Category: Personal

I grew up in the 70s/80s, and first became aware of the news in the early 80s. My parents always watched the 6pm news, and I was usually around. The first big thing I remember is probably the Miners’ Strike in 1984 (I was about 7 or 8, for anyone wondering). I understood none of it, but I remember the feeling that it was a serious thing, almost as if the sky were about to fall. I remember being worried about a surrogate Aunt and Uncle (Aunt Mattie and Uncle Jimmy – two amazing individuals) who had a coal fire, and worrying that they wouldn’t be able to get enough coal to stay warm. The news was full of phrases I didn’t understand but sounded fascinating (I mean what on earth does the phrase “flying picket” conjur up for an eight year old)

Apart from that, and hearing about strike action on the news, I’ve never really had any experience of striking, but driving in to work today, I saw 3 separate picket lines, one at a building where some former colleagues of mine now work (although they’re not involved).

The dispute is between the PCS Civil Servants Union and the Government. I used to always think of Sir Humphrey when I thought about civil servants, but recently, one of the young people at the youth centre which I help run got a job in a job centre. that made her, at the ripe old age of 19, a civil servant. That changed my perspective somewhat.

I usually avoid Politics, but I heard Orrin Hatch on the radio saying that we live in a “terrorist oriented world”. That’s some of the worst scaremongering I’ve ever heard. Fear should not be what motivates us!

Here are a couple of articles on the use of fear in politics, mostly via Boing Boing

• the language of fear
• How Long Can the Country Stay Scared?
• Fear Phrases Video

I’m a big fan of the BBC, especially its news output. Today, as part of their coverage of the us elections they have an Interactive map, built in flash, which shows not only the results as they come in, but also the results of past elections, and background information on the campaigns and results in the various states.

Since Bush, by now, is almost certain to have won, I wanted to share a quote I heard this morning, litening to election coverage. I can’t remembre who said it but they reckones that Bush was the greatest uniter of Europe ever – We’re all united against him.

Four More Years?? God Help us! (please!)

I was in falkirk having Chinese food tonight, and right across was this sign for a restaurant. Personally I’d have picked a different name:

Which OS are You?

Brown Equals Terrorist – read the artist statement. This is totally unjust.

via Boing Boing

I know nothing about poetry, but this I really liked this when I read it as a kid. I think it has the most memorable first verse of any poem I’ve read:

Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast
Bought an old castle complete with a ghost,
But someone or other forgot to declare
To Colonel Fazack that the spectre was there.

On the very first evening, while waiting to dine,
The Colonel was taking a fine sherry wine,
When the ghost, with a furious flash and a flare,
Shot out of the chimney and shivered, “Beware!”

Colonel Fazackerley put down his glass
And said, “My dear fellow, that’s really first class!
I just can’t conceive how you do it at all.
I imagine you’re going to a Fancy Dress Ball?”

At this, the dread ghost gave a withering cry.
Said the Colonel (his monocle firm in his eye),
“Now just how you do it I wish I could think.
Do sit down and tell me, and please have a drink.”

The ghost in his phosphorous cloak gave a roar
And floated about between ceiling and floor.
He walked through a wall and returned through a pane
And backed up the chimney and came down again.

Said the Colonel, “With laughter I’m feeling quite weak!”
(As trickles of merriment ran down his cheek.)
“My house-warming party I hope you won’t spurn.
You must say you’ll come and you’ll give us a turn!”

At this, the poor spectre – quite out of his wits –
Proceeded to shake himself almost to bits
He rattled his chains and he clattered his bones
And he filled the whole castle with mumbles and moans.

But Colonel Fazackerley, just as before,
Was simply delighted and called out, “Encore!”
At which the ghost vanished, his efforts in vain
And never was seen at the castle again.

“Oh dear, what a pity!” said Colonel Fazack.
“I don’t know his name, so can’t call him back.”
And then with a smile that was hard to define,
Colonel Fazackerley went in to dine.

Apparently it can be found in The Puffin Book of 20th Century Children’s Verse

I was at the Edinburgh event of Mike Chambers tour of Europe.
I found this sign in the toilet!

Well it made me laugh.

Yeah, I know I look shocking!