Simon's 'blog'

Simon's 'blog'

[entries|archive|friends|userinfo]

Simon

[	website	\|	felidae.co.uk	]
[	userinfo	\|	livejournal userinfo	]
[	archive	\|	journal archive	]

Links

[

Links:

|

]

telly	[Jul. 22nd, 2009\|09:59 am]
I didn't get to see much television in the 70s so missed the television documentaries that made Ray Gosling famous, but fondly remember his radio work, that extraordinary voice, northern turn of phrase & delivery. No, he's not dead, thankfully, but BBC have been re-showing a few documentaries made about his more recent years - bankruptcy, moving into sheltered accommodation, sorting out a lifetime's accumulation in his house. They're touching, moving, and well worth watching on iplayer while you can. This could be any of us in thirty odd years time.
link

the Treehouse Gallery	[Jul. 17th, 2009\|07:10 pm]
London types should keep an eye on Regent's Park this summer - the Treehouse Gallery launches on Monday 20th July, and from the provisional schedule I've been sent as a potential contributor (!) it looks pretty impressive, lots of creative sessions, spoken word groups, and - well, could be anything, in purpose built treehouses. Should be a triumph of imagination, at the very least.
link	2 additions\|add

world of pub	[Mar. 16th, 2009\|10:17 am]
more here
link	2 additions\|add

banging a head against a wall	[Mar. 14th, 2009\|10:13 am]
Last Thursday's Radio 4 afternoon play was a strange docu-drama things about a family reducing their carbon dioxide responsibilities - Getting to Zero by Sarah Woods - Drama-documentary exploring how a fictional family can eliminate their carbon footprint, with a panel of real advisers: George Monbiot, Paul Allen, and Peter Harper from the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales. Interesting, but flawed (although I did miss bits of it), but it did touch on the fact that basically - we're going to have to make difficult changes to our lives. It's literally a propspect too big to contemplate, so people aren't. A frustrating conversation with a new labour cog in the machine some time ago pointed out the political problem - they think it's more important that they don't make the required changes and stay in power rather than bring them in, because the required actions will be unpopular, and lose them the next election. Because that's more important, right? Age of Stupid launches with special preview screenings this Sunday, tomorrow (info on website). In their words, it 'stars Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?'. I haven't seem it and it sounds like a great idea, but too many people will dismiss it as 'green propaganda'. People don't want to believe in it because it's easier not to. There are no answers other than take our own futures in our hands, do something ourselves, serious, radical action. While we have a government that wants to add a third runway at Heathrow rather than make flights a rare luxury, only when really necessary (not to mention band cheap flights), we're, frankly, f*cked. And what government is going to take away £9.99 flights to the sun from it's voters? Of course no-one listens to people like me/us, we're loonies in rainbow jumpers declaring the sky is falling. But if this continues, if people continue not to listen, we'll be proved right. And we don't want that, do we?
link	add

follow up	[Mar. 11th, 2009\|09:54 pm]
Bearing in mind the responses to my last post about this link: http://thingsarelookinup.com/Abuse/test.shtml I suspect it would be an interesting exercise to go through it again with an extra tickbox, as to what behaviours you consider perfectly acceptable? Not just in relationships, either, outside of the canal world I generally find the way people treat each other, strangers as well as friends, increasingly despicable. No, it's not just the way people treat me, let's just take that as read. Meanwhile, it's interesting to consider which concepts people consider subjective, and objective. On challenging a blogger recently on an outrageously sexist post that celebrates spring because young women dress to please the old men, he replied suggesting that I might think that was sexist, but he didn't. How fluid are such things, or is it merely a case of interpretation, spin? The BNP deny being rascist, say, even though they have policies which clearly show they are? Applying this directly to the above, some aspects of behaviour are obviously perfectly acceptable to some and beyond the pale to others. Normally that doesn't matter - who cares if we say loo, toilet or bog - but when it's how we treat each other, that's different. If there's two (or more) people involved, a giver & receiver, if you like, and I guess if they have compatible ideas of acceptibility, does that make it right, even if the behaviour itself could be objectively seen as unreasonable?
link	3 additions\|add

relationships	[Mar. 2nd, 2009\|10:50 am]
I've often seen unreasonable behaviour in other people's relationships, been reminded of past difficulties within my own, and been reminded of a piece of advice an old friend gave me many years ago, after a break up of her own - 'no relationship is better than a bad relationship'. Not great phrasing as it could be interpreted in the wrong way, but a long held sentiment - I'd rather be single than be manipulated, changed - which is why I finished my co-habitation relationship some years ago. I knew I had the choice to stay, have a family, resign myself to being a lesser subset of me, and I don't regret the choice I made. Anyway, gratefully acquired from another journal (not credited directly as there's obvious privacy issues), a list of unreasonable behaviours within relationships: emotional abuse checklist Me being me, I looked at it as much as 'have I done that?' as much as 'I've experienced that'. I also know that many, many people are not in a position, financial or otherwise, to leave a relationship, and in other cases they may chose their own compromise. I know too many people who have to put up with shit, frankly. Worth a read through. It's not all negative, many, many people have happy, balanced relationships, and that's great, it really is, I am truly happy for those people. Screened comments can be left here if preferred.
link	10 additions\|add

useful weather site	[Feb. 2nd, 2009\|12:03 pm]
http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/7days.asp (you may need to put in your place or postcode and refresh) the today & tomorrow view is very useful too: http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/today.asp 'here all week', as the old comedians used to say. I'm at work making 'eggheads'. I'm not convinced my journey was really necessary.
link	5 additions\|add

just call it a recruitment ad for Hamas	[Jan. 20th, 2009\|11:21 pm]
click the picture for more. meanwhile - Medical Aid for Palestine.
link	add

so when are the western governments going to give a shit?	[Jan. 17th, 2009\|12:44 am]
‘It was the hardest day of our lives’ UK Human Rights Activist Reports From Gaza Zaytoun on 16 Jan 2009 Wednesday 14th January, 2009 In an escalation of the ground offensive in the south of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces terrorised the population of Khoza’a, a small rural community east of Khan Younis. They entered the area at about 3.00am on the morning of Tuesday 13th January in an incursion lasting until Tuesday evening. This follows heavy missile strikes on Khoza’a in recent days, notably on Saturday 10th January. According to a local municipality official, approximately 50 homes were bulldozed along with farmland, olive and citrus groves. The scent of lemons could faintly be determined whilst navigating the wreckage, emanating from so many mangled trees. A family explained how their home was demolished with them inside it. They sheltered in the basement as the upper storeys were destroyed. Later they realised the basement itself was being attacked and narrowly missed being crushed to death by escaping through a small hole in the debris. Iman Al-Najar was with her family in their home when military D-9 bulldozers began to demolish it. They managed to escape and Iman then encouraged some of her neighbours to try to leave the vicinity. The group of women were instructed by Israeli soldiers to leave by a particular street. They had children with them and carried white flags, yet when they reached the street Israeli special forces concealed in a building opened fire on them and shot 50 year-old Rowhiya Al-Najar. The other women desperately tried to rescue her but the gunfire was too heavy and they had to flee for their lives. An ambulance was also prevented from reaching her and she bled to death in the street. Meanwhile Iman and about 200 other residents whose homes had been destroyed had gathered near her uncle’s house which was protecting them to some degree from the shooting. However, this area in turn was also attacked. Iman described how the bulldozers began piling debris up around them, effectively creating a giant hole that they were standing in. They were literally about to be buried alive. By some miracle they managed to also escape from this situation by crawling on their hands and knees for about 150 metres. It was extremely difficult for them to move, especially with the injured and the elderly. The terrified residents then sought sanctuary at a local UNRWA school. But when they got there missiles were being fired around it and they had to retreat. Finally they managed to leave the area entirely and walked several kilometres to where friends were able to pick them up. Iman’s 14 year-old brother Mohammed was missing for 12 hours and she feared he was dead. He had been detained by soldiers in a house along with a neighbour who had begged to be let out to find her children but was not allowed to do so. When the soldiers had shot Rowhiya Al-Najar, Mohammed said they had been singing and dancing and forced him to do the same. When he refused, they threatened to shoot him too. “It was the hardest day of our lives,” repeated Iman over and over again. She had nothing left in the world but the clothes she was standing up in, but under the circumstances she was lucky to escape with her life. As in so many other parts of the Gaza Strip, the atrocities committed against civilians in Khoza’a amount to war crimes. Missiles believed to contain white phosphor were deployed by the Israeli military during this attack. ISM volunteers photographed a fist-sized lump of flaming material found on the ground next to a burnt-out home. It was still burning from the previous day. The only way to extinguish it was to bury it, but it would instantly re-ignite if uncovered. It was giving off a thick grey smoke with a foul stench. Doctors at the Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which received 50 casualties that day from Khoza’a, described serious chemical burns and victims being covered in a white powder which continued to burn them. Many people were also suffering from serious breathing difficulties after inhaling smoke emitted by this weapon. Dr. Ahmed Almi, a member of the delegation of Egyptian doctors who finally gained entry to the strip to support Gazan hospitals during the crisis, outlined some of the most serious cases. Four of them died in the hospital after doctors battled to save them. He commented that some of the injuries were so horrific they must have been inflicted by abnormal munitions. He gave the example of a man who had been shot and sustained a small entry wound but massive exit wound, 40-50 cm wide. 13 people were killed overall during this incursion according to medical sources. Before the Israeli war on Gaza began, the ISM team here had been working with the farming community in Khoza’a, accompanying local farmers as they succeeded to access their land to plant winter wheat. The IOF had prevented them from reaching their fields, in some cases for over five years. Israeli soldiers shot at them, even during the ceasefire. The same ceasefire which Israel claims was broken by Palestinians. (see also what happens when you bomb a hospital)
link	5 additions\|add

Links	[Jan. 14th, 2009\|01:50 am]
the tales to tell blog written by an aid worker in Gaza is LJ syndicated as tales_2_tell You may find this Ushahidi web tool useful, it tries to bring together news reports from all sides; also try Debategraph for a visual explanation of the issues & history around the Gaza conflict, and other topics too. I find myself owning a small piece of land near Heathrow; just my luck that they want to build an airport on it. A shame the cabinet are divided on 'health and noise pollution' rather than the bigger issues, which they don't seem to think exist, but meanwhile George Monbiot hits the nail on the head on the so-called class aspects of flying. In local news, I've spent the day installing underfloor insulation in my front room; guests may well find it less drafty, although whether I choose to heat it to a higher temperature is up to me...
link	3 additions\|add

(no subject)	[Jan. 11th, 2009\|11:40 am]
Yes, I was out there yesterday with 100,000+ yesterday. Will it change anything? Probably not. Not while the western economies continue to support a strange little country called Israel. Oddly enough the policing of yesterday's march was similar to the whole political situation - a very heavy-handed over-reaction can only continually escalate aggression - without the settlers & the israeli tanks trashing villages, we wouldn't have Hamas, we might even have two very similar peoples & cultures ('semetic' refers to arabs & jews alike) sharing a space with no problems. If only. I personally saw more violence on Friday night as part of a critical mass that happened to end up in Kensington, there's demonstrations there every evening. I have playing Dabka music from the PA speakers I juast happened to have with me, and the police admitted they couldn't legally stop us, but tried anyway. Please don't be put off by the reports of violence, police vs demonstratos - it happens, but to those who put themselves at the front line. Most of us - that's nmearly all of us, in fact, tootled along with our flasks of tea and union banners, and largely left once we got to Kensington, getting past the embassy and back into the park was neigh on impossible. Once again, be the peaceful majority. A few links: some streaming palestinian dabka music Indymedia reporting on yesterday a blog from an aid worker inside Gaza - please read this one if nothing else And yes, that's a new icon up there. Feel free to nick it - in fact please do. The day after the tanks went in, the Sun's headline was about Gazza, not Gaza. It's not that difficult to be aware of the world out there.
link	2 additions\|add

(no subject)	[Dec. 30th, 2008\|12:33 am]
Edit - demo now changed - assemble 1230 at Embankment. See Stop the War website for info. If you're going to burn a flag, please don't use man made fibres; this one smelled awful. Yes, that is a hassidic jew burning an Israeli flag, giving the very important reminder that race or tribe does not equate with government; that woudl be like holding me responsible for the invasion of Iraq, say. I was at the afternoon demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy, a mix of everyone possible, really. There's a national demo at Parliament Sq on Saturday (2pm)* ; if what you read & see on the news appalls you, please be there. Don't be put off by 'extremists' (whatever they are, from wherever you're standing), the more people there who want a peaceful solution, the better. Frustratingly I'll be pulling out a much hated sound desk at work that day, but I'll be there in spirit. To reiterate, please be part of the peaceful majority? People tell me it's not worth going to demos, but it is, if you believe in the cause; you're reminded you're not the only one, in one way or another your voice is heard (poll tax, apartheid, anyone?), and you to buy marvellous* publications like The Proletarian,which bnot only celebrates the centenary of Enver Hoxha, but urges Hamas to launch more rockets. Call me an old hippy, but I've yet to see how an escalation of violence ever solves anything, and it's certainly the last thing the middle east needs, in my opinion. I can also completely understand why those living in Gaza or the West Bank would turn to violence; you would too. Palestine isn't even a country that far away, not that that matters. Dual Evening Standard boards tonight proclaimed 'riot police protect embassy' and 'Israel to 'fight to bitter end''. Politics and money are far too far removed from the lives of real people (and subjective news impossible to find), but to connect a little try this blog and Palestine Monitor. If you can be there on Saturday, and care, then please do, It will make a difference, it will. * it's still OK to take the piss out of Marxist-Leninists, right? Or indeed any self-righteous far left faction? To acquire some of my cynicism, read (and enjoy) 'Redemption ' by Tariq Ali
link	7 additions\|add

family photos	[Jan. 30th, 2008\|11:42 am]
Some quick scans of far nicer looking prints of my friends in Cumbria: ( a couple more under here )
link	10 additions\|add

Daeth Vaider on Walney Island	[Jan. 19th, 2008\|12:34 pm]

link	add

with no apologies for the politics	[Dec. 24th, 2007\|10:41 am]
It's a strange world were we can use Bethlehem & Jerusalem to represent peace on earth, and forget what's really going on there...
link	1 addition\|add

Brentford, tonight	[Dec. 23rd, 2007\|10:59 pm]
( more trees )
link	10 additions\|add

SiCutDb at the Roundhouse	[Nov. 9th, 2007\|05:22 pm]
( with Rod Thomas )
link	9 additions\|add

I'm just not sure of the merits of this one	[Nov. 6th, 2007\|06:02 pm]
I'm not even sure I prefer it over the centre-composed version, which has clearer ancillary figures. Oh, I don't know.
link	11 additions\|add

falling in love with light again	[Oct. 31st, 2007\|10:12 am]
( Borderline 24th Oct )
link	9 additions\|add

a week's groceries	[Sep. 11th, 2007\|04:41 pm]
There's an extraordinary series of similar images here of families around the world with their week's worth of food, and the cost. Taken by Peter Menzel for Marie Claire - article (in french) here.
link	11 additions\|add

navigation

[	viewing	\|	most recent entries	]
[	go	\|	earlier	]