Ok, so Boris went a little over the top yesterday when suggesting that the Olympo-mania Geiger counter just went zoink, but the Games do begin tonight and it's kind of a big deal when it's in your home town.
So no complaints today about the transport system, or lack of ticket availability, or spoiled athletic officials. Instead, just watch this brief, informative and cheery history of the Olympics. Hurrah for the greatest show on earth!
With the news yesterday that Scotland is ready for gay marriage, and David Cameron's speech at 10 Downing Street in which he said once again,
"It's something I feel passionately about and I think if it's good enough for straight people like me, it's good enough for everybody and that's why we should have gay marriage and we will legislate for it"
you'd think enough already with the campaigning. However, it's precisely because Out4Marriage and its partners continue to keep speaking up that more and more public figures are aligning themselves with those working for equality in marriage!
I do have a particular concern, and that is the small percentage of women involved in this project. I would love to see more of us making videos, and cannot figure out why we are not. The guys fuelling the project with their energy and determination would love our input, support and leadership. If there is something about Out4Marriage that is not welcoming, and we're not getting it; please somebody let us know so we may learn and improve. Thank you.
The heading says 'unspeakable' and then I try and say something. Israeli tourists blown up by terrorists in Bulgaria. Batman fans shot down in a Colorado movie theatre. We have no power to stop such things or heal those who suffer from them. And while ours heads know that compassion is what should be expressed, the impact of such deeds is more likely to engender fear for ourselves and a sense of our own powerlessness.
Time for that Yeats quote I think:
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
Wherever it is we look to for strength and hope, now is as good a time as any to ask. We must not live in fear. And we must find ways to have hope for our communities and ourselves.
ah, Celeste Holm. 95 is a bloody good innings. Most of the obituaries note that she really rose to fame as the original Ado Annie in Oklahoma, although Gloria Grahame got to play that role in the movie version. The Telegraph obit recalls Holm's audition:
"She was to sing before the composer, Richard Rodgers, and her agent advised her not to attempt any of his songs lest she get them wrong, nor any by his rivals lest she drive him wild. That narrowed the field alarmingly. So she resolved to sing Who Is Sylvia? which could not possibly offend. Sweeping up to the microphone, she tripped on the wire and ended in an undignified heap on stage. “Could you do that again?” Rodgers called. And that was how she landed the plum comic role in what was to be the most influential musical of its time."
She remains in my memory, however, for two reasons. She's the best thing in the film High Society (a glamorous remake of the Philadelphia Story, but who could ever remake something starring Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn/James Stewart at their most elegant?). And she won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in Gentleman's Agreement. Actually, that film made me so mad. It's clear that Gregory Peck should end up with her character, but instead they make his antisemitic fiancee reform so he can stay with her. Should've married Celeste!
Thank you for the joy your performances continue to give to me, and may you rest in peace.
