My online home! (soul for sale)

My friend and I were discussing politics on the phone the other day. Well, not politics, religion, only loosely though. Just one of those casual things when you chat around the subject and no one really minds what’s being said. Also, this particular friend goes on a bit, lovely guy but a bit “blah blah,” so I tend to zone out a lot of the time when he’s talking.

Anyway, he was saying something about how people should stand by their beliefs even if they’re misguided. “How do you mean John?” I said (John isn’t his real name I am forced to protect his identity)

“Even if you’re beliefs are really extreme and misguided you should stand by them” John repeated. “I have more respect for someone who is completely wrong but stands by what they believe in than people who don’t”

The penny dropped. John was a Nazi. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“John” I said. Are you a Nazi? Do you love the BNP, John, do you hate all foreigners and have misguided military ambitions towards Russia John, do you go Nazi speed dating, is that what you’re saying?”

John then said something about how no he wasn’t a Nazi and no he wasn’t a member of the BNP either, that would be especially tricky considering his Indian heritage, he was just making a point but that’s not what I heard.

What I heard was this, “Yes, definitely Julie. I am definitely a Nazi. How clever of you to have spotted this. Shshshsh don’t tell anyone”

“I can’t believe you are a Nazi!” I said, incredulous. John then said some other stuff but I was too astounded by the revelation that John was a Nazi to listen to John telling me that he wasn’t a Nazi.

I have since told all of John’s friends about it and I am trying to get hold of his mum. I have also taken to writing articles about John’s extreme political beliefs for a web publishing site he works for, knowing he will be reading these articles. It makes me happy, especially since it isn’t true. The best thing is I even now have him believing it! Brilliant. John, if you’re reading this (and I know you are) Seig Heil!

Response:
John has recently responded by asking me why I never questioned the photo of his adopted deceased “father” that he has hanging on his bedroom wall… (see the image at the top of the article)

What better way to promote your own work than to accuse a national institution, not to mention a national treasure of self promotion!  In his outburst that shows such as “I’d Do Anything” were little more than a 13 week promotion for the shows they were casting, Spacey accomplishes the dig at the BBC and Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber, whilst at the same time getting his name and a mention for his play and movies in the media that quote him.  A decent london public relations company couldn't have done better, Smart move Mr Spacey! 

Problem is that whilst cynics may agree with Kevin Spacey, and of course there is some obvious logic in what he is saying, it can’t be overlooked that these shows are extremely entertaining.  They are good old fashioned family TV viewing.  My young sons enjoy them as much as I do – especially this round with the search for Oliver being cast alongside the part of Nancy.  Aren’t these shows that are not about violence, back stabbing or over-exposed (or even under clothed) celebrities more about traditional family values? Aren’t they showing that people who are prepared to work at something they are passionate about can get ahead?  As each contestant is voted out, the criticism they receive is constructive, and something that anyone watching with a yearning for a career on the West End stage can run with. 

The musical theatre is a strong UK tradition, and one that is held dear in the hearts of Brits.  Being involved with the making of a West End star, especially with the backing of such stage legends as Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber and Cameron Mackintosh as guides, is something that will appeal to a great many people – as has been proved by the fact that “I’d Do Anything” is the third such show that the BBC has aired. 

By and large reality shows highlight how not to behave. They often involve people acting in largley unacceptable ways, and promote things like genital surgery as being normal. “I’d Do Anything” is a professional show that gives sound advice without putting people down.  It shows how to treat others respect, even if you’re rejecting them.  Perhaps it does promote the show along the way, but compared with the number of people who watch the show, the box office numbers will testify that the BBC “audition” is as close to the West End that many people in the UK are able to afford. 

The media promoting Kevin Spacey’s sourpuss outlook is just giving him an opportunity to grab the limelight in time for his own upcoming premiere.   Coincidence?  I think not!

Finally we have had progress with the website.Josie has finally re-designed the vending consumables page

Well Paul McCartney’s ex Heather Mills has come away from the marriage a lot more financially padded than she was going into it.  Despite his best efforts to protect his fortune from his ex wife and mother of his youngest child, the courts have ruled that he is going to be getting a lot less interest on his capital than he’d of liked next year!   Whether Heather Mills was in it for money to pay for her cosmetic surgery, or whether she was to blame for the break-up of the marriage (supposing one person in a couple could ever be completely blameless for the divorce situation arising), she’s certainly had to pay emotionally for not accepting her ex husband’s paltry initial settlement offer.

At approximately £24 million in money and assets, that's the most sucsessful treasure hunt result we've seen in a while. The settlement seems a good investment return for the 4 years that Ms Mills was with McCartney, however what kind of signal is this sending out to the rest of society?  To someone believed to be worth around £400 million, £24 million is mere drop in the ocean.   Does this now imply that if a man is worth £400,000, his ex wife is only to be granted £24,000 of this?  Yes Paul McCartney made the money, and yes he works at keeping it, but he also married this woman and had a child with her.  This marriage has cost him a lot less financially than it should have done – however it’s knocked the halo off his head.  Macka is no longer squeaky clean, his actions and words surrounding this entire affair have shown a lack of respect not only for the woman he must have at one time thought he loved, but also to his child.  I may not have his fortune, but I know that I’d be willing to give up every penny I had to ensure that my child was not going to be subjected to the lifetime of media reminders his daughter will have following her parents’ behaviour during these proceedings – but then it’s just money and when it doesn’t play such an important role in your life perhaps it’s easier to have a better sense of priorities.  For those of us not benefiting from the settlement, let’s hope that the media can also find some priorities and educate us about issues that are more global than what is basically nothing more than a usual marriage break-up.

Ow, a little news on the work front.Rachel has re-designed the Office water cooler pages

Well having had his time in court, and then being reported in The Sun newspaper for having a different version of events, Paul Burrell, former butler of Princess Diana, is now requested by the inquest into Diana’s death to return to the stand – and he’s refusing.  Currently outside the long arm of the justice department he can continue to refuse but one has to wonder why.  Paul Burrell was someone I thought had integrity, a person who would do all that he could to protect Diana’s name and make sure that this inquest did right by her.  I’m no longer sure about that.  Now that he's got his new uk home with the proceeds, it really looks as though the celebrity status to which his former employment raised him has made him turn his back on the person whose death created his celebrity – the late Princess of Wales. 

I’m not sure why he wasn’t able to just stand up at the inquest and recount events as they really happened.  If there was some foul play which resulted in the premature death (intended or otherwise) of Diana, it’s only going to be flushed out if people who know anything come forward and speak the truth.  Diana’s memory deserves better than Paul Burrell’s mismatched statements – at the moment his actions play more against the person he’s supposed to have cared so deeply about.  This saddens me.  I don’t expect the blue bloods to break rank, but I did expect that those who really cared for Diana and who aren’t shackled by generations of heritage and titles to speak the truth.  Perhaps I expected too much.

Ow on a work front.Gill has finally re-designed the botox page

When you see how uptight people are about religion in foreign countries, as currently being displayed by Sudan Putting an English teacher in prison for naming a teddy bear something they believe to have been a personal slight against their religion.

It seems that there is a double standard at work.  When Brits go out to these countries to work and help raise the standards of their education they are expected to honour the traditions of the country.  Yet when Muslims come to the UK, they expect to follow their own traditions regardless of how much it affects the British culture – as in the case of veiled women.  Would a Muslim be put in prison for calling a teddy bear God in the UK?  Of course not – we’re not that petty!

Are the Sudanese Muslims so insecure in their religion that they can’t overlook an obvious cultural error made in ignorance rather than malice (I doubt ignorance is a crime in any country!)?   Are they so controlling that they jump on such a small matter?  Perhaps like the western world they are picking on Ms Gibbons because it’s much easier to find and put a teacher in prison for naming a teddy bear than find international terrorists hiding in their midst.  Whatever the reason, it’s sad that such a prominent religion is unable to show forgiveness in such a case.

On a more positive note.Sara has finally redesigned the face lift clinic page

The tabloids are reporting that Jordan (Katie Price) is going to have a boob reduction as a Christmas gift.  I’m sure that this is going to have flat chested chicks and most men scratching their heads with bewilderment, but seriously people, unless you have to lug around a pair of breasts like that, you have no idea what kind of a burden they are.  If you’re currently in the A cup size range, and think you’d die for boobs like Jordan, be careful what you wish for.  Clothes are made for matchsticks, the fashion industry doesn’t do boobs – you have to belong to the glamour industry for chest size to measure, which is the root of Jordan’s current problem, and which doesn’t usually require much (if any) clothing!  Big breasts are also heavy – there’s going to be an enviable instant weight loss with the breast reduction – and they get in the way. 

Unless you’ve ever walked around for any period of time with two large bags of flour strapped to your chest and know how it affects your posture and back, don’t criticize Jordan and Andre on this one, because this time they’re making one of those “good choice” decisions that health advocates are always on about!