Let's put it like this: No alchohol, four people, loud and obnoxious music, some fun, much annoyance.  Bah.

At least some planning for next year was done.

My directorial and producerial debut ended Wednesday with a more-than-sellout show, raising in the region of £550 pounds for charity (£5 a ticket, about 105 tickets, some people didn't pay ( Read more... )

Downing Street has said there will be no exemption from anti-discrimination laws for Catholic adoption agencies.

But Tony Blair's official spokesman said the agencies would be given 21 months to prepare for the new laws.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6311097.stm
Against all expectations, Blair made the right decision, and we can celebrate. ( Read more... )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6297107.stm

Tony Blair has promised a decision next week on whether Catholic adoption agencies will be able to opt out of gay discrimination laws.
The prime minister said there could also be a Commons vote, saying it was important to find "a way through this sensitive and difficult issue".

Earlier, Education ( Read more... )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6293115.stm

The Church of England has backed the Catholic Church in its bid to be exempt from laws on adoption by gay couples.
Catholic leaders in England and Wales say its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will close if bound by the rules.

Archbishop of Canterbury ( Read more... )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6289301.stm

The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has said adoption agencies will close if they cannot opt out of new gay rights laws.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has written to Cabinet ministers saying church teaching prevented its agencies placing children with homosexuals.

Forcing people ( Read more... )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6284725.stm

Now, ignore the whole opposition bit.  In fact you can ignore most of the article, so long as you get the gist.  The gist being that religious institutions may be allowed to opt out of the Equalities Act as regards sexuality/sexual preference.

The question is, is this right?  Its a balance of ( Read more... )

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" - Douglas Adams

As I noted last time, I need to give my views on the divine. This is different to belief in the divine, though that will be touched on here; but belief, faith, and for that matter knowledge are a subject to ( Read more... )

Elrond: I give hope to men.
Aragorn: I keep none for myself.

From, of course, the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. And utter, total twaddle. Simple as that.
If you are still alive and not at this very moment in the act of committing suicide, you are either happy or have hope. Happiness we can disregard at this stage; its not what I'm ( Read more... )

"...textbook down ( Read more... )