Humanists U.K. has embraced the absurd, authoritarian religion of gender woo - I've cancelled my monthly donation accordingly.

I've always thought of humanism as a sort of apologetic atheism - as though religious belief needs to be replaced or substituted by something. It doesn't. It just needs to be binned.

Sea Power's drummer Woody has retired from the band. He had health difficulties after a dose of COVID and a substitute drummer was used for gigs in 2022; don't know if that's related or not.


It's with a mixture of wistfulness, immense respect and innumerable fond memories that Sea Power now sadly accept the retirement of Matthew 'Woody' Wood from the band.

Sea Power's Hamilton and Jan met Woody at Kirkbie Kendal School in South Lakeland, where Woody was in the same year as Hamilton. After playing in school bands alongside Hamilton, Woody was one of the Cumbrian founding members of the original four-piece British Sea Power, alongside token Yorkshireman Noble. Woody is now making official his departure from the Sea Power drum kit. But, as ever with Woody, there is zero drama or lack of grace. He now simply wants to spend untrammelled time with his wife Victoria and their three children. Woody will also continue to play drums and work on recordings with Victoria's band, Celestial North.

"The main thing," says Woody, "is I just wanted to be here in Kendal with our family. The last 20-plus years have been brilliant with Sea Power – so many memorable places visited and so many people we've met. I'd like to say thanks to everyone who has come to see our band."

Through all Woody's gigs with Sea Power and all the recording sessions he was such a key part of, his locomotory and thrillingly precise drum style has been the Sea Power bedrock. Woody's drumming style hugely reflects his personality. On tour and in the studio, Woody has been the calm at the centre of various gonzo squalls and storms – utterly reliable, imperturbable, but with a wry and understated sense of humour. If he was often the unflappable Sea Power straight man he sometimes played this in an off-beat style, with an occasional penchant for folding his tall frame to fit inside very small dressing-room fridges. Through all Sea Power activity, Woody has always been patient, calm, gently amused – a truly rare combination of kindness, courtesy and talent. He is, of course, going to be much missed, both by Sea Power and the band's equally rare audience.

Sea Power concert-goers will have noticed how recent shows have seen the drums played by the great and multi-talented Thomas White, an old pal of Sea Power who has played with ensembles including The Electric Soft Parade, Brakes, Sparks,The Waeve and many others. Tom is now set to play drums at forthcoming Sea Power shows.

Au revoir, then, Woody. Your playing and presence were so key to Sea Power's discography that, without you, it's impossible to imagine those records being what they are.

Quote from: Slim on June 14, 2023, 07:58:21 PMI've always thought of humanism as a sort of apologetic atheism - as though religious belief needs to be replaced or substituted by something. It doesn't. It just needs to be binned.

Well, the main reason for supporting them was for their secularist campaigning.

But then there's always been the National Secular Society for that, so what I used to contribute to Humanists U.K. has now been redirected and added to my NSS standing order - plus a little bit more.

I had a call from the urology department at the Mater hospital in Dublin to say they would be in touch shortly with a date for them to perform a cystoscopy. I thought no more about it 'til later that evening I was watching an American comedy called Shrinking, with Harrison Ford and Jason Segal. It's quite good but in the episode the Segal character has to go to the doctor. An issue with his bladder means he needs to get the very same procedure. And that's how I found out what they were going to be doing to me ! And some of the consequences!

Maybe not so much grumpy as a bit unsettled as I try to mentally slow down the calendar before it reaches the 21st. I never feel I have done enough to take advantage of the long days before it turns.

It would be no bad thing if the fucking human race disappeared from this planet right now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65951188

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65953341

Quote from: pxr5 on June 20, 2023, 02:45:04 PMIt would be no bad thing if the fucking human race disappeared from this planet right now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65951188

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65953341

Humans do not deserve animals. We are a vile species. Everything on earth would happily live on without us.

Quote from: pxr5 on June 20, 2023, 02:45:04 PMIt would be no bad thing if the fucking human race disappeared from this planet right now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65951188

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65953341

I can't go back to the BBC news website until this item runs its course and is no longer there. This has weighed heavily on me since I noticed the headline this morning. I only read the first sentences of the article to confirm my worst fears about its content, as I'm too much of a coward to read any more. My stomach turns over every time it comes to mind. It has affected me quite badly and I feel ashamed that I'm not strong enough a person to be able to do something that might change the situation. I just feel complete sorrow, rage and despair about so called humanity.

Quote from: Thenop on June 20, 2023, 03:37:15 PM

Quote from: pxr5 on June 20, 2023, 02:45:04 PMIt would be no bad thing if the fucking human race disappeared from this planet right now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65951188

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65953341

Humans do not deserve animals. We are a vile species. Everything on earth would happily live on without us.

Some of my neighbours hate me because I feed the local foxes in my garden every night. Beautiful creatures. I've had frequent arguments about them having every right to live here as the suburb I live in gradually reaches further into the greenbelt, destroying their natural habitat. I'm pleased in a way as it just underlines for me the folk that I don't really wish to associate with in life.

Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on June 20, 2023, 05:18:25 PM

Quote from: Thenop on June 20, 2023, 03:37:15 PM

Quote from: pxr5 on June 20, 2023, 02:45:04 PMIt would be no bad thing if the fucking human race disappeared from this planet right now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65951188

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65953341

Humans do not deserve animals. We are a vile species. Everything on earth would happily live on without us.

Some of my neighbours hate me because I feed the local foxes in my garden every night. Beautiful creatures. I've had frequent arguments about them having every right to live here as the suburb I live in gradually reaches further into the greenbelt, destroying their natural habitat. I'm pleased in a way as it just underlines for me the folk that I don't really wish to associate with in life.

Huge 'debates' here over the return of the wolf into the Netherlands. Argumentation quite erratic from both sides, but I am team wolf.
About 90% of the sightings turn out to be domestic dogs anyway.

Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on June 17, 2023, 10:08:48 AMMaybe not so much grumpy as a bit unsettled as I try to mentally slow down the calendar before it reaches the 21st. I never feel I have done enough to take advantage of the long days before it turns.

Yeah know what u mean.. after the longest day I always feel it's the long slow slide  to shorter days.. shittier weather winter Xmas.. horrible.. still carpe diem😀

All things Glastonbury. The most over hyped pile of rubbish.

Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on June 20, 2023, 05:18:25 PMSome of my neighbours hate me because I feed the local foxes in my garden every night. Beautiful creatures. I've had frequent arguments about them having every right to live here as the suburb I live in gradually reaches further into the greenbelt, destroying their natural habitat. I'm pleased in a way as it just underlines for me the folk that I don't really wish to associate with in life.

I woke up at half four this morning, got up, looked out of the curtains ans saw two foxes gambolling in the field behind our house.
If any of these vulpine vermin bring about the demise of any of the pheasants which come and eat from our hands then they're getting twatted with my Baseball Bat

Quote from: pdw1 on June 21, 2023, 06:04:50 PMAll things Glastonbury. The most over hyped pile of rubbish.

But, but, after the NHS it's our alternative state religion! Or so the BBC would have us believe. Their website was reporting that a woman was giggling there earlier FFS