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Good Morning
Oct. 28th, 2020 06:56 am
Oct. 28th, 2020
Book 83 - Jeremy Paxman "The English"
Oct. 28th, 2020 08:35 amJeremy Paxman "The English" (Penguin)
I don't particularly like this book, but it's hard to say exactly why. I guess I found it bland and disjointed, and reflecting back on it a week after reading it, I can't recall anything about it that was particularly memorable.
I suppose part of the problem is that our Jeremy can't help going into sneer mode occasionally (anyone who has seen him on TV knows exactly what such a Jeremy sneer looks like). Take this comment about the English and food: 'For the majority of people, eating out is to consume fat-filled fast food, and to eat in, to be the victim of something pre-packaged in industrial quantities in a factory somewhere.'
The other problem is that on practically every subject, the outcome is neither one thing nor the other. So the English are as they always were, yet they're also quite changed. They are gentle, kind people, who are also aggressive hooligans, and so on. As an analysis, it lacks clear outcomes.
He fails to mention or discuss that most English of Englishness, class. An Englishman has to just open his mouth to be immediately pigeonholed which separates the English from most other nations. He also fails to discuss the regional identities and their relation to England.
All that said, it's an interesting and entertaining book. What's certainly true is that there is more focus now on being English. Where once the English tended to label themselves British, we are finally coming out as something individual, with a distinct identity.
However, I found the book perplexingly indistinct and hence would not recommend it.
I don't particularly like this book, but it's hard to say exactly why. I guess I found it bland and disjointed, and reflecting back on it a week after reading it, I can't recall anything about it that was particularly memorable.
I suppose part of the problem is that our Jeremy can't help going into sneer mode occasionally (anyone who has seen him on TV knows exactly what such a Jeremy sneer looks like). Take this comment about the English and food: 'For the majority of people, eating out is to consume fat-filled fast food, and to eat in, to be the victim of something pre-packaged in industrial quantities in a factory somewhere.'
The other problem is that on practically every subject, the outcome is neither one thing nor the other. So the English are as they always were, yet they're also quite changed. They are gentle, kind people, who are also aggressive hooligans, and so on. As an analysis, it lacks clear outcomes.
He fails to mention or discuss that most English of Englishness, class. An Englishman has to just open his mouth to be immediately pigeonholed which separates the English from most other nations. He also fails to discuss the regional identities and their relation to England.
All that said, it's an interesting and entertaining book. What's certainly true is that there is more focus now on being English. Where once the English tended to label themselves British, we are finally coming out as something individual, with a distinct identity.
However, I found the book perplexingly indistinct and hence would not recommend it.
A very rare visitor...
Oct. 28th, 2020 11:10 amI was sat at my computer yesterday morning, at the table in the dining room. My wife was looking out of the window over our back garden when she suddenly said: "Goodness, what kind of bird is that on our back fence?!" (Ours is an urban garden not far from the centre of Brighton). Fortunately I always have binoculars to hand and took a look, astonished to see a female Sparrowhawk preening on the fence behind the garden shed.
I have kept records of garden visitors for 35 years and this is a first. Remarkable.
I have kept records of garden visitors for 35 years and this is a first. Remarkable.
Wednesday Selection #1
Oct. 28th, 2020 12:08 pmTime I did a music post -
Do Make Say Think - Think
Steve Lacy - The Rent
Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone;
Bobby Few – piano;
Steve Potts - alto and soprano saxophones;
Jean-Jacques Avenel – bass;
John Betsch – drums;
La Velle – vocals;
Irene Aebi – vocals;
Sam Kelly – percussion;
Glenn Ferris – trombone.
Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs
Television - Marquee Moon
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music For A Found Harmonium
Enjoy
Do Make Say Think - Think
Steve Lacy - The Rent
Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone;
Bobby Few – piano;
Steve Potts - alto and soprano saxophones;
Jean-Jacques Avenel – bass;
John Betsch – drums;
La Velle – vocals;
Irene Aebi – vocals;
Sam Kelly – percussion;
Glenn Ferris – trombone.
Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs
Television - Marquee Moon
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Music For A Found Harmonium
Enjoy
Wednesday Selection #2
Oct. 28th, 2020 12:56 pmA second eclectic mix -
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Vega
Gastr del Sol - Our Exquisite Replica of "Eternity"
Bark Psychosis - Pendulum Man
Hex is one of my all-time blissed-out albums. Beautiful.
Autechre - Bike
One of the most prolific electronica bands. Incunabula is a great album okay!
Despite being 64 I am still into modern grooves.
Arvo Pärt - Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten
Enjoy
Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Vega
Gastr del Sol - Our Exquisite Replica of "Eternity"
Bark Psychosis - Pendulum Man
Hex is one of my all-time blissed-out albums. Beautiful.
Autechre - Bike
One of the most prolific electronica bands. Incunabula is a great album okay!
Despite being 64 I am still into modern grooves.
Arvo Pärt - Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten
Enjoy
My Morricone Collection ...
Oct. 28th, 2020 04:42 pmso far.
The Film Music collection does have Deborah's Theme (posted by my bro![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
coming42 recently) on it but not the whole score for Once Upon A Time in America. Brand new the CD is worth a lot but reasonably got for a tenner second hand.
Ennio Morricone - Once Upon A Time In America (Soundtrack Suite)
-00:00 = "Once Upon A Time In America"
-01:50 = "Deborah's Theme"
-03:12 = "Childhood Memories"
-05:33 = "Amapola"
-07:41 = "Friends"
-09:00 = "Deborah's Theme / Amapola"
Thanks to Wire magazine for introducing me to all his wonderful music - R.I.P Ennio!
The Film Music collection does have Deborah's Theme (posted by my bro
coming42 recently) on it but not the whole score for Once Upon A Time in America. Brand new the CD is worth a lot but reasonably got for a tenner second hand.Ennio Morricone - Once Upon A Time In America (Soundtrack Suite)
-00:00 = "Once Upon A Time In America"
-01:50 = "Deborah's Theme"
-03:12 = "Childhood Memories"
-05:33 = "Amapola"
-07:41 = "Friends"
-09:00 = "Deborah's Theme / Amapola"
Thanks to Wire magazine for introducing me to all his wonderful music - R.I.P Ennio!
More Morricone
Oct. 28th, 2020 05:19 pmMore soundtrack music - from the creepy end of his music with Dario's horror movies.
Ennio Morricone - Piume Di Cristallo (Crystal Plumage)
Ennio Morricone - Silenzio Nel Caos (Silence In The Chaos)
Ennio Morricone - Dissociazione (Dissociation)
This is one of my favorite collections, ideal for Halloween.
Ennio Morricone - Piume Di Cristallo (Crystal Plumage)
Ennio Morricone - Silenzio Nel Caos (Silence In The Chaos)
Ennio Morricone - Dissociazione (Dissociation)
This is one of my favorite collections, ideal for Halloween.
Just Wondering
Oct. 28th, 2020 11:49 pmWhat were you really into as a kid?
What’s something you really resent paying for?
How many pairs of socks do you own?
What’s something you really resent paying for?
How many pairs of socks do you own?
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