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Friday, July 10th, 2009
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10:40 am - "Obama is choosing to be weak"
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"The problem is that the bills emerging from Congress are bad and Mr Obama does not seem to mind. The cap-and-trade bill is a travesty. Its net effect on short- to medium-term carbon emissions will be small to none. This is by design: a law that really made a difference would make energy dearer, hurt consumers and force an economic restructuring that would be painful for many industries and their workers. Congress cannot contemplate those effects. So the Waxman-Markey bill, while going through the complex motions of creating a carbon abatement regime, takes care to neutralise itself."
FT - Obama is choosing to be weak (the article unpicks a lot of what Obama is supposed to stand for)
Telegraph - Is Obama the most naïve president in U.S. history? "...the Obama administration’s naïve approach will strengthen the resolve of America’s enemies such as Iran to aggressively pursue their nuclear ambitions and exploit the weakness of a president who is gravely undercutting American global power in an increasingly dangerous world."
In related news, there is a photo emerging from G8 that apparently shows Obama studying a woman's butt. Ogler-in-Chief?
current mood:  cynical
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| Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
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2:06 pm - Life Class (II)
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"You got the transclucences of flesh.. you got the 1001 variations between models.. the point is, look and learn. If you really wanna know, you really got to look" - Gary Hume (painter)
"It's not her, it's your drawing. Make mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes can look good, [and] you leave them in," advised Hume. I think he called her "a miracle of Nature" (or perhaps he meant the whole process of life drawing). "It's (life drawing) a little bit like sailing, you think you're seeing one thing, but you're not" he explained (not sure what he meant).
But sadly it all ended up (to me) as a pathetic effort (for a supposed artist). He said there was lots wrong with his attempt, so he'll do another one. Wot an idiot! And he's supposed to be the "tutor". (Did he think this was a still life class, drawing jugs?)
Channel 4 12:30 LIFE CLASS: TODAY'S NUDE 30 MINS This new series gives viewers an opportunity to learn to draw through five half-hour nude life drawing classes, with access to a renowned artist tutor. Today it's Gary Hume (drawing Kirsten Varsley, Select Model Agency).
Keith wrote, @ 2009-07-06 18:29:00 Life Class (Maggi draws Matthew)
current mood:  amused
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| Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
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9:43 pm - Perv
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"Piss off you perv" - Mother to male Torchwood member (who is only trying to help the child)
Sure reinforces the "perversion" image of the lone male doesn't it? (and that character happens to be gay) Assumptions, suspicions, irrational bahaviour - thank goodness it's only a silly try-so-hard-to-amuse drama, right? Would the mother have said "Piss off you perv" had it been Gwen? (Maybe she would, in silly little dramas).
And why chat and laugh so loudly in the back of the fruit and veg van (or was it only veg?) when you're stowaways? (Unless you knew that the driver was deaf.) Throw in encasing living people (John Harkness) in concrete, or into coffins (the undertaker they kidnapped) - there you have the perfect overegged pudding.
Addendum Charlie Brooker "joked" that loads of children in a playground chanting "We are coming! We are coming!" wasn't exactly funny. (That wasn't very funny either!) No it isn't however you want to look at it.
current mood:  bored
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| Monday, July 6th, 2009
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7:07 am - Twitter July 4, 5
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* http://twitpic.com/9fryx - The JCB will lift (human) exhibit onto 4th plinth ref: http://bit.ly/2gsaES about 8 hours ago from TwitPic
* LONDON Trafalgar Square 4th Plinth http://bit.ly/ScZNJ will show Anthony Gormley's One And Other http://bit.ly/oO8s2 6 Jul-14 Oct
* Wow I'm exhausted. Federer wins it. I don't mind I suppose. Would have prefered Roddick to win. about 13 hours ago from web
* "The acceleration from his wrist is second to none" (re: Roger Federer)about 17 hours ago from web
* "When you're in the middle of a tsunami, it is not the time to ask for a weather forecast" - D Milliband (re govt. financ. review) about 17 hours ago from web
* Sir John Major thinks we're leaving Iraq too early. Sadly I agree.about 21 hours ago from web
* ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ is an artwork by artist Luke Jerram http://www.streetpianos.com...about 21 hours ago from web
* "We're not retreating. We are advancing in another direction" - S Palin 4:23 AM Jul 4th from web
* Wimbledon: Shan't bother 2 watch today's "all Williams" final. Some say it'll be exciting but we already know a Williams will win. 1:42 AM Jul 4th from web
* @jscottharris I'd like 2 think we in UK use term "swine flu" in a stiff upper lip way w/out sensationalism (But I could be wrong!) 1:30 AM Jul 4th from web in reply to jscottharris
* "I promised efficiencies and effectiveness. I'm not wired to operate under the same old politics as usual" - Sarah Palin 1:10 AM Jul 4th from web
* "Obama is a breath of fresh air" - Johnny Depp (fresh air? from dirty Chicago? I really don't think so!) 12:56 AM Jul 4th from web
* "Andy Murray train derailed by Andy Roddick". Roddick was the best man on the day. Fred Perry legend "safe for another year" (Sky)12:23 AM Jul 4th from web
current mood:  awake
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| Sunday, July 5th, 2009
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6:39 pm - Wimbledon
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Roger Federer has won his sixth Wimbledon title beating Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in 4 hours 16 minutes.
I felt that Roddick really threw away a superb chance when he failed to win the second set. I had a feeling that the longer the match went on, the more it would favour Federer, and sadly I was right. Roddick really deserved to win it. Full marks for putting up a great fight. In the end I think he just lost out on stamina. "You threw everything at him didn't you?" "Yeah I tried," replied Roddick. "I hope one day my name will be up there with the winners, I'll be back," Roddick told Sue Barker. Federer, who now has 15 grand slams (a record), graciously told Roddick he wanted him to win one day. Federer has beaten Roddick 19 times, and Roddick beat Federer just twice. I thought I could detect just the tiniest flicker of envy, or perhaps it could be bitter disappointment, as Federer basked in the glory of being the greatest player in grand slam history.
06:25 Monday "Roddick had 4 set points in his second set. He squandered them. Federer would not have come back from that" reported one newspaper. The commentary during the game suggested that Federer himself had saved 3 of the 4 set points, and Roddick truly squandered the 4th.
current mood:  exhausted
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| Saturday, July 4th, 2009
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11:22 pm - Twitter July 3
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* RT @BigBrotherMad Imogen Gets Swine Flu | Y! Big Brother http://bit.ly/26bUjF
* "Woman is like a weather You never know when it changes" - Sree (*groan*)
* BB10:Davina revealed Sree got 85% of the eviction vote. Sree flipped frm Pseudo infantile remotivating technique 2 critical parent
* BB10: Davina revealed that Sree got 85% of the vote to evict him.
* BB10: Sree evicted. Thank you voting public.
* @jscottharris I'm torn between the scientific & common parlance. Ready 2 negotiate terms (terminologies?) w/ BBC I blame them! :-)
* @jaekay LOL yes; let's hope Sree does get his just deserts :-)
* Re: the last RT: I don't even think that Sree's "culture" was insulted. If anything, Sree is a cultural dessert in himself.
* RT @jaekay: Sree: Insults Freddie's disability BB ignores. Marcus: Insults Sree's culture. BB goes mad. http://bit.ly/vVjHN
* BB10: Marcus calls Sree a "piss ant w*nker" (exactly so!)
* BB10: Oh oh it's not quite over yet. BB has called Marcus back to the Diary Room. BB issued a warning to Marcus.
* BB10:Really impressed by Marcus for standing up to BB re:Sree. Most things can be interpreted as "offensive" to someone somewhere.
* BB10: To Evict Sree, dial 09016 16 16 16 (Just done that)
* London:Tower Block Fire 100 firefighters tackle blaze at Camberwell. Fears 25 people trapped; 2 children dead http://bit.ly/1GaV3h
* Great result! I love Andy Roddick!
* Yayyyyyyyy!!!! Andy won! Well done Andy Roddick! YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!
* London H1N1 death: "19 year old man 1st person with swine flu [sic] to die in London" (BBC News)
* "The Govt. named J Dillinger public enemy No1 but he was never an enemy of the public.They loved him" (J Depp) http://bit.ly/NRIEk
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11:19 pm - Heatwave
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I think I've come down with something. probbaly heat related. An aspirin or two seems to help. Friday had been consumed by the pet, minor but irritating issues re: the elderly relative, and chores, as well as fatigue. The heat just made it all feel impossible. I know I am not the strongest of people, but I deal with it the best I can. Today, we did get out and about in the rental car. Ended the afternoon buying a tin of expensive teak oil, to be used to revitalise the wood features around the home. We still haven't tackled the television problem. A trip to Currys on Thursday proved futile. They do have a decent-looking 32" LCD TV (Samsung?) for £399. The picture on the current set has turned into a green tinged B&W. Terrible news about the tower block fire in Camberwell (S London). It isn't a million miles away. They say that windows left wide open during the hot weather may have hastened the spread of flames from the 9th floor, to the 11th and 4th floors, resulting in 6 dead.
Why am I hearing fireworks right now as I post? (We think it's July 4th. Yeah, Happy July 4th!)
current mood:  blah
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| Friday, July 3rd, 2009
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11:59 pm - Twitter July 2
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* 3:37 PM I'm (only) 18% No Worries according to Fosters http://bit.ly/MsYzB @Yokoono is MINUS 4% No Worries http://bit.ly/MIexo
* 12:59 PM Obama "reveals" that he has MJ on his i-Pod. (Gordon Brown once claimed he liked the Arctic Monkeys)
* 6:06 AM "Britain faces 100,000 swine flu cases a day" http://bit.ly/all7b Good to know even if alarming! But -What % will die? Do we know?
* 5:46 AM This lady queuing overnight in a tent at Wimbledon 2 see Andy Murray 2moro said she had no "tampax". (I mis-heard, "tent-pegs"!)
* 4:40 AM Acc. 2 Frank Gardner, soldiers captured by Taliban die a "grisly" death. (They don't go 2 a nice Taliban equivalent of Gitmo, no).
* 3:20 AM Ap: US military say insurgents capture American soldier in east of Afghanistan http://bit.ly/pRMHC
* 1:28 AM Obama making overtures to Syria. Since when has an enemy of your friend (supposedly Israel) become your friend?
* 1:22 AM "She {Syrian First Lady) has a 'Princess Diana' style about her" Ask her WHY Syria supports Hesbollah & (maybe) see true colours!
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9:24 pm - Palin resigns
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7:01 pm - Wimbledon
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I'm so pleased that Andy --Roddick -- has won. I wanted him to win right from the start. Roddick, who comes across as a really nice guy, said he played his best game ever today. He worked very hard to get here, including a 5-setter to qualify for today's semi-final. Roddick's biggest asset, his phenomenal serve, helped win the day for him. Another of Roddick's great skill is his ability to win tie-breaks. Murray had a 6 wins out of 8 previous matches record against Roddick, so he must have thought he would win. I'm afraid I wasn't impressed by Murray's bad temperedness on the court when he was on a losing streak, including telling the referee that he "is 100% wrong" and hitting the net with his racquet after losing a point. Of course Murray "took in the crowd and tried to use that to inspire himself more" - luckily (as far as I'm concerned) it all proved futile. Even though he lost, Murray still walks away with £212,000 prize money (I think they said).
BBC News Murray suffers semi-final misery Roddick goes through to face Roger Federer in Sunday's final after a 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) win.
current mood: pleased
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| Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
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2:59 pm - Twitter Jul 1
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* Following @paulmasonnews Newsnight's Economics editor
* Andy Murray to face Andy Roddick in semi-finals. Come on Andy! (Not saying which one cos I don't want to jinx him)
* No parole 4 Ronnie Biggs: http://bit.ly/QoLFq Regrets robbing or escaping frm prison? No! Unrepentant,he deserves 2 rot in jail!!
* BB10: "! scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Can I take your order please?"
* WHY on earth would Ugly Betty agree to become Wilhelmina's protege? (It's like MJ back to working 4 his Dad!)
* "There are no rainbows without the rain" - Beverley Craven ("Rainbows") http://bit.ly/g2Iqg (She was on BBC Breakast this am)
current mood:  hot
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12:54 pm - London Heatwave etc.
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It's a bit like "London under attack" - but in a nicer sort of way - attack by too much sunshine, heat, and humdity (as opposed to a post-nuclear war, climate changed scenario). In our bunker (home) we have air-con, a jolly good investment made in August 2007.
I wanted summer to be carefree and lazy. Not so, with pet health worries suddenly developing (pet as in domesticated animal). Not to mention untimely celeb deaths, the usual wars, the latest Obama escalated "show case" (quotes mine) war in Afghanistan - to show he is so not Bush... A US soldier has been captured for the very first time, live (we think) by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Best pray for the poor devil. Don't expect the Taliban to be put too fine a point on (for them) ridiculous notions of "human rights", "no torture" or *laughs* any notion of "Geneva convention"! Frank Gardner, who was shot and paralysed in Saudi Arabia, told BBC News that the soldier captured in the east of Afghanistan (who came under OPeration Enduring Freedom) will face two choices, "They can do something grisly to him on video, or they can offer to swap him." (NB I am not advocating that we behave like the Taliban. We are a bit better than them.)
Great! "We could see 100,000 cases (of swine flu in UK) daily by August" says new Health Sec Andy Burnham. They've now given up on containment. Anti-virals are prioritised to those in the severe risk groups. If people think they have swine flu they should first go and check the NHS website. In principle, as I happen to be computer literate, have access to a decent internet connection, BUT don't have the government's effing swine flu leaflet, I don't really have info at my fingertips to access the symptom checker. If I'm bed-ridden with swine flu, or have arthritic fingers, am I supposed to keep googling for info? WHERE is my swine flu leaflet?
current mood: hot
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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| Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
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7:57 pm - Twitter Jun 30
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(LoudTwitter appears to have crashed)
* Guatemalan Twitter User Arrested for "Inciting Financial Panic" http://bit.ly/12CFpT (Sorry lnk in prev. tweet needed login)
* Guatemala,emerging frm genocidal civ.war,is concerned re potential of lightning-tweets 2 spread stinging words http://bit.ly/lOUWN
* BB10 Halfwit and Sree are up for eviction. I'm so going to vote Sree OUT! (Trust me)
* Watched Channel 4's Terror in Mumbai http://bit.ly/58yTf Most abused phrase="Inshallah" uttered by those terrorists as they killed
* Roast breast of lamb (garlic and rosemary flavoured) and roast butternut squash for dinner. Lovely evening.
* Jeff Koons: Popeye Series 2 July–13 Sep. 2009 1st-ever major survey of his work in a public space in England http://bit.ly/19OQNo
* BHO Birth Cert: "Obama has steadfastly REFUSED to release evidence of his birthplace" http://bit.ly/tXc6k (Open? Tansparent?)
* RT @LATimestotMore questions on Barack Obama birth certificate http://bit.ly/3f6bHx (We all want to see it!!)
* Nationwide:UK house prices rose 0.9% during June. Av. value of UK home now £156,442 (US$261,221; AUS$321,593; JPN-Yen 24,927,545)
* "Just even watching it was exhausting w/ ups & downs of the mood. Atmosphere just amazing!" (SkyNews Re A. Murray now aka "Muzza")
current mood: complacent
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| Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
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12:22 am - Twitter June 29
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Sent: 29 June 2009 23:07:05
To: keith_london
* 09:10 "Is there a 20p coin in your pocket worth £50.00?" www.undated20p.com/
* 10:44 Bruce Springsteen Why? & why Glasto? He sure can YELL but he can't sing. *yuck* So dull and so passe. I don't get it. And so OLD!
* 11:16 "There's more Vitamin C in Goji berries (bit.ly/11pocc) than oranges" - Diet Doctor bit.ly/R9bzL
* 11:20 RT @pauloCanning Excellent: Al Jazeera English - Focus - Obama's strategies FAILING in Iran (bit.ly/15HiIP)
* 16:04 The heatwave is progessing as planned. Hot and humid. In London, 30 degrees C.
* 17:33 RT @questlovejust got a text: flav is at the jackson compound. lord. (Flav? oh ok it's a reality TV star bit.ly/GTrTM )
* 19:05 "Don't bank on seeing the sun this week. Even though it's going to be hot, there will be clouds" (Sky News)
* 19:28 RT @isthishope DARFUR crisis still alive:Refugee’s cousin shot 2 death w/ child at side. OBAMA, is this hope? bit.ly/13Elvx
* 19:29 Wimbledon: Come on, Stanislas Wawrinka!!!
* 21:56 Wimbledon: 2 sets all, now into 5th set. Come on, Stanislas Wawrinka!!!
* 22:42 Well done Wawrinka for making this such a great game. Sure gave Murray a run for his money.
* 23:30 BB10: Marcus looked really convincing as a referee. I wouldn't mind Marcus winnning BB10.
current mood:  sleepy
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| Monday, June 29th, 2009
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10:40 pm - Wimbledon (II)
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Well, history (the tennis variety) made with the first men's singles 5-setter being played - under the closed roof of Wimbledon's centre court. After 3 hours 57 minutes, Murray just beat Stanislas Wawrinka to get into the quarter finals. I'm hot and stressed out. Not the result I'd hoped for, mind you.
13:22 Tuesday 30th June 2009 "Nearly 12 million viewers tuned in to watch the 5-set thriller" reported BBC News. Murray could only complain about the roof closure, that it was "very very humid" (well, like it was outside in general!)
current mood:  stressed
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9:54 am - Twitter June 28
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Sent: 28 June 2009 23:05:59
To: keith_london
* 03:22 UK: 3 people sent home frm Glastonbury after being diagnosed w/ swine flu bit.ly/ExUE5 --BUT no panic bit.ly/6Z2ij
* 10:19 How many people does it take to break Internet? Just 1-MJ! bit.ly/IY1HP Twitter crashed as users saw multiple "fail whales"
* 10:35 @Glastovirgin "breaks Glasto cherry" - "I'll be tweeting if I see Gaga in gumboots" bit.ly/12UqwS (Moi Glasto virgin aussi)
* 18:13 Honduran coup:ousted president Zelaya now in Costa Rica bit.ly/W93We Venezuelan ambassador beaten up. (Obama not involved.)
current mood: hot
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| Sunday, June 28th, 2009
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6:46 pm - Honduras
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An old fashioned coup happening right now in a "quintessential banana republic": (How very Latin American!)
Soldiers stormed the house of leftist President Manuel Zelaya in a predawn raid Sunday, arresting him and removing him from power. "It's a brutal coup d'etat, one of many that happened over 10 years in Latin America. Behind these soldiers are the Honduran bourgeois, the rich who converted Honduras into a Banana Republic, into a political and military base for North American imperialism," said Chavez, the Venezuelan head of state. White House rejects any suggestion fo US involvenment in Honudran coup (Sky News). Obama says US military will not be involved in the situiation unfodling there. Honduras Supreme Court says it told army to oust President Manuel Zelaya, who is now taking refuge in Costa Rica. Chavez says he will take military action if Venezuelan ambassador to Honduras is hurt or kidnapped. Argentine President Cristina Fernández says military coup in Honduras is "a return to barbarism" (well let's just hope she really means it, and lays her bony fingers off the Falklands; and cease careless talk of any "negotiations"! UK sovereignty is non-negotiable, honey.)
( Read more... )
current mood: apathetic
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12:46 am - Twitter June 27
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Sent: 27 June 2009 23:06:33
To: keith_london
* 09:08 "At the Glastonbury festival, they moonwalked in the mud" (BBC News)
* 10:18 RT @lilmishap (about 14 hours ago) Eastenders just mentioned michael Jacksons death. How very up to date..
* 12:41 NEDA SOLTAN: "Her parents not even allowed 2 mourn her.What kind of religion is this?" (ref: Yasmin Alhibai Brown on Dateline LDN)
* 12:53 "To me the BURQA is a walking cage" says Yasmin Alibhai Brown, who cannot stand the burqa which she finds offensive (hear hear!)
* 12:58 Re:BURQA "I will not bring up my daughter in a society where we R seen as TARTS just because we won't wear a CAGE"-Yasmin A-Brown
* 15:10 Gladys Knight, minus her Pips, said, "He [MJ] was phen-OM-enal. That's a good word. He gave us so much joy!"
* 15:22 US: An estimated 1 MILLION people infected with H1N1 ("swine flu")!! VERY poor public health infection control if u ask me.
* 20:08 Lightning, thunder and some rain, and dark skies late afternoon here in S London. This weather pattern tires me out.
* 20:09 For dinner, Hungarian Goulash, and some leftover roast chicken, and broccoli.
* 20:17 Glasto: Dizzee Rascal - not someone I listen to on a daily basis. Strangely compelling!
* 22:38 Marcus (BB10) has had a bad influence on me. I'm now calling more people I dislike "f*cking idiots". (Marcus used that on Sree.)
* 22:55 BBC4 "Annie Leibovitz-Life Through a Lens" bit.ly/1atUDM IMO, Over-rated, too contrived,but some good ones esp.naked Arnie!
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| Saturday, June 27th, 2009
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11:59 pm - Michael Jackson
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I liked this summary of MJ broadcast by Sky News:
"The King of Pop's career spanned four decades beginning at the age of just 11 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5. The group's first No 1 record in the US was 'I Want You Back" in 1969. But his breakthrough as a solo artist came in 1979, when he recorded his first album, "Off the Wall". It's biggest hit 'Don't Stop Till you Get Enough' - was one of four US top 10 singles to come from the album. In 1982 Jackson released the seminal -"Thriller" - that went on to become the biggest selling album of all time, shifting an estimated 59 million copies. The single of the same name came with the most expensive video to be made in the world at that time."
"But there were of course personal problems. In 1993, he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year old Jordan Chandler. Although he settled out of court, his reputation was tarnished. He was also notorious for his eccentricity. To promote his 1995 album 'History', Jackson floated a 30-foot statue of himself down the river Thames. And in 2002, there was outrage when he dangled his third child from a Berlin hotel balcony. A lot of people concerned then for his health. Allegations about his personal life just refused to go away. In 2005 he went on trial charged with 7 counts of child sexual abuse. After one of the most high profile court cases the world has ever seen, he was acquitted on all charges. In his last years Jackson was plagued by financial difficulties. He was forced to sell in 2008 a stake in his beloved Neverland Ranch in order to secure a loan. Despite the setbacks, Jackson was plotting a huge comeback with 50 sell-out concerts, aimed at attracting a million people in London. Tragic news of his death at the age of 50 signalled the end of an extraordinary life."
( Another mini-bio )
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10:21 pm - May 1st 2005
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F l a s h b a c k
 Conservative Poster with Blair's face on it: "Iraq. Stealth Taxes. Immigration.
It's now or never to tell him [Blair] what you think"
May 1st 2005: "It was the hottest day so far this year yesterday, with temperatures in London reaching 23 degrees. "Soupy" air today. It has been grey and warm most of today, but brightening up a little now. Kennedy is calling Blair a "lame duck""
(Kennedy - who? Why that ridiculous ginger-haired drunk of course. Charles, wasn't it?)
(We sure told him what we thought. We BLOODY liked it, and voted him right back, thanks!!! I wish Blair had stayed on, to fight on. I'm sure the country would have been a far happier place with Blair still at the helm. For the record, I didn't ever vote for Brown.)
current mood:  nostalgic
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keith_london's journal
