You can't plan history

Theses truly are historic times.

Barack Obama is President of the United States, the so called most powerful man in the world. It's historic not just because of the colour of his skin, or that he is the child of a non American, but because he opposed the dreadful war in Iraq, and is so young, a new generation.

Every sane person should be happy. We've had eight years of the ultra conservative Bush administration, two failed wars and the horror of places like Guantanamo Bay.

But in the back of my mind is the thought that politicians never achieve what they set out to, they never make all their promises reality. And as far as the USA/UK is concerned, they nearly always take us into wars. remember when Blair said his generation could be the first not to send it's troops to war... hmm, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan.

So I'm happy to be around during these historical times, but I'm also a just a tad sceptical. Lets wait and see what the 44th President does about Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and the economy.

He's got so much potential...

A New Song to Sing

I've uploaded a new track. Its called Four Years and like Well Adjusted, its a home made demo, a sketch to work from when I go into a proper studio at the end of Jan.

It's in the player on the right, have a listen and let me know what you reckon.

In other news, I have a cold. But who hasn't eh?

Facts and Figgers

This Blog is about music. It's about me and the things I'm doing, and stories and even advice I think people may find useful.

When it was started, I didn't expect that politics and current affairs would also be a matter of discussion, and it took me a while to decide whether or not I should even mention this on here. But as 2009 kicks off, one of the worlds largest and best equipped armed forces are attacking an area containing 1.5 million people with an average age of 17.

If you don't know any of the background to the conflict, then there are plenty of places to find out the history. This is basically the latest round of a series of violent conflicts that have been going on since 1948. In more recent history, the state of Israel, with said huge armed forces, has been "defending" itself from rocket attacks by Hamas.

It may seem fair enough that Israel is taking action to stop these rocket attacks. But it isn't that simple. Whatever the political points of view, it can not seem right to anyone that the civilians of the Gaza strip are punished for the actions of Hamas. Look at the above table, and compare the numbers. When bombs and shells fall on towns and villages they don't hunt out the terrorists and leave the civilians, they kill indiscriminately. Much the same thing happened in 2006 in Lebanon when Israeli air and ground attacks more or less removed that country's ability to function. And Lebanon as a a country didn't support Hamas, hamas just happened to operate from Lebanon. Its as crazy as saying if UK nationals where found to be involved in the attacks in Mumbai, should the Indian air force bomb British cities, and if they did would the people who suffered be the people responsible for the terrorism, or innocent civilians?

It is not my wish to criticise the Israeli state, or the normal people of Israel. But the actions of the Israeli armed forces are, I think, evil. The saddest thing is, of course, that they will only increase the hatred of Israel in Palestinian minds and in the long run increase support for groups like Hamas. As for the US and by implication our country, they seem unable to criticise the extent of Israeli action, just saying that Israel has a right to defend itself. What does any of that matter to the civilians of Gaza?

Christmas Time Has Gone Again

Over Christmas I did a few fun things. It sort of started on the 21st when two of my housemates, my girlfriend and I had a sudden "Fake" Christmas. With a really good meal (mainly down to Maria) fun gifts, carol and Abba song singing, and most important of all, a 70s theme.


Then on the real Xmas Day I was back in Brum at my aunts. I had a really cool time back a Mum and Dads, in the clean with real food and best of all, heating! Hope you all had a good one, because its gone now, forever has Christmas 2008

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009 to everyone, hope you spent the last hours of 2008 however you wanted to, be it at warm at home with loved ones, wine and baileys, or at some exciting party/club/firework type thing.

A couple more days, and then it's back to the grind. I've already taught one guitar lesson this week, and on Saturday it is back to normal. The Xmas holiday seems to go even quicker when it's work and not school your going back to. Oh well, I'm lucky enough to like what I do...

My new year was spent at Snobs in Birmingham, with my girlfriend, two housemates and a good mate. It was a good giggle all round really, with much silliness, as the above picture will prove.