness to put himself at risk with his fellow soldiers makes for a much stronger message.

The Service

The Procession

Day Off

Apple states that Samsung have recently copied their biggest sellers, the iPhone 4 and the iPad by releasing its Galaxy mobile and the Tablet.

Apple say that Samsung have copied nearly every feature down to the look and even the packaging of their products, thus violating trademark rights saying ” Rather than develop its own technology and unique design, Samsung are having to copy latest mobile and computing devices and that Samsung decided to take the easy option and copy Apple’s which clearly proves to us that we have the best technology on todays market”. Apple are currently in a 38 page lawsuit against Samsung.

Apple are stating that Samsung released the Galaxy Si9000 model in March 2010 and was a distinct resemblance of the Apple iPhone 3GS model which was released in June 2009.

Giving photographic evidence showing packaging similarities and even down to size and the icons for folders, music and messaging were identical.

Apple will not let this defeat them as they say that it does, and will continue to dominate the market of smartphone’s and computing tablet’s and to continuously release faster and smarter devices above any other on the market.

The lawsuit continues, but Supa Swap believes that Apple are big enough and clever enough to drown out their current rivals. Watch this space…..

If any of you have missed the story (have you been living in a cave) this is the story of Ann Timson a lady in her 70 who foiled a robbery on a jewelry store.

Caught on video, this “Supa Gran” headed towards the gang who were trying to smash their way into the store using sledge hammers. Armed only with her hand bag she fearlessly fought of the robbers who took off, one assumes rather stunned by the whole experience. “I clobbered him with my shopping but he got away. The rest of them were still trying to smash and grab at the jewelry,” she told an interviewer.

The four suspects have since been arrested and charged but is the better punishment the ridicule they will now face having their defeat being all over the media and social networking platforms.

The store are meeting with her and wish to give her a reward but for my part I would like to nominate Ann Timson for the Supa Swap courage award, if there were such a thing