08 May 2011
04 May 2011
VALUE and WORTH
Generally I am an optimistic and confident person, but one thing that has really got me down lately is when I am faced with bureaucracy and filling in forms. Because EVERYTHING that I consider to be of value and worth in my life - EVERYTHING I consider to be an achievement and a success - NONE OF IT seems to have any value at all in the eyes of bureaucracy and filling in forms. There is literally no place for any of it on the forms or in the phone conversations etc. It really makes me despair.
Of course my principle Achilles heel in all this is the concept of money. It seems to me to be one of the least interesting things in the world. My mind literally goes blank whenever I attempt to think about it. There are so many many more interesting things to focus on in life. How does anybody find the motivation to sacrifice so much of their life pursuing anything as dull as money? It is a genuine mystery to me.
Of course my principle Achilles heel in all this is the concept of money. It seems to me to be one of the least interesting things in the world. My mind literally goes blank whenever I attempt to think about it. There are so many many more interesting things to focus on in life. How does anybody find the motivation to sacrifice so much of their life pursuing anything as dull as money? It is a genuine mystery to me.
20 March 2011
06 March 2011
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
RE this video DOCUMENTED incident of mine from THURSDAY 3rd MAR 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tscA6LIjqw
some knobhead over on a discussion thread I started
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1444721
says....
QUOTE digitalspy forum member skp20040;48534586 ....
"Exactly, what does it mean, are you really interested in old speakers or was it to see the reaction ?
Speakers are located usually up high , it would look odd to see a lone person filiming fixtures at height in a station for no reason and without prior consent.
Also if old speakers were a passion of yours I would have expected to see mention in at least one of your posts on the forum, having checked there isnt one ?" ...... end his QUOTE
TO WHICH I REPLIED, as BIOMORPH04 ....
..... as I've already stated. I was photographing public speakers for a new creative idea that came to me just the night before and that I'm very excited about.
Up till then I'd had a lovely day walking and photographing other speakers systems in the steet all the way from Hackney to Kings Cross.
I'd already taken very overt pics INSIDE ANGEL TUBE, of their flush ceiling mounted speakers WITH ZERO INTERFERENCE.
I was having a lovely and productive and fulfilling day.
I had NO preconceived idea to get into confrontation. I also did not want my enjoyable day taking photos unnecessarily interrupted.
There is simply NO excuse for the CSO's absurd pettiness.
Initially I even ignored them. I heard them behind me saying "hello" "excuse me" and I smiled and carried on photographing the old public street located loudspeakers.
Then I heard them ask something like: do I work for National Rail or whatever it's called? I replied "No" and I carried on photographing. Why wouldn't why? I wasn't do anything wrong?
And THEN they insisted on stopping me, and it was at that moment I had the foresight to turn the video on and document most of the ongoing situation.
Immediately afterwards I walked directly in ST Pancras international station just over the road and continued with my photography uninterrupted. I also then walked to Warren st tube and was not interrupted while overtly photographing ALL their street located speakers.
THEN i walked around inside a big shop, PC world, and overtly took loads more fab pics for my project, with nobody disruputing me. AND DO YOU KNOW WHY NOBODY STOPPED ME? BECAUSE IT"S THE SODDING 21ST CENTURY plus I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
It's also kind of ironic. As people go on and on about getting away from our screens and going outdoors.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I ENJOY DOING BOTH. LOTS. So just let me get on with it please. No petty nonsense thank you very much.
plus as I've also already stated: MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME UP TO QUESTION EVERYTHING :)
Meanwhile, on the general topic of privatised public space and our COMMONS etc .... you might be interested in my opinion piece from last Sunday, 27 Feb, in free local the Hackney Citizen. I'm dead pleased with it.
http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/02/27/hackney-downs-our-common-wealth/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tscA6LIjqw
some knobhead over on a discussion thread I started
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1444721
says....
QUOTE digitalspy forum member skp20040;48534586 ....
"Exactly, what does it mean, are you really interested in old speakers or was it to see the reaction ?
Speakers are located usually up high , it would look odd to see a lone person filiming fixtures at height in a station for no reason and without prior consent.
Also if old speakers were a passion of yours I would have expected to see mention in at least one of your posts on the forum, having checked there isnt one ?" ...... end his QUOTE
TO WHICH I REPLIED, as BIOMORPH04 ....
..... as I've already stated. I was photographing public speakers for a new creative idea that came to me just the night before and that I'm very excited about.
Up till then I'd had a lovely day walking and photographing other speakers systems in the steet all the way from Hackney to Kings Cross.
I'd already taken very overt pics INSIDE ANGEL TUBE, of their flush ceiling mounted speakers WITH ZERO INTERFERENCE.
I was having a lovely and productive and fulfilling day.
I had NO preconceived idea to get into confrontation. I also did not want my enjoyable day taking photos unnecessarily interrupted.
There is simply NO excuse for the CSO's absurd pettiness.
Initially I even ignored them. I heard them behind me saying "hello" "excuse me" and I smiled and carried on photographing the old public street located loudspeakers.
Then I heard them ask something like: do I work for National Rail or whatever it's called? I replied "No" and I carried on photographing. Why wouldn't why? I wasn't do anything wrong?
And THEN they insisted on stopping me, and it was at that moment I had the foresight to turn the video on and document most of the ongoing situation.
Immediately afterwards I walked directly in ST Pancras international station just over the road and continued with my photography uninterrupted. I also then walked to Warren st tube and was not interrupted while overtly photographing ALL their street located speakers.
THEN i walked around inside a big shop, PC world, and overtly took loads more fab pics for my project, with nobody disruputing me. AND DO YOU KNOW WHY NOBODY STOPPED ME? BECAUSE IT"S THE SODDING 21ST CENTURY plus I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.
It's also kind of ironic. As people go on and on about getting away from our screens and going outdoors.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I ENJOY DOING BOTH. LOTS. So just let me get on with it please. No petty nonsense thank you very much.
plus as I've also already stated: MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME UP TO QUESTION EVERYTHING :)
Meanwhile, on the general topic of privatised public space and our COMMONS etc .... you might be interested in my opinion piece from last Sunday, 27 Feb, in free local the Hackney Citizen. I'm dead pleased with it.
http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/02/27/hackney-downs-our-common-wealth/
27 February 2011
OUR COMMON WEALTH
... an opinion piece by me in the Hackney Citizen ...
http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/02/27/hackney-downs-our-common-wealth/
http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/02/27/hackney-downs-our-common-wealth/
26 February 2011
Why I generally don't trust VIOLENT PROTESTS
I am not entirely opposed to violent protesting. I recognise it is sometimes necessary or useful. But I don't trust violent protest.
Firstly I don't trust it, simply because violence can be fun. It's fun to smash and burn stuff and throw things at the police etc. It's also romantic. It's very instantly gratifying.
Violent protest is also a bio-chemical rush. A high. And similarly to when we're high on drugs it can all too often delude us into thinking and feeling that we are actually achieving something, when in truth we are not. We're just full to the brim with a chemically induced good feeling.
Similarly, and probably my main reason for not trusting violent protest, it is too easy to be led by violence. The rush of the crowd, the thrill of it all. It's too easy to get caught up in the wave. And therefore it's too easy to be manipulated, especially by agent provocateurs.
And the final reason that comes to mind is that, in my experience, far too many people automatically get their buttons pushed by authority figures or institutions that represent authority. Far too many people have unresolved issues from their pasts, usually with their parents (or whoever the principle adults were in their childhood) and therefore they all too quickly turn into irrational zombies who are no longer really reacting to the present situation at all.
Ultimately I guess I believe that violence is the easy option.
I believe that Non-violent protest requires more conscious and deliberate effort from everyone involved. Non-violence requires more originality and innovation, more strength and more determination.
Time and time again it is the state that shows itself to be addicted to violence and brutality. I believe we have to be better than that.
Firstly I don't trust it, simply because violence can be fun. It's fun to smash and burn stuff and throw things at the police etc. It's also romantic. It's very instantly gratifying.
Violent protest is also a bio-chemical rush. A high. And similarly to when we're high on drugs it can all too often delude us into thinking and feeling that we are actually achieving something, when in truth we are not. We're just full to the brim with a chemically induced good feeling.
Similarly, and probably my main reason for not trusting violent protest, it is too easy to be led by violence. The rush of the crowd, the thrill of it all. It's too easy to get caught up in the wave. And therefore it's too easy to be manipulated, especially by agent provocateurs.
And the final reason that comes to mind is that, in my experience, far too many people automatically get their buttons pushed by authority figures or institutions that represent authority. Far too many people have unresolved issues from their pasts, usually with their parents (or whoever the principle adults were in their childhood) and therefore they all too quickly turn into irrational zombies who are no longer really reacting to the present situation at all.
Ultimately I guess I believe that violence is the easy option.
I believe that Non-violent protest requires more conscious and deliberate effort from everyone involved. Non-violence requires more originality and innovation, more strength and more determination.
Time and time again it is the state that shows itself to be addicted to violence and brutality. I believe we have to be better than that.
22 February 2011
Transarmament
... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transarmament ...
Transarmament (closely related to civilian-based defense) is the partial or total replacement of armed forces with the physical and social infrastructure to support nonviolent resistance.
Transarmament (closely related to civilian-based defense) is the partial or total replacement of armed forces with the physical and social infrastructure to support nonviolent resistance.
01 February 2011
16 January 2011
THE NON-JOINERS
... AUDIO ... Alan Watts on conforming to society
... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjSwsww5SfQ ...
... THERE'S SOMETHING MORE THAN GOVERNMENT...
24 December 2010
20 November 2010
COMMONPLACE
... from the pages of the print edition of the Hackney Citizen
... Commonplace ... online episode archive ...
... http://www.flickr.com/photos/folkushackney/sets/72157625566703442/
31 October 2010
27 October 2010
NEWS
.. A secondary school in Stoke Newington, Hackney, London, claims to have almost eradicated homophobic bullying after it started teaching lessons on gay history.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23891416-anti-gay-bullies-are-taught-a-lesson-or-two.do
"Anti-gay bullies are taught a lesson or two"
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23891416-anti-gay-bullies-are-taught-a-lesson-or-two.do
"Anti-gay bullies are taught a lesson or two"
24 September 2010
"caring" is all too often an excuse for being controlling
"My son is in his late 30s and drifts aimlessly through life. How do I motivate him?"
To which I replied ... What does it matter if he is "drifting aimlessly". I suppose if he was some kind of career drone you'd be happy. There most probably is no point to existence other than to explore the experience. And there is an infinite number of ways for each of us to choose how we are going to do that. Get on with your own autonomous adult life choices and let him get on with his.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/23/my-son-drifts-through-life
To which I replied ... What does it matter if he is "drifting aimlessly". I suppose if he was some kind of career drone you'd be happy. There most probably is no point to existence other than to explore the experience. And there is an infinite number of ways for each of us to choose how we are going to do that. Get on with your own autonomous adult life choices and let him get on with his.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/23/my-son-drifts-through-life
16 September 2010
What is revolutionary activity?
3 brief general priorities of mine:
... I believe in trying ideas out, living ideas, putting them into practice, making commitments and experimenting, rather than just collecting ideas in books on shelves or just discussing them endlessly. Doing and Being. Do Be Do Be Do.
... I also believe in being consciously fallible, imperfect. Being too right-on can just end up making people feel defensive, guilty, apologetic, cornered etc without them actually evolving. I prefer to live life in the shades of grey.
... I strongly believe in making a conscious effort not to collude in any "them and us" divides. Judging people by their appearances or their background or their job, for instance, is the same irrational nonsense as racism and should be rigorously guarded against. I'm especially wary of activists who refer to others as "scum". This doesn't mean we have to be po-faced and humourless. It just means our humour has to be a little more creative and less knee-jerk.
... I believe in trying ideas out, living ideas, putting them into practice, making commitments and experimenting, rather than just collecting ideas in books on shelves or just discussing them endlessly. Doing and Being. Do Be Do Be Do.
... I also believe in being consciously fallible, imperfect. Being too right-on can just end up making people feel defensive, guilty, apologetic, cornered etc without them actually evolving. I prefer to live life in the shades of grey.
... I strongly believe in making a conscious effort not to collude in any "them and us" divides. Judging people by their appearances or their background or their job, for instance, is the same irrational nonsense as racism and should be rigorously guarded against. I'm especially wary of activists who refer to others as "scum". This doesn't mean we have to be po-faced and humourless. It just means our humour has to be a little more creative and less knee-jerk.
15 September 2010
superorganism
we are finally reaching the stage at which we must think of ourselves and the networks that connect us as an entity in its own right
http://rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2010/05/autopoiesis_and.html
http://rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2010/05/autopoiesis_and.html
10 September 2010
08 September 2010
PETITION: Petrol-free Parks For London
Target: Boris Johnson and the London Assembly
Can wheelbarrows, rakes, brushes and smaller, electric chainsaws make a comeback?
Can vehicles, if needed, be replaced with electric equivalents too?
Many of the capital's parks and green spaces no longer give respite from pollution.
Petrol-powered tools are used constantly, causing excessive noise, dust and fumes. Worst of all are leaf-blowers.
Year-round leaf-blowers, pole chainsaws and road vehicles have become commonplace. Air pollution, road risks, noise and dust are often worse than in the outside world.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petrol-free-parks-for-london.html
Can wheelbarrows, rakes, brushes and smaller, electric chainsaws make a comeback?
Can vehicles, if needed, be replaced with electric equivalents too?
Many of the capital's parks and green spaces no longer give respite from pollution.
Petrol-powered tools are used constantly, causing excessive noise, dust and fumes. Worst of all are leaf-blowers.
Year-round leaf-blowers, pole chainsaws and road vehicles have become commonplace. Air pollution, road risks, noise and dust are often worse than in the outside world.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petrol-free-parks-for-london.html
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