A poem from labi Siffre

A Civil Partnership Indeed

It is the right in law to be present at
my lover’s funeral or he at mine. it is
the right in law to be his next of kin
in hospital without having to insist
and persist in face of their disdain

it is the right to equality before the
law, recognising that our “loving
relationship” (our love) is to the benefit
of all and should be validated as such
- yes, in property, intestacy and tax
law; thank you very much

but we already have the romance
the passion, the deepest love the
celebration of something stronger than
the state's, till now, lawfully ill-concealed
contempt or hate

so this date will simply be him and me
turning up to collect what has been,
for forty one years, our rights withheld
by the vast majority now claiming
“it never bothered me, mate” and
worse expecting us to be gleeful
(perhaps a little grateful?) 'cause at last
they’ve shown some ethical backbone

brings to mind some lines i wrote for
Nelson Mandela in "The Gift":
You cannot give me freedom
I have always been free
Freedom lives in me

so forgive moi (or not as you please)
for not going soft at the edges shaky at
the knees or rosy red in the spectacles
to put you at your, comfortable,
complacent, makes me want to vomit,
ease.

Yopu can find this on his poetry blog, http://www.intothelight.info

Pigs can fly.....

The earth is flat
And nuclear power is safe....

When Skies are grey....

And after the last two performances, grey is certainly the word.

West Ham was bad enough - an own goal and a home defeat - but this afternoon was pitiful. No leadership, hoofing balls up the field for no-one to receive them, trying to play James Beattie as a single striker without support does NOT work - it was simply dire.
As for Richard Wright - I wonder if anyone has worked out how many goals he doesn't save, on average?

Things have got to change. I reckon at least half of the ground emptied we4ll before the end of the match.

dot.eurovision.com....BOTY contest!

As a Eurovision anorak, I spend some of my time on ESC websites talking to 0ther enthusiasts about the contest.

This time of the year is the fallow period whilst we wait for countries to choose their songs, so one site - dot-eurovision - organised a contest between Christmas and winter-related songs - the backside of the Year contest.

I entered the wonderful Fairytale of New York, the best Christmas song ever, by Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues - and won!

Opus Dei

Anyone listen to the R4 documentary about this bizarre cult, founded by a supporter of General Franco? Who Vaticanplc decided to canonise ( you couldn't make it up, could you?)

It is , I hope, a mark of the good sense of the British that there are only 500 members - and also an encouragement to see the Socialist government in Spain (where they have significant influence upon the Popular (right-wing) Party) ignore them.

However, it is most disturbing that Ruth Kelly, a member of this organisation, appears to find this congruent with her membership of the Labour party, and that she should be considered an appropriate person for the Cabinet. Would we think a member of the Moonies was a fit person to serve in cabinet? This group are far more sinister - it is clearly a secretive cult. It should be treated in that way, and its members should be regarded with the utmost caution..

Kelly should be deselected immediately as a Labour MP ; it is vital that the electors of Bolton West, if they are saddled with this neo-fascist sympathiser as their candidate next time around, vote for the candidate best placed to defeat her.

Cameron and the Conservatives

I am not a Tory.

I have never voted Tory, ever, and I cannot foresee any time in the future when I would choose to do so, even though on one level it might benefit us financially.

Still , Cameron appears to be a reasonable man, and at least he wants - so he says - to take the Tories well away from the neanderthal tendencies of the past...

We shall see.

Civil Partnerships

So, civil partnerships are here at last. When I think of the progress which has been made over the past few years, it really is excellent and not what i would have predicted, if I am honest. I am quite sure that colloquially, the relationships will be referred to as marriage ( which of course, they are), and that in time this is how they will be defined. Still, the important things are the benefits, the rights and responsibilities which they bring, and it is good to know that at least we are to be seen as holding an official status. That is very important.

Its also fun to watch the religious right fulminate and squirm. Their religion is a relic and a laager for the terminally fearful and prejudiced, and their impact, thankfully, is marginal in the UK. It is up to the rest of the Church to ditch them and to step out with a religious message worth believing in, shorn of many of the outdated superstitions that Bible -worship and adherence to supernaturalist improbability brings.

If they don;t , then we will become an entirely secular society, which would be preferable to the church as it exists now expanding.

www.soulspace.org.uk

Please join!

The Roman Catholic 'Church ' - an institution of pure evil

Now, this is not going to be a statement which suggests that all individual RC's are equally characterised.I know many, and they despair of a church to which, at least for the time being, they remain attached to. Whether the malevolent and evil influence of Ratfinger (a man who is the sort of person to make one which there really was a hell, for he would surely be burning at the very heart of it) will make them realise that as an institution, it is beyond redemption, is another matter.

I don't know if any of you have visited Vatican plc. A place of less spirituality cannot be imagined. The effect was to make me want to vomit, preferably over the many pieces of art and finery, the marks of self aggrandisement so beloved of this institution. Perhaps the blood of the millions of people who the Catholic Church have sent to almost certain death in Africa because of their mistaken policy of 'no condoms'.

So, I can see no good reason why any rational, thinking person would wish to remain in the Roman 'church'. The news that they are to try and weed out gay men from the priesthood is to be expected, but whilst I am opposed to all discriminatory practice, it should be patently obvious that no well-balanced gay man should or would choose to become part of such an organisation - and that most of those who do are either not well sorted with regard to their sexuality, or alternately still hold to delusions such as people being 'called to be priests' ( in the real world, its a job like any other, and why someone should choose a job which means no relationships, ever, probably needs some sort of risible superspiritual justification!)

The RC Church is a sick, corrupt and putrid institution which fully and richly deserves the loss of congregations it is experiencing in contemporary societies. Perhaps it can still con those who rely on its premodern suppositions. Thankfully, those numbers, in the UK, are constantly decreasing

Interesting times indeed.....

So, 90 day incarceration or internment without trial has been defeated. Should think so too - although it is genuinely tragic to see the Labour party, to which I was once proud to belong, voting for policies which would have disgraced the Tories under Thatcher. Blair really must go - and go soon.

On more positive lines, the Government have agreed to extend the provisions on protectiom against discrimination with regard to goods and services to gay men and lesbians. Well done, Tone. See. you can get it right some of the time....

Homotopia had brought forth some very good events. Two excellent fils - Bear Cub, contemporary Spanish cinema which was greatly effective, and a documentary on gay Nazis. Yes, you did read that right. I wonder what causes people to join that which is endemically hostile to them? Mind you, perhaps I should ask myself that question, given my contining membership of the Church. It is looking more and more as if there will be a split - I am counting the days. There is no reason why conservative evangelicals and liberals should inhabit the same denominational space, given how little we genuinely share. I spoke at a Deanery Synod earlier this week and it was interesting to hear people's reactions - I think the laity are far more wise than many would realise ( and their undemocratically fixed reps on General Synod, who virtually no-one has the right to vote for, would suggest)

Last weekend we also went to see The Laramie Project. A very powerful production dramatising the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. And featuring the stunningly handsome Warren Brown of Hollyoaks fame as well!

Moron Moments?

Your views on fighting terrorism

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has asked you for your views on the new terrorist threats that face all of us. Please fill in this quick form below to tell us what you think.

Do you think that our laws should be updated to cope with the current security threat?

Yes No Not sure

Do you think police should have the time and opportunity to complete their investigations into suspected terrorists?

Yes No Not sure

Do you think the government should make sure there are new safeguards to protect innocent people?

Yes No Not sure

Would you like to be kept up-to-date on the progress of this legislation and other issues?

Yes No ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever read such biased, unpatronising crap in your life? Who the hell is going to answer 'no' to some of these questions? This wouldn't fulfil the most basic methodology critique. And I actually voted for these bastards again? Pathetic.

Tory leadership contenders

OK, so I'm not the target audience, I am about as likely to vote Tory as swallow sulphuric acid or become a conservative evangelical. But I was surprised at just how lacklustre both Davis and Cameron were tonight. Nothing much there to excite.
Why didn't the Tories go for Clarke, who does have the ability to make an impact?

Blunkett and other stuff

So, Blunkett has gone. he has never been one of my favourite politicians, and I'm not sad to see him go on that level.

But....surely the problem is not so much what he did, which was not really against the rules in any case, but against 'guidelines', but the fact that MP's are viewed as able to make money from other sources at all. Isn't running the country a full-time job?

Move parliament out of london, ban MP's from holding any money-making positions, and lets see how many of the sharp-suited brigade disappear...

Things appear to be changing. A few Labour MP's are starting to get some teeth at last and perhaps this will encourage the departure of Blair, who I think is past his sell-by, and a return to policies which are associated with a social democratic party. The obsession with the private sector and the over-reaction to terrorism are two examples.

The thesis is now being looked at by a publisher - watch this space....

Noticed that a favourite restaurant of ours had recently shut - Bluu. Liverpool is a strange city. Some places take off, others just don't, and quality seems to have nothing much to do with it.

Venice

Rather belated, but we had a long weekend in Venice. Its an excellent city, and our visit coincided with the Bienniale exhibition of contemporary art. Our hotel turned out to be about three minutes walk from both sites, so we spent one of the days looking round that and it was well worth it.

Food was very good - Corta Sconta and Il Nuevo Galeon proved to be excellent fish restaurants, and Vittorio's Trattoria was an experience! Rather disappointed with Alle Testiere, though.

The city has some amazing buildings, even the most humble parish church seems to be decorated with Grand masters, and because there are no cars its a quiet and civilised pace of life. Though the insect bites were not fun - comes of having a room so close to a canal that I could probably have reached out and touched the water!

Life continues to be busy and eventful...

First, we think we have found another church to attend, St.Columba's in Anfield. A bit further from home, but the atmosphere and worship are both good and I like the feel of the church. I'm a bit reluctant to plunge in at the deep end after recent experiences, but its good to go somewhere where people don't sidle up to you to enquire which 'side' you are on, or constantly whinge about the Vicar.

I have been asked to attend a meeting to start preliminary discussions about publishing my PhD. I already have a contract offered, but its not ideal ( though I will opt for it if theres nothing else in the pipeline) and this option would be better.

I went for an interview for a training contract at the end of last week - again, no counting chickens but it did seem to go well and it would be very much what I am looking for to add to the lecturing commitments. I like the flexibility of the part time contracts, and the interest and variety of the work.

Politics. I wonder if the Tories are about to enter the real world and select David Cameron? I think he has behaved with dignity and consistency over the drugs issue- I couldn't care less what his personal habits are, only interested in his policies. And , it has to be said, he's still a Tory, and I can't really see me ever voting for the Tories.

But, I wouldn't fear a Cameron government, and his clarity that he intends to govern according to the place we are now, not the place we were 50 years ago is encouraging, along with his good voting record on gay rights issues.

This is the Tories we are talking about, though, and I wouldn;t put it past them to elect Fox!

Looking forward to HOMOTOPIA - the LGB arts festivel in Liverpool. I haven't had a lot of input into it this year but intend to be an enthusiastic punter.
Details on http://www.homotopia.net

Everton FC....

I have not mentioned the pight of my beloved team this year - simply too depressing. But, it has to be done....

If I knew the answer, then i'd be the manager, not David Moyes. But it seems that there are three main problems

• lack of striker - or at least, effective striker who can play 4.5.1. James Beattie doesn't play in that style, and has suffered a series of niggling injuries. Marcus Bent is fast but lacks accuracy. Duncan ferguson can be brilliant, but he can just as equally be dreadful. James McFadden doesn't appear to be particularly effective as a striker for Everton, although he scores regularly for Scotland. We are not scoring goals, and that is simply why we are losing.
• small squad - with the recovery of Kroldrup and van der Meyde this may improve but we are still scratching around for player - related to this, a couple of the players look out of form (Kilbane) or simply exhausted (Cahill).
  
• we haven't ever really got over the loss of Tommy Gravesen

Its not that they have been diabolically bad, just uninspiring and overly cautious, and thats not the way to win games.

Publication

What should I do?

Still pursuing two possibilities for publishing, but I'm not overly hopeful. Attemting to get a monograph published these days which isn't about something global, meaning the possibility of US sales, appears a virtual impossibility.

I have been offered a contract from a small, specialist publisher, but I will have to make a contribution.

I think I can do some specified publicity so am tempted to take the chance, as a publication is something which I feel to be important.

At last....

More blogging - and its always like this at the beginning of the new term. Teaching is settling down quite nicely, with a fair bit of extra hours at the main place I work, a further two hours elsewhere, and the possibility of further training and research work. All takes time to come together, but things appear to be falling into place for the time being.

So...some views.

The Tory leadership. If they choose Davis, I think they really must have a death wish. Duncan Smith mk 2, and the newly found inclusivity claims do not convince. Cameron appears to be a chance worth taking, and Blair himself had little real experience other than being an opposition spokesperson when he became Labour leader.
I don't think that any leader would really convince me to vote Tory, but Cameron would at least mean I would sleep soundly if we did end up with the Tories back in power. And other than Fox, who would be a surefire disaster, even more than Davis, electorally speaking, the homophobia of previous years appears to be absent.

We have started going to another church. Still not absolutely sure its the place for us, but at least it feels as if it could be....

Spain

We spent ten days in the South of Spain - traveling round Andalusia. We stayed in Granada, Seville and Cordoba, and whilost I was expecting to like Seville most, I thought it was a bit disappointing. The best example being the contemporary art museum which had exactly 24 exhibits , and the permanent collection had disappeared entirely.

Highlights...
The Mezquita/Cathedral in Cordoba. Its an intriguing building. Essentially a mosque with a cathedral core built in the middle of it, and lots of statues of the Virgin Mary. Well worth seeing

Carmona. We went here on the way to Seville, and the little town was reaching the end of its festival. Its a charming place, full of winding streets, old churches, with a village square where lots of people sit in the afternoon

Baena. Centre of Andalusian olive-oil poduction - the very best to be found, and we bought two
bottles. Its heavenly stuff - far too good for cooking, definitely salads and bread only.

Wine! In particular sherry - we went out to Sanlucar, one of the three towns in the Sherry triangle, where they produce largely manzanilla, my favourite dry sherry.

Julio Romero de Torres. I don't know if any of you have heard of this Cordoban painter and his somewhat unique style. Half naked swarthy Spanish women in seductive poses, furtive looking male guitar players, images of death - all quite bizarre. definitely worth seeing!

Lecturing begins next week - a fair bit on this week....

Memo to self...I must not forget to write my blog...

Publishers. Hmmmm. At one time, if you did a piece of research,a substantial piece, there was a fair chance that a publication deal would be a possibility. There was no expectation that huge sales would occur, but it meant that there was a solid range of academic research being published in full book form, rather than via the bite-sized option of articles in journals no-one reads...

Having been trying to find someone to publish my thesis, the responses have been interesting. A significant number of publishers simply said 'we only want to publish textbooks'. What will be the outcome of that sort of policy - that there will be no substantive work for the textbooks to include as references? Others want material which has potential for international sales. Read 'America'. So, if you're research is not American, or isn't general enough to be able to be marketed in America, forget it (it should be noted that monographs are still published in America, and when I was looking for relevant previous studies, I could find plenty of American ones, but precious few about the UK. Not very useful in an ethnographic study...)

Anyway, I shall plod on. I'm not the only one in this situation, as I found at a conference I attended this week...anyone reading this who works in publishing, you know where I am

Everton lost to Portsmouth yesterday. Yes, Portsmouth. We were embarrassingly rubbish.

I'll need to do a memory-check and return to this later...