Author Archives: Natalie Bennett

‘Pay what you can’ eating

December 26, 2006 – 7:36 pm

Interesting, un-Time-like piece about “pay what you can” restaurants in the US. Or you can offer to wash the dishes…

“Our philosophy is that everyone, regardless of economic status, deserves the chance to eat healthy, organic food while being treated with dignity,” explains Brad Birky, who opened SAME with his wife, Libby, in October. Customers who have no money are encouraged to exchange an hour of service — sweep, wash the dishes, weed the organic garden — for a meal. Likewise, guests who have money are encouraged to leave a little extra to offset the meals of those who have less to give. “We’re a hand up, not a hand out,” says One World owner Denise Cerreta, who prides herself on the fact that everyone can afford a meal at her café.

Anyone know of similar in the UK? (I know of some theatres that are “pay what you can” at least one night a week – but I think you have to pay before you see the show…)

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Aristocratic tradition…

December 26, 2006 – 1:55 pm

… you’ve got to love it for its sheer over-the-top eccentricity.

“Norfolk was degraded from the Order of the Garter, his achievements being removed from his stall at Windsor and, as custom demanded, being kicked into the moat.”

From Elizabeth the Queen, by Alison Weir, Jonathan Cape, London 1998, p. 212.

Wikipedia obliges in setting out the names of some 20th-century recipients who were so treated, but doesn’t say if the ceremony has survived:

The Sovereign may “degrade” members who have committed serious crimes, such as treason. During the First World War, several Stranger Knights who were monarchs of enemy nations had their memberships revoked. The appointments of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria were annulled in 1915.[3] The membership of Emperor Hirohito of Japan was removed after Japan entered World War II, but he was reappointed after the war by Elizabeth II. (Thus, Hirohito was uniquely made a Knight of the Garter by two different Sovereigns.)

Google didn’t oblige. Anyone know? And have any archaeologists followed up on this opportunity?

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Deadly children

December 26, 2006 – 11:50 am

A study of 19th-century figures in Utah has found that the more children you have, the earlier on average you’ll die. This effect applies not just to mothers (which you might expect given the physical toll of pregnancy and breastfeeding), but also to fathers.

The researchers add the findings also suggest why women now tend to have fewer children.
“If women have generally incurred greater fitness costs of reproduction, this could explain why they generally prefer fewer offspring than their husbands and reduce their fertility when they obtain more reproductive autonomy.”

Note: I think the date in the BBC intro is meant to the 1885, not 1985, reading the rest of the story.

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The 2512 London cycle ride

December 25, 2006 – 11:23 pm

A lovely Christmas Day cycle ride today, and much bigger than I expected – my rough count got easily past 100, which made it almost a mini-Critical Mass as we streamed through the streets.

Most of the scant traffic was tolerant – helped perhaps by the festive air – we had a white dragon, an official ride Christmas tree on someone’s back rack (well it wasn’t a very big Christmas tree), and many Santa hats.

It was billed as through the sights of London but mostly acquainted me with bits of South London – Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Peckham that I’ve never previously met: well we did see the “iconic” Peckham library.

Handy to know that the pub on the Thames outside the Tate Modern is open on Christmas Day, and packed with refugee tourists who’d come to realise that spending December 25 in London hadn’t been such a great idea since nothing at all is open.

The riders I spoke to ranged in origins right across continental Europe, with quite a few Americans, a couple of Scots, two New Zealanders, and even the odd Englishman – although most of those left early for family responsibilities. The youngest must have been aged about one, and as for the oldest I won’t estimate, although they must have had a free bus pass for a while.

A fine institution – I’ll probably be back next year.

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Feeling poor after Christmas?

December 25, 2006 – 10:58 pm

If you are reading this I can just about guarantee you aren’t: you can find out where you rank on the global rich list here.

I come in the top 1%, which is about where I would have expected…

Hat-tip to Noel at the new The Green Room. Welcome to the blogosphere!

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The first climate-change refugee island

December 24, 2006 – 9:47 pm

An inhabited island – and an island that was inhabited by 10,000 people – has fallen victim to the rising sea levels of climate change.

Lohachara is, or rather was, in the India’s part of the Sundarbans, where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. It was home to 10,000 people. They have become refugees on the nearby island of Sagar, joining many of the people of another island Ghoramara, which has lost two-thirds of its area to the sea.

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