Saturday, October 11, 2008

Loose Connections by Maggie Brooks (Abacus 1984)


Sally nodded vigorously. There was nothing more exhilarating than arguing a thesis among intelligent people who were all in total agreement. There was a heady self-righteousness about it that went to the head like champagne.

'Quality of life, economic survival, these are the issues. They can't be tackled from the old narrow base. The parties have to face this . . .'

Sally was just about to launch on a favourite theory of wealth redistribution when the chandelier tinkled out a warning note, stirred by the rising heat of the silver candelabra. She had a strange, disorientating sensation, sitting in this Homes and Gardens interior discussing socialism. She examined it. What was it she wanted them to do? Give all their money away and then discuss it?

Thursday, October 09, 2008

The war for David Broder's ear

From the latest issue of the Weekly Worker comes the (unintentionally funny) quote of the day from Mark Fischer:

It is also very much on display in the leadership's attempt tp whip up anger against David Broder and Chris Ford, two comrades who resigned from the AWL (primarily over the organisation's pro-imperialism, but also citing the sect's lack of operative democracy) to form the grandly named International Communist Group, organised around the Commune website . . . . [My emphasis.]

Why is it so unintentionally funny? Only because Mark Fischer is the National Organiser of the equally "grandly named" 30-40 strong Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee).

If I could make this stuff up I'd be writing King of the Hill episodes.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

His favourite waste of time

Weekly Bulletin of The Socialist Party of Great Britain (67)

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 67th of our weekly bulletins to keep you informed of changes at Socialist Party of Great Britain @ MySpace.

We now have 1361 friends!

Recent blogs:

  • Who needs finance?
  • Rights Act is promise to pay of the bankrupt
  • Imagine a world without law
  • Coming Events at SPGB Head Office, 52 Clapham High St, London SW4 (nearest tube: Clapham North):

    A Season of Free Film nights from Sunday 14th September to Sunday 23rd November at 52 Clapham High Street, London.


    All films start at 4 p.m.

    Sunday 12 October: Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on trial

    Sunday 26 October:The Corporation

    Sunday 9 November: Zeitgeist

    Sunday 23 November: The War on Democracy

    Quote for the week:


    "You see things as they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things as they never were and ask, "Why not?" George Bernard Shaw, Back to Methuselah, 1921.

    Continuing luck with your MySpace adventures!

    Robert and Piers

    Socialist Party of Great Britain

    Monday, October 06, 2008

    "Look up your facts . . . "

    No apologies for returning to this. Absolutely love it.

    I could listen to this between now and the next time Newcastle Utd win a trophy. Pete and Dud . . . . . The Troggs . . . Lenny Bruce . . . . Ray and Dave Davies, piss off.

    Sunday, October 05, 2008

    After the watershed

    I know it's through a glass darkly but don't you think that Billy Mehmet looks a wee bit like Henrik Larsson in the pic?

    I think what makes me think that way is the combination of the bald head and the joyous expression on his face after his team have gubbed R*ngers.

    Brings back happy memories.

    Before the watershed

    R*ngers supporters in humour bypass shocker.

    This time next week: *Pope admits to wearing pointy hat*.

    Thursday, October 02, 2008

    Roger Mellie ("The Man on the Telly") ("The Manager of Newcastle Utd')

    Sheer unexpurgated genius. Joe Kinnear does Roger Mellie from the dugout.

    It's official: Newcastle Utd now populated by a cast of cartoon characters. Dennis Wise as Cockney Wanker . . . Joey Barton as Brown Bottle . . . Danny Guthrie as Rat Boy . . . Alan Smith as Terry Fuckwitt . . .Michael Owen as Spoilt Bastard . . . Chunky Viduka as both Fat Slags . . . and, er, as someone previously pointed out, Mike Ashley as Bobby Hill.

    Shay Given as . . . nah, I like Shay Given. He should sign for a decent team.

    Pictures of Perfection by Reginald Hill (Dell Publishing 1994)


    Wield drank some more and said, "You talk like this place were special, I mean, really special. Almost like, perfect."

    "Good Lord, no! Enscombe is very much fuctatus rather than perfectus, I'm glad to say. Perfection is unnatural, Sergeant, because it implies the absence of either development or decline. Haven't you noticed it's the political parties and the religions with the clearest notions of the perfect society that cause the most harm? Once admit the notion of human perfectibility, and the end can be made to justify any amount of pain and suffering along the way. Besides, it would put us both out of work. No crime in the perfect society, and no desire to read about the imperfect past either! So here's to imperfection!"

    They both drank deep.

    Wednesday, October 01, 2008

    "Comrades, Get your kicks with bulletin 66!"

    Weekly Bulletin of The Socialist Party of Great Britain (66)

    Dear Friends,

    Welcome to the 66th of our weekly bulletins to keep you informed of changes at Socialist Party of Great Britain @ MySpace.

    We now have 1351 friends!

    Recent blogs:

  • People's capitalism
  • The right to be homeless
  • A Culture of Violence
  • Coming Events at SPGB Head Office, 52 Clapham High St, London SW4 (nearest tube: Clapham North):

    A Season of Free Film nights from Sunday 14th September to Sunday 23rd November at 52 Clapham High Street, London.


    All films start at 4 p.m.

    Sunday 12 October: Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on trial

    Sunday 26 October:The Corporation

    Sunday 9 November: Zeitgeist

    Sunday 23 November: The War on Democracy

    Quote for the week:


    "Disobedience, in the eyes of any one who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion." Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism, 1891.

    Continuing luck with your MySpace adventures!

    Robert and Piers

    Socialist Party of Great Britain