In case you haven't noticed, there's an election is coming up. I can't remember where l got this quote from, but it is still relevant as far as l am concerned.
A wealthy society like ours that deliberately will not, not cannot, support its most vulnerable members, in a humane and caring manner but sets out to persecute and demonise them instead, because the only agenda is increased profit for the wealthiest minority is the overriding agenda, is not fit to refer to itself as civilised.
More goodies picked up while l've been out and about at the charity shops, plus some swag from 'Sound it Out' records in Stockton.
The pile of books to read is geting bigger. I managed to read 'Boy about Town' by Tony Fletcher yesterday, but the ongoing mess next to my bed is also growing.
I've said it before, and l will say it again, l need more time off work (or to win the lottery).
An old view of New York that you don't usually see, from behind the Statue of Liberty (designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi).
A previous similar version was going to be at Port Said, at the entrance to The Suez Canal, and one design even had the torch on top of the head.
Here's some photos of it being built (and yes, it was copper coloured)
Long before the Bob Dylan Christmas album, there was this. A taste of what was to come.
Ladies and gentlemen, l present to you Bobby the Poet, performing 'White Christmas'.
I bet at the time there was no way they would have imagined that their pisstake would come true (unfortunately).
From The New Yorker, by Benjamin Schwartz. It's probably been done before (or a variant on it), but it's the first time l've seen it. Funny and clever. toodle pip
Nina Simone in concert on UK TV back in 1968.
The first eight minutes of this are especially gloomy, yet uplifting as well. Saying that, the tribute to Dr Martin Luther King at the end is not exactly slack.
Talk about singing it as though you mean it, even in a relaxed soul / jazzy way. Emotional stuff.
Taking the piss out of the rich Tories? Tick
Sound like the Killers? Tick
Wearing funny masks? Tick
Releasing a single that actually tackles politics and equality? Tick
This will do for me - Lux Lisbon - The Bullingdon Club
Check the band's goodies (fnaar) out here.
As for the club itself, here are a couple of photographs of the members (and l mean members).
Want to know who they are? Go here
I'll say it again - time for a revolution brothers and sisters
When it comes to records, as with most things in life, l am a sad bastard.
Therefore, l shouldn't be gazing adoringly at other people's collections, as it only makes me envious and jealous. So what on earth have l be doing looking at these this lot, featured in the Dust and Grooves book?
I'm only hurting myself, but if you want to suffer as well, the book can be bought from here.
I never tire of seeing old Movie posters, let alone the Polish ones, and here are some of the reasons why. Strange and different from the usual UK and USA versions.
These ones were taken from here, so if you want to find out the titles of the films, visit the site, where a few more can be seen.
Serial is a podcast series, a spin off from 'This American Life', and was one of the most riveting pieces of real life drama that l have had the pleasure of listening to, despite (or because of) the fact the series was dealing with real events, real people, and a real murder. Plus because you are only listening to the show, your mind fills in loads of gaps, and it is easy to become really engrossed and involved with it, probably more so than if you were watching it on TV.
From episode to episode you are left reeling, not knowing what to believe, or who to trust, and swinging from 'That person must have done it' to 'Damn! It's probably that person instead'.
The gist of it is this. The murder of Hae Min Lee takes place in Baltimore, and her ex boyfriend, Adnan Syed, is charged and convicted of the murder, mainly on the testimony of one of his so called 'friends' who said he helped Adnan move the body.
There are phone calls aplenty to Adnan, and interviews with others involved. Court records and statements are scrutinised, and re-enactments of movements undertaken. Even the person behind the interviews and podcasts, Sarah Koening, doubts her own judgement as the evidence mounts one way or another.
I don't want to give away the ending, but all of this is in the present, and still ongoing, and l cannot recommend it enough.
Here's another fascinating piece of history.
The seal to Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. His mummy is below.
Howard Carter must have been wetting himself with excitement before entering inside.
As l am a bit of a saddo, l have been watching a load of old Pathe News films, which used to be shown years ago before the main feature films in UK cinemas.
One interesting item (to me at least) featured the sinking of The Titanic, and film of the survivors.
I know the story has been endlessly told, and has been the subject of countless books, films and articles, but let's face it, it was such an amazing event, that may have been considered slightly too far fetched if it was pitched as fiction, and it is still a fascinating story.
The Pathe film is below, and the photograph above?
It is the last known photograph of the ship before it sank.
Just imagine being on the ship and then surviving, especially if you did it the Charles Lightoller way, staying on the ship till the bitter end, then diving off it, being sucked under a couple of times, and then shot back to the surface, ending up on an upturned lifeboat, and being the last man to board RMS Carpathia, the rescue ship.
Not only that, he also rescued soldiers during the Dunkirk evacuation.
The Titanic story just gives and gives.
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