Greasy Trump

Being the 'silly season,' the holiday time when politics and politicians are unusually quiet, the media has been desperate for something to fill the spaces.  Editors everywhere are glad Olivia Newton-John has died, now they have something to say.

Twitter was full of men of a certain age informing us of their first love, things like that I have no wish to know personally, but many who ought to have known better were in tears.  

For myself, a music lover, I was not a fan.  Having seen 'Saturday Night Fever,' when it came out, announced as they all are as a 'film not to miss,' and in my opinion 'with a rifle,' ought to have been added, I had no desire to watch a film full of 'pop' music and meaningless acting.   Naturally, we were all told it was one 'not to miss.'  Again I suggest the rifle.

The disease which took the lass is indeed unfortunate, sad to see a woman of 73 years dying like this.

The music, in my humble view, ought to have died in 1973, long before it came to the screen!

Think

The good news today, also taking up some space, is that the FBI have raided the orange liar in his Florida house.  The hope, and it seems likely, is that they will find stolen documents, items to connect him to 'suspicious activities,' and something to land him in jail.  Whooppee!

Naturally the right-wing press have launched a support drive for him.  Nigel Farage threw in the 'Deep state' word, implying something is amiss.  He is correct, though of course he is the one amiss, and if they come for Trump, they will come for Farage soon.  That is something I look forward to.

'Deep State,' is another of these none existing phrases thrown out by those causing problems.  The implication is that secret organisations are doing them down.  This is true, but Trump and Farage are behind any such organisation, although we know there is in fact no 'Deep State.'  Just like the word 'Woke,' when you ask them to explain what it means there is silence.  Just point over there and say 'woke,' and the sheep will be happy.  This is an old trick going back into prehistory, nothing new in lying.  

Trump is determined to get re-elected, even though most of the US government will oppose this.  Our Donald, Boris Johnson, thinks he too can make a come back.  Both need to as they wish to avoid jail.

Personally I hope they fail and end up inside.  These men have deceived their nations, and the world, caused misery to millions, broken every law, opposed democracy, and unless stopped those paying for them will cause economic disaster to us all.

Fun Friday...

A day of excitement.

Washed this morning because I thought it was Sunday.

It wasn't.

Spent too long on cereal breakfast while reading papers online and crawling through Twitter.

Amazed at how much space the 'Daily Mirror' gives to Royal stories, especially when they are so flimsy. 

Eventually went for haircut.

On way noticed how much my Tweed jacket has shrunk hanging in the cupboard over the past two years.

Met a museum worker.  Gossiped.  

Had haircut, £9:50, enjoyed chatting to the few customers there.

Wandered home via the park.  I wanted to check out the tent that was appearing as I left the house.

It appears to be connected to the building, a centre for disabled people, and is full of tables, chairs, tea and biscuits I suspect.  I did not go near.

A few people were in the park, just before noon.  

No youngsters, the adolescents were missing, not at school until next week so must still be in bed.

Clambered up stairs, again convinced the landlord has added steps to them.

Put on the washing, annoying the neighbours by doing the heavy stuff.

Made dinner, main meal at midday in bit to ease diet.  This appears to work.

Wasted time arguing with folk on 'Daily Express' comments.

I am now convinced they are either Tory activists, 'Express numpties, or the 77th Brigade.  Some have an enormous amount of postings, some appear to want to continue the argument, using strange posts, and some appear to have several names.

I could be wrong.

 

As the washing hung over a heater I realised it was almost tea time.  This I ruined with a Scots sausage roll, burnt!  The neighbours never ask me to cook.

Now I sit in my bed, realising I am missing the football, whatever it is, listening to the distant sound of the film 'Dirty Dancing.'  I am not amused by that.  Over in the gardens they have a film show once again.  Quite why they always use such ghastly films I know not.  Maybe they are looking for the randy teenage audience?  The music is ghastly also.

The weather is fine, which has helped make the day.

However, I am not sure my heart can stand the excitment daily...

New Exhibition

With the rain postponed until tomorrow when I wish to be out and about I walked to work in some degree of sunshine and warmth this morning.  Englishmen, being what they are, wore T-shirts and shorts and pretended they were in Marbella rather than Essex, but there again that is the Essex mentality, rather blank.  
I was somewhat surprised to note the Textile exhibit had ended, I forgot to check dates again, and soon afterwards the people arrived to set up the new Sci-Fi exhibition.  For the next few months we are being Star Wars, Aliens, Harry Potters, Superman, Batman and other such fantasy people, if indeed 'people' is the right word.
Super hero's aplenty will be seen wandering the museum, or at least standing against a wall hoping they do not fall down when some wee brat pulls at them.  There was a great deal of work to set up the exhibits and unfortunately I was busy in the shop clearing the mess left behind from Saturday and checking in large amounts of new items that arrived.  I so wished to help the men in the gallery.

The curators husband arrived at one point with some tools that were required for the workers.  he dumped them, chatted as you do and as he left we exchanged a few words regarding the exhibition.
In my innocent manner I indicated this would draw all the weirdo's who think they are Jedi into the museum.
"JEDI!" He exclaimed forcefully. Indicating the correct pronunciation.
It struck me I had struck a cord here.
This man was a 'Jedi.'
"We are in our forties and fifties you know," he stammered, "We have jobs and everything!"
He left offering me a glare.
Hmmm thought I, I touched a nerve there. 
His wife indicated he was not yet in his forties, he was into 'Jedi' and was not far from giggling at his response.  I suspect she will have taken this further when she got home.
He might use his Jedi self defence skills on me next time.

The fellow organising the exhibits told me there have been seven Star Wars films and there are ten more in the making!  The man who took the rights to Star Wars did himself a favour here.  How many millions has he made through these films, or at least the spin offs from them?  I myself have only seen one, the first one, and bits of the others.  Movies are not my thing, I get bored.  However I am now envious of the money he has made!  Just think, if I had his money I could afford to buy some of the Star Wars films merchandise!

Good night Jedi everywhere.

The Saturday Night Movie

Some Musings

Labour Party

As I stuffed my healthy salad and veg with a slice of expensive meat (going cheap) and similar cheese for lunch I watched the ham histrionics of Prime Ministers question Time.  This in theory is an opportunity for back bench MP's to bring relevant questions to the PM direct.  Naturally the leader of the Opposition has six questions he can ask and this means the whole pantomime turns on their performance, and performance this is!  Backbenchers do ask a lot of questions, often 'suggested' by the front bench leaders, and occasionally the House falls quiet when an MP actually brings a relevant and often serious question to the PM.  Mostly however this is an act and an act which rises in intensity as an election is in the offing next year.  Order papers are waved, loud cheers roar as their man rises to ask or answer a question, the 'Yaboo' cries continue throughout, mocking laughter, attempts to put off the questioner if it annoys one side or another, 'Order! Order!' cries from the speaker as he demands silence for the question.  All this rings out for thirty minutes at noon on every Wednesday the House sits.  A sign of democracy in action, or possibly a need for a strong dictator I'm not sure.
The interesting thing is what happens when the speaker brings the session to an end.  The House empties, it is lunch time, the next minister takes his position and a near silence descends on proceedings.  Today such as this occurred after PMQ's finished except that the PM remained in his place to report to the House on his recent meetings with the G87.  Instead of order paper waving and yells the place remained quiet, little noise followed the short report and this continued when Milliband rose to reply.  The cameras of the BBC Parliament channel remained on to inform the nation of proceedings but the News reporters were now in the Lobby talking to leading MP's to find out what really was going on.  The normal business of democracy was now in action, quiet, slow, ponderous and often very uninteresting but very much better than that in many other places in this world.
I have been struck by how much the Labour Party no longer represents the 'workers' of this country.  To be elected in England you must appeal to 'Middle England,' and that well off type care little for the lower end of society, indeed blaming them for their misfortune.  Add to this the nature of those now selected as candidates for the Labour Party and we find most as from the 'Oxbridge Set.' Middle class liberals who have been through Oxford or Cambridge, have the right outlook, look the part the Party requires and have never done an honest days work in their lives!
The Lib-Dems are a dying party but Labour indeed now represent the Liberal outlook, not the workers.  

Gwyneth

You will doubtless be aware that my care for 'art' and 'celebrities' does not make any important mark in my humble existence.  Such as these do cross my paths on occasion but it is a sad thing in my view that I am not driving a bus at the time.  This musing arises because of one Gwyneth Paltrow and her bloke whatsisname?  Suddenly, while searching for a missing plane and the 230 occupants, discussing the economy and whether Chancellor George Osborne actually plays Bingo or not we find acres of print given over to this women dumping her man.  It appears many get very excited when some broken women, and from what I can gather this is a very broken and confused woman, get married quite regularly and publicly, are pictured in days of bliss, and when there is no news to speak off inform the world he's been kicked out the door. You will note I imply she is the one making the decisions here.  I ask, why do men marry such as she?  Why does she marry such as he?  Why is the broken life of a mere film star so important to so many?  I recall the reaction, though I was not around at the time, when Rudolph Valentino died, women committed suicide because of this.  From what I can gather he was not someone worth bothering about too much either.  It is all very sad and reflects a need for a leading light in our lives.
We all do this.  We identify with someone because he or she is a footballer, musician, film star or whatever we fancy.  Women have a terrible tendency to fall for a hunk in a film in a manner men don't manage I am glad to say, women also identify with a woman and her struggles also.  Note the absurd reaction to the death of Diana?  So many women who chose to live their lives through an image of someone they saw on TV and in magazines.  Someone who did not live out the life her admirers were living through her.  We do tend to follow 'role models,' and we often pick absurd ones.  However who would follow Paltrow as a 'role model?'  Feel sympathy, wish to help, suggest keeping out of the public eye and find a life, yes all this, but copy her ways to find satisfaction, I wonder who would do this?  It's a funny old world.
I should add I never managed to be another Jim Cruickshank, he caught the ball better than I.    

The Poke

     
You will like this!
News headlines gathered from many of the local papers, and one or two more reliable sources, that will make you laugh!  How do you sell a paper, by the huge headline that grabs attention. Read the efforts of those men seeking to reach the top in journalism, or maybe, maybe those who failed to get there and are now just holding on.....just.

Click this link.

The Poke

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A Quite Realistic Great War Scene

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Cowboy Movies

Every time I change the channel there is a 'Cowboy Film' showing! For a while all I was finding was yet another episode of 'Friends,' and who watches that anyway? Women of a certain age I would guess. But Cowboy films? Who watches them these days? They are all the same, follow the same script and have as much relation to the actual American West as I have to a nuclear scientist!

Now when I was a kid I loved 'Wagon Train' on the telly, but I was only five or six when I came across it and since then I have watched several million 'westerns' and discovered just how unrealistic - and boring they are! if they are not firing 'six shooters' which appear to contain five hundred rounds, they are fighting bad men who want to steal their ranch. Always and ever there is a woman, usually one who is extremely well proportioned for a lass chasing cattle around a ranch hundreds of miles in size. Their hair never appears out of place which must be a miracle in such circumstances. Of course there will be a scene in which they cross the river, Indians fall off horses when shot by a 'six shooter' at a hundred yards range, and there is always a fight between the hero and the baddie. No one ever gets fingers in the eyes or kicked in the cobs during such actions, every thing is done fair and square - and a nasty man is always punched hard enough to fall over the bar and break the mirror!

Dross! Unmitigated dross!

John Wayne made a name for himself masquerading as what some call the 'All American hero,' and we call a complete doughnut! You may recall John Fords answer when asked 'How did you make Wayne a star?' He said, 'I give him as few words as possible!' No wonder. Yet his image has made him the 'typical' cowboy, and he was nothing like the real thing. He also played the war hero, spending his time film making in Hollywood when others were fighting Germans and Japanese. Jimmy Stewart flew a bomber over Germany on at least a dozen missions, John Wayne made poor quality films and became a star.

The Buffalo Bill Circus at the turn of the century went a long way to create the myth of the west that was encouraged by the silent movies of the day. Tom Mix and others developed this story line in spite of the facts being available to them, if they cared to look. But I suppose reality in movies would make them either too boring or too awful to show to the public. So we get the 'bread and Circuses' from Hollywood instead. Ignore facts and give the people cut down, bland or distorted truths as it is easier to cope with. But please stop showing this rubbish on telly after the kids programmes have finished!