Last days of 'Monument' by Susan Hiller at Tate Modern (1st Courage)

Being at Philosophy Class on Thursday was making me consider how we choose things - I chose to go to Tate Modern after the class ands saw something which made me think (and reflect).

Monument by US (but  London based) artist Susan Hiller  made me reflect even more on the ideas of Aristotle  about life- specifically  what is courage?

The work is a mixture of Monuments to those who lost their lives in heroic endeavours  and a taped commentary from the artist that one listens to while sitting in front of the commemorative statements (one for each year of the artist's life at the time she assembled it).

The work is on display until tomorrow!

Description of the work

Take a seat and listen.

Monument So sad - but also 'Heroic' and touching

And to look forward to

Deceit and Manipulation over 'Trade Deals' 

Okay - so what is it with Mrs May's visit to China that is so irritating to me?

I'll tell you - Mrs May doesn't make anything for export (as far as I know) - the impression that we're given by our Press and Broadcasters is that her visit to China is connected with Brexit and she's showing how a Britain outside the EU can jet over and sell items that the Brussels Bureaucrats are stopping up.



1) When you go and buy (for example a car) you make the decision I'd like that car and it's at a price I think offers a fair exchange - I won't be buying if from Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe (or German Chancellor Angela Merkel or whoever..) - a Trade Delegation can help reinforce a Country's status with the hosts but it's the product or service that's more significant.

2) The other point is that the UK is unable to make deals until the terms of the negotiations around leaving the EU are agreed - so deals are now under terms of EU.


No sure why this is not really revealed in coverage

I suppose in some ways the visit is about Brexit  but not the way the Conservatives would like you to think -the Tory Cabinet needs to sort out their stance and start leading their party ad more importantly the country.

[ Oh yes and good work from Mathew Parris in Today's Times and I'm not usually a fan of lots of people agreeing with each other  but some 'sense' being spoken in HoC here - Anna Soubry really is playing a blinder on this issue her speech very moving and shows - I think a decent woman doing what she thinks is right for her constituents - would that others too showed such courage and followed their conscience. ]

On notice?

Colourful debates

As children many of us were told that 'you can't hide deceits and your actions will find you out' - it's not always the case but the internet and free flow of information does change things.


Tory discomfit is now on much show - from the MP Iain Duncan Smith being required to be 'impartial' while he sits in for the vacationing Jeremy Vine on his popular radio programme to Tory cabinet ministers who are required to support their Prime minister while she performs a U turn on public spending for Northern Ireland to 'buy' the votes of the DUP.


While some MPs on the Tory benches speak out with honesty and conviction (I'm thinking here  of Ken Clarke and the straight talking Anna Soubry MP)  so many turn blind eye to those who lead the party.


What will happen? - The economy and stability of UK Plc are effectively under the control of a small caucus who it seems to many value their party far beyond the health of the country's electorate at large.

And now

Okay let's take it to the next level

Pressing on to £280

New Testament, Church of God Inc(43)

Having read a rather disturbing news items about a Churchman (getting the impression that his Burn in Hell message is a bit of a Old Testament angle)   send an unpleasant e-mail to Anna Soubry the Conservative MP who has been vocal with her views on 'Brexit'  it's good to see that there other  Churches presumably less political and with perhaps more tolerance.

 So another Christian Church (in Shepherds Bush, West London)  and very much a new testament vibe coming from it.

A bit of a Caribbean vibe to this church at 1a Loftus Road

St Stephens in W12 reflects a diverse community 

The Church (and NTCG) is born out of believers who have travelled from their homes to new lands and is tied into The Pentecostal Evangelical Tradition many worshippers at such smaller Churches are from racial minorities .
This area is strong on faith there's a small Muslim Mosque nearby (which makes clear  a different view on women's worship).

In the main road there's too a traditional church  named for St Stephen it's got an associated school (more about Church Schools later).

And it's looking like £57. 77

Doors

Near the church we see number 43 with slightly risky looking wire coming out of the letterbox

Home of QPR too 

Wonder where the wire goes?