Mystery Spotify Playlist

Here’s some Friday morning songs…

http://open.spotify.com/track/2CJtimCSGAn8×6RE3irZFV
http://open.spotify.com/track/6Us57QMe4FrOwfwjnXZ8Zu
http://open.spotify.com/track/36ucGuVr5F2hFWpMZFUYJu
http://open.spotify.com/track/40VAYnnGBDLQVXD8D1ager
http://open.spotify.com/track/4QsGJ2mlwK4WJdoKJtL5i5

TWW vs TTOI

The new series of  The Thick Of It starts this Saturday

The difference between The West Wing and The Thick Of It, says much about the British cynical view of themselves and their political class

The end of ownership

Vox mentioned The Gaslight Anthem on twitter/facebook last night, within seconds i had it booming in my living room through Spotify, and have it playing on my head phones at the moment in work. If i join Spotify’s premium service i can have it with my on my (Android) mobile phone.

I quite like The Gaslight Anthem, but not 100% sure its my cuppa tea (the Vox loves da boss and all his children),  so I probably won’t buy it.

Even if i really liked it i probably wouldnt buy it becuase i ‘have’ it on Spotify. I haven’t bought a CD in 5+ years but i listen to more new music now than i ever have. The thing is, i havent even bought an MP3 in the last six months or so.

Will the 20th centruy turn out to be the only century when people had a desire and a concept of ‘owning’ music?

2009 Ashes Review – Firth Test, The Oval

So there we have it, England win 2-1, as predicted by QMonkey!

It hinged on one splendid hour of bowling by Stuart Broad and some distinctly average batting by the Australian middle order. It’s been a too and fro of a series and rollercoaster if ever there was one, both teams had moment of brilliance and well, crapness. Always engaging, test match cricket it the king of sports.

One thing though, The Ashes should always be on terrestrial TV it belongs to the nation.

Prediction for the next ashes in 2011?  hmm 4-1 to Aus!

Hari on the US heathcare debate

Funny in a really sad and depressing way

People who are funny

Living/working people who are funny, In no particular order:

• Ricky Gervais
• Stephen Fry
• Billy Connelly
• Stewart Lee
• Flight of the Conchords
• Jack Dee (in Lead Balloon)
• Armando Iannucci (as writer)
• Chris Morris (as writer)
• Searsmith/Pemberton (in Psychoville)
• Sasha Baron Cohen
• Jon Stewart (in The Daily Show)
• John Oliver (in The Daily Show)
• Larry David (in Curb your enthusiasm)
• Mitchell and Webb
• Steve Carrell (in The Office – US)
• Seth McFarlane (as writer)
• Steve Coogan
• Chris Lilly (in Summer Heights High)
• Sharon Horgan
• Rob Brydon

Have i missed anyone?

Dan le Sac – Thou shalt kill

2009 Ashes Review – Forth Test, Headingly

OK, so my last prediction of England winning at Headingly was some what off, in fact they got stuffed.

If i were Andrew Strauss i would refuse to talk about it, i would spend the next week talking about nothing other than the fantastic opportunity they have to win The Ashes. Win at The Oval to regain the prize, over the last 25 years England captains went to bed dreaming of this, when in reality they were usually going there to try to avoid a 5-0 whitewash!

Every English man who ever held a bat or a ball should be knocking on the captians door wanting to be in the side (this is the kinda ‘crap’ he should be saying in interviews at the moment, the press would love it!)

As for selection,  Ramprakash? don’t be silly. Key for Bopara? Maybe, Ravi’s head seems to be gone. Most importantly get Flintoff in the side.

Prediction: England win.

2009 Ashes Review – Third Test, Edgbaston

Well it looks like I have knack for prediction. I predicted that England would shake off 70+ years of history (and a poor first test) to win at Lords, then I predicted that the weather would have its say in Birmingham and result in a draw.

The first day of almost entirely lost to rain but when the players arrived on Saturday morning it was England’s day from start to finish. One thing’s for certain, when the ball is swinging England are the only team likely to win. Not must more to report from a game which England ended up chasing an unlikely win in just over three days of play.

So we’re off to Heddingly on Friday and I can only see one team wining it, England, and with that winning the Ashes. There, I’ve said it.

2009 Ashes Review – Second Test, Lords

England haven’t beaten Australia at Lords for 70+ years, and they were pretty much taken to school in Cardiff though they managed an impressive rear-guard action to salvage a draw. In spite of this I went ahead and predicted that they would scrape a win. I should really visit the bookies more! or maybe not.

In Cardiff the pitch had done nothing for the bowlers and the conditions were perfect for batting which had the effect of making the bowlers of both teams look pretty average. When it came to lords though there was more swing and turn, allowing England to bowl Australia out for just over 200 in their first innings. Despite a lovely century from Clarke on Day four it wasn’t enough to stop England wrapping things up early on day five.

Going forward now a lot will hinge on the fitness and form of Pieterson and Flintoff for England and Johnson for Australia. Pointing will be fuming that after dominating the first test and only really having one bad day at Lords he’s now behind.

Next up its Edgbaston, i predict a draw as England will undoubtedly be conservative and not want to relinquish their lead, plus, it rains in Brum!

England 1 – 0 Australia

2009 Ashes Review – First Test, Cardiff

[Question Monkey is (maybe surprisingly) a big cricket fan, he's been to a day of the Oval Test Match every year for the last 6 or 7, including a famous day of the Ashes four years ago. This Is the first installment of his essential test match reviews]

Well, that wasn’t what was expected, we’d all been told that the wicket was going to turn, England picked two spinners and the story was to be Australia hanging on for a draw on the final day.

Didn’t quite turn out like that with England having to do the hanging on in the final day. On the face of it Australia out played England in all departments but I don’t think they should be too down hearted as the wicket offered nothing to any of England’s bowlers and that won’t be the case for the rest of the series. The received wisdom that England have the better bowling attack still stands.

I fancy England to scrape a win at Lords’ which will really get up Ponting’s nose as he rightly feels he should be 1-0 up at this stage. But with Aus having made 600+ in their last innings, winning the toss on Thursday is vital, England will not wanting to be bowling on Thursday morning

England 0-0 Australia

Moving On – Missed

I think I may have missed out on a good TV series. I hate when that happens! I caught the last half of BBC1’s ‘Moving on’ last night and it was excellent but it was episode 4 from 5.  :(

Here’s a synopsis.  A 17-year-old boy’s secret love of dressing in women’s clothes is discovered. The turn of events ignites a ticking time bomb that threatens to destroy his parents’ marriage and his family.

Brilliant!

Oh, and its got Dervla Kirwan, Surely you’re sold now.

Why Super Heroes?

I’m not a great fan of the ‘comic book’ genre of movies and literature. For me it’s a very hard sell, I confess though that its due in large part to just not getting it. Learn’ed people like Voxo consistently rave about X-men and Spiderman and Marvel etc but can’t even bring myself to pretend to be impressed. There is a chance though that I may be starting to waver, not in terms of actually liking Comic-Book Heros but at least getting why its an appealing and meaningful genre.

Something to do with empowerment and archetypes and justice and idendity. Right?

Kuwaiti psychologist Dr Naif al Mutawa has created a legion of 99 Islamic Superheros. He has written a letter to his young song explaining why.

Best Take That songs of the naughties

Which also happen to be some of the best pop songs this decade!

Patience

Shine

Rule the World

Greatest Day

Said it all

Margaret Mountford: Gone but not fired

Margret Mountford is leaving the apprentice. A bit disappointing because she and to a greater extent Nick are often the stars of the show. Margret is more of a loss for the likes of me as she’s from Northern Ireland, Holywood no less, just around the corner from my ancestral homeland (and favoured BMX park!)…  us Northern Irelanders get really really proud when one of our own is on the tellie. Apart from Apprentice Ben who was an embarrassment really.

Margret said the following “I think coming from Northern Ireland gives you a lot of basic level-headedness and stands you in very good stead. A lot of what’s required is a common sense approach, much of business depends on that actually.”

I think its funny when people say things like this, I mean since when did coming from N Ireland make you level headed? run me through the list of examples please,  the stereo type is in fact quite the opposite. Also, doesn’t she know what anyone from anywhere says things like this.. my sense of humour / my sense of fair play / my toughness / my common sense/ my wisdom comes from my upbringing in Wales/Liverpool/Glasgow/Bristol/Midlands/East End etc etc. Means absolutely blooming nothing.