Britblog roundup 176 - here comes the girls

An amazing rash of feisty femail blogger nominations this week. Many I've never heard of before but more the merrier.

This weeks round up just has to start with Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration. Millions around the world emotionally watched Friday's televised 46664 charity concert to combat HIV/Aids in Africa.

From my neck of the woods, femail blogger, Councillor Meral Ece who was at the event in Hyde Park London, writes - Nelson Mandela 90th birthday concert - fantastic

Don't think anybody in the world is not touched by the story of his life. He was jailed in 1964 for 27 years for leading the liberation movement against apartheid and for his impassioned stance on the rights of everyone to live in freedom. Such a wonderful man who surely will go down in history as the greatest statesman in living memory. An icon of his country.

An interesting tit-bit picked up about the number 46664 - He was prisoner number 466, imprisoned in 1964. The Robben Island prisoners were never referred to by their names, but rather by their numbers and year of imprisonment - hence 46664 was Nelson Mandela's number.

So frail in body but with still a powerful voice he voiced his concern over Zimbabwe in no uncertain term in his last public address to the world.

Henley by-election is done and dusted - John Howell (Conservative): 19,796 (57%, +3%).

The Acting Returning Officer, David Buckle's blog, in the run up to the Henley by-election says Its-all-over-now.

Iain Dale's Diary, Quote from Stephen Pound MP on hearing the Henley by-election result, with Labour at 3%, behind the BNP... Was Gordon in the Library?

Here come the girls:

Susan from Grimmerupnorth, a Labour activist writes Losing Our Deposit, gives 10 reasons why she believes Gordon Brown got it wrong. Sadie Smith of Sadie's Tavern - What in the name of chuffing hell?

And more feisty girls:

From An Open Letter by a Feminist - On Being Born a Woman.

Kate Smurthwaite, a true feminist who pens Cruella-blog on Harriet Harmen's new equality bill Hell, I'll Take It!

The F-word, who describes herself as a contemporary UK feminist, draws up her own mini round up 2 of other feminist blogs.

Our own Natalie Bennett, Philobiblon writes her Carnival of Feminists No 59 - some very interesting even saucy posts.

Angela Saini, a journalist and science writer from Nothing shocks me I'm a scientist after listening to a speech by the UN secretary general says Ban Ki-moon's birthday message

Here's one, pondering about animals Live sharp, die young

From novelist Catherine Sanderson living in France, ring finger all gushy and nice

Madam Miaow on the Terracotta Warriors exhibition held at the British Museum - some lovely photos. And anti-choice Nadine Dorries is at it again with regards to reducing abortion time limits

Heinz in the midst of controversy:

Varied points of view on the capitulation by Heinz in banning their advert that shows ....two men.....kissing - Lesbilicious, Heinz pull the plug on their Deli 'mum' advert, Heinz Two Man No Messed Up, harpymarx on Heinz: the boycott begins and an Interesting opinion piece from James Gordon MacIntosh who wishes to stress they are his personal views and not that of the PR company, Seventy Seven PR, owned by the Ad's producers AMV BBDO, he apparently works for.

A gem of a news Item.

Back in a Bit writes Why I like Cryptosporidium

Unless you have an interest in the subject of water-borne parasites, you’d have no reason to know the first thing about cryptosporidium. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if, a week ago, not a single one of the quarter-million had even heard of it. Now, of course, it’s a regular topic around a hundred-thousand dinner-tables.

Mentioning the BNP evokes very passionate feelings.

From Harpymarx - some lovely pics from the rescent anti-fascist demo, Harry's Place is very vocal about Combating the BNP

Then on the opposite side of the political spectrum are the real nutters Up Against The Wall You Mad Cow! - Monster Raving Looney Party is not funny and never has been.

More Politics

The Devil's Kitchen - The NHS: the politicians think it's fucked... Strong reaction to a newly published book ......Sixty Years On: Who Cares For The NHS?

Blaney's Blarney rants - What kind of country have Blair and Brown given us? And will the Tories do anything to sort this out..? Prepare for your blood to boil - articles from Newspapers to make anybody furious

Daily (Maybe), Jim Jay on the Liberal Conspiracy meet-up as he travelled home on the train.

Dave Cole says Two cheers for Tom Watson - has released a code of conduct for blogging civil servants.

Andrew Dodge annoyed at Charles Tannock MEP, Free trade…not really…MEP doesn’t get it

Charles Crawford, blogoir, reminising on serving as HM Ambassador in Belgrade from 2001-2003 -Montenegro: My Role In Its Triumph

There has to be some sport:

Fora writes Just not cricket: the Elliot dismissal. The controversial decision seems to have upset many cricket fans

Those strikes in the news:

Another strong voice, female blogger, Marsha-Jane Thompson from Union Futures on "Yes" vote for strike action from Unison members

Jon's union blog, Unite members have voted to strike UNITE join UNISON and solidarity to the striking London Underground cleaners

The farcical Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 10th July 2008:

The political circus is coming to town, To back David Davis or not to back David Davis - DAVID DAVIS - AN UNLIKELY HERO, Another Green World on their candidates 25 candidates in by-election, More Green support - The Haltemprice and Howden by-election

General interesting stuff.

Missed off from last week's roundup but happy to include now. I know this might not be to everyone's taste, but I think Bourdieu was one of the greatest modern thinkers:A Day With Bourdieu.

The Magistrate's Blog comments on the Naomi Campbell sarga. So sad that a person of her calibre should feel she can get away with such behaviour in public. Nelson Mandella asked for her name to be taken off the 64464 concert guest list. She was wearing one of the charities peaked caps at the time of her arrest at the airport and this irked him.

Unspeak an interesting post, Plutoid - You will remember the kerfuffle in 2006 over Pluto being stripped of its status as a planet. For a time there it was relegated to the description “dwarf planet”.1 But now it has been officially decided what Pluto really is. It’s a plutoid......

NHS blog doc is all hot under the collar- Lunch box Police "Cakes and biscuits are allowed?". Allowed? How dare they? I have had enough. Please leave me alone. Please go away.

Nearly missed one Raped girl wants abortion religious nutters say no
An 11 year old Romanian girl was raped by her uncle and now wants an abortion. You’d think it’d be a no-brainer that she should have one, right? Well, you’d be wrong, religious groups oppose it:

Phew! that's the lot, my bums actually gone numb sitting here writing this. Hope readers think it is worth it.

Later, Got the host wrong - Next week's host will by Cabalamat who pens, Amused Cynicism.

Anybody read something they like during the week send nominations to the usual address: britblog [at] gmail [dot] com. Self nomination is allowed for one post.

I'm signing off with my usual salutation 'Segobe'