The GCSE exam concerned was Religious Studies. One question was: “Why are some people prejudiced against Jews?” But the Education Secretary, challenged by the Jewish Chronicle, said, “To suggest that anti-Semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre.”
Backlit
Yesterday a day in the garden, admiring the contrasting leaf textures, light effects and …. well relaxing and then working! Today’s work entailed, amongst other things the deconstruction of an over grown shrub – how very satisfying – the contrast between before and after. Space for a new tree perhaps?
Geranium, back-lit Continue reading “Backlit”
The Cattle are lowing
Just returned from a welcome break in Yorkshire, we stayed at Beningbrough Hall in the flat above the old laundry, 8 miles from York centre..
The weather was brilliant and not at all expected, sunny and hot every day; and there was me with winter clothing. Still one stop at the retail park and all was well.
What can one say about Yorkshire, the people are always friendly, and the food is good as is the ale. The countryside is beautiful and the sites magnificent and all fairly close together so not too much driving about.
Castle Howard is really opulent and worth a visit, the staff really enjoyed their work and loved to tell us everything, a whole day spent there and in the gardens.
Other places to see Nostell priory, East Riddlesden Hall (really homely), Nunnington Hall (I could move in tomorrow) plus countless castles and Abbeys. Continue reading “The Cattle are lowing”
Sunday morning wake-up call
The walls start shaking, the earth was quaking
My mind was aching, and you were making it
And you shook me all night long
After the whimpering videos that have been showcased recently, it’s time for a bang. This could well be the best crowd ever at a rock concert. It is just one massive heart beat. Play it loud.
Lies, damned lies and statistics
Warning: this is very long. It is a response to a blogger on MyT, who quoted some statistics.
If you are remotely interested in responses thereon, here is the post.
It was intended to explain a little more about the use and misuse of statistics, and how demographic projections are produced and their validity.
Some observations from the Pew Report.
All the statistics and quotations, unless otherwise attributed are from this report entitled “The Future of the Global Muslim Population -Projections for 2010-2030” and from here “Faith on the Move-The Religious Affiliation of International Migrants”
But before I begin, I would remind you of a particularly misleading video clip which has been doing the rounds for quite some time. This is one of the many examples of how statistics, and these particular numbers are wildly inaccurate, are used in an alarmist way.
Caption for the weekend?
Somewhere Special?
I always thought there was something special about this place, the eagles, the osprey and the otters were clues, but yesterday after the rain I was convinced.
I may take the dinghy and a shovel and dig about by that abandoned duck blind, who knows?
Folk Music
Normally, listening to folk music of any sort makes me want to tear whatever remains of my hair out or bang my head against the wall, but this is something else…….
Continue reading “Folk Music”
Thoughts on monarchy
Yes, I know you think it’s an obsession of mine but that’s what chariots are for, innit? Jumping on board and driving dangerously around the arena, scattering the huddles of preconceptions and generalisations as we go? But the Firmly Entrenched should not read on….. Continue reading “Thoughts on monarchy”
Probably the End of Civilisation as we knew it
Please don’t press Read More until you’ve read this
You all know me. On the Jock half full/half empty glass spectrum, I am off the scale at the opposite end to Private Fraser of ‘Dad’s Army’ fame. I just can’t do being doomed convincingly. Had Doctor Pangloss ever had the chance to impregnate Pollyanna, their issue might have got close to my usual state of mind.
But sometimes even I despair. At work today, I had occasion to view papers relating to a small Embran child. It was her first name that caught my eye.
LA-A.
I am sure that my erudite fellow Charioteers got this right away but it caught me out. I did manage to work it out eventually. Continue reading “Probably the End of Civilisation as we knew it”
Boadicea's Chariot 
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