Radio Kenneth

the real reason the talks derailed:

(I’m not happy with this Baxter, not at all, but it’s been such a while since I grappled with him that I thought it better to bodge one out and springboard off its mediocrity back up into the soaring heights of The Fish than fuss forever with an unhappy cartoon. Better out than in. I don’t like: the subject, the words, the posture, the colour and the composition, the chair, the table, the nameplate thing. I do like: the pointer, the fish. If I could say that the whole cartoon is saved by anything at all, it is in the placid disinterest of the fish. Anyway, back in the saddle!)

although my olives are less green and my hands are more purple.

Hello Bruce. Here is how to get here:

Head out of Oleiros towards Serta, but after only a few hundred metres turn RIGHT up the hill towards Alvaro.
4km up the hill you turn LEFT at the old resin factory (with the chimney) towards Madeira. The road continues climbing towards the wind turbines.
After a few kilometres there is an orange bus stop on the right, with signs to (amongst others) Sarnadas, Longra and Frazumeira. Turn RIGHT down this road.
Drive another couple of kilometres along this road, which begins with a precipitous wiggle downwards, then the road straightens, you head past a crossroads, past a left hand turn to Portela (I think) then on your left you will see a sign to CORGA.
Turn LEFT and drive for 1km down the track, following your nose, to our house. Stop car, apply handbrake, exit car, walk to house, say hello.

At the other end of the spectrum, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Reuters news agency the award was ridiculous. “The Nobel prize for peace? Obama should have won the ‘Nobel Prize for Escalating Violence and Killing Civilians’,” he said.

I’m scanning the news, but I don’t think the Nobel Prize for Escalating Violence and Killing Civilians has been awarded yet. Perhaps Obama could make it a brace?

This was me testing I could still remember the login & password.

Interesting use of tenses here from the President:

“As I’ve said before, it took us many more months to fully dig ourselves out of a recession that we now know was even deeper than anyone thought. But I will continue to work every single day and take every step that’s necessary to make sure that happens.”

In other words: thanks heavens it’s all fully over now soon we hope.

Maintaining then, the can’ ; t my LOGON is remembered, I task it’ ; a s, case over, something want, yes this l’ are you must you. The Portugueses thus over a long time span that they speak are quest’ Nearly can’ ; summer; t they are remembered, over since my maternal language is spoken about l’ English that can you me declare painfully is necessary!

The headline reads: Joe The Plumber Slurs Gay People: I Would Never Let “Queers” Near My Children.
Never. Obviously. He’s not an idiot. He knows how that stuff can spread.

It’s an interview with ‘Christianity Today’ (an oxymoron?), in which he says: “You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do–what man and woman are for.” Such a delightfully old school belief (barely registered as a belief) in the bible as a transparent & perfect conduit of the word of God. On which matter: “People don’t understand the dictionary–it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual.” His use of the word “dictionary” in that sentence is remarkable. It is functions in exactly the same UNTHINKING way as the words “the bible” do when used to mean the infallible and perfect transcription of God’s revelation … “the dictionary” is a thing which exists for Joe, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a particular thing, an AUTHORITY in a perfect unchanging (really) form, a taken-for-granted touchstone. A bible of words. You know… the dictionary. The dictionary says.

“Queer means strange and unusual.” Yes, and for a time it meant “drunk”. Likewise, the word “plumber” means someone who “plumbs the depths”. A bit like a whapsnatcher, but with smoother balls.

Do you wanna go? Do you wanna go?

Yes.

My hair is getting this way. My mandolin playing is lagging.

Give me time.

MAMA’S IN THE KITCHEN, BAKING UP A PIE!

The joy I get from Rory Gallagher grows by the year.

Like my hair.

The red carpets are being hosed down, tuxedos are being rinsed, and the cockles have already arrived:

Soon enough we shall see their transformation into film’s greatest prize…