Wednesday 22 July 2015
Sunday 24 February 2013
The Humanity of Television
Monday 13 August 2012
Freeze
Friday 6 April 2012
Religion, Bundy and Madonna
If I were to choose a religion it wouldn't be one of the 'biggies'. I was born into one of them and it wasn't a good fit. I was also a Kabbalist for like a week largely due to Madonna and the eBay purchase of a bracelet. This ended with the loss of said bracelet on an ill-fated night out in San Francisco back in '05. In my eyes the 'biggies' are like corporations (something I like to avoid if at all possible since I stopped working for one) but then again what are you left with? A small, bespoke, "tailored to you" type of faith. In the past I've thought this to be perfect and sounding absolutely rare. I can see it now: a group of plucky like-minded folks who shun the big organisations in search of a "purer truth" or a "better way of life" - you get the picture.
We'd sit in meadows and grow our hair long and all wear purple. We'd be vegan and adopt spirit names like Rain and Tree. We wouldn't need society! We would be our own society! Then it hits me: I'm heading toward Suicide Cultville - otherwise known as Bundytown - so I try and re-think, but by this point all you're left with is the ones that take a percentage of your income, which is just bad manners.
So therein lies the rub. I'll probably just approach it as a spectator, only interested from afar. Instead I'll be spiritual and focus on being a good person. You shouldn't really need religion to teach you that anyway.
Friday 2 March 2012
Illustration Friday: Capable
I like old cars like AMC Pacers. They looked like cars The Jetsons would drive. I’d honestly rather have a 1975 AMC Pacer (with all its infamous eccentricities) than, say, the latest BMW. I think it’s because I’m a bit dubious of new things.
New cars do not interest me. They’re a lot of money and a lot of upkeep, but mostly they have no character. You get these people who are defined by their cars, as if they think that owning a particular model will somehow define them.
It’s a car. Get over yourself.
Unless my teeth rattle together when it hits 60 mph then it’s just no fun. Sure, new cars glide. You can sit in a new car and let it transport you to your destination. But where’s the thrill in that? I drive a rickety Fiat Punto and it sometimes feels like I’m in hostage negotiations with it when trying to get myself anywhere. It doesn’t excel in its purpose; it is capable of doing what I need it to.
I’m an all-rounder. I’m capable. Do you remember sitting next to someone at school who excelled at everything? It was nauseating. For the record I’m sorry if I am describing you here but I’m sure you can take comfort in your brilliance. I used to think that only the really gifted people get anywhere in life, but I’ve since realised that we can all get places, some of us just need to make more effort.
My point is: if you’re an AMC Pacer on the freeway of life, chances are, you’re still going to get where you’re going to. Maybe you won’t get there as fast as Mr BMW with all his bells and whistles, but you’ll probably get there. Besides, chances are for these people there’s always going to be somebody in an old relic not too far ahead of them that they’ll need to sit behind anyway.