The Long & The Short Of It

GeorgeFM
Monday 2-4pm
www.georgefm.co.nz

Mr Hermano - Hynottista (Ambient Dub) (Disorient) 2002
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Where The Wild Roses Grow (Mute) 1996
X-Press 2 - Lazy ( (White)
Cookie Monster & The Girls - C Is For Cookie (Roy Thode's Special Disco mix) (Ninja Tune) 2003
Grace Jones - Nipple To The Bottle (Island) 1982
Young MC - Know How (Delicious Vinyl) 1988
Lenny Fontana pres Black Sun - Spread Love (Classic Vocal mix) (Estereo) 1999
Stacy Kidd - Lake Street (Byron Ford Solo mix) (Music 101) 2002
Herbert - Got To Be Movin' (Classic) 1996
Iz & Diz - Mouth (Brad Peeps For Friends remix) (Classic) 2002
Greenskeepers - Mesopotamian (Lance De Sardi's Deep Bleep Dub) (Classic) 2003
Freaks - This Ain't House (Wash house) 2005
Aaron Roberts - On A Rant (Grab) 2005
Bernard Badie - Now (Cajaul) 2005
Trademarq - Broken Wagon (Bananza) 2005
Bloom - Jackin The Funkstalk (Dotbloom) 2005
Moodymann - Don't You Want My Love (longversion) (Peacefrog)

Best taken with birthday cake, fizzy pop and little boys

Should I Stay Or Should I go

Over the weekend anti war rallies were held in Washington DC, London and other mainly US major centres amidst renewed calls from the US Public for the US Administration to withdraw their forces from Iraq.

I’m not sure how one should feel about the anti war movement in the US. I’m all for an end to war an all that stuff and for that I give them my full support.

Yet there’s something that doesn’t quite wash, and no I am not referring to any hippy element that may have been present. It’s more the naïve notion that war can simply be banned or stopped through some sort of collective action. Noble sentiment I admit but it’s a completely impractical notion and doesn’t offer any real alternative to the current US Administrations policy for Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations currently under US scrutiny and/or support. Or I might add any other power that exerts their influence over others, for whatever reason.

One can’t simply say things aren’t going to plan in Iraq either, for alas I fear that there was no plan other than bombing the bejesus outta the place. The reconstruction efforts post end of hostilities don’t appear to be doing much, unless we only look at the Green Zones and other fortified strongholds designed and fortified to keep the majority of Iraqi’s out.

We can’t change what’s happened and so I won’t dwell today on the past, rather I am more concerned and interested in the future of Iraq, the old where next Columbus premise….

I have been of the opinion that the Coalition forces needed to stay the course, at least for a while, to provide security to Iraqi’s so that the wheels of whatever governmental process that will be the basis of a new Iraq could take shape and of course the internal security forces needed to keep the peace be trained and equipped to handle any escalation in violence once the Coalition left or if not leave, retreat to their permanent bases. Not a perfect scenario but perhaps the only way to establish something concrete from this fiasco, was my main view.

Over the past few weeks I’ve found my opinion changing, for a number of reasons, one being the increasing public opinion both in the US and the UK for withdrawing the troops out of Iraq. Public opinion that any democratic leader knows they must pay heed to at some point. To cut and run, would leave a power vacuum that could just eventuate in the civil war we’ve been warned about since day 2 post invasion it seems.

My view has also become increasing one of that whilst the Coalition stays violence will continue. A pullout (or more likely) a pullback could trigger the various factions within and without Iraq to put their differences to one side and create a platform for some sort of compromise that could, maybe, just lead to the sort of peaceful solution that has thus far alluded the Coalition and the interium Iraqi Government.

Well the other day I read a article (Michael Schwartz on Immediate Withdrawal) that supported the pullout of troops, one that made complete sense, thus I figured my views were justified and made the correct adjustment of my hat and buttoned my collar. Not content with only the superficial I have been since following the reaction to the initial article I read. Which is still continuing and getting very interesting, to try and make it easy I'll list the links here (the debate is listed in order):

• The Blog of Juan Cole is Professor of History at the University of Michigan - goto "Schwartz: US out Now"
• This is folloed by a reply to Mr Coles view by Gilbert Achcar who teaches at the University of Paris-VIII
• Then we have the reply from Juan Cole goto "Cole Responds"

Actually best stay on Juan Cole's site (after you've finished here mind) and see the other responses to and from other equally intelligent and informed people, his links are better than mine. I hope the links make sense, its sunday night afterall and I am tired, its bloody cold too :(

For, against and round again, with plenty of historical and strategic basis for the various views. Heady and really fascinating stuff. Anyone who is interested in this situation would be well advised to take the time to read the links, and it'll take you a while, so best brew a cuppa first. The only real option I can see for a practical end result from staying has to date come from this article.

Reactions that both dispute the notion of a pull out and also support it. Damn these people, what I want is a simple black and white solution so I can focus on other more pressing issues – such as will I have seen tonight’s episode of the Simpsons and how to transport mud.

After my reading I am now more confused than ever, contentedly so, if that’s a term one can use. For naturally anyone who has a working mind knows that there is no simple colour fast soultion, only shades of grey. No one can predict with any certainty what the outcome of staying the course or leaving the Iraqi’s to it may lead to. It’s a complicated situation and my crystal ball isn’t what it could be.

It is hard to be a bystander, an opinionated one at that, living in the knowledge that what I think and what I do will have no impact whatsoever on the Middle East or specifically Iraq. At least at the movies there’s usually a happy ending, history of course always ends with a new chapter, built on the past.

As with just about anything, as soon as you scratch gthe surface you quickly realise there is more to the whole situation than a few solund bites will ever explain. Mainwhile in the mainstream media thats all we get.

As I prepare myself for a shite sunday movie, it seems Hurricane Rita hasn't devasted the US as it could have, though its still too early to say completely. There has definately been serious damage done and I imagine some life lost. I can't imagine what it must be like for the people in and around the areas effected nor what a living through a hurricane must be like. As ever my thoughts are with those effected.

Hard to imagine that its all the doings of the Japanese Yukuza.... only in America

Tomorrow is either my sisters or mothers birthday with the others on the following day. Why I can't remember who is which escapes me and every year I promise myself not to get it wrong but alas I am merely male,

Happy Birthday, um..... Belinda?

High above on a plateau of mud we danced

Most sober people won’t have had the pleasure of ever having wrestled naked on a plateau of mud I imagine. I wish I could say the same, yet I have on occasion had one two many, drinks that is. Thus wrestling on a plateau comes naturally. Consider it part of a mans right of passage into the world. If I ever complete my man training I will inform you all. Until then I still am a learner drinker and long may that stand, or not as the case maybe and my mud wrestling days are behind me, I think.

Mud wrestling has never been a past-time to which I could consider myself drawn, or even remotely interested in, yet somehow via my good friend Alan, we’ll call him Alan – for that is his name, the concept of doing battle on plateau’s of mud was mooted. We were of course sober at the time and discussing the relative merits of the free jazz movement over that of the Balearic beat, one night years back after a long day at the coalface.

Having never spent time in a smokey jazz den, nor had time on the Balearic isles I must admit I was possibly out of my depth. Not that that has ever stopped me in the past. Well anyway, Alan mooted the concept of the plateau of mud being the perfect amphitheatre for the various musicians and other significant figures we held dear to do battle, to see what genre/band/style was truly superior to the other. I think we must have been discussing William Gibson around the same time.

As any good professional gent will tell ya a Plateau of Mud is a neutral ground without rules, where warring music factions and the like could, well just do battle. Preferably to the death - always with beer.

To a completely sober person, this may sound like the inane and delusional ramblings of habitual and possibly beyond help drunks, if that’s your mindset, thanks for stopping by, now buy me a drink or take your place on the plateau and we’ll sort this out like men.

If however this concept seems appealing, even vaguely, you sound like you need to have another cold one and watch the fight as it unfolds.

For the safety and security of, um, Alan, (well it is his name) I won’t go into the specifics of the battles that may or may not have taken place – cripes I may not even remember any of the actual battles that took place, as sometimes its all about the setting not the story. As many a good road movie would attest. I must point out the fighting naked is a addition to the concept, just seems more well, open. And we all want a more open world now don’t we? One can also fight fully clothed and usually that is the audiences preference.

For the sake of this blog - can I say column? Blog really doesn’t flow off the tongue as one would like? Yeah, column…. Mental note to self, from now on pretend you write a column, that’ll impress em at the Thirsty Dog (local watering hole). If you got a problem with me pretending to write a column, take it up with Alan – alright. He awaits you on the plateau.

Well for the sake of the column, (see how easily I fit that in), I shall awaken the memories of old and try and piece together some of the combatants who may or may not have been envisaged doing battle. I’m sure we would have had Lou Barlow fight it out with Stephen Malkmus, I’m sure I nominated the Dead C to fight against all comers on more than one occasion and there were the many bouts of the dance vs rock camps. At the time I do believe more often than not the rock types won… even though the jungleists were always a intimidating force. I allowed this for one simple reason; they lose the battle I get run of the office stereo during, um, drinks. Yes drinks!

Actually after scratching my head for some minutes, perhaps it would be better to find new combatants to do battle, update and modernise things. So heres a few random combatants to think about and maybe discuss over a Friday end of day drink with your workmates:

• Well obviously many would love to see George W Bush go up against his arch nemesis Osama Bin Laden, now that would be a close fight. I think they’d both cheat, no small feat in itself considering the lack of rules.
• Donald Rumsfeld would of course fight to the death with the English dictionary, I fear language will lose this one and the world would become a darker place.
• Winston Peters could fight ol Testicle Boy, Winny’s a shoe in if ya want to take a punt.
• Helen Clark against Don brash would be a non event – he doesn’t fight ladies… pffffffffffffft, harden up man and take a swig of this.
• I’d be quite amused by the new Pope going up against the Queen – finally sorting that breaking away from Rome stuff, Liz I reckon would take him. Though I fear the Catholic Church if threatened in this manner may resort to witchcraft – I’ve never felt they were really infallible.
• I’d be mightily amused to see our local hip hop heroes go up against Brooklyn’s finest. The American accent would win either way.
• SAC (Sociologist Action Committee) against Accountants is a given.
• Lion Red drinkers vs. Chardonnay drinkers, could be closer than one would imagine
• The Commander vs. a packet of Cheesels
• Dr Phil vs. Oprah, probably a draw and a damn dull fight at that. However the sponsorship offers would be amazing, if crap makeup and over priced jumpers are ya thing. We’ll be needing sponsors, mud ain’t cheap and the TV rights are still up in the air, so we need cash flow now.
• Bill Gates against Steve Jobs, Jobs would I reckon end up crying like a little baby.
• If Jobs wins, then he can take on the Major Record label Exec’s, the winner gets to set the price of downloads from I-Tunes and maybe lower the hardware price for I-Pods…. Steve Jobs greedy fucker at music’s expense – no surely not. Oh this is a whole new topic in itself so I shall stop cause them exec’s are guilty too.
• Paul Henry vs. Kay Gregory (those that witness this NZ TV treat will understand)
• Paul Henry vs. Peter Williams (those that witness this NZ TV treat will understand)
• Michael vs. Belinda (two of my siblings) – now this could be a close one
• Hurricane Katrina vs. Hurricane Rita…. A windy contest, prunes shall not be involved.
• Kate Moss vs. Ian Blair to make it topical, also good for losing sponsors
• Reality TV vs. Reality, without the makeup reality will win hands down. Take that Julie Christie and others of your ilk.

I could go on, but I think you’ve enough material for at least one night of drinking and betting. Any suggestions for battles just leave a note on the door.

Believe it or not I actually consider myself a pacifist, obviously one who is prone to hypocrisy.













Please note: Daktari's World does not condone the crass and cheap mud wrestling often favoured by bars in which semi naked woman trash around for gentlemens pleasure. The Plateau of Mud battles are a thing of honour, not exploitation. having said that its jug, tits and paddling pool night at the Po', see ya at the bar - you'll recognise me by my soiled suit.

Friday morning here, a weekend of storm watching and silliness ahead. Be gentle Rita, please.

Tin foil hat, not half

Sleepless Nights, Early Morning Traffic

I would hazard a guess at the fact I suffer sometimes from insomnia. It’s a relatively recent part of my live, slowly invading my sleepy time over the past four or five years. Initially it was stress related I imagine, as I sometimes stress about stuff, sometimes I have reason to. Who doesn't?

If I was younger trying to make my mark on the world I’d wear that fact like a badge of pride, for it occurs to me that many an aspiring young, (usually) professional, feels that stress is an important indicator of their place in the world. I won’t complain about that, as the more the merrier my doctor says. Or would if I went to doctors - which I try very hard not to do. Sure if my arm was about to fall off they’d be high on my priority list but for some strange and fabulous reason I am relatively healthy and thus haven’t seen the need for at least ten years. Long may that personal record remain intact.

Now insomnia isn’t all bad. In fact if its not stress induced and one has the temperament to be able to happily amuse oneself, the small wee hours of night / early morning can be a wonderful time to entertain oneself. Which is I must say a strength of mine. Be it; news on TV, a book, the interweb, a computer game, music or more like a happy combination of the lot, I have more than enough to keep me amused for hours. This is fortunate as I have the opportunity to test that temperament quite a bit of late.

I also like sitting gazing out the window, listening to the traffic, wondering about the lives of those who pass by, especially in the small hours – are they going home, off to work…. With the addition of a hot coffee and cigarette, this is a wonderful time of day to just think, reflect and smile to oneself about the events that make up ones life.

Now many of my memories come with soundtracks, you know the music I was into a the point of time that the memory applies to, usually a hodge podge of sounds floating around my head. Sometimes sparking a frantic search for the offending song which in turn can lead to all sorts of musical misadventures. Coupled with the internet I sometimes listen to a online mix from either a DJ of note or increasingly from someone I’ve never heard of – usually just fans of a certain genre rather than professionals. This morning I listened to an old skool mix of tracks back in the early 80’s from some German chap whilst reading UK dance forums and catching up on some current affairs reading.

At the moment I’m caught up in global warming, the New Orleans storm and current impending hurricane in the Gulf Of Mexico and other large storms found around Japan, China and most of Asia. On other fronts I continue to follow the Iraqi situation coupled with the oil industry and bleak forecasts of future resources wars, which seem to be looming closer and closer – or is that just cause I read to much leftie nonsense… Not exactly positive stuff for someone with an over active imagination. Interesting none the less for one sitting in the relative security of a city built on approx 50 volcanoes…

These diversions are useful right now as I just can’t stomach the human interest stories about the new MP’s in parliament currently running. It really does come across like its their first day of school, a apt analogy I feel, sad as that maybe. Not a bad lot that of the politician. Not much job security for some maybe, but still better than working in a call centre I dare say. The sound bite of my morning must be from some new National MP on being asked if he enjoyed the ‘free lunches’ said they were a fiction. On being queried about the free lunch they had enjoyed only the day previously he commented that yes it was a complimentary lunch, not free at all…. pfffffffffffffft…. worse the idiot from Tauranga (old Mr Testicles himself) asked about his lunch he gushed about how good it was, when asked what he had eaten he replied “I wouldn’t have a clue” or something very close to that, this was as he exited the dinning room – I guess we can’t expect much but more verbal bumbling from him over the next three years. Obviously the whips and various consultants used to school MPs on how to behave and treat the media have a long road ahead of them… I wonder if they get a free lunch and how one lands one of these consultant roles?

I await the call up, I have a marker pen already and a four word speech.

“Shut the f__k up!”

At my current speakers engagement rate that’s $750 a word, plus travel expenses and lunch of course. If requested I can extend the seminar to prefix my speech with the word “Just” and if wanting to convey a sense of politeness to proceedings a “please” can be added to the end. Needless to say I’m sitting by the phone ready to hop on the first plane to Wellington.

I wonder if I should also prepare an info pack to hand out. Maybe get them leather bound.

Life in the wee small hours, it really is this exciting, now I must get up and start my day.

The Long & The Short Of It

GeorgeFM
Monday 2-4pm
www.georgefm.co.nz


? - New National Anthem (Tsnumai Benefit) 2005
Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam - Let The BEat Hit Em (The Brand New pumped up C+C Vocal Club Mix) (Sony) 1991
Nuyorican Soul Feat Jocelyn Brown - It's Alright, I Feel It (MAW Alternative mix) (Mercury) 1996
Black Science Orchestra feat Jenny Devivo - Keep On Keeping On (Problem Kids Problematic version) (Afro Art) 1999
Sound Patrol Orchestra - Tripping Among The Stars (Derrick Carters Still Trippin' rmx) (Organico) 1993
The Beatmasters feat Bettie Boo - Hey DJ I can't Dance To That Music You're Playing (Rhythm King) 1989
Blaze - How Deep is Your Love (Timmy Regisford Shelter rmx) (Shelter) 2002
Tony Touch feat Total - I Wonder Why? He's The GReatest Dj (MAW vocal mix) (Tommy Boy) 2000
Golden Boy With Miss Kitten - Rippin Kitten (freaksfasterpussycatvocal) (Illustrious Records) 2002
Greenskeepers - Go (No Assembly Firm rmx) (Greenskeepers Music) 2005
DJ Freestyle + John Glover - Looking For Teddy (Grab) 2005
Bloom - Slip Slip (Dotbleep) 2005
TradeMarq - Work For Me (No Assembly Firm rmx) (Banaza) 2005
Brett Johnson - One man (Classic) 2005
Lil Mark - Say You'll (Paranoid Music) 2005

Best taken with post election blues and a small glass of gin

Where's my bloody sausage?

Election day 2005, feeling a little shady due to excess last night at the Social Club. Which I must say was jolly good fun. Good people, good tunes and a few drinks, nice.

The perfect start to my day to make a difference - crikey you wouldn't wanna be feeling too chipper prior to casting your vote now would you. This is after all very serious stuff.

Best state of mind is to be slightly grumpy (ready for queues), tired (yawning in line is a good look), shabby (yes these are the clothes I slept in), hungry (I thought vodka the night before constituted a healthy food regime), smelly (yeah so I smoke, tax me), excited (well why not), appear slightly confused by walking randomly into things (mental note to self, must clean specs), determined (having done my research and polled myself on many occasions I know whom I want to vote for) and most importantly have a few gold coins on hand for the sausage sizzle that one expects to find outside the polling booth that’s core task is raising money for some good works.

So on getting up, washing and staggering out of the house I walked to the polling booth. Having made my mind up whom I supported some months ago, it all seemed like a task that just needed completion so I could get on with my day of being on the couch tired and listless

I arrive at polling booth, no queues and the whole process must have taken all of 5 minutes to complete. I think I could have been faster if I hadn't stopped to look at the orange pen for some time before ticking the boxes.... mmmmm pens

Once I'd placed my completed ballot paper in the box provided I get collared by the lovely little old lady at the booth and forced to put on a "I've voted" sticker. Now like any good self respecting individual I promptly took this off (only class labels on me buddy... pulls up stubby shorts and adjusts Canterbury top), only to be forced by a tall older gent to put it back on before he'd let me out of the hall. Fine I figured, this will attract the ladies whilst I apply myself to a sausage or two at the charity stall.

But shock upon horror - no sausage sizzle at my polling booth! Nothing, not even a trace of any small unsupervised children running around. No groups of youths looking shifty, not a bloody thing.

Surely not I know you must all be thinking, but yes. I am afraid my entire reason for being today has been a complete let down.

No cheap and usually slightly burnt sausage wrapped in white bread accompanied by the obligatory Watties tomato sauce for me.

Now I tell you, this may seem a trivial point for some, but for me this sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Obviously things are going well in New Zealand. What better indicator is there than a precise lack of charity fundraising at a polling booth. We're doing too bloody well as a nation and there's nothing left to raise money for

Well I'm not having that, so I return to polling booth to request my vote back as I'd like to change my mind. Things aren't all good in the hood and I must make my feelings known.

This isn't allowed and I end up wandering home feeling let down by the democratic process bitter and even more grumpy than when I set out

I bet the voters in Afghanistan, Japan or any other nation for that matter that has recently gone to the polls didn't have to contend with such inhumane and callous treatment

I'm very tempted to write to my MP, now if only I knew who that might be...

it's a Social Club!

Well, if you're reading this it must mean you're up for a good old fashioned House party... or someone who knows you is and would love your company on the dance floor. It's been a while since Luvdup and SoulTrust put on a party but we reckoned it was time to dust off the dancing shoes.

Friday, 16 September at Plume Bar (Galatos Basement) will be a rare chance to get down with a delightful crowd of people who will smile, chat, laugh and boogie 'til their feet hurt. Meet your friends, meet our friends, meet their friends…it's a Social Club!

The fun starts at 10.00pm and the lights come up at 6.00am. Providing the sounds will be:

dbmc (Darryl Mead and Mark Harrison B2B) Visit their site its well good
Websta (Luvdup Resident)
Lelo (Tabac Resident and Auckland winner/national finalist for Heineken Thirst)

Four fine DJs and they are all very talented producers to boot!

$10 tickets will be available on the door.

As Dylan Thomas wrote:
"Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

fine friends, good vibes and good tunes

One More Sleep

Been a busy week, awaiting the election, watching news, ignoring opinion polls, trying to forget about older gents testicles and watching the final countdown to polling day

There really are better things to be doing, perhaps I shall take up knitting or pottery or finish off that tin foil hat... in the meantime I shall await election day with my easy voter card thing clutched in my sweaty palm











Now the real dilemma is am I sad enough to watch the damn thing on Saturday night, TVNZ are promising real flash graphics..... I bet TV3 will have some too, why I should get excited about this I really don't know.... they could provide intelligent commentary but I guess a computer generated bit of 'wow' is more important for the sports fans. I will no doubt do the wise thing and hide in the bottom of a bottle, fags in hand.

Saddest part of the election today - TV1's election "songs" ohhh please stop now!

End of day - the government wins and thats a scary thought

happy voting



On other matters I came across this little piece of dialogue on my internet forum travels about the UK petrol shortage of the other day, made me laugh

people are monkeys

5pm... no queues

6pm... news of queues

7pm... queues... people filling their cars up

8-10pm... some petrol running out because of dickheads queing and filling their cars up.....

tv news showing queues

11pm... big queues at petrol stations

11.30pm... call from flatmate: "shall we fill the car up with petrol" (bear in mind we have NEVER filled the car up with petrol"

"no, why?"

"because there are big queues at all the petrol stations"

12pm... scooted past tescos in maida vale (no queue 5pm... massive queue at midnight) just as a tv cameraman is getting out of a van to video the queues.

some wag replied with

I got in there early in the day, fought my way to the front & pumped up my bmx tyres, in case tonights tv news reports an air blockade..

I dunno, but it made me laugh

The Long and the Short Of It

GeorgeFM
Monday 2-4pm
www.georgefm.co.nz

0898 Dave - Kill Phil Collins (re:pap)
Lelo - Clever (Soultrust) 2005
Kelvin K - Simple Message (Guest House) 2005
Derrick L Carter - Do You Believe (Classic) 2000
Headless Chickens - M illion Dollar Dream (Flying Nun) 1991
Soane - All I Need (Dicky Does Dallas Electric dub) (CDR) 2004
Phully - Feed It (Lovefunk) 2005
Magik Johnson - Feel The Groove (NRK) 2005
Cuffy & Leon D - Your Love (Reliable) 2004
Kings Of Tomorrow - Finally (NuYorican Soul rmx) (PLS) 2000
Erot - Song For Annie (Disfunction)
Annie - I Will Get On (Loaded) 2002
T-Coy - Carino (Deconstruction) 1987
Snoop & JT - Signs (shhhhhh) 2005
Bloom - Slip Slip (dotbleep) 2005
Swiss Tony - Shabooya (Tony Senghore rmx) (White) 2005
DBMC - Sweetness (Souttrust Re-edit) (Soultrust) 2005

Best taken with sausages and a brown ale

September 11, 2005...

This entire post is taken from Baghdad Burning a Girl Blog from Iraq... let's talk war, politics and occupation. A different perspective on past events.

“R.- come in here! You have to see this!” It was September 11, 2001 and I was in the kitchen rinsing some dishes from lunch. I paused at the urgency in my brothers voice but continued rinsing, thinking there was some vaguely important news item on Iraq’s state controlled channel.

“I’m coming- a moment.” I called back. The phone began to ring and I stopped to answer it on my way out of the kitchen.

R: “Alloo?” I answered.
L: “Are you watching tv???” L., my best friend, cried out with no preliminaries.
R: “Uh… no- but…”
L: “GO WATCH TV!”

The line went dead and I put down the phone, my heart beating wildly. I made my way to the living room, curious and nervous, wondering what it could be. Had someone died? Were they going to bomb us again? That was always a possibility. It never surprised anyone when the US decided on an air strike. I wondered if, this time around, Bush had been caught with a presidential aide in the Oval Office.

I walked into the living room and E. was standing in the middle of it- eyes glued to the television, mouth slightly open, remote control clutched in his hand, and directed towards the television set.

“What is it?” I asked, looking at the screen. The images were chaotic. It was a big city, there was smoke or dust and people running across the screen, some screaming, others crying and the rest with astounded looks on their faces. They looked slightly like E., my brother, as he stood staring at the television, gaping. There was someone speaking in the background- in English- and there was a voiceover in Arabic. I can’t remember what was being said; the images on the tv screen are all I remember. Confusion. Havoc.

And then they showed it again. The Twin Towers- New York… a small something came flying out of the side of the screen and it crashed into one of them. I gasped audibly and E. just shook his head, “That’s nothing… wait…” I made my way towards the couch while keeping my eyes locked on the television. There was some more chaos, shocked expressions, another plane and the towers- they began to crumble. They began to fall. They disappeared into an enormous fog of smoke and dust.

I sucked in my breath and I couldn’t exhale that moment. I just sat there- paralyzed- watching the screen. A part of me was saying, “It’s a joke. It’s Hollywood.” But it was just too real. The fear was too genuine. The incoherent voices in the background were too tinged with confusion and terror.

The silence in the living room was broken with the clatter of the remote control on the floor. It had slipped out of E.’s fingers and I jumped nervously, watching the batteries from the remote roll away on the ground.

“But… who? How? What was it? A plane? How???”

E. shook his head and looked at me in awe. We continued watching the television, looking for answers to dozens of questions. Within the hour we had learned that it wasn’t some horrid mistake or miscalculation. It was intentional. It was a major act of terror.

Al-Qaeda was just a vague name back then. Iraqis were concerned with their own problems and fears. We were coping with the sanctions and the fact that life seemed to stand still every few years for an American air raid. We didn’t have the problem of Muslim fundamentalists- that was a concern for neighbors like Saudi Arabia and Iran.

I remember almost immediately, Western media began conjecturing on which Islamic group it could have been. I remember hoping it wasn’t Muslims or Arabs. I remember feeling that way not just because of the thousands of victims, but because I sensed that we’d suffer in Iraq. We’d be made to suffer for something we weren’t responsible for.

E. looked at me wide-eyed that day and asked the inevitable question, “How long do you think before they bomb us?”

“But it wasn’t us. It can’t be us…” I rationalized.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s all they need.”

And it was true. It began with Afghanistan and then it was Iraq. We began preparing for it almost immediately. The price of the dollar rose as people began stocking up on flour, rice, sugar and other commodities.

For several weeks it was all anyone could talk about. We discussed it in schools and universities. We talked about it in work places and restaurants. The attitudes differed. There was never joy or happiness, but in several cases there was a sort of grim satisfaction. Some Iraqis believed that America had brought this upon itself. This is what you get when you meddle in world affairs. This is what you get when starve populations. This is what you get when you give unabashed support to occupying countries like Israel, and corrupt tyrants like the Saudi royals.

Most Iraqis, though, felt pity. The images for the next weeks of Americans running in terror, of the frantic searches under the rubble for relatives and friends left us shaking our heads in empathy. The destruction was all too familiar. The reports of Americans fearing the sound of airplanes had us nodding our heads with understanding and a sort of familiarity- you’d want to reach out to one of them and say, “It’s ok- the fear eventually subsides. We know how it is- your government does this every few years.”

It has been four years today. How does it feel four years later?

For the 3,000 victims in America, more than 100,000 have died in Iraq. Tens of thousands of others are being detained for interrogation and torture. Our homes have been raided, our cities are constantly being bombed and Iraq has fallen back decades, and for several years to come we will suffer under the influence of the extremism we didn't know prior to the war.

As I write this, Tel Afar, a small place north of Mosul, is being bombed. Dozens of people are going to be buried under their homes in the dead of the night. Their water and electricity have been cut off for days. It doesn’t seem to matter much though because they don’t live in a wonderful skyscraper in a glamorous city. They are, quite simply, farmers and herders not worth a second thought.

Four years later and the War on Terror (or is it the War of Terror?) has been won:

Score:
Al-Qaeda – 3,000
America – 100,000+

Congratulations.

Reasons to be happy

I am happy this morning because I went to bed really early so awoke to catch the sun rise and usher in my day
I am happy this morning because it’s going to be a lovely sunny day
I am happy this morning because I have the house to myself and lots of music I want to listen to
I am happy this morning because I think I’ve finally managed to unblock a drain a victory for impractical me
I am happy this morning because A track called Sweetness has a cracking remix from the Soultrust gang and it’s a damn fine thing
I am happy this morning because Of Tony Senghore’s “Shabooya” which so does it for me
I am happy this morning because I have little I have to do today
I am happy this morning because Bevan Keys is on the radio and he always makes me smile
I am happy this morning because I just found a website I’d been looking for
I am happy this morning because My sister Belinda sent me a parcel so I’d have some decent mail
I am happy this morning because I’m quite enjoying this Blog thing, weird as that maybe
I am happy this morning because I can be

I just can’t be happy today

Tell Me Why I Don’t Like This Man

I’ve never thought much of Bob Geldof and his chum Bono, never liked their music, actually I’ll go as far as saying I loathe their music, mildly talented tossers is a polite way to put it.

Sure U2 were the soundtrack of my first encounters with both alcohol and the opposite sex, not by my choice I can say, well up for the booze and girl action but the soundtrack, christ it’s a wonder I ever got a snog, let alone anything else. My friends at the time all thought U2’s Boy was the bees’ knees, back then, and play it they did. I’m actually being a bit uncharitable here, cause them same friends introduced me to The Verlaines and The Clean and for that I am eternally grateful.

My later experiences a few years later were more traumatising. When I moved to Mt Maunganui and had to endure Talking Head’s Stop Making Sense at every bloody party I went to, usually three or four times a night, couple that pup with Midnight Oil and you may start to see why I can be so very angry.

Now it’d be a lucky person indeed that missed Bob and Bono’s Live8 events this year and it’d be a small minded person, perhaps, who would begrudge them some sort of respect for the efforts they made to attempt to convince them that don’t care to do something positive about the plight of millions of our fellow humans. I didn’t watch the concerts – why would I its not like many of the acts appealed or that I thought they really were doing anything much that would convince the G8 to do anything concrete that might actually make a difference to anyone but the mega rich.

“If the words are followed through, 9 million people across the globe will have access to lifesaving AIDS drugs, which brings us to the most important lesson learnt over the past weeks. The world spoke, and the politicians listened. Now, if the world keeps an eye out, they will keep their promises. It is down to the hundreds of thousands - indeed millions - who have assembled on this issue to make sure they don't just sign the cheque, but that they cash it. If an Irish rock star can quote Churchill, this is not the end of extreme poverty, but it is the beginning of the end." Bono

"It is only time that will decide whether this summit is historic or not. What is true is that never before have so many people forced a change in policy onto the global agenda, and that policy has been addressed. The beginning of the end of making poverty history starts now. The summit at Gleneagles is a qualified triumph. A great justice has been done. We are beginning to see the lives of the poor of Africa determined not by charity but by justice. It's been a long walk from Live Aid's $200 million 20 years ago to Live 8's $25 billion today. This has been without equivocation the greatest G8 summit there has ever been for Africa. Today gives Africa the opportunity of beginning to end poverty over the next 10 years. We need Live 8's 3 billion people to make sure it gets done." Bob Geldof

Statements made post Live8 and the G8 summit.

Well on trawling through some news/opinion sites this morning my suspicions were aroused, maybe my gut instincts about these two weren’t far off the truth….

Two months have not elapsed since the G8 summit, and already almost everything has turned to ashes. Even the crustiest sceptics have been shocked by the speed with which its promises have been broken.

It is true that they didn’t amount to much. The World Development Movement described the agreement as “a disaster for the world’s poor.” ActionAid complained that “the G8 have completely failed to deliver trade justice.” Christian Aid called July 8th as “a sad day for poor people in Africa and all over the world.” Oxfam lamented that “neither the necessary sense of urgency nor the historic potential of Gleneagles was grasped by the G8.” But one man had a different view. Bob Geldof, who organised the Live8 events, announced that:

“a great justice has been done. .. On aid, 10 out of 10; on debt, eight out of 10 … Mission accomplished frankly.”

Now I’d like to Make Poverty History as much as the next person, probably more. Hell I’d like to see Bono stick his oversized hands in them tight trousers of his and see how many millions fall out, perhaps he could spare a bit…. dunno about Geldof, I guess he’s wealthy, though I can’t image how, based on his and his bands recorded output I’d think he’d be pretty bloody poor, but popularity and taste have never gone hand in hand as does earnings and talent. I guess he’s made a few pennies from the various Live8 and before it Live Aid concerts, merchandise and other associated money making ventures, I don’t begrudge him a earning from those ventures, though how much one must wonder….

I would like to think his grandstanding was intended for good and that now its over perhaps he could entertain us with some more of his intelligent discourse on conditions for those starving and dying each and every day, minute, hour, second. But where is he?

I did see him on Parkinson the other night – I’m not proud and I do have a problem with TV right now. I don’t remember him criticising the G8 or outcome of that summit, though to be fair I wasn’t concentrating nor am I about to research his every action since the concerts and conference, I’ll leave that to someone else. He did perform a god-awful new song, that’s when I turned off and instead indulged in some good ol fashioned flagellation, good for the soul they say and so much more rewarding.

So can we expect Mr Geldof to take the centre stage and criticise the uneventful outcome of the latest round of G8 talks? I somehow doubt it, I imagine he’s on permanent holiday for the next decade or two until he feels the urge to massage his ego and pockets once again.

In meantime, go visit his site, perhaps you’d like to purchase his book, or any one of the many things on offer.

I hope they make me eat my words, somehow I doubt it

What a couple of complete plonkers

On the stereo today I think I’ll place Burning Ambitions A History Of Punk as it includes a Boomtown Rats song, the only one I think I have anywhere. I feel it maybe unplayable as played it over and over and over again on a shitty turntable when I brought it in 1982. It was, by coincidence, my first ever vinyl purchase and import title to boot, it cost $25 if memory serves… and I borrowed the money off my Grandmother, a huge sum for me at the time. I had seen it in the local record store and the guy wouldn’t put it aside for me, I remember being very anxious that I may not get it.... I never did pay her back…. what a plonker.

Rules Are Made To be Broken

Many years ago I made a rule, one I stuck to for far too long.

Before I share that little titbit, first some background information is needed I feel. In 1985 I left home to attend University in Hamilton, an exciting time for anyone as I’m sure most who’ve had the pleasure and benefit will attest to.

Well like all good idiots I had seen many a bad teen flick and thus knew one was meant to join clubs, I so should not try and emulate American teen flicks! Well one day I came across a poster, seeking radio announcers for the Student Radio Station. That sounds like a bit of me I thought, so ripped the poster from the wall (I’ve still got it too, somewhere amongst my clutter) and went to find the station and apply for a role. After some weeks of hassling the station manager I was finally given a slot. I should point out at this point Student Radio in New Zealand was a pale shadow of what it has become. Well the station – Radio Contact 1440 1XC, was soon my primary musical outlet and radio home for many years to come. (not the same but Contact now) My first on air experience was truly horrific, a 30 second overview of what the various buttons did and then live to air I went, I was no natural, that’s for sure, I still aren’t much of a talent compared to most. I did have penchant for playing music that wasn’t considered right for the station, something I hope I still indulge in, at my current outlet. I remember playing a Killing Joke track and getting looks of disgust from the 70’s rock centric station volunteers (no paid professionals back then), hmmmm, Flying Nun Records didn’t cut it either…. I wasn’t alone but it sure felt like it.

Anyways, being a poor student I had limited finances, so buying music was something I had to be very careful about and then as now I have a huge hunger for accumulating and devouring new music, more so than I shall ever be able to afford. So my dilemma back then was how much I needed for beer and fags and how much that left me for music, the rest of my expenses being met by the various govt handouts I enjoyed.

This over a short period led me to my rule.

I couldn’t afford everything, so I had to make decisions. So I decided and this became my rule - I would only purchase music that was released after 1976. This tied into my punk rock ethic and seemed to cover the years I thought were needed without the clutter of the past. Oh to be so sure of myself again.

I stuck to this rule for a while, years in fact, then being a good slave of the NME I slowly discovered new styles and artists that had been around and were influenced prior to my cut off date. I did allow myself one rule change before I dispensed with it altogether, broadening the time zone all the way back to 1973, when Cabaret Voltaire formed – a band I still hold as one of my all time favourites, although favourite isn’t quite the right word. I was basking in a very narrow timeframe, oh the joys.

I stuck with my rule for many years and whilst I did on occasion allow myself to break it, it wasn’t until I discovered the joys of reggae that the folly of my ways started to really hit home. Over time I forfeited the rule but to this day it sticks in my head and whispers to me as I contemplate a new purchase.

My rule has impacted on my musical interests ever since. If there’s an upside to my rule, its perhaps that I tend to look forward not back. I am always looking for the next tiny thing and am always waiting for the next musical force that will push me buttons, blow my mind and budget.

I still crave the next new sound, new style and the unexplored. I’m lucky, as it’s so much easier now than then, as the interweb has opened doors that as a teenager I couldn’t even have dreamt would ever exist.

Knowledge is power they say, for a musical adventurer I can only but nod in agreement. As I’ve rummaged around on my musical journey I have slowly broken down many of my inherent snobberies and closed minded opinions on many a genre and age, I think that has come with age and perhaps wisdom. Not too mention the positive influence so many have had on my ears.

Rules are made to be broken; any good punk can tell you that. To think I took so long to see to error of my ways.

For today - Bob Denver RIP

I'm Angry - why?

I'm angry because I can't do anything practical to help those in New Orleans
I'm angry because I don't exercise enough
I'm angry because I can't waive a magic wand and sort out the problems in Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, North Korea, Haiti and well everywhere and anywhere
I'm angry because I haven't shaved for a week and I am going grey
I'm angry because I have been limping for almost two weeks due to a self inflicted injury (stubbed toes) which are taking for ever to get better and I feel pathetic because of this
I'm angry because I am so over the self centeredness of my fellow country folks and this bullshit election I am living through
I'm angry because My share portfolio is devoid of any actual shares
I'm angry because I'm listening to Murray Cammack on the radio play a bunch of funk and soul from New Orleans and I wish I had half the knowledge this man does
I'm angry because Its Tuesday and that’s as good a day as any to be angry
I'm angry because I don't have a jet pack nor laser gun, which by 2005 I was more than expecting to own
I'm angry because My Flat mates moving and its a drag to find compatible people to live with
I'm angry because I'm not sure what to have for tea
I'm angry because I don't have a car and thus can't moan about the price of petrol - not that it stops me
I'm angry because KFC no longer deliver and even to think about eating KFC is enough to make one angry
I'm angry because I set up a forwarding thing on another email account and now have to deal with all the spam
I'm angry because My good friend in Taupo has three children, none of whom I've seen
I'm angry because I have many friends with children I should see more
I'm angry because I don't spell as well I could
I'm angry because I haven't cleaned the house this week and I had promised myself to do so on Sunday
I'm angry because I can't mix records as well as Derrick Carter or even his Mum
I'm angry because I don't have every record I desire
I'm angry because My computer freezes every now and then since I got my new Internet setup and I have yet to work out why
I'm angry because I am selfish sometimes
I'm angry because I'm not having adventures today
I'm angry because I don't have vast amounts of money sitting in the bank, and it may be my fault
I'm angry because I don't want a bigger penis but so many strangers seem to think I need one
I'm angry because Shorts are not considered adequate dress for just about anything grown up
I'm angry because I don't hate Microsoft
I'm angry because I miss my grandmother even though she wasn't a nice person
I'm angry because A lot of producers don't make records that those who don't mix can easily get out of when not mixing
I'm angry because I could be a better person
I'm angry because All my clothes got stolen a couple of years ago and I miss some of them
I'm angry because I roll my own fags and am sure there’s less tobacco in the packets than there used to be
I'm angry because I'm thinking of weighing the packets to see
I'm angry because I don't believe in a god
I'm angry because I wish I was a better person
I'm angry because Well I might start weighing the packets and well that’s just sad
I'm angry because Its a bloody pain to travel when you don't have your own car
I'm angry because I don't own a car
I'm angry because There’s no such thing as a free lunch
I'm angry because My friend got barred from Shadows
I'm angry because We have yet to meet any life outside this planet we inhabit
I'm angry because I don't want to own a car
I'm angry because I find myself watching Shortland Street and getting wound up in it and no its not very good at all
I'm angry because I have the mental age of a 12 year old but a body of a 39 year old
I'm angry because None of the Nigerian business people I have tried to deal with have deposited the money they said they would into my account
I'm angry because It’s a beautiful day and the leaves haven't yet appeared on the big tree outside
I'm angry because I am now blogging
I'm angry because Too many people don't seem to care
I'm angry because I don't know anyone whose had an anal probe from Aliens
I'm angry because The shithouse movie on TV Sunday night was so bad not even I could stomach it
I'm angry because I haven’t managed to get the damn Blogger for Word thing to Install
I'm angry because I should be sitting outside
I'm angry because There's a parcel in our mailbox not addressed to me
I'm angry because The Only mail I do get one doesn't want to read
I'm angry because I worry about stuff I needn't
I'm angry because I was awoken by a nightmare last week and it could have been scarier
I'm angry because Possession possess us and I wish I was above that
I'm angry because I don't feel I fit into this world we live
I'm angry because It’s not always about me
I'm angry because I can be

I think I may have issues

The Long & The Short Of It

GeorgeFM
Monday 2-4pm
www.georgefm.co.nz

Terre Thaemlitz - Down in The Park (Mille Plateaux) 1999
Arakatubu - Pele (Ballistic Brothers mix) (Disorient) 2002
River Ocean - Love n Happiness (Sao Benitez Sun Rise Mix) (Mr Bongo) 2001
Matabaruku - Dis Poem (Guidence) 1999
Recloose - Cardiology (Isolee mix) (Electric Chair) 2005
Snoop & JT - Signs (Fingers Acid Dub) (shhhhhhhh) 2005
Swiss Tony - Shabooya (Tony Senghore rmx) (White) 2005
Jamie Anderson - Back Then (Jesse Rose Jacked version) (Frontroom) 2005
Rob Mello - Critical (Purple Love Dub) (Classic) 2005
The Sound Republic - Fart Mouth Mikey (Guest House) 2005
Brett Johnson - One Man (Classic) 2005
Gemini - We Are The Future (Classic) 1999
Markus Enochson Feat Chris long - Crazy Pitch (Freaks redo) (Flygaric) 2005
Lil Mark - Do To me (Vox) (Doubledown) 2004
Half Man Half Biscuit - Fuckin Hell Its Fred Titmus (Probe Plus) 1985
No Assembly Firm - Rock The Discotech (Hudd Trax) 2005
Bernard Badie feat Dajae - Train (Cajual) 2005

Best Taken with a small dose of apathy and some beer on the porch

Election Propaganda part 1

Auckland - New Orleans - Baghdad

I have this bad habit that I'm currently trying to break - watching TV. I've spent too many hours this past winter in front of the idiot box. So much so that some mornings I find my brain cowering in a corner of the room begging for a new home..... perhaps someone would care to adopt said brain, I know after all ignorance is bliss...

Well this past week I decided it was time to break the routine or habit. First step was to push the red button on the remote - it wasn't easy, sweaty brow and the thought I might actually miss Paul Henry, reason enough to push the red button you may suggest. I'm doing quite well, or at least I was till a little lady called Katrina entered my life and that of many millions of peoples.

My view of Katrina is that of a privileged bystander, which suits me fine and I hope I never have to met her face to face. Well anyway, Katrina as you hopefully realise is the Hurricane that has devastated New Orleans and an area the size of New Zealand in the USA. What’s that got to do with Paul Henry you ask - well both include a lot of unnecessary wind, and from my position both come at me via the TV. So I'm stuck like a gibbon on a stick. Watching the late night news, you know the BBC and Fox as our locally run media isn't really much cop in these situations, well not until they find a Kiwi victim to focus on, which they have found, well not found the story is found, the Kiwi I believe is still, missing, but I digress.

I've found myself stuck in front of the Telly in the wee small hours digesting all that Fox and BBC could throw my way, which in itself is sad. I don't rate the BBC as highly as I once did (not since discovering DW - German, TV on Triangle), seems to be all about telling us what’s coming up in 20 minutes and not enough actual content on that channel, so I watch more of Fox News - not cause I am delusional and think its a good source of news, quite the opposite, I think Fox News is perhaps one of the best comedies on our TV screens here currently - sad in itself. Are those people journalists I wonder? If so what cereal box did their qualifications fall from? Should I open my much valued Kelloggs "Bart Simpsons Eat My Shorts" cereal box in search of a similar qualification - I could do with some more details to add to my CV. Well to cut a long winded and story short I found the TV News lacking, for example on TV3's news one night Katrina was the second story briefly touched on after a detailed story about some guy who was sent to jail for drink driving - ok it was his 28th conviction for this particular offense but in my books this isn't really national news, more a sad human interest story about a terminal fool. So I gave up on our local media and searched the interweb for stories about the Hurricane and the resulting tragedy that is unfolding before our eyes. This is much more real than the horrendous Tsunami of last December, as New Orleans is in a nation that has all the media one could ever want and has infrastructure that one would expect from the world's largest economic powerhouse. Even if its also America's poorest city.

Now in the virtual world I have a number of usual ports of call for news, analysis and commentary, these were of course my first places to visit. One of the first articles I read was about how the National Guardsmen that would normally be stationed in and around Louisiana are posted in Iraq, much of the money that was allocated to maintaining and building flood control measures in and around New Orleans had been slashed by the Bush administration so that those resources could be spent on the War In Iraq and the War On Terror that this current US Administration is blindly following. This isn't surprising considering the costs associated with both and whilst the US is so vastly wealthy their pockets are only so deep and all that money has to come from somewhere. However I like a good anti Bush rant as much as the next leftie leaning conspiracy theorist, this wasn't the time for that action, people were dying and there is plenty of time for anti Bush propaganda later, as I am positive will come, in wave after wave of post Hurricane stories and commentaries.

One of my haunts is Biggie, a dance focused website situated here in Auckland, also one that is a bit broader than ya usual lets get high and paaaarty bullshit so many of the dance communities forums and websites are solely focused on. Here I found many a opinion and multiple links to video and other sources of information and comments whilst funny were also very tasteless, one I laugh at whilst hiding behind the couch is "Allah 1, USA 0", yeah bad taste indeed but... I downloaded a film clip of a TV crew in a Wal-Mart that was being looted - nothing surprising in that, except for the two Policewoman who were also looting, whom the reporter tried to interview. (sorry lost the link)

This was one day after the scale of the disaster was making itself very obvious, which makes one think how thin the line between a civil society and one that is in disarray and falling apart is. If the Police are going to fall victim to temptation, what does it suggest about the thousands of residents who live below the poverty line and also by coincidence are the bulk of those left in New Orleans. You start to wonder, what would I be doing in a similar situation. I know I live quite close to a few very good record stores.... though looting for vinyl is unpractical - it's just too heavy in bulk. I did think this chap had his priorities right, but then I'm quite partial to a drop of the amber

I spent an hour in a chat room (something i haven't done for about 4 years) that was about Nola - a town not far from New Orleans, also weirdly the surname of a very dear friend. Whilst watching the chat unfold I was taken aback by the number of trolls who were talking absolute bullshit, the talk vared between the situation in Nola and wider area, to rascist insults and bizarrely insults about who won The Second World War (anti German sentiment), quite where that line of attack had crept in I had missed but it struck me as profound. There were also much anti and pro Bush sentiments being laid on very thick, mainly by people who came across as thick themselves. I guess Chatrooms are like talkback radio, filled with experts who know very little outside of their own preconceptions and generalisations of this world, bit like a blog I guess :)

I'm starting to waffle now, which many of my past teachers would know is par for the course. One article I did enjoy and strongly advise all readers to go and read for themselves is New Orleans a Geopolitical Prize by George Friedman. A stunning read about the history and importance of this most vital City in the context of the US economy and thus the world’s economy. A very sobering and enlightening (?) read.

As events unfold over the next days, weeks, months and years post Katrina we'll see just how much this big blow has had on not only the US but on the global economy, Tied in with the current oil crisis - well crisis for all those but them with share holdings in the oil industry it seems, damn where is my Exxon portfolio

Which brings us to Baghdad, a city that houses 3000 Louisiana Nationalguardspeople and Iraq itself which is host to 4,000 Mississippi National Guard, all of whom should really be at home for events such as katrina. Which is a rallying cry for much of the anti war lobby in the US as calls to "bring the boys home" get louder and louder, this may just be the straw that breaks the camels back and maybe just maybe the current US Administration will have to bow down to some of the rapidly shifting sentiment of the American public and start to pull back out of the street of Iraq and back into the protected zones and bases that so much of the rebuilding money for the country has monopolised, allowing for troops to be shifted back to the US homeland.

Having held the view that the invasion of Iraq should never have happened and that the entire war is not only illegal in the eyes of the International Courts but a folly that the US and their sycophants should never have embarked on.

One must also see the situation as it is, a major pullout by the US and its partners at this crucial point in Iraq's ongoing transformation to whatever it is going to become could just be the spark the various sections of Iraqi society need to push them into a civil war, which once looked like the propaganda of the US neo-conservatives but now thanks largely to their politics and actions via puppetgeorgieboy or lack there of Iraq now stands on the brink of complete meltdown.

Its not hard to envisage the insurgents upping the number of attacks on Iraqi's and security forces to further push the bulk of the Iraqi population into a situation where there will be an large uprising of the those who up until now have been so patient (amazingly so) whilst they have awaited a positive outcome from this complete hogs ear of a war.

I read this article this week about how the Coalition could pacify and rebuild a Iraq that seemed from my couch a logical and workable means to achieving the aims (or what we are lead to believe are the
aims) of the whatever number of reason we're up to for the invasion of Iraq in the first place. However I can't imagine it happening for all the logic this article enspouses, logic seems to be one of the biggest factors that has always been lacking in the US's post September 11 reaction. Coupled with this article I am back at square one wondering if and how anything good can ever be gained from this war and if the Iraqi people will enjoy any sort of peace in my lifetime, I fear they may not and until they do we in our privileged bastions of the western world will also be victim of the sorts of attacks that we'll be celebrating/remembering in a few short days time.

I should really switch off the internetweb now too, but can't. Here I am sitting in front of the TV, writing this entry when I should really have a shower, put on some clean shorts and listen to some records and await the sun so I can go outside and read.

Currently I am immersed in Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age", a book I first read ten years ago, this time I am taking my time and reading it throughly rather than devouring it at a rate that made me miss so many of the smaller/finer details that am I enjoying way more this time round.

Sitting in the luxury of Auckland watching the world and exiting from that for small chunks of time into a world of futuristic fantasy is something not to be discounted. Life is a strange beast and so much better to be a voyeur than a participant in most recent events.

I will be participating in our general election, which is shaping up to be one hell of a fight for those 15-20% of voters who haven't made their minds up yet. Which I am not one of but wish I was. Where is the Mcgillicuddy Serious Party when ya need them?

With that I think its time for that shower and I do believe some reggae to usher in what is shaping up to being another glorious Auckland spring day.

OK so I cheated

Welcome to my world.... as the refrain goes

I've been thinking about doing a blog for a while now and figure its not as cool as it was a few months back, so the time is right for me to jump in, so to speak

I've cheated a bit, to give the place a feel - posting some old radio playlists of mine so there's already a bunch of gibberish here, nice eh.

So back to the start, welcome to my world, a place for me to expound on many of my thoughts and opinions which should make for very dull reading

Over the next little while I'll add a bunch of links and all that stuff, for now its as ya see it.

righto

Bob

Spring sprung

Bobs intended and currently playing playlist for this first day of Spring, my favourite season, thus preparation is essential

Terre Thaemlitz - Replicas Rubato (Mille Plateaux)

Piano renditions of Gary Numan tunes by a rather strange (to say the least) artist. Simply beautiful

Douglas Lilburn - Aotearoa (Kiwi Pacific)

Orchestra and string music by Douglas Lilburn as perfromed by the Ithaca College Festival Orchestra and NZSO. Simply magnificent

Able Tasmans - Store In A Cool Place (Flying Nun)

My all time fave Sunday hangover CD, but its not Sunday you say... well who cares I'm a bit delicate

Tangle Eye - Alan Lomax's Southern Journey Remixed (Zoe Records)

Moby piss off, well I don't really mean that but it reads well.

Carl Craig - Designer Music V1 (Planet E)

Now try and dispute this review

This Is Strictly Rhythm Vol 2 (Strictly Rhythm)

Well you gotta have some house in ya day, I blame Asylum

Soulsonic Volume One (BBE)

Hopefully hits the stereo as the heat of the sun starts to make me think mmmm sunshine

Playgroup - Partymix Vol One (Playgroup)

Revisit the 80's minus the crapfest most associate with this glorious decade in one easy hit

Derrick L Carter - About Now (611 Records)

To get me foot moving and thus remind me to go to a meeting