All Bullocksed Up

What's this then with the Chunnel?

Just sayin'. And during the Christmas rush too.

Thanks to "Mortadelo2005" for the use of the image.

Rock 'n Dole Will Never Die?

I've pondered many times in this space why one little island has produced so many musical legends. It's a waste to start listing them ... I'd never stop ... but you have to admit that it's *way* out of proportion for their population.

One clue came in the form of something I had never heard of: the so-called Rock 'n Dole program, a part of the New Deal that Blair installed in 1998.

Apparently, if you did some sort of volunteer work or other service to the country, you were eligible for a handout. And if you could prove that you were working on a musical career, that counted. Nothing like that could ever happen in the U.S. I mean, it was an expressed goal of the program to create more rock bands. They actually saw that a scene like in the photo of Embrace in concert (above) was good for the economy. And you don't get there by logging time at the til in the local Tesco.

I'm not sure how many modern acts got their start this way. Naturally, this specific program came a little late for Zepplin and the Jam. But according to one article I read, Embrace were one and I have to assume that any act you could name now, from Arctic Monkey to Elbow dipped into the program at some point or another.

Now the program is coming to an end. Many a dissertation has been written about the racial attitudes and economic mixture that created the Stones and the Sex Pistols. But that they even had this program for a decade says a lot about that place. Historians will probably look back on this period with curiosity, just as they do the influx of R&B and Soul records into Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s -- and into the hands of Lennon and McCartney and Harrison. Well, maybe Rock 'n Dole didn't have the same impact, but it's still pretty cool.

I am Howard

In addition to loving the UK, I love Israel, Italy, France and Canada! Are we noticing a trend? Basically I love anywhere that's not here, I guess.

One of the best things to come from our neighbors to the north (members of the Commonwealth, BTW) is Jonathan Goldstein's Wiretap on CBC Radio. It's sort of hard to describe, so check out the podcast, especially, the recent on in which Howard Chackowicz returns from a four-day trip to England with a British accent.

I love this character. I guess I relate to him. But this last episode put it over the top. Of course, I fear that I am as needy and crazy as Howard. And I fear that my efforts to fit in with Brits are met with the same reaction as Howards: "A lot of people were laughing ... when I was making a joke, so ..."

Anyway, listen to Wiretap's Mysteries and tell me what you think.

Wiretap illustration/logo by artist Jack Dylan -- used for the purposes of promoting the show.

Boosh Boys do Python

Even more than the TV shows on PBS, it was the Monty Python records that captivated a 12-year-old Phonybrit. Now the stars of Britain's newest comedy show have a radio documentary on BBC2. I missed the seven-day period when you can still hear BBC radio shows for part one. But part two has just been posted today!

The Beeb also made a video of The Boosh Boys talking about Python below:

Mummy and Papa are Fighting

A UK magistrate has called for the arrest of Tzipi Livni and other Israeli politicians, accusing them of war crimes. What if Great Britain and Israel go to war? I wonder if there were some Anglo-maniacs in Argentina back in Falkland Island days who had their allegiances thusly torn assunder?

Here's to You, Mr. Robinson

So I joined the Scooter Club on Facebook (naturally), and it's proved a treasure trove of inside baseball (or inside cricket as the case may be). The member offer each other tickets to great concerts, alert each other to scooter rallies and events -- and generally trade trivia about scooters.

Lately, most of the posts have been about the passing of one Pete Robinson, and Worchester artisan who made a name in the scooter community for his immaculate restorations ... but mostly for his elaborate chrome engravings. Google this guy and you'll find tricked out scooters that would put the American Chopper dudes to shame. Very interesting, and sad, to learn about such a talented artist this way. Pete Robinson, dead at age 48.

photos taken from Pete's websiste, customchrome.co.uk, and meant purely as a tribute to the man and his work.

What?!

The Commonwealth Summit in Port-of-Spain, on Trinidad, is over a couple of days now and I just noticed one of the major resolutions was to accept Rwanda into the group. HUH?

I always thought that the Commonwealth was basically a confederation of nations made up of former colonies and other parts of the faded Empire. Now I learn that countries can join it like the EU, the G-whatever, and NATO? Rwanda was "owned" by Germany and then by Belgium. But several years ago and they became Anglophiles -- they even made cricket the national sport!

Rwanda is the second country with no ties to Britain to join the Commonwealth, which is presided over by the Queen. Mozambique is the other one.