(Round 1: Information scouting)
I have for, ooh a good two years now, been interested in "Speaker's Corner". It was some mythic, strange and expectant thing (like most things I am inspired by) that wasn't exactly how I envisioned it.
I lied to impress an anorexic imbecile who works for the Student's Union that I had in fact spoken at 'Speaker's Corner' when I had done no such thing, something I will put paid to in future I assure you. I also lied and said I ran as an independent candidate a few yeas ago at a party to an overweight 2nd generation Arabic Man, who was terribly enthused. - I have an idea a bit like 'My Name Is Earl' (but not run by Scientologists) to realise all the half-truths, exaggerations and bare faced embellished nonsense anecdotes I made as a lonely, isolated adolescent teenager scared to leave my bedroom AND MAKE THEM COME TRUE. (But more about that later).
There isn't a lot about speakers corner on the web there's this: www.speakerscorner.net, and of course WIKI, a lot of which I didn't take in. Only to be furnished with the knowledge, quite informally that it, takes place 'every sunday morning in Hyde Park, nearest tube st. Marble Arch', now define Morning... I thought it would be deserted come midday, and my oversleeping, I thought it would be last knockings. But oh no... by 11:30 it was still gathering steam.
It was full of religious types shouting angrily mostly, big turn-off. Although, a Muslim New Yorker type was lovely and polite, calling everyone sir, and being quite interesting. People just gather round and stare and some talk back. I think you need to have a few friends there first time so you people go near you. Definitely.
*
Beyond genuine RESEARCH, for my own 'go' at it. I.e 'where do you get the stands from?' 'Can you use amplifyers?' (Big no-no).... I got genuinely [too many uses of the word GENUINE there] inspired by the 'meeting' I attended with Dan Lambert chairing on his stand. SOCIALISM really appeals to me, in the sense that we're all part of the same human family, we shouldn't be enslaved by Capitalism and so on and so on, although I am fearful of getting locked up and such when I eventually start becoming so enthused to establish a new world order that.... yeahs... see how far my mind goes ahead! Also a young fella was there Chris, who is a member of the Socialist Worker's Party and doing 'A'-levels in Philosophy in Brockenhurst, quite near me in Bournemouth. I told them about my 'book I'm writing' (news to me...well ever since I made that promise of writing to Caroline Lucas and Peter Tatchell replied to my e-mail it's looking likelier), which is to be about POLITICAL THINKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY. It got me there e-mails which I've written to immediately. No procrastination 'ere.
So the juries out as far as SOCIALISM is concerned. My verdict: Further research required:
www.worldsocialism.org
INTENT FOR NEXT WEEK: 1 HOUR of writing (at least) per day on any project.
Sunday 30 May 2010
Monday 24 May 2010
RADIO 5 LIVE
It was all the way back in September of last year, that I got two tickets to The Victoria Derbyshire Show; A 5Live show that does Phone-ins and mundane banter. It was through my Student's Union, they wanted some studenty types on, as it was the Lib Dem Conference, and they were having them all there so 'a cross-section of the population' could ask questions.
I didn't really have anything genuinely political under my belt, or up my sleeve, or concealed near any other bit of clothing... I just wanted to be near 'em and possibly talk to them. I
I waited for the big boi Nick Clegg, back then someone no-one had heard of, but I had, this would be the first time I'd seen him in the flesh, as a trip to Prime-Minister's Questions earlier in the year proved that the balcony seating and the perspex glass obsures the far end of the chamber where the Liberals sit (sat, sat, must get used to that), I was treated to quite a close-up view of Peter Mandleson who has obviously had a bit of work done, and was sitting opposite me chatting up a Cardinal.
So, I waited and they were gearing me up, and Nick came in and sat down and I manaed to get in just before the news. Eye contact. He was all smiles. I said something coquettish 'Oh of all the leader's you're the most attractive' the room erupted with laughter and Mr Clegg blushed, it was all rather amusing. Although I did say "I can't imagine you as Prime-Minister" but in my defense, it was only due to the fact that I couldn't see him with a cigar and fur coat.
After that brief exchange, the rest of the proceedings floundered. We were asked to write what we wanted from our M.P. on a little card beneath our seat and I scrawled something in my illegible handwriting and thought nothing of it.
Well! Just before Christmas I was called by Chris Jameson a lovely Producer bloke from BBC5LIVE, saying that they'd chosen my words to go in a book to be published at the time of the 2010 election, and to record it so they could play t on the radio. I did as I was asked. it was a rather sensible statement with a dash of the scathing.
The Family and I went on holiday to Florida at Christmas and my Mobile went walkabout on the flight back. I thought no more about it till April, when the election loomed. 'They wont be able to ring me to tell me the books ready etc." and I dashed off a quick e-mail to the show to explain everything.
Got a charming Phonecall from Chris explaining that 'yes, it's nearly ready, we just need a photo', and to send one, which I dutifully did, without thinking or ego, a rather gurning pick.
Several weeks later and with the COALITION installed, I received a copy of the book, or 'booklet', my statement was chosen with 14 others out of hundruds, which is rather lovely of them.
But, it was the fleeting opportunity of appearing on radio again, this time as a guest on a panel, talking to lots of politicians. It seemed a whimsical maybe, a few more phonecalls from Chris. I didn't have any expectations this time, and by jove I got it.
I got to College Green by the Palace of Westminster last tuesday morning, sleep deprived and full of adrenaline, my only worries, being the rest of the panel may steal my thunder and be twatty upstarts like me, but they were lovely and I reined supreme, I made sure I said my full name, there were a lot of backroom stuff going during those two hours, and I shant name no names but I have plenty on the practices of the BBC, lovely bizzare types they are....
Chris has subsequently rung and e-mailed about what a 'star turn' I was. I used the opportunity to try and get on the show again promoting my One Man Show, he said it would be better for Richard Bacon, he wasn't promising anything, but he said to forward on some information.
I didn't really have anything genuinely political under my belt, or up my sleeve, or concealed near any other bit of clothing... I just wanted to be near 'em and possibly talk to them. I
I waited for the big boi Nick Clegg, back then someone no-one had heard of, but I had, this would be the first time I'd seen him in the flesh, as a trip to Prime-Minister's Questions earlier in the year proved that the balcony seating and the perspex glass obsures the far end of the chamber where the Liberals sit (sat, sat, must get used to that), I was treated to quite a close-up view of Peter Mandleson who has obviously had a bit of work done, and was sitting opposite me chatting up a Cardinal.
So, I waited and they were gearing me up, and Nick came in and sat down and I manaed to get in just before the news. Eye contact. He was all smiles. I said something coquettish 'Oh of all the leader's you're the most attractive' the room erupted with laughter and Mr Clegg blushed, it was all rather amusing. Although I did say "I can't imagine you as Prime-Minister" but in my defense, it was only due to the fact that I couldn't see him with a cigar and fur coat.
After that brief exchange, the rest of the proceedings floundered. We were asked to write what we wanted from our M.P. on a little card beneath our seat and I scrawled something in my illegible handwriting and thought nothing of it.
Well! Just before Christmas I was called by Chris Jameson a lovely Producer bloke from BBC5LIVE, saying that they'd chosen my words to go in a book to be published at the time of the 2010 election, and to record it so they could play t on the radio. I did as I was asked. it was a rather sensible statement with a dash of the scathing.
The Family and I went on holiday to Florida at Christmas and my Mobile went walkabout on the flight back. I thought no more about it till April, when the election loomed. 'They wont be able to ring me to tell me the books ready etc." and I dashed off a quick e-mail to the show to explain everything.
Got a charming Phonecall from Chris explaining that 'yes, it's nearly ready, we just need a photo', and to send one, which I dutifully did, without thinking or ego, a rather gurning pick.
Several weeks later and with the COALITION installed, I received a copy of the book, or 'booklet', my statement was chosen with 14 others out of hundruds, which is rather lovely of them.
But, it was the fleeting opportunity of appearing on radio again, this time as a guest on a panel, talking to lots of politicians. It seemed a whimsical maybe, a few more phonecalls from Chris. I didn't have any expectations this time, and by jove I got it.
I got to College Green by the Palace of Westminster last tuesday morning, sleep deprived and full of adrenaline, my only worries, being the rest of the panel may steal my thunder and be twatty upstarts like me, but they were lovely and I reined supreme, I made sure I said my full name, there were a lot of backroom stuff going during those two hours, and I shant name no names but I have plenty on the practices of the BBC, lovely bizzare types they are....
Chris has subsequently rung and e-mailed about what a 'star turn' I was. I used the opportunity to try and get on the show again promoting my One Man Show, he said it would be better for Richard Bacon, he wasn't promising anything, but he said to forward on some information.
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