• Good and Joyful Things

    Happy Pride Sunday

    BBC NEWS | Middle East | Jerusalem gay march ban set aside Well, that’s good and joyful all right. A judge came down hard on the Jerusalem mayor’s unilateral banning of this year’ Gay Pride parade. Not only will it go on, but the city of Jerusalem will pay 30,000 shekels to the gay and lesbian center to underwrite the vent, plus another 30,000 shekels just for good measure, and they have to line the parade route with banners. So there, nyah. It’s good news, much better than those crotchety old religious clerics of various faiths who came together last…

  • Make Poverty History

    What Is Make Poverty History?

    It has been to Downing Street, caught the imagination of Nelson Mandela and attracted a plethora of celebrities – so just what is Making Poverty History? In just six months the campaign has grabbed numerous headlines and can count on the support of pop stars, clergy and statesmen alike. So what are the coalition’s AIMS? How is it FUNDED? How are the CHURCHES involved? What has it got to do with the POLITICIANS? Why does it attract the CELEBRITIES? And just what are those WRISTBANDS? I’ve ordered some of the British wristbands. The American version is available here. Live 8…

  • Politics, Schmolitics

    Adam Felber’s Dream of Reconciliation Dashed

    Oh well. It was silly to think there’d be humanity, understanding, or reconciliation from the opportunists who grabbed Terri Schiavo’s inert body and dragged her, head lolling obscenely, into battle. They’re too busy sending out inflammatory fundraising emails and preparing the heavily-Photoshopped “2006 Terri Schiavo Swimsuit Calendar.” Being at war, even a “culture war,” means admitting no errors, not until it’s over. Which is why we’re fighting wars on “terror” and “the culture of death” rather than wars on “Iraq” and “The Schiavo Case.” Those might end, after all. Adam rightly notes that the lack of apology from the “activists”…