Pan-handling

This weekend my lovely younger brother and I visited the delectable Wide in his nest of comfy sofadom. (The new sofa is a little like sitting on a slightly melty giant chocolate marshmallow. Without having to wash afterwards of course.)

After watching a brilliant group of prodigious school-kids play Funk-Indian-Jazz fusion at the Symphony Hall, we went home and had a lazy takeaway pizza, watched comedy and played x-box. I could get used to being a boy. If that's what boys do, of course.

In the morning, we were woken to the smell of frying eggy bread as my brother embarked on his premier culinary masterpiece. (I say this because omelettes are the second thing he learned to cook. Then apple crumble. That's it.) He was doing very well- until, of course, he dropped the pan on the floor- flattening it on one side. This wouldn't be that bad... except that this pan was the joyous pan of great expense (which had not even known the touch of the rough side of a sponge scourer... ['no! use the soft bit!']) brought by Wide's parents to replace the pan which little brother flattened on his previous visit. Visits=2. Non-spherical pans=2. He can't do it with ours, it's made of cast iron...

Other than that, the weekend passed smoothly, and all departed refreshed and on good terms. Huzzah.

I, pod

Just a quick one. Check out this thread from the launch day of the very first Ipod. How funny.

A spot of history.

Or this, which shows I'm not the only one with too much time on my hands.

Ooooh the suspense.

Okay, be good.

The four horsemen of the apocraplypse

Ladies and gentlemen, a bleak day has come.

'It's Chico Time!' is number one.


Don't talk to me about how the economy looks like melting emmental- if the public pound can float this bum-trinket of a record, we've got a long way to go before we hit rock bottom.
(I wonder how long we've got before he gets sponsored by Burger King?)

Habibi

Not to sound overly political or preachy here (which, try as I might, I can rarely avoid) but judging from my experiences over the past few weeks, the world would be a softer, happier place if we made space for differences.
At the moment I am jiggling around on my seat listening to the lastest thing in Arabic pop music- which reminds me of when I used to enjoy a spot of shabi and belledi, (or for people who prefer the term, bellydancing). This is mainly because they've nicked a sample from a traditional gwazie song and cut it into you typical 'long distance lament' love song.
Speaking of bellydancing, this week I took a group of students around Parliament. We arrived in the lobbying chamber just in time for the Speakers Procession- a very formal affair with special metal heels and shiny pockets. I wonder if it gets galling doing it day after day.
The students were very hushed and then started whispering amongst themselves... 'look, over there!' 'Can you see?' ' Is it really them?!'

I was very proud of them: '...yes, isn't it fantastic, the democratic process in action..'

until I realised Shakira 'lucky that my breasts are small and humble' of Laundry Service fame was standing opposite, looking small, sweet and blonde.

Suffice to say she gave everyone big kisses- so I can see how she'd beat the Speaker- don't think you'd catch them doing that.

Are human rights universal?

My mind is a fug of qualitative questions. I’m attacking the problem from too many standpoints, interrogating it down to a tiny nub of philosophical fluff. To begin with, are human rights universal? Well, clearly they’re not. Witness Coca Cola using union bosses’ heads as footballs and four year old workers picking themselves apart making trainers to cushion our heavy Western soles. Clearly, human rights in the modern world are fluid and subject to the laws of economics. But now I’m pulling that old political switcheroo and answering the question I wanted answered. So to start again, from a Christian perspective- why don’t I just throw around some well worn homilies along the lines of God created everyone equal? I could talk about basic human rights like food, water, education; safe things that no-one would question, so that everyone can solemnly nod their heads and forget what I said. But this is what I believe, I believe it’s an abomination that people starve, die and rot in a world that God created with enough resources to easily provide for its citizens. I believe we can argue the semantics of human rights until we’re blue in the face, but in every instance the answer is simple and it’s only pride, apathy or greed that stops us from recognising that. Everyone deserves the right to live and contribute to the richness of our shared existence. End of story.