Can clowns REALLY be scary?

A poll of children, aged four to 16, published by researchers at Britain’s University of Sheffield suggests they are. Their survey, which was looking at what decor to have in hospital children’s wards, found all 250 respondents thought they were frightening.

But this has deeply upset clowns around the world. Not only are they regular fixtures at youngsters’ birthday parties, many also work in hospitals where they say their visits brighten up the day for sick children.

“When there was no hope in sight, clowns have brought smiles to the rescue and the children have welcomed them with open arms,” said Jeremy “Krispy” Cohen, president of Red Nose Response,  which send clowns to disaster areas to bring smiles to survivors and relief workers.

Perhaps, their reputations have suffered with adults from numerous films which have portrayed clowns in less than a favourable light. Movies with titles such as “Fear of Clowns”, “The Clown Murders” and “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” hardly paint a positive image, and there are many examples in films and TV shows of murderers disguising themselves as clowns.

An unscientific poll around our office found that a number of people thought clowns were a bit scary, while perhaps the best demographic, the two-year-old son of another reporter, thought they were great.

Are clowns as popular with children as Krusty the Clown is in “The Simpsons”? Or do you think they are creepy? Send us your comments.

The Queen becomes Britain’s oldest monarch on Thursday beating the record set by her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

Despite being the ripe old age of 81, the monarch shows little sign of slowing down and there is no talk of an abdication.

However Republicans say it is time she hung up her crown and enjoyed her retirement.

What do you think? Should the Queen consider passing the mantle to Prince Charles now? Or, indeed, should the monarchy itself carry on after she dies?

Police Officers are meeting in London on Wednesday to consider what action, if any, they should take over their pay dispute with the government.

Last week Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said police would be given a 2.5 percent rise, as recommended by an independent arbitration panel, but this would not be backdated to September as expected. She said this was necessary to keep a lid on public spending.

The decision has infuriated police who say it means the rise is only worth 1.9 percent, lower than the rate of inflation.

The Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file officers, says the government is taking advantage of laws which make it illegal for the police to go on strike. It is now considering what industrial action it can and should take.

Should police be allowed to strike? Should Jacqui Smith reverse her decision? Or is she right to stick to government targets?

Let us know what you think

About 20,000 fans crammed into London’s O2 Arena on Monday as rock giants Led Zeppelin took to the stage together for the first time in years, blasting their way through a two-hour set that left fans baying for more.

The rockers had sparked a ticket-buying frenzy when they announced in September that they were reuniting for the one-off gig, having rarely performed together since their split in 1980.  A million fans registered for a chance to win a ticket and one man forked out 83,000 pounds for a pair of tickets in a BBC auction for “Children in Need”.

It is the latest sign of their enduring popularity. They have sold 300 million albums and penned classic songs such as “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love”.

Can we say they are the greatest band in the world ever?

Maybe you were more excited by the return of those other pop legends, the Spice Girls? Tell us who you think is the best ever.

The highly charged issue of abortion is once again becoming a hot political issue.

Ever since terminations were legalised in1967, there has been heated debate between those who argue that abortions are morally wrong and those who say it is a woman’s right to choose whether to have a baby.

Then there are the medical issues. Doctors support maintaining the 24-week upper limit for abortions, arguing that is the point at which a foetus is considered viable. However others say scientific advances mean this is no longer the case and this limit should be reduced.

Last year the number of abortions rose by 4 percent and Lord Steel, who brought forward the original Abortion Act as a young MP, has voiced his concern that there are too many terminations nowadays and some women are acting irresponsibly.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has also said he worries that people need to think harder about the consequences of their actions.

So should there be a change in the law? Or should people instead be given better advice and sex education to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place?

Send us your comments

For the last few years, the government has been encouraging us to avoid scoffing too many pizzas and burgers, and to exercise more to avoid becoming obese.

But now a government think-tank says obesity isn’t anyone’s fault – modern life causes the problem, not laziness or greed.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has warned that the country faces an obesity timebomb as serious as climate change, that will bring illness and diseases and cost the country billions of pounds.

So whose fault is it? Is the report right by saying individuals are not to blame? Or is that a recipe for people to keep on eating their way to obesity?

Send us your comments

U.S. President George W. Bush flew to Iraq with his security chiefs to meet the U.S. commander for a final review of the war before a showdown in Congress over troop levels.

Earlier, British troops quit Basra, leaving the city without British forces for the first time since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam in 2003. The withdrawal from the Basra Palace complex is a step towards handing over Basra province to Iraqi control and an eventual British pullout from Iraq.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said British troops need to stay in Iraq as they still have a role to play there.

Is it time for troops to come home? Are they making the situation worse? Or are they vital to helping the Iraqis maintain security and would pulling them out now be morally wrong?

Send us your comments

A Conservative Party policy group has recommended scrapping the unpopular inheritance tax.

At the moment, only estates worth more than 300,000 pounds are liable for the tax. The government says that means the levy is paid on only about 6 percent of estates.

However the Tories say soaring property prices mean many more people, who wouldn’t be described as rich, will find themselves in that bracket in the future. 

A recent poll found the public rated the tax as the most unpopular levy they had to pay, worse even than council tax.

What do you think? Is the tax an unfair punishment or will scrapping it mean the rich will get richer?

Send us your comments

Wayne Rooney’s foot jinx has struck again.

The Manchester United striker is set to miss two of England’s crucial upcoming Euro 2008 qualification matches after suffering a hairline fracture in his left foot on Saturday.

Rooney suffered similar foot injuries during Euro 2004 and just before the 2006 World Cup, and his absence played a significant role in England’s exits from both tournaments.

His latest injury could rule him out for up to three months.

The news is another real blow for England boss Steve McClaren with the national side lying fourth in their Euro 2008 qualifying group and with vital games coming up against group leaders Russia and second-placed Israel in September.

Can England get the results they need in those matches without Rooney and who do you think can step in to fill his boots?

Send us your comments