Recent reading
Over the last 6 months, I have read Will Hutton's "The World We're In", Michael Moore's, "Stupid White Men" and I am currently devouring Naom Chomsky's "Hegemony or Survival. America's Quest for Global Dominance." I defy any person with average intelligence and education to read these works and admit that they are not deeply concerned about where the Bush regime is taking the world. Americans should know that the world outside America is frightened by the outrageous behaviour of your government. We are normal law-abiding, peace loving people, who are shocked by a group of very dangerous people at the top of your establishment.
Perhaps we are lucky in that we are not yet assaulted by outrageous "shock-jocks", bullshit from Fox News and crazy media who accept every distortion put out by the Neo-con spin machine.
I have read other books too - including "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" by Lynn Truss, James Joyce's "Dubliners" (again), Don DeLillo's "Underworld" and "White Noise", and many British and US short stories.
Monday, January 19, 2004
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Nice one, Benjamin
Benjamin Zephaniah, the poet has publicly refused an OBE. This is one of the most principled and honourable decisions that I have heard in a long, long time. Go on - click on the link. He articulates the case against Blair and the Monarchy so well that anybody who is interested in Britain must read it. He makes a powerful argument against these awards, from a black person's perspective. I humbly support you, Mr Zephaniah 1000%.
BBC Interview (real audio)
Benjamin Zephaniah, the poet has publicly refused an OBE. This is one of the most principled and honourable decisions that I have heard in a long, long time. Go on - click on the link. He articulates the case against Blair and the Monarchy so well that anybody who is interested in Britain must read it. He makes a powerful argument against these awards, from a black person's perspective. I humbly support you, Mr Zephaniah 1000%.
BBC Interview (real audio)
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Nice one, Hari
Hari Kunzru, the young British author has turned down a literary award sponsored by the Mail on Sunday, in protest at their published comments about migrants.
This is a noble and brave stance to take against this reactionary and revolting newspaper group [Associated Newspapers], which never hesitates to criticize refugees and asylum seekers. Mr Kunzru, whom I met some weeks ago in a Soho restaurant is included in the Best of Young British Novelists a publication by Granta in 2003 that identified the most talented writers of the decade. It includes a story, Lila.exe from his forthcoming novel, Transmission. His first novel was The Impressionist.
Hari Kunzru, the young British author has turned down a literary award sponsored by the Mail on Sunday, in protest at their published comments about migrants.
This is a noble and brave stance to take against this reactionary and revolting newspaper group [Associated Newspapers], which never hesitates to criticize refugees and asylum seekers. Mr Kunzru, whom I met some weeks ago in a Soho restaurant is included in the Best of Young British Novelists a publication by Granta in 2003 that identified the most talented writers of the decade. It includes a story, Lila.exe from his forthcoming novel, Transmission. His first novel was The Impressionist.
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Take a look at this discussion on the Beeb. I think it says something about Bush and his "economic" policy.
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Michael Moore
I am attending a lecture tonight by this activist/filmaker/writer . Odd thing is that I have not read any of his books yet. I have a read a lot of articles [both by him and about him] in newspapers. I guess I will purchase a copy his latest Dude, Where's my Country? . Seen him a lot on tv - seems to talk a lot sense - sadly. Must see his documentary movie - Bowling for Columbine too.
Since I have blogged here last, I have stumbled across a few conservative blogs - mainly US based. What a distinctly spooky lot they are. The arrogance, ignorance, self-righteousness, dare I say it - fascism - go on - look up its full meaning - is staggering. I think occasionally, they are well meaning people - but they really do need to "wake up and smell the coffee". They could do worse than dig out an unbiased history of the 20th Century. Read carefully the bits on totalitarianism - both of the left and the right, and the civil rights movement in the US - and while they're at it they might also dip into the histories of imperialism and slavery.
I am attending a lecture tonight by this activist/filmaker/writer . Odd thing is that I have not read any of his books yet. I have a read a lot of articles [both by him and about him] in newspapers. I guess I will purchase a copy his latest Dude, Where's my Country? . Seen him a lot on tv - seems to talk a lot sense - sadly. Must see his documentary movie - Bowling for Columbine too.
Since I have blogged here last, I have stumbled across a few conservative blogs - mainly US based. What a distinctly spooky lot they are. The arrogance, ignorance, self-righteousness, dare I say it - fascism - go on - look up its full meaning - is staggering. I think occasionally, they are well meaning people - but they really do need to "wake up and smell the coffee". They could do worse than dig out an unbiased history of the 20th Century. Read carefully the bits on totalitarianism - both of the left and the right, and the civil rights movement in the US - and while they're at it they might also dip into the histories of imperialism and slavery.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Monday, November 03, 2003
Bill Gates and his evil empire want to take over Google, which in turn, owns Blogger
Ownership of such a dominant tool as Google, bestows on a business huge power in global information - which to date has been exercised benignly. Microsoft does not have a very benign reputation in terms of information usage and exploitation of its monopolistic position. Does this man not own and control enough already? That is the trouble with this system, people eventually become megalomaniacs and want everything. Are he and his cohorts not rich enough, for crying out loud? What's next - the air we breathe? Don't even mention Rupert shagging Murdoch and his sons. It's Monday morning and in not in form for these tossers...
Ownership of such a dominant tool as Google, bestows on a business huge power in global information - which to date has been exercised benignly. Microsoft does not have a very benign reputation in terms of information usage and exploitation of its monopolistic position. Does this man not own and control enough already? That is the trouble with this system, people eventually become megalomaniacs and want everything. Are he and his cohorts not rich enough, for crying out loud? What's next - the air we breathe? Don't even mention Rupert shagging Murdoch and his sons. It's Monday morning and in not in form for these tossers...
Sunday, November 02, 2003
I went to the Tricycle Theatre again on Friday night - this time to see Justifying War - scenes from the Hutton Enquiry.
I would say that it was what the edited highlights of the judicial enquiry into the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the scientist/civil servant responsible for investigating weapons of mass destruction at the Ministry of Defense - would look like if the proceedings had been recorded. It was non-partizan.
What struck me about it was;-
1. The manner in which Foreign Minister, Jack Straw humiliated Kelly, by making a reference to his being some sort of junior in the civil service, whereas he was a very senior scientist and authority on his subject.
2. The extremely moving account of Mrs Kelly on the last few days of her husband's life and the understandable way he felt in the circumstances of a very sensitive, intelligent and modest man being suddenly cast into the media spotlight.
3. The very odd and vague testimony of Jeffrey Hoon, the Minister for Defense.
4. The power that the Blair's media advisor, Alistair Campbell had throughout (couldn't help thinking of Josef Goebbels - in an obviously much more grave situation).
5. The absence of the Blair questioning from the production.
After the play, I approached the Director, Nicholas Kent about this last point. He said that Blair didn't add anything of significance to the proceedings and to include him would just be sensationalist.
I am not so sure I agree with this. I feel that because Blair was the main instigator of Britain's going to war, his eminence gris should at least make an appearance.
Anyway, we found the production absorbing and quite moving.
Also had a pleasant drink with Joe and his good lady.
I would say that it was what the edited highlights of the judicial enquiry into the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the scientist/civil servant responsible for investigating weapons of mass destruction at the Ministry of Defense - would look like if the proceedings had been recorded. It was non-partizan.
What struck me about it was;-
1. The manner in which Foreign Minister, Jack Straw humiliated Kelly, by making a reference to his being some sort of junior in the civil service, whereas he was a very senior scientist and authority on his subject.
2. The extremely moving account of Mrs Kelly on the last few days of her husband's life and the understandable way he felt in the circumstances of a very sensitive, intelligent and modest man being suddenly cast into the media spotlight.
3. The very odd and vague testimony of Jeffrey Hoon, the Minister for Defense.
4. The power that the Blair's media advisor, Alistair Campbell had throughout (couldn't help thinking of Josef Goebbels - in an obviously much more grave situation).
5. The absence of the Blair questioning from the production.
After the play, I approached the Director, Nicholas Kent about this last point. He said that Blair didn't add anything of significance to the proceedings and to include him would just be sensationalist.
I am not so sure I agree with this. I feel that because Blair was the main instigator of Britain's going to war, his eminence gris should at least make an appearance.
Anyway, we found the production absorbing and quite moving.
Also had a pleasant drink with Joe and his good lady.
Saturday, November 01, 2003
Howards [is the] End
Michael Howard is to be the next leader of the Tory party. Heheheheheheheheheheh haahahahahahah. They can not be serious!!!
This right-wing slimeball should have no place in a respectable political party, let alone as leader.
But hold on... the Conservatives are not a respectable political party. Maybe they deserve each other. The Conservatives have become such a nasty cult since Thatcher arrived - that maybe he is just what they deserve. One thing is for sure, They will never be elected as long as he is leader.
The only hope for Britain is that there is a putsch within the Labour party and their right-wing liars, Blair, Straw and Blunkett are ousted ASAP.
Michael Howard is to be the next leader of the Tory party. Heheheheheheheheheheh haahahahahahah. They can not be serious!!!
This right-wing slimeball should have no place in a respectable political party, let alone as leader.
But hold on... the Conservatives are not a respectable political party. Maybe they deserve each other. The Conservatives have become such a nasty cult since Thatcher arrived - that maybe he is just what they deserve. One thing is for sure, They will never be elected as long as he is leader.
The only hope for Britain is that there is a putsch within the Labour party and their right-wing liars, Blair, Straw and Blunkett are ousted ASAP.
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Friday, October 24, 2003
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Bush can't have it both ways
Have you heard the neocons critizise the Europeans in their super-arrogant way for always having to call on the US to get them out of defense problems - like ww2, etc?
Yes, well maybe there was some justification in it.
What happens when the Europeans try to do something about it. Like TALK ABOUT setting up a Europe-wide army. The Bushshites go awol. The Europeans are accused of threatening the pre-eminance of NATO (the "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation" don't you just love the orwellian doublespeak - see also the Patriot Act). Blair, the bush stooge, says that he doesn't want to "undermine" the "special relationship". Right, a give-and-take relationship, they give and the rest of the world has to take any old imperialist crap that they chose to dish out. The last time I looked at the Globe, the Atlantic did not stretch to Afghanistan - but then most of the dumb conservatives don't know where anything is - outside of the states.
These are indeed dark days for the US. They will be looked back with the same melacholia that one reserves for the Nixon and McCarthy eras.
When will some educated democrat (small "d") emerge with a sense of America's proper role in the world and replace this dreadful un-elected regime?
Have you heard the neocons critizise the Europeans in their super-arrogant way for always having to call on the US to get them out of defense problems - like ww2, etc?
Yes, well maybe there was some justification in it.
What happens when the Europeans try to do something about it. Like TALK ABOUT setting up a Europe-wide army. The Bushshites go awol. The Europeans are accused of threatening the pre-eminance of NATO (the "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation" don't you just love the orwellian doublespeak - see also the Patriot Act). Blair, the bush stooge, says that he doesn't want to "undermine" the "special relationship". Right, a give-and-take relationship, they give and the rest of the world has to take any old imperialist crap that they chose to dish out. The last time I looked at the Globe, the Atlantic did not stretch to Afghanistan - but then most of the dumb conservatives don't know where anything is - outside of the states.
These are indeed dark days for the US. They will be looked back with the same melacholia that one reserves for the Nixon and McCarthy eras.
When will some educated democrat (small "d") emerge with a sense of America's proper role in the world and replace this dreadful un-elected regime?
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Mystic River
Saw this movie in the Tricycle Cinema today. What a powerful piece! The main actors Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Lawrence Fishburn put in very strong performances. Penn was amazing. It held my attention throughout, even though I guessed the culprit after about an hour. The Irish-American working class Boston thing was fascinating - the noirish environment, strong sense of community, thugish bully-boys - called the Savage Brothers! ( "Savage" is quite a common Irish surname).
The Tricycle is one of the better cinemas in London, but I found it difficult to catch some of the lines - I don't know whether this is because of the mega bass, the Boston accent, or the way the actors chose to articulate the words - maybe it's a combination of all three.
I do hope Hollywood is going to give us more of this grown-up entertainment.
Anyway, great direction, Mr Clint Eastwood. Can't wait for your next one!
Saw this movie in the Tricycle Cinema today. What a powerful piece! The main actors Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Lawrence Fishburn put in very strong performances. Penn was amazing. It held my attention throughout, even though I guessed the culprit after about an hour. The Irish-American working class Boston thing was fascinating - the noirish environment, strong sense of community, thugish bully-boys - called the Savage Brothers! ( "Savage" is quite a common Irish surname).
The Tricycle is one of the better cinemas in London, but I found it difficult to catch some of the lines - I don't know whether this is because of the mega bass, the Boston accent, or the way the actors chose to articulate the words - maybe it's a combination of all three.
I do hope Hollywood is going to give us more of this grown-up entertainment.
Anyway, great direction, Mr Clint Eastwood. Can't wait for your next one!
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Waiting for Concorde
Way back in '79 or '80, I sailed a dinghy from Howth, County Dublin to Port Saint Mary in the Isle of Man. This is a round-trip of about 250 nautical miles - in unpredictable and dangerours waters for an open boat. I asked a good friend, who had sailed across the Atlantic and to the Arctic a number of times and was later to work as yachtmaster in the Caribbean, to join me. This guy was Robert Fannin.
We had an exciting and enjoyable trip. We bumped into an old salt we knew - a tax exile fom Ireland who put us up for a few days. I wrote up the voyage in a light-hearted piece in an Irish yaching magazine. Rob did the illustrations - he comes from a family of artists.
I was delighted to hear his new play, Waiting for Concorde broadcast on BBC Radio 4 yesterday. I think this story is mainly about bereavement [and how the spirit "lives on"], which sadly the author experienced shortly before he penned the work.
Robert has been working hard at developing his writing over many years. I hope he goes on to achieve great success. He has a lot of talent.
Anway, when we completed the trip, I lived off the minor fame/notoriety of the voyage for some time. I remember admitting to a group "How could we fail with such an experienced blue-water sailor on board? His only comment was "I have never been so scared in all my life - as I was on that trip".
Way back in '79 or '80, I sailed a dinghy from Howth, County Dublin to Port Saint Mary in the Isle of Man. This is a round-trip of about 250 nautical miles - in unpredictable and dangerours waters for an open boat. I asked a good friend, who had sailed across the Atlantic and to the Arctic a number of times and was later to work as yachtmaster in the Caribbean, to join me. This guy was Robert Fannin.
We had an exciting and enjoyable trip. We bumped into an old salt we knew - a tax exile fom Ireland who put us up for a few days. I wrote up the voyage in a light-hearted piece in an Irish yaching magazine. Rob did the illustrations - he comes from a family of artists.
I was delighted to hear his new play, Waiting for Concorde broadcast on BBC Radio 4 yesterday. I think this story is mainly about bereavement [and how the spirit "lives on"], which sadly the author experienced shortly before he penned the work.
Robert has been working hard at developing his writing over many years. I hope he goes on to achieve great success. He has a lot of talent.
Anway, when we completed the trip, I lived off the minor fame/notoriety of the voyage for some time. I remember admitting to a group "How could we fail with such an experienced blue-water sailor on board? His only comment was "I have never been so scared in all my life - as I was on that trip".
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The con-man is supreme
I see a former con-man has won the Man Booker literary prize. DBC Pierre, (aka Peter Finlay) won the award with his novel Vernon God Little. The Australian, who now lives in County Leitrim, Ireland once sold a friend's house and trousered the takings. This is his first novel and he said that if he had not have written this book, he would "have ended it all".
Asked by RTE, the Irish broadcaster why he chose a quiet place like Leitrim, he said that he wanted to get partly out of the rat race. He did not mention that novelists do not pay income tax in Ireland.
Don't tell [his lordship] Jeffrey Archer - mind you, the tax code requires the work to be original and of artistic merit.
I see a former con-man has won the Man Booker literary prize. DBC Pierre, (aka Peter Finlay) won the award with his novel Vernon God Little. The Australian, who now lives in County Leitrim, Ireland once sold a friend's house and trousered the takings. This is his first novel and he said that if he had not have written this book, he would "have ended it all".
Asked by RTE, the Irish broadcaster why he chose a quiet place like Leitrim, he said that he wanted to get partly out of the rat race. He did not mention that novelists do not pay income tax in Ireland.
Don't tell [his lordship] Jeffrey Archer - mind you, the tax code requires the work to be original and of artistic merit.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
Ignorance is bliss with the Services and the Daily bigots Mail
One of the compensations of being single and male is that you can take off to a pub and and have a few beers by yourself, not worry what time you get home, get mildly or moderately pissed and just "hang out" by yourself. The problem is that you are likely to attract the attentions of one of the pub bores.
I drifted over to the "local" this afternoon to watch the the soccer results. . Sitting at the bar, I ordered a pint of Stella (Artois). I became aware of the presence of this guy, out of the corner of my eye, and said to myself, "I hope to Christ he stays where he is" ( sitting about 3 metres away).
No such luck! What does he do - but sit beside me at the bar.
Is it chicken or egg? What is it about soldiers and ex-soldiers that makes them so aggressive in conversation? He's of mixed parentage - Irish mother and English father - or is it the other way around?
Anyway - he wants to argue at every point. It's not the drink, he's perfectly sober. He makes a comment, such as the Chelsea team selection - he's a fan - I'm not. His point seems to be so laced with passion - no more than that - venom, that I just let him rant on. Then he goes on... and... on about various issues of Irish history, some of which I agree with, others I don't - the admission of which is a mistake. Then he says that he was accused of being a racist, by some LIBERAL (why do I hear the fucking Daily Mail voice here) in a the Crown Pub (Cricklewood), for using the word "darky" (about a black person), and that if he wants to use that word or "nigger", he can, and that he doesn't "necessarily" mean any offence to anybody. He then went on to criticise the EU, quoting the Daily shagging Mail.
Then he stopped, and said "you seem very quiet".
I was quiet because I was fuming, and told him that I was in full agreement with the "LIBERAL" who was offended by his truly rascist comments concerning black people. To a lesser extent I disagreed with his anti-European rant - saying that I thought he was still fighting WWII and that Europe had moved on - He was being misguided by The Mail and the rest of the fucking right-wing press, the proprietors of which had a different agenda to ordinary person and that Britain will be left behind in a great European renaissance - even Blair and Brown know this.
With that he started to climb down and said his "bark was worse than his bite".
I moved away, only to be engaged by another bore going on about West Ham United.
Maybe single is not all that wonderful....
One of the compensations of being single and male is that you can take off to a pub and and have a few beers by yourself, not worry what time you get home, get mildly or moderately pissed and just "hang out" by yourself. The problem is that you are likely to attract the attentions of one of the pub bores.
I drifted over to the "local" this afternoon to watch the the soccer results. . Sitting at the bar, I ordered a pint of Stella (Artois). I became aware of the presence of this guy, out of the corner of my eye, and said to myself, "I hope to Christ he stays where he is" ( sitting about 3 metres away).
No such luck! What does he do - but sit beside me at the bar.
Is it chicken or egg? What is it about soldiers and ex-soldiers that makes them so aggressive in conversation? He's of mixed parentage - Irish mother and English father - or is it the other way around?
Anyway - he wants to argue at every point. It's not the drink, he's perfectly sober. He makes a comment, such as the Chelsea team selection - he's a fan - I'm not. His point seems to be so laced with passion - no more than that - venom, that I just let him rant on. Then he goes on... and... on about various issues of Irish history, some of which I agree with, others I don't - the admission of which is a mistake. Then he says that he was accused of being a racist, by some LIBERAL (why do I hear the fucking Daily Mail voice here) in a the Crown Pub (Cricklewood), for using the word "darky" (about a black person), and that if he wants to use that word or "nigger", he can, and that he doesn't "necessarily" mean any offence to anybody. He then went on to criticise the EU, quoting the Daily shagging Mail.
Then he stopped, and said "you seem very quiet".
I was quiet because I was fuming, and told him that I was in full agreement with the "LIBERAL" who was offended by his truly rascist comments concerning black people. To a lesser extent I disagreed with his anti-European rant - saying that I thought he was still fighting WWII and that Europe had moved on - He was being misguided by The Mail and the rest of the fucking right-wing press, the proprietors of which had a different agenda to ordinary person and that Britain will be left behind in a great European renaissance - even Blair and Brown know this.
With that he started to climb down and said his "bark was worse than his bite".
I moved away, only to be engaged by another bore going on about West Ham United.
Maybe single is not all that wonderful....
Did you know that Orwell's real name was Blair?
Yes, the author of Animal Farm and and 1984 had the same surname as the current Prime Minister. That's where the similarity ends.
I am getting the distinct feeling of deja vue about Blair. It is quite obvious now that in many ways, Bambi sees himself as another Margaret Thatcher. And just like Thatcher his hubris will be his downfall.
Blair's statement to the Labour Party annual conference during the week that he had no reverse gear is so like Thatcher's, "the Lady is not for turning" , that he is likely to be sued for plagiarism.
Interesting too, that the sad Tories have nowhere to go but straight into the arms of the right-wing New Labour camp.
The Conservatives (Tories) are in total disarray.
The only oppostion to New Labour is provided by the Labour back benchers.
The third party - the Liberal Democats, are having to be all things to all men/women. Right-wing in a Tory marginal ( which is just about any Tory held seat), left-wing in any Labour seat (vide, Brent East). Such is the crazy world of British politics, right now.
But many think that Blair's days are numbered. He has totally screwed up, in the eyes of the British electorate, by going to war (compare Thatcher's poll-tax), and on deterioration of delivery of public services. Even Bush is furious with him for going back to the UN for the second (doomed) Iraq vote, and getting Dubya locked into the WMD issue.
Yes, the author of Animal Farm and and 1984 had the same surname as the current Prime Minister. That's where the similarity ends.
I am getting the distinct feeling of deja vue about Blair. It is quite obvious now that in many ways, Bambi sees himself as another Margaret Thatcher. And just like Thatcher his hubris will be his downfall.
Blair's statement to the Labour Party annual conference during the week that he had no reverse gear is so like Thatcher's, "the Lady is not for turning" , that he is likely to be sued for plagiarism.
Interesting too, that the sad Tories have nowhere to go but straight into the arms of the right-wing New Labour camp.
The Conservatives (Tories) are in total disarray.
The only oppostion to New Labour is provided by the Labour back benchers.
The third party - the Liberal Democats, are having to be all things to all men/women. Right-wing in a Tory marginal ( which is just about any Tory held seat), left-wing in any Labour seat (vide, Brent East). Such is the crazy world of British politics, right now.
But many think that Blair's days are numbered. He has totally screwed up, in the eyes of the British electorate, by going to war (compare Thatcher's poll-tax), and on deterioration of delivery of public services. Even Bush is furious with him for going back to the UN for the second (doomed) Iraq vote, and getting Dubya locked into the WMD issue.
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