Miscellaneous Musings

Does anyone miss "regular" CBC programming? As far as I'm concerned, the lockout can continue... at least until Ron and Don are due back in the Coach's Corner and I can no longer find anything online to fill the void that Rex Murphy's "Point of View" has left.

*******

Normally, all the best content at Steyn Online comes from Mark himself, but this week there is a particularly thought provoking, if somewhat vitriolic letter entitled THE FICTION OF THE 'PALESTINIAN' IDENTITY from some Aussie guy, I think, in the Mark's Mailbox section of the site. Check it out, and consider the critical role of the media and media-savvy agitators in framing the issues of our day.

*****

Sometimes it is fascinating to watch someone's worldview completely transform before your eyes. Precious few witnessed the online transmogrification of some of the most dogged pro-WOT bloggers, who went from amiable mountain bike enthusiasts writing about their favourite trails, to online activists and campaigning with the fervour of evangelists. But the change is there, laid bare for all to see. Recorded in their sites' archives. Go to your favourite "right-wing wacko" sites and compare the postings from August 2001 to those from September and October 2001, if ya don't believe me.

Matt Welch quotes Orwell, and his issues with the Pacifists of his day:

Pacifism is a psychological curiosity rather than a political movement. Some of
the extremer pacifists, starting out with a complete renunciation of violence,
have ended by warmly championing Hitler and even toying with antisemitism. This
is interesting, but it is not important. 'Pure' pacifism, which is a by-product
of naval power, can only appeal to people in very sheltered positions. Moreover,
being negative and irresponsible, it does not inspire much devotion.
On the relationship between intellectuals and patriotism:
England is perhaps the only great country whose intellectuals are ashamed of
their own nationality. In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is
something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to
snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is
a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English
intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during 'God save
the King' than of stealing from a poor box. All through the critical years many
left-wingers were chipping away at English morale, trying to spread an outlook
that was sometimes squashily pacifist, sometimes violently pro-Russian, but
always anti-British. ... If you were an intellectual you sniggered at the Union
Jack and regarded physical courage as barbarous. ... Patriotism and intelligence
will have to come together again. It is the fact that we are fighting a war, and
a very peculiar kind of war, that may make this possible.

Parallels can be drawn... I'm just saying....

I'm trying to wrap my head around the whole Iraq thing...

I'm willing to accept the necessity of bringing the enterprise to a successful conclusion on the U.S.'s terms, for all the good that will do --as a Canadian, my support or opposition means exactly jack squat to American pollsters and politicos. But I can't help but notice the glaring inability of the Bush administration to provide a solid rationale that will connect with the American public for their ongoing presence there.

The whole "honouring the sacrifice of those who have already fallen" set of talking points does not seem to be getting across as a justification for continuing the struggle, notwithstanding the protestations of die-hard hawks. Ever since David Frum, an Iraq war supporter if ever there was one, posted an article critical of the administration's current approach to selling (and conducting)the war on August 23, 2005, his online diary has been deluged with readers who share his frustration. The current concern of the neo-cons is that Bush is losing the Public Opinion war in the U.S. to Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore and their ilk through simple inertia. This is a fight they cannot afford to lose.

Articles like this can provoke an angry reaction from jingoistic chest-thumpers, insensed that some of the right-wing intelligensia appear to be flagging in their support of Bush, but they should also provoke some soul-searching and reflection.

Why is the Bush White House struggling to get a positive message across? Some may think that is because there is nothing positive to report on, but a quick survey of several Warblogs and soldierblogs written by those on the ground in that country paint a compelling picture of some very significant achievements amidst the the litany of setbacks and deterioration that the media has been deluging us with.

Still, there is no denying that we have a mixed bag of good news/bad news/very bad news coming out of Mesopotamia. To me, the increasingly prominent role of Iran in the sectarian violence is particularly troubling. Also, there does not appear to be a long term plan and set of clearly defined objectives --at least none that I can see --just a rather arbitrary timetable for achieving democratic government in what currently appears to be a very unstable country. It remains the task of Bush, Condi, and company to convince the U.S. public to stay the course in a place where everything seems to be falling apart.

As someone in the communication biz, I watch with interest, waiting to see whether or not the Bush administration can come up with a rationale and "storyline" that will convice Americans that what they are doing in Iraq is worth doing, and that the sacrifice of American blood and treasure will pay dividends in the long run.

What happens next in Iraq will set the tone for the prosecution of the War on Terror --or whatever they are currently calling the struggle against radical islamism-- for years to come. Everything hangs in the balance...

He comes from Atlantic Canada...

He is a person of colour...

He works for the CBC...

His contributions to Canadian culture are too numerous to mention...

Ladies and gentlemen of the PMO, for your consideration, Newfoundland's own Raj Binder for Governor General in 2009!

Ever since the CBC went on strike, I have been surfing the web to get info on news and current events...

America needs to know!

concerning the Supreme Court:
The Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment, and America needs to know whether
___JOHN ROBERTS___ supports the GOP's secret plan of a Rush Limbaugh Jesus army
of unwanted, unquestioning fetus zombies programmed to urinate on the Korans of
Guantanamo detainees.

New Spokesperson for the Taliban urges immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan:

In her first statement since leaving Crawford, Cindy Sheehan speaks at a "Support Our Troops" rally:

Allah ordered us ... to purify Muslim land of all
non-believers,... We are surprised this question is coming from Americans....
American history does not distinguish between civilians and military, and not
even women and children. They are the ones who used the bombs against
Nagasaki.... America does not have a religion that will prevent it from
destroying all people.... We believe that the biggest thieves in the world and
the terrorists are the Americans... We are sure of Allah's victory and our
victory against the Americans and the Jews as promised by the prophet peace be
upon him....We predict a black day for America and the end of the United States
as United States.

Oops... wrong quote. That was noted philanthropist Osama Bin Laden, going off topic, I believe, on one of those taped rants sent to Al Jazeera following the capture of anAl Qaeda operative in the mountains of Waziristan. By the way, I think the enemy combatant was subsequently sent to Guantanamo, where he was urinated upon and disposed off down a toilet during one of the Koran shortages which has plagued the facility.

Here is what the latest standard bearer for the peace movement actually said on Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: All right. If your son had been killed in Afghanistan, would you have a different feeling?

SHEEHAN: I don't think so, Chris, because I believe that Afghanistan is almost the same thing. We're fighting terrorism. Or terrorists, we're saying. But they're not contained in a country. This is an ideology and not an enemy. And we know that Iraq, Iraq had no terrorism. They were no threat to the United States of America.


MATTHEWS: But Afghanistan was harboring, the Taliban was harboring al-Qaida which is the group that attacked us on 9/11.

SHEEHAN: Well then we should have gone after al-Qaida and maybe not after the country of Afghanistan.

MATTHEWS: But that's where they were being harbored. That's where they were headquartered. Shouldn't we go after their headquarters? Doesn't that make sense?

SHEEHAN: Well, but there were a lot of innocent people killed in that invasion, too. ... But I'm seeing that we're sending our ground troops in to invade countries where the entire country wasn't the problem. Especially Iraq. Iraq was no problem. And why do we send in invading armies to march into Afghanistan when we're looking for a select group of people in that country?

So I believe that our troops should be brought home out of both places where we're obviously not having any success in Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden is still on the loose and that's who they told us was responsible for 9/11.

Yeah... like Homer Simpson told Bart: If something is hard, it isn't worth doing.... now lets all have a big ol' swig of moonbat juice.

TV Crack

My addiction has gotten worse. Within the last three weeks, I bought seasons 1-3 and watched them back to back to back over 14 days. During lunch hour at work, I surf the web for info on season five. I obsess over the minutia of each episode. I find myself wondering whether CTU is part of the CIA, or whether it is part of the Defense Department, for crissake.

As far as I'm concerned, 24 is the coolest thing on TV.

I don't know whether it is because Keifer Sutherland is so perfectly suited to play Jack Bauer, or because, season after season, he is surrounded by the best supporting cast I have ever seen, or because every season, the producers and writers have raised the stakes time and time again with graver threats and more adrenaline-pumping drama... but I can't get enough.

Sure, the show has its flaws. What show doesn't? Increasingly, they have begun playing fast and loose with the real-time factor, so that by season 4, characters can get anywhere in southern California within minutes. Some of the plot twists have been pretty damn lame (the infamous amnesia subplot and the cougar from season 2 springs immediately to mind), and the revolving-door of characters who appear suddenly and are liquidated just as quickly can be irritating at times.

But come to think of it, the fact that no character is indispensible might be one of the show's greatest strengths. this trend was established in the finale of season 1, which featured one of the most daring endings I have ever seen. You really never know who is gonna get there ticket punched. I was particularly struck by the demise of so many significant characters in season 3, including one of my favourites, played by Paul Schulze (Father Intintola from the Sopranos). The way that guy went out was so shocking, I could barely believe what I had just seen.

With Jack Bauer "dead" at the end of season 4, I can hardly wait to see what happens in Season 5. I'll be glued to the boob tube for that season premier. I guarantee it.

Recent discoveries:

Gitmo Authorities fear mass conversion of radical islamists to wicca! Thanks, J.K. Rowling

Clever mulitculturalism satire by Iowahawk by way of LGF.

On the day that we find out that we have, in our new Governor General, "more of the same", the last of a breed has gone to his rest, and this nation will never see his like:

SMOKY SMITH, V.C. Dead at 91.

VORSICHT! BISSIGER SCHWEIN!

BERLIN (AP) — Coming across a 100-kilogram wild animal with bug eyes, a big snout and pointy ears is nothing unusual in many Berlin neighbourhoods.

Up to 7,000 wild pigs inhabit the forests in and around the leafy city and often make themselves at home in residential areas. The result: uprooted gardens, frightened pets and annoyed homeowners.

Marlis Goetze has lived in Eichkamp, one of the most pig-invaded neighbourhoods, for over 12 years. She often takes her golden retriever for a walk in the bordering forest, and says there are lots of the swine lingering around town.

“I am still in shock, I just saw a huge boar in the woods,” Goetze said, making quick steps while leaving the forest with her dog. Often the boars come as close as three metres, she said.

Authorities get some 4,000 complaint calls a year about wild pigs ravaging backyards, tearing up fences and eating their way through vegetable gardens, with onions a particular favourite of the pigs. Learning to tolerate the frequent visitors is part of being a Berliner.

“When you live here you kind of get used to the piggies,” said wild pig victim Peter Bebiolka. Last year three boars dug up his yard and turned it upside down.

“I had to plant new grass but my lawn is still full of humps,” he said. “You can feel the humps when you walk across the yard.”

In the anti-pig camp are Hans and Gila Ruge, a couple who has lived in Eichkamp for decades. “It is absolutely annoying, they come and eat what they can find in my garden,” Hans Ruge said.

This year the pigs — who prefer to ravage yards at night and in groups as large as 15 or 20 — broke into the Ruges’ garden three times. They can easily get in by digging into the ground and pushing up the edge of the fence with their snouts. “Every time they steal my potatoes and eat my onions,” Ruge said.

Derk Ehlert, the city’s administration wildlife expert, says people shouldn’t be afraid of the pigs despite their size. “Wild pigs are extremely peaceful, and only aggressive when they fear their own life is at stake,” Ehlert said.

Sows with piglets can often be more aggressive than boars. While the boars will often be content with a strong push with their snouts, an attacking sow may bite.

Ehlert said the growing population meant that a record high of 2,700 pigs were killed by hunters and cars last year — 1,683 killed during hunting season, while 900 more died in other incidents such as being hit by cars or being shot by city-hired hunters after they cause disruptions such as blocking traffic.

Residents can call for assistance getting a pig out of their yards, but regulations require that city workers must first try to shoo the pig back into the forest. Only when the pig won’t go peacefully or becomes aggressive can deadly force be used.

The biggest mistake people make, Ehlert said, is feeding them. “Home owners often leave their garbage out for days. And sometimes, they even purposely feed the pigs because they think the pigs are so skinny,” Ehlert said.

Feeding wild animals, which makes them lose their fear of people, can draw a fine of thousands of dollars, Ehlert said.

Reports of injuries to people are rare, although several years ago, a sow wandered onto a school playground and aggressively pushed one of the kids, who fell but wasn’t hurt, he said.

“There’s wild pigs all over Berlin but they are very calm and almost never aggressive,” said Marc Franusch, spokesman for the Berlin city forestry department.

“Just don’t monkey with them.”

Shocking news! Soldiers' job is to kill people!

My jaw hung open as I read a recent Globe and Mail Article that quoted statements made by General Rick Hillier, Canada's recently appointed Chief of Defence Staff (Top General):

"We are going to Afghanistan to actually take down the folks that are trying to blow up men and women," Gen. Hillier said.

He also gave a blunt assessment of the role of the Canadian Forces, which he said are designed to protect Canadian interests at home and abroad.

"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people," Gen. Hillier said.

Naturally, condemnation was swift in coming. Maude Barlow, Chairwoman of the Council of Canadians and my own personal favourite idiot, responded:

"I'm feeling it's time for people to be as calm as possible. . . . I would love Canada to play a thoughtful, moderating position in this," she said, denouncing Gen. Hillier's comments as "very aggressive."

Naturally -- because when you are going up against the head-hackers and woman-stoners of the Taliban, a gang of thugs who blew up a couple of Canadian soldiers the last time we sent our troops over, it is important to be "thoughtful and moderate". Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was equally thoughtful when he declared Canada a "legitimate target" in March 2004.

Newfoundland-born Hillier, who earned the crossed-swords on his shoulder straps as an armoured officer in the Eighth Canadian Hussars and Royal Canadian Dragoons, is not one to mince words, characterizing the enemy --and that is what they are, THE ENEMY -- as "detestable murderers and scumbags".

This will shock those who think that Canadian soldiers are trained to hand out lollipops, but when I was on basic infantry training in 1994 --a year that saw Canadian soldiers deployed on several peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere -- they were teaching us that the role of the Infantry is to close with and destroy the enemy. To the best of my knowledge, they are still teaching that very same thing.

The General, described as a soldier's soldier, may have shocked some of the Ottawa establishment with his blunt language, but he he is a man who knows what his job is.

--Stephen Staples, a military analyst at the Ottawa-based, left-leaning Polaris Institute, found Gen. Hillier's comments "rather alarming."

"Are we seeing an Americanization of the Canadian Forces?" Mr. Staples asked.

But other prominent lefties seemed to be cool with it. Jack Layton's reaction:

"Controlled anger, given what's happened, is an appropriate response," NDP Leader Jack Layton said. "We have a very committed, level-headed head of our armed forces, who isn't afraid to express the passion that underlies the mission that front-line personnel are going to be taking on.

"A bit of strong language in the circumstances, I don't find that to be wrong."

Jack Layton said that? What the hell is going on? OK, by this point in the article, I'm grinning. In another G&B article, Hillier is quoted again:

"We're not going to let those radical murderers and killers rob from others and certainly we're not going to let them rob from Canada," he said.

He pointed out that during the Second World War, Canadian soldiers did not shy away from fighting the Nazis.

"Did they say, 'No we might be attacked over here if we actually stand up against those despicable murderers and bastards?' No, they did not," Gen. Hillier said..

One question: Where have they been hiding this guy?

I KEED! I KEED!!! 

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Eminem bury the hatchet

Eminmem's Ass Like That video has confirmed my suspicion that Marshall Mathers III continues to be a master of image manipulation. About a year ago, he was ridiculed for panicking and shoving a bodyguard in front of him when Triumph ambushed him at the MTV music awards --A video of the incident is available here.

It was later explained that Eminem's momentary discombobulation was supposedly because he was unfamiliar with the puppet-dog's shtick. Fast-forward several months, Eminem has now co-opted (exploited?) the popular character's persona for a hit single and featured the real Triumph in the Crank-Yankers inspired video.

The media-savvy Detroit rapper has walked a fine line over the last half-decade, jousting with the media over accusations of homophobia and mysogyny while juggling three distinct personas on each of his albums: There is Eminem, the main character --a mainstream rapper with real street-cred who relishes his beefs with Benzino of The Source magazine, and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc; there is Marshall Mathers, (Eminem's real name)--the doting father and troubled-man persona who tends towards introspection in some of the artist's more thoughtful songs... and then there is Slim Shady, the juvenile, puerile, vulgar, and borderline-insane dark persona whose every utterance seems calculated to shock. Each of these personalities appears distinct and fully-formed, as far as I can tell, differing in their style of rapping as much as their respective songs differ in their content.

A glance at some of the lyrics on "Ass like that" would seem to set it clearly in the Slim Shady catalogue. But for this song, Eminem has adopted yet another alter-ego: His former tormentor, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

I think the reason this song works so well is that Triumph (Robert Smigel's alter-ego) and Slim Shady are cut from the same cloth: They are characters whose outlandish and offensive statements are somehow mitigated by the fact that they are cartoons -- a rubber cigar-chewing puppet and a grotesque parody of a mentally-deranged sociopathic gangster-wannabe: both are so completely absurd and over-the-top that no one can take them seriously.

Throughout the song, Eminem does a pretty-passable imitation of Triumph's distinctive accent and uses many of the acerbic canine's trademark phrases like "I KEED! I KEED!" --one catchphrase that could easily apply to Slim.

In one verse of the song, he raps:

If I offend I'm sorry, please, please forgive
For I am Triumph, the puppet dog, I am a mere puppet
I can get away with anything I sing, you will love it

and in another verse:

I am Triumph, Britney Spears has shoulders like a man
And I can say that and you'll laugh cuz that is a puppet on my hand

Eminem reveals a deep understanding and complicity with the puppet. He knows how to dissociate himself from all the controversy he has churned up, claiming that people who get offended don't "get" the joke: Slim Shady, like Triumph is definitely NOT to be taken seriously. When it comes to Triumph, Eminem gets the joke, because it is the same joke he has been playing on everyone for years.

An Idiotic Knife to her Heart

A GOOGLE search on Natalia Glebova, the Russian-born Canadian winner of Miss Universe 2005, reveals numerous alarming possible scenarios of mistaken-identity.

A Czech golfer, a 35-year-old Russian internet bride, and a Webcam girl all share this name, which I imagine must be something like the russian version of "Jane Smith".

Anyway, in an idiotic move by the City of Toronto, OUR Natalia, a stunning raven-tressed, blue-eyed 23-year old Ryerson student, was recently banned from the Thai festival at good old Nathan Philips Square this weekend on the grounds that

"Activities which degrade men or women through sexual stereotyping or exploit the bodies of men, women, boys or girls solely for the purpose of attracting attention are not permitted on the square."

I don't know what the Thai festival folks had in mind, but I can't imagine it would have involved much exploiting of Ms. U's body, which, unless I'm mistaken, usually appears sheathed in a full-length dress topped by a tiara and circled by a sash. The whole HIV awareness thing that Glebova has adopted as her pet cause doesn't exactly lend itself to the raunchy bikini contest antics that the bylaw was designed to prevent.

Sexual stereotyping? Hmm... debatable. Some would say --but I wouldn't-- that pageants are inherently exploitative and therefore, anyone who wins one is being sexually stereotyped and degraded.

However, I'm certain that it could not have been too long before somebody at City Hall pointed out that, given the City's enthusiastic endorsement and participation in other "cultural" events like Gay Pride and Carribana, both of which feature multitudes of gyrating and thrusting quasi-nude men, women, boys or girls, it might be best to interpret the by-law with a bit more discretion.

The response on the Canada.com
Sound-Off board to this case of political-correctness-run-wild has been incredulous and highly entertaining to read, to say the least.

Mayor Miller has since rescinded the ban, claiming the by-law was "misinterpreted" and left some apologetic messages on Ms. Glebova's voice-mail. Don't hold your breath for that return call, Dave.

R.I.P. Jimmy Doohan

Scotty died today. Paul is wearing a black armband and sipping Glenfiddich as he watches old VHS tapes of the OS. Let's face it, Kirk was a pantywaist. Bones was a one-note character who grunted and bugged his eyes out alot. Spock? Totally overrated.

The true heart and soul of the show was the Scotsman in the bowels of the ship, sweating it out over those dilithium crystals, always trying to give 'em more power! The guy who played Scott was a Canadian WWII vet, who stormed the beaches on D-Day and took four kraut bullets, one of which robbed him of a finger.

Why he never kicked Kirk's ass and took over the controls of the ship, I'll never know.

Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live. John Milton
 

"Getting on with it"

July 7th, 2005 was my thirtieth birthday. Far from ruining it, the terrorist pigs gave me a reason to be proud. I am honoured to call myself English, and have nothing but admiration for the way the people of London conducted themselves in the face of tragedy... but then, Londoners have always had a remarkable capacity to "carry on" in the midst of adversity, haven't they?


One day after luncheon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kingsley Wood, came to see me on business at No. 10, and we heard a very heavy explosion take place across the river in South London. I took him to see what had happened. The bomb had fallen in Peckham. It was a very big one -probably a land-mine. It had completely destroyed or gutted twenty or thirty small three-storey houses and cleared a considerable open space in this very poor district. Already little pathetic Union Jacks had been stuck up amid the ruins. When my car was recognised the people came running from all quarters, and a crowd of more than a thousand was soon gathered. All these folk were in a high state of enthusiasm. They crowded round us, cheering and manifesting every sign of lively affection, wanting to touch and stroke my clothes. One would have thought I had brought them some fine substantial benefit which would improve their lot in life. I was completely undermined, and wept. Ismay, who was with me, records that he heard an old woman say: "You see, he really cares. He's crying." They were tears not of sorrow but of wonder and admiration. "But see, look here," they said, and drew me to the centre of the ruins. There was an enormous crater, perhaps forty yards across and twenty feet deep. Cocked up at an angle on the very edge was an Anderson shelter, and we were greeted at its twisted doorway by a youngish man, his wife, and three children, quite unharmed but obviously shell-jarred. They had been there at the moment of the explosion. They could give no account of their experiences. But there they were, and proud of it. Their neighbours regarded them as enviable curiosities. When we got back into the car a harsher mood swept over the haggard crowd. "Give it 'em back," they cried, and "Let them have it too." I undertook forthwith to see that their wishes were carried out; and this promise was certainly kept. The debt was repaid tenfold, twentyfold, in the frightful routine bombardment of German cities, which grew in intensity as our air-power developed, as the bombs became far heavier and the explosives more powerful. Certainly the enemy got it all back in good measure, pressed down and running over. Alas for poor humanity!

Winston Churchill, The Second World War, Volume II: Their Finest Hour

I watched the Live 8 Concert yesterday... yes the whole thing. I just spent two weeks in Spain and the splendour of the Canadian Summer is lost on me at this point.

Altogether, a mixed bag. Some bands were as good live as I expected them to be, some surpassed my expectations, and some should never be permitted to play live again, because their offensively poor performance may risk turning public opinion against the cause they are trying to help.

I'm fairly certain that some of the acts were not entirely sure of what the point of Live 8 was. You could tell by the way they spouted vague inane cliches between songs: Come on, people, we gotta do the right thing! We need justice! We need to make those leaders understand! We have the power!. I think one moron from A Simple Plan spouted something about "Your Vote"?

Did anyone else also notice that each of the concerts, while offering a variety of acts, seemed to be centred on a particular type of music?

For instance:

Toronto (yeah, actually Barrie, but who outside of Canada has heard of Barrie) featured:

ClassicRock/fogey music - BTO and Deep Purple, who were both great; Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot who were, um, themselves.

Can Con - Simple Plan (derivative wannabes playing generic pseudo-punk); Les Trois Accords (some Quebec band that nobody has ever heard of); Two dreadlocked Quebecoises who I found obnoxious; Brian Adams; The Hip; Barenaked Ladies; Celine Dion, who is better off in Vegas: She was boed in Barrie, but the Vegas crowd loved her.

80s Hard Rock - Could anyone else understand what the hell Vince Neil was singing? I figured he couldn't remember the lyrics to the bloody songs!

Philly

Hip Hop - Will Smith (formerly known as the Fresh Prince, before he became an actor)

Hip Hop and Rock - Jay-Z and Linkin Park, who tore the mother down

Hip Hop featuring members of the Marley family - The grossly-overrated Black Eyed Peas

Did I mention Hip Hop? - Kanye West

London

Legends - Sir Paul, U2, Pink Floyd (those three alone worth the price of the DVD)

People who think they are legends, but ain't - Robbie Williams (know outside the UK as "Who the fuck is that?"; Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft; Madonna (looking pissed-off at the crowd); Sir Elton John (OK, he's a legend, I just don't like him)

Paris

Terrible music - cuz that's what the French like!

Berlin

Current Rock and Punk - Audioslave, Green Day
One-hit wonders - A-ha (man, did they look uncomfortable!)

Moscow

Gay acts from the eighties - A very mellow and grey Pet Shop Boys

Tokyo

Strictly B-listers - Good Charlotte, anyone?

Rome

Country music, naturally! - Faith Hill

Johannesburg

Music destined to never be televised - Various African acts

I seem to recall there being one more city, but I'll be darned if I can remember it!

Got my Eurotrip 2005 pictures up on the Kodak site... drop me a line if you want to see them and I'll send you a link. Here's one of Ness and I on the day of the wedding... it sure was a scorcher. 

While in Madrid, Nes and I took the opportunity to catch up on some sleep, do some laundry, and spend time with my cousin Celia, who now lives right in the centre of town. We had a great time with her over two nights, eating and going from bar to bar enjoying Madrid´s incomparable nightlife. The second night was similar to the first, except that my Dad and sisters tagged along, having arrived from Torrelavega a day after us.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, we jumped on an Ave train and headed south to Cordoba. Arriving in this old Andalucian town in mid afternoon was a shock to the system. The thermometer said 43 degrees celsius. We quickly made our way to our air-conditioned hotel and, after waiting out the mid-day heat, headed for a walk around town. We were struck by the incredible distinctive architecture, the highlight of which was the Mezquita, a former Mosque-turned-cathedral smack-dab in the centre of town. We also ate an a great arab restaurant and enjoyed a Flamenco performance before turning in for the night.

The next morning we got on a bus headed to Granada (but we didn´t stick around), and then on to La Manga, a coastal resort in S-E Spain where we have spent the past three days. I can´t think of a better place to finish off the trip... on the beach surrounded by family. Tomorrow, we have to go back... I´m sad, but relieved, in a way... it has been an amazing four weeks!

I hope will forgive my horrible spelling and bizarre punctuation (question marks? randomly? inserted¿?¿?¿)... these Eurokeyboards are pretty funky.

So the wedding on Saturday was everything we hoped. Bizarre, unseasonably warm weather in Cantabria (a supposedly humid, temperate mountainous region in northern spain), meant that we enjoyed a good post-ceremony roast in the sun, sipping cocktails outside the church, before we headed in for a belt-busting lunch in the hall next-door. The area around Torrelavega is absolutely beautiful, if nothing like what people expect when you say "Spain". It is lush vegetation, towering mountains, and misty valleys.

The night before, we had had a big Segura family reunion feed in the centre of town. The enviable lifestyle of spaniards means that even completely untouristy towns like Torrelavega (which does not even rate a mention in Lonely Planet) still has a bustling nightlife scene most days of the week --when DO these people sleep?

On Sunday we packed into cars to visit Santander --San Sebastian´s somnolent coastal cousin, and then Santillana del Mar, where my parents got married 31 years ago. We went to mass in a medieval Romanesque church, where the same priest who was there three decades ago still presides over his flock. He remembered my parents, and my brother Joe, who was baptised by him. The place was a 11th century dream, and a definite recommendation for anyone looking for a romantic spot to slip away to.

After a busride to Madrid, we are now enjoying the blast-furnace temperatures of Spain´s capital in the midst of June. It promises to get worse when we head south to Andalucia tomorrow... God help us!

My family has abandoned the use of e-mail!

What is more likely is that most of my messages are not getting through. I´ve been having trouble sending e-mail through hotmail... but one can´t complain about the quality of a service that one is getting for free right?

After fleeing Paris for the relative calm of Chartres, where we spent Tuesday admiring the incredible cathedral (beats Notre Dame hands down), Nesrine and I jumped on a train to Bordeaux, planning on spending one or two nights there, depending on how much we liked the place. Ultimately, we spent one day in Bordeaux (which is nothing special) and we are in San Sebastian now, which is quite beautiful, and will be taking a bus to Torrelavega tomorrow. Since I haven´t heard from anyone about the name of the hotel where we will be staying, I may have to wing it! I´m actually going to give Tia Celia a call today to let her know that we will be arriving in town and I will try to come up with some rendezvous point for me to meet up with the familia. If any of you read this, I miss you all and I hope everyone is OK. All my best to all.