April 2009
50 posts
links for 2009-04-30 →
Top 10 most controversial ads →
I’m amazed at the things people get incensed about. I know all it takes is a quick phone call, but still, haven’t you got anything better to do than complain that a Specsavers ad featuring Edith Piaf…
links for 2009-04-29 →
“You can take away a man’s gods, but only to give him others in return.” Carl Jung, The Undiscovered Self
Naomi Wolf: We are all torturers in America →
I’d add that most of the western world’s been pretty complicit in the horrendous crimes, but I think what Wolf says here really did have to be said. This is a question of trying to bolt the stable…
My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-4-26) →
Ólafur Arnalds (20)
The Maccabees (13)
Pearl Jam (11)
M83 (11)
Shearwater (11)
Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz
listening to "Have You Ever Seen the Rain? -... →
There aren’t many Creedence Clearwater Revivial songs I like, but Have You Ever Seen The Rain? is a beautiful track.
listening to "Black Coffee - Sarah Vaughan" →
A song I was introduced to by Lester listening to it when waiting in a car in season 5 of The Wire. Another reason to love the man…
links for 2009-04-25 →
In defense of Twitter →
Kottke on the perceived banality of Twitter. I couldn’t agree with him more.
Labour's lost and the Tories don't get it →
Great article from Vince Cable - the only man in parliament who really seems to understand what’s going on at the moment, and what can be done about it.
links for 2009-04-24 →
50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice →
I recently read Strunk and White, and although it contains some genuinely good, and rearely followed, advice I think Pullam here is spot on about its shortcomings.
links for 2009-04-23 →
Lengthy Times article about R.D. Laing →
An unpleasant person, definitely, but also a genius in his field and a shaper of the previous century. Makes for an interesting read.
Epilepsy: Life on the Frontlines →
Interesting article on epilepsy and its treatment from Newsweek.
Polly Toynbee: Be bold, Chancellor, and you could... →
It would be nice if Darling would listen to Polly Toynbee and be the first left-of-centre Chancellor since the 70s, but I’m not betting the family silver on it.
links for 2009-04-22 →
Printing Police Lies →
George Monbiot on the recent excesses of the police and the unusual turning of the right wing press against their own.
50 great moments in jazz →
John Fordham’s series in the Guardian is proving to be a great introduction to the history of jazz.
Peter Robinson on the dreadful debut album by... →
“On first listen it’s tempting to say that no effort went into its creation, but on closer inspection it strikes a very clever balance. It is an album which at once satisfies demand for one Eoghan…
links for 2009-04-21 →
Why File Sharing Will Save Hollywood, Music →
“Sites like The Pirate Bay taught â and continue to teach â valuable lessons to the content industry. Even as music labels and movie studios try to sue peer-to-peer networks out of existence,…
Interview with Adam Curtis at Blairwatch →
I can’t say I like the blog much, and the commenters seem to miss the point, but the interview itself is interesting.
Adam Curtis interview in The Human Givens... →
Who are a relatively new group of psychoanalysts, it transpires. Still, fascinating stuff.
Old Adam Curtis interview in The Register →
Absolutely fascinating. Adam Curtis is quickly becoming one of my heroes. Scary, but compelling and inspiring stuff.
“In a totally sane society, madness is the only freedom.” J.G. Ballard, Running Wild
My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-4-19) →
Fela Kuti (18)
The Decemberists (16)
Telepathe (9)
A.R. Rahman (9)
Beirut (9)
Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz
listening to "Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon" →
Werewolves of London is a cunning song since I both adore it and despise it in equal measure.
links for 2009-04-16 →
“If you resolve to give up smoking, drinking and loving, you don’t actually live longer; it just seems longer.” Clement Freud
The Daily Mail: Campaigning both For AND Against... →
Wow. The Daily Mail has never been renowned for well, actually thinking anything through, but this is quite astonishingly cynical. Even for them.
My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-4-12) →
Beirut (20)
Bat for Lashes (13)
Telepathe (11)
Alan Moore/Tim Perkins (8)
The Prodigy (6)
Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz
links for 2009-04-15 →
“What’s drinking? A mere pause from thinking!” Lord Byron, The Deformed Transformed
Jon Savage on the life and death of Joe Meek →
An old, but excellent article about the producer of Telstar. Paints a fascinating picture of London gay life in the 1960s.
listening to "Zombie - Fela Kuti →
Been listening to a lot of Fela Kuti today.
links for 2009-04-09 →
Steve Lawson's excellent article on the music... →
And what a fascinating picture he paints. The death of the record labels is not the same as the death of music. A lot of the companies have been screwing over the musicians for years.
My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-4-5) →
The Decemberists (17)
Morrissey (13)
The National (12)
Madeleine Peyroux (11)
Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80 (8)
Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz
listening to "Cantaloupe Island - Herbie Hancock" →
Quickly, it’s sunny out, put some Herbie Hancock on.
listening to "These Foolish Things - Billie... →
Since the morning Mingus was such an unmitigated success, here’s some beautiful Billie Holiday for your Friday.
listening to "A Paw In My Face - The Field" →
Some minimalist techno perhaps? Yup.
listening to "The Cave (session) - Mumford And... →
I’ve been listening to this song so much recently, I really wish Mumford and Sons would get around to releasing it.
listening to "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul - Charles... →
If there’s a better way to start a Friday, I don’t know what it is.
links for 2009-04-02 →
“If you owe your bank a hundred pounds, you have a problem. But if you owe a million, it has.” John Maynard Keynes
America, The Cold War and The Taliban →
Ever wondered why the world is cynical about US foreign policy? No? Well, if you meet someone who has wondered that, send them this blog post.