Overheard while walking past a cricket game and some tourists this morning: "Ah I've been wondering about zis - dey are all wearing white, so how do you know who is on which team?"
Fascinating! To people more accustomed to overtly adversarial sports, those pitched battles between teams striving openly for domination, cricket must seem very strange, sedate, and English.
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Thursday, 29 March 2007
A little too fishy...
This evening I started to make the wonderful Tuna & Cannellini Bean salad from Cuisine (http://www.cuisine.co.nz/index.cfm?pageID=50971) when I realised the tin of fish I had just open was actually JW salmon.
I had been seduced at the supermarket a week earlier by its cheap price and proximity to the tuna I also bought at the time, but used earlier. I decided to persevere with the salmon.
On opening the tin I was horrified to discover a small bone, the sort that riddled that underwhelming whole fish you unwisely ordered at that restaurant last year. 'Ok' I thought, 'maybe they just do things like this with salmon.' Then I saw a piece of skin. Then I saw more bones...but not just little hair-like bones, actual cylindrical spinal-cordy-looking things.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! What the hell is this? When I buy a tinned good, I expect it to be reasonable well prepared inside, and not just the entrails of somebody's first salmon-hacking training lesson. Straight into the bin with that, not spending an hour extracting the real fish from the fish meal ingredients and still being mortally afraid of the result!
Or have I got this completely wrong? Up 'til now I lived what I have come to realise, all too abruptly, a gilded salmon life. Being grandson of an accomplished Rakaia fisherman means I don't think I ever opened a can of salmon before. Perhaps it is always like my experience tonight? God I hope not.
Anyway out of all traumatic experiences one can extract a silver lining. Mine was this salad:
Shaun's Rescue Salad (thank you Ryan Adams)
I had been seduced at the supermarket a week earlier by its cheap price and proximity to the tuna I also bought at the time, but used earlier. I decided to persevere with the salmon.
On opening the tin I was horrified to discover a small bone, the sort that riddled that underwhelming whole fish you unwisely ordered at that restaurant last year. 'Ok' I thought, 'maybe they just do things like this with salmon.' Then I saw a piece of skin. Then I saw more bones...but not just little hair-like bones, actual cylindrical spinal-cordy-looking things.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! What the hell is this? When I buy a tinned good, I expect it to be reasonable well prepared inside, and not just the entrails of somebody's first salmon-hacking training lesson. Straight into the bin with that, not spending an hour extracting the real fish from the fish meal ingredients and still being mortally afraid of the result!
Or have I got this completely wrong? Up 'til now I lived what I have come to realise, all too abruptly, a gilded salmon life. Being grandson of an accomplished Rakaia fisherman means I don't think I ever opened a can of salmon before. Perhaps it is always like my experience tonight? God I hope not.
Anyway out of all traumatic experiences one can extract a silver lining. Mine was this salad:
Shaun's Rescue Salad (thank you Ryan Adams)
- one can cannellini beans
- half a can beetroot
- some sprouts
- a red onion, chopped in half vertically, then into medium slices horizontally, to create nice half-rings of various sizes (soak in water for 5-10 minutes if the bite is too much)
- torn spinach leaves (however many it takes to even the colour balance)
- a few drizzles of olive oil and some lemon juice
- some cottage cheese if you like that sort of thing
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Sunday, 25 March 2007
Would you live in Plato's city?
Disturbing and interesting news from the UK recently, courtesy of two reports by the lecturers' union there. It seems 'core subjects' are being gutted from many universities, meaning some can't offer basic science subjects or foreign languages to students.
Strange isn't it, when there are fortunes to be made on the continent, that:
European integration? Perhaps Margaret lives on. I wonder what the numbers are like in New Zealand. I know Spanish has taken off remarkably in the last five years, after previously being only offered at Waikato. Likely not for trade with Spain though. Russian at Victoria was axed at the turn of the century, and the department at Canterbury is now under threat. I have no idea about European and Asian languages, may do some digging.
I attended a celebration on Wednesday of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the 'founding document' of what is today the EU. There Terry Ryan, a former Member of the European Parliament spoke in passionate Wigan-ese terms about the value of language education in unlocking business opportunities in Europe. We cannot simply rely on the good fortune of being native English speakers.
Also, we cannot simply rely on science to solve all problems. Thanks to science, there is probably enough food produce on Earth to feed the entire population. But it doesn't. And thanks to science, there are some amazing treatments for debilitating and deadly illnesses. But these aren't available to everyone. Why? The problems are economic and political.
I was particularly struck by the sometimes arrogance and hubris of science in comments about the above reports in The Times Higher Education Supplement where I originally spotted the story. Unfortunately it's subscription-only so I can't quote exactly, but in the front-page story, a professor at the soon-to-be closed Reading University Physics Department said "I can't believe they're cutting out physics. At times like these we need science, not wooly courses. Only science can solve the world's problems."
He has a point, physics departments shouldn't be closed, and we do need science. But science can only solve some of the world's problems, for some of its people. At the same time that the heralded advances of modern science are available to relatively few, is it any surprise that the academic world, becoming increasingly subject to market forces worldwide, is introducing new fashionable degrees and forcing out 'core' disciplines in arts and sciences?
Those wooly courses referred to are, presumably, all humanities, and probably most of the social sciences. The professor forgets that science is only part of the picture. Once a technical challenge is solved the solution must be propagated to 'save the world' - time and again we have seen this is the tougher challenge. How will that happen without students of History and Sociology to track its course and provide us with feedback of its impact on societies? Who apart from Political Scientists will theorise and examine the possibilities of new governance mechanisms to regulate the wonderful world of science?
Perhaps a more productive stance would be to focus on the well-being of academia as if it were a human whole. Cutting off small parts ('courses with decreasing demand') may reserve more blood ('money') for core competencies ('vocational degrees in profitable industries') but eventually the organism loses manual dexterity and eventually thought (the ability to critique itself). Infighting will help neither sciences nor arts.
Perhaps the professor will say 'scientists should govern'. The idea of technocracy - government by those most able to govern - is not new and might indeed spread the achievements of science equitably across the globe. But I think not. Besides, such a conception elevates scientific knowledge above all else, a fallacy. In Plato's city, the myth of the metals was used to explain why certain social classes existed. The 'Golds' were the rulers, philosopher-kings whose lives were devoted to the consideration and application of 'perfect rule'.
What if we should forgo politics and submit our destinies to those who 'know best'? I for one would rather live in the world of uncertainty and turmoil, and feel I have some say, however small, than be ruled by an all-knowing cult of science.
Strange isn't it, when there are fortunes to be made on the continent, that:
"The number of higher education institutions offering French has fallen by 15% in the past decade, institutions providing German courses have dropped by one-quarter, and institutions offering Italian have fallen by 9%, the report says."http://education.guardian.co.uk/universitiesincrisis/story/0,,2008543,00.html
European integration? Perhaps Margaret lives on. I wonder what the numbers are like in New Zealand. I know Spanish has taken off remarkably in the last five years, after previously being only offered at Waikato. Likely not for trade with Spain though. Russian at Victoria was axed at the turn of the century, and the department at Canterbury is now under threat. I have no idea about European and Asian languages, may do some digging.
I attended a celebration on Wednesday of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the 'founding document' of what is today the EU. There Terry Ryan, a former Member of the European Parliament spoke in passionate Wigan-ese terms about the value of language education in unlocking business opportunities in Europe. We cannot simply rely on the good fortune of being native English speakers.
Also, we cannot simply rely on science to solve all problems. Thanks to science, there is probably enough food produce on Earth to feed the entire population. But it doesn't. And thanks to science, there are some amazing treatments for debilitating and deadly illnesses. But these aren't available to everyone. Why? The problems are economic and political.
I was particularly struck by the sometimes arrogance and hubris of science in comments about the above reports in The Times Higher Education Supplement where I originally spotted the story. Unfortunately it's subscription-only so I can't quote exactly, but in the front-page story, a professor at the soon-to-be closed Reading University Physics Department said "I can't believe they're cutting out physics. At times like these we need science, not wooly courses. Only science can solve the world's problems."
He has a point, physics departments shouldn't be closed, and we do need science. But science can only solve some of the world's problems, for some of its people. At the same time that the heralded advances of modern science are available to relatively few, is it any surprise that the academic world, becoming increasingly subject to market forces worldwide, is introducing new fashionable degrees and forcing out 'core' disciplines in arts and sciences?
Those wooly courses referred to are, presumably, all humanities, and probably most of the social sciences. The professor forgets that science is only part of the picture. Once a technical challenge is solved the solution must be propagated to 'save the world' - time and again we have seen this is the tougher challenge. How will that happen without students of History and Sociology to track its course and provide us with feedback of its impact on societies? Who apart from Political Scientists will theorise and examine the possibilities of new governance mechanisms to regulate the wonderful world of science?
Perhaps a more productive stance would be to focus on the well-being of academia as if it were a human whole. Cutting off small parts ('courses with decreasing demand') may reserve more blood ('money') for core competencies ('vocational degrees in profitable industries') but eventually the organism loses manual dexterity and eventually thought (the ability to critique itself). Infighting will help neither sciences nor arts.
Perhaps the professor will say 'scientists should govern'. The idea of technocracy - government by those most able to govern - is not new and might indeed spread the achievements of science equitably across the globe. But I think not. Besides, such a conception elevates scientific knowledge above all else, a fallacy. In Plato's city, the myth of the metals was used to explain why certain social classes existed. The 'Golds' were the rulers, philosopher-kings whose lives were devoted to the consideration and application of 'perfect rule'.
What if we should forgo politics and submit our destinies to those who 'know best'? I for one would rather live in the world of uncertainty and turmoil, and feel I have some say, however small, than be ruled by an all-knowing cult of science.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
My latest on www.theset.co.nz
My latest article is up on www.theset.co.nz - official website of the Smokefree RockQuest. This one is called 'Representation - is it a good thing?' Here's a snippet:
"it can be hard to bear what often seems the dominant form of political discourse in this country – ‘moaning’. Yes government by its nature is imperfect, we all know that. And that politicians sometimes do naughty things is a given."Read the full thing here: http://www.theset.co.nz/home/node/176
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Cyborg anybody?
One can argue that we are already moving towards becoming cyborgs by the technological devices we adorn ourselves with, and feel pain to be separated from. This guy though, has taken it one step further. He has implanted an RFID tag (like those to be used in NZ for tracking dogs) in his wrist, enabling him to logon to his systems with proximity rather than passwords. Interesting, and I imagine quite convenient. Imagine the consequences of large-scale adoption though...no driver's licenses, credit cards, door keys...and if the state got control of the technology?
http://www.rubbervir.us/projects/rfid/
http://www.rubbervir.us/projects/rfid/
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Maps of data
Came across these amazing visualisations of two datasets - first is scientific paradigms and their relations, second is the relative strengths of nations. http://didi.com/brad/mapOfScience/
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
easylowdown
Rather than checking a blog site, which can make you look obsessive, why not subscribe to the changes via email? Put your address in the box to the right, and click the button. Then verify your address in the email that it sends you. Simple!
Course correction
Last Friday was a tough one. Having tried out almost all the Honours courses I had to choose which four to do. There were six I would have been happy to do, but the best combination for me was:
Politics of International Migration - looking at an under-researched area of politics, formerly considered 'low politics' and outside the remit of serious, realist IR. But increasingly important. Why do people migrate? How much control do states have? Who sets and benefits from immigration policy? So moving beyond economic cost/benefit equations of migration to bring in political considerations as well.
Politics of Market Creation in Europe - one of the International Political Economy (IPE) -based classes at Vic (there are several offered). Looking at major theories of the relationship between politics (including but not limited to states) and economics (including but not limited to markets) and using examples from Europe to illustrate. Trying to unpack 'Globalisation' a little too.
Global Civil Society - looking at all the stuff that happens 'outside' states and inter-governmental organisations. So NGOs and social movements, and their effects on development at local, national, regional, global levels. From the discussion in class today, definitions aren't that simple though. Also looking at what 'Globalisation' might mean and what people do about it.
Political Sociology - reading and discussing the 'big ideas', the big frameworks of political systems and political change. Starting on Friday with Fukuyama and Huntington, proceeding from there to look at electoral systems, political choice etc.
Hard-core? Yes, more so than what I started at Canterbury. I'm very happy with the choice and combination. Plenty of intertwining, but minimal over-lapping (I won't be reading the same authors twice!)
And now just a bit over thirty weeks and 40,000 words separate me from an Honours degree.
Politics of International Migration - looking at an under-researched area of politics, formerly considered 'low politics' and outside the remit of serious, realist IR. But increasingly important. Why do people migrate? How much control do states have? Who sets and benefits from immigration policy? So moving beyond economic cost/benefit equations of migration to bring in political considerations as well.
Politics of Market Creation in Europe - one of the International Political Economy (IPE) -based classes at Vic (there are several offered). Looking at major theories of the relationship between politics (including but not limited to states) and economics (including but not limited to markets) and using examples from Europe to illustrate. Trying to unpack 'Globalisation' a little too.
Global Civil Society - looking at all the stuff that happens 'outside' states and inter-governmental organisations. So NGOs and social movements, and their effects on development at local, national, regional, global levels. From the discussion in class today, definitions aren't that simple though. Also looking at what 'Globalisation' might mean and what people do about it.
Political Sociology - reading and discussing the 'big ideas', the big frameworks of political systems and political change. Starting on Friday with Fukuyama and Huntington, proceeding from there to look at electoral systems, political choice etc.
Hard-core? Yes, more so than what I started at Canterbury. I'm very happy with the choice and combination. Plenty of intertwining, but minimal over-lapping (I won't be reading the same authors twice!)
And now just a bit over thirty weeks and 40,000 words separate me from an Honours degree.
Friday, 9 March 2007
News, on the run
If you ain't got time to be reading New York Times articles (they're so long!) and when the BBC just seems so dry, why not try 'The First Post'?
At The First Post you can read a variety of mostly one-page articles about the current events of the day. And not just the hum-drum of politics...but arts, culture, and a really nice 'picture of the day' section.
A small excerpt from their 'About Us' page (I love About Us pages, especially when they are a major link on a site) says "Our political OPINION has been described as 'ill-defined' and even 'all over the place'. This is what we want to hear." Nice.
www.thefirstpost.co.uk - hopefully the name is an ironic gibe at blogs
At The First Post you can read a variety of mostly one-page articles about the current events of the day. And not just the hum-drum of politics...but arts, culture, and a really nice 'picture of the day' section.
A small excerpt from their 'About Us' page (I love About Us pages, especially when they are a major link on a site) says "Our political OPINION has been described as 'ill-defined' and even 'all over the place'. This is what we want to hear." Nice.
www.thefirstpost.co.uk - hopefully the name is an ironic gibe at blogs
Camera Obscura at SFBH
Wow what a gig! Camera Obscura are a band from Glasgow, and they play plaintive, melancholic, hopeful pop music that harkens back but has modern synthey bits too.
Their set at the San Francisco Bath House (formerly Indigo) on Wednesday got off to a wee bit of a shaky start. They'd only just flown in from Sydney, and they looked and sounded very tired. This led to a little shakiness to begin with, but they soon became unstoppable.
The real turning point was 'Books Written For Girls' off their second album, 'Underachievers Please Try Harder'. For this, the drummer moved to percussion, the percussionist/trumpeteer moved to guitar, and TracyAnne Campbell the lead singer put down her guitar. Kenny the guitarist got out the old metal slide and I almost teared up.
Total magic. After the idiots in the front-right corner (yes you know who you are!) realised they were the only ones talking in the gaps and shut up, there was absolute silence. How often does that happen? I have it on good authority that the number is never for SFBH.
Here's an excerpt from that song:
You can compliment me on the style of my hair
Give me marks out of ten for the clothes that I wear
You probably thought I had more upstairs.
Thanks to AbsoluteLyrics.com
From then on the whole band seemed buoyed by the raucous applause, the banter increased, TracyAnne became sweeter, and the crowd was more enthralled. They left 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' til last - and it rocked!
And then, to my delight, a genuine encore. Yes the real thing folks - five minutes of applause, yelling and stomping, and then a nice little two-song send-off.
If you're an RDU listener you'll already be familiar with 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' and 'Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken' (thanks Pip!). Rest assured the 2006 album 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' has plenty more to offer than just the hits. It has to be one of my top five albums of last year.
Another thing that pleases me immensely is that Camera Obscura has a great flash-based website (including compilation tapes, recipes, film recommendations, wisdom, top fives and book reviews - one theme per member) www.camera-obscura.net
Take note bands...a SpyMace page may be good for accumulating 'adds' and for letting people listen to four of your tracks free, but your 'rad' yellow text on semi-scrolling black background with the tiled, moody cover photo from your latest EP just doesn't cut it I'm afraid. That is all.
Their set at the San Francisco Bath House (formerly Indigo) on Wednesday got off to a wee bit of a shaky start. They'd only just flown in from Sydney, and they looked and sounded very tired. This led to a little shakiness to begin with, but they soon became unstoppable.
The real turning point was 'Books Written For Girls' off their second album, 'Underachievers Please Try Harder'. For this, the drummer moved to percussion, the percussionist/trumpeteer moved to guitar, and TracyAnne Campbell the lead singer put down her guitar. Kenny the guitarist got out the old metal slide and I almost teared up.
Total magic. After the idiots in the front-right corner (yes you know who you are!) realised they were the only ones talking in the gaps and shut up, there was absolute silence. How often does that happen? I have it on good authority that the number is never for SFBH.
Here's an excerpt from that song:
You can compliment me on the style of my hair
Give me marks out of ten for the clothes that I wear
You probably thought I had more upstairs.
Thanks to AbsoluteLyrics.com
From then on the whole band seemed buoyed by the raucous applause, the banter increased, TracyAnne became sweeter, and the crowd was more enthralled. They left 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' til last - and it rocked!
And then, to my delight, a genuine encore. Yes the real thing folks - five minutes of applause, yelling and stomping, and then a nice little two-song send-off.
If you're an RDU listener you'll already be familiar with 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' and 'Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken' (thanks Pip!). Rest assured the 2006 album 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' has plenty more to offer than just the hits. It has to be one of my top five albums of last year.
Another thing that pleases me immensely is that Camera Obscura has a great flash-based website (including compilation tapes, recipes, film recommendations, wisdom, top fives and book reviews - one theme per member) www.camera-obscura.net
Take note bands...a SpyMace page may be good for accumulating 'adds' and for letting people listen to four of your tracks free, but your 'rad' yellow text on semi-scrolling black background with the tiled, moody cover photo from your latest EP just doesn't cut it I'm afraid. That is all.
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Battle of titans
I had a farcical battle yesterday morning on the hills of Wellington. I was running along Mairangi Road and just when it changes into Pembroke Road, a man on a mobility scooter darted out of a driveway.
Initially he pulled away, but I caught up, and turns out his model scooter was the perfect pace-setter for me. I stayed behind for about 10 minutes, wondering whether I could pass or whether that would get me tooted at and run down later if I slowed.
Then a complicated hilly intersection! He had to slow right down to get to the kerb round the corner, and I sped past, on to victory.
I'm sure to an observer it must have seemed quite an absurd battle, or else some weird training exercise from my geriatric running coach. All I can say is watch out for terrors on the footpaths...
Initially he pulled away, but I caught up, and turns out his model scooter was the perfect pace-setter for me. I stayed behind for about 10 minutes, wondering whether I could pass or whether that would get me tooted at and run down later if I slowed.
Then a complicated hilly intersection! He had to slow right down to get to the kerb round the corner, and I sped past, on to victory.
I'm sure to an observer it must have seemed quite an absurd battle, or else some weird training exercise from my geriatric running coach. All I can say is watch out for terrors on the footpaths...
Monday, 5 March 2007
Oh, that great gig
I turned up late, but the first of two pre-sales, to an extremely under-subscribed gig on Saturday.
Jon Auer of The Posies and the rejuvenated Big Star (they wrote the original version of the theme song from That 70's Show) played a wonderful solo gig in support of his new album 'Songs from the Year of Our Demise'. Tracks on MySpace here.
In the end it turned out great, about fifteen people and a legend of alternative-power-pop with a fantastic honest voice and really nice guitar work. He even took us outside to the street with just his guitar at one point, and wove charming tales of each song's creation in the gaps between.
I also had an interesting conversation with the support act, Jeremy (didn't catch his last name) about the state of modern music. He said 'it used to be that you would have to use two or three bands and/or genres to give someone an idea of a fourth band's sound, but now you can often just say 'sounds like A'. I said 'maybe we need some better adjectives' and he said 'maybe we just need some better bands'!
We agreed that there is perhaps just too much music out there, too accessible, too permeable. I decried my always-too-big pile of 'current listening' and identified with his constant returns to the familiar, those comfortable classics of one's collection. And whereas previously NZ music existed in semi-splendid isolation and was distinctive and special because of it, the widespread availability of ANYTHING via several media ranging from free to cheap, has perhaps lead to a loss of innocence and uniqueness in NZ music. Yes, perhaps more NZ music is being sold now, and its profile is higher, but is it still NZ music? Interesting to consider.
On arriving I met and chatted with the promoter, a nice guy called Jim, who is also bringing Camera Obscura to the San Francisco Bath House on Wednesday! Woo hoo! Hopefully it will sell out on the night.
Jon Auer of The Posies and the rejuvenated Big Star (they wrote the original version of the theme song from That 70's Show) played a wonderful solo gig in support of his new album 'Songs from the Year of Our Demise'. Tracks on MySpace here.
In the end it turned out great, about fifteen people and a legend of alternative-power-pop with a fantastic honest voice and really nice guitar work. He even took us outside to the street with just his guitar at one point, and wove charming tales of each song's creation in the gaps between.
I also had an interesting conversation with the support act, Jeremy (didn't catch his last name) about the state of modern music. He said 'it used to be that you would have to use two or three bands and/or genres to give someone an idea of a fourth band's sound, but now you can often just say 'sounds like A'. I said 'maybe we need some better adjectives' and he said 'maybe we just need some better bands'!
We agreed that there is perhaps just too much music out there, too accessible, too permeable. I decried my always-too-big pile of 'current listening' and identified with his constant returns to the familiar, those comfortable classics of one's collection. And whereas previously NZ music existed in semi-splendid isolation and was distinctive and special because of it, the widespread availability of ANYTHING via several media ranging from free to cheap, has perhaps lead to a loss of innocence and uniqueness in NZ music. Yes, perhaps more NZ music is being sold now, and its profile is higher, but is it still NZ music? Interesting to consider.
On arriving I met and chatted with the promoter, a nice guy called Jim, who is also bringing Camera Obscura to the San Francisco Bath House on Wednesday! Woo hoo! Hopefully it will sell out on the night.
32 weeks to go
Just had a marathon first day of Honours classes, and I'm not even enrolled in any Monday classes yet!
As often happens, a course that was moved to avoid a clash with two other courses, now clashes with only one course, which I, of course, am enrolled in. I enrolled in:
Today I visited:
So now I am in quite a happy dilemma. After being satisfied with the four courses I originally chose, I am now in the difficult but also encouraging position of potentially picking, and being happy with, ANY of the Victoria POLS/INTP Honours courses. What a programme!
32 weeks to go until Monday October 15th, the blanket deadline for all Pols Honours written work.
As often happens, a course that was moved to avoid a clash with two other courses, now clashes with only one course, which I, of course, am enrolled in. I enrolled in:
- Global Governance
- Global Civil Society
- Bureaucratic Power in Western Democracies
- Sociology of Political Change
Today I visited:
- Comparative Politics: Europe (which is really more of an IPE course, using European examples to explain marketisation of societies)
- Politics of International Migration (very interesting and under-explored topic, of special interest to me via my semi-accidental background in censuses)
- Insurgency and Counter-insurgency (looking at theories and examples of non-traditional political violence)
So now I am in quite a happy dilemma. After being satisfied with the four courses I originally chose, I am now in the difficult but also encouraging position of potentially picking, and being happy with, ANY of the Victoria POLS/INTP Honours courses. What a programme!
32 weeks to go until Monday October 15th, the blanket deadline for all Pols Honours written work.
Friday, 2 March 2007
When you need a friend
Think soaring Houston melody...
That's right friends, if your SpyMace page isn't yet 'pimped' with all the 'hotties' you need to be cool, then FakeYourSpace can save your bacon.
Simply splash down some money, and you get a 'hot' new friend on your SpyMace page. (Be sure to make them a top friend so that people cruising your hopelessly formatted page with no content see your candy!)
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fakeyourspacecom-a-place-where-you-can-rent-a-friend/
That's right friends, if your SpyMace page isn't yet 'pimped' with all the 'hotties' you need to be cool, then FakeYourSpace can save your bacon.
Simply splash down some money, and you get a 'hot' new friend on your SpyMace page. (Be sure to make them a top friend so that people cruising your hopelessly formatted page with no content see your candy!)
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fakeyourspacecom-a-place-where-you-can-rent-a-friend/
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
My actual hero is Bob Dylan. Not to take anything away from Wayne.
Anyway, the 1965 documentary of Dylan's final acoustic tour through the UK is about to be reissued. Here's a preview clip of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" from "Don't Look Back". A great song, and a wonderful performance.
And the lyrics, as with all of Dylan's, are helpfully catalogued on his site: http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/babyblue.html
Anyway, the 1965 documentary of Dylan's final acoustic tour through the UK is about to be reissued. Here's a preview clip of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" from "Don't Look Back". A great song, and a wonderful performance.
And the lyrics, as with all of Dylan's, are helpfully catalogued on his site: http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/babyblue.html
Thursday, 1 March 2007
Wayne Anderson you are my hero
At the student union building on Tuesday, I was live witness to the musical genius that is Mr. Wayne Anderson, "Singer of Songs".With a commanding stage presence and a three-and-a-half octave range, Mr. Anderson took on a swathe of sultry songs from across the repertoire, including 'Sheryl Moana Marie' by John Rowles.
Wayne was recently featured on his own TV2 show, in an unforgivable graveyard weeknight timeslot.
If you missed is here are some educational links:
- Official website: http://www.wayneanderson.tv/
- MySpace page (come on, every self-respecting serious musician has one): http://www.myspace.com/mrwayneanderson
- YouTube videos of the show: http://www.youtube.com/butobase
- See especially Wayne's treatise on the relative virtues of Manurewa living and canned goods: 'It's Got Sausages In It' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSEieQAaOs
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