#nat talks uk politics

[girlactionfigure]

⚪ Wed morning - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

▪️HOSTAGES.. IDF spokesman: "There are hostages in Rafah - determined to do everything in order to create the conditions for them to return home."

▪️IDF PULLS UNRWA VIDEO - w/TERRORISTS.. A video (a few days old) of terrorists working near UN cars was revealed on the UNRWA website.  (( That’s called a LEGITIMATE MILITARY TARGET. ))

▪️A HERO SOLDIER HAS FALLEN.. Ira Yair Gispan, 19, of Petach Tikva.  May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge his blood!

▪️AID RIOT.. in the Erez crossing area: Dozens of anti-aid protestors tried to enter the Gaza Strip and were stopped, as part of a protest against aid to Hamas.

▪️CRITICAL AID!  Of 52 aid trucks that entered Gaza coming via Jordan, 7 trucks contained cigarettes and tobacco products.  On a related point, they entered through Kerem Shalom, which Hamas has fired rockets at 5 times and killed 4 IDF soldiers and wounded 12.

▪️ISRAEL - SURE, WE’LL WAIT.. “Senior American Official” an understanding was reached that the operation in Rafah will not be significantly expanded before the talks with the Americans on the issue. That is: at least until after US Nat. Security Advisor Sullivan's visit to Israel.

▪️DEMOCRATIC INSANITY.. Hadash Israeli-Arab terror supporting group at Tel Aviv university requested a permit for a pro-Hamas rally.  The Israel Police informed the Hadash cell that they would be prohibited from holding an incitement event outside the campus.  The Association for  Civil Rights immediately petitioned the High Court.  Unfortunately, the state folded and announced that it approves the incitement event.  

CEO of B’tzelmo: “It is unfortunate and infuriating that once again bodies in the legal system, instead of fighting against supporters of terrorism and deniers of the existence of the state, choose to choose the side of the enemy.”

▪️US POLITICS.. US Republican congressmen are promoting a bill in Congress which also has supporters among the Democrats that would force the US to transfer the frozen arms shipments to Israel. The bill that will probably be put to the vote tomorrow is expected to pass with a large majority.

President Biden has announced that he will use his veto power to block it if it is approved.

▪️US/UK SHIPPING COALITION ATTACKS.. A wave of 4 attacks in the Hodeidah airport area.  The Houthis are firing at ships every day now.

▪️ZEITOUN - GAZA.. (Al Jazeera) sraeli troops have withdrawn from Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood following a six-day operation. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said troops have killed more than 150 gunmen and destroyed some 80 sites used by terror groups.

▪️US WANTS ARAB COUNTRIES RUNNING GAZA.. Financial Times report: The Biden administration urges Arab countries to be part of a peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip "once the war is over". According to the report, Egypt, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates are considering agreeing to the move, but they will do so with American recognition of a Palestinian state.

♦️RAFAH.. the operation is expanding to the center of Rafah, the city is being emptied quickly and without incidental damage.

♦️RAFAH.. the IDF is pressing forward in the Philadelphi border corridor, setting up for long term control.

♦️COUNTER-TERROR RAIDS: overnight in Ananta, northeast of Jerusalem, and in Shechem with active firefights.

♦️3 MAJOR TARGETED AIRSTRIKES.. overnight in Jabaliya, Boris, Sheikh Radwan hitting terrorist centers and terror families.

⭕ IRAQI SHIA MILITIAS FIRED 2 SUICIDE DRONES into Israel at Eilat. Intercepted prior to getting to Israel.

⭕ HAMAS ROCKETS (3) at Sderot, intercepted, 2 rounds.

[tallsaints]

hello! finally got around to making a gofundme for my top surgery amidst all of the nasty political talk in the uk and honestly, i'm terrified of asking for this help but see no other way of continuing to exist happily without trying! any shares are so appreciated xx

[bisluthq]

Not british but scottish independence is funny because all the arguments for independence mirror all the arguments for brexit, same for all the downsides too but most people who are pro independence are anti brexit qnd vice versa.

Mmmm I mean it’s complicated in that they were… colonized… so it’s not really the same as Brexit at all. Like Scotland was forcibly colonized and oppressed for YEARS and still has problems as a result so idk if it’s comparable to Brexiting tbh.

[madamebaggio]

Part 1, Part 2

***

“I have information on the Starks. The other ones.” Natasha added when she saw Tony’s pout. He wasn’t happy about not being the only famous Stark out there.

“What do you have?” Steve wanted to know.

“Some things were easy to find.” Natasha said as she sat down. “For others, I had to dig into interesting places.”

“Continue.” Bucky asked.

“The official the story is…” She paused dramatically and opened a file. “The Starks are an old family with very old money. Those types of people that can trace their lineage to a distant relative that used to play chess with the King of England. They were loyal the Crown for ages, and fought many wars for it.” She passed the folder to Tony, who was closer. “Their state is called Winterfell and has belonged to the family for generations. Now, they used to be rich just because they were, and had safe business ventures. They had been fighting wars for a long time, but that was it.”

“What changed?” Steve questioned.

“The father of those three, Eddard Stark, was in the middle of that Parliamentary Coup that happened a few decades ago in England.”

Bucky cleared his throat. “He wasn’t the only one.”

Yes, they now knew that HYDRA had helped along with the whole debacle that happened, and almost caused a civil war in the UK.

“Yes, but Eddard Stark was by all accounts, the most honorable man who’d ever lived.” Natasha pointed out. “The man was considered a saint, you won’t find a single person willing to talk badly about him. He was the one that started Winterfell Industries, focused on…”

“Weapons.” Tony completed.

“Yes. They started getting big, but big among certain crowds.”

“That’s why I never heard about them.” Tony guessed.

“Yes. They had an amazingly strict clientele.”

“But something went wrong.” Bucky guessed.

“We can’t keep our eyes in the whole world.” Nat indicated. “And we keep busy around here, but in England things got ugly with a powerful family, the Lannisters.”

“The former Prime Minister’s family?” Steve guessed, because he was sure he’d heard the name before.

“Exactly. Recently it became public knowledge that they had a close relationship with HYDRA and a lot of what the Starks created, went there.”

“So what happened?” Tony pressed.

“Eddard tried to confront the Lannisters, it didn’t go well.” Natasha sighed. “He was executed, his daughters went missing, his wife started a campaign for justice… It was a whole mess. His oldest son, Robb, went into politics and he lost his pregnant wife for his efforts. There was an ambush, he survived by a miracle, his wife and mother didn’t.”

“Holy fuck.” Tony let out a breath.

“And the daughters?” Bucky asked.

“Sansa Stark was basically a hostage for the Lannisters. She disappeared for years, and would only be seen occasionally. At some point she went to live with her aunt, who died under suspicious means. Two years after that, she took the company back with the help of her cousin Jon and her brother.”

“Took back?” Bucky arched an eyebrow.

“By force.” Natasha nodded. “As soon as she’s back in power the company started growing more and more. The girl is a business genius; she has no formal education, but she can scent a deal from miles.”

“What about the cousin and the sister?” Those two were the ones Steve was concerned about.

“Jon Snow went into the military, and became Black Ops quite fast. He’s a talented soldier and an even better strategist. Some people say he’s unkillable.”

Bucky snorted. “No such thing.”

“He’s a trained soldier. The interesting one, is the sister.” Natasha continued. “Arya Stark disappeared for many years. Enough that people thought she was really dead. Three years ago she shows up out of nowhere.”

“Where was she?” Tony asked.

“Everywhere. She was trained by people some agencies never heard about and some we wish we hadn’t.” Natasha leaned back against the chair. “She’s the most dangerous of them all.”

Steve sighed. “Now what?”

“Keep your friends close and all that jazz.” Tony offered. “We should keep an eye on them.”

“We don’t know if they’re enemies.” Steve indicated.

Tony scoffed. “Do you wanna wait to find out?”

He looked at the picture of Sansa Stark that was closer, then traded a look with Bucky.

No, he didn’t want to wait to find out.

***

Notes: This got really long, really fast...

Let me know your feelings.

[itsacon10]

I’m going to talk about something that I rarely see on my feed for a minute, but please bear with me: Sports

I live in the US where MLS and NWSL have recently started having “tournaments”, the NBA and NHL are working to restart their seasons in bubbles, MLB is going to start a 60 game season in a couple weeks, and the NFL is that dog from the comic strip saying everything is fine.

Other than MLB, I don’t really care about any of those leagues.  However, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Project Restart in England, the Bundesliga in Germany, and even some Serie A fixtures in Italy, plus there’s a little mini tournament, Copa por Mexico (sorry, don’t know how to do the accent over the ‘e’ on my keyboard) that’s been entertaining, and they’re planning for the Liga MX 2020 Apertura.  Also, I’ve seen some KBL, but it’s not at good times, so that’s been rare.

Are they great games?  Not really, and while I understand that there are significant financial issues revolving around completion of European football, I’m wondering why they’re being played at all.  BUT, Europe seems to have gotten their shit together when it comes to COVID-19 (we’ll see about the UK in a few weeks from now, but it’s currently being run by a Muppet who was behind screwing over the UK with Brexit) and even though Mexico is currently trending upwards, their new cases is 1/10th of new ones in the US and it is remaining flat, not spiking upwards.

So who hasn’t gotten their shit together?  The US.  Things aren’t better, overall, and in some significant areas of the country it’s getting much worse (I’m looking at you Florida and Texas).  Why?  Because rather than treating this as a public health emergency, it was treated as an economic problem, and one in which it was decided that illness and death were acceptable as long as the economy kept humming along.

I’m not here to go into the economics and politicization of COVID-19 other than to say that it’s because of the casual disregard of seriousness of the matter that the US is in the place that it is.  And who was pushing forward the “reopening” of the US?  The rich who are also the ones who own sports franchises.  And rather than treating the matter responsibly, it was turned political, and rather than having a handle on COVID-19, it’s spiraling out of control.

As to the sports themselves, Orlando withdrew from the NWSL tournament because of COVID-19.  FC Dallas and Nashville are out of the MLS tournament, and today’s game between FC Toronto and DC United was postponed because of positive tests.  Positive tests keep popping up in MLB, and they’re planning on not playing in a bubble and instead traveling to home stadiums (albeit restricted somewhat to regional areas, but teams in the Northeast will still be traveling to Florida).  Nothing yet from the NBA, but that’s a matter of when and not if.  Same with the NHL, although they’re planning on being in Canada rather than Orlando, so that’s an improvement)  And we didn’t even talk about college football, which keeps being shut down during “voluntary” workouts when students aren’t fully back on campus. 

Sport is, despite the vast industry that’s been established to keep them going, a luxury.  The US hasn’t earned the right to have them.  As Nat’s reliever Sean Doolittle said, “Sports are like the reward of a function society.”  (I’m usually not a big fan of athletes and what they have to say, I’ll listen to Lebron, a handful of others, but check out Doolittle’s comments here.  I’ll also listen to anything Doolittle has to say.)

We screwed up.  The US screwed up bigly.  We don’t deserve sport right now, all because we were selfish and wanted something we hadn’t earned.  I don’t care about fall college sports, I care that my daughter will be able to attend college in the fall.  I don’t care that Jerry Jones isn’t going to make millions from the NFL this season, I care that a billionaire won’t pay for a living wage for all of the employees of the Dallas Cowboys who have been impacted because of the rush to “reopen” the country for a megalomaniac.

The US needs to get its shit together.  Then we can enjoy sport.  It’s that easy.

[cyclone-rachel]

Take Two, hopefully with no more mishaps!

*

When Detective Heywood sits down beside her in the Waverider, Zari refuses to look up from her glass. The Whiskey burns like always and Gideon refills her glass wordlessly before pointedly ignoring the detective. Cops aren’t welcomed in places like this and Heywood has goody-two-shoes written all over him. It almost makes Zari’s night worth it. Almost; she knows this one detective well enough by now to know nothing good can come of him looking for her in her turf.

“Miss Tomaz,” he starts, fidgeting in the stool before clearing his throat, “I hope you’re, uh, doing well. Is there– can we talk?”

“I don’t know, d’you got a warrant?” She asks, knocking back her glass. 

Heywood politely waits for Gideon to refill her glass again. “It’s not– you’re not being summoned, relax,” he sighs, drags a hand across his face. Something about it strikes her as weary like Heywood never is, his upbeat personality is missing tonight. “It’s about Charlie.”

Charlie.

How long has it been since Zari has heard that name? Months, at least. Zari settles her half-full glass down, watching the golden liquid slosh around, spill on the wooden counter. It’s been long enough that Zari can swallow down the ache that rises right there, in the middle of her chest. 

“I can’t do this, I’m not made for staying, I’m sorry.”

Bullshit, Zari sneers, whirling on the stool to face Heywood head-on. 

“I have nothing to do with Charlie anymore,” she tells him, watches his face fall, “but you knew that already. So, what do you want?”

He doesn’t beat around the bush anymore, Zari is grateful enough for that to stick around and listen, and doesn’t sugar coat it. “The Crown Jewels, they were in the National Museum this weekend– you heard about that? Right, it was supposed to be the last international tour, UK wants to lock it back overseas.”

“Let me guess, and now, they’re gone.”

“Without a trace,” he nods, grimacing, “and– I’m really trying to help here, okay? I need you to know that, but– it’s looking bad for her, Zari, really bad.”

Fuck. Whatever, Zari will not be pulled into this again. “Not sure that’s any of my business,” she shrugs, “she made sure she’s not any of my business anymore.”

“Look, I get it,” Nate sighs again, and damn it, Zari is not doing this again, she’s not getting all buddy-buddy with the cops again, “she left, she broke your heart, she may or may not have committed some art theft in the past. But Zari, whatever this is, the Chief already has an APB on her. Guilty or not, we need you to find her.”

Zari was right, nothing good is coming out of this. Once upon a time, Zari would have been thrilled to be called into a police investigation, but now– it’s just bullshit on top of bullshit. Whatever Charlie got herself into, it’s her problem, not Zari’s. Not anymore. 

It’s what she should tell Nat– Detective Heywood.

“I know they’re trying to revoke your license,” he says and damn it, how the hell does he know about that? “But if you do this, if you help us, there’s no way they’ll follow through.”

Shit. Zari could still say no, could still walk away or tell Gideon to get rid of him, but–

Heywood had known her answer from the moment he walked in this bar, from the moment Charlie’s name popped up in his investigation.

“I do this,” she says, drinking the last of her Whiskey, enjoys the way it burns all the way down, pretends she can breathe in the cramped, crowded bar, “I do this, you never ask me for shit again. Got it?”

Heywood smiles for the first time that night. “Sure,” he slides a file towards her, knocks on the counter, once, twice, three times before standing up, his holters stupidly apparent for someone who hates being armed. “Sure, Z. Call me when you have anything, I’ll write you as a consultant.”

“Don’t call me that,” Zari snaps, slipping the file on her purse without going over it. She’ll need a lot more than Gideon’s cheap Whiskey and shitty music to stand it, preferably in a place where the walls don’t have polaroids of her with the prime suspect. 

She should have had Gideon take those down a long time ago, melancholy and alcohol never mix well.

“And Heywood,” she calls, raising her glass, “tell Nora if I see Constantine, I’m punching him in the face.”

Heywood laughs, and braves the cold of the New York winter.

[peterabell]

Scottish Tories humiliated after being 'snubbed' in Prime Minister's reshuffle

RUTH Davidson’s new Scottish Tory MPs have been dealt a fresh snub by the UK Government after failing to secure a single parliamentary private secretary post in Theresa May’s reshuffle.

Peter A Bell's insight:

The big mistake here is to think of the "Scottish Tories" as a distinct Westminster parliamentary group. That is how they have been portrayed by the media as part of the process of elevating Ruth Davidson to the status of 'Queen of the BritNats'. But the reality is that there are no "Scottish Tories". There are only British Tories. They may be British Tories from constituencies in Scotland. But that alone doesn't distinguish them in any way from all the other Tories.

 At least as nonsensical as the idea of a "Scottish Tory" group at Westminster is the notion that this group might come under the authority of Ruth Davidson. Davidson has precisely no standing at Westminster. Whatever nominal authority she may have over the Tories' branch operation in Scotland, when they go to Westminster those "Scottish Tories" are just part of the British Tory herd. There is not a single Tory MP who doesn't take precedence over Ruth Davidson. They take their orders from the party Whips the same as every other British Tory.

 Of course, in all of the foregoing one could pretty much replace all references to 'British Tory' with 'British Labour'. Precisely the same applies. The difference being that not even the British media would try to sell the idea of the British Labour in Scotland (BLiS) branch manager having any kind of clout at Westminster. Kezia Dugdale lost out to Davidson when the British media were looking for someone to present as pretender to the office of First Minister. And even BBC Scotland baulks at trying to paint Richard Leonard as the 'Hammer of the Nats'.

 Much of the brassy shine may have worn off Ruth Davidson, but she's still the 'Great Brit Hope'. And that's as far as it goes. Davidson is being used by the British establishment Her utility is as a front. When the British media spin their tales of Nicola Sturgeon having been dealt a 'blow', somebody has to play the part of the one dealing it. Davidson's only qualification for the job is that she may be marginally more credible in the role than anyone BLiS might send along to the auditions.

 Pete Wishart may be correct in assuming that those "Scottish Tories" being passed-up for promotion is a comment on their lack of talent. But when did an absence of any evident ability prevent a British politician achieving high office? If lack of talent disqualified an MP from ministerial office, how are we to explain Boris Johnson? Or David Davis? Or Theresa May? There is ample evidence that being stupid and dishonest and corrupt is no impediment whatever to advancement in the British political parties.

 If the "Scottish Tories" being neglected by their bosses isn't entirely explained by them being considered unworthy to carry a minister's bags, what then? What other reason might there be for snubbing 'Ruthy's Troops'? Perhaps the fact that they are perceived as 'Ruthy's Troops'. There may be concern among Tory party managers about unintended consequences of affording Davidson such a prominent public profile. Maybe they're afraid that she could seek to give some substance to the fictional power. Maybe they're afraid that she'll be taken in by her own hype and get ideas above her station. There's already been talk of Davidson as potential leadership material. That sort of ambition has to be crushed at an early stage.

 But there is another possibility worth considering. What is the point of launching MPs from Scottish constituencies on a career trajectory which can't possibly go anywhere? The job of Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is generally regarded as a rung on the promotion ladder. MPs get to be a PPS when they are being groomed for bigger and better things. But what bigger and better things might a "Scottish Tory" MP aspire to? The introduction of EVEL - English votes for English laws - means that MPs from constituencies in Scotland are effectively barred from any of the high offices of government. With the sole exception of Secretary of State for Scotland, 'Scottish' MPs cannot hold senior ministerial posts because there would always be the risk of them being prohibited from voting on legislation for which they are responsible. Which would be rather embarrassing.

 It stands to reason that the British parties would wish to avoid drawing attention to this anomaly - particularly given current constitutional tensions. Better not to put any "Scottish Tories" into positions which might prompt speculation about their future, lest someone point out that they don't have one.

 All of which further illustrates just how dysfunctional the Union is. It is broken beyond repair. Time to end it.

[bluecredit]

5 things we learned at the party conferences

By Luke Chapman, External Affairs Co-ordinatorOver the last few weeks, we’ve been out and about at the Conservative and Labour Party conferences, talking to policymakers about debt. Now that conference season is over, here are our five main takeaways.1. Support for independent bailiff regulation in England and Wales is growingWe ran events at both Labour and Conservative conferences on bailiff reform, in collaboration with the Money Advice Trust. We were hugely grateful for the support at these events of Tracey and Nat Rogers, the mother and brother of Jerome Rogers, whose experiences of bailiffs were the subject of the BBC’s docu-drama Killed by my Debt and have resulted in tireless campaigning for reform by his family.It’s clear that pressure on the Government to change the system is growing. Many party members raised concerns about bailiffs at events, and we saw yet more MPs from across both sides of the party divide coming out in support of change. We’ll be keeping up the pressure back at Westminster.2. Universal Credit remains a hot topicLots of the press headlines were dominated by Labour’s announcement that they would significantly reform Universal Credit, with a view to scrapping it in the longer-term. Many of these changes would help people like our clients, so we’ve welcomed this — although we cautioned against scrapping it without a clear replacement.Universal Credit was never far from discussion at the Conservative conference either, with growing consensus on the need for urgent reforms. This included changing the way debt is collected from benefits, ending the five-week wait and introducing the option for fortnightly rather than monthly payments, as has been done in Scotland.We’ve been supporting the Trussell Trust’s 5 weeks too long campaign on Universal Credit and at their event we raised our concerns with Conservative MP, Nigel Mills, who’s been looking at what changes should be made as part of his role on the Work and Pensions Select Committee.At Labour, our CEO Phil Andrew spoke at an event with Ruth George MP, the Chair of the All-Party-Parliamentary Group on Universal Credit, sharing the experiences of our clients receiving it and highlighting where we think changes need to be made.3. The age of Austerity “is ending”Austerity has been part of British politics for over 10 years now, and with the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, announcing a raft of spending commitments as part of his Spending Review in early September, we’re now seeing the beginnings of politics after Austerity. Across both Labour and Conservative Party conferences, the consensus was that Austerity as a policy was coming to an end.The messages were obviously different. The conversation at the Conservatives conference revolved mainly around additional money being available because Austerity helped balance the books and created some headroom to spend responsibly and that it was very important to spend in order to bolster the economy ahead of Brexit. At the Labour conference, we saw calls for wider spending and more money for public services such as the NHS.4. It’s still all about BrexitAcross both conferences, Brexit was mentioned at almost every single event we attended.Both parties believe that there is an economic downturn as a result of Brexit on the way — even if exactly what kind, for how long and the longer term impact is hotly debated.Given that we are already working at full tilt to up our capacity to deliver debt advice to a greater number of the people who need it, for us this looks set to mean one unsurprising thing: we can only expect to get busier.5. Safety nets and financial resilience are on the menuThe consensus at both conferences was that the current safety nets provided by the state need to be updated to reflect the reality of the modern world. However, there is no clear picture or wide agreement on what it is that needs to change.We hosted private roundtables on the subject of financial resilience — one of our key long-term policy themes — at both Labour and Conservative Party conferences.John Glen MP, the minister responsible for issues relating to problem debt, highlighted that he wanted to see quicker progress towards implementing breathing space in England and Wales; committed to investing more to promote the Help to Save scheme to help people build financial resilience; and reiterated his desire to pilot a no-interest loan scheme across the UK. These are all things we have been campaigning for, so it was positive to hear the Minister being ambitious about his plans for them.At Labour, we were joined by the Shadow Minister, Anneliese Dodds MP, to discuss what a Labour Government would do to tackle problem debt. She reiterated Labour’s support for breathing space in England and Wales. Labour’s also keen to prioritise measures to tackle financial exclusion and improve people’s resilience, and to ensure people have access to more affordable forms of credit.************************All in all, we had a productive and energising round of conference engagement, and we’ll be using what we learnt to push forward these agendas in Westminster and beyond.

https://medium.com/%40StepChange/5-things-we-learned-at-the-party-conferences-8662494a93c?source=rss-eb8d4fed3016------2

[myrecordcollections]

Ralph McTell

My Side Of Your Window

@ 1970 UK 1st Pressing

*****

In spite of the success of Spiral Staircase I was not entirely happy with my recordings. I have to say that I always hoped for a much earthier approach in sound than I was getting. My own writing tended to be reflective but I was still anxious to let my roots show. The guitar was and still is my driver and I squeezed a Robert Johnson number and two jug band compositions on to the Album just to show that I had not left that particular field entirely. The truth is I was seduced by the richness of strings and arrangements and as I have always sought melody over rhythm, the songs just seemed to open out and become huge to my ears. On my next album I persuaded Nat Joseph to let me have a go at producing myself.

With the aid of Tom Allom at Regent Sound in Tottenham Ct Rd I commenced recording sometime in 1970. I had some more edgy stuff to put down and hoped that songs like ‘Michael in the Garden’ and ‘I’ve Thought About It’ might harden up the soft perception I thought I was getting. It was an amazing time in many ways. The Paris riots had come and gone, radical student protest was closing some colleges, music and politics were the power, everything was changing and I had a guitar and two albums out and felt very much part of it all, in a quiet way.

I had left college and was out on the road playing nearly every night of the week. I think I was with Blackhill Enterprises at this time and I travelled hundreds of miles a week in my old mini van playing small back rooms in pubs that were packed to the rafters. I thought it was the same for everybody on the circuit. I had moved to our first house in Putney and was sharing my success with every waif, stray and hanger-on in the area, staying up late and talking into the small hours whilst my young family somehow coped with my need for people and re assurance that all was going well. Clive Palmer (Ex Incredible String Band) was helping me make some wardrobes in the house and old friend and part time washboard player was helping him. I decided to use the two friends on “Blues In More Than Twelve Bars”, and we rehearsed at home that morning and the boys joined me later in the day and we put it down in two takes. Clive and Mick returned to their carpentry and I carried on.

In those days we only had four track recording facilities and this meant that I had to sing live with the bands or accompanying musicians or try to overdub vocals with headphones (cans). Neither method suited me and I was disappointed with much of my strangulated vocals. It was much better when I sang and played guitar on my own. In spite of my pleading with my American friend Gary from Paris days not to, he had moved to Croydon to be near Nanna and me. I spent hours in their apartment very near to where I grew up. Gary was always playing and one tune particularly took my ear. He was playing in A shapes with the bass string down to D and the tune was enchanting. We began playing it as a duet and eventually I wrote the words to “Girl on the Bicycle”.

This was my first co-write and was a big hit in Holland and Germany performed by a man called Herman van Veen. This was all in the future and Croydon’s charms were wearing thin. Gary persuaded old friend Bruce Barthol (Country Joe and the Fish) to leave that band and come to England and form a band with him. Fellow San Francisco guitar player Phil Greenburgh joined these two and the boys commenced endless stoned rehearsals in the flat at Bramley Hill.

I had always been a huge admirer of Gary and the music they were playing was astonishing. They were experimenting with time signatures and Mexican mariachi riffs. Seven eight time and nine. The trouble was there were hardly any drummers who could play this music that weren’t jazz players and they routine dozens before settl ing on the amazing John Marshall and commenced rehearsals again. They eventually recorded an album and called themselves “Formerly Fat Harry” I asked them to play on “Wait Until the Snow” and “I’ve Thought About It. I had to sing live on both and it could have been better from me. I was heartened to learn from the boys that my fade out riff on “I’ve thought about it” was in eleven:eight time. I have to say I planned it but had no idea of the signature. I guess I thought some of their intense musical ability would come through me but this music is almost mathematical and I have no grasp on numerical abstractions. I found it stimulating to try and fit words against this weird stuff and greatly enjoy doing it still if the song ideas suggest it i.e. “Cowboy”, “Little Actress”,“Run Johnny Run” etc.

On “Wait until the Snow” my playing the tune in open D tuning further complicated the song. The voicing in this style is so attractive but any nuance gained by the unusual resonances from open strings on the guitar was lost once we started playing ensemble. I also found a strange tuning for “Clown” whereby I tuned both the top and bottom E to D. This gave an eerie sound to regular chords and I wrote the whole tune before any words. This was probably one of my favourite tracks on the album. I have always found clowns slightly sinister and I was beginning to trust that the song would go somewhere without having a planned ending. The piece ended up having some thirty inversions and yet it is such fun to play and not difficult. I had to play piano for the first time on “All things Change” and I still wince slightly at the fumble on one part of the playing. No one noticed it and Mike’s strings were written around it and the cellist that did the session was actually the same man who had played on Eleanor Rigby! Without doubt though the “hit” on this record was “Factory Girl”.

Bruce Barthol (centre) with Country Joe and the Fish

On the Council estate where I grew up the sound of the girls voices would often awaken me before eight when they would meet at the alley to cross the Purley Way to the factories across the main road. On my return from school they would be starting to drift back from work with a different tone to their chatter. I had several goes at getting a good version of this but I was very happy with the slide guitar from Gordon Huntley of “Mathews Southern Comfort”. On my trips around the folk clubs I came across a band called English Tapestry. They were blessed with a fabulous singer called Ruth Britain and their vocal harmonies were stunning. I got them to sing on “Kew Gardens” and although I had changed the arrangement slightly when they came to the studio they sang beautifully and I think they only got one take at it too. I had never been to Kew but my friend Mick had been there on a trip and it was his description that inspired this song. “Silver Birch and ‘Weeping Willow” resolves with an unknown girl from the offices upstairs saying “Hello”. This used to make the writer Eric Winter jump every time it came on as it sounded just like his daughter he later told me.

Once again my friend from Art College days, Peter Thaine produced a stunning piece of work for the sleeve. He made a three-dimensional cut out theatre type model and we moved all the characters in the songs around on their stage. He even put in the Whitgift Arms. Unfortunately the photographer failed to light the scene so as to bring this effect out properly but now that you know, next time you look at it, you will see.

My studio engineer Tom Allom was affable and very helpful on this recording and Nat Joseph was positively excited by it. It seems he had been looking for me to do something with a harder feel to it and this he thought was the album. Certainly things changed very radically with the next few months as the influence of the song from my previous album began to exert its power over the course of my life. Meanwhile Mick and Clive had completed the two wardrobes in our upstairs bedroom. They looked like two Jewish coffins and Clive explained that a true carpenter does everything by eye without a ruler. Cetainly Mr Chipendale had nothing to worry about, even if I did.

Ralph McTell

[gyrlversion]

Theresa May offers to fall on her sword if her Brexit deal is passed

Theresa May’s Brexit plan was hanging by a thread last night despite her dramatic offer to quit.

In a highly-charged speech, she told Tory MPs she would quit ‘earlier than intended’ if Parliament backed her withdrawal agreement.

There were initial signs that her gamble might pay off when a string of Eurosceptic MPs, led by Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith, said they would now swing behind her.

But, in a bombshell announcement shortly before 9pm, the DUP said it would not support the agreement because it posed ‘an unacceptable risk to the integrity of the UK’.

The party’s deputy leader Nigel Dodds indicated it would vote against the plan, saying: ‘We don’t abstain when it comes to the Union.’

The DUP’s support is seen as critical to unlocking the backing of dozens of Eurosceptic MPs.

Theresa May (pictured returning to Parliament tonight) sensationally promised to quit Downing Street in return for Tory Brexiteer rebels passing her deal tonight as she admitted her time as Prime Minister was almost over

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured yesterday) has urged hardline Eurosceptics to back Theresa May or face losing Brexit

In a huge blow for the Prime Minister, DUP leader Arlene Foster (pictured tonight on Sky News) said her party still could not support the deal because it ‘poses a threat to the integrity of the UK’

A party statement said ‘we will not be supporting the Government if they table a fresh meaningful vote’ – with Westminster leader Nigel Dodds vowing to vote No

Downing Street was last night locked in frantic talks with the party in the hope of persuading its ten MPs to support the deal.

‘They are tough negotiators,’ one source said. ‘It’s not over yet.’

But one Cabinet minister said: ‘If they don’t move, then we don’t have the votes.’

MPs last night rejected every Brexit option in a series of ‘indicative votes’, with a customs union, second referendum, Norway-style option and No Deal all failing to get a majority. 

But the two options with the closest votes were for any Brexit deal to put put to the people for a ‘confirmatory vote’ (268 for and 295 against) and to leave the EU with a customs union (264 for and 272 against).

These options are set to be further debated on Monday in the Commons and will be put to another vote if Mrs May fails to convince enough MPs to get her withdrawal agreement passed before then.

Mrs May is hoping the threat of a ‘confirmatory vote’ from the electorate or ‘soft’ Brexit by leaving the EU with a customs union will cajole further hardline Brexiteers to support her deal.

This, and the PM’s ‘Back me, then sack me’ plea, sets the scene for a third attempt to pass her Brexit plan tomorrow – the day Britain was due to leave the EU.

Mrs May becomes the fourth consecutive Tory prime minister to have their career wrecked by the issue of Europe.

Pressure on her to quit had been building in recent weeks, with Eurosceptic MPs unhappy with her deal, warning that they wanted a new leader to take forward the next stage of Brexit negotiations.

A senior Tory said party whips believed up to 30 Eurosceptic MPs would back Mrs May’s deal only if she agreed to go.

Chancellor Philip Hammond and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling were pictured leaving Parliament last tonight following the PM’s shock announcement 

What PM needs to edge to victory… by just 2 votes. There are 235 Tory loyalists, 10 switchers, 30 who with back the deal if May quits, 10 DUP supporters and 24 Labour

In a fresh twist before Mrs May’s announcement, John Bercow yesterday afternoon threatened new Brexit chaos by throwing doubts over Mrs May’s efforts to get her deal through the Commons by Friday 

Addressing the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs last night, an emotional Mrs May acknowledged that Brexit turmoil had been ‘a testing time for our country and our party’. She called on MPs to do their ‘historic duty’ and back her plan.

But she acknowledged concerns about her own leadership, saying: ‘I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party.

‘I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations – and I won’t stand in the way of that.’

Her dramatic move fired the starting gun on what promises to be a bruising Tory leadership contest this summer that will choose the next prime minister.

Speaker says the government MUST change May’s deal to bring a third vote 

John Bercow this afternoon threatened new Brexit chaos by throwing doubts over Theresa May’s efforts to get her deal through the Commons by Friday.

The Prime Minister has been considering announcing her resignation date this afternoon to win the support of Brexiteer rebel MPs.

But the Speaker warned the government today that her deal must have changed from the last time she brought it forward for a vote – and she cannot use a procedural device known as a ‘paving motion’ to get around him.

Bercow has already been accused of having Remainer sympathies and trying to thwart Britain leaving the EU.

May’s government insists that a new Brexit date agreed with the EU and clarifications to the backstop announced at a summit in Brussels amount to a ‘significant change’.

The Speaker alone will decide if the change is sufficient and is expected to announce the night before if he will block a third vote. 

A week ago MPs accused John Bercow of turning Brexit into ‘Parliament versus the people’ after he ruled she could not bring her deal back to the Commons unchanged.

Mrs May would have been hopeful that the Speaker is willing to make an exception and if the vote gets the green light, it’s down to the numbers. 

Now it is clear that he won’t budge – and her best hope will be including the new Brexit dates agreed by the EU last week to make it ‘substantially different’. 

Tory sources said that if Mrs May’s plan passes, a leadership contest will start shortly after May 22, when the UK finally leaves the EU. 

However, No 10 refused to say whether she would still depart on the same timetable if her plan is blocked or defeated.

One source said it would be ‘a different scenario’, adding: ‘It’s hard to see how we could have time for a leadership contest in quite the same way if we’re still in the middle of trying to take us out.’

On the most extraordinary night so far in the Brexit crisis:

Boris Johnson, who urged the PM on Monday to ‘drop the deal’ switched to backing it, with friends saying he believed it would be ‘churlish’ to keep opposing it;

Commons Speaker John Bercow warned he could block a third vote on Mrs May’s plan, prompting senior Tories to consider drastic measures to ensure it can get through, including asking the Queen to cut short the session of parliament;

Tory deputy chairman James Cleverly warned that a general election was more likely – but said it would not break the impasse;

Iain Duncan Smith, who helped broker Mrs May’s departure, said he would now support the deal;

Labour frontbencher Melanie Onn resigned after Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to vote for a second referendum;

Parliament voted by a majority of 336 to delay Brexit until at least April 12, despite the opposition of 105 MPs;

Hardline Brexiteers, dubbed ‘the Spartans’, warned they could still block the deal, with former Brexit minister Steve Baker saying he would rather ‘bulldoze Parliament into the river’ than vote for it;

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who wrote in the Mail yesterday that he would back Mrs May, said he could no longer do so because he wanted to stand by the DUP.

Jubilant anti-Brexit MPs started singing the EU anthem Beethoven’s 9th symphony, Ode to Joy, in the Commons chamber last night as Mrs May’s hopes of getting her deal through faded.

Remainer ex-Tory MP Anna Soubry, a member of the breakaway TIG independent group, conducted a mock choir of MPs. Then she tried to get fellow pro-Europeans to join her in a Mexican wave; several other TIG, Scots Nat and Labour MPs joined in.

The riotous scenes came during the wait for the result of the votes on the alternative Brexit options shortly after 9pm. 

The antics appeared to have been triggered when news of the DUP’s latest rejection of Mrs May’s plan reached MPs, dramatically reducing her hopes of getting the withdrawal agreement through.

It was followed by a row as Tory loyalists tried to stop the ‘soft Brexit’ motions that won most votes in the Commons last night being voted on again on Monday.

Former Tory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin accused Mr Bercow of double standards by allowing a second vote when he had ruled against a third vote on Mrs May’s deal earlier yesterday. 

The Speaker rejected his demand. Allies of the PM said she had reluctantly made the decision to quit over the past fortnight, following conversations with close political friends and her husband Philip.

‘I know there is a desire for new leadership’: May’s promise to QUIT if MPs vote for the deal  

‘This has been a testing time for our country and our party. We’re nearly there. We’re almost ready to start a new chapter and build that brighter future.

‘But before we can do that, we have to finish the job in hand. As I say, I don’t tour the bars and engage in the gossip – but I do make time to speak to colleagues, and I have a great team in the Whips’ Office. I also have two excellent PPSs.

‘And I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party. I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations – and I won’t stand in the way of that.

‘I know some people are worried that if you vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, I will take that as a mandate to rush on into phase two without the debate we need to have. I won’t – I hear what you are saying.

‘But we need to get the deal through and deliver Brexit.

She addded: ‘I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party.

‘I ask everyone in this room to back the deal so we can complete our historic duty – to deliver on the decision of the British people and leave the European Union with a smooth and orderly exit.’

Mr May stood by her side as she made a ‘moving’ speech to tearful staff in No 10 after making her announcement to MPs last night. Allies said the decision reflected her determination to push through a plan she believes is ‘firmly in the national interest’.

One said: ‘She had other options but she has put her country first. It is typically selfless.’

Justice Secretary David Gauke described her address to MPs as a ‘very touching, moving speech’.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said: ‘There was a sadness in the room when she said she was going to go and a feeling that she has done what she promised. She has fulfilled her commitment to putting the country first.’

Mr Rees-Mogg said: ‘There was a great deal of sympathy for the Prime Minister in the room and a recognition that she is both brave and dutiful and that there was a nobility in her statement that she was putting the interests as she sees them of the country and the party first and sacrificing herself.’

Her former policy adviser George Freeman said that the PM had ‘tears not far from her eyes’ as she admitted: ‘I have made many mistakes. I am only human. I beg you, colleagues, vote for the withdrawal agreement and I will go.’

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: ‘She is doing what she thinks is in the national interest.

‘I have utmost respect for her. She has an incredible sense of duty. She sees her duty to deliver Brexit and she put that ahead of her own personal interest. It’s another day in which she has put the national interest before her personal interest.’

But Labour MP Wes Streeting said the prospect of Mrs May being replaced by a Brexiteer prime minister would make it even harder to secure Labour support.

Mr Streeting said: ‘Any commitments or guarantees made by Theresa May to the House of Commons are meaningless. A hard Brexiteer will be leading the country to a harder Brexit.’

May fires the starting gun on new Tory leadership race: Michael Gove and Boris Johnson are favourites to take over as Prime Minister this summer

by Jack Doyle   

More than a dozen Tory MPs are poised to launch bids for the leadership after Theresa May announced she will quit if her Brexit deal is voted through.

As many as eight Cabinet ministers are expected to put their names forward, with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Sajid Javid among the frontrunners.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is seen as a strong outside bet, along with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd is weighing up whether to run.

Among the Cabinet outsiders are Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom, who finished second in the 2016 leadership contest that Mrs May won, but is expected to have another tilt, along with Brexiteer International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt.

Outside the Cabinet, the leading contenders are former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, both of whom quit Government posts over Mrs May’s Brexit plans and will be vying for votes among Eurosceptic MPs.

Other MPs attempting to garner support for a run include former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, Tory party vice-chairman James Cleverly, foreign affairs select committee chairman Tom Tugendhat, justice minister Rory Stewart and backbench MP Johnny Mercer.

Last night one MP said: ‘It’s going to be like Ben Hur – there’ll be a cast of thousands.’

Nigel Evans, joint-secretary of the backbench 1922 Committee, said: ‘There’s going to be more runners and riders than the Grand National.’

Last night, bookmakers Ladbrokes installed Mr Gove and Mr Johnson as early joint favourites at 4/1 and Mr Hunt at 8/1, with Mr Raab and Mr Javid at 10/1. Not all the likely runners are serious about winning the top job, but hope to secure a better job in Cabinet by increasing their profile.

Several of the leading candidates have had ‘shadow’ campaign operations running for months in anticipation of Mrs May going, with supporters discreetly sounding out MPs.

The first phase of the contest will see all Tory MPs vote in a series of rounds to whittle down the candidates to the final two. Party members across the country then vote in a postal ballot to decide the winner.

Last night, No 10 officials said that if Mrs May’s deal goes through in the coming days and the UK leaves the EU on May 22, she will resign as Tory leader but stay on as caretaker until the contest is finished. She would go to Japan for the G20 at the end of June, meaning the contest would last about six weeks.

Mr Hunt has long been seen as a frontrunner because of his seniority and experience, but could suffer from the ‘favourite’ tag. His opponents have labelled him ‘Continuity May’.

Mr Javid’s hopes have taken a series of blows in recent months over his handling of the case of teenager Shamima Begum who ran off from her home in east London to join Isis, and for his claim to be taking control of a migration crisis while on holiday in South Africa.

Allies of Mr Johnson believe if he gets to the final round he is likely to win because of his huge popularity among grassroots Tories. There is also speculation about Mr Johnson and Miss Rudd forming a powerful joint ticket, which would bring together a leading Brexiteer and a leading Remainer and could help reunite the party.

Mr Gove’s prospects have sky-rocketed in recent weeks after several barnstorming performances at the despatch box, including his closing speech in the no confidence debate in January when he savaged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The post Theresa May offers to fall on her sword if her Brexit deal is passed appeared first on Gyrlversion.

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[bisluthq]

Joe is a republican? What?

Republicanist.

Americans don’t get to monopolize the term lmao it has meant this for forever in the UK.

[vileart]

Our Carnal Dramaturgy: Rachel Mars @ Edfringe 2017

Rachel Mars presents 

Our Carnal Hearts

EDINBURGH FRINGE PREMIERE 

Live choral surround singing, storytelling and physical theatre merge in this hilarious, incendiary show about the hidden workings of envy and the dark side of human nature.

Devised and performed by Rachel Mars | Original music by Louise Mothersole (Sh!t Theatre) 

The Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL, 16 - 26 August 2017, 11:00 (12:00), 14+  

“Envy is a directed emotion. Without a target, it cannot occur.” Sociologist Helmet Schoeck  Four belting singers create a wall of sound in this thrilling, energetic and ritualistic celebration of desire, competition and how we screw each other.  OUR CARNAL HEARTS What was the inspiration for this performance? The show interrogates envy, competition and the way we relate to each other when we are in a society that promotes both. Going back, I think it was first triggered by the London riots in 2011. I was interested in how people's genuine anger tipped into looting and the accumulation of 'stuff'. That led me to think about the drivers we have to own things. Plus, I'm very interested in feelings that are taboo.  Envy is something people don't feel comfortable talking about because you are often envious of people very close to you. I wanted to make a public space to explore these very personal,

 shameful feelings and unravel them from capitalist doctrine about envy.  I also remember listening to the language around David Cameron's 'Big Society' period, 'we are all in this together', all of that. It was at the time when joining choirs suddenly became more fashionable again, and I wanted to think about the tension of singing together about shameful, solo things.  I was also feeling that an artist, I am constantly pitted against other artists who are peers, friends. We're competing for funding, for slots at festivals. As we are fed this culture of scarcity, we can double-down on that competition. I am interested in how we can remain a community in these circumstances. Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas?  Yes, I definitely think so. I think, when it's working best, the liveness means audiences really feel invited to hold their own ideas up against the ones in the shows. With this show, people stay around afterwards, or email to say the ideas in it were provocative or comforting.  We were performing it in Boston and opening the night after the US election. When we got booked, no-one thought the result would go the way it did. The nights following, you could really feel there was so much desire to be in a place where other people were and the show space became one of assembly. The show could be viewed through those turbulent recent events and it gave people a focus to express their ideas and worries for the future.

How did you become interested in making performance? I come from a small but loud family, where joke telling and story telling always happened around the table. If you wanted to be heard you had to have a good story. So, I think I've always been interested in the performer/audience relationship and who is which, when.  I watched a lot of stand up and comedy on TV growing up - French and Saunders, Billy Connolly, Richard Pryor - and I got really into the rhythms of it, the surprises - what gets an audience response and what doesn't.  Then, after university, I started encountering the performance art world and all the possibilities of that form and began testing small ideas at underground London nights. Is there any particular approach to the making of the show? I worked on the show on my own for a long time, creating a core of writing and visual ideas that I brought to the rehearsal room. I always knew I wanted a choral score in the piece, so then I worked with Louise Mothesole (composer) in quite a rapid way, bouncing around ideas for the sound of that - pop, classical influences.  She came back with some brilliant music and we headed into a first draft performance. The real make of the show happened  when all the singers, myself, Louise and director Wendy Hubbard got in a room and stared pulling the work together.  It was important that that space was open, honest and collaborative. Especially for a show about envy, competition, capitalism and F*cking each other over - the all female, generous, and loving space of rehearsals felt quite radical, like a resistance.

Does the show fit with your usual productions? It's a much bigger beast! Usually I've worked in solo or duo performance. This is also the first time I've worked with live music - this show is performed by me and four brilliant female singers, performing a surround sound choral score.  It's also the first time I've worked in the round, - it has very deliberate staging and design choices that are different from my other work. Our Carnal Hearts has the direct address, the edgy humour of my previous work, but it's also much darker, perhaps responding to the uncertainty of politics at the moment. I do think all of my work is researched across politics, sociology, psychology and then spun through wicked entertainment. This show is powered by a political or social question -  and asks how that political question plays out personally for people, so in that way it fits with other shows. What do you hope that the audience will experience? It is a collective experience but also a personal one. I think the show invites you to think about your place in your community, about some of the grubby feelings we aren't normally allowed to express.  I also hope that it is funny and entertaining. The shape of the show moves towards a potentially cathartic but also energising finale, but one that is deliberately murky. So I think it is an invitation to be in that complexity of feelings, all while people are brandishing rubber chickens and singing Spandau Ballet.

Our Carnal Hearts Trailer from Rachel Mars on Vimeo. What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience? The staging choices are very considered, we are on a four sided stage with the audience banks facing each other. This shapes the experience of  the show at times feeling like a community, at times like a show-down. The whole look of the stage, the design choices give a semi-religious, ritualistic feeling to the space. It should feel like we all just rocked up for some off-book, semi-illegal service.  The singing - and the occasional invitations for the audience to join in - also shape this experience of being together whilst questioning the genuineness of that being together at exactly the same time.  Award-winning live artist, performer and comedian Rachel Mars explores what lurks in the darkness of our psyches, exposing the monsters within and without and joyfully embracing our rage at the situation our political landscape has left us in. As collectivism moves towards individualism, inequalities deepen and the Brexit vote reveals the extent of disquiet in the UK, we are all looking at people who are like us... but a little bit better. With influences including Spandau Ballet, a Hungarian folk story and a Guatemalan tribal ritual, this is a performance exploring this great taboo. It’s about secretly choosing the bigger slice, even among your friends and family; imagining accidents; stealing other people's ideas and telling yourself you were just inspired by them. Rachel Mars said of Our Carnal Hearts which comes to Summerhall following sell-out performances in the UK and US: “This show is a symphony and an exorcism, it’s a big, epic, murky and hilarious ode to our f*cked up times. It’s a place to let it all hang out and address the things that are taboo and shameful about envy and competition, with transcendent original choral music. Audiences can expect an uproarious, raucous and visually beautiful show.”  Rachel Mars is an award winning UK based performance maker with a background in theatre, live art, and comedy. Her work often interweaves personal reflection with universal questions of politics and place, and explores the way we, as people, are just trying to figure it all out. Our Carnal Hearts is her latest show, which has been touring the UK and the US (Fusebox Festival, Austin and A.R.T Boston). Her company with nat tarrab, Mars.tarrab is the winner of the 2017 Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award for their new show ROLLER at the Barbican, London. Other solo and collaborative work includes The Way You Tell Them, Story #1 (with Greg Wohead) and The Lady’s Not For Walking Like an Egyptian, which have toured to the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Her work has been featured at South Bank Centre, Tate Modern, Forest Fringe, and Brighton Festival. Recent commissions include Royal Court Tottenham, Fuel Theatre, Home Live Art and Ovalhouse. She is a fellow at the Birkbeck Centre of Contemporary Theatre and has developed work with the support of organisations like the Arts Council England, The Wellcome Trust, Cambridge Junction, Playwright’s Workshop Montreal and The Orchard Project, New York. Rachel is a regular contributor on BBC Radio’s ‘Pause for Thought’ where she pretends to know things about faith. She has also written for The Guardian and The Stage.   Louise Mothersole is a performance artist and one half of award-winning duo Sh!t Theatre. She is also a lighting designer, theatre technician and freelance composer. She has written songs and music for Stacy Makishi, Lois Weaver, Duckie at the Barbican and for a project with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Rhiannon Armstrong is an interdisciplinary artist making work with empathy and collaboration at its core. She learnt to sing from a Welsh man and play the violin from a Yugoslavian woman.  Orla O’Flanagan is an artist, singer and co-founder of ActiveArt, which creates innovative and participatory art for egalitarian social change. Rachel Weston is a professional freelance singer and workshop leader, with a particular interest in traditional and contemporary Eastern European Jewish folk and art song. Co-commissioned by The Junction, Cambridge and CPT. Developed with the support of Arts Council England, South East Dance in partnership with Jerwood Charitable Trust, Orchard Project (NY), Ovalhouse, Shoreditch Town Hall, American Repertory Theatre, The Royal Court Theatre and Playwrights' Workshop Montreal. Company Devised and performed by Rachel Mars  Performers/singers Rhiannon Armstrong, Louise Mothersole, Orla O’Flanagan, and Rachel Weston Original music composed and arranged by Louise Mothersole  Directed by Rachel Mars and Wendy Hubbard Lighting Designer Anna Barrett Producer Rebecca Atkinson-Lord

from the vileblog http://ift.tt/2qyzFv6

[bisluthq]

I understand why Jack is obsessed with this woman

https://twitter.com/marcuscarslaw1/status/1455167075140489216?s=21

I don’t care about Scotland because I haven’t ever been and dk if I’d ever go but Jack and Nicola make me care.

[bisluthq]

Alright I'm saying this in my area of the UK. There doing over 30's now. There having walk in's cause they have too many vaccines and need to use them. So my Freinds around the game of 20 have been able to get the vaccine. It's not just over 50's. Carers or people who are vulnerable.

🙌🏼 manifesting a vaccine for my celeb bestie and his folks then and obvi especially the Wills to all my young reader Kates 🙌🏼

[bisluthq]

sorry i just have to say i agree re meghan but priti patel is garbage human - she introduced our horrible new immigration laws with a point based system that classifies you as “low skilled” if you earn less than £25k, voted twice against the legalisation of gay marriage, was forced to resign from theresa may’s cabinet bc of secret meetings w lobbyists and dodgy deals w israel, doesn’t agree w blm and said she would never take a knee, and thats just off the top of my head. there’s no tory in our current parliament that isn’t a morally decrepit wank stain and being a woc doesn’t excuse her

I mean yes that’s why identity politics is garbage. Being a minority doesn’t make you a nice person it just affects your reality and that’s worth considering. But like it’s problematic to think being oppressed makes you nice coz it doesn’t.