It does make me laugh a little how people seem to get caught up so much in Christmas, I have seen one part of it through working at ASDA, and especially caught up on December 25.
The world doesn't stop and a large number of people are still grafting on a day when most of us (me included) are sat around a tree unwrapping presents.
I got some and gave some "nice" things but I didn't ask for anything as I don't need anything. The latest versions of stuff don't interest me at the moment. If I have something and it works, why change? Although my possession of new technology is not scarce.
It could be argued that people deserve a day to be self-indulgent and focus on themselves and the new gifts they get as they are aware of the unpleasant things for the rest of time.
Christmas isn't recognised everywhere and foreign disasters have happened before towards the end of the year and in Pakistan again today a suicide bomber killing nearly 50 people.
Really though, December 25 is just like every other day and just because we are in our own cacoon's of gluttony, others are far from it. From the family coming together to the Christmas turkey, a routine is set and stuck to and everyone is caught up in the moment.
A lot of people wished me "Merry Christmas" but I am not a practicing Christian and many of the well-wishers aren't so what does it mean really and why do we give out and receive gifts on this day?
Basically, the point of this post is to spare a thought/moment for those who are not as lucky as ourselves and those who will always take bad memories away from this December 25.
It is unconfirmed as yet but it seems likely that the body of 25-year-old Joanna Yeates, the architect who went missing on December 17, has been found today. On a day when the majority of the population feels as they do, how must her parents/friends be feeling? I can only guess and I suppose there is still hope that it is not Ms Yeates, but that will only mean grief for another set of people.
A day we all associate with the trivialities of modern life will never ever be the same for the Yeates family and friends if the post-mortem finds the expected results. While we enjoy the day that will be remembered for all good, just remember they'll be a lot of people who will look back on this day and recall only sadness.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
music of 2010
It has been a good year for me in terms of music, especially discovering new bands/artists which would take wwaayy to much space to name them all here.
I also need to get around to buying a few albums, like Arcade Fire's latest "The Suburbs" and I haven't included albums that came out in 2009 but I bought this year. Such as 30 Seconds to Mars and Paramore.
Anyways, below is a selection of the CD's I have bought/received this year and how I rate them out of 10. One being the worst and 10 the best working through the year.
You me at Six - Hold me down.
Released in January this year it's the bands second studio album and I found it decent, especially the track "Underdog" but while it justified me spending the money on it, the album was not a classic and it was I probably won't listen to that often in the future. Verdict 6/10
Vampire Weekend - Contra.
Again a second album released in January and I got what I expected with Vampire Weekend, they are a little bit different and they are sticking to it so fair play. More of a summery sound and nice to listen to. "Cousins" and "Holiday" were probably the pick of my played tracks but don't beat "A-punk" and "Oxford Comma" of their first album. Verdict 7/10
Lost Prophets - The Betrayed.
A friend introduced me to this band a few years ago now and I especially liked their song "Rooftops" and while this album has a few gems "It's not the end of the world, but I can see it from here" and "Streets of nowhere" it's not a keeper from my point of view. I gave it a couple of listens and it might come out of the cupboard but for now it has been banished. Verdict 5/10
The Courteeners - Falcon
Band from where I am from and top draw sound. First heard of them through "Not 19 forever" and loved this album. Track 3 and 4 ("Cross my Heart and learn to fly" and "You overdid it doll") were the picks but definitely an album to buy if you haven't got it already. 12 tracks and while one or two are skippable the rest are just what I wanted to hear. Verdict 9/10
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
I like Gorillaz, their sound and the whole idea behind it all but maybe, just maybe, it has ran its course now. In the early days it was great to listen to but now, or at least this album, didn't get me overly excited and this has been put aside in favour of the 2005 album "Demon Days". Verdict 5/10
Linkin Park - A thousand Suns
Ahh take it away, take it away! A different direction is one thing but this was horrible, absolutely nothing positive to say from my point of view about this album. I hope they go back to their older stuff in the future which was pretty good from my viewpoint. Verdict: can I go lower than 0/10. No? Well, I'll be generous and give it 2/10. Someone, somewhere must have liked it . . .
Kings of Leon - Come around sundown
After such a good album last time around I always felt it was going to be hard to top it or even match it for KoL. And so it proved because although this album is ok and has its moments "Only by the night", their previous album is my pick if you want a bit of Kings of Leon. Not easy to give a verdict for this when I'm comparing it to something I loved last time but... Verdict 7/10
Dirt River Radio - Beer Bottle Poetry
A band I went to see in Australia a number of times. I have sort of cheated here as this was a 2009 album release in Australia and not seen anywhere except in my possession in the UK. And the verdict is so high as it reminds me of my time over there which is always going to bring back good memories, so the sound as well as the images it reminds me of accounts for the score!
They were unsigned which was hard to believe and still might be but with tracks like "All my Friends" and "The boys in the public bar" this is what music should be. Pure good sound without commerical influences. Verdict 10/10
I also need to get around to buying a few albums, like Arcade Fire's latest "The Suburbs" and I haven't included albums that came out in 2009 but I bought this year. Such as 30 Seconds to Mars and Paramore.
Anyways, below is a selection of the CD's I have bought/received this year and how I rate them out of 10. One being the worst and 10 the best working through the year.
You me at Six - Hold me down.
Released in January this year it's the bands second studio album and I found it decent, especially the track "Underdog" but while it justified me spending the money on it, the album was not a classic and it was I probably won't listen to that often in the future. Verdict 6/10
Vampire Weekend - Contra.
Again a second album released in January and I got what I expected with Vampire Weekend, they are a little bit different and they are sticking to it so fair play. More of a summery sound and nice to listen to. "Cousins" and "Holiday" were probably the pick of my played tracks but don't beat "A-punk" and "Oxford Comma" of their first album. Verdict 7/10
Lost Prophets - The Betrayed.
A friend introduced me to this band a few years ago now and I especially liked their song "Rooftops" and while this album has a few gems "It's not the end of the world, but I can see it from here" and "Streets of nowhere" it's not a keeper from my point of view. I gave it a couple of listens and it might come out of the cupboard but for now it has been banished. Verdict 5/10
The Courteeners - Falcon
Band from where I am from and top draw sound. First heard of them through "Not 19 forever" and loved this album. Track 3 and 4 ("Cross my Heart and learn to fly" and "You overdid it doll") were the picks but definitely an album to buy if you haven't got it already. 12 tracks and while one or two are skippable the rest are just what I wanted to hear. Verdict 9/10
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
I like Gorillaz, their sound and the whole idea behind it all but maybe, just maybe, it has ran its course now. In the early days it was great to listen to but now, or at least this album, didn't get me overly excited and this has been put aside in favour of the 2005 album "Demon Days". Verdict 5/10
Linkin Park - A thousand Suns
Ahh take it away, take it away! A different direction is one thing but this was horrible, absolutely nothing positive to say from my point of view about this album. I hope they go back to their older stuff in the future which was pretty good from my viewpoint. Verdict: can I go lower than 0/10. No? Well, I'll be generous and give it 2/10. Someone, somewhere must have liked it . . .
Kings of Leon - Come around sundown
After such a good album last time around I always felt it was going to be hard to top it or even match it for KoL. And so it proved because although this album is ok and has its moments "Only by the night", their previous album is my pick if you want a bit of Kings of Leon. Not easy to give a verdict for this when I'm comparing it to something I loved last time but... Verdict 7/10
Dirt River Radio - Beer Bottle Poetry
A band I went to see in Australia a number of times. I have sort of cheated here as this was a 2009 album release in Australia and not seen anywhere except in my possession in the UK. And the verdict is so high as it reminds me of my time over there which is always going to bring back good memories, so the sound as well as the images it reminds me of accounts for the score!
They were unsigned which was hard to believe and still might be but with tracks like "All my Friends" and "The boys in the public bar" this is what music should be. Pure good sound without commerical influences. Verdict 10/10
Thursday, December 02, 2010
No World Cup Yet
The slightly good thing about being ill, not working Monday to Friday and being snowed in enough to make you not want to go out is good old Television and, more to the point, the announcement of the FIFA World Cup hosts for 2018 and 2022.
I was flicking on and off the coverage from EuroSport, SkySports News and BBC 2 but wasn't really bothered about the announcement at 3:30pm today.
I've been trying to raise feelings for holding the Olympics and I'd nod and smile if you ask me if it's good but secretly I'm not too passionate either way.
Anyway, England were up against Russia, Spain and Portugal and Holland and Belgium. The Telegraph has how the voting went down, with England only getting two votes, meaning first round elimination - that's even worse than on the pitch ;)
And we had a lot of people over there to support us didn't we? Prince William, David Beckham, Boris Johnson, Alan Shearer, a whole host of other ministers and David Cameron (who flew to Zurich, back for PM's questions, then back to Zurich again...)
In the end, the winner was Russia. I am sure people will debate the politics, such as the Panorama programme / Sunday Times and the legitimacy of FIFA officials but what's done is done and after all this is only a game.
Sure, it would have done a lot for the host cities and surrounding economies but we have had it once, albeit in 1966, while Russia haven't. We may have the facilities already, give or take, and Russia may not but that seems to be the way the FIFA members are voting doesn't it?
The last World Cup in South Africa, the next in Brazil (if they can get it ready in time) and 2018 in Russia.
Now, onto where I spent a majority of 2009. Australia. They were bidding for the 2022 World Cup with United States, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.
I think countries that have already held the World Cup in recent history should be out if other contenders are not absolutely hapless. So bye bye USA and Japan and South Korea. (Even if 2002 was a joint bid that still counts in my tinted glasses).
But Australia were eliminated in the first round with ONE VOTE as Qatar won the right to host the 2022 tournament. I can get my head around England being unsuccessful, but Australia losing out to Qatar?! And USA just missing out, poor that.
I know next to nothing about Qatar, except it will be the first Middle East country to host a World Cup, so don't rely on my opinions here read some of the potential problems and solutions in this BBC report or in this opinion piece of Duncan White's from the Telegraph.
Let's see how it matches up from what I have read about Qatar to seen in Australia.
1) Facilities - Plenty of time for this to be changed but Australia gets this round currently. Qatar say they will spend £4bn on facilities, including nine new stadiums. Australia has (off the top of my head) Etihad stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, MCG, SCG, WACA and the Gabba.
2) Temperature - We saw in South Africa when it was a bit toasty how slow the game was and (ultimately) boring for us spectators. Qatar can reach 50 degrees around the time the games will be held- I spent a short time in 40 degrees which was hot enough! But it is more Spring coming into summer in the land Down Under. Qatar say stadiums will be climate-controlled - I'll sit on the fence to see how that works.
3) Influx of people - Football fans going to the Middle East. Maybe a bit of paranoia but in a relatively closed Islamic nation? You can do your own adding up on that one. Australia hosts the Ashes and has had the Olympics which is closer than Qatar has come to this level of foreigners invading for a month or so.
Things like hotels and transport can be done in the 12 years they have so there is no point picking straws on those topics. It is good to see countries getting a chance, South Africa pulled it off but whether Brazil, Russia and Qatar will remains to be seen.
So, my two favoured countries have missed out. I'm not going to sulk as it's only a game and all those non-footy heads in England and Australia will be delighted as the media coverage would have been everywhere all the time, so they get to relax for at least a few more years.
In summary, with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2010 in South Africa and after England got 100 per cent from a report by management consultants McKinsey given to FIFA, it wasn't the best technical bid they were after. It was either the noble thing of giving other countries and continents a chance or giving their pockets a payday.
I was flicking on and off the coverage from EuroSport, SkySports News and BBC 2 but wasn't really bothered about the announcement at 3:30pm today.
I've been trying to raise feelings for holding the Olympics and I'd nod and smile if you ask me if it's good but secretly I'm not too passionate either way.
Anyway, England were up against Russia, Spain and Portugal and Holland and Belgium. The Telegraph has how the voting went down, with England only getting two votes, meaning first round elimination - that's even worse than on the pitch ;)
And we had a lot of people over there to support us didn't we? Prince William, David Beckham, Boris Johnson, Alan Shearer, a whole host of other ministers and David Cameron (who flew to Zurich, back for PM's questions, then back to Zurich again...)
In the end, the winner was Russia. I am sure people will debate the politics, such as the Panorama programme / Sunday Times and the legitimacy of FIFA officials but what's done is done and after all this is only a game.
Sure, it would have done a lot for the host cities and surrounding economies but we have had it once, albeit in 1966, while Russia haven't. We may have the facilities already, give or take, and Russia may not but that seems to be the way the FIFA members are voting doesn't it?
The last World Cup in South Africa, the next in Brazil (if they can get it ready in time) and 2018 in Russia.
Now, onto where I spent a majority of 2009. Australia. They were bidding for the 2022 World Cup with United States, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.
I think countries that have already held the World Cup in recent history should be out if other contenders are not absolutely hapless. So bye bye USA and Japan and South Korea. (Even if 2002 was a joint bid that still counts in my tinted glasses).
But Australia were eliminated in the first round with ONE VOTE as Qatar won the right to host the 2022 tournament. I can get my head around England being unsuccessful, but Australia losing out to Qatar?! And USA just missing out, poor that.
I know next to nothing about Qatar, except it will be the first Middle East country to host a World Cup, so don't rely on my opinions here read some of the potential problems and solutions in this BBC report or in this opinion piece of Duncan White's from the Telegraph.
Let's see how it matches up from what I have read about Qatar to seen in Australia.
1) Facilities - Plenty of time for this to be changed but Australia gets this round currently. Qatar say they will spend £4bn on facilities, including nine new stadiums. Australia has (off the top of my head) Etihad stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, MCG, SCG, WACA and the Gabba.
2) Temperature - We saw in South Africa when it was a bit toasty how slow the game was and (ultimately) boring for us spectators. Qatar can reach 50 degrees around the time the games will be held- I spent a short time in 40 degrees which was hot enough! But it is more Spring coming into summer in the land Down Under. Qatar say stadiums will be climate-controlled - I'll sit on the fence to see how that works.
3) Influx of people - Football fans going to the Middle East. Maybe a bit of paranoia but in a relatively closed Islamic nation? You can do your own adding up on that one. Australia hosts the Ashes and has had the Olympics which is closer than Qatar has come to this level of foreigners invading for a month or so.
Things like hotels and transport can be done in the 12 years they have so there is no point picking straws on those topics. It is good to see countries getting a chance, South Africa pulled it off but whether Brazil, Russia and Qatar will remains to be seen.
So, my two favoured countries have missed out. I'm not going to sulk as it's only a game and all those non-footy heads in England and Australia will be delighted as the media coverage would have been everywhere all the time, so they get to relax for at least a few more years.
In summary, with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2010 in South Africa and after England got 100 per cent from a report by management consultants McKinsey given to FIFA, it wasn't the best technical bid they were after. It was either the noble thing of giving other countries and continents a chance or giving their pockets a payday.
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