Not watching the wedding

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Today I’m mainly not watching the Royal Wedding, not because I think it’s a huge waste of money (I don’t particularly), nor because I think the royals are a terribly anachronism that should be abolished post haste (I don’t I’m actually rather a monarchist) – nope I’m simply not watching because I dislike crowds so not going into town, and I don’t tend to sit in front of the telly that much. I am however getting a running commentary via the internet which is a good compromise.

Sadly it seems that They’ve not gone for the very traditional approach I suggested previously. Still I can forgive them that, as I’m a generous sort, and I’m reliably informed that the dress is nice (which is the important thing) and the whole event seems to be giving a lot of people soemthing to enjoy. Yes it may be bread and circuses, but also as we are a monarchy it is a significant event. As such I hope that there’s no trouble as some groups threatened for as others have observed that might get out of hand.

So all that said here at Anonymong, we wish the happy all the very best and a long and happy marriage – and fervently wish that we’ll be able to skip King Charles.

Now for a celebratory cup of tea (it’s the best I’m doing) – and later hunting for royal wedding PEZ dispensers at the behest of a friend from foreign climes.

Oh and let’s hope that Operation Pumpkin won’t be required.

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Bloggers Bash

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The Bloggers bash at the Adam Smith Institute was rather fun last night (even though I had to leave far too quickly due to other commitments). Was terribly good to catch up with Katabasis (helping break the sea of suits) and The Salted Slug. Glad to say the free booze was much better, Meantime pale ale, and Nanny state from Brew Dog – how can one complain.

I found the direction of the questions asked of the panel fascinating, and assuming they reflect what most bloggers are concerned about/interested in – I think I may be following a different path. But then I’ve never been terribly good at this whole making money out of stuff business. Then again I was also terribly amused at everyone waiting around outside 5 minutes before the start rather than just sticking their heads in and making for the free booze? If bloggers can’t develop a much better instinct for getting to the free booze as quickly as possible how do they ever hope to replace traditional journalists?

Next year name tags with blog names on would definitely be a good idea.

Finally to pass on a link from Katabasis apparently Churnalism.com is a terribly handy tool for checking if a news article is in fact just a rehashed press release.

See you all next year, or maybe at the Rally against debt (or rally for debt as it was briefly called last night).

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That infamous kiss

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Soho
Like many people I wasn’t in the John Snow when that infamous kiss took place, I don’t know the landlord or the people who were kissing. So I’ve got no reason to believe either of them over the other. The few things that we do know for certain is that the LandLord acted after a complaint, they claim it was quick peck on the cheek the person who complained says it was more (and some supprto this). Quite frankly I don’t care, we’ve no evidence that the landlord would have acted any different if someone had complained about a straight couple kissing, or in regards to any other complaint from another customer. Yet as I’ve heard it described asking someone to leave a pub because someone else has complained has “upset the internet”. Despite it being “insane” to throw out a gay couple in SoHo because you’ll surely go out of business action must still be taken by the mob to make sure this pub, or at least the landlord, suffers this fate. Simply not using that pub and going to another isn’t enough.

All that aside though what puzzles me is this idea that all of SoHo is this gay paradise where every venue must be a suitable place for snogging/kissing who ever you like. Look at the map the line in red outlines the traditional boundaries of SoHo, the rod in pink is Old Compton street which is the heart of queer SohO. Between Old Compton street and where the pub is (that little symbol thing) lies various sex shops, strip joints (I believe mainly heterosexual), a fruit market, numerous fabric shops, offices and houses. Really by the time you get to Broadwick street you could be almost any where in London. If you have to be mad to run a business where people kissing may not always be welcome someone better tell Nickleodeon and Hamily’s. As Wikipedia says these days it “is predominantly a fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices”*. So it would seem the internet is an angry ill-educated lynch mob, which only wants the law applied selectively, which really isn’t new and shouldn’t surprise me. But someone should probably warn all the businesses, houses, religious buildings and such in SoHO that the “internet” is apparently watching and if someone gets upset on twitter then the full might of the internets will be turned upon them in a giant hissy fit. On the other hand if any film directors out there want a load of people kissing in a venue for cheap you know what to do.

Ho hum.

Mind generally when I’ve been asked to leave a pub in the past, I’ve found it simplest to do so – but then I’ve also left pubs just becasue I didn’t like the atmosphere much.

* Normally I don’t treat Wikipedia as a reliable resource but it’ll do for now.

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