'Pine Top' Perkins

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'Pine Top' Perkins the Blues magician has died aged 97. You may be surprised at this as you had never heard of him until now, well neither had I, however this is my type of music so he needs to be listened to! The States must have been awash with black musicians for many years before the young British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones gave them the publicity they so richly deserved. I think it was when questioned on the Johnny Carson show about their musical influences that the racist attitudes of America really showed up. John and Paul mentioned the likes of Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker and so on yet Johnny had no idea who they were. Black music was not considered acceptable then. However white guys like Bob Zimmerman up in Duluth was using the magic of radio to bring about a radical transformation in both the United States and the western world in general. Taking the name Dylan, after Dylan Thomas the famous Welsh drunk, his music joined with others in transforming society for the better. How interesting that a music ignored by so many, indeed considered dangerous in many ways because of who performed it, was to influence so much change in the USA. Certainly they had been warned in the fifties of this music. Rock and Roll also grew from black influence and gave Elvis his fame, and at first abuse from those who knew best. But it was the men of the sixties who really brought such music to the worlds attention. How glad I am about that. Men like 'Pinetop' supported many famous names over the years, most much more famous than their backing bands, and even today there are men like him still playing their music in their nineties. Good luck to them!






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Census

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I have just finished filling in the census online. Now I often read folk complaining about the census, their complaint appearing to be that it implies an infringement of the 'liberty' and an imposition into their 'freedom' in some way. I often wondered why this would be as it appears rational in my mind for a government to wish to know who exactly is living within the borders. I have no complaints about this and fail to see why others ought to complain. I do however object to 'civil partnerships' being regarded alongside marriage, and found myself wondering about the 'Who will be there on Sunday night with you' question. Who on earth would wish to be here with me? Not counting the 'Masochist Maidens Group' obviously, but we will not go into that! Questions regarding who is in the house on a given date appear normal census stuff to me. Indeed it can be seen by some as an intrusion, however it is always possible to ignore a question that is too nosey or just put down a lie. 


However I did find myself a bit irked at being questioned about my life in this small way. It does indeed appear an intrusion although it falls far short of an imaginary 'Big Bother' ideal. There is a thin line between 'freedom' to live your own way and the needs of the society around us. Today especially the 'spirit of the air' encourages people in the west to demand their right to be an individual. This encourages selfishness and cutting people off from others leads only to a breakdown of society and a more uncaring world at all levels. This is seen around us today, based on 'individual liberty' but in the end leaving us with only ourselves and nothing else. I do not see that as good. 'Liberalism' appears to offer 'freedom' to be yourself but in the end just allows us to put our needs before another's, and then we can justify our 'self.' It is actually in putting others first that we become more 'our self,' although this is not easy as the 'self,' that centre of our being, dies hard!


It is amazing how we can object to an intrusion by the census but rarely consider the information a supermarket has on us. All our shopping trends for years past can be located on their servers, many government departments keep records of our contact with them, individual organisations also have info stored away, all secure, we are told, under the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation. Only you know how much information the police have on you, I couldn't possibly comment. Should we worry about this? I am not to worried at the moment, however we can so easily be taken over by a draconian government and all this information would soon fall into their hands. Ten years can see many major political changes, who knows what the situation will be ten, twenty or thirty years hence?  I must be more careful next time I buy mince!


Many who do object to such population investigation satisfy their objections by inserting daft answers, such as 'Jedi' for religion therefore making this one of the nations fastest growing religions! It speaks much about such people that they wish to join a people who can build spacecraft the size of a planet but fight with swords rather than guns!  While the census will give an overall impression of the nation it cannot include those who willingly avoid it, illegal immigrants (10 million according to some at the 'Daily Mail.') criminals on the run (3 million according to the 'Daily Mail.'), legal immigrants who believe this will be used against them and have them classed as 'dangerous, (five mill....you get the picture...) and anyone too stupid to fill the thing in properly. We all know someone like that! What you looking at me for?  Anyway I have done mine so that those looking into their history in one hundred years time can find information about me and my life. Good luck to them I say!




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1000

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I realised today that yesterday was post number one thousand! Well, well, well! What a surprise! To think I have posted that much surprised me. A bigger surprise is that people read this stuff! It must be said most do not return although people who meet me in the flesh usually don't return either. However I have enjoyed learning to write, although grammar is something that can wait, and having a place to spout my ignorance is always welcome! The best part is not my writing but the people who have dropped in! I now have cyber friends in many parts of the world. A wide variety of opinions, beliefs, classes, types and good people all I must say. Each and every one has made my life that bit better, educated me more, made me feel humble at their talents and good hearts, and revealed to me how good much of this world actually is! Well done to you all. Oh and I may have another thousand soon, what with this wedding, the Olympics, benefit scrounging and Dave Cameron. In fact I suspect I may reach 2000 by July!  

Love & kisses.

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Educashun

Or is it broken spellchecker perhaps.....?

That one comes from this site with many more! Jack Frost.

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Let Me Get This Straight 'Dave.'

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'Dave,' you have been in the forefront of the desire of some leaders to impose an 'No Fly' zone over Libya, because you say people are being killed by Gaddafi. Now there are those who would agree this may indeed be a good thing. Gaddafi is clearly mental, but sly as a fox, and many have wished to remove him before. However while he may well abuse, torture, kill and maim his own people it must be said that in the Middle East this is quite normal procedure. I will of course not mention that camp the Yanks have in Cuba in case it causes embarrassment to you and any others. However I will ask why we are selling off the Harrier jump jets    and HMS Ark Royal from which they flew, and then spending horrendous amounts of money we don't have just to make you appear 'tough' in the world's eyes. Are you still living out that 'Tony Blair' fantasy by any chance? 


Whether keeping Gaddafi's aircraft on the ground will make any difference for his rebellious population will soon be shown. Although reports have indicated few are actually hurt by air attack. What does matter is that in Bahrain, a friend of the UK and the west in general, people are being brutalised by their Sheik and you appear to be turning a blind eye. Are you working on the 'Tony Blair principle' again? If they are our friends we ignore their undemocratic tortures and thuggish treatment of their population, as long as they give us the oil and help us when required, but will loudly condemn Gaddafi,and anyone else with oil, who may turn against us at any time? Can I just mention that the Ivory Coast has seen many killed in recent days, but they have no oil. The Sudanese situation may lead to war, Darfur is being ignored, and the Democratic Congo still has problems. Will you be commenting on any of these while one of the thousand pound suits you wear are at the dry cleaners?  Just asking like.


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Sympathy

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ETC

Naturally I have had little sympathy during my 'Man Flu' experience. Although I found this site very helpful with that :- Man Flu   Only today I was forced, against my better wishes, to visit the dole office and pretend I was seeking work. Sympathy extended to such things as being told to "Breathe in the other direction," and "Don't e-mail me, I might catch a virus." A resounding "Bye" and a waving of papers in my direction ended my short visit. Good job I am not one to complain. 

AnnaRacoon

The answer to unemployment is to start your own business. Great idea, but when this is put forward people tend to forget to mention how many such starter jobs fail within three years, if indeed they last that long. The answer is for bigger companies to be encouraged to employ folk. There appears to be nothing around that will let that happen. Two and a half million unemployed yet no jobs being created, bar short term ones in the east end for the Olympics in 2012.  Are you as excited as I about these games? I am as excited as Matt in the Daily Telegraph!  

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Why?

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Wikipeadia

I'm dying! The world means nothing to me now. I am wretched, aching and suffering. No words of sympathy can alleviate my distress, not that any come my way, no encouragement can be found while I lie helpless under the strain. All is lost, all is worthless, nothing matters. Nothing except another toilet roll and packet of Sainsbury's Ibuprofen and dozens of cups of steaming hot liquids that is! Why oh why did I not buy that whisky for the toddy I ask myself repeatedly. Why oh why do I always get these things? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? Well actually we will miss out that last question as there are numerous replies and I would prefer to avoid all of them, time is too short for them all anyway. Oh the suffering, oh the pain, oh the agony and distress!


What is the point of a cold virus? Why were they created? Just what part do they play in the universe? Jesus did not sit up one day and think, "I know, just for a laugh I will invent a virus that causes sniffles, headaches, muscle aches, dissipates the brain, wearies the legs and leads to no sympathy from those free from it whatsoever!" (Sympathy that those who then suffer this debilitating illness then demand!) Just what is the point of it? Why do virii of any sort exist to cause illness? These are complicated little mechanisms, the 'Trojan Horses' of the real world. I was thinking on this and wonder what they were intended for when I thought "Fly's," those little beasts that appear in warm weather and fill the house, find their way into the kitchen and are impossible to swat because of their incredible eyes. Why were they created? Fantastic vision but no other purpose apart from breeding a million a week and being a pest!

Daily Mail

Oh the suffering, not helped by unanswered questions. Oh the pain, oh dearie me. Although I must say that I have found it difficult to really allow myself to make my suffering known when I read of small Japanese towns of some 17,000 people being inundated by the tsunami and now around 10,000 are missing! Watching peoples fishing boats make their way down the High Street does make a cold appear less important. Japan is well aware of the dangers of earthquakes, well prepared, and rich enough to deal with most events. However watching the pictures it is clear that they nation has been stunned! Where do you begin? Especially as a nuclear power station is in danger of a second Chernobyl? How do you find survivors, as if any will be found? How do you clear up the mess, especially when so many trained people have been lost in the aftermath? How do you deal with such a situation?  There are advantages to living in cold, damp Britain after all.
   

Understanding Colds

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Spammers eh!

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The intelligence of spammers really amazes me. Some will send you e-mails claiming to be your bank asking politely if you would please remind them of your details. A dozen years ago, when new to all of this, I nearly fell for one such e-mail from AOL. It was a perfect copy of the real thing but I managed, just, to avoid falling for it. Others write pleading letters from Nigeria or Kenya asking help to get $24,000,000 dollars out of the country. "Can we please use your bank for this?" they ask politely. Much as I was tempted I avoided this also, others however have appeared on telly whining about the £20,000 taken from their bank accounts by Prince Adebede and his mates. The fact that they were willing to rob another country just to land a million or so leaves me lacking sympathy for them. Do they really believe a politician needs to ask help to get money out of Africa? That has been a well practised art for many years there. Of course politicians in the UK would never do such a thing, they are all honest, upright, and do not have their fingers in the pie. No they don't, really they don't, no they don't, honest. 


Today however this arrived and I had to laugh! This type of false info often appears, usually from companies that do not operate in the UK. This one claims to be from DHL, which obviously it isn't. They never deliver to the likes of me, not even Royal Mail deliver packets these days, just letters from the bank demanding money, and I call that spamming too! However when I previewed the thing using Mailwasher, and I recommend folks use some such device, I had  to laugh at the inefficiency of these master criminals.


Dear customer.


The parcel was send your home address.


And it will arrice within 7 bussness day.




More information and the tracking number


are attached in document below.






Thank you.




 2011 DHL International GmbH. All rights reserverd.

Now my spelling is greatly improved by using the spellchecker. The criminal classes of Russia,  China or Albania or wherever however really must be so hard up they cannot afford to buy a free spellchecker! I am not convinced such persons are fit to represent the criminal classes of today. In times past people wearing arrow covered uniforms were much better educated than this. I blame the schools! (I will not mention that I misspelt 'educated') This one may well come from the Russian Federation and if it arrives you will of course be clever enough not to open it, that way leads to a Trojan. I say 'Trojan' but Ivan may well spell that 'tragen' depending on his accent!


Sophos


Coras


The Hoax Slayer report!


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Europa

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Life is so busy these days. I was considering penning (how does one 'pen' on a keyboard I wonder?) something of interest and importance to the world tonight. Unfortunately I discovered European Football is on the telly at six of the clock and I have not got the intellect time to write. Thus you will miss out on my words of wisdom as I will probably have allowed my invaluable utterance to fade from my twisted and perverse mind by tomorrow. So I am off to stuff my fat face, take a substantial amount of liver salts afterwards, and then sit uncomfortably watching first Liverpool and then Manchester City in what promises to be several long hours of anti-climax. That I can assure you is something we Scots are quite used to on the football field.


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Suffragettes Terrorists

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Suffragette Terrorist Impounded 

Today is 'International Women's Day!' Yet for the life of me I cannot remember an 'International Men's Day?' If I were to sue under the 'Equalities Legislation' would the liberal judges of today allow me to win? We don't have a 'Minister for Men' so why do we require one for women?  'Glass ceilings' appear everywhere holding back women from reaching the top in the workplace, so what is it that stops men reaching the top? Class, age, colour, sexism perhaps? I sometimes wish I was female so I could whine when things go against me. However as a white male, over 50 I can't get away with that. Women (we are not allowed to call them ladies these days) can use their bodies to get jobs, especially in the media, in the entertainment world and we have all come across this in the workplace, yet this appears to be acceptable. I've tried wearing nice perfume and earnings and crossing my legs provocatively but found it did not get me promotion. All I got from that bus garage was thrown on a Number 189 and told, in a somewhat brusque manner to remove myself. Where did I go wrong?

How about just treating people right whoever they are? Would this be a good idea? Maybe not hiding your incompetence behind your sex or age or class would be good?  Maybe these would be a good idea but human nature being what it is we will always face discrimination for one reason or another. That I am afraid is just life! It will always be there and law making will never erode this. Being over 50 (yet still thinking I am 18) I cannot get work, and banning ageism does not help, in fact it makes things worse! Like others I am forced to apply for unsuitable jobs simply because they are not allowed to demand a certain age group. How daft is this? This wastes my time and money and that of potential employers. Those women who get to the very top tend to do so because of talent, not their sex (I obviously don't mean parliament here). Those who fail to make it can always blame a man somewhere and sell their story to a women's magazine.

By the way suffragettes were indeed terrorists. The 'National Union of Women's Suffrage' began by Millicent Fawcet was a peaceful organisation. Impatient with the lack of movement Pankhurst and her followers began a violent demand for the vote. Chaining themselves to railings, disrupting meetings, smashing windows, burning down churches and stupidly throwing themselves under the Kings racehorse were supposed to show that women were intelligent enough to vote! Hmmm I think myself I know one or two that ought to be chained to railings today!

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Bike

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Foolishly I was enticed by the yellow sunshine brightening the green of the grass outside my window, the clear blue sky high above and climbed onto the trusty old bike this morning. Hastening out along the short pavement I turned into the side road and rode at speed straight into a police car leaving the station to begin the mid morning patrol! Well I avoided him of course but he seemed peeved for some reason leaving me similarly peeved that  he glared at me in that special manner a policeman always seem able to sum up. Therefore I hastened on my way before he could consider opening his mouth!
'Hastened' is the word! The bike and my knees worked well today. For some reason all was going well as I headed up the slopes of the old railway at high speed, except when avoiding dog walkers obviously! These had also been drawn out by the sun and there is nothing more delightful to a dog than the many varieties of experience available along this walk. Unfit and unspeakable as I am I had intended to struggle up to the village and make my weary way home. Surprisingly I kept going and cycled round the country lanes to the bigger village further on. Even more surprising was the lack of 'white van man' speeding along this route today. The sight of early crops coming through, crows sauntering about the fields confident in their strength, robins singing brightly for a mate, anybody's mate, in the branches, and the sun filled sky kept me going. The change of scenery, the bright sun and the assortments of colours as Spring begins to spring lightened the heart and made passers-by offer cheery 'hello's' to all who pass. Brightly painted ageing houses, some which have stood their ground for several hundred years, made for interesting viewing. The farms I passed can be found on old maps still with their present name. I wonder how long some of these farms have existed? Since the forests that one covered this area  were cleared this land has been farmland. People have come and gone, fortunes have ebbed and flowed, centuries have passed and the general nature has remained the same. Plague and witch hunts, civil war and changeable governments have risen and fallen and these trees, bushes and the wildlife have continued on their own way following the seasons. 
Since the middle of the 19th century we have mostly been town dwellers in the west. Contact with the land has been lost, unless we are granted a bit of garden to grow our own veg. Allotments, that British area of garden leased from the council, have become more and more desired as time passes. People wish them partly to enable a ready supply of vegetables but also to get in touch with the land, something supermarkets cannot give, and indeed who's prices are an encouragement to such 'self help.      
I suppose it's getting on for five miles or so outwards and when my knees realised how far they had gone they began to rebel! In their opinion my arms were not pulling enough and my arms were more than willing to contest this thought. Hurtling through Bannister Green at six miles an hour, good job that slope was there, I decided it was time to return home by the railway bed. Here I found that not only the chilled wind was against me but at this point the the line began to rise slightly. Typical! This slope was not noticed by those blackened steam engines pulling the local service slowly along but it was clear enough to both my arms and my knees. They commented on this in a manner a bit too full and frank for my liking to be honest.  
I do not worry about aching limbs in the morning however, these have arrived already! I sit aching and totally knackered, merely happy the heart attack did not arrive while on the road home! Too think that once I rode, over several days, from Edinburgh to London and now I struggle after a few miles! There is no doubt that I am unfit but if the weather keeps up I will be out a few more times in days to come. Now where is that ambulance.......

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A Blonde goes to Heaven

Entrance Exam
 A Blonde goes to Heaven 
 
A Blonde (called Dorothy) was sent on her way to Heaven. Upon arrival, a concerned St Peter met her at the Pearly Gates. 'I'm sorry,' St Peter said; 'But Heaven is suffering from an overload of godly souls and we have been forced to put up an Entrance Exam for new arrivals to ease the burden of Heavenly Arrivals.' 

'That's cool' said the Blonde (called Dorothy) , 'What does the
Entrance Exam consist of?'

'Just three questions' said St Peter.

'Which are?' asked the Blonde.

'The first,' said St Peter, 'is, which two days of the week start with the letter 'T' '? The second is 'How many seconds are there in a year?'

The third is 'What was the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?'

'Now,' said St Peter, 'Go away and think about those questions and when I call upon you, I shall expect you to have those answers for me.'

So the Blonde (called Dorothy) went away and gave those three questions some considerable thought (I expect you to do the same).

The following morning, St Peter called upon the Blonde and asked if she had considered the questions, to which she replied, 'I have.'

'Well then,' said St Peter, 'Which two days of the week start with the letter T?'

The Blonde (called Dorothy) said, 'Today and Tomorrow.'

St Peter pondered this answer for some time, and decided that indeed the answer can be applied to the question.

'Well then, could I have your answer to the second of the three
questions?' St Peter went on, 'how many seconds in a year?'

The Blonde (called Dorothy) replied, 'Twelve!'

'Only twelve?' exclaimed St Peter, 'How did you arrive at that figure?'

'Easy,' said the Blonde (called Dorothy) , 'there's the second of
January, the second of February, right through to the second of
December, giving a total of twelve seconds.'

St Peter looked at the Blonde (called Dorothy) and said, 'I need some time to consider your answer before I can give you a decision.' And he walked away shaking his head.

A short time later, St Peter returned to the Blonde (called Dorothy) . 'I'll allow the answer to stand, but you need to get the third and final question absolutely correct to be allowed into Heaven. Now, can you tell me the answer to the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?'

The blonde (called Dorothy) replied: 'Of the three questions, I found this the easiest to answer.'

'Really!' exclaimed St Peter, 'And what is the answer?'

'It's Andy.'

'Andy??'

'Yes, Andy,' said the Blonde (called Dorothy) .

This totally floored St Peter, and he paced this way and that,
deliberating the answer. Finally, he could not stand the suspense any longer, and turning to the blonde, asked 'How in God's name did you arrive at THAT answer?'

'Easy' said the Blonde (called Dorothy) , 'Andy sat, Andy watched, Andy waited till his billy boiled.'

And the Blonde (called Dorothy) entered Heaven...


.... you're singing it now, aren't you?? 
 










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Spring

The other day I managed to find some snowdrops wearily waiting the sun breaking through the gray clouds above. One day it will succeed! The gardens had plenty of buds beginning to open, birds singing and green shoots breaking through the soil in various places. Altogether the hope that springs in Spring was beginning to be seen everywhere. There is no doubt this is the best time of the year. Winter over, summer ahead, albeit with the occasion blizzard, famine and earthquake here and there, but nonetheless the world looks brighter today than it did last week!

Once again I await the letter from the bank. Oh yes, two Direct Debits have not been paid!  Why? I am convinced there was enough money on Friday, how come I am now awaiting  a £20 charge? Now I am not one to complain but I am afraid that when I dropped a note regarding the payment of these DD's, tied to a brick and lobbed through the main window, I may say that my words were somewhat curt! I did not refer to the millions paid out in 'bonus's,' nor did I mention that this bank is mostly owned by the nation and owes 'US' millions, but I might just have made mention of 'robbers,' 'bandits,' 'thieves,' 'highwaymen' and possibly I then said something rude! I expect they will cry into their safes when they read it, and sweep all that glass away.

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Art

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About a dozen years ago a pretty young lass and I wandered around the historical, but by now somewhat grubby port of Harwich. It was possible to tell just how busy this small place had once been by the abundance of public houses! Entertainment was at hand for the Jack Tars of yesteryear. Today however, (and by today I mean yesterday as twelve years ago cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called today can it?) today tourists and some seeking a ferry to somewhere in Europe are more likely to be found than bearded submariners blinking in the unused to daylight. Quite whether the 'unused to' bit is caused by being stuck inside a 'tin fish' or spending too long inside 'The British Flag' I am not sure. Anyway while perusing the sights, such as they are, we came across a small 'art gallery.' We went in, as you do, and observed the offerings. Two ageing poky rooms had been turned into a place to exhibit paintings. We looked, we pondered, we cogitated, that sort of thing is allowed in such gallery's. We perused the offerings, mumbled, hummed and thought "Jings!" Most exhibits were influenced by the sea. Some made us look twice, several made us look away. What made us open mouthed however was the small tickets revealing the prices found on one of the corners of each 'work.'  One that remains in my memory, possibly for ever, was a four foot by four foot (translate into metric for yourself) bright blue array with splashes of white strategically places to resemble boats at sea. Now I give you that to some extent this worked! This clearly was an attempt to portray yachts out on the briny. There is no doubt we both caught this right away and were impressed! We loitered, (no, not like that) we gazed, we almost admired. However we might have been admiring the cheek as opposed to the art as our open mouths were caused by the price tag of £994 that sat in the top right hand corner! Quite how the figure was deduced I know not! She looked at me and grabbed both my arms to stop me racing for the door and heading to the painting and decorating shop around the corner. My eyes filled with pound signs and hers with tears as she reminded me that 'Honesty is the best policy.' In truth it would not have been honest to charge such a price for something that must have taken half an hour to produce - artistically! Even the art displayed along the railings in Bayswater Road in London once a week did not overcharge to that extent. Well, I don't know mind, thinking back I may well be wrong there. Their customers mostly came from foreign tourists or folks too rich to understand the meaning of money, so maybe I just did not enquire of the right people.


Now 'art' is good. There is a great need for it. However it is such an open market that any rubbish can be called art, the Turner prize proves this. Vast sums are paid for rubbish because of two things, stupid people who consider themselves art experts (I cannot spell connoisseurs!) and clever people who know a rich mug when they see one! Hence a sheep in chemical is art, as is an unmade bed! Even worse are those who prattle nonsense about the 'art' in front of them, partly because they 'believe' in it and partly because that is the type of people they mingle with, and therefore must speak their language. Pretentious codswallop! This is indeed a sad world in so many ways! 


But 'art' is necessary! We need it to brighten our homes, our workplaces, our lives. It can be found all around us and we feel better when we participate, whether by drawing a picture for the kids, painting the house or attempting a water colour. Art can also be musical, which many can perform in one form or another, (ABBA does NOT count as music!, writing, poetry, much ignored today, and for some, dance the most impenetrable of art form! Vast differences appear in all these 'arts.'  High and low brow offer something to us all but maybe 'The X-Factor' could be classed as an exception there? However spare me things that spoil the natural world, there is more than sufficient 'art' to be found there. No artist of today can compete with a flower as art once it has bloomed, so why spoil such surroundings with plastic and bent metal? Only the art snob could like this. Ah the art snob! They like to be seen, they have the cash, they usually don't actually work, so artists can live of such folk for many years, and I suspect this will always be the case.


Councillors for reasons that I have never understood like to have 'art' in their towns. Harlow (the 'T' is silent) now proclaims itself a 'Sculpture Town,' having laid out, at great expense, a 'sculpture tour. Those who have visited this 'New Town' created in 1951 reckon that the Luftwaffe would be better brought out of retirement to benefit the townsfolk than this! A friend who serves as a police officer there may well remark about money spent on 'art' when CCTV would be a better idea! Councillors throughout the nation are always buying junk and placing it in towns and cities in spite of the populations condemnation of such activities. The resident does not count it appears. 


Art, in spite of what the experts tell us, does indeed come down to what we like, or appreciate. What is junk today will be popular tomorrow. What was forced on a people once, Hitler's views on art for instance, will be hated for idealogical reasons while Communist art is often praised, although these two men had much in common. Taste moves with the fashion, and fashion is often wrong! I write this because of what I saw the other day, 'junk' praised as art by the middle class trendies. The type of person who think Gormley's absurd men standing in the Pool at Liverpool is 'telling!' In fact it tells us he knows a mug when he sees one, his reputation is advanced as indeed is his bank account. Sadly passing fashion makes one rich and another poor, although who has real talent is often hard to tell. 


I like lots of art, and prefer not to mix with those who 'know.' Ignorance allows me to enjoy all sorts of rubbish, but costs me nothing! I like this.....

  

I came across this forum today and while I have not read all the posts I have looked at the pictures. I think they back up what I am trying to say here.

What the World Needs Now.....

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Films

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I came across this somewhere earlier and thought it a good comment on the hype regarding the film. Now I am not one for films, I prefer reality, but the story is indeed a good one. This King, forced by his renegade brother into his important position, fulfilled his duty as he saw it, in spite of his stutter, his embarrassment, and what it was doing to his family. This shy man found himself head of a nation at war, in what was indeed a war to the death! So shy was he that when taken, by force he would say, to North Africa to review the troops, he refused to leave the tent to inspect them through a combination of shyness and inadequacy. Churchill had to order him, his King, to get in a vehicle and be driven along the troops dutifully lining the desert road. That he did not run away like his brother had, that he did not stand under a falling bomb, that he stood up to his duty under such pressure is a story worth telling! No wonder he smoked himself to death! Now I am not one for Kings and Queens but this man took on this onerous and unwanted responsibility and succeeded! His happy family life was interrupted yet his wife, later known as the Queen Mother, stood by him and famously answered the question, 

"Will the Princesses leave London during the Blitz?" 

with "The Princesses will not leave without me, and I won't leave without the King, and the King won't leave!"

 Such an answer along with the bombing of Buckingham Palace gave the royals a place at the centre of British life. They indeed were at the heart of the British Empire for a while. When his daughter Elizabeth took her place on the throne the nation was agog with wonder at a new 'Elizabethan age.' I need not point out that Scotland had not previously had such an age, but you will of course know this. This position in the nations heart remained the case right up till the time Diana and Fergie's selfishness and lack of responsibility brought this to an end. The Queen still lives her life under the influence of her fathers sense of duty, something that has also influenced Prince Charles. The nation however no longer understands this attitude and this is not helped by a media desperate to make money from the behaviour of royal children! Whether this film sticks to the story or not, and I expect the dramatisation will be excessive as always, this Kings is indeed worth investigating and he is worth respecting for his sense of duty and perseverance in such a time as his.

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Apathy

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As Willie Whitelaw once said, "Harold Wilson is going around the country stirring up apathy.' This has not changed today and I wish to do something to 'take this forward' as they say and have been considering this for some time now. The way I see it.......oh I canny be bothered ...

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Royal Wedding Build Up Post No.3

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Cafe Press

You will be as excited as I to know that in 'Royal Berkshire' (berks for short indeed!) they are now running bus tours around Kate's local area! Yes indeed all aboard for a trip past the church she may well have wandered into, the school she read girls magazines at, the shops the servants used and the very streets she would have trod had daddy not driven her in one of their cars. I know you all want to be there to see where the 'commoner' grew up.

Read, or indeed view it here with the Independent story.  

This Pair

And is this true? Is it true that the Beckhams are on the list of guests for the wedding? I mean 'The Beckhams? He of little football ability bar crosses from the right wing, and she of er, well no ability at all bar posing for the media. These two are to attend the royal wedding amongst kings, queens and other bored VIPs? I suppose they will have to sit on the brides side of the hall, beside the other 'commoners.'  Commoners with most of their millions in foreign bank accounts and a handful of menials to do the work they consider beneath them! The stick insect will feel right at home there...

                                                  

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Royal Wedding Build Up Post No.2

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I suspect that you, like me, are suffering withdrawal symptoms when you hear the sad tale of the 1900 invitations to Harry Willie and Kate's wedding being posted to the chosen recipients, and our name is not among them! This is indeed sad. Just imagine being among the two thousand or so (including servants, police, assassins, hangers on, radio and TV men, and fawning royal press corps) sitting through this wedding. Consider the cost of the outfit you must wear, shabby old suits not allowed, the boasting to acquaintances, the small talk with Kings and Queens (and here I don't mean the staff of Buck House), the long drawn out service, the more thoughtful guests whispering to you "Do you have the result of the 1:30 at Kelso?" and boredom faintly showing through the thin smiles on the faces around you. Do you really wish to be there? Thousands would of course, and they are just the folks the royals do not wish to mix with! 

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Archers

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William Powell Firth. 'English Archers 19th Century'

I laughed when I saw this picture. Here we find three middle class ladies firing a bow and arrow. Now such a hobby is indeed enjoyable, I can think of many targets I would like to use such equipment on, and this is one of those 'sports' that women can participate in happily, unless you are in front of them of course. (Or maybe behind when I think about it....) Here the middle classes of the late 19th century are at play, while the working class are cleaning the house for them during their 14 hour day!  What struck me as funny was the comparison between these ladies and the 'English Longbowmen' of 1346 at places like Crecy or Agincourt!  

The lass in the gray dress, with matching headgear, compares well with a smaller man dressed in tights, ripped of course, a thick quilted short length coat with short sleeves. Sometimes a conical helmet was worn, without the flowers or bows used by the ladies, and I suspect the condition of the archers outfit was somewhat tardy in comparison to these ladies. There again the lassies would have powdered themselves with all the latest overpriced ointments to enhance their chances with the (wealthy) male of the species while the longbow carriers would merely have used mud and body fluids! For some reason this comparison drew laughter from my cruel heart. Oh art, how you reflect society - sometimes!

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Suetonius and Tacitus

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Amazon

Recently I have been indulging my liking of history by reading both Suetonius and Tacitus. Roman history was something I knew about without  having studied properly. So I thought have a read of these two books, which someone else paid for, and I am now more aware of the first twelve emperors from Augustus onwards. At least I now have some idea of the authors opinions of these men and their doings, and as always there is a bias to dig through.

  

Suetonius was one of the high ranking members of Roman society. While Hadrian was Emperor he attained the height of being Secretary of the Imperial Correspondence. Unfortunately in the year 122 Hadrian got the impression Suetonius was being 'over familiar' with Sabina, the Empress, while Hadrian was in Britain, and so dismissed him. Having been Director of the Imperial Libraries we was well able to find his way around the records of past deeds, accurate and mythologised, and from these and other sources he produced his 'Lives of the Twelve Caesars.'    

I really enjoyed this book! Whether it was the vast quantities of cash available to the Emperor, the freedom to invade any nation desired, the ability to make instant decisions with no comeback, and removal of those who upset the rulers will by throwing them to the lions I don't know, but I enjoyed this book! Having all power, not counting the women bitching around you and the fawning courtiers making themselves useful and rich, can be a useful trick. However amongst those willing to flatter you rises a desire to put an end to you also. Reading a list of Roman Emperors from the first three hundred years it is the minority who die in their beds, the vast majority were assassinated  I suspect that the real reason I liked this book was the glimpse into the lives of those who ran Rome. A basic insight certainly, not a history similar to those produced today, but insights into the everyday are seen, and they are not always pleasant for the man in charge. 

Both books start with Augustus and end with Domitian, at least they would had much of Tacitus manuscript not been lost. Sadly his book ends just before Nero gets his comeuppance. We are treated to all the worst, and much of the best, of these rulers. The squabbles between them and their women are shown, although the women ought not to be in powerful positions of course. Tacitus especially indicates how disgraceful it is that a mere woman should attempt to run the Empire! Both men, may well have known one another. Tacitus was a friend of Pliny, Pliny a patron of Suetonius and it is likely one influenced the other as they both came from high class backgrounds. Both wished to indicate how much better life was under their leaders by showing how bad things were in the past. Thus debauchery is often mentioned, much detail by Suetonius, less so by Tacitus. Claudius liked to stay at a distance from Rome and enjoy his sexual pleasures it appears. At times the tales sound like the 'News of the World,' not history. 

One or two major points arise from these books about Rome. One is the deep belief Romans had in their gods. Each day a victim, usually a bird, was killed and the liver examined for indications of how things would be for the Emperor that day. Personally I think killing that bird for that is offal. Rome depended on their gods, Suetonius in particular begins each ruler with a long description of the omens and signs that occurred on the day he was born. Eagles are seen perched on the houses, an earthquake would occur, lightning would strike a major building and so on. There must have been vast numbers of eagles and a dangerous amount of lightening in that part of the world in those days! It also explains why they did not understand the Jews who refused to burn incense to any emperor and did not accept their gods. This was made worse when Christians arrived and the belief was they were cannibals.Did they not eat the body and blood of their God? Both were considered superstitions by those who sought the oracles!

The other major thought was just how viscous a society reigned in Rome. Pax Romanus may well has allowed trade to continue but any crime (and no matter what class you were you could end up as a criminal) could take you to death, and that on a cross or in front of beasts in the arena! Gladiatorial contests were often to the death, and Claudius we read, enjoyed watching the loser die. Criminals could be scourged to death, and Roman citizens lost their heads publicly, an advantage of being a citizen! How thoughtful! People squabbled over seating arrangements, as the better classes wished to have the front seats to show their importance. Emperors and Senate discussed this often as self important men fought for position. Cruelty was part of their make up and if the situation required it an attack on a  fellow senator was used to have an enemy banished or forced to commit suicide. A great many ended this way as lies and deceit filled the rulers household. Rewards for those who informed were often great, although later their sin would find them out. A cruel society, quite happy to slaughter a whole town if they opposed Rome, and if feeling merciful the men would die and women and children sold into slavery! Touching really. 

Both books aid us to understand Roman attitudes, but it is important to also read the younger Pliny as he gives a senators view of life in Rome and incidentally tells us more of everyday life than these books reveal.

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David Cameron

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What is Cameron about? Who is this little rich kid who has wormed his way into the Prime Ministers job?  Educated at Eton and Brasenose College Oxford where he graduated in 1988 with a good degree in Philosophy, Economics and Politics. It worries me when politicians study Philosophy as it is a nothing study. There are no morals in this just words. All is up for grabs and as such gives justification to our amoral MP's.  Apart from a 'gap year' where he travelled and did a little work in the real world 'Dave' as he likes to be known has done little outside politics. Seven successful years as Director of Corporate Affairs for Carlton TV is the only 'real' job he has obtained, and that after much time spent worming his way up the Conservative Party aiding John major with his 'Prime Ministers Question Time' briefings and Norman Lamont when the economy collapsed on 'Black Monday!' He knows about a failed economy all right! 


He left Carton to become MP for 'Witney'' in Oxfordshire, an appropriate seat for what was considered a typical right wing Tory. Being appointed a shadow minister in the Privy Council Office in June 2003, a quick promotion for this bright fellow, he was a deputy to Eric Forth, then Shadow Leader of the House. He then  became a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in that year. He was appointed as the Opposition front bench local government spokesman in 2004 and entered the shadow cabinet as head of policy co-ordination. For a time he was Shadow Education Secretary.
In December 2005 Cameron became Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition. For the first time the nation could see who he was, and most had never heard of him before his victory. Soon however his rather shady character began to appear. "Dave the Chameleon", the Labour Party called him, and rightly. He appeared to be an 'empty jacket' willing to say anything that would get him elected. Does anyone remember him suggesting that 'Hoodies' needed a 'hug?' Indeed 'Dave' but they also need to be kept under control. Also this quietly disappeared, possibly he realised they were too young to vote. The right wing of the Tory Party denounce him regularly, and their supporters in the 'Daily Mail' can be quite vehement regarding his wishy washy, two faced approach. Why is this? Well many of his promises, I will not go into them, there are too many, many promises have been broken. His real interest is not in creating a successful policy for fixing the nation but simply to obtain enough votes to survive. The right are beginning to revolt and his successful wooing of the Liberal-Democrats into a coalition gave him power but appears to possess so many cracks one wonders how long this will last? 


I wonder what 'Dave' really believes? Does he himself know? He wants to support marriage wet things homosexual marriage is OK also, even though this cannot make sense. He wishes to fix broken Britain he says, yet throws thousands out of work by his drastic cuts, while allowing the banks to take massive bonus's. The city supplies 80% of the Conservative cash and find rewards in tax breaks, how strange! His latest encouragement of the 'Big Society' has fooled nobody as yet. His claim is to get people involved, in a voluntary manner in 'their' communities. No one is fooled 'Dave,' you are just avoiding your responsibilities and cutting back the money you ought to be spending on the nation. The usual Tory policy of not spending money saves money. The usual British response of unemployed everywhere and ten years for the Conservative Party in the wilderness as the nation rejects their hypocrisy! Eighteen millionaires in the present cabinet, including the lackey Nick Clegg, another empty suit. "We are all in this together," says the man in a thousand pound suit, my jeans cost £4 by the way. Some of us are more in it than others, and our number is about to increase.


David Cameron appears to be very confused as to what he wants. He cannot see the nation as it is, just as his friends apparently see it. This is dangerous and opens the way for some awful decisions, like allowing 'gays' to marry in church! What has a church ruling got to do with government anyway? His comprehension of the difficulties, and financially these are indeed great, his comprehension of the answers appear to be nil. All we get is talk of something nobody comprehends, least of all 'Dave' himself. Public Relations and image are all for this man. Content, that is policy that works, does not appear to exist. His party is getting irritated, the Lib-Dems are also impatient, soon something will break, hopefully it will break very soon before we have a society totally out of control. I am worried where all this is leading, and worse than anything  else, there is NO opposition outside of the coalition! Labour are in a worse state, and the House of Lords is not able these days to oppose in the way they did Thatcher. In fact looking at 'Dave' I am beginning to become nostalgic for the mad Baroness, she may have been mentally unbalanced, hard hearted and have no sense of humour or clue as to what was going on but she was far more stable than David Cameron appears to be at the moment.
And that is indeed worrying.


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Egypt

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MidEastWeb

What now for Egypt? President Mubarak takes his leave, moved out by the army it appears. However the army who backed him will not wish to continue in power yet there are no logical political appointees waiting in the wings. Political parties were discouraged, the only organised group being the Muslim Brotherhood and most apparently do not wish for them to rule. Will another dictator arise from the army? Will democratic elections occur? The word 'democracy' is much used and mostly abused in this world. What chance does it have in Egypt tonight? This is the Middle East not the West. People think differently in this part of the world and do not see the world as we do. What happens if such a movement arises in Saudi Arabia? Would this allow bin Laden to return? I doubt it, but it may well lead to a bloodbath in a civil war there. All hangs on a thread, yet nobody knows who controls that thread bar God. A week is a long time in politics and the world this time next week will be a very different place.

Ah the beauty of nature. Spoilt only by a few plastic bags and the occasional bright orange barrier nicked from a workman's site of course. The birds singing in the trees, the early buds appearing on the trees, the gray clouds lowering overhead threatening rain, just right for this time of year. I thought this, somewhat light, picture of the country was better than the passport picture of myself I had to obtain today. £5 for five from a small booth in the town centre. £5 I thought, I could fly to Barcelona for than on 'Easyjet!' The things we are forced to do. Still, I reckon I have kept my handsome feature very well, and I don't look more than 25. Some things, beauty for instance, never change.   

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The Bike

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The weather was a bit dreich, gray clouds lay overhead most of the day, but I managed to get the bike purring all the way up the old railway to the village. That time of the morning, around ten, usually has some folks walking the dog. I maybe would be better saying 'following the dog,' as those beasts enjoy this pathway more than the people do. Whether they appreciate the sights as much as the smells I would not care to say but there were a few four legged creatures sniffing along. 
People round here usually make some sort of greeting as they pass during the week days but on the weekends the attitudes are often different. I wonder if this could be because at the weekend it is those commuters into far off London breathing fresh air but carrying the London offhand approach? Those who have lived there will know the sort of thing, if you die in front of them they will not see you! When I regularly met such folks on a weekend I made a point of a cheery greeting, just to annoy them! They rarely reply!
I was a bit peeved that the wildlife folk had been out with the hatchets and cut back lots of the greenery in preparation for the year. No doubt they know what they are doing but it was a bit disappointing to see so many gaps in the verges. This old railway line is indeed well cared for and is always worth a visit no matter what time of year. I reckon that having spent so many years amongst London's concrete I appreciate the vista more than those brought up out here.
I stopped at the stagnant pond to stop my knees yelling at me, the creaking sound was beginning to annoy me, and sat there for a few moments listening to the typical country sounds. There were robins and tits chirping in the hedges and trees. A squirrel or two passed by, somewhere along the path a dog barked, and over all of this the thunder of the by-pass a hundred yards away drowned out every sound more than five feet from my wax filled ears. Ah the quiet country life, it doesn't exist!


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