Monthly Archives: April 2007

Leaping to McEwan’s defence (honestly)

I’ve no great affection for the recent work of Ian McEwan (see my comments on his latest work below) but it’s hard not to sympathise with him when you read a letter as silly as the one published in today’s … Continue reading

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Roy Zimmerman says Ted Haggard is completely heterosexual

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Ian Hamilton Finlay: Acrobats

This poem comes from a fascinating interview with Finlay in Jacket, conducted in 2001 by Nagy Rashwan. It covers the whole of the poet’s career (and clashes with authority), includes images of several other works and provides references if anyone … Continue reading

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Ian Hamilton Finlay 1925-2006

An interesting article about Ian Hamilton Finlay in today’s Guardian. I’m not sure if his first — and, I think, only — collection of traditional, as opposed to concrete, poems is still available, but I thought it might be nice … Continue reading

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What men and women look at

I think this speaks for itself. Apparently men have the same degree of genital fixation when looking at dogs.

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An Easter Tale

Thirty years ago, I went from Turin to Rome for Easter, with two friends, Charlie and Sue, and Sue’s dog, a boxer called Lucifero. We looked for a room in the centre of Bologna, but nowhere would take Lucifero and … Continue reading

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Prada…Gucci….

Now it’s Natuzzi! White leather! Want to know more? Click here.

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Click on the little blue box!

This is fabulous. I’ve managed to rant about Ratzinger to such an extent that my google ads have picked up on it. The current one, for as long as it lasts, will send you to a site that promises to … Continue reading

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The Scent of Cinnamon: first review

The first review of THE SCENT OF CINNAMON can be found here. I know it’s only one line but I’m not complaining.

Posted in o. henry, shameless self-promotion, the scent of cinnamon | 4 Comments

Elton update

Despite efforts to have him banned from a country in which homosexuality is widely condemned, Elton John insists that he will be performing at Plymouth Jazz Festival. But local church leaders haven’t given up. ABC News said: “A group of … Continue reading

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