Clubbing with some friends in Coventry, I felt shadows being cast. A group of lads were behaving threateningly in a way I couldn’t put my finger on. It was a tentative display of aggression, their dislike of us was only just spilling over their inhibition and fear. As time went on and alcohol was dissolving their various restraints and doubts they began to be more obviously after trouble. It was unclear whether it was a personal thing or they were frustrated and just wanted to use violence to feel better. My concern though was about one of the guys in our group and if would rise to the bait, he was the most hot-headed and was known often to go too far- not knowing when to stop when he got started.
Thankfully a bouncer stepped in before anyone laid a hand on anyone, and did brilliantly. He saw the expressions that flashed across some faces and knew when make a move. He just separated us and seemed to know who needed his attention most. He spoke to us but focussed on my hot-headed friend. In a few words he gave us glimpse into his world; I’m not sure how it happened because it seemed so personal. We weren’t really taking in what he was saying until told us about how he saw his brother stabbed to death in front of him. Blimey. All the tension disappeared because it was rendered irrelevant and insignificant. When he spoke it became clear he had seen a lot of violence and that it held no fear for him, it was just banal. This made him, to me at least, formidable. The most impressive thing was he had a kind of concern, it was so unusual.
I reckon we caught him on a day when he gave us a glimpse into his world which he would never do ordinarily. Strangers do tell strangers things they may not even say to many of their closest friends and family, just because somehow the circumstances are right and/or they know never see each other again.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Out of the Blue
I’m walking down a street on a dark evening feeling wearied by the general drudgery of existence. I decided to flap my arms, people around begin to look. I flap my arms again, now people begin to point and kids are heard laughing in derision. The cold scrutiny intensifies until the fifth flap, when I actually acquire the gift of flight.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
People I'd share a cell with.
Being a crazy maverick and a bit greedy, I’d like to have 3 people in my cell, for two of them I would require a time machine. Anyway they are: Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Paul Robeson. All are African Americans who did big things in the 20th century, but that is not really why I choose them. They were all willing to risk losing mass adulation, much wealth and a comfortable secure existence for their convictions; which at the time were deeply unpopular. They were also undogmatic and did not blind themselves to their errors and which shows integrity and intellectual honesty. Now the amazing thing is, despite their scrupulousness and the hardships they went through, they managed to be incredibly good fun to be with, spontaneous, funny and energising.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
The mess of us
I hate them both, Bush and Bin-Laden. Add to them those who revel in the hell the Bush-Laden double act are both raising: The opportunist unscrupulous criminals who mindlessly loot and kidnap and bomb- killing innocents more than anyone else.
There's someting wrong in how humanity has evolved, it seems the psychopatic bastards seem to rise to the top in most societies. Those who seek power most are the ones most unfit to have it.
Shameful so shameful. It's like a test. How bad are the worst? Would the most obviously blameless and actively caring amongst us be coldly murdered?
Margaret Hasan, we are all aware of is/was an exceptional person in so may respects, she is a woman upon many of the most vulnerable depended and if she really has been killed then there is a terrible poison in Iraq. It's hard to accept people can be corrupted to such an extent due to the war as inhumane, illegal and botched as it is; people cannot switch like this. To me it's like there is a latent sickness that seems to have had an outlet. Of course, it's not just in Iraq, it must be something inside a proportion people all over the world that society is blind to and lets fester as it ticks along
I can't make sense of it as hard as I try. I hope the family and friends find some peace.
Margaret Hasan, Margaret Hasan, Margaret Hasan- don't forget her name, she's more than fading electron beams on a TV screen.
Robert Fisk met her:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1020-01.htm
There's someting wrong in how humanity has evolved, it seems the psychopatic bastards seem to rise to the top in most societies. Those who seek power most are the ones most unfit to have it.
Shameful so shameful. It's like a test. How bad are the worst? Would the most obviously blameless and actively caring amongst us be coldly murdered?
Margaret Hasan, we are all aware of is/was an exceptional person in so may respects, she is a woman upon many of the most vulnerable depended and if she really has been killed then there is a terrible poison in Iraq. It's hard to accept people can be corrupted to such an extent due to the war as inhumane, illegal and botched as it is; people cannot switch like this. To me it's like there is a latent sickness that seems to have had an outlet. Of course, it's not just in Iraq, it must be something inside a proportion people all over the world that society is blind to and lets fester as it ticks along
I can't make sense of it as hard as I try. I hope the family and friends find some peace.
Margaret Hasan, Margaret Hasan, Margaret Hasan- don't forget her name, she's more than fading electron beams on a TV screen.
Robert Fisk met her:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1020-01.htm
How to mobilise culture, dear.
You know the Prodigy video for their tune "Fire Starter", well it was pretty cool and got the kids going. However what if there was something more sinister at work in the video than some geezer dancing wildly with an equally mad haircut and piercings?
Right at the end of the video after much exertion he produces a menacing-type expression turns and walks away, his job is done -- whataguy! All very good and youth-friendly.
Now what if that same scenario was replaced by him doing all the same wild stuff but defying all our expectations of credibility at the end when walking away? His final look at the camera could be a cheesy smile and wink like you would expect in a washing powder commercial or variety act.
When his shoes come into shot they could be replaced by a pair of those fluffy slippers with the cutesy animal face (they're mysteriously popular you know). Somehow the initial vibe would be lost. The video wouldn't go with the song. A fierce tune may become one of those comedy novelty records a la Spitting Image.
It could confuse the minds of people likely to buy the record: “Prodigy, they're cool right? That bit in the video must be some cool postmodernist (at last I've used that word) irony thing, you know just like those style mags say, metrosexual and all that.”
“Ha Ha great one, Prodigy are even cooler than before, for I am now enjoying them at more levels. All part of life's rich tapestry...blah , blah.” There are those who would think “sod it those Prodigy peeps just aren't part of the underground no more, I'm going to Virgin Megafabstore to buy Goldie's CD.”
Whatever the case there'll be questions resulting from the video, and it will be beyond the realms of which piercing hurt most. Having taken refuge in nice comfortable cutting edge Goldie a collective sigh of relief is breathed. Then there he is performing on Top of the Pops the hottest star of the moment, his obvious talent shines through like a really shiny thing, everyone enjoys.
Without warning, halfway through Goldie's thing a troupe of grandmas wearing floral attire like it was going out of fashion (literally) stride purposefully on stage. Forming a line behind the artiste they pause for a moment surveying the mouth-gapey scene around them, it's almost too obvious -- they know what they have to do.
In unison they move their arms in a fashion that TV's exercise maestro Mr Motivator dictates for the over 60's. They move their legs in a precarious way but everything they do is gentle. It goes a bit awry when they falteringly attempt to moonwalk, but nonetheless "this is fun isn't it Doris?" looks are exchanged.
However Goldie's facial muscles have not manipulated themselves in the same way as the dears. There's not even a trace of Doris in there. Instead they have manipulated themselves to display confusion and professional calmness (of sorts). Any winning smile he attempted to produce was again suppressed by confusion and much head-shaking.
At the end of his set one of the old ladies approaches Goldie and a faint "we're going for a cuppa, would you like to join us" has been caught on mic. Before he could give an answer she led him away by the hand. The camera seemed to be lingering on him for ages. He longed to swipe his hand away but that would be bad PR. Soon Goldie was to realise he was glad that he joined the old ladies: for he needed to see what he saw...
Meanwhile all was going smoothly for a while in culture land; TV's regular Punch & Judy double act, called Richard & Judy, were still making effortless links and stuff. Then the Hotel Babylon incident happened.
Jay-Z and Dr Dre were being interviewed by Danni Behr. Then a Tim Westwood style phone-in was put into operation. Jay-Z and Dre were paid respects whilst the Tunbridge Wells massive were given mentions. In the middle of this, a soft voice said hello to Dr Dre and Jay-Z and went on to say she loved all their ballads.
"We don't do ballads lady""Oh well, I do still like you boys""Err, OK keep takin' the medication""Oh I will Mr Dre, thank you for the advice""No problem."With that it was time to entertain the crowd. Jay-Z glided to the mic, proudly displaying his Torso to the laydeez. The crowd could have been implanted with the same device as Oprah's lot. They screamed until they were on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Nice" thought Jay-Z whilst Dre was aching to hit them with his impressive DJ skills. He cued and played an Ohio Players record but some "when I'm cleaning windows" shit was happening. He checked the label, yup Ohio Players.
He played his other stuff but his mind was a buzz with "It's a long way to Tipperary" and the "ha Ha ha Ha" of the laughing policeman. He felt his carefully crafted credibility unravelling. Meanwhile Jay-Z, hit the audience with one-liners about the situation. They loved it. He could have carried on for ages.
Dre had given up, but it was still great TV. While he sat in the shadows, an old lady appeared and slid in a DAT and activated the machine with what appeared to be rehearsed efficiency. It was a medley of beefed up old-time melodies. Another old lady walked on stage to confront Jay-Z. She was wearing seaside shades and Jay-Z just had to laugh in a bemused amused way.
Unfortunately she started battle-rapping in a surprisingly proficient and aggressive manner. Her Jay-Z put-downs were good, too good. The audience was crying with laughter. Her risky references to Jay-Z's chequered past were ruthless.
As the novelty was exploding before him, Jay had to collect his thoughts. He was being humiliated. If he hit her that would be yet another court case- and he'd never live down hitting a 70 year old.
His smile strained as he realised he had no option but to battle rap whilst being accompanied by a bastardised "Roll Out The Barrel." He rapped about old people and incontinence pads but he just didn't have the bite his opponent did. She knew his past as sprayed in the media, her jibes were specific to him. Jay-Z had never seen her in his life and could not focus his attack on her, only on oldies. In a word he lost.
It was media sensation time. In the news, in the arts programs, on comedy shows and, well anywhere that the producers had run out of ideas and needed something to create guaranteed interest.
All kinds of angles were found, even serious ones, such as Panorama's: "Old people and society -- a misunderstood relationship?" There was a crazy no time to rewind feeling as the lady in the seaside shades became the topic of serious conjecture and old Jay-Z had become a figure of fun. Not even Dre would touch him. Jay-Z knew what he had to do: to shuffle off and do a bit of re-inventing. He knew that MC Hammer was the key for what could go wrong, he therefore decided he would resort to using his brain.
Old ladies were springing up everywhere, even across the Atlantic. Their sabotage was becoming more and more inventive. Their infrequent and erratic appearances added more spice to their activities. TV dudes hoped it would be their shows that would be targeted; the publicity would be something to savour. The upshot was that youth culture (and in many cases middle-aged culture) had to take themselves less seriously. Hype was now hollow and was seen as setting yourself up for a fall (White Stripes and Oasis were losing weight through worry). Simply put, it was a content over style thing and Jay-Z realised it.
His come-back didn't sink, and made good progress. His lyrics were original, his flow new and his attitude was now really “real" not just real on vinyl. Culture had got a fucking move on.
Goldie knew what was going on. An angel was smiling on him the day he was led away by the old dear. He was taken to a school gym which the ladies had hired for the evening. There he saw, lined up neatly in rows, a crack squad of senior citizens. On each of their floral uniforms there was a badge emblazoned with the words "Cut the cultural crap. It really is shocking you know."
Very little was said but he knew the score anyway. Graciously he accepted the tea and biccies. Whilst gasping at an intricately woven teacosy, he felt inspired. No, not by the teacosy, but by the way they had turned their status as the ultimate social pariahs on its head whilst helping their cause. Shit, he didn't even mind when one of them asked if he had left Blue Peter yet!
http://www.hamusutaa.net/acen01-2/cool-grandma-2.jpg
Right at the end of the video after much exertion he produces a menacing-type expression turns and walks away, his job is done -- whataguy! All very good and youth-friendly.
Now what if that same scenario was replaced by him doing all the same wild stuff but defying all our expectations of credibility at the end when walking away? His final look at the camera could be a cheesy smile and wink like you would expect in a washing powder commercial or variety act.
When his shoes come into shot they could be replaced by a pair of those fluffy slippers with the cutesy animal face (they're mysteriously popular you know). Somehow the initial vibe would be lost. The video wouldn't go with the song. A fierce tune may become one of those comedy novelty records a la Spitting Image.
It could confuse the minds of people likely to buy the record: “Prodigy, they're cool right? That bit in the video must be some cool postmodernist (at last I've used that word) irony thing, you know just like those style mags say, metrosexual and all that.”
“Ha Ha great one, Prodigy are even cooler than before, for I am now enjoying them at more levels. All part of life's rich tapestry...blah , blah.” There are those who would think “sod it those Prodigy peeps just aren't part of the underground no more, I'm going to Virgin Megafabstore to buy Goldie's CD.”
Whatever the case there'll be questions resulting from the video, and it will be beyond the realms of which piercing hurt most. Having taken refuge in nice comfortable cutting edge Goldie a collective sigh of relief is breathed. Then there he is performing on Top of the Pops the hottest star of the moment, his obvious talent shines through like a really shiny thing, everyone enjoys.
Without warning, halfway through Goldie's thing a troupe of grandmas wearing floral attire like it was going out of fashion (literally) stride purposefully on stage. Forming a line behind the artiste they pause for a moment surveying the mouth-gapey scene around them, it's almost too obvious -- they know what they have to do.
In unison they move their arms in a fashion that TV's exercise maestro Mr Motivator dictates for the over 60's. They move their legs in a precarious way but everything they do is gentle. It goes a bit awry when they falteringly attempt to moonwalk, but nonetheless "this is fun isn't it Doris?" looks are exchanged.
However Goldie's facial muscles have not manipulated themselves in the same way as the dears. There's not even a trace of Doris in there. Instead they have manipulated themselves to display confusion and professional calmness (of sorts). Any winning smile he attempted to produce was again suppressed by confusion and much head-shaking.
At the end of his set one of the old ladies approaches Goldie and a faint "we're going for a cuppa, would you like to join us" has been caught on mic. Before he could give an answer she led him away by the hand. The camera seemed to be lingering on him for ages. He longed to swipe his hand away but that would be bad PR. Soon Goldie was to realise he was glad that he joined the old ladies: for he needed to see what he saw...
Meanwhile all was going smoothly for a while in culture land; TV's regular Punch & Judy double act, called Richard & Judy, were still making effortless links and stuff. Then the Hotel Babylon incident happened.
Jay-Z and Dr Dre were being interviewed by Danni Behr. Then a Tim Westwood style phone-in was put into operation. Jay-Z and Dre were paid respects whilst the Tunbridge Wells massive were given mentions. In the middle of this, a soft voice said hello to Dr Dre and Jay-Z and went on to say she loved all their ballads.
"We don't do ballads lady""Oh well, I do still like you boys""Err, OK keep takin' the medication""Oh I will Mr Dre, thank you for the advice""No problem."With that it was time to entertain the crowd. Jay-Z glided to the mic, proudly displaying his Torso to the laydeez. The crowd could have been implanted with the same device as Oprah's lot. They screamed until they were on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Nice" thought Jay-Z whilst Dre was aching to hit them with his impressive DJ skills. He cued and played an Ohio Players record but some "when I'm cleaning windows" shit was happening. He checked the label, yup Ohio Players.
He played his other stuff but his mind was a buzz with "It's a long way to Tipperary" and the "ha Ha ha Ha" of the laughing policeman. He felt his carefully crafted credibility unravelling. Meanwhile Jay-Z, hit the audience with one-liners about the situation. They loved it. He could have carried on for ages.
Dre had given up, but it was still great TV. While he sat in the shadows, an old lady appeared and slid in a DAT and activated the machine with what appeared to be rehearsed efficiency. It was a medley of beefed up old-time melodies. Another old lady walked on stage to confront Jay-Z. She was wearing seaside shades and Jay-Z just had to laugh in a bemused amused way.
Unfortunately she started battle-rapping in a surprisingly proficient and aggressive manner. Her Jay-Z put-downs were good, too good. The audience was crying with laughter. Her risky references to Jay-Z's chequered past were ruthless.
As the novelty was exploding before him, Jay had to collect his thoughts. He was being humiliated. If he hit her that would be yet another court case- and he'd never live down hitting a 70 year old.
His smile strained as he realised he had no option but to battle rap whilst being accompanied by a bastardised "Roll Out The Barrel." He rapped about old people and incontinence pads but he just didn't have the bite his opponent did. She knew his past as sprayed in the media, her jibes were specific to him. Jay-Z had never seen her in his life and could not focus his attack on her, only on oldies. In a word he lost.
It was media sensation time. In the news, in the arts programs, on comedy shows and, well anywhere that the producers had run out of ideas and needed something to create guaranteed interest.
All kinds of angles were found, even serious ones, such as Panorama's: "Old people and society -- a misunderstood relationship?" There was a crazy no time to rewind feeling as the lady in the seaside shades became the topic of serious conjecture and old Jay-Z had become a figure of fun. Not even Dre would touch him. Jay-Z knew what he had to do: to shuffle off and do a bit of re-inventing. He knew that MC Hammer was the key for what could go wrong, he therefore decided he would resort to using his brain.
Old ladies were springing up everywhere, even across the Atlantic. Their sabotage was becoming more and more inventive. Their infrequent and erratic appearances added more spice to their activities. TV dudes hoped it would be their shows that would be targeted; the publicity would be something to savour. The upshot was that youth culture (and in many cases middle-aged culture) had to take themselves less seriously. Hype was now hollow and was seen as setting yourself up for a fall (White Stripes and Oasis were losing weight through worry). Simply put, it was a content over style thing and Jay-Z realised it.
His come-back didn't sink, and made good progress. His lyrics were original, his flow new and his attitude was now really “real" not just real on vinyl. Culture had got a fucking move on.
Goldie knew what was going on. An angel was smiling on him the day he was led away by the old dear. He was taken to a school gym which the ladies had hired for the evening. There he saw, lined up neatly in rows, a crack squad of senior citizens. On each of their floral uniforms there was a badge emblazoned with the words "Cut the cultural crap. It really is shocking you know."
Very little was said but he knew the score anyway. Graciously he accepted the tea and biccies. Whilst gasping at an intricately woven teacosy, he felt inspired. No, not by the teacosy, but by the way they had turned their status as the ultimate social pariahs on its head whilst helping their cause. Shit, he didn't even mind when one of them asked if he had left Blue Peter yet!
http://www.hamusutaa.net/acen01-2/cool-grandma-2.jpg
Thursday, November 11, 2004
The Motherland
An Asian bloke said he feels totally disconnected from India- where his parents hail from. An wondered if anyone else felt the same.
For me the UK is my main base because of family and friends. I do still have a link with Pak/India, it's not that strong as I don't live there, but some aspects of life there are so cool- a kind of openness and community there which is very attractive. Plus I'd miss not using the language (Urdu in my case). It has a feel to it you don't get with English and visa versa. Having said that I'm probably more connected to India/Pak of the 60's because that's point at which my parents left.
On the other hand it's obvious to me there are cheeky chalak monkeys in the motherland. They make their own hell that way. On the upside there's such a variety of moustaches that nothing appears malicious. However I'm sure the novelty would wear off if I lived there!
Check this virile specimen: http://underthefirestar.blogspot.com/photos-03/muchhad.jpeg
For me the UK is my main base because of family and friends. I do still have a link with Pak/India, it's not that strong as I don't live there, but some aspects of life there are so cool- a kind of openness and community there which is very attractive. Plus I'd miss not using the language (Urdu in my case). It has a feel to it you don't get with English and visa versa. Having said that I'm probably more connected to India/Pak of the 60's because that's point at which my parents left.
On the other hand it's obvious to me there are cheeky chalak monkeys in the motherland. They make their own hell that way. On the upside there's such a variety of moustaches that nothing appears malicious. However I'm sure the novelty would wear off if I lived there!
Check this virile specimen: http://underthefirestar.blogspot.com/photos-03/muchhad.jpeg
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Ooooooh.................. Aahhhhhhhhh!!!
I didn’t go the big do. Sorry to the one reader of the blog who wanted the gossip. I went to a plebby fireworks display; it was set to classical music. So I suppose it wasn’t that plebby really. A friend and I went on some adrenalin-releasing fairground rides which was a welcome diversion. I regret not taking any pictures. The lack of dodgems was disappointing. Anyway I might go to the next poncey party as I’ve been invited again. But you know TV’s quite good that day. I’ll live another day.
I was trying to tell a co-worker off today for not locking up a valuable digital video camera. She said: “well why don’t I just lock away all the computers, they’re valuable too!” I liked her style. Blaady moral relativism- sending this country to the dogs. No wonder Bush got in. Hippies everywhere! I think I would make a rather good retired major. I think I will apply some sand-paper to my cheeks so they are the requisite level of ruddiness. If you are a retired general may be you could give me some tips.
I was trying to tell a co-worker off today for not locking up a valuable digital video camera. She said: “well why don’t I just lock away all the computers, they’re valuable too!” I liked her style. Blaady moral relativism- sending this country to the dogs. No wonder Bush got in. Hippies everywhere! I think I would make a rather good retired major. I think I will apply some sand-paper to my cheeks so they are the requisite level of ruddiness. If you are a retired general may be you could give me some tips.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
There's so much to do and so little time, but it's so hard to begin to do stuff. I am feeling guilty for not blogging for so long. Not sticking at it. What's life without drive? It's a living death. I've blogged phew.... the guilt has gone. This was supposed to be a pleasure! I think my last post took it out of me.
A mate and me have been given free tickets to this really exclusive bash. Celebs, models and me in my Burton's "must impress the judge in court" suit. Didn't think I would go before but now I think I will to see a swank-fest first-hand. It's been organised by this geezer I'll put his link here when I find it! Hey at least I've blogged!
A mate and me have been given free tickets to this really exclusive bash. Celebs, models and me in my Burton's "must impress the judge in court" suit. Didn't think I would go before but now I think I will to see a swank-fest first-hand. It's been organised by this geezer I'll put his link here when I find it! Hey at least I've blogged!
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Existential crises, yeah we all have ‘em.
You know I threatened to get all heavy on yo ass. Well this is it (Run DMC). I am clinging on to this blog with my finger tips and breathing life into its flaccid body. Yup at the same time, clever trick eh?
I hope this entry serves as consolation for any passing reader who needs it no matter how slight. I'm not sure it works on me, it may at some level, but don’t let that put you off.
OK what do we want? Yup good guess, we want “The rapture of being alive” a phrase coined by Joseph Campbell. Can we get there when coping with everyday reality can be so challenging? Well may be if we accept there is no one meaning of life waiting to be discovered. Humans “give” meaning to their existence.
Some optimists say that all our lives are contributing to a higher purpose and an unknowable reality is sustained by our existence and eventual death. That’s cool, it’s just it doesn’t stop the brain from wondering about the weirdness of being here and making the best of the time during this existence. The brain is well annoying. I think it is nice to have the thought that in a later unending existence the unknowable becomes clear. Though someone always has to put the spanner in the works by saying what if the next existence, if there is one, continues to be as perplexing the current one but never-ending
What our real fear is that we never really savour or consummate our being in time. It’s a not unusual (Tom Jones) to feel out of phase with life it’s as if time as we live it is something we cannot fully experience. I guess that’s why photographs are not seen as an anachronism despite the advent of the moving image.
Some say what is significant in life, and what makes us feel our own lives are significant, involves participation in the creative acts. I warm to this one.
Meaningfulness in life does not mean there is happiness in life and visa-versa. You need both to define the good life. A guy who was into having a mission in life was George Bernard Shaw and he said the following in an interview:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised in yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. And also the only real tragedy in life is being used by personally minded men for purposes which you recognise to be base. All the rest is at worst mere misfortune and mortality; this alone is misery, slavery, hell on earth; and the revolt against it is the only force that offers a man’s work to the poor artist, whom our personally minded rich people would so willingly employ as pander buffoon, beauty monger, sentimentaliser, and the like.”
A bit harsh that, circumstances can have their own tyranny which may have little to do with a regime you live under. “Mere” misfortune could be grinding poverty or painful ill-health. It is well put though and can be inspiring for some. He had a way with words.
If you know what you are good at, what you derive pleasure from (and not everyone does) and it causes no harm to others, go for it. You are fortunate, may you fulfil your potential. Purpose and direction can come in many forms though and it’s good not to be slack and recognise why you do what you and apply some critical thinking. Are you being obedient to and gaining status along with other goodies from the wrong people or ideals in order to pursue your thing. Basically, are you making things worse or better? This is one of Google’s founding principles: “Don’t be evil.”
Weirdly, some people do find relief through the forced purpose and direction dictated by tyranny. The minimising of choices rid them of uncertainty and existential anxiety, which is why many still mourn Stalin as cruel as he was. This force of nature business that Shaw mentions is pretty cool and some manage to seem like one, Muhammad Ali always springs to mind. In reality people, Ali included, have too many sides to them to become a force of nature in one particular direction be it compassion or aggression. I like this, life is richer as a result.
You could have ignored all the above and read this paragraph:
The first requirement for preserving and perfecting life involves allegiance to the potentialities in us that constitute our natures within us. We cannot truly be ourselves if we drift with the times, passively submit to other people’s desires, or refuse to face up to what we want and what we do. The acceptance of our nature which does not mean compliant acquiescence in faults we can remedy is essential for living a meaningful life. It is because we accept nature we can improve it. We show respect for what it is even while we alter it in pursuing ideals. If you do this things should feel pretty good, as long as you are not too selfish about it; getting the balance right is not easy. Not everyone is at a point where they have a clue about their potentialities or natures. If you do, think yourself blessed, and don’t squander the blessing. Try and unlock other people's natures along the way. This is what good teachers who are beloved by old students are remembered for. It’s a great thing to do.
OK now for the confusing stuff. We’re getting elemental, life and death, the above wouldn’t have any relevance for the suicide-heads but this stuff would be more consoling:
An ideal many saints and mystics have tried to attain is to be able to love the entire universe- a tall order. Can you love things you don’t understand? Or a virus growing inside you that may kill you. If we cannot love all things, a guy called Irving Singer says we can at least treat them as candidates for love. Now the stretch in ourselves: We have no reason to love this virus. It affirms its need to live with the same urgency we feel in wanting to destroy it. However, in realising that we attack it merely because we want to stay alive, and not because of any supreme legitimacy on our part, we recognise its equivalent claim, accept it as a kindred being, and thus identify ourselves with it to some degree. By extension the cosmos also becomes a candidate for love. May be this will help to deal with any big tragedy that may befall us. Pretty major people have echoed this way of thinking Nietzsche called it amor fati, Santayana decribed it thus: “to love the love in everything.” I told you it was a stretch. One I cannot make, or have not been driven to make and am unsure whether I would want to.
The implication is that all things love themselves in their passionate focus on survival and perfection of their being. We cannot fathom all the varied and conflicting interests of living things, many of which seem self-defeating, but we are capable of imagining something equivalent to what we experience: will to self-preservation.
In making this act of acceptance it is hard to refute arguments of those who have renounced eating meat or animal products for ethical reasons. There is at least some value or respect bestowed towards nature even when we try to annihilate it. Essentially when you are wondering at and loving the love (self-love) in all things you give them value. Irving Singer says that if we neglect bestowing some value to things around us to this we lose out on creating a more significant life for ourselves. I am not sure how, probably because you begin to see value on a more basic or real(?) plane. My man Irving seems echo this:
“By pursuing this ideal, like religion we add a dimension to our experience beyond our practical or material necessities. It enlarges our being from self-regarding beings to that much of nature that seeks to protect and perfect life. Scarily small and isolated as we are, we in this way can establish our oneness with the rest of universe.” Apparently this mode helps those that believe, understandably, that nothing matters. This is because life will seem and hence will be more significant to him. I paraphrased a bit but whatdyareckon?
This reminds me of sherpa Tensing and Sir Edmund Hillary when they “conquered” Everest. Hillary’s reaction to this achievement was having a drink with his mates, cheering and proclaiming“we knocked it’s bloody head off”. Sherpa Tensing and his fellow sherpa mates were much quieter, they were humbled, offered prayers and felt a connection and respect for the mountain. Something that one of Edmund’s mates was struck by and impressed with.
Philosophy may help to cleanse our thinking, but only in experience and stumbling through life and reflecting on our moments of joy and despair, can we learn to live. It’s never bloody easy is it? Well if you have managed to read all this and maintained some interest I congratulate you (“You knocked it’s bloody head off!”). It means not only do you wonder and think, but that you are not hungry and you have a roof over your head.
I hope this entry serves as consolation for any passing reader who needs it no matter how slight. I'm not sure it works on me, it may at some level, but don’t let that put you off.
OK what do we want? Yup good guess, we want “The rapture of being alive” a phrase coined by Joseph Campbell. Can we get there when coping with everyday reality can be so challenging? Well may be if we accept there is no one meaning of life waiting to be discovered. Humans “give” meaning to their existence.
Some optimists say that all our lives are contributing to a higher purpose and an unknowable reality is sustained by our existence and eventual death. That’s cool, it’s just it doesn’t stop the brain from wondering about the weirdness of being here and making the best of the time during this existence. The brain is well annoying. I think it is nice to have the thought that in a later unending existence the unknowable becomes clear. Though someone always has to put the spanner in the works by saying what if the next existence, if there is one, continues to be as perplexing the current one but never-ending
What our real fear is that we never really savour or consummate our being in time. It’s a not unusual (Tom Jones) to feel out of phase with life it’s as if time as we live it is something we cannot fully experience. I guess that’s why photographs are not seen as an anachronism despite the advent of the moving image.
Some say what is significant in life, and what makes us feel our own lives are significant, involves participation in the creative acts. I warm to this one.
Meaningfulness in life does not mean there is happiness in life and visa-versa. You need both to define the good life. A guy who was into having a mission in life was George Bernard Shaw and he said the following in an interview:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised in yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. And also the only real tragedy in life is being used by personally minded men for purposes which you recognise to be base. All the rest is at worst mere misfortune and mortality; this alone is misery, slavery, hell on earth; and the revolt against it is the only force that offers a man’s work to the poor artist, whom our personally minded rich people would so willingly employ as pander buffoon, beauty monger, sentimentaliser, and the like.”
A bit harsh that, circumstances can have their own tyranny which may have little to do with a regime you live under. “Mere” misfortune could be grinding poverty or painful ill-health. It is well put though and can be inspiring for some. He had a way with words.
If you know what you are good at, what you derive pleasure from (and not everyone does) and it causes no harm to others, go for it. You are fortunate, may you fulfil your potential. Purpose and direction can come in many forms though and it’s good not to be slack and recognise why you do what you and apply some critical thinking. Are you being obedient to and gaining status along with other goodies from the wrong people or ideals in order to pursue your thing. Basically, are you making things worse or better? This is one of Google’s founding principles: “Don’t be evil.”
Weirdly, some people do find relief through the forced purpose and direction dictated by tyranny. The minimising of choices rid them of uncertainty and existential anxiety, which is why many still mourn Stalin as cruel as he was. This force of nature business that Shaw mentions is pretty cool and some manage to seem like one, Muhammad Ali always springs to mind. In reality people, Ali included, have too many sides to them to become a force of nature in one particular direction be it compassion or aggression. I like this, life is richer as a result.
You could have ignored all the above and read this paragraph:
The first requirement for preserving and perfecting life involves allegiance to the potentialities in us that constitute our natures within us. We cannot truly be ourselves if we drift with the times, passively submit to other people’s desires, or refuse to face up to what we want and what we do. The acceptance of our nature which does not mean compliant acquiescence in faults we can remedy is essential for living a meaningful life. It is because we accept nature we can improve it. We show respect for what it is even while we alter it in pursuing ideals. If you do this things should feel pretty good, as long as you are not too selfish about it; getting the balance right is not easy. Not everyone is at a point where they have a clue about their potentialities or natures. If you do, think yourself blessed, and don’t squander the blessing. Try and unlock other people's natures along the way. This is what good teachers who are beloved by old students are remembered for. It’s a great thing to do.
OK now for the confusing stuff. We’re getting elemental, life and death, the above wouldn’t have any relevance for the suicide-heads but this stuff would be more consoling:
An ideal many saints and mystics have tried to attain is to be able to love the entire universe- a tall order. Can you love things you don’t understand? Or a virus growing inside you that may kill you. If we cannot love all things, a guy called Irving Singer says we can at least treat them as candidates for love. Now the stretch in ourselves: We have no reason to love this virus. It affirms its need to live with the same urgency we feel in wanting to destroy it. However, in realising that we attack it merely because we want to stay alive, and not because of any supreme legitimacy on our part, we recognise its equivalent claim, accept it as a kindred being, and thus identify ourselves with it to some degree. By extension the cosmos also becomes a candidate for love. May be this will help to deal with any big tragedy that may befall us. Pretty major people have echoed this way of thinking Nietzsche called it amor fati, Santayana decribed it thus: “to love the love in everything.” I told you it was a stretch. One I cannot make, or have not been driven to make and am unsure whether I would want to.
The implication is that all things love themselves in their passionate focus on survival and perfection of their being. We cannot fathom all the varied and conflicting interests of living things, many of which seem self-defeating, but we are capable of imagining something equivalent to what we experience: will to self-preservation.
In making this act of acceptance it is hard to refute arguments of those who have renounced eating meat or animal products for ethical reasons. There is at least some value or respect bestowed towards nature even when we try to annihilate it. Essentially when you are wondering at and loving the love (self-love) in all things you give them value. Irving Singer says that if we neglect bestowing some value to things around us to this we lose out on creating a more significant life for ourselves. I am not sure how, probably because you begin to see value on a more basic or real(?) plane. My man Irving seems echo this:
“By pursuing this ideal, like religion we add a dimension to our experience beyond our practical or material necessities. It enlarges our being from self-regarding beings to that much of nature that seeks to protect and perfect life. Scarily small and isolated as we are, we in this way can establish our oneness with the rest of universe.” Apparently this mode helps those that believe, understandably, that nothing matters. This is because life will seem and hence will be more significant to him. I paraphrased a bit but whatdyareckon?
This reminds me of sherpa Tensing and Sir Edmund Hillary when they “conquered” Everest. Hillary’s reaction to this achievement was having a drink with his mates, cheering and proclaiming“we knocked it’s bloody head off”. Sherpa Tensing and his fellow sherpa mates were much quieter, they were humbled, offered prayers and felt a connection and respect for the mountain. Something that one of Edmund’s mates was struck by and impressed with.
Philosophy may help to cleanse our thinking, but only in experience and stumbling through life and reflecting on our moments of joy and despair, can we learn to live. It’s never bloody easy is it? Well if you have managed to read all this and maintained some interest I congratulate you (“You knocked it’s bloody head off!”). It means not only do you wonder and think, but that you are not hungry and you have a roof over your head.
Have a go it's interesting..
Free Myers-Briggs-Jung Personality Test
It seems pretty good to me. Try it, it's fun and be honest it tells you your personality type. So you can catergorise yourself, producing shiney new shackles to free yourself from.
I am an ISTJ
Introverted 70% Extroverted 30%
Sensing 51.22% Intuitive 48.7%
Thinking 62% Feeling 37.5%
Judging 55% Perceiving 44.44%
It seems pretty good to me. Try it, it's fun and be honest it tells you your personality type. So you can catergorise yourself, producing shiney new shackles to free yourself from.
I am an ISTJ
Introverted 70% Extroverted 30%
Sensing 51.22% Intuitive 48.7%
Thinking 62% Feeling 37.5%
Judging 55% Perceiving 44.44%
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Broadening the mind and breaking the behind
Going on long bike ride with some friends this weekend, looking to see if the NHS do arse transplants for afterwards. There's probably a shortage so I'll probably end up with a baboon's shiney hiney. If there's nice scenery I'll put pics on the blog. If not I'll put them on anyway just for the thrill.
Went to see an opera last week ('Barber of Seville') so I am a bit more poncey as its after effects are still with me. I have developed a deeper affection for cornettos. I left the theatre with the thought that there was surprisingly little cutting of hair. In my next blog I will alienate my blog audience by going all heavy and talking about the meaning of life. It may be disappointing.
Since my audience is me, this entry will serve as an experiment to see whether someone can alienate themselves from themselves. I am sure it is possible. May be if you keep doing things against your conscience.
Cor I've really built up this future entry, I can't wait to see what I write.
Here's an interview with a group who are more interesting than most musicians.
FDM interview
Went to see an opera last week ('Barber of Seville') so I am a bit more poncey as its after effects are still with me. I have developed a deeper affection for cornettos. I left the theatre with the thought that there was surprisingly little cutting of hair. In my next blog I will alienate my blog audience by going all heavy and talking about the meaning of life. It may be disappointing.
Since my audience is me, this entry will serve as an experiment to see whether someone can alienate themselves from themselves. I am sure it is possible. May be if you keep doing things against your conscience.
Cor I've really built up this future entry, I can't wait to see what I write.
Here's an interview with a group who are more interesting than most musicians.
FDM interview
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Untruths told about Iraq
The following is from 'The Independent' newspaper. It speaks for itself really.
The Lying Game:
An A-Z of the Iraq war and its aftermath, focusing on misrepresentation,
manipulation, and mistakes
01 June 2004
A Mohammed Atta. The Bush administration claimed that a meeting between the lead hijacker of the 11 September attacks and a senior Iraqi intelligence
officer proved a connection between al-Qa'ida and Saddam Hussein. But there
is no evidence such a meeting took place.
B Bush and Blair: The two leaders have reacted strongly to all suggestions
they misled their respective electorates over the war, and maintain time
will prove they were right to go to war. Both, though, are suffering poll
difficulties, as problems in Iraq become worse, and each needs speedy
improvement to shore up his position.
C Ahmed Chalabi. The leader of the Iraq National Congress, who is a member
of the Iraq Governing Council, is now accused of having duped the Bush
administration, as well as the media, into believing that Saddam Hussein
represented a direct threat to US and British security.
D Dollars. Between 1992 and the US raid on Ahmed Chalabi's home last week,
the US government channelled more than $100m (£55m) to his Iraqi National
Congress. The money may have been a motivating factor for defectors to say
what they thought the Americans wanted to hear. That funding has now been
stopped.
E Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, exposed as unfounded many of the claims put into the public domain
by the US administration. The head of the UN weapons inspectors, Hans Blix,
also challenged the White House claims.
F The claim that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction could be deployed within
forty-five minutes of an order was a key plank of the Government's pro-war
argument and appeared in its September dossier of 2002. We now know that the
discredited claim - which applied only to battlefield munitions in any
case - came from the party of the caretaker prime minister of Iraq: Iyad
Allawi.
G Andrew Gilligan, defence correspondent on the BBC's Today programme,
reported that the Government had "sexed-up'' Iraq's weapons capabilities. On
one occasion, he suggested that it had done so deliberately. Events since
suggest that case for war was exaggerated. Gilligan lost his job in the
fall-out.
H Khidir Hamza. The man known as Saddam's bombmaker is now acknowledged to
have tricked the administration into believing he had more knowledge of
Saddam's nuclear programme than he actually did.
IWas Ahmed Chalabi an agent for Iran, which used him as part of a plan to
manipulate the US government into overthrowing Saddam Hussein? Washington is
holding an urgent investigation into the claim.
J The Joint Intelligence Committee was accused of allowing itself to be
manipulated by Downing Street in the run-up to the war, and of firming up
conditional language in the key September dossier on weapons of mass
destruction.
K David Kelly, the MoD weapons specialist at the heart of last year's
controversy, committed suicide three days after he denied to the Foreign
Affairs Committee that he was Gilligan's source.
L Langley. The CIA headquarters, which was regularly visited by the US
Vice-President Dick Cheney as he sought to pressure the intelligence
services into exaggerating the Iraqi threat for political reasons.
M Mobile biological labs. The alleged discovery of biological mobile labs
for the production of biological weapons was held up after the war as proof
that Iraq continued its illegal weapons programme. But the chief UN weapons
inspector, Hans Blix, said there was no proof of their use.
N The Iraqi scientist Hamdi Shukuir Ubaydi buried documents related to
Iraq's nuclear programme in his garden, and they were found last June in the
search for WMD after the war last June. However there was no confirmation of
the US claim that they were the "smoking gun" the Americans were looking
for.
O Oil-for-food scandal. The recent accusations that Saddam diverted billions
of dollars from a UN humanitarian programme, and paid countries for
political support, came from documents distributed by aides of Ahmed
Chalabi. US and UN investigations will attempt to uncover the truth.
P The Pentagon hawks, Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy Paul Wolfowitz and senior
adviser Richard Perle took their country to war on a false prospectus.
Q The Daily Mirror published photographs which it claimed showed members of
the Queen's Lancashire Regiment abusing one of its Iraqi prisoners. The
photos have now been dismissed as fakes. But the regiment remains under
investigation over the death of Baha Mousa, who died in custody.
R Karl Rove, president Bush's political adviser, is accused of "outing" the
CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame amid the furore over the Niger uranium
claim. A grand jury is investigating the leak.
S Bush and Blair insist there will be a transfer of "full sovereignty" to a
caretaker government. But the appointment of Iyad Allawi, who has close US
and British links, as Prime Minister raises questions over its independence.
T The New York Times last week issued a mea culpa for failing to question a
Bush administration leak relating to aluminium tubes reportedly being used
in Iraq's nuclear weapons programme. The IAEA demolished the claim, a key
prop of the White House case for war.
U Iraq's alleged attempt to smuggle uranium from Niger was used by the
allies as proof that Iraq was still attempting to build a nuclear weapon.
While the Bush administration now admits the relevant documents were forged,
the Blair government is still sticking to the claim.
V Iraq was said to hold stocks of VX gas, the deadliest chemical agent known
to man. Not a single millilitre has been found.
W World Trade Centre. According to opinion polls, a majority of Americans
still believe Saddam Hussein played a role in the 11 September attacks, a
view long propagated by the Bush administration, particularly Dick Cheney.
X Camp X-Ray, now Camp Delta, is the US prison at Guantanamo where prisoners
from Afghanistan were flown. But its practices were adopted at Abu Ghraib
jail in Baghdad. The ensuing scandal has tarnished Bush's presidency.
Y Yesterday, denials by Dick Cheney that he no longer had any association
with the Halliburton oil services company, where he was formerly CEO, were
under new scrutiny.
Z Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, accused of beheading the American Nick Berg , was
said to be the link between Saddam and Bin Laden. No such link has been
proved.
The Lying Game:
An A-Z of the Iraq war and its aftermath, focusing on misrepresentation,
manipulation, and mistakes
01 June 2004
A Mohammed Atta. The Bush administration claimed that a meeting between the lead hijacker of the 11 September attacks and a senior Iraqi intelligence
officer proved a connection between al-Qa'ida and Saddam Hussein. But there
is no evidence such a meeting took place.
B Bush and Blair: The two leaders have reacted strongly to all suggestions
they misled their respective electorates over the war, and maintain time
will prove they were right to go to war. Both, though, are suffering poll
difficulties, as problems in Iraq become worse, and each needs speedy
improvement to shore up his position.
C Ahmed Chalabi. The leader of the Iraq National Congress, who is a member
of the Iraq Governing Council, is now accused of having duped the Bush
administration, as well as the media, into believing that Saddam Hussein
represented a direct threat to US and British security.
D Dollars. Between 1992 and the US raid on Ahmed Chalabi's home last week,
the US government channelled more than $100m (£55m) to his Iraqi National
Congress. The money may have been a motivating factor for defectors to say
what they thought the Americans wanted to hear. That funding has now been
stopped.
E Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, exposed as unfounded many of the claims put into the public domain
by the US administration. The head of the UN weapons inspectors, Hans Blix,
also challenged the White House claims.
F The claim that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction could be deployed within
forty-five minutes of an order was a key plank of the Government's pro-war
argument and appeared in its September dossier of 2002. We now know that the
discredited claim - which applied only to battlefield munitions in any
case - came from the party of the caretaker prime minister of Iraq: Iyad
Allawi.
G Andrew Gilligan, defence correspondent on the BBC's Today programme,
reported that the Government had "sexed-up'' Iraq's weapons capabilities. On
one occasion, he suggested that it had done so deliberately. Events since
suggest that case for war was exaggerated. Gilligan lost his job in the
fall-out.
H Khidir Hamza. The man known as Saddam's bombmaker is now acknowledged to
have tricked the administration into believing he had more knowledge of
Saddam's nuclear programme than he actually did.
IWas Ahmed Chalabi an agent for Iran, which used him as part of a plan to
manipulate the US government into overthrowing Saddam Hussein? Washington is
holding an urgent investigation into the claim.
J The Joint Intelligence Committee was accused of allowing itself to be
manipulated by Downing Street in the run-up to the war, and of firming up
conditional language in the key September dossier on weapons of mass
destruction.
K David Kelly, the MoD weapons specialist at the heart of last year's
controversy, committed suicide three days after he denied to the Foreign
Affairs Committee that he was Gilligan's source.
L Langley. The CIA headquarters, which was regularly visited by the US
Vice-President Dick Cheney as he sought to pressure the intelligence
services into exaggerating the Iraqi threat for political reasons.
M Mobile biological labs. The alleged discovery of biological mobile labs
for the production of biological weapons was held up after the war as proof
that Iraq continued its illegal weapons programme. But the chief UN weapons
inspector, Hans Blix, said there was no proof of their use.
N The Iraqi scientist Hamdi Shukuir Ubaydi buried documents related to
Iraq's nuclear programme in his garden, and they were found last June in the
search for WMD after the war last June. However there was no confirmation of
the US claim that they were the "smoking gun" the Americans were looking
for.
O Oil-for-food scandal. The recent accusations that Saddam diverted billions
of dollars from a UN humanitarian programme, and paid countries for
political support, came from documents distributed by aides of Ahmed
Chalabi. US and UN investigations will attempt to uncover the truth.
P The Pentagon hawks, Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy Paul Wolfowitz and senior
adviser Richard Perle took their country to war on a false prospectus.
Q The Daily Mirror published photographs which it claimed showed members of
the Queen's Lancashire Regiment abusing one of its Iraqi prisoners. The
photos have now been dismissed as fakes. But the regiment remains under
investigation over the death of Baha Mousa, who died in custody.
R Karl Rove, president Bush's political adviser, is accused of "outing" the
CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame amid the furore over the Niger uranium
claim. A grand jury is investigating the leak.
S Bush and Blair insist there will be a transfer of "full sovereignty" to a
caretaker government. But the appointment of Iyad Allawi, who has close US
and British links, as Prime Minister raises questions over its independence.
T The New York Times last week issued a mea culpa for failing to question a
Bush administration leak relating to aluminium tubes reportedly being used
in Iraq's nuclear weapons programme. The IAEA demolished the claim, a key
prop of the White House case for war.
U Iraq's alleged attempt to smuggle uranium from Niger was used by the
allies as proof that Iraq was still attempting to build a nuclear weapon.
While the Bush administration now admits the relevant documents were forged,
the Blair government is still sticking to the claim.
V Iraq was said to hold stocks of VX gas, the deadliest chemical agent known
to man. Not a single millilitre has been found.
W World Trade Centre. According to opinion polls, a majority of Americans
still believe Saddam Hussein played a role in the 11 September attacks, a
view long propagated by the Bush administration, particularly Dick Cheney.
X Camp X-Ray, now Camp Delta, is the US prison at Guantanamo where prisoners
from Afghanistan were flown. But its practices were adopted at Abu Ghraib
jail in Baghdad. The ensuing scandal has tarnished Bush's presidency.
Y Yesterday, denials by Dick Cheney that he no longer had any association
with the Halliburton oil services company, where he was formerly CEO, were
under new scrutiny.
Z Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, accused of beheading the American Nick Berg , was
said to be the link between Saddam and Bin Laden. No such link has been
proved.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Hello , I hope you like "The Simpsons".
Cos I do. Hmm let's see if I maintain an interest in blogging.
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