Tag: GOING

bookmark_borderLately

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We’ve been to theatre to see Alan Cumming in MacBeth. It was stunning, powerful, and brilliantly acted. We were sat in the front row, at eye level with the actors. The premise is simple enough, Alan Cumming plays a MacBeth gone mad, revisiting the routes of his demise, set in the scene of a 60s psychiatric hospital room. He plays most of the parts himself, with some subtle use of props to help distinguish each role. There are some clever interludes to make it fit within the setting but plaudits must go to Cumming, he was sensational and must be absolutely knackered after each performance.

Whilst I’ll admit the ‘star’ name may be what draws the likes of me to the theatre, when the star can deliver a performance like that it can only be a good thing.

We’ve also been to Manchester. Stayed at the fabulous Velvet Hotel on Canal Street, saw Pearl Jam live, drank far too many cocktails and enjoyed a random wander round the city.

We’ve also been to Edinburgh for a night of debauchery which was, as always, a lot of fun. We are getting out and about a lot more and it certainly helps when you know a good number of people.

I’ve also bought a guitar. An acoustic, to get me started. Much cheaper than a keyboard and something new for me to try and learn. Will see how it goes.

And this coming weekend I’ll be buying a new suit, and NOT GOING OUT AT ALL! Just a quiet weekend for us. Can’t wait.

bookmark_borderRadio Ga-Ga

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I don’t listen to the radio much. It’s the inane rambling you see, drives me potty.

I don’t listen to podcasts much. It’s the inane rambling you see…

For the most part that is, I have listened to a few podcasts that I’ve enjoyed, mainly topical ‘casts (why do we have the “pod” bit? it’s a derivative of broadcast surely but why do we need to differentiate? both are consumed in the same way, so let’s get past the next year or so of faffing about and call everything that is audio/visually consumed “casts”. No? Agree or not we should definitely get out of parenthesis…).

I guess I really need to spend a little more time looking for what I want, what I’ll enjoy, but so far coloured me hugely unimpressed with the whole podcasting thing. It’s just not original is it? Ohh sure throwing in some music by an unheard-of band is interesting to a point but it’s still not hugely original?

I’ll pause now to assure certain readers of this site, readers which have put together their own casts, and to which I’ve listened, that this is not a dig at them. Sure it’s the “in thing” at the moment, but this fad will pass; not completely but it will become just another thing that some people listen to/produce, in fact I don’t think calling it a “fad” is fair. It IS fun and nice to hear the voices of the people you normally associate with the written word but beyond that it’s not really enough to hold my attention.

But then I don’t listen to the radio for the same reason, and it’s the same reason that some conversations drive me potty, that lag, that long meandering detour when I’ve already figured out the destination and can see where we are headed and WHY ARE WE GOING THIS WAY!? IT’S RIGHT THERE! yet I’m powerless to do anything except wait for the journey to end. Or end it myself by turning the radio off.

It HAS been good to hear what other people have to offer, and what I’ve heard has been good, but just not good enough for the long term. I must have listened to at least 50 different podcasts and none of them have had that little bit extra that would keep me “tuned in”.

Maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places, and whilst I’m entirely sure a lot of my issues with ‘casting are generated from my own little quirks and foibles, maybe I’m missing the point, or maybe it’s just a fun diversion for a while.

I do have other thoughts around the whole “podcasting” thing – challenging traditional media, use of media on the internet maturing, etc etc – but ultimately, and I realise that the length of this post is somewhat at odds with this next statement, I can sum up my initial thoughts on “podcasting” (sic) with the following, well considered and beautifully simple, um, noise.

Meh.