Jo Salmon
19
February 13:02
On (not) being Jewish
Going to Israel last September has really changed my perception of many things, from Jewish culture to the conflict to how nice it would be to live somewhere with better weather.One unintended consequence of my 5 day trip is this: since going, three different people have assumed I am Jewish.
One, when I was in Israel (an easy mistake - I was on a trip organised by the Union of Jewish Students!).
The second time was in November at the IPSO event. I asked a question about the representation of the conflict in the British media, saying I had spent a few days in Israel back in September. When he answered my question, the guy from the Palestinian General Delegation to the UK suddenly started using the word "you" when he spoke about Israel or the Jewish people. "You" do this or "you" promised that.
Finally, a nasty far-right columnist on a nasty far-right website (no, I'm not linking to them!) has described me as "a Jewish lesbian NuLabourite". How they ended up mentioning me is a long story, but it involves a post I wrote about David Irving, which was then mentioned by someone else, and his post was picked up by the columnist....
Now, panic not, I don't care if someone thinks I'm Jewish. I'm not, but then again, I've spent my entire life being mistaken for a Christian and I'm not that either. I'm an atheist and I long to live in a secular, socialist society.
I'm bemused by my secret identity (so secret that I know nothing about it) because I can only think of one reason why this assumption has suddenly been made: I went to Israel for five days so I must be Jewish.
Is it me, or is that just part of the anti-Semitism that still plagues society? Maybe not intentional (some of the time) but there is something distasteful about the way this assumption works.
Oh, and I don't care what far-right Nazis think of me, though in conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to refute the "NuLabourite" accusation. Bastards...
And for those of you who have been asking, I promise that one day, I will get round to blogging the rest of my trip to Israel. It's just that I can't find my notebook...
15
February 14:02
Full smoking ban
I've said before that I support a full smoking ban so I just want to say congratulations to all MPs who voted for the full ban rather than the various compromises that were floating around.A total ban on smoking inside offices, pubs, restaurants and "virtually every enclosed public place and workplace" throughout England will come into force in the summer of 2007 after a resounding cross-party majority of MPs yesterday rejected last minute compromises designed to exempt some pubs and private clubs.
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Health officials proclaimed the vote a historic victory, to be compared with the 1948 NHS Act or the clean air legislation which ended city smog in the 50s. [Guardian]
The full list of the MPs who voted for the full ban is available here - I'm glad to see that Oxford's own Andrew Smith is on the list
2
February 16:02
Griffin and Collett acquitted
Fuck.Nick Griffin and Mark Collett have been acquitted.
It seems that it is acceptable to describe asylum seekers as ga little bit like cockroachesh, to describe Islam as a gwicked vicious faithh and to say gLetfs show these ethnics the door in 2004.
What the hell kind of situation is this?
Fuck.
Well, seeing as you can say such things and get away with it, how about we re-write them?
BNP activists are like cockroaches.
The BNP is a wicked vicious organisation.
Letfs show these bigots the door today and every day.
27
January 15:01
Ann Widdecombe in talking sense shocker?
Good grief! I just read this article about why Ann Widdecombe turned down an invitation to go on 'Strictly Come Dancing' and found myself nodding throughout. I think the world just tilted or something...Ms Widdecombe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she had also turned down requests for her to appear on Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
She said Respect MP George Galloway had been "incredibly naive" to enter the Celebrity Big Brother House and expect to be able to get his political message across.
"That's not what the programme makers are remotely interested in," she said.
24
January 11:01
1382 Summons to Parliament Act
Spotted on Digital Spy via Daniel:The Queen could decide to punish George Galloway [for appearing on Big Brother] under an ancient law, according to reports.
The 1382 Summons to Parliament Act allows the Queen to "amerce" - arbitrarily punish - the politician if she believes he has not "reasonably and honestly" excused himself from parliament to appear on the show.
Martin Salter, our friendly MP just down the road, has, it seems, joined in the fun:
"Should Galloway be prosecuted under this ancient law I trust that the Queen would deliver an appropriate punishment," he said. "In my view Galloway should be sent back to the Big Brother house for the rest of his life with the instruction to perform deeming impressions of every animal that walks the earth."(I should add that I think this law is rubbish - I think the power to discipline should be the other way round, but we might as well have some fun while we're waiting for the Republic!)
23
January 18:01
Standby
There's an intersting article on the beeb website about the amount of power consumed in the UK by leaving electrical equipment on standby instead of switching it off:Britons waste the equivalent of around two power stations' worth of electricity each year by leaving TV sets and other gadgets on standby.It's food for thought. I don't think my TV remote even has an off button...
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A survey by the Energy Saving Trust found that the average household has up to 12 gadgets left on standby or charging at any one time. It also showed that more than £740m of electricity was wasted by things being left ticking over.
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The Energy Saving Trust's survey found that one-in-seven people questioned thought putting devices on standby was actually more energy-efficient than switching them on and off. The MTP's Matthew Armishaw clears up any confusion: "That is largely a myth. There may have been some issues with very old electronic components, but it is certainly not the case with today's consumer electronic goods."
11:01
Sue Axon loses 'right to know' case
Hurrah! The High Court has rejected Sue Axon's ridiculous case demanding the "right" for parents to be notified if their under 16 year old seeks medical advice on contraception or abortion.Mr Justice Silber, sitting in London, said Mrs Axon, or any other parent, had no right to know unless the child decided otherwise. Forcing a girl to tell her parents "may lead her to make a decision that she later regrets or seek the assistance of an unofficial abortionist", he added.
Now that we've solved that one, can we please move on to other areas of the sexual health debate and young people - such as ending parents' "right" to opt their children out of sexual health education?
20
January 13:01
How many dogs does it take to change a lightbulb?
From wongaBlog.Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?
Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp
Rottweiler: Make me.
Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.
Labrador: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!
German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.
Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.
Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb.
Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.
Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there?..
Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle?
Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
19
January 17:01
Looking for a good book?
I'm currently reading Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. Well, I say reading. I actually mean struggling. The plot is fascinating and I love the way it switches from July 2005 to July 1209 in a way that means both stories run together.But it's so hard to read. I don't know why - it's got all the ingredients for a great book but something just doesn't work. One of the "critical acclaim" quotes featured in the opening pages says:
Eat your heart out, Dan Brown. This is the real thing.
I disagree. For all it's flaws (and there were many), Brown's The Da Vinci Code was, at least, easy to read. I actually couldn't put it down and nearly missed both my tube stops as I was so engrossed in it. While I couldn't bear to put The Da Vinci Code down, I can hardly bring myself to pick Labyrinth up. But I will finish it. Then it will go onto the bookshelf where it can gather dust for the rest of eternity...
So, in order to give myself something to look forward to, I'm after suggestions about what I should read next. My wish list grew last night and I know that Boudica: Dreaming the Hound by Manda Scott is due out in paperback on February 1st, but I'm after some new ideas. I can't promise I'll read everything you suggest, but let's see what you come up with!
Oh, and I must thank Dan for giving me Eldest by Christopher Paolini for my birthday. Yes, I know you had to go into the children's section to buy a present for a 27 year old but a) that was naughty of you and b) thank you!!
12
January 16:01
Brokeback Mountain
Phew! Just finished writing the NUS Women's Campaign report and plan for the next set of Regional Conferences so thought I'd take a break from work to tell you about Brokeback Mountain, which I saw last night with Dan and Antonia.
I thought the film was excellent - it damn near moved me to tears at the end and made me realise how lucky we are, being LGBT in 2006. Sure, things can be shit. No, homophobic violence is not a thing of the past. Yes, there are too many people who cannot come out.
But life is different from everything depicted in the movie. And - if you'll excuse the cheese - it will keep getting better. No matter what certain bigoted groups and individuals might like to believe, you cannot close the door once it's been opened. And we've bloody well forced that door wide open. Some of us have paid for it - some with our lives. But we're not going back.
So here's to a future where there are more films like Brokeback Mountain - take one mainstream concept and make the main characters gay. Just another love story.
10
January 19:01
Oxford traffic chaos
I thought the traffic jam I was stuck in this morning (thereby missing my train and consequntly being late for an event in Birmingham) was due to the roadworks on the Magdalen roundabout. But I much prefer Tony's analysis of the situation:From the amount of traffic backed up along our road (a popular rat-run from the villages into north and central Oxford) I would guess that the private schools have started back today.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There's not much about Oxford's rush hour traffic problems that couldn't be solved by closing the private schools. Or at least, restoring to these deprived children the use of their legs for walking or cycling, or the ability to ride on a bus with (ugh!) the common people.