Woolies is shutting down! Only just hit me today as I shambled in for one last pick n mix, and to pick up a bottle of sun tan lotion for £1! Currently munching on those slightly sexy cherry lips and crazy fried eggs as we speak. Might even freeze some of them for posterity! got a rush from choildhood as well lookin at the star wars figures and other toys!
Back home Saturday for Xmas, can't wait! This week of college is so pointless, just mock exams, finished yesterday 40 minutes early and buggered off! couldn't answer any more! of course, I hope it all comes good for the uber geeks who stalk the halls of BPP, they deserve some reward for their lack of a sense of perspective!
been an alright term overall, i'm holding up better than I thought, and it's all starting to come together, just like uni. Awena also tells me I'm down to the last 30 for DBF as well which is bloody brilliant news! finally some progress!
won my debate, found out yesterday, also good.
Ciao x
18/12/2008
14/12/2008
Something else...
Wrote this poem in the wee small hours as a house party blared downstairs...
THE SMITHS PLAY THE NATIONAL BALLROOM, KILBURN
The gladioli of doubt
Pinion round the crown
Of the King of Fools
He sways, beatific,
and sings you a lullaby,
an anthem for doomed youth
The question, What is it
I've got that you have not?,
is not his to answer.
He is what you want him to be.
Effete, charming. Gaunt, wiry.
Lanky, striking. Sinner, saint.
A Man for All Suspicions.
What about his mind?
Is that what sets him apart?
He transforms the turgid,
electrifies the ordinary,
screws up the rulebook of rock n roll
Sunny days for him are dreaded,
He'd hang the DJ to quell the panic,
He opens up freer to the girl miles away
Than the girl across the street he lusts after
He should be rocking out,
but instead he's fucking up,
singing so beautifully about the pain of manhood.
He isn't right, this isn't proper,
it shouldn't work but it does,
Oh how it does!
You want to be him
and girls want to be with him
And you want to be with those girls!
So you sway along with everyone else,
a sight in your specs and hearing aid.
You came on your own, but don't want to leave alone.
So you spend the night, trying to catch the eye
of a buck-toothed girl from Luxembourg.
THE SMITHS PLAY THE NATIONAL BALLROOM, KILBURN
The gladioli of doubt
Pinion round the crown
Of the King of Fools
He sways, beatific,
and sings you a lullaby,
an anthem for doomed youth
The question, What is it
I've got that you have not?,
is not his to answer.
He is what you want him to be.
Effete, charming. Gaunt, wiry.
Lanky, striking. Sinner, saint.
A Man for All Suspicions.
What about his mind?
Is that what sets him apart?
He transforms the turgid,
electrifies the ordinary,
screws up the rulebook of rock n roll
Sunny days for him are dreaded,
He'd hang the DJ to quell the panic,
He opens up freer to the girl miles away
Than the girl across the street he lusts after
He should be rocking out,
but instead he's fucking up,
singing so beautifully about the pain of manhood.
He isn't right, this isn't proper,
it shouldn't work but it does,
Oh how it does!
You want to be him
and girls want to be with him
And you want to be with those girls!
So you sway along with everyone else,
a sight in your specs and hearing aid.
You came on your own, but don't want to leave alone.
So you spend the night, trying to catch the eye
of a buck-toothed girl from Luxembourg.
11/12/2008
Love and Death
An occasional series where I give the rundown on my favourite movies...
Love and Death (1975), Dir: Woody Allen
Allen's last "early, funny one", this 75 minute souffle slips by in no time at all yet leaves the viewer completely satisfied. Often acknowledged as the greatest Marx brothers never made, this melding of inspired sight gags, sex comedy, philosophical musing, historical spoof, European stereotypes and, of course, Jewish nebbish one-liners, is easily Woody's funniest effort.
The film benefits greatly from its authentic European stylings, with much of the supporting cast assaulting the audience with their rich Russian accents and adopting the kind of exaggerated theatrics to which Allen's script is tailor-made.
The movie is heavily plotted but never burdensome. It concerns a young Russian noble, Boris (Allen), and his unrequited love for his cousin, Sonya (the luminous Diane Keaton, outclassing Allen in the comedy stakes). Their on-again, off-again relationship is tracked the length and breadth of Franco-Russian relations at the turn of the 17th century as Napoleon's forces threaten an idyllic family life. Culminating in a riotous infiltration of the Emperor's palace, the movie is a laugh riot on both a gut-busting and a mind-bending level.
Allen would 'grow up' after this last guffaw, charming the Academy with the definitive relationship movie that is Annie Hall the next year. Whilst he certainly matured as a writer, he was never as good a filmmaker in the true sense of the word after this and Sleeper. The screen teems with often inspired images, particularly in the key battle scene between the French and the Russians. What a long way he has fallen in the last decade; the best thing for him to do would be to retire to his mansion and re-watch his magnificent life's work. I certainly recommend you do the same.
Love and Death (1975), Dir: Woody Allen
Allen's last "early, funny one", this 75 minute souffle slips by in no time at all yet leaves the viewer completely satisfied. Often acknowledged as the greatest Marx brothers never made, this melding of inspired sight gags, sex comedy, philosophical musing, historical spoof, European stereotypes and, of course, Jewish nebbish one-liners, is easily Woody's funniest effort.
The film benefits greatly from its authentic European stylings, with much of the supporting cast assaulting the audience with their rich Russian accents and adopting the kind of exaggerated theatrics to which Allen's script is tailor-made.
The movie is heavily plotted but never burdensome. It concerns a young Russian noble, Boris (Allen), and his unrequited love for his cousin, Sonya (the luminous Diane Keaton, outclassing Allen in the comedy stakes). Their on-again, off-again relationship is tracked the length and breadth of Franco-Russian relations at the turn of the 17th century as Napoleon's forces threaten an idyllic family life. Culminating in a riotous infiltration of the Emperor's palace, the movie is a laugh riot on both a gut-busting and a mind-bending level.
Allen would 'grow up' after this last guffaw, charming the Academy with the definitive relationship movie that is Annie Hall the next year. Whilst he certainly matured as a writer, he was never as good a filmmaker in the true sense of the word after this and Sleeper. The screen teems with often inspired images, particularly in the key battle scene between the French and the Russians. What a long way he has fallen in the last decade; the best thing for him to do would be to retire to his mansion and re-watch his magnificent life's work. I certainly recommend you do the same.
01/12/2008
For some reason, I haven't made an entry for about 6 weeks now, but I finally feel moved to. Look at the tumultuous events occurring on the world stage for a start. So much to talk about.
So it seems that Barack Obama is being more tentative about the change agenda than at first we thought. By filling his cabinet with a great number of former aides-de-camp of Bill Clinton, he is avquiring wise old heads but also charges of a lack of nerve to upset the status quo in Washington as he promised he would. This all adds up to moderate-leaning administration which may not have the inclination or cross-party appeal to carry through the radical overhaul of policy that the US badly needs.
What has to be borne in mind is that Barack comes in when the very cetainties of Western liberal capitalist democracy are under severe strain. The consensus that having a former Wall Street executive run the Fed, for example, is being challenged on all sides, especially when that exec may at the current rate be handed the job the afternoon of the day his bank collapses. But a kneejerk reaction on all sides is not the way to develop sustainable policy. We will always need experts in the field at the head of the financial sector, who have had vested interests in the money markets and are in a position to properly direct policy.
One more serious sticking point could be the foreign policy outlook of Obama's ensigns. Hillary Clinton is set for State, and I was involved in a debate this week that asserted this a risky move. Bearing in mind her soundings on the obliteration of Iran and less than clear approach to the Iraq exit, she could present a view to foreign powers that does not tally with those of her boss. Any gap between them is then open for Ahmadinajad and other geo-political rivals to drive through.
I suppose it's all far too early to condemn the Obama term before it even starts, just interesting how quickly doubts have been raised. What concerns me even more is that the race for Minnesota rumbles on. I looked into the background of it when I heard Al Franken was running, to my surprise, on the Democrat ticket. Never for one minute thinking a comedian could present a credible candidate for Senate, I am now convinced that Al is a good an alternative as anyone to the suit with a parachute who is Norm Coleman. What I don't understnad is why the intemrinable process of recounts is so engrained in the electoral system. It's been 27 days since most results were declared, and yet here we are still waiting for legal challenges over literally handfuls of votes to be decided. There's even talk of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Why not just re-run the contest? This murky scrapping in far-flung corners of the state undermines the mandate of the eventual winner, which can only be restored if the voters minds are made plain again by a re-casting. I just think it sullies a victory if it's dragged out this long.
The Damian Green affair has also left me confused. Sifting through the timeline yesterday, I realised he must have behaved out of the ordinary for the police intrusion to reach the stage it did. Leaks occur all the time but arrests never occur as a result. There is talk of him having induced these leaks, which is apparently not the same as plain old receiving them. This appears in some way to be linked to a Tory mole at the Treasury. If this is the same civil servant who is being investigates, surely they didn't need inducing in the first place? Are we talking about blackmail here, or simply bribery? Why does any of this even matter when the four instances of supposed breach were not even national security issues, just mildly controversial and embarassing admissions? It all seems pretty kneejerk to me, but we shall see.
As for me personally (!), got back from a weekend in Cardiff yesterday, had a super time at the match, that last five minutes was the longest of my life! Glad Gatland's nerve held in keeping Jones on the pitch depsite his usual erratic efforts with the boot. He was integral to the midfield play and dictated the pace of the match. It may not have been pretty but it got the job done. Onwards to the grand slam!
What else? Back to work this week really, currently wading through powers of directors, lovely solicitors accounts to crack this evening. Still, not long till Xmas, kinda occupying a big corner of my infantile mind right now. Can't help it when there's frost outside and I'm all warm indoors. Think I'll reach my peak of giddiness when the Radio Times comes out: then it's official for me! Been getting into the mood for a good week or so though, repeated visits to the German market yielding brandied drinking chocolate and delicious biscuits. Best part of Xmas in Manchester.
Well, best get back to work, deadline approaching!
So it seems that Barack Obama is being more tentative about the change agenda than at first we thought. By filling his cabinet with a great number of former aides-de-camp of Bill Clinton, he is avquiring wise old heads but also charges of a lack of nerve to upset the status quo in Washington as he promised he would. This all adds up to moderate-leaning administration which may not have the inclination or cross-party appeal to carry through the radical overhaul of policy that the US badly needs.
What has to be borne in mind is that Barack comes in when the very cetainties of Western liberal capitalist democracy are under severe strain. The consensus that having a former Wall Street executive run the Fed, for example, is being challenged on all sides, especially when that exec may at the current rate be handed the job the afternoon of the day his bank collapses. But a kneejerk reaction on all sides is not the way to develop sustainable policy. We will always need experts in the field at the head of the financial sector, who have had vested interests in the money markets and are in a position to properly direct policy.
One more serious sticking point could be the foreign policy outlook of Obama's ensigns. Hillary Clinton is set for State, and I was involved in a debate this week that asserted this a risky move. Bearing in mind her soundings on the obliteration of Iran and less than clear approach to the Iraq exit, she could present a view to foreign powers that does not tally with those of her boss. Any gap between them is then open for Ahmadinajad and other geo-political rivals to drive through.
I suppose it's all far too early to condemn the Obama term before it even starts, just interesting how quickly doubts have been raised. What concerns me even more is that the race for Minnesota rumbles on. I looked into the background of it when I heard Al Franken was running, to my surprise, on the Democrat ticket. Never for one minute thinking a comedian could present a credible candidate for Senate, I am now convinced that Al is a good an alternative as anyone to the suit with a parachute who is Norm Coleman. What I don't understnad is why the intemrinable process of recounts is so engrained in the electoral system. It's been 27 days since most results were declared, and yet here we are still waiting for legal challenges over literally handfuls of votes to be decided. There's even talk of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Why not just re-run the contest? This murky scrapping in far-flung corners of the state undermines the mandate of the eventual winner, which can only be restored if the voters minds are made plain again by a re-casting. I just think it sullies a victory if it's dragged out this long.
The Damian Green affair has also left me confused. Sifting through the timeline yesterday, I realised he must have behaved out of the ordinary for the police intrusion to reach the stage it did. Leaks occur all the time but arrests never occur as a result. There is talk of him having induced these leaks, which is apparently not the same as plain old receiving them. This appears in some way to be linked to a Tory mole at the Treasury. If this is the same civil servant who is being investigates, surely they didn't need inducing in the first place? Are we talking about blackmail here, or simply bribery? Why does any of this even matter when the four instances of supposed breach were not even national security issues, just mildly controversial and embarassing admissions? It all seems pretty kneejerk to me, but we shall see.
As for me personally (!), got back from a weekend in Cardiff yesterday, had a super time at the match, that last five minutes was the longest of my life! Glad Gatland's nerve held in keeping Jones on the pitch depsite his usual erratic efforts with the boot. He was integral to the midfield play and dictated the pace of the match. It may not have been pretty but it got the job done. Onwards to the grand slam!
What else? Back to work this week really, currently wading through powers of directors, lovely solicitors accounts to crack this evening. Still, not long till Xmas, kinda occupying a big corner of my infantile mind right now. Can't help it when there's frost outside and I'm all warm indoors. Think I'll reach my peak of giddiness when the Radio Times comes out: then it's official for me! Been getting into the mood for a good week or so though, repeated visits to the German market yielding brandied drinking chocolate and delicious biscuits. Best part of Xmas in Manchester.
Well, best get back to work, deadline approaching!
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