Abi Rhodes' Zigzag Wanderings

The Architects of our Downfall and Depression

Do you remember these 2 villains. They're called Raymond Baxter [left] and James Burke. From 1965, in a TV programme called 'Tomorrow's World,' they bombarded us with futuristic designs, ideas and inventions which would free us from wage slavery and bring increasing leisure to all our lives. We could expect a future of prosperity, idleness and pleasure.

Well, many of us have the idleness although not in the way we were led to expect. Others do in fact have the pleasure and prosperity - but number only a measly 2-3% of our population. Many of us are being forced to spend the evenings of our lives as drudges or searching for jobs that do not exist.

These men stand accused of selling us similar dreams to those peddled by the likes of Mao, Stalin and Hitler.

They have betrayed generations. They should be rounded up tried for treachery of the highest order.

Football Crazy?

Ali Campbell/Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Many Rivers To Cross

The Official Anthem for Goal4Africa

Crumbs Media………Release date August 18^th

www.goal4africa.org

It’s pointless debating whether this is a good record or not – there’s just too much baggage tied up with both the song and the performers. Because it’s the anthem for this prestigious series of admirable sporting events, there’s little doubt that it will be a hit around the world. I therefore have to commend it on that level. But I would say that it adds little to the world of music. Gimme Jimmy Cliff in preference any day!

Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Analysis

Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Analysis

Weirdness from Bosnia in the form of Laka

Well Eurovision has come and gone again. It was a good competition this year – although I thought the winning Russian entry wasn’t all that wonderful. I would have preferred Bosnia-Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Greece in that order. But I think the general quality has greatly improved since the Eastern countries have become independent and more liberated in their approach to music. I love the hybrid musics resulting from the combination of modern rock and dance rhythms etc with their various ethnic traditions.

There does seem to be a problem with countries voting for their near neighbours and political allies, but wasn’t it ever so? The resulting hoo-ha about whether Western European countries should continue entering is a bit of a red herring. The truth is these countries just do not take the competition seriously enough. The only way to overcome the tribalism inherent in the voting structure is to produce some better songs.

Andy Abrahams’ song was probably the best we’ve entered for some years now but it really was pretty conventional and totally lacking in innovation or drama. It wasn’t even modern R’n’B, but more a standard second-rate 70s sould song. If it hadn’t been our entry to the Contest it wouldn’t have stood a chance in our charts let alone anywhere else.

You’ve only got to analyse the pop charts in the UK to pick out dozens of better songs than his tawdry effort. Our entry should be the best song available from a much wider spectrum than those that get into the ‘Song for Europe’ handicap each spring. Why aren’t the likes of Lily Allen, The Streets or Girls Aloud entering the fray. I’ll tell you why – it’s because the whole British establishment thinks that Eurovision is a joke – much in the way the Irish entry by Dustin the Turkey portrayed it to be [and sadly but justifiably got knocked out in the semi-final].

A joky song is one thing but as long as the competition is looked down upon in such a way then it will be a self fulfilling prophesy that we won’t stand a chance. Terry Wogan has always been a most amusing compere for the UK, but maybe his likely retirement from the annual bash will offer a chance for a new start in the attitude department. We don’t want to be so serious that to lose will lead to hara-kiri in the streets by performers and fans. But if we could build a team of presenters who treated the whole thing with a little more respect and exhibited a little less cynicism especially towards the Eastern block, then perhaps some of our more accomplished and creative songwriters and performers would put themselves forward as entrants.

Kalomoira - Greece's very own Britney

I love Eurovision. I think it’s one of the most entertaining evening’s TV of the year. It would be a great shame if we opted out for little more reason than sour grapes – for that’s what it would be. Let’s press the powers that be to treat the contest with the seriousness and respect we exhibit in some of the finest sporting events where we struggle to compete. Cricket and cycling, for example – we know we’re unlikely to be top dog but we respect the other entrants and go all out to do the best we can under the circumstances. Let’s show some of the Eddie the Eagle spirit and be heroic losers rather than pick up our ball and stomp off home in disgust.

Carry on Camping?....I don't think so

http://www.ledernierjourarivesaltes.com/ is a very special website [in English & French] dedicated to the people who suffered under the Nazis at a concentration camp near Rivesaltes - not far from Perpignan, in the shadow of the Pyrenees.

It is in the process of being redeveloped and my friend Helena is determined that the horrors perpetrated therein shall not be forgotten.

She started the process by writing a poem having lived near the site for many years, passing it daily on her travels around the locality.

Then she organised the making of moving a film featuring the return visit of a camp survivor to the site prior to the remaining buildings being demolished.

The website, which has yet to be completed will feature the poem, photos and details of the film.

Please support this project by visiting the website, learning about the history of this place and watching out for the release of the film.

This will ensure that one way or another, the sorrowful story attached to the location will survive long after the hard physical evidence has disappeared forever.

Up A Gumtree???

Brighton Gumtree is a brilliant site for info and ads about Community Events and Small Ads of all kinds.

I have directed you to the Brighon section but press the link anyway if you're somewhere else and you can navigate to your locality.

HELP!!!!!!

Every year The Friends of Blaker's Park hold a Community Picnic in the
Park

Traditionally we have always been able to provide live music as the
main entertainment at the event and it has usually been presented by
the brilliant Rock's Kool organisation which enables local youngsters
to develop their musical skills and form bands to perform to their
families, friends and the public

This year our Picnic will take place on Saturday 16th June between
11am and 5pm but sadly Rock's Kool is not available to perform.

So we are looking for performers and bands who would like to perform
short sets (about 15 minutes) through the day

We have got a couple of bands lined up at present but need several
more

Sadly we are unable to provide any offer of payment but performers
are welcome to pass the hat should they be so inclined

There will be an electrical supply available but acts will need to
bring their own amps, mikes etc or go acoustic

If anyone is interested they should contact me, Abi Rhodes via

01273 270501

or

abi.rhodes@tiscali.co.uk

1984 is here again

Big brother is watching us....please consider signing this petition, or perhaps you already did?
...my name will be there right now! Happy motoring

If you drive a car, please read - Sarah Kennedy was talking about this proposed car tax scheme on Radio 2. Apparently there is only one month left to register your objection to the 'Pay As You Go' road tax.

The petition is on the 10 Downing St website but they didn't tell anybody about it. Therefore at the time of Sarah's comments only 250,000 people had signed it and 750,000 signatures are required for the government to at least take any notice.

Once you've given your details (you don't have to give your full address, just house number and postcode will do), they will send you an email with a link in it. Once you click on that link, you'll have signed the petition.
The government's proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you having to purchase a tracking device for your car and paying a monthly bill to use it. The tracking device will cost about £200 and in a recent study by the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194 for a delivery driver. A non working mother who used the car to take the kids to school paid £86 in one month.

On top of this massive increase in tax, you will be tracked. Somebody will know where you are at all times. They will also know how fast you have been going, so even if you accidentally creep over a speed limit in time you can probably expect a Notice of Intended Prosecution with your monthly
bill.

If you are concerned about this Orwellian plan and want to stop the constant bashing of the car driver, please sign the petition on No 10's new website (link below) and pass this on to as many people as possible.

Sign up if you value your freedom and democratic rights -

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax

Hopeles Local Politics - as long as it sounds PC nothing else matters

It is almost impossible to pick up a leaflet issued by Brighton & Hove City Council without being struck by the PC virtues it apparently espouses. Whether it be their consideration for the environment, the concern they lavish on minority and disadvantaged groups or the lip-service they pay in encouraging community initiatives, they impress by the commitment they seem to give to every section of our very diverse society.

The Fiveways area is noted for a lack of facilities for the youth in its community and The Children's Musical Playhouse, currently operating from Beaconsfield Road, has been struggling to fill a gap in the culture of the area for several years now. Apart from the classes in music and dance provided to the children of local families, there have been successful projects working with handicapped and mental health groups - the very sections of the community the Council is so keen to support.

I was therefore saddened and somewhat surprised to hear that the Environmental Health Department has just refused to allow the music workshop to carry on its normal activities from the present address. This is about the sixth time this popular and worthwhile organisation has had to seek new accommodation. It must be very frustrating indeed for the folk who have put so much effort into developing each venue as they have moved from place to place. It is a mark of the importance and commitment they have in the community that supporters have not allowed them to become totally discouraged to the point of giving up. This is not to mention the amount of expense incurred and the time wasted in finding new funding at each relocation.

Is the Council incapable of putting its money where its mouth is by finding this excellent community initiative a permanent home from where it can get on with the job it has striven so hard to do for so many years without having to worry just how much longer it has to wait before it is forced to move on yet again?

Defense de Fumer!

It's starting - the long-awaited clamp down on smoking

I don't smoke - never have done - never intend to

But the all pervasive desire to make other people stop doing it seems pretty evil to me and calls into question whether people really do believe in free choice or not

The spanish - bless their cotton socks - have had quite restrictive laws on smoking in public places such as bars for some time now. How have they received them?

By the brilliant tactic of letting them in and then ignoring them

There is just too much respect for the law in this country

We let the do-gooders pass stuff willy-nilly because they think they have a God-given right to decide what's good for us and then we think we have to obey their laws however crappy they may be

Why not let the prisons fill up with people who decide to flout the anti-smoking laws - then Big Brother and her cohorts can decide how to cope with real criminals who rape and murder

The only way left to stop the ever increasing number of interfering freedom limiting laws is by ignoring them and let those who want to toe the line figure out how to deal with the consequences of their fascistic actions

I may even force myself to take up the habit

Labels: politics lunacy freedom resistance smoking

Queue Up for Art

This is a painting entitled Brass Band by Artist Tom Walker

From 15th January until 3rd February you can view paintings from this new series of pastels entitled

SNOOKER IN THE FRAME by Tom Walker at the Star Gallery in Lewes

visit his website to see further examples of the work on display

During the coming week Tom will be travelling upto Sheffield to be interviewed about his snooker pictures by the BBC during the UK Snooker Championships. Watch out for Tom on the Box!