The Virtual Stoa

Wilhelm Liebknecht, German socialist. Born 29 March 1826, died 7 August 1900.

(He’s been listed in the DSW previously under 6 August, but I think this is the correct date.)

Theodor Adorno, born 11 September 1903, died 6 August 1969.

Joan Robinson, economist, born 31 October 1903, died 5 August 1983.

Friedrich Engels, scientific socialist, born 28 November 1920 1820, died 5 August 1895.

A previous year’s entry includes Eduard Bernstein’s description of the disposal of his ashes off Beachy Head.

The kittens are settling in, settling down, and getting quite a bit bigger already. We’re trying to sort out minor problems to do with fleas and diet and whatnot, and everything’s going smoothly right now. And I seem to be projecting an awful lot of ideas about gender onto these kittens.

Here, for example, is Enkidu, the boy-kitten, settling down to watch the start of the Test Match earlier this morning:

His sister (who is keeping up her aura of mystery by remaining nameless, at least for the present), by contrast, is not interested, even as Marcus Trescothick races to his fifty:

(Warne’s just got Strauss for 48: 112-1.)

Wang Hongwen, Chinese communist and youngest member of the Gang of Four; born around 1934; arrested in 1976 and sentenced to death, commuted to life imprisonment; died 3 August 1992.

There’s a chap who writes for The Times called Anthony Browne who’s interested in race, immigration and multiculturalism. Opinions about the utility of his journalism vary.

On the one hand, David Blunkett (of all people!) thinks that some of his opinions on these matters “border on fascism”, and has said so in the House of Commons.

On the other hand, David T thinks that the article he published yesterday provides a good way of getting up to speed on what Harry’s Place has been on about in the last few years (when they haven’t been talking about Iraq, presumably).

(There’s more on this kind of thing from Mel P, from a while ago, and from Newshog yesterday.)

From today’s Oxford Mail (though I don’t think the link will last for long), and with added hyperlinks:

Protesters take over boatyard
by Andrew Ffrench

Protesters have occupied a boatyard in Jericho, Oxford, in a bid to prevent the site becoming a new housing development.

Steve Goodlad, 40, ran the Alchemy Boats repair business at Castle Mill boatyard until Friday (July 29) when he agreed to leave the site.

Mr Goodlad did not want to leave the yard, but finally agreed to do so after owners British Waterways agreed to lease him a new site north of the Pear Tree roundabout near Yarnton.

But when he left the yard on Friday (July 29), protesters moved in and pledged to stay until the outcome of a public inquiry over plans for 46 new flats next to the canal.

Mr Goodlad said: “I handed over vacant possession of the site to British Waterways, signed all the paperwork and made sure about 20 boats were cleared from the wharf. But the next thing I knew half a dozen other boats turned up with some people who announced they were occupying the site. I am pleased I have been able to reach an agreement regarding a new site but I do have some sympathy with the protesters.”

Matt Morton, 33, of Walton Well Road, Jericho, who is leading the protest, said: “We will continue to occupy it until we get legal approval that boatbuilding can continue here. British Waterways know that people from the boating community are not the easiest people to get tough with. A lot of boaters have spent their life being pushed from pillar to post and this time they are resolute that they won’t be pushed around. We are anticipating a visit from British Waterways staff in the near future — which should be interesting.”

Mr Morton added that protesters were setting up a website to coordinate their campaign and to update supporters.

There was large-scale opposition to the closure of the boatyard when it was announced earlier this year and opponents to the housing plans include children’s writer Philip Pullman.

Chris Stanley, a spokesman for British Waterways, said: “They have been making their feelings known in a peaceful manner. We will be monitoring the situation.”

Building plans depend on the outcome of a public inquiry held in April and the inspector has not yet announced his decision.

British Waterways has offered boaters who were living on site help to find new moorings.

I don’t think I’ve met anyone who likes this development. It’s not just the boatyard, it’s also that there’s not enough affordable housing proposed, the worry that highish-rise building will spoil views of St Barnabas church tower, and the lack of adequate space for a new community centre, and, no doubt, other things, too. Not many people like British Waterways much round here.

Edward Aveling, English socialist; born Stoke Newington, 29 November 1849, died 2 August 1898.

Over here.