The JSPrice Perception

Alex Salmond (Image: scmp.com) Can you believe it is less than six months until Scotland make their biggest decision in generations? It is hard to believe that it is that close considering it seems like only yesterday when their First Minister Alex Salmond first announced his desire to make Scotland an independent country. Now we're edging closer to Thursday 18th September 2014, people in every corner of the British Isles are contemplating life without Scotland as part of the United Kingdom. It is hard to escape the discussions. Even if you think you have, there is bound to be someone on television or someone you pass in the street that has even the slightest of Scottish accents, you cannot help but think about the prospect of calling them a 'foreigner'. It is an equally daunting thought that hundreds of thousands of 17 and 18 year olds are, as we speak, receiving offers from their first choice University as they start thinking about a new chapter to their lives ...

George Osborne in China (Image: Daily Telegraph) It is always a healthy sign if someone looks up to another. You would like to replicate a person, or people, you believe are better off than yourself - there is nothing wrong with that. However, there is a danger that you may lose track of your own identity. You may want to experience the lifestyle of your favourite actor, but do those tattoos represent who you are? This is something George Osborne has to think about when forging relationships with nations that have an admirable economic record. Our Chancellor is finding ways to continue UK's economic recovery. He is very much the man who craves a good statistic - 'our unemployment levels, down', 'standard of living, improving', and so on. He wants music to the public's ears, which is understandable because if he said the opposite, the feel of Britain will be lower than it actually is. So, Mr Osborne's next stage is to be friendly to very powerful c...

The Only Way is Essex (Image: Lime Pictures) ITV is a television network that Britain can be proud of. They have produced some of the finest dramas, documentaries, news coverage and day time shows. Coronation Street is the world's longest-running soap opera, enjoyed by nine million people every episode. Let's put it this way, there is at least one programme on any of ITV's six channels (including "The Store") that someone likes. If you don't like anything ITV produces, then one must question if you have ever watched anything on their channels? I admire ITV as their six channels are very distinctive. For example, ITV offers mainstream shows like Coronation Street, Downton Abbey and Jeremy Kyle Show which are aimed towards the modern family. ITV2 attracts the younger audience who are into the celebrity culture while ITV3 focuses on the older audience, showing repeats of classic shows like Colombo and ITV4 offer a wider variety of films, documenta...

Boris Johnson in a London Underground train (Image: The Independent) If us Brits were given a pound for every time we whine, we'd be the biggest economy in the world. While other countries act violently to show their disgust over political decisions, Britons simply sulk. We're like babies crying over spilt milk. Of course we have been violent. Some of us burned down shops during the London Riots in the summer of 2011, while much earlier than that in the 1980s, we had the Miners Strikes in Wales and the North East, and various riots in Northern Ireland. Mass violence in the UK however, happens rarely, hence their significance. But as a whole, we're not a violent country. Thank heavens if you ask me. However, despite violent protests shows the physical damage, a lengthy sulk can be equally as powerful. Being a London resident for two months now, I know that the English capital is very busy at the best of times. But this week was something I had never experienced be...

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez (R), with two Sheikhs and Zinedine Zidane (CL) (Image: Daily Star) Capitalism has divided people around the world. Many have voiced strong concern about it. In the past, some have "occupied" parts of major cities to protest against the concept. They believe Capitalism exploits the greedy side of the greed - 'they only think profits, and that's disgusting', they claim. However, others believe Capitalism is a good thing. They reckon profits are the only way we're going to survive in an uncertain world. Besides, 'Communism is so 1980s'. It is fair to say that football has embraced Capitalism. Since Rupert Murdoch spent millions, then later billions, on the English Premier League, the sport never really looked back. Every deal has several more noughts in the end of insignificant business than we can ever imagine getting in our lifetime. For example, Juan Mata's recent move from Chelsea to Manchester Unit...

Everyone loves a good cop drama. I can think of a few, and I'm sure you can come up with a list of some which tickle your fancy. They portray heroic and dedicated police officers, plotting their moves to find the crook who commit unthinkable actions. They are seen as the good guys who solve crimes. Yes, some crime dramas have dodgy officers, but they'll be dealt with - piece of cake. Even in real life, most of the time, police officers do their jobs with pride. They patrol the streets during football games, clamping down on hooliganism. They work during the night so the drunk don't act disorderly. Some visit schools and lecture children on how important are their safety. It is clear they do their very best to ensure that their community is safe. I have always respected the police force. I have always been lucky to live in places which aren't crime-infested, and I guess it's all down to a close-knitted community that the police, councillors and the like, make sur...

Vincent Tan (L) with Malky Mackay (R) (Image: The Times) PR blunder for Cardiff City as misguided Mackay sees Bluebirds lurk in relegation zone before New Year I have a passion for football. Regular readers of my blog would realise this. And having been born and raised in Cardiff, you could imagine how I felt earlier this year when my local football team promoted to the most popular and commercialised league in the world for the first time. The thought of teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and my beloved Chelsea coming to the Welsh capital was indescribable. Considering Cardiff was in financial trouble this time 3-4 years ago, it was almost unimaginable that this side would be where they are today. However, despite living in dreamland, things haven't been easy for Cardiff this season. They are learning the hard way that top flight football is both extremely competitive and challenging. Only the very few ambitious, yet deluded supporters were expecting Cardiff to...