To be clear I am not saying don’t show such pictures or shield people from real life events but I find it irresponsible to plaster a front page with a blood soaked extremist brandishing a meat cleaver whilst quoting his own words that indicate that anybody else may be next.

Front pages are on public display in places where people of all ages including the very young and impressionable can see them. Let alone available in the family home.Is it responsible that the very young should see gratuitous images of violence or even implied violence in the name of circulation wars?

I’m not saying censor these images but newspaper front pages are on public display to all who should happen to glance at a news stand. The Daily Express out of all the papers may have been the most responsible front page layout by reporting the story, only showing a small picture that shows an air ambulance arriving on the front page and keeping the gratuitous images for inside the paper itself.

It’s much the same in tragic cases of serial murders. The media give killers the very publicity they crave and it often fans the flames and appears to sometimes encourage copycat events. I’m not saying under report it. I’m not saying don’t ask the questions that need to be asked but don’t unwittingly become an extension of the very terrorism and violence you (the media) report on and end up a recruiting agent for others who may be on the verge of undertaking or thinking or undertaking the similar acts of violence.

Of course the media will say they have to compete for readers and they’re giving the public what they want. We shouldn’t always get what we want. It may not be good for us in the long run.

Others, of course may disagree.

Just read about a phone camera app that takes multiple shots in quick succession and then uses face recognition software to create a single picture that makes sure that everyone is smiling. Useful or wandering into Stepford wives territory?

Great for group wedding shots I’m sure but we’re probably not far off phones and cameras with enough processing power and inbuilt software to make sure everyone is smiling, clutter and obstacles are digitally airbrushed out, grass is always green and skies are especially cloudless and blue.

From Kodak moments to prozac moments?

Image by seanbjack under this creative commons licence

FANTASTIC! The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passes its House of Commons Third Reading by 366 votes to 161! #EqualMarriage—
Stonewall (@stonewalluk) May 21, 2013

We're sorry to learn of the death of Morecambe & Wise writer Eddie Braben (r here with prod John Ammonds 1970) http://t.co/uXWJobZanv—
BBC (@AboutTheBBC) May 21, 2013

Eric & Ernie’s comedy script writer for much of the classic BBC 70′s period has sadly passed away. I remember him being interviewed about the pressure of writing during that period when the Xmas show was almost deemed to be the highlight of the season itself in Britain and how that intense demand pushed him over the edge mentally at one point. A very talented comedy writer who helped make so many of us laugh.

One of his last TV interviews is worth a watch here.

(In case you are unaware of the context of this I suggest this background piece.

Image by annrkiszt under this creative commons licence

On Friday the Church Of England issued a statement that in the event of gay marriage becoming law the prospect of abolishing the current civil partnership arrangements or extending them to opposite sex couples would cause ‘confusion’.

Maybe those who say gay marriage will dilute the meaning of heterosexual marriage and what it means are somehow fighting to save the benefits  of heterosexual privilege. It’s a status thing isn’t it? And it’s change. People hate change. And some people really get off on enforcing a hierarchy,still if only in their minds.

My marriage is better or more ideal than your marriage, they will continue to say. Same old, same old.That we’re still hung up on marriage as the top of the relationship tree and don’t recognise long term partnerships in common law is lamentable enough. Laws don’t always change attitudes. Sometimes attitudes prompt legislation and other times the road is long and equality takes longer to achieve in practice.

Look at the equal pay act of 1970. That was meant to pay women the same as men for performing the same job. We’re still fighting that one despite the legislation of equality.

To the opposer’s of legalising gay marriage I refer them the recent debate in the New Zealand parliament and the comments of Maurice Williamson who attempted to address their concerns.

In an attempt to bring a veil of unreality to the days I’m immersing myself in this.

Daily Express
May 17 2013

“My job used to be finding good singers. Now I just have to find good-looking singers.”

A music producer talking to the inventor of Auto-tune. Seventeen years of cheating or a creative tool.

Source

 As my partner commented quoting Dr Fox’s ill advised autocue reading on Brass Eye “There’s no scientific proof for it but it is fact” .

The BBC slightly blurring the line between news and fiction when listed under the most read items of the day.

It’s hard to wipe from my memory the time I found approximately twenty sachets of medicinal powders intended to help ease constipation wrapped tightly in a rubber band in my bag with the attached note from my Mum saying “thought you might find these useful”. It makes me wonder sometimes quite what my parents think of me let alone the possibility that I may give the distinct impression to anybody that meets me that constipation may be a large part of my life’s journey.

The latest booty is presented here…

An unused miniature shoe polisher circa who knows when), Two unused complimentary matches, one from The Scarlet Coat Restaurant in Bristol (circa 70′s?)and the other from The Green Park Hotel Harrogate (circa early 80′s?).

I managed to avoid a 1990′s vintage edition of the Viking Direct catalogue on this occasion.