day2

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40119562007-07-12T15:04:55.650+01:00day2 DRAWING and COMICSMikeBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-31465540559630004902007-07-12T14:26:00.000+01:002007-07-12T15:04:55.679+01:00DISAPPEARANCE ALERT! I'm packing my bags: I will h...DISAPPEARANCE ALERT! I'm packing my bags: I will happily send new comics pages to anyone who asks (e-mail pwis@lycos.co.uk) ...Thanks for all the supportiveness and amusing/sardonic comments from everybody, especially all at Cinestatic, and especio-specially Mr. Forrest (you can pull the plug whenever you like, Mike!) Bye, PetePetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-85744025782530222222007-06-26T18:22:00.000+01:002007-06-26T18:26:27.574+01:00Okay, this is really ffuukkdd... but I love to bas...Okay, this is really ffuukkdd... but I love to bash my head against a wall... No, I don't know how long it'll take me to put this page right!!!Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-7014701216838247162007-05-31T13:04:00.000+01:002007-05-31T13:05:54.009+01:00Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-27960956679670604502007-05-24T11:22:00.000+01:002007-05-24T11:23:47.629+01:00PHEW! PHEW! Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-44591090896134820502007-05-14T14:26:00.000+01:002007-05-14T14:27:20.635+01:00Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-91180576061833149142007-05-08T14:31:00.000+01:002007-05-08T14:34:13.887+01:00Right, back on it, two years to go... Right, back on it, two years to go... Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-72030936189269624792007-04-30T14:21:00.000+01:002007-04-30T14:25:45.349+01:00Here are all 5 pages of SILAS PLANKTON... Here are all 5 pages of SILAS PLANKTON... Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1174815774581879562007-03-25T11:37:00.000+01:002007-03-25T11:42:54.596+01:00music music Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1173692356210947042007-03-12T10:37:00.000Z2007-03-12T10:39:16.226ZOkay, here are all three pages of 'our pigeon'... ...Okay, here are all three pages of 'our pigeon'... Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1173101518891726142007-03-05T13:25:00.000Z2007-03-05T13:31:58.906ZPage 3 of 'our pigeon' is on the way, but Friday w...Page 3 of 'our pigeon' is on the way, but Friday was a day for being outside so this is from my most portable sketchbook: Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1171286263333643742007-02-12T13:16:00.000Z2007-02-12T13:17:43.356ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1170685778978194412007-02-05T14:27:00.000Z2007-02-05T14:29:38.996ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1170249364219286402007-01-31T13:12:00.000Z2007-01-31T13:16:04.236Z ...and... ...and... Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1169471672904686282007-01-22T13:09:00.000Z2007-01-22T13:14:32.920ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1168866935831171202007-01-15T13:12:00.000Z2007-01-15T13:15:35.850ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1168260912320235582007-01-08T12:53:00.000Z2007-01-08T12:55:12.340Z [I shouldn't BE here!] [I shouldn't BE here!]Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1167743381777617962007-01-02T13:07:00.000Z2007-01-02T13:09:41.796ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1167304145243867042006-12-28T11:07:00.000Z2006-12-28T11:09:05.260ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1166447143703947002006-12-18T13:01:00.000Z2006-12-18T13:05:43.720Z ...and that's very most probably likely it until ... ...and that's very most probably likely it until next year...Petetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1165843058537414622006-12-11T13:16:00.000Z2006-12-11T13:17:38.556ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1165242868696014572006-12-04T14:33:00.000Z2006-12-04T14:34:28.723ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1164719153724263092006-11-28T13:02:00.000Z2006-11-28T13:05:53.886ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1164042672609751682006-11-20T17:09:00.000Z2006-11-20T17:11:12.670ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1163514634017341522006-11-14T14:27:00.000Z2006-11-14T14:30:34.036ZPetetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011956.post-1162231571433842182006-10-30T18:04:00.000Z2006-10-30T18:06:11.450ZPete

infinite thought

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66869952010-05-05T09:43:22.494Zinfinite thØught...will shortly be moving to infinitethought.cinestatic.com...please update your bookmarks!ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comBlogger1556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-67508614217215090102010-04-30T09:27:00.003Z2010-04-30T09:46:40.017Znew blog address: from tomorrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/infinite-775921-781424.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/infinite-775921-781419.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />With consummately appalling timing, due to Blogger ftp changes, I have had to move my blog. From now on the address with be: http://infinitethought.cinestatic.com/<br /><br /><a href="http://infinitethought.cinestatic.com/">Here</a>, in other words.<br /><br />There may be glitches and things in the first few days, but hopefully there should be a redirect from here to there. Infinite thanks goes to <a href="http://grimaceworks.com/">Michael Forrest</a> who has patiently hosted this site for the past six years, and to <a href="http://newleftproject.org/">James Quinney</a>, who designed my new site and moved everything over; something I could not have done in a million years.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-6750861421721509010?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-88673323833916400952010-04-29T18:17:00.001Z2010-04-29T18:20:10.942Zpiece on middlesex closure for comment is free<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/29/philosophy-minorities-middleqsex-university-logic">Here</a>. Usual CiF idiocy doesn't kick in until much later than I expected.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-8867332383391640095?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-34410519951458107612010-04-29T12:46:00.001Z2010-04-29T12:46:58.768Zfrieze on middlesex closure<a href="http://www.frieze.com/blog/entry/middlesex_philosophy_department_closure/">Here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-3441051995145810761?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-67438138050590680552010-04-29T11:14:00.001Z2010-04-29T11:15:38.729Zmiddlesex philosophy campaign website<a href="http://savemdxphil.wordpress.com/">Save Middlesex philosophy</a> now has a website.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-6743813805059068055?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-73026671715264989762010-04-29T09:16:00.000Z2010-04-29T09:17:36.318Zalberto toscano's letter to the middlesex administratorsDear Professors Driscoll, Ahmad, House and Esche,<br /><br />I am writing to express my shock and dismay at your decision to shut down philosophy at Middlesex. I can see no justification whatsoever for terminating a programme with a widely-recognised record of excellence and a crucial role in the academic and intellectual life of London and the UK. On your website you proudly state: 'The most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) cited MIddlesex for its breadth of "internationally recognised" research.' And yet you have decided to close the very department which the RAE results identify as the most "internationally-recognised" at Middlesex. The alleged motivation for closure is the absence of a "measurable" contribution by philosophy to Middlesex. If the only measure you accept is that of sizeable profits, that may be the case, but if so you have abandoned the very idea of what it means to run a university, where management is supposed to facilitate the work of teaching and research, rather than vice versa.<br /><br />If Middlesex go ahead with this disastrous decision - whose unequivocal message is that the university is not interested in either academic excellence or its international reputation - the standing of your institution will suffer immensely. I hope you will reconsider this decision before irreversible damage is done to Middlesex University and to the future of philosophy in the United Kingdom.<br /> <br />Yours sincerely,<br /> <br />Dr. Alberto Toscano<br />Senior Lecturer<br />Department of Sociology<br />Goldsmiths, University of London<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-7302667171526498976?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-76249569260578200292010-04-29T09:14:00.001Z2010-04-29T09:16:17.039Zmy letter to the middlesex administrators[m.driscoll@mdx.ac.uk; w.ahmad@mdx.ac.uk; m.house@mdx.ac.uk; e.esche@mdx.ac.uk; savemdxphil@gmail.com].<br /><br />Dear Michael Driscoll, Waqar Ahmad, Margaret House & Ed Esche,<br /><br />The decision on the part of Middlesex University to close its Philosophy department is a travesty. As evidenced by the massive outcry which has already greeted this decision, it is absolutely clear that the university has made a terrible mistake. The 'justifications' for the closure of Philosophy at Middlesex - which, I'm sure you don't need reminding, is the highest-scoring department at a post-92 and your most valuable research asset - are risible. If you want to talk about 'impact', there are few things that people associate with the name 'Middlesex University' more than its excellent Philosophy department and staff. Over the past decade or so, Middlesex has built up its reputation for being the best place in the country to study European philosophy, surpassing its Russell Group competitors. It makes absolutely no sense, either from an economic or a PR perspective to destroy in an instant what does you most proud.<br /><br />It cannot have escaped your notice that in the past year or so threats to close or make cuts to Philosophy at Liverpool and KCL have been greeted with a storm of international protest. The same thing has already begun to happen over Middlesex. The precedent has been for management to reverse their decisions - I can only hope, as someone who had the privilege to be awarded their PhD by Middlesex - that this will happen in this case as well.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Dr Nina Power<br />(PhD in Philosophy, Middlesex University, 2006)<br />...................................................................<br /><br />Dr Nina Power<br />Senior Lecturer in Philosophy<br />Roehampton University<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-7624956926057820029?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-57332949598373226072010-04-29T08:01:00.003Z2010-04-29T08:06:41.432Zsome professors respond to the closure of middlesex philosophyFrom <a href="http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/middlesex-university-in-the-uk-cuts-its-highest-raerated-program-in-its-entirety.html">Leiter's blog</a>:<br /><br />I once worked in the same institution as the Dean who has announced this outrageous decision. He was unspeakable then, but he has now surpassed himself. He is another failed British academic who is taking his revenge on those who have not failed. We will no doubt see more of this in the coming months and years. The Middlesex Department runs the most challenging and lively research seminars I have come across anywhere, which are a testament to the ethos and commitment of the department. This decision must be opposed in every possible manner. - Professor Andrew Bowie<br /><br />Looks like pure administrative rent-seeking, as they demand 55% of each dept's income. It looks more like blackmail or extortion by gangsters than anything resembling university administration -- but maybe it's time to outgrow such naivety? The end game seems to be that each dept is a franchise, able to use the University brand name in exchange for cash on the barrel head. - Professor John Protevi<br /><br />The UK is indeed going crazy in respect of academic matters. The Higher Education Funding Council recently declared that every MA programme should include business awareness...no really that is exactly what they said. I take it that they do not mean raising awareness of commodity fetishism and alienation. In the UK we face what for us is an unprecedented attack on the very idea of education and on the intellectual freedom that defines a university. I fear a perfect storm. In the Thatcher years there were cuts but there was nothing like the combination of intellectual corruption, managerialism and administrative overload that characterise the context in which these cuts are taking place. The one thing our politicians take seriously is what happens in the USA and the views of powerful people there. It is just possible that a widespread outcry might reverse this bizarre decision (their RAE score and graduate recruitment makes the financial justification unbelievable as others have suggested.) - Professor James Ladyman<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-5733294959837322607?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-36424987038670298182010-04-29T07:39:00.002Z2010-04-29T07:40:01.618Zpetition to save middlesex philosophyI think there might be another one on the way, but sign this one, sign them both, sign everything...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-middlesex-philosophy.html">Save Middlesex Philosophy</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-3642498703867029818?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-44943211477422931512010-04-28T22:11:00.004Z2010-04-28T22:23:46.803Zmsex philosophy closure: more people and more damning facts with which to email them[Via Professor Peter Hallward]<br /><br />As you might expect we're scrambling to put together a response, and to begin with we're asking colleagues and friends to send a brief email or letter about the closure to the University administrators who have made this unexpected decision. If you have time to write such a message, please feel free to extract some points from a draft letter that is being sent to Times Higher Education, below.<br /><br />The four people to write to are as follows:<br /><br />Vice-Chancellor of the University, Michael Driscoll, m.driscoll@mdx.ac.uk;<br /><br />Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Waqar Ahmad, w.ahmad@mdx.ac.uk;<br /><br />Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Margaret House, m.house@mdx.ac.uk;<br /><br />Dean of the School of Arts & Education, Ed Esche, e.esche@mdx.ac.uk.<br /><br />(The full set of emails is m.driscoll@mdx.ac.uk; w.ahmad@mdx.ac.uk; m.house@mdx.ac.uk; e.esche@mdx.ac.uk).<br /><br />If you are able to send such an email, it would be helpful if you blind copied (BCC) it to our campaign email, savemdxphil@gmail.com.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Draft letter to Times Higher Education, regarding the closure of Philosophy at Middlesex University<br /><br />The abrupt closure of the Philosophy programmes at Middlesex is a matter of national and indeed international concern. Not only does it contradict the stated commitment of Middlesex University to promote 'research excellence', it represents a startling and perhaps irreversible stage in the impoverishment of Philosophy provision in the UK.<br /><br />We have participated in events organised by the Philosophy group at Middlesex and we can testify to the significant and distinctive contribution it makes to philosophy in the UK. Its set of MA programmes is currently the largest in the UK. Philosophy is the most prestigious and highest research-rated subject at Middlesex University. Building on its grade of 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, in the 2008 RAE Middlesex was rated first in philosophy among post-1992 universities and 13th out of a total of 41 institutions nationally, with 65% of its research activity judged world-leading or internationally excellent. It is now widely recognised as one of the most important centres for the study of modern European philosophy anywhere in the English-speaking world.<br /><br />Middlesex Philosophy is one of only a handful of programmes left in the UK that provides both research-driven and inclusive post-graduate teaching aimed at a wide range of students, specialist and non-specialist. It is also one of relatively few such programmes that remains financially viable, currently contributing close to half of its total income to the University's central administration.<br /><br />We call on Middlesex University to reverse this damaging and ill-judged decision to close its Philosophy programmes, and to renew its commitment to widening participation in education and to excellence in research.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-4494321147742293151?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-90887021701642864842010-04-28T21:35:00.000Z2010-04-28T21:36:33.065Zradical philosophy response to msex cutsLate on Monday 26 April, staff in Philosophy at Middlesex University in London were informed that the University executive are to close all Philosophy programmes: undergraduate, postgraduate and MPhil/PhD.<br /><br />Philosophy is the highest research-rated subject at Middlesex University, with 65% of its research activity judged 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' in the UK government's recent Research Assessment Exercise. It is now widely recognised as one of the most important centres for the study of modern European philosophy anywhere in the English-speaking world. Its MA programmes in Philosophy have grown in recent years to become the largest in the UK, with 42 new students admitted in September 2009. Middlesex offers one of only a handful of programmes left in the UK that provides both research-driven and inclusive post-graduate teaching aimed at a wide range of students, specialist and non-specialist. It is also one of relatively few such programmes that remains financially viable, currently contributing close to half of its total income to the University's central administration.<br /><br />Needless to say, Radical Philosophy very much regret this decision to terminate Philosophy at Middlesex, and its likely consequences for the teaching of philosophy in the UK. This is a shameful decision which essentially means the end of the Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy, a hub for internationally renowned scholarship (http://www.web.mdx.ac.uk/crmep/; staff include Eric Alliez, Peter Hallward, Mark Kelly, Christian Kerslake, Peter Osborne and Stella Sandford). This act of wilful self-harm by the University must be resisted.<br /><br />Please join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119102561449990">facebook group</a> and spread the word<br /><br />Campaign email: savemdxphil@gmail.com<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-9088702170164286484?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-31043199354560205962010-04-28T19:23:00.015Z2010-04-29T21:48:12.275Zhuge initial response to announcement of middlesex philosophy closureThere's a new email address for the campaign: savemdxphil@gmail.com<br /><br />The university already have an absolutely enormous fight on their hands and a PR battle that they seem to have lost from the off. <br /><br />Apart from the 3800+ members of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=119102561449990">Save Middlesex Philosophy</a> Facebook group, a previously-noted link from <a href="http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/middlesex-university-in-the-uk-cuts-its-highest-raerated-program-in-its-entirety.html">Brian Leiter</a>, not to mention thousands of <a href="http://twitter.com/#search?q=Middlesex%20Philosophy">Twitter</a> reports, there has been some swift and angry responses on websites. Here are some that I could find:<br /><br /><a href="http://thethirdestate.net/2010/04/middlesex-university-shamefully-cuts-philosophy-department/">The Third Estate</a><br /><a href="http://speculativeheresy.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/middlesex-university-cuts-philosophy-program/">Speculative Heresy</a><br /><a href="http://lombard-street.blogspot.com/2010/04/middlesex-university-cuts-its.html">Lombard Street</a><br /><a href="http://rebarbazon.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/closure-of-philosophy-at-middlesex/">Rebarbazon</a> <a href="http://rebarbazon.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/more-on-closure-of-philosophy-at-middlesex/">twice</a><br /><a href="http://larvalsubjects.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/assault-on-middlesex-philosophy/">Larval Subjects</a><br /><a href="http://unpresentable.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/middlesex-university-closes-all-philosophy-programs/">Sub Specie Aeterni</a><br /><a href="http://dommerselv.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/save-middlesex-philosophy/">Dommer Selv</a><br /><a href="http://ulucampaigner.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/middlesex-university-shamefully-cuts-philosophy-department/">Clare Solomon</a><br /><a href="http://allthingsfoust.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-philosophy-dept-bites-dust.html">Throw it against the wall to see if it sticks</a><br /><a href="http://box3spool5.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/solidarity-with-middlesex-university/">Box 3, Spool 5</a><br /><a href="http://www.johnbr.com/zeitgeist_spam/2010/04/borrowed-from-speculative-heresy.html">Zeitgeist Spam</a><br /><a href="http://kantinternational.blogspot.com/2010/04/middlesex-philosophy-department-latest.html">Inter Kant</a> <a href="http://kantinternational.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-on-middlesex.html">twice</a><br /><a href="http://pervegalit.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/axing-programs-that-suceed-the-case-of-middlesex/">Perverse Egalitarianism</a><br /><a href="http://doctorzamalek2.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/the-middlesex-atrocity/">Onject-Oriented Philosophy</a><br /><a href="http://fullcityplus.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/measurable/">Library, Laundry, Coffee</a><br /><a href="http://dontwritenothingatall.blogspot.com/2010/04/sometimes-critical-theory-is-right.html">Collected Musings</a><br /><a href="http://ranciere.blogspot.com/2010/04/end-of-philosophy-at-middlesex.html">Jacques Rancière Blog</a><br /><a href="http://trentphilosophers.blogspot.com/2010/04/middlesex-philosophy-deparment-to-close.html">The Trent Philosophy Blog</a><br /><a href="http://proteviblog.typepad.com/protevi/2010/04/middlesex-university-shamefully-cuts-philosophy-department.html">John Protevi</a><br /><a href="http://itself.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/middlesex-university-drops-philosophy-department/">An und fur sich</a><br /><a href="http://voicesoffcamera.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/a-sign-of-things-to-come/">Voices off Camera</a><br /><a href="http://versouk.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/philosophy-department-closure-at-middlesex/">Verso's UK Blog</a><br /><a href="http://radioradiodeleuze.blogspot.com/">Radio Deleuze</a><br /><a href="http://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/we-dont-need-no-education-middlesex-university/">chto delat</a><br /><a href="http://iamtheblob.blogspot.com/2010/04/middlesex-horror.html">I Am The Blob</a><br /><a href="http://msuphilosophyclub.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-one-bites-dust.html">MSU Philosophy</a><br /><a href="http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/blogs/48-blogs/4810-middlesex-university-shamefully-cuts-philosophy-department">Counterfire</a><br /><a href="http://www.smokewriting.co.uk/2010/04/28/attack-on-philosophy-at-middlesex/">Smokewriting</a><br /><br />I'll add more here in due course. Please send links to infinitethought[at]hotmail.co.uk if you've written something.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-3104319935456020596?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-61599900802093726362010-04-28T18:49:00.005Z2010-04-28T22:02:44.632Zemail the dean at middlesex to register your disapproval of philosophy cuts<param name="movie" value="http://www.play.mdx.ac.uk/swf/MDXPlayer.swf"></param><param name="quality" value="high"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="dataFeedXML=http://www.play.mdx.ac.uk/videos/5u68/data_feed.xml&amp;autoplay=false&amp;videoId=5u68"></param><embed FlashVars="dataFeedXML=http://www.play.mdx.ac.uk/videos/5u68/data_feed.xml&amp;autoplay=false&amp;videoId=5u68" height="369" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" quality="high" src="http://www.play.mdx.ac.uk/swf/MDXPlayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"></embed><br /><br />This 42-second recent video tells you everything you need to know about the Dean of Arts and Education at Middlesex.<br /><br />Email him to register your disgust at his announcement of the closure of philosophy at Middlesex:<br /><br />e.esche@mdx.ac.uk<br /><br />UPDATE: Brian Leiter, who runs an influential US Philosophy blog, has <a href="http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/middlesex-university-in-the-uk-cuts-its-highest-raerated-program-in-its-entirety.html">highlighted the absurdity</a> of the decision over Middlesex.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-6159990080209372636?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-7037500145423714302010-04-28T14:08:00.010Z2010-04-29T18:42:12.445Zclosure of philosophy at middlesex: fightback starts now[There should hopefully be a piece by me about this appalling news in the Guardian's Comment is Free in the next couple of days. Times Higher Education are running a piece next week. To express support and to help with the campaign email the campaign: savemdxphil@gmail.com making reference to Middlesex philosophy in the subject line. PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS NEWS WIDELY - closure at Liverpool and cuts at KCL and elsewhere have been avoided due to protests. It IS possible to stop the demented venal idiocy of university management]<br /><br />UPDATE: Meeting next Wednesday, May 5, 7:30pm - 9:00pm, Oakwood Tavern, 155 Bramley Road, Oakwood, London, N14 4XA (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116649305024364">Facebook group for meeting</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119102561449990&v=info">Save Middlesex philosophy</a> group on Facebook.</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />RALLY THIS FRIDAY: 3:00pm - 4:30pm, Trent Park, Middlesex University (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=121460187871579">Facebook event</a>)<br /><br />University News – Philosophy at Middlesex</span><br /><br />Wednesday 28 April<br /><br />MIDDLESEX TO CLOSE ITS TOP-RATED SUBJECT<br /><br />Late on Monday 26 April 2010, the Dean of the School of Arts and Education at Middlesex University, announced the closure of all its Philosophy programmes, including the largest MA programme in Philosophy in the UK. Philosophy is the highest research-ranked subject in the University, and Middlesex is the highest rated of all the post-92 institutions in the subject. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Restriction of student opportunities and choice</span><br /><br />Philosophy at Middlesex is one of only a handful of programmes left in the UK that provides both research-driven and inclusive post-graduate teaching and supervision aimed at a wide range of students, specialist and non-specialist. It is the main centre in the UK for the study of European or 'continental' philosophy.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Research</span><br /><br />The Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy is the main centre for ‘continental’ philosophy in the UK, with an established international reputation, frequent visiting speakers from abroad and increasing numbers of postgraduate students. There are currently 63 postgraduate students in the Centre: 48 MA students and 15 PhD students. 5 PhDs were awarded in 2009. These are remarkable numbers, especially for a small group of six staff. <br /><br />The Middlesex Philosophy submission to RAE2001 was graded 5, and the 2008 submission was awarded a GPA of 2.80, ranking it joint 13th out of 41 institutions entered in Philosophy – above both its main competitors, Warwick and Sussex. It has hosted 2 Leverhulme Fellowships in the last 6 years, and recently completed a £245,000 AHRC-funded research project, ‘Concept and Form: The Cahiers pour l’analyse and Contemporary French Thought’ (which included production of a major web <a href="http://www.web.mdx.ac.uk/cahiers">research resource</a>). It recently submitted an application for a 2-year AHRC Project Grant on Transdisciplinarity, and held an international event on Transdisciplinarity in French Thought at the French Institute).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-703750014542371430?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-20389285925876088482010-04-27T16:33:00.001Z2010-04-27T16:33:40.534Zevent at raven row tomorrow'Visions, Divisions and Revisions:<br />Political Film and Film Theory in the 1970s and 80s'<br /> <br />This programme takes place during the exhibition<br />'A History of Irritated Material', 25 February to 2 May 2010. <br /> <br />Wednesday 28 April, 7pm<br />Peter Osborne and Paul Willemen in conversation<br /><br />Peter Osborne and Paul Willemen will critically examine the discourses that<br />proliferated within the British film culture of the 1970s, and which<br />informed the film theory that was developed then. The event will consist of<br />short presentations from Paul Willemen who edited the film journal Framework<br />in the 1980s and was on the board of Screen throughout the 1970s, and Peter<br />Osborne, Professor of Modern European Philosophy, Middlesex University. The<br />presentations will be followed by responses from each participant and a<br />wide-ranging discussion.<br /><br />Events are free but booking is essential as space is limited. Please email<br />info@ravenrow.org to reserve a place.<br /> <br />Programme organised by Petra Bauer and Dan Kidner<br /><br />www.ravenrow.org/events<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-2038928592587608848?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-49778729041307914842010-04-26T20:02:00.002Z2010-04-26T20:21:50.597Zsubversive film festival conference: 3-7 may, zagrebThe <a href="http://subversivefilmfestival.com">Subversive Film Festival</a> ('over a hundred films about socialism') has announced its conference timetable “The collapse of neoliberalism and the idea of socialism today” 03–07. 05. 2010 Europa Cinema. I was sent the timetable which includes Tariq Ali, Zizek, Vattimo, Tamas, etc., but I can't link to it because it's a word doc and I am an idiot. Best to email srecko.horvat[at]gmail.com to get hold of it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-4977872904130791484?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-44876697658015550482010-04-26T19:53:00.001Z2010-04-26T19:55:19.877Zmarx and philosophy society annual conferenceMarx and Philosophy Society<br /><br />Seventh annual conference<br /><br />Abstraction, Universality and Money<br /><br />Saturday 5th June 2010, 9.30am - 6.00pm<br /><br />Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London<br /><br />Richard Seaford (Exeter)<br /><br />Money, Abstraction, and the Genesis of the Psyche<br /><br />Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths)<br /><br />The Dead Pledge of Society: Methodological Problems and Political Consequences of 'Real Abstraction'<br /><br />Christopher Arthur<br /><br />Abstraction, Universality and Money<br /><br />Graduate panels:<br /><br />Jan Sailer (Freiburg) Securities: The Purest Form of Abstract Wealth <br />Nick Gray (Sussex) Abstraction, Universality, Money and Capital <br />Marina Vishmidt (Queen Mary, University of London) Art in and as Abstract Labour<br /><br />Brian Fuller (York, Toronto) Materialism and Dialectic: Reading Marx after Adorno Tim Carter (Sussex) Alienation and Domination in Marx and Wittgenstein <br />Chris Allsobrook (Sussex) The Ideological Normative Grounds of Immanent Critique<br /><br />£15 waged, £10 unwaged (provides annual membership of the society)<br /><br /> To reserve a place in advance please email David Marjoribanks at dm275@kent.ac.uk.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ioe.ac.uk/sitehelp/1072.htm">Travel directions</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.marxandphilosophy.org.uk">Further details</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-4487669765801555048?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-33936249398655097822010-04-25T23:36:00.003Z2010-04-25T23:47:46.783Zanwyn on lady gaga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/ladyg-712876.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/ladyg-712873.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A couple of readers have asked what I think about Lady Gaga. I did have something I was writing on the relationship between recession and women's thigh-size but frankly I'm not sure it was really ever going to work. Never mind, because Anwyn has written a <a href="http://populardemand.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/taking-it-all-in/">brilliant piece</a> which chimes with my thoughts on the topic - although much more attentively and with a proper sense of musical context (I would only have added a reference to <i>Aelita: Queen of Mars</i>).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-3393624939865509782?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-32689270694336345152010-04-25T18:36:00.002Z2010-04-25T18:53:57.212Zdavid harvey on tuesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/harvey-poster-web-788879.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/harvey-poster-web-788875.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is probably the only one of the Harvey events anyone will be able to get into, unless you've already got tickets for the ICA. There's an <a href="http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2010/20100426t1830vOT.aspx">lse event</a> on tomorrow too, but it might be in a smaller room, I'm not sure.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-3268927069433634515?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-82620345688784100412010-04-25T17:16:00.001Z2010-04-25T17:17:57.387Zchto delat event in moscowChto Delat are great: if you're in Moscow, you should definitely go to their <a href="http://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/may-day-congress-commune-of-creative-workers-moscow/">May Day Congress-Commune of Creative Workers</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-8262034568878410041?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-23995252532937985102010-04-23T14:04:00.004Z2010-04-23T14:54:56.058Zcahiers pour l'analyse: first appearance of website<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/cahiers7-702121.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/cahiers7-702119.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Is <a href="http://www.web.mdx.ac.uk/cahiers/">here</a>. This is an extremely significant project for anyone interested in postwar French thought. The site contains an extremely useful concept <a href="http://www.web.mdx.ac.uk/cahiers/concepts.html">summary</a>, which provides another way into the texts. Translations are to follow.<br /><br />PROJECT OVERVIEW<br /><br />This website provides an electronic annotated edition of the French philosophical journal Les Cahiers pour l'Analyse. Edited by a small group of Louis Althusser's students at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, the Cahiers pour l’Analyse appeared in ten volumes between 1966 to 1969 – arguably the most fertile and productive years in French philosophy during the whole of the twentieth century. Guided by the examples of Jacques Lacan, Louis Althusser and Georges Canguilhem, the Cahiers were conceived as a contribution to a philosophy based on the primacy of concepts and the rigour of logic and formalisation, in opposition to philosophies based on lived experience or the interpretation of meaning.<br /><br />The Cahiers were soon recognised as one of the most significant and innovative philosophical projects of its time. The journal published landmark texts by many of the most influential thinkers of the day, including Althusser, Derrida, Foucault, Irigaray, Lacan, and Leclaire. Many of the young students and writers closely involved in the production of the Cahiers (e.g. Jacques-Alain Miller, Jean-Claude Milner, François Regnault and Alain Badiou) were soon to become major figures in French intellectual life.<br /><br />The website is the main product of a three-year research project funded by the AHRC (2006-2009). It includes a full electronic edition of the original French texts in both html and facsimile pdf versions, together with detailed commentaries on each article, recent interviews with members of the original editorial board, and substantial entries on the main concepts and authors at issue in the journal. Other components of the research project included an international conference on the Cahiers and its legacy, held at Middlesex University on 21-22 May 2009, and two edited volumes on the Cahiers, entitled Concept and Form. These volumes are forthcoming from Verso in 2011: the first includes English translations of a selection of texts published in the Cahiers, the second is a collection of newly commissioned essays on the journal and translated extracts of interviews with members of the editorial board.<br /><br />The lead investigator on the project was Peter Hallward; Christian Kerslake served as the project research fellow, in collaboration first with Ray Brassier and then Knox Peden.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-2399525253293798510?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-14913642274705380122010-04-23T11:39:00.002Z2010-04-23T11:44:35.146Znext marxism in culture seminar: joshua clover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/jclover-741892.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/jclover-741831.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />[Am very excited about this! See Owen's recent <a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2009/11/pop-history-end-clover-music">review</a> of Joshua's book]<br /><br />'Marxism in Culture' seminar, Friday 30 April, Wolfson Room, Institute for Historical Research, Senate House, London at 5.30.<br /><br />No End & No Beginning: Pop, Periodization, Problems c. 1989<br /><br />Joshua Clover (University of California, Davis)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-1491364227470538012?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-29907194221543216462010-04-23T09:30:00.003Z2010-04-23T10:01:29.375Zbidisha on tokenism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/top10token-757127.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/top10token-757124.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Painfully true <a href="http://www.guerrillagirls.com/posters/token.shtml">Guerilla Girls</a> poster.<br /><br />Bidisha has written an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/22/bidisha">excellent piece</a> on tokenism that avoids the usual merely factual approach in favour of an angrier kind of analysis (to be read alongside Laurie's equally excellent recent piece on why men get congratulated for saying feminist things that women have been saying forever <a href="http://pennyred.blogspot.com/2010/04/men-and-feminism-comment-is-fraught.html">here</a>). <br /><br />Bidisha writes:<br /><br />'No modern woman wants to find herself alone on a station platform, counting a poster. It's sad. But it's all part of my investigation into cultural femicide – the erasure of women from public life. Who are the perpetrators? Events organisers, editors in broadcasting and the media, radio and TV producers, commissioners and jurors. They are male and female, they probably don't realise they're doing it, but they don't mind. They're fine with a virtually woman-free world.'<br /><br />Amusingly enough, one of her major examples is the philosophy conference that runs alongside the Hay on Wye festival. I'll explain why this is amusing (or something <span style="font-style:italic;">like </span>that) after Bidisha's summary: <br /><br />'To witness femicide in action, go to the town of Hay this May. At the same time as the annual book festival is an unrelated philosophy festival called How The Light Gets In. There are 25 debates covering broad themes such as evolution, the urban space, creativity, violence and privacy. All but two of these events are male-dominated. Eight are men-only, opening with "Being Human in the 21st century." Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Four white men are going to discuss all the facets of the human experience. Thirteen discussions have just one woman and either four or three men, and one has one woman and two men. One event is a screening of a guy's film. Two talks have two men and two women. And that's it. I was scheduled to attend and was hugely relieved when other obligations meant I had to drop out. I know from experience that female participation in events that massively underrepresent women does not change anything. Year on year the ratio stays the same. How The Light Gets In gives 56 different men the opportunity to speak. It offers the same opportunity to just 11 women.'<br /><br />Last year, I was actually invited to speak at 'How The Light Gets In' on a panel on utopias and dystopias. I agreed, and was quite looking forward to it. About a week later I get a call from the organisers saying: 'Very sorry, but we're not sure how you'd fit in on the panel after all...and besides, er, someone had asked someone else and we got confused...er...' Had they suddenly realised that I may hold political views to the left of the Lib Dems?! That I was actually a youngish female philosopher rather than a middle aged male philosopher?! <br /><br />If you are indeed going to admit, as Bidisha puts it, that 'we no longer live in an age where female thinkers, writers, philosophers, academics, artists, theorists, activists or politicians are rare' then tentative organisers may have to acknowledge that some of those non-rare people might nevertheless <span style="font-style:italic;">not necessarily </span> hold your middle-brow, middle-class, vacuous political and theoretical positions...or organisers should just be clear about not wanting anything new and that they're sticking to what they're 'comfortable with'. Then at least the stakes will be clear.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-2990719422154321646?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-75318592227143067872010-04-23T09:08:00.001Z2010-04-23T09:15:37.018Zpaper at middlesex: updateCRMEP Research Seminar<br /><br />Steven Melville's presentation on Nancy and Hegel will now take place on May 20 instead of May 27. Steven Melville is Professor of the History of Art at Ohio State University. He has published widely on contemporary art as well as on issues in contemporary theory and historiography.<br /><br />The seminar will begin at 17:00, in the Saloon, on the ground floor of the Mansion Building at Middlesex University, Trent Park Campus, Bramley Road, London N14 4YZ.<br /><br />CRMEP research seminars are open to anyone wishing to attend. Directions for getting to Trent Park are available on the Middlesex website at<br />http://www.mdx.ac.uk/campus/campuses/tp/travel.asp<br /><br />The full list of this year's research seminars is posted at<br />http://www.web.mdx.ac.uk/CRMEP/EVENTS/index.htm<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-7531859222714306787?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-51560145936823505082010-04-22T18:16:00.003Z2010-04-22T18:19:02.039Zeducation event at sussexON THE CURRENT SITUATION<br />IN (HIGHER)EDUCATION<br /><br />This is the first in a weekly series of discussion organised by the what-is-education<br />working group. We aim to foster critical reflection and public discussion across the university community on the university as a place of life and work - its realities, difficulties, and potentials. Email what-is-education@gmail.com for more information or to get involved. A public meeting to discuss the current and future pressures<br />on education - financial, cultural and political - and how we can or should respond.<br /><br />FRIDAY APRIL 23rd, 5:20-7pm. A2.<br /><br />MARK FISHER Author of the blog k-punk and the recently-published book Capitalist Realism, both of which deal with social and cultural changes following from the contemporary ideology that capitalism is the ‘only game in town’. A particular focus on education stems from his experience as an FE teacher - where he saw first hand the invasion of what he calls ‘business ontology, or elsewhere ‘Nu-bureaucracy’: ‘increasing amounts of bureaucracy, in the form of performance reviews, spurious planning documents, log books: a proliferating thicket of self-surveillance and auditing’<br /><br />ANDREW CHITTY<br />Lecturer in the philosophy department, who’ll provide a characteristically rigorous account of the fine detail of the funding of higher education, the parameters by which it is awarded, and the situation that leaves us in.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-5156014593682350508?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686995.post-77572142761874682992010-04-21T08:23:00.002Z2010-04-21T08:26:43.012Zcounterforum 2 & 3rd may<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/counterforum_header-787803.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="http://www.cinestatic.com/infinitethought/uploaded_images/counterforum_header-787802.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Opening meeting:<br />A feminist manifesto for the 21st century<br />Lindsey German and Nina Power<br />Sunday 2 May, 5pm<br />Room G2, School of Oriental & African Studies<br />London WC1H 0XG<br />Nearest tube: Russell Square<br /><br />Monday 3 May<br />10am - 5pm<br />Indian YMCA<br />41 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6AQ<br />Nearest Tube: Warren Street<br /><br />Discussions on:<br />The shape of the crisis<br />Islamophobia, racism and fascism<br />The 21st century working class<br />Gramsci and hegemony<br />The internet-serving the revolution?<br />The left and the movements<br />Speakers include:<br /><br />Brendan Montague (campaigning journalist) Lorenzo Corretti (Popola Viola anti-Berlusconi movement) Chris Nineham (Stop the War) Kate Connelly (PCS activist) Adrian Cousins (editor Counterfire) Lindsey German (socialist author and convenor Stop the War Coalition) Clare Solomon (President elect University of London Union) Elaine Graham Leigh (Campaign against Climate Change) John Rees (author of Imperialism and Resistance) Tami Peterson (Birkbeck SU Exec) James Meadway (economics editor, Counterfire) Peter D Thomas (author of The Gramscian Moment) Shamiul Joarder (Friends of Al-Aqsa)<br />All personal capacity<br /><br />Registration £5. Register <a href="http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/theory/133-counterforum/4603-counterforum-the-crisis-the-movement-and-the-left">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6686995-7757214276187468299?l=www.cinestatic.com%2Finfinitethought%2Findex.asp' alt='' /></div>ithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565403340913552852noreply@blogger.com

political peccadillo

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55505282008-10-14T11:11:30.165ZPolitical Peccadilloregular views from inside the unaccountable world of current affairs Brucenoreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-89975348627530888422007-06-11T20:15:00.001Z2007-06-13T21:54:54.719ZFuck off down the Shatt"The Shia round up and kill Sunni suspects; the latter respond with market bombs, in addition to their rising attacks on the coalition. Unable to make headway against the Shiite shites, with figureheads like Al-Sadr experienced at manoeuvring around unseen after oppression from the Saddamite, and ex-Baath psychopaths, the coalition is locked into a costly game of managing the status quo". Four Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-6954324815188327432007-05-22T22:31:00.000Z2007-05-22T22:35:44.147ZDestructive processesPalestinian targets are being pounded in Gaza and north Lebanon, in a grim reminder that, apart from the Lebanese army's new show of strength, nothing has changed from recent conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-64389117007158970472007-05-01T22:42:00.000Z2007-05-01T22:47:49.552ZHarry will need houdiniThe chief of the British Army, Dicky Dannatt, a man who once told it like it was when he said that coalition forces do not help the security situation, has decided that the prince must serve in the ongoing occupation of Iraq. These were some of his reasons why…Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1176414996922422312007-04-12T21:51:00.000Z2007-04-12T22:02:22.503ZAdjust your cameron"The electorate is not exactly bovvered in Blair-appropriation speech by these trivial issues" "It was the sound of a man from Surrey living in Mumbai in 1912 commenting on the hot temper of the natives" "The suggestion that the Tories are electable because they’ve got a professional cream dispenser in charge is still laughable" Dave may appeal to Dagenham but bringing his rejuvenated party toCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1174345752547208142007-03-20T00:05:00.000Z2007-03-20T00:09:12.556ZTristunt"The PM was again dependent not on his own party for policy sign-off but the Tories, who once again played auxiliary tough guys on the real issues. Eighty-eight nays were nary enough to stall the nuclear bill. How this sits with Camers’ plans to get nearer to the public given that a majority do not want a new nuclear deterrent system is not clear, but the Cam-Can would go down with the Kursk if Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1173831572357969572007-03-14T01:16:00.000Z2007-03-14T01:20:40.760ZMacrosoft OfficeStarfucks, halls of hell, everything bolted down, bonhomie go home; a Brazil-like life here we come – welcome to my new office...Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1171054855419625732007-02-09T20:53:00.000Z2007-02-09T21:00:55.433ZSense bombThe latest take on developments in Britain's war on terror, a nasty brew of 'plots' on squaddies, detention without trial, the release of details to the press and needless backbench stirring. All of them lead to John Reid's head on a stick.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1170436249782700242007-02-02T17:01:00.000Z2007-02-02T17:10:49.806ZRPP RIP The other side launches a campaign to expose the opportunist pig Jeremy McClintock – perhaps the only political auteur capable of talking about homosexual monkeys in the context of the new terror laws. As Linda Smith said of Jeffery Archer, we’re quite keen to deny him the “oyygen of oxygen” as well as the “oxygen of publicity…”Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1168970987786005442007-01-16T17:56:00.000Z2007-01-16T18:09:47.796ZSomalians - the next nongratas Somalia is a non-country whose violent despotism has sent us violent, Muslim asylum seekers that we can all safely detest and stereotype at our arrogant leisure. It's a relationship that we would not want to jeopardise, surely? Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1166646005717836232006-12-20T20:17:00.000Z2006-12-20T20:20:05.726ZUnited KingdomsRiyadh told London to cease and desist from their nasty investigation into arms deals done 20 or so years ago, and a fetid tale developed of government connivance in perpetuating the military-industrial complex...Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1165485543243052812006-12-07T09:54:00.000Z2006-12-07T09:59:18.220ZBritsh Import-Export Holding Company"This idealistic highgrounding also extends to formulating policy and parliamentary communication. The following two gems also tried in vain to search for appropriate language for an unprecedentedly repressed policy..." In the new immigration era, it's all about the 'bad people'.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1164236032756253692006-11-22T22:50:00.000Z2006-11-22T22:56:13.413ZUnfunny, and offensive"...Parochial whingers all love Peter Kay because they can see enough small mindedness in the jokes/jibes (especially in the shameful adverts for plastic bitter) and you are certainly not required to think. The message (and there always is at least one) is to not take anything seriously, especially the things vaguely hinted at by these Manning-lites..." Not just Kay, but Gervais, Carr and Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1160264462420131762006-10-07T23:39:00.000Z2006-10-07T23:41:02.433ZPolitical correctness and multiculturalismLetter to the BBC about Skid ‘Mark’ Easton Click on to Cull for a wider view on Straw’s veil views and the right not to defend the Israeli embassy I am writing to complain about the dangerously simplistic and rancorous content of Mark Easton’s conflated report on British Muslims in the 10 o’clock news last night. The piece dealt with Jack Straw’s comments on his request to Muslim women wearing Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1159628260205548632006-09-30T14:53:00.000Z2006-09-30T14:57:40.216ZState IT in a stateA sorry tale of corporate crapulence in the much-vaunted modernisation of the health service.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1159101710098156382006-09-24T12:40:00.000Z2006-09-24T12:41:50.106ZLowdown on the next Labour PM70s Scottish socialism, barneys with Galloway and Brown, plenty of dram, Defence of the realm, Karadzic, rightist arguments in leftist language… Saturday Guardian profiles Comrade Reid.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1158492019508630472006-09-17T11:19:00.001Z2006-09-17T11:51:24.653ZWindows on the whirl"In the end it is merely commonsense to suggest that there was a narrative of action, as well as inaction (ie, failure to arrest Bin Laden) that influenced the attack" – Cull finally gets round to commemorating the casus belli…Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1157495142674280752006-09-05T22:21:00.000Z2006-09-05T22:25:42.686ZHome helpEver enthusiastic, the Home Secretary Right Honourable Dr. J. John Reid PhD MP’s has contributed to the British citizenship ceremony, by releasing a single on Hubris Recordings… [to be sung by all successful immigrants and lyrics to be kept with passport at all times and to be presented at police stations during times of possible terrorist attacks] "Oh, do the multi-culti; Oh, do the Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1157198322952164942006-09-02T11:56:00.000Z2006-09-02T11:58:42.963ZPoly Race Like ‘political correctness’, ‘multiculturalism’ is only defined by the terms of the user. Officially, only loose definitions can be found… Cull wants Britain’s diverse culture to be about more than food and music…Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1156676842891853872006-08-27T11:04:00.000Z2006-08-27T11:07:22.903ZRadio Solent on the Issues that Matter With Jeremy McClintock and William Shawcross on the panel, there’s surely no reason to ignore the transcript of a historic debate on democracy recently held on the south coast.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1155160047353442692006-08-09T21:39:00.000Z2006-08-09T21:47:27.430ZAt last, somebody stands up to be countedAs our Caribbean Queen of a PM heads for his hols, a Scottish Blairite MP resigns over Prestwick refuelling and the govt's pursuing of a policy on the 'middle east crisis' that the majority of Britons oppose... Elsewhere: Israeli Arabs get scant protection; Yes, the levelling of Lebanon was planned well in advance. Also, continue to check Cull on the subject, and check our original piece on Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1154551453683403442006-08-02T20:43:00.000Z2006-08-02T20:44:13.696ZIsrael's war - West's policy meltdown The leaders of the free world, so keen to promote stable market-centric democracies in the Middle East, allow Israel to do what it likes for those causes, as well as the complimentary war on terror. And if it doesn’t work they just carry on talking… ...Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1154271604280284422006-07-30T14:50:00.000Z2006-07-30T15:00:04.310ZHelp - We are a safe haven for Islamist paedos!A dream story for the tabloid muckrakers - Asian Briton had a long beard so we thought he was a terrorist when we raided him, but the contents of his computer make him an alleged pederast too! What's that in your suicide bomb or are you just pleased to see me? This simply won't do, so come on Tony for the sake of the chil-d-ren create a new register of the Fiddlers of Al-Qaida. The police, the Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1153065598634818332006-07-16T15:56:00.000Z2006-07-22T20:34:40.336ZUpdate - Army of God against the Eretz Yisrael crewThe latest on the invasion of Lebanon over there... As Lebanon burns, we've had a thoroughly contemptible response from the leaders of the free world! But not Cull...Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1152782614126064862006-07-13T09:21:00.000Z2006-07-13T09:23:34.140ZPrep Talk“Sane people ask each other the question – "will America really attack Iran?" And the reply is "no it wouldn't go that far". But the very insane Snow, Cheney (snr and jnr), Rumsfeld and co are pushing their twisted idea of appropriate measures into public discourse, buttering us up for another energy grab. Accordingly, Bush's lickspittles, British pro-war parliamentarians, are doing their best toCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550528.post-1151688253632183572006-06-30T17:21:00.000Z2006-06-30T17:25:37.293ZPeddling delusionary lines"The Israeli invasion and completely illegal kidnapping of democratically elected Palestinian government officials mock selective commentary. No one in the international community will do anything about it..." Cull wades through the fog of occupation in the Middle East...Cullanoreply@blogger.com

meeja hoors

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55506452010-03-03T14:22:55.472ZMeeja Hoorsre:mediaBrucenoreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-91024282663843113542010-03-03T11:50:00.007Z2010-03-03T14:22:55.479ZStatus issues slump ToriesRelocate your vocational tanks to the private healthcare lawn - a Tory government is said to be nigh: Dave ’n George will be providing the brains and recalcitrant offshorer Lord Ashcroft the cash. Like a mid-size accountancy firm’s move to the newest trading estate in Cannock, we’re assured it’s going to be great. But don’t cut the blue ribbon just yet. Apparently Cameron’s face (no airbrushing Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-5321479830325522012009-04-09T14:40:00.002Z2009-04-09T14:43:36.419ZOld media in patronising outburstHow not to go about getting your book favourably reviewed.and just because the pr knows how to use Google Alerts (and knows what an embargo is!), let's throw them off the trail by saying the book was for Pride and Prejudice Zombies. Nothing to see here, m'luv, except your dodgy attitude.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-57719705382298896402009-04-04T20:36:00.001Z2009-04-04T22:37:20.317ZSpoof linksAn inauspicious time to revive Meeja but as a place of record I thought it was worth mentioning the ">Age of Stupid spoof of the FT, which came out before the broader demo/march on Saturday 28 March, ahead of the predictable spectacle (from both protestors and police) on Wednesday: visually accurate, funny and far more readable than the real thing. Start at the dog jumping over the sheep and workCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-45067573656839203432008-02-06T22:56:00.000Z2008-02-06T23:12:23.898ZGhost Blogwhat do you do with a blog that is technically spent? well, remark at that plan for retail to colonise the traditionally-close-for-the-sabbath City. An invasion of capital by capital no less. The city was an interesting and walkable place on sundays but now they want it to be oxford street east. Should be handy for the returning Olympic watchers. there are enough strips of shops in this capital Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-61723718727547591352007-08-07T22:28:00.000Z2007-08-07T22:30:27.422ZValidating every moment"There's nothing to do round here, the kids cry. Except prepare for a life of getting an erection over a detached house"Cull back after unjustifiable hiatus with comments on the pixel nation.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-82996469089633607472007-07-25T21:29:00.000Z2007-07-25T21:31:30.098ZComedy skirting meaningStewart Lee is back on tour after more conspicuous times in the public eye as Springer opera man and the usual detours into writing, TV comedy and, also, artifact curation. Naturally, the appearance of someone with a track record ensured a packed crowd in the culture-free environs of SE23, at the newly airbrushed Honor Oak by the south circular (he’d originally been down to play the more Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-64400127088237058282007-06-26T18:50:00.000Z2007-06-26T18:54:20.571ZThey're corrupt sportsmen, not jihadisCull puts down the surprise at the natural causes verdict for Bob Woolmer's death as a blatant example of Islamophobia in the play-fair world of international cricket.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-66414986443146079752007-06-13T21:59:00.000Z2007-06-21T21:59:26.913ZAs the Mirror Says - Chemically Castrate the PaedosA grim conclusion is being reached in the search for the stolen child, but that doesn't mean the ex-editor of Children Now reeling off some home truths about slack parenthood.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-23432590376873203172007-06-07T21:01:00.000Z2007-06-07T21:14:32.261ZHow Mitchell and Webb look to the PC mogulsMicrosoft's Gates and Apple's Big Jobs were interviewed by two techy bloggers on stage a few weeks ago. During the course of their back-slapping the Microtoss Pista man and Apple's Big Jobs mentioned the little Brit comics who star in the Apple adverts, Robert Webb as Mac and David Mitchell as PCInterviewer I: Although you know what? I have to confess, I like PC guy.Interviewer I: Yeah, he’s Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-83103217968377289712007-05-24T21:57:00.000Z2007-05-24T22:02:39.828ZNaming and shamingYou'll have seen on Truth that we recently had a debut screening for our Jeremy McClintock comedy, and it went ok. Half the problem in the run-up to the night was getting the name right, and I'm not sure we achieved that. The guys parked their fat arses round their virtual table and came up with a list of about 150, and here is 20 or so of the more interesting from that long list. Any comments Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-7461313014139224422007-04-25T22:01:00.000Z2007-04-25T22:05:08.219ZMarket forces"These guys, if not the marketing, are the marketeers, marketing to market as much as they are remarking to market, and marking to market"Go to Cull for moreCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-37170966854071185732007-04-20T19:23:00.000Z2007-04-20T19:26:01.663ZPay-as-you-go-deceptionOrder your media pack on Iran through these Israeli backers. Middle East common sense assuredCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1172660112667253552007-02-28T10:49:00.000Z2007-02-28T10:55:12.710ZLuvvy stuffQueen star props the Queen, and more gongs from institutions are likely.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1170093822748269762007-01-29T17:59:00.000Z2007-01-29T18:03:42.760ZBlood sacrificesDaily Mail editor Dacre tries to influence his readers like a politician but he isn’t. Dacre calls the BBC monocultural but it isn’t. Dacre says he’s not confused but he is..Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1169248635663349042007-01-19T23:09:00.000Z2007-01-19T23:18:15.860ZCelebrity Big Brother Racehategate: “It’s ok, it was all a misunderstanding and the evictee has apologised” Except it isn’t, and this casual racism has to stop Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1168005233678463452007-01-05T13:51:00.000Z2007-01-05T13:53:53.693ZPeople are change“All the ideological euphoria of New Labour is exhausted, and the only thing that matters is the self. As Warren puts it: ‘Arguing about the war is so last season’”Pete Clark’s smoking guns were unusually on target in the Standard, but Cull went several louder in its review of This Life’s trite 10-year-anniversary retreatment…Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1166183137621224452006-12-15T11:44:00.000Z2006-12-15T11:45:37.633ZThinking must be outsourced and accountableCull with some apercus about the consultants infiltrating Westminster.Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1164403413200349512006-11-24T21:19:00.000Z2006-11-26T21:01:10.243ZThe ghost of Alf Garnettthis is a reply from two Cull readers to an article orginally flagged up in Political Peccadillo, but we've now moved it to this section, while belatedly digesting the news about the racist act from the ex-Kramer man...Wrong-com is an interesting article, if a little po-faced. But then that’s half the problem, isn’t it? Taking things ‘too seriously’? hmm? It’s only comedy after all. Just a laugh Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1163456628141884562006-11-13T22:22:00.000Z2006-11-14T10:23:37.396ZChilds in timeslight return…Mark Foley was a republication representative from Florida that knew a thing or two about coveting minors. And this link shows while protectors of his ilk should not protest that they are gay or straight – his “immature sexuality” makes him a paedophile plain and simple.Quite amusing reactions to the article, particularly the stuff about “30 per cent of males get aroused when shownCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1163164936854384352006-11-10T13:20:00.000Z2006-11-10T13:36:33.416ZEngland capital’s captain – a racist?After the dismissal of stiff-upper-chest-and-bent-face England captain JT, the message boards have been replete with manna from rumour mill heaven. It is alleged that Jaytee told Ledley King to 'shut up you lippy black monkey’ before getting sent off against the Spurz. This would explain why King went mad in an otherwise harmless-appearing incident; why Chimbonda went berserk and had to be Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1161104148037520302006-10-17T16:53:00.000Z2006-10-17T17:01:20.313ZDifference be damnedThree series into Peepshow – a fourth is on the way – and now with their own comedy series, this is Robert Webb and David Mitchell’s moment. After years behind the scenes writing for others, taking bit parts and presenting their own radioshows, they’re now due their place on Jonathon Toss’ sofa. Get your laughing gear round them.Or don’t. Despite their years of experience, lame characterisation,Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1161025910229980762006-10-16T19:06:00.000Z2006-10-17T10:32:03.980ZCorporate adventurism must pay offFollowing on from the recent look at Elephant residential conceits, two new projects have landed up the road in SE1, around Bankside and near Blackfriars, as if from average Space.This Southwark Street façade has coloured windows frames and outdoor shutters exposing the internal structure and maybe shifting shape and position like the diaphragms of Paris’ Institut du Monde Arabe. But it is a poorCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1159198514359636252006-09-25T15:19:00.000Z2006-09-26T09:51:33.210ZThe embryonic advisory(brought to you by Smuggies!)* Despite antenatal worries about whether you will be a responsible parent/love them enough/do your best by them, soon you will become besotted by their every move and willing to preserve them from the harshness of Mundo Exterior with formaldehyde, if necessary. Because you own them like an insurance policy. * You will develop a long list of nicknames – some Cullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1157494951612747932006-09-05T22:21:00.000Z2006-09-05T22:22:31.623ZIt's your Shawcrosses...Cull reasons that to let writers like Billy boy off the hook now would be nothing short of appeasementCullanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5550645.post-1157113986662319002006-09-01T12:28:00.000Z2006-09-01T12:39:21.980ZErsatz gentrification of Elephant continuesNew and recent flat developments on Wansey Street and Steedman Street. The marine latter, ‘South Central East’, looks pretty exclusive, and visually gauche, while the former is a tangerine dream of wood facading next to Southwark library and museum.With the wider area, including parts of Blackfriars to the north, one of the last central zones to be colonised by people in search of an authentic Cullanoreply@blogger.com

sonic truth

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54998322010-04-28T21:59:09.734ZSonic Truth<strong>A SIDE: SONIC TRUTH</strong>: Packing in the certaintyBrucenoreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-75445499787109064922010-04-28T16:05:00.007Z2010-04-28T21:59:09.743ZTrain station spotter – East London line relaunchesSo they finally reopened it yesterday, with Boris and the usual misplaced multiculti larks. That gave me something to get up for on my day off. It’s now serving New † and New † Gate from Dalston Junction, with extension to ‘my’ stations Brockley and Honor Oak and onwards to Crystal Palace next month. But my focus would be on the new stations on the north side, which co-incidentally was their Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-51634686194736510182010-04-26T22:02:00.002Z2010-04-26T22:15:36.790ZWhere the wise people goThe venue under the arches had been getting more packed each week, but they still kept on coming in bigger numbers. Once so empty and dingy that it could only be used on period film sets, the place had quietly been regenerating itself. Now it was heaving and everybody wanted a piece of the new thing. Tourists and locals, posh and poor, mingled happily, even the early adopters of the scene seemed Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-71898248136710875452010-04-25T12:39:00.006Z2010-04-26T21:32:42.425ZGang Starr's Guru R.I.PThe first news came on Thursday night but Tom and I, both fans, were out in inebriated twatmode so ignored the elliptic text-as-lyric - 'lemonade is a popular drink and it stil is' - but gamely filled in the rest of the couplet with 'I've got more props and stunts than bruce willis'. When I found out properly about Guru's death from myeloma cancer it was a chastening moment, and as a fan if not Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-25175361215327469742010-04-25T12:25:00.004Z2010-04-25T20:18:37.129Z'Vastly overrated'The NME informs of exclusive unseen pictures of Bongo and the Hedge's band U2 from days. Here, this serves as no more than a cue to dig out comments from Nick Kent, former rock narcissist in the age of dinosaur journalism, in the context of an Independent article on the Glastonbury line-up (and the promotion of his book, i guess): 'U2 were crap when they began and are still vastly overrated and Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-49850084007641065972010-04-20T21:47:00.006Z2010-04-21T09:30:45.346ZEarl Brutus back for more in new formYou may have read that Earl Brutus will have reformed and are headlining a stage at Glastonbury. Great news of course, but not entirely accurate as my friend George Phillips, drummer in their final incarnation and at their last-ever chaos at Hammersmith WMC, explains: 'We are called THE PRE NEW. We've been billed at Glastonbury as Earl Brutus which is a mistake although we will be doing several Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-80508656588141396542010-04-16T11:32:00.005Z2010-04-16T21:07:03.602ZMix plugMy bout of extreme indulgence, and a three-week break from posts, is over with the completion, brass section please, of the latest mix. Copies are being burnt, the artwork (in-Design with a bit of P-Shop help from Tom) printed and the product posted out to mates. Partner and children perhaps breathe a sigh of relief as I return to something like participation in family life. From the outset the Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-33391335588073280242010-03-31T10:37:00.008Z2010-03-31T12:51:24.890ZMusic coverage a bigger problem than mere lack of criticismWe recognise the lack of quality music criticism since the traditional press decided Everything is Great and the online community largely failed to take up a more objective role (this was never a mission statement of the blogs, but one would have expected more from the likes of Pitchfork, Fact, Quietus and so on, and not just cheap shots at the easy targets too). This has not developed solely Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-36241399614483716952010-03-21T13:43:00.005Z2010-03-22T14:10:00.674ZA tale of two DLsThis week's favourite track came to me in the usual contradictory circumstances. The Family Sonic were off to see Suffolk relatives, and I had won the music battle in the people carrier, mainly because Alexander Nut was playing some lovely downtempo techno and house on his Saturday lunchtime Rinse show. Yeah, yeah, silly Dad trying to hang on to the nodes, modes and mores of days. Hadnt Mum Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-8427657986638913612010-03-13T23:13:00.007Z2010-03-14T09:42:53.302ZRyder checks in at CivvyCorpAmelia Troubridge's image of Shaun Ryder tying the knot made Britons of a particular vintage smirk. 'Look, Shaun looks just as boring as us now', we droled on a break from our content management systems, enjoying the Happy Mondays' singer resemblance to a lifetime office worker who has divined the middle management game aint worth the trouble but knows enough about the tech stuff to earn his keepCullanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-14287937384648812042010-03-03T16:07:00.007Z2010-03-04T11:35:58.211ZWorth saving 6? MaybeSo the BBC has earmarked digital station 6 Music along with The Asian network for closure, in a wider move that seems to be a pre-emptive trimming of its capacity ahead of a possible Tory government and subsequent crackdown. It's the opposition with various Murdoch media that are usually in the frontline of the BBC's attackers ('Big, Bloated and Cunning' was a particularly peevish editorial last Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-3757952888819833102010-02-23T13:46:00.008Z2010-02-23T14:34:48.643ZPronkedSaturday night at Manchester’s Pronk! run by Matt aka Rod Hotly who’s in the ‘beat-heavy’ (but song-centred) ">Real Dolls. They take over the upstairs at the Deaf Institute and bring in their own clear and crisp system rather than using the club’s, and there’s projections and the club logo in evidence. I heard dubstep, some wobble, hard new percussive/digital tunes, bit of older hip-hop, funk andCullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-69621230414399783382010-02-23T13:40:00.002Z2010-02-23T13:45:34.688ZSubmission to earthMarc was in Hull on a job the other day and stumbled across ">Boothferry Park, Hull’s former football ground (they moved to the KC stadium in 2002). Long a mess even before it got decommissioned it seems what’s left after the demolition (including floodlights) is being allowed to be swallowed up (something that would not surprise Sean O’Brien). Said Starrzinho: “They still had the floodlight Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-39228036601960771892010-02-19T13:51:00.003Z2010-02-19T13:59:27.664Z‘We are the cyclists – the intermediate state between humans and energy’In our eco-barely conscious times cycling is, ahem, riding a cyclical high. Sales of those ugly but practical Bromptons to those that can afford £600 soar, participation in subsidised work bike purchase schemes is on the increase, most broadsheets have worthy columns ">like this extolling the social and personal benefits of two wheels. Go green and get on your bike, replace carbon footprint guiltCullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-28266836722451780332010-02-17T12:48:00.003Z2010-02-17T13:03:34.324ZPleasant pastures sceneJerusalem, directed by Jez Butterworth and recently transferred from the Royal Court, stars Mark Rylance as the free-living, drug-dealing Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron who lives in a caravan, willingly outside of mainstream south Wiltshire society (apart from its pubs). After an inspired treatment of Hamm in Beckett’s Endgame, Rylance plays Byron with ferocious whimsy, a dedicated commitment to the kindCullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-74701550866675158122010-02-05T14:03:00.003Z2010-02-05T21:35:01.357ZThe name’s JT+++++update: fabio did indeed sack terry off, putting the leadership baton in the capable hands of renowned clean lifestyle guru Rio Ferdinand. Not only has Johnny Terry let himself down, he's let down the whole of the country, especially Epsom. For that reason alone he needs to be regarded as an isolated case of immoral urges. And sent to play in Dubai instead.Cull speculated years ago on the Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-73888037785703327612010-01-26T13:16:00.006Z2010-01-26T16:45:15.228ZFocus on SE4Guardian Weekend Magazine’s Let’s Move To section has bigged up the Brockley and Honor Oak Park area, also including Nunhead to the north-west and Ladywell to the east in a general South-East London primer for young professionals (aka yuppies). Earlier migrants now contemplate the bittersweet thrill of recognition with the prospect of younger versions of themselves coming in to continue the area’Cullanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-87161449373107083282010-01-21T12:17:00.005Z2010-01-21T12:52:24.901ZHow I came by the beat, part 37My search for that tune I was banging out on the M1 and banging on about here did not yield instant gratification. It started on Nihal's page - he said Nucleya's Beat One but YouTube merely had what must be the original, so i then started going through tunes either side - one tune by Nuphlo suggested he might have remixed this. So a search on that finally got me there, Nihal having recently Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-53109801419253221962010-01-20T14:42:00.006Z2010-01-21T13:31:59.481ZOn the road for the CitizensRearranged semi-final derby day, City’s home leg. With no Euston trains from Manchester after 8 and a need to get back to London that night, I had no option but to shit on my carbon footprint by driving solo there and back. Having done the usual by pissing around at home, stocking up on CDs and reading the City blogs with their mixture of bearish fear and bullish confidence until at 2:15pm it Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-50909851734225429122010-01-13T11:32:00.006Z2010-01-13T17:48:31.728ZArt for musicIn a fairly clinical rebuttal to the charge that digital music is just all flat files and no aesthetics, mega aggregator the Hype Machine's project to twin the 50 most blogged about artists last year with 50 artists has produced some great artwork for the bands, transcendent of bland brand logos or each single or album release. Pick your favourites here. If it is just about the music, here are Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-26829042392519649932010-01-07T20:51:00.003Z2010-01-07T20:59:31.574ZThis is England (ha ha)snow: it's a logistical nightmare:that's a BT mechanic trying to get his van going in the middle of the road.the view to ladywell station from ladywell fields.Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-796212071125935862010-01-07T14:09:00.006Z2010-01-21T13:32:58.913ZDecadal 10 (jeez): the also-rockersOf course I didn’t choose the 10 in splendid isolation, there were always several candidates for each place. So to truly sign off the overview (please) it’s only fair to mention the contenders.Miss E’s ">Get Ur Freak On I thought always stood out in an r&b genre whose innovation had been overstated. My other main generic candidate, Mary J Blige’s Family Affair, was a much more conventional Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-29057387639837119762010-01-04T12:49:00.006Z2010-01-04T13:08:30.725ZDecade Top 10 business - one more contributionMy mate Fish heads the United Hampshire movement (ie, he follows the Shots and the Saints) and is frequently at gigs or in record shops. Here's his decadal ten - all links are to YouTube clips. [Top 10 here, Foreword and Further Reading here. Notes here]* Freelance Hellraiser - a ">Stroke of Genius - back when mash-ups and tight jeans were actually cool, the strokes meet aguilera, seemless Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-37228066605693551782010-01-02T14:57:00.005Z2010-01-02T15:02:56.704ZOptions for the Male Middle Class Shirker"I came out here to this shed because i wanted to do something extraordinary ... also i would have avoided helping out around the house ... getting a bit worried that this adventure wont make sense without more beer ... (blub) .... I don't want to descale a washing machine"Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-5802688438765204682009-12-30T13:05:00.005Z2010-01-07T14:29:36.870ZFinal notes on the decade in music[Top 10 here, Foreword and Further Reading here, the also-rockers here]The indulgent Noughties, that much maligned tournant du siècle decade where technological advance seemed only to bring socio-cultural regression, started late and ended early, after the Towers (and the new iPod) and before the credit crunch. With mere days to go before corporatised, time-precious fuckers can start running Cullanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499832.post-54211684198608102392009-12-30T12:21:00.007Z2010-01-07T14:34:10.971ZTop 10 of the 2000s: Foreword and further readingFurther reading:* Ghostly International’s non-Ghostly 110 of the 2000s* Fact Magazine's Top 100 albums * Pitchfork's Top 20 * Guardian Top 10 * Stylus Decade (coming soon) * Noughties notes on musical fragmentation * Fact's 10 house producers of the decade * Blissblog's 9 09s* Guide's People Who Ruined the Decade * Why Kek-W has no favourite album of the decade* Howay Howey! Salaam Ali! Allez Le Cullanoreply@blogger.com0