Worst blogger in the world
Last year I decided to implement some 30 day projects, along with veganism (which lasted 6 months), taking a photograph every day, writing/recording an album in a month I tried to blog for 30 days during October. Surprisingly I managed them all.
The idea is that 30 days is about the time it takes to change an existing habit or start a new one. Some things stuck, some things only lasted 30 days and some went on for ages (veganism). It was a great way to plot mark out a year that all too often can fly by unnoticed. I can remember where I was and what I was doing in a particular period of time. Good stuffs.
Blogging as a project that kind of fell by the way side aver the 30 days. Partly out of running out of things to stay and partly that I was diagnose with acute tendinitis in both hands and wrists. The doctor signed me off from typing and I was unable to play bass. Not a good thing. I have blogged a little since then and commented on other people’s blogs. But as for this blog it’s been largely ignored.
Time change that, maybe not 30 days of blogging, just a little more regularly than I was. Let’s see……..
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Internet Access: A Basic Human Right
Given that the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realizing
a range of human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating
development and human progress, ensuring universal access to the
Internet should be a priority for all states
– United Nations Report Via @Swissmiss
a range of human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating
development and human progress, ensuring universal access to the
Internet should be a priority for all states
– United Nations Report Via @Swissmiss
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Why do Nottingham City Council hate urban art?
As I’ve said before I feel privileged to live in Nottingham, a wonderful, bright, vibrant and dynamic city. Nottingham is home to many creatives due to its great universities, central location and general pleasant atmosphere. Its a cool city and a lovely place to live.
The creative arts are well catered for, multiple excellent music venues, galleries and co-working spaces provide areas for expression. Nottingham is home to some great urban art. Graffiti artists produce some great quality stuff in this city, so why are the council trying to eradicate this form of expression?
Just over a year ago the leader of Nottingham City Council, John Collins announced the banning of legal graffiti sites. He referenced a 1982 article by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. The ‘Broken Windows Theory’ of norm setting and signalling that leads to social disorder and vandalism is often used by the establishment and has been subject to a large body of criticism. It has been criticised as being unsound and a largely unprovable. When tested, in general, the test has been inconclusive.
However the council have used this theory to ban legal sites and spend thousands painting over urban art on waste land in an attempt to sanitise the city. Money that potentially could have been spent in better ways, more youth engagement projects for example.
Graffiti is competitive by its nature and while I agree its not all good quality the bar would be raised over time if it was left. You need to make poor art to learn how to make great art. All forms of creativity are valid and precious, I just wish John Collins and Nottingham City Council understood that.
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Liminarium by Architects of Air
As a birthday treat we visited the Luminarium by Architects of Air in Nottingham yesterday. This amazing pneumatic sculpture is like visiting another planet. We were bathed in amazing light and followed the winding tunnels while ambient music played. This is a very happy and chilled place. Its a must see kind of place.
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Neglecting blogging
Its been months since I’ve blogged. Unusually for me it’s not down being bone idle, but pure stupidity. Spending 12 hours a day hooked up to a Macbook is bad for you and resulted in acute tendonitis for me. Basically tendons so inflamed that I had to give up playing bass and typing. The former being way more important to me than the later.
So after several months rest, no gigs or sessions I’m now back playing bass, but still avoiding typing (this post was written on my phone). Hence the lack of bloggage on my part. Fingers crossed I’m going to make a full recovery.
In more important news ace bass ninja Simon Little (@simonlittle on that there twitter) is dropping in to work this week to talk to some of my students, here’s his latest ace album:
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No Tesco in Nottingham
Like we need another Tesco! I am appalled and amazed that Tesco wants to build a superstore on some waste land near to my home in Nottingham. This land was ear marked for development a number of years ago by the East Side City project, but due to the economic down turn Tesco have purchased the inner city brown field site to build another faceless alter to consumerism.
With in a 5-10 minute walk/drive of the site there are 7 other Tesco outlets (from metro stores to proper supermarkets). The company have taken advantage of a loop hole in planning laws that allow disused pubs to be converted to mini markets with out re-licensing.
‘No Tesco Eastside’ is a group opposed to the building of a new Tesco on Eastside (formally Boots Island) in Nottingham.
They have outlined are 8 points of objection:
1. The threat to the local retail environment
2. A detrimental increase in traffic
3. Design flaws
4. The economic and social impact on local residents
5. An inadequate approach to public consultation
6. A sequential approach to other more appropriate sites has not been taken
7. There is no need for another Tesco in this area
8. We need better alternative shopping plans from our local authority
The area that will be most greatly effected is Sneinton, a wonderfully artistic, vibrant and multicultural area of the city. Sneinton has a number independent shops and excellent world supermarkets that will be in danger from the giant that is Tesco.
For more information head to: No Tesco East Side
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Digital Musicians Toolbox
Looking forward to my talk at http://www.digitalmusicianstoolbox.com on the
5th of March.
Upper Brown Street Theatre, all welcome, sign up here:
http://digitalmusicianstoolbox.com/sign-up/
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Paul Simon’s Graceland Fretless Basslines Lesson by Bakithi Kumalo
The bass playing on Paul Simon’s Graceland is what first attracted me
to the low end (even before I knew what a bass guitar was). Bakithi
Kumalo remains a tour de force on the instrument and is still one of
my favourite bass players with his deep tone and wide groove. An
inspiration.
to the low end (even before I knew what a bass guitar was). Bakithi
Kumalo remains a tour de force on the instrument and is still one of
my favourite bass players with his deep tone and wide groove. An
inspiration.
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Guerilla Bass 