Friday, June 26, 2009
And in the future they will always ask, "where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?" and I'll admit that I was in the university paper-shop, looking for a paper. I saw all the pictures on the covers of the newspapers, about what happened. I was shocked. Appalled. That the newspapers would, to a rag, take such a negative view of a singer that just tried to shine a little light, who just wanted to give people a glimpse of a different world.
That's Jarvis Cocker of course. Michael Jackson, even in 1996, was yesterdecade's news. If the Brits wanted to give Michael Jackson a made-up award because they wanted him to perform there, fine. He'd done an album that was nothing special but he wanted to perform and, who cares, why not? But even in a business not known for good taste, to have loads of children and people in religious costume look to him like he was some sort of messiah, without any sense of irony, that was when he was finished, and the following thirteen years have been little more than a long death rattle. What was especially amusing was that the next day all the newspapers had a go at Jarvis as a child-trampling thug. The next day they got with the program as they realised that they had misjudged public opinion which was firmly behind the Jarv. Jackson's last act in life was to propel Pulp to the stardom they achieved in the nineties, one of Britpop's biggest acts.
That's Jarvis Cocker of course. Michael Jackson, even in 1996, was yesterdecade's news. If the Brits wanted to give Michael Jackson a made-up award because they wanted him to perform there, fine. He'd done an album that was nothing special but he wanted to perform and, who cares, why not? But even in a business not known for good taste, to have loads of children and people in religious costume look to him like he was some sort of messiah, without any sense of irony, that was when he was finished, and the following thirteen years have been little more than a long death rattle. What was especially amusing was that the next day all the newspapers had a go at Jarvis as a child-trampling thug. The next day they got with the program as they realised that they had misjudged public opinion which was firmly behind the Jarv. Jackson's last act in life was to propel Pulp to the stardom they achieved in the nineties, one of Britpop's biggest acts.
Labels: Britpop, music, paedophiles, YouTube
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Oh Mr Deity I've missed you!
Labels: atheism, atheists, Christianity, Fundamentalists- Christian, humour, religion, YouTube
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I've been thinking for a while of doing a special Nirpal Dhaliwal Watch 'where are they now', just because Liz Jones is still writing crap in the Mail and I can't believe that her ex-husband that she got divorced from so that she no longer need be married to him has actually grown a braincell so must still be being stupid somewhere. Maybe.
Anyway, to tide you over, Liz Jones continues her quest to tell the world how she is no longer married to ex-husband Nirpal Dhaliwal who she is divorced and completely separated from with this article on people who discuss their failing marriages and slag off their partners online. It's worth it for her impressive lack of self-awareness especially when she says things like
...Yet I still wonder why someone is compelled to give so much of themselves to strangers in cyberspace.
(That's Nirpal Dhaliwal Watch, in case you forgot) Liz Jones has a point, why give so much of yourself to strangers in cyberspace where, if you write a column for a newspaper you can make them pay for the privilege?
I think that, instead of a site telling you how to arm yourself both in emotional and legal terms, there should be a site which makes sure you actually want to get married in the first place.
Or translated, 'I wish there was something that had stopped me marrying Nirpal as I'm incapable of evaluating evidence and have a history of judgement predicated towards self-harm because I believe I'm fundamentally worthless and need to be punished'.
how can posting heartbreaking messages like this bring anyone any peace?
And this is why I had to stop doing Nirpal Dhaliwal Watch.
Anyway, to tide you over, Liz Jones continues her quest to tell the world how she is no longer married to ex-husband Nirpal Dhaliwal who she is divorced and completely separated from with this article on people who discuss their failing marriages and slag off their partners online. It's worth it for her impressive lack of self-awareness especially when she says things like
...Yet I still wonder why someone is compelled to give so much of themselves to strangers in cyberspace.
(That's Nirpal Dhaliwal Watch, in case you forgot) Liz Jones has a point, why give so much of yourself to strangers in cyberspace where, if you write a column for a newspaper you can make them pay for the privilege?
I think that, instead of a site telling you how to arm yourself both in emotional and legal terms, there should be a site which makes sure you actually want to get married in the first place.
Or translated, 'I wish there was something that had stopped me marrying Nirpal as I'm incapable of evaluating evidence and have a history of judgement predicated towards self-harm because I believe I'm fundamentally worthless and need to be punished'.
how can posting heartbreaking messages like this bring anyone any peace?
And this is why I had to stop doing Nirpal Dhaliwal Watch.
Labels: journalists, Liz Jones, Nirpal Dhaliwal
Sunday, June 21, 2009
'Shrooms
Waiting for the Train to Normandy
It's the Hendon Pageant, which apparently happens each year but which I've somehow managed never to hear of before. I think it involves the RAF Museum in Grahame Park. There were D-Day celebrations, it is that all important sixty-five year anniversary after all, and as it's part, Colindale tube station was decked out with sandbags, taped windows and a few re-enacters walking around. Apparently. I turned up just as things were packing up.,
Labels: Flickr, London, Second World War
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
De Panne
De Panne
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
I'm looking forward to the new run of Detective Comics, in which Batwoman takes over while Batman deals with a case of being dead (this being comics he'll get better in a few months time). I plan to actually buy the comics, as opposed to downloading them as I do with most of what else I read (although with Jeph Loeb, which I read just for his Ed Wood quality, I still feel that I should receive an apology afterwards for wasting my time, if not my cash). I'm a little concerned with this article, in which writer Greg Rucka claims that when the character was announced several years ago then pretty much didn't show up in comics that was all because of naughty newspapers misinterpreting press releases, leaving DC high and dry (not mentioning the cancelled Devin Grayson series). Not so much for that but for a couple of quotes that caught my eye.
Batwoman is the highest profile queer character in mainstream, genre fiction ever. As a lesbian, she’s possibly an easier sell to the still mainly straight, white, male comic readers. "If I have to PT Barnum you a bit to get you into the tent then it might be worth it. But then the flip side is if somebody is going to open up these pages hoping for some hot girl-on-girl action then they will be sorely disappointed."
which seems mostly positive, and
"Batman is a demon, he’s a gargoyle. And I wanted Kate to be more seductive and consequently I would think more likely to take people by surprise... Their reaction to Kate is, yes, surprise and alarm, fear. But the way I see it is she’s more like a succubus when she wants information. She will coax it out of you, tease it out of you...."
which seems less so. Those ole' feminine wiles again. I guess the proof will be in the pudding.
Batwoman is the highest profile queer character in mainstream, genre fiction ever. As a lesbian, she’s possibly an easier sell to the still mainly straight, white, male comic readers. "If I have to PT Barnum you a bit to get you into the tent then it might be worth it. But then the flip side is if somebody is going to open up these pages hoping for some hot girl-on-girl action then they will be sorely disappointed."
which seems mostly positive, and
"Batman is a demon, he’s a gargoyle. And I wanted Kate to be more seductive and consequently I would think more likely to take people by surprise... Their reaction to Kate is, yes, surprise and alarm, fear. But the way I see it is she’s more like a succubus when she wants information. She will coax it out of you, tease it out of you...."
which seems less so. Those ole' feminine wiles again. I guess the proof will be in the pudding.
Labels: Batman, Batwoman, comics, DC comics, lesbians, queer
After the less than happy news yesterday the Guardian have canvassed some historians for their views on how worried the United Kingdom should be about voting fascists in to power. The general consensus seems to be not to be too worried about this country at the present time (though Eric Hobsbawm is concerned about the collapse of the left) but that there's a lot to watch out for in Europe.
Labels: BNP, Europe, fascism, history, United Kingdom
Monday, June 08, 2009
I seem to be arguing with fascists on-line this morning. In more cheerful news, trying to check in on fundamentalist wackos Christian Voice, I get a 404. I haven't looked at their site for a while so I don't know how long this has been like this. Founder and complete membership of CV Stephen Green is supposed to be paying money to the BBC for wasting their, and indeed, the country's time, maybe he's run out of pennies.
Labels: Christian Voice, Fundamentalists- Christian, Stephen Green
Sunday, June 07, 2009
In April, we learnt that Innocent Smoothies had fallen to the Dark Side of the Force by doing a deal with Coca Cola. Innocent now have a competition to design their bottle labels for them. Of course they aren't going to put out a label admitting their collusion with a company that benefits from union busting activities in South America or the creation of drought conditions in areas of India that have supported farms for centuries, but that shouldn't stop people so minded from writing competition entries about this or their other activities should it?
Labels: Coke, corporate malpractice, Innocent Smoothies
Thursday, June 04, 2009
The use of the English libel laws to silence critical discussion of medical practice and scientific evidence discourages debate, denies the public access to the full picture and encourages use of the courts to silence critics. The British Chiropractic Association has sued Simon Singh for libel. The scientific community would have preferred that it had defended its position about chiropractic through an open discussion in the medical literature or mainstream media.
Today Simon Singh announces that he is applying to appeal the judge's recent pre-trial ruling in this case, in conjunction with the launch of this support campaign to defend the right of the pubic to read the views of scientists and writers.
Join the campaign! In a statement published today, over 100 people from the worlds of science, journalism, publishing, comedy, literature and law have joined together to express support for Simon and call for an urgent review of English law of libel. Please help us with this campaign, sign the statement and tell everyone you know to sign it.
Today Simon Singh announces that he is applying to appeal the judge's recent pre-trial ruling in this case, in conjunction with the launch of this support campaign to defend the right of the pubic to read the views of scientists and writers.
Join the campaign! In a statement published today, over 100 people from the worlds of science, journalism, publishing, comedy, literature and law have joined together to express support for Simon and call for an urgent review of English law of libel. Please help us with this campaign, sign the statement and tell everyone you know to sign it.
Labels: alternative 'medicine', chiropractic, health, law, petitions
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
"Three thing taught me conservative love, Jesus, Ronald Reagan plus Atlas Shrugged"
Hilarious.
They've also knocked up a website too, where they continue to play the game to the hilt.
They've also knocked up a website too, where they continue to play the game to the hilt.
Labels: Conservatives, humour, music, politics, United States, YouTube
