Leonard Cohen

I only hope I get the chance to see Leonard Cohen live. Somehow I missed him on his world tour in 2008, so here he is at the O2 Arena singing Suzanne.

 

Tracey Emin Forger and La Biennale di Venezia

In 2007 we visited La Biennale di Venezia. The experience was unforgettable with artists from around the world displaying in national pavilions, unforgettable outdoor areas and some unusual buildings in the grounds.
The lowlight for us was the British Pavilion.

Now we don't claim to be 'art experts' Mrs B and I, but let's face it, it really boils down to what you like, and what you don't like. The problem for us was that Tracey Emin had been responsible for the British Pavilion and she seemed to be obsessed with drawings of male and female genitalia in the style of a 4 year old. It wasn't good, and certainly not dignified, sums up Tracey Emin really.

So I was shocked to read today that somebody called Jonathan Rayfern has just been found guilty of forging Tracey Emin's work. Worse than that he has been sentenced to 16 months in chokey.

I can only think that the sentence was punishment for wanting to forge Tracey Emin's work.

Support us - Fundraising for The Royal British Legion - The Royal British Legion

Support us - Fundraising for The Royal British Legion - The Royal British Legion

European Union and the Poppy Appeal.

The European Union is worse than a bad idea, it is stinkingly corrupt, immoral and can never work. We in the UK have never given our consent to successive British governments handing over our right to self government, and it's time that the British people woke up and stood up for themselves instead of standing on the sidelines whining and whinging.

If you had any doubt that we have handed over our right to self government then look at the current EU budget discussions. I don't say negotiations because negotiations implies reaching agreement. With the EU budget we can discuss as much as we want, then we have to accept what they say whether we agree or not. Cameron is completely powerless.

If an alien body can snatch an extra £900,000,000 from our exchequer, without our agreement, then obviously our government has handed over power, our power, to that alien body. Or if you want to deny that, then you have to accept that the EU is nothing more than a highwayman or bank robber. If I helped myself to somebody else's £900,000,000 I'm pretty sure I would soon be eating porridge at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Especially if it was government cash, and I wasn't an MP or Lord!

Today the Royal British Legion launches its 2010 Poppy Appeal. What would all the old soldiers make of the state of our country today, powerless to even stop an alien body raiding our tax money. Because that's what they are doing, government money is your money, hard earned and handed over to government via the taxman. Our government is telling you to tighten your belts, cutting budgets for your services, reducing your benefits, raising the taxes you pay, then turning a blind eye to the EU doing what the Coalition accuses the previous Labour government of doing: squandering millions and millions of your hard earned cash.

FC United on BBC North West Tonight

Jeremy Clarkson Yet Again

I heard yesterday that Jeremy Clarkson was in lumber, yet again, for causing offence. I also heard that some poxy daytime TV show had been running a poll as to whether or not Clarkson had gone too far this time. That did it, I had to find out what he had done or said that was so evil.

The following, from Yahoo News, is what he said about the Ferrari F430 Speciale:

Comparing it to a newer model, he said the car "was a bit wrong - that smiling front end - it looked like a simpleton - should have been called the 430 Speciale Needs".


Charities criticised the remark, with the National Autistic Society saying it perpetuated "the prejudice and bullying which people with disabilities have to cope with".

So I continued reading, and searching the internet to find out what had caused such great offence. But that was it. I wasn't surprised that the National Autistic Society jumped into the row for some cheap publicity, after over 20 years working for charities they seem to have been infiltrated by special needs senior managers with no sense of proportion.

It seems that Ofcom, the broadcasting equivalent of the Gestapo, "investigated" the remarks after two (2) people complained to the BBC. I suggest that those two people, and the senior management of the National Autistic Society, be put into nice padded rooms with no sharp objects, shoe laces or belts and leave the grown ups without special needs to get on with life.

FC United of Manchester

I have followed FC United of Manchester since the club was formed in 2005, largely as a protest against the Glazers taking over Manchester United, but also in protest at the general direction and greed of top flight football. Yes I have occasionally ranted against the political position of elements within the club, but it s a democracy and the members own the club. I can't not watch FC United.

Below I have reproduced a message distributed by the board in relation to our first ever appearance, next Friday, in the FA Cup 1st round away to Rochdale. Please read it and compare it with the utterly immoral nonsense going on with Wayne Rooney and Manchester United last week.  Credit is also due to Rochdale FC and their board.

We would like to advise supporters that our FA Cup 1st Round Proper tie against Rochdale will take place on Friday 5th November, kick off 7.45pm


On the morning after our victory over Barrow (Monday 25th October), the Club was informed by Rochdale AFC that the FA had contacted them to say that ESPN had requested our game be shown live on their channel on the evening of Friday November 5th. Each club will be paid £67 500 for the game to be shown, a sum of money undoubtedly valuable to both clubs. We were asked by Rochdale if we had any opposition to the game being switched. It was reassuring to learn that such a switch is not enforced by broadcasters and that we had a choice, but nonetheless this presented us with an immediate decision to make.


We recognise that playing such a high-profile, important game on a Friday evening is not ideal, not least of all for those supporters who live outside of the Greater Manchester area. It is an unfortunate consequence of our democracy that any decision the Board takes will not always meet with the approval of every FC United supporter as there are a wide range of circumstances and opinions to take into account, not all of which can be represented by the final decision. However, by accepting this offer the Board feels they have acted in the best interests of the Club as a whole, both in the immediate and long term, as it increases awareness of what we’re doing in Newton Heath and removes some of the enormous pressures of running a football club whilst playing at Gigg Lane.


In reaching this decision the Board took into account a number of factors including the financial incentive, the impact on the team, the overriding goal of reaching Ten Acres Lane, and most of all the impact on supporters.

With these considerations in mind the crucial factor which guided the Board towards the final decision was the previously held members vote on FA Cup participation. At this meeting members voted for the Club to enter the FA Cup on the precondition that progression into the 1st round proper and beyond may invite offers to play our games live on television. It was the view of the Board that this ‘yes’ vote constituted a steer to consider this offer from ESPN. Of course we had the power to decline their offer, but in the absence of any overwhelming opposition when the issue was debated, the Board felt we had a mandate to accept.


The Board always strives to avoid making unilateral decisions and always acts in the interests and according to the wishes of its members. We believe we have again done so, but of course the beauty of our democratic structure ensures that if there is opposition to this decision then members can submit resolutions on future participation, votes can be taken and any future decision be influenced accordingly.


That democratic input should be cherished and held dear by all members, because as much as the decisions themselves it was the lack of a voice, a lack of an influence in decision-making that led to the disillusionment of many before our formation. FC United members will always have that voice and can therefore continue to make strategic decisions and dictate the direction of our club.


We would also like to advise supporters that Rochdale, mindful of the affect it may have on both clubs’ revenue, asked us if we had any opposition to prices being lowered from their usual prices of £20 for adults and £14 for concessions to £12 for adults, £8 for concessions and £5 for under 16’s. We had no hesitation in accepting this fantastic gesture, which helps us to meet our constitutional aim of providing affordable football for match going fans.

We hope that as many people as possible can make it to Spotland for what will be the biggest game in the Club’s history. Regardless of the result, the impact of this fantastic run in the FA Cup will be felt long after the final whistle on November 5th and evidenced in our onward march to Ten Acres Lane, Newton Heath.

The Board of FC United of Manchester.

If you were unaware Manchester United began life as Newton Heath in 1878 before becoming Manchester United in 1902.

Pilgrims of Love at Pantasaph

Before Easter I went on retreat to Pantasaph in North Wales. I was introdued to the Pilgrims of Love who have now established a presence at Pantasaph supporting the work of the Franciscans already established there. On the right side bar is a poster for their youth retreat on November 5th and 6th, click on it to get full details.

To give you a flavour of what the Pilgrims of Love are all about below is a short film. Founder of the Pilgrims, Marino Restrepo is interviewing Father Keith and others about their work at Pantasaph and their prayer festival that took place in July:

UKIP's Mike Nattrass MEP on UKIP's Nigel Farage MEP

I always knew that Mike Nattrass would come good, and he's done it in style.

I ran Mike's Crewe and Nantwich by-election campaign in May 2008 and had known him for some time before that. Even as a Lancastrian I was impressed with his honesty and bluntness, you see he's a stubborn Yorkshireman. In fact I only mentioned Mike in an earlier blog post today.

So I wasn't surprised today to learn that he had told the truth about UKIP's famous spiv and charlatan-in-chief, Nigel Farage MEP. In the eternal words of the wonderful Morrissey:  'there'll be blood on the cleaver tonight'.
 
Here's what Mike had to say about Farage:

Dear All,


It may be too late but after all these years I can no longer stay silent.

In the previous Leadership Election I, together with all candidates EXCEPT LORD PEARSON were rubbished by Nigel Farage on TV and elsewhere. This ensured the election of Nigel's puppet Lord Pearson and allowed Nigel to continue to be the face of the party. That is Nigel's view of the election rules and I think it is only fair and high time that his methods were exposed, USING HIS OWN RULES.

Nigel already Leads the parliamentary Group and when he is also elected Leader this will amount to total control. Increasingly I am hearing the word "Spiv" used to describe him, from people who are not members but see his image. I am concerned that the UKIP party brand will be tarnished, even holed below the water line, by his monopoly of power.

Whilst Nigel is a very good speaker, he is also a control freak. He grabs all UKIP publicity to the detriment of any other UKIP spokesperson or MEP. He employs assistants with the MEP's budgets without allowing those MEPs any say. This, despite the fact that UKIP MEPs demanded a chance to interview those who were being employed with their money. Nigel agreed, then totally ignored that promise. Consequently he has his own "group funded" team around him and all "hiring" takes place via his close friend Godfrey Bloom MEP (this person is said to be banned by 4 hotels for urinating in the corridors)


Nigel's lack of experience in good staff management and his refusal to allow MEP consultation is complimented by the morals of an Alley Cat (and I will not go there). I have always said that this does not matter, because so long as we are all in the trench together with guns pointing at the enemy all are welcome. But he shot Nikki Sinclaire in the back when she became an MEP, for no Party reason, while she was giving all the effort she could give. She was expelled as a UKIP MEP for pointing out the Group facts. He does not like truth or competition.


I have put a lot of money, time and energy into promoting UKIP in the West Midlands and I watched it wrecked at the General Election by Nigel's chosen people (Lords Pearson and Monckton) who appeared from nowhere and failed to understand our basic strategy or even comprehend from where our votes are derived. Worse, Nikki, who has vast energy at election time, was stopped from being a UKIP MEP by Nigel and has not been given a chance to defend herself or to state her case (legal matters are pending). She and I were told by Lord Pearson not to get involved in the election and not to fund the campaign. In fact you will see that we both made considerable financial contributions but our campaign was deeply damaged. Also the subsequent enquiry into the campaign, requested by the WM candidates, was "dealt with" by Monckton (who thought I was behind it) and because of this we have had resignations from very keen activists.


All this West Midlands destruction because Nigel hates Nikki and wants to rubbish me!! Do you know how much money Nigel has contributed to this party...next to nothing.


I found allegations of fraud were brought against me when I stood for Leadership. These were in the Sunday Times. They melted away afterwards and had no foundation in truth, but they did the job intended.(My legal case against the Times is pending) Nigel has had a number of very real cases against him.. funny how that word does not get out.


My first major annoyance with Nigel's manipulations stem from the time when I was first elected in 2004 and all UKIP MEPs had a meeting to agree three very basic points. One was that we could not employ wives (other Parties did) and this was agreed. In fact my wife comes to each Parliament and does not get paid (not even travel expenses) and I said that she wanted to contribute any proper payment to the Party, but no, rules were rules and she could be paid nothing. It was then later exposed that Nigel's wife was being secretly paid out of his budget, breaking this rule. He did not seek any permission (to change his own rule) from the MEPs. He was simply "caught out" with both hands in the till. I fear that the whole Parliamentary Group in the EU is run for Nigel's financial and public image. I left that ugly group.


Nigel has derailed every leader since the very first, except peacemaker Jeffery Titford (under whom I was Party Chairman). He is therefore hated by them all (except JT). plus never to be leader Kilroy Silk who must feel that Nigel gave him a wrong prospectus.


I expect that Nigel will be elected leader as no one else is effectively allowed to stand without a spin campaign against them. I can see less MEPs in the UKIP squad when he does win.


There is a false attack on Tim Congdon from Boggers 4 UKIP, this must mean he is a real threat! Good.


Mike

Interesting to see Mike's comment about Farage's poodle Godfrey Bloom MEP. Farage really should get his poodles house trained.

More on this at:

Rosie's Forum

Junius on UKIP

Everything About UKIP

Wings-Band on the Run

I'm not over keen on Paul McCartney but have to say that Band on the Run was a class album by Wings. They have quite rightly been recognised in the Q Awards:

Once an Extremist

Last month I heard about a Polish couple. They were part of a neo-Nazi gang but they discovered that both were actually Jewish. Not content with accepting their Jewishness they have now both become ultra-Orthodox. Extremism does seem to be in some peoples' DNA.

Below is a CNN video about them:

European Union Referendum Campaign

Probably the only politician actively campaigning among the populace at large on the European Union is Nikki Sinclaire MEP. I spoke to Nikki last night and got the distinct impression that she really phoned to gloat about being at Anfield yesterday to witness a rare Liverpool win. But, as FC United beat Barrow to reach the FA Cup 1st Round for the first time I didn't mind. There's a diabolical photo of her on her blog, taken yesterday at the game.

You may remember that Nikki was thown out of UKIP earlier this year for refusing to sit in the group of homophobes, racists and anti-Semites that form the EFD Group that UKIP MEPs are part of in Brussels. Another MEP I have a lot of respect for, Mike Nattrass, has also now left the group. As I have worked as campaign manager for both in UK parliamentary elections in the past, I am relieved that they have both shown such decency and principle by leaving the EFD Group.

Now sitting as an independent MEP Nikki is campaigning for a referendum on whether or not we should remain within the  EU. Mike Nattrass is supporting her campaign as is Tim Congdon, one of UKIP's leadership candidates. As an indepndent she has cross party support and I would urge you to visit her campaign website Campaign for a Referendum.

As well as cross party support the campaign is attracting some support from those wishing to remain in the EU. After all, before the election in May the Lib Dems were in favour of an in/out referendum. One way or the other a straight in/out referendum would finally put the question of Europe to rest.

Politicians

So, you think some of our politicians are mad, and I wouldn't argue with you there. But this fella from Tokyo takes some beating. Although I do admit to the occasional wave of sympathy, and a morsel of admiration for his courage, as I watched the video.



Ok, abusing the voters, calling for their annihilation and ending by giving them a middle finger isn't going to win you an election. But unlike Chaytor, Morley, Devine and others, this fellow does raise a smile, as well as a middle finger.

Big Brother: Still Watching You!

From today's Mail Online:

Hugely controversial ‘Big Brother’ plans to store details of every internet click, email and telephone call that we make are being revived by the Coalition, it emerged last night.


Police, security services and other public bodies would be able to find out which websites a person had visited, and when, where and to whom a text or call was made.

Security officials insist that monitoring communications data is vital in the fight against terrorism and serious organised crime.

I was talking to a fellow history enthusiast yesterday about the sad demise of history teaching in our schools. Inevitably I suppose, the old quote from George Santayana came up: "If we do not learn from the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them." Although I believe the original version was: "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."


The Coalition might do well to remember the above quote in its urge to be progressive. But the electorate might also do well to remember it, especially those who thought in May that voting Conservative or Lib Dem would make a jot of difference. The continued building of a police state in the UK shows that under this government little will change, the state will just creep over our lives at a slightly slower pace. It's always been like that with our current system of electing the big two, and a little bit of the other this time.

Big Brother Watch is well worth visiting on a regular basis if you value our freedoms and liberties.

Educational Totalitarians

Having followed the case of Katherine Birbalsingh, the teacher forced from her job for criticising the education system at the Tory conference, I can't help comparing today's comprehensive system to my schooldays in the 1970s. When I do it makes me feel angry at what the state has done.

I was fortunate to pass the 11+ and go to Xaverian College, a school that was 'direct grant', meaning free from the mithering interference of the state, largely meaning Manchester City Council and Labour governments. Furthermore it was a Roman Catholic school run by the Congregation of St Francis Xavier. I'd love a quid for every time somebody has said "oh dear, that must have been bad" when they find out. Actually, I loved school and count myself very fortunate. And no, I never witnessed, or heard of, homosexual activity in the school.

Most of our teachers were Brothers, but we did have lay teachers too. The school encouraged freedom of thought and encouraged us to question. I questioned religion, and the existence of God, to such a degree that I didn't take religion 'O' Level. The first pupil in the history of the school not to do so I was told at the time. Even so I was allowed to continue in classes and to argue my point, as long as it was done properly.

It was the same with politics. We studied politics and history and no argument, put reasonably, was beyond the pale. We were encouraged to defeat those with outlandish views by reason and force of argument, no matter how outrageous the views expressed. The teachers practised what they preached, and treated us like reasonable human beings, most of the time!

Likewise with sex education. Yes, monks in an all boys grammar school did teach sex education, and they were very good at enlightening us about it too. But there was a strong moral element to it, not just teaching about procreation and what to do if you got a girl pregnant.  We were also taught, at the same time, responsibility and respect, not just from a catholic perspective, but towards ourselves, others and our families as human beings.

There are times I look back and think things were better a few years ago, and I wonder if I'm getting old. Then I read about Katharine Birbalsingh and think no, actually it isn't me. Education was, and should still be about, questioning, debating, criticising and developing. But it seems to me that this case shows that totalitarians, who can't bare any criticism or opposition, have taken control of education and are only interested in social engineering rather than developing young minds.

Ice Hockey, A Man's Game

Last week I went to see Manchester Phoenix for the first time this season, and it was a great night. The next time you see a Premiership footballer rolling around clutching his leg or head, remember the video below and laugh. I wonder how long a team of footballers would last against a team of ice hockey players? I reckon the footballers would run a mile before even getting on the ice.

The fight below is not just a great fight, but is two brothers fighting!



Think I'll gorge myself next weekend and go straight to the Phoenix game after watching FC United.

Nazis and Socialists

Yesterday I Tweeted that Manchester City Council is still run by lunatics as the Lord Mayor turned up to full council in leg irons and shackles to mark anti-slavery day, which is on October 18th. I also wrote about this kind of juvenile tokenism in yesterday's blog post which you can read below.

For the record I have been involved in many awareness days and weeks over the years and am ambivalent towards them at best, think they are a waste of time and money at worst. Most of the awareness days/weeks I have been involved in have been with charities. They are tokenistic and take away from people who work extremely hard all the year round.

However, I find the theme of socialist paranoia a recurring theme at the moment. My criticism of the Lord Mayor prompted one loony socialist Labour Party supporter to Tweet accusing me of being a 'Dumb Ass' who 'regrets the abolition of slavey'.

I retorted that he was juvenile and paranoid, or similar. Which prompted him to call me a 'Right Wing Nazi' followed by a 'Dumb Ass something or other', I can't remember exactly.

I defy anybody to read my post below, or indeed anything in this blog going back three years, and point out anything that could be construed as Nazi or anything similar.

Words like 'Nazi' and 'fascist' are now so overused as terms of abuse, usually by socialists if you disagree with them, that they no longer have any impact, I'm certainly not offended by morons who overuse these words. But I think those who throw those words about belittle the suffering of millions of people at the hands of real Nazis and fascists.

Manchester City Council-Still Slaves to Political Correctness

Today in Manchester the Lord Mayor opened the full council meting wearing leg irons and chains to mark anti-slavery day. What a pathetic and patronising gesture. Anti-slavery day is apparently on October 18th, but I suppose Manchester City Council just  couldn't wait.

It's about as pathetic as their statue of Abraham Lincoln on Brazennose Street. It bears an extract of a letter from Lincoln to 'the working men' of Manchester thanking them for their support during the US Civil War. But of course, the City Council know better than some old Yankee and have changed the wording on the staue to 'the working people' of Manchester.

Still, as long as the nitwits of Manchester vote Labour the world will continue to get an occasional laugh at the stupidity of Manchester City Council and its voters.

Peter Kay in Warrington

The joy of Twitter. I follow Peter Kay and he Tweeted, or 'his people' probably did, that he is doing two warm up shows next week in Warrington before starting the next leg of his arena tour. The theatre only holds 200 people so it will be what you might call intimate. Tickets went on sale at 10-00am and had gone before 10-05.

Two tickets purchased for yours truly and my beloved. Get in there! Here's a clip of the great man at work:



Can't wait.

Proceeds from the two Warrington shows (Mon and Tues) go to the Madison Allan Appeal.

Germaine Greer

If you ever doubted the insanity of loony wimmins' rights campaigner Germaine Greer, she has now proved herself to be totally and utterly stupid, idiotic and mentally unstable beyond any doubt.

She wants a website set up so that wimmin can publish the names of men they claim have raped them, so all the world can see. She claims that not enough men get found guilty of rape, so the sisterhood should take the law into their own hands.

I wonder how the first woman to enter the details on the website will feel when she gets sued? Or how the first woman will feel whose claim, rightly or wrongly, leads to a mob of the self-righteous ripping the accused apart? Or how the first woman whose accusation leads to a suicide will feel? What does Ms Greer propose to do about the malicious wimmin who make false accusations about a man for all the world to see?

After all the fuss last week about a teacher confirming that the education system is a shambles up pops Ms Greer to prove the point. A friend of mine has just waved his son off  to Warwick University, where Ms Greer spews forth her nonsense. I bet he wishes he'd chosen another university now.