Christmas. A time for "Peace and Goodwill" to all men. A time for reconciliation. A time for understanding. A time of tidings of great joy, for all the people. Well, so you may think; but the highest ranked Catholic clergyman in England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols (pictured above) used his Christmas Homily at last night's Midnight Mass to launch another broadside at the Government and at Equal Marriage. Furthermore, he attacked those who wish to enter into a marriage which isn't "creative of new human life." I've generally kept out of the religious aspects of this debate: my own ...
Well, I really enjoyed that. The Old Who fans like me will have been delighted by an origin story for, of all Old Who baddies, the Great Intelligence, in such a way that it All Makes Sense (apart from Downtime, of course). And Moffat is on form, killing off poor Jenna-Louise Coleman again, and then giving the Doctor the quest of finding out who she really is - a neat contrast to the question "Doctor Who?" which of course we know we will never get fully answered. Though I don't think it is nice to mock anyone for their appearance, ...
I was paying for some petrol last week ago and had a brief conversation with the person taking my money. She could not believe that Americans had gun laws that were partly to blame for the killings that took place in Connecticut. I agreed but mentioned that guns had their supporters and Michael Moore met up with Charlton Heston who was president of the NRA when he made his film Bowling for Columbine. He didn't get anywhere with Charlton and she had to be careful because gun owners in this country may not be in total agreement with her. Yesterday ...
Merry Christmas! I was not able to go home this wintertide for visa related issues, so I am in Auburn, Alabama with roomie Ana and his amazing family, where I have unwrapped some wonderful presents, some of which my Dad bought online and sent to my apartment so poor Ana had to hide and wrap them himself. It was mostly knitting equipment of the kind that makes non knitters look at me and ask what the heck I'm going to do with these apparent instruments of torture. That is clearly a WHOLE OTHER POST coming. But in terms of showing ...
Merry Christmas to everyone. However, on this day of celebration, I think it's worth remembering some facts about the nation and the society we live in so that, perhaps, in 2013 some more people might try and make things better. In modern day Great Britain: 4 million live in food poverty1 in 4 children live in povertyThe gap between average male and average female pay is £5,600Black people are 28 times more likely to be stopped and searched by policeThe unemployment rate for white women is 6.8%The unemployment rate for Pakistani and Bangladeshi women is 20.%Disability hate crime has risen ...
Happy Chistmas to all the readers of the blog
Merry Christmas everybody. I hope that you all have a lovely Christmas. Here is a quick Christmas prayer for all of you; God our Father,whose Word has come among usin the Holy Child of Bethlehem:May the light of faith illumine our heartsand shine in our words and deeds;through him who is Christ the Lord. If you are able to donate to the homeless or any charity this Christmas please do so because this is what the birth of Christ is all about.
As I was digging around some ancient back-up CDs, I happened across some of my early web pages. Way back in the mists of time, I was a member of the UEA Peace Society. As well as organising talk on campus, we occasionally went on protests. This page records the protest we took to Lekenheath - a local US military encampment. As far as I can tell, this was part of the Citizens' Weapons Inspection project. So, here it is, in all its unedited glory. I wonder where you all are now? Protest at Lakenheath USAF 01 October 2000On Sunday ...
So, I've been up for two hours getting intimate with the poultry and phase one of Operation Christmas Dinner has been successfully completed. Anna and Bob are still in bed, so I have resorted to playing Christmas music (currently Last Christmas by Wham) loudly in the hope that it will get them down here. I love that special, quiet time in the kitchen on Christmas morning. I always think of my lovely Grandma Marion Lindsay as I make her stuffing. She was fabulous - funny, extrovert and one of the best influences on my life. Her stuffing is very simple ...
Here are another selection of photos from my trip to Edinburgh yesterday: The Dome of Old College - and the Bass Rock just visible behind (For those who know Edinburgh: the Cowgate fire site is finally progressing) Andrew
In the spirit of Christmas, here are two (not turtle) doves in a hazel tree...
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Changing Depictions of Santa Claus in Science Fiction Magazines and Superhero Comic Book Covers Flying with Captain Marvel, 1941; arrested by Judge Dredd, 2009. (tags: sf christmas ) Christmas services and Doctor Who " From the outside, it looks old and small and pointless. From the inside, it is much bigger than you might have ever expected. Which is why, despite everything, I keep going back." (tags: Doctorwho Christmas religion ) Nativity A gallery of photographs from Bethlehem over the years. (tags: middleeast )
When I signed up for cable TV channels in 2006 I turned down BBC Canada because when I looked at the schedule it was mostly back episodes of Casualty. About a year ago I signed up in order to watch the second series of Sherlock. There hasn't been anything worth watching since; the evening schedule is all Top ...
The joy of automation allows me to post this while I'm asleep. As with previous years, I've donated to Shelter instead of sending Christmas cards out, but I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a good time now and into 2013. And now for the traditional picture of Colchester as it's not looking right now. If tradition holds like last year, then this will hopefully conjure up weather so nice on Christmas Day it'll be decent weather to go for a bike ride. [IMG: xmas2013]
Happy Christmas/Yule/Hannukah/Newtonmas/Saturnalia/Other midwinter festival of your choice. [IMG: comment count unavailable] comments
The West End image above was created by Gerry Lavery, winner of the 2011 Friends of Magdalen Green Christmas card competition. Our grandson Henry is 5 months old today, Christmas Day. He's visiting Dundee from Melbourne for Christmas (along with his mum and dad!) and has now met his great-granny Betty!
