The Time To Vote Approaches

A great moment is approaching. Having become a citizen in January, I am finally eligible to vote. On Thursday, there will be a General Election.

I remember my first-ever vote in 1984. I listened carefully to the candidates, as I sought out their positions on the issues that were important to me. I made my choice, and my candidate suffered one of the greatest defeats in the history of American Presidential elections.

These days, it seems that the only way to make a choice is to decide what one likes the least. There aren't really any policies - despite each party telling us that they are the party for change - it is all spin. Matthew Parris wrote about this in the Times yesterday:

"Change is the last thing the British people want. They want things to carry on as they are. They are losing confidence in their politics to arrange it. That’s why they’re angry. Do you imagine change is what the Greek mob want? No, it’s change they fear.

We are in the same condition as the benighted Greeks, but not so far down the primrose path: dimly aware of the truth, scared of the truth, angry with the truth, and howling for the head of any politician who threatens to admit the truth.

The truth is simple: we’re living beyond our means. The change — if change were what we were really prepared to embrace — is simple: we will have to live within our means."
The Times 1.5.10

As he says, hard times are coming. Whoever gets the poisoned chalice will try their best, and make a lot of people very angry. So how am I supposed to choose? Thanks to the recent adoption of American-style debates, presentation and performance have suddenly become career-changing elements for our party leaders. So do I go for the guy who sweated the least? The one who had the nicest tie? Do I eliminate the one who stood there with his hand in his pocket?

I'll get back to you :-)

Amanda Seyfried

On the one hand I am far too old to be interested in a pretty little thing like Amanda Seyfried. On the other hand I am the proud older sister of a fine journalist whose interview with said actress was published by the Sunday Telegraph here.

Prisoner Piglet

My parents were great fans of the television show "The Prisoner", starring Patrick McGoohan. It has just been remade, which does not usually work for cult favourites. Above, Piglet flees from Rover - The Giant Ball of Death. Below, Patrick McGoohan is closely followed by the big white ball.

Facebook Manners And You

Just saw this on a friend's Facebook page and thought it was jolly good.

Where Did Thursday Thirteen Go?

My old friend Thursday Thirteen seems to have disappeared, although some of the old gang may be found around here. I fell asleep thinking about one the other night, and since I will soon forget it since I cannot seem to remember any ideas by the morning, I shall do it now. So here we have my latest (not) Thursday 13:

THIRTEEN THINGS AUGUSTUS

1. Augustus Caesar
The obvious one. Here are a couple of things he is reputed to have said.

2. Augustus Sans Serif
If you are into fonts, have a look at this.

3. Augustus Who Would Not Eat His Soup
Although the original German story from 'Der Struwelpeter' tells of Suppen Kaspar, the English translation describes the demise of Augustus. To hear it told to you right now click here.

4. Augustus Egg
Here is the way to all you may ever wish to know about the nineteenth-century painter with the fabulous name.

5. Agaricus Augustus
What might this be? I had no idea, and was pleasantly surprised by this picture.

6. Augustus Jackson
This Augustus was an African-American credited with an important place in the history of ice-cream. Go here, and click on his name for more. Safe for diabetics.

7. Fort Augustus
For your next expedition to find Nessie, why not make your base camp in this historic town by the loch.

8. Augustus de Morgan
He was a famous British mathematician and logician. Famous at least in the world of mathematics. Sadly, words like 'trigonometry' or 'differential calculus' do not compute in my brain. Far be it from me, however, to deny you anything actually so have a look at this.

9. The Augustus Society
This group preserves and promotes a positive image of Italian-Americans in Clark County, Nevada.

10. Augustus John
Here is a brief biography of the (mostly) twentieth-century portrait painter. Famous also for his multitudinous affairs, apparently his illegitimate children were referred to as 'Johnlets".

11. Charles Augustus Lindbergh
That's it. The middle name of the famous aviator. As it was for his father, and his poor first son.

12. Seimone Augustus
An Olympic basketball gold medal-winning female Augustus! Read about her here.

13. Augustus Gloop
The one you've all been waiting for! No? O well, the demise of the chocolate guzzler in Willy Wonka's factory may be viewed here.

I had wanted to include Gus the Theatre Cat, but it turns out that 'Gus' is short for 'Asparagus'. *sigh*

Alan Sillitoe RIP

Alan and Ruth have been part of my life since I was a child. There will probably be lots of articles and obituaries in the next few days that examine his legacy and place in English literature. He was kind and loving, and I am sad for Ruth and David and the rest of the family.

from Paul Bowles
Google Images of Alan
Everyday people remember Alan
BBC Obituary
Telegraph obituary
Guardian obituary
Times obituary
Alan's selections for Desert Island Discs

Jo Grant Returns

While Sarah Jane Smith has always been my favourite companion, Jo Grant was my first Doctor Who companion (and with hindsight probably the one I fancied the most). Now the Telegraph reports that Jo will return for a couple of episodes of 'The Sarah Jane Adventures'.

On the one hand, hurrah! On the other hand, how can she possibly live up to the expectation of a 25-year-old memory?

Women Priests - Why Not?

This is my blogfriend La Chienne de Garde's personal perspective on a recent poster campaign by the French Catholic Church. The Church hopes to convince young believers that it is cool to be a priest. More details from the Telegraph here.

Not the best time to be recruiting, methinks.

PS This is the original recruiting poster:

Irony?

We were looking forward to being in Krakow just about now. Unfortunately, ash in the air prevents our journey to Poland. Isn't that ironic?

Gays in Football

They say that it's not safe to be out as a homosexual footballer in Britain. This picture is from the City of Manchester Stadium earlier today at the end of the game between City and United. It was in front of 47,019 people. Not to mention the television audience across the world. I guess it doesn't count if you just scored the winning goal.

UPDATE: ESPN posted the pic and originally named the file 'nevillegay' before changing it to 'nevillekiss' and eventually removing it. Story here.

For Gleeks Everywhere

Loved Jane Lynch in 'The L Word', 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Julie & Julia'. She is what makes 'Glee' worth watching. This, however, is stratospheric!

Let's Blame the Jews ... Again

Today's Guardian has an interesting story: "Bishop 'blames Jews' for criticism of Catholic church record on abuse". The emeritus bishop claims he never said it. Even though he has a previous record of critical comments about the Jewish community. The report may be found here.

Scary. Not particularly surprising. In the end, though, it's just another smokescreen to hide behind. We are no longer discussing the abuse and the priests who did it and those that covered it up. Now there is a different subject to discuss, i.e., interfaith relations. Feh! Get back to the point please Catholic clerics. Who is responsible for the abuse, and what are you going to do about it? Eh?

O Akos, My Akos

No doubt we shall throw the game away, but my favourite player is back on form and has scored a fantastic goal so I shall just rejoice in that!

And So It Begins

I am so tempted, but shall take the high road and say no more.

Keep It Gay!

Today's Guardian has a blog article about the current state of plays and their gayness. The premise seems to be that these days there is a much greater range of portraits of gay men on the stage. Ultimately, though, the conclusion is that gays on stage are not yet completely out of the closet. The blogger makes quite a good case, as he trawls through productions of the past, present and future. O, and he even mentions a lesbian, albeit in brackets. Read it for yourself right here. Feh!

Routemaster Piglet

The number nine - my favourite bus. It used to go from Mortlake to Liverpool Street, but now seems to go from Hammersmith to Aldwych. Here, Piglet rests gently on the bonnet of an old Routemaster.

The New Doctor Who

We have to admit that we were a bit worried about finally seeing the first ep of the new Doctor Who this evening. The BBC had hyped it up so much, and we were still pining for the Tennant; so the possibility of great disappointment seemed imminent. All I can say is that at the end of the show, the world's greatest DT fan sitting next to me said that Matt Smith wasn't that bad ... and the companion had great potential! Other early reviews:

"To millions of fanatical fans, changing the Time Lord is far more important than changing the Prime Minister. Parliaments are temporary… the universe goes on forever. So the good news is… you can all relax. After a fine performance in an encouragingly expensive and slick special- effects packed opening salvo, it’s crystal clear that Mr Smith is certain to be a sensation. The Beeb’s best franchise is in safe hands. Phew!"
The Mirror

"Essentially, the Doctor is meant to be a mad alien, and Smith looks like one before he even opens his mouth. By the end of episode one he was bedizened in a suitably daft public-school geography-teacher ensemble of bow tie and tweed jacket. It was ridiculous but it felt right: mad, alien, brand new but very old. A+ to the casting director. A+ to Smith."
The Telegraph

See? Not a spoiler in sight!

Baseball is Back!

The 2010 season begins in a few hours when the Yankees go to Fenway for the first of hopefully more than 162 games. It has been so long since I had to follow from over here that I have not yet got any kind of system in place. The main thing is whether or not I will be able to find online the CBS broadcasts with my heroine Suzyn Waldman. So my apologies to non sport fans - my obsessions are both winter and summer!

Baroness Park of Monmouth RIP

I know I know another blinking obituary. They are just so compelling. This one, for example: the top spy of her time. It is just irresistable! Here are some excerpts from the Telegraph:

"Daphne Park demonstrated that a woman could be an immensely competent officer on the ground. Extracting information in the middle of an African jungle or burning top secret documents (and then hiding the ashes in her knickers) were simply part of the job."

"Here (in the Belgian Congo), Daphne Park dealt with the inevitable death threats and lawlessness of society with habitual sangfroid. On one occasion, when living alone, she chased off an intruder by leaning out of her window and shouting: "I am a witch! And if you don't instantly go away your hands and feet will fall off!""

"The family home was a mud hut without running water or electricity. Daphne pegged her first gold claim aged three, finding a single nugget which she then lost. She had no formal education until the age of 11, when she walked three days to the nearest road and hitched a lorry ride "through a cloud of locusts" to Dar es Salaam."

Go and read the rest for yourself. It's here. Another amazing woman - she puts me to shame with her energy and initiative.

Mind Cleanser

Jews across the world today are cleaning out their cupboards in preparation for the festival of Passover. May I present an opportunity to flush out one's brain also: the theme tune to the cartoon 'Pinky and the Brain' ... in Russian! Greetings and good wishes to you all!!