perspective

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35710852009-07-07T02:33:43.699+01:00perspectiveA blog from Edinburgh, Scotland.Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.comBlogger1264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-28249083142178155772009-06-18T21:07:00.002+01:002009-06-18T21:12:16.422+01:00Value for Taxpayer's Money

MP's Expenses Spotting The lesser-spotted Eton Albatross, George Osborne:"In 2005, the Conservative shadow chancellor claimed £47 for two copies of a DVD of his own speech on 'Value for Taxpayers Money'."

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-77831256790423718082009-06-10T22:45:00.003+01:002009-06-10T22:52:46.650+01:00Concrete Jungle

Depressing news from the Euro elections. The far right and nazi nutters saw a drop in votes but a reduced turnout meant they got a bigger share of the vote and MEP's elected. We need the Specials at a time like this. And lo, they will come to Edinburgh in November.T-shirt from Philosophy Football. See also Fred Perry Specials shirts.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-48900119110213073652009-06-10T20:39:00.001+01:002009-06-10T20:39:12.105+01:00We Were Promised Jetpacks

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } We Were Promised Jetpacks, originally uploaded by alister. Live at Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire, June 9th 2009.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-82448145432144352262009-05-20T09:56:00.001+01:002009-05-20T09:56:02.686+01:00Irvine Welsh

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-44488074951313802992009-05-03T21:30:00.001+01:002009-05-03T21:30:47.399+01:00Message from the old town

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-30924636233561077292009-05-01T10:52:00.002+01:002009-05-01T10:54:30.594+01:00Je lis La Princesse de Clèves

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Je lis La Princesse de Clèves, originally uploaded by Breff. After French President Sarkozy criticised the French classic La Princesse de Clèves, which is a standard of school and civil service exams, the book has become a

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-36223985367537396632009-04-27T10:13:00.002+01:002009-04-27T10:17:10.192+01:00Ginger Whinger

Is this the most loathsome advert for a book signing you have ever seen?"Meet Gerri HalliwellPlease note that Geri Halliwell will only be signing copies of her Ugenia Lavender series. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. The duration of the signing is discretional."I wonder if armies of fans clutching copies of the Spice World DVD left disappointed?

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-28740830724107445182009-04-15T17:27:00.001+01:002009-04-15T17:27:37.323+01:00Primal Scream: Screamadelica

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Primal Scream: Screamadelica, originally uploaded by Littlepixel™. Great set on flickr of album covers as Penguin novels.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-67975181447332159192009-04-14T18:02:00.003+01:002009-04-14T18:07:12.726+01:00It abounds, the splodgeness

Definitely a blast from the past. Splodgenessabounds played a comeback gig in Edinburgh to a crowd of punks 'n' skins of a certain vintage. I saw the series with that fool from Kiss, Rock School I think, and Max Splodge was his chaffeur. He lost favour somewhat when he mentioned the Splodge had more chart success in the UK than Kiss did. More recently they have developed an obsession with Ghengis

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-41465510099437870102009-04-07T14:11:00.003+01:002009-04-07T14:15:32.944+01:00Schools Out

Parents in Glasgow are going into occupation of a school over the Easter break in protest at the proposed closure of a series of schools and nurseries across the city. The bailout of the banks will need to be paid for and that will mean big cuts in public spending. Expect to see more fightbacks like this in the future. We need to draw a line in the sand and say no more.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-47284539577595858422009-04-03T12:42:00.002+01:002009-04-03T12:45:53.495+01:00Genius

Via Father Ted's very own Graham Linehan.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-12677050108848758132009-03-30T19:21:00.001+01:002009-03-30T19:21:24.344+01:00Machrie Moor

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Machrie Moor, originally uploaded by alister. Author Warren was kind enough to blog one of my photos of Machrie Moor on Arran, a magnificent neolithic site. I prefer this one though.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-51346121879813924742009-03-26T10:25:00.005Z2009-03-26T10:44:08.563ZIt's the Stupid Economy

I've recommended this before but maybe not on this blog. Mark Thomas is doing a series of podcasts on the economy which are well worth listening to with interviews with various people. Listening to one with Paul Mason just now and he namechecked the LPYS so that can't be bad.http://www.markthomasinfo.com/section_audiovideo/podcast.xmlAs refreshing as the air conditioning in Fred Goodwins house.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-73502262134999302242009-03-24T09:51:00.003Z2009-03-24T10:01:07.612ZCaltongate=Fail

This recession/depression is having many different effects most of them bad. Occassionally however there is a silver lining. Yesterday property developers Mountgrange were declared insolvent. This means that their plan to redevelop parts of Edinburgh's old town is almost certainly dead. The plan meant social housing being removed to make way for 5-star hotels and retail opportunities. Yeah,

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-54382483798774024802009-03-18T17:51:00.001Z2009-03-18T17:51:07.576ZBlack Star

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-86886764091277372812009-03-13T18:41:00.002Z2009-03-13T18:43:11.879ZWatched the etc...

Saw Watchmen today. The critics didn't like it but I thought it was enjoyable if flawed. Standout performance for me was Moloch, pictured above in Clay Enos' Watchmen photo book.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-28215220990087161572009-03-06T10:30:00.001Z2009-03-06T10:30:48.606ZYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972 (Vol. 11) by Charles M. Schulz - detail, originally uploaded by fantagraphics. Hurray for Peanuts.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-68842165422846648392009-03-02T23:04:00.001Z2009-03-02T23:04:26.873ZFirst Minister promotes Homecoming Scotland 2009 Whisky Month

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } First Minister promotes Homecoming Scotland 2009 Whisky Month, originally uploaded by Scottish Government. In other news, Scottish Government launches campaign against alcohol abuse.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-56482261746092301052009-03-01T09:30:00.001Z2009-03-01T09:31:55.843ZHappy St. David's Day!

And what better way to celebrate the national day of Wales than with this awesome clip.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-86411841535915173892009-02-25T16:20:00.003Z2009-02-25T16:27:47.623ZScumbag Millionaires

Gotta love the new t-shirt from Philosophy Football!

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-36251087775012006992009-02-23T12:05:00.001Z2009-02-23T12:05:07.238ZLong Hot Summer

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Dublin Protest, originally uploaded by Mototoske. Did you know that 11.5 trillion dollars worldwide are held by the rich, offshore and untaxed? If that was taxed at a low 30% it would net 255 billion dollars. Among the

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-40290100577091309322009-02-17T10:13:00.003Z2009-02-17T10:46:15.560ZEmmy the Great

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Emmy the Great, originally uploaded by alister. Emmy the Great Live at Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire, 16th February 2009. A rising star for 2009 we are told, Emmy the Great play acoustic folky tunes with rather angsty lyrics.

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-89068554923674711942009-02-14T16:18:00.003Z2009-02-14T16:24:25.021ZRed is the new Black

My local MP Alistair Darling (sounds like something that should be whispered to me on Valentine's Day) said today, in an attempt to dampen speculation about HBOS nationalisation, that the banks are better run in the private sector. Yes Alistair we noticed how brilliantly run they are. What great geniuses are in charge of them. Better leave them to it, eh? Not like they brought the world economy

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-38462250222860348062009-02-13T16:21:00.000Z2009-02-13T16:22:06.205ZCountdown

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571085.post-38039592846566523902009-02-13T10:07:00.004Z2009-02-13T10:16:28.398ZSeven Year Itch

I've been doing this blog for an unbelievable seven years now. The old blog needs a bit of updating here and there. One area which needs work is the blogroll. In the meantime here are some links to new blogs worth your attention.The Idyll of GarturkBowden's BlogColin FoxRed MistStroppyBlogAnother Witch To BurnIndependent Republic of the CaltongateFeel free to post any other interesting newbies in

Alisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333322780986562771noreply@blogger.com2