Flocking Hell
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:: | 4:05 pm |Save This Page | |
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More Free Books
Don't forget your free copy of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Edinburgh folks.
It's World Book Day on March 6th, with £1 books for the kids including Neil Gaiman's' Odd and the Frost Giant.
And you can get Neil Gaiman's brilliant American Gods as a free ebook!
Labels: books, neilgaiman
:: | 1:49 pm |
:: Saturday, February 23, 2008 ::
Caledon't Bother
Watched Caledonia Dreamin' last night on BBC4. It was a history of Scottish pop from Postcard to the present day. Not bad, but some glaring ommissions. Some doubtless caused by Glasgow bias...no Skids, no Big Country (one Scottish band that is well known internationally). Others were stranger. No mention of the Cocteau Twins, Primal Scream or the Jesus and Mary Chain but loads on Hue and Cry, who were not an important band artistically. The last three all relocated to London, is that why they were omitted?
Plus there was a bizzare error whereby the narrator said that the 1979 devolution referendum was a "vote on independence". Independence was not an option of course.
You can still see the show on BBC iplayer.
The documentary on Edwin Collins recovery from his stroke on the other hand, was terrific. Edwin's myspace site played a big role in his therapy. Check it out.Labels: jocknroll music pop
:: | 8:23 pm |
:: Thursday, February 21, 2008 ::
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
The classic novel is being promoted in Edinburgh with free copies in libraries and a special graphic novel edition. Plus translations into Scots and Gaelic.
What a brilliant idea. Robert Louis Stevenson is a local author although this work is set in London, a London which closely resembles Edinburgh!
It all kicks off tomorrow morning. Check the City of Literature site for more details.
:: | 4:22 pm |
:: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 ::
A Taste of Honey
Further to yesterday's post which featured a photo of Pat Phoenix campaigning for Liverpool Broadgreen MP Terry Fields (who I also campaigned for a couple of times), here is Pat on the cover of The Smiths single Shakespeare's Sister.
More Smiths covers.Labels: thesmiths smiths politics music militant
:: | 10:54 am |
:: Monday, February 18, 2008 ::
Liverpool Memories
Dave Sinclair's photos of Liverpool are well worth checking out. They cover decades of politics and life in the city from the Liverpool City Council struggle of the 1980's to the Dockers Strike and much more.
I spent a bit of time there myself in the late 80's/early 90's and it sure brings back a few memories.
Here we see Cherie Blair's dad and the late Pat Phoenix of Coronation Street fame, looking like her Smiths record cover. Both were firm socialists.
:: | 11:29 pm |
:: Friday, February 15, 2008 ::
Battlefield Edinburgh
Spotted outside the 'Hubbard dianetics centre' aka 'Hubbard centre for personal independence'. Around 150 turned up it was reported.
:: | 4:47 pm |
:: Thursday, February 07, 2008 ::
Sold Down the Royal Mile
Protestors in Edinburgh's historic old town, the area around the Canongate at the foot of the Royal Mile vowed to continue their opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the area despite the decision of the council yesterday to go ahead. Spineless councillors showed no interest in the views of local people despite 1800 lodged objections. Only councillors Burgess of the Greens and Keir of the SNP spoke out against the proposals with others openly laughing at those objecting. The reality is that the council can't see past the money on offer regardless of the views of residents who want a real community and not a bland corporate Disneyland.
Save Our Old TownLabels: SOOT
:: | 1:35 pm |
:: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 ::
Life's A Riot With Spy v's Spy
The scandal over the bugging of a Labour MP by the security services has been debated in parliament. I liked this intervention by Dennis Skinner.
Dennis Skinner (Bolsover, Labour)
I congratulate the Secretary of State on introducing this inquiry. Will he also do us—especially those of us in the focus group on this Bench—a favour? Will he extend the inquiry to beyond a fortnight? It will certainly need it if it looks into the allegations of MPs and trade union leaders being bugged in the strike of 1984 and 1985. That was when the Thatcher regime was in power. Despite all the protestations from many of us present in the House today, that regime would not have an inquiry—and we did not send one letter; we sent many scores of them.Labels: politics labour spies
:: | 8:32 pm |
:: Friday, February 01, 2008 ::
Blue Blistering Carbuncles
An unlikely ally for those in the Caltongate of Edinburgh who are standing up to the fat cat developers. HRH Prince Chuck!
Speaking in London yesterday he said:
"Corporate and residential towers are being proposed across London, and overshadowing World Heritage sites from Edinburgh to Bath – this audience will not need reminding of the fact that the World Heritage status of sites such as Edinburgh’s old city, the Tower of London and Westminster have all been challenged by U.N.E.S.C.O. due to new construction in recent years. And so they should be, as there is no point at all in having a World Heritage site unless it retains its unique integrity. There are, after all, other areas where such tall buildings could be accommodated within their own context."
Of course aesthetics are only one side of the story. The other is the fact that community resources and housing for working class people is being replaced by 'luxury' apartments and hotels for the wealthy.
Thanks to the Independent Republic of the Caltongate and Save Our Old Town.Labels: SOOT
:: | 3:39 pm |