In the wake of yesterday’s Kabul Airport bombing, seems necessary to point readers towards this expert discussion of the Taliban. The now government’s aims and objectives, though fundamentalist, are served in no way through acts of terrorism at home or abroad. Equally, you can’t blame them for assuming that anyone who aided the western powers and remains in Afghanistan may well be a spy and harmful to their objectives. Shameful and unconscionable this wasn’t glaringly obvious to a British government after President Biden’s April 14 announcement of withdrawal. Let alone the terrorist elements opposed to the Taliban government’s negotiations with the West.
Thursday 26 August 2021
Thursday 27 May 2021
CREATURES OF THE WORLD UNITE!
AVOID BELARUS AIRSPACE.
YOU KNOW WHERE TO SHIT!
CREATURES OF THE WORLD UNITE! (Comrade Len-in-Fur)
Birds of Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/birds_of_instagram/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/birds_adored/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/birds/?hl=en
Sunday 7 March 2021
Simple are the ways we touch the heart....
If this were to be the everlasting LUCRESLONDON post, then, and only spoken 'if', then I'd want it to be uplifting and not…whatever state the world is/was in. Actually, I don't mind Boris. Though I find his 'elk' somewhat contemptuous. Brexit is a disaster, in mine opinion. There you go… Haven't read Boris' Churchill book. Almost turned up at your NYC book launch! Aren't we both lucky THAT never happened:) Only in New York! Oh, and btw- I have been a Brit citizen since, somewhere 2004. The process took so long..I forget..a bit like entering the UK under Covid and waiting in line for 8 hours. Like some half-dead creature in the chimney being legitimized. Then all the blood runs out…. Though all of this 'cause Angelina Jolie's Churchill painting sale. So methinks I get $1,000: cause the guy who consulted the guy consulted the cat who consulted the rat who consulted the pheasant under the bed……..ahhhh keept it Ang…you clearly need it. We have Picassos, Braques, Chagalls, and all that…:_
Immediately I thought of that great BBC ratings series Fake or Fortune and proving their Churchill was real. And after all that research (which is what made/makes that series so indelible) that the 'go to' Churchill expert still wasn't quite convinced. [Speaking as a detective: sure the old gal could have been bribed when she spake that Churchill gave her artist husband cigars in return for tubes of paint, as he had run out on that little corner opposite their art shop] Well. that BBC series puts him in very good company with the most formidable 'judges' of art in the world. And what that series proves beyond any doubt (in mine own pond) is that these experts have a lot of reputation to lose. German master faker Beltracci admitted in an interview how stupid/careless he was using retrospective pigments such as Titanium white in the 'fake' that 'done him in'. He probably would have got his Venetian palazzo if it were't for such carelessness. Suffice to say: art like life is a very messy business. Don't give up life. Don't give up art. But maybe…. "the art of making art…" ....
Trying' to wrap up on a happy note Ricky Gervais. But as you well know that is so far from easy. I couldn't watch more than one or two eps at a time of The Office. So depressingly funny! And what was that episode, can't remember the characters when one girl was off to America and was it Merchant's character said, well if things don't work out you'll always have a job here. I just cried! Even more so now I know what America is like! And now we have Met police handcuffing and arresting women in a peaceful vigil for Sarah Everard, abducted and murdered by a police officer! What world are we living in? And now this report just in:
Can't imagine Met Police chief Cressida Dick condones this. But where does the buck stop? The Menezes case was unequivocally outrageous if one looks carefully at the details. A highly trained firearms officer basically blasting away in a close proximity underground carriage when all that was needed was one shot. Let alone…And no-one can blame the British tax-payers who pay police wages asking: has anything been learnt over the years? That's not an unfair question. American police have a problem too. I overheard some cops talking after the George Floyd riots, "and we just have to take it and do nothing". There are always two sides. And PACE areas in London where basically human rights of free movement are suspended so as police can stop and search without any provocation. That happened to me. Absolutely no cause/reason. Handcuffed and carted away at 5am. My only crime, to put out recycling, go for a walk, and have an empty tote bag under my shoulder before going into the West End for a Yoga class. And 15seconds from my doorstep. What if I had a dog? I don't forgive. Nor should anyone else in that situation. What forgiveness could there possibly be for the trauma that follows. Buddhism is fine so long as shit doesn't fly your way. Then the world is a different place. As it is most probably for those arrested at that vigil. "Rioters,' you have got to be kidding. But violence begets violence.
Saturday 13 February 2021
What price LOVE!
In the next few hours at this time last year 2020 on the eve of Valentine's Day TV presenter and performer Caroline Flack suicided. A woman (but a girl at heart) who radiated nothing but joy to millions of viewers. Hung by a British tabloid press hand in glove with a criminal justice system sorely in need of investigation. Shame on you all.
A reminder of her joy, enthusiasm and that rare gift of communication to millions. Not to mention Strictly Come Dancing.
Wednesday 19 February 2020
Caroline Flack: the Greek tragedy that should never was...
'Andrew' and Kitty wish for a better world...
Our father..
here's to the mess we make...
purr-fect score
once upon a time...
Our father..
here's to the mess we make...
purr-fect score
once upon a time...
Saturday 15 February 2020
Ne me quitte pas….
I wish there was a special place for troubled celebrities to retreat to like an animal sanctuary. A Love Island that one could be whisked away to, cared for, loved without all the media judgment. Did people see Harmony Korine's film Mister Lonely? No celebrity worth that accolade would mind sharing their experiences with so-called normal troubled 'folk'. But in this social media-driven world it just isn't really possible. We are all human.
We all 'fuck up'! Can any of you out there say that you haven't? Only, when you piss your pants on stage at the Grammy's or whatever it really is a totally different ballgame.
Is America any different to Britain? I thought it was, but the longer one experiences the 'American dream' the more you realize exactly what it is based upon. When you screw up the jackals are there before yesterday. It makes headlines. Money. Power moves. It is an unforgiving dream. It is all the 'yellow brick road' or nothing. That's where great songwriters come into play. Have you ever heard a great song that doesn't sing to your failures rather than successes? ! Not really. There is always pain. The human condition.
Wish I had the money to set up an island of healing. A secret garden of wounded wonderful wacky creatures.
Ne me quitte pas….
there was a time...
We all 'fuck up'! Can any of you out there say that you haven't? Only, when you piss your pants on stage at the Grammy's or whatever it really is a totally different ballgame.
Is America any different to Britain? I thought it was, but the longer one experiences the 'American dream' the more you realize exactly what it is based upon. When you screw up the jackals are there before yesterday. It makes headlines. Money. Power moves. It is an unforgiving dream. It is all the 'yellow brick road' or nothing. That's where great songwriters come into play. Have you ever heard a great song that doesn't sing to your failures rather than successes? ! Not really. There is always pain. The human condition.
Wish I had the money to set up an island of healing. A secret garden of wounded wonderful wacky creatures.
Ne me quitte pas….
there was a time...
Caroline Flack (1979-2020)
Found this wonderful 45min of Caroline Flack interviewed about her clothing line for River Island. Easy to see why she became so famous and beloved, I wasn't bored for a second.
[Feb 19: Caroline Flack's unpublished Instagram post released by family]
Was thinking some more about the Crown Prosecution Service and the trial for her alleged assault. No-one or celebrity is above the law. Yet celebrities just aren't equal otherwise they wouldn't be celebrities. So to say a trial would be in the public interest is very debatable for that very reason. Juries are juries, judges judges, we are all human. In this case, though, we have an alleged assault (not a murder) on a minor celeb boyfriend by a major celeb with the boyfriend not wishing for further action. Agreed CPS, the victim could have been bought off, pressure brought to bear etc and that isn't in the public interest to ignore such an incident..
And yet. Trials are expensive and paid for by the British taxpayer. Shouldn't there be another road to travel down for such cases? A closed mediation and assessment by peers and clinical professionals? And if all else fails and there seems 'foul play' then go to trial? Of course, the CPS would argue that is why they decided to trial the Caroline Flack case because they believed evidence of wrong doing was overwhelming.
I'm not arguing for a 'be nice to celebrity screw ups' camp, I would argue that for every citizen. Simply most celebrities are more or less brittle and vulnerable and THAT is why the public are drawn to them. (Caroline says that in the above interview about the best Love Island contestants.) The public want to see a version of themselves. Someone relatable. Not some pompous twit or genius pretending to know what normal life is like. They see something or a lot of themselves. Ironically, normal people become celebrated for their normality. Only, normal folk don't have the minutiae of their lives under a microscope. You heat that living organism too high under that gaze then it will simply die and/or mutate.
And I totally related to someone interviewed on Brit breakfast telly when she said that when depressed you feel you a burden to friends when you talk about your state of mind. I totally agree. I think it is worse in America where everything ought to be 'a good day' and of course rarely is for anyone. Aren't friends/family better listeners than professionals? No, not always. And yet the depressed person feels even further ignored when the folk around them don't seem to care or are rather bland in their 'cheer up' it will all be fine response. Have another cocktail!
Americans (and it is a generalization but one I've found to be true on some many occasions) want to know all about you but not really some of who you are. Inside without all the so-called facts and/or hearsay. There is most often a huge difference. I don't mean that to sound cruel or suggest that people are uncaring. Simply that it seems so ingrained into human interaction.
The difference I think in America to the U.K. is that you don't have, what they call in Australia 'the tall poppy syndrome' : if they grow too tall cut 'em down, make them cognizant of their own mortality. Of who put you there. That has certainly been proven a necessity for some celebs, but I would argue not for most.
I still don't understand America except that it is led by the dollar. Always has been. That given, a huge network of grassroots individuals and organizations have sustained over the decades a watchful eye on the excesses of capitalism. The irony for celebrities in America is that if 'the tall poppy syndrome' comes into effect then a media outlet is attacking the very revenue that sustains itself. That's not to say it is any different to the U.K. media in making money out of high profile individual demise. Only that, the media (social and print) in America don't wait outside one's door for a curtain or boob to fall. It simply isn't an ergonomic use of resources rather than any moral correlative.
Which brings us back to the PEOPLE and their vote. Look at what happened to the 'uninformed' in Britain and Brexit manipulated in a far more cunning technological way than ever seen before with the LEAVE campaign, ironically ultimately bankrolled by an American.
There is a sea-change in the world, and not just literally. One can observe how now easily promulgated are far-right wing and anti-Semitic views etc. all over the world. Yet it is the same technological means of promulgation that allows formerly voiceless peoples of understanding and tolerance to speak. Very loudly, boldly, passionately. Equally, that same promulgation, finally enabling a voice to sexually exploited females and males.
What would Marshall McLuhan have to say today about "The medium is the message"? A lot! McLuhan describes in Understanding Media the "content" of a medium as a juicy piece of meat carried by the burglar to distract the watchdog of the mind.
So what is the connection with Caroline Flack to all of this? Caroline was self-admittedly a 'people-person'. That is just apparently who she was. I haven't lived in the U.K. for almost 10 years (though officially a citizen, not without pride!) so totally unknowledgeable of Caroline's exploits. It seems, though, after informed of an assault trial she feared that 'the medium' would take over. That she would have no content/message to offer because there would be no popular support ever again. She seemed a very smart, savvy girl (with loads of genuine friends) and on a better night in her life (the assault) would have surmounted whatever emotional turmoil raged within her. Emotional and physical exhaustion happens to us all.
Humans (and animals) do very, very strange unpredictable things. Like the oak tree that when crowded out of its sunlight by other trees above, grows absolutely useless branches way low down. The tree is literally screaming, crying for help it will never receive.
Caroline Flack could never be deemed a 'a piece of meat' for the media. As far as can be ascertained she never manipulated the 'medium' allowing her burglar into U.K. homes. She had no ulterior motive entering with her friendliness, love of chat, love of working earning an honest living from that.
Hollywood/streaming studio heads spoke to The Hollywood Reporter recently and the overriding sea-change for them was 'the people'. They are the ones now deciding what gets seen. Yet the medium is taking on an even more crucial role than ever before. Gatekeeper is now about inhabiting not exhibiting one's green light decisions, allowing creative creatures the opportunity to grow in the light outside the cave in voices rarely heard before. Burglars into peoples' minds giving them gifts of insight, knowledge, curiosity rather than forcing beliefs from them. Maybe it doesn't always work, but at least you tried.
People liked Caroline Flack because she inhabited something real to them. Sure one can sell 'fake' it works all the time, though arguably less and less.
Maybe I should stop before getting into trouble….!
Of course there is far more to life than reality TV shows. The fact that many ARE life, though, can't be ignored. Nor the suicides of two recent Love Island contestants who lived 'the dream'. Back to the film Mister Lonely. Where do you go when you lived however briefly a life less ordinary? Has every one seen Ricky Gervais' Extras (Season 2) ? and there's a brilliant cameo by David Bowie when Ricky's allowed (well booted out then bribing back in) the VIP area (star of a BBC1 equivalent sitcom compromising his artistic integrity). Ricky confesses his frustration to Bowie and the legend improvises a satirical song about him. Ricky then returns to the pub from whence he ran to the haven of 'havin a laugh' fans and selfles.
All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.- Goethe
photo: Andrew Lucre
Found this wonderful 45min of Caroline Flack interviewed about her clothing line for River Island. Easy to see why she became so famous and beloved, I wasn't bored for a second.
[Feb 19: Caroline Flack's unpublished Instagram post released by family]
Was thinking some more about the Crown Prosecution Service and the trial for her alleged assault. No-one or celebrity is above the law. Yet celebrities just aren't equal otherwise they wouldn't be celebrities. So to say a trial would be in the public interest is very debatable for that very reason. Juries are juries, judges judges, we are all human. In this case, though, we have an alleged assault (not a murder) on a minor celeb boyfriend by a major celeb with the boyfriend not wishing for further action. Agreed CPS, the victim could have been bought off, pressure brought to bear etc and that isn't in the public interest to ignore such an incident..
And yet. Trials are expensive and paid for by the British taxpayer. Shouldn't there be another road to travel down for such cases? A closed mediation and assessment by peers and clinical professionals? And if all else fails and there seems 'foul play' then go to trial? Of course, the CPS would argue that is why they decided to trial the Caroline Flack case because they believed evidence of wrong doing was overwhelming.
I'm not arguing for a 'be nice to celebrity screw ups' camp, I would argue that for every citizen. Simply most celebrities are more or less brittle and vulnerable and THAT is why the public are drawn to them. (Caroline says that in the above interview about the best Love Island contestants.) The public want to see a version of themselves. Someone relatable. Not some pompous twit or genius pretending to know what normal life is like. They see something or a lot of themselves. Ironically, normal people become celebrated for their normality. Only, normal folk don't have the minutiae of their lives under a microscope. You heat that living organism too high under that gaze then it will simply die and/or mutate.
And I totally related to someone interviewed on Brit breakfast telly when she said that when depressed you feel you a burden to friends when you talk about your state of mind. I totally agree. I think it is worse in America where everything ought to be 'a good day' and of course rarely is for anyone. Aren't friends/family better listeners than professionals? No, not always. And yet the depressed person feels even further ignored when the folk around them don't seem to care or are rather bland in their 'cheer up' it will all be fine response. Have another cocktail!
Americans (and it is a generalization but one I've found to be true on some many occasions) want to know all about you but not really some of who you are. Inside without all the so-called facts and/or hearsay. There is most often a huge difference. I don't mean that to sound cruel or suggest that people are uncaring. Simply that it seems so ingrained into human interaction.
The difference I think in America to the U.K. is that you don't have, what they call in Australia 'the tall poppy syndrome' : if they grow too tall cut 'em down, make them cognizant of their own mortality. Of who put you there. That has certainly been proven a necessity for some celebs, but I would argue not for most.
I still don't understand America except that it is led by the dollar. Always has been. That given, a huge network of grassroots individuals and organizations have sustained over the decades a watchful eye on the excesses of capitalism. The irony for celebrities in America is that if 'the tall poppy syndrome' comes into effect then a media outlet is attacking the very revenue that sustains itself. That's not to say it is any different to the U.K. media in making money out of high profile individual demise. Only that, the media (social and print) in America don't wait outside one's door for a curtain or boob to fall. It simply isn't an ergonomic use of resources rather than any moral correlative.
Which brings us back to the PEOPLE and their vote. Look at what happened to the 'uninformed' in Britain and Brexit manipulated in a far more cunning technological way than ever seen before with the LEAVE campaign, ironically ultimately bankrolled by an American.
There is a sea-change in the world, and not just literally. One can observe how now easily promulgated are far-right wing and anti-Semitic views etc. all over the world. Yet it is the same technological means of promulgation that allows formerly voiceless peoples of understanding and tolerance to speak. Very loudly, boldly, passionately. Equally, that same promulgation, finally enabling a voice to sexually exploited females and males.
What would Marshall McLuhan have to say today about "The medium is the message"? A lot! McLuhan describes in Understanding Media the "content" of a medium as a juicy piece of meat carried by the burglar to distract the watchdog of the mind.
So what is the connection with Caroline Flack to all of this? Caroline was self-admittedly a 'people-person'. That is just apparently who she was. I haven't lived in the U.K. for almost 10 years (though officially a citizen, not without pride!) so totally unknowledgeable of Caroline's exploits. It seems, though, after informed of an assault trial she feared that 'the medium' would take over. That she would have no content/message to offer because there would be no popular support ever again. She seemed a very smart, savvy girl (with loads of genuine friends) and on a better night in her life (the assault) would have surmounted whatever emotional turmoil raged within her. Emotional and physical exhaustion happens to us all.
Humans (and animals) do very, very strange unpredictable things. Like the oak tree that when crowded out of its sunlight by other trees above, grows absolutely useless branches way low down. The tree is literally screaming, crying for help it will never receive.
Caroline Flack could never be deemed a 'a piece of meat' for the media. As far as can be ascertained she never manipulated the 'medium' allowing her burglar into U.K. homes. She had no ulterior motive entering with her friendliness, love of chat, love of working earning an honest living from that.
Hollywood/streaming studio heads spoke to The Hollywood Reporter recently and the overriding sea-change for them was 'the people'. They are the ones now deciding what gets seen. Yet the medium is taking on an even more crucial role than ever before. Gatekeeper is now about inhabiting not exhibiting one's green light decisions, allowing creative creatures the opportunity to grow in the light outside the cave in voices rarely heard before. Burglars into peoples' minds giving them gifts of insight, knowledge, curiosity rather than forcing beliefs from them. Maybe it doesn't always work, but at least you tried.
People liked Caroline Flack because she inhabited something real to them. Sure one can sell 'fake' it works all the time, though arguably less and less.
Maybe I should stop before getting into trouble….!
Of course there is far more to life than reality TV shows. The fact that many ARE life, though, can't be ignored. Nor the suicides of two recent Love Island contestants who lived 'the dream'. Back to the film Mister Lonely. Where do you go when you lived however briefly a life less ordinary? Has every one seen Ricky Gervais' Extras (Season 2) ? and there's a brilliant cameo by David Bowie when Ricky's allowed (well booted out then bribing back in) the VIP area (star of a BBC1 equivalent sitcom compromising his artistic integrity). Ricky confesses his frustration to Bowie and the legend improvises a satirical song about him. Ricky then returns to the pub from whence he ran to the haven of 'havin a laugh' fans and selfles.
All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.- Goethe
Thursday 9 January 2020
MOO RIVER
Prince Harry and Meghan are so so brave aren't they, choosing love and the survival of a relationship over all else? Money and fame can ease a helluva lot of pain but ultimately it never makes anyone: happy.
Andrew and all his imaginary (and real animals!) wish them well on their journey.
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
As a P.S. to this post:
I didn't know anything about this Mail on Sunday "Instagram animal thing'. Truly I didn't when I posted the above. Does anyone honestly believe that Prince Harry would intentionally manipulate images of animals to glorify himself? ! Get real. And you wonder why the Royal couple stepped down from their duties. I actually find it deeply personally offensive that a British newspaper could insinuate that Prince Harry would be in any way betray his beliefs in wildlife and climate preservation. I have no problem with reporting factual correct info as did The Mail on Sunday. But cut the sanctimonious 'bs' of reveling in Royal 'bs'.
Attack privilege by all means. But not belief. Has anyone seen that episode of The Good Place where they don't understand why really 'good people' don't earn enough points to get into the 'GOOD PLACE' ? So they go to Canada (yes this is real in TV land:) to meet the man who would walk naked after the rain so that the mosquitoes didn't go hungry.
Please leave Harry alone you MFFFFF's and get a life. Most of you wouldn't have enough points to arise from your own dog turd to get into any life above what you live.
I know you all and will awhile uphold....
As a PPS : that iconic photo o Dorothea Lange- Migrant Mother. I've cited this example before, before. But new to many. The subject in question bore something like 6-8 kids. MoMA actually did a brave show whiles ago analysing this. All the contact sheets were presented. But 1 migrant MUM and 2 hungry kids worked as an icon. As a photo. As a belief. I always have deep suspicion about war photos/the exotic etc etc . And the great snappers of those realms speak honestly and lucidly about how they cannot be humanitarians in such situation.
Many will disagree. Honestly: it isn't that hard to get an award winning photo from such situations. What is hard is actually have bravery to be there, be observant. Be, not detached, simply workmanlike. Dressing the wound. Though you don't. Observe it. Weep inside.
Andrew and all his imaginary (and real animals!) wish them well on their journey.
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
As a P.S. to this post:
I didn't know anything about this Mail on Sunday "Instagram animal thing'. Truly I didn't when I posted the above. Does anyone honestly believe that Prince Harry would intentionally manipulate images of animals to glorify himself? ! Get real. And you wonder why the Royal couple stepped down from their duties. I actually find it deeply personally offensive that a British newspaper could insinuate that Prince Harry would be in any way betray his beliefs in wildlife and climate preservation. I have no problem with reporting factual correct info as did The Mail on Sunday. But cut the sanctimonious 'bs' of reveling in Royal 'bs'.
Attack privilege by all means. But not belief. Has anyone seen that episode of The Good Place where they don't understand why really 'good people' don't earn enough points to get into the 'GOOD PLACE' ? So they go to Canada (yes this is real in TV land:) to meet the man who would walk naked after the rain so that the mosquitoes didn't go hungry.
Please leave Harry alone you MFFFFF's and get a life. Most of you wouldn't have enough points to arise from your own dog turd to get into any life above what you live.
I know you all and will awhile uphold....
As a PPS : that iconic photo o Dorothea Lange- Migrant Mother. I've cited this example before, before. But new to many. The subject in question bore something like 6-8 kids. MoMA actually did a brave show whiles ago analysing this. All the contact sheets were presented. But 1 migrant MUM and 2 hungry kids worked as an icon. As a photo. As a belief. I always have deep suspicion about war photos/the exotic etc etc . And the great snappers of those realms speak honestly and lucidly about how they cannot be humanitarians in such situation.
Many will disagree. Honestly: it isn't that hard to get an award winning photo from such situations. What is hard is actually have bravery to be there, be observant. Be, not detached, simply workmanlike. Dressing the wound. Though you don't. Observe it. Weep inside.
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