And, it seems, that means broccoli in particular. At least it isn’t brussels sprouts. Although, if you’re a fan of sprouts, then perhaps you’d care to try Jones’ Brussels Sprouts Soda?
Year: 2005
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One Day
That’s how long the civil partnership of gay couple Matthew Roche (46) and Christopher Cramp (37) lasted. And before you jump to conclusions, the reason that it only lasted a day is because Matthew died of cancer yesterday. But it was important to them both that their love and committment to each other be acknowledged by the society in which they lived. Recognition of basic human dignity matters to people. That’s an affirmation of the institution of marriage, not its undermining. Pity that some are so blind that they cannot see that. -
Playboy. In Braille
This must be a hoax. It can’t be genuine, can it? It is just too bizarre for words, or for raised bumps for that matter. -
Ken Mackintosh
I was speaking to my brother yesterday and he told me that Ken Mackintosh had died aged 86. Ken Mackintosh was a popular saxophonist and band leader. He and his band often played at the Villa Marina in the Isle of Man, and spent several summer seasons on the island. The trombonist of the band, Gordon Langhorn, stayed in my parent’s hotel (the Ivanhoe, on Loch Promenade, demolished in 1998), and through him, my parents got to know Ken. I think I met him a number of times – but my clearest memory of him is when I was seven. He came to visit me in hospital, following an operation. I suspect that I remember it most clearly, because he brought me a toy aeroplane – a Vickers Viscount, which I subsequently played with incessantly. -
Bette Bourne
The Guardian today carries an article on Bette Bourne – one of the UK stage’s great institutions. I recall going to see Bette and her Bloolips troupe a number of times during the 1970s and early 80s, and always having a hoot. Theatre at its most outrageous. Long may she reign. -
Civil Partnerships
So today is the day that same-sex civil partnerships become legal in the UK. Needless to say, most of the UK media is carrying the story, although the Daily Telegraph is somewhat stingy with its coverage, preferring instead to concentrate on Christianity.Hopefully, at some point the law will permit full civil marriages, just as here in The Netherlands, but this is a good start.And for those who think that the institution of marriage is somehow under attack, a review through history will show that marriage has always had a wide range of expression. My favourite of these historical examples is also the very earliest: the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep – dating from around 2,400 BC. Although even here we’re not free of the stereotypes, it would seem. They are both described in the hieroglyphs as having the title of "Overseer of the manicurists in the palace of the King". Honestly, if we’re not all supposed to be screaming hairdressers or make-up artists, we’re bloody manicurists… -
Farewell SCI FICTION
There was once a host organism called SCIFI.COM. It was an online presence designed to market the Sci Fi cable channel in the US. It hosted what I would describe as a symbiote: SCI FICTION – the division of the company that published Science Fiction short stories online. The symbiote, embodied by its enlightened editor Ellen Datlow, did well, and the quality of the material was recognised by awards from the science fiction community at large.Alas, the host organism appears to have decided that the symbiote is a parasite, and will be excising it at the end of this month. So a valuable channel of new (and old) science fiction short story writing will soon be silenced. One can only hope that the existing stories will remain archived at the site – but there’s no guarantee, and some have already been removed.I find the announcement of the closure typical of the "we’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater, because we’re a bunch of philistines" school of not recognising something good when it’s staring them in the face: As SCIFI.COM gears up to expand with exciting new ventures utilizing the newest technology, it will discontinue SCI FICTION, the online publishing division of the site, at the end of 2005.David Schwartz has come up with a good idea to commemorate the writing, and the work of Ellen Datlow, over at the ED SF Project. It’s a collection of appreciations of the stories. Go and visit. Who knows, you might feel inclined to read some of the original stories, even if you are not a fan of SF. -
Ice Age Ahead?
A rather worrying report in the New Scientist this week, about the fact that the Gulf Stream may be changing. It’s the Gulf Stream that prevents us from having really severe winters, and if that goes, then we’ll definitely be holding the Elfstedentocht every year. -
We All Scream For Ice Cream
But probably not for some of the flavours that are out there. Such as Squid or Soy Sauce. Mind you, I wouldn’t mind trying the wasabi ice cream mentioned in that second link.One of the most memorable ice creams I’ve had is currently on the menu at Dekxels. It’s a mango-chilli ice cream, which is served with a warm basil tea and a mango fruit shake. You put a serving of the ice cream onto a chinese spoon, pour on the tea and eat it. The warmth of the tea, combined with the coldness of the ice, plus the mingling of the flavours of the basil and the mango, with the last sensation being the kick of the chilli is quite extraordinary. -
Water That Tree
With Christmas fast approaching, we will soon be installing our annual Christmas tree. The US Fire Administration has some scary videos of what can happen if the tree dries out… -
World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day. One of those occasions that you wish you didn’t have to have, but which is important to remember and do something about.At a personal level, it’s a chance for me to recall some lost friends: Kerry, Lance, Eric, Humphrey, Peter, John, Kingsley, Graham, and Neil. I’m sorry that you’re not around with the rest of us today.
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So Many Books
That’s the title of a short book by Gabriel Zaid. It’s a meditation on books and the act and passions of reading. Another book for the "to read" list, I feel.(hat tip to Norman Geras over at Normblog for this) -
A Distinct Whiff of Prejudice
As you’re probably aware, The Vatican has now published its document on gay men who want to be priests, and as you would imagine, it’s not a barrel of fun. I wasn’t going to comment on it, but then a document was published yesterday that I did want to comment on. That document was a leader in The Guardian that was headlined "Distinctly Without Prejudice" and which was, to my eyes, a surprisingly uncritical take on the Vatican’s document.It opens with a sentence that raised my eyebrows: "The most important thing about the Vatican’s new document on gay priests is that it is not bigoted" and it went on from there, keeping my eyebrows firmly entwined with my receding hairline. I see, from the Guardian’s letters page today, that I’m not the only one to have had a similar reaction. I think the best summary is given by a Dr. Dan Healy:Your support for the Vatican’s new policy on gay priests is incomprehensible. Which part of: gays are intrinsically immoral, they are objectively disordered, their behaviour contrary to natural law, their acts are grave sins (your own summary of Catholic doctrine) is without prejudice? It is bullying fundamentalism, based on a misogynist conception of priesthood and faith.Hear, hear! -
Whaddya Mean, It Doesn’t Walk?
If, like me, you always had a secret desire to have your very own Robby the Robot (the real star of Forbidden Planet), then the Hammacher and Schlemmer catalogue has just the thing for you. It’s a handmade, accurate, and life size (it’s 7 ft tall) replica of the original.Just two slight problems. One being the price tag (a cool $49,999.95). The other being the fact that although it can "rotate its head and spin its planetary gyro stabilizers", it can’t actually move around. I’m sorry, but for $50,000, I think that’s the least it should be able to do… -
In Praise of Panto
The British tradition of Pantomime has evolved from its roots in the 16th century. There’s a paen of praise to Panto penned by Simon Callow in today’s Guardian – well worth reading.He mentions in passing the production of Aladdin performed at the Stratford East theatre, and designed by Ultz. This must have been in the late 1970s. Oh, yes, I remember that – it was a relevation as to what was possible with stage design. Like Callow, I shall never forget the field of cabbages – or the visual jokes played by the kuroko – which in itself was a delicious joke to introduce an element of kabuki into a traditional British pantomime.A few years back, I took Martin (who’s Dutch) to see his first-ever pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas. He enjoyed it, but was completely mystified by the bits of business ("he’s behind you", "oh no, he didn’t!", "oh yes he did", etc. etc.). For me, I was glad to see the traditions being carried forward, and remembered sitting in the stalls as a small child absolutely entranced at the magic of it all. -
The Christmas Letter
Yesterday, I sat down to pen that most dreaded of all missives (apart from perhaps a tax demand) – the annual Christmas letter. This species of letter is much maligned – with some commentators, Simon Hoggart in particular, mining its rich seam for easy laughs. And yes, it is true that some letters are toe-curlingly embarrassing. But, we scribes are doing our best to reach out and touch the hearts and minds of those who have at least some tenous connection with us in an attempt to keep that connection alive.Look at it this way, at least the Christmas letter comes but once a year. The mutterings on this blog comes practically every day, and it’s out there on the world wide web for the whole world to read, not just a tiny coterie trapped by a mailing list into an inner circle of letter-writing hell. -
It’s a Big Ad
OK, sometimes, I admit, marketing can be creative. This cross between Orff and Peter Jackson is very, very good.(hat tip to Tom at Idiolect) -
FIGHTAIDS@HOME
Following along the lines of SETI @ Home and ClimatePrediction.Net, there is now a grid computing project that is aimed at helping to design new anti-HIV drugs: FIGHTAIDS @ HOME. Grid computing makes use of the idle time of your computer, and uses it to carry out computations for the particular project that you choose. I’ve got one of my computers running climate prediction computations, and now I’ve switched the other from looking for signs of extra-terrestial life to running the project looking for candidate molecules for anti-HIV drugs. I reckon the chances that we’ll be rescued from our mess by aliens are less than the chances of finding a cure for AIDS… If you want to join the project as well, go here. -
Signs of Life
Signs and signage are an inevitable part of life. From the humble "keep off the grass" to rococo variants that confuse more than they inform. Of course, there are web sites devoted to some of the more bizarre specimens that are out there. Most of the specimens pinned down in these sites are, I assume, genuine. But now, there’s a new variant, the sign designed for a humorous or ironic metacomment. These are available in a new book published this month. One for the stocking, I think. -
Good News, Bad News
I like sushi, but my chopstick skills leave much to be desired. So the good news is that Decor Craft Inc. have brought out Clothespin Chopsticks – the perfect thing for klutzes like me.The bad news is the web site of Decor Craft Inc itself. It’s yet another web site where the designer has got carried away with the use of Flash technology. Ghastly – I left screaming after two minutes. I’m sure he or she thinks it’s wonderful. I think it’s a prime example of how not to design a web site.
Geoff Coupe's Blog 