Q: How many iPods do you have to sell to buy one of these?

Never truer words for our times … and a damn fine song.

Billy Bragg – NPWA, 2003.

I grew up in a company town
And I worked real hard ‘’til that company closed down
They gave my job to another man
On half my wages in some foreign land
And when I asked how could this be
Any good for our economy?
I was told nobody cares
So long as they make money when they sell their shares

Can you hear us? Are you listening?
No power without accountability!

I lost my job, my car and my house
When ten thousand miles away some guy clicked on a mouse
He didn’t know me, we never spoke,
He didn’t ask my opinion or canvass for my vote
I guess its true, nobody cares
‘Til those petrol bombs come spinning through the air
Gotta find a way to hold them to account
Before they find a away to snuff our voices out

Can you hear us? Are you listening?
No power without accountability!

The ballot box is no guarantee that we achieve democracy
Our leaders claim their victory when only half the people have spoken
We have no job security in this global economy,
Our borders closed to refugees but our markets forced open

The World Bank says to Mexico,
We’ll cut you off if you don’t keep your taxes low
But they have no right to wield that sword
‘Cos they take their orders from the chairman of the board

IMF, WTO,
I hear these words just every place I go
Who are these people? Who elected them?
And how do I replace them with some of my friends?

Can you hear us? Are you listening?
No power without accountability!

Few people can be compared to Hitler and Stalin…

But this man can. Unadulterated evil. Responsible for millions of deaths. Without conscience.

Suzi gets some attention. Finally.

After a minor incident resulted in breaking an indicator, and other personal factors, Suzi has remained in limbo for far too long.
But on Saturday, my brother The Snark helped me rescue it from oblivion.
He took me to one of his favourite bike workshops, where Suzi was fitted with micro LED indicators, flush fitted into the front, and mini LED indicators at the rear.
Then a set of frame sliders, to prevent any damage in an accident, and to cap it off, a fresh, sticky rear 021 tyre was fitted.
I did have to exercise some restraint (over The Snark, LOL!) who wanted me to fit new steel brake hoses, and would not have stopped there until the bike was almost completely renewed!
Back home, a full wash and wax, and Suzi is back to Flying Banana status, and is looking forward to being thrashed the way she used to be!

R.I.P. JG Ballard, dystopian visionary and author.

I’ve just returned from holiday to discover the news that my  favourite author – possibly one of the 20th Century’s greatest authors, whose works I have digested since I was a teenager – has died from his long standing prostate cancer.

Such a loss. I believe that I have read every word he has written, and all of them resonated with me, and many may have changed my life as I grew older. No more words – visit www.ballardian.com if you want to really understand more about this incredible man.

 

 

[ Simon Sellars ]

One week later – almost healed.

I took the stitches out myself, LOL! (I am qualified, sort of ) and it didn’t explode, so all is well.

At long last! The Bonsai exits ICU! :)

Some may remember that Yasmin got for me the most superb Bonsai tree, back in October, for my birthday present.

Well, it lasted only a few weeks under my tender care before Y declared it “almost dead!” Despite any protestations on my part that I could make it recover, she insisted on taking it back to the vendor, who sighed mightily before promptly placing it in Intensive Care, with no date given for it’s eventual recovery.

Fortunately, it survived, and this week was able to leave quarantine, and return to the homestead. With strict instructions regarding it’s future care, and “bathing” it daily in order for it to flourish. Takes more looking after than any pet, LOL!

Anyway, looking good now! Glad it’s home again.

Blogging Cafe Libre visitors. With added Dabido!

Yesterday evening I received a phone call from Suanie, who asked me if I knew Dabido. Although I have sporadically read his blog, and it is of course completely impossible to miss the many comments that he makes on various blogs, I replied that I did not, as such “know” him.

Suanie informed me that she, he, and Lainie, were going to pop down to Cafe Libre for a bit of a relaxing evening, and did I want to join. I could hear the disbelief in her voice when I said “maybe…” which is hardly surprising as my record for attending any sort of social gathering usually consists of me not turning up. However, I have not seen Suan, who had always been a great friend of the Cafe almost since it’s inception, in quite a while, and as my social diary for that Saturday evening showed a few gaps I decided to pop along and at least meet someone new from the blogging scene – and co-incidentally someone much closer to my age, which would be interesting – and catch up with “the world outside my computer.”

Meeting Suan and Laine again was great, both are always interesting to talk to, and neither set off my sociophobia (which actually is now dormant, but no-one needs to know that, LOL!) and it was a pleasure to meet David (Dabido) who is such an obviously intelligent, well-read and humorous chap (send the $5 registered, please, David!)

Suanie as usual made me laugh out loud with some classic lines – all of which as usual I have forgotten, but will re-emerge from my short term memory loss at some inappropriate moment – Lainie is always thought provoking (well, she certainly provokes thoughts in David, but we’ll gloss over that ) and David himself proved excellent company. I certainly enjoyed my first evening out of the apartment in 2009 anyway, I hope the others feel the same Certainly Yasmin is still in shock that I actually ventured out to meet people. I think she hopes this will spark a trend, although as Suan remarked on leaving, “see you in 2010″ which showed a singularly cynical lack of optimism. I shall prove you wrong, Suanie, have no fear!

To recount the conversations themselves would be to miss the spontaneity, and the range of topics discussed which always seemed to revert to one thing , so I shan’t, and merely attach a few pictures in my role as compulsive photo archivist. OCD – who mentioned OCD?

And a – belated – Happy Xmas to everyone.

After an absolute blowout xmas dinner at the Cafe, returned to the In-Laws apartment.

Another Poladroid – A surfeit of gifts being opened.

Best song title I’ve heard this week.

 A new album that I doubt many of you are familiar with, called “Black Sheep” by Julian Cope – ex “The Teardrop Explodes” for oldies and late 70’s throwbacks.

It has to be said that Cope’s work has become, well, let’s be frank and call it weird shit since his Jehovahkill album of 2000. And he has written two huge tomes of work on Megalithic structures in the UK, and in Europe. Well recommended reading if you can lift the damn books off the table! I have a copy of the first hardback edition, and I’m still not sure if he didn’t intend it to be a monolith itself

He is totally out there, as his Head Heritage site proves, but the song title, and I love it:

All The Blowing-Themselves-Up Motherfuckers

(Will Realise The Minute They Die That They Were Suckers)