As requested, admittedly a while back, I'd like to point you, dear reader of these words, in the direction of another blog of equal import. My friend Tom is, amongst other things, an excellent stand-up comedian and is so far exceeding even my own high expectations in his role as director of our new improvised comedy project, The Four Gallants.

He is also, if not my favourite Tory on the planet (I have these parents), then certainly the one I would most willingly listen to on matters of politics. This, after a recent revelation that Andy isn't a Tory, despite wearing his shirts like that.

It is, however, strictly for people who are thoughtful and interested in all manners of the living. Warning: lovers of banality and mindlessness may be offended.

Had a culinary success yesterday evening entertaining a couple of our friends. I like having dinner parties, because it gives me an excuse to try and impress people with food - I wouldn't say I'm a natural, instinctive cook, but I like trying new things, and I'm building a decent repetoire.

Anyway, our guests impose an additional problem when coming up with a menu, because one of them is vegetarian. The actual problem is that Cath can't stand all the usual things you substitute in for meat as the main ingredient in a vegetarian meal - mushrooms, nuts, aubergines, butternut squash are all off list, and there's a few others that she doesn't really like.

So, we had a warm salad of chargrilled leeks and red onion with mozzarella and a tarragon and mustard (and some other things) dressing to start, and linguine (in a a creamy sauce of parmesan and dolcelatte) with feta stuffed roasted figs - ours were wrapped in parma ham - as a main. It worked really well, and there were excellent reviews.

I must remember to have more dinner parties.

I've been reading a lot of Chuck Pahalniuk this year - Fight Club, Survivor, Haunted and Rant - and haven't read one yet that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Something I discovered after reading Haunted was that the opening short story (it's a book of short stories, about each of the characters in the main story), which is called "Guts" was often read to promote the book. Given the reported effects of these readings on its audience (causing people to pass out night after night), I wanted to hear it performed live. I found it on YouTube here (part 2 and part 3 follow on). Inhale. Take in as much air as you can. Have a listen, and tell me what you think.

I've read and see a couple of things recently about sex education in schools. One piece was about how progressive teaching methods have failed, according to a recent paper in the BMJ which found that one particular programme actually appeared to raise teen pregnancy rates (or, that the pregnancy rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group). I haven't read the paper, but I also haven't read any particular methodological criticisms of it, so I will continue on the assumption that it is a valid contribution to the debate.

There was also a debate on The Wright Stuff yesterday morning about a new form of sex ed which emphasised more positive messages ("Sex is fun", "Sex is good for your health") rather than the more typical negative messages ("Sex will kill you dead if you do it wrong"). The argument made for this trial scheme was that if sex was seen as something to be enjoyed rather than something to be worried about, children would be less susceptible to peer pressure, and would wait rather than just try to get it over with as soon as possible. I'm not sure I get the logic exactly, nor the necessity of pointing out how much fun sex is, but I'm wouldn't write it off out of hand.

The main point I wanted to make, which I think is being missed in this debate is this: when did the goals become preventing young people having sex and reducing teen pregancy? The actual goal should be preventing the spread of sexually transmitted disease, and reducing unwanted pregnancy. Those are the actual social ills, and the only way to combat them is by education, in quantities great enough for everyone to know exactly what could happen if you have sex, including the exact medical risks, financial issues resulting from unexpected pregnancy and legal matters than may arise from negligent parenting.

If, as the critics say, sex education programmes expose more children to the idea of sex (which seems unlikely in given the high sexualised multimedia world we live in) and ends up encouraging more young people to have sex or get pregnant, then this really isn't a problem. Providing those people are fully informed about what they are doing, they have the right to make their own decisions, and the real concern for a government should be making sure everyone is able to make the decisions that are best for themselves.

And why does becoming twenty years old necessarily make your pregnancy better for society? I'm sure there are sixteen year olds who could be better parents than some thirty year olds. Age isn't particularly important, unwantedness is. If you are old enough to fully comprehend a pregnancy and all its implications, then that's enough to take age out of the equation. Would it be better for society if teenagers stayed in school and developed skills and contributed more to the economy? Maybe. But that isn't a decision a government should be involved in. After all, a fully informed person can choose which path makes him or her better off, and such decisions don't just reflect monetary rewards from economic input.

As for society, there are a couple of issues. Let's suppose greater sex education leads to more teen pregnancies, but that these pregnancies are (in general) wanted. It's not clear to me that more children with dedicated parents would do more harm to society than less children, but those who are born are much more likely to be the result of an uninformed mistake. Yes, children create costs for the government through the payment of benefits. But arguing that sex education policy should be designed to minimise the demands placed on the welfare state is ridiculous - if there's a problem with the the benefits system, reform the benefit system. If you think that the benefit system creates distortionary incentives for childbearing over work or further education, then the indirect solution of designing sex education policy to counter this is clearly inferior to changing the incentives directly.

And, on a related point, the dependency ratio (retirees to workers) in the UK is projected to exceed 40% by 2050. It shouldn't inform policy on sex education, but it does help to remember that an ageing population also creates massive problems, and that there could be some benefits to increasing the population at the other end.

Colbert on Berlusconi, a couple of weeks ago: "Still, Berlusconi maitains a solid 56% approval rating among his people, mainly because they're worried if his rating drops into the teens, he'll try and fuck it."

The whole thing is here.

I've been learning the play the guitar for a while now, and as my musical tastes and the acoustic guitar are not quite the happy bed fellows you at first might imagine, I like trying to find songs I enjoy and would listen to that could be played unplugged. Youtube is your friend in this situation, as there is no end of people posting their cover versions of pretty much anything. Anyway, I've recently been trying to find versions of Bad Religion songs, having seen a couple of tracks Greg Gaffin himself has done acoustically (Sorrow, already discussed, and God Song, both of which I can kind of sort of nearly play a passable version of).

There's some nice covers out there, but I just found quite a few performed by one girl (whose name is Emily, we're very close), and some of them are really great. This is not just because she has a strong voice and plays well, but because, if you know the originals (find the originals, know them, love them), you'll see they're not just carbon copies played on an acoustic guitar.

Anyway, have a listen - I recommend Faith Alone, Walk Away and You. I'll be stealing them soon. You should all be aware that I only try to sing along when I'm sure most of East Oxford is out.

Here's a challenge. Watch Sarah Palin's resignation speech, and see how long you last. Not because she's saying anything particularly objectionable, but because after a certain number of minutes of hearing words unrestrained by grammer or sentence structure, you may actually start to feel dizzy, unsettled or even nauseous.

I made it to 10.11, when I was finally finished off by: "Life is too short to compromise time and resources and though it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand 'sit down and shut up', but that's the worthless, easy path-out, that's a quitter's way out and I think a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and go with the flow. We're fisherman, we know that only dead fish go with the flow."

Then I thought I'd try to finish it, but a minute later this happened: "I've never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this, to make a difference, to help people. So I choose, for my state and my family, more freedom to progress, all the way around, so that Alaska may progress, I will not seek re-election as Governor." And I rested.

On The West Wing, they would occassionaly do an episode where a conventional bit of liberal thinking was taken apart. In one episode, a gay Republican congressman argues with Josh over the Defence of Marriage Act, and Josh finally says "how can you be a member of this party". The answer given is that although gay, there was a lot more to the congressman's politics and beliefs than just his sexuality.

For most people, we rarely agree with everything the party we vote for has in its manifesto. You try and find the best fit. I tend to vote Liberal Democrat, but I was uneasy in 2005 with their stance on top-up fees, for example. This is unremarkable. However, for some people, there's a tendency for the rest of us to believe they can only care about one issue, and the LGBT community is one of them. It seemed incredible to Josh in that episode, and it apparently seems incredible to the government that according to a recent survey, 38% of homosexuals would vote Tory at the next election, even though the Conservative Party have had by far the weaker record on supporting gay rights (as acknowledged even by the respondents in the same survey)

The irony here is that this stance is in itself homophobic, implying that the only thing a homosexual cares about is being homosexual, and that the only thing they seek from a government is that it lets they be as homosexual as they want to be. Far be it for gays to be interested in the same concerns that have driven the nationwide decline in Labour support, or to care about a number of issues. A fiscally conservative gay? An anti-EU gay? How can you be pro-business or in favour of tougher immigration policies AND a homosexual? Where would you even find the time?

I find it hard to work out where the Conservative Party currently stands on gay rights, as I don't think the positions espoused by Cameron are necessarily spreading throughout his party, nor do I think he is definitely not posturing. I see nothing on the policy section of the website about gay rights (while I do see a section on the countryside). But it's one area that voters - all voters - get to decide about, and that includes heterosexuals who are also able to care about fringe issues like equality and personal freedom. Making it a rallying call against the Tories makes you as much of a hinderance to progress as the anti-gay Conservative party (if it even exists) that you want to stop getting into power.

I have phases where my myriad interests take up more or less of my time. I had a couple of years where I was watching hardly any wrestling - now it's the major reason I use the internet. Music - specifically metal - has had similar times where I really care, and times where I maintain just a precursory interest.

I'm currently listening to a lot of new things, and relistening to a bunch of albums I didn't give enough time to over the past couple of years. I realised that I rarely discuss music here, but that I now wanted to a little, so I'm going to try to discuss new albums. Not everyone who reads this blog enjoys the music I do, but maybe occassionaly I can turn you on to something new.

Quite frankly, one reason I wanted to start doing this was because I've been walking around of late, listening to an album that I can't have on for more than a few minutes without thinking, "this is the best album I'll hear this year", and I really want to share it with as many others as possible. The band is called Cobalt, and the album is called "Gin".

A lot has been written in other reviews about the bands lead singer, who's day job is in the US army, serving in Baghdad. Whether his vocal performance on this album is because of his experiences or not concerns me very little. What does matter is that it is a remarkably intense contribution - listen to the him as he bellows, "burn me down, shoot me in the chest" at the end of "Arsonry" to get an idea. That's not to say it's one-dimensional; I liked his quieter bits as well.

The real appeal to me, however, is the music. They are black metal elements, but this is a truly progressive band in the blend of styles they expertly weave together. Take "Pregnant Insect", my favourite song on the album. There's the acoustic start launching into the huge punkish riff . There's tribal-sounding drums and there's Jarboe chanting, all built around the more stock hypnotic mid-paced section that typifies lots of progressive black metal bands. Other highlights include the more meditative "Dry Body" and the lenghty "Two Thumbed Fist". I also actively like the short instrumental pieces that link up the longer tracks, which can sometimes sound like filler or undeveloped ideas that didn't fit in elsewhere.

US black metal is pretty great these last few years, pushing forward a genre of music that can be very conservative . Last year there was Nachtmystium's "Assassins" and the previous year there was Wolves In the Throne Room's "Two Hunters". I think "Gin" may be better than them all.

I was a Michael Jackson fan in 1991 when he released Dangerous, but even as a seven-year old who listened to Bad and Thriller over and over again, a part of my brain always thought that it was rubbish. By the time HIStory was released, I had moved on, but my impression of the singles were that they were trite and musically weak, and that they compensated with expensive, bloated videos. I never listened to anything from Invincible.

I don't say this to be callous. I just want to make the point that at a time like this, there is a tendency to overhype the dead person's legacy and the implications for the world of the death. In reality, Michael Jackson was hardly a prolific artist, and his best work was behind him by over 20 years - the Michael Jackson of 2009 is not a loss to the music world. Furthermore, if you are one of the people who are openly mourning the demise of a musical genius, and can't actually tell me when the last time you listened one of his albums was, then you'll get little time from me.

I could also talk cynically about the supposed genius of the man - a great pop record is the result of many different people, and the guy on the cover is just one of them. It's probably unnecesary though, as the word 'genius' ceased to mean anything a long time ago. I think we can all agree that he was a talented vocalist and a charismatic performer. However, even this is not free of hyperbole - a message passing along the bottom of the news this morning from a woman in London declared him 'the last great showman', as if being an entertainer of millions was an ancient secret passed down to only a select few and now lost forever.

Jackson will be remembered as a tragic figure, partly because of the heights he thrust himself to and the unreasonable expectations of his dedicated legion of fans, and partly because of the relentless media obsession - the same media that will fill days with tributes to the parts of his life they haven't cared about since the mid-90s. If I could make one suggestion it would be that everyone shows a degree of balance and level-headedness. If he inspired you, then his death should make you sad. If you enjoyed his music, be thankful for that legacy. But don't jump around making grandiose proclamations about a man who has probably in the past decade been the punchline of numerous jokes you've laughed at and the topic of many appalled conversations you've had. It's very tedious.

My friend Rachel forwarded this to me.

For some amusement this Friday afternoon, why not have a little vote on today's Daily Mail poll 'Should the NHS allow gipsies to jump the queue?'. It's much more fun if you vote 'yes'. Then tell some other people about it. Currently, 91% of people have done the same. Publish that tomorrow morning, Dacre.

People power 1, mindless hatemongering 0.

I was all set to come and write about the honeymoon. Then I found out Mitsuharu Misawa was dead, and I don't feel like it anymore.

Misawa was the president of NOAH, Japan's second largest promotion. He was still active in the ring, and while older, still pushing his body in the style he helped popularise in the 1990s - hard hitting, realistic, dramatic and exciting. He died of a cardiac arrest following a standard back bump in a tag match in Hiroshima today.

He was All Japan's top guy - or ace - during those years, and produced many of the decades, and history's, greatest matches. There was never an ace like Misawa. His style was a blend of heavyweight striking, bumping and in-ring storytelling, combined with a heavy influences of junior heavyweights: the high spots, the aerial moves, the incredible pace.

With Misawa at the top, All Japan main events and quality professional wrestling were near synonymous - the increase in intensity and impact that started at the end of the 1980s, combined with the traditional rooting in in-ring story-telling and drama, was carried much further by Misawa and his peers. While I always favoured company number two Toshiaki Kawada for in-ring performance, Misawa was by far more influential and much more of a driving force of this revolution. Their match on June 3rd 1994 is simply the greatest, most perfect singles match ever wrestled in Japan, if not globally.

In recent years, the years of physical abuse clearly taking a toll, his role has shifted towards a tired veteran - still fighting, still great, but constrained by a body that isn't what it was. His final GHC title run, culminating with the loss to Takeshi Morishima last year was typified by this, and he found him almost as compelling to watch then as I did during his physical peak. You always hope that these icons of pro wrestling can finish with dignity, and see out their (hopefully many) days in comfort. That his end came in the ring, at the age of 46, obviously fails to meet that criteria, although there is something tragically inevitable that a man who pushed his body for twenty five years would finally be overcome by it.

I hope NOAH survives this, and although this little corner of the internet isn't going to be seen by those it is intended for, I extend my condolences to his family and friends, to the NOAH roster and to its fans.

Mitsuharu Misawa, 1962-2009.

I can't get back to regular blogging until I write about the wedding and everything. Enough stalling. My problem is I really don't know what to say to you (the gentle reader) that you probably haven't already said to both Cath and myself. So we'll see how this goes.

Obviously, we had a brilliant day. In all the ways that matter, we thought it went perfectly.

Some details you wouldn't know. The night before we were seperated, although much to Andy's chagrin we spoke several times. Cath likes tradition, but likes me more. I've never cared about tradition. I had a fun night with Murray, Scott and Adam -food, drink (Coke) and a lot of pool. I didn't really sleep much. I struggled to eat a bacon sandwich the following morning, predominantly out of nervous excitement rather than any fear. If you saw me before the ceremony I hopefully looked as calm as I felt, any nerves having departed by the time I started getting ready. Having seen the wedding photos, it's weird seeing me smiling and chatting and generally dicking about downstairs while upstairs Cath's room is much more serious as all the preparations are going on.

We had this plan for the ceremony that failed. Cath knew she would be nervous being watched by a room full of people, and she had decided that she would just focus on me. All the way down the aisle I could tell she had a fixed expression on her face, which made me think for a second something was wrong (she told me after that before she entered the room, she felt really lightheaded and wobbly). I had no preconceptions about what she would look like, and needless to say, she blew me away.

The ceremony is a blur - I don't think we stumbled over our words, and my general impression was that it was lovely. Afterwards, I can't remember ever being yelled at some much - a lot of people had a lot of need for my time. It's exhausting, but at the same time, I am aware I may never be (joint) centre of attention like that again. We were pleased with the food, although dinner did drag on a little. The one part that was worrying me was the speeches (or at the very least mine) but I was pleased with it, and everyone has been really nice afterwards (so thankyou). It was great getting the Imps to perform for all our families and friends, almost all of whom had never seen me do improv before (after four years). It wasn't strictly speaking a good set, but it was an entertaining one, and seemed to be a hit.

And then there was a fun evening of dancing and trying to catch up with far too many people - so for everyone I said "I'll be back in five minutes" (and who might still be waiting), I apologise. Several family members have commented that they liked how full the dancefloor was throughout - I blame (and thank) Imps.

Married life, thus far, has brought very few changes. Maybe the biggest one is that I now need a new clap - my old one keeps hurting my finger as it bangs into the ring. No-one warned me about that. The official photos are available to view online (if I haven't already sent you the info). Go to our photographers website (www.robwhealphotography.com), go to the client area. Then, email me for the password and login details. There are some fantastic shots of many of you, so you should definitely look at them.

I will talk about Cuba next time.

I could blog about my wedding and honeymoon and I will, in the fullness of time. But for now, I need to blog about Keyboard Cat.

To quote something I read recently that accurately describes what is going to happen over this weekend, after six and a half years of marriage, we're going to have a wedding.

The first thing to establish is that I am feeling no actual nerves about the idea of marriage or the commitment that we will legally be making. It has been a long time coming - I proposed in August 2007 - and we've both been ready for it for a good long while before that. There's a couple of aspects of the day itself which may make me a little nervous, such as not stumbling over my vows and making a speech, but I also realise that these things don't matter hugely, and that if I just relax and let it all happen, it will be fine.

I can't actually use this post to explain why it is I'm so sure that I want to spend the rest of my life with Cath. The first reason for that is that she is currently reading over my shoulder. The second, and most important, reason for that is that I don't want to say anything now that I plan to say tomorrow.

A wedding is a bit unreal, rooted in old traditions, symbols and a sense of show. It doesn't bear much relation to married life, and without the religious motivation, it certainly isn't necessary for modern couples. But I'm glad that we get to do this for one day - people probably don't spend enough time publicly affirming their love for each other, so when there's an opportunity to do so, we should take it. We're fortunate that we've been given lots of help, so we have been able to mark this occasion with a certain degree of ostentatiousness, both for our enjoyment, and hopefully also for our guests - as we're asking them (or you, if you're reading this, and we invited you) to join us for the purpose of celebrating us, we think it's also important to do enough the make the day seem worthwhile.

We're off for two weeks afterwards. Marriage update then.