Automated Attack Monkeys, Scalpel Mines, & Acid

Equal Marriage: Five thank yous.

2013-05-21T22:25:56Z

I don't want to spend any time at all on my local MP, who voted the wrong way every single time, nor on the four Lib Dems who voted the wrong way, nor on those Lib Dems who abstained for whatever reason (some of whom we know are very much in favour of equal marriage but just couldn't make the chamber today, and others of whom are more... suspect). I do want to single out a few MPs, though, not just Lib Dems, who I feel gratitude towards for this getting passed today.

1, Lynne Featherstone - we wouldn't have had the bill at all without Lynne. I am an unashamed fan of hers, and the quiet, efficient way she goes about things, and her unswerving feminism coupled with her unbreakable LGBT ally-ness makes her a big political hero of mine. So thanks, Lynne, for getting the ball rolling on this, and helping to build it to unstoppable momentum.

2, Julian Huppert - has been indefatigable and measured both yesterday and today in making speeches. Was especially impressive today on the trans issues, which sadly did not gain the support of the house. This is something that needs to be pushed again and again until those whose marriages were forced apart by the state can get them back, and Huppmeister J represented today. Thanks Julian.

3, Caroline Lucas - spoke and voted on the right side on LOTS of amendments, and tweeted from the chamber lots to keep people informed. Stayed in there when most of the rest of the MPs had buggered off, and carried on debating and voting all day. Thanks Caroline.

4, Diane Abbott - resisted the urge for party political point-scoring, unlike so many of her colleagues, and just voted the right way, gladly and with grace. Thanks Diane.

5, Greg Mullholland - many people just assumed that Greg would troop through the no lobby with the other... well, I guess you could call them the Usual Suspects. Beith, Pugh, etc. But he actually wrestled with the issues, and came to a conclusion that he felt could be reconciled with his faith and his liberalism. He thought about it, discussed it with various relevant parties, posted his reasoning on his website, and was in every respect an exemplary Liberal MP - thoughtful, evidence-based, and transparent. I have huge amounts of respect for Greg, not just for the conclusion he came to, but the way he came to it, and utterly condemn those who are berating him on twitter for not being perfectly aligned with whatever THEY think is right. Yes, Summerskill, I'm looking at YOU. I remember 2010, and your hypocrisy is breathtaking. Anyway, thanks Greg.

The battle isn't over for equal rights, not by a long way, and there's still a lot of work to do before the T in LGBT+ in particular are not subject to institutionalised discrimination. But today's skirmish in the battle for equality was mostly a big step in the right direction, and I am glad the overall vote went the way it did, with as big a majority as it did. Now it needs to go through the Lords...

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The Blood is The Life 21-05-2013

2013-05-21T09:00:01Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1393487.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 20-05-2013 http://t.co/iK835EFHqG on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
How Has Political Opinion Changed Since Before The Local Elections? Fieldwork May 17th-18th
I hope the media are very proud.
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The Blood is The Life 20-05-2013

2013-05-20T09:00:01Z

Scriptonite's informative take on PFI
I don't think it's that the electorate don't care; I think it's that they don't see what we can do about it. labour were just as bad as the tories and my own party aren't really covering themselves in glory... so what the hell are we meant to do?
(tags: )
amazon's tax arrangements are a work of art
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What Clara is thinking when she looks at River
this is clearly the unaltered truth
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Terrorist safety signs translated
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baby Brigadier is so cute!
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http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1393364.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 19-05-2013 http://t.co/BpEzHRRW3a on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/17/ukip-donor-women-hostile-trousers
@karenball have you considered making some Hostile Trousers? http://t.co/QNNhe5XdTf
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://www.corsets-uk.com/cd-879-purple-and-black-faux-leather-and-brocade-corset-with-belt.html
@tajasel *whimper* http://t.co/CSgKMLTWnG
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1392988.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 18-05-2013 http://t.co/zi8t8oXfG4 on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://instagram.com/p/ZamvYLA1xh/
RT @notthathard: RT @austinkleon: AC/DC venn #friday http://t.co/Vzr9ZVynZQ
(tags: (from twitter) friday )
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/general-news/huge-queues-as-crash-shuts-m62-between-leeds-and-bradford-1-5685662
Huge queues as crash shuts #M62 between #Leeds and #Bradford -http://t.co/WFYhMPlFOI #traffic
(tags: (from twitter) m62 leeds traffic bradford )

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The Blood is The Life 19-05-2013

2013-05-19T09:00:02Z

Membership of UK political parties - Commons Library Standard Note - UK Parliament
Fascinating PDF with lots of tables.
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To encourage creativity, Mr Gove, you must first understand what it is | Ken Robinson | Comment is free | The Guardian
This is something Govey needs to understand. He never will though.
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Vince Cable on dancing, romance and raw jelly
<3 Lovely Vince
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Where are they now? Five female faces who disappeared from our screens | Society | guardian.co.uk
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BBC News - Contactless 'charging errors' at Marks and Spencer
I am quite glad I don't have a contactless card...
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George takei continues to be made of awesome
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Tom Chivers on banter
As always with the Torygraph, avoid the comments as they are full of racist, off typical arseholes
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The Blood is The Life 18-05-2013

2013-05-18T09:00:01Z

Ukip donor brands women 'hostile' for wearing trousers
Actually, if you think about the construction of the male body, they'd be a lot better off in skirts, with their nadgers roaming free and not squished into inadequate flat spaces, while women are much better suited to trousers due to the need for gusset. YAY! I can do logic too! ;)
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Revealed: Cameron’s nudge,nudge survey to woo marginal voters | David Hencke
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At Google Conference, Cameras Even in the Bathroom - NYTimes.com
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Sexual squeamishness does women no favours
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The Blood is The Life 17-05-2013

2013-05-17T09:00:02Z

Lucy liu is made of awesome
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The Blood is The Life 16-05-2013

2013-05-16T09:00:01Z

The Hawkeye Initiative IRL!
nice sorry about how to deal with sexism in the workplace effectively and with humour
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fair phone
an ethical smart phone. We need to be living phone companies to stay offering this on contact
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If I Admit That 'Hating Men' Is a Thing, Will You Stop Turning It Into a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
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New add campaign for sure deodorant
Just as it's important to complain to huge multinationals when they get things wrong is important to praise them when they get things right. This ad campaign features lots of diverse women (although sadly mostly skinny) doing lots of different things and makes no judgements about whether any of the things they are doing are worthy or appropriate for women. It's not perfect; but it's a damn sight better than any other deodorant add campaign for women I have ever seen.
(tags: )

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I Have in My Hand a Piece of Paper

2013-05-15T19:21:29Z

... which details my official diagnosis of "Non Specific Lower Abdominal Pain".

I have been blood tested, urine tested, x-rayed, ultrasound scanned, and had my abdomen prodded by five different doctors and three radiologists.

The ovary I had taken out has not magically regrown, and nor are there any bits of it remaining. There are no swabs or rolexes. I don't have any abnormal growths. My kidneys, pancreas, spleen, liver, bladder, and various other organs have all been examined and none of them found wanting. My contraceptive coil hasn't pierced my uterus. I don't appear to have diverticulitis. The only other tests they can now do involve barium meals (which might be an option if they thought it was diverticulitis, but as they don't it seems a bit pointless) or exploratory surgery.

The most likely explanation is surgical adhesion from when I had my ovary out. If it IS that then exploratory surgery would probably find it but they might not be able to do anything about it, and given that I am not actually screaming in agony at all times it's probably not worth it right now.

So I have to talk to my GP about pain management, pay attention to my stools (YAY! Funtimes!) and take lots of painkillers. Potentially forever. And go back if the pain gets markedly worse or I start having constipation, diahorrhea or vomiting and they'll do the exploratory surgery.

On the plus side I also now have written proof that I have not got dementia and my cognitive abilities are not suspicious. Yay. Witness my face of utter joy.

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The Blood is The Life 15-05-2013

2013-05-15T09:00:01Z

Wine tasting is bullshit. Here's why.
Poor Jilly Goolden. The one thing she's good at and it's pointless.
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Out of sync: Body clocks altered at cell level in depression
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Police appeal stop and search payout
Mother and son win a case against the Met for race discrimination. Met continues to harass them, down to raiding their house. Met fail.
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labour voters increasingly turning on the poor
the real legacy of Blair imho
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How much did Chris Hadfield's ISS Music Video cost?
Knack all in the grand scheme of things.
(tags: )
How to become a British eurosceptic | Kosmopolito
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Adventures in Hospital

2013-05-14T22:10:45Z

On Friday I started having a pain where my ovary used to be. On Saturday my boss made me promise that if it was still hurting on Monday I would go see the doctor. Yesterday I went to see the doctor. He asked me lots of questions and poked and prodded at me and did a urine test and gave me some pills (probably made of suckrose and ackwah) and told me if it still hurt in 48 hours to come back.

This morning he rang me up and said he'd been thinking and wanted me to come back in. So I went back in and he poked and prodded again and asked exactly the same questions he asked yesterday and then said he wasn't sure what it was, and he'd swear it was ovarian but there's no ovary there, and it might be this really rare type of hernia, and I'd better go to the hospital for more tests.

So I went to the hospital. And after the nurse did paperwork and blood pressure a doctor came (she was quite fanciable, and commented favourably on my shoes) and did EXACTLY the same poking and prodding and questions as my doctor had done, took some blood, and then sent me for an x-ray. The x ray ladies liked my shoes too. I was wearing my Vibram Fivefingers.

After the x ray I sat in the waiting room for three hours watching challenge TV.

Eventually the cute doctor came back, bringing a registrar with her, and he poked and prodded and asked exactly the same questions as the cute doctor and my own doctor had both already asked me. Then he said that he couldn't feel a hernia, and that it seemed like something ovarian to him. At which point I pointed out that both ovary and fallopian tube had been removed from that side, so it couldn't be.

So, given the tests I have already had: there's nothing shown up in a urine test, nothing in the blood tests, and nothing on the x rays. Which means cancer is unlikely because they look for cancer markers in the blood, the surgeon who took my ovary out didn't leave her rolex in there because that would have shown up on the x ray, and I haven't got a bladder infection. So what do you reckon I have got, dear reader?

View Poll: What's the mystery illness?

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Signal Boost: House of Comments Podcast, Featuring @MarkReckons and @ScarletStand and me

2013-05-14T10:49:39Z

In between Doctors' appointments the last few days I managed to spend an hour or so on Skype to take part in the House of Comments podcast for this week. I tried very hard to be polite and not interrupt, even to the extent of not ribbing Emma about her obsession with bar charts on focus leaflets, so those of you hoping for Fireworks might well be disappointed.

Topics covered include Ian Duncan Smith's interesting approach to the use of statistics, the long ramifications of legislation in comparison to the short attention span of the Westminster Village, and European fish quotas.

I wasn't at my combative best, but I think I did OK.

You can listen or subscribe via RSS for android or PC, or via iTunes for Appley people.

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The Blood is The Life 14-05-2013

2013-05-14T09:00:01Z

Michael Gove's approach to evidence-based policy-making
Quite terrifying.
(tags: )
Not just a girl….. » Jaime Moore photography
Amazing five year old girl in historical women cosplay. The Amelia Earheart costume is my favourite :)
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Farewell to blogging « Labour Uncut
"Political parties demand loyalty and I understand that this is important. But loyalty is not blind; in fact blind loyalty is not desirable. The public see straight through the politician trying to hold a line in the face of a hostile interview and it adds to their sense that politicians lie. " - YES! THIS!
(tags: )
Sexy Pool Party - YouTube
Mat sent me this link weeks ago. I find it difficult to motivate myself to watch YouTube videos. I'm glad I bothered with this one.
(tags: )
Not so Famous Faces
YouGov asks the public to name politicians with predictably hilarious results.
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Please Click On Our Website's Banner Ads | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
And this is why my blog is advertising-free.
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Millenials Aren’t Lazy: They’re Fucked | Matt Bors
Somebody prod Boris towards this article.
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on pregnant women being breathalysed for "smoking"
they are being breathalysed for carbon monoxide. I wonder how many landlords with dodgy gas safety certificates will get caught by this?
(tags: )
MPs who repaid expenses got money back in secret deal - Telegraph
Oh dear. Did they really think it wouldn't come out? Was it worth it for £4 worth of dog food?
(tags: )
The European Union: the facts | Full Fact
Nice compilation of facts about the EU, with references for those who wish to study further.
(tags: )
A nice little Conan Doyle reference from The Crimson Horror
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The Blood is The Life 13-05-2013

2013-05-13T09:00:02Z

"banned" Ted talk on economics
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corporations aren't wealth creators they are leeches
I don't always agree with Scriptonite's proposed solutions or her politics but by Cthulhu she argues the case well
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The Blood is The Life 12-05-2013

2013-05-12T09:00:01Z

'Seven dog years' myth exposed - Telegraph
Torygraph "science" correspondent confuses dog breed with species. And the Torygraph wonder why we don't trust their science news...
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Ed Balls comes 2nd to "don't know" in who would win fight poll
WARNING! LINK LEADS TO MURDOCH-OWNED SITE. Obviously this is only because Paddy Ashdown was shamefully left off the list of options. And yes, it's in the Sun, but worth clicking through just for the headline.
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Don’t make fun of renowned Dan Brown - Telegraph
Hilarious article about Dan Brown in the style of Dan Brown. I LOLed. "Renowned author Dan Brown gazed admiringly at the pulchritudinous brunette’s blonde tresses, flowing from her head like a stream but made from hair instead of water and without any fish in."
(tags: )
A fabulous care sheet for the anxiety sufferer in your life
Inspired by and follows on from the Hyperbole and a Half depression post I linked to the other day. It's a joy having both...
(tags: )
Eddie Stobart drives into legal aid row
I have actually lost count of the ways in which this is BLOODY TERRIFYING.
(tags: )
Translations of It's raining cats and dogs in many languages
Apparently the French say "It's raining like a pissing cow" :/
(tags: )
In response to Sun’s request for a naked photoshoot | If you tolerate this then your daughters will be next
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So you're tired of hearing about "rape culture"? - Cogent CommentCogent Comment
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The Upside of Ugly | The Nation
"we don’t feel ugly or less than because of some deficit in our confidence, we feel that way because we’re systematically trained to believe it. Because society depends on it. Self esteem won’t change that—shifting the culture will."
(tags: )

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The Blood is The Life 11-05-2013

2013-05-11T09:00:01Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1390049.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 10-05-2013 http://t.co/vNRUGFI2mT on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://www.colessewingcentre.co.uk/hemmer-5mm-to-fit-model-groups-1234567-code-4118517-45-150-p.asp
@Paul_Mastersrl http://t.co/U8xdb2fQOm I paid £2 inc postage.
(tags: (from twitter) )
Mr Gove - Michael Gove as a Mr Man
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http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1390178.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted State of the SB http://t.co/Q3G1zTlkZN on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )

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State of the SB

2013-05-10T19:39:31Z

If you've been wondering where I am of late I am sorry. I have been having a really bad phase of depression and generally Not Coping. I'm not saying this to garner sympathy - for one thing, sympathy tends to induce guilt - but just to let you know. I'm just about coping with work, and am dipping in and out of twitter, but don't have the spoons for anything else - such as blogging - at the moment.

I am lucky in that I have great, understanding, friends, who will visit when I need company and bugger off when I need to be alone.

( tl;dr: the details of my Not Copingness )

So yeah... not entirely sure how to end this. So I'll just end it.

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The Blood is The Life 10-05-2013

2013-05-10T09:00:01Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1389629.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 09-05-2013 http://t.co/lZ4KRzdlI0 on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://po.st/39fb5J
I love the sheer creativity of youth: 8 year old girl watched Aliens and did this to her dolly. http://t.co/1ST7QjzJKF via @po_st
(tags: (from twitter) )
It’s Time to Retire “Boob Plate” Armor. Because It Would Kill You. | Tor.com
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First They Came For Woolworths, And I Did Not Speak Out: Echo/Gazette Column 22nd Jan. « A GIRL CALLED JACK
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The Coalition: we’re trapped in a loveless marriage with no happy ending in sight | Stephen Tall
Depressing but almost certainly bang on the money.
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The best description of what depression feels like I have ever read.
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Stavvers takes Patricia Hewson apart.
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Barrister Wants Age of Consent Lowered to 13 so Child Abusers Can Avoid Prosecution – We Cannot Stand For This | Scriptonite Daily
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Watch These Straight People Answer A Question Gay People Have Been Asked For Years
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BBC News - Iain Duncan Smith criticised over benefit cap figures
Bwahahahahahahahaaaaaaa
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little girls R better at designing heroes than you
this is just awesome
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http://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?short=ehYt6L
*cackle* http://t.co/5aVSwWBxil
(tags: (from twitter) )

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The Blood is The Life 09-05-2013

2013-05-09T09:01:44Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1389478.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 08-05-2013 http://t.co/42ekfzlh2e on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
Snoopers’ charter reemerging | Digital Politico
Gah. Kill it with fire! Stupid zombie legislation.
(tags: )
Controlling immigration: the snake oil of our time
"The British economy is in deep distress and crying like a baby, not conscious of or unable to express the source of its discomfort. The other leaders were standing over the cot arguing about whether it is hungry or thirsty or teething or has colic. Farage has stepped into the nursery, picked it up, and put a dummy in its mouth. The dummy will do nothing to address the underlying problem, but it is comforting."
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The Blood is The Life 08-05-2013

2013-05-08T09:00:01Z

An illustration of the out of touchness of some MPs
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http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1389239.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 07-05-2013 http://t.co/Hep0dA2cBA on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://tmblr.co/ZNUHgxkQfnmp
"Absences of women in history don’t “just happen,” they are made." http://t.co/QME4ZzaSRv #feminism
(tags: (from twitter) feminism )
a critique of viscous which I find myself agreeing with even though I enjoyed the first episode
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Old Spock battles New Spock in the greatest car commercial ever
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http://youtu.be/xrfszN5qo_Y
Ray Harryhausen's War of the Worlds. The film that was never made. Test footage. http://t.co/EFUDqrRlNN
(tags: (from twitter) )
RIP Ray Harryhausen
I was also at that event, although I think it was before I knew Andrew. I too will miss Ray, an amazing talent and an incredibly sweet man.
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The Blood is The Life 07-05-2013

2013-05-07T09:00:01Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1388890.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 06-05-2013 http://t.co/ngh8YuS2mN on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/pressrelease/civilliability.htm
We should all get behind this Hazards Campaign: http://t.co/BlwrLTySuT (see Private Eye piece here also: http://t.co/9bKjtD8Ha6)
(tags: (from twitter) )
back Pain breakthrough.
this is amazing. Might have to go wave this is my doctor's face.
(tags: )
Absences of women in history don’t “just happen,” they are made.
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The Blood is The Life 06-05-2013

2013-05-06T09:00:01Z

http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1388664.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 05-05-2013 http://t.co/PNyjf8olVU on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22417334
BBC News - Which? poll says many 'borrowing money for food' http://t.co/ze5YC3qVev How shocking - in 1 of richest nations in the world?
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://twitpic.com/co7lvs
I am so handsome, I even make grown Human males faint with desire! #doctorwho http://t.co/MAuKOLqgvs
(tags: (from twitter) doctorwho )
http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1388310.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted Why any analysis of the local election results cannot be extrapolated to a general election http://t.co/OFQ53gfnbV on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://gawker.com/international-clitoris-week-is-just-around-the-corner-489316812
@mjrobbins Saw this; thought of you: http://t.co/G5AP9igZlT
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=hp_sauce&issue=1339
agreed. RT @Scarletstand: This is absolutely disgusting. This government should be ashamed: http://t.co/RDei26ZK5H
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://www.wishpond.com/twsw/49091/reference?scid=14380&type=Merchant
We're giving away 50 FREE TEES to Twitter followers of http://t.co/bkoLgTCins : http://t.co/KJweKxMcuQ ReTweet for another chance to win!
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1388091.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 03-05-2013 http://t.co/2TyzhYUjTB on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://twitpic.com/cnomrv
Even dogs know that #BBCQT is a car crash. http://t.co/va9T8hY65i
(tags: (from twitter) bbcqt )
http://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?short=eg5PVW
lol http://t.co/HgSzzVGxFf
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://change.org/banknotes
Mary Wollstonecraft currently leader on @guardian's poll about #banknotes http://t.co/yykiT3Jl5G don't forget 2 sign! http://t.co/MU5zvZBBvZ
(tags: (from twitter) banknotes )
http://www.qwertee.com/
We're giving away 50 FREE TEES to Twitter followers of http://t.co/bkoLgTCins : http://t.co/KJweKxMcuQ ReTweet for another chance to win!
(tags: (from twitter) )
http://miss-s-b.dreamwidth.org/1387846.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
posted The Blood is The Life 02-05-2013 http://t.co/L75yszcovM on #dreamwidth
(tags: (from twitter) dreamwidth )
http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568385/s/2b6f20e6/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cculture0Ctvandradio0Cdoctor0Ewho0C10A0A331120CDoctor0EWho0E50Ath0Eanniversary0EDavid0ETennant0Econfirmed0Eas0Eonly0Ereturning0EDoctor0Bhtml/story01.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewsFitToRead+%28News+Fit+to+Read+from+Somebody+Elses+Website%29
Arse. :( RT @DirtyWHOers: Doctor Who 50th anniversary: David Tennant confirmed as only returning Doctor http://t.co/hu6u4JWWIv #DoctorWHO
(tags: (from twitter) doctorwho )
Anthropological notes on the liberal Democrats
there's a lot in this that is painfully accurate, but the pull quote has to be: "It always amuses me that party’s plans to increase diversity seem to consist, not of turning politics into something a sane human being might want to do, but in convincing working-class BME women that they too should make the kind of mad irrational ego-driven choices that white twentysomething childless middle-class men do"
(tags: )

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The Blood is The Life 05-05-2013

2013-05-05T09:00:01Z

30 Days Of Sexism | Kotaku Australia
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Mythbusting The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 -Your photos and you
This act has been referred to as "the Instagram Act" by various people wanting to stop it. I remain to be convinced that they have understood how it is going to work, and this mythbuster chimes with most of how I understood it.
(tags: )
There are girl cooties on my space ship – on women writing hard SF
Interesting author experience, here.
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Mark Thompson: UKIP - The political classes are still not getting it
Mark has an interesting perspective on the success of UKIP. I think he's right to an extent, but he's also right to use the words "seem to" and "appear to" a lot.
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Long-term renting is 'damaging children's lives' - Home News - UK - The Independent
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Bill Shatner's Acting Masterclass
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Grauniad Letters page
The third one down, from Alan Bowen, is one my party should be paying close attention to.
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BNP calls on members to breed more after elections disaster | Politics | guardian.co.uk
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Why any analysis of the local election results cannot be extrapolated to a general election

2013-05-04T15:21:34Z

I am utterly sick of people attempting to read in the entrails of the local election results what might happen in the general election in 2015. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of why such efforts are fruitless bullshit:

People vote differently in local and general elections. Recognising that the local council has very little power any more, people take council elections far less seriously. This means that turnout is derisory and the result is thus distorted by the people who DO turnout being either seriously committed to one party or another, or wanting to "send a message" by spoiling their ballot or voting for a party they know cannot win.

Local elections were not held in every parliamentary constituency. This means that any extrapolation to a national result is "projection" - i.e. guesswork

Time will pass between now and a general election. Political change tends to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but sometimes there IS a revolutionary change, and none of us knows what will happen in the next two years. The old adage that a week is a long time in politics still holds true in many cases.

Data which applies to our electoral system is incomplete, verging on non-existent. The only polling data we have which is reliable at constituency level is from previous general elections. No polling company holds/collects data at constituency level, and most of them hold/collect data at a national level. This is USELESS for predicting the results of a general election under the first past the post electoral system, where every single constituency has its own idiosyncracies. We will never get a British Nate Silver or change the woeful quality of political analysis in the media unless this changes.

The pundits in the media are crap. Relying on the proclamations of media pundits is an exercise in futility when none of them even acknowledge that they are guessing from incomplete data.

I'm sure there are other reasons that could be added to this list, but you get the idea. Basically, if anyone tells you that they can predict what will happen in May 2015 after this week's local election results, your bullshit detector should be pinging off the top of the scale.

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