An entry over at the WorldChanging blog draws my attention to the work of two Dutch documentary makers: Eric van den Broek and Katarina Rejger. They have used the medium of videoletters to put people driven apart by the war in former Yugoslavia back in touch with each other. The results are heartrending to watch.

Something interesting happened today in my brain when I read a blog entry over at Feministe. The entry was about Poise Pro-choice Messenger bags. Now the first thing I saw was the photograph in the blog entry, with its arresting symbol – a coathanger framed in the universal "prohibited" symbol (a red circle bisected with a single red line – see below).

When I saw that, I immediately thought it was a reference to Mommie Dearest – "No…wire…hangers!". Oops, wrong – slap wrist – stop being camp. It is in fact a symbol for the pro-choice movement. So then I had a moment of being deliciously confused over whether to laugh or be serious. That’s the trouble with semiotics – most of the time we bring our own cultural baggage that gets in the way of the pure reading of the word.

By the way, this is a remarkable meeting. I think that that particular three-year old is going to turn out just fine.

The Global Footprint Network and World Wildlife Foundation has published a report: "Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint".

The report shows that the European Union uses 20 per cent of what the world’s ecosystems provide in terms of fibres, food, energy, and waste absorption. Yet Europe is home to only 7 per cent of the world population. Europe’s demand on the planet has risen by almost 70 per cent since 1961.

But of course, our American cousins do it so much bigger and better, so indubitably they will be proud of the fact that they are fucking up the planet so much faster than old Europe…

A Romanian nun has died after being bound to a cross, gagged and left alone for three days in a cold room in a convent. According to the priest:

"God has performed a miracle for her, finally Irina is delivered from evil"

He also helpfully added:

"I don’t understand why journalists are making such a fuss about this. Exorcism is a common practise in the heart of the Romanian Orthodox church and my methods are not at all unknown to other priests"

Reminder to self: don’t visit any monasteries in Romania.

PZ Meyers, the intelligence behind the Pharyngula blog, has done it again with a sly, metaphorical take on our need for fairytales. Read the Planet of the Hats to see what I mean. I’m proud to be hatless!

At the moment, if you travel around The Netherlands, you will see a lot of houses that are flying the Dutch flag, and hanging from the flagpole will be a school bag, or a backpack. This is the sign that in the house lives a schoolchild who has just successfully passed their last set of school exams.

In the group of eight houses where we live, two houses are flying the symbol. It’s also usually an excuse for a party, so last night Martin and I joined the rest of the neighbours for two parties. My head this morning was a little the worse for wear.

On a more serious note, go and read Trey’s autobiographical story over at his web site: Daddy, Papa and Me. At least he has survived – I can only hope that Zach manages to do the same.

One of the things about surfing the Internet for inspiration for the Blog is not: how difficult it is, but: how difficult it is to keep one’s nose above the slime.

So before I become too depressed about the human condition, let me give you a link that made me breathe a little easier. No, it’s not great art. No, it won’t change your life. No, it is not injurious to your health or addictive. No, it won’t pay the bills or make you more attractive to the sex that you wish to be attracted to. But, ladies and gentlemen, there’s something here about an obsession about an aspect of our existence that is sooo human.

I give you: Lacing Shoes.

Thank you, Ian for allowing me to rest awhile before returning to the never-ending tide of human dross. All I need now is a blast from Beethoven, and I’ll be as right as rain (and that’s not singing in it – at least not in that sense, Alex).

…and presumably neither can Spanish cardinals and archbishops, who hope that up to half a million demonstrators will join them tomorrow to protest against the introduction of same-sex marriage in Spain.