Sunday 28 August 2011

See No Evil

Over the last twelve months, plans were made which resulted in top graffiti artists around the world making their way to Bristol's Nelson Street where they have created Europe's biggest outdoor street art exhibition.
I only stumbled across this street art event by accident, two weeks ago when I stayed in Bristol overnight for a job. Having to book a hotel last minute the hotel we were hoping to stay at was fully booked so we settled for a different one. Fate is what I usually like to call these things. Not only did we stumble across Wow! Gorillas (Bristol Zoo Gardens celebration of it's 175th anniversary), we stumbled across the See No Evil street art event less than 30 seconds from the hotel we were now staying in. It could not have been a better result.
I have always had an interest in street art but after the initial increase in awareness 10yrs ago have been somewhat put off by how much interest it has been given as it has got to the point where street art is now being protected by perspex within days of it going up. (In the second photo you can see CCTV has been installed.)

Photos courtesy of Street Art London.

Okay, so yes, clearly it is a Banksy, BUT street art is not meant to be about money. Street art is not meant to be encased, hence why they are found on the streets and not in galleries. Although that line has also been crossed. For me, street art is for the people. Not to be owned by individuals.
I could go rambling on about this issue but I will stop, as I was meant to be writing about Bristol's See No Evil project.
More than 70 artists took part in transforming the area which the Bristol City Council, after having invested £80'000, hopes will impact on increasing the tourism numbers therefore boosting the local economy. Artists included El Mac from LA, Tats Cru from New York, Inkie from Bristol itself and other artist from Spain, Brazil, Holland and the rest of Britain.
The project completed on Saturday 20th August 2011 with an event consisting of a showcase of local music and art involving DJ's, bands and street theatre. I wish I could have been there but sadly I was all the way back in London Town. I hope I get to go back and visit soon.
Here are some of my photos when I was in Bristol on my oh so fleeting visit:






Saturday 27 August 2011

UK's latest sensation.

It's that time of year again... X Factor! This time round with a whole new panel of judges (bar the exception of Louis Walsh). Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos. Anyway.. It seems they may have found an amazing contender as this years winner of X Factor in the form of 16 year old Janet Devlin from a tiny village in Ireland. All I can say is.. Truly amazing, captivating and breath taking. Here is the moment she auditioned..



To see the full audition travel on over to here.

Janet already has her own YouTube channel (Janet Devlin) where she has recorded a whole host of covers.
Below is her cover of To Make You Feel My Love by Bob dylan.




I wish her all the best and that she doesn't lose sight of who she is.

Thursday 25 August 2011

Miracle Day

So who's watching Torchwood this year? It's SERIOUSLY intense. The end of episode five has left me with a very uneasy, and unable to comprehend state of mind. I don't think I've watched anything with a storyline quite like this.
This season, Torchwood explores death being eliminated from the equation of life, amongst the human race. Can you imagine if that actually happened? People just stop dying. The ones who should have died..they don't. They carry on living, despite their injuries and illnesses (including decapitation). Meanwhile on the other end of the scale...millions of babies are still being born into the world everyday. The population multiplies at an alarming rate. Even abortion is no longer possible. What are the consequences? What does this lead on to? Well..I suggest watching Torchwood just to get to grips with what I'm trying to explain. It's a fascinating storyline which makes you think.

Spoiler Alert:
I'm struggling to get my head round the end of episode five. After watching the story unfold you understand that death is impossible. However they can still suffer the pain depending on the injury. Given the amount of deathly accidents/illnesses that occur each day..space is running out in all the hospitals. New laws are being passed to reclassify the patients. A patient classified as category one is the new 'dead'. One of the criteria being that the patient is unconscious. Patients are being transported to camps and segregated. The 'dark secret' behind these camps is that the plan for the category ones is to incinerate them. 
What happens at the end of episode five is one of the characters, who was completely alive (obviously) and healthy gets shot. To cover it up she ends up being placed in one of the incinerators. She regains consciousness as the incinerator gets turned on. As death is impossible..this means she is burnt alive and (I'm guessing) reduced to ash..yet she cannot be dead. Death is impossible. 
So this must mean she carries on existing as particles of ash?? Is that what is happening? She will continue living..but as bits of ash? I find it hard to comprehend and have literally just come to the conclusion that she wouldn't be in pain in her new state, as this state would not involve pain...as she is not being constantly burnt... ?? I am confused. Would she be in pain? Would she not be in pain? She WOULD have to be alive right? Death is not in the equation.. Yet her body and functions are all just ash... So she must then be unconscious? But then the form of ash is...... Does that mean she IS dead? But then death is not possible. Is that a loop hole?



I thought the ear muffs on the baby was a nice touch.

Monday 22 August 2011

Strange Fruit

I've just realised..I did a post about James Kar being published in 101 TOP TIPS FOR DSLR VIDEO but never actually posted the video that is featured so here it is..

There's also a fun behind the scenes video which I have posted below.
Enjoy.



Sunday 21 August 2011

WHAT IS VA VA VOOM?

LOVE.
LOVE THIS.

WHAT IS VA VA VOOM?
IS IT MORE? - Audrey Hepburn
OR LESS? - Dita Von Teese
I could've been a contender.
DOES IT SMOULDER? Marlon Brando
I could've been somebody.
DOES IT BURN BRIGHTLY?
Ground control to major tom -  David Bowie
IS THERE A QUEEN OF IT?
It's so good being bad - Rhianna
BIEN SUR.
VIVE LA RENAULT CLIO

Saturday 20 August 2011

Someone Like You

Simple really.
A beautiful song.



This is the first time I've actually seen the video. Whenever I hear this song I always think of the end of Secret Diary of a Call Girl. It was very emotional.



"We can't regret our choices. The past is behind us. All we have is the present.. and the future. Whatever that may bring."

Friday 19 August 2011

Little dog lost.

The train was approaching the platform when I started to hear the noise of little paws running along the platform. It was a little white highland terrier. He was just running around going up to people's legs and looking up a them all happy but expectant. He'd clearly been out all night. He was very wet and slightly muddy.

We had to get on the train. It was heartbreaking. The train arrived and he waited by the door looking unsure what to do. A gentleman made sure he didn't get on the train as who knows where the little dog would end up. It was so upsetting watching the doors close, knowing he'd be left outside at the end of the platform alone. If he'd turned up before the train arrived I could have found a station warden. There would have to have been someone somewhere who could look after him. I hope he's okay and that the next person who arrived at the platform found someone at the station who could help find who he belonged to so he could get home.



Be safe little dog. Find your way home.

Thursday 18 August 2011

Smokers.


I hate when you smoke whilst walking and then it blows all over me.

I hate that you smoke.

Monday 15 August 2011

Was it just bad behaviour?

The Major of London announced today that any young person involved in the London riots will lose their free travel, but can earn it back. I simply retweeted with the question "Why can they earn it back?!" Seconds later I had a reply from someone saying "If you want people to behave, incentives and the ability to rehabilitate themselves give them reasons to try." I guess that makes sense..but I don't believe this is about making people behave. People involved in the riots weren't just misbehaving because they didn't know any better. They were taking advantage of the chaos and just doing what they felt like whilst knowing it was wrong. They don't need rehabilitating..they've not suffered a moment of insanity or breakdown. They've not been brought up not knowing what's right from wrong. You see videos of ppl asking the rioters/looters why they were doing it..because they "were owed it". They were "getting their taxes back". They were simply taking advantage to get back what they felt they were owed.

People lost their homes and their possessions that cannot simply be replaced. They were innocent victims. Why should the people involved in the London riots be able to earn their free travel back? It was a privilege in the first place, and well..the people who lost their homes can't just get their homes back. Losing free travel is a small loss and it is only a small consequence to their actions. A small life lesson.

Things can't always just be fixed so easily.. Should they not learn that?