Philobiblon

Here we are again – another week, another crop of political debates.

But let’s leave those for a while: start with some almost forgotten, frequently glossed-over history – Philip on English Buildings has been looking into the Sheela na gig at Kilpeck, Herefordshire. And yes, I might be a little biased in putting that first, since I was writing about them back in 2004, (but at least it proves I can truly wear a “veteran blogger” tag!)

Stay on architectural decoration, Ornamental Passions has been taking a close look at the frieze decorating the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, now the Odeon cinema, Covent Garden. Walking right around the building: parts one, two, three, four, five. What you get is a complete snapshot history of theatre.

And while we’re on institutions frozen in stone, here seems an appropriate place to point you towards Two Doctors questions for the Anglican church.

Flowing on (sorry!), we get to an introduction to the world of the narrowboat from Bristling Badger.

We can’t, however leave politics as in the bash and stoush stuff for too long, so let’s start with Charles Crawford’s interesting take on the Chilcot inquiry: is the inner, inner circle, dumping on Blair’s inner circle? And what should we think about that?

Staying traditionally political, Dodgblogium has a short and snappy take on the non-dom Zac Goldsmith.

Then getting down to street-level politics, Jim from The Daily (Maybe) was taking his (practical) hat (and coat) to the streets of London for The Wave, and summing up the subsequent reporting.

Staying with practical politics, Matt Sellwood looks at the issues raised by a community squat in Hackney.

And then hit the rails as Jonathan Calder on Liberal England considering one (of the many) problems with privatised train companies.

Meanwhile Kate on Cruela blogs points out the incredibly obvious problem with a police anti-rape campaign. Really, in the 21st century, blaming the victim? and Jo on A Week is a Long Time, looks at the latest abortion figures. Where is the role of men being included in this debate? she asks.

And on The F-Word, Laurie Penny says transphobic feminism makes no sense.

And on Go Litel Blog Go, Backwatersman is considered about the character of Bercow. No, not the Labour one…

Also, David Herzig guest blogs, on Is there more to life than shoes, about the Swiss minaret referendum. And Prodicus offers his graphical take on the climate change debate.

Okay, enough of the politics, back to real life: Random Acts of Reality explains ambulance life as it really, really is. Not great!

And The Magistrate takes on the blogging policeman on the issue of sentencing. This is what you call seriously lively debate.

Then, sorry, this is London, but an issue of public information: where has the London Evening Standard gone? Diamond Geezer finds there are heaps in some parts of the capital, and none in other parts.

But to finish off, let’s have some Christmas cheer – and Ruscombe Green reports that Stroud started the festive season in fine style, even if it was all a bit much for an old canal horse.

You might find in the roundup that I’m linking to places I wouldn’t usually link: that’s the rules of hosting, you take the nominations as you find them, and leave your readers to draw their own conclusions. Not always a comfortable rule, but, I think, a good one. More on the roundup.