anvers

I've never visited Antwerp before and had to look it up briefly on a map to get a fix on its location. I've spent time in Belgium though and even used to use Brussels as my airport when I was travelling to Maastricht in the Netherlands. That used to be a regular journey for me for a while, with a different hire-car every week.

So now I've travelled via Brussels, but in a different direction arriving so late that its already the next day. So I shall sleep and then see if I get time to investigate anything tomorrow, although I do suspect this is white-box travelling (ie from one white box to another).

We shall see.

bung

Now theres a word...

Bung

Sometimes a squishy rubber cork used to seal a test-tube, flask or barrel. A slang word for cheese in Australia. Slang in English for 'throw' or 'pass' as in "bung us the sauce!" meaning "would you kindly pass me the ketchup?".

And in its most recent form "bung" as "in secret unauthorised financial incentive" (aka "bribe") in soccer. Now the talk of "a bung" in soccer isn't a new expression, yet the football association doesnt think there are any records of proven cases. On this occasion (allegedly) even his Svenly self has passed comments about 'bungs' and there seem to be just 50 recent player signings worthy of further investigation.

And I suppose the related phrase "tapping up" (sounding out) also appeared by accident and has no proven useage. So a sentence like: "He tapped up the youth player to consider transfer in return for a bung" has no place in modern sporting idiom. Unless we believe what the BBC and several newspapers are reporting today.

Just look at the expression of incredulity on the face of this team manager who was mentioned in the recent Panorama investigation. What could this all mean? Surely not that any players have been enticed to play for English soccer teams against a backdrop of additional payments to other people? That wouldn't be very sporting, would it?

american agenda

Nowadays the paper delivery person doesn't make any attempt to push the Sunday paper through the letterbox. Instead, it comes neatly wrapped in a plastic bag and is dropped on the step outside. I only noticed it today when a neighbour knocked to enquire whether I'd seen her missing Persian cat which is blind in one eye.

We walked around for a little while shaking a tin bowl filled with cat nibbles and calling out, but to no avail - I suspect the cat has gone into hiding somewhere probably frightened of the big outdoors.

Then to the paper. It stresses me with a Sunday paper having so much to read and I always feel better when I have removed the redundant sections and the added in mailshots in which I have low interest. Today, however, in amongst the leaflets was a nice little catalogue for the forthcoming show at the Royal Academy of Art.

Its a show about the USA and features some well known pieces which discuss themes including war, peace, consumerism, diversity, poverty the USA's place in the world. I was smitten as soon as I saw the catalogue and will drop in to the exhibition as soon as practical to have a look around.

A couple of years ago I was in New York and visited one of my regular spots, the Whitney, whilst it was running a couple of interesting US art exhibitions, one on Pop art and another on War art, particularly related to the Vietnam era. Both were very thoughtful and the Royal Academy show has some similar promise. A while ago (in blogging memory!) I visited the Saatchi Gallery in London and I notice that quite a few of the exhibits are from the Saatchi - presumably because Saatchi are about to 'up sticks' and move to Kings Road, Chelsea.

The exhibition advertising seems to be using a picture from Josephine Meckseper which, in her normal work contrasts the seductiveness of consumerism with the realities of a war-torn world. The one above is called Pyromaniac 2.

I also noticed some Dash Snow, who makes paintings but is also famous for some polaroids, including the one here, which takes a gas station, notices a missing light, and creates a statement at the same time.

Its good to find art about ideas.

orange lead

Yesterday evening I had some time to practice some guitar playing. I know the theory is to play every day, but my WLB (work-life-balance) doesnt always permit it and if I'm away, then a guitar is not exactly convenient hand luggage. Yes - I know about priorities and all.

Anyway, based upon my last post's reference to orange attractors, I couldn't help noticing that the cable to the guitar is also bright orange.

I do have some conventional black cables too, but its harder to lose and easier to untangle an orange (or luminous green) cable.

I'm sure this would be frowned upon by proper guitarros but I need all the help I can get.

Anyway, I had some great fun making noise yesterday evening.

spaced

I noticed that Sky is still playing Star Wars movies nearly every night and this evening it was Revenge of the Sith.

Then I noticed that Channel 4 was playing The Fifth Element.

No contest.

Luc Besson wins every time. Or perhaps I'm strangely attracted to orange.

freeloading

Julie extorted another ticket for me to see Will Young in Brighton yesterday evening - with the demand that I grabbed a few more moments from the show. I managed to meet Andrea, Fiona and the fellah with Fiona who wasn't Fiona's fellah, before the gig started. As they all walked off to their front-row seats, I had to make my way to a solitary confinement area, because of my different ticket.

Let's just say the ticket meant I had to be by myself for the entire evening, but on the other hand, I seem to have picked up some useful supplementary video. It seems weird that this was recorded onto a little phone memory card, but it seems to have come out okay. I've fiddled with the sound a little bit to boost the voice and the edits are here, here and here.

General consensus after the show - excellent. Great singing, slick dance numbers, polished and versatile band of real musicians. Its good to see someone cutting their own path through medialand. And Friday evening was a top performance.

If Sony BMG made a proper DVD instead of posturing, I'm sure it would walk off the shelves.

If you enjoy the videos, please leave a comment.



UPDATE: I've noticed quite a few people (several hundred!) accessing this entry. Don't forget:

1) more Brighton on Christina's
2) 15 minute video
3) Newcastle clips

gravatar -ational pull

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Thursday Thirteen (V30)

1) Dedication this evening. Blogger ate my first TT. Here's a second one. It won't be the same because I can't remember what I wrote the first time.
2) Working from home today, because of the work to defective windows. An after effect of a window nearly falling out.
3) I expected it to be a noisy day, but the guys doing the work were able to remove and install things without crashes bangs and breaking glass. Impressive.
4) Spaghetti this evening, which I assembled from almost no content, yet it did taste good.
5) Pleased to see video of Richard Hammond walking to an ambulance today. The somewhat mad Top Gear presenter crashed a rocket car at 300mph a few days ago and it all looked very grim. he is reckoned to need six months to recover. I hope the kind of mad boys' toys programme like Top Gear finds a way to continue and wish Hammond well for his recovery.
6) Just seen the Lifestraw, a fat straw suitable for drinking brown surface water. Life changing for some parts of the world.
7) Someone told me about iStumbler which is a Mac utility to check out the wi-fi networks in the area. Useful for me because there are sometimes 5-6 networks detected from where I am sitting at the moment. I've just moved wildherons to Channel 6 which seems to be less congested. A sign of the times.
8 ) Julie has asked me to go to Brighton tomorrow to capture some more of Will Young's concert. I gather she has started a campaign to get a DVD from the concert and it seems that BMG want to do a deal to do with voting for Will Young in some pop poll. Hmm.
9) I gather that Mel, John and Christina will be in Brighton tomorrow. I suspect dancing in the aisles.
10) And Bill Clinton at the Labour Party conference, what was that about? He semed to be endorsing everyone.
11) is still my favorite number
12) The Labour conference seems to have a rule about not talking about the new leadership post Blair. However, the only journo question to everyone is about who will replace Tony? Seems to suck other pertinence from the conference.
13) At least Cherie's alleged anti Brown quip has been worth the mileage, but not as much fun as the Cherie Disco Blair game

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Tag: Thursday Thirteen, free link friday

steamy windows

Today I've been pre-occupied with windows of the glazed kind as we have needed some work done after an accident caused a window to almost fall out. Instead of humming a super cool modern song, I've found the one that has been swirliing around in my mind today is "When I'm cleaning windows", by George Formby - yes he of ukelele fame. Here's a taste of the lyrics.

Now I go cleanin' windows to earn an honest bob
For a nosy parker it's an interestin' job

Now it's a job that just suits me
A window cleaner you would be
If you can see what I can see
When I'm cleanin' windows

Honeymoonin' couples too
You should see them bill 'n coo
You'd be surprised at things they do
When I'm cleanin' windows

In my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top

OTA: Wordless Wednesday

cathy, mustard, ale n'dogs, down to the quay

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Tag: Wordless Wednesday

chipped dog

Today's hot story is of a breakdown patrol man who came to the rescue of a woman motorist and who managed to get her car started using her dog. Juliette Piesley had changed the battery in her electronic key fob but was then unable to start her car.

When AA patrolman Kevin Gorman arrived at the scene in Addlestone, Surrey, he found its immobiliser chip was missing. Ms Piesley said her dog George had eaten something. Kevin suspected it was the chip and put the dog in the front seat and then started the car with the key.

Mr Gorman said: "I was glad to get the car started for the member. They will now have to take George [the dog] with them in the car until things take their natural course. It is the first time that I have had to get a dog to help me to start a car."

I noticed that the missing key/broken transponder is now the second most common cause of breakdown on British roads, according to the AA.

this is for the devoted

Okay, at Julie's request I've glued all of my pieces of Will Young phone footage together in Final Cut Pro and uploaded them so that they can be viewed as a mini-movie. Theres about 15 minutes here, including a Joseph guitar excerpt and some dancers too. Julie informs me I should have only included the singing, but I think it gives more of an impression of the whole gig. Its quite a large file - which I have compressed heavily to save download time, but don't try this without broadband. Click the photo, or here (its a Quicktime Movie).

UPDATE: I've noticed quite a few people accessing this entry. Don't forget:

Brighton 29th
Brighton 30th (Christina's)
Newcastle clips