I enjoyed Bruno, but I'm happy to post another perspective on what Sasha Baron Cohen has been up to from Sky news of all people. (cheers to Minty on facebook)
August 13, 2009
MORE JENVEY
OK, so it looks like The International Analyst Network didn't like Mr Jenvey's recent updates and have removed them, so they are currently only available on a Pravda forum.
I don't know Mr Jenvey but have had contact with him about all this as recorded here, and I was helping him a bit with some editing of the second piece when this news came through. I have also heard from one of the Islam4UK guys (Mr Waleed) about their recent encounter with Mr Jenvey.
He said that not surprisingly a lot of them didn't really know how to deal with meeting him when he came down to London and spent the day with them, but that after meeting him they feel his conversion is genuine. He told me that they had been reasurred by the Koran which carries stories of Mohammed's enemies converting.
As I have also said before, none of this makes any difference to me but I do find it all fascinating. Being an ex- born again Christian myself who used to knock on peoples doors and tell them about Jesus conversion stories are obviously going to be an interest of mine. Maybe this seems like an unnatural interest but I don't think I will be converting any time soon. I think I am still a bit of a slave to some addictions, even ones which I don't partake in anymore cause me worry sometimes but I don't really see the hand of Satan in it all, its just brainwaves, direction, motivations and concepts.
I found myself watching Abu Haffs lecture about Music Are You On the Right Track on the Islam4UK site. I think I asked this guy if he wanted to make some films after their meeting in Euston one time. Personally none of this moves me or resonates with me at all. I spent most of my time watching it thinking "Get to the bloody point!" but then I am a bloody musician innit so thats probably not surprising. Reading my own writing I am obviously happy for Mr Jenvey, if he is happy.
There are bloggers I know about as well as I know him who might have reason to dislike and mistrust him, I have no idea if these reasons are founded or not. To me he is now just another colourful Muslim I have come across who doesn't believe people should blow up random strangers here and as long as they don't I feel I must treat all of them the same way really.
To maybe provide a bit more perspective of where I am, I missed all this because I was in France doing a show. I just got word of some pictures on a britanny photographers Flash based website. If you click here and follow the links > "Spectacles"> "Vos galeries (...privées) > "The impossible" you can see them.
This sort of thing is much more my focus these days. I rarely examine my beliefs or my perspective on what is "success" in terms of film. In terms of filming Islamists or anyone else for that matter I still think the main thing I believe in is simply documenting. Although I haven't had any success in worldly terms I find I still hold this belief quite strongly and although I live in London and have done for a while now I try to keep hold of a very un-London attitude to hurry. This only seems to bother other road users for some reason.
UPDATE: Omar Hamza Jenvey has reappeared here
..
I don't know Mr Jenvey but have had contact with him about all this as recorded here, and I was helping him a bit with some editing of the second piece when this news came through. I have also heard from one of the Islam4UK guys (Mr Waleed) about their recent encounter with Mr Jenvey.
He said that not surprisingly a lot of them didn't really know how to deal with meeting him when he came down to London and spent the day with them, but that after meeting him they feel his conversion is genuine. He told me that they had been reasurred by the Koran which carries stories of Mohammed's enemies converting.
As I have also said before, none of this makes any difference to me but I do find it all fascinating. Being an ex- born again Christian myself who used to knock on peoples doors and tell them about Jesus conversion stories are obviously going to be an interest of mine. Maybe this seems like an unnatural interest but I don't think I will be converting any time soon. I think I am still a bit of a slave to some addictions, even ones which I don't partake in anymore cause me worry sometimes but I don't really see the hand of Satan in it all, its just brainwaves, direction, motivations and concepts.
I found myself watching Abu Haffs lecture about Music Are You On the Right Track on the Islam4UK site. I think I asked this guy if he wanted to make some films after their meeting in Euston one time. Personally none of this moves me or resonates with me at all. I spent most of my time watching it thinking "Get to the bloody point!" but then I am a bloody musician innit so thats probably not surprising. Reading my own writing I am obviously happy for Mr Jenvey, if he is happy.
There are bloggers I know about as well as I know him who might have reason to dislike and mistrust him, I have no idea if these reasons are founded or not. To me he is now just another colourful Muslim I have come across who doesn't believe people should blow up random strangers here and as long as they don't I feel I must treat all of them the same way really.
To maybe provide a bit more perspective of where I am, I missed all this because I was in France doing a show. I just got word of some pictures on a britanny photographers Flash based website. If you click here and follow the links > "Spectacles"> "Vos galeries (...privées) > "The impossible" you can see them.
This sort of thing is much more my focus these days. I rarely examine my beliefs or my perspective on what is "success" in terms of film. In terms of filming Islamists or anyone else for that matter I still think the main thing I believe in is simply documenting. Although I haven't had any success in worldly terms I find I still hold this belief quite strongly and although I live in London and have done for a while now I try to keep hold of a very un-London attitude to hurry. This only seems to bother other road users for some reason.
UPDATE: Omar Hamza Jenvey has reappeared here
..
WORD
I really like Eminems comedy work- err singles but it is really great to see he can still freestyle
August 12, 2009
Normal Service Will Resume...
Meanwhile heres some more linky-linky
Firstly a bit of non drum and bass pirating for a change
Also quite a good article about Shayler "The Reluctant Messiah" in Vice Magazine Mr Camel sent me.
More Shayler from The Times, cheers again to Mike.
..
Firstly a bit of non drum and bass pirating for a change
Also quite a good article about Shayler "The Reluctant Messiah" in Vice Magazine Mr Camel sent me.
More Shayler from The Times, cheers again to Mike.
..
August 11, 2009
AIRBIA
Airbia proposes a new eco-friendly and efficient transportation system linking the suburbs and city centre. Corresponding to the lack of coherent public transportation in the majority of the sprawling cities, a set of airships is designed to form an additional network over the urban tissue.
..
August 10, 2009
OMAR HAMZA JENVEY
I have been away so I missed something I would love to have filmed. Here is an update from Glen Jenvey and a video of him joining those he used to spend his time trying to beat. From the article-
...I have converted to Islam in front of Muslims who for years I worked against. I faced them as a man. I will follow my new faith and give up drinking, smoking and pray to the one God I always believed in. Allah and Muslim Brothers have given me a new start in life...
... I have a way now to pray to Allah and be an honest person and say good bye to my past. I have found Allah, which means God....
...There is no trick I am now a Muslim it's up to me to become good one...
UPDATE: More here
..
...I have converted to Islam in front of Muslims who for years I worked against. I faced them as a man. I will follow my new faith and give up drinking, smoking and pray to the one God I always believed in. Allah and Muslim Brothers have given me a new start in life...
... I have a way now to pray to Allah and be an honest person and say good bye to my past. I have found Allah, which means God....
...There is no trick I am now a Muslim it's up to me to become good one...
UPDATE: More here
..
July 26, 2009
K EVERYWHERE
I did some research on yesterdays blog and found the information to be correct. At a party on Hampstead Heath I was passed a small plastic bag with a rolled note in it by someone who worked in conflict resolution. As I haven't done any of this in years (most of my k times are recorded here) and probably due to surprise and wine I obliged.
After that I might have insisted that, as everyone jumped into taxis that my bike was no use to me locked up in North London, and that I was fine to cycle through London's busy streets to a party in Holborn somewhere. On that journey I might have had strong affinities with Mr Hoffman's cycling escapades. I might even have screamed at every nightclub queue I passed
"You are alive! FOR A REASON!!"
with everyone shouting "Fark orrf" back at me.
Outside 200 Grays Inn I might have bumped into the court journalist I met at Hamid and Atilla's trial, finnishing his last day of work there. Maybe I screamed at the stars for no apparent reason. Maybe there was a cosmic reason. I am not sure. I think maybe I was explaining such an idea to him in a lot of detail before he dissapeared.
When I got to the party I might have found the open bottle of wine in my bag still contained about as much wine as it had on the Heath.
Maybe I bumped into a documentary maker who might have started ridiculing my efforts to film in Finsbury park. I think he gave up after a bit and gave me some advice.
"Well Hamza has said some things which have a bearing on International relations"
"True. Or maybe he is this guy who just says things."
"Maybe you should deconstruct what Hamza says for the viewing public?" he suggested.
"Sort of a we're right and they are wrong style of thing? Sort of like everyone else has been doing?" I wondered.
He spoke a lot more about "The noble thing to do" with my stuff.
His friend said that he didn't like docos where the documentary maker put himself in the movie (like his pal obviously did). I sort of agreed with him but acknowledged that this was what broadcasters liked. He said he felt he was being told what to think. Maybe, I said, or maybe you are just going on a journey through documentary maker's personal thought process.
I think I ended up on good terms with both of them and impressed upon them that I couldn't really consider myself to be a film maker till I had finnished a film, and that even if I never finnished a film I wasn't unhappy with what I have been doing.
Overall I had a really good night. I hadn't been to a wild party in ages and it was a surprise for me how easily I slipped back into it all. I had some really genuine conversations with some really fucked people. There is nothing intrinsically wrong or fake about the party lifestyle and today I feel like I have blown away a few cobwebs.
..
After that I might have insisted that, as everyone jumped into taxis that my bike was no use to me locked up in North London, and that I was fine to cycle through London's busy streets to a party in Holborn somewhere. On that journey I might have had strong affinities with Mr Hoffman's cycling escapades. I might even have screamed at every nightclub queue I passed
"You are alive! FOR A REASON!!"
with everyone shouting "Fark orrf" back at me.
Outside 200 Grays Inn I might have bumped into the court journalist I met at Hamid and Atilla's trial, finnishing his last day of work there. Maybe I screamed at the stars for no apparent reason. Maybe there was a cosmic reason. I am not sure. I think maybe I was explaining such an idea to him in a lot of detail before he dissapeared.
When I got to the party I might have found the open bottle of wine in my bag still contained about as much wine as it had on the Heath.
Maybe I bumped into a documentary maker who might have started ridiculing my efforts to film in Finsbury park. I think he gave up after a bit and gave me some advice.
"Well Hamza has said some things which have a bearing on International relations"
"True. Or maybe he is this guy who just says things."
"Maybe you should deconstruct what Hamza says for the viewing public?" he suggested.
"Sort of a we're right and they are wrong style of thing? Sort of like everyone else has been doing?" I wondered.
He spoke a lot more about "The noble thing to do" with my stuff.
His friend said that he didn't like docos where the documentary maker put himself in the movie (like his pal obviously did). I sort of agreed with him but acknowledged that this was what broadcasters liked. He said he felt he was being told what to think. Maybe, I said, or maybe you are just going on a journey through documentary maker's personal thought process.
I think I ended up on good terms with both of them and impressed upon them that I couldn't really consider myself to be a film maker till I had finnished a film, and that even if I never finnished a film I wasn't unhappy with what I have been doing.
Overall I had a really good night. I hadn't been to a wild party in ages and it was a surprise for me how easily I slipped back into it all. I had some really genuine conversations with some really fucked people. There is nothing intrinsically wrong or fake about the party lifestyle and today I feel like I have blown away a few cobwebs.
..
July 25, 2009
K IN DORSET
via Skrufff here
BRIDPORT is facing an epidemic of substance abuse with the new drug of choice being the animal tranquilliser ketamine.
Fran Abbott-Hawkins, manager of West Dorset CADAS (Community Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service) – part of the NHS community services – this week warned the number of youngsters taking the powerful drug was one of the biggest problems they faced...
..
BRIDPORT is facing an epidemic of substance abuse with the new drug of choice being the animal tranquilliser ketamine.
Fran Abbott-Hawkins, manager of West Dorset CADAS (Community Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service) – part of the NHS community services – this week warned the number of youngsters taking the powerful drug was one of the biggest problems they faced...
..
July 24, 2009
July 23, 2009
READING
We have all been watching Derren Brown teach a granny to beat a load of top poker players in a week. He taught her about "tells", how to "read" people and also hypnotised her to trust her instincts. It was pretty amazing to watch. Without learning any tells we had a go at this round the kitchen table tonight with mixed results. If I am not going to be into drugs anymore I think I might have a go at this self hypnosis and auto suggestion stuff for a bit.
I saw a cabaret Hypnotist do this about twenty years ago and I still love it.
I saw a cabaret Hypnotist do this about twenty years ago and I still love it.
MORECHOP
I had to indulge my inner eleven year old again to post this. Someone has turned a truly horrible bike, the CB500T into an object of beauty. The only thing I'd be worried about here is the CB500T-ness of this bike, namely the dubious engine and brakes. It shouldn't be too complicated to find some new wheels with discs on them. I wonder if an old British engine would fit in this frame?
July 22, 2009
LEFT WING BASTARDS
It's time for the left to get radical by Sunny Hundal in The Guardian.
Sunny's is the only UK left wing Political blog/forum I really keep up with. I read Rachel's and Anna's blog, but they are pals. I don't think Sunny and I agree about how to deal with mad Muslims all the time but I would imagine we'd agree about pretty much everything else and I am fairly level with the sentiment here. The conclusion is probably true too:
...More radical ideas, it seems, will only come from the Labour left once the party is out of power and they are free from the burden of political positioning...
Political positioning is probably the main thing which puts all of us of politcs in general. The article is based around the launch of the "New Left Forum" Open left. Glancing briefly across their homepage Peter Hyman, who famously gave up a top job in the New Labour machine to teach in a secondary school is the only person who would interest me.
Its just not sexy is it? Politics either needs some horn or more of this. At least South Korean politicians are entertaining. We need to show where "Left" works. Happy people who are experiencing the benefits of the things in life which are truly valuable. This isn't really done by Politics anymore, it happens on TV.
If you are into left wing politics still and need a tip, I'd probably ditch the "left". It's an outmoded concept. We don't need it anymore. People just need stuff that works. England has never been about quality of life. It should be.
..
Sunny's is the only UK left wing Political blog/forum I really keep up with. I read Rachel's and Anna's blog, but they are pals. I don't think Sunny and I agree about how to deal with mad Muslims all the time but I would imagine we'd agree about pretty much everything else and I am fairly level with the sentiment here. The conclusion is probably true too:
...More radical ideas, it seems, will only come from the Labour left once the party is out of power and they are free from the burden of political positioning...
Political positioning is probably the main thing which puts all of us of politcs in general. The article is based around the launch of the "New Left Forum" Open left. Glancing briefly across their homepage Peter Hyman, who famously gave up a top job in the New Labour machine to teach in a secondary school is the only person who would interest me.
Its just not sexy is it? Politics either needs some horn or more of this. At least South Korean politicians are entertaining. We need to show where "Left" works. Happy people who are experiencing the benefits of the things in life which are truly valuable. This isn't really done by Politics anymore, it happens on TV.
If you are into left wing politics still and need a tip, I'd probably ditch the "left". It's an outmoded concept. We don't need it anymore. People just need stuff that works. England has never been about quality of life. It should be.
..
BABYLON DEM TEEF MI ERB
Actually I haven't smoked any herb for two months, or any of the evil weed either. I have had to avoid a bit of social for a while, but managed to get totally pissed the other day without smoking a single fag for the first time. I can watch people smoke without wanting one, its no big deal really.
Anyway, I am not a big fan of other vices like trash TV but I must admit I have really been enjoying Hotel Babylon. I remember this from a few years back. I took no interest in it at the time. On this relaunch I have been hooked since the beginning. Episodes are available on the iPlayer here.
The script is mainly comedy. It is light and silly. A bit kinky, not enough for my liking, but still for family entertainment it is really quite fun. I like all of the characters. All of them except the guy who owns the hotel who sounds like kermit the frog. He looks like one of those bland failed Rugby player types and he is familiar from some other mainstream TV I have
successfully managed to avoid. Probably a Police show as he looks like a copper too come to think of it.
He didn't turn up from episode one scene one and when he did, without giving the plot away, it wasn't certain that he was going to stick around. I was a bit sad when he did as he doesn't act as well as kermit, but the other characters managed to hold my attention, particularly the sexy, scary east European cleaning lady.
I watched the latest episode earlier based around poker, where a cunning buisnessman was trying to get the hotel off of the green fella. I was cheering for the cunning stunt-er. I was almost hopeful when frog voice lost the hotel in a game of poker but sadly it was not to be. Overall this is just bubblegum TV which I shouldn't really be watching but save for the kermit influence I can't help liking it.
..
Anyway, I am not a big fan of other vices like trash TV but I must admit I have really been enjoying Hotel Babylon. I remember this from a few years back. I took no interest in it at the time. On this relaunch I have been hooked since the beginning. Episodes are available on the iPlayer here.
The script is mainly comedy. It is light and silly. A bit kinky, not enough for my liking, but still for family entertainment it is really quite fun. I like all of the characters. All of them except the guy who owns the hotel who sounds like kermit the frog. He looks like one of those bland failed Rugby player types and he is familiar from some other mainstream TV I have
successfully managed to avoid. Probably a Police show as he looks like a copper too come to think of it.He didn't turn up from episode one scene one and when he did, without giving the plot away, it wasn't certain that he was going to stick around. I was a bit sad when he did as he doesn't act as well as kermit, but the other characters managed to hold my attention, particularly the sexy, scary east European cleaning lady.
I watched the latest episode earlier based around poker, where a cunning buisnessman was trying to get the hotel off of the green fella. I was cheering for the cunning stunt-er. I was almost hopeful when frog voice lost the hotel in a game of poker but sadly it was not to be. Overall this is just bubblegum TV which I shouldn't really be watching but save for the kermit influence I can't help liking it.
..
INTERCEPT
The proposed use of phone tapping evidence to secure convictions in terrorist and criminal trials has been shown in secret tests to be unworkable.
Last year Gordon Brown proposed limited use of intercept evidence, gathered by intelligence agencies, in the courts and David Cameron has called for its introduction “so we [can] catch, convict and imprison more terrorists”.
Legal and counter-terrorism sources believe that the extremist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri could have been jailed for involvement in international kidnapping had intercept material been available to prosecutors.
However, an intelligence watchdog disclosed yesterday that “live testing” of the idea in mock courtroom trials had encountered major obstacles...
...many senior police and intelligence officials have serious concerns that disclosure of intercept material will benefit criminal and terrorist organisations by exposing human sources and revealing the sophisticated technology that they use in covert surveillance...
...In another report published yesterday, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner complained that senior police officers and public officials with powers to authorise covert surveillance did not understand their powers and were unwilling to be trained...
I don't get this. Surely if people say compromising things over the phone juries should get to hear them no? What could go wrong?
..
Last year Gordon Brown proposed limited use of intercept evidence, gathered by intelligence agencies, in the courts and David Cameron has called for its introduction “so we [can] catch, convict and imprison more terrorists”.
Legal and counter-terrorism sources believe that the extremist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri could have been jailed for involvement in international kidnapping had intercept material been available to prosecutors.
However, an intelligence watchdog disclosed yesterday that “live testing” of the idea in mock courtroom trials had encountered major obstacles...
...many senior police and intelligence officials have serious concerns that disclosure of intercept material will benefit criminal and terrorist organisations by exposing human sources and revealing the sophisticated technology that they use in covert surveillance...
...In another report published yesterday, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner complained that senior police officers and public officials with powers to authorise covert surveillance did not understand their powers and were unwilling to be trained...
I don't get this. Surely if people say compromising things over the phone juries should get to hear them no? What could go wrong?
..
July 21, 2009
Terrorists freed to live in bail hostels
I wrote about this a long while back, when Musa filled me in on some details after he saw a few of these guys at Atilla and Hamid's appeal. As far as I know this all sounds correct. Atilla could be out in March, I can't really say much more than that except that he is known to be very relaxed these days inside.
..
..
Kasab Confesses
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab's confession took everyone by surprise - even his own legal team.
As news of his confession spread, the Mumbai courtroom became packed with reporters.
The shock came on Monday morning, when the court was in the process of recording evidence. The suspect told the judge he wanted to say something.
After speaking to his lawyer very briefly, Mr Qasab said: "I accept my guilt."
This case is fascinating
More- A totally different story to the one he came out with on the hospital bed.
Here also and on the BBC website. Also this little gem from Express Buzz in India
...There are several jihadis whose first name begins with Abu to confuse the police....
..
As news of his confession spread, the Mumbai courtroom became packed with reporters.
The shock came on Monday morning, when the court was in the process of recording evidence. The suspect told the judge he wanted to say something.
After speaking to his lawyer very briefly, Mr Qasab said: "I accept my guilt."
This case is fascinating
More- A totally different story to the one he came out with on the hospital bed.
Here also and on the BBC website. Also this little gem from Express Buzz in India
...There are several jihadis whose first name begins with Abu to confuse the police....
..
July 20, 2009
INTEGRATION
No trouble on the second day of The Lambeth Country Show but the cops were searching every "black yoof" just in case. Some people were saying the crew yesterday were beating up other kids. They certainly looked like trainee steamers. What can the Police do? It is a shame that this thing reinforces itself so being hassled by cops is a way of life for a black teenager in Brixton and not joining a gang leaves you vunerable to gang activity. Anyway I thought it was a great festival. It is a great experiment to bring a bit of the countryside into town. This is Brixton and there is nowhere quite like it.
Really stunning Cactii
Note the cactii tie. This guy said he had been coming down with his cactii from Lincolnshire since a year after the riots and had seen friends he had made at this event grow up. They are often at posher events in London, Hampton Court etc but they don't like to miss this one, everyone expects them to be there.
"I brought my wife down, she said at the end of the day she had never kissed so many black ladies in her life!"
Family Dread
Mark and Dark. DJ Dark (left) was put in jail for graffiti a while back. He said the open prison was OK and a lot of people inside had read about his case and knew he was coming.
"People were throwing plastic bottles of Appletons over the fence for New year!"
Heavy Entrance
No one is interested in the Liberal Democrats
Really stunning Cactii
The biggest one sold for eighty quid
Note the cactii tie. This guy said he had been coming down with his cactii from Lincolnshire since a year after the riots and had seen friends he had made at this event grow up. They are often at posher events in London, Hampton Court etc but they don't like to miss this one, everyone expects them to be there."I brought my wife down, she said at the end of the day she had never kissed so many black ladies in her life!"
Family Dread
Mark and Dark. DJ Dark (left) was put in jail for graffiti a while back. He said the open prison was OK and a lot of people inside had read about his case and knew he was coming."People were throwing plastic bottles of Appletons over the fence for New year!"
OPEN LETTER TO Alan García
I don't usually do campaigns here, but I found this on Derek Wall's blog
...the indigenous leader Santiago Manuin, is still very ill in hospital after being shot 8 times, the police want to arrest him and move him to a prison cell, he lacks money for proper treatment. Write to President Alan Garcia and protest...
......Santiago Manuin is a pacifist and has waged a struggle to prevent the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon being logged, he is a true ecologist, if you are at all serious about climate change and other ecological threats, it is vitally important to support his struggle...
...the indigenous leader Santiago Manuin, is still very ill in hospital after being shot 8 times, the police want to arrest him and move him to a prison cell, he lacks money for proper treatment. Write to President Alan Garcia and protest...
......Santiago Manuin is a pacifist and has waged a struggle to prevent the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon being logged, he is a true ecologist, if you are at all serious about climate change and other ecological threats, it is vitally important to support his struggle...
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