Open Letter To Cameron: NHS Killer

OK, it's been a while since my last post from way back when. The infamous post where I ranted and raved about Tom Cruise going essentially nuts. (OK, I say "infamous" - maybe "un-famous", but hey, it's in the top ten Google searches...when you search for Stephen Paul Blanchard - which incidentally also gives details on how to by my first book "Getting Sync'd" - and pimped!) Hey Tom, good to see you back on an even keel! M:I-4 looks awesome by the way! Now I'm not suggesting my rant and rave changed what was going on with dear ol' Tom, and I don't expect my next rant to do any different, but I need to do this - and it shall be done in the following way.....

Dear Mr. David Cameron PM,

I have a question: exactly how old are you? I have to ask because your recent behaviour is more characteristic of a spoiled seven year old boy not wanting to do what the other kids in the playground have unanimously suggested, instead deciding to cover your ears with your grubby hands singing "la la la" at the top of your voice. I am of course referring to your ridiculous decision to hold discussions on the future of the NHS without the presence of any health-care professionals. To quote the hip modern day phrase: WTF? Why would you not consult organisations like the Royal College of Nursing, or the British Medical Association? These organisations are made up of professionals in the health care industry, people who have spent their lives in the very organisation you seem determined to destroy.

You're not a doctor Mr. Cameron, neither is your Health Secretary. I mean, is Mister Lansley still pissed at being mis-diagnosed with an ear infection which turned out to be a "minor stroke", and so trying to get his own back? Yes, the NHS makes mistakes. No organisation is perfect. You being the head of this coalition "Government" (for want of a better word) should know this. But do you know how important the NHS is to people? This service saved my wife, they took care of my daughter, they're currently looking after my uncle, and you know what? Considering the conditions that these people work in and the lack of respect they receive (almost demonising the doctors and nurses) they do an AMAZING job. The amount of people I speak to who belittle the health service until they actually use it, by which point deciding it's a brilliant service, is frankly amazing.

I have friends who are doctors and nurses. Close family. My wife is nearing the end of her GP training. All of these people do this job, not for the apparent power/long holidays/golfing trips/high pay (all of which, by the way, are complete misconceptions!) - they do it because they want to help. They spent years studying and honing their craft, knowing that one day their skills would be able to save people. The hardest thing in the world for them is having to give the bad news to relatives, but they carry on, because they have to. These people know exactly what they're talking about and what is needed to keep the NHS on an even keel, so again I ask: WTF? The only thing I find more confusing is the fact that "Hollyoaks" is still being made!

You are fortunate to have this job Mr. Cameron, in more ways than one. Remember that it was hardly the landslide victory I'm sure you'd wanted. The people didn't want you as PM, but we as voters had to work with what we were given. Like you and your cabinet; you have to work with the situations as they were left by their predecessors, and the NHS is struggling to do the same, so why are you not doing everything you can to help? Your sheer arrogance in not giving health organisations the opportunity to give their valued and experienced opinions, instead turning to your friends and cronies who care more about the money then the health of the very people you claim to be serving, makes you the political equivalent of an ostrich sticking your head in the sand. Just remember the more you leave your head down there the greater chance there is of you getting your rear end blown off by a shotgun.

Regards

Stephen Blanchard

OK, I don't expect that to solve anything. I'm no politician, and I sure as hell ain't a doctor. I see a needle and faint. It's just the sheer audacity of this pompous, arrogant little jizz-weasel has me absolutely fuming. Please pass this on if you agree. I'm hoping over time this cannibalisation of the NHS will fade in to obscurity like the "Big (Idiot) Society".

This is kinda funny, check it!

In other news, BUY MY BOOK!!!

About Getting Sync'd by Stephen Blanchard-fReado

About Getting Sync'd by Stephen Blanchard-fReado

Probably the best advertising campaign in the world??

I've been noticing this for a year or so now, Michael Jackson is getting a lot more attention and for all the right reasons - namely his music. Cast your minds back to the days when child molestation charges hung over him like a giant curry inspired fart - it felt like it was never going to go away. And because of the backlash, naturally mainstream audiences started switching off his tunes. Michael Jackson - the biggest superstar this world had ever known.

But now, he's getting played a lot more, especially his old stuff - stuff from Off The Wall and Thriller especially. On the radio, in practically every shop I go in to. And when I look around people are tapping their feet and miming to the words. It's brilliant.....namely 'cos I'm doing exactly the same!

So you look on the net and everyone's being inspired by the MJ. You remember the impact on Bollywood right?



And then there's the Philipino Prisoners...



These had been around for a while. But then in the Sun this week I saw this:



And with the latest from Rihanna...



...MJ is all over the place. Why?? Well, I suddenly realised it's the 25th Anniversary of the "Thiller" album, and sure enough it's being re-released, with some re-worked tracks from modern day artists like Will.I.Am, Neyo and Akon.

It can't be a coincidence, I know for a fact that there's a youtube competition going on for people to film their own re-enactments of Thriller which I'm assuming is going to be here. So that explain the tube thing! And that Rihanna tune did the same thing that Craig Davids "Hot Stuff" did - it made me t least appreciate the singer...although that's clearly always down to the sample. After all, we all know that Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" only sold the disks because of that Queen bassline.....sorry, but it's true!

It's a brilliant ad campaign, and it's a great time to be a fan of the man, knowing he's working and singing again, and seeing people concentrating on his talent rather than his private life. I just really hope things don't go south again!

PS. If you wanna hear some of the re-worked stuff head over to the new Michael Jackson MySpace!!

More on Ledger...

Possible sleeping pill overdose, inconclusive corroners report. Thoughts and feelings as you'd expect with the friends and family. Well, mostly...

I'm hearin' ya, it's STOOOOOOOOPID!! Would you like to know more? Check out the new podcast HERE!!

Heath Ledger's gone...

This is truly gutting!! I don't think anyone could have seen this one coming. He seemed a really down to earth guy, and a highly commited actor.

Found this on the BBC...kind of spooky when he says playing the Joker was the most fun he'd ever have.....



He leaves behind a 3 year old daughter. Hope she's gonna be ok!

I'm the reason they say White People Have No Rhythm...

Great night out in London on Saturday night, at a place called the Rivoli Ballroom for, would you believe it, Jive Dancing! That's right, The Blanch went Strictly Come Dancing Style with a group of friends and came out in one piece...other people's feet weren't so lucky mind! I always thought I had a good sense of rhythm, I play guitar, I...tap away on the steering wheel.....I - and I never thought I'd admit to this but doubtless there's some youtube footage somewhere - used to try and dance like Jacko. (Hey, don't judge me, I was young!!) Imagine my embarrasment then when the music started for the first lesson and anything even resembling hand/feet/eye co-ordination was systematically wiped out...by the Dormant Dad Gene! You've seen it at work before; at family weddings, parties or when the patriarch of the family has been cooking Christmas dinner fuelled only by wine or whisky! But here it was, alive and kicking - literally - during the lessons with completely random women, and later with my darling missus who next to me must have looked like J Lo's dance coreographer!

But I don't care what people think, and my embarasment threshold is higher than many, so I kept busting some moves. Fortunately/unfortunately (depending on your POV) there is no photographic/video evidence us tearing up the dance floor. The best example I can give you, is Chandler from Friends!!



Booya!!!

It's a top night out though, and well worth a trip to the Londonium! Check it out: http://www.jiveparty.com/

So you're in a car accident. Who would you rather see: Tom Cruise, or a paramedic?!

Respect to Tom Cruise! I say it again, RESPECT! The dudes got beliefs, he sticks to them, he follows them.....religiously. By all accounts he's a pretty lucky guy (not just because he's a multi-millionaire actor with teeth built by a Roman road designer!), not everyone can say that about themselves. Most people I know treat their beliefs more the The Pirate Code. You know; more of a guideline than a rule! The unlucky one's are those that don't believe in anything, and so they wander around aimlessly trying to give their life meaning. Or, if they're really unlucky, they bump in to someone who tries to force their beliefs on to them!

I like Tom Cruise. I think he's an amazing actor, very intense. Born On The 4th July is a classic example of that, and I can't wait to see his new film Valkyrie (Dir: Bryan Singer). BUT, like a lot of people I suspect, I don't appreciate the Scientology hard sell. It's right up there with double glazing phone calls and people in the street asking you if you have a minute of your time to spend to write down your debit card details. Now I know this latest episode in the Bring Down Cruise campaign is a leaked video, not supposed to be viewed by anyone outside the Scientology community, but did they really think it would stay hidden? It's the same rule applied to celebrity sex tapes; if you don't want it to be seen don't make it! That said, maybe this is some kind of elaborate plan to get the word out and bring as much attension to it as possible, in which case the celebrity sex tape rule applies again. Look what it did for Paris Hilton!!!

(Don't be surprised if this gets taken off!!)

Tom, I respect your beliefs, I do. But please don't make random claims about being able to help people in car crashes, gun shot victims or anything like that. I've seen car crashes. I with someone who works in operating theatres on people who have come in on the verge of death from serious accidents, and while you could say that belief/luck/whatever you want to call it played a part in the patients future, it was sheer hard work by trained medical professionals that this person needed, and wanted.

.....I think someone should introduce Mr. Cruise to Britney Spears! Now THAT would be a headline!!!