In America yet another gay teenager has been murdered because of his sexuality. A teenage shot Lawrence King after he had asked him to be his Valentine.
At the same time in the UK, the Daily Mail (who else) are outraged about a foster couple who are not allowed to look after a child because of their homophobic beliefs. The couple said:
"I couldn't do that because my Christian beliefs won't let me. Morally I couldn't do that, spiritually I couldn'tdo that. I cannot understand why sexuality is an issue when we are talking about boys and girls under the age of ten."
So many issues here. Firstly, ardent Christians forcing their opinions on young vulnerable children. But more importantly, intolerance of sexuality is what breeds hate. Telling a child that you do not condone homosexuality perpetuates prejudice and leads to the idea that being gay is wrong. That then leads to murder and abuse of gay people. It is an obvious and logial end point. Sadly we can't control who can have children naturally. There are many homophobic, bigoted and racist people who because they are fertile can breed their own mini bigots. But where you have vulnerable foster children, it is our duty as a society to ensure that they are not placed with families who will fill their heads with prejudice and intolerance.
The irony is that the couple are black. Imagine if they were white and saying that they "didn't condone black people".
This is an issue that I am passionate about.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Snoring....
Snoring Boring News...
1) Prince Harry. 11 pages in the paper today - leave him alone! Trust some pathetic American website to reveal it
2) The earthquake. A few plates fell of a shelf and a tile came off somebody's roof. Who gives a shit?
3) Today women can propose to men. Get over yourself. Alex never officially proposed to me, we just decided to get married. It's not less romantic, I just hate all that men being the ones who are supposed to propose crap.
1) Prince Harry. 11 pages in the paper today - leave him alone! Trust some pathetic American website to reveal it
2) The earthquake. A few plates fell of a shelf and a tile came off somebody's roof. Who gives a shit?
3) Today women can propose to men. Get over yourself. Alex never officially proposed to me, we just decided to get married. It's not less romantic, I just hate all that men being the ones who are supposed to propose crap.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Sun says
I used to love watching the Oscars. Sadly it's only on Sky One now and so I couldn't.
What I find odd is that way that the news over here goes on about how many British winners there are. I couldn't give a damn, for me it's about films that I've enjoyed. As "we" didn't do that well this year, the news starts talking about "European success". I don't get it.
I also don't get the new poll in the Sun. 99% of their readers want the death penalty returned. Well that's it then. If the Sun readers want it, then hang 'em high I say?!
What I find odd is that way that the news over here goes on about how many British winners there are. I couldn't give a damn, for me it's about films that I've enjoyed. As "we" didn't do that well this year, the news starts talking about "European success". I don't get it.
I also don't get the new poll in the Sun. 99% of their readers want the death penalty returned. Well that's it then. If the Sun readers want it, then hang 'em high I say?!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Muffins and moans
I see poor Paul Gascoigne has been sectioned. I say "poor" because it's always sad when that happens to someone. But it's even worse when Richard Madeley promised to go and visit him. As if the poor guy didn't have enough problems!
I am baking muffins in the kitchen. Walnut ones and blueberry ones. I find baking very cathartic and a nice way to reward a semi-productive work day. I'm working to a tight timetable and having met my deadline today I am relaxing. Unfortunately I have a stinking cold and it's hung on all week. This winter I seem to have gone from one ailment to another! I guess the germs know that I'm run down.
Alex has been promoted and is working his usual long hours. I guess he'll never change, it's just that I have to put up with sitting alone and waiting. That's okay while I'm at home (just) but when I'm working further afield I won't appreciate coming home late and having to cook dinner.
I am baking muffins in the kitchen. Walnut ones and blueberry ones. I find baking very cathartic and a nice way to reward a semi-productive work day. I'm working to a tight timetable and having met my deadline today I am relaxing. Unfortunately I have a stinking cold and it's hung on all week. This winter I seem to have gone from one ailment to another! I guess the germs know that I'm run down.
Alex has been promoted and is working his usual long hours. I guess he'll never change, it's just that I have to put up with sitting alone and waiting. That's okay while I'm at home (just) but when I'm working further afield I won't appreciate coming home late and having to cook dinner.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
What an arse
Richard Madeley is such an arse. I try to avoid R & J on channel 4 because his ego has grown to the size of a large planet. Probably Uranus.
I watched it yesterday and he had this item about a Russian woman who has written a book about Britain. It's tongue in cheek and talks about British men scratching their bums in public and drunken teenagers throwing up in town centres. He obviously invited her on there to deliberately have a go at her and it was sad and pathetic. Just like him. Poor Judy, who rarely gets a chance to shine without him telling some crappy story about himself and his fascinating life. He talks over her and at times is downright rude.
I saw the preview for tonight's show and it's another one to avoid. Ricky Gervais - his favourite person ever - is on there for mutual ego worship and fawning. And their talentless daughter. Pur- lease
I watched it yesterday and he had this item about a Russian woman who has written a book about Britain. It's tongue in cheek and talks about British men scratching their bums in public and drunken teenagers throwing up in town centres. He obviously invited her on there to deliberately have a go at her and it was sad and pathetic. Just like him. Poor Judy, who rarely gets a chance to shine without him telling some crappy story about himself and his fascinating life. He talks over her and at times is downright rude.
I saw the preview for tonight's show and it's another one to avoid. Ricky Gervais - his favourite person ever - is on there for mutual ego worship and fawning. And their talentless daughter. Pur- lease
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
These are Alex's - what an angry man!
| Greed: | High | |
| Gluttony: | Low | |
| Wrath: | High | |
| Sloth: | Low | |
| Envy: | Low | |
| Lust: | Low | |
| Pride: | Low |
Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz
Thanks Gina...
| Greed: | Medium | |
| Gluttony: | Medium | |
| Wrath: | Medium | |
| Sloth: | Medium | |
| Envy: | Very Low | |
| Lust: | Low | |
| Pride: | Low |
Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The deal breaker
After reading Gina's blog about Posh and Becks renewing their wedding vows, it got me thinking about forgiveness. Becks committed adultery - he has never sued the papers about Rebecca Loos, which is very telling from such a litigious couple (who sued about much more trivial inaccuracies). It also appears that Ashley Cole has cheated on his wife Cheryl. Both wives appear to have forgiven their husbands, or at the least carried on with the marriage. It made me think - what acts in a marriage are so bad that take it passed the point of no return?
Many marriages are terrible, with spouses abusing each other and being inconsiderate and hurtful. Yet we still see infidelity as THE worst thing in a marriage. For most people, it's the deal breaker. Yet many will put up with years of cruelty and neglect rather than divorce.
For me though, it's about a circle of trust. The bond you have with your husband or wife is a unique one. Alex and I share everything and we often refer to ourselves as a "team". For that bond to be broken would be horrific. But in truth, if I found out Alex had cheated I wouldn't dump him. That takes a lot to admit and goes against my feminist principles. It wouldn't just erase my love for him. The marriage would still end though because I would be untrusting and would be constantly making him pay for it. I hope that if temptation comes our way we are adult enough to talk it over, rather than just leap into the arms of another. Having said all that, I genuinely can't envisage it ever happening. I'm a lucky girl and I know it!
Many marriages are terrible, with spouses abusing each other and being inconsiderate and hurtful. Yet we still see infidelity as THE worst thing in a marriage. For most people, it's the deal breaker. Yet many will put up with years of cruelty and neglect rather than divorce.
For me though, it's about a circle of trust. The bond you have with your husband or wife is a unique one. Alex and I share everything and we often refer to ourselves as a "team". For that bond to be broken would be horrific. But in truth, if I found out Alex had cheated I wouldn't dump him. That takes a lot to admit and goes against my feminist principles. It wouldn't just erase my love for him. The marriage would still end though because I would be untrusting and would be constantly making him pay for it. I hope that if temptation comes our way we are adult enough to talk it over, rather than just leap into the arms of another. Having said all that, I genuinely can't envisage it ever happening. I'm a lucky girl and I know it!
Creature of habit
I have a weekend morning ritual.
Alex works on Sat and Sun, so I normally wake up at 7 and get up at 8. I shower, have breakfast and watch TV whilst doing my make up. I then go and get the morning papers at about 9.30. I get the Mail and the Guardian/Observer - I like my ying and yang. I come back and peruse the papers (horoscopes first) whilst having a coffee.
Then at 11 I settle down to work on my laptop. I do this while listening to "Life" on DAB. I wait for Alex to return.
Now I'm sure you found that REALLY interesting didn't you!? I am more of a creature of habit than I like to think!
Alex works on Sat and Sun, so I normally wake up at 7 and get up at 8. I shower, have breakfast and watch TV whilst doing my make up. I then go and get the morning papers at about 9.30. I get the Mail and the Guardian/Observer - I like my ying and yang. I come back and peruse the papers (horoscopes first) whilst having a coffee.
Then at 11 I settle down to work on my laptop. I do this while listening to "Life" on DAB. I wait for Alex to return.
Now I'm sure you found that REALLY interesting didn't you!? I am more of a creature of habit than I like to think!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
New with me
What's new with me?
1)I am most distraught that I didn't get a jar of the new champagne marmite for Valentine's Day. Very disappointing!
2)I just hit my head on the corner of a kitchen cabinet. "hit" isn't the right word - I bloody whacked it and now have another bump on my head!
3) The PhD continues to cause me anxiety and distress. I want to get out of it but can't. I have been informed that only 3% of the population have a PhD. Trouble is, I should be in the other 97
4) Alex and I are trying to cut down on the cakes. We have developed a habit of munching on sweet things recently!
5) I am writing this to avoid work
6) I am concerned that Alex's work colleagues want to meet me. I am sure that I'll disappoint them - they must think I'm a horrible cow as Alex seems to spend so much time at work, away from me!
7) I am 29 this year and despite previous blogs to the contrary, I find that a scary age. Is it weird to fear getting nearer to 30? I guess I thought I'd have a proper career by now.
8) Going to the cinema tonight. As we are old fogeys we go to the 6pm showing. Who can stay awake after 10pm?!
9) I have been reading about Republican candidate Mick Huckabee and feel glad to be living in britain. He is "protects the right to life" - but only for unborn foetuses. Raped women who are unfortunate enough to get pregnant can get stuffed as far as he's concerned. He wants to teach creationism as science and to ban same-sex relationships. He says his religion makes him "more humble and less judgmental". You could have fooled me! A candidate like him in the UK would be mocked - and rightly so.
1)I am most distraught that I didn't get a jar of the new champagne marmite for Valentine's Day. Very disappointing!
2)I just hit my head on the corner of a kitchen cabinet. "hit" isn't the right word - I bloody whacked it and now have another bump on my head!
3) The PhD continues to cause me anxiety and distress. I want to get out of it but can't. I have been informed that only 3% of the population have a PhD. Trouble is, I should be in the other 97
4) Alex and I are trying to cut down on the cakes. We have developed a habit of munching on sweet things recently!
5) I am writing this to avoid work
6) I am concerned that Alex's work colleagues want to meet me. I am sure that I'll disappoint them - they must think I'm a horrible cow as Alex seems to spend so much time at work, away from me!
7) I am 29 this year and despite previous blogs to the contrary, I find that a scary age. Is it weird to fear getting nearer to 30? I guess I thought I'd have a proper career by now.
8) Going to the cinema tonight. As we are old fogeys we go to the 6pm showing. Who can stay awake after 10pm?!
9) I have been reading about Republican candidate Mick Huckabee and feel glad to be living in britain. He is "protects the right to life" - but only for unborn foetuses. Raped women who are unfortunate enough to get pregnant can get stuffed as far as he's concerned. He wants to teach creationism as science and to ban same-sex relationships. He says his religion makes him "more humble and less judgmental". You could have fooled me! A candidate like him in the UK would be mocked - and rightly so.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Age
I always laugh when celebrities lie about their age. Take Caprice. She claims to be 36, but is quite clearly older - she's been that age for about 5 years! If I was famous I'd rather pretend to be older, then people would say "Wow, she looks great for 40!". When you subtract years, people just think "who is she trying to kid?" I guess that the problem is that we live in an age obsessed culture where women have to pretend to be younger to get ahead.
People often think I'm younger than I am. That's not boasting, I'm only 28 and think that's young enough. But when I was buying Alex's birthday card the shop assistant said "you look too young to be married!" When I look at our wedding certificate and see that I was only 24 when we did get married I think it seems so young.
People often think I'm younger than I am. That's not boasting, I'm only 28 and think that's young enough. But when I was buying Alex's birthday card the shop assistant said "you look too young to be married!" When I look at our wedding certificate and see that I was only 24 when we did get married I think it seems so young.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
My Valentine
It's Valentines day this week. While I hate the commercialism of it all, I always get Alex a card and present. We always have done so and it would be weird to break with tradition.
Our first Valentine together was in 1998. Ten years is a long time, but I still remember exactly what we did and where we went. Alex got me a huge card and wrote in it the wrong way - I thought he'd gone mad. When I read the message he had written "you have turned my world upside down". It's true and I wouldn't want the world the right way up if Alex wasn't in it! He also got me a massive tub of marmite, with a red bow on it and a red devil teddy in a leopard print bag. OTT, bright, colourful and original - his present summed him up perfectly. He took me to the Gold Coast restaurant on the seafront and we had an expensive dinner.
10 years later, I still adore him. How lucky am I!?
Our first Valentine together was in 1998. Ten years is a long time, but I still remember exactly what we did and where we went. Alex got me a huge card and wrote in it the wrong way - I thought he'd gone mad. When I read the message he had written "you have turned my world upside down". It's true and I wouldn't want the world the right way up if Alex wasn't in it! He also got me a massive tub of marmite, with a red bow on it and a red devil teddy in a leopard print bag. OTT, bright, colourful and original - his present summed him up perfectly. He took me to the Gold Coast restaurant on the seafront and we had an expensive dinner.
10 years later, I still adore him. How lucky am I!?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Go Hillary!
I have been watching some of the coverage of the American primary elections. It seems such a shame that the Democrats have 2 excellent candidates.
If I had to choose, it would be for Hillary. I thought about this the other day because I have noted the sexist attitude that she has faced. Commentators have talked about her being "pushy" (for that they mean, ambitious - God help any woman who is ambitious) and they suggest that she is riding on the coat tails of her husband. That's why she stood by him - for her career! It's amazing to think that in the year 2008, that women are still judged for their relationships and that she couldn't possibly have got there for her - shock horror- abilities. It wasn't Bill who used HER knowledge and skill to help his career. The fact that she stood by him after Lewinsky is seen as weakness rather than strength. When she was seen crying in a talk at a restaurant people said she was "playing the gender card"!
With Obama, no one would dare accuse him of character traits based on his race. They wouldn't say "he messed up there, must be cos he's black". So while I think he is an excellent candidate I'm afraid that Hillary is my choice. In the year 2008 it's a shame the world is still so divided and that women still occupy an inferior position.
If I had to choose, it would be for Hillary. I thought about this the other day because I have noted the sexist attitude that she has faced. Commentators have talked about her being "pushy" (for that they mean, ambitious - God help any woman who is ambitious) and they suggest that she is riding on the coat tails of her husband. That's why she stood by him - for her career! It's amazing to think that in the year 2008, that women are still judged for their relationships and that she couldn't possibly have got there for her - shock horror- abilities. It wasn't Bill who used HER knowledge and skill to help his career. The fact that she stood by him after Lewinsky is seen as weakness rather than strength. When she was seen crying in a talk at a restaurant people said she was "playing the gender card"!
With Obama, no one would dare accuse him of character traits based on his race. They wouldn't say "he messed up there, must be cos he's black". So while I think he is an excellent candidate I'm afraid that Hillary is my choice. In the year 2008 it's a shame the world is still so divided and that women still occupy an inferior position.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Apologies
At the moment I am being a snappy, moody cow. (no change there then!) I am taking out my frustrations on alex bless him. I moan about the mess in the flat, even though it's mostly mine. I whinge at him when he's sitting quietly and then when he talks too loudly. In short I am a nasty, miserable old toad.
The problem is that I'm not great at dealing with pressure. Well that's not quite true, I can deal with deadlines and stress but I can't deal with the insurmountable amount of work facing me. I am just not up to the job. Sometimes in life we have to learn that we just aren't good at certain things and should draw the positives from that. I am NOT an academic. I am a pretty decent researcher and can write a half good article, but I am just not intellectual enough to produce the goods. So what do I do now? All I can do is carry on the ground hog day that is my life. (Wake up, have tea, shower, type, read, type, read, type read...) One day this will be over and nothing in life will be the same again.Thank God!
Talking of God, the bloody Jehovah's witnesses have upped their game. Obviously sensing my acute depression and perilous state of mind they are now knocking on the door twice a week. Next time I'll answer and tell them to bugger off. They'll probably then start knocking three times!
The problem is that I'm not great at dealing with pressure. Well that's not quite true, I can deal with deadlines and stress but I can't deal with the insurmountable amount of work facing me. I am just not up to the job. Sometimes in life we have to learn that we just aren't good at certain things and should draw the positives from that. I am NOT an academic. I am a pretty decent researcher and can write a half good article, but I am just not intellectual enough to produce the goods. So what do I do now? All I can do is carry on the ground hog day that is my life. (Wake up, have tea, shower, type, read, type, read, type read...) One day this will be over and nothing in life will be the same again.Thank God!
Talking of God, the bloody Jehovah's witnesses have upped their game. Obviously sensing my acute depression and perilous state of mind they are now knocking on the door twice a week. Next time I'll answer and tell them to bugger off. They'll probably then start knocking three times!
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