I've once again boarded the Ship of Fools

I recently found another avenue for my crave for satire, or perhaps I should say refound.

I've known about Ship of Fools for some time but haven't visited it in years. If you want straight up Christian satire (yes there is such a thing) then Wittenburg Door is probably more your bag but Ship of Fools is so much more British in it's approach. It's warm, irreverent, theologically diverse, accommodating and very ... well ... Anglican is probably the best word to describe it. Of course I should say that it's non-denominational.

It was was first launched in 1977 as a student rag mag, but stopped in 1983 after just ten issues - full time work beckoned. It was raised again on April Fool's Day 1998 as a website, and quickly grew into an online community as well as a webzine. The editor Simon Jenkins says, "We're here for people who prefer their religion disorganised. Our aim is to help Christians be self-critical and honest about the failings of Christianity, as we believe honesty can only strengthen faith."

Amen fella!

A recent post of their community forum made very interesting read. The question being, "Where does your theology challenge your morality?"

In other news I still seem pretty set on updating my blog fairly sporadically, it would seem.

Worship Star

Not the world's best song but it's a challenging message delivered in a (fairly) funny way.



It's a parody of Nickelback's "Rock Star". Make sure you read what this video is about before jumping to conclusions...

This week I have been mainly

This week I was mostly listening to
Celldweller - Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol. 1
Celldweller have a new album out very soon and this is their most recent output, only one track has lyrics (Switchback) but the music is quality. It's the kind of stuff that superhero/action filmmakers have wet dreams over.
Mark Radcliffe and Liza Tarbuck on Radio 2
On lates I always listen to Radcliffe and Maconie on the drive home but as I've been on earlies this week I had the honour of hearing Mark Radcliffe's Mancunian wit alongside the ever bubbly Liza Tarbuck. He was sitting in for Steve Wright, what a blessing!

This week I was mainly watching
The Rise and Fall of Reginal Perrin
I'm actually quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the first episode of the 21st Century remake of the 70s classic. Martin Clunes and the team behind this, I can forgive you for now.
Lady Randy: Churchill's Mother
The wife of Randolph Churchill and the mother of Winston was one dirty selfish mare! A very interesting portrait on a very driven woman who served herself first and her first husband and then her son second, with a burning desire to see them succeed at the highest level of politics.
In the Loop
You can read some of my views on this excellent film in a recent post.

This week I was mainly reading
Mike Rimmer's ever relevant challenge to Christians who want to make good music and get out a contemporary and thought-provoking message at the same time. Christian musicians currently either seem to be talented and playing in the mainstream but as a result losing any lyrical edge they may have previously had or stay within the cotton wool lined Christian circuit and lack the necessary competition to keep them artistically challenged and as a result tend to sound rather bland and average.

Other things of note from this week
I played subbuteo for first time in a month with my newly acquired figures. I'm going to use the excuse of a lack of sleep as to why I lost two matches I could have won. I'm still on an upwards curve ... and I'm still a massive nerd. You'll also notice from yesterday's post that I've spent far too much time thinking about the old Woolworths in Hanley.

What's with all the effin' and jeffin'?

Earlier this week I watched In The Loop with Lisa. Much to both our surprise she really enjoyed it and it goes without saying that I did too. The story was solid and the slightly rejigged and extended cast of The Thick of It were all on top form. But with both the TV series and the film what really brings home the oats are the semi-improvised oneliners. Many of these highlights were provided by the mighty spin doctor supremo Malcolm Tucker, whose gritty wit was strong enough to put down the highest of ministers and the largest of Americans.

Cross Rhythms (for whom I present a show) have a resident film critic and their review was bound to touch on the matter of the colourful language. At the time I did wonder whether I should have been laughing so hard at such coarse language but then my rational has always been about how the other person perceives it. Someone can call me whatever they like and it's unlikely offend me unless there is real venom behind their words but I of course am sensitive to other people's feelings and generally don't tend to swear. So I am fairly comfortable to see someone swear in a fictional backdrop as no-one is genuinely going to be hurt by those words. Also the character of Malcom Tucker (and his fellow Scottish press officer) would be significantly diminished if his blunt language was refined, in other words he wouldn't be Malcolm Tucker.

On another note the almost boundless cynicism that ripples through the film will almost certainly be met with bemusement in Obama-infatuated America. We here in the UK shouldn't encounter any such problems when the extremely realistic truths echo through the picture, watch out for the line about MP expenses (filmed before the Jacqui Smith saga) if you want an example.

Cross Rhythms are always rolling out great articles, here's a couple of recent highlights: Check out Ben Jack's unpacking of the sickening compensation culture that we all too happily seem to be embracing and Mike Rimmer's ever relevant challenge to Christians who want to make good music and get out a contemporary and thought-provoking message at the same time.

If you're easily offended don't go and see In The Loop, if you have a backbone I heartily recommend it. Lisa will testify that you don't need to be a politics/satire nerd to enjoy one of the best British films in recent memory.

Harry Hill and the Gurkhas

Rightly so Harry Hill has been once again been named the UK's best entertainment performer at the Baftas. For some bizarre reason some news organisations have decided to focus more on the fact that Jonathan Ross lost:

SKY News

The Herald


The best man won, FACT. That's the story isn't it?

Another recent story to take my interest is the government's decision to limit the number of Gurkha veterans allowed to settle in the UK. These are guys who were on the frontline of numerous battles and wars for the UK and yet we seem to have refused them entry. Thankfully public opinion seems to be on the side of rewarding them for their bravery. Joanna Lumley has been battling over this issue for years and now the Lib Dems have taken the debate within parliament.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8019745.stm

Clegg et al seem to be doing a better job of getting the political headlines at the moment, despite it being the Conservatives' spring conference. The Lib Dem leader has urged his fellow party leaders to back his plans for reforming MPs' second-homes allowances.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8019853.stm

Both Clegg and David Cameron have thankfully rejected the PM's plan for a flat-rate fee based on attendance at Westminster.

TheAppeal.co.uk

Back in my late teens and early twenties I was what local newspapers or radio stations would call a “budding comedy writer”. On two occasions I made a little bit of progress through BBC Talent and did various other bits and bobs, I'll do the full ego-trip some other time ... you lucky lucky people!

For now I just want to remind myself that I do like writing and I want to get back into the habit of writing comedy regularly again. Hopefully I'll read my own blog in a few weeks time (because I'm a bit weird like that) and it'll spur me on.

The reason behind my prompt is firstly that a new satirical website is starting up in May, theappeal.co.uk, and I was contacted by the bloke behind it to submit stuff to it prior to it going live.* We've stayed in contact with each other after both falling at the penultimate hurdle of a BBC Talent scheme a few years back. The second reason behind my forthcoming (potential) burst of writing is that a new show is soon to start on BBC 7 and it's open door.

I used to write pretty much every week in my teens and uni years, but my Masters put pay to that and for some reason I never quite got back into the swing of things afterwards with the occasional odd burst, as it were. I'm fairly certain I'll never try stand up again though...

Don't forget that this blog is mainly to allow to me to write stuff down that interests or inspires me before I forget it. If you happen to enjoy what I write even better. I am the key demographic, bully for you if you're enjoying the ride!

* Until it goes live the link won't work of course.

This week I have been mainly

This week I was mostly listening to
A Plea For Purging - Depravity
A bosting lead single, a huge lead singer who has a wonderful self-depreciating sense of humour and just a huge chunky sound. Their best release to date.
Portishead - Third
After being silent for neigh on a decade the trip hop pioneers take a slightly more industrial turn on this 2008 release. It’s a nice album to chill out to when you get you fancy a break from rock, metal and hardcore.
David Crowder Band – A Collision
One of only a handful of truly creative worship bands. Chris Tomlin, Bluetree and the Glorious Unseen are the only other artists that readily spring to mind.

This week I was mainly watching
The Apprentice
It’s picking up nicely now and I have a weird admiration for the series villain. If anything the show that follows, You’re Fired, is better than the programme itself!
Sideways
Lisa had not seen it and before whacking it on ebay we gave it a watch. This was the third time I’d watched it and I still love it!
A lot of negative TV coverage against the police
TV news of the last few days has been giving a lot of coverage to Hillsborough and ever since G20 of people making claims against police brutality. Both stories show the police in a negative light and I’d like to go on record of showing my support to the boys in blue. It’s becoming increasingly hard for them to be able to carry out their job. Yes there a few idiots in the force – same goes for every profession.

This week I was mainly reading
Brochures of things to do in and around York and a lot of the gubbins that you get when you go to the places in and around York.

Other things of note from this week
Tuesday and Wednesday I went to York with Lisa. Maybe at some point I’ll go into detail as to what tickled and inspired me whilst there but for now I’ll just do a simple list of things we did and saw (so I don’t forget them!). Castle Howard, a walk around the city wall, York Minster, York Dungeons, lots of twee little shops and museums, York Art Gallery … but not The Tandoori Night, despite all the subliminal advertising.

This week I was mainly...

This is a weekly thing that is pretty much for my own edification and nobody elses. It's a nice way of reminding me of things I really enjoyed once upon a time and to rip into anything that disappoints me. Obviously I encourage you to take up some of my recommendations.

This week I was mostly listening to
Funeral For A Friend – Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation
I'm seeing them in Leeds you see. Juneau is still probably their best track but the album is not as good as my hazy memory has promised.
Believer – Gabriel
I'm still loving their comeback album and really enjoyed my interview with Kurt last Saturday. You can listen again to the interview here. The audio will also go on the Facebook group for The Rock and Hard Place soon too.
Dragonforce – Ultra Beatdown
Rather disappointed by this one I have to say. Their cheesy power metal seems to have rather lost it's way. Much preferred Theocracy's latest if you're looking for open-fisted theatrical metal.

This week I was mainly watching
The Apprentice
Clough
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
None of these three need any explanation, they just need to be watched ... via iPlayer (I don't watch TV at home).

This week I was mainly reading
The Shack (William P. Young). I should have finished it by now, come on Sammons!
The Week. I'm actually about three weeks behind so it's more like The Week Three Weeks Past.

Other things of note from this week
Er, well last week I went to see Count Arthur Strong in Buxton with Lisa. She wasn't acquainted with the character prior to the show and as such spent the first half trying to work him out! He rather dragged out a very short show but there were some great moments, including his appearance in the Ask The Family pilot and his telling the silent audience to stop interrupting him.

Oh and I'm not actually a particularly big fan of the Fast Show in case you ask.

Humour me

Goodness only knows what prompted me to start this but I guess it makes sense. Almost every day I'm inspired to write something but never know quite where to start. Well most days this is where I'm gonna start. Some days I might just write about something that inspired or tickled me, other days it could be the embryo of something I'd like to expand on some other time. In which case humour me.

As a rule I don't like blogs as they often bring out some worrying character traits: egotism, inflated-self worth, a filtering system that allows us to self-edit our lives to present it in the way you wished others would see you, introverted naval gazing and missives on topics that 101 other people would be better placed to comment ... and no doubt in a more eloquent way.

I'm sure I'll fall into each and every one of those pitfalls at some point. For starters 101 to the power of 101 people could have written the above paragraph far better than myself. Getting back on topic (not that there is a clear topic in this instance) I've felt the need to write for a decade or so now. I kept diaries during various parts of my life, I started writing sketches when I was 15 or 16 and still try to write them from time to time, I went though a poetry writing phase in 2001 and occasionally revisit it, I wrote a sitcom during a productive week in 2006 and keep meaning to rewrite it or start on a new idea, I wrote a short radio play a little while ago even but just ended up being a rather ham-fisted introverted way of getting a message across. My point is I keep writing bits and bobs and I doubt that desire will every go away.

I have a very strong faith and the temptation would be for me to try and convince you to believe the same as me. I have some Christian friends who see their blogs as a form of evangelism. I'll be frank: I wholeheartedly would love to see each and every one of you embrace the passion I have for my maker and have that same relationship with Him that I'm eternally thankful for but that is not the aim of my blog. There will be times when my faith is mentioned obviously, God is my biggest inspiration, but there will also be times when politics might inspire me or my love of comedy, my armchair rugby fan side might rear it's head or maybe one day I'll you about my subbuteo past...

Things interest and inspire me every day, it'd just be nice to write some of them down before I forget them. If they interest, inspire, encourage or tickle you then even better.