Items of interest

Fantastic deconstruction of the mainstream liberal left’s thinking towards the West, Israel and the US in particular. It argues that we now live in a time that the Left would more likely defend a totalitarian fascist regime, rather then stand up against it and show solidarity towards it’s oppressed. Why? Because of the lazy and vague critique that it is ultimately the West’s fault or that we can’t morally impose our values onto their culture. While these excuses may have a modicum of truth in them - they should not be enough to stop us doing good in the world. Of course, this thinking is what brought us to the current Middle Eastern situation (unless you think it is a guileless conspirarcy all to do with oil and neo-colonialism), so there is no simple answer. Whatever - the book is a bracing intellectual argument, and while I don’t agree with all its points, it’s well worth reading.

Amazon.co.uk - with some great reviews and comments

Into bed with Tony - review in The Guardian (generally negative)

Is Nick Cohen right about the left? His critics reply in The Guardian

Democratiya review

4th Estate

Article by Dave Eggers in the Guardian, following up ‘What is the What’. It talks about the set-up and frustrations in the writing of the book, plus what happened when Valentino Deng visited his hometown - and met his parents again.

He truly gets out there and is on the front line for his beliefs. This time he’s getting beaten up for his beliefs in Russia by some neo-facists. The police then arrest Tatchell - not the thugs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6669769.stm

Having not read the book, this wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Fantastic physical theatre style production, constantly kinetic, vulgar, weird and often brilliant. A psychotic musical. Except, except… the characters are very simplistic. It was yet another play that yet again sneared and jeered at Americans. That said, the whole thing worked, and the staging was brilliant. Mark Lockyer, who played various characters, was fantastic.

Review in The Guardian.

My favourite British art work in… ages. I would love a print of this… a mass-produced one would be fine. More about it here, including a large version of the image (recommended).

Ace annoying grating music. Rock jazz - but good. On Warp. And at MySpace.

Great gig. I didn’t want to go, but Meadbh had a spare ticket and she didn’t want to go on her own.

Weird crowd. A weird mix of business-types and WAGs scoffing on their faux-posh food. This made the atmosphere slightly strange, as Foy does not come across as someone like this at all.

The gig started off a little interesting, but then went rather bland, before it kicked off and the audience was loving it. What is it like? Bluesy, folksy, Van Morrison, kind of thing. Great soaring gravelly voice. Lyrics sometimes a bit trying too hard, and a lot of “babies”, but it was an ultimately storming show that won the audience over. Great covers of AC/DC and Michael Jackson too.

4/5 stars

Great graphic design is used throughout, to illustrate the mind of the main character, who is an IRS accountant worker - almost autistic. Cute woozily odd story.