Oi, Titanic, no!

If I am to cast my mind back over many years I can visualise myself in a Putney cinema slowly developing pins and needles watching a very long film.

That film was Titanic.

And, joy of joys they are bringing it out again and inviting me to part with my cash to watch the whole thing again in the cinema.

There may be those who are delighted at this opportunity and I shouldn't begrudge them their joy.

Easy money

Apart from I can't help but feel that this is a money making ploy by a major studio.

Lacking in any sure fire blockbusters?

Re-make an old blockbuster, but oh no wait we could just re-release a film that has already had it's time at the cinema and make loads of money with no effort, result.

Maybe it serves me right for just going and getting so old that a film that I watched in my youth is now considered retro, or whatever.

Where has creativity gone

I love going to the cinema.

I love watching films.

But I mainly love it because it offers a new story, a new proxy adventure, some new artwork.

Only at my most moody am I watching and re-watching old classics.

When it comes to Titanic I didn't feel it was a classic when I first watched it and I had no burning desire to watch it again, I just wanted to get out of the cinema to pace up and down and work the cramp out of my leg.

If you've never been before, then sure, go along.

But all I'm promising you is your leg potentially siezing up.

Is money all it takes to make policy?

So the Cruddas affair has come to a rather predictable conclusion.

The truth is I wasn't even shocked when I heard the news, in truth I had simply been waiting for it to happen.

Boris Johnson seems incapable of picking advisers with any moral integrity: why should it be better further up the Conservative food chain?

Money may make the world go around, but must it eradicate all principle and integrity from the world that we live in!

At times like this it seems so.

Peter Cruddas has gone, as well he should.

Call me biased, but I'm just waiting for the next money related scandal.

Although, on an optimistic note, the 50p tax sounds like a good idea.

You're not fat, you're phenomenal

One of my friends has been writing about her thoughts about being fat.

I have always thought that she looks great.

And again I was reminded of the Maya Angelou poem phenomenal woman.

Every woman should read this and feel proud of their body.

A sad day for health

My soul burnt a little less brightly today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/20/nhs-reform-health-bill-passes-vote

NHS bill protests continue

Around 100 people gathered to protest outside the Department of Health building in Whitehall at 2.30 pm today.

The demonstration was organised by a mish mash of small campaiging groups, including Health Alarm and Keep Our NHS Public, who have come together to protest against the NHS bill that is currently going through parliament.

Again there was vocal remonstration about the fact that the TUC have failed to follow up the huge protests in March with similar protests in defence of the NHS.

Some of those I spoke to cited the TUC links with the labour party for their lack of action.

At 3pm Occupy arrived to join the demonstration in their characteristic masks.

The demonstration was peaceful and everyone dispersed by 4pm.

BBC human chain coverage

Just thought I'd provide a link to the BBC's coverage of yesterday's demonstration.

Human chain round St Thomas' - EYEWITNESS

A human chain surrounded St Thomas' hospital today at lunch time in protest at the current bill that is going through Parliament, in spite of heavy rain.

100s of people gathered from 12 o'clock, in a downpour, to protest against the government's actions.



Unite, PCS and Keep Our NHS Public all had a presence at the protest.







At roughly 2 o'clock the protesters dispersed to cross the bridge to the Houses of Parliament and lobby the government.

Keep Our NHS Public believe that: "Lansley's parliamentary Bill, dressed as up as a simple reform, threatens to destroy the NHS by stealth."



One protester said that she was disappointed by her union, Unite, who she felt had not done enough to protest against the bill early enough.

She said her group Health Alarm hoped to try and link up the movement that she felt was growing against the bill.



The protesters remained at time of writing outside the house.

More protests are planned for the rest of the day.