Till Revolution...

...sounds and images along the rough road to equality of opportunity and dignity — freedom.

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One sad 'race card'.

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The Senate voted on Thursday to eliminate the use of the filibuster against most presidential nominees, a move that will break the Republican blockade of President Obama’s picks to cabinet posts and the federal judiciary. The change is the most fundamental shift in the way the Senate functions in more than a generation.

Busted, filibuster.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, denounced Democrats for trying to “break the rules to change the rules” as a way to distract the public from the president’s political problems over his health care law.

“You think this is in the best interest of the United States Senate and the American people?” Mr. McConnell asked, sounding incredulous. “I say to my friends on the other side of the aisle, you’ll regret this. And you may regret it a lot sooner than you think.”

Best interests of the "people"? Senator, please! Aisle this, aisle that, politics, shpolitics, mashpolitics. No shame in this game.

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Handy little word.

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Paying the London Living Wage ensures hard-working Londoners are helped to make ends meet, providing a boost not only for their personal quality of life but delivering indisputable economic dividends to employers too.

This in turn is good for London's productivity and growth. It is extremely heartening to see major new companies signed up this year but we need more converts.

- Boris Johnson

Less politics, more sense. A nice change.

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The law in Germany has been changed following a review of cases which revealed great unhappiness.

In one case, a person with no clear gender-defining genitalia was subjected to surgery. The person said many years later: "I am neither a man nor a woman. I will remain the patchwork created by doctors, bruised and scarred."

German passports, which currently list the holder's sex as M for male or F for female, will have a third designation, X, for intersex holders, according to the interior ministry.

One small step for X; one giant leap for mankind.

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Media diversity in Blighty? Non-question, depressingly self-evident.

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Entitlement and cronyism at the BBC:

They have ended up working in this culture which is buried in the last century, which is 'we are the BBC, we do what we like, we don't have to be too accountable'.

But they are raising £3.6bn through the licence fee, which is a tax, and, quite rightly, the public wants to have sight of how the money is spent. Things like the pay-offs have really caused concern, as have, obviously, things like Savile and Hall and the culture that goes around that. I think it is one of too much secrecy.

Grant Shapps, MP, UK

What value for money? Little chance for independent startups battling against the odds in an unfair UK media industry.

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Rough transcription of some deep and profound words by the supremely eloquent - and only 19 - Sigridur Maria Egilsdottir, on what she would tell her grand-daughter had she one:

Don't be grateful for your rights, but be grateful for the people who fought for them. And out of respect for them, speak up now so that their battles will not have been in vain nor stagnant. - Sigridur Maria Egilsdottir, BBC 100 Women conference

Floored. More power to generation next.

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Historic. Something all of us "common wealth" can aspire to? Oh no, just one family - 100 more years!

The reigning monarch and three future kings will, in all probability, occupy the British throne for considerably more than 100 years.

- BBC 'News'

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Dear UEFA, The scourge continues - yesterday, today, next year... unless there's more action and less pr. May I suggest: 1. Embed the philosophy in your own governance 2. Add real bite to deter offenders 3. Keep and share a public scorecard of action Just in case you haven't thought about that, though it seems you're struggling to get all this under control at the moment. Yours truly, Mere football fan

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Never too late for this story, a teachable moment for many years to come, sad as the need may be.

Urban scientist or urban whore?

Answer: YOU'RE FIRED!

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Not news: renting while black, in London, in the year 2013. But here goes the plot:

1. The agents' no-shame game

We cannot be shown discriminating against a community. But obviously we've got our ways around that. 99% of my landlords don't want Afro-Caribbeans or any troublesome people. When someone [African-Caribbean] comes in, we won't advise them of this property. Even if it does get [asked about] we make up an excuse, to be honest with you... We don't say no there and then. We just don't call them back (laughter).

2. Lip-service from feel-nothing-do-nothing politicians, typical:

Discrimination has no place in London, it has no place in the rest of the country. We've got firm legislation against it.

- Don Foster, MP, Minister for Housing

And blame the victims while in denial, of course it's their responsibility:

What it will rely on is people who've been the victim of discrimination coming forward.

3. The law - such a good deal:

Although 36 people told the Property Ombudsman they were the victim of racial discrimination in the past three years, not one single complaint was upheld. Only two allegations resulted in a full investigation.

4. What's the big deal, it's just competitive business, the hallowed ground we dare not tread, especially in a time of austerity:

We need to change the culture - but like any sales business it's a cut throat world and maintaining integrity is not easy.

Hmm, might that explain my recent... never mind, silly me just a bit confused, pulling the usual card, again. Banish the thought and carry on.

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Presidents v Citizens. Gods v Dogs. Haves v Haven'ts. #WeAreTwo

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This would be a joke if it was harmless. But it's neither. Or perhaps the humour is wasted on me. _

The issue:

At least 2.1 million men are abused daily by women in Kenya, according to a new report by Maendeleo ya Wanaume (translated: men's advancement)

- Ndiritu Njoka, Chairman

The research:

The worst hit by the abuses are the elderly men from the age of 60 with the findings revealing that 95 per cent of them are physically, emotionally and economically abused

The findings:

People think gender based violence is all about battering but the matter is big. The denial of the man as the head of the house and being forced to do menial jobs like cooking, laundry and baby-sitting among other domestic chores all constitute abuse

The map:

Nairobi County is said to be leading the counties where men are domestically abused with 82 per cent of those interviewed confessing to being a survivor of emotional, physical and economic violence. Kiambu, Mombasa, Nyeri and Kirinyaga make up the other top five counties where violence towards men is rampant.

For once, proud that my mother's otherwise beautiful village is covered on a map of violence. Tuendelee akina mama na dada. More power to you, and will happily ferry supplies to the battlefront.

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For cleaners in London, and no doubt for many more behind the glitz and glamour around the world, it's a tale of two cities:

1. The rat race

He leaves his home at 03:00 for the first of three cleaning jobs. He works shifts from 04:00 - 06:00 and then 06:00 - 16:30 in central London and then finishes with a two-hour shift in south London, between 17:30 and 19:30.

2. The hypocrisy of "progressives"

Just as crushing is the sense of not being valued, particularly in an educational institution, where students debate ideas of equality, labour rights and social justice.

"I thought people would behave well, they would have courtesy, good manners."

3. The silent tears

He says they see the photos of families on the desks each day, they prepare the rooms. Without any sign of self-pity, he says: "Some of these tables are cleaned with tears."

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Here's to hoping the ongoing spotlight will stem this global menace - not just in India.

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Painful:

Even though the house was always full, I felt completely lonely and violated.

I remember the feeling very clearly and I remember when it all came to a head for me. I must have been around 10 years old.

After years of these regular assaults, one day I just broke down and started howling, sitting on the floor.

Questioning:

So when the news came in about the the four guilty men being handed the death penalty after being found guilty of the fatal gang rape of a student in Delhi last December, I again wondered: When will this omerta, this code of silence about abuse in Indian homes be broken?

Hopeful:

There is enough conversation happening about how to make women safer in public spaces. This is heartening and encouraging.

Clearly homes and neighbourhoods are more unsafe than public spaces. This was certainly my own experience. This is where the change has to happen.

Change begins at home. Like, now.

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Showing support.

Protection against employment discrimination is a no-brainer. Show your support for #ENDA today: OFA.BO/6rkVHF

- Barack Obama (Twitter)