Out of Top Gear... for the moment (hopefully)

Last night saw the end of yet another Top Gear series, the 15 minute moon buggy segment showed May's brilliance, the 15 minutes race against the sun showed Clarkson's genius, the 15 minute interview with John Prescott was somewhat interesting, and the 15 minutes with Hammond's red cars were... boring.

Stuart Heritage, writing for the Guardian online, rightly says you could watch a Top Gear series in a medium-length toilet break. When the trio aren't being rude about the Mexicans they are quite brilliant, James May is a very good broadcaster (he got an honorary degree from Lancaster University last June for contributions to TV), Jeremy Clarkson is an all round interesting person with interesting things to say, Hammond needs to watch his language and get a hair cut if he wants to 'wow' us again like he did several years ago.

I'm not saying the show is dying, just that you can predict every show: 15 minutes car comparison, 15 minutes car test, 15 minute interview, 15 minute other vehicle-related test. Not boring, just not what it used to be...

PS. I am not at all slamming Richard Hammond, he adds a perspective to the team which is younger and more exciting than the other two, his presence is invaluable to the trio. I just think he needs to revamp the way he comes across on camera.

 Hammond and his sweetheart Oliver (my favorite Botswana expedition)

Dear Prime Minister, You Are Wrong

There's a great hoo ha over David Cameron's 'Big Society' theory. I call it a theory because nothing has yet materialised. Even Cameron's speeches on the subject have been fundamentally vague, suggesting even the PM isn't too sure what he wants.

Essentially people should stop relying on the government to resolve their issues and should solve problems themselves. In the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson presents a brilliant example from his own village where the people gathered together in 1963 to save a public swimming pool from closure by organising a fundraising event, raising £12000 and saving the pool without the need to apply for a government grant or aid.

Clarkson then raises issue with the term 'Big' in 'Big Society'. His village grouped together to solve a problem and as a result the baker knows the florist who knows the children's choir an so on... He calls it a 'Small Society'. He also takes issue with the word 'community', slamming the government's assumption that the 'Muslim Community' is one single-minded entity.

Usually I would look for an alternative view to give this article some balance, but it's important Cameron gets this message. Terminology is important and a 'Small Society' doesn't mean the nation be stop being 'Great' Britain. The ideal living conditions for many Englishmen is the world JRR Tolkien created in the 'Lord of the Rings'; where all the Hobbits lived in their little community, completely at peace with the world. This romanticised world is seen in many novels by Jane Austin or Beatrix Potter.

Dear Mr Cameron, we want a small society.

The Passion of Rome

Rome at the time of Caesar bring about thoughts of sexual politics, true violence, sleaze, corruption and passion for beliefs; all seemed controlled by the men and women on top of the social food chain. Today in the UK, the same passion is active but hidden behind laws that affirm people power, loyalty to political parties and a health and safety culture which is eliminating any appearance of passion in the way the country is run.

Clegg and Cameron joined forces to oust an elderly Labour party, with ministers loyal to Blair or Brown out of the picture, Clegg's caricaturisation as a lamb amongst wolves shifted to second in command when a weaker Milliband took over Labour. Even Peter Mandelson was booted out and now remains retired alongside Prescott and other Blairites. Today it was announced that Cameron and Clegg have 'clashed' over the need to change the voting system. Cameron's allies include the Mayor of London, Clegg has an awkward relationship with the people, and Milliband is looking for a way to crack the party in charge. It may seem that the Etonian Cameron is ruling the country like his Consersative predecessors Thatcher or even Churchill, but he is quick to return to the people's favour by no longer selling off the forests of England. The people appreciate his effort, alienating Clegg and giving Labour less time to strengthen the opposition.

Like Rome, London is an arena for political mayhem, the violence is replaced by men in suits talking sweetly to the people and only hinting at vaguely disagreeing with the opposition. Rudeness is not tolerated as the health and safety culture fears offending anyone. On the other hand, with America acting the same and China growing in the East, a return to solid passionate values could rescue the reputation of Britain from sinking into an abysmal black hole in history.

I like drawing parallels from history, it's great fun!

Shakespeare's England

In his play King Richard II, William Shakespeare described England like this:

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,--
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

Mubarak, Egypt, the Arab World and the so-called White Revolution

2011 has taken a surprisingly turn for the worst with regards to old African dictatorships. Alright maybe not 'dictatorships' as such but the oligarchs who ran Tunisia and Egypt since the height of the Cold War have been overrun by enthusiastic and revolutionary people, reminiscent of Europe at the fall of the Soviet Empire. I presume they have been known all this time by those in charge as the 'rabble', the 'peasants', the 'unwashed masses'. Well, take that old corrupt statesmen, democracy just kicked your arse!

Leaving aside the fact that the term democracy has evolved every day since antiquity, it is a breath of fresh air coming from an otherwise tormented continent. With Sudan in the middle of a divorce, the 'White Revolution' that has swept (or is sweeping) through the Arab world has suddenly made the Middle-East more exciting than the usual 'Iran hates Israel's guts' story. Let's not forget Iraq, if they play their cards right we could have Iraquis dictating (democratically!) the terms of a serious peace deal in the area if Egypt goes tits up.

On the subject of 'White Revolution', I disagree with the term. 'White' is historically the colour of royalty, the French flag has white in the middle to symbolise power is flanked (controlled) by the blue Assembly and the red People (or something to that effect). In the UK we had a 'Golden Revolution' which saw a swift and successful transition of power to the people (somewhat) with very little blood spilt (again... somewhat).

I think Egypt is experiencing it's own Golden Revolution, but that's just my opinion...

Back to School

Not that my degree doesn't mean anything, it is an honours degree after all, and I did major in two subjects, but it seems I'm not getting very far with regards to earning money. So I'm off back to school, the London School of Journalism in fact...

My Own Attempt at Filming

This was my first school project involving a video camera. George is a young boy who wants to know what the older kids are doing, I can't remember what the meaning was meant to be, but 4 years later it seems to hint on dealing with rejection, the innocence of child curiosity, and the longing to grow up. Mostly I think other people should guess what I meant it to, mostly for my own amusement!

I Could Have Been A Contender - More Great Cinema

Simply terrific acting I thought I should share. Here's the movie poster...

Weird Conversation

I arrive at a Sainsbury's car park and park. I'm in no mood to chat to anyone, just go in, shop, go home. Instead a man shouts at me from the shop door.

'Cor___t___sh'
I didn't catch that. 'Sorry?'
'Kort__osh'
Still no idea. 'Sorry I just want to shop.'
'KoraWorch?'
I check my car isn't parked in a priority zone, then look at him utterly bemused and annoyed he's still shouting when I'm standing right in front of him. 'No thanks.' I start walking off.
'Korworch????!!!'
This nutter is still shouting, he clearly doesn't speak English and I haven't done anything to warrant this abuse. Then I notice his trolley of mops and soaps.

He was asking me if I wanted my car washed. I turn around and say 'No thanks' before whizzing off to do my shopping. 

Marlon Brando does Shakespeare

Here is one of the greatest Shakespearean speeches performed by one the greatest actors... enjoy!

David Cameron and the Failure of State Multi-Culturalism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12372629

In this video Cameron describes how allowing every religion to be practiced leads to the segregation of a few who may turn to extremism. His speech was called 'patronising' by some religious groups but it reminded me of some philosophical speeches of the late 19th century where people weren't afraid of voicing their opinions on issues of the day.

Multiculturalism has been left to happen. The government let it birth into the country half a century ago and the ensuing tensions have not satisfyingly been address due to the possibility of offending people's religions. Avoiding these critical issues that multiculturalism has brought to the modern state may indeed lead to extremism. Like all regimes it is healthy (and in my opinion vital) to consider the social implications of its own existence. Of course it is fantastic that our country accepts all religions, faiths and socio-ethnic backgrounds but to my knowledge there hasn't been a man in Cameron's position who has questioned this acceptance. He doesn't want to deny liberties but instead renew a somewhat lost national identity, to strengthen the feeling of belonging to a single nation but without imposing rules on varying faiths.

British identity has been in crisis for half a century, if one calls himself 'English' he is branded right-wing, if he is 'British' he could be of any background living in the UK. I call myself British, though my mother was born in Jamaica, my father in London, I was born in France...

The difficulties arise when your nationality differs dramatically from the mainstream, and Cameron is right to voice the fear that this may be the cause of extremism on the borders of British society.

Terrific Sword Fights

Today I participated in the Slough Open, held (logically) in Rickmansworth. I arrived prepared and was first on the piste. Sword in hand I walked up to the ref who proceeded to test my weapon. It failed the legal tests, so did my second sword. After accepting a red card I decided to scratch my first match and fix my best weapon. I did! I ended up winning one match 5-4 and loosing five 0-5, 4-5, 4-5, 2-3, 3-5.

I was ranked 100th after the poule out of 128, only the top 112 went through to the elimination round. But since I was ranked low I knew the guy I would face would be ranked considerably higher. Indeed he was ranked 29th, and he was Italian, notoriously awesome fencers. Here is the score procession=

ME vs ITALIAN

1-0
2-0
3-1
3-2
4-2
5-2
6-3
6-4
7-4
7-5
8-6
9-7
9-8
10-9
10-10
10-11
11-11
12-11
13-11
14-11
14-12
14-13
15-14

I won :)

I lost the next fight 6-15, but after 3 months not fencing I was really pleased with the result!

Race for Life

Please support Cancer Research UK by sponsoring my girlfriend's run:


http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/samanthagreen2604?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=newsfeed&utm_campaign=editpage

It's for a good cause!

Crime is Rife

We always here about the police struggling to maintain a reputation of excellence and indeed the days of Sherlock Holmes are just as gone as the dodo's mating call. In a new effort to show the people what they do, the police have set up a map of England mapping out each crime in your neighbourhood. I typed in my post code (being in Slough I expected the crime rate to be high, but when moving in was assured we were in the safest part), and rather than being comforted that the police in my area were doing their jobs really well, I instead got this chilling sense of the sheer volume of crime in my local area.

So thank you, dear police, thank you for shrinking the little trust I had for those street walkers I see outside my window.