Holidays at home... and thoughts on London

I haven't been doing much on my holidays... all of my plans to do lots of journalistic stuff have fizzled away. It's very cold here, and I am enjoying bumming around not doing much. I've been working at my parents shop which is open all night so now my body clock is screwed. It is 6am and I haven't slept yet because I didn't get to sleep until 8am yesterday after working so then I slept for most of the day. I also have the flu so I have been feeling a bit icky. Went out on Wednesday night with some old school chums, twas lots of fun. I have been running in to a lot of people from school and it is good to catch up with them and hear what they are up to now. Time flies, can't believe I am halfway through my degree!I've been looking at travel guides and stuff for Europe, because after the horrible bombings my mother was like "are you still going to exchange to London" which only strengthened my resolve to try and get stuff organized and figure out what I want to do over there (hopefully my exchange gets approved!). I think that in the face of terrorism all we (as somewhat powerless citizens) can do is continue to carry on with our daily lives and not let fear rule us, because that is what the terrorists would want. We can't submit to the fear and panic that some media outlets and some bureaucrats try to impose upon us. The government agencies need to do their best to help to stop it, but realistically solving the problem of terrorism comes down to something a lot bigger than anti-terror legislation and messages over PA systems about reporting unattended baggage. While there are marginalized people in the world who feel that the west is simply being culturally imperialistic the risk for terror is much higher. Live 8 was a step, but in one way it was alienating because it didn't directly involve the marginalised people and instead resorted to western cultural imperialism. But back to my main point on the issue, the attacks have only strengthened my resolve to go to London. Why? Because I would never let terrorists rule my decision making. Those who negotiate with extreme violence, especially violence where innocent civilians are killed, should not be given the honor of having power. And in many ways that extends to certain situations in western countries as well. One form of terror is not more socially acceptable than another, and bundling up something as Operation Freedom or the War on Terror or whatever doesn't make it less of an act of terror.My sympathy goes out to everyone who were affected by the attacks. It truly was a terrible act. I think humans are one of the only species that inflicts such unessessary suffering on it's own kind.