Hmmm

Fireman who wouldn't hand out leaflets at a 'Gay Pride' bash demoted; others cautioned and sent on 'diversity training.' Tricky one, it seems to me. On the one hand, obviously you pull people out of burning buildings whatover the nature of their lifestyle choices. (The peoples' choices, not the buildings. If it's a hideous '60s building, presumably you can make a judgement call to let it burn down once you've pulled the people out, no?) And telling people about fire safety, well, fair enough. But doesn't telling people about fire safety at a 'Gay Pride' whatsit imply that you approve of gay culture? And why is a 'Gay Pride' march a good place to do outreach about fire safety? What was the reasoning behind the plan to turn up and hand out fire safety leaflets? In any case, it does not look as if the relevant authorities were willing to countenance the firemen's opinions: 'Some of the firefighters involved had argued it would be embarrassing for them to turn up in uniform to the Pride Scotia event, while others claimed it would contradict their moral beliefs.' It's hard to make informed comment without access to more details of the case, but it looks awfie like further encroachment of the dictatorship of relativism. Surprise.

Meanwhile, bizarrely, while looking for (and failing to find) the Scotsman's take on the business, I found that the Lothian and Borders fire brigade has been having a recruitment drive in gay bars. I suppose they can have recruitment drives anywhere they like, but really, isn't it likely that there are better things to spend the money on? It's just a bit odd. Why not have recruitment drives in, oh, I don't know, pubs with live music ('we've found that the traditional music scene is woefully under-represented in the fire service')? Or cocktail bars on George Street ('it seems that rich students just aren't aware of the fire services as a career option')?

Things slightly less bad in Britain

Marriages (insert quotation marks as necessary) lasting a bit longer; divorces slightly less numerous. Vaguely good news, discounting complete public incomprehension as to the point of marriage ekt ekt... though maybe I'm being too cynical.

Amazingly

there was a half-hour interview with Gianna Jessen on the BBC World Service the other day. (Sometimes being awake at two in the morning has its advantages!) Possibly still available here. Miss Jessen ran the London Marathon this year. Deo gratias! (And - I bet a million people have said this - how providential is it that she was named Gianna?!)

Serpentes on a Shippe!!!

With a highly edifying ending. You can skip the cinema trip now.

Good news story

Thirteenth-century letters picked up in Poland by an American soldier in the war, now returned to a Polish archive. Thanks to someone on a medievalists' mailing list who mentioned this.

thesis out of my hands

Now only the wrath and/or ridicule of the examiners remains to be faced. Hah.

Filling in the gaps on the acknowledgements page:

Thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for my creation and baptism, and constant mercy, however much I despoil His handiwork;
and to the Most Blessed Virgin, St Joseph and St Michael;
and to my poor old Guardian Angel, who is kept busy;
and to my dear friends and patrons,
St Andrew
St Mary Magdalene
St John Ogilvie
St Francis and St Claire
St Helena
St Dominic
St Albert
St Thomas Aquinas
St Catherine of Siena
St Therese of Lisieux
St Faustyna Kowalska
St Margaret of Scotland
St Triduana
St Baldred

and probably lots of other people who have kept me out of (more) trouble by their prayers, and done me more good than I am remotely aware of.

The Shadow of that Hyddeous Strength

Ms Murray has joined Mary Warnock in calling for a 'duty to die'. Having freed herself from the burden of fertility through abortion and contraception the new woman must not allow nature to reassert itself through the back door by means of burdensome elderly relatives. Slowly but surely the utopia described in clause 4 of the Labour Party's constitution (post 1995) is being realised "a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe". I will not cease from Mental Fight...

Calling a spade a spade, for once

I have no excuse to blog, but this story (happy ending - so far - and pray for the family!) is such a perfect example of the 'if it's wanted, we'll call it a baby' trend that I couldn't not post. On Reporting Scotland yesterday I distinctly heard the reporter refer to a foetus of nine weeks' gestation as a baby. Better be careful there, Beeb, you don't want people to be getting ideas now...