Fake Rabbits, Real Snakes, And Football Manager

The Transfer Window...

2009-09-02T11:43:58+02:00

Now, those of you who have seen my profile will realise that I am a fan of Watford FC. This can be a blessing, but more often than not, it is a completely unmovable, life threatening curse. The Football League "Transfer Window" shut yesterday, with Watford having sold more players than signed, in fact we only signed five players-two on loan, one hasn't even played yet. And I'm furious. I'm furious with the board of Directors, I'm furious with our ever elusive Player Recruitment head, and I'm furious with the players.

Loyalty is a word bandied about by disgruntled football fans, and I do not expect my players to run through a brick wall for my team- all I want from ALL the staff, is honesty. Sound familiar Brendan Rodgers? It is not the fact we let players go, players like Tommy Smith I can fully understand his desire to play in the Premier League, andhe respects us enough to not have joined Judas at Reading- but my prime example is Mike Williamson.

When we signed Mike in January of this year, we thought it may have been risky to sign a lower league player, luckily he did well. He is not like Jay DeMerit who I firmly believe is one of the greatest players (and people) I have seen at my club; but he was solid, dependable. You would've thought that after giving you your break in second tier football, that maybe a bit more respect was due? Instead, he declares himself "unfit to play" after having a written transfer request rejected-rightly so in my opinion. This guy is supposed to be professional, why don't you act like it Mike "Toys Out The Pram" Williamson.

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The old Health Care debacle...

2009-08-14T09:31:37+02:00

-- A little disclaimer to start things off, I'm from the UK, and thus my view of the NHS maybe is a little tainted, for the good--

Now then, onto the matter at hand. The problem lies, well, the first layer thereof lies, as I'm sure everyone knows in that in the USA (a fine country though it is) people must get insurance in order to have decent healthcare. Now, the next layer of problem is that people see a plan to install free health care for the uninsured as unpatriotic, socialist and for many people whom I've heard quoted "too Russian". This is considered an affront to all things free market.

Yet the question must surely be "why?" Look at the Swedes, with a system similar to that of the UK, and also some of the world's most known companies, it is surely living proof that anything as "socialist" as free health care for citizens does not take away a right to make money, but surely on an individual rate, it would encourage it?

The next layer in this cake of problem of course is tax. Most "right wing" people (the world over) will demonise anything and everything that forces upon them the (apparent) burden of taxation. But why is this? The amount paid for top whack Insurance must be quite steep, otherwise it wouldn't be the best. Compare that to an annual tax-fee, which is likely to be taken from the source, then I really cannot see a leg to stand on for the "it costs the tax-payer too much" argument.

But then, maybe most of us Europeans and the Canadians (to name but a few) are all wrong, and hey maybe the Cubans are wrong too, despite being some of the healthiest people in the Americas. Maybe our state subsidised schools are also too socilaist, because they dare to lay out a curriculum, which must be followed when taught, but not to the letter...

Regardless of that though, I'm glad Churchill lost the first post-War election, I'm glad that the Labour government of 1948 dared to introduce a health system, which has become not a privilege for citizens of the UK, but a right we vehemently defend whenever it is challenged.

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Les Feuilles Mortes

2009-05-28T15:32:40+02:00

The warm weather is a cracker for motivation, since it's been nice, I've done lots of writing, not in a typically clichéd manner, but about things i think need explaining. I'm not saying they're any good, but the fact they've been done is wonderful.

Also, I am LOVING Iggy Pop's latest/new french language jazz sounds. It's not just good because it's him; it's geniunely a great album. It's a very brave step for Mr. pop, but luckily reinvention keeps the soul young, and after a wane in his ability to craft a great song, he has realised that a new sound was required.

Do get it on iTunes, I recommend "Les Feuilles Mortes" ("The Dead Leaves"), there's something special in Iggy singing in French. Top man.

Another thing that has been growing on me recently, well for a about a year, is spoken word, performance poetry. It is sublime, if you cut past the chaff. Not one to let the tele have a monopoly, with the BBC's very entertaining if a little austere look at the world of poetry currently airing on BBC4, I think I should share some artists I find I can't stop listening to. Artists such as Ventriloquist and Polar Bear for example, but the more "conventional" kind of poet such as Benjamin Zepheniah is also worth a performance-listen.
Alas, MySpace is probably the best bet for hearing their crafted tales, Ventriloquist will have you laughing at the absurdity, and moving to his feeling of the poem. PB, on the other hand, whilst not always as light hearted is still genius. His poems cover anything and everything, and offer a very good perspective on things such as hindsight, having kids and the like. Check him out live too.

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Twhatter?

2009-04-26T19:36:49+02:00

Now, I'm a bit of a Web2.0 fan, it must be said-maybe this will alienate some, others it may encourage- but why does anybody tweet on Twitter? I appreciate the fact people might like to know things instantly, but c'mon, this is riciculous.

We now have texting, IMing(if that is a verb), emailing, facebook/myspacing, blogging and tweeting. I just don't get it. Is this market not already a tad saturated with instant feedback-style apps/sites?

Why doesn't everybody just calm down a bit? We don't need this much immediacy in our lives! Yes, I know, ironic I'm blogging, but I don't expect anyone to "follow" me, and I'm sure as hell (?) not going to restrict myself to 150 little inconsequential characters!
Even the "Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged" guys can't convey anythingin such a small space!

Do we really need to know what people are doing in 150 character blasts? It's cheaper than electronically tagging people I suppose...

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My Springtime Autumn

2009-04-20T19:59:58+02:00

So, it is now oh so nearly Summer. (Nearly) everybody loves summer. I'm not going to join the legions of mundane lists of why summer is great.
But, I was thinking today, whilst doing some wonderfully calming gardening; that, around this time every year one of my friends and I inexplicably fall out. I don't know why, it does peturb me. Maybe because I'm Sagittarius? I have no idea...

I saw the premiere of the new season 8 of Family Guy on UK telly yesterday. What a blast. Seth MacFarlane, genius. Pure genius.

Well, tomorrow it is back to school, with German cases seemingly singed into my retinas, I think I'm confident about my exams which are forthcoming. Good times!

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Wowee

2009-04-11T22:30:52+02:00

Kasabian are back!!!. Just listened to their new Vlad The Impaler 24 times in a row. A little excessive, maybe, but that riff is just phenomenal.

I'll blog later some more about thier new stuff and other tomfoolery, but I'm tired and need to keep devouring One Day In September, a well recommended read; very informative yet tragic

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Early April looms...

2009-03-11T14:52:31+01:00

Well, as the title suggest it is nearly April. That means two things to me. One- my German Oral AS exam, on the 28th of March. Number 2- a wonderfully understanding and gracious 3 days later, is my French Oral exam. Yikes. Alas, alas indeed...

It could be worse, French is pretty solid, and I'm now listening to the insatiable 1000 Robota repeatedly, great little Hamburg based indie-disco band. More to the point, I understand their Songtexten. Denglisch ist my Sprach of choice these days...

So, I must immerse my selbst in the language of Schiller, Brecht, Kafka, Goethe, Marx and Engels for some serious cramming sessions. Just when I was getting into Dead Souls...

April also, thirdly, means nigh the end of the Football season for another year...with us (Watford) slowly yet determinedly forcing our way up the table, that may not be such a bad thing...

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Beastie Boys

2007-10-04T21:03:37+02:00

Good evening everyone.

Haven't been on here for a while, so just thought id blog away for a bit. The Beastie Boys are phenomenal.

I'm desperately trying to revise German, but im sure ill do it soon ( :

playing pool tonight (Y)

lovelove
xxxxx

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