Alan Partridge to return?!!??
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30500-13172474,00.html
So the story is that Alan Partridge (possibly the funniest ever comedy creation), failed TV host, local radio DJ and writer, might try and kickstart his career in LA. In America. That would be absolutely brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!
To remind you of (or introduce you to) Alan, here's an excerpt from the final episode of I'm Alan Partridge (series one):
[Various scenes of the fair follow, with Alan providing a commentary on the PA system.]
Alan: Fire! Fire! The fayre's on fire! [No one pays any attention] I'm joking of course, it's not, but that's the kind of thing you can see from… the… oh, what are they called? The local fire brigade, I don't know the district, in tent four. My own tip is 'never throw water on a fat fire', it'll take your face off. The stocks are now open for custard pie throwing. Tell you who I'd like to put in the stocks - Tony Hayers. He's the Chief Commissioning Editor of BBC Television. And it wouldn't be custard pies I'd be throwing at him, either. I'd like to throw cabbages, hot Bovril and gravel. I don't know if you're familiar with BBC commissioning policy, they are obliged to contract out a certain percentage of their programmes to independent programme-makers, and…I mean… you're not even listening, are you? You people. Er, I'm going. It's all wrapping up in about an hour, anyway, so I don't think you'll miss me. Thank you, goodbye.
This has been borrowed without asking from http://www.alan-partridge.co.uk/ where you will find loads of other scripts and so on.
Share ThisNick's website
Is ok. Quite funny really.
http://www.fortunecity.com/oasis/miami/368/index.html
Acebes claims transparency after March 11th
After the post-fascist PP rushed to blame ETA for the Madrid bombings, the Spanish people reacted with disgust and anger. The Partido Popular/Popular Party (PP) lost in the general election days later.Now, Angel Acebes has claimed that he told the truth. He claims that there still could have been some ETA involvement (despite the fact that there is absolutely no evidence to support such a claim). He also states that while the PP maintained the moral high ground with complete transparency, other groups used the bombings as an excuse to rouse the people of Spain, solely for their own political ambitions.
These 'others' are essentially the groups José Maria Aznar referred to as "the PSOE [a mainstream socialist party], the anarchists and the communists" - a telling remark with the very clear intention of harking back to a time when everyone was either a good catholic or a raving Stalinist - those happy days known as the dictatorship, during which Aznar's and most of the former PP ministers' families benefited from patronage and support for Franco's illegal regime.
In fact the PP tried to use the bombings for their own political gain, but in a far more sinister way than those on the left wing who merely supported independent and genuinely spontaneous demonstrations. On the eve of the election day (the 14th of March), Aznar and his deputies attempted to force through a temporary law which would have suspended the general elections until further notice. The significance of this attempt cannot be overestimated. Nor should the PP's attempts to make itself seem like a centrist party cloud the truth that most party members and ministers were at some time dedicated followers of the dictatorship which overthrew a democratic republic in the 1930s.
Manuel Fraga, PP grandee and president of Galicia, frequently addressed major PP conferences with all major party leaders present (including Aznar and Acebes along with the imbecilic former foreign minister Ana Palacio). Before the reintroduction of democracy, Fraga had another job. He was the minister of propaganda and information under General Franco, and many saw him as the number three fascist in the Spanish junta.
So this is the PP, a party that Tony Blair was happy to do considerable business with, despite the fact that it openly harboured elements with similar ideas to those of the BNP. The PP oversaw numerous policies with roots directly in the dictatorship including the re-introduction of compulsory catholic religious education in schools (now to be repealed), and the establishment of the 'Plan Hidratico' which would divert the precious water of the Ebre (which benefits the farms and valleys of Catalunya and Castellón) to benefit instead the farms and valleys of the far more Spanish South.
Besides this, Aznar used public money to fund not only his own daughter's wedding (at which Blair was a witness, effectively feasting and gorging off the work of Spanish workers) and spent an incredible $2 million of state funds in his efforts to get the Congressional Medal of Honor.
And these are the people who gripe about a terrorist group (ETA) with allegedly fewer than 1000 members. The real danger to Spain over the last seven years - indeed, since the 1930's - is the presence of a far right wing minority so shameless and malicious that they intentionally hurt autonomous regions of Spain with poor investment, high taxes and a sort of smirky hatred.
The PP represent everything that is wrong with Spain: cruelty, arrogance, racism, fascism, greed and corruption. That they were thrown out by the Spanish people is something that should be celebrated and remembered.
Share ThisWho??
Pete Townshend of The Who refused to allow Michael Moore to use one of his songs in Fahrenheit 9/11. He explains that he is not sure about Mr Moore's "credentials" and compares his "nature" to that of George Bush.
An excellent point, Pete. The thing is, you're hardly the guy to lecture on credentials or judgement, now are you? Read the Guardian story here: http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1261143,00.html
Share ThisHolidays
Some photos from our holiday in La Mancha and in Els Valentins. You may notice: Bulls, Ostriches, Mantae, Fishes, High speed trains, Sunsets, some other stuff. The poor quality of the images is the direct result of using my Nokia camera phone rather than a costly (and better) digital camera.
We're on holiday in La Mancha, in G's mother's village.
This is my first trip into the interior, the 'real' Spain. I am posting images too, but only to my other website: http://thebadrash.20six.co.uk - this is all via my mobile, so don't expect any advanced html!
Guardian continues to fuel Blair/Brown war
The Guardian, long an agent provocateur in the apparent ar between Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown appeared to be making its wildest claims yet this evening.
Awesome weekend
We had one of those great summer weekends… drinks on a terrace, fireworks and champagne on the beach, followed by a suprisingly successful family meal in Tarragona, followed by a midnight barbecue on the roof, and snorkelling at Cala Sant Fransesc. No pictures because I was having such a great time.
Flights to Australia will be booked by tonight!!!!!!!! Woohoo!
Share ThisHappiness - Elliott Smith
I've always preferred sad songs.
Sadness seems a much more honest, natural feeling than happiness.
Happiness must be blind, sadness is true.
(not to worry: I am not turning goth. just musing about how sad music is better, ok?)
Share This"Time and again I tell myself / I'll stay clean tonight" (A Million Little Pieces)
I'm reading James Frey's non-fiction account of the experience of going to an addiction treatment centre at the age of 23, suffering a monstrous addiction to alcohol and crack.
It's written brilliantly, has a general feeling of truth and confession, is funny, sad and scary.
There's something very thrilling, in a wholly unpleasant way, about reading this sad story. It has scared the wits out of me, despite the fact that I am neither an alcoholic nor a crack addict. Perhaps it is Frey's inner voice which seems logical, even sensible when he talks about the 12 steps method of curing addiction, but I have a strong sense of sympathy reading the story.
It's not easy reading. Episodes including a dual root-canal operation - without any painkillers or anaesthetic - and meetings with his parents, are nauseating and heartbreaking in turn. I can't read it for too long, but that's because it's so good.
1/1
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