What we consider to be great music is a matter of taste, that is what makes music so great because there are so many genres to pick and choose from.
Being a bit of a guitar freak, i ordered the 100 greatest guitar solo album as chosen by the good people of Guitar World magazine and there are some steaming solos on the 5 Cd's that would have anyone air guitaring around their living room.
As with anything like this, we all have our own opinion on what should be top and shake our heads at some at the choices others have made but i have something to moan about. Although the solos are mostly outstanding, most of the songs are not that great (in my opinion i hastily add).
My whinge is based on the top 10 which is: 1.Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin, 2: Eruption-Van Halen, 3: Freebird-Lynyrd Skynyrd, 4: Comfortably Numb-Pink Floyd, 5: All Along the Watchtower-Jimi Hendrix Experience, 6.November Rain-Guns n' Roses, 7. One-Metallica, 8. Hotel California-The Eagles, 9. Crazy Train-Ozzy Ozbourne, 10. Crossroads-Cream.
Great guitar work undoubtedly, but apart from November Rain, One and Hotel California,the songs themselves are not anything to get excited about (in my opinion i hastily add again).
I believe Slash to be the greatest guitarist that my ears have ever witnessed but the one solo i would put above all is the full guitar solo in My Sharona. A real stonker of a song and it didn't even make the top 100. Scandalous.
Any Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd lovers sharpening their keyboards to lay into me for not knowing great music when i hear it, i refer you back to my first sentence.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Monday, 16 July 2007
Blame Both, Not Just One
Of course the restarting of negotiations between Israel and the rest of the Middle East is to be welcomed. More than anything the whole region deserves some peace after decades of killing.
George Bush was right to call for the Palestinian Authority to reject violence and instead discuss their differences over a table with Israel.
What i don't agree with is the way the whole focus, and blame, seems to be laid at the Palestinians door.
Yes, the Palestinians have been guilty of suicide attacks on innocent civilians in Israel and firing rockets in Israeli towns and they should be roundly condemned for their actions. Israel have been just as guilty of atrocities and mass killings themselves and should be lent upon by the White House with just as much vigour to stop their excursions into Palestine and rocket attacks on cars that not only take out the intended target but any innocent unlucky enough to be in the vicinity at the time.
Both sides are to blame and both are as guilty as each other of killing civilians and retaliating to each others aggression so both should be warned to cease their murdering, not just one of them if we want to be seen as even handed.
George Bush was right to call for the Palestinian Authority to reject violence and instead discuss their differences over a table with Israel.
What i don't agree with is the way the whole focus, and blame, seems to be laid at the Palestinians door.
Yes, the Palestinians have been guilty of suicide attacks on innocent civilians in Israel and firing rockets in Israeli towns and they should be roundly condemned for their actions. Israel have been just as guilty of atrocities and mass killings themselves and should be lent upon by the White House with just as much vigour to stop their excursions into Palestine and rocket attacks on cars that not only take out the intended target but any innocent unlucky enough to be in the vicinity at the time.
Both sides are to blame and both are as guilty as each other of killing civilians and retaliating to each others aggression so both should be warned to cease their murdering, not just one of them if we want to be seen as even handed.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Doctor, Doctor...
Turns out that the NHS doctors who tried to rearrange the inside of Glasgow airport recently, failed in their attempt because they measured the size of the car wrongly.
After taking the size of the window they planned to drive the flaming car through, they then went and used a car which was wider.
Doesn't it fill you with confidence in our health service that these trained professionals, who make life and death decisions and were considered fit enough to be employed to work in our hospitals, cocked up because they had a shaky grasp of the use of a tape measure?
Dread to think of the scene if one of them had to administer a suppository.
After taking the size of the window they planned to drive the flaming car through, they then went and used a car which was wider.
Doesn't it fill you with confidence in our health service that these trained professionals, who make life and death decisions and were considered fit enough to be employed to work in our hospitals, cocked up because they had a shaky grasp of the use of a tape measure?
Dread to think of the scene if one of them had to administer a suppository.
Paraplegic Running For Research
There is an athletics event happening in the UK city of Sheffield tomorrow that seems to be attracting more interest than usual.
One of the runners in the 400m is double amputee and Paralympion Oscar Pistorius who will run against Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner despite the sport’s governing body, the IAAF, passing a rule in March that banned any runner deemed to benefit from artificial help.
That stance has been modified to allow South African Pistorius to compete against his able bodied peers as a part of its research into whether or not Pistorius gains such an advantage from the carbon fibre blades he uses on both legs below the knees.
Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder for the 100m, 200m and 400m and recently finished runner up in the 400m at the South African able-bodied national championships. It is a great achievement for the athlete and before the discussions on whether an athlete gains an advantage over his competitors by wearing false limbs starts up, i wish him all the best but fear that he is caught in the proverbial catch 22.
If he does well then it will close the case on ever allowing amputees wearing false limbs to partake with able bodied athletes. If he trails in at the back of the field, the same case will be closed just as firmly so as inspirational and brave as these athlete may be, they will never be sharing an Olympic athletics track with anyone else other than other Paraplegics or for research purposes.
One of the runners in the 400m is double amputee and Paralympion Oscar Pistorius who will run against Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner despite the sport’s governing body, the IAAF, passing a rule in March that banned any runner deemed to benefit from artificial help.
That stance has been modified to allow South African Pistorius to compete against his able bodied peers as a part of its research into whether or not Pistorius gains such an advantage from the carbon fibre blades he uses on both legs below the knees.
Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder for the 100m, 200m and 400m and recently finished runner up in the 400m at the South African able-bodied national championships. It is a great achievement for the athlete and before the discussions on whether an athlete gains an advantage over his competitors by wearing false limbs starts up, i wish him all the best but fear that he is caught in the proverbial catch 22.
If he does well then it will close the case on ever allowing amputees wearing false limbs to partake with able bodied athletes. If he trails in at the back of the field, the same case will be closed just as firmly so as inspirational and brave as these athlete may be, they will never be sharing an Olympic athletics track with anyone else other than other Paraplegics or for research purposes.
Britain's Relationship With The USA
A fortnight into his new role and Gordon Brown is rattling through his to-do list with all the ferocity of a man who knows he has a whole terms work to cram into half that time.
Pleasantly surprised, he has hit all the right notes so far with his rolling back of some of Blair's more idiotic rulings but he has put his finger, thumb and the rest of his hand on the problem that hounded out his predecessor. Britain's relationship with the USA.
In appointing Iraq war critics to high profile positions in his cabinet, Brown has stated his Government will not be as pliant to the US regime as the former ministers who bowed and scraped to them.
This was confirmed during the week when the International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, told US foreign policy analysts that soft power, rather than military strength was the way to go and policy should be based on moral and fundamental values rather than special interests.
Apparently, it didn't go down very well in Washington who had already raised eyebrows over the direction Brown is taking the UK foreign policy. It has not been lost on them either that Mr Brown is touring European leaders before visiting the USA as he turns to look across the English Channel rather than across the Atlantic.
There will be a test at some point in the next 2 years where Brown will have to decide whether to stand with the USA foreign policy or move away, possibly over Iran.
Until then words maybe cheap but they are the words Britain have wanted to hear.
Just hope his actions match them when it matters.
Pleasantly surprised, he has hit all the right notes so far with his rolling back of some of Blair's more idiotic rulings but he has put his finger, thumb and the rest of his hand on the problem that hounded out his predecessor. Britain's relationship with the USA.
In appointing Iraq war critics to high profile positions in his cabinet, Brown has stated his Government will not be as pliant to the US regime as the former ministers who bowed and scraped to them.
This was confirmed during the week when the International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, told US foreign policy analysts that soft power, rather than military strength was the way to go and policy should be based on moral and fundamental values rather than special interests.
Apparently, it didn't go down very well in Washington who had already raised eyebrows over the direction Brown is taking the UK foreign policy. It has not been lost on them either that Mr Brown is touring European leaders before visiting the USA as he turns to look across the English Channel rather than across the Atlantic.
There will be a test at some point in the next 2 years where Brown will have to decide whether to stand with the USA foreign policy or move away, possibly over Iran.
Until then words maybe cheap but they are the words Britain have wanted to hear.
Just hope his actions match them when it matters.
Friday, 13 July 2007
Bravery Of Bullfighting
The Spaniards are not renown for their kindness to animals as the annual Goat-tossed-from-the-belfry-ritual shows, and the killing is hitting full stride as the 'sport' of bullfighting reaches its peak.
It is a story of romance and passion as a sword-wielding matador pits his courage against a ferocious raging bull, risking his life to entertain the crowds. Or so they would like you to think.
Actually, the truth is the bulls are weakened beforehand by using weights and/or drugs to sap their strength and their horns are shortened and blunted which impairs their coordination.
Before the matador even gets close to the beast, men on horses drive lances into the bull’s back and neck muscles, impairing the bull’s ability to lift his head. Then come the banderilleros on foot, who plunge brightly colored sticks with harpoon points into it's back.
When the bull is sufficiently weakened from blood loss the matador appears and, after provoking a few exhausted charges from the dying animal, tries to kill the bull with his sword.
A few minutes later, another bull enters the arena and the sadistic cycle starts again.
Hard to find words to express the actions of the men who partake in this disgusting practise but pathetic, cowardly scum sums them up nicely.
It is a story of romance and passion as a sword-wielding matador pits his courage against a ferocious raging bull, risking his life to entertain the crowds. Or so they would like you to think.
Actually, the truth is the bulls are weakened beforehand by using weights and/or drugs to sap their strength and their horns are shortened and blunted which impairs their coordination.
Before the matador even gets close to the beast, men on horses drive lances into the bull’s back and neck muscles, impairing the bull’s ability to lift his head. Then come the banderilleros on foot, who plunge brightly colored sticks with harpoon points into it's back.
When the bull is sufficiently weakened from blood loss the matador appears and, after provoking a few exhausted charges from the dying animal, tries to kill the bull with his sword.
A few minutes later, another bull enters the arena and the sadistic cycle starts again.
Hard to find words to express the actions of the men who partake in this disgusting practise but pathetic, cowardly scum sums them up nicely.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Enjoying The Beckhams
Since 1773 there has been a festering sore inflicted upon the British by the Americans.
As our tea floated upon the tide of Boston Harbour that fateful afternoon, the British swore revenge. Finally that day has come.
A revenge so sweet that just the thought of it could turn you diabetic. Yes, we have sent you the Beckhams!
To be fair, the one with the high pitched voice and the liking for ladies knickers and skirts is not too bad. It is his wife that has you reaching for the nearest blunt instrument to stave in your own head to get some relief from her mindless whitterings.
The less talented one out of a very untalented group, Victoria is best known for her work in the Spice Girls where she was appointed the position of pouting from the back of the group before she added pointing to her repertoire.
Of course her claim to fame now is having a boob job, marrying a footballer and being thin enough to supplement her income by working as a chopstick.
So there you go America, enjoy the pair of them and next time don't be so quick to ditch our favourite beverage in the sea, because we still have to find a home for the Gallagher Brothers. You have been warned.
As our tea floated upon the tide of Boston Harbour that fateful afternoon, the British swore revenge. Finally that day has come.
A revenge so sweet that just the thought of it could turn you diabetic. Yes, we have sent you the Beckhams!
To be fair, the one with the high pitched voice and the liking for ladies knickers and skirts is not too bad. It is his wife that has you reaching for the nearest blunt instrument to stave in your own head to get some relief from her mindless whitterings.
The less talented one out of a very untalented group, Victoria is best known for her work in the Spice Girls where she was appointed the position of pouting from the back of the group before she added pointing to her repertoire.
Of course her claim to fame now is having a boob job, marrying a footballer and being thin enough to supplement her income by working as a chopstick.
So there you go America, enjoy the pair of them and next time don't be so quick to ditch our favourite beverage in the sea, because we still have to find a home for the Gallagher Brothers. You have been warned.
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Pulling Out The Troops
When i put forward my opinion on this subject before, the reaction ranged from a gentle shaking of heads to a firm 'She's lost the plot', but as i read the White House is being urged to hurry the withdrawal of troops from Iraq i need to repeat it again, "Withdrawing the troops is wrong'.
The reason behind the call to bring the troops home is a selfish call where the lives of our boys and girls is put above the lives of the Iraqi's. America has 3500 and the UK 160 dead military while Iraqis numbered 750,000 a year ago.
While the troops are there we have recently seen suicide bombs claim horrendous numbers of fatalities, 7 July: 105 killed in Amirli, 19 June: 87 in Baghdad mosque blast, 18 April: 190 in car bombings in Baghdad, 29 March: 82 killed in double suicide bombing in market, 6 March: 90 killed in Hilla, 3 Feb: 130 die in suicide truck bombing, 22 Jan: 88 killed in Baghdad car bombings....and so it goes on.
To pull out now would just leave the Iraqi's at the mercy of the kind of people who manage to go about their deadly business despite the troops presence. The resultant bloodbath would be horrific. No, we shouldn't of gone have war in the first place but it has been done, we invaded their country, we filled it with terrorists and to just up and leave it now to save our own skins is not the right, or moral, option.
We will take more casualties and that makes me feel sick to think of, but not as sick as the Iraqi people who will be left twisting in the wind and at the will of people given a free hand to inflict even greater carnage.
We went into Kosovo to prevent a slaughter but we are prepared to leave Iraq in the throes of an even greater one?
The reason behind the call to bring the troops home is a selfish call where the lives of our boys and girls is put above the lives of the Iraqi's. America has 3500 and the UK 160 dead military while Iraqis numbered 750,000 a year ago.
While the troops are there we have recently seen suicide bombs claim horrendous numbers of fatalities, 7 July: 105 killed in Amirli, 19 June: 87 in Baghdad mosque blast, 18 April: 190 in car bombings in Baghdad, 29 March: 82 killed in double suicide bombing in market, 6 March: 90 killed in Hilla, 3 Feb: 130 die in suicide truck bombing, 22 Jan: 88 killed in Baghdad car bombings....and so it goes on.
To pull out now would just leave the Iraqi's at the mercy of the kind of people who manage to go about their deadly business despite the troops presence. The resultant bloodbath would be horrific. No, we shouldn't of gone have war in the first place but it has been done, we invaded their country, we filled it with terrorists and to just up and leave it now to save our own skins is not the right, or moral, option.
We will take more casualties and that makes me feel sick to think of, but not as sick as the Iraqi people who will be left twisting in the wind and at the will of people given a free hand to inflict even greater carnage.
We went into Kosovo to prevent a slaughter but we are prepared to leave Iraq in the throes of an even greater one?
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Live Earth, Good Cause But...
Raising awareness of climate change can only be a good thing. It is something i have been twittering on about for longer than i care to remember so the Live Earth concerts that went on around the World yesterday can get the message out louder.
The message is sound but the delivery is open to ridicule for every critic of environmental issues who have been queuing up to bash us over the head with the carbon footprint of those chosen to lecture us about reducing our carbon footprints. The sad thing is, they do have a point.
Apart from the fact that i do have a natural tendency to stick two fingers up to anyone who doesn't practise what they preach, the practise of getting together a bunch of musicians to perform for a cause is getting, dare i say, boring?
Back in the 80s, Live Aid did a great job of raising money to save lives in Ethiopia but since then we have had concerts for anything and everything and i couldn't help think that as we were being urged to turn our TV's off standby when we go to bed, i would need to leave millions of TV's on standby for hundreds of years to equal the amount of energy the Red Hot Chilli Peppers took to fly to the concert to tell me it.
Al Gore was behind the whole shabang and he has the chance to do more good than any amount of environmentally friendly concerts he can conceive by running for President and using the weight of the most powerful office in the World to make real, far reaching changes on a global scale.
The message is sound but the delivery is open to ridicule for every critic of environmental issues who have been queuing up to bash us over the head with the carbon footprint of those chosen to lecture us about reducing our carbon footprints. The sad thing is, they do have a point.
Apart from the fact that i do have a natural tendency to stick two fingers up to anyone who doesn't practise what they preach, the practise of getting together a bunch of musicians to perform for a cause is getting, dare i say, boring?
Back in the 80s, Live Aid did a great job of raising money to save lives in Ethiopia but since then we have had concerts for anything and everything and i couldn't help think that as we were being urged to turn our TV's off standby when we go to bed, i would need to leave millions of TV's on standby for hundreds of years to equal the amount of energy the Red Hot Chilli Peppers took to fly to the concert to tell me it.
Al Gore was behind the whole shabang and he has the chance to do more good than any amount of environmentally friendly concerts he can conceive by running for President and using the weight of the most powerful office in the World to make real, far reaching changes on a global scale.
Tour De France Visits England
After years of suspicious blood tests and dodgy urine samples, a real-life instance of a clean cyclist has brought organisers of the Tour de France to its knees and a question mark hangs over the continuation of this cycling endurance test.
There was uproar in the French head offices of the race today shortly after a cyclist was over-heard to of boasted of being drug-free.
A test has uncovered that the cyclist in question had not actually taken any performance enhancing drug of any description.
'This has really taken us all by surprise,' a Tour spokesman said in a press interview, 'We just assumed that he was out of his box on EPO. This is the first time in my memory that someone has actually turned up clean to one of our races. We heard of that kind of thing happening decades ago but simply dismissed it as low-class gossip.'
The race organisers are in a closed session meeting that may go on throughout the night as they try make sense of this incident and decide on a way forward.
There was uproar in the French head offices of the race today shortly after a cyclist was over-heard to of boasted of being drug-free.
A test has uncovered that the cyclist in question had not actually taken any performance enhancing drug of any description.
'This has really taken us all by surprise,' a Tour spokesman said in a press interview, 'We just assumed that he was out of his box on EPO. This is the first time in my memory that someone has actually turned up clean to one of our races. We heard of that kind of thing happening decades ago but simply dismissed it as low-class gossip.'
The race organisers are in a closed session meeting that may go on throughout the night as they try make sense of this incident and decide on a way forward.
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