Bieber is Booed, what a delight

And with these words the presenter said

"The first ever milestone award for ..(being the world's biggest twat)...goes to Justine Bieber." Justine (Arsehole) Beiber, known by his friends as JAB then went on stage to receive his milestone award, which is a misnomer as the real name is tombstone award. The crowd did not welcome him with ecstatic delight. To the JAB's horror and confusion the booed. What a wonderful sight it was to view. Certainly on American TV broadcast nationally, to see this upstart little snobby nosed shite get recognised by his own fan base as being a complete twat. I could of told all those fans a few years ago they were nuts. It seems however, even nuts can get to see the light. JAB has acted like an idiot, he has treated his fans and the public to the petulant, arrogant side.  The look on JAB's face was a picture which could be hung in the gallery of the stunned.  It was almost a realisation not everybody actually loves or likes JAB. His response sounded like he was trying to win back the audience, they were not doing as he had expected them to do. He is so full of himself he thought it would be a matter of taking the microphone and talking about his number one fan (himself) and his inspirations. The time he stood there aghast; open mouthed like a fish desperately hoping a flake of food will suddenly be sucked into the vacuum of it's mouth, went on and on. Half of the time which may have been allocated to his speech was spent listening to the boos. Oh dear JAB, was it an insult to your ego?  JAB thank those people in his life who had helped him and in a desperate plead to get cheers the thanked Jesus Christ, however I never actually thought JC did much in the way of music production, well certainly not in the last 2000 years anyway.

There is a truth which often takes time to dawn on the general public, and certainly fans of any famous personality. It is to do with the impression they give. For example, an actor will play a part, the regurgitate words they have learnt or read of a cue card. The part they play may be a hero, someone cool, someone who you would give respect. In reality this is just a fictional character. What the audience doesn't know is what the actor is really like as a person. It takes time for this side of an individual to come out and spill into the public arena. Some are aware of this and are exceedingly careful. Others may be careful but then they are caught unawares. Their veil of fictional serenity is lifted. We then get to see what they are like as real people. At this point if they are not nice. If they are utterly contemptuous, then the public who made them feels they have been cheated. That actor then begins to lose their value, because although they can act, when you know what they are like as a person you just don't want to see them again. It is a brave studio who will employ them knowing of this publicity. In a manner the same goes with JAB. If his audience feels like this about him the likelihood is his songs will not be as popular as he once thought they were. At this point JAB is taken down by his own hubris.

With luck in a few months time the world could like have fewer songs sold by one once known artist, as they descend into musical oblivion. Perhaps at this point someone else will come along who has a little more substance.

The Idiot Award goes to Reese Witherspoon

As I began to watch a video of Reese Witherspoon being handcuffed and arrested for obstructing a police officer in his line of duty (work), I couldn't help think here was an example of another superstar who thinks they are above the law. As though being famous immediately excludes these persons from having do be respectful to law, order and justice. Of course to a certain extent this may well be true when considering the actor who got away with murdering his wife. The one to remain nameless, purely because I've forgotten his name, but enjoyed a high speed chase on TV prior to his arrest some years ago.  Justice is in reality something which is more likely to favour the rich than the poor. Yet this is not justice, this is paid for get-out-of-jail cards, via expensive lawyers. While Reese was being handcuffed she asked the policeman if he knew who she was. He obviously doesn't watch much TV or as it was night time didn't recognise her. Maybe Reese looks a lot different since her last blockbuster movie came out.  I mean looks do fade, and the vanity of a film star is more vigilant to these changes than any other normal human being.

In all fairness Reese didn't commit a great crime. She opened her mouth and questioned an authority figure.  However, what she did was to talk over the arresting officer, she was angry and was out to give him a bit of her mind. She clearly wasn't thinking at all and in this instance requires the idiot award for the month. She just would not shut up. It is therefore sad to see someone who famous and well known around the world only be given a $100 fine. In consideration of her behaviour the fine should of been a hundred times higher. It then would of been proportionate to her fame. As I researched the internet about this incident more damning details emerged. The video actually last for a couple of hours, it's recording sound as Reese and her partner Jim Toth are sat in the back seat. Jim was originally arrested for being a drunk driver.  He tells Reese she has made the whole incident national news by her behaviour, but she still doesn't understand her own belligerence, she just doesn't get it. In another part of the video Jim even tells the officer Reese is more drunk than he is. If she had kept her gob shut and let her partner be arrested she could of well driven the car back home. In doing so then she would of been drink driving. I've no doubt she would of done this. To an extent the arresting officer did both her and the American public a great favour in slipping on the hand cuffs.

In watching Reese explain her behaviour, in a much shorter interview on Good Morning America; it is noticeable how she shakes her head as if to say "no," in disagreement or negatively.  While saying one thing and shakes her head negatively both body and mouth are unsynchronised. Taken together, her body language, denotes someone who does not believe what they are saying. Unless what they are saying is "no" and then it would be a congruent gesture. Reese thought she would get away with it. At the end of the interview she spoke about having played a lawyer in her movies.  True this maybe, but she also says she is a not a lawyer. Another sign of discord in her body language arises as Reese is not shaking her head but rather nodding her head.  To have been synchronised she should of been shaking her head. Int this part of the interview she is more relaxed, in any event, consciously or unconsciously Reese believes she is a lawyer and does know her rights.  Reese has a high opinion of herself, she's positive she knows her rights and this is her hubris.  My personal interpretation of both episodes is Reese comes across as a pretty stupid woman.  I'd invite anyone to watch the Good Morning America interview a few times and see for themselves. It's there if you're vigilant enough to see it.

And now here's a tip for Jim, next time you go out with Reese and she's prone to a glass or two, take a cab, book into a hotel, or get a gag. All of which might prevent her from getting into trouble. 

aNueNue U900 Soprano Review

I just got a new Ukulele, the excitement has been bubbling up since it was ordered a few days ago, it's the aNueNeu U900. On doing some research it seemed this Ukulele is big in Japan, there are hundreds of videos of people playing it, there are even two glove puppets which have been characterised in videos playing both the rabbit and the bear (pineapple) versions of the instrument. The advertising is catchy, it's young it's bright and it's fun. The thought which went through my head was how Japanese people go for a quality product and this product was probably Japanese as well. But the reality is I'm not entirely sure where this company is based, who owns it and how they work. Doing a search on the internet has so far proved to be inconclusive. It is a new company, their web site has the image of a Hawain type Island but then anyone can do a web site and make it appear to be any place in the world. It should not of been a surprise but it was, there stuck on the neck of the Uke was a little sticker which said "made in China." At this point I felt a little disappointed. Whoever aNueNue are they subcontract the building of their Ukes to factories or companies in China. I suppose my hope was they had been built by Japanese robots to Japanese specification in Japan. A little naive in reality.

The Ukulele arrived, well packaged from the distributor, and I carefully opened it.  There was a tag attached to the headstock indicating Aquilla strings had been used.  The first thing I did was remove this.  I could tell straight away this was a different instrument from the beautiful Bertha I normally play. Bertha though beautiful is a budget uke.  However, she has given me 4 months of every day playing and experience. So I'm starting to know a thing or two about Ukes. The U900 is described as a laminate mahogany Uke. It is well constructed and reminds me a little of the old type of wood furniture which used to be typical of the 1970s. The U900 body appears slightly smaller than Bertha's, the action is excellent, so low and so much easier to finger the frets than Bertha. It is however important to realise playing technique should be taken into account when using any instrument. How it is held and how your left hand plays the frets can determine whether you are able to achieve the correct cord formations.  So preventing any buzz. I gave it a few strums and then proceeded to spend the next two and a half hours strumming away, getting used to the feel. My left hand may not be holding the neck correctly as I'm finding there is too much pressure on the headstock, but the shape of the wood and feel of the headstock is harder on my index finger, it almost bites into it. In a short time I wasn't quite happy.  It's to do with a buzzing noise generated from the C string.  This is a new instrument and I can't believe this is actually happening. So considering my skills are amateurish I think I will get someone else's opinion. Someone I know who can play the Uke and as what they think. If it is the case of a buzzing C string then it's going to have to be returned back to the distributor.

At the moment I am at the not-quite-convinced stage. Was this a good purchase?  Is this to do with the way I strum or pluck the C string? By the end of the week I'll know what I am going to do with it. Also I'm not sure if I will purchase another one not another one by this company or from this distributor. I need to be completely satisfied. It's a recession and every penny spent must be accounted for. I'll add an additional paragraph once I've had some further advice on the issue.

Update
I've now had this uke for three months. The C string did buzz so I sent it back to the shop. They in turn returned it or a new one, I can't tell which and took three weeks over it. I was disappointed with the distributor, but this happens when purchasing from the internet. I do like playing the instrument but at times am wary. I can hear an occasional buzz, partly down to my chord formations but possibly down to the instrument. Given a choice I would not recommend this instrument, but for now I'm stuck with it. I should of asked for a refund. So am still in a process of mentally accepting Harvey (uke name). There is not doubt though playing on a better quality instrument does enhance the appeal of learning the uke. Final say, if you do buy one, get it from a shop and if you don't but then find it's not up to scratch don't hesitate to ask for a refund. I know got an eye on my next uke in a years time. Probably a flea.

The Bedroom Tax and an alternative solution

The ever so wise (not) government have introduced a tax on those people who under occupy their homes. This tax applies to those who are of working age and only to the housing sector called Social Rented Housing. For example, councils and housing associations. Pensioners are not effected by this and a cynical person might say this is because they are ever so more likely to vote at elections. No government in their right mind would do anything to antagonise the elderly. In many cases the elderly have it easier than those termed as working age.  For everyone is always looking out to help pensioners.

An example of someone who might be effected by this would be say a forty plus individual, living in a flat with two bedrooms, in this example it could even be a couple. Say they had two children who have grown up and left home. Living in a two bedroom property this will automatically mean they are under occupying the property. Adding a little more detail to this situation, lets say this couple are at work but in low paid jobs and are able to receive some form of housing benefit. The bedroom tax will mean because they are under occupying the property they will not receive housing benefit in relation to the full rent. The maximum this benefit could be applied at would be a 14 per cent reduction in the actual rent. If their rent is normally £100 then the calculation of housing benefit will only be determined as if the rent were £86. This couple will have to find the additional monies to cover this rent.  If they were not working and receiving state benefits the same figure is used. Proportionately someone who is receiving state benefits will have even less money to live off. There are some exceptions in the bedroom tax, but the majority of working age claimants will have less money to pay their rent.

The repercussions of the bedroom tax have not been considered fully. A simplistic notion in a simplistic Tory mind is these people will either have to take in a lodger or they will move to another property. In London there are very few if any single bedroom properties vacant, because these are probably the most wanted properties around. In addition, there is absolutely no consideration to how many years of their life these people have spent living in a property or becoming part of the community they are in. Paradoxically there will now be people renting properties from the private sector who will be entitled to more in the way of housing benefits than those who rent from the Social Rented Sector.  Properties in and around London are expensive and their rental is equally expensive because demand is high. Of course the higher the demand the higher rental values can be charged in the Private Rented Sector. It's a matter of fact.

An alternative to have controlled spending on the housing benefit budget (which is about £23 billion per year) would of been to introduce a new fair rent act. An act which would restrict rental values of all private sector accommodation.  In addition to introduce an extra empty home tax, this would apply to all those properties which are empty for too long. Were this tax applied after three months and equivalent to say 70 per cent of the weekly rental value it would automatically encourage private landlord's to ensure they rented out their spare unused properties. The value of the empty property tax could then suitably increase if the property remains unoccupied for longer. Of course exemptions and exception would be applicable but those exemptions and exceptions would also be open up to review.  Applied to London and all other areas of the country this could increase income levels for taxes and at the same time ensure the number of empty and unoccupied properties were reduced and occupied. It would certainly be in the interest of any private landlord to ensure they were.

Instead now the Toss pot, I mean Tory Party coalition government have created a situation where the poorest people in the UK pay the most. They are expected to pull the economy out of recession by the government reducing it's underlying spending on housing benefit.  In the country there will be millions of people effected by this tax. The costs incurred to society will be high. Residents in the social rented sector will fall behind in the rent, creating rent arrears can mean they are in jeopardy of losing their home. In turn they will not be rehoused in social sector properties again as at this point they are considered intentionally homeless. However, they can seek out private accommodation, which charges a higher rate and be awarded benefits at an equally higher rate. In this respect the underlying desire to reduce the housing benefit budget is scuppered because now more funds are required.

It's a shame the government didn't have any idea about a fair rent act, then again they probably wouldn't. After all I expect a number of their supporters are private landlords who enjoy receiving the monies they do from their tenants. As for the pensioners, I'm sure a number of them will have children or grand children who are trying to start off in life and have difficulty making ends meet. In such cases when they hear of their children's plight they might become empathetic and change their vote. After all, even the bank of mum and dad, or granddad and grandma is limited. Look out voting box.

The Budget and a nasty smug chancellor

Tomorrow we get to see a budget by Georgie porgy Osborne, the upper class Tory snob who doesn't have the faintest idea of what it is like for a normal working or lower class person to live in the UK. He has his head so far up his own backside I understand he once sent out a search party to find himself. Fortunately he now has an app on his smart phone which tells him exactly where he is every minute of the day. He needs it, he gets lost easily, which is understandable as Cameron to has the same problem and was the first to tell Georgie about the app.

As though to give the country a good bit of news some of the budget has already been leaked. Those families who have children may be able to get additional help with child care costs. But this will not be immediate. It'll take place in 2015. Why tell us about it now I wonder. Inflation has gone up. This has been put down to the increase in oil, which Georgie has likely not even considered. How can a man with a degree in modern history run a country's economic? The Tory party must believe knowledge of economics is unnecessary. The most irritating thing though is everyone in the UK will have to endure Georgie's smug, ugly looking face tomorrow because he just happens to be the chancellor. I expect the NHS will take a hit with an increase in high blood pressure medication over the next few days. In the meantime Georgie will be basing himself in a bath of smug milk, and he'll probably use it all up before Cameron gets a chance to dip his toes in as well.

If evil exists then it must exist in ignorance, Georgie isn't fit to sit in Parliament but he does, how very unfortunate for the rest of us. Then if Karma also existed, Georgie is going to be in for a very interesting time when he leaves the house of power. Were god to exist then he sure could do with helping all of us.

Sam (Ugly Nose) Brick....not a celebrity

The alleged journalist Samantha Brick has just been kicked out of Celebrity Big Brother.  Allegedly a journalist but in reality not a journalist, just a minor features writer with nothing but a very big opinion of herself.  She is the typical person you see and wonder how the hell they got to do the job they do.  How the hell they managed to be famous, because quite clearly this is a woman who is ignorant of the world and ignorant of women's rights.  A young model called Rhian Sugden stayed in the BB house as well, she in turn was hounded by a bronze medalist Olympic athlete, Ashley McKenzie.  Rhian clearly stated to Ashley she had a boyfriend, but Ashley with his puppy dog eyes being egged on by Michael Harvey Jr aka MC Harvey, aka Harvey.  When Samantha or as another contestant described her being a tawdry Daily Mail reporter (certainly not a journalist) was being interviewed on Big Brother's Bit on The Side she was asked if Ashley should of known what he was doing as he had been told by Rhian of her situation.  Samantha backed him up, saying he was led on.  Rhian, had not led him on, Rhian was bullied by another housemate who seemed to verge on the edge mental illness Jasmine Lennard (who has been severely legally gagged by Simon Cowell so she can not talk about a relationshi she had with him.  Hell, gagging her seemed to me the least invasive thing he could of done considering how crazy she really is).  Rhian had at times sort solace and emotional comfort from Ashley, who acted like a young boy on heat and really only wants one thing from Rhian and he was never going to get it in on any planet.  So unbelievably, Sam (ugly nose) Brick would not accept or make a judgement of harassment or in any other situation would of been considered stalking.

Ugly nose (Sam Brick) is one of the poorest examples of the free press or of women who should in other circumstances stand up for other women.  She should not be allowed to write another word which is put into the public domain.  She describes herself as a French housewife.  She boasts how she once ran her own TV company, had a six figure salary and the world was her oyster.  But now she is demeaned to being a housewife and she says she loves it.  She probably does because she is not of this world.  She is in a fantasy land for one.  Sam I am in no doubt liked the attentions of another housemate who had to compliment her.  Prince Lorenzo, he was charming and she loved it.  It will never happen again in her life, but she can boast she was wooed by a Prince.  The Prince then fell for a younger more beautiful flirt in the house Danica.  Flirt is an understatement for her feminine charms.  She is more than this and it gets her into trouble.Ever since The Prince showed his liking for Danica Ugly Nose (Sam Brick) then got jealous and had it in for her.  Sam is a mediocre character and a pretty dull personality.  Yet she writes for a tabloid and is in the media as though she is important.  She is making money for being stupid.  As it seems do a lot of other individuals in this media mad world of celebrities.  With such individual's when their true character is revealed you get to understand why they had kept their real character under wraps.  They were not likeable at all.  In Ugly Nose's case a spiteful little not much of a celebrity, who I hope never to hear of again in my life.

Commonality of poor office design

I sat at my workstation in the Fish Factor, there were 8 emails from the day before and more were coming in.  It was raining work, I'm only one individual and have just one pair of hands, but still it poured. I kept a tally of the interruptions, there were in excess of 25 of them, where someone wanted to speak to me, on the phone or in person.  It is like I go to work to be interrupted and not do any work while there.  The day was a write off.  It may have been OK for everyone else but for me it was walking up hill in treacle.  It felt like nothing got done.

If office environments are supposed to be places of productivity then this environment could not of been an office.  I believe in the UK we go backwards in the design of buildings for people to work in.  As with everything else the people who are meant to use a building are not consulted, the project teams become selective groups who have power in not just design but finances.  They are amateurs when it comes to creating working environments but it doesn't stop them from going out in the world and purchasing designs and furnishings which are inappropriate.  The buildings look beautiful.  They win awards for all kinds of things, such as energy efficiency, renewing rain water for toilets, the use of glass to allow in lots of light.  The buildings are said to be friendly for the disabled.  However, once you get a group of people and who start to fill the building up the real issues come through.  There is no doubt in my mind architects play a part in this, but there must be a tomb of knowledge somewhere about the failures of office buildings and how they can be improved and made better.  How in the planning stage so much can be achieved to prevent disasters.

I am sure the project masters who designed the Fish Factory had no conception of the noise made when a building which is little more than a multi-story car park is adapted for employees to work in. How the reverberations of chatter carry and bounce of hard concrete surfaces, and do disrupt people, especially those who need to think.  As all the money has been spent on design there is little left for furnishings or noise dampening devices.  So there are times when it is impossible to concentrate, peace is so necessary for some of us.  Consequently less work gets done when the Big Fish want more.  It is a complete contradiction.  An environment is thrown together which does little or anything to help at all.

I expect then to get picked up as I have not met my quotas, it will not matter what argument I put forward.  I'll be in the wrong.  So I'll just sit with my fingers in my ears, or ear plugs, or ear muffs and hope there will be a time where a little bit of work is actually achieved.  Down with the ignoramuses who control everything and know nothing.