January 2011 Archives

Sometimes it's not what you say, but the way that it's said.

There's no doubt that you've heard Richard Keys and Andy Gray's 30 second guide to advanced public relations for all sexes. If not then it's here.

Had they delivered it in a slightly different way (jocular) - 'hey Andy why don't you get down there and explain the offside rule' or 'it's OK for her running that line but I hope she's got my tea on' - then they might have got away with it. Sadly there's a bit too much bile and casual/off-hand sexism in the very brief exchange for that.

It's slightly more saddening in these supposedly enlightened times that they even thought these things. In truth it's the lack of thought that lets them down; they were just filling the gaps in their apparently limited rapport with clichés - killing time, making very small talk.

You may have seen the fall out from Ricky Gervais and his hosting of the American Awards ceremony, The Golden Globes. You may not have seen the footage - in which case this is worth 10 minutes of your time.

Possibly he's ruined his reputation in Hollywood but he's surely redeemed himself elsewhere, I'd started to regard him as something of a bore but this is a truly bravura performance. It takes real balls of steel to stand in front of some of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry and rip the piss out of them. This is one of those moments.

Some may have found it as excrutiating as some parts of The Office but it is exceptionally brave and very, very funny. Good work Ricky!

I'm embarrassed that it's taken someone's death for me to re-appraise their work. It is sad that I often need a prompt to re-discover the great music that is dotted amongst my record collection - in truth I hope that my entire collection is great but - like my brain - parts of it are greatly under-explored.

Mick Karn was unlucky on many levels, under-rated and appreciated in life he was slightly overlooked in death due to the misfortune of dying at the same time as Gerry Rafferty. For me Gerry is two songs - one of which is better known from its association with a memorable scene in a great, landmark film; and the other for its saxophone solo. He may have had 'bigger hits' than Mick but they were minimal and a very, very long time ago.

Life is an ongoing process of lessons, some of which may teach you things you didn't really want to know. This much I've almost always known, or have at least come to realise of late. It helps to review these lessons and a year-end provides the perfect opportunity to take stock - as if that hackneyed phrase has any relevance in a non-quantative situation.
　
Here's 7 things I picked up during 2010, or at least the seven that sprang to mind when I began to type.....