Fork Handles
30/04/08 22:29
So,
after some weeks of fevered anticipation, I finally
managed to lay my hands on the new Levon Helm album.
I find it astonishing that, living in a city with at
least 5 big record shops, I was unable to not
only
buy the
album, but struggled to find anyone in said shops
that had ever heard of either Helm or The Band (what
band? &c.).
Anyway, it is, unsurprisingly, awesome; stand out tracks include SIngle Girl, Married Girl and the fabulous The Mountain, written, of course, by Steve Earle. He recorded a pretty smoking version with the Del McCoury band, but the layering of vocals and great violin playing on Helm's recording blows Earle out of the water. The record to me sounds like The Band would have, had they had modern recording equipment and a more southern bent about them. Go and spend some of your hard earned cash and buy a copy. Just don't bother trying any record shops round my way...
Anyway, it is, unsurprisingly, awesome; stand out tracks include SIngle Girl, Married Girl and the fabulous The Mountain, written, of course, by Steve Earle. He recorded a pretty smoking version with the Del McCoury band, but the layering of vocals and great violin playing on Helm's recording blows Earle out of the water. The record to me sounds like The Band would have, had they had modern recording equipment and a more southern bent about them. Go and spend some of your hard earned cash and buy a copy. Just don't bother trying any record shops round my way...
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The home front
22/04/08 17:51
It
may be apparent that my interest in politics is, at
present, centred around the US democratic debate;
peverse, you might think, given my nationality.
Whilst I'd argue that the outcome of goings-on across
the pond is perhaps more significant to our lives and
culture than the upcoming local elections, I'd also
accept that British politics is not, at present, of
great appeal. This isn't as a result of affectation,
or general apathy, but rather a product of general
despair.
I'm a big fan of Gordon Brown. I don't care that he isn't as media friendly, as charming or as dynamic as his predecessor; in fact, I like those things about him. He's intelligent, erudite, and has a strong moral core. He is also, clearly, a political figure deserving of some respect; do we really think that the economic prosperity of the last decade was much to do with Tony Blair?
So I've been increasingly disheartened by the continual desire in the media to portray his administration as 'in disaster'. Aside from a couple of gaffes in the public eye, what political crimes has Brown committed?
The 10p rate of tax, I hear you say.
Yet, our whole tax system is based on the principle that there will always be winners and losers and - to be frank - the sums involved here are truly insubstantial. The worst affected people will be £232 a year poorer; hardly an earth-shattering sum of money. To most people earning £18500 or less, fuel prices and food prices are of far greater consequence.
As far as I can see, this controversy has been provoked by a hostile media, and has been given longevity by the desire of middle England to attack this Labour government. If the negative attention continues, and Brown is eventually forced from power, it will be another victory for anti-intellectualism and the forces of mediocrity.
Let's just all hope to God that as a result the Tories don't end up back in power.
I'm a big fan of Gordon Brown. I don't care that he isn't as media friendly, as charming or as dynamic as his predecessor; in fact, I like those things about him. He's intelligent, erudite, and has a strong moral core. He is also, clearly, a political figure deserving of some respect; do we really think that the economic prosperity of the last decade was much to do with Tony Blair?
So I've been increasingly disheartened by the continual desire in the media to portray his administration as 'in disaster'. Aside from a couple of gaffes in the public eye, what political crimes has Brown committed?
The 10p rate of tax, I hear you say.
Yet, our whole tax system is based on the principle that there will always be winners and losers and - to be frank - the sums involved here are truly insubstantial. The worst affected people will be £232 a year poorer; hardly an earth-shattering sum of money. To most people earning £18500 or less, fuel prices and food prices are of far greater consequence.
As far as I can see, this controversy has been provoked by a hostile media, and has been given longevity by the desire of middle England to attack this Labour government. If the negative attention continues, and Brown is eventually forced from power, it will be another victory for anti-intellectualism and the forces of mediocrity.
Let's just all hope to God that as a result the Tories don't end up back in power.
You'll be coming down...
21/04/08 10:31
I'm
thankfully getting close to the point of completing
the work I've been engaged upon for almost four
years, and am just beginning to re-adjust my
word-addled mind to the idea that I'm not going to
have to be constantly thinking, and constantly
working. One nice thing about such a long
undertaking, however, is that it lends life the sense
of a continuum; looking back over the last years, I
can map out my life in the progress of my thesis.
Walking on the beach at Branscombe; that was when I
was working on Patagonia. Standing on the bridge over
the Wye in Clyro; I was thinking about Francis
Kilvert, who lived just up the road, and marvelling
at how much was still recognisable from the world he
described.
I've been lucky to have had all this time to work so single-mindedly, and it strikes me now that writing a thesis isn't so much about the research or even the physical act of construction, but is rather designed to alter one's patterns of thought. The work insists that one takes the long view of every situation and it's odd, now, to have to start thinking in the short term.
I've been lucky to have had all this time to work so single-mindedly, and it strikes me now that writing a thesis isn't so much about the research or even the physical act of construction, but is rather designed to alter one's patterns of thought. The work insists that one takes the long view of every situation and it's odd, now, to have to start thinking in the short term.
I'm sure this is less fun than it sounds...
21/04/08 02:16
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Somali pirates seize Spanish boat
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A Spanish fishing boat with 26 crew on board has been seized by pirates off Somalia, officials in Spain say.
They say the Playa de Bakio - a Basque tuna boat - was attacked about 250 miles (400km) off the coast.
A source from the Basque regional government said the boat was in "international waters". The fate of the crew is unknown.
Somali coastal waters are among the most hazardous in the world, despite the presence of US navy patrols.
Gigs, gigs, gigs
19/04/08 13:26
Novamind = Insanely great
16/04/08 10:52
Two Weeks Too Late
15/04/08 15:50
"The
Arabic channel al-Jazeera Children's is to join with
the Welsh public broadcaster S4C to co-produce a live
action series about a group of singing multiracial
sheep in what will be its first UK co-production.
The two broadcasters, together with the Welsh independent production company Cynhyrchiadau Ceidiog Creations, will make the 52-part high-definition second series of Baaas, a live action, pre-school show about an extended family of all-singing, all-dancing sheep.
Work on the series, which will be made in Wales by Cynhyrchiadau Ceidiog Creations, will begin in May. The Arabic version will also be completed in Cardiff."
From MediaGuardian via. NetVibes.
The two broadcasters, together with the Welsh independent production company Cynhyrchiadau Ceidiog Creations, will make the 52-part high-definition second series of Baaas, a live action, pre-school show about an extended family of all-singing, all-dancing sheep.
Work on the series, which will be made in Wales by Cynhyrchiadau Ceidiog Creations, will begin in May. The Arabic version will also be completed in Cardiff."
From MediaGuardian via. NetVibes.
Bright Young Things
11/04/08 12:02
More
evidence the world is coming to a slow end:
As recently as 10 years ago, a typical campus dining experience was a cafeteria offering overcooked meat, canned vegetables and instant mashed potatoes.
But as palates grow more sophisticated and admissions become more competitive, many top colleges are paying attention to dining rooms as well as classrooms.
For students who are now hearing from the top-tier colleges, picking a destination can be partly a matter of taste.
“I didn’t apply to Bates, because, well, I ate there, the meal was not very good,” said Lucas Braun, a 17-year-old senior at Westtown School, outside of Philadelphia, who has been accepted at several colleges in the Northeast. “There’s something subliminal from the food you see in the dining hall and the meal they give you that influences your decision.”
From The New York Times
As recently as 10 years ago, a typical campus dining experience was a cafeteria offering overcooked meat, canned vegetables and instant mashed potatoes.
But as palates grow more sophisticated and admissions become more competitive, many top colleges are paying attention to dining rooms as well as classrooms.
For students who are now hearing from the top-tier colleges, picking a destination can be partly a matter of taste.
“I didn’t apply to Bates, because, well, I ate there, the meal was not very good,” said Lucas Braun, a 17-year-old senior at Westtown School, outside of Philadelphia, who has been accepted at several colleges in the Northeast. “There’s something subliminal from the food you see in the dining hall and the meal they give you that influences your decision.”
From The New York Times
Boot Hill Records Revue
10/04/08 11:42
Upcoming
shows in the new accordion themed 'Shows' page.
Also enjoy this artistically blurred photo of me
and Martin at the Picturehouse last month.
RLS
06/04/08 01:24
Are Penn. democrats about to do the decent thing...
06/04/08 01:21
and put
the party out of its misery? This from a recent poll:
Q1 The Democratic candidates still running for
President are Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama. If the primary was today, who would
you vote for? If you would vote for Hillary
Clinton, press 1. If for Barack Obama, press 2.
If you’re undecided press 3.
Clinton.................... .43%
Obama................... .45%
Undecided.............. .13%
from publicpolicypolling.com
3 weeks ago, in the same poll, Obama lagged behind Clinton by 26 points.
Q1 The Democratic candidates still running for
President are Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama. If the primary was today, who would
you vote for? If you would vote for Hillary
Clinton, press 1. If for Barack Obama, press 2.
If you’re undecided press 3.
Clinton.................... .43%
Obama................... .45%
Undecided.............. .13%
from publicpolicypolling.com
3 weeks ago, in the same poll, Obama lagged behind Clinton by 26 points.