As the end of another year dawns, I find myself a year older and not necessarily any wiser. Deadlines are fast approaching and once again I am well behind on where I should be with the panic just setting in that unless I don't move from this specific spot by my computer for the next three weeks, there's no way it's all going to get finished...
However, there are bigger and more important things to reflect upon than my own petty rubbish. So I guess that's where I should point my attention henceforth. Many things have happened this year, some good, some bad and some incredibly ridiculous. I'll just ramble a bit about a couple before bed.
For starters there was the dawning of a new (?) era of British politics as we waved goodbye to our old faithful, Tony Blair. Gordon Brown strode in with his no nonsense attitude and an element of Scottish rough which made us feel he was 'down with the public' in a way that Tony Blair had not been since the late 90s. We wanted to trust Gordon after the insincerity and soundbytes of the previous government and we all hoped that this time, just maybe, things would be different. However, here we stand in December, all wiser with the knowledge that Gordon Brown is not going to make huge changes to policy or move away from the New Labour status quo, despite having stated such in previous speeches. His connection to Bush, although far more awkward and less buddy-like than Bush-Blair relations, is still clearly strong and he has not taken the stand that many of us would have liked. Realistically, we need the USA. That is the crux of the matter. We have made our bed and now we have to lie in it and would rather be snuggled up to the next US President than all alone on the bottom bunk. However, we must remember that whatever benefits the relationship with Bush and whoever comes next (as if it could be anyone but Hilary..) will undoubtedly damage relations between the UK and other parts of the world. Particularly as we still seem to be ignoring the fact that Guantanamo is still open, the US is still giving practically nothing to the developing world (despite G8 promises) and holding the whole world back in terms of climate change legislation. If you ask me, I'd rather sleep alone.
The other major event of the year, in terms of the UK at least, was the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. This was an absolutely tragic incident, which quite rightly tugged on the heartstrings of people all over the world, who could not imagine a tragedy worse than the disappearance of a child. The media circus may have helped the campaign, may have hindered it and I'm pretty sure we'll never know for sure the true impact of this on her situation. In my mind there is no point on postulating now as to whether or not her parents had anything to do with it, whether she is dead or whether she is alive. I hope they find her, I truly do, but I feel if anything good could possibly have come out of this in terms of enlightening the world to the plight of the millions of children who are abducted each year for illegal adoption, or far worse, to child traffickers, it would have been far better than the little media cover the real issues behind these disappearances received in reality. I feel it is sad that the spread of the coverage was not made wider. Although, of course, the McCanns did manage to set up a website specifically for missing children, which I guess is something positive at least.
Anyway, I'm rambling, so off to bed I go... I'm pretty glad no one reads this.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Just a few thoughts really...
I haven't written here for a while and so I thought, while I was in a bit of a contemplative mood, I would make an attempt to note some things down that I've been thinking recently.
It's strange how things are never more alive than when you contemplate mortality, how you want to reach out and touch things, hold in the smell of an autumn morning with leaves fallen fresh on the ground, as if you can breathe it all in and absorb it so it will stay with you forever. I was at a gig tonight watching a very fine singer called Emmy the Great and there was a lyric, 'I'll sprinkle champagne upon your bones'. It just paints the most comforting picture of death somehow.
This all sounds incredibly melodramatic and a little morbid, so I'll move on. I'm on the verge of seeming all EMOtional huh. I have been thinking a lot about life in general recently though, how things are moving on and changing. The third year of university seems to be spattered with feelings of intense fear and intense excitement at the prospect of the future, dispersed mostly in equal measure with a sort of bipolar quality. It reminds me of the Robert Frost poem..."Two roads diverged in a wood,/ And I took the one less travelled by/ and that has made all the difference." I remember reading it as a kid and thinking I would always be the one to take the path less travelled, but the temptation sets in sometimes to just remain static. It is, after all, so much safer. I have to fight against this urge, because I know there's a difference between living and living.
Hmm I will stray away now from the personal to more general matters that have bothered me recently. Haha, I seem to use this as purely a method to rant...to myself, as no one ever reads it. I don't really want people to if I'm honest. But I never write anymore, and I should, and this is a lazy way of expressing some thoughts which maybe one day will become something better.
Anyway...I encountered (once again) some common preconceptions this week, particularly concerned with Africa, which led me to become mildly annoyed. The pre-conceptions read something along the lines of..
1. All African governments are corrupt and even if we give them money, it won't get to the people who really need it, so what's the point?
2. When international structures remain as they are what is the point in small projects working in the country, surely these will never do anything in the grand scheme of things.
3. That the African people don't know what they want, let alone what they need so they would only use aid ineffectively
4. We've cancelled a bit of debt and we gives them loads of aid through our taxes, surely that's enough
...and the one that annoys me most of all...
4. We should liberalise all markets as it would promote global prosperity which would trickle down into prosperity for the whole world *vomit*
There are about a million things wrong with each of these arguments commonly held by, not the Conservatives, fascists and narrow minded ignorants but *shock horror!* by normal common or garden otherwise very liberal (in the political sense) minded people who recycle their newspapers and buy fair trade tea at the cafeteria.
I will complete this tomorrow though, for tonight I feel I am too tired to make sense. But just to let you know this wasn't intended as an emotional outpouring....But the best intentions.......
It's strange how things are never more alive than when you contemplate mortality, how you want to reach out and touch things, hold in the smell of an autumn morning with leaves fallen fresh on the ground, as if you can breathe it all in and absorb it so it will stay with you forever. I was at a gig tonight watching a very fine singer called Emmy the Great and there was a lyric, 'I'll sprinkle champagne upon your bones'. It just paints the most comforting picture of death somehow.
This all sounds incredibly melodramatic and a little morbid, so I'll move on. I'm on the verge of seeming all EMOtional huh. I have been thinking a lot about life in general recently though, how things are moving on and changing. The third year of university seems to be spattered with feelings of intense fear and intense excitement at the prospect of the future, dispersed mostly in equal measure with a sort of bipolar quality. It reminds me of the Robert Frost poem..."Two roads diverged in a wood,/ And I took the one less travelled by/ and that has made all the difference." I remember reading it as a kid and thinking I would always be the one to take the path less travelled, but the temptation sets in sometimes to just remain static. It is, after all, so much safer. I have to fight against this urge, because I know there's a difference between living and living.
Hmm I will stray away now from the personal to more general matters that have bothered me recently. Haha, I seem to use this as purely a method to rant...to myself, as no one ever reads it. I don't really want people to if I'm honest. But I never write anymore, and I should, and this is a lazy way of expressing some thoughts which maybe one day will become something better.
Anyway...I encountered (once again) some common preconceptions this week, particularly concerned with Africa, which led me to become mildly annoyed. The pre-conceptions read something along the lines of..
1. All African governments are corrupt and even if we give them money, it won't get to the people who really need it, so what's the point?
2. When international structures remain as they are what is the point in small projects working in the country, surely these will never do anything in the grand scheme of things.
3. That the African people don't know what they want, let alone what they need so they would only use aid ineffectively
4. We've cancelled a bit of debt and we gives them loads of aid through our taxes, surely that's enough
...and the one that annoys me most of all...
4. We should liberalise all markets as it would promote global prosperity which would trickle down into prosperity for the whole world *vomit*
There are about a million things wrong with each of these arguments commonly held by, not the Conservatives, fascists and narrow minded ignorants but *shock horror!* by normal common or garden otherwise very liberal (in the political sense) minded people who recycle their newspapers and buy fair trade tea at the cafeteria.
I will complete this tomorrow though, for tonight I feel I am too tired to make sense. But just to let you know this wasn't intended as an emotional outpouring....But the best intentions.......
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Calling all Climate Campers..
For this blog entry I will start with a simple extract from the 'Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings' by Gregory Y. Titelman
PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES - "Those who are vulnerable should not attack others. The proverb has been traced back to Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde' (1385). George Herbert wrote in 1651: 'Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.' This saying is first cited in the United States in 'William & Mary College Quarterly' (1710). Twenty-six later Benjamin Franklin wrote, 'Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if your own windows are glass.' 'To live in a glass house' is used as a figure of speech referring to vulnerability."
I think most of you will probably see where I am going...but in case you don't, I will go on. I have been a staunch supporter of action against climate change since I was a 13 year old putting up 'Boycott Esso' posters outside the petrol station across the road from school. So most people may see it as strange that I am having a go at the Climate Campers at Heathrow who are campaigning for the same thing. However, I believe there is such a thing as believing in the cause but not the means by which it is being promoted.
The fact is that many of the people I know who have run off to join the Climate Campers at Heathrow airport this week (and now extending to many airports around the country) have themselves indulged in one (or more) indulgent holidays themselves this summer. Now, I am not trying to have a go at those people, most people holiday in foreign climbs these days and the experience of travelling is one that I am starting to get a passion for myself and helps you gain perspective and encourages (well...sometimes) more tolerance and understanding of different cultures. However, the above proverb seems to ring loudly in my head when I question whether these people should really be standing up and preaching about the evils of aviation emissions. Perhaps a donation to the climate change project made over the internet whilst hanging one's environmental head in shame at the carbon footprint you have chalked up on your latest foreign retreat would be more appropriate.
The reason I am so bitter is maybe because I am a first time flyer! Yes people, I have been sheltered enough in my short life to have never flown anyway before, and have never ventured further than my family holidays to my beloved Cornwall or school trips to France on the ferry. As a result, I am rather nervous about getting on my first plane at the ripe old age of 20 and having a load of people hanging precariously around the runway from which I will be setting off. I agree that Heathrow should not be extended, and if that was the sole purpose of the demonstration and if it were guaranteed to remain peaceful and undisruptive to a girl whose aviation carbon footprint is ACTUALLY non-existent, then I would quieten down. However, after witnessing an interview with some burk on the TV in an idiotic 'i'm so ironic i like to wear my grandfather's cap and tweed shorts' claiming that 'all airports are going to suffer, you will be seeing more action like today' after another load of idiots lay down on the runways at Farnborough airport to stop the planes leaving, my feelings have been rather accentuated.
The matter of climate change is one that is, and continues to be, greatly highlighted in the media and I believe is now beginning to genuinely enter the consciousness of the British public. My dad, for example, never one to pay particular attention to the environment - although never purposefully harming it - has become a recycling fiend! I find people at work comparing how they are becoming more energy friendly by turning the lights off, people turning down bags at the checkout left, right and centre, and the rise in the number of green gas and electricity options are now showing that there is an increasing demand from the public to do more to prevent further damage. I know it is not yet enough. And I don't agree with the expansion of Heathrow, but I just can't believe that pissing off a load of holidaymakers by sitting on your arse in some camp for a week, or chaining yourselves to railings is going to make BA, Easyjet and all the other companies who, let's face it, run the show stand up and listen. They are only going to be more angry and is it affecting their profits? Of course it's not, and if we learnt anything from Rosa Parks back in 1955, it was that the way to get what we want is to hit profits.
So, campaign about the expansion of Heathrow, lobby important politicians, get people's support!! This move just seems to be one that is going to cause antagonism towards the movement and, as cynical as it sounds, seems to be yet another platform for snotty nosed teenagers/young adults to stand up and say 'Oh I'm such an environmentalist you know, when I got back from my holiday in the Maldives, to get to and from which I took four flights in total, I totally went to that Climate Camp to meet my other environmentalist buddies who also wear their grandad's hat as an ironic statement against globalisation and capitalism...' and this makes me angry. Have the bloody courage of your convictions and either holiday in Skegness or stop preaching to everyone else. I mean isn't this the whole argument? We are preaching to the developing world not to develop like us because they're going to do more to harm the planet - but that is the way we evolved and the developing world is not doing enough to change it, so how can we order less developed countries to do what we wouldn't and still now won't.
So I will pray that when I get on my flight to Heathrow, I will not be faced with a load of protestors lying on the runway while I take off on my first ever trip on an aeroplane. I am not a serial flyer, I am not a denier of climate change, I am just a person asking that it is ensured in future that these protests are actually hitting the people at the top, and not the people who will provide your greatest strength and support in the battles ahead.
PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES - "Those who are vulnerable should not attack others. The proverb has been traced back to Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde' (1385). George Herbert wrote in 1651: 'Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.' This saying is first cited in the United States in 'William & Mary College Quarterly' (1710). Twenty-six later Benjamin Franklin wrote, 'Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if your own windows are glass.' 'To live in a glass house' is used as a figure of speech referring to vulnerability."
I think most of you will probably see where I am going...but in case you don't, I will go on. I have been a staunch supporter of action against climate change since I was a 13 year old putting up 'Boycott Esso' posters outside the petrol station across the road from school. So most people may see it as strange that I am having a go at the Climate Campers at Heathrow who are campaigning for the same thing. However, I believe there is such a thing as believing in the cause but not the means by which it is being promoted.
The fact is that many of the people I know who have run off to join the Climate Campers at Heathrow airport this week (and now extending to many airports around the country) have themselves indulged in one (or more) indulgent holidays themselves this summer. Now, I am not trying to have a go at those people, most people holiday in foreign climbs these days and the experience of travelling is one that I am starting to get a passion for myself and helps you gain perspective and encourages (well...sometimes) more tolerance and understanding of different cultures. However, the above proverb seems to ring loudly in my head when I question whether these people should really be standing up and preaching about the evils of aviation emissions. Perhaps a donation to the climate change project made over the internet whilst hanging one's environmental head in shame at the carbon footprint you have chalked up on your latest foreign retreat would be more appropriate.
The reason I am so bitter is maybe because I am a first time flyer! Yes people, I have been sheltered enough in my short life to have never flown anyway before, and have never ventured further than my family holidays to my beloved Cornwall or school trips to France on the ferry. As a result, I am rather nervous about getting on my first plane at the ripe old age of 20 and having a load of people hanging precariously around the runway from which I will be setting off. I agree that Heathrow should not be extended, and if that was the sole purpose of the demonstration and if it were guaranteed to remain peaceful and undisruptive to a girl whose aviation carbon footprint is ACTUALLY non-existent, then I would quieten down. However, after witnessing an interview with some burk on the TV in an idiotic 'i'm so ironic i like to wear my grandfather's cap and tweed shorts' claiming that 'all airports are going to suffer, you will be seeing more action like today' after another load of idiots lay down on the runways at Farnborough airport to stop the planes leaving, my feelings have been rather accentuated.
The matter of climate change is one that is, and continues to be, greatly highlighted in the media and I believe is now beginning to genuinely enter the consciousness of the British public. My dad, for example, never one to pay particular attention to the environment - although never purposefully harming it - has become a recycling fiend! I find people at work comparing how they are becoming more energy friendly by turning the lights off, people turning down bags at the checkout left, right and centre, and the rise in the number of green gas and electricity options are now showing that there is an increasing demand from the public to do more to prevent further damage. I know it is not yet enough. And I don't agree with the expansion of Heathrow, but I just can't believe that pissing off a load of holidaymakers by sitting on your arse in some camp for a week, or chaining yourselves to railings is going to make BA, Easyjet and all the other companies who, let's face it, run the show stand up and listen. They are only going to be more angry and is it affecting their profits? Of course it's not, and if we learnt anything from Rosa Parks back in 1955, it was that the way to get what we want is to hit profits.
So, campaign about the expansion of Heathrow, lobby important politicians, get people's support!! This move just seems to be one that is going to cause antagonism towards the movement and, as cynical as it sounds, seems to be yet another platform for snotty nosed teenagers/young adults to stand up and say 'Oh I'm such an environmentalist you know, when I got back from my holiday in the Maldives, to get to and from which I took four flights in total, I totally went to that Climate Camp to meet my other environmentalist buddies who also wear their grandad's hat as an ironic statement against globalisation and capitalism...' and this makes me angry. Have the bloody courage of your convictions and either holiday in Skegness or stop preaching to everyone else. I mean isn't this the whole argument? We are preaching to the developing world not to develop like us because they're going to do more to harm the planet - but that is the way we evolved and the developing world is not doing enough to change it, so how can we order less developed countries to do what we wouldn't and still now won't.
So I will pray that when I get on my flight to Heathrow, I will not be faced with a load of protestors lying on the runway while I take off on my first ever trip on an aeroplane. I am not a serial flyer, I am not a denier of climate change, I am just a person asking that it is ensured in future that these protests are actually hitting the people at the top, and not the people who will provide your greatest strength and support in the battles ahead.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
My respect for Ricky grows...
I LOVE Desert Islands Discs. It is one of my favourite conversations to have: 'What would your Desert Islands Discs be?' And I tend to judge all celebrities on the relative strength of their choices. A particularly strong set that Caroline has brought to my attention is of the already much-admired comedian Ricky Gervais. I had already formed a good opinion of Ricky when I went to see him perform at the NIA earlier this year and during the intervals 'The Bends' was played in its entirity, the album Ricky himself said was the one album he could listen to everyday (although, strangely not his desert island record...)
Anyway Ricky did pick a Radiohead track, of course, which was Bones from the aforementioned album. His other choices are also particularly legendary - Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, The Sex Pistols, Neil Young and David Bowie all appearing in my list of favourite acts of all time. The Sex Pistols my particular favourite when I'm in an angry mood, you cannot beat thrashing around the bedroom to some classic punk to relieve tension. Perhaps Ricky put them in for the same reason. Also, Willy Nelson is a stroke of genius as that is one of the best songs of all time.
This further affirms my belief that Ricky and I would probably get on pretty well if we happened to meet over a pint in a London bar. Here's hoping...
1. If You See Her Say Hello
Performer Bob Dylan
Composer Bob DylanCD
Title Blood on the Tracks
Track 8
Label COLUMBIARec No 5123502
2. Lilywhite
Performer Cat Stevens
Composer Cat Stevens
CD Title Mona Bone Jakon
Track 11
Label ISLANDRec No: IMCD267
3. Anarchy in the UK
Performer The Sex Pistols
Composer Jones/Cook/Matlock/Rotten
CD Title Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
Track 8
Label VIRGINRec No CDV2086
4. After The Gold Rush
Performer Neil Young
CD Title Neil Young: Decade
Track 14
Label REPRISERec No 7599-27233-2
5. Bones
Performer Radiohead
Composer Colin Greenwood/Jonny Greenwood/Ed O'Brien/Phil Selway/Thom Yorke
CD Title Radiohead: The Bends
Track 5
Label PARLOPHONERec No CDPC57372
6. Letter to Hermione
Performer David Bowie
Composer David Bowie
CD Title Space Oddity
Track 4
Label EMIRec No CDP7918352
7. Galveston
Performer Jimmy Webb
Composer Jimmy Webb
CD Title Ten Easy Pieces
Track 1
Label GUARDIAN Rec No 8528262
8. Always on My Mind
Performer Willie Nelson
Composer J Christopher/WC Thompson/M James
CD Title BBC RADIO 2 SONGS OF THE CENTURY
Track 4
Label GLOBAL TELEVISIONRec No RADCD119
Record: Lilywhite – Cat Stevens
Book: A coffee table book of art
Luxury: Vat of Novocaine - a non-addictive pain-killer
Anyway Ricky did pick a Radiohead track, of course, which was Bones from the aforementioned album. His other choices are also particularly legendary - Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, The Sex Pistols, Neil Young and David Bowie all appearing in my list of favourite acts of all time. The Sex Pistols my particular favourite when I'm in an angry mood, you cannot beat thrashing around the bedroom to some classic punk to relieve tension. Perhaps Ricky put them in for the same reason. Also, Willy Nelson is a stroke of genius as that is one of the best songs of all time.
This further affirms my belief that Ricky and I would probably get on pretty well if we happened to meet over a pint in a London bar. Here's hoping...
1. If You See Her Say Hello
Performer Bob Dylan
Composer Bob DylanCD
Title Blood on the Tracks
Track 8
Label COLUMBIARec No 5123502
2. Lilywhite
Performer Cat Stevens
Composer Cat Stevens
CD Title Mona Bone Jakon
Track 11
Label ISLANDRec No: IMCD267
3. Anarchy in the UK
Performer The Sex Pistols
Composer Jones/Cook/Matlock/Rotten
CD Title Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
Track 8
Label VIRGINRec No CDV2086
4. After The Gold Rush
Performer Neil Young
CD Title Neil Young: Decade
Track 14
Label REPRISERec No 7599-27233-2
5. Bones
Performer Radiohead
Composer Colin Greenwood/Jonny Greenwood/Ed O'Brien/Phil Selway/Thom Yorke
CD Title Radiohead: The Bends
Track 5
Label PARLOPHONERec No CDPC57372
6. Letter to Hermione
Performer David Bowie
Composer David Bowie
CD Title Space Oddity
Track 4
Label EMIRec No CDP7918352
7. Galveston
Performer Jimmy Webb
Composer Jimmy Webb
CD Title Ten Easy Pieces
Track 1
Label GUARDIAN Rec No 8528262
8. Always on My Mind
Performer Willie Nelson
Composer J Christopher/WC Thompson/M James
CD Title BBC RADIO 2 SONGS OF THE CENTURY
Track 4
Label GLOBAL TELEVISIONRec No RADCD119
Record: Lilywhite – Cat Stevens
Book: A coffee table book of art
Luxury: Vat of Novocaine - a non-addictive pain-killer
Friday, 10 August 2007
Farewell to the master of the Hacienda
Anthony Wilson, the man who founded Factory records and played a key part in the evolution of the famous Manchester music scene in the 80s, has died today aged just 57.
He was the man who brought us Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, as well as the infamous Hacienda nightclub, and so must be marked as one of those rare ambassadors of British musical talent who will be sorely missed.
It does not bear considering how the musical map would have been redefined if the man had not taken a chance on that small experimental band named Joy Division, and how without the Happy Mondays the Britpop revolution may never have happened and anthems such as Wonderwall, Common People and Bittersweet Symphony may have never graced our ears.
One thing is for certain though, with a legacy like that, your memory will live on in the hearts of fans of great British music for eternity.
He was the man who brought us Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, as well as the infamous Hacienda nightclub, and so must be marked as one of those rare ambassadors of British musical talent who will be sorely missed.
It does not bear considering how the musical map would have been redefined if the man had not taken a chance on that small experimental band named Joy Division, and how without the Happy Mondays the Britpop revolution may never have happened and anthems such as Wonderwall, Common People and Bittersweet Symphony may have never graced our ears.
One thing is for certain though, with a legacy like that, your memory will live on in the hearts of fans of great British music for eternity.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it..
Sunning oneself and topping up the tan has become a British obsession. Undoubtedly this is because as Brits we don't receive much sunshine on this fair isle and when we do, it seems everyone immediately strips off to bare all in the glare of the sun, especially those older men that insist on walking around town with their shirts off when we really wish they wouldn't. This sun-loving mentality (as well as obviously the lure of more exotic locations) is what seems to be pulling increasing numbers of tourists to sunnier climbs on bargain basement airlines. But it was revealed in the news this week that the ease with which we can reach our warmer destinations is causing skin cancer figures to rise. I would debate that equally, the idiotic way in which people frequent tanning salons and rent out sunbeds is to blame for a rise in such figures. I understand that people want to look tanned, it makes you look healthier, more toned etc., but seriously is it worth the risk? As a traditional english rose type (pastey and proud), I fear skin cancer like the plague and feel we shouldn't be ignoring the fact that it is coming massively more prolific and should either bravely choose to stay our natural shade by slathering on the suncream, or indeed FAKE IT. I mean we cannot argue that there aren't enough fake tanning products in the market - the shelves of every Boots in the country are stacked with them right now. Don't get me wrong, the sun is good for you, vitamin D is ace for making you feel great BUT just be cautious and enjoy in moderation before possibly deadly melanomas, already up 40% in the past decade, become even more commonplace.
Oh, and I just found this entry on urbandictionary.com, it made me chuckle, if slightly depressing given the fact that I am a 'pastey' (although more like the first than the second, what with the not being a crackhead n all)....
pastey
being so white that you reflect light or temporarily blind people.
damn, her legs be so pastey that I have to wear UV sunglasses whenever I get within a 5 mile radius.
tags synonyms: pale whitey white albino; antonyms: tan fake bake
by hydrogenated e-over easy Dec 9, 2005 email it
pastey
usually a pale, skinny, long shaggy haired, crackhead.skin tone is very abnormal, looks high 24/7.
man thats your boyfriend? he looks like some pastey dude from upstate.
A comment on the former being that this is why we thank the lord for the current popularity of opaque tights - thank you Kate Nash.
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
...
'Music for a jaded generation'
hmmm, makes us all sound like a bunch of cynical pretentious idiots though........
hmmm, makes us all sound like a bunch of cynical pretentious idiots though........
Talk Show Host
I've been thinking about a name for my radio show for ages now and I still can't think of a decent one.
'No, THAT'S what I call music' is the best I have so far. A play on 'Now that's what I call music 0346830978' or whatever they're on by now...
'No, THAT'S what I call music' is the best I have so far. A play on 'Now that's what I call music 0346830978' or whatever they're on by now...
Monday, 30 July 2007
A shift in foreign policy and a sad farewell to Frank..
Firstly some pictures from Reading this weekend. Altogether a brilliant night, although the DJ played too much house for my liking....
"You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners" - Malloch-Brown
I must admit that this comment has endeared me anew to the Brown regime, and that the US and UK are no longer considered to be joined at the hip by the government can give us hope for a new, more impartial and hopefully more sympathetic and multilateral foreign policy. The appointment of Malloch-Brown, ex UN Deputy Secretary General and critic of the Iraq war, in itself makes a statement about his feelings on the situation there. The political commentators are not expecting him to make any real changes to the current policy in Iraq however, so have these measures been put in place to convince the public that had he been in power in 2003 I would not have gone to war...but now that it's happened, there's not a lot I can do. If this is the case, I think the effect of these symbolic appointments and indications of 'small shifts' will not appease the public for long. It seems obvious that these gestures are being engineered in order to try and play on people's anti-US/anti-Iraq feelings to ensure that should Brown hold a snap election early next year, he would be guaranteed votes. I would love to say that if he does not set a full withdrawal timetable before an election, I have faith that the public will not vote Labour next year, or the year after...but I can't and I don't. Although I believe such a move, if achieved cautiously and with full support to the Iraqi government and security forces, could secure his legacy, and his future as PM. We will just have to wait until September to find out what his next move will be.
Although it seems clear that Brown is not wishing to 'cosy up' to the European Union after taking a slight side-step in the relationship with the US, but wishes to foster better bilateral relations with countries such as France, Germany, India and (surprise surpise) China. Even as a pro-European, I can understand Brown's refusal to grant more foreign policy powers to the EU. Passing such powers over would castrate us in terms of remaining our own country. As far as I'm concerned the EU should be a cooperative body, not one that passes our powers of legitimation onto a body somewhere in Brussels. We should be able to have a say in our own foreign policy...even if this hasn't been the case in the past...we can hope for the future. However, this will limit our links with the EU, and if we are going to distance ourselves from the US at the same time, we must concentrate all our powers of negotiation on fostering good relations with Merkel, Sarkozi et al. I think Brown may be making a very sensible move here. Keeping links with America, whilst making it clear that they will not be 'inseparable', thus paving the way for better links with the big European powers. Although the man is incredibly intelligent, so I am not surprised. For now, I will remain suspicious, but ever hopeful that Brown will prove to me that he is a Prime Minister with integrity.
The other news of the weekend was the death of the frankly brilliant (see what I did there) actor, Mike Reid, aka. Frank Butcher. Never again will he turn up on Pat's doorstep in nothing but his birthday suit and a flashing, spinning bow tie. R.I.P. Mike and forever will your memory live on.
Finally, I have now completely 100% decided (I hope!) on my dissitation topic. Much more appropriate, more interesting etc. So now the research begins...
Friday, 13 July 2007
Live Earth, Alastair Campbell and the distinct absence of Gordon Brown?
The Live Earth debate could go on forever, although at the end of the day I think it could be universally agreed that even if a nice idea with good intentions from the ever-green Al Gore, it was completely mismanaged and left itself wide open to criticism from environmentalists, the media and everyday cynics alike. The point that has been milling around my head since last Saturday is, however, with the incredible criticism that I myself was spouting all weekend, we seem to forget that every concert we go to wastes energy. Every single one of the now hundreds of festivals that go on in Britain every summer, let alone the thousands and millions that occur all over the world, waste energy. Obviously I am not excusing the hypocrisy of an event preaching about carbon emissions including many acts whose carbon footprints are 100 if not 1000 times that of an average person. BUT it's very easy to distance ourselves from it and criticise rather than taking a lesson from it, that we should all be paying more attention to events like that, which we all attend whilst taking for granted the damage it will cause to the environment. Those in glass houses etc.
However, as I said, the criticisms for the Live Earth gig are fair and valid, and realistically it probably did much more for the album sales of the artists involved than it did for motivating people to act, in a substantial and sustained way, towards cutting back carbon emissions. The UN I believe were involved in the gigs held in Shanghai, Johannesberg and Rio, as I think these are the places where it was actually important to get the message across to everyday people, as they may not be bombarded with it by the media everyday as we, undeniably, are in the West. Perhaps rallying the people in those countries was significant in trying to spread the message about climate change. However, it is obvious that these countries, particularly in the case of Brazil and China, cannot develop, at least not in the way we have developed, without an inevitable cost to Planet Earth. And unfortunately until we show China another (affordable) way it can try and spread vital resources to its ever increasing population or those foreign investors who are making a pretty penny out of this developing economic superpower start investing their money ethically, and in environmentally friendly methods of energy creation, there is little hope of the message sticking. At the end of the day, Live Earth was a nice idea. When it came to Gore, it probably seemed like the most palatable way of trying to get the message across to the general public. However, what on earth the man was thinking when instead of putting American acts on in their own home towns, he flew them to the UK, and using acts, such as Madonna, who's carbon footprints are frankly incredible (not in a good way of course), is beyond me. Right, with that I will stop. For ranting is boring and any vaguely intelligent human being will have seen straight through the commercialisation of the whole thing to the utter hypocrisy underlying it. I mean, even the Daily Mail saw it.
The next issue of the week I feel was the release of Alastair Campbell's diaries. He is a man who has been incredibly villainised in the press, blamed for the death of Dr David Kelly, accused of creating the entire '45 minutes' fiasco, and generally spinning a great big web of lies to the public for the 6 years he spent as Tony Blair's press secretary. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch BBC 2's serialisation of his diaries. Expecting to hate the man, somehow I felt myself warming to him (if only ever so slightly) as his diaries had an incredible honesty to them, which I always admire. On reflection the ommissions are much more significant than the events he has included and the section on Diana felt rather frivolous and unimportant - although, what are diaries if not self-indulgent I suppose. He was a man who was as equally hating of others as he was hated, and for whom sleaze was the bread and butter of his working life. But, as he himself has said, he was employed to make the Labour party look good. And this involved telling a lot of porkies. I will stop short of saying I ever felt sorry for the man, he was completely responsible for putting himself in that position. And the question is always going to be, was he wholly unresponsible for the inclusion of the '45 minute' phrase in the Iraq dossier, and whatever the answer, should he have been so quick to scapegoat Kelly in a way that led so tragically to his death? He admits himself he was keen to pass the buck, a spin doctor will always want to place the blame as far as possible from his own doorstep, but was this right? I'm sure the question will plague him for the rest of his life as well.
In other thoughts, where oh where is Gordon Brown? I noticed him once on the news this week with (hurrah!) the announcement that they will have to reasses the issue of Super Casinos, which Tony Blair had been rather overly enamoured with. But apart from that he seems markedly absent. I suppose it is just because I am so used to being party to Tony Blair's every move, with his celebrity status, that it is hard getting used to the media's inattentive attitude towards 'boring Brown'. In a way it is good, but I'd quite like to know what the man's up to. I feel he is planning something big for the Queen's speech. Iraq withdrawal timetable? Let's hope so.
However, as I said, the criticisms for the Live Earth gig are fair and valid, and realistically it probably did much more for the album sales of the artists involved than it did for motivating people to act, in a substantial and sustained way, towards cutting back carbon emissions. The UN I believe were involved in the gigs held in Shanghai, Johannesberg and Rio, as I think these are the places where it was actually important to get the message across to everyday people, as they may not be bombarded with it by the media everyday as we, undeniably, are in the West. Perhaps rallying the people in those countries was significant in trying to spread the message about climate change. However, it is obvious that these countries, particularly in the case of Brazil and China, cannot develop, at least not in the way we have developed, without an inevitable cost to Planet Earth. And unfortunately until we show China another (affordable) way it can try and spread vital resources to its ever increasing population or those foreign investors who are making a pretty penny out of this developing economic superpower start investing their money ethically, and in environmentally friendly methods of energy creation, there is little hope of the message sticking. At the end of the day, Live Earth was a nice idea. When it came to Gore, it probably seemed like the most palatable way of trying to get the message across to the general public. However, what on earth the man was thinking when instead of putting American acts on in their own home towns, he flew them to the UK, and using acts, such as Madonna, who's carbon footprints are frankly incredible (not in a good way of course), is beyond me. Right, with that I will stop. For ranting is boring and any vaguely intelligent human being will have seen straight through the commercialisation of the whole thing to the utter hypocrisy underlying it. I mean, even the Daily Mail saw it.
The next issue of the week I feel was the release of Alastair Campbell's diaries. He is a man who has been incredibly villainised in the press, blamed for the death of Dr David Kelly, accused of creating the entire '45 minutes' fiasco, and generally spinning a great big web of lies to the public for the 6 years he spent as Tony Blair's press secretary. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch BBC 2's serialisation of his diaries. Expecting to hate the man, somehow I felt myself warming to him (if only ever so slightly) as his diaries had an incredible honesty to them, which I always admire. On reflection the ommissions are much more significant than the events he has included and the section on Diana felt rather frivolous and unimportant - although, what are diaries if not self-indulgent I suppose. He was a man who was as equally hating of others as he was hated, and for whom sleaze was the bread and butter of his working life. But, as he himself has said, he was employed to make the Labour party look good. And this involved telling a lot of porkies. I will stop short of saying I ever felt sorry for the man, he was completely responsible for putting himself in that position. And the question is always going to be, was he wholly unresponsible for the inclusion of the '45 minute' phrase in the Iraq dossier, and whatever the answer, should he have been so quick to scapegoat Kelly in a way that led so tragically to his death? He admits himself he was keen to pass the buck, a spin doctor will always want to place the blame as far as possible from his own doorstep, but was this right? I'm sure the question will plague him for the rest of his life as well.
In other thoughts, where oh where is Gordon Brown? I noticed him once on the news this week with (hurrah!) the announcement that they will have to reasses the issue of Super Casinos, which Tony Blair had been rather overly enamoured with. But apart from that he seems markedly absent. I suppose it is just because I am so used to being party to Tony Blair's every move, with his celebrity status, that it is hard getting used to the media's inattentive attitude towards 'boring Brown'. In a way it is good, but I'd quite like to know what the man's up to. I feel he is planning something big for the Queen's speech. Iraq withdrawal timetable? Let's hope so.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Well, there's a first time for everything...
Last night saw my second trip to Scandals since coming home, and had a really good (and surprisingly cheap) night! Only lowlights were the spillage of Gaskin's beer all over my new dress as he attempted to 'top up' my cider with cheap lager. Ugh. That and some overly amorous chavs and a possibly well meaning Irish man who picked me up at the bar and in the process managed to put his hands in inappropriate places. Wearing of dresses has its drawbacks. Really appreciating how good things have been with friends and the general calm and serenity that seems to have settled over the south coast, for now at least!!
Unfortunately I still haven't managed to find a job, which is pretty dire and the bank balance is slowly getting further and further into the red. Ah well, as my mother says, at least when you don't have any money you don't have to worry about anyone stealing it! (She had an incident with a mysterious Tesco Online bill taken out of her account a while back, and has been rather wary ever since). I think this summer may well be survived with odd jobs at my parents' workplace, selling all my worldly belongings on ebay, and stealing and cashing in everyone's unwanted pennies.
However, on the bright side, I do still have my BBC placement to look forward to, although I need to be careful to be doing/saying the right things at all times. Three days is a rather limited time to make an impression, and that is exactly what I plan to do! What with all the recent talk of postgraduate studies and how I'm going to fund them, I've failed to start panicking (until today) about the one thing that I need to get over with first - the dreaded dissitation. I have a general theme that I want to go on. Africa. Development. Globalisation. But seeing as I'm not much of an economist, I'm worried it will be quite worthless at the end of it. So maybe some sort of rethink is necessary.
Right, I think that's OK for my first post, I'm sure these will get more interesting with time. Ben (big brother) is coming back from Ibiza today to DJ some posh wedding, will be nice to see him before he leaves again for another 2 and a half months! Personally I don't understand his love of the party isle, but I guess anything's better than our great English 'summer'. Can't wait to get away myself, but not being much of a sun/dance music worshipper I think something calm and cultural will suit me just fine, Eastern Europe somewhere I reckon. As a 20 year old who has only ever seen France, I am desperate to see more of the world, I feel a strange sense of urgency about the whole thing. So fingers crossed I can make some money somehow!
Rachael x
PS. Watched Little Miss Sunshine this afternoon. What a brilliant film that is. Love Toni Collette. And it has Sufjan in the soundtrack, and a bit of Sufjan is always good. Really brings home how ridiculous the American beauty pageant scene is, as outdated as fox hunting if you ask me, and almost as brutal for those poor girls.
Unfortunately I still haven't managed to find a job, which is pretty dire and the bank balance is slowly getting further and further into the red. Ah well, as my mother says, at least when you don't have any money you don't have to worry about anyone stealing it! (She had an incident with a mysterious Tesco Online bill taken out of her account a while back, and has been rather wary ever since). I think this summer may well be survived with odd jobs at my parents' workplace, selling all my worldly belongings on ebay, and stealing and cashing in everyone's unwanted pennies.
However, on the bright side, I do still have my BBC placement to look forward to, although I need to be careful to be doing/saying the right things at all times. Three days is a rather limited time to make an impression, and that is exactly what I plan to do! What with all the recent talk of postgraduate studies and how I'm going to fund them, I've failed to start panicking (until today) about the one thing that I need to get over with first - the dreaded dissitation. I have a general theme that I want to go on. Africa. Development. Globalisation. But seeing as I'm not much of an economist, I'm worried it will be quite worthless at the end of it. So maybe some sort of rethink is necessary.
Right, I think that's OK for my first post, I'm sure these will get more interesting with time. Ben (big brother) is coming back from Ibiza today to DJ some posh wedding, will be nice to see him before he leaves again for another 2 and a half months! Personally I don't understand his love of the party isle, but I guess anything's better than our great English 'summer'. Can't wait to get away myself, but not being much of a sun/dance music worshipper I think something calm and cultural will suit me just fine, Eastern Europe somewhere I reckon. As a 20 year old who has only ever seen France, I am desperate to see more of the world, I feel a strange sense of urgency about the whole thing. So fingers crossed I can make some money somehow!
Rachael x
PS. Watched Little Miss Sunshine this afternoon. What a brilliant film that is. Love Toni Collette. And it has Sufjan in the soundtrack, and a bit of Sufjan is always good. Really brings home how ridiculous the American beauty pageant scene is, as outdated as fox hunting if you ask me, and almost as brutal for those poor girls.
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