Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Quick Quiz
What do the Pope, Muslim fundamentalists and the Christian right have in common?
They all want to control women's rights to control their own bodies.
I am SICK of the constant barrage of news about this new pope business. I do not care. Britain is barely a Christian country any more, and disestablished the Catholic church centuries ago.
I do not want to listen to people prattling on about their imaginary friends. Jesus was a real live character from history. He might have been good. That's it.
Religion has caused more deaths in the history of the world than just about anything else other than disease and old age. People, grow up. You don't need a supernatural being to explain the world.
The end.
They all want to control women's rights to control their own bodies.
I am SICK of the constant barrage of news about this new pope business. I do not care. Britain is barely a Christian country any more, and disestablished the Catholic church centuries ago.
I do not want to listen to people prattling on about their imaginary friends. Jesus was a real live character from history. He might have been good. That's it.
Religion has caused more deaths in the history of the world than just about anything else other than disease and old age. People, grow up. You don't need a supernatural being to explain the world.
The end.
Imaginary Crimes
And real dimension difficulties! Sorry, Mr Webster. Can I have my physical chastisement now?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Snow over Britain
No, not that sort of snow. Though we have had plenty of that in the last few days.
I'm talking about the Snow family.
There's broadcaster and newsreader Jon Snow, who seems to have been a fixture on our screens forever.
Then there's his cousin Peter Snow, renowned for leaping about on out TV screens, especially at election times.
But Peter's son Dan is making quite an impression these days. He looks just like his father, wounds like him too. He's a history man, and was most recently on our screens from Syria in a documentary about the phenomenal history of the place. Brave man.
Quite a hunk too (though a bit young), a big gangly man like his father, at a mere 6'6".
The family legacy is assured.
I'm talking about the Snow family.
There's broadcaster and newsreader Jon Snow, who seems to have been a fixture on our screens forever.
Then there's his cousin Peter Snow, renowned for leaping about on out TV screens, especially at election times.
But Peter's son Dan is making quite an impression these days. He looks just like his father, wounds like him too. He's a history man, and was most recently on our screens from Syria in a documentary about the phenomenal history of the place. Brave man.
Quite a hunk too (though a bit young), a big gangly man like his father, at a mere 6'6".
The family legacy is assured.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Friday, March 08, 2013
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Roro Your Boat
Cross Channel ferries are known as roro ferries, short for "roll on roll off". They have a very large capacity, with multiple vehicle decks and lounges and restaurants in several places. The bow doors open wide to allow vehicles on and off with maximum speed.
Sadly, on the night of March 6th 1987 the maximum speed was downwards as the ship sailed with the bow doors wide open.
She capsized really quickly as the rising waters swooshed the vehicles about and destabilised the vessel further. The only reason no more that 193 people died in the cold waters was that the Herald of Free Enterprise was over a sandbank and very close to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium.
The Herald and her sister ships originally operated on the Dover to Calais (France) route, and I had taken students on them for day trips to France when I was a French teacher. It all felt really close to home. I still shudder when I think about it.
Sadly, on the night of March 6th 1987 the maximum speed was downwards as the ship sailed with the bow doors wide open.
She capsized really quickly as the rising waters swooshed the vehicles about and destabilised the vessel further. The only reason no more that 193 people died in the cold waters was that the Herald of Free Enterprise was over a sandbank and very close to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium.
You can see the wide open bow doors.
The Herald and her sister ships originally operated on the Dover to Calais (France) route, and I had taken students on them for day trips to France when I was a French teacher. It all felt really close to home. I still shudder when I think about it.
Monday, March 04, 2013
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A Non-V Movie
Yesterday I went to see Life of Pi. I suppose given the tiger content it was predictable that I would. But I knew animals were going to come to grief, so I'd been resisting. I decided not to read the book for the same reasons.
But the pressure from others became too great, so when the opportunity arose, I took it.
Certainly some of the 3D special effects were staggering, but I found I got used to the 3d-ness fairly quickly, and the glasses, on top of my own, were quite uncomfortable and very heavy. I don't mind not seeing any more 3D films for a while!
On balance I enjoyed it, though. And the young actor playing Pi gave a real tour-de-force performance, completely carrying the movie. He should be getting all sorts of awards.
But the pressure from others became too great, so when the opportunity arose, I took it.
Certainly some of the 3D special effects were staggering, but I found I got used to the 3d-ness fairly quickly, and the glasses, on top of my own, were quite uncomfortable and very heavy. I don't mind not seeing any more 3D films for a while!
On balance I enjoyed it, though. And the young actor playing Pi gave a real tour-de-force performance, completely carrying the movie. He should be getting all sorts of awards.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
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