Festive

And so the "festive" season is almost upon us. A more depressing time of year I can't imagine. Full of false cheer, stupid sentiment, bugger all on the TV, relatives you don't really want to see, food you would normally avoid, cheap tacky decorations, messages of hope, bloody goodwill and numerous other "traditions" that are only foist upon us at Christmas! Do I sound like I am living up to the description of my blog, damn right I do! I don't hate this time of year but I am just tired of the whole loony mess that it has become. I like presents, who doesn't but I want to give them because I want too, not because I feel obliged to! And as for cards and decorations what a complete waste of time they are. Christmas lights on the outside of your house that could provide enough brightness to land planes by, why? What is this compunction to advertise to the country that you are a complete twat?
There was a bloke who celebrated Christmas everyday, I don't know if he still does but if so, he should be run out of the country or if he refuses to go, shoot him!
Am I a humbug, yes, I don't want to spoil peoples enjoyment I just want to keep it in proportion. Every year I am determined not to get drawn in to the whole bizarre ritual but it is unavoidable unless one locks oneself away or perhaps travel to some part of the world where it is not celebrated, if such a place exists? 
Every revolting specialist Christmas figure, decoration, seasonal stuffed toy animal, Christmas scene etc becomes inevitably more expensive each passing year and that is not just down to rising prices but the perpetrators of these ghastly objects squeezing every last penny they can out of this specialised market.
This year for the first time in a long while I actually have quite a lot of time off , I am grateful for the break and I have almost avoided the insidious non-stop parade of awful Christmas songs that are constantly repeated in almost every damn shop you enter. I could not give a flying fuck who has the Christmas number 1.its bound to be some cloying sickly record produced by some X Factor hopeful or some poor sod who has been convinced by a greedy record company that the good cause they subscribe to, can milk the public's pocket because they will garner more sympathy at this time of year, bollocks!
Santa, now there is a figure who started out as a jolly fantasy with whom children could interact and have some fun with, thanks to Hollywood and the incessant stream of Christmas movies, he has been shoved down our throats as everything from a grumpy old bastard himself to a tyrant who works his staff to meet the Christmas deadline, just like any other CEO! Either that or some poor idiot has to take over the family business because otherwise the would be no Christmas and all the children in the world would feel let down!
This assumes that in today's technology overloaded world there is a single child on the planet, that could suspend disbelief for long enough to actually think there could be a Santa Claus! 
Do I sound bitter and somewhat pessimistic on this subject? Well let me end on an uplifting note. If Christmas could be a  real catalyst (not in any religious sense, that would be just as hateful!) for some understanding and inclusiveness, of peace if you will, then we should celebrate it for that and that alone, I fear however it will just be another pathetic over indulgence wrapped in tinsel and garish paper and afterwards we will wonder why we did it and we managed to spend so much..........................!!!!

Merry Christmas everybody and a Happy New Year..............................I suppose!

It's now or never you stupid Americans, wake up!

I have tried to refrain from writing about the senseless killings in the good ole US of A but find it difficult to restrain my fingers from typing. Whilst I cannot but agree with those commentators who say that the horse has bolted and that there is little you can do to prevent the possession of firearms, surely it is time that some action was taken in limiting the use, sale and ownership of them. Whilst a great percentage of Americans believe it is their inalienable right, as enshrined in the bill of rights, to be able to own a gun is it not proof  that inevitably innocent people are going to die!
 I have listened to the debate , a debate which seems to have taken place for many years in the face of these regular tragedies, and it appears that even fairly liberal minded Americans do not support legislation to curb the use of weapons. They trot out the old excuse people kill people not guns. Does it not occur to them if the guns were limited in there supply it would be more difficult for anyone to kill anyone. 
I am well aware that there will always be an availability of guns , whatever laws are brought in, if you really want to get hold of one, you will and that is the same in any country.  Alongside limiting the use of guns a plan of education must be implemented to change the prevailing and deeply rooted culture so as the future generations have a different attitude towards them. 
If Mr Obama, who has no re-election to worry about, does not grasp the nettle and do something about firearms then it will again be be forgotten until the next time some raving nutter does it again...........................................!!!!!!!!!
Whilst I would agree with those commentators

Jazz

I have a passion for music, all sorts of music, a wide eclectic mix of everything and anything (well almost) but I have found myself recently leaning more and more towards jazz. Not to the exclusion of other genre but when choosing music to listen to, especially as a ambient sound in the background, I find myself gravitating towards a jazz orientated selection. 
This is not a sudden discovery of the form I have always liked jazz and have listened to it for many years. Whether it is the class of Dave Brubeck (RIP), Duke Ellington, Miles Davies or the many others players who have graced the format. 
I listen to the Jamie Cullum radio program on BBC Radio 2, as I used to listen to Humphrey Lyttleton's show on the same channel, that ran for so many years and enjoy discovering both new and older jazz that I have not heard before.
Jazz has a mellow and relaxing feel to it. Not all jazz of course some of the more avant-garde style, can often be impenetrable and strident, although interesting and often brilliant. Then there is swing, which is often wonderful to dance to. 
I appreciate more  and more the improvisation and how it appears to be unstructured and yet has a pattern. I really enjoy the classic format of  piano, drums ,bass and saxophone or guitar, violin or another brass instrument and many other styles, which I am not going to list.
There is a very healthy crop of current jazz musicians producing great music and blending different styles and types of music together. Music, any type of music, is always being fused and interwoven and is this that keeps it changing, evolving and fresh (although, showing my age, I am not convinced by a lot of the current so called popular music, with the odd exception!). 
Traditional forms, should be cherished and it is great that they are kept alive so as we can celebrate that style and trace how the music developed.
If you have not listened to Jazz before try it. If you have Google Chrome go into the apps and install Earbits radio and then try the jazz selection.

The World

I have been reading a book which espouses the premise that the human race is living within the earth as part of it as opposed to living on it. We are an intrinsic part of the world, no more or less important or unimportant as any other piece, every part of the earth and universe is us and we are it, nothing more than energy. Somehow the human ego gets in the way and we believe we are somehow special and superior to all of natures creation. How arrogant to think that we are the pinnacle of evolution. 

Facebook

I admit I have a Facebook page and I use it to keep in touch with family and some friends that I otherwise would not ever see. I even comment occasionally and post the odd photo. However with that said I am constantly amazed at trivial rubbish that appears. Aah, I hear you say, Facebook is not meant to be anything but trivial and can be used to promote many good causes but why has it become the medium for the outpourings of peoples superficial thoughts and cute photo's (usually of puppies, kittens or children). Now don't get me wrong, there are many forums where people can discuss serious subjects and make observations of great depth and insight and I am not advocating that the medium should become another. I do however, wish that Facebook had not developed into the crass instrument it has become, what started out as an idea for people to stay in touch, using the power of the internet, has become a medium for every commercial outlet and an advertising nightmare! All mediums develop and nowhere faster than the web, indeed you would say that that is the very definition of an unrestricted electronic tool, like the internet. 
All human life is there and some good, some bad and some completely disgusting. 
I suppose I will have to live with the so called progress the is happening on Facebook but I do long for that simpler time.  
And thee you have it tonight's grumpy moan from your friendly grump!