Bonjour Mes Amis,
After a sizeable hiatus I am returning to the blogosphere - so rumours of my Major Tom like departure are greatly exaggerated.
However, we weren't far off there, as I was in bed for a week after landing back in Seattle (I'm skipping over London as this is, after all, called Dor'n in the USA!). I don't think it was the Schvine Flu, as I didn't have a temperature, but I was virtually unconscious for 4 days straight - fun!
I'm back up and running now though - almost literally. Have been working during the day (thanks Fresh Minds!) and rehearsing every evening from 7 -10.30pm. Got the day off today though, so am relaxing - after taking Kira to the airport at 5am...
Since returning to Seattle, rising from my sick bed, and being forced to watch Sex and the City many times over, I have been struck by the fact that I am pretty much the anti-Carrie. For a start, we live on opposite coasts (yes I am aware she's not real...), then there is the fact that she likes buying shoes, whereas I own 4 pairs - two with holes in. She drinks cosmo's; I drink beer. She spent most of her twenties and thirties single; I married young. She is incredibly fashionable; I am not. She is a talented writer...
Anyway, after thinking through all this, I couldn't help but wonder; while I wouldn't fit in in New York, with all those fabulous people catwalking through life, will Seattle let me be a Saxon in the City?
The evidence so far is pretty good - plenty of pretty down-to-earth bars and restaurants, the Northwest's penchant for ale, football (association and rugby) available on the TV - but we need to go deeper than that. What defines the Anglo-saxon more than anything else? If aliens were to look at Britain from outer space, how would they define our psyche (or blargenhaaaat in their language)?
Well, if the defining French characteristic is Ennui - a deep-set boredom which results in them treating everyone and everything with disdain (Eurodisney - poof!), then the defining British characteristic is surely Enn-wee: a torpid notion that we will piss everything up the wall, which generally results in us actually doing so (for many this is literal as well as metaphorical, as they get drunk after said disaster and urinate in public).
Witness British sport. Despite many a half-hearted rallying cry, we still approach most, if not all, national sporting events with the enthusiasm of a Captain going down with his ship - we know it won't be pleasant, but it is our duty to stay the course to the bitter end.
This is not the case in most of the US - as fanatical devotion to the national cause (and local causes) is rampant. Not so in Seattle! Though there are some die-hards, I have found the same attitude toward the local teams - the certainty that they will be crap but the dutiful subjection to their crapness. So the Saxon in me feels at home.
Another joint cause is the weather. It is terrible here at the moment. So Seattlites moan about it. Who else do we know who does that??
Finally, self-deprecation - the necessary companion of Enn-wee: stave off disappointing others by not making them expect much in the first place. Here we reach a bit of a stumbling block - there is still the American desire to push one's own agenda. However, it seems to be much less prevalent than in other parts of the US - so I'll give it a half mark.
2.5 out of 3. Not bad. But there is a difference. Somehow, the denizens of Seattle seem able to hold onto this attitude without either a) self-destructively binging on alcohol; or b) turning grumpy. So there is something not quite Saxon about this city...
Perhaps it is the Viking sensibility (Seattle has strong Scandinavian connections) which overrides - the pioneer spirit allowing fatalism to morph into pragmatism. This has it's downside too (Seattle is starting to feel a little like the Wild West with a number of tragic police officer murders continuing), but the upside is quite appealing.
So, using the Carrie Bradshaw past tense, although a Saxon I was starting to see things from a different angle.
DD out
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, November 20, 2009
Palin into insignificance
Hello All!
For those of you who still haven't heard here's what has happened recently.
1. The theatre in which I was going to be performing over Christmas suffered fire damage in an arson attack by a serial arsonist (who it now seems has been caught).
2. They are working round the clock to repair the damage, but won't be ready for Christmas, so the show had to be cancelled.
3. Therefore, Kira and I are now coming back to the UK for Christmas - and will hopefully see many of you soon!
4. I got my driving licence, so have been experiencing the joys of the internal combustion engine.
In all this, blogging has been far from my mind - and I'm about to go out and learn how to Lindy Hop, then get up at 5am to watch England get trounced by the All Blacks, then watch Arsenal annihilate Sunderland, then watch more devastation in UFC 106, before catching a SeaHawks game and going to Vegas (Oh yeah!) - so this will be quick.
My main thought is about Sarah Palin. Oddly, I find myself feeling sorry for her. Yes, she is uber right wing. Yes, she is playing on the petty, selfish fears of swathes of American's who have adopted her as the photogenic archetype of their own victimhood. Yes, hunting wolves with AK47s and clubbing baby seals to death is loathsome, BUT ultimately, what has she done except have the temerity to accept an invitation from an aged war hero and then follow that invitation through?
At times it seems like she is being vilified for daring to exist, a dinosaur (therefore put there by God?) to liberals, a hero to the far right, she didn't so much seek the limelight as have it thrust upon her - and when she is there who can blame her (certainly not an actor!) for wishing to stay in it as long as possible.
Yet again, we have a cautionary tale from our own recent history that has relevance for the American media's treatment of Mrs Palin.
Jade Goody
At first laughed at for her lack of intelligence, then demonised for her intolerance, Jade faced the same plight as Palin - hated by the media that created her for overstaying her welcome. Her journey from victim to villain and back could and should be studied by Palin's team; for Palin has much more in common with Jade than she does with any politician. She is the epitome of a modern celebrity - loved and loathed in equal measure as she symbiotically loves and loathes the media that sustains her.
Who will be the eventual victor? There can be only one. As with Jade before her, if the media strike down Palin, she will become more powerful than we can ever imagine - she will be a media martyr; beneficiary of collective guilt at complicity in her destruction.
With a good team in place she could easily take advantage of this at just the right time. Why work hard at projecting strength in a presidential race when you can win by projecting weakness - casting yourself as a 'victim', as your country is a 'victim'.
We've had Bush as Commander in Thief, get ready for the potential Commander in Grief - Sarah Palin: Field Marshall of the Hard Done By.
And the liberal media will have nobody to blame for it but themselves, as they create sympathy in the minds of American's as a heartless prosecutor does by going after a 'pretty but not too bright' defendent. Who cares if she's guilty - they are being mean to her!
If we want Sarah to start Palin into insignificance we need to start ignoring her - not continuing to write her own mythology. That way 2012 lies - and the Mayan's may well turn out to be right.
DD Out
For those of you who still haven't heard here's what has happened recently.
1. The theatre in which I was going to be performing over Christmas suffered fire damage in an arson attack by a serial arsonist (who it now seems has been caught).
2. They are working round the clock to repair the damage, but won't be ready for Christmas, so the show had to be cancelled.
3. Therefore, Kira and I are now coming back to the UK for Christmas - and will hopefully see many of you soon!
4. I got my driving licence, so have been experiencing the joys of the internal combustion engine.
In all this, blogging has been far from my mind - and I'm about to go out and learn how to Lindy Hop, then get up at 5am to watch England get trounced by the All Blacks, then watch Arsenal annihilate Sunderland, then watch more devastation in UFC 106, before catching a SeaHawks game and going to Vegas (Oh yeah!) - so this will be quick.
My main thought is about Sarah Palin. Oddly, I find myself feeling sorry for her. Yes, she is uber right wing. Yes, she is playing on the petty, selfish fears of swathes of American's who have adopted her as the photogenic archetype of their own victimhood. Yes, hunting wolves with AK47s and clubbing baby seals to death is loathsome, BUT ultimately, what has she done except have the temerity to accept an invitation from an aged war hero and then follow that invitation through?
At times it seems like she is being vilified for daring to exist, a dinosaur (therefore put there by God?) to liberals, a hero to the far right, she didn't so much seek the limelight as have it thrust upon her - and when she is there who can blame her (certainly not an actor!) for wishing to stay in it as long as possible.
Yet again, we have a cautionary tale from our own recent history that has relevance for the American media's treatment of Mrs Palin.
Jade Goody
At first laughed at for her lack of intelligence, then demonised for her intolerance, Jade faced the same plight as Palin - hated by the media that created her for overstaying her welcome. Her journey from victim to villain and back could and should be studied by Palin's team; for Palin has much more in common with Jade than she does with any politician. She is the epitome of a modern celebrity - loved and loathed in equal measure as she symbiotically loves and loathes the media that sustains her.
Who will be the eventual victor? There can be only one. As with Jade before her, if the media strike down Palin, she will become more powerful than we can ever imagine - she will be a media martyr; beneficiary of collective guilt at complicity in her destruction.
With a good team in place she could easily take advantage of this at just the right time. Why work hard at projecting strength in a presidential race when you can win by projecting weakness - casting yourself as a 'victim', as your country is a 'victim'.
We've had Bush as Commander in Thief, get ready for the potential Commander in Grief - Sarah Palin: Field Marshall of the Hard Done By.
And the liberal media will have nobody to blame for it but themselves, as they create sympathy in the minds of American's as a heartless prosecutor does by going after a 'pretty but not too bright' defendent. Who cares if she's guilty - they are being mean to her!
If we want Sarah to start Palin into insignificance we need to start ignoring her - not continuing to write her own mythology. That way 2012 lies - and the Mayan's may well turn out to be right.
DD Out
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sleepless in Seattle (oh yes I did!!)
I'm having trouble sleeping, so thought I'd fire off a quick blog post - a lot of material this week!
First and foremost - the invasion is back on... for so many reasons!
Number one: the people here are crying out for democracy, but they are being denied it by the ruling class. Last year's election was indeed free and fair, with UN observers praising advances since the fiasco of 2000, but it turns out the idea that the previous regime would share power was simply too optimistic. They are prepared to go to any lengths to hold onto it - including subverting the democratic process.
Take, for example, the case of Senator Joe Lieberman. Polls show that most of the country want a public option in healthcare, most of the senate and house are prepared to vote for a bill with a public option in it - and that portion of the senate should include good ol' Joe. However, Joe has decided that he will side with the Republicans in a filibuster.
For those of you who didn't take Politics 101, a filibuster is the action of continuously debating a bill so that it never comes to vote. It is a practice started by Cato the Younger in the Roman Senate. Cato would hide under the bed and wait for Julius Caesar to return before attempting to attack him... no, wait, that's a different Cato... THIS Cato would talk and talk until nightfall so the Senate could not complete its business.
The practice hasn't changed much in 2000 years - it still involves pompous assholes enjoying the sound of their own voices as they seek their own ends rather than the furtherance of the democratic process. After all, what can be more undemocratic than denying a vote?
Answer - Joe Lieberman. As Joe should have guaranteed that the Senate be of a complexion where filibusters can't occur (i.e. Democrats have too much of a majority). However, despite the fact that most of his constituents support a public option, and that his state already has a public option, Joe is siding with the Republicans. Why? His state is also home to most of the big insurance companies - so it seems some constituents are more equal than others...
And I'm not even going to get into the fact that Health Insurance companies have largely decided to base themselves in a State that has a public option for them and their employees...
So, regime change is desparately needed to bring back democracy to this region. Not least because they have stockpiled large numbers of weapons of mass destruction.
Number Two: They are desperate for British culture here, but can't quite get it right. Evidence for this is found in my trip to the 'local' pub last night. First, it's not local. It took me an hour to get there on the bus (which is not red nor double-decker). Then, when I got there it was more like a shack than a proper pub building - and clearly used to have saloon doors, which they'd replaced with full-sized ones. The game was streamed via the internet (dodgy satellite anyone?), so kept slowing down when the download speed dropped. even the team was wrong - it was Arsenal but in a parallel universe where Bendtner and Senderos start; though the Liverpool team did seem normal. On the plus side the score was right (2-1 to the gunners) and they serve the first decent on-tap lager I've had here, but the chants...
One wannabe gooner chanted "We are the Arsenal, We are from WEST London", and the main chant of the evening was "Who likes Arsenal? We do". I mean, do they not know that you are supposed to watch Arsenal in total silence?! In fairness, even the local teams have trouble with chants (at the sounders they flash them up on a screen bouncing ball style) - but that is something an invasion could remedy!
The final insult came in the gents at the end of the night - where a whole wall was plastered with Man U posters. I have been to pubs all over the UK, including many in Manchester, and I have never seen a single Man U poster that wasn't posted ironically as a dart board. We can't let this stand...
Number Three: You guys need somewhere to send Nick Griffin before this BNP thing gets out of hand. Luckily he'll find lots of like-minded people over here in the 'real' America.
For example, the Pope extended his invitation to Anglicans to come and join the Catholic Church this week - specifically Anglicans who are angry at the elevating of female and gay clergy to Bishophood.
It is much too easy to say that this is just misogyny and homophobia as a whole - there are theological issues that aren't being effectively addressed, so anger occurs at the feeling that belief is being eroded.
However, if Anglicans are prepared to change to the Catholic Church, because of these issues, then they are homophobic and misogynist - as it clearly isn't about belief anymore. And the Pope must think he has an audience here...
He's probably right. This attack ad against legal protection for gay partnerships (i.e. allowing things like hospital visits with a partner) ran recently in Washington State;
"Did you know that in 2004 Scandinavia passed a law legalising same sex marriage. In the same year suicides rose by 25% and illegal drug use rose by 19%"
Wow. How do you counter that? Another argument about subsequence and consequence?
Nothing so subtle. As Stephen Colbert (a very funny pundit over here) pointed out - the ad is flawed because; 1) There is no such country as Scandinavia; 2) None of the countries in Scandinavia passed a same-sex marriage law in 2004; 3) The statistics about suicide and drug use are completely made up.
So, intolerance supported by false information - sounds like the perfect busman's holiday for Griffin. Maybe it won't even take an invasion - we could call him out in the same way that the Pope is calling out intolerant anglicans! "Dear Nick, Please feel free to come to 'real america' if you get sick of acceptance and multiculturalism in the UK. We're WASPs too! You would have to pledge allegiance to our flag... but on the plus side it is red white and blue..."
Number Four: They are trying to invade us! Time for a pre-emptive strike!
Evidence of this is seen in the recent NFL London game - 85,000 Yanks in Wembley! It's not right I tell you! And now they want two games a year!!
You can also see it in Pop Culture. They are just about to release The Boat That Rocked over here (did ANYONE watch it in the UK??) and have rebranded it Pirate Radio, with the tag-line "When the British Government banned Rock n Roll, One American DJ took them on". What?!? So Radio Luxembourg was made up of one American DJ was it?!? What is this, a Mel Gibson movie? Bravecast? "You can take our stones, but you'll never take our Beatles!"???
They are clearly readying an advance party and we need to strike first.
Rant over
DD out
First and foremost - the invasion is back on... for so many reasons!
Number one: the people here are crying out for democracy, but they are being denied it by the ruling class. Last year's election was indeed free and fair, with UN observers praising advances since the fiasco of 2000, but it turns out the idea that the previous regime would share power was simply too optimistic. They are prepared to go to any lengths to hold onto it - including subverting the democratic process.
Take, for example, the case of Senator Joe Lieberman. Polls show that most of the country want a public option in healthcare, most of the senate and house are prepared to vote for a bill with a public option in it - and that portion of the senate should include good ol' Joe. However, Joe has decided that he will side with the Republicans in a filibuster.
For those of you who didn't take Politics 101, a filibuster is the action of continuously debating a bill so that it never comes to vote. It is a practice started by Cato the Younger in the Roman Senate. Cato would hide under the bed and wait for Julius Caesar to return before attempting to attack him... no, wait, that's a different Cato... THIS Cato would talk and talk until nightfall so the Senate could not complete its business.
The practice hasn't changed much in 2000 years - it still involves pompous assholes enjoying the sound of their own voices as they seek their own ends rather than the furtherance of the democratic process. After all, what can be more undemocratic than denying a vote?
Answer - Joe Lieberman. As Joe should have guaranteed that the Senate be of a complexion where filibusters can't occur (i.e. Democrats have too much of a majority). However, despite the fact that most of his constituents support a public option, and that his state already has a public option, Joe is siding with the Republicans. Why? His state is also home to most of the big insurance companies - so it seems some constituents are more equal than others...
And I'm not even going to get into the fact that Health Insurance companies have largely decided to base themselves in a State that has a public option for them and their employees...
So, regime change is desparately needed to bring back democracy to this region. Not least because they have stockpiled large numbers of weapons of mass destruction.
Number Two: They are desperate for British culture here, but can't quite get it right. Evidence for this is found in my trip to the 'local' pub last night. First, it's not local. It took me an hour to get there on the bus (which is not red nor double-decker). Then, when I got there it was more like a shack than a proper pub building - and clearly used to have saloon doors, which they'd replaced with full-sized ones. The game was streamed via the internet (dodgy satellite anyone?), so kept slowing down when the download speed dropped. even the team was wrong - it was Arsenal but in a parallel universe where Bendtner and Senderos start; though the Liverpool team did seem normal. On the plus side the score was right (2-1 to the gunners) and they serve the first decent on-tap lager I've had here, but the chants...
One wannabe gooner chanted "We are the Arsenal, We are from WEST London", and the main chant of the evening was "Who likes Arsenal? We do". I mean, do they not know that you are supposed to watch Arsenal in total silence?! In fairness, even the local teams have trouble with chants (at the sounders they flash them up on a screen bouncing ball style) - but that is something an invasion could remedy!
The final insult came in the gents at the end of the night - where a whole wall was plastered with Man U posters. I have been to pubs all over the UK, including many in Manchester, and I have never seen a single Man U poster that wasn't posted ironically as a dart board. We can't let this stand...
Number Three: You guys need somewhere to send Nick Griffin before this BNP thing gets out of hand. Luckily he'll find lots of like-minded people over here in the 'real' America.
For example, the Pope extended his invitation to Anglicans to come and join the Catholic Church this week - specifically Anglicans who are angry at the elevating of female and gay clergy to Bishophood.
It is much too easy to say that this is just misogyny and homophobia as a whole - there are theological issues that aren't being effectively addressed, so anger occurs at the feeling that belief is being eroded.
However, if Anglicans are prepared to change to the Catholic Church, because of these issues, then they are homophobic and misogynist - as it clearly isn't about belief anymore. And the Pope must think he has an audience here...
He's probably right. This attack ad against legal protection for gay partnerships (i.e. allowing things like hospital visits with a partner) ran recently in Washington State;
"Did you know that in 2004 Scandinavia passed a law legalising same sex marriage. In the same year suicides rose by 25% and illegal drug use rose by 19%"
Wow. How do you counter that? Another argument about subsequence and consequence?
Nothing so subtle. As Stephen Colbert (a very funny pundit over here) pointed out - the ad is flawed because; 1) There is no such country as Scandinavia; 2) None of the countries in Scandinavia passed a same-sex marriage law in 2004; 3) The statistics about suicide and drug use are completely made up.
So, intolerance supported by false information - sounds like the perfect busman's holiday for Griffin. Maybe it won't even take an invasion - we could call him out in the same way that the Pope is calling out intolerant anglicans! "Dear Nick, Please feel free to come to 'real america' if you get sick of acceptance and multiculturalism in the UK. We're WASPs too! You would have to pledge allegiance to our flag... but on the plus side it is red white and blue..."
Number Four: They are trying to invade us! Time for a pre-emptive strike!
Evidence of this is seen in the recent NFL London game - 85,000 Yanks in Wembley! It's not right I tell you! And now they want two games a year!!
You can also see it in Pop Culture. They are just about to release The Boat That Rocked over here (did ANYONE watch it in the UK??) and have rebranded it Pirate Radio, with the tag-line "When the British Government banned Rock n Roll, One American DJ took them on". What?!? So Radio Luxembourg was made up of one American DJ was it?!? What is this, a Mel Gibson movie? Bravecast? "You can take our stones, but you'll never take our Beatles!"???
They are clearly readying an advance party and we need to strike first.
Rant over
DD out
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Internationally Lampooned Cascade Adventure
Evening all, - or rather morning for Japanese blog followers, and sorry to wake you English Blog readers!
Or rather should I say British Followers! As we have just been joined by our Scottish friend, Simon Masterton.
Sadly, Simon was no help at all in my quest for weight loss. Yes, yes, he did force me to go on hikes with him through the beautiful North Cascades (more on that later), but he also forced me to make a vat load of pumpkin pie and sugary pumpkin sweets. And once those things are made, they kind of have to be eaten... don't they? Aren't they the same as love??
The North Cascades are a beautiful range of Mountains about 3 hours drive away from Seattle. Sounds fairly accessible, but actually the weather and terrain mean they can only be reached from Spring to Autumn - they only managed to get a road to go through the range in 1970.
We travelled to a place fairly close to the start of the North Cascades Highway (voted one of the most scenic drives in the US) called Diablo Lake. There is an overlook where people who have gorged on pumpkin treats can get the views without leaving their cars (ah America!) but Simon was rather more keen to hike through the "two foot wide right next to the edge of a cliff!" (as Kira termed them) trails.
These were immediately made more interesting by the BEWARE COUGARS sign posted at the start of the trail (actual wild cats rather than predatory older women... raooooww!). Apparently, to ward them off you have to make yourself larger than life by putting your arms above your head. Knowing Kira and I you will be aware that putting our arms above our heads would barely qualify as making us life-size, so we were concerned.
Simon is also a little vertically challenged, but he assured us that his childhood in Scotland had prepared him for any misadventures, as he had walked to school barefoot in 10 inches of snow and fought off wild scottish lions. This sounded feasible to us (they do say Edinburgh is a completely different place outside of the festival...), so we continued.
We were rewarded with majestic views, which hopefully will appear in this part of the blog at some point - though from previous blogs you will be aware that I have not yet worked out how to position photos and the like... darned new fangled technology!! I'm also rather dependent on Si sending photos as I didn't take any (doh!). (Photo's arrived - thanks Si!)
Having conquered the natural world, we decided to rest up at a little place called the Queen of the Valley - which is an awesome B&B; well worth checking out if you are ever in this part of the world (which we hope you will be). Each room themed on a different part of the world. And a working piano with lots of sheet music in the living room, which we made extensive use of - no doubt scaring many Turkeys, which roam wild in the streets of LaConner (the town to which the Queen belongs).
We were able to do so because we were the only guests at the Queen on our evening - so we sang late into the night. Bearing that in mind I was very glad to receive information the next morning, rather than the night before, that apparently the house is haunted. My girlish disposition would have kept me up all night, but as it was I slept like a baby.
The next day we decided to follow up one visit to a scenic spot with a visit to an even more scenic spot - Deception Pass. Sounds like something out of an NFL playbook (oh, see how I assimilate Ben!) or a Dan Brown 'novel', but is in fact a bridge between the mainland and Whidbey Island (named after that sailor who led an expedition into the channel that his captain decided had been 'deceptive'... ). Hopefully some photos will appear below...
After hiking through some trails around Deception Pass, we went to a small town on Whidbey called Coupeville - which I think is where the film Practical Magic was shot. I'll let Si tell you about that himself.
Then on to home via the Mukilteo ferry. Quite an adventure!
So the next day we settled in for a bit and cooked lots of pumpkiny treats with a pumpkin we had bought back in LaConner - hence my weight gain...
On Thursday, Simon and I decided to walk around Seattle - from Downtown to Ballard (about 7 miles along the shore and across a huge set of locks that Salmon swim up). This turned out to be a bad idea, as the weather was biblical (i.e. we should have built an ark). We were both drenched, so felt justified in eating two lunches, and drinking a platter of beer... how did I gain weight again? And yes, you read right, a platter of beer. They, love their ales in the Northwest, and they are served in a manner akin to fine wine, with regional differences and minutiae of taste explained at various microbreweries.
No political comment in this blog as I am both a) bored by the terrible quality of news in the US and b) shocked at the events in politics in the UK (you seem to have a system much like the US now, where there is a 'real' UK anywhere outside of London... scary...). Just stay safe you guys.
More soon! Much sooner this time I promise!!
DD out
Or rather should I say British Followers! As we have just been joined by our Scottish friend, Simon Masterton.
Sadly, Simon was no help at all in my quest for weight loss. Yes, yes, he did force me to go on hikes with him through the beautiful North Cascades (more on that later), but he also forced me to make a vat load of pumpkin pie and sugary pumpkin sweets. And once those things are made, they kind of have to be eaten... don't they? Aren't they the same as love??
The North Cascades are a beautiful range of Mountains about 3 hours drive away from Seattle. Sounds fairly accessible, but actually the weather and terrain mean they can only be reached from Spring to Autumn - they only managed to get a road to go through the range in 1970.
We travelled to a place fairly close to the start of the North Cascades Highway (voted one of the most scenic drives in the US) called Diablo Lake. There is an overlook where people who have gorged on pumpkin treats can get the views without leaving their cars (ah America!) but Simon was rather more keen to hike through the "two foot wide right next to the edge of a cliff!" (as Kira termed them) trails.
These were immediately made more interesting by the BEWARE COUGARS sign posted at the start of the trail (actual wild cats rather than predatory older women... raooooww!). Apparently, to ward them off you have to make yourself larger than life by putting your arms above your head. Knowing Kira and I you will be aware that putting our arms above our heads would barely qualify as making us life-size, so we were concerned.
Simon is also a little vertically challenged, but he assured us that his childhood in Scotland had prepared him for any misadventures, as he had walked to school barefoot in 10 inches of snow and fought off wild scottish lions. This sounded feasible to us (they do say Edinburgh is a completely different place outside of the festival...), so we continued.
We were rewarded with majestic views, which hopefully will appear in this part of the blog at some point - though from previous blogs you will be aware that I have not yet worked out how to position photos and the like... darned new fangled technology!! I'm also rather dependent on Si sending photos as I didn't take any (doh!). (Photo's arrived - thanks Si!)
Having conquered the natural world, we decided to rest up at a little place called the Queen of the Valley - which is an awesome B&B; well worth checking out if you are ever in this part of the world (which we hope you will be). Each room themed on a different part of the world. And a working piano with lots of sheet music in the living room, which we made extensive use of - no doubt scaring many Turkeys, which roam wild in the streets of LaConner (the town to which the Queen belongs).
We were able to do so because we were the only guests at the Queen on our evening - so we sang late into the night. Bearing that in mind I was very glad to receive information the next morning, rather than the night before, that apparently the house is haunted. My girlish disposition would have kept me up all night, but as it was I slept like a baby.
The next day we decided to follow up one visit to a scenic spot with a visit to an even more scenic spot - Deception Pass. Sounds like something out of an NFL playbook (oh, see how I assimilate Ben!) or a Dan Brown 'novel', but is in fact a bridge between the mainland and Whidbey Island (named after that sailor who led an expedition into the channel that his captain decided had been 'deceptive'... ). Hopefully some photos will appear below...
After hiking through some trails around Deception Pass, we went to a small town on Whidbey called Coupeville - which I think is where the film Practical Magic was shot. I'll let Si tell you about that himself.
Then on to home via the Mukilteo ferry. Quite an adventure!
So the next day we settled in for a bit and cooked lots of pumpkiny treats with a pumpkin we had bought back in LaConner - hence my weight gain...
On Thursday, Simon and I decided to walk around Seattle - from Downtown to Ballard (about 7 miles along the shore and across a huge set of locks that Salmon swim up). This turned out to be a bad idea, as the weather was biblical (i.e. we should have built an ark). We were both drenched, so felt justified in eating two lunches, and drinking a platter of beer... how did I gain weight again? And yes, you read right, a platter of beer. They, love their ales in the Northwest, and they are served in a manner akin to fine wine, with regional differences and minutiae of taste explained at various microbreweries.
No political comment in this blog as I am both a) bored by the terrible quality of news in the US and b) shocked at the events in politics in the UK (you seem to have a system much like the US now, where there is a 'real' UK anywhere outside of London... scary...). Just stay safe you guys.
More soon! Much sooner this time I promise!!
DD out
Friday, October 2, 2009
Bananas Republics 2 - this time it's intelligible!
Hi All,
Have found some much more intelligent comment than mine on the election; LRB article entitled "Will We Notice When The Tories Have Won?"
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n18/mcki01_.html
Rob (not saying which one in case that is subject to official secrets!!) you might not like the sentence "defence procurement is notoriously profligate and much of what is bought is useless", but apart from that it's pretty balanced and very well argued.
I particularly like the statement that "Much of the energy of recent governments has been expended on trying to create markets where markets cannot operate – particularly in education and health". Pretty much sums up my position...
Sadly, didn't make it under 170lbs - two pints of sponsored beer and ridiculous amounts of coffee put paid to that by half a pound.
Perhaps Si Masterton will help me keep the pounds off when he arrives on Monday? Lots of adventures planned. Going to try and get him on board with the invasion, and perhaps pick up some mercenaries from the commonwealth (we're going to Vancouver).
DD Out
Have found some much more intelligent comment than mine on the election; LRB article entitled "Will We Notice When The Tories Have Won?"
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n18/mcki01_.html
Rob (not saying which one in case that is subject to official secrets!!) you might not like the sentence "defence procurement is notoriously profligate and much of what is bought is useless", but apart from that it's pretty balanced and very well argued.
I particularly like the statement that "Much of the energy of recent governments has been expended on trying to create markets where markets cannot operate – particularly in education and health". Pretty much sums up my position...
Sadly, didn't make it under 170lbs - two pints of sponsored beer and ridiculous amounts of coffee put paid to that by half a pound.
Perhaps Si Masterton will help me keep the pounds off when he arrives on Monday? Lots of adventures planned. Going to try and get him on board with the invasion, and perhaps pick up some mercenaries from the commonwealth (we're going to Vancouver).
DD Out
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Bananas Republics
Me again,
Have realised I need to post more regularly to keep you guys interested, and the last post was missing three things - Bridget Jones style update on weight-loss; blunt, under-researched political comment (the stable of most blogs...); and an update on the invasion.
So first, this week - Pints - 3; Wine - 7 (glasses!); Cupcakes (3); weight loss - currently 1.5 pounds! If I can push through today without doing something stupid (like drinking lots of sponsored pints at the diabetes fundraiser I'm going to tonight... ), I could be on to drop below 170 for the first weigh-in of my 30's - woo-hoo!!
Next, comment.
Bill "I didn't inhale and neither did she" Clinton was interviewed this week, and described a grand conspiracy against, originally, him and now Obama by the Republican right. Luckily he thinks they are shooting themselves in the foot. By just putting negative spanners in the works, he thinks they will alienate themselves to the electorate.
Sounds pretty common-sensical. But where would these guys have got the idea that this sort of tactic might work with a modern electorate?
How about the Tories in the UK?
Let's be honest, they've produced practically nothing over the past decade or so, but by sitting back and scoring negative political points, and occasionally dropping policy ideas nicked from other European states, they've managed to hoodwink the nation into thinking they are a better alternative - rather than highlighting the true case that the country is where it is because they have provided a completely ineffectual opposition.
By voting in the Tories we're effectively giving power to Harry Enfield's "I don't think you really wanted to do that" character - and is that what you want? Cos that's what'll happen...
Example. One of the nicked policies is Sweden's policy for school's, which the Economist gets fairly gooey about this week (yes, it's not just The Sun).
In Sweden, a voucher system operates, allowing parent's to choose which school the government will pay for the education of their child at - generally a public one or a for-profit free school. This creates what the Economist loves - a market with true competition in which good schools receive more money so their is an incentive for success, and the 'invisible hand' can operate.
Sounds great doesn't it? Needless to say there are lots of problems with it...
First, the Tories aren't mirroring the Swedish model in full. Very importantly, they aren't allowing schools to operate for-profit, which immediately lessens the incentive. In an article of April 23rd entitled OUT OF THE WINDOW, the Economist slammed Labour's education reforms on the basis that they simply mimicked the actions of markets without real consequences. Apparently the Tories plans to mimic markets without providing real rewards is not as bad though...
I'm not an economist, but I would suggest watching this space...
Secondly, and much more importantly, why are we trying to apply market principles to education at all - especially given the devastating failure of application in their own arena? Why have they become a metanarrative - analogous to fundamentalist religion - which explains everything in every arena?
The answer to that is pretty simple - because they hide the complexity of taking each situation on its own merit, dealing with its individual nuances - fiscal, logistical, moral etc..
The difference between subsequence and consequence is therefore a key one when considering the spread of market force doctrines. Yes, Sweden's schools improved after the introduction of a 'market' policy - but did they improve as a direct consequence, or simply subsequently because of 'side effects'? (Here's where it all gets poorly researched)
Well, the first thing to consider is that Sweden's 'market' doesn't really operate as a free market. There are, in fact, elements to it which look positively socialist. First, everyone is mandated the same amount of money to spend via their voucher. That is certainly not how investing usually works (intelligent investors can affect the market more by virtue of their having, in an efficient market, more capital) and isn't even how other market-driven sectors of education work (for example tertiary education in the US). Second, where does this money come from? Taxation - and taxation at a much more onerous level than in the UK. Sweden's mean personal income tax is near 50%, as opposed to just under 35% in the UK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg). By taxing individuals more, the government makes them less able to operate as players in a free market, as it takes more of their capital to put into a collective pot. Money that, for example, could have been used to pay for private schooling.
Next, we have to consider what this 'market' has actually come to look like. Apparently only 10% of students are enrolled in the new independent schools. So the government still educates 90% of children. Apparently we're supposed to believe that those 90% are being better served as their schools have upped their game due to competition in the market.
However, given that it is well known within education that smaller class sizes improve attainment, isn't it equally likely that the expansion of provision has led to more optimal class sizes, and that that has led to the overall improvement - not the response to competition? Is it in fact even competition if teachers are teaching less students, and therefore getting less money but doing less work in a better environment?
So the introduction of market forces in Swedish education was followed by an improvement in educational attainment, but could it not be a 'side-effect' of centrally funded equal expansion of provision leading to smaller class sizes?
If so, there's only one way to equally expand provision in the UK - raise taxes to Swedish levels. Can't see the Tories proposing that one...
Right, done with the ill-informed rant. Next up - invasion plans. I'm not getting anywhere on my own so have decided to join forces with an overwhelming existing contingent... British actors!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/30/american-tv-invaded-british-actors
I have been cast in a Christmas production (so sadly not coming back) and booked a voiceover gig. Yay!
Got to get off to the latter now, so...
DD Out
Have realised I need to post more regularly to keep you guys interested, and the last post was missing three things - Bridget Jones style update on weight-loss; blunt, under-researched political comment (the stable of most blogs...); and an update on the invasion.
So first, this week - Pints - 3; Wine - 7 (glasses!); Cupcakes (3); weight loss - currently 1.5 pounds! If I can push through today without doing something stupid (like drinking lots of sponsored pints at the diabetes fundraiser I'm going to tonight... ), I could be on to drop below 170 for the first weigh-in of my 30's - woo-hoo!!
Next, comment.
Bill "I didn't inhale and neither did she" Clinton was interviewed this week, and described a grand conspiracy against, originally, him and now Obama by the Republican right. Luckily he thinks they are shooting themselves in the foot. By just putting negative spanners in the works, he thinks they will alienate themselves to the electorate.
Sounds pretty common-sensical. But where would these guys have got the idea that this sort of tactic might work with a modern electorate?
How about the Tories in the UK?
Let's be honest, they've produced practically nothing over the past decade or so, but by sitting back and scoring negative political points, and occasionally dropping policy ideas nicked from other European states, they've managed to hoodwink the nation into thinking they are a better alternative - rather than highlighting the true case that the country is where it is because they have provided a completely ineffectual opposition.
By voting in the Tories we're effectively giving power to Harry Enfield's "I don't think you really wanted to do that" character - and is that what you want? Cos that's what'll happen...
Example. One of the nicked policies is Sweden's policy for school's, which the Economist gets fairly gooey about this week (yes, it's not just The Sun).
In Sweden, a voucher system operates, allowing parent's to choose which school the government will pay for the education of their child at - generally a public one or a for-profit free school. This creates what the Economist loves - a market with true competition in which good schools receive more money so their is an incentive for success, and the 'invisible hand' can operate.
Sounds great doesn't it? Needless to say there are lots of problems with it...
First, the Tories aren't mirroring the Swedish model in full. Very importantly, they aren't allowing schools to operate for-profit, which immediately lessens the incentive. In an article of April 23rd entitled OUT OF THE WINDOW, the Economist slammed Labour's education reforms on the basis that they simply mimicked the actions of markets without real consequences. Apparently the Tories plans to mimic markets without providing real rewards is not as bad though...
I'm not an economist, but I would suggest watching this space...
Secondly, and much more importantly, why are we trying to apply market principles to education at all - especially given the devastating failure of application in their own arena? Why have they become a metanarrative - analogous to fundamentalist religion - which explains everything in every arena?
The answer to that is pretty simple - because they hide the complexity of taking each situation on its own merit, dealing with its individual nuances - fiscal, logistical, moral etc..
The difference between subsequence and consequence is therefore a key one when considering the spread of market force doctrines. Yes, Sweden's schools improved after the introduction of a 'market' policy - but did they improve as a direct consequence, or simply subsequently because of 'side effects'? (Here's where it all gets poorly researched)
Well, the first thing to consider is that Sweden's 'market' doesn't really operate as a free market. There are, in fact, elements to it which look positively socialist. First, everyone is mandated the same amount of money to spend via their voucher. That is certainly not how investing usually works (intelligent investors can affect the market more by virtue of their having, in an efficient market, more capital) and isn't even how other market-driven sectors of education work (for example tertiary education in the US). Second, where does this money come from? Taxation - and taxation at a much more onerous level than in the UK. Sweden's mean personal income tax is near 50%, as opposed to just under 35% in the UK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg). By taxing individuals more, the government makes them less able to operate as players in a free market, as it takes more of their capital to put into a collective pot. Money that, for example, could have been used to pay for private schooling.
Next, we have to consider what this 'market' has actually come to look like. Apparently only 10% of students are enrolled in the new independent schools. So the government still educates 90% of children. Apparently we're supposed to believe that those 90% are being better served as their schools have upped their game due to competition in the market.
However, given that it is well known within education that smaller class sizes improve attainment, isn't it equally likely that the expansion of provision has led to more optimal class sizes, and that that has led to the overall improvement - not the response to competition? Is it in fact even competition if teachers are teaching less students, and therefore getting less money but doing less work in a better environment?
So the introduction of market forces in Swedish education was followed by an improvement in educational attainment, but could it not be a 'side-effect' of centrally funded equal expansion of provision leading to smaller class sizes?
If so, there's only one way to equally expand provision in the UK - raise taxes to Swedish levels. Can't see the Tories proposing that one...
Right, done with the ill-informed rant. Next up - invasion plans. I'm not getting anywhere on my own so have decided to join forces with an overwhelming existing contingent... British actors!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/30/american-tv-invaded-british-actors
I have been cast in a Christmas production (so sadly not coming back) and booked a voiceover gig. Yay!
Got to get off to the latter now, so...
DD Out
Monday, September 28, 2009
Little house on the zen garden
Hi All!
I've been rather busy over the past few weeks, so blogging kind of went out of the window.
This one will be short too.
Basically - the new house is lovely and we continue to improve it, pictures and video for you embedded here.
My Birthday (the second this year!) was excellent, with drinks and nibbles in a wine bar on the ground floor of our b
uilding.Theatre over here continues to go well - I've been cast in a production for Christmas, so sadly won't be back...though will be back later instead. Should be lots of fun - it's called "Sherlock Holme's Christmas Carol"
As I still haven't had the economist
changed to my new address, and also just got the cable we needed for CNN and MSNBC (for a steal!!) I have absolutely no political thoughts at all this time. Just colour charts and feng shui ideas I'm afraid. For example, did you know a table that is slightly lower than an existing bar counter can accentuate the counter and create a useful dining centre? I had no idea until a few weeks ago, but now I do... and for some reason it feels important... what has happened to me?!?Anyway, enjoy the photos
DD out (for now...)
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