Is it good to be grumpy?

Next time someone tells you to “smile”, “snap out of it” or “chill out” point them in the direction of this research. Researchers in Australia have found that negativity boosts judgement, memory and communication.

A look ahead….

Just wanted to give you a “heads-up” on a few things coming up that we hope to be doing – and to get your early input.

That’s enough management speak, let me tell you what we’re thinking about…

On air: Those who’ve lost the most in Afghanistan

 UPDATE:  GUEST DETAILS BELOW

The players in Afghanistan politics are setting about giving Hamid Karzai their opinion on how to make his second-term more stable and less corrupt than the first. But we’re going to leave the politicians to one side today, and talk to people who’ve suffered the unimaginable upset of losing a loved one in this conflict.

The cost of war

On the left is a picture of Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid. He’s been described by his superiors as the “bravest and most courageous” man”, and died defusing a bomb on the last day of his gruelling 5 month tour of duty. He’d defused over 60 bombs while in Afghanistan and his commanding officer refers to him simply as a legend.

 

 And this is President Hamid Karzai with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. After some muted and guarded congratulations from world leaders, President Karzai will try to legitimise his presidency with a crackdown on corruption and work with what his “Taliban brothers”.