Tottenham Chances, 28.04

Tonight I've attended local debates to listen to candidates running for MP.

The present Labour MP, David Lammy, was attacked fiercely by everybody including voters and finally fled while people yelling "never come back!" and "on your bike, Lammy!" Before that, he lost his temper and stated shouting that before he was elected, "more young people were in prison here than in university". "Those things don't happen on accident!" Apparently, that wasn't too persuasive.

Tory Sean Sullivan seemed like a witty speaker to me, but I think he understands himself that that odds are grim for Oxford graduate in Tottenham. Except LibDem candidate, he was the only person not to offer higher benefits and higher taxes for rich people.

Speaking of LibDems, David Schmitz made the best impression on me. Also, that's the only major party considering amnesty for illegal immigrants and simpler ILR for legal ones. His position on local problems was also the most rational in my opinion, also being very polite and confident - in brief, it was pleasure to listen to him though I have troubles remembering the exact points. He also responded unusually to popular questions about banks being bailed out - "they were not given money, they were bought for our money and you and me owe them, and we will sell them back later and make profit". One must have courage to talk like that - surely it wasn't an answer loved by audience (other candidates either blamed bankers or were silent).

Of the non-local candidates, UKIP Winston McKenzie was the champion. Even being non-local, he was the only one to make a clear statement about Wards Corner (semi-abandoned premises awaiting to be reconstructed into expensive flats) - all the others were meaninglessly murmuring "yes-it's-so-important-it-must-be-saved" on this problem. McKenzie told that he can bring businesses here - which are not welcomed by community, but at least there is still a change to choose those businesses while doing nothing is doing nothing.

The loudest applause were earned by radical socialist Jenny Sutton, offering no cuts, more state jobs, higher benefits, no tuition fees and expecting to acquire money for that from bankers and military. Simple as it is, isn't that?

Stay calm and carry on

The third sketch in this blog made from the same point:



Still don't like it and need another try.

Conservative poster

I didn't have an idea that it's allowed for rival parties to use personal references like this.

The Minotaur by G.F. Watts

While the story behind this painting is documented (and is quite straightforward) I can't get rid of my own understanding.

I mean, the Minotaur on this picture is trapped in his spacious prison, with nothing around but sea and stone. Looking at the bird seized by that hideous wretch I can't help thinking of analogies with Frankenstein's monster victims, and also I feel the same tragedy here, a tragedy of rational being wittingly created monstrous and cruel with no other options but to be alone forever.

Anyway, last Sunday I found a new painting to call my favourite.

Anti military stickers

Stickers below are part of the campaign against the recently introduced new Trident programme:



Note the expences scandal reference - as I wrote before, it's hard to find any accusation not mentioning it.

Another Sunday

Just another one marvellous day in London:



An amazing musical instrument - it sounds like an ensemble while all the musician does is tapping it. I don't know if the video produces effect but our live impression was great:



Another interesting thing about hang (that's how it's called) is that it was invented in 2000 only though it totally looks like the ancient Oriental instrument.

Yuri's night

Yesterday I saw the rings of Saturn for the first time in my life, using a 1899-built telescope in HSS Observatory.



(actually, Yuri's night is celebrated on April 12th, but it was the closest day observatory was open for admissions)

Thanks to Tom for that great idea!

Benefit thieves vs. MP spenders

Today I've stumbled upon a response to DWP campaign, a poster copying the design of official ones:


[bigger version to read text]

Parliamentary expenses scandal has been a hot topic for several months already, and counting. By the way, readers from Russia have a chance to experience inexplicable feelings if read a list of incriminations ("...claimed £499 dark brown sofa and a £599 recliner", ORLY?)

Steam day

If you remember that steam engine I wrote about before, you might be interested in watching it in action. Today was one of the days on which that mechanism is brought to life:



And a small machine, Karlson-on-the-Roof's delight. Note that it is the same "beam engine" as the big one in the clips above:



That

was

fabulous.

Instructions for the iron

Now I believe manuals are written by human beings:



That's convincing.

Westminster cathedral

When I saw this building for the first time I thought that it was a mosque.

Easter holidays (day 2 of 4)

Today we've been to Walthamstow visiting William Morris Gallery.

Can't say I loved his design (which is very respected and even considered iconic in England) much - well, it's quite impressive when thinking of manual operations needed to produce those things in XIX century but - you know. On the other hand, political side of that gentleman's life to all appearances was interesting indeed, and the exhibition was really nice giving enough information, names and keywords to search then for the details, and actually raising the willingness to do this.

But what I loved most was this shoulder bag from 1880s looking *exactly* like modern ones. Amazing, isn't it?



And that's the corner of the gallery seen from the park behind the building: