Monthly Archives: May 2003

Open Secret

The preface to the paperback edition of Open Secret talks of the challenges the security forces face combatting global terrorism. It’s an interesting analysis of the problems facing governments and democracies worldwide but, unfortunately, it doesn’t really set the tone for the rest of the book. The remainder is less threat-analysis and much more biographical.

The very personal nature of the book, and thus the lack of James Bond style bad-guy chasing, is only a disappointment to those who haven’t read anything about it. Open Secret does not set itself up to be a great spy catcher novel. It is the truly fascinating tale of a woman who appeared to join the Secret Service because she couldn’t really think of anything else to do and became the “housewife super-spy”.

Stella Rimington nicely touches on some of the history of MI5 and its role during the wars (world and cold) without turning Open Secret into a detailed historical work. It’s not a technical manual for sleuths either, nor does it contain the great revelations about our Secret Services than some have made out. It is a wonderful insight into the workings of a world that, at least for the part of her time, Stella could not admit existed. She tells of the struggles to bring up a family single-handed while battling the internal workings of a Service that did not expect women to rise to the top. It’s a fascinating insight and, perhaps, inspiring to some. Certainly it’s a book that, this reader at least, is very glad made got through the censorship.

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy

Crossroads ‘was all a dream’

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Crossroads ‘was all a dream’

The final episode saw the Crossroads hotel boss Angel (Jane Asher) realise her job had all been a dream – as she returned to her real-life job as a supermarket checkout assistant in Birmingham called Angela.

I’ve posted quite a lot today. But I just had to post this one. Crossroads was a dream? What a nice way to end the week …

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Pop Life
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy

Pop Life

overyourhead – some irreverent musings by a gay Londoner

07:15pm Briefly consider the idea of eating.
07:30pm Meet rest of gang at Hammersmith Apollo bar.
08:30pm Erasure on stage.
08:31pm-10:30pm Dancing, singing and back to bar for frequent top-ups.
10:31pm Over-ambitious plans to ‘make a night of it’ are formed.
10:32pm Over-ambitious plans to ‘make a night of it’ fade.

Me too!

Well, the bit about seeing Erasure tonight at least!

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy

Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries

If the act of firing people by text message was in an episode of The Office I would be laughing. But it’s the real world and seems like one of the most appalling ways to treat people that I have heard of (mind you, remember this?) Does nobody have any respect for people anymore? Does nobody want to treat employees like human beings? Or is it all exaggerated as an “and finally” story?

Latest Link: C4 News – Fired by text message

Up to 2,500 workers at personal injury claims firm The Accident Group have been made redundant – many of them learning of their fate by text message.

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy

No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions

I wonder where this leaves those who thought the Anglican church was moving towards a more liberal attitude to gay and lesbian couples? The new Archbishop seemed perfectly reasonable in a television interview before he was ordained. I do hope this is taken out of context and that his condemnation is for the Canadians defying the rules of the church to which they belong rather than the act itself.

Latest Link: Archbishop condemns same-sex rites

The Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the world’s 70 million Anglicans, says he is dismayed that a bishop in Canada has decided to authorise blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples.

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy

Dr Kildare is a Sissy

Apparently, Richard Chamberlain (Dr Kildare to those a little older than me and that bloke from the Thorn Birds to me) who was (apparently) a heart throb has decided to come out. Which of the following statements from the Ananova article to we think is most telling?

  • His coming out coincides with the release of his autobiography, Shattered Love.
  • I’m not a romantic leading man any more so I don’t need to nurture that public image.

I don’t know him nor to I know the situation he was in but I think it’s sad that his coming-out (and his staying-in) were, it appears, money driven. I respect anybody’s right to privacy in their lives but being gay isn’t a publicity stunt.

On this day…

2004: Troy
2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions

Helsinki Jazz

View of the jazz band in the centre of HelsinkiYet again I am travelling. I have never been to Finland before and today, I am in Helsinki. This afternoon I was listening to a Jazz band in the sunshine. Honestly, this is work. I’m going to try and put some more pictures online later but for now I want to go to bed. The light kept me awake last night. Look at the figures for today – May 28, 2003: Sunrise: 4:16 AM and Sunset: 10:21 PM

On this day…

2004: Memories Of A May Afternoon
2004: Internet Domains

Amusing Connections in News

It would appear that Russia is the place to be for music tonight. Who would have thought Tatu and Paul McCartney would be connected?

Of course the shocking music headline of the day is that Cilla admits to smoking cannabis (honest – I heard the interview 🙂

  • In an interview with Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio 2, the 60-year-old entertainer said she had “smoked a joint” while she was singing star in the 1960s, but had been a “good girl” when it came to harder drugs. [Source: Cilla admits to smoking cannabis]

On this day…

2005: Danny Baker Shuts Up His Tree House
2004: Palme d’Or
2003: Here We Go Again
2003: An identity crisis

Here We Go Again

I wonder how many blogs will mention Big Brother this year?

Davina McCall continues to be the undisputed queen of handling a live show while jumping about in an excitable manner. Even while pregnant. [Source: BBC News: Big Brother’s not-so-dirty dozen]

On this day…

2005: Danny Baker Shuts Up His Tree House
2004: Palme d’Or
2003: Amusing Connections in News
2003: An identity crisis

An identity crisis

Latest Link: Telegraph An identity crisis

The issue of national identity cards is being raised again. What I am surprised about is this piece in The Telegraph – I thought they would be in favour of ID cards.

See also BBC NEWS: ID cards will ‘infringe civil liberties’. In all the hysteria about terrorism and ID cards, it is worth reminding ourselves that, “The terrorists who committed the atrocities in America on September 11 had legal papers”.

Still, I am unsure what to think about the whole ID card issue. What is telling is that, according to Charter 88, “Countries that already have identity cards have a written constitution and have those rights protected – we don’t”.

(Related: Entitlement Cards)

On this day…

2005: Danny Baker Shuts Up His Tree House
2004: Palme d’Or
2003: Amusing Connections in News
2003: Here We Go Again