The Handmaid's Tale

This was a good film. Produced in the 1990’s it has to be watched with that in mind. It compares both well and poorly to the series which I am watching with my daughter. Some parts, notably ‘The Ceremony’ is more horrific in the film when compared to the series. That with the drive towards racial purity which was very absent in the series. 

When it was produced, according to Wikipedia, Owen Gleiberman, writing for Entertainment Weekly, gave the film a "C−" grade and commented that "visually, it's quite striking", but that it is "paranoid poppycock — just like the book". John Simon of the National Review called The Handmaid's Tale “inept and annoying.”

While many now compare this to the loss of women’s rights in America, it is more accurate to compare it to how women are being treated in Afghanistan. Which means that sadly, this film is not paranoid poppycock. 

I suspect that if I only had to watch one, I would watch the series, but this is certainly worth watching as well. 

Labour and white working class girls

Angela Rayner left school at the age of 16, pregnant and with no qualifications in 1996.

Then Labour was elected in 1997.

Change did not happen instantly, but change took place, change to ensure that people would be given more opportunities to reach their potential. 

She was one of those who took these chances. Now she is Deputy Prime Minister.

While the Conservatives have made things worse for the working class since they have been elected, it was Labour who made things better and I am confident that Labour will make things better again.

So if people say Labour does not care about white working class people, remember Angela Rayner, 

I predict a riot

Well things have got worse. Disorder has spread, in Sunderland, a Citizens Advice Bureau was set alight. Which means that idiots, pretending to be patriotic, have harmed those people who the centre was going to help.  In my job, I direct people to the Citizens Advice Website as well as sending them to the local offices. I know that they will help those in needed.

There is no excuse for breaking the law. I understand that people have concerns, but rioting is not the answer. It just harmed communities when this happened in 2011, it is just going to harm communities now.  

British Patriots fought against the Nuremberg Laws that the Far Right love

Britain makes me proud.  We have democratic values, we have laws against sexism and racism.  Our multicultural team are completing in the Olympics in Paris, and at the time of typing this, we are 5th in the medal table. People across the globe listen to our music, listen to The World Service, watch our TV shows like Dr Who and while many do not like our country, many do.

Yes, we have aspects of our nation we need to be ashamed of, but there is so much more to look at with pride and while it is important to learn where our nation has fallen from the ideals we treasure now, it is also important to look at what our small nation has done.

One of the many things that also makes me proud is how the community of Southport came together to clean up the mess left by rioters from outside the community.

Hate has been part of our history.  Examples include the persecution of Jews and Catholics.  Sadly, I see that the hatred towards Islam has increased.

Riots across our nation are not justified, be that in Harehills or Southport.  I hope that we have seen the last of them.  I fear that we shall see more.

Deadpool & Wolverine

An awesome film. We watched it yesterday as a family in our local cinema. When I booked the tickets, others were being booked while I was doing so. When we got to watch the film, it was more full than usual and the audience laughed, proof that it was not just our family that enjoyed it. 

So many films could learn from this. Excellent dialogue, great acting and a well put together film. I was concerned that this sequel would not live up to the other two films. It did. Basically if you like the previous Deadpool films, you will like this. But if you are someone who did not like the other two, stay clear of it. 

Attack of the pigeon

My wife is recovering from being attacked by a pigeon. When I say attacked, the pigeon had flown in through our patio doors. She had turned round to see this as its feet went into her hair. I heard the scream and ran into the kitchen to see it flying around. I had two thoughts going through my head, one was if we were able to get it out, the other was of a family I came across at work who had a similar occurrence. But that pigeon died, while this one managed to fly back out. 

While I had these thoughts, my son decided to record the event as an audio file. He is not in the good books of my wife now. 

Kamala Harris and groups that do not vote

Kamala Harris has come under a lot of scrutiny since she became the Democratic candidate for US President. People are excited at how she is polling amongst the young and also amongst certain ethnic minorities. The issue is if they will vote, and will it make a difference in the swing states. Trumps demographic of older voters are more likely to vote. Also, he just has to win in a few states. He is aided by the fact that he is not a woman, he is not black and that many who are going to vote for him will keep it quiet until they are actually casting their votes.

I would love her to win, I just think that Trump will win anyway.