http://penwing.livejournal.com/ Penwing's Journal - LiveJournal.com Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:52:09 GMT LiveJournal / LiveJournal.com penwing 55206 personal http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/48021599/55206 http://penwing.livejournal.com/ 100 25 http://penwing.livejournal.com/277776.html Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:52:09 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/277776.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/225"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>So, in 2009, according to my bookkeeping over at <a href="http://www.librarything.com/catalog/penwing/read2009">LibraryThing</a>, I have read 60 books (let's face it, I'm not going to finish Black Man, Best Served Cold or Bolo before the New Year party tonight). Of those, 43 were fiction books, 5 were short story collections, 1 non-fiction, 1 play, 5 RPG Books (+one of the short story collections was technically an RPG source book), 2 graphic novel volumes, 1 Firefly reference book and 2 cookbooks.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/225">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/277610.html Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:57:46 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/277610.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/224"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>So, it's nearly 2010 and the start of a new decade (face it date pedants, the calendar is <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/31/end_of_days_decade/">so screwed up</a> we may as well accept the mob rule on this - and besides, 2009-&gt;2010 feels more significant than 2010-&gt;2011).</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/224">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/277497.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:09:07 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/277497.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/223"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Oops... bit dusty in here, mind you legs whilst I send the hoover round.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/223">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/277160.html Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:55:15 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/277160.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/222"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>No, I'm not dead. No I haven't been ill. I've been suffering from a case of "can't-be-arsed-and-what's-the-point-anyway-itis". I'm hoping this will clear up as I work on Queer Commons (the working title for <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/214">what I discussed previously</a>). I have a site up, I need to do some work on it and write a couple of articles to start it, but I hope that I can open it up more fully on Monday. If you're interested in a sneak peak, or want to help with an article or with theming or anything else, drop me a line.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/222">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/276883.html Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:54:38 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/276883.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/221"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Yeah, believe it or not I am still alive. Not a lot has been happening though so this is another of those summary posts. Sorry.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/221">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/276549.html Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:54:04 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/276549.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/220"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>I read this 14(?) years ago for school and loved it. I recently bought and re-read it and it was still able to give me shivers. </p> <p>*** WARNING *** Here be spoilers ***</p> <p>Just a number and three little words were enough to make me shiver on the train this morning - "8. You may lie". The fact that Lowry managed to build up a world enough to make that have such a high hitting line without ever mentioning the idea of lying is testament to how well this book works.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/220">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/276253.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:09:25 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/276253.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/219"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>The other side of politics I've been discussing tonight (see <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/node/218">last entry</a>)was The Equality Bill and the Tories. A brief discussion with @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lawandsexuality">lawandsexuality</a> through the medium of Facebook comments about where the Tories would likely go with Equality.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/219">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/275970.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:46:56 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/275970.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/218"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>I really shouldn't discuss politics late at night. I always end up with ideas running through my head that stop me from sleeping. Still this is what my blog is for, surely 8-).</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/218">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/275919.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:42:16 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/275919.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/217"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Earlier this week I tweeted about the "Enjoy England" advert which suggested an enjoyable way of spending an hour was to take a train journey. My tweet was "Enjoy England are seriously suggesting a train ride as a way to enjoy England...there's a group that's never been on a train...". Friends tried to suggest there are some nice scenic routes out there, and there are, but our train system is in such a shambles I wouldn't call using the service enjoyable.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/217">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/275474.html Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:43:55 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/275474.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/216"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Warrington, where I live, is split into two parliamentary constituencies the boundary being, pretty much, the Mersey. They are represented by "the Helens" - Jones for the North and Southworth for the South. Apparently there's going to be some major work on redirecting the Mersey as we will be switching Helens at the next election. Both Helens are in fairly safe seats - I normally get no election publicity except from the very fringe parties.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/216">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/275280.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:33:26 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/275280.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/215"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Remember me talking about how we are excluded from harassment protection in certain circumstances in the new Equality Bill? Lynne Featherstone asked Ben Summerskill of Stonewall - the representative organisation for UK "gay men and lesbians" - about this. <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmpublic/equality/090602/pm/90602s01.htm">His response</a>:</p> <blockquote><p> I can certainly say on the issue of harassment we are not convinced that there is a need for protection in this area. </p></blockquote> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/215">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/275148.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:04:13 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/275148.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/214"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>In the UK we have a limited number of groups fighting for Queer (or LGB(T)) rights. Stonewall (who I have publicly distanced myself from) play a very safe and cosy game but attract a lot of criticism from Queer activists. NUS LGBT Campaign and individual Student Union LGBT groups are student specific. Schools Out is teaching specific. Trade Unions are specific to their members. Queer Youth Network is youth orientated. There's something missing. Something for the activist who isn't young, isn't in a trade union or a students' union.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/214">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/274877.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:48:30 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/274877.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/213"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>As a result of last minute change of plans, I was able to attend Sunday's <a href="http://www.prideisaprotest.org">Pride is a Protest</a> and Queer Cafe meeting. Finishing the minutes is next on my todo list but I wanted to offer some personal comments first.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/213">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/274684.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:31:34 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/274684.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/212"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Yes, yes, the election results were announced on Sunday and today is Tuesday... my weekend has been a little busy and tiring.</p> <p>For those that don't know (/me peers around) the BNP got the last MEP seat in the Northwest region and also got a seat in Yorkshire and the Humber region. In the Northwest it is their party leader Nick Griffin who will be going claiming to represent me.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/212">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/274200.html Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:53:06 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/274200.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/211"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Last night I got my birthday present off Jim <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/8201630">The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun</a>. Poetry, and lots of introductory/explanatory text. I normally struggle to enjoy poetry unless it's performed, although I'm actually kinda looking forward to reading it. I really ought to read more about old Norse mythology, maybe then I'd understand American Gods a bit better (seriously, I completely missed that Low Key was meant to be Loki... but that was stupidity rather than ignorance).</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/211">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/273951.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:17:46 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/273951.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/210"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>I just got back from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club at my local Borders. This month we've been reading <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/3079605/book/45939103">Dark Space</a> by <a href="http://www.librarything.com/author/pierresmariannede">Marianne de Pierres</a>. Of the five of us there this month, we were unanimous. This exchange opened the discussion:</p> <blockquote><p> "Not got a lot to say about this"<br /> "Is it four letters and start with 'c'?"<br /> "No, starts with 's' and has 4 letters" </p></blockquote> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/210">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/273749.html Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:12:27 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/273749.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/209"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>21st May, lying in bed, listening to the radio. I hear music and think "this sounds like Patrick Wolf, but not something I know", checking the radio display (thank you DAB) I saw it was indeed Patrick Wolf. Then Gideon Coe announced it was off Patrick's new album. "New album? Could there be a new tour? Google, help me!"</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/209">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/273423.html Sat, 30 May 2009 09:26:44 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/273423.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/208"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Over the past few weeks there's been a lot of talk of MPs' expenses and just how they're being abused. There's a lovely graphic in <a href="http://www.order-order.com/2009/05/the-political-pigs-want-more-money/">Guido's post here</a> showing MPs' salary and expenses compared to average salaries.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/208">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/273365.html Thu, 28 May 2009 12:28:47 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/273365.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/207"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p><a href="http://www.translondon.org.uk/">TransLondon</a> have <a href="http://www.translondon.org.uk/PrideBoycott.html">announced that it will not be participating in London Pride this year</a>. They cite three reasons:</p> <ul> <li>The apparent lack of seriousness with which Pride dealt with last year's "Toiletgate"</li> <li>The lack of consultation with the community </li><li> </li><li>The stereotyping/parodying of Transfolk</li> </ul> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/207">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/273095.html Tue, 26 May 2009 15:06:37 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/273095.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/206"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>The Tory leader <a href="//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/25/david-cameron-a-new-politics1”">writing in The Guardian</a>? Have we entered a strange new reality? No, I think Cameron is so confident that the country is ready to ditch Labour that he's trying can embrace the left leaning Guardian crowd with his call for parliamentary reform.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/206">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/272686.html Sun, 24 May 2009 20:46:53 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/272686.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/205"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Went to see Coraline yesterday (not in 3D). It was alright, but not great. It looked good. The whole Doll thing was a nice idea. I felt tense in the right places. But somehow, all the way through I was thinking "Mirrormask did it better".</p> <p>And that's the problem. The film may have looked good, but I prefer the look of Mirrormask; in fact, I preferred everything about Mirrormask. </p> <p>It also felt a little... lost. So much felt British, from the downstairs actresses to the uniforms - which were being sold on President's Day.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/205">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/272492.html Sat, 23 May 2009 12:02:56 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/272492.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/202"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>So, I have this week off work. I have (some) money left, but can't spend it as my Birthday is on Wednesday so going out and buying any of the things I would like would be risky. Things like:</p> <ul> <li>Pride and Predjudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Graham-Smith</li> <li>The City and the City by China Mieville</li> <li>The Wire S4 or 5</li> <li>Southpark S3+</li> <li>Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist</li> <li>Otto; or Up With Dead People</li> <li>Preacher (except Until The End Of The World)</li> </ul><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/202">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/272206.html Tue, 19 May 2009 18:29:56 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/272206.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/201"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>So, today we had three announcements: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8057203.stm">Michael Martin will resign as speaker</a> (and stand down as MP triggering a by-election), Douglas Hogg (he of moat dredging fame) will not be re-standing as an MP and Gordon Brown has decided that MPs who broke the rules (which I believe we'll find to be virtually no-one except perhaps the phantom mortgage claimers) will not be allowed to re-stand as Labour MPs. So, we got some scalps. Are we all warm and content now? FUCK NO!</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/201">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/271954.html Tue, 12 May 2009 17:01:24 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/271954.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/200"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>I'm thinking of organising a trip to <a href="http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk">Bletchley Park</a> and the National Computing Museum. Well, when I say "organise" I mean "co-ordinate a time when I and other mates can go". And when I say "mates" I mean real life friends, twitter folks, nevernetters etc. </p> <p>So, If you want to come, twitter me - @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/penwing">penwing</a> - or comment here with any Saturdays in late June or July you can come.</p> <p>So, any takers?</p> <p>Alex<br /> x x</p> public 0 http://penwing.livejournal.com/271792.html Tue, 05 May 2009 21:37:23 GMT http://penwing.livejournal.com/271792.html <p><a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/199"><img src="http://www.penwing.me.uk/files/small_banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Originally posted at penwing.site" /></a> Please leave any <a href="http://www.penwing.me.uk/comment/reply/61#comment_form">comments</a> there.</p> <p>Just got back from the Sci Fi Book Group at my local Borders. I decided to head along this month because the book intrigued me – The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I told my housemate about it and she came up with the wonderfully precise but inaccurate description “Jesuits in spaaaaaace”. This would be a really bad summing up of the book. A group of people, lead, including and funded by the Jesuits is sent to investigate and communicate with a newly discovered alien culture. Only one member returns with the best reports suggesting a major disgrace on his part.</p> <a href="http://penwing.me.uk/node/199">Read the rest of this post</a> public 0