Sombre Times

The Guardian has reported that one-third of British professional musicians are considering giving up their careers because of the pandemic.

This information was based on a survey of 2,000 members of the Musicians Union.

The pandemic has been a crippling time for the arts, with many musicians forced to work for free to sustain a profile online as live venues are still closed.

This is not the most tragic news from a pandemic that has caused misery and economic fears for many.

However, it is still deeply saddening.

Surviving in the arts has always been tough, many musicians struggle in good times despite their talent.

Music lightens the load in many people's lives, so losing musicians to supermarket work - as the Guardian reports - is bad for a cross section of society in the end.

We are lucky in Britain to have such a diversity of music on offer, but with the pandemic we can no longer even support venues.

One of the true heroines

I posted some time ago about Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

And today was heartened to find this story posted on my facebook wall.

It is amazing to hear her speak and not just read an interview.

Although the guardian interview by the wonderful Polly Toynbee that I read of hers was very thought provoking, also.

I love the positivity that she has and the strength and confidence she has in her thoughts and feelings.

Truly, an inspiration.

To no-fly or not to no-fly...

The eruption of open activity in the Middle East left me shocked, in a hopeful way.

The crackdown that I feared is howling in Libya.

So, what do we do?

In all honesty I didn't feel qualified enough to comment.

An article in the guardian on the issue of a no-fly zone has given me the confidence to form some kind of opinion.

Have a look if you're feeling a little at sea.

It won't make you an expert, but it will make you feel a little less clueless.

I'm probably not going to post on it, but my thoughts are also with those in Japan.

A shocker hidden inside The Guardian

Turn to page 16 of The Guardian today and you might just find yourself smiling.

Admittedly their front page leads with "Defector who triggered war on Iraq admits: 'I lied about WMD'", a worthy front page.

But you have to go 16 pages in to discover "Berlusconi sent for trial over paying for sex with teenager"

They are actually putting Silvio Berlusconi, who has been in power in Italy for what feels like forever, on trial.

Berlusconi oftens gets himself into hot water where women and prostitutes are concerned, but it is normally brushed off as a case of an important man being a bit naughty - good for a joke but nothing is really going to be done about it.

This time they're doing something.

The case will be presided over by three female judges, which gives me confidence that it is being taken seriously.

Also, this might finally spell the end of the man who seemed undefeatable.

I guess anything is possible if you wait long enough.