Robert Hampton

Another visitor! Stay a while… stay forever!

31st December 2010

Twenty Ten – again. Again

July brought big changes to the newspaper industry, as The Times started charging for access to its web site. This was supposed to ensure a steady income stream for the newspaper, putting it on a secure financial footing for the future. However, it also resulted in the Times being completely removed from the online chatter of the blogosphere, as its news coverage and columnists were no longer accessible to the internet hoi-polloi. Still, I’m sure this decision made sense to someone somewhere.

The Supreme Court ruled that gay people facing persecution are entitled to claim asylum in the UK. I welcomed the decision, although my blog post is curiously vague about precisely why I welcomed it. Hmm…

In other gay-related news, I reviewed, with sadness, a booklet from the US Military discussing its anti-gay don’t ask, don’t tell policy.

Elsewhere, health and safety went mad as one person suggested banning rugby scrums. I felt uncomfortable on a train full of Orange Lodge marchers and I defended the traditional sitcom from an onslaught of criticism from trendy TV reviewers.

Read the rest of this post »

29th December 2010

Balancing Act
Posted by at 11.15am | Gay, Television | No responses

I love the BBC, but when it comes to gay people (and news about gay people in particular) they still have issues.

In a news story about Sir Elton John and David Furnish becoming parents, the BBC included a comment from Stephen Green of Christian Voice criticising the move.

The BBC presumably included Green for the purpose of “balance”, to avoid giving the Daily Mail and Jeremy Hunt more evidence that it is pursuing a left-wing agenda. But why give airtime to someone whose views are far outside the mainstream? Stephen Green has supported a proposed Ugandan law mandating the death penalty for gay people and compared H from Steps to Jeffrey Dahmer.

Would the BBC interview Nick Griffin if a Pakistani couple adopted a baby? Good grief.

21st January 2009

Incubus
Posted by at 10.14pm | In the News | 1 response

The Advertising Standards Authority will not investigate atheist bus adverts. Probably just as well: I’d imagine ruling on the existence of God is a teensy bit outside the ASA’s remit.

13th November 2008

The Good Book
Posted by at 8.05pm | In the News | No responses

Christian Voice are causing trouble again. If Jesus’s message is as strong as they say it is, why is a book of poetry so threatening?