Meanderings

• Helen Castor

For the past half-century, Richard the Lionheart - that buff, bronzed warrior who hardly saw his wife and had no children - has been something of a gay icon. As a presence on the silver screen (most famously in the shape of the young Anthony Hopkins in The Lion in Winter) his homosexuality has rarely been in doubt.

English history isn't short of gay or bisexual monarchs - Edward II, James I, possibly William II - but the historical evidence for counting Richard I among their number rests on one contemporary document concerning his relationship with King Philip II of France. In 1187, a chronicler reports, the two men were so close that "at night the bed did not separate them".

Now, however, as the BBC prepares to air a new Lionheart docu-drama, the king's biographer, Professor John Gillingham, has pointed out that Richard's ostentatious bed-sharing with the French king was the product of a political alliance rather than a lovers' tryst.

Gillingham's suggestion that this was "an accepted political act, nothing sexual about it" might strain modern credulity - but we should remember that diplomacy has always been intensely personal, if not downright physical. Only this week, Jonathan Powell's account of the Northern Irish peace process has highlighted the significance of Tony Blair's decision to shake hands with Gerry Adams - the press of prime ministerial flesh on republican palm a powerful gesture of political intent.

In centuries past, a wider range of body parts might come into diplomatic play. Medieval rulers, for example, routinely greeted one another with a kiss (the biblically sanctioned "kiss of peace"). Richard's decision to share a mattress with Philip was the ultimate public demonstration of trust in an age when PR had to rely on word-of-mouth rather than the lenses of the international media.

And it worked, in the context of a monarchy where privacy was relative and political life didn't stop at the bedroom door. The king held court in his bedchamber, and his favourite servants slept at the foot of his bed. World leaders don't, any more, feel the need to ratify a treaty by getting into bed with each other - though, interestingly, that's still the language we use when we talk of sealing a deal. Perhaps we should just be grateful that, these days, the "special relationship" between the UK and the US doesn't involve seeing Bush and Brown in their underpants.

· Helen Castor is a medieval historian and author of Blood & Roses: the Paston Family and the Wars of the Roses.

 As most of you will be aware 2 young goths were recently attacked, one of whom died: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6962612.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6991696.stm
It has become apparent that there is a gap in the law regarding the way in which the offenders can be charged and so a petition has been started:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/goth-hatecrimes/


"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Widen the definition of 'Hate Crime', to include crimes committed against a person or persons, on the basis of their appearance or subcultural interests""In remembering the case of a Lancashire couple, who received an horrific beating, for the way they were dressed and, in which an innocent young woman lost her life, the Alternative & Gothic community puts forward that the definition of hate crimes should expand to protect subcultural people where the law is concerned. Most Gothic/subcultural people regularly complain of being harassed, abused, spat on or attacked for the way they look, having done or said nothing to otherwise provoke this. People who prefer ‘darker’ fashions; who sport facial piercings, alternative make-up or dyed hair regularly experience being singled out on these grounds, by the less tolerant. When this escalates to physical attack and, in this instance, death of an innocent person, it is clearly unacceptable.According to the home office, the definitions of ‘Hate Crime’ include race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability. We feel this list should also include: “On the basis of personal appearance or subculture”." 

Researchers have discovered a link between high levels of testosterone in babies still in the womb and autistic traits in children. Babies exposed to high levels of the sex hormone testosterone in the womb appear to be at greater risk for these autistic characteristics.

While the researchers are careful to note that although they cannot prove testosterone exposure in the womb causes autism, they strongly believe it may one day be implicated as one of the main factors related to autism.

Simon Baron-Cohen, the lead researcher, discussed the study yesterday at the British Association Festival of Science at York University, “The idea that foetal testosterone may play a causal role in autism is an existing hypothesis. There’s no evidence that it’s a causal factor, but this research is certainly consistent with that hypothesis.”

The study followed 235 mothers and their children over eight years.At the onset of the study, the mothers had an amniocentesis, a regular womb test during pregnancy, that determined testosterone levels present. The children were closely monitored in the following eight years and tested for autistic-like behaviour at regular intervals during their development.

Researchers found that high levels of testosterone in the amniotic fluid of the womb were significantly correlated with autistic-like behavior. Hormones within the amniotic fluid are a product of the baby,not the baby’s mother. “We don’t know if the foetal testosterone is causing the autistic traits or is a by-product of them,” noted the researchers.

Autism and autism-related disorders are characterized by difficulties in socializing and social interactions with others, even loved ones. They may also be less empathetic and generally display less emotional responses than children without the disorder. People with autism or autistic -related disorders sometimes are fascinated with numbers and logical systems of order.

“Children with autism seemed to have an exaggeration of the typical male profile because they have a very strong interest in systems, like numbers, but have difficulties with empathy,” Baron Cohen said.

Baron Cohen is a pioneer in the “extreme male brain” theory. This theory suggests that autism is at one end of a spectrum of social behaviors more typical of boys than girls.

“The extreme male brain theory was originally developed at a psychological level,” said Baron Cohen. “Children with autism seem to have an exaggerated male profile. Now we’re moving from the psychological level to the biological level.”

The researchers also suggested that autism should be recognized as an atypical form of development, like left-handedness, a preference that can be helped but not “cured.”

Related News Articles

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• Bully Behaviour Among Children with Disorders
• Testosterone Helps Women Regain Desire
• Genes for Autism Differ Among Genders

• Emotions and Weight Affect Testosterone Levels
• Asperger's Disorder
• Thyroid and Mood
• History of Asperger's Disorder
• Find Lower Cost Medications with Rxaminer

You have to be a British citizen or resident to sign this.

Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: Martyn Lowe
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 7:15 AM
To:
Subject: New petition on Key worker status for Librarians & Library workers.

Hej All!

Here is an another example of how we can achieve Key Worker status for all library & Information workers.

I don't expect that we can achieve this in a hurry, but it will help to highlight the issue of the low pay which most librarians & library workers receive.

So - Can you all sign it, & let others know about it too!!!
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It's a nice piece of my work upon the E- petitions part of the 10 Downing St website.

See: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/librarians/

I quote:
' We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to give all Local government librarians & library workers a 'key worker' status.'
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Here is the background info which goes with this one:

Public libraries are one of our most valuable resources. They depends upon the knowledge which is deposited with all librarians & library workers. Given that library workers earn much less than what are average incomes, then the only way in which to help safeguard the future of libraries is to at least make sure that all local government librarians & library workers get a 'key worker' status. Failure to do so will result in a major decline in the Public Library service.

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A modern quote from Marie-Antoinette:

' Let them eat Bio Fuels'.