A
mix of the usual and weird, and the unusual , weird and disturbing,
but we'll come to that later.
First
up, have a look at this "imaginative" edit of Ms Wendy
Alexander in action on "The Politics Show". Now, I'm not
one to intrude on private grief, but my spies within the Scottish
Labour party tell me that Wendy is now considered to be a "dead
leaderperson walking". As in: her tea's oot and it's only a
matter of time before she'll be made to walk the metaphorical plank
plunging into an allegorical sea teeming with symbolic sharks. True?
I've no idea but I think the clip below, cruelly exaggerates for
effect one of her failings as a communicator and that might go some
way to explain in part at least, her current predicament.
It's
a fundamental premise in communication theory that if you want people
to listen to what you say, you shouldn't do anything to distract
the listener's attention. But, just look at her eyes. When she emphasises
particular points her eyes bulge out and of course, we the intended
audience for her erudition end up just looking at this display and
thinking " oh dude, her eyes are definitely going to pop out
this time and dangle off her cheeks on boingy springs!"
Not a good look.
Next
up, a heart warming tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber by Dean Park.
You may recall that Dean's pitch-perfect parody, complete with ceilidh
band featured a zillion years ago as part of BBC
Scotland Hogmanay show. I haven't been able to track down the original
coverage, but this, what I believe the young people would describe
as a "mash up", at least gives a flavour. I dunno about
the dude's kilt tho'. A bit too short and a bit gay if you ask me.
But anyway…
Which
all rather neatly brings us, as promised, to our weird and disturbing
section, hosted by guest linker Iain Macdonald. I've been chatting
with Iain back and furrit about the disturbing uses to which the
notion of "tradition" can be put.
You know the kind of thing, the argument that any kind of crap is
acceptable provided it's defended as being "traditional".
Aye, right.
Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to have Iain present a
couple of examples and thankfully Iain agreed. Just prior to handing
over to Iain can I just ask that if JT readers come across any other
examples in their cyber travels of this kind of bollocks to send
them in.
Anyway,
this is me saying goodbye for now and this is Iain saying hello.
International
Study on Racism Claims: "We're All Idiots"
An
international committee studying racism has found very little separates
the mouth-breathing idiots of one nation from another. In fact,
the committee found that racist practices and notions survive throughout
the world, and surprisingly [or not] some of the most blatant remain
in isolated communities of the [allegedly] most civilized nations.
In
the UK, some enlightened citizens continue to celebrate "Darkie
Day," which includes parading in black-face costumes. Participants
either shun questions about the event altogether or try to justify
the celebrations with limp historical connection. Let's face it:
it's a chance to dress up like "darkies" and get really
drunk.
Commenting
on this practice, the committee noted that the combined intellectual
ability of the parade participants might be the equivalent of the
picket fence outside the town pub. The only difference, we assume,
is that even the picket fence has some sharp bits.
Noting
that quaint 19th century racist fun isn't confined to the UK, the
committee brought to our attention the 7th Cavalry Drum and Bugle
Band. These folks achieve special distinction in being racist, sexist
and really bad musicians. With their ill-fitting US Cavalry outfits
and the fake Col. Custer in the lead [isn't that the same blonde
wig that appears in the Darkie Day Parade?], the women's role is
to dress like TV Indians and clap. We aren't sure what they are
clapping to, because it's pretty hard to find a fucking beat in
that selection. Gary Owen'll be rotating in the grave.
And, to conclude with a special mention for Scotland, the committee
pointed out the photo of the Ballater Little Masons in one of their
charming Black & White Minstrel Show skits from years past.
Understanding that this was actually performed in the 1960s, the
committee could not understand why this would have been printed
in the Highland Games program in 2004, except that maybe the Games
committee was still pissed from Darkie Day when they made the decision?
(Iain
MacDonald lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he runs a small
communications firm and teaches bagpipes.)
