I watch the news on one channel..
I'm told we have no money, everything is being cut, rising fuel costs impact every aspect, austerity measures, cuts, reductions, savings, losses...
But then I turn over, and find huge building and expenditure so some people can run around a bit, the largest shopping mall in europe (apparently) being built in stratford, and huge house full of bastards (in both senses) are having a party which we paid for but aren't invited to..
and I hate the patriotic bull that the "whole country is watching"... Iwould like to assert my democratic right to not give a crap about some wealthy people having a lovely time while I try to afford food.
Maybe some psychotic lunatics will doff their caps to disgustingly rich and pointless people, and the news channels cover every minute dreary detail, but I will do the same as for Diana's funeral, sleep through it.
I hope a corgi shits in the honeymoon bed.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
"we are all in this together"... well except the massively wealthy
I'm getting fed up with other people enjoying themselves at our expense...
The Olympics and wedding are costing massive amounts during time of cutbacks for us normal folk, they get to play games and have medals, or have a lovely day out... Surely the royals could have had a whip round between them and covered the cost..
Plenty of room at the palace for a bit of a do, the queen could have made sarnies, Phil could have shot a few game birds, Charles would cover the fruit + veg (Part catering, part guest list) and Andrew could find someone to help entertain the kids.
The Olympics and wedding are costing massive amounts during time of cutbacks for us normal folk, they get to play games and have medals, or have a lovely day out... Surely the royals could have had a whip round between them and covered the cost..
Plenty of room at the palace for a bit of a do, the queen could have made sarnies, Phil could have shot a few game birds, Charles would cover the fruit + veg (Part catering, part guest list) and Andrew could find someone to help entertain the kids.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Mr Tiggywinkle visits...
Got very excited at a hedgehog spending the night in my garden, I feel something of an affinity with him... ambling around in no particular direction, mostly surrounded by pricks, and wanting to curl up into a ball and hope things will go away.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Casey Haynes, Hero?
By now you will have all seen the video, the discussions and the accusations that are being thrown around the world regarding the events it contains.
Much has been written, by both hobbyist and professional alike, as to the actions taken by both children. However on a personal note it sparked a memory whilst also showing both how the world has changed, and stayed the same.
As with anyone who may be "different" in some way, be it something as simple as hair colour, wearing glasses or being a different shape, bullying is something I have experienced as a child. In my case, given my difference was being a giant and gentle tempered, I was evidently an easy target for bullies who also made them look tough in front of their peers given my stature.
Oddly, as I have grown much further into adulthood, I have noticed the occurrences reduced to nonexistence since reaching 6'8 and being decidedly less timid (apart from the occasional poorly targeted incomprehensible shout from drunken fool, usually from a nice safe distance..)
However, in the early 80's I had no such advantage and happily believed my elders and betters that I should not rise to the matter and merely tell a teacher or suitable member of staff. However, after quite some time my young brain made it's first connection between being told something and anything actually occurring as a result of it. (I fear this may also have sown the seeds of my general lack of regards for authority where I see it to be of no use.)
So as clothes were ripped, knees were scuffed, blood was lost and my name appeared in the accident book more than anyone else had ever achieved... I realised that no amount of telling would actually achieve anything..
I'm sure you will be amazed to hear that, soon after having a minor set to with my main protagonist whilst a little too close to a wire re-enforced window which was evidently broken with a body part not belonging to me...., the bullying stopped.
This brings me to the way things have changed. I see a certain comparison in a way with the subject of this youtube hit, but for me there were no camera phones, no worldwide audience. It was a regrettable event, but one that quickly passed into history with little more consequence.
Now Casey Haynes is being held both as a Hero for all the outsider kids in the world who have ever had some petty little prick decide they would make their life hell, and a villain for retaliating and not just "telling someone". This at least appears to have stayed the same stance from when I had my incident.
I may have a vested interest in the concept of "telling" and it's merits, or lack thereof, but I think perhaps it is quite easy for anyone who has not been punched repeatedly whilst a group of people look on to take the moral high ground.
In addition, there seems to be more of a culture of inclusion rather than exclusion (as with schools not removing problem kids as not fair on them, even to the extent of having "time out" cards so those less able to control themselves can be excused and not have to behave decently like the rest of the class) so I am not convinced it would have improved the situation... The old "short sharp shock" certainly seems to have happened in this case, and I can only hope Casey is allowed to get back to normality
Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the reason is, victims of bullying always seem to come out worse whether they follow the official method or opt for a more direct approach. I am glad my situation was so different, as at no point did I feel like a hero or a villain, I was just reacting to a situation which then passed.
I imagine that Casey would have just wanted to be left alone by the bullies and get on with his life, a pity then that the unwanted attention of the bullies may have been replaced by the eyes of the world.
Much has been written, by both hobbyist and professional alike, as to the actions taken by both children. However on a personal note it sparked a memory whilst also showing both how the world has changed, and stayed the same.
As with anyone who may be "different" in some way, be it something as simple as hair colour, wearing glasses or being a different shape, bullying is something I have experienced as a child. In my case, given my difference was being a giant and gentle tempered, I was evidently an easy target for bullies who also made them look tough in front of their peers given my stature.
Oddly, as I have grown much further into adulthood, I have noticed the occurrences reduced to nonexistence since reaching 6'8 and being decidedly less timid (apart from the occasional poorly targeted incomprehensible shout from drunken fool, usually from a nice safe distance..)
However, in the early 80's I had no such advantage and happily believed my elders and betters that I should not rise to the matter and merely tell a teacher or suitable member of staff. However, after quite some time my young brain made it's first connection between being told something and anything actually occurring as a result of it. (I fear this may also have sown the seeds of my general lack of regards for authority where I see it to be of no use.)
So as clothes were ripped, knees were scuffed, blood was lost and my name appeared in the accident book more than anyone else had ever achieved... I realised that no amount of telling would actually achieve anything..
I'm sure you will be amazed to hear that, soon after having a minor set to with my main protagonist whilst a little too close to a wire re-enforced window which was evidently broken with a body part not belonging to me...., the bullying stopped.
This brings me to the way things have changed. I see a certain comparison in a way with the subject of this youtube hit, but for me there were no camera phones, no worldwide audience. It was a regrettable event, but one that quickly passed into history with little more consequence.
Now Casey Haynes is being held both as a Hero for all the outsider kids in the world who have ever had some petty little prick decide they would make their life hell, and a villain for retaliating and not just "telling someone". This at least appears to have stayed the same stance from when I had my incident.
I may have a vested interest in the concept of "telling" and it's merits, or lack thereof, but I think perhaps it is quite easy for anyone who has not been punched repeatedly whilst a group of people look on to take the moral high ground.
In addition, there seems to be more of a culture of inclusion rather than exclusion (as with schools not removing problem kids as not fair on them, even to the extent of having "time out" cards so those less able to control themselves can be excused and not have to behave decently like the rest of the class) so I am not convinced it would have improved the situation... The old "short sharp shock" certainly seems to have happened in this case, and I can only hope Casey is allowed to get back to normality
Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the reason is, victims of bullying always seem to come out worse whether they follow the official method or opt for a more direct approach. I am glad my situation was so different, as at no point did I feel like a hero or a villain, I was just reacting to a situation which then passed.
I imagine that Casey would have just wanted to be left alone by the bullies and get on with his life, a pity then that the unwanted attention of the bullies may have been replaced by the eyes of the world.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Furthermore...
Oddly, the previous post was not the most shocking element of the day, that was reserved for the full horror that is known as the "Shoe Galleries" in Selfridges.
As a heterosexual male, I hasten to add this visit was primarily at the behest of my female companion although I wont deny a certain disturbed curiosity in something with such a grand title. Dear reader if you have not sampled this unique experience, allow me to provide an aid to your understanding. Imagine, if you will, the dankest weights room populated with a selection of men with no neck and an excess of muscle. The air is thick with the musky scent of man, as if testosterone had been atomised.
The "Shoe Galleries" are the nearest Female approximation of this, in terms of the heavy cloying atmosphere of frenzied female foot fetishists. In addition the many and varied perfumes accompanying these women on their seemingly unending quest for foot-based perfection reduce the volume of breathable air to that of Everest. (It is fortunate that smoking is not permitted in such a location as I imagine the resulting fireball would level half of Oxford Street)
I can safely say, at no prior time in my life have I felt so out of place for having my genitalia on the outside of my body.
As a heterosexual male, I hasten to add this visit was primarily at the behest of my female companion although I wont deny a certain disturbed curiosity in something with such a grand title. Dear reader if you have not sampled this unique experience, allow me to provide an aid to your understanding. Imagine, if you will, the dankest weights room populated with a selection of men with no neck and an excess of muscle. The air is thick with the musky scent of man, as if testosterone had been atomised.
The "Shoe Galleries" are the nearest Female approximation of this, in terms of the heavy cloying atmosphere of frenzied female foot fetishists. In addition the many and varied perfumes accompanying these women on their seemingly unending quest for foot-based perfection reduce the volume of breathable air to that of Everest. (It is fortunate that smoking is not permitted in such a location as I imagine the resulting fireball would level half of Oxford Street)
I can safely say, at no prior time in my life have I felt so out of place for having my genitalia on the outside of my body.
I worry....
Having had the pleasure of witnessing a supposedly well-to-do woman carrying a small scrap of a dog in her handbag (something I had always believed to be a myth dreamt up by TV producers and publicists) I have finally come to the conclusion that it is in fact not me that is mad, it genuinely is everybody else.
After idly wondering about the technicalities of the animals excreta, I was advised by my companion that "they wear a nappy". So we have evolved the the point as a species where an indication of social status is having an animal with legs, carried around in a bag and gently infusing the finest Italian leather with a subtle hint of canine caca.
After idly wondering about the technicalities of the animals excreta, I was advised by my companion that "they wear a nappy". So we have evolved the the point as a species where an indication of social status is having an animal with legs, carried around in a bag and gently infusing the finest Italian leather with a subtle hint of canine caca.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Interesting....
"...the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." Hermann Goering
"Britain is threatened by a new wave of terrorist attacks from both al-Qaeda and Irish Republicans, the head of MI5 warns."
"The head of Britain's security services has said al-Qaida plots targeting Britain are increasingly originating from Somalia and Yemen."
"...head of MI5 Jonathan Evans said there remained "a serious risk of a lethal attack taking place".
"Britain is threatened by a new wave of terrorist attacks from both al-Qaeda and Irish Republicans, the head of MI5 warns."
"The head of Britain's security services has said al-Qaida plots targeting Britain are increasingly originating from Somalia and Yemen."
"...head of MI5 Jonathan Evans said there remained "a serious risk of a lethal attack taking place".
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