Get Sir Lee in the Charts Campaign
Friday, June 12th, 2015 01:05 pm
The inevitable campaign to get a track by a beloved deceased person has started, and Twitter has decided that the track we should go for is My Way. Buy it on amazon here, or Google Play here, or iTunes here.
If you're a proper tightarse, listen to it a few times on Spotify, that counts, but not as much as actually buying it, so listen to it LOTS.
If you're a proper tightarse, listen to it a few times on Spotify, that counts, but not as much as actually buying it, so listen to it LOTS.
Disappointing Songs
Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 10:23 pmJames and I are discussing songs with really awesome intros, where the actual song comes as a disappointment afterwards. Not that the song is necessarily bad, per se, but that the intro is SO good that the rest of the song can't help but pale behind it.
We both agree on Pinball Wizard by The Who.
I suggested Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, which for the first 30 seconds is all dark drama & then suddenly becomes Status Quo. Also Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden and I Fought the Law by the Clash - both of which I LOVE but the intro is definitely the best bit.
James suggested 20th Century Boy by T Rex, A View to a Kill by Duran Duran, & (somewhat controversially in my view) One Vision by Queen - although I'll admit it does sag a bit in the middle.
What would your picks be?
We both agree on Pinball Wizard by The Who.
I suggested Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, which for the first 30 seconds is all dark drama & then suddenly becomes Status Quo. Also Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden and I Fought the Law by the Clash - both of which I LOVE but the intro is definitely the best bit.
James suggested 20th Century Boy by T Rex, A View to a Kill by Duran Duran, & (somewhat controversially in my view) One Vision by Queen - although I'll admit it does sag a bit in the middle.
What would your picks be?
On the mooted return of Top of the Pops
Sunday, April 19th, 2015 12:43 pmApparently they're on about bringing back another British icon to our screens: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/t
Which song should we campaign for a mass download of to game the number one slot for the week it returns?
My first thought was Top of the Pops by Rezillos, but that's a bit obvious. Then I had a another idea. An idea so awesome in its terrible trolliness... when they started showing repeats of seventies TotP on BBC4 the one song that stuck in my head, because they had it on week after week, despite the fact that the artist was clearly off his face, his head, and any other body part you care to mention, was Boston Tea Party by the Alex Harvey Band.
If we could get THAT into the charts and shown on TotP the week they bring it back that would be AMAZING.
Which song should we campaign for a mass download of to game the number one slot for the week it returns?
My first thought was Top of the Pops by Rezillos, but that's a bit obvious. Then I had a another idea. An idea so awesome in its terrible trolliness... when they started showing repeats of seventies TotP on BBC4 the one song that stuck in my head, because they had it on week after week, despite the fact that the artist was clearly off his face, his head, and any other body part you care to mention, was Boston Tea Party by the Alex Harvey Band.
If we could get THAT into the charts and shown on TotP the week they bring it back that would be AMAZING.
Dearest Fellow Spotify Users...
Tuesday, February 17th, 2015 04:53 pm... I've already asked this on twitter, but the blog is a bit less ephemeral: I am trying to expand my network on twitter because my default playlist at work has become the "What everyone in your network is listening to" list, and given that I work 5 days a week I need a reasonably broad network for that not to get samey.
If you're an active spotify user, would you mind dropping your user name in a comment? If we look like we intersect somewhat on taste or you look interesting I'll add you (my tastes are reasonably catholic, so I'm not going to list what I like here)
Thanking you in advance :)
If you're an active spotify user, would you mind dropping your user name in a comment? If we look like we intersect somewhat on taste or you look interesting I'll add you (my tastes are reasonably catholic, so I'm not going to list what I like here)
Thanking you in advance :)
Mental Health/ #MusicMonday: on being a psychopath
Monday, December 9th, 2013 12:16 pmSo channel 4 did Psychopath Night, and put up a test on their website so you can see how many psychopathic traits you have. You can take the test here. The only reason I know about this is because I was chatting to someone last night who expressed surprise at getting 63% on it, and was mildly offended when I said I wasn't at all surprised.
I then had to elucidate further: I lived with a psychologist for ten years. I got tested a LOT. I know the signs and symptoms of a LOT of psychological problems. I know I have some interesting quirks. I also know I'm not a psychopath, although I bet I would score higher on an online test than the person I was talking to.
I took the test today. I got 85% on it. I was unsurprised, and not a little amused.
The problems with web-based agree/disagree tests are manifold and well known, but with this particular one, I think that my aspie traits combined with non-tradtional attitudes to a number of things, addiction to thrill-seeking, and my tendency to tick agree/disagree strongly rather than moderately would ring the alarm bells. But of course the defining trait of a psychopath is their inability to feel/express emotion. Anyone who has ever met me for more than ten seconds, or indeed read a few posts on this blog, knows that is NOT a trait of mine.
Psychopaths don't have panic attacks, don't self harm, don't wake up screaming in the night from post traumatic nightmares. I do. Plus, pychopaths are not necessarily bad people anyway. So I guess this blog post is meant as reassurance: if you take that test and score highly, don't fret.
ETA: Also:
I then had to elucidate further: I lived with a psychologist for ten years. I got tested a LOT. I know the signs and symptoms of a LOT of psychological problems. I know I have some interesting quirks. I also know I'm not a psychopath, although I bet I would score higher on an online test than the person I was talking to.
I took the test today. I got 85% on it. I was unsurprised, and not a little amused.
The problems with web-based agree/disagree tests are manifold and well known, but with this particular one, I think that my aspie traits combined with non-tradtional attitudes to a number of things, addiction to thrill-seeking, and my tendency to tick agree/disagree strongly rather than moderately would ring the alarm bells. But of course the defining trait of a psychopath is their inability to feel/express emotion. Anyone who has ever met me for more than ten seconds, or indeed read a few posts on this blog, knows that is NOT a trait of mine.
Psychopaths don't have panic attacks, don't self harm, don't wake up screaming in the night from post traumatic nightmares. I do. Plus, pychopaths are not necessarily bad people anyway. So I guess this blog post is meant as reassurance: if you take that test and score highly, don't fret.
ETA: Also:
Mental Health/Music Monday: on the topic of self harm (TW)
Monday, November 25th, 2013 10:58 am
The last few days I have been having conversations via various media with sseveral different people about our, um, eccentricities. It turns out that, like with lots of other taboo subjects, once a topic comes up and you "admit" that you have experienced it, suddenly lots of other people can talk to you about how they have too.
Those of you who don't and haven't self harmed possibly don't realise quite how prevalent it is. So this is my public coming out, if you like. When the intersection of my anxiety, depression and paranoia become too much, I self-harm.
( And the rest of this is going under a cut, because there are some things people don't necessarily want to know )
Anyway, the music part. Two songs about self harm:
One for when I'm in the depths of it is Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt. I love the NiN original, but Cash just somehow encapsulates the pain so much better.
And one for when I'm bringing myself out of it is Papa Roach's Last Resort. I really love how the video shows the sad lonely faces of the people alone in their rooms transformed when they go into the crowd and rock out. Healing power of music etc.
This post was VERY difficult to write. I hope it's not as difficult to read. I don't want to prompt anyone's concern, or for anyone to do anything, I'm actually not too bad today. But if this post increases understanding a bit it will have done its job...
Those of you who don't and haven't self harmed possibly don't realise quite how prevalent it is. So this is my public coming out, if you like. When the intersection of my anxiety, depression and paranoia become too much, I self-harm.
( And the rest of this is going under a cut, because there are some things people don't necessarily want to know )
Anyway, the music part. Two songs about self harm:
One for when I'm in the depths of it is Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt. I love the NiN original, but Cash just somehow encapsulates the pain so much better.
And one for when I'm bringing myself out of it is Papa Roach's Last Resort. I really love how the video shows the sad lonely faces of the people alone in their rooms transformed when they go into the crowd and rock out. Healing power of music etc.
Papa Roach - Last Resort from Nuxo on Vimeo.
This post was VERY difficult to write. I hope it's not as difficult to read. I don't want to prompt anyone's concern, or for anyone to do anything, I'm actually not too bad today. But if this post increases understanding a bit it will have done its job...
#MusicMonday (or should that be Mental Health Monday?)
Monday, November 18th, 2013 03:17 pm
So the problem with coming off the happy pills and managing my various eccentricities with diet and exercise is that if I have a week of megabusy like I had last week, the care regime tends to go out of the window. Don't get me wrong, I'd do everything I did last week again in a heartbeat, but possibly I need to remind myself that self care reaps it's own rewards. As it is, this morning I woke up 2 kilos lighter from not eating properly, with achy muscles from not eating properly OR exercising properly, and with clanging depression and anxiety symptoms.
Experience has taught me that when the day starts like that I can go one of two ways. I will notice and dwell on lots of horrible things that I have no control over and spiral into panic, despair and worse; OR I will notice and dwell on things that piss me off that I CAN do something about... The latter situation is rarer but more productive. At that point the Angry playlist goes on and whoever has annoyed me had better watch out.
Which brings me to the music part of this. I have 29 playlists that I maintain carefully on Spotify to cover various situations. For instance, the Gym one is full of pumping stuff at a decent BPM for exercise; the Miserable one speaks for itself. The Angry one, though, is full of tracks to shout along to and motivate. Such as this:
In This Moment are a band I have only discovered reasonably recently, but have fallen really in love with them. And this particular song has been resonating today.
Experience has taught me that when the day starts like that I can go one of two ways. I will notice and dwell on lots of horrible things that I have no control over and spiral into panic, despair and worse; OR I will notice and dwell on things that piss me off that I CAN do something about... The latter situation is rarer but more productive. At that point the Angry playlist goes on and whoever has annoyed me had better watch out.
Which brings me to the music part of this. I have 29 playlists that I maintain carefully on Spotify to cover various situations. For instance, the Gym one is full of pumping stuff at a decent BPM for exercise; the Miserable one speaks for itself. The Angry one, though, is full of tracks to shout along to and motivate. Such as this:
In This Moment are a band I have only discovered reasonably recently, but have fallen really in love with them. And this particular song has been resonating today.
We wanted peace but you brought this warIf you liked that you might want to check out You're Gonna Listen (also on the angry playlist ;)) and Adrenalize (which is on a totally different playlist which we won't go into here)
We took enough and we won’t take any more
With our fists in the air, we’ll burn it all to the ground
We will tear your fucking empire down...
Two Delia Derbyshire Campaigns, one via @BenGoldacre
Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 04:42 pmIf you don't know who Delia Derbyshire is, you've not been reading my blog very long click here
Firstly, the estwhile Dr Goldacre made a sterling suggestion on twitter the other day:
Secondly, and possibly slightly more acheivably, BBC Radio 3's composer of the week feature is seventy years old this year, and they want listeners to suggest composers they haven't featured before. They've provided a handy list of composers they HAVE featured, and Delia is not on it. They say:
Thanks guys :)
Firstly, the estwhile Dr Goldacre made a sterling suggestion on twitter the other day:
I very much approve of this idea. I understand why it hasn't happened yet (BBC staffers never got the credit they deserved, it's why Raymond Cusick doesn't get credited with dalek design too) but that doesn't mean it can't happen now. Just one line to the credits of the show isn't too much to ask, surely? Ben got nearly 250 retweets on that one tweet, but I think Delia deserves a bit more than that. So lets get to it. Email/write/phone the beeb and lets see what we can get done, yeah?Since it's #inspiringwomen today, let's start a campaign to finally get #DeliaDerbyshire in #DrWho theme tune credits http://t.co/UPnHntCmJa
— ben goldacre (@bengoldacre) August 4, 2013
Secondly, and possibly slightly more acheivably, BBC Radio 3's composer of the week feature is seventy years old this year, and they want listeners to suggest composers they haven't featured before. They've provided a handy list of composers they HAVE featured, and Delia is not on it. They say:
If there is someone you think we’ve unjustly overlooked, please do let us know. Send an email to composeroftheweek@bbc.co.uk, write to Composer of the Week, BBC Wales, Cardiff, CF5 2YQ. Or tweet us using the hashtag #COTW70.I think it'd be awesome to have Delia featured for a whole week on radio 3, and not just because I download the Composer of the Week podcast ;) So if you've got a moment to email or tweet or even write them a snail mail, that'd be fantastic.
Thanks guys :)
Brainstorming Rolling Stones Glee Club Songs #jaggeratgleeclub
Friday, July 5th, 2013 07:57 pmSo apparently, Mick Jagger and Cleggy are mates. Like, they ate in the same restaurant and EVERYTHING. This led the lovely Petite Liberal to opine on twitter that it'd be ace if uncle Mick were a Lib Dem cos then he could come to GLEE CLUB! And you all know what that's going to lead to: a hashtag! Thus #jaggeratgleeclub was born.
Now "I can't get no... proportional representation" doesn't quite scan, but there are a couple of others that I think work
Now "I can't get no... proportional representation" doesn't quite scan, but there are a couple of others that I think work
Summer's hereand of course
and the time has come
for leafletting all the streets
all we need is RISOs
sweet RISOs
there'll be RISOs everywhere...
I see a red door and I want to paint it yellow...and I REALLY want to work on Sympathy for the Paddy
I watched with gleeYou lot have any suggestions?
While your Blairs and Browns
Fought for ten decades
For the mess they made
I shouted out,
"Who killed the Snooping Bill?"
When after all
It was you and me...
Metal Monday: goodbye HMV
Monday, January 14th, 2013 09:40 pm
I've been planning to do my own riff on Music Monday for a while, and when I saw about the death of HMV on twitter it spurred me into posting.
When I was a wee thing, my godmother gave me a Jason Donovan album for either Christmas or my birthday. It was a reasonable guess, given the fashions of the time and my age, but she didn't know my musical tastes very well. Luckily she also had the foresight to include the receipt. So I toddled in to HMV in Bradford with a Jason Donovan album and a receipt and swapped it for two of the Iron Maiden First Ten Years double 12"ers. This song was on one of them:
You can also get it on Spotify and last.fm.
I spent much happy time in HMV Bradford, although as the years went by I spent less time buying music and more on peripheries. My two most recent purchases there were a set of headphones and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Both times I looked at the CDs, and both times I thought "bloody hell, I'm not paying that." And therein lies the reason they're gone. I'm sad, but it's kind of inevitable.
RIP HMV.
When I was a wee thing, my godmother gave me a Jason Donovan album for either Christmas or my birthday. It was a reasonable guess, given the fashions of the time and my age, but she didn't know my musical tastes very well. Luckily she also had the foresight to include the receipt. So I toddled in to HMV in Bradford with a Jason Donovan album and a receipt and swapped it for two of the Iron Maiden First Ten Years double 12"ers. This song was on one of them:
You can also get it on Spotify and last.fm.
I spent much happy time in HMV Bradford, although as the years went by I spent less time buying music and more on peripheries. My two most recent purchases there were a set of headphones and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Both times I looked at the CDs, and both times I thought "bloody hell, I'm not paying that." And therein lies the reason they're gone. I'm sad, but it's kind of inevitable.
RIP HMV.
Quick Heads Up for Metalhead (esp Maiden fan) Readers
Saturday, December 15th, 2012 10:13 amThe Requiem Metal Podcast can be a bit patchy, and tends towards the black/death metal end of things a bit much for my tastes, but this week's edition is a bit of a corker.
They do episodes themed around a band, or a particular aspect of a band's output - I recommend listening to their Monster Magnet, Bruce Dickinson solo, and Alice in Chains editions. The latest edition is The History of the World According to Iron Maiden Part 1 (Stone Age to c.1300CE), and because one of the hosts is a history teacher there's some interesting commentary between tracks. To give you a flavour of the kind of commentary you're getting, they explain the Gordian knot as "Alexander the Great's Kobayishi Maru scenario" ;) They don't take themselves too seriously, they occasionally segue off on tangents, and the music is (obviously) good. It's well worth a listen, and I'm looking forward to next week's slice of world history Maiden style.
They do episodes themed around a band, or a particular aspect of a band's output - I recommend listening to their Monster Magnet, Bruce Dickinson solo, and Alice in Chains editions. The latest edition is The History of the World According to Iron Maiden Part 1 (Stone Age to c.1300CE), and because one of the hosts is a history teacher there's some interesting commentary between tracks. To give you a flavour of the kind of commentary you're getting, they explain the Gordian knot as "Alexander the Great's Kobayishi Maru scenario" ;) They don't take themselves too seriously, they occasionally segue off on tangents, and the music is (obviously) good. It's well worth a listen, and I'm looking forward to next week's slice of world history Maiden style.
A Song For Pickles
Monday, December 3rd, 2012 08:36 pmEric Pickles is apparently going on Desert Island Discs this week. We know this because he tweeted such, and asked for song suggestions. Leaving aside the fact that one is supposed to choose songs which have some special personal meaning, not crowdsoure it, many people have been making suggestions to him, some less polite than others. I can think of none more appropriate than this one, from my beloved father. I've bolded the most appropriat passage, in my view:
I am the man, the very fat man,Any of you lot got a better suggestion?
That waters the workers' beer
I am the man, the very fat man,
That waters the workers' beer
And what do I care if it makes them ill,
If it makes them terribly queer
I've a car, a yacht, and an aeroplane,
And I waters the workers' beer
Now when I waters the workers' beer,
I puts in strychnine
Some methylated spirits,
And a can of kerosine
Ah, but such a brew so terribly strong,
It would make them terribly queer
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers' beer
Now a drop of good beer is good for a man
When he's tired, thirsty and hot
And I sometimes have a drop myself,
From a very special pot
For a strong and healthy working class
Is the thing that I most fear
So I reaches my hand for the watering-can
And I waters the workers' beer
Now ladies fair, beyond compare,
Be you maiden or wife
Spare a thought for such a man
Who leads such a lonely life
For the water rates are frightfully high,
And the meths is terribly dear
And there ain't the profit there used to be
In watering workers' beer
The Lib Dem Activist Blues
Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 12:21 pm
I went down to the office
In my constituency
There was a great big pile of leaflets a-waiting there for me
The organiser told me
To go and get them out
And then come back for some posters and put them all about
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I spoke to the cand’date
He’s nothing like me
He’s white and grey and suited and he told me to be free
But I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I went round the doorsteps
I knocked on the door
The voter screamed into my face to not come back no more
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
The voters they despise me
They call me hypocrite
They say that I’m a traitor to the values that make me tick
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
So please, I beg you voter
Tho it goes against the grain
To please be gentle to me and be mindful of my pain
Cos I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I got the low-down dirty poor Lib Dem activist blues...
In my constituency
There was a great big pile of leaflets a-waiting there for me
The organiser told me
To go and get them out
And then come back for some posters and put them all about
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I spoke to the cand’date
He’s nothing like me
He’s white and grey and suited and he told me to be free
But I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I went round the doorsteps
I knocked on the door
The voter screamed into my face to not come back no more
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
The voters they despise me
They call me hypocrite
They say that I’m a traitor to the values that make me tick
Oh I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
So please, I beg you voter
Tho it goes against the grain
To please be gentle to me and be mindful of my pain
Cos I got too much stuff to do
I got the Lib Dem activist blues
I got the low-down dirty poor Lib Dem activist blues...
Today's dose of metal cheese
Monday, October 22nd, 2012 01:29 pmHolly is on half term. We have been having a bit of a dance around the living room. Among the vast range of stuff we've listened to, from Lady Gaga to Iron Maiden, this is the song she liked best today:
Music Monday: RIP Jon Lord
Monday, July 16th, 2012 08:06 pmI don't often do these subject-per-day things, but I'm making an exception today because of the passing of a magnificent musician. Jon Lord, of the mighty organ, has passed away. I hope he'll be reunited with his good friend (and another of my great heroes) John Mortimer when he gets to the other side.
Spotify Without Facebook
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 09:09 pm
OK, so, since I jacked Facebook in, I have lost almost all my spotify f-list, so I can't nosey at other people's playlists, and this makes me sad. HOWEVER, apparently I can add people on spotify if I kno their spotify user name ithout having to do anything with evil facebook of evil. So does anyone here want to tell me their spotify user name?
ETA: If anyone wants to spy on what I'm listening to, put spotify:user:miss_s_b into the search box and you should find me.
ETA: If anyone wants to spy on what I'm listening to, put spotify:user:miss_s_b into the search box and you should find me.
The Blood is The Life 10-04-2012
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 10:00 am- Fairy tales: The Anti-Grimm | The Economist
Sexism in Grimm compared ith another, more enlightened collector of folk stories from the same country and time.
- Well, it is jubilee year... Queen's 'Greatest Hits' is Britain's best-selling album of past half-century - News - Music - The Independent
I've got 15 of these, and there's a couple more I mean to get around to buying at some point.
- BBC News - Saudi princess: What I'd change about my country
- The Next Time Someone Says the Internet Killed Reading Books, Show Them This Chart - Alexis Madrigal - Technology - The Atlantic
- Is some homophobia self-phobia?
- Teakay's Blog: The Wreck of the Titan: Fourteen Years On
The only item I am likely to enjoy about the anniversary of the wreck of the Titanic
- Liberal England: Kenneth Clarke on why politicians must sometimes say no to the security services
So we still need CONSTANT VIGILANCE then.
- DC Women Kicking Ass - Avengers Legos now available
Lego Hulk is so precious! And I bet Holly will want Lego Thor
The Blood is The Life 14-03-2012
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 09:00 am- Doctor Who charity book under threat from PayPal
- How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Feminists | G. Willow Wilson
"For a long time my attitude was “if I can do, it, any woman can do it” but the fact of the matter is that’s not true. The world my daughter grows up in will be tougher for girls than the world I grew up in. We are going backwards. And that is what makes me livid. "
- Mr. Clegg and the Vision thing
The always-excellent Cicero has some sage advice for Cleggy.
- A Dad's Plea To Developers Of iPad Apps For Children
- Without a pack of lies to back them up, Christian claims of persecution fall flat on their face
- Feminism Enabled Gay Marriage
Robert Sharp presents the intersectionality argument
- Forty Shades Of Grey: Who'd believe me?
Trigger warnings apply to this post.
- A Thousand Reasons
For those of you who think that feminism is unnecessary... Some of these are "trivial", some of them are absolutely harrowing, but none of them should be happening now. Yet they are. I try to cheer myself up with the number of times people have approached me in the pub (my colleagues are majority male) under the assumption that I'm the boss, but I suspect that *I* am the special case.
- Ohio Senator Nina Turner's Viagra Amendment
I do like the way American lady politicians deal with the obvious nutbaggery of some of the more extreme right-wing nutbags
- Daily Mail lifts from WP, then asks its reporter for help finding photo | Poynter.
This would be hilarious if it weren't the way the Fail operate all the time...
- Why I Am a Black Male Feminist
In which there is hope.
- Top 5 Men Who Are Doing the Most for Women's Rights
- He Doesn't Deserve Your Validation: Putting The Fake Orgasm Out of Business
And seeing as I seem to be having a YAY MALE FEMINISTS day today (hell, I live with two of them!), this is an oldie but a goodie.
- Judgment in case of woman prosecuted for falsely withdrawing allegation of rape
So here's the deal: - woman gets raped by her husband, and reports it. - after threats from husband, withdraws allegation - is notified that she will therefore be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice by filing false rape claim - tells solicitor that it wasn't a false rape claim, she just couldn't go through with court case - is notified that she will therefore be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice by FALSELY WITHDRAWING a rape claim - prosecution ADMIT HE RAPED HER AND BEAT HER ON REGULAR BASIS, YET SHE'S THE ONE CONVICTED OF A CRIME BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T FACE A COURT CASE. And people wonder why the vast majority of women just don't report at all.
- [Trigger warning] Indiana Jones is a child rapist - Milena Popova
A convenient hook upon which I can hang my dislike of all things Indy.
- Brian Granger: Nice Guy®
So, this guy was yesterday's twitter storm, and here he is in all his glory: "my opinion is that in the mjority of 'in-relationship' rapes', are not rape, morally. the woman should simply have consented" And now you know why I ended up linking to a lot of male feminists today. Because I am SO glad most of you guys aren't like NiceGuyBrian
- No More Mr. Nice Guy
"if she says something you did was weird or pushy or unwelcome, mocking her "paranoia" or getting defensive or saying it was "just a joke" doesn't make you right-- it makes you a jerk."
- Geeky Versions of Classic Art
I think I like Van Gogh's Cafe best, but there are many awesome ones, including Batman as Satan...
- Does this smartphone make me look stupid? Meet the "ladyphones"
I recall at one point going to B&Q; with my dad and spotting a pink drill, which was (you guessed it) lower spec and more expensive than the "men's" one from the same manufacturer. Why in Cthulhu's name do manufacturers do it? How stupid do they think we are?
- The full set of this week's Doonesbury
- Why 40 days of treats? - Brighton Feminist Collective
- How to Get Inspired like Becky Cloonan and Fiona Staples
Bookmarking for my own reference, for Becky Cloonan's music recs when I have musicking space/time
- Enjol-lass
I see myself like this sometimes.
Happy Birthday to one of my favourite famous bisexuals
Monday, February 6th, 2012 04:59 pm
Happy 65th Mr B.
The Blood is The Life 04-02-2012
Saturday, February 4th, 2012 09:00 am- The Almighty Johnsons episode 1 review - Den of Geek
This review is possibly a little harsh, but it makes some good points, and I love the desc ription of Olaf as "God of Exposition". Probably still going to give it a couple more episode; I'm glad I did with American Horror Story, which Jessica Lange has been utterly fabulous in.
- The first page of H.G. Wells’s version of Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds | Retronaut
Am singing this now
- Taxpayers' Alliance admits director doesn't pay British tax | Politics | The Guardian
It's a good job my irony meter already went sproing...
- The Death Of Decency
Not in my name.
- The Simms Indo-Australian Collection | Curatorial Trainee
Pretty butterflies. Takes one's mind off of the horror.
- UCSF scientists declare war on sugar in food
First they came for the smokers, and I did nothing... Then they came for the drinkers, and I stayed silent... Then they decried fat Then they stamped on people who like salt And now it's sugar. I wonder who'll be next?
- Is feminism skeptical? (or: are ninjas awesome?) | Lousy Canuck
Like ninjas, feminists are a diverse group. They are tied together by one common thread — the practice of ninjutsu, or the belief that women are worthy of basic human dignity
- Bidisha: Cinderella, you shall go to the ball. But you can't speak or sing at it. But you can give the organisers your money and they'll make sure to help some guys' careers so don't worry and calm down.
- Scientific American on Benevolent Sexism
- How to Write Good
Very clever indeed.
- Things that piss me off, part N
An eloquent rant about socks
- American Horror Story Season Two Scoop: New House and (Mostly) New Faces - E! Online
I hope that Jessica Lange is one of the returning faces, because she's been utterly fabulous
This post has been tagged:
The Blood is The Life 25-01-2012
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 09:00 am- Technogran's Tittle Tattle: What’s in a name? The G+ question.
Technogran is pone of those very cool people I would never have come across without G+
- Google+ New Naming Policy: Too Little, Too Late
- RIAA Accounting: Why Even Major Label Musicians Rarely Make Money From Album Sales
- Exercising and Exorcising: on Fitness and Fatness
- Star Trek meets Monty Python. [VIDEO]
This video is far too silly.
The Blood is The Life 22-01-2012
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 09:00 am- Drunk Texts from the U.S.S. Enterprise
This is very very silly
- BBC News - Live music red tape likely to be relaxed
A victory for the sensible wing of the Lib Dems. Now if only we could restrain those who keep voting with the Tories on stuff like bashing the disabled it'll all be good...
- This anti-gay marriage stance is far worse than homophobic
Amen to that.
- Sleep preserves and enhances unpleasant emotional memories
One of the few things that makes me glad for my insomnia
- Tom Baker Made Me a Dirty WHOer
I think the title says it all.
- Are Women People?
Ooooo I don't know... What do you think?
- Split Horizons: Bad News on Redistributing Supermarket Salaries
Interesting response to an interesting original article
- On being harassed: a little GF history and some current events | Geek Feminism Blog
This entry made me cry
- Met Police wins appeal over G20 kettling tactics
OFFS
- Top Income Tax Rate: How's 83% Sound?
Start frothing now...
- Are There Fundamental Laws of Cooking?
Combining my daddy's two favourite things: science and cooking.
- Does marriage really make people happier? Study finds few well-being advantages to marriage over cohabitation
Witness my face of not-surprise
- For women in business, the squeaky wheel doesn’t get the grease - The Washington Post
Witness my face of not-surprise. Again.
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Three Links and a meme
Saturday, September 25th, 2010 10:47 amFirst: the BBC are releasing a box set of the complete OHG! YAY! They want a hundred quid RRP for it... BOOOO! An actual complete box set is good, though, because a lot of the CDs released so far only have four eps of a six ep series on.
Second: The Grauniad have "lib Dem Conference in pictures". Highlights include a very sexy Vince picture at 13/25, and Daddy Richard and![[personal profile]](http://web.archive.org./web/20161222034926im_/http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
po8crg at 19/25. Daddy Richard's accusing glare at the photographer is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
Three: Sara Bedford's amazing speech from the equal marriage debate. She says a lot of what I would have said if I had been called, except with more style and elan, and less Discworld references.
Four: The fifteen albums meme via Caron andpickwick.
This blog is proudly sponsored by Caron's Musings
Second: The Grauniad have "lib Dem Conference in pictures". Highlights include a very sexy Vince picture at 13/25, and Daddy Richard and
po8crg at 19/25. Daddy Richard's accusing glare at the photographer is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.Three: Sara Bedford's amazing speech from the equal marriage debate. She says a lot of what I would have said if I had been called, except with more style and elan, and less Discworld references.
Four: The fifteen albums meme via Caron and
pickwick.Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you've heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag fifteen friends, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what albums my "music-fan-friends" choose.
- Trash - Alice Cooper. I was 11 years old, watching the chart show on a saturday morning in lieu of cleaning the house like I was supposed to be doing. I was fairly au fait with lots of British Rock music (of which more later) and the chart commercial stuff like Bon Jovi (that ep of the chart show also featured Lay Your Hands on Me), but I was woefully naive in terms of classic American rock. The chart countdown got to number 2, and I saw this.
I'd never seen or heard anything like it before. It was the start of a lifelong love affair. I adore Alice. He's witty, he's erudite, he writes sing along rock anthems about necrophilia. I saved up my pocket money for 15 weeks to buy the album, and by the time I had the money it had been reduced in price, so I could afford a couple of singles as well. I now own 17 Alice Cooper albums, but that one was my first, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Pop fact:magister was watching the same edition of the chart show at the same time, also to get out of cleaning :D - The Works - Queen. My elder brother bought me a Walkman for my seventh birthday (or possibly Christmas). My slightly less elder brother got me a copy of this album to play on it. I had a fair few tapes I had taped off of other sources, but this was my first proper bought album. I played it until it wore through and the tape snapped.
- The Monty Python Instant Record Collection. A fine selection of songs and sketches and bits of the films all in one handy package. Constitutional Peasant is still a favourite. Oh hell, ALL of it is.
- Troublegum - Therapy?. When I met matgb he was wearing a Therapy? t-shirt. I have Troublegum on green vinyl. It was clearly a match made in Heaven.
- Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme - Simon and Garfunkel. My mum always loved S&G;, but I really started to appreciate them in my teenage years. This album is full of sharply observed songs about alienation. And some faintly pretentious ones like The Dangling Conversation, which as a teenager you think are incredibly profound.
- Spaced Out: The very best of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I still maintain that Leonard Nimoy's version of Both Sides Now is better than Joni Mitchell's original, and there are 25 tracks of total mad classics on this album. Yes, I am a sad case.
- Paranoid and Sunburnt - Skunk Anansie. This was another one of those
OMG I've never heard anything like THAT before! albums. Little Baby Swastikkka blew me away when I first heard it. And Rise Up is one of the songs I put on Holly's playlist. And I still have a crush on Skin.
- Different Class - Pulp. I find myself singing
I Spy
to myself a lot these days ;) - Ooo Crikey It's... - Lawnmower Deth. Combines two of my most favourite things - metal and extreme silliness.
- BadMotorFinger - Soundgarden. Mmmmmm Chris Cornell.
- Respect - The Very Best of Aretha Franklin. Aretha has the most amazing voice, and you've got to Respect that.
- Murder Ballads - Nick Cave. Terrifying, shocking and hilarious in equal measure. Who else could have a number one hit by stoving Kylie Mingogue's head in with a rock? I also love The Curse of Millhaven and O'Malley's Bar.
- Diva - Annie Lennox.
- 24 Carrott Gold - Jasper Carrott. I can't watch Golden Balls. It makes me so sad to see that a man who reduced me to tears of laughter is now a gameshow host. This album illustrates why.
- Brave New World - Iron Maiden. I had real difficulty choosing a Maiden album, but in the end I plumped for the one with the magnificent The Wicker Man on it. Really, though, this could have been any of about six. I mean, No Prayer For the Dying has the world's best Christmas #1 on it. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son has the song for which the video was Graham Chapman's last work. Picking a classic MAiden album is like trying to pick the one worthwhile work of Oscar Wilde...
Had Enough of Politics? How about some music?
Monday, May 10th, 2010 12:47 am
I'm making a playlist for Holly on Spotify. It includes songs that I know she likes and also the songs I think it would do her good to listen to (see if you can pick out which ones are which ;)), and so far it looks like this:
What's Up - 4 Non BlondesAnybody have any further suggestions? No sweary ones, please, at least for now. Feministy and uplifting is good. Also sing along rock anthems seem to go down well.
Sun Arise - Alice Cooper
Respect - Aretha Franklin
If it Wasnae For Your Wellies - Billy Connolly
Keep the Faith - Bon Jovi
Independent Women Part 1 - Destiny's Child
Lose Yourself (non-sweary edit) - Eminem
Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves - Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
The World is Not Enough - Garbage
I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor
Working Class Hero - Green Day (no Lennon/Beatles originals on Spotify, sadly)
Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden
The Wicker Man - Iron Maiden
A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
One Way - Levellers
Hey Jude - Magical Abbey Road Tribute Band
Galaxy Song - Monty Python
Feeling Good - Muse
These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
The Show Must Go On - Queen
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
We Will Rock You - Queen
Trouble - Shampoo
Rise Up - Skunk Anansie
Devil Gate Drive - Suzi Quattro
That's Not My Name - the Ting Tings
Roisin Dubh (Black Rose) - Thin Lizzy
Whiskey in the Jar - Thin Lizzy
