technorati tag: greenbelt, metcheck
Whit weekend
Another bank holiday is upon us, and with the usual sense of meterological timing, the weather is due to break on Saturday evening.
Is anyone planning / was anyone planning anything exciting? Or maybe we are all intending to celebrate the Festival of Pentecost or the olde Englishe tradition of Whit...?
A thought: maybe the celebrant on Penntecost Sunday should wear traditional robes of Goretex.
Antony Gormley eat your art out...
I was going to post something today on last night's activity around ascension using Gormley's new piece Blind Light (amongst other things) - but Ben's said it all already (and better). Go read.
technorati tag: sanctus1, ascension, blind light, antony gormley
technorati tag: sanctus1, ascension, blind light, antony gormley
Mr and Mrs Average
This just landed in our inboxes at work courtesy of a tabloid journalist looking for story-fodder...
“Are you, or do you know, Mr or Mrs Average? We are looking for someone who can answer yes to most of the questions below, and do a feature with them asking them their views about the world etc…
Do you know the words to God Save the Queen (first verse and chorus)?
Are you married with two children?
Do you own your own home, worth approx £190-210k?
Do you have more than 80 contacts on your mobile phone?
Do you work over 40 hours a week?
Do you own a Ford Fiesta?
Do you have 14 close friends?
Do you consider yourself working class?
Are you repaying debts or loans totaling more than £3,000 (excluding mortgage)?
Does your home contain one of the Harry Potter books?
Do you have three or more TVs in your house?
Do you go to the toilet six times a day?
Do you sleep approximately seven hours a night?
Do you think you're a good driver?
Do you do less than 30 minutes sport/continuous exercise per week?
Do you know how to cook at least four meals, including spaghetti bolognaise?
Do you drink at least three cups of tea a day?
On average, do you one foreign holiday a year?
Does your daily commute to work take 20-30 minutes (one-way)?
Do you believe in God?”
And thus I was left staring slightly open mouthed at the screen...
Average? How exactly? And as average as whom - your peers, our parents, the rest of the UK? How can that list be representative of the national average person – living up to your working-class roots by owning a £200k house, driving 25 minutes to your 8 till 6 job in your Fiesta, and coming home to spag bol cooked by your partner (eaten with your two kids), and a chapter of Harry Potter before your 7 hours kip? Squash on Tuesday, beers on Friday, church on Sunday, do it all again next week. Depressing really – a bit like that new Alpha ad…
Think hard now – do you know ANYONE who is all those things, let alone that person being you? (If so, and for some inexplicable reason you do want to take part, I still have the journo’s email!)
And yes, at the risk of starting another blog/ email meme, have a look down that list and see what you can answer yes to… Might tell you something about yourself, or indeed something about that list and our national priorities and interests.
I don’t know if I find it comforting (an affirmation of my place in the national collective identity) or worrying (an affirmation of the fact that I’m not so different to everyone else) that I answered yes to 14 of these, and no to 6. And no I’m not telling you which...
technorati tag: mr and mrs average, normal
“Are you, or do you know, Mr or Mrs Average? We are looking for someone who can answer yes to most of the questions below, and do a feature with them asking them their views about the world etc…
Do you know the words to God Save the Queen (first verse and chorus)?
Are you married with two children?
Do you own your own home, worth approx £190-210k?
Do you have more than 80 contacts on your mobile phone?
Do you work over 40 hours a week?
Do you own a Ford Fiesta?
Do you have 14 close friends?
Do you consider yourself working class?
Are you repaying debts or loans totaling more than £3,000 (excluding mortgage)?
Does your home contain one of the Harry Potter books?
Do you have three or more TVs in your house?
Do you go to the toilet six times a day?
Do you sleep approximately seven hours a night?
Do you think you're a good driver?
Do you do less than 30 minutes sport/continuous exercise per week?
Do you know how to cook at least four meals, including spaghetti bolognaise?
Do you drink at least three cups of tea a day?
On average, do you one foreign holiday a year?
Does your daily commute to work take 20-30 minutes (one-way)?
Do you believe in God?”
And thus I was left staring slightly open mouthed at the screen...
Average? How exactly? And as average as whom - your peers, our parents, the rest of the UK? How can that list be representative of the national average person – living up to your working-class roots by owning a £200k house, driving 25 minutes to your 8 till 6 job in your Fiesta, and coming home to spag bol cooked by your partner (eaten with your two kids), and a chapter of Harry Potter before your 7 hours kip? Squash on Tuesday, beers on Friday, church on Sunday, do it all again next week. Depressing really – a bit like that new Alpha ad…
Think hard now – do you know ANYONE who is all those things, let alone that person being you? (If so, and for some inexplicable reason you do want to take part, I still have the journo’s email!)
And yes, at the risk of starting another blog/ email meme, have a look down that list and see what you can answer yes to… Might tell you something about yourself, or indeed something about that list and our national priorities and interests.
I don’t know if I find it comforting (an affirmation of my place in the national collective identity) or worrying (an affirmation of the fact that I’m not so different to everyone else) that I answered yes to 14 of these, and no to 6. And no I’m not telling you which...
technorati tag: mr and mrs average, normal
Naked Bike Ride
Unfortunately my Bike was stolen a few weeks ago but if it wasn't...
'Naked Bike Ride 2007 Manchester
June 8 at 7pm we will be riding naked to protest oil dependency.
We will meet at 6pm at The basement, 24 Lever street, then ride naked through the streets of manchester.
Hope to see you Bare!
Meg Fenwick
Manchester Naked Bike Ride Coordinator'
HT Mancubist
'Naked Bike Ride 2007 Manchester
June 8 at 7pm we will be riding naked to protest oil dependency.
We will meet at 6pm at The basement, 24 Lever street, then ride naked through the streets of manchester.
Hope to see you Bare!
Meg Fenwick
Manchester Naked Bike Ride Coordinator'
HT Mancubist
Happy 45th Birthday, Alan Johnston...
To Our Own Correspondent, Alan: "For more than 50 years on this programme, the news has been broadcast from our own correspondents. Today - with apologies to you - I want to send a message to one of our own. Day 66 of Alan Johnston's captivity is also his 45th birthday. Most likely there will be no candles or cake. But my hope is that somewhere, somehow, Alan will be able to listen. His family, his friends, his colleagues all miss him. We want him home. Our birthday wish is his immediate release. Happy birthday Alan."
(Jon Williams, World Editor, BBC News, Jerusalem)
technorati tag: alan johnston
(Jon Williams, World Editor, BBC News, Jerusalem)
technorati tag: alan johnston
Alan Johnston - send him a birthday message...
Another way to show that you haven't forgotten Alan Johnston's abduction - 64 days today since he vanished - the Media Guardian site reports:
The BBC's kidnapped Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston turns 45 on Thursday and the corporation has issued an address for people who want to send birthday cards as a show of support. Johnston has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint in Gaza City on March 12.
Last week, he was named broadcasting journalist of the year at the annual London Press Club awards, where the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, paid tribute to Johnston and the courage of his family. Readers who wish to send cards should post them to the World Affairs Unit, Room 410SE, BBC Bush House, Strand, London, WC2B 4PH.
technorati tag: alan johnston
What's all this then?
There's this chap called Ben Hall. He is: "... one of Britain’s foremost wildlife photographers. By focusing almost exclusively on the British Isles, Ben has developed an intimate understanding of our natural heritage and how to represent it visually. His images are often surprising, always striking, awakening people to the diversity of Britain’s natural world."He's WELL good!
Check out his snappy snaps here.
Check out his snappy snaps here.
Alloy Metal's God Is Green
This is the new single God Is Green by punk-dance beat combo Alloy Mental, remixed by Belfast boy wonder Phil Kieran (yes, Stephen, there's more than one).
The single's out on Monday. Expect a storming Glastonbury set later this year.
last chance to be the change...
This is on tomorrow - and since it's going to rain on the bank holiday, here's a chance to do something indoors!
See you there?
Sanctus1 and Be The Change presents the Change the Dream Symposium
Where on Earth are we going?
And what can we do about it?
These are two of the questions that lie at the heart of Change the Dream. It explores the link between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.
Using video clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, inspiring short films, and leading edge information on the state of the planet and its people, the day allows all of us to gain a new insight into the opportunity we have to shape the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions.
Monday 7 May (bank holiday), 10.00 - 4.30
Nexus, Dale St., Manchester, M1 1JW
0161 236 0100
Cost: £10 (£5 unwaged) - any profits will be donated to suitable charities.
Fairtrade tea/ coffee provided. Lunch not included – bring or buy your own.
For bookings and info, please email bethechange@sanctus1.co.uk
technorati tag: be the change, sanctus1
See you there?
Sanctus1 and Be The Change presents the Change the Dream Symposium
Where on Earth are we going?
And what can we do about it?
These are two of the questions that lie at the heart of Change the Dream. It explores the link between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.
Using video clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, inspiring short films, and leading edge information on the state of the planet and its people, the day allows all of us to gain a new insight into the opportunity we have to shape the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions.
Monday 7 May (bank holiday), 10.00 - 4.30
Nexus, Dale St., Manchester, M1 1JW
0161 236 0100
Cost: £10 (£5 unwaged) - any profits will be donated to suitable charities.
Fairtrade tea/ coffee provided. Lunch not included – bring or buy your own.
For bookings and info, please email bethechange@sanctus1.co.uk
technorati tag: be the change, sanctus1
fragile growth?
A few days ago Michael posted about the plants that he's got growing in his garden. They were "left overs" from a piece of worship that he and Dan lead us in as part of an emerging get-together.
(On a slight aside, surely plants are for life and not just for alt.worship?)
Anyway am pleased to report that despite not being outdoors, mine is thriving too. Of course it's only a symbol but it's great to see it flourishing as a reminder of our time together, our connectedness through that act, and a reminder of God's promise to and hope for us.
technorati tag: emerging church worship
technorati tag: emerging church worship
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