stunned

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2093273,00.html

After my vaguely despairing feel, on returning to the crush of cyber networking and peace activism, I was absolutely stunned to hear that Reed Elsevier has indeed pulled out of organising arms fairs.

I spent a couple cold and windy Wednesday lunch hours outside their London headquarters last December, with two or three other significantly more dedicated individuals (ie they were there every week, week after week), handing out flyers, and constantly chasing after placards being blown down by the wind. It seemed hopeless, as lunch time business folk streamed past.

Now of course, there's no way of knowing if these little vigils actually played as much, or even any role, compared to the censure of leading authors and academics. But maybe I'll just wallow in a little hope for a few minutes.

In any case, for those of you who are on your way to fame, or at least notority, remember, you don't have to be a noneity to make a difference.

In other news, today was my birthday tea at the LMC, and so Psalm 25 was read, ('cause I'm 25, get it?) Anyway, it's a real winner:

1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

8Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

22Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

The other highlight of the tea was getting my very own Dora the Explorer Doll. So now it's been done, and no one else has to do it, okay?