Intriguing, isn't it? Its hardly news that Simon Hughes isn't absolutely heterosexual, and I have always viewed him as somone not really at ease with himself ( clinging on to evangelical religion won't help him - give it up Simon, you know it makes sense!) .
Lessons which can be learned ; closets are not a place of strength and there will always be the risk of exposure as a liar. Don't say something which isn't true. Either say nothing or tell the truth.
And on a personal level, I hope he will gain some strength and self-esteem from being open - and I hope he wins the leadership contest. In these identikit days a party led by him may even offer a political alternative.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Went to Quaker meeting today...
It felt right. No definite intentions as yet, but thats one of the good things about friends, there are no problems in simply going along. Strangely enough, one of my oldest friends made contact with me over the weekend and it turns out that he has become a Quaker!
Everton FC
I have been somewhat circumspect regarding Everton's fate this year. There are times when only despair and the thought of games against Crewe seemed appropriate, but the win against Arsenal was much deserved, Beattie is starting to play like the forward we thought he was when we bought him, and Osman is well in form too.
But - and its a big but. We still need at least another striker. And just what really happened regarding Per Kroldrup? It seems bizarre to spend 5 million on an international, play him twice, then sell him at a loss. David Moyes says there is no-one he wants avaialable - but strikers are moving from other clubs, and we simply have to get someone. If Beats gets injured, we are stuffed.
But - and its a big but. We still need at least another striker. And just what really happened regarding Per Kroldrup? It seems bizarre to spend 5 million on an international, play him twice, then sell him at a loss. David Moyes says there is no-one he wants avaialable - but strikers are moving from other clubs, and we simply have to get someone. If Beats gets injured, we are stuffed.
Sex in the news again...
The British really do like their sex-related stories.
Mark Oaten, LibDem MP and erstwhile leadership contender, has had a 'moment of madness'that just happened to last six months, with a male prostitute. I hope he manages to sort himself out - but my thoughts were immediately just how many more gay people there are than will openly say so. Look at any police stats for public sex - you get married men. I wonder exactly why these men find the need to pretend to be something they are not? What is the drive which leads them to live a double life - is it the fear of having to standup and be other than the majority?
As for the sex offenders in schools story, as much as I loathe Ruth Kelly, this wasn't the issue to bring her down on (there are so many more!). The new regulations are more straightforward, but I think an unforeseeen consequence will be fewer on the register. To explain - at the moment, cases which have a poor chance of making court result in cautions. Police will now be obliged to inform those accused that a caution will see them lose their job. So, no advantage in accepting a caution. The cases will be no stronger and will probably never make court. As ever the sleaziest tabloids are in the forefront of the campaign. Oh, the irony.....
Mark Oaten, LibDem MP and erstwhile leadership contender, has had a 'moment of madness'that just happened to last six months, with a male prostitute. I hope he manages to sort himself out - but my thoughts were immediately just how many more gay people there are than will openly say so. Look at any police stats for public sex - you get married men. I wonder exactly why these men find the need to pretend to be something they are not? What is the drive which leads them to live a double life - is it the fear of having to standup and be other than the majority?
As for the sex offenders in schools story, as much as I loathe Ruth Kelly, this wasn't the issue to bring her down on (there are so many more!). The new regulations are more straightforward, but I think an unforeseeen consequence will be fewer on the register. To explain - at the moment, cases which have a poor chance of making court result in cautions. Police will now be obliged to inform those accused that a caution will see them lose their job. So, no advantage in accepting a caution. The cases will be no stronger and will probably never make court. As ever the sleaziest tabloids are in the forefront of the campaign. Oh, the irony.....
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Satanic panic - is this nonsense still going on?
The documentary about the so-called Satanic child abuse cases in Rochdale was finally shown last night.
Makes me wonder what the hell was going on at Lancaster University where I studied in the 1980's. One of the social workers involved has the same name as a fellow student on the course. She was quite level headed then, so I can hardly believe it could be her - although another Lancaster graduate has produced an academic study which shows that she has been entirely conned by a group of fantasists who claim to have been 'satanically abused'.
Frankly, anyone who believes in Satan, devils, etc should not be allowed to work with people. let them stick to something less dangerous, like working in a bank. Then they can practice their paraniod fantasies on money and computers instead. No doubt they will see little devils perching on the top of the screen
Makes me wonder what the hell was going on at Lancaster University where I studied in the 1980's. One of the social workers involved has the same name as a fellow student on the course. She was quite level headed then, so I can hardly believe it could be her - although another Lancaster graduate has produced an academic study which shows that she has been entirely conned by a group of fantasists who claim to have been 'satanically abused'.
Frankly, anyone who believes in Satan, devils, etc should not be allowed to work with people. let them stick to something less dangerous, like working in a bank. Then they can practice their paraniod fantasies on money and computers instead. No doubt they will see little devils perching on the top of the screen
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Weekend away
Spent the weekend in Cardiff, with friends Chris and Holger ( hello, if you are reading this!) We really enjoyed the weekend, thinking that Cardiff is somewhere we could live, although its actually a bit like Liverpool in some ways. Dropped in on Sue and Chris from my Uni days on the way back for lunch - now going to collapse!
Slightly delayed, but welcome to 2006
Its my first entry for the year.
So...Christmas was pleasant enough, quiet and relaxing in the main, which was very much what I wanted. We wound down and relaxed, mostly, did see a few friends which was good, but generally it was time for us which we appreciated. I left my marking too late and still have some more to do tomorrow (yikes!)
Charles Kennedy and the LD's. What a bunch of bastards they are. The problem is that contemporary politics is all about the convergence of automatons. They will no doubt replace CK with the exceptionally dull and worthy 'Sir' Menzies Campbell (anyone pathetic enough to accept such a title in this day and age - well...) and there will be three centrist leaders saying much the same thing. And under those circumstance, I'll probably stick with the one I know.
For what its worth, at least Simon Hughes doesn't appear to have either been part of the 'coup', nor a fixation on the wonder of the market. So he would be my choice. I certainly wouldn't want to vote for a party led by Campbell. I always remember a Huddersfield councillor , in my LibDem days, referring to him as the leader of the fascist wing of the party - he always had him down as a Tory at heart.
And sad to hear of the death of Tony banks. You simply can't imagine the same sort of affection being shown for the colourless maching politicians who seem to receive preferment these days.
So...Christmas was pleasant enough, quiet and relaxing in the main, which was very much what I wanted. We wound down and relaxed, mostly, did see a few friends which was good, but generally it was time for us which we appreciated. I left my marking too late and still have some more to do tomorrow (yikes!)
Charles Kennedy and the LD's. What a bunch of bastards they are. The problem is that contemporary politics is all about the convergence of automatons. They will no doubt replace CK with the exceptionally dull and worthy 'Sir' Menzies Campbell (anyone pathetic enough to accept such a title in this day and age - well...) and there will be three centrist leaders saying much the same thing. And under those circumstance, I'll probably stick with the one I know.
For what its worth, at least Simon Hughes doesn't appear to have either been part of the 'coup', nor a fixation on the wonder of the market. So he would be my choice. I certainly wouldn't want to vote for a party led by Campbell. I always remember a Huddersfield councillor , in my LibDem days, referring to him as the leader of the fascist wing of the party - he always had him down as a Tory at heart.
And sad to hear of the death of Tony banks. You simply can't imagine the same sort of affection being shown for the colourless maching politicians who seem to receive preferment these days.
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