:: Monday, December 21, 2009 ::

An Xmas Card For You!

Here is a card just for you. Any similarity to the First Minister's official 'tomorrow belongs to me' card is purely coincidental.



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:: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 ::

Iain Banks


Iain Banks, originally uploaded by alister.

Iain Banks appearing at Edinburgh Central Library talking about his new novel Transition. Lacking the 'M' in the authors name which is usually used to denote one of his sci-fi books, he nonetheless described the book as 49% sci-fi.

The library seem to be on board with the world of social media, with website, twitter, flickr and facebook options. Check out their blog, Tales of One City.


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:: Monday, December 14, 2009 ::

Hugo Gutiérrez


Hugo Gutiérrez, originally uploaded by alister.

Hugo Gutiérrez has been elected as the first Communist senator in Chile since the Pinochet coup. I met Hugo a few years ago and interviewed him for the Scottish Socialist Voice. Congratulations Hugo. Unfortunately the rest of the election news there was not so good.


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:: Friday, December 11, 2009 ::

Feckin' TD's

You've got to love the standard of debate in the Irish Parliament.




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:: Saturday, December 05, 2009 ::

Jingle Bell Overdose.

My pals over at the great Jock 'n' Roll website are looking for nominations for the best and worst Christmas songs. My hunt for my favourite reminded me of how many great Christmas tunes there are out there. Don't worry, they are not restricted to Scottish tunes this time.

Here is my top ten as of this moment but subject to change at any time. This post sponsored by YouTube, where you really can find anything.

10. Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland, by Grandaddy from the great XFM: It's a Cool Cool Christmas album.

9. Jingle Bells, by Frank Sinatra. Swingin'

8. Just Like Christmas, by Low. This is great tune from the normally rather serious American band. Discovered that Snow Patrol cover this. The horror.

7. Christmas in Hollis, by Run DMC. Dear Santa, I would like lots of things with an Adidas logo on them, love Run.

6. All I Want For Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit, by Half Man Half Biscuit. "There was one in the gang, who had a Scalectrix..." Actually not at all Christmassy.

5. Stop the Cavalry, Jona Lewie. Yeah, I know. Predictable but a nice anti-war message.

4. Merry Christmas Everybody, by Slade. Midlands glam rockers, where Birmingham meets Bethlehem, erm Birminghem? Bethleham? The exact point where the office party peaks before the drunken fights and future disciplinaries begin.

3. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, by Belle and Sebastian. Not actually about Pr0n.

2. Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues. Number One in our hearts this year and every year. But like in real life, number two in this chart!



1. Christmas, Baby Please Come Home, by Darlene Love. From the awesome Phil Spector album 'A Christmas Gift for You'. Every track on there is a stone cold classic but I had to pick one!

And the worst? Cliff Richard and his Mistletoe and Wine naturally.

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