Yeah, I know what people are saying:

“He’s always banging on about car boot sales”

But what of it – I am a fan!  We all know that!  I highly advocate other people selling their tat to me at knock down superstore prices.  In fact, that’s how I can afford to buy things, without boot sales and charity shops – I would be scuppered!

Anyway, in my previous posts: Brighton’s Sunday Market is moving! & Brighton Car Boot Sale / Sunday Market…The Facts I have shared various pieces of invaluable information about Brighton’s best market, but I thought it was about time for some more interesting images.

So here is a little photo story from a recent visit to the sale, which reflects some of the variety of brilliant items one can find.

Enjoy and go visit yourself (details of where, when and how here).

TECH INFO – All shot on Nikon FG-20 on Kodak Royal Supra 200 film.

The BBC’s parties and issues pages – gives an overview of the main parties and what they stand for

www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com – take a quiz that will tell you what your political leanings are!

Find your candidates – www.politics.co.uk lets you search for your constituency and find who is standing and the stats on previous election results

UK polling report – find the latest poll information for your area

vote!

VOTE!

With the election just around the corner, I remain to be amazed by the number of people who tell me they are not going to vote, or someone they know is not going to vote.

I am sure everyone is almost at the end of their tether with politics – this election has been more in your face than perhaps any other I can remember.  And, as the polling day comes closer and the polls keep making the outcome more unpredictable, the parties are getting desperate to be the one to stick in your mind when you come to make a cross in a box on Thursday.

So what is it all about?  Why bother to get up of the sofa and vote at all?  Is there a point to voting and if you think they are all scum- why should any get your vote?  Even if you do decide to vote, then it’s not going to make a difference.

I have been on my high horse about this for a month or more, trying to convert the non-voting fraternity into coming out and putting their money where there mouth is.  In fact, putting their money where there mouth isn’t – because no vote means no say. With election day upon us in under 24 hours, I attempt here to sway any reader who is considering exercising their most futile democratic right – not to vote.

THE “HISTORY DICTATES YOU SHOULD” ARGUMENT

The history of Parliament is a long one, the origins in this country run back 1000 years or more and for the world as a whole, democratic ruling systems are numerous and ancient.  In Britain, parliament established itself to give the general population a stake in decisions that affected them to balance out the pure will of the monarch.  The ‘Glorious Revolution’ in 1688 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy and the main control of the state turned to the elected government.  For less than 400 years we have had the right to choose who governs us based upon their values and policies.  A generation is generally considered to be around 20 years, meaning 20 generations have had this right.  Only 20 generations!  That’s nothing in the history of humanity.  Just 20 of your relations have lived in a democracy in Britain rather than a dictatorship.

REASON 1 – People living 20 generations ago had no right to have a say in how they were governed, and as such, were at the mercy of a monarch.  Not voting puts you in the same position as those people – being dictated to and at the mercy of a ruler you have no say in or influence over.  You are effectlivly electing to live in a dictatorship.

THE “PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE” ARGUMENT

Perhaps the most worn argument is the “millions have died to give us the right to vote”.  Of course this is true and I suspect many people dismiss it as it is a bit of a sensationalist argument – because it is!  If people die for your freedoms, then you owe it to them to vote.  It is a cliche, but there is undeniably an element of truth in that.  What is the point in us standing up for what we believe in, through World Wars and terrible suffering, if we then revoke our ability to have a  say.

However, I think more powerful is the right of women to vote.  It was only in 1928 that women were granted the right to vote on the same terms as men.  My nan lived at a time when women had less say in how they were governed than men.  For only 82 years have we as a country had a full and equitable say in how we will be run.  This time frame is too short to betray by a non vote.

REASON 2 – I am not sure there is a more powerful argument as to why we should vote than this.  Everyone knows the suffragette’s story and I will not regurgitate it here.  Needless to say, the fact it took until 1928 must be one of the biggest disgraces in our recent history.  To not vote is most certainly an insult to the suffragettes.

POLITICAL STICKER ON TRAFFIC LIGHT

THE “YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN IF YOU DON’T VOTE” ARGUMENT

I sincerely believe that by not voting you have no right to complain, for the length of that parliament, at how the country is being run.  If you opt out of being a part of that decision, then you effectively opt out of the right to moan.  The vote is one of the most powerful tools in our democratic arsenal to have a stake in the laws that will be passed and the decisions that will be made.  Granted there are probably some exceptions to this rule, but I think they are few.  One I can think of is if you live outside of society, independent and of your own means – then you earn the right.  You do not participate, impinge on or affect the system you would be voting in.

There must be other examples too, but generally speaking, if you participate in society (by that I mean – the welfare state, state provided services like refuse collection, health and policing, paying taxes and receiving benefits, using subsidised services of any kind etc) then like it or not, you are buying into the system.  We all have the power to step outside the system – live outside it either by the way we conduct our life or by moving to another country.  Other than that, whether from choice or necessity, you are part of it.  If you are part of it, you should express your view as to how it should be run, it is your responsibility as a cog in that machine.  What is more – then you can begin the joy or criticising it.  You have your stake and therefore earned your right to a say in what is done.

REASON 3 – If you participate in society, it is deeply hypocritical to not exercise your ability to say how it is run.  Like it or not, we are all part of it and so all partly responsible.  Voting enables you to have some influence, no matter how small.  If you haven’t stuck your head above the parapet and voted for someone, then what gives you the right to criticise any of them?

VOTE FOR CHANGE

THE “MY VOTE DOESN’T COUNT” ARGUMENT

Everyone’s vote counts.  Stating that a vote makes no difference is literally nonsense.  Of course, you are 1 in 46 million registered voters, but that is still a part.  Any colony based life form relies on its population all playing a part in the whole.  Strength literally is in numbers.  Look at the turn out and at the last election, 61.28% of registered voters actually bothered.  Suddenly you are 1 in 28,188,800.  These numbers are not huge – Labour got a bit over 9 1/2 million of the popular vote in 2005.  If another few million people bothered to have their say across the country, the face of politics as we know could be utterly different.  Just think, if the electoral turn out could get up to 70% then that would be not far off 5 million more votes being cast.  As it stands, four people in every ten that you walk past in the street are not going to express a view.  What does that say about us as a whole?

I guess the question I ask myself, is do those 4 out of 10 really have just cause and reason not to vote?  Do they have a sound argument to back up their decision?  If 4 in 10 bees in a hive stopped bothering to participate – the colony would soon collapse around itself.

REASON 4 – Whilst you are literally 1 in 28 million, you are still part of that equation.  Cliche’s are both frustrating, but also true – where would we be if everyone decided not to bother?  Currently 40% of us choose not to bother and that is a frighteningly large percentage.  8,250,000 people bothered to vote in the last series of Fame Academy – that’s about a third of the number who vote in elections, which is, frankly, a pathetic statistic.  Fame Academy is literally insignificant.  Who rules our country is not.

It is percentages like that which allow extremest to get into power.

FOX TORY

THE “NONE OF THEM REPRESENT MY VIEWS” ARGUMENT

The other point that non-voters often make is that none of the parties represent their views, so there is no point in voting for any of them.  To this, I would suggest that view is slightly ignorant.  Where in the world is there someone else, let alone a group of people, that you agree with entirely?  Diversity is what makes our society so interesting, productive and successful.  For a democratic system to work, political parties have to appeal to a large number of people, and, as such, it is highly unlikely and extremely unrealistic that one person will agree with every aspect of their manifesto.  If parties did not work in this way, then we would have hundreds of independent MP’s and no decisions would ever be made.  Unfortunately, having to appeal to several millions of people is the price you have to pay for the system of government we have adopted.

However, given the fact that you get one vote to state who you think is best disposed to make decisions on your behalf for the coming 5 years, is it really true that not one party or individual is even slightly better than the others?  Even if you don’t really like any of the candidates there isn’t one that is slightly less hateful than the others and therefore better to have in place than another?  After all, one of them will be elected and by not voting you are having no influence or say over that.

REASON 5 – Wouldn’t you prefer to have the person who is slightly less shit than the others in power, rather than the really shitty one?  Your taxes are going to help towards their 60 odd grand a year as it is, so you may as well decide who is most worthy of your hard earned cash!

IT MATTERS MORE THAT YOU DO…

JUST VOTE

Look, I think that is enough banging on about this.  You are bored, I am bored and you know I am right!  Above are 5 reasons against 5 of the main arguments why it is worth your while taking 5 minutes out of your day tomorrow to have a say.  Love it or hate it, this is the system we have and you really should be a part of the decision making it.  If you truly do not believe in any party, person or system – then go and spoil your ballot paper.  Those are counted up and still count as a statement if enough are spoiled.  Better still, have a vote and then stand for election yourself next time and see how many people agree with you.

One of the biggest debates in this election campaign is over whether to have a discussion and possible referendum on the political system we have.  That is a massive opportunity to affect the power of your vote – read up about what a system like proportional representation would have on Britain before you make your final decision.  For a quick way to illustrate the point, play with the BBC’s Election 2010 seat calculator.  Check out the percentage of the vote the Liberal Democrats would need to get a majority government!

How can you not be excited about an election?  It gets everyone talking and debating the issues that count.  This year, I have seen more personal messages and views in people’s windows than ever before – and that is a good thing.  Just ask anyone from a repressed political state who faces imprisonment for expressing their political leanings.

Before you say it, I know all these arguments are very basic and life is more complicated than I have stated above.  I know my arguments are simplistic and probably riddled with inaccuracy and contradiction.  I know there are millions of counter arguments to be made.  But shit, for the first time in a long while, the dissolution with politicians is really in the fore front of the public mind, and this election is your chance to comment on that.  Do not waste your chunk of power to have a say – get out there tomorrow and make your mark.

Remember – it matters more you do than for who (unless it is for the Tory’s of course!!!).

Just vote!

P.S – I promise this is my last political post for a while   Normal fun living service to resume imminently

NOTE TO READERS – this post can also be viewed as a photo story in its own right (if you would prefer not to read my ramblings that accompany it).  Click on an image to load it up as a slide show.  Either way, I would recommend viewing the images as a slide show so you can see them as a bigger size.

DAVID CAMERON COMES TO A BRIGHTON COLLEGE

First up, I must admit to loving this election.  It’s my favourite election ever – probably more exciting than when Labour whitewashed the Conservatives 13 years ago.  Granted, I am interested in politics as it is and regularly follow the insane ramblings of politicians – but this election has got me worked up into a proper political frenzy.  As someone said to me in the pub the other day…

“It’s a bit like the World Cup!”

Well yes it is – but a bit more significant, a bit more thought provoking but a lot less suited to getting drunk whilst watching.  Perhaps the major thing they have in common is the high levels of shouting at the television!  Rest assured I love a good General Election and this one is not proving to disappoint and will hopefully be one never to be forgot.

Whilst I would love to remain impartial in my comments below, I can’t.  Actually, I wouldn’t love to remain impartial – save that for the BBC, I would very much like to bad mouth David Cameron and the Conservatives – yet at the same time, give an inside view into the political circus that is the election machine at work.

So, imagine my surprise, when, on returning from the Easter break to the Brighton college where I work, I was greeted by David Cameron’s Tory Election Fun Bus.  It glistened at the school gates, all freshly washed and adorned in brightly coloured ‘vote for change’ propaganda.  It even came complete with lovely impressions of clouds – to inspire the mind and evoke the sense of the picturesque British landscape that the Conservatives would no doubt concrete over given half a chance.

“Strange” thought I – why would the Tories send a coach to a college?  Not a great place to hand out fliers surely, given most of the recipients would be under the voting age.  Naturally, I assumed the fun bus was present to give the local Tory MP a chance to be seen doing their bit in the local community.

However, soon the teachers grapevine was in full swing and word spread that we were to be humbled by a visit by none other than David “Change” Cameron himself.  That’s right, the odds on favourite next PM was heading to Brighton to woo the students.  Apparently Gorden Brown had been to visit BHASVIC the preceding Friday and coaxed students away from the last day of their holidays by wheeling in the big guns of Eddie Izzard as a support act.  Sadly, I was unaware of that gathering and so didn’t get to witness it.

Still – more luck for us, as Cameron’s gang called the college the same day to request a short notice soiree with the students.  Naturally, the college obliged.

I have to admit, this got me rather excited.  Not because I would get to see the smug face of Cameron in the flesh, but because never in my voting career have I had the chance to witness a party leader speak in person.  Sure I have chatted to the odd Minister for Pensions in my previous incarnations, sure I have written to David Lepper MP (Brighton Pavilion’s current MP) numerous times on various issues – but never have I witnessed a political heavy weight first hand.

Anyway, with Cameron due to arrive at midday and speak at half 12 – I grabbed my camera under the guise of taking some shots for the college and set about seeing what I could see.

The media descends on a Brighton college to wait the arrival of David "Change" Cameron

As with all these things that are meticulously planned – things didn’t run to schedule.  I positioned myself outside the college doors, in the media pen with the ‘proper’ journalists and waited patiently for the fun bus to arrive in its blaze of glory.  Nearly an hour later than scheduled it was all systems go.  The secret police looked sharp and the press got wind Cameron was round the corner.  The sky clouded over.

An hour late, the main act arrives

Vote For Students quickly thrust their flier towards him

Before kick off, the students had been briefed and arranged on the proper conduct on his arrival.  As you would expect, the meet and great at the doors is a well conceived and planned media opportunity.  However, it was pleasant to see a few rogue groups getting to the front and shouting questions at Cameron as soon as his foot hit the concrete.  Namely, campaigners for the NUS Vote for Students campaign.  To be fair to Cameron, he went straight up to them and gave them a minute to vent, before taking a leaflet and scurrying over to the congregation to shake some hands.

The human condition means a wave of excitement is created when someone of fame, stature or celebrity is witnessed

It was interesting to see how the students reacted to this opportunity, and most appeared quite taken aback at being confronted by someone they had seen on the television.

Every inch of the hall was packed with people watching from the balcony, reminiscent of a scene from The Graduate

Students capturing evidence on any device at hand - an interesting illustration of the most media friendly election ever?

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THE STUDENTS

Cameron made his way to the hall where several hundred students and staff were gathered, as well as a score of different film crews, photographers and journalists.  I had witnessed the hall being prepared for his talk and it was incredible how quickly things happened.  Earlier that morning, several vans had arrived with an army of staff, who set about unloading an endless stream of staging, seats, PA equipment, branding and alike and within a few hours had the hall fully set up in their chosen manner.  Fair play, it must have been intimidating and it was well conceived – they arranged the seating in a circle around the centre, where Cameron would perform.  Giving him and the viewers a 360 degree front to defend.  A brave approach but no doubt a well calculated one.  Presenting oneself in this way suggests an openness, willing to speak to all and a certain vulnerability which was no doubt decided on by a panel of PR experts.   All part of the creation of Cameron’s public persona – a man of the people, ready and willing to roll his sleeves up.

In fact – roll his sleeves up he did.  One of his favourite buzz phrases to create an image of him getting stuck into the dirty work required, true to form he came with top button undone and sleeves receded.  Did he look more approachable, friendly and ready to get stuck in?  Did he bollocks.

Dave picks them out the crowd

and tries to look thoughtful as questions are asked

Cameron’s whole body language comes over as being a highly rehearsed, calculated and analysed routine.  Gesturing to the crowd to illustrate his ‘dramatic’ points, hand on chin whilst each question was asked, as if trying to look like Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’

Yet the body language of the students assembled to ask and listen was often different.  After a while, I got bored of photographing Cameron’s set stances and was more interested by the expressions of those around him.  Most were genuinely interested in what he had to say, but there was a definite air of scepticism at some of what he was saying.

Some students just looked plain frustrated at the whole parade.

It was interesting to see how many students looked uninspired by what he was saying, others looked ready to kill

THE MEDIA FRENZY THAT IS A GENERAL ELECTION

The media frenzy did not let up for a second.  Life as a political journalist must be an aggravating life of traveling, waiting followed by an intense snap of constant documenting.  The digital click of cameras was endless for the hour he spoke and the roaming camera men were involved in a constant search for that 5 seconds of footage that could put an interesting spin on their broadcasters coverage.

It was a surreal experience being amongst that element of the event, as I was as keen as the rest to get a shot that perhaps illustrated something unique about the day and dreaming of the chance to get a truly satirical image.  I was concentrating so much on watching for something in the background and scrutinising Cameron’s every move for the decisive moment, that I had to remind myself frequently to actually listen to what he was saying.

The media's gaze didn't falter for a second, it was an eye opener into how politicians are constantly on show and being documented

Sometimes it seemed the public were more media friendly than Cameron

DAVID CAMERON’S SPEAKING STYLE

So – what of his chat?  The event was conducted as Cameron asking for questions and choosing who asked them.  Hats off to the students for barraging him with a huge variety of intelligent and topical questions.  Ranging from Gay Rights to tax breaks for marriage.  Fox hunting to student loans.  Political reform to economic problems – most key issues were addressed.  As for David Cameron’s responses, well, he always had one!  As you would hope from a potential Prime Minister, he had a well delivered and on manifesto response as soon as a question was asked.  I would love to know about the preparations for an election campaign and how the politicians rehearse the questions they might be asked and how best to answer them.

He was slick and animated in his answers, but , it was all too easy to see through that glossy exterior.  Contradictions leapt in between different questions and rarely was there any genuine policy or plans provided.  It seemed to me that his answers were all media friendly soundbites.  Take any one on its own, in a 20 second news clip, and he would sound passionate, full of ideas and believable.  Watch him for more than a few minutes and the black interior of the Tory soul starts to show through the gloss.  Cameron is much like when you are looking for new home.  The Estate Agent tells you that the lack of a window in the bathroom is a good thing because it provides more privacy.  He says the fresh painted rooms are illustrative of how the owner looks after the property when in reality there are layers of damp underlying them.  And he tells you how the neighbourhood is a friendly one where everyone looks out for each other – where as once you move in, nobody will give you the time of day.  And so the Conservatives equally represent this model of good curb appeal but when you get the surveyors in – all the cracks are revealed.

I was very underwhelmed and slightly surprised that he was exactly as he is on television.  That is the public face of the Conservative party – one big media friendly soundbite.  For me he didn’t come across as someone with authority or depth and certainly not as a potential leader & representative of 60 million people and shit, he didn’t half say CHANGE a lot!

An angry Conservative? Or a well timed photograph?

The best question came right at the end when a student asked:

“Mr Cameron – the Conservatives state it’s time for change, however, since you are unwilling to address the issue of political reform – how can you seriously call yourselves the party of change?”

A rapturous applause filled the room and a grin filled my face.

For the several hours the fun bus was there, the college was a constant excited buzz of action as we were the centre of the political machine for an insignificant snap shot in time.  It almost seemed important and poignant, but any illusions of grandeur would soon be shot down on watching the news, when the hours of planning and setting up, the scores of staff and media and the few hours out of Cameron’s relentless schedule were condensed into a couple of seconds of news coverage, which focused entirely on the style rather than the substance of what occurred.

Perpetual propaganda

and constant media opportunities

How the Tories would like us to think of the youth vote

How I viewed the attitude of the younger generations to Conservative policy

THE DEPARTURE

Things concluded as they had begun, with a crowd of spectators and media gathered outside ready to see him off.  However, rather than the atmosphere of that morning, where most were excited and slightly overwhelmed by what was taking place, this time, a more significant mood filled the air.  Campaigners and supporters of other parties gathered with quickly made signs.  Students prepared rude notes in readiness to wave in front of the cameras, and one group told me they were planning on humming the Star Wars Death March theme as he left the building.

The anti-Cameron groups gathered for his departure

and the media gather again to steal another few seconds of coverage

However, Big Brother is always watching and Mr Cameron snuck out of a back door into a Jaguar and was removed from the scene without having to face embarrassment, or present the media with the opportunity to film a negative slant to the day.  Within minutes, the staging was being removed, the students had dispersed and most people seemed left empty.  Much like the feeling at the end of Christmas Day, when you realise the build up is much more significant than the day itself.

David Cameron leaves by the back door and leaves us all waiting for nothing

CONCLUSIONS AND THOUGHTS ON THE CONSERVATIVE FUN BUS

So my brush with the election circus was dead and buried.  And what a circus it was, the whole thing precisely planned, designed and executed – with one specific aim in mind – to present the media with a positive story to recount about the Conservatives.  The number of staff involved was slightly disturbing and for anyone who is a fan of The Thick Of It could not look on without a constant rye grin at the many comparisons. Spin was quite literally unraveling in front of my own eyes.  What a lot of time and huge expense for very little political gain.

No doubt the same is true for each of the parties at these events.  I fully admit I went into the experience as a very anti-Conservative individual and most certainly a sceptic of David Cameron and what he represented.  I was very keen to get to see Cameron talk and give him the chance to turn my opinion first hand, however, I came away with no different an opinion as when I went in.  If anything, having witnessed the insanity of the whole process, I came away with even less respect for the Tory manifesto.  I do not believe Cameron and I cannot buy into the Conservatives.

We do need a change, but I sincerely hope that change is not Blue – a Liberal or if required LabLib situation would, for me, always be 100% preferable.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the day for me was resisting the urge to heckle!

Bring on the final debate this Thursday!

Oh yes and remember JUST VOTE!  It matters more that you do than for who.

Bus Railing Beach (2010)

Brighton tourism is dead and buried.  You can’t even get a Tarot reading in the winter.

No Tarot In The Winter (2010)

A short while back – I got obsessed with reading George Orwell. The man is no doubt a genius – both his novels and essays are outstanding work.

Two passages really stuck with me, both during and after the Orwell-fest and I have wanted to share them for some time. However, I could not be bothered to type them all out until now.

The reasons being as follows:

Market Today Inside Mans Belly

1) I have been interested in starting a project that involves some form of comment on social position and British society – particularly how democratic our state is and where we might want to look at making changes.

2) The other week, we watched Che part 1 and 2. Lovely stuff – really powerful films, principally because Che is a very interesting chap indeed. Watching them lead onto a search to buy some of Che Guevara’s writings, and a lot of thinking has ensued since learning more about his life and political views. Namely – do we need our own revolution. Not in a Cuba style of course, but a revolution none the less against capitalism and the power of the state over the individual. This seemed to tie in with my Orwell-fest thinking.

3) I was at Brighton Marina the other day, utilising Asda’s facilities (without putting any money in their massive coffers of course) and I took the image shown above. This made me think about points 1 & 2 above leading to a new more exciting point 3! This final point is still not fully formed and is being gently caressed in a sketch book into the start of a new project.

DO WE NEED A REVOLUTION

So, with these three points rattling in my mind, and feeling a photographic project about a British revolution is approaching, I felt the time was Nigh to recount the wise words that Mr Orwell chatted, that struck a cord with my own thinking. So here goes…first passage is from 1984 and the second, from Down and Out in Paris & London. They are quite long, but I bothered to type them out, so you can ruddy well take the time to read them!!!

Incidentally, if you have not read either book – do it immediately. Especially Down & Out, which, is probably one of the best books my eyes have ever graced.

Behold the words of wisdom:

DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS & LONDON

It is worth saying something about the social position of beggars, for
when one has consorted with them, and found that they are ordinary human
beings, one cannot help being struck by the curious attitude that society
takes towards them. People seem to feel that there is some essential
difference between beggars and ordinary ‘working’ men. They are a race
apart–outcasts, like criminals and prostitutes. Working men ‘work’,
beggars do not ‘work’; they are parasites, worthless in their very nature.
It is taken for granted that a beggar does not ‘earn’ his living, as a
bricklayer or a literary critic ‘earns’ his. He is a mere social
excrescence, tolerated because we live in a humane age, but essentially
despicable.

Yet if one looks closely one sees that there is no ESSENTIAL
difference between a beggar’s livelihood and that of numberless respectable
people. Beggars do not work, it is said; but, then, what is WORK? A navvy
works by swinging a pick. An accountant works by adding up figures. A
beggar works by standing out of doors in all weathers and getting varicose
veins, chronic bronchitis, etc. It is a trade like any other; quite
useless, of course–but, then, many reputable trades are quite useless.
And as a social type a beggar compares well with scores of others. He is
honest compared with the sellers of most patent medicines, high-minded
compared with a Sunday newspaper proprietor, amiable compared with a
hire-purchase tout–in short, a parasite, but a fairly harmless parasite.
He seldom extracts more than a bare living from the community, and, what
should justify him according to our ethical ideas, he pays for it over and
over in suffering. I do not think there is anything about a beggar that
sets him in a different class from other people, or gives most modern men
the right to despise him.

Then the question arises, Why are beggars despised?–for they are
despised, universally. I believe it is for the simple reason that they fail
to earn a decent living. In practice nobody cares whether work is useful or
useless, productive or parasitic; the sole thing demanded is that it shall
be profitable. In all the modem talk about energy, efficiency, social
service and the rest of it, what meaning is there except ‘Get money, get it
legally, and get a lot of it’? Money has become the grand test of virtue.
By this test beggars fail, and for this they are despised. If one could
earn even ten pounds a week at begging, it would become a respectable
profession immediately. A beggar, looked at realistically, is simply a
businessman, getting his living, like other businessmen, in the way that
comes to hand. He has not, more than most modem people, sold his honour; he
has merely made the mistake of choosing a trade at which it is impossible
to grow rich.

1984

Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic Age, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless different names, and their relative numbers, as well as their attitude towards one another, have varied from age to age: but the essential structure of society has never altered.

Even after enormous upheavals and seemingly irrevocable changes, the same pattern has always reasserted itself, just as a gyroscope will always return to equilibrium, however far it is pushed one way or the other. The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim — for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives — is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal.

Thus throughout history a struggle which is the same in its main outlines recurs over and over again. For long periods the High seem to be securely in power, but sooner or later there always comes a moment when they lose either their belief in themselves or their capacity to govern efficiently, or both. They are then overthrown by the Middle, who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty and justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust the Low back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High. Presently a new Middle group splits off from one of the other groups, or from both of them, and the struggle begins over again.

Of the three groups, only the Low are never even temporarily successful in achieving their aims. It would be an exaggeration to say that throughout history there has been no progress of a material kind. Even today, in a period of decline, the average human being is physically better off than he was a few centuries ago. But no advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimetre nearer. From the point of view of the Low, no historic change has ever meant much more than a change in the name of their masters.

Lovely Stuff. Think on.

Well, well, well. Here we are – putting photos of a sunset up. Does life get any more predictable than this?

At first, all I could do was take out of focus images of people!

Many a year ago – I swore never to take another photo of a Brighton sunset. When I first moved down here and was a regular beach front sunset frequenter, I would take endless rolls of film of the sunset. Occasionally they came out looking A-OK, but generally, they just looked like every other sunset photo in the world. More over, they were quite dull – once you have seen one image of a Brighton sunset…etc…etc…etc

Anyway, to this pledge I stayed true and strong. partly, this was because I started going to the seafront less, partly because I had genuinely bored myself of taking the same photo of the sunset over the crusty pier!

WHAT BROKE THE SILENCE

To be fair, there were a lot of interesting people on the beach that day...

So a few weeks back, Hannah and I took a stroll with the dog to the beach. It was a nice day – first in a long while and the air smelt of spring. Armed with a couple of hip flasks of smooth and warming whisky mac we set off and established ourselves on the beach as the sun was beginning to think about going down.

Because it had been so long since my last sunset seaside visit – I forgot how amazing the colours could be. Before I knew it…there I was, camera in hand…finger poised over the shutter…my mind saying NO but my heart saying YES. So – I decided to fuck with my rules and take some photos anyway! Glad I did really, it kinda re-sparked my love for Brighton beach when the sun is setting and the winter skies make the colours go insane.

Long live sunsets – I sincerely hope when I retire that I dedicate my final years to watching it go down every evening.

The colours were too good...the urge hard to resist!

The white backdrop of the seafront buildings glow as the sun sets

Fine - there it is, there's your bloody sunset.

In my defence…check out the crazy tuft of cloud on the left of this image. Watched that piece of cloud form and then fade for ages.

Hello pop pickers.  A little late on the uptake of uploading a few images from this night, but better late than never hey?

The lovely lit back room bar at Concorde II

A couple of weeks back, on Thursday 18th February 2010 to be precise – the musical movers and shakers of Brighton united, to put on a fund raiser at the Concorde 2, Brighton,  in aid of the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

It has to be said – this is one of the best gigs I have been to in ages.  I went a triffle unsure as to whether it would be one of those wishy washy something yet nothing nights, put on by some people without much direction or experience.  However – the nothing could be further from the truth – the night was well programmed, diverse, interesting, unique and above all – had an awesome carnival like atmosphere!  Never has fund raising been so much fun!

WHERE IS MY FREE MUSIC – TAKE ME TO SEE THE REVERSE ENGINEER

The Reverse Engineer spinning some dub. I like dub.

I promised you free music – so lets take a brief side step so those of the more gready readers amongst you can sink your teeth into the good stuff!  One of the reasons I knew about this night was because musician and Our World My Eye regular – The Reverse Engineer was one of the DJ’s on the billing (spinning a fine collection of Latin, Dub and Afro-beat).  As it happens, this young pup is also my brother – hence the connection runs deep!
Anyway, The Reverse Engineer has just released his latest album, which can be purchased for the bargain sum of five English pounds.  However, if you are too tight for that and would prefer to sample some of his musical creations for free, prior to committing to buy – then there is hours of free music to download on the website as well.
PLUS – he also runs a music blog.  What more can you ask for from one place? 
For all the lowdown and to get your free music – just visit:

www.thereverseengineer.co.uk

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR HIGHLIGHTS

OK, if I must…my two highlights of the night were as follows:

1) John Soliman – one of the great things about the gig was the extra curricular activity going on, including a wandering magician going by the name of John Soliman.  When he first rocked up, I was a bit sceptical that he would be a bit naff and the tricks dull (as can sometimes be the way with magicians), but as it turned out – not only was he a very charismatic entertainer, but a great magician as well.  Sadly, I was too gob smacked at his card handling skills to think of taking a photograph, but check out his website for more info: www.solimagic.com

Nhasitifara front man's amazing head dress!

2) Nhasitafara – they were the band of the night for me, absolutely awesome.  Fronted by Papa Linos, a noted Mbira player, the group punch out music that in there words is a”fuse the sounds of traditional Zimbabwean mbira music with the powerful brass and vocal sounds of afro-beat and funk. Their influences range from Fela Kuti, Bob Marley,Thomas Mapfumo, Tony Allen and Burning Spear.”

Ultimately, not much can be said – they have to be seen and heard.  I had seen Papa Linos around and about in Brighton many times, playing the Mbira in the street and never expected him to have such energy and passion as a front man to this group.  Amazing – I urge you to check them out and see them if you get a chance…you won’t be disappointed!  More info at their site www.nhasitafara.com

The night brought out all the stars!

OH WHAT A NIGHT

Generally, it was a great night – and from what I hear, raised a good few thousand for Haiti.  Huge props to the organisers for such a great night and I sincerely cross my fingers that they make this a regular event!  Brighton is crying out for a regular night like this!!!

Incidentally, the man pictured with the star on his head makes some rather pleasant T-shirts under the guise of Knofler – check them out at http://www.knofler.co.uk/

DIGITAL LOW LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

The Ceiling of the Concorde II with interesting colours!

Before I go – a quick word about low light digital Photography!  I generally don’t take my camera to gigs as I prefer to enjoy the night and not document it.  But thought it might be fun for this night, and it was one of the first times I have done really low light stuff with my digital Nikon D80.  I have done heaps of night photography on film, so was interested to see how a digital sensor would handle things.  My conclusion – I need to do some research!  Not quite sure how reciprocity failure fully relates to digital and obviously noise is a bit of an issue in these images.  But – quite impressed with the results given I wasn’t using a tripod and essentially just taking snap shots.

Watch this space – might take the D80 out on a night time sortie and see what happens!

It has been a subject of interest since reading the John Constable quote “I’ve never seen an ugly thing in my life blah blah blah”.

Anyway, this is another set of images that fit into that category.  Taken during a stroll on Brighton beach the other day, where I was stopped in my tracks by the amazing rust on the old pillars from the West Pier.  The colour, patterns and texture are amazing.

One thing that particularly interests me about subject matter like this, is it is absolutely unique.  No two patches of rust can ever be the same – or the chances of them being the same must be horrifically minute.  Every bit of rust you see is a unique and elaborate work of art.

Actually – this isn’t my strong point by any means – I have a pop knowledge of it, but I wonder if Chaos Theory comes into play when looking at rust?  And if you looked closely enough at parts of rust, would it be a fractal? If you are a mathematical expert and have any comments on that, then great.  If not – then pretend I sound really intelligent and know all about Chaos and Fractals and how they inter-relate to rust.

Rust on Brighton Beach (2010)

Rust on Brighton Beach 2 (2010)

Rust on Brighton Beach 4 (2010)

Rust on Brighton Beach (2010)

Rust on Brighton Beach (2010)

RUBBISH INNER CITY (2009)

IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE TO BAG IT AND BIN IT

Just a brief post for now – but got loads lined up in drafts – so will be sending a barrage your way soon.

First up – this picture illustrates myself.  I am a rubbish blogger.  I have neglected you for too long.  I am sorry.

BRIGHTON’S BIN MEN ON STRIKE

Moving on, took this on the morning of the first day of the recent strike in our fair city at the start of November.  (more info on the Argus website here).

I wasn’t that interested in the strike to be fair – maybe they had a good reason.  Maybe they didn’t.  Happens so regularly kind of don’t pay attention any more (is that bad?).

What did interest me was the scene above.  It was the first day of the strike and this was the amount of rubbish left at one recycling point at Preston Park at 8am in the morning.  Thats just insane.  More than being annoyed about a strike – we should be disturbed at the amount of rubbish that amounts in such a small amount of time.

I cannot believe in today’s climate (forgive the play on words) – when the enviroment is such a concern, how little people seem to care.  Despite all the evidence, publicity and chat – people are too lazy to try and actively reduce the amount of waste they produce.

For me, the strike made me question our policy towards waste, rather than get upperty about the workers striking.  Personally I think we should start penalising people who don’t recycle.  Penalising people who produce more than an acceptable amount of waste and start to introcude a tough stance on people who just don’t care of bother.

Still – little chance that will happen as the government and most political parties are too scared to ever make a significant stance on anything as they are too pre-occupied with trying to please everyone.

Bollocks to pleasing everyone – some people are just wrong and those who make no effort to protect the planet are high on that list.

RUBBISH IN A CITY MAKES A RUBBISH INNER CITY

This was the recent slogan of a campaign to stop a recycling plant being built at the old meat market in Hollingbury, Brighton.  The slogan was a bit naff and the whole campaign was plain stupid – but thought their slogan was appropriate in a way.  Rubbish in a city does make a rubbish inner city – but not due to strikes or building recycling plants – but because individuals refuse to take personal responsibility for their actions.

Rant over.

Well, it seems that quite a few people each week are stumbling accross this blog via a google search, trying to find some information about Brighton’s car boot sale a.k.a Sunday Market.  I think they find there way here due to my previous post ‘Brighton’s Sunday Market is Moving’.

That post contains no relevant information – so I thought I would do a new post which will actually tell you what you need and want to know!

BUT…before we proceed with the juicy details you have been searching for, I feel this should be a two way street.  I give you this information, which is essentially a rather boring blog post – so you should give me something in return.  Therefore, the charge for my services is that you must click the link below, which will take you to a random post on this blog.  Read, enjoy or hate that post and consider your debt paid.  Now that really is a bargain!

CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO YOUR RANDOM POST…(it will open in a new window so this information will not be lost).

Of course, I can’t stop you just gleening the information you require from the post below without a bye or leave and then never looking at my blog – but that would just make you a free loader…and you don’t want that, do you?

Brighton Sunday Market 1 (2008)

A (VERY VERY) BRIEF HISTORY

The Sunday Market first started around 27 years ago and was always held at Brighton Train Station car park.  However, recently, the organisers were forced to move location because they were only getting to open once a month.  This was apparantly due to engineering works on the railway lines, but most of us suspect its more to do with the new hotel opposite not wanting to be woken up at 5am on a Sunday morning.

LOCATION:

So the boot sale is now held at Brighton marina – on the top floor of the multistory car park.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A MAP OF THE LOCATION ON MULTIMAP

OPENING TIMES:

It is open from about 7am until midday.  However, traders usually arrive very early and so keen buyers are there any time from about 6am.

COST:

I believe the cost is £12 per pitch for traders.  Buyers and browsers are free.

WHAT WILL I BE ABLE TO BUY?:

You can expect to find a whole host of brilliant things for sale – ranging from clothes, vintage items, bric a brac, house clearance items, books, records, furniture, fruit & veg…the list goes on.

I would say it is more of a professional traders market these days – much more of a market than a classic boot sale.  As such, prices are not really cheap – generally, traders are aware of what things are worth, so whilst not unheard of, its rare to get super cheap bargains.

There are always a number of private sellers doing the tadtional boot sale thing of selling all their old tat they no longer want, but the majority of stalls are traders who are there everyweek.

I would certainly recommend attending if you haven’t done so before.  The new location is a bit smaller than where it used to be held and a bit further out of the centre of Brighton – but it looks out over the sea and the marina – so the views are great!

Yarn & thread

Dolls House

Brighton Sunday Market 4 (2008)

WILL I MAKE FRIENDS?:

All sorts of people go to the market, which is one of its great appeals for me.  Its quite inclusive, always busy and has a great atmosphere about it.

It can take some time to get round the whole thing (if you want to properly rummage for hidden treasures) – so make sure you go early enough to get a few hours browsing time.

Of course – Brighton is not the only car boot sale in the local area – there are plenty of others to choose from.

Boot Sale Entrails (2009)

OTHER BOOT SALE OPTIONS – OUT OF TOWN SALES:

Perhaps my favourate of all the local sales is run by Mega Car Boot Sales – visit their website here at http://www.megacarbootsale.co.uk/.

They run one every Sunday during the hotter months at either Poyningsor Sayers Common.  They are now shut for 2009 and will start again in 2010.

Their website contains the dates, times and maps on how to get there.

These sales are more in the country outside Brighton and as such you get the added delight of seeing some Sussex senery, with all it has to offer, including an impressive array of animal entrails!

The benefit of these sales is they are much more traditional – almost entirely private sellers and real bargains to be had.  Most things seems to be 50p – £5, haggling is mroe than accepted and you can come away with bag fulls of joyous bargains.

Boot Sale Hot Dogs (2009)

WHAT IF I WANT A BURGER?:

Not a problem.

The food is perhaps a bit more questionable – not so much fruit and veg stalls or olive’s – but more greasy burgers and hot dogs.

This food van always makes me laugh whenever I go there.  Why one earth would anyone thing that having a 8ft tall hot dog man pouring sources over himself ready to be eaten would make anyone actually desire a hot dog is beyond me.  If I was a child I would be disturbed at the prospect that I was about to chomp down on a friendly hot dog man.

The illustration is pure genius!

Giant Car Boots are what they say – giant.  I mean massive.  Big fields with rows upon rows of sellers.  They take a good 3 hours to properly look round – but its more than worth investing the time as you can get virtually anything and at prices you would never get offered in brighton.

ANYTHING ELSE?:

So…that’s about all you need to know.  For a full list of the boot sales and jumble sales happening each week, visit this link for the Friday Ad as most of the ones that are definately happening each week are listed there.

I emplore you to embrace the joy of the boot sale – go seek bargains and they fill find you.

HOW CAN I REPAY THE HUGE DEBT TO YOU FOR HAVING PROVIDED ME WITH SO MUCH GREAT INFORMATION?:

Good question, thanks for asking.

Remember…if you haven’t done so already, why not return the favour I have done you above by visiting another post on this blog.  CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO A RANDOMLY SELECTED POST.