42 days – The politics of fear

The saddest thing about tonight's vote on extending the time a person can be detained, without charge, is that it appeared to have the support of much of the British public. These are presumably the same people who believe if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about; people who naively believe that a government always acts in the best interests of the people.

This is not a vote that will enhance our security, more a propaganda victory for extremist groups who have now managed to curtail our liberties by proxy. It is based on specious evidence and didn't even command the support of the Scottish Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini, who shares the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith "that the requirement for an extension to the current 28 days is not supported by prosecution experience to date."

This vote is not an act of strength but of fear.

Tower of song

Perhaps it wasn't a perfect day but it was still rather good. Lauren had her swimming lesson this morning; if she could just remember to put her head above water and breath occasionally she could be… well she already is amazing so why wish for anything else? I got to exercise early in the day rather than guiltily trying to fit it in late in the evening. No trip to the garden centre. No trip to The (dreaded) Mall. Lauren and I went to the park for an hour or so, played on the swings, we even had an ice cream. The weather was great so I didn't mind stopping off at Tesco before walking home.

Walking... imagine that! Lauren behaved herself. Imagine that!! There was football in the evening. Doctor Who was great (about time). There was more football. I'm listening to Leonard Cohen with a smile on my face. What's going on?

If there’s no one to see it, has it really happened?

If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one around to hear it, has it made a sound? If Channel 5 News has no pictures is it worth reporting? Judging from the few seconds afforded in one weekend report to the current crisis in Burma, the answer from a Channel 5 point of view would appear to be 'No'. In the same report they did thankfully manage several minutes on the China earthquake, they had endless pictures of collapsed buildings to perk their interest, but undermined their dubious credibility with a few minutes on a YouTube video posted by Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse (talented people wasting their lives always draws in the red-top readership).

If only Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been born with her feet the wrong way around, or had an unusual eating disorder, then Channel 5 might have shown more interest. Shoddy television news reporting only encourages, and in their minds justifies, the isolationist tendencies of Burma's military leaders. As it is we are once again reliant on decent newspaper coverage to inform us of what is happening; it's a shame none of us read any more.

I am the destroyer of (plant) life

As the time approaches for the return of Mrs R, the thought occurs to me that perhaps I should have done as asked and watered the various plants around the house. In particular the plastic containers positioned on every windowsill to catch the light, so that the seeds (of what I have no idea) have a chance to grow. I recall once renting a house for three months and only remembering to water the plants at the very end; it was as if I thought with enough water I could somehow bring them back to life.

Trouble is I've been so busy putting discs in the DVD player, taking discs out of the DVD player, cursing the DVD player drawer for constantly sticking (they don't make cheap £20 supermarket DVD players like they used to any more), that it's easy to forget everything else. Tonight is my last chance to catch up on anything I'd like to watch without interruption, or indeed chance to watch anything at all. It's an opportunity to watch something intellectually stimulating or something puerile and fun... and there's a large vanilla cheesecake in the fridge... oh dear.

In winter

Do I dare disturb the earth

Poke my head above the ground

Is it safe for me outside

Can I take a look around

Do I dare disturb a world

That once I would placate

Or breathe a safe existence

For a while and hibernate

Do I dare disturb a life

Though around me cold has come

Or tie myself in Gordian knot

For fear of being undone

Mace Windu versus Samuel Pepys (Jedi Knight)

My seven year old daughter recently informed me of a startling similarity between Mace Windu (famous for his diary on a galaxy far far away) and Samuel Pepys (famous for starting the great fire of London by accidentally igniting a bale of straw with his light sabre); they were both bald.

I think you'll agree - the resemblance is uncanny.

Easy fixes

So I asked my daughter "What's your favourite film? ... Is it 'High School Musical'?" - I remembered seeing her once (or more) watching it before trying to back out of the living room unnoticed. "Is it 'Grease'?" – I knew that dancing was a key factor. She pursed her lips and then raised her hand to me as if to say "Back off, I'm thinking". After some careful deliberation she replied "I don't know Daddy. What's your favourite film?"

Considering she's only six I gave this far too much thought, and there are dozens to choose from, but I eventually told her "You know, I think it might be Un coeur en hiver"

"What does that mean?"

"A Heart in Winter" I said. "It's a French film".

"Can I watch it?"

"I'm not sure you'd like it."

"I would…" she said. "What's it about?"

"A beautiful violinist who falls in love with a violin maker, but he is unable to love her in return."

"Why not?"

"His heart isn't working properly."

"Why doesn't he see a doctor?"

"Good question…" I said, "I suppose some things aren't all that easy to fix."