devolute.net

There’s a lot of talk in the news today (even in grown up papers) about racist taunts being used against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in this years ‘Celebrity’ Big Brother. This isn’t especially surprising and is a result of the following two factors: Firstly, Shetty is better spoken than the rest of the screeching banshees that make up the house, she’s blessed with good looks, is wealthier and comes across as reasonably intelligent. Naturally, some jealousy has set in. Secondly; The show is composed mainly of self-obsessed, not especially bright and very, very bored people. What should we expect when they are living alongside someone from another country? These aren’t going to be highly-tolerant Grauniad-reading libertarians, desperate to learn about another land and a different culture are they? No. They’re type A thick ignoramuses making snide childish remarks. Big surprise.

However, what’s really saddening about this is not how it reflects on society (seriously; who gives a damn about Big Brother contestants?), or on the media or anything else. What’s really sad is that MPs have seen fit to make statements about it. This includes Gordon Brown. It’s all a little ‘old men trying to get down with the kids’, like watching grandad trying to skateboard. Why do they care? Well, a more sinister view might be that it follows what Chomsky-types may suggest: Bullshit like this is fielded so that the real stuff, the stuff that matters, is drowned out by this petty unimportant crap. Remember; these are the leaders of our country! We’re embroiled in wars that aren’t going especially well right now, surely they’ve got something more important to talk about? Or do they think we should worry about more important stuff like the words of a couple of knuckle-dragging non-entities on some silly tv show?

It’s been ageeees since I’ve posted here and I’m not even sure Ian still wants my light-hearted bitterness spilt freely over his mighty blog like Jif Lemon sprayed over a filthy toilet in an embarrassing yet understandable confusion. But fuck it, new year’s as good a time as any to start blogging again and my blog seems to have been bummed in the gob.

Well, January’s traditionally a time for looking back over the previous year, if not the previous night, with a sense of faint regret. I for one regret that it looks like Dan Brown’s going to get away with The DaVinci Code, since the Catholic church apparently “don’t do fatwas”. But let’s not be so negative. There’s been lots of good things happen, for one Ian’s job’s taken him to the other side of a country I often feel is far too small, and I mean that in a nice way, darling. I’ve also discovered Doctor McNinja, the finest webcomic I’ve read since Dragonball was translated into farts and homosexuality on a website I can’t be bothered to look up. And in what seemed suspiciously like a rush on Bush’s part to make good on some of last year’s resolutions before Auld Lang Syne, we’ve seen a middle - eastern dictator hanged - on cameraphone, no less - and turned into what is surely the world’s most widely distributed snuff film. I can’t help but think it’s a shame we didn’t have camera phones to record Clinton’s major achievements, I think they’d be in much better taste.

And after scientific trials, I can honestly say Monica Lewinsky’s easier to masturbate to than Saddam’s execution.

I could of done a ‘my favourite albums/films/gigs/rude things you can do with grapes’ list, but I didn’t. It’s the cowards way out of a year. Lets move on, okay? My Christmas was spent at home with family and friends. Nothing amazing, just nice to see ‘em all. Well, mostly. A nice break from my job although barely two months in, I’m still loving it. I’ll mention what gifts I got for Christmas as I watch/read my way through them. I made some new years resolutions. Nothing heavy; read more, write more (here and elsewhere), got some other stuff I wanna sort. Sorry I can’t be more exciting. Going to keep a journal (diary) again too. I did this in my final year at uni and it really helped me to pull through some of the bullshit that decided to drop on me during that time. Still makes for pretty funny reading at times now though.

Back in Sheffield: James, Ellie and I are being joined by new house-mate; Zoe. When we first met her she mentioned that she fancied having a cat about the place. So did we. As a result, we now have Slick and Intel, two 1 y.o males we took off a fella called Mike who couldn’t look after all of their brothers and sisters any more. They’re a bit sheepish around the house at the moment (yeah, I’m aware they’re not sheep), but their confidence is increasing. I’ve already got a favourite, but it wouldn’t be fair to say who, would it? Predictably, I’ll probably be uploading pictures of them to my flickr account. Anyway friends, lurkers, countrymen, happy new year.