Symbols of Propaganda....

I was disgusted to see on BBC tv this morning a god-botherer defending the position of a sixteen year old currently undertaking a high court action to allow the wearing of a 'chastity ring' in school.

The child's school has a no-jewellery policy, and doubtless prompted by over zealous parents, the child has decided to pursue this spurious nonsense through the courts.

Everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves frankly. Using a child to promote religious propaganda is a particularly low tactic being used by those who feel the need for imaginary friends in their lives.

In spite of what she may think, this child is a minor. She is NOT a christian child. There is no such thing, as Richard Dawkins points out, there are only children of christian parents.

All religion is slavery. Free yourself.

Thank You.....

Sunday morning, 11am.
And so, as the best 41st birthday party I've ever had, begins to wind down (or for me at least, the three blonde beauties are still milking the Karaoke video game for all it's worth), I find myself once again unable to understand what exactly I did to be so fortunate as to have the world's finest people as my friends.

I never cease to be astounded by the loyalty, comfort, pleasure and general sense of well being that envelopes me in their presence.

If you gain nothing more from life than friends, you have fully lived.

Let Out & Locked In....

I know little, and frankly care even less about Paris Hilton. She represents to me a portion of society that serves less purpose than a chocolate fire-guard.

I base this probably entirely unfair, and wholly un-considered opinion on nothing more solid than my own good old fashioned inverted snobbery, with a measure of very human envy thrown in, but hey, I am after all, only human.

I do know however, that her being released after only three days of her sentence is absolute proof that the US justice system is as corrupt as any banana republic any where on earth. How could any unfortunate resident of that nation ever trust the legal system again?

Unless they happen to be a millionaire of course.

And In Other News.....

Continuing with my theme of recklessly commenting on people I know nothing about, I'm proud to say I have so far managed to avoid even accidentally tuning in to that amazing piece of TV excrement, Big Brother.

I'd like to go on record as saying that anyone stupid enough to go on the show deserves nothing less than complete ridicule for the rest of their lives, or perhaps pity. I'm not entirely sure.

What I do know is the people who produce this obscene human zoo, make The Jerry Springer Show seem like a session of sensitive counselling. Sadly the viewing figures demonstrate that there will always be plenty of people around so insecure about their own inadequacies, that they have to gain solace from watching others even less well balanced than themselves.

Back Again....

Ok, so two and a half months without blogging is a bit lame. Not exactly going to win me any awards for productivity is it?

But I make no apologies, sometimes real life takes over, or one just doesn't have the inspiration.

So, what's been happening in Stevie's world? Well, unsurprisingly, lots more of the same, the new house has left me with little desire to venture out socially, finally having enough space to entertain at home has meant that this has more or less become 'Crack On Central'. My rants have once more taken the form of verbal diatribes for the Crack On audience only, until now at least.

The biggest event in the last couple of months has been my first trip to Ethiopia as part of the team involved in assisting Ethiopia to Trademark & License it's fine coffees.
It is a truly amazing place, and cliched as it might seem, having lived my whole life in the UK, such a visit does entirely change one's perspective on many things.

The starkest contrast I had to face was the fact that every Ethiopian I met was immensely friendly and dignified, yet commonly living in a society with levels of poverty that few Europeans of my generation will ever have experienced. In two weeks I did not meet a single Ethiopian that was not immediately friendly, hospitable and welcoming, something I could not say I have felt from any other place in the world including home.

I've taken the decision that this is not the place to talk about my work in too much detail, but if you want to find out more about the project, please take a look at www.ethiopiancoffeenetwork.com and if you have the chance, try to visit www.blackgoldmovie.com Black Gold is an incredible movie launching in the UK this weekend by Nick & Marc Francis, that highlights some of the issues in the Ethiopian coffee sector.

The only down side to my trip is that I started smoking again after a year and a half smoke free, but that will change on July 1st, when our police state effectively criminalizes a large part of the population whilst being supported by the tax from it's addiction. It seemed like a good day to stop once again, if only to avoid adding another thing to the list of activities I indulge in that society deems unacceptable.

Talking of our wonderful Police State....
Our soon to be Lord and Master, Gordon Brown has once more indicated that he intends to attempt to convince MPs of the need to imprison people without trial or justification for up to 90 days under anti-terrorist laws. At 28 days, we already have double the detention without charge time period of any other developed country.

Now I'm not a person who you will hear complain about locking up and throwing away the proverbial key, when there is firm evidence that an individual has been involved in plotting or carrying out terrorism against this nation. But if the police do not have enough evidence to charge someone within a month of arrest, what possible justification can there be to extending that period, and why were they arrested in the first place if there was no evidence either present or likely to come to light?

One of the few disadvantages of living in what will in my opinion be viewed by future historians as the easiest period in western history, (before we descend once again into hardship for the majority, through climate change and our apparent inability to consider the bigger picture)...is the complacency that seems to be silently infecting people when it comes to the erosion of their individual rights to make choices.

Previous generations suffered through much of their lives to one degree or another, and one of the things that came out of that suffering was much greater freedom for the majority in our part of the world at least.

It would be a shame if such a hard won prize was to quietly be eaten away, with little more than a whimper of protest.