Anyone doubting that the unethical practises at the News of the World started recently ought to take a look at the book "News of the World, Fake Sheikhs and Royal Trappings"
I picked up my copy in poundland - which is probably less than a copy of the News of the World would have been. A tell example of most people's values.
Familiar names like Andy Coulson and Piers Morgan turn up, along with a well researched and evidenced examples of how the News of the World invented stories, told blatant lies and ruined the lives of innocent people.
The usual defence of the News of the World is that the bad is outweighed by the good - but, actually, there are few examples of good journalism amongst the garbage that filled the pages of what was the UK most popular paper.
Many people might say they never believe what they read in the papers, it's all harmlesss fun and celebrities deserve it. However, the reality is that it is often believed, it isn';t harmless and no one deserves to have malicious lies told about them.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/News-World-Sheikhs-Royal-Trappings/dp/1903070724/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326793559&sr=8-2
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Friday, 6 January 2012
Screaming Lord Sutch
The man who was Screaming Lord Sutch - by Graham Sharpe ISBN 1-85410-983-9
David Sutch was best known as Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, he was also one of the UK's first rock stars.
His book is both a fascinating and ultimately sad read.
Sutch was a unique talent - he was one of the first people to have really long hair (2ft) way before the hippies. He had a inventive knack for creating publicity and for many years entertained the public with his 'horror' rock act.
He was a pretty terrible singer and never had a hit record, but he managed to make more than a living out of music. Some of his early records are surprisingly good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLIcC6wzyns
He overcame many obstacles, such as being dyslexic and suffering from depression (probably bi-polar disorder)
He mixed with a huge number of people involved in music and has a cult following amongst those who care about such things
Politically, he could genuinely claim to have influenced mainstream politics far more than most MPs - from lowering the voting age,to introducing commercial radio to killing off the SDP- Lord Sutch had a hand.
In later years both politically and musically he became a pale parody of his former glory. Sadly, he became a compulsive hoarder and finally committed suicide.
David Sutch was best known as Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, he was also one of the UK's first rock stars.
His book is both a fascinating and ultimately sad read.
Sutch was a unique talent - he was one of the first people to have really long hair (2ft) way before the hippies. He had a inventive knack for creating publicity and for many years entertained the public with his 'horror' rock act.
He was a pretty terrible singer and never had a hit record, but he managed to make more than a living out of music. Some of his early records are surprisingly good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLIcC6wzyns
He overcame many obstacles, such as being dyslexic and suffering from depression (probably bi-polar disorder)
He mixed with a huge number of people involved in music and has a cult following amongst those who care about such things
Politically, he could genuinely claim to have influenced mainstream politics far more than most MPs - from lowering the voting age,to introducing commercial radio to killing off the SDP- Lord Sutch had a hand.
In later years both politically and musically he became a pale parody of his former glory. Sadly, he became a compulsive hoarder and finally committed suicide.
Euro
The europhobes are out gunning for the Euro. They keep repeating the Mantra that a single interest rate cannot work across more than one country - and that is why the Euro Zone economies are in trouble. Scrap the euro, allow the currencies to devalue and hey presto, problem solved.
Like all much economics, this view is both political and prejudiced. Economics used to be called political economy such was the obvious link between political views and what economic outcomes might be sought and therefore how to achieve them.
I question whether the Euro zone has a single interest rate. Conservative MP John Redwood was this morning without irony pointing out that Government bond rates in several Euro zone countries were much higher than their neighbours.
"Hungary, a candidate to become a member of the Euro saw her bond rates forced up to almost 10% and is now seeking help from the IMF. Italian state 10 year borrowing rates went above the magic 7% again, whilst Spanish 10 year rates also rose to 5.63%." So much for a single interest rate.
Of course UK interest rates are officially 0.5% - do you believe that if you have a mortgage or a credit card or take a loan at 2000% pa as advertised on TV ?
Even if the europhobes were right and a single currency/interest rate is better/worse for some areas, this applies as much within countries as between them.
Would Wales be better off with it's own currency ? the Isle of Wight ? Liverpool ?
How quickly people forget that devaluing currencies did not often solve economic problems - more often it switched them or made them worse. Rarely is it mentioned that the Euro was partly popular because of the actions of currency speculators who could pick on individual countries on the currency markets in turn with impunity and cause them huge economic problems.
It seems to me that the Europhobes look back with rose tinted spectacles to a time that is long gone. The root cause of the problems in the Euro seem to me to be that Government borrowed and spent to much and that people in financial markets created 'mirage' profits and paid themselves vast sums or doing so.
Like all much economics, this view is both political and prejudiced. Economics used to be called political economy such was the obvious link between political views and what economic outcomes might be sought and therefore how to achieve them.
I question whether the Euro zone has a single interest rate. Conservative MP John Redwood was this morning without irony pointing out that Government bond rates in several Euro zone countries were much higher than their neighbours.
"Hungary, a candidate to become a member of the Euro saw her bond rates forced up to almost 10% and is now seeking help from the IMF. Italian state 10 year borrowing rates went above the magic 7% again, whilst Spanish 10 year rates also rose to 5.63%." So much for a single interest rate.
Of course UK interest rates are officially 0.5% - do you believe that if you have a mortgage or a credit card or take a loan at 2000% pa as advertised on TV ?
Even if the europhobes were right and a single currency/interest rate is better/worse for some areas, this applies as much within countries as between them.
Would Wales be better off with it's own currency ? the Isle of Wight ? Liverpool ?
How quickly people forget that devaluing currencies did not often solve economic problems - more often it switched them or made them worse. Rarely is it mentioned that the Euro was partly popular because of the actions of currency speculators who could pick on individual countries on the currency markets in turn with impunity and cause them huge economic problems.
It seems to me that the Europhobes look back with rose tinted spectacles to a time that is long gone. The root cause of the problems in the Euro seem to me to be that Government borrowed and spent to much and that people in financial markets created 'mirage' profits and paid themselves vast sums or doing so.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
National Identity
I have always felt lucky and proud to be British, or English, but it's not something I chose.
It seems that a rather mindless nationalism is taking hold again in some places.
Which got me wondering.
During WWII the great music hall act of Flanagan and Allen kept up morale in UK. Perhaps nothing better summed up the English than Bud Flanagan and his partner Chesney Allen. To those of a certain age and many others, songs like "run rabbit" "We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried line" "underneath the arches" can summon up great emotions. Bud Flanagan even recorded the theme song for the TV programme, Dads Army - "who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler" which many people (wrongly) believe to date from the second world war.
Bud Flannagan however, (aka Chaim Reuben Weintrop) was born in the east end of London, but his parents were polish jews who thought they had been sold a ticket to new york to escape a pogrom.
Sid James star of the carry on films and who appeared in dozens of others was at one time the most famous cockney - he was of course South African.
James Robertson Justice - star of the Doctor Films (Sir Lancelot Spratt - what's the bleeding time ?) is famous for being the bark worse than his bite irascible Scotsman - playing much the same character and accent even when portraying a pyramid builder in Egypt ! He was born in London, brought up in Kent and although his father was born in Aberdeen, his father loathed the Scots. Even the Robertson was added to his name for effect!
Terry Thomas - who played the upper class cad and bounder in innumerable films and tv shows, was born into a typical working class family.
How strong the impressions we get from these people. How much of it is an illusion ?
It seems that a rather mindless nationalism is taking hold again in some places.
Which got me wondering.
During WWII the great music hall act of Flanagan and Allen kept up morale in UK. Perhaps nothing better summed up the English than Bud Flanagan and his partner Chesney Allen. To those of a certain age and many others, songs like "run rabbit" "We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried line" "underneath the arches" can summon up great emotions. Bud Flanagan even recorded the theme song for the TV programme, Dads Army - "who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler" which many people (wrongly) believe to date from the second world war.
Bud Flannagan however, (aka Chaim Reuben Weintrop) was born in the east end of London, but his parents were polish jews who thought they had been sold a ticket to new york to escape a pogrom.
Sid James star of the carry on films and who appeared in dozens of others was at one time the most famous cockney - he was of course South African.
James Robertson Justice - star of the Doctor Films (Sir Lancelot Spratt - what's the bleeding time ?) is famous for being the bark worse than his bite irascible Scotsman - playing much the same character and accent even when portraying a pyramid builder in Egypt ! He was born in London, brought up in Kent and although his father was born in Aberdeen, his father loathed the Scots. Even the Robertson was added to his name for effect!
Terry Thomas - who played the upper class cad and bounder in innumerable films and tv shows, was born into a typical working class family.
How strong the impressions we get from these people. How much of it is an illusion ?
Monday, 5 December 2011
100 Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces
100 Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces by Gordon Kerr ISBN 13 978 0 85775 251 2
A beautiful book which does exactly what the title implies.
The quality of the prints is very good, and the explanation of the Pre-Raphaelites at the start of the book very good. However, I think I would have liked a little more comentry on each picture.
I liked some of the less well known artists, (e.g.Anthony Frederick Sandys) and not Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
A beautiful book which does exactly what the title implies.
The quality of the prints is very good, and the explanation of the Pre-Raphaelites at the start of the book very good. However, I think I would have liked a little more comentry on each picture.
I liked some of the less well known artists, (e.g.Anthony Frederick Sandys) and not Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Friday, 2 December 2011
Banker Bonuses
There was a bit of a debate in Parliament about how many things the Labour Party is promising to pay for by putitng a tax on banker bonuses.
I can't help but feel that perhaps we would all be better off it the bankers (which seems to cover more thna just bankers) did not have massive bonuses in the first place. Now it seems even the Governor of the Bank of England has spotted this too.
I can't help but feel that perhaps we would all be better off it the bankers (which seems to cover more thna just bankers) did not have massive bonuses in the first place. Now it seems even the Governor of the Bank of England has spotted this too.
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