Modern Life Is Rubbish...Or Is It?

Over the last few years there have been a number of books and TV shows such as Grumpy Old Men which have the common theme that life was much better in 'the old days' than it is now. In fact this very author has often strayed dangerously close to the wind on this subject (please refer to old blog entries). However, there are many reasons why modern life is much better now than it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. How good is mobile phone technology? I know people moan and say ' oh I never get any peace anywhere, mobile's always going off' - well turn the bloody thing off then! In fact most new technology is great - the internet, all technological advances in media such as flat screen TV, DVDs and the like and digital music is great. I know it was always a thrill when you bought a new LP (remember those, kids?) and took the big black vinyl disc out of the shiny cover but it wasn't long before it was scratched of jumping. CDs are much more robust and to my ears much clearer, MP3 files are even better. And remember when you wanted a beer anytime on a Sunday or after 11pm? No chance, it was digging out the old Party 7 that you had stored away under the stairs to quench your thirst. I also greatly appreciate central heating, having never had the benefit of this until I was 30 years old - I'll stop now before this turns into the four Yorkshiremen - 'Central heating? Luxury! We had to huddle round spittle bowl to get warm'.

Tears are not enough

So the football season is upon us again. Come the end of this season let's hope we have no more histrionics from Premiership fans, boohooing because their club have been relegated, usually after only one season in the top flight anyway. So you really thought you had a chance of winning the league? the best you were ever going to get was 6th, be thankful you are going into a league that is one of the top 10 supported leagues in Europe and at least you have a chance of some success there. If you want real football tragedy then look at the clubs at the bottom of league 2 who are going out of the league, that's a real reason for blubbing on the tv. Out of the league, having to go and play in places like Barrow and Crawley, real possibilities of players having to go part time, that's something to moan about. Pathetic Premiership fans, support a proper football club, like Brighton (but never, ever, support Palace - sorry Pete!)

Football trivia question:

Name 8 England players with an "x" in their surname?

Answer in next posting (and no cheating and looking it up on the internet- like I did.)

You wanna be starting something?

So, Michael Jackson RIP : misunderstood pop genius manboy or Gary Glitter with a lot more money?
I veer towards the former -I can't believe that anyone wouldn't realise that if you appear on a worldwide tv documentary and readily admit that you that share your bed with young boys then this is going to be a big deal?
It was quite interesting watching the whole circus surrounding his death and comparing it with pop celebrity deaths of the past. I wasn't around when Buddy Holly died, was that treated with such worldwide grief? I expect not, but in those days the media was much more limited than nowadays, although there was a lot of outpouring of grief and large media coverage for both the deaths of Elvis and Lennon even though they were both past their 'sell by' date in terms of popularity but so was Jackson who hadn't had a decent record record out for 20 years and has been an international figure of fun for the past decade. Still, which rock or pop star that is alive now will create the same media frenzy when they die? I can't see the same reaction when Jay-Z or Bono pop their clogs.