There's at least three of you out there!
Slainte mhath!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
A Happy St. Andrew's Day to All Our Scottish Readers
There's at least three of you out there!
Slainte mhath!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Surprised? Yes, very.
The Celtic Note music store on Nassau Street is advertising its wares in the runup to Christmas via a series of TV ads when even its Web site is still under construction. The ads features a list of names, such as Ryan Adams, Josh Rouse, and Manu Chao, concluding with the one-word question above. The music accompanying the ad is "Don't You Forget about Me," by one Micah P. Hinson. Whether or not he's aware of this, I don't know: I just wished they'd used the song "Patience" from the same album, The Gospel of Progress, with its screamed chorus line, "And I'm running out of patience, to be fucking with you, now." Not all that Christmassy, but one all the family can join in on during the Boxing Day karaoke session.
Micah P. Hinson, about to give it some welly at Primavera 2005.
Micah P. Hinson, about to give it some welly at Primavera 2005.
At Home with the Intelligentsia: No. 26. Gyorgy Lukacs
(Full image shows Lukacs listlessly stroking a small aardvaark dressed as a Beefeater.)
Friday, November 25, 2005
A Spanish McManus?
For those of you who don't read the blog by the CIA's man in Dublin, let me direct you to that of his Spanish equivalent, the esteemed Manuel Estimulo.
Es muy bien.
Es muy bien.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Floundering Dunphy Goes Under
Eamon Dunphy lost it on the TV last night during postmatch discussion of Liverpool's game when Liam Brady laid into his beloved Roy Keane.
The Irish Independent's Kathy Donaghy reports:
"A clearly annoyed Eamon pulled the microphone from his lapel during commentary of the Champions League coverage on RTE 2 in a move reminiscent of his famous pencil-throwing incident live on air during Italia '90."
Mmm. World famous in Ireland.
"Shocked viewers watched as Eamon took exception to fellow pundit Liam Brady's take on Roy Keane's departure from the top premiership club and blasted Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as having "lost the plot".
"Bristling with annoyance he further hit out at Fergie describing his handling of Keane as "brutal"."
"And he said Sir Alex would regret the day he let the Cork man walk away from Man Utd. Dunphy, who has long been an admirer of Roy Keane and has penned the soccer star's biography, was rankled when the discussion on last night's programme came around to Roy Keane."
"And while it started out as a healthy discussion of the now famous departure, it ended up with Dunphy taking a pot shot at Niall Quinn."
"He described Quinn as "an idiot" and told viewers that if they really wanted to know what the former Ireland international was like, they should go and watch the play 'I, Keano'."
Yes, and if you want to understand the Middle East situation, Eamon recommends you go to see Alan Hughes in Aladdin.
"Last night, Dunphy also made little of the fact that Quinn donated the stg£1m funds he raised from his testimonial to charity."
So presumably Keano is keeping whatever money he gets from his testimonial to himself. And no mention of Gary Kelly here, who set up a hospice in Drogheda with the money from his testimonial. Why pick on big Niall, I wonder.
"A spokeswoman for RTE said last night that things did get heated and Eamon made remarks about Niall Quinn.
"Bill (O'Herlihy) then contested the remarks to contain the situation," the spokeswoman said."
Let me raise the tone a little. A quotation from King Lear for Eamon's consideration:
"Let go thy hold when a great wheel
runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with
following it: but the great one that goes upward,
let him draw thee after."
D'ye see, Eamon? D'ye see?
The Irish Independent's Kathy Donaghy reports:
"A clearly annoyed Eamon pulled the microphone from his lapel during commentary of the Champions League coverage on RTE 2 in a move reminiscent of his famous pencil-throwing incident live on air during Italia '90."
Mmm. World famous in Ireland.
"Shocked viewers watched as Eamon took exception to fellow pundit Liam Brady's take on Roy Keane's departure from the top premiership club and blasted Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as having "lost the plot".
"Bristling with annoyance he further hit out at Fergie describing his handling of Keane as "brutal"."
"And he said Sir Alex would regret the day he let the Cork man walk away from Man Utd. Dunphy, who has long been an admirer of Roy Keane and has penned the soccer star's biography, was rankled when the discussion on last night's programme came around to Roy Keane."
"And while it started out as a healthy discussion of the now famous departure, it ended up with Dunphy taking a pot shot at Niall Quinn."
"He described Quinn as "an idiot" and told viewers that if they really wanted to know what the former Ireland international was like, they should go and watch the play 'I, Keano'."
Yes, and if you want to understand the Middle East situation, Eamon recommends you go to see Alan Hughes in Aladdin.
"Last night, Dunphy also made little of the fact that Quinn donated the stg£1m funds he raised from his testimonial to charity."
So presumably Keano is keeping whatever money he gets from his testimonial to himself. And no mention of Gary Kelly here, who set up a hospice in Drogheda with the money from his testimonial. Why pick on big Niall, I wonder.
"A spokeswoman for RTE said last night that things did get heated and Eamon made remarks about Niall Quinn.
"Bill (O'Herlihy) then contested the remarks to contain the situation," the spokeswoman said."
Let me raise the tone a little. A quotation from King Lear for Eamon's consideration:
"Let go thy hold when a great wheel
runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with
following it: but the great one that goes upward,
let him draw thee after."
D'ye see, Eamon? D'ye see?
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
And the American Word for "Wanker" Is?
Mark Steyn has an article in the National Review of November 7 explaining why European-style nanny statism is dooming western civilization. It ends,
". . . there seem to be no American equivalents of the uglier phenomena of European multiculturalism-the Muslim gang-rapists in France or the Muslim yobs in Yorkshire, who on the night of September 11 rampaged through the streets banging on the hoods of cars and demanding the drivers join them in cheering Osama bin Laden. The reason seems obvious: If you tried to do that to a pick-up truck in Texas, you'd get your head blown off. The bullying, intimidating side of Muslim immigration in Europe seems to be wholly absent herein part at least because the assertiveness of the individual American citizen makes it a riskier proposition.
That's also the lesson of 9/l1. The first three planes were effectively an airborne European Union, where the rights of the citizens had been appropriated by the FAA's flying nanny state. On the fourth, Flight 93, Todd Beamer and others reclaimed those rights, and demonstrated that they could exercise them more efficiently than government.
The modern social-democratic state is so corrosive of its citizens' will and so enervating in its elevation of secondary priorities (welfare, paid vacation) over primary ones (family, national defense) that most of them will not survive this great existential struggle. In America, a wartime president should understand that this is no time to increase his own citizenry's addiction to entitlement. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have, starting with your sense of self-reliance."
Makes me shiver.
Reminds me of that bloke in the movie Airplane who says, "They knew the risks when they got on the plane. I say let them crash."
". . . there seem to be no American equivalents of the uglier phenomena of European multiculturalism-the Muslim gang-rapists in France or the Muslim yobs in Yorkshire, who on the night of September 11 rampaged through the streets banging on the hoods of cars and demanding the drivers join them in cheering Osama bin Laden. The reason seems obvious: If you tried to do that to a pick-up truck in Texas, you'd get your head blown off. The bullying, intimidating side of Muslim immigration in Europe seems to be wholly absent herein part at least because the assertiveness of the individual American citizen makes it a riskier proposition.
That's also the lesson of 9/l1. The first three planes were effectively an airborne European Union, where the rights of the citizens had been appropriated by the FAA's flying nanny state. On the fourth, Flight 93, Todd Beamer and others reclaimed those rights, and demonstrated that they could exercise them more efficiently than government.
The modern social-democratic state is so corrosive of its citizens' will and so enervating in its elevation of secondary priorities (welfare, paid vacation) over primary ones (family, national defense) that most of them will not survive this great existential struggle. In America, a wartime president should understand that this is no time to increase his own citizenry's addiction to entitlement. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have, starting with your sense of self-reliance."
Makes me shiver.
Reminds me of that bloke in the movie Airplane who says, "They knew the risks when they got on the plane. I say let them crash."
Bullying? It's O.K. I guess.
From the latest issue of Contract Journal
"A recent worker survey at T5 published in The Site, BAA's in-house newspaper for the project, showed that one-in-ten workers on site think that bullying is a problem. This is an improvement on last year's survey, which revealed that one-in-five workers had seen some form of bullying."
Apart from the fact that "do you think bullying is a problem?" and "have you seen bullying?" are two different questions, is it a good thing that fewer people think that bullying is a problem?
"A recent worker survey at T5 published in The Site, BAA's in-house newspaper for the project, showed that one-in-ten workers on site think that bullying is a problem. This is an improvement on last year's survey, which revealed that one-in-five workers had seen some form of bullying."
Apart from the fact that "do you think bullying is a problem?" and "have you seen bullying?" are two different questions, is it a good thing that fewer people think that bullying is a problem?
The News We've All Been Waiting For
Beer helps with bone health, helps prevent cancer, reduces hot flashes, and helps to fend off cardiovascular disease.
AND best of all, it gets you drunk (I've done research of my own).
AND best of all, it gets you drunk (I've done research of my own).
British Anarchisms and the Miners' Strike #2
The Benjamin Franks article mentioned below is a brief and generally sympathetic account of the changes that took place within British anarchism during the mid and late 80s. Here's the conclusion:
"Since the miners’ strike, liberal anarchism has declined, while class struggle anarchism with a commitment to anticapitalism has, concomitantly, risen. This can be seen not only in the provocative targets of the anarchist sections of the alternative globalisation movements, but also in the extent to which Freedom has altered both in terms of its editorial board and its content. The newspaper is now more consistent with class struggle (or social) anarchism—despite the continued involvement of (Donald) Rooum and his Wildcat carton. The reengagement of anarchism with industrial struggles has had a marked influence on the interests and forms of political activity of British anarchist groups. Libertarians gained greater confidence to search out routes of solidarity. The eventual defeat of the miners also put in place a reconsideration of agency and organisation within libertarian movements, which has had a noticeable impact on the tactics and structures employed and endorsed by consistent libertarians. Although liberal anarchism has largely declined, this is partly due to the recognition by those formerly categorised as such that contesting capital relations is a dominant factor in their forms of resistance. Similarly, class struggle libertarians have become aware of the class nature of many of the forms of action formerly dismissed as ‘liberal.’"
I'd be curious to see a similar account of Irish anarchism, since the Workers Solidarity Movement seems to have reached the same perspective without having to heal any divisive rift between class struggle and lifestyle anarchisms, offering an anticapitalist and "antiglobalisation" perspective that recognizes the importance of the class struggle while also acknowledging the need for a total revolutionizing of ALL social relations, not just property relations (i.e. a posteconomistic socialism that even some Marxists like Gorz could sympathize with.)
"Since the miners’ strike, liberal anarchism has declined, while class struggle anarchism with a commitment to anticapitalism has, concomitantly, risen. This can be seen not only in the provocative targets of the anarchist sections of the alternative globalisation movements, but also in the extent to which Freedom has altered both in terms of its editorial board and its content. The newspaper is now more consistent with class struggle (or social) anarchism—despite the continued involvement of (Donald) Rooum and his Wildcat carton. The reengagement of anarchism with industrial struggles has had a marked influence on the interests and forms of political activity of British anarchist groups. Libertarians gained greater confidence to search out routes of solidarity. The eventual defeat of the miners also put in place a reconsideration of agency and organisation within libertarian movements, which has had a noticeable impact on the tactics and structures employed and endorsed by consistent libertarians. Although liberal anarchism has largely declined, this is partly due to the recognition by those formerly categorised as such that contesting capital relations is a dominant factor in their forms of resistance. Similarly, class struggle libertarians have become aware of the class nature of many of the forms of action formerly dismissed as ‘liberal.’"
I'd be curious to see a similar account of Irish anarchism, since the Workers Solidarity Movement seems to have reached the same perspective without having to heal any divisive rift between class struggle and lifestyle anarchisms, offering an anticapitalist and "antiglobalisation" perspective that recognizes the importance of the class struggle while also acknowledging the need for a total revolutionizing of ALL social relations, not just property relations (i.e. a posteconomistic socialism that even some Marxists like Gorz could sympathize with.)
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Democracy & Nature etc.
Selected articles from back issues of the journal Democracy & Nature can be found here.
Volume 5, Number 1 looks particularly interesting, if you like that sort of thing:
"On Freedom of Press and Culture: an Interview with Noam Chomsky"
"On Media, Culture and the Prospects for a New Liberatory Project: an Interview with Ken Loach"
"Mass Media, Culture, and Democracy," by Takis Fotopoulos
"The Myth of Electronic Populism: Talk Radio and the Decline of the Public Sphere," by Carl Boggs & Tina Dirmann
"Mass Media, Culture, and the Left," by Michael Albert
"Communal Stasis, Media, and a Civic Interpretation of the Historical Materialist Model," by John Ely
Review Article
"Libertarian Thought, Ideology, and the ‘Classics’: a Review of Cleisthenes the Athenian, by Pierre Leveque & Pierre Vidal-Naquet," by John Ely
Dialogue
"On the Bookchin/Biehl Resignations and the Creation of a New Liberatory Project," by David Ames Curtis
"On a Distorted View of the Inclusive Democracy Project," by Takis Fotopoulos
"CNS and 'Bookchin-ology'," by Takis Fotopoulos
"The war in the Balkans and the criminal role of the centre-left," by Takis Fotopoulos
Democracy & Nature has since transmogrified into The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy, which can be found here.
Volume 5, Number 1 looks particularly interesting, if you like that sort of thing:
"On Freedom of Press and Culture: an Interview with Noam Chomsky"
"On Media, Culture and the Prospects for a New Liberatory Project: an Interview with Ken Loach"
"Mass Media, Culture, and Democracy," by Takis Fotopoulos
"The Myth of Electronic Populism: Talk Radio and the Decline of the Public Sphere," by Carl Boggs & Tina Dirmann
"Mass Media, Culture, and the Left," by Michael Albert
"Communal Stasis, Media, and a Civic Interpretation of the Historical Materialist Model," by John Ely
Review Article
"Libertarian Thought, Ideology, and the ‘Classics’: a Review of Cleisthenes the Athenian, by Pierre Leveque & Pierre Vidal-Naquet," by John Ely
Dialogue
"On the Bookchin/Biehl Resignations and the Creation of a New Liberatory Project," by David Ames Curtis
"On a Distorted View of the Inclusive Democracy Project," by Takis Fotopoulos
"CNS and 'Bookchin-ology'," by Takis Fotopoulos
"The war in the Balkans and the criminal role of the centre-left," by Takis Fotopoulos
Democracy & Nature has since transmogrified into The International Journal of Inclusive Democracy, which can be found here.
The Miners' Strike 20 Years On
The latest issue of Capital & Class is a special issue devoted to the Miners' Strike of 1984-85, including an essay by Benjamin Franks on
"some of the main currents in British anarchism at the time of the miners’ strike. The article explores the effects of these libertarian movements on the conflict in the coalfield, and assesses how the strike influenced the development of British anarchisms."
Haven't read it yet but will report back.
"some of the main currents in British anarchism at the time of the miners’ strike. The article explores the effects of these libertarian movements on the conflict in the coalfield, and assesses how the strike influenced the development of British anarchisms."
Haven't read it yet but will report back.
What's the Australian for "Wanker"?
Via the Colonel, an interview with Kurt Vonnegut executed by the clueless David Nason.
Early on in the interview, Nason admits he hadn't read a word of Vonnegut's new book until three days before the interview, then proceeds to offer a series of non-sequiturs and denigrating observations that appear to have nothing to do with the book anyway. It becomes apparent that Nason was hoping Vonnegut would be some sort of performing chimp who'd make him laugh out loud and roll on the floor in hysterics; instead, he encounters a depressed old man with a very black sense of humour. Like, has he NEVER read any Vonnegut before?
Some samples from this travesty:
"We meet three days later outside La Mediterrane restaurant, a writers' hang-out on Manhattan's East Side. Vonnegut lives just around the corner, close to the UN. Coincidentally, it's United Nations Day, a good enough reason, I think, to seek his opinion of the world body.
A Man Without a Country - a book I have now read - provides no insight on this. The only reference to the UN is a passing one as Vonnegut declares his secret love for a woman who works in a post office used by New York's diplomatic community."
If they'd met round the corner from Old Trafford, would he have asked Kurt about Manchester United and then complain that the new book offers "no insight into it"? What a tosser.
Or what about,
"Next I ask him about terrorism. It's not for any particular reason. It just seems a relevant thing to ask a writer who has seen war, who has written of war and who lives in New York City, where terrorism's horror is understood so well."
And after having asked a question for no particular reason he has the gall to complain that
"...as (the interview) continued, it became quite sad. Vonnegut has clearly reached a stage in his life where he just can't be bothered any more."
Vonnegut can't be bothered? What about Nason? What WAS the point of him turning up and what new insight has he offered into Vonnegut's work? That he's very glum and depressing and really ought to cheer up? Thanks a million, Dave. That chipper Aussie optimism is just what we need right now. And next time you see J. G. Ballard or Iain Banks, tell him to stop writing altogether and get out more.
Honestly.
Early on in the interview, Nason admits he hadn't read a word of Vonnegut's new book until three days before the interview, then proceeds to offer a series of non-sequiturs and denigrating observations that appear to have nothing to do with the book anyway. It becomes apparent that Nason was hoping Vonnegut would be some sort of performing chimp who'd make him laugh out loud and roll on the floor in hysterics; instead, he encounters a depressed old man with a very black sense of humour. Like, has he NEVER read any Vonnegut before?
Some samples from this travesty:
"We meet three days later outside La Mediterrane restaurant, a writers' hang-out on Manhattan's East Side. Vonnegut lives just around the corner, close to the UN. Coincidentally, it's United Nations Day, a good enough reason, I think, to seek his opinion of the world body.
A Man Without a Country - a book I have now read - provides no insight on this. The only reference to the UN is a passing one as Vonnegut declares his secret love for a woman who works in a post office used by New York's diplomatic community."
If they'd met round the corner from Old Trafford, would he have asked Kurt about Manchester United and then complain that the new book offers "no insight into it"? What a tosser.
Or what about,
"Next I ask him about terrorism. It's not for any particular reason. It just seems a relevant thing to ask a writer who has seen war, who has written of war and who lives in New York City, where terrorism's horror is understood so well."
And after having asked a question for no particular reason he has the gall to complain that
"...as (the interview) continued, it became quite sad. Vonnegut has clearly reached a stage in his life where he just can't be bothered any more."
Vonnegut can't be bothered? What about Nason? What WAS the point of him turning up and what new insight has he offered into Vonnegut's work? That he's very glum and depressing and really ought to cheer up? Thanks a million, Dave. That chipper Aussie optimism is just what we need right now. And next time you see J. G. Ballard or Iain Banks, tell him to stop writing altogether and get out more.
Honestly.
Monday, November 21, 2005
That Monkey Joke
Two monkeys in the bath
First Monkey:Ooh ooh ah ah ah
Second Monkey:Well put some cold in then!
First Monkey:Ooh ooh ah ah ah
Second Monkey:Well put some cold in then!
So how will that work then?
Somebody at work claimed today that there have been so may storms in the U.S. this year that they have been right through the alphabet naming them, and will now start again using the Greek alphabet!
Sunday, November 20, 2005
The Weekend Just Keeps Getting Better (Part 2)
What a great Saturday. I beat my personal best time and came second on my series of 50 butterfly at a regional swimming championships. But, more importantly, Barça hammered Real Madrid 0 - 3 at the Bernabeu with that magician Ronaldinho scoring twice, dribbling past Madrid defenders at will. A perfect day, perhaps slightly spoilt by Sevilla beating Real Betis, the left-wing team in Seville. Still, a great weekend!
Friday, November 18, 2005
Don't Let Amiel Get Away!*
Conrad Black is facing criminal charges in the States, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
*If you've ever read one of Barbara Amiel's columns in Macleans, YOU'LL know what I mean.
*If you've ever read one of Barbara Amiel's columns in Macleans, YOU'LL know what I mean.
How Will His Head Fit Out the Door?
The jokes have already started in C&S land upon learning that the Cork Mardarse has left United.
My first thought? Does Mick McCarthy know? He's looking for a midfield psychopath.
My first thought? Does Mick McCarthy know? He's looking for a midfield psychopath.
"Beyond the Pale" Roundup
Patrick McCabe's Breakfast on Pluto didn't strike me when I read it as a book that could easily be translated into a movie hit, but whatever Neil Jordan has done seems to have paid off. It's getting excellent reviews all over the shop, such as this one in the New York Times, and on the train last night there were two jobbing actors sat behind me chatting away (at the usual "look-at-me" volume) about trying to secure a pirate copy.
I read the book when it first came out and found it difficult to follow. I didn't have any connection to the central character, nor, consequently, any empathy, even though I've been to Clones more than a few times (McCabe's fictional small towns are all Clones, or at least have its bleakness). As a consequence, I probably skimmed the book and didn't focus on what was actually happening. My disappointment upon finishing it was softened only by comments of several friends who regarded it as his worst book to date, and so I put it on the shelf and forgot about it.
Looks like I was wrong. It sounds to me like Jordan really "knows" Kitten, the protagonist, and can see where he's coming from. Jordan and McCabe's shared understanding of growing up in small-town Ireland in the 50s and 60s is, I suspect, what allows the latter to write so insightfully and the former to bring it to the screen - and me to be out of my depth. I suspect I'll have to watch the movie and then go back to book and re-educate myself.
And ask my beloved, since she grew up in that part of the world at the same time.
The Irish Times reported last week that McCabe has a new two-book deal and a new publisher, his next book being, reportedly, somewhat "dark." Mmm. Poor fella really should get out more.
The big event this weekend outside of Dublin is the match tonight at Turner's Cross, Cork, between Cork City and Derry City. This is the last match of the season, and it happens to be between first and secoind in the league, with Cork needing a win and derry only a draw to secure the championship. It should be a belting match and, happily, is being shown live on terrestrial telly. No one in Dublin will own up to any interest, but everyone will be watching all the same.
Finally, here's Big Niall's column in today's Guardian discussing David O'Leary's circumstances at the Villa. The phrase "Damning with faint praise" comes to mind, but then we Villa fans are used to that by now.
I read the book when it first came out and found it difficult to follow. I didn't have any connection to the central character, nor, consequently, any empathy, even though I've been to Clones more than a few times (McCabe's fictional small towns are all Clones, or at least have its bleakness). As a consequence, I probably skimmed the book and didn't focus on what was actually happening. My disappointment upon finishing it was softened only by comments of several friends who regarded it as his worst book to date, and so I put it on the shelf and forgot about it.
Looks like I was wrong. It sounds to me like Jordan really "knows" Kitten, the protagonist, and can see where he's coming from. Jordan and McCabe's shared understanding of growing up in small-town Ireland in the 50s and 60s is, I suspect, what allows the latter to write so insightfully and the former to bring it to the screen - and me to be out of my depth. I suspect I'll have to watch the movie and then go back to book and re-educate myself.
And ask my beloved, since she grew up in that part of the world at the same time.
The Irish Times reported last week that McCabe has a new two-book deal and a new publisher, his next book being, reportedly, somewhat "dark." Mmm. Poor fella really should get out more.
The big event this weekend outside of Dublin is the match tonight at Turner's Cross, Cork, between Cork City and Derry City. This is the last match of the season, and it happens to be between first and secoind in the league, with Cork needing a win and derry only a draw to secure the championship. It should be a belting match and, happily, is being shown live on terrestrial telly. No one in Dublin will own up to any interest, but everyone will be watching all the same.
Finally, here's Big Niall's column in today's Guardian discussing David O'Leary's circumstances at the Villa. The phrase "Damning with faint praise" comes to mind, but then we Villa fans are used to that by now.
The Life and Times of Jimmny Homunculus
One of the nicest, smartest, and funniest blokes I ever met blogs here.
Please, read it and take him to your heart. You won't be sorry.
Please, read it and take him to your heart. You won't be sorry.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut!
Class Inequality - We Have the Class and the Inequality
The US population is represented along the length of the football field, arranged in order of income.
Median US family income (the family at the 50 yard line) is ~$40,000 (a stack of $100 bills 1.6 inches high.)
--The family on the 95 yard line earns about $100,000 per year, a stack of $100 bills about 4 inches high.
--At the 99 yard line the income is about $300,000, a stack of $100 bills about a foot high.
--The curve reaches $1 million (a 40 inch high stack of $100 bills) one foot from the goal line.
--From there it keeps going up...it goes up 50 km (~30 miles) on this scale!
More at David Chandler, lifted from Qlipoth.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
But DO You Get Chips With It?
A Chef in Burnley has baked the world's most expensive pie costing more than £1,000 a slice.
The traditional steak and mushroom ingredients have been replaced by a £500 beef fillet, Chinese mushrooms worth more than £2,000 and truffles.
I thought people in Burnley had more sense. The rest is here.
The traditional steak and mushroom ingredients have been replaced by a £500 beef fillet, Chinese mushrooms worth more than £2,000 and truffles.
I thought people in Burnley had more sense. The rest is here.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The Writing of "My Lovely Horse"
For our overseas readers nonplussed by our earlier reference to Father Ted, here's a wee snippet that will explain everything.
Gigs* 2005:#45 The Wedding Present
Dave Gedge and co's rapid return to Manchester was certainly one for the hardcore fans, such as my mate Mike whose Weddoes knowledge came in most useful for once. A poor Numanesque support called Betamax Format never troubled the scorers but expectations were high for the Pressies after an excellent greatest hits show a couple of months back. How wrong were we.
Just two tracks off Take Fountain and the rest of the set was b-sides, Watusi (the lost LP) tracks and a couple of Cinerama numbers. Nothing from George Best (unless I was too pissed to notice) and I think the odd one from Bizarro and Sea Monsters. If they had'nt have done Falling from Twin Peaks I probably would have left disappointed. But not unimpressed.
Dave Gedge did say near the end of the show "I hope you enjoyed a different set"and I could only applaud his decision not to repeat the show of a few months back . What would be the point? I know my mates were more chuffed to hear obscure songs live for the first time rather than Kennedy for the umpteenth time, as good as it is.
I don't think I'll risk seeing them in Sheffield on Saturday though. Might just be the same set again.
*not including festivals
Just two tracks off Take Fountain and the rest of the set was b-sides, Watusi (the lost LP) tracks and a couple of Cinerama numbers. Nothing from George Best (unless I was too pissed to notice) and I think the odd one from Bizarro and Sea Monsters. If they had'nt have done Falling from Twin Peaks I probably would have left disappointed. But not unimpressed.
Dave Gedge did say near the end of the show "I hope you enjoyed a different set"and I could only applaud his decision not to repeat the show of a few months back . What would be the point? I know my mates were more chuffed to hear obscure songs live for the first time rather than Kennedy for the umpteenth time, as good as it is.
I don't think I'll risk seeing them in Sheffield on Saturday though. Might just be the same set again.
*not including festivals
Friday, November 11, 2005
My Name Is John and I Am an Addict
At the start of the year, I made a resolution not to buy any books for the following 12 months.
This week alone I have bought
Reading Capital Politically, by Harry Cleaver
Blood Relations, by Chris Knight
Shooting History, by Jon Snow
Tell Me No Lies, by John Pilger
Pythons: An Autobiography, by the Pythons
Siege at Jadotville, by Declan Power
After Theory, by Terry Eagleton
and
Debunking Economics, by Steve Keen
Sad, sad bastard.
This week alone I have bought
Reading Capital Politically, by Harry Cleaver
Blood Relations, by Chris Knight
Shooting History, by Jon Snow
Tell Me No Lies, by John Pilger
Pythons: An Autobiography, by the Pythons
Siege at Jadotville, by Declan Power
After Theory, by Terry Eagleton
and
Debunking Economics, by Steve Keen
Sad, sad bastard.
"Jesus Having a Wank"
The punchline to a particularly blasphemous visual joke.
By way of an introduction to the Winking Jesus, a statue rescued from a garbage bin by "partially blind unemployed Catholic Julio "Sly" Dones" (Skeptical Inquirer's description).
I'd be more impressed if Jesus had raised his eyebrow as well.
By way of an introduction to the Winking Jesus, a statue rescued from a garbage bin by "partially blind unemployed Catholic Julio "Sly" Dones" (Skeptical Inquirer's description).
I'd be more impressed if Jesus had raised his eyebrow as well.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Sub-editor Abused for Ambiguous Headline
Paedophile Priest Abused in Dundalk
No less than he deserves, I hear you say, until you realize that "Abused" is a verb and not an adjective.
No less than he deserves, I hear you say, until you realize that "Abused" is a verb and not an adjective.
Elitism for Everyone! (Pampers fur Alle*)
Here's a link to the Web site of French philosopher Michel Onfray, founder of the People's University of Caen, which is accessible through the same site. Doug Ireland recently selected Onfray for a piece at Normblog that is well worth checking out.
I only wish my French was better, although there is a translation option on some pages.
I can at least manage something better than "Je voudrais si je coudrais, mais je cannais pas."
* Obscure Situationist reference.
I only wish my French was better, although there is a translation option on some pages.
I can at least manage something better than "Je voudrais si je coudrais, mais je cannais pas."
* Obscure Situationist reference.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Don't Tell Roy
Since keano has given up the pop all kinds of reprobates are chancing their arms in Altrincham at night.
Film Quarterly - Not Just for Pretentious Gits
The Fall issue of Film Quarterly features an article by Anne Nesbet on University of Chicago Yuri Tsivian's efforts to bring hundreds of films and some rare manuscripts by Dziga Vertov to the 23rd Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Sacile, Italy, in October 2004.
"With his customary dry wit, Tsivian asks, "Can anyone say one really understands Man with a Movie Camera—even if one knows it like the back of one's hand—unless one has seen, say, Kino-Pravda No. 18, or State Kino Calendar No. 47?" Having seen all the rare Kino-Pravdas (Nos. 1-23) except for the still-missing No. 19; about 20 newsreels from 1918 to 1919; four issues of the State Kino-Calendar; all of Vertov's feature-length documentaries from the silent era—and a number of films made by Vertov's rivals, relatives, acquaintances, and admirers—festivalgoers can now try to answer that question."
This issue also features an appreciation by Joanna E. Rapf of the best silent movie comic of them all, bar none, Mr. Harry Langdon.
"Only a public sensitive to the brilliance of surrealism could penetrate into the sleep of the poet, Harry Langdon."
-Ado Kyrou, Le Surrealisme au cinema
"With his customary dry wit, Tsivian asks, "Can anyone say one really understands Man with a Movie Camera—even if one knows it like the back of one's hand—unless one has seen, say, Kino-Pravda No. 18, or State Kino Calendar No. 47?" Having seen all the rare Kino-Pravdas (Nos. 1-23) except for the still-missing No. 19; about 20 newsreels from 1918 to 1919; four issues of the State Kino-Calendar; all of Vertov's feature-length documentaries from the silent era—and a number of films made by Vertov's rivals, relatives, acquaintances, and admirers—festivalgoers can now try to answer that question."
This issue also features an appreciation by Joanna E. Rapf of the best silent movie comic of them all, bar none, Mr. Harry Langdon.
"Only a public sensitive to the brilliance of surrealism could penetrate into the sleep of the poet, Harry Langdon."
-Ado Kyrou, Le Surrealisme au cinema
I AM Benjamin Zephaniah
Born in Brum, loves kung fu, supports the Villa, writes poetry, and according to the Daily Telegraph this weekend (My boss lent me his copy, before you ask), drives a Triumph TR7 convertible (Insert reference to midlife crisis here).
It seems I am ALSO Niall Quinn: Lanky geezer, smart as a whip, lives in Ireland, and enjoys sticking it to Roy Keane. Compare the Quinner:
"Then again, they did not have the benefit of the best preparation due not least to the farcical and self-serving intervention by Roy Keane. As far as I am aware, humiliating your colleagues in public is not the best way to foster team spirit. From his team-mates' point of view, do they really see that as a genuine attempt to get a positive reaction or was it a rant from someone supposedly so committed to United that he has let everybody know how much he loves the idea of a move to Celtic?"
with the Johnner:
"And I’m not surprised at such “dishonesty” within the United camp when team morale is undermined by Cork-born mardarses who don’t know the difference between constructive criticism and adolescent petulance."
I'm ALSO Victoria Beckham, but we won't go into that right now.
It seems I am ALSO Niall Quinn: Lanky geezer, smart as a whip, lives in Ireland, and enjoys sticking it to Roy Keane. Compare the Quinner:
"Then again, they did not have the benefit of the best preparation due not least to the farcical and self-serving intervention by Roy Keane. As far as I am aware, humiliating your colleagues in public is not the best way to foster team spirit. From his team-mates' point of view, do they really see that as a genuine attempt to get a positive reaction or was it a rant from someone supposedly so committed to United that he has let everybody know how much he loves the idea of a move to Celtic?"
with the Johnner:
"And I’m not surprised at such “dishonesty” within the United camp when team morale is undermined by Cork-born mardarses who don’t know the difference between constructive criticism and adolescent petulance."
I'm ALSO Victoria Beckham, but we won't go into that right now.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Fujimori Arrested
Ex-Peruvian president arrested by Chilean police. Wanted on human rights and corruption charges.
It really WAS a surprise visit!
It really WAS a surprise visit!
Friday, November 04, 2005
Bernard Ingham - What a Wanker
Accuses McCartney sisters of hypocrisy. Well, I'm sure he understands the meaning of the word.
Harold Pinter - What a Wanker
"The Bush Administration is the most dangerous force that has ever existed. It is more dangerous than Nazi Germany because of the range and depth of its activities and intentions worldwide. I give my full support to the Call to Drive out the Bush Regime."
Quick refresher on Godwin's Law required.
Quick refresher on Godwin's Law required.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
The Culture Show
"Football fan and poet Ian McMillan takes us on a tour of non-league football grounds. To many, these clubs, with their passionate bands of supporters, represent the real soul of football. But as the game has become dominated by money and celebrity, local clubs are increasingly finding it difficult to cling on to their place in village life."
Also:
Terry Gilliam, Sway, the rising star of British hip-hop, some opera stuff, that wanker Mark Kermode, etc.
1900 hours, BBC2. 2000 in Scotland.
Also:
Terry Gilliam, Sway, the rising star of British hip-hop, some opera stuff, that wanker Mark Kermode, etc.
1900 hours, BBC2. 2000 in Scotland.
How Many Times Have We Seen This Before?
From The News, of Pakistan
Australian Senate rushes anti-terror changes after threat
(Updated at 0925 PST)
CANBERRA: The Australian Senate held a special sitting Thursday to rush through amendments to anti-terrorism laws, a day after Prime Minister John Howard said he had received credible reports of a possible attack.
Howard said it was urgent the amendments, which make it easier for police to prosecute terrorist suspects, be passed because of the threat of an attack, which experts believe targeted the southern city of Melbourne, a foreign news agency reported.
The changes allow police to immediately act against terrorist suspects involved in the early stages of planning attacks, instead of forcing them to wait until they have specific details of an imminent attack.
Clive Williams, a former Australian intelligence official, said his sources told him the plot involved an attack on Melbourne, Australia's second largest city.
Australian Senate rushes anti-terror changes after threat
(Updated at 0925 PST)
CANBERRA: The Australian Senate held a special sitting Thursday to rush through amendments to anti-terrorism laws, a day after Prime Minister John Howard said he had received credible reports of a possible attack.
Howard said it was urgent the amendments, which make it easier for police to prosecute terrorist suspects, be passed because of the threat of an attack, which experts believe targeted the southern city of Melbourne, a foreign news agency reported.
The changes allow police to immediately act against terrorist suspects involved in the early stages of planning attacks, instead of forcing them to wait until they have specific details of an imminent attack.
Clive Williams, a former Australian intelligence official, said his sources told him the plot involved an attack on Melbourne, Australia's second largest city.
Chris Knight, Steve Keen, the Awkward Squad
Thanks to the guys at Despair to Where for drawing my attention to the work of anthropologist Chris Knight, who's speaking in London on November 12. His homepage is here. I've ordered Blood Relations already.
Economist Steve Keen from the University of Western Australia is also worth checking out for his book Debunking Economics. We've previously linked here to his article in Adbusters on Post-Autistic Economics, whose site we also link to (left). There is an update to his book on his site which includes a page on Marx and the Labour Theory of Value, something I've for a while now regarded as a complete waste of time and entirely unnecessary to the socialist project (if anything, it does a disservice to socialism by providing a false premise).
The Awkward Squad? Well, that's us, since we continue to make a virtue of skepticism and snidey childish sarcasm. As distinct from adolescent petulance, that is.
Economist Steve Keen from the University of Western Australia is also worth checking out for his book Debunking Economics. We've previously linked here to his article in Adbusters on Post-Autistic Economics, whose site we also link to (left). There is an update to his book on his site which includes a page on Marx and the Labour Theory of Value, something I've for a while now regarded as a complete waste of time and entirely unnecessary to the socialist project (if anything, it does a disservice to socialism by providing a false premise).
The Awkward Squad? Well, that's us, since we continue to make a virtue of skepticism and snidey childish sarcasm. As distinct from adolescent petulance, that is.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
In United's Defence (Because They Don't Have One of Their Own)
Far be it from me to ever express any sympathy for Man Utd. (I’d normally gloat over such a crappy performance as that of tonight), but the fact that they were beaten by cheats who were only marginally less shite than they were was ruined by one of the worst refereeing performances I’ve seen in ages. No, not in ages, just since the last time I saw Markus Merk ref a match. The very fact that he is in charge of Champions League matches itself beggars belief.
In the second half tonight, United conceded a free kick in their own half, and Sylvestre sportingly passed the ball back to a Lille player who proceeded to take the free kick, sending the ball down the line to the player Sylvestre had abandoned in order to pass the ball back. The next time the ball went dead, Sylvestre shouted his complaint to the free kick taker and was consequently booked by Merk. Around 15 minutes later, Rooney was kicked up in the air, and when he mimed the action back at the player who had kicked him, Merk booked Rooney, even though there wasn’t a single player within ten yards of him.
Lille goalscorer Acomovic managed to secure a free kick in front of the goal on the edge of the box by standing on Alan Smith’s ankle (an act that normally would elicit applause from me) and throwing himself to the ground. Only a fabulous save from Van de Sar prevented a second goal.
The more frustrated United players (and the manager) get, usually the more I enjoy a match, but it takes all of the fun out of things if the opposition’s success is not just abetted by incompetent officials but actually rendered irrelevant. Lille needn’t have turned up tonight and they still could have won the way Merk officiated. And that lets Ferguson and his gang off the hook. Which is no fun at all.
What's more, Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy added insult to injury by calling the United team “cheats,” who were “dishonest” because they didn't chase back. Well, there’s dishonest and there's dishonest, and happy though I shall be if this team is “finished” as Dunphy had it, even if Keane and Neville were to return, there’s very little players can do about refereeing of this calibre. And I’m not surprised at such “dishonesty” within the United camp when team morale is undermined by Cork-born mardarses who don’t know the difference between constructive criticism and adolescent petulance (see below).
I ALMOST felt sorry for them.
In the second half tonight, United conceded a free kick in their own half, and Sylvestre sportingly passed the ball back to a Lille player who proceeded to take the free kick, sending the ball down the line to the player Sylvestre had abandoned in order to pass the ball back. The next time the ball went dead, Sylvestre shouted his complaint to the free kick taker and was consequently booked by Merk. Around 15 minutes later, Rooney was kicked up in the air, and when he mimed the action back at the player who had kicked him, Merk booked Rooney, even though there wasn’t a single player within ten yards of him.
Lille goalscorer Acomovic managed to secure a free kick in front of the goal on the edge of the box by standing on Alan Smith’s ankle (an act that normally would elicit applause from me) and throwing himself to the ground. Only a fabulous save from Van de Sar prevented a second goal.
The more frustrated United players (and the manager) get, usually the more I enjoy a match, but it takes all of the fun out of things if the opposition’s success is not just abetted by incompetent officials but actually rendered irrelevant. Lille needn’t have turned up tonight and they still could have won the way Merk officiated. And that lets Ferguson and his gang off the hook. Which is no fun at all.
What's more, Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy added insult to injury by calling the United team “cheats,” who were “dishonest” because they didn't chase back. Well, there’s dishonest and there's dishonest, and happy though I shall be if this team is “finished” as Dunphy had it, even if Keane and Neville were to return, there’s very little players can do about refereeing of this calibre. And I’m not surprised at such “dishonesty” within the United camp when team morale is undermined by Cork-born mardarses who don’t know the difference between constructive criticism and adolescent petulance (see below).
I ALMOST felt sorry for them.
Clothe Your Suicidal Inmates and Save Money!
I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night
Must have been the port and Stilton I had before going to bed.
Profile of Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, better known as Joe Hill, in the latest edition of American History.
Ninetieth anniversary of his execution on November 19.
Profile of Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, better known as Joe Hill, in the latest edition of American History.
Ninetieth anniversary of his execution on November 19.
Moan moan moan moan moan
Show me someone who can't bear losing and I'll show you someone who hasn't outgrown adolescent petulance.
Did somebody say "Seb Coe"?
Did somebody say "Seb Coe"?
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
That New Villa Strip in Full
Won't even have to change the colours.
Report in the Irish Independent:
English Premiership club Aston Villa could be going west if two Galway men have their way.
The Comer brothers, Luke and Brian, whose property company is worth €1.5b, are deep in negotiations to buy the club out.
Aston Villa - former European champions 25 years ago - has confirmed the builder brothers have made a preliminary offer of €96m for a majority shareholding of the company.
The Guardian says:
"The directors of Aston Villa plc confirm that they have received a preliminary approach from Mr Michael Neville on behalf of a consortium group which could lead to an offer for the company," said the club's statement to the Stock Exchange."
"ille, a mergers and acquisitions specialist with directorships in the broadcasting industry, was equally circumspect, citing Stock Exchange rules. Even so, the 49-year-old did proffer his credentials, saying: "I am a lifelong Villa fan and have been since I was about nine years old. I'm a local businessman, I grew up in Erdington and live here [in Solihull] now. Other than that I have no comment to make."
Nothing more need be said, I think. Except perhaps to comment on an intriguing definition of "lifelong."
Report in the Irish Independent:
English Premiership club Aston Villa could be going west if two Galway men have their way.
The Comer brothers, Luke and Brian, whose property company is worth €1.5b, are deep in negotiations to buy the club out.
Aston Villa - former European champions 25 years ago - has confirmed the builder brothers have made a preliminary offer of €96m for a majority shareholding of the company.
The Guardian says:
"The directors of Aston Villa plc confirm that they have received a preliminary approach from Mr Michael Neville on behalf of a consortium group which could lead to an offer for the company," said the club's statement to the Stock Exchange."
"ille, a mergers and acquisitions specialist with directorships in the broadcasting industry, was equally circumspect, citing Stock Exchange rules. Even so, the 49-year-old did proffer his credentials, saying: "I am a lifelong Villa fan and have been since I was about nine years old. I'm a local businessman, I grew up in Erdington and live here [in Solihull] now. Other than that I have no comment to make."
Nothing more need be said, I think. Except perhaps to comment on an intriguing definition of "lifelong."
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