Pink Sauce

I attended part of the " Stop the Fascist BNP " (British National Party) demonstration this afternoon before running off to West End Live where I was singing with the Chorus (for the fourth year I think). Although I have attended a few demonstrations, this was my first of this type and I have to say that I was left a little dubious. I think about 3000 people were in attendance of what seemed to be organised mainly by unions and as is all too often the case, irrelevant "causes" found themselves grafted onto the main theme of the event. I was pleased to spot a few (not many, sadly) rainbow flags. The photograph of the Pink Paper was in attendance but left with very little material of relevance. There was also a reference to sexism and homophobia on a particular set of placards and the leading float was also (rather incongruously) festooned the rainbow flags, reference to IDAHO and the pink triangle (see pictures). While I completely agree that it is important to fight...

The quire of the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great where the blessing ceremony of two gay priests took place last week-end and relaunched the quarrel about gay clergy in the Anglican Church.

Far the past couple of weeks, I have been on the job market again after two years being self employed. I have sent out close to a hundred copies of my CV to recruitment agencies with responses from only about five. Not a great success rate but nothing unexpected considering my previous achievements in this matter. I am not really expecting to hear from two of the said agencies. One of them was supposed to contact me again to schedule a registration meeting but the silence has been deafening since then, even after I gently nudged them. The other wasn't really for me (the seem to specialise in underpaid admin jobs in healthcare). I had an appointment to register with another agency at lunchtime today. I have been registered with them a couple of times before and I am always dealing with the same consultant. We've "known" each other for about 5 years now, I think. It is rather amusing to have that sort of ungoing acquaintance with someone in that big maelstrom that is L...

Londonist have posted a short article about Bike Week which is starting today in the UK. They forgot to mention the World Naked Bike , whose London edition is taking place today, but to illustrate their article they have use the above picture, which I took at the Cans Festival last month.

It all started by a Nothern Irish MP's comments in reaction to a homophobic attack. Lots of people were not impressed and Mrs Robinson MP is now being investigated by the police and might possibly be sued too by a local activist, who, like this youth worker, is not impressed. In the meantime, the MP's psychoanalyst friend, whom she claimed can cure people of their gayness rides the media hype with (surprise! surprise!) the support of the Christian Institute. If you are feeling (justifiably outraged by this sad story, you can click here to sign the petition to the Prime Minister to reprimand MP Iris Robinson for her recent comments. You have until 9 August to do like the 3748 people who have already signed as I write this. Pass this on...

“The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgement of his peers, is in the highest degree odious, and the foundation of all totalitarian government.” Winston Churchill

I am against the 42 day thing and other "erosions of our civil liberties" (all the more disgraceful coming from a Labour government) but I think that David Davies' stand down from his seat as an MP is nothing but a stunt and not a very clever one at that. First there is the cost involved in all this, the wasted money; then there is the wasted time for his constituents who noe find themselves without an MP for however long it will take for Davies to be re-elected. And that the bigger point, He has a majority of 5000, the Lib Dems have already said that they wouldn't put up a candidate and I don't think Labour should bother either (if nothing else but show up Davies), so Mr Davies is guarranteed to be re-elected... He is not taking any risk whatsoever. Unless perhaps the electors wake up and realise they have being conned. Would he not have been better able to carry on raising the issues he wants to raise by staying in his position in the Shadow Cabinet, rather than...

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin 42 day detention without charge