Tilda Swinton says birth is 'violent'

Tilda Swinton claims Hollywood glamorises childbirth, when in fact it is a ''violent'' experience for women.

Tilda Swinton thinks childbirth is "violent"

The 50-year-old actress - who has 13-year-old twins Honor and Xavier with partner John Byrne - believes Hollywood glamorises birth, which is actually a "murderous" experience.

She said: "In movies, and particularly in television films, when people have babies they are sitting in a hospital room and there are flowers everywhere.

"They are made up, magically, and they have a baby in their arms and it's all really lovely. They start getting pink baby clothes. It's a truly, truly murderous business. It's violent."

The Oscar-winning actress - who portrays a mother who fails to bond with her son in forthcoming movie 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' - thinks women who are unable to "embrace" the nature of child birth may find themselves "up a gum tree" because of how hard it is.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, she said: "If one doesn't embrace that [violence], if one can't embrace it - and it's really tough to do that - then you're up a gum tree because it means you're going to be cutting off a whole part of yourself."

Tags: Tilda Swinton, Violent, Glamorises, Television films, Mouderous, Embrace

44-09-13

44-09-13 = (R. foliolosa X 'Little Chief') X 'Therese Bugnet'

This is the first of this group of seedlings to bloom. Hardly an exciting flower, really, but not a surprising result, really, considering how significant a role R. rugosa plays in its pedigree. The fragrance, in fact, is pure Rugosa: richly Clove-like. The foliage is pure 'Therese Bugnet'; ferny, with narrow leaflets, and that odd matte texture. The foliage has been impermeable to the standard diseases so far, but testing in earnest for Blackspot won't happen till the selections are planted out in the open garden.

For now, I am collecting pollen from some of these selections to test as breeders. I don't consider these individuals as "finished" works, but as potential stepping stones towards improved cold climate-friendly plants.

You can view info about the seed parent here.

Aamir attaches Delhi Belly to Ragini MMS

Ekta Kapoor must be shocked when she got a call from Aamir Khan for two reasons. Firstly, Aamir is her idol. Secondly, the actor wanted to attach his home production Delhi Belly to her film Ragini MMS, which has been dogged by controversies.

It is said that Aamir called Ekta Kapoor, requesting her to attach the first theatrical promo of his film Delhi Belly with Ragini MMS, which is releasing this Friday (May 13). The actor has chosen Ekta's film to promote Delhi Belly, as he thinks that both belong to same genre.

It is said that Ekta felt honoured by the call from her idol and agreed to release Delhi Belly promo with Ragini MMS.

Tags: Amir Khan, Ekta Kapoor, Ragini MMS, Socked, Controversies

Rihanna Video Ruled Too Racy for Daytime Brits

Rihanna has sparked a backlash in Britain after TV censors ruled her S&M video is too racy for daytime viewers.

The promo caused controversy earlier this year (11) with its raunchy imagery as the singer appeared semi-naked, tying a man to a bed, and suggestively sucking a banana.

Bosses at the Wtf TV channel aired the clip during a morning slot, prompting a viewer to complain to TV watchdog committee Ofcom that it was "completely unsuitable for daytime broadcast".

Ofcom chiefs ruled the promo "clearly and repeatedly focused on sex, bondage and sadomasochistic sexual practices as a theme" and that certain scenes "could have potentially dangerous consequences if imitated by children".

Now they are calling a meeting with several top TV executives to discuss their policies on racy music videos.

A statement from Ofcom reads, "We will... be requesting that broadcasters who transmit such programming attend a meeting at Ofcom to discuss the compliance of such material. "(We will) shortly be issuing new guidance about the acceptability of material in music videos broadcast before the watershed".

Tags: Rihanna, Videos, Wtf Tv Channel

121-06-14: impressions in year five.

Breeding roses is not a game for the "instant gratification" crowd. Patience, for us, is not a virtue, it is a requirement.

Cross #121-06 was created in Spring 2006; that is when I selected pollen from Austin's 'Tradescant' and placed it on blooms of my own seedling, 174-02-17 ('Sheri Anne' X 'Out of Yesteryear'). The foloowing year, probably April 2007, this seedling first appeared in a tray of seed mix topped with a generous layer of Perlite (for Damping Off suppression, did you know?) Although I do not have any notes to indicate when I first saw it flower, chances are it bloomed for the first time in June or July of 2007. The first bloom probably did little more than hint at bloom color and form, but apparently it was enough to make me select it for potting on for further observation.

In later Winter 2008, however, this seedling was almost destroyed by a week's worth of hard freezes that went down into the low teens every night. It was still in a 5 gallon container and rose roots don't like freezing solid while in pots. Long story short, it did survive, although it took more than a year to recover its vigor. 2010 showed me what a potential jewel this seedling was, with its deep garnet/purple swirls of petals, reminding me sometimes of 'Charles de Mills' or some such anachronistic creature. But unlike its Gallic brethren, this lad blooms in flushes through the growing season; pretty much a requirement for modern hybrids. (Although I am often found arguing for the merits of the elegant once bloomers)

I'm not done passing judgement on this seedling; it has yet to tell me much about ease of propagation, or its ultimate disease resistance out in the open test bed. It isn't yet as big as it will get when fully matured, and so I need to be quite sure this dark Swan doesn't turn rabid in year 6 or 7 and produce all manner of rank growth, breaking from its compact grace and going all "Audrey" on me. Time, as they say, will tell.

Midnight Blue, just because.

I was documenting seedlings in "number four" yesterday and took the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite moderns, 'Midnight Blue', by Tom Carruth. Echoing a recent comment by Jim Sproul, it is one of the few named varieties I still use in breeding. (I mostly use my own proprietary hybrids nowadays)

'Midnight Blue' is a truly amazing shrub. What color! It is also a very willing and capable seed/pollen parent; it is one of the few roses I can expect consistently good numbers of fertile seeds from, regardless of what the pollen parent placed on it.

Busy day, off to work!

Taylor Swift sings for tornadoes victims

Country singer Taylor Swift is doing her bit for the victims of the recent tornadoes that devastated the Southeastern US. She is letting fans watch her rehearse in order to raise money for US tornado victims.

The “You Belong With Me” singer is selling tickets to the impromptu 'Speak Now...Help Now!' show on May 21. The show would allow her 13,000 fans to watch her rehearse for her upcoming US tour.

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“I was watching the coverage of the tornadoes backstage at rehearsals, and I wanted to do something for the families affected by the damage. I've never opened a rehearsal to the public before, but I felt that inviting my fans to the last rehearsal for the Speak Now Tour would be a great way to raise money,” she said in a statement.

Taylor Swift is giving all the proceeds of the show towards the relief funds for victims of the recent US tornadoes.

Tags: Taylor Swift, Tornado Victims, Families