Martin Amis in conversation with Christopher Hitchens Martin Amis talks to Christopher Hitchens about Saul Bellow with whom he developed an intimate friendship, about the role of the writer as intellectual, the threat of political correctness to the comic novel, Islam, Israel and horrorism. Martin Amis is considered as one of the most influential and innovative voices in contemporary British fiction. He is the author of novels, short stories and essays. His most recent book is House of Meetings. Christopher Hitchens left the UK for the US in 1981 where he is columnist and contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Both an atheist and anti-atheist, an iconoclast, anti-fascist and humanist, he was voted in 2005 fifth out of the worlds top one hundred public intellectuals.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Russell Brand on Rove Sunday 15 March 2009 HQ
Russell Brand on Rove Sunday 15 March 2009 The UK funny boy brings his caustic wit to Australian TV in this bit about smuggling things in his bum, shagging, rehab for sex addiction, orgies, and being a gangsta? And he has a new well-reviewed Booky Wook, a memoir of sex, drugs, and stand-up. If you like that kind of thing. PLEASE RATE VIDEO TO THANK ME
Sunday, March 14, 2010
How the Military Saved the Scottish Kilt
The kilt in its modern form which we all know and love, would not have survived if it were not for the military.
If you look at the kilt's history, you will see that the garment would have been lost to Scotland, and the rest of the world If it weren't for the Scottish regiments.
For a brief look at Scottish history and how it shaped the survival of the kilt , we need to focus on the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden, which was the last battle to be fought on British soil.
In 1746 the British government passed into law, the Act of Proscription.
This act was designed to put an end to the Clansmen's right to bear arms, so removing their ability to revolt, and was the first of several measures designed to crush the Clan system.
On the first of August 1747 a new section of the law, which came to be know as the Dress Act, came into force which banned the wearing of "Highland Dress".
This section of the act made the wearing of the kilt, and indeed all tartan illegal in Scotland, its aim to further control the Clans and crush their Gaelic culture.
The penalties for breaking this new law were severe, six months imprisonment for the first offence, for the second, deportation to the colonies for not less than seven years.
This law was to remain in force until 1782 when it was finally repealed.
By that time the kilt was almost forgotten as a form of dress in the Scottish Highlands.
The one exception to this law being the Scottish Regiments.
Young Clansmen were actively being encouraged to join these regiments, the oldest of these being the Black Watch, which was first formed in 1725, ironically to stop fighting amongst the Clans.
These newly formed Scottish Regiments were being sent to fight in conflicts taking place at that time in India, and North America.
As a means of identification and to foster a sense of pride in the new regiments, each was given its own tartan.
These regiments continued to fight in conflicts all over the world, dressed in their kilts, right up until 1940, when the kilt was last worn on the battlefield.
And it is thanks to these regiments, and their pipe bands that the kilt has become such a famous item of clothing around the world.
I personally find it ironic that the British Government of the day, having passed laws to make the wearing of the kilt and tartan illegal, inadvertently introduced it to the world, and helped make it the National symbol that it has become today.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Mars Ep 4 (3/5)
No credit to me. Credit and cheers to chinky. Subtitles: English sorry about the wait. My dsl has exceeded it's limit so my internet is painfully slow. It should be back to normal on the 8th. I promise i will finish uploading both episode 4 and 5 then... sorry again :D
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Bird and Fortune - Subprime Crisis
John Bird and John Fortune (the Long Johns) brilliantly, and accurately, describing the mindset of the investment banking community in this satirical interview.
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