The title of this blog comes from a Gaelic expression -"putting on the poor mouth"-which means to exaggerate the direness of one's situation in order to gain time or favour from creditors.
06 November 2010
Assassins of Allah
Originally called Hassan i Sabbah. This originally aeared on the 1977 album Quark, strangeness and charm. Its name changed to Assassins of Allah during the 80s
The Sex Pistols do Hawkwind
Actually not a big surprise as John Lydon was rather a Hawkwind fan. He may not have admitted than in 1977 though!
05 November 2010
It lives
A small spit in the face of public servants but still a spit
It’s not uncommon for governments to bring in placemen into departments as special advisors. Labour did it and the Tories did it when they were previously in power. I’m not saying that it’s right but it is done.
A personal photographer is a different matter though. If Cameron. According to the Guardian (and plenty of other sources) the Cabinet Office has confirmed it had given Andrew Parsons, a former Tory party employee described as Mr Cameron’s “vanity photographer”, a job in the civil service.
Nicky Woodhouse, a filmmaker who has made hundreds of the 'web Cameron' films for the Tory party, has also been put on the civil service payroll.
The pair have been hired by the Cabinet Office on a one year contract, worth around £35,000 each, with a brief to work across all Government departments.
The jobs were not advertised to anyone else and their positions did not exist under the last Government.
The Government announced a recruitment freeze not long after they took power. So much for that then. Okay this is not a huge issue in the grand scheme of things but it sends a message to civil servants facing the axe – a message of utter arrogance on the part of the Government.
If nearly half a million jobs are going, slashing the number of people to provide essential services and deliver policies then why the hell is there money for a personal photographer?
04 November 2010
A fun packed day
Apart from watching all 14 episodes of Season 10 of South Park I discovered that Robyn, our alpha cat, loves peanut butter.
Life is sweet...
Life is sweet...
Some Tayside Tragedian
LINES IN PRAISE OF PROFESSOR BLACKIE
by William McGonagall
Alas! the people's hearts are now full of sorrow
For the deceased Professor Blackie, of Edinboro';
Because he was a Christian man, affable and kind,
And his equal in charitable actions would be hard to find
'Twas in the year of 1895, March the 2nd, he died at 10 o'clock.
Which to his dear wife, and his adopted son, was a great shock;
And before he died he bade farewell to his adopted son and wife.
Which, no doubt, they will remember during life.
Professor Blackie celebrated his golden wedding three years ago,
When he was made the recipient of respect from high and low.
He leaves a widow, but, fortunately, no family,
Which will cause Mrs. Blackie to feel less unhappy.
Professor Blackie will be greatly missed in Edinboro;
Especially those that met him daily will feel great sorrow,
When they think of his never-failing plaid and hazel rung,
For, although he was an old man, he considered he was young.
He had a very striking face, and silvery locks like a seer,
And in the hearts of the Scottish people he was loved most dear;
And many a heart will mourn for him, but all in vain,
Because he never can return to them again.
He was a very kind-hearted man, and in no way vain,
And I'm afraid we ne'er shall look upon his like again;
And to hear him tell Scotch stories, the time did quickly pass,
And for singing Scotch songs few could him surpass.
But I hope he is in heaven, singing with saints above,
Around God's throne, where all is peace and love;
There, where God's children daily doth meet
To sing praises to God, enchanting and sweet.
He had visited almost every part of Europe in his time,
And, like Lord Byron, he loved the Grecian clime;
Nor did he neglect his own dear country,
And few men knew it more thoroughly than he.
On foot he tramped o'er most of bonnie Scotland,
And in his seventies he climbed the highest hills most grand.
Few men in his day could be compared to him,
Because he wasn't hard on fallen creatures when they did sin.
Oh, dearly beloved Professor Blackie, I must conclude my muse,
And to write in praise of thee my pen does not refuse;
Because you were a very Christian man, be it told,
Worthy of a monument, and your name written thereon in letters of gold.
Don't forget McGonagall Online for all your poetry needs
by William McGonagall
Alas! the people's hearts are now full of sorrow
For the deceased Professor Blackie, of Edinboro';
Because he was a Christian man, affable and kind,
And his equal in charitable actions would be hard to find
'Twas in the year of 1895, March the 2nd, he died at 10 o'clock.
Which to his dear wife, and his adopted son, was a great shock;
And before he died he bade farewell to his adopted son and wife.
Which, no doubt, they will remember during life.
Professor Blackie celebrated his golden wedding three years ago,
When he was made the recipient of respect from high and low.
He leaves a widow, but, fortunately, no family,
Which will cause Mrs. Blackie to feel less unhappy.
Professor Blackie will be greatly missed in Edinboro;
Especially those that met him daily will feel great sorrow,
When they think of his never-failing plaid and hazel rung,
For, although he was an old man, he considered he was young.
He had a very striking face, and silvery locks like a seer,
And in the hearts of the Scottish people he was loved most dear;
And many a heart will mourn for him, but all in vain,
Because he never can return to them again.
He was a very kind-hearted man, and in no way vain,
And I'm afraid we ne'er shall look upon his like again;
And to hear him tell Scotch stories, the time did quickly pass,
And for singing Scotch songs few could him surpass.
But I hope he is in heaven, singing with saints above,
Around God's throne, where all is peace and love;
There, where God's children daily doth meet
To sing praises to God, enchanting and sweet.
He had visited almost every part of Europe in his time,
And, like Lord Byron, he loved the Grecian clime;
Nor did he neglect his own dear country,
And few men knew it more thoroughly than he.
On foot he tramped o'er most of bonnie Scotland,
And in his seventies he climbed the highest hills most grand.
Few men in his day could be compared to him,
Because he wasn't hard on fallen creatures when they did sin.
Oh, dearly beloved Professor Blackie, I must conclude my muse,
And to write in praise of thee my pen does not refuse;
Because you were a very Christian man, be it told,
Worthy of a monument, and your name written thereon in letters of gold.
Don't forget McGonagall Online for all your poetry needs
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