'Boris shouldn't have to apologise.' This, or a variation of it, has been the statement those on the right who wish to defend Boris Johnson's comparisons of Burqas to postboxes. And I agree. He shouldn't have to apologise, he simply should apologise. By adding the words 'have to' it takes the responsibility away from Johnson, and fuels the 'illiberal PC' narrative. He is a liberal speaking his mind but the illiberal world is forcing him to apologise. It's utter crap but that's the image a couple of additional word ('have to') can invoke.
This brings me onto the related point of Rowan Atkinson's defence of Boris Johnson. Again it boils down ultimately to free speech vs the scourge of illiberal lefties who want to shut down any dissent from the fascism of progressive politics. Supporters of Johnson have taken Atkinson's support and used it as an excuse to share a speech the Blackadder actor made a few years ago on the issue of free speech and censorship (link here). One in which he talks about how many so-called tolerant people wish to 'gag dissent'.
He goes on to state that intolerance isn't addressed by arresting or gagging people, but by these views being aired, argued against, dealt with outside the legal process. This all sounds very reasonable. In fact it is exactly what we are doing. We are arguing against Boris' comments, we are highlighting how they are offensive, who they are offending, why we think he should (not 'have to') apologise. To the best of my knowledge nobody is trying to gag him, to arrest him or to use any legal process to force him to apologise. We are doing precisely what these apparent proponents of free speech are saying we should do. I believe strongly in free speech, and in calling out prejudice and intolerance when it appears. Using free speech as an excuse to distract from islamphobia is disingenuous and helps nobody.
Sunday 12 August 2018
Saturday 7 April 2018
Adonis and the Fake News Crusade
Andrew Adonis is currently using his significant platform to attack the BBC, calling it the 'Brexit Broadcasting Coorporation' over what he deems to be the biased favourable coverage of Brexit. He cites the lack of coverage of pro-remain events and the 32 appearances of Nigel Farage on Question Time as examples of this pro-Brexit bias. This crusade has had him lock horns on Twitter with Nick Robinson over the issue. Guido noted Lord Adonis had tweeted 72 times about this apparent bias in the space of a week, it is clearly an important issue for the New Labour giant. It isn't concerning to see an individual accuse the BBC of bias, people on the 'political correctness gone mad' side think it's pro-left, Corbynites think it has a vendetta against Jeremy Corbyn, a large element of the pro-Indy movement in Scotland believe it to be biased in favour of the Union.
What's concerning is that Lord Adonis is a significant figure, particularly to political centrists, the group who have largely stayed firm in defending the BBC even if we are sick of seeing Farage on Question Time. In this era of fake news, of people proclaiming their distrust of the MSM (mainstream media), of protests outside BBC Scotland's buildings in Glasgow, of fictionalised stories from alternative news sources being taken as gospel by whichever group that story is designed to appease the beliefs of, in this time of all of that seeing a centrist big hitter crusading against the BBC it gives a sense of legitimacy to the radical anti-MSM elements of society. He is telling people it is ok to ignore uncomfortable truths, to dismiss them as lies.
I'm vehemently opposed to Brexit and unapologetic in my beliefs that we should have a second referendum on the issue. I'm biased on this issue. As I am on pretty much every issue I've spent any time learning about. That means when something on the news or in a paper comes out that doesn't conform to the biased world view I've got it is difficult to take on board. I understand why people want to shut it down, but that isn't how news works. News isn't there to conform to my bias, nor to Adonis' bias. Adonis isn't attempting to change the BBC, he is trying to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of his Twitter followers or readers of his articles. If Adonis says the BBC is biased against my position, and I felt initially as though it was biased, maybe it is. It isn't me that's wrong, it's the children, as Pirnciple Skinner might put it. This is a dangerous path, one that leads to fake news, to important issues being ignored and dismissed and for the echo chambers of modern politics to be emboldened even further.
Monday 9 January 2017
Corbyn and Immigration
With Jeremy Corbyn's decision to U-turn on immigration, apparently part of the new strategy to create a left-wing populist movement with Jeremy at the helm, he makes a few key mistakes. His first mistake is talking about it at all. Labour are best on immigration by acting left-wing but saying nothing, unless absolutely necessary, and even then only speaking vaguely and not getting too bogged down in detail. This is essential as it is the issue that pits the parties two main support bases against each other, the working class, and the liberal, metropolitans. As we have seen with the Unite election, being hard on immigration plays well with white working class voters and so to appeal to that base an anti-immigration policy makes strategic sense. But unlike Unite Labour owe their electoral successes to another group as well, the aforementioned liberal base. To them the immigration issue is a red-line one, they are the anti-Brexit brigade who consider anti-immigration rhetoric to be the most vile politics that exist within our system. To appeal to both groups on the issue is very very difficult and the best answer for Labour is to try to avoid the topic.
But the leader has waded straight in, and in doing so is angering the metropolitan liberal types, like myself, and crucially, like most of his supporters. It may look like good politics though, to appeal to the working class when we are fighting UKIP in our northern heartlands and with a crucial by-election looming. Perhaps this will broaden our appeal with those who might otherwise be tempted to vote for UKIP or an increasingly hard-lined Tory party. This, however, is not the case. It comes across as insincere and nobody who feels angry about immigration is going to believe Jeremy actually means it. He is therefore angering one part of the parties support base in order to appeal to another who won't actually believe him anyway.
This is made even more problematic as it damages the one positive that has come from Jeremy's leadership, taking votes from the Green voting left. I don't believe for a second that we can win an election based on gaining green votes and those from the dissilusioned non-voters alone, but I welcome every new member and supporter and voter we can get. Appealing to them isn't enough, but at least it is something and credit where credit is due, Jeremy is convincing a few former Green voters to come to us. But how will they greet this news? They are as aghast by anti-immigration politics as the metropolitan base. We convince new people to join our party and quickly start banging on the drum that is most abhorrent to them.
In short Jeremy is managing to appeal to nobody with this change and alienate his own supporters and many others within the party. All for a policy idea that we know he does not actually support on the topic most difficult for our party. If this is the first step of the left-wing populist movement I am fearful for the next,
But the leader has waded straight in, and in doing so is angering the metropolitan liberal types, like myself, and crucially, like most of his supporters. It may look like good politics though, to appeal to the working class when we are fighting UKIP in our northern heartlands and with a crucial by-election looming. Perhaps this will broaden our appeal with those who might otherwise be tempted to vote for UKIP or an increasingly hard-lined Tory party. This, however, is not the case. It comes across as insincere and nobody who feels angry about immigration is going to believe Jeremy actually means it. He is therefore angering one part of the parties support base in order to appeal to another who won't actually believe him anyway.
This is made even more problematic as it damages the one positive that has come from Jeremy's leadership, taking votes from the Green voting left. I don't believe for a second that we can win an election based on gaining green votes and those from the dissilusioned non-voters alone, but I welcome every new member and supporter and voter we can get. Appealing to them isn't enough, but at least it is something and credit where credit is due, Jeremy is convincing a few former Green voters to come to us. But how will they greet this news? They are as aghast by anti-immigration politics as the metropolitan base. We convince new people to join our party and quickly start banging on the drum that is most abhorrent to them.
In short Jeremy is managing to appeal to nobody with this change and alienate his own supporters and many others within the party. All for a policy idea that we know he does not actually support on the topic most difficult for our party. If this is the first step of the left-wing populist movement I am fearful for the next,
Friday 18 November 2016
Reading Dares for Book Week Scotland
To celebrate Book Week Scotland the Scottish Book Trust are challenging anyone who is brave enough to do one of their Reading Dares (you can find yours here). Being an avid reader and fan of anything challenging I thought it would be a great idea to do a few of these dates and celebrate Book Week Scotland in style. I will update this blog with the Reading Dares as I complete them.
Dare 1:
My first dare was to ask for a book in a bookshop through the medium of interpretive dance. I decided Moby Dick would be a good choice as dancing as a whale and as someone on a boat didn't seem too intimidating. I walked into Blackwell's in Edinburgh and tried to decide if I was actually brace enough to make a fool of myself in public. At the downstairs desk there was a queue so I decided to walk upstairs and saw four people behind the desk, but a large area that would become my stage. I nervously walked towards the desk and was asked if they could help me. This was it, was I going to do this, really?
'I was looking for a specific book.' I sort of stuttered out.
'What book are you looking for?'
Ok, now or never, now or never. I began by half leaping and trying my best to imitate a man on a boat looking for a whale, before trying a terrible attempt at dancing whale style. I finished my performance and asked 'so, do you have it?'
Thankfully they were aware of the reading dare and seemed to enjoy my somewhat odd interpretation of Moby Dick, though my interpretive dancing could evidently do with some practice as they didn't know what book I was looking for. But I did it, it was exhilarating and I'm very thankful to everyone there for letting me get Reading Dare number one done!
Dare 2:
A less embarrassing dare for number two is to read an extra story or book to my daughter every day. Generally I will stick with her reading books but for the first one I couldn't resist introducing her to 'Sunset Song'. She's got a good track record of finding books already though.
Dare 1:
My first dare was to ask for a book in a bookshop through the medium of interpretive dance. I decided Moby Dick would be a good choice as dancing as a whale and as someone on a boat didn't seem too intimidating. I walked into Blackwell's in Edinburgh and tried to decide if I was actually brace enough to make a fool of myself in public. At the downstairs desk there was a queue so I decided to walk upstairs and saw four people behind the desk, but a large area that would become my stage. I nervously walked towards the desk and was asked if they could help me. This was it, was I going to do this, really?
'I was looking for a specific book.' I sort of stuttered out.
'What book are you looking for?'
Ok, now or never, now or never. I began by half leaping and trying my best to imitate a man on a boat looking for a whale, before trying a terrible attempt at dancing whale style. I finished my performance and asked 'so, do you have it?'
Thankfully they were aware of the reading dare and seemed to enjoy my somewhat odd interpretation of Moby Dick, though my interpretive dancing could evidently do with some practice as they didn't know what book I was looking for. But I did it, it was exhilarating and I'm very thankful to everyone there for letting me get Reading Dare number one done!
Dare 2:
A less embarrassing dare for number two is to read an extra story or book to my daughter every day. Generally I will stick with her reading books but for the first one I couldn't resist introducing her to 'Sunset Song'. She's got a good track record of finding books already though.
Thursday 4 August 2016
ZC: The Wind Waker
Loading up my original Gamecube copy of the Wind Waker I was surprised to see my first save was from way back in 2003. It seems incredible that this is a game I first played 13 years ago, but it still seems like a recent game to me. I remember it so clearly and fondly, yet I was basically a seasoned Zelda veteran by the time I first played this game.
Starting a new save I am greeted with a great opening sequence which gives some background to the legend of Zelda and Link. Once this is over a young girl is crying out 'Big Brother' and Link is found in his usual state...asleep! Watching the cel shading it seems incredible to think how controversial this was at the time. I cannot imagine this game in anything but cel shading. Pre-HD this still stands up as having good graphics. The scenery is colourful and detailed.
Pretty quickly the game jumps into familiar Zelda territory as you are given your green robes and you set about outset Island and learn the controls. Having got about half way through A Link to the Past over the last few days it's taking a little getting used to the controls. One of the few things about this game I dislike is the 'c' stick being in reverse. I find going forwards to be quite difficult and it lets the game down somewhat. However the pure joy of the setting and the colour more than make up for it. Whilst it may not have the instant action of A Link to the Past it does have a warm start and the loving family element is classic Zelda. It feels warm and you really care about the characters.
Saving Tetra is again enjoyable and the light teasing she provides fits in well with the light-hearted warm elements of the Zelda games. Playing the initial stages it reminds me more of Skyward Sword than any of the other games, there's a warmth that is somewhat lacking in some of the other games which I think are an essential part of the Zelda universe. It works so well because, like in Skyward Sword, it makes you care. When you see your sister taken away by the bird it hurts. She has given you her most prized possession for the day and followed you up the mountain and is taken away. You care. It's something the Zelda universe can do brilliantly and it adds a great personal element to the wide-ranging narrative of the legend.
You leap off the mountain to try to save your sister from the bird, but to no avail, and you suspend from the top of the mountain, held by Tetra's hand, but you know you need to save her. This one's personal. And you get to sail with pirates. Yep Zelda with pirates. And some people don't like this game!
Starting a new save I am greeted with a great opening sequence which gives some background to the legend of Zelda and Link. Once this is over a young girl is crying out 'Big Brother' and Link is found in his usual state...asleep! Watching the cel shading it seems incredible to think how controversial this was at the time. I cannot imagine this game in anything but cel shading. Pre-HD this still stands up as having good graphics. The scenery is colourful and detailed.Pretty quickly the game jumps into familiar Zelda territory as you are given your green robes and you set about outset Island and learn the controls. Having got about half way through A Link to the Past over the last few days it's taking a little getting used to the controls. One of the few things about this game I dislike is the 'c' stick being in reverse. I find going forwards to be quite difficult and it lets the game down somewhat. However the pure joy of the setting and the colour more than make up for it. Whilst it may not have the instant action of A Link to the Past it does have a warm start and the loving family element is classic Zelda. It feels warm and you really care about the characters.
Saving Tetra is again enjoyable and the light teasing she provides fits in well with the light-hearted warm elements of the Zelda games. Playing the initial stages it reminds me more of Skyward Sword than any of the other games, there's a warmth that is somewhat lacking in some of the other games which I think are an essential part of the Zelda universe. It works so well because, like in Skyward Sword, it makes you care. When you see your sister taken away by the bird it hurts. She has given you her most prized possession for the day and followed you up the mountain and is taken away. You care. It's something the Zelda universe can do brilliantly and it adds a great personal element to the wide-ranging narrative of the legend.
You leap off the mountain to try to save your sister from the bird, but to no avail, and you suspend from the top of the mountain, held by Tetra's hand, but you know you need to save her. This one's personal. And you get to sail with pirates. Yep Zelda with pirates. And some people don't like this game!
Monday 1 August 2016
ZC A Link to the Past: The Dungeon in the Castle
'Help me... Please help me. I am prisoner in the dungeon of the castle.
My name is Zelda'
As far as opening lines to Zelda games go, this is probably my favourite. Zelda is met with a terrible fate and it is up to...your uncle to help save her. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for us and the Hero of Time your uncle is utterly useless at saving princesses from castle dungeons and barely makes it into the entrance before failing. He tells you off, gives you his sword, and presumably dies. We are left wondering why he bothered in the first place, and when I think of my uncle I view this to be the most accurate occurrence ever in any video game I've ever played. The worst thing about your Uncle is he doesn't actually say what he's doing, he casually departs the house one day saying 'Link, I'm going out for a while' as if he's popping out for milk!
Anyway, he dies, he gives you his sword and that's it. The action has started. You are in a dungeon, full of guards who want to kill you and it is your job to try to save the Princess, hurrah! I mentioned in my first blog of my concurrent playthrough of Skyward Sword that it was probably my favourite beginning to a Zelda game. A Link to the Past is tied for second alongside Ocarina of Time purely for this reason. No faffing about, enough of a storyline through the cutscene before the game starts to give you context, a suicidal uncle, and it is up to you to save the Princess and save Hyrule from the evil wizard. Excellent.
A Link to the Past is the first Zelda game I ever played, and probably the one I've played the most. Because of this a lot of it has proven to be very familiar and hasn't been too taxing to remember what to do, where to go and how to do it. I found Zelda, I took Zelda to the sanctuary and...is that? The Master Sword! This is it! No, this can't be it, too bad. Yep, did it all. Found the old man, and started the Eastern Palace, where I am now.
What strikes me, replaying this, is the richness of the music. I've chosen two tracks to represent this, firstly the familiar overworld theme, a classic Zelda song (and my ringtone). The second is the Eastern Palace theme. It's creepy, it's unsettling and it helps create a division between the dungeons and the overworld. In the next blog on LTTP I'll put in a more detailed report on the Eastern Palace, but for now, sit back, relax and listen to the joy of LTTP's music.
My name is Zelda'
As far as opening lines to Zelda games go, this is probably my favourite. Zelda is met with a terrible fate and it is up to...your uncle to help save her. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for us and the Hero of Time your uncle is utterly useless at saving princesses from castle dungeons and barely makes it into the entrance before failing. He tells you off, gives you his sword, and presumably dies. We are left wondering why he bothered in the first place, and when I think of my uncle I view this to be the most accurate occurrence ever in any video game I've ever played. The worst thing about your Uncle is he doesn't actually say what he's doing, he casually departs the house one day saying 'Link, I'm going out for a while' as if he's popping out for milk!
Anyway, he dies, he gives you his sword and that's it. The action has started. You are in a dungeon, full of guards who want to kill you and it is your job to try to save the Princess, hurrah! I mentioned in my first blog of my concurrent playthrough of Skyward Sword that it was probably my favourite beginning to a Zelda game. A Link to the Past is tied for second alongside Ocarina of Time purely for this reason. No faffing about, enough of a storyline through the cutscene before the game starts to give you context, a suicidal uncle, and it is up to you to save the Princess and save Hyrule from the evil wizard. Excellent.
A Link to the Past is the first Zelda game I ever played, and probably the one I've played the most. Because of this a lot of it has proven to be very familiar and hasn't been too taxing to remember what to do, where to go and how to do it. I found Zelda, I took Zelda to the sanctuary and...is that? The Master Sword! This is it! No, this can't be it, too bad. Yep, did it all. Found the old man, and started the Eastern Palace, where I am now.
What strikes me, replaying this, is the richness of the music. I've chosen two tracks to represent this, firstly the familiar overworld theme, a classic Zelda song (and my ringtone). The second is the Eastern Palace theme. It's creepy, it's unsettling and it helps create a division between the dungeons and the overworld. In the next blog on LTTP I'll put in a more detailed report on the Eastern Palace, but for now, sit back, relax and listen to the joy of LTTP's music.
ZC Skyward Sword: The Beginning
Of all the Zelda games I don't think there is one which has such a full and enjoyable opening sequence as Skyward Sword. Being introduced to Zelda early on there is genuine warmth between the characters and their friendship feels real. Zelda is a childhood friend of Link's, and is not a Princess. This equal social status allows them to have this bond and the first inklings of romantic feelings between Link and Zelda.
Starting the new game I was instantly struck by the lush impressionist art style of the landscape. It works fantastically and holds up against HD graphics of current and contemporary rivals. The grainy views of the distance make sense with this unique graphical style. It also creates an impression of it being distant yet warm. It made me feel like the game was taking place long in the past, which in the Timeline it is. My first introduction to Skyward Sword's Zelda was fantastic, she teased Link for his laziness and it created a lasting impression of friendship. Later in the game, when Zelda got lost, I felt genuine sadness and wanted to save her. This isn't Mario trying to save a distant and un-relatable Princess Toadstool, this is your friend who is in danger and you are the only one who can save her.
Exploring Skyloft, the island in the sky, was a joy to behold as well. The characters feel real and rich. Skyloft is probably the single most in depth town in the Zelda universe. There is so much to explore and so many new and familiar characters. The greatest, naturally, is Groose. He is the jock who loves Zelda and is jealous of your bond with her. He also has the slickest pompadour in Skyloft.
There's a lot about Skyward Sword I'm not a huge fan of, but the opening part of the game I think is fantastic and is probably the best of any in the series. It takes the best elements from other two I like the most, A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. Ocarina had the storyline and the chance to explore Kokiri Forest. A Link to the Past was straight into the action. With Skyward Sword there is an element of both. Which brings me to the final, and most enjoyable aspect of my playtime on this save so far: My Loftwing. The giant birds that Skyloft's residents fly through the sky. The motion controls may be often criticised, but they worked perfectly for me. Flying on the loftwing is great fun and the race against Groose and the rest was fantastic. It's the closest I'll ever get to being a Seeker on a Quiditch pitch.
All in all, so far, brilliant. I remember why I loved this game so much when I first played it. I have just arrived at the Sealed Grounds and my next post will likely detail the first temple, but I will finish this with the theme from the true star of Skyloft:
Starting the new game I was instantly struck by the lush impressionist art style of the landscape. It works fantastically and holds up against HD graphics of current and contemporary rivals. The grainy views of the distance make sense with this unique graphical style. It also creates an impression of it being distant yet warm. It made me feel like the game was taking place long in the past, which in the Timeline it is. My first introduction to Skyward Sword's Zelda was fantastic, she teased Link for his laziness and it created a lasting impression of friendship. Later in the game, when Zelda got lost, I felt genuine sadness and wanted to save her. This isn't Mario trying to save a distant and un-relatable Princess Toadstool, this is your friend who is in danger and you are the only one who can save her.
Exploring Skyloft, the island in the sky, was a joy to behold as well. The characters feel real and rich. Skyloft is probably the single most in depth town in the Zelda universe. There is so much to explore and so many new and familiar characters. The greatest, naturally, is Groose. He is the jock who loves Zelda and is jealous of your bond with her. He also has the slickest pompadour in Skyloft.
All in all, so far, brilliant. I remember why I loved this game so much when I first played it. I have just arrived at the Sealed Grounds and my next post will likely detail the first temple, but I will finish this with the theme from the true star of Skyloft:
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