Yeah, I’ve gotta stop those clichéd titles. But not right now 
Today (apparently) was the 150th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s birthday. There was a really beautiful show on BBC in tribute to him, produced by Amnesty International and others. Basically, lots of actors and other famous figures, either commenting on the beauty of his work, reading his own words very sincerely but directly addressing them to him, or simply embracing the depth of feeling as they acted out something of his. Quite amazing. I’ve liked most of what I knew of Oscar Wilde for years now (mostly The Soul of Man)… but tonight, I discovered that Wilde wrote a lot of the words that I try to carry with me. Beyond that, some of the poetry I heard is just amazingly beautiful. One of these days, I’m going to take the time to find out much more about that guy 
By contrast, I also watched a program about how India, which over millennia has produced some of the most interesting and influential spiritual systems in the world, is now becoming a place filled with religious intolerance. Groups who imagine themselves to be Hindus are passing out symbolic knives to be used as actual weapons against other religions, and people are preaching hatred on the streets to large audiences. Sad stuff. Especially given that Buddha taught the reasons for all such insanity over 2000 years ago in that very sub-continent, along with the ways out of it, and he specifically did so as a non-religious figure 
In more ugliness, a documentary about Blair’s actions leading up to war etc. is on in the background. I’m fairly certain that nutcase is going to get re-elected soon
And there’s still more ugliness. But hopefully this kind isn’t quite so devastating to world peace etc. I’ve finally got Blender working again with my 3D drivers, so I spent a bit of yesterday and today modelling a face template (image no longer available). It’s not much to look at, but it’s a good achievement for me, since it involved lots of new modeling techniques I’d never done before. The tutorial I was following was pretty confusing and I had to do a few stages very differently, so the way it all worked out well says a lot about my progress. It’s only intended as a template that can be applied to specific photographs and shaped to make actual faces later, and I need to finish the skin, but I’m happy with it so far. Happy with the lips too, since I just guessed those completely.
Not sure how to connect the lips to the face right now, but I’ll figure that out next time
*all impressed* That face modelling looks great!
I didn’t notice a programme about Oscar Wilde tonight. Could it have been a BBC Ulster only show? We got a docu-drama of Robert Louis Stevenson’s life, which I think may have been only shown on BBC Scotland. Bought Oscar Wilde’s complete works for a great price in Bargain Books a few years back. Love ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. He was certainly a beautiful writer.
You think Tony will get back in? I’m hoping for a Lib-Lab coalition. *crosses fingers*
ah! that’s depressing about india. i wish people wouldn’t look at religion and think there’s only right one. i dunno…there’s got to be more tolerance in this world. otherwise this is gonna be an even more sucky place to live very soon.
I’m a big Wilde fan as well, and I was watching a documentary on him the other day – I believe it was called Wit’s End. My favourite work of his is The Importance of Being Earnest.
One of the misconceptions people have about India is that they imagine that Hindus are by and large a nonviolent people. It hasn’t been true in the past and it isn’t true today.
Thanks. Hahhah, now I just have to improve it rather than screwing it up
Hmm.. I guess it could have been NI-only, but there were lots of American and English celebrities in it, so I figured it was at least national. Not sure.
Don’t know on Tony either. I’m still hoping for a groundswell of rebellious anger on his war, but having been amazed to hear that my dad approves of his actions, I fear a lot of other people outside my usual circles might feel the same way
Yeah, I know that many people in any community tend to be violent, but to me it seems like the people who really study any spirituality seriously find it to be a non-violent thing. Hinduism does have concepts like Ahimsa, for instance, and Gandhi based his non-violence on Hinduism to some extent too, I think. But I guess, just like the violence here in Northern Ireland has little to do with sects of Christianity, the “religious” violence elsewhere has little to do with religion either.
At least we know it can’t get worse forever
Yes, that’s another one I’ll have to check out
Hmmm, I’m not sure. What I did notice is that at least one hardcore Labour council seat has been lost to Lib Dems in recent bi-elections; I’m talking a 30yrs+ Labour safeseat. Turnout was very low though. If turnout at election time is low, Lib Dems could be in for a treat!