Le Flâneur

If you think you like wine watch this brilliant video blog. It’s hosted by the hugely charismatic Gary Vaynerchuk. Vaynerchuk runs a wine store with his father in New Jersey called Wine library and clearly the man knows what he’s talking about. Winelibrary.tv is on a mission to take the stuffiness out of wine appreciation and cultivate a broad repertoire of wine knowledge in its viewers (sorry ‘Vayniacs’, as they are known). It’s fun, dynamic and informative. Who would have thought that watching a guy, on a static camera, trying and then describing wine for twenty minutes would be good entertainment? But it’s surprisingly compelling. There’s a brilliant episode where Gary takes you through how he developed his palette. This basically involves training yourself by gathering together all the flavors that commonly make up the flavour profiles of wines - including rocks, fruit, dirt, vegetable matter, you name it. I’d really like to try this some time. If you taste all the components individually and in succession, your brain builds up a clearer picture of what they are. How often is it you drink a nice wine and you just can’t quite put your finger on what the flavours are? Well this is how you do it apparently.

I really like Vaynerchuck’s boundless enthusiasm and his larger than life persona. Can you imagine a Brit doing the same thing, and referring to the show as ‘The thunder show’? At first glance he could come across a bit of a frat-boy, but you quickly realise he’s a very sophisticated guy. Be warned, this will make you want to consume a lot of wine. Basically, and this is more than a little sad, I wish I could do what he does everyday but I’ve neither the budget nor the expertise. Frustratingly also, when he does pick out a wine that is cheap but highly rated, I don’t seem to able to find a retailer in the UK that will stock it. This is particularly annoying when it’s a French Wine (Gary is a big fan of ‘old world’ wines by the way, is this an east coast thing?) Maybe the French have given up on the British market now, saturated as it is with New World stuff.

We’re not talking about the football here by the way. I can only hope that they appoint a dispassionate foreigner and one or two candidates spring to mind. Have we got enough time to completely rejuvenate English football in time for the next world cup? I doubt it somehow.

Is anyone else a little cheesed off by the return to the screen of Lead Balloon? It’s not that this Jack Dee vehicle is that bad (there are some laughs), it’s just that I know there’ll be loads of people watching it who haven’t seen Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I think it’s therefore a bit rich that in the round of publicity spots Dee has done for the show, I’ve never once heard him acknowledge its debt to the HBO show. It’s as though the BBC has a policy of ‘no comment’ in this respect.

For those who haven’t seen it, Jack Dee plays an affluent, grumpy, misanthropic comedian (Rick Spleen). The show focuses on his domestic life and the embarrassing social situations he engineers for himself through a curmudgeonly and conceited attitude towards others. His best friend is his manager (an American). His long suffering wife is attractive and has a more human touch with the subjects of Rick’s scorn. It’s filmed in a semi-documentary style with no laughter track. Sound familiar?

Maybe I’m taking this a bit personally, but why didn’t the BBC (for the brief time that they had it) give Curb a proper billing instead of burying it on BBC4? And why do we now have to endure this inferior remake of a classic?

I am a massive fan of The Wire.  It’s completely out there on its own.  I can’t think of anything else that really compares to it.  Hollywood is dead but who cares when we’re living in televisual golden age?  People often talk about ‘realism’ when discussing the Wire.  Is it realistic?  I have no idea.  It certainly seems plausible enough.  I do know that’s it’s excellent entertainment that treats the audience as though they were grown-ups with the ability to think for themselves.  At this juncture, that alone is enough.  So just briefly, here are some of the reasons why it’s great:

Character.  Characters in The Wire are rounded.  They surprise you and are allowed to develop as a season progresses.  Even the supposedly ‘good police’ have their flaws.  Gay and lesbian characters are realistically portrayed.  The writing at times does not shy away from making the characters act in a vile or ethically dubious fashion.  There are also loads of them too.  I can’t help thinking that you could make whole spin-off shows just on the exploits of relatively minor characters here.

Pace.  The Wire is not afraid to take its time.  It’ll lead you down dead ends where the audience know that the police are pursuing the wrong line of inquiry (incidentally many of the police are stupid, lazy and despicable).  Scenes are allowed to play out for as long as it takes and there is much more than just a sense of necessary information being conveyed.  It can drift off into the whimsical or even the banal at times.  There is no music except for what is heard on car stereos, in bars etc. and as a result we’re spared the little aural signifiers of drama used to manipulate our emotions and guide us through the complexity.
Acting.  Performances are uniformly excellent.  For a show with such an intricate and complex plot, the characters very rarely look like they’re just trying to remember their lines.  In particular I’d single out Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka in season two.  As a Polish-American longshoreman’s union boss torn between loyalties to family, the union and the temptation to skim a little off the top, Bauer gives a brilliant performance with just about as much intensity as I’ve seen on screen anywhere in any format.  When the rest of the TV land catches up with this show, performances like this will no longer go unacknowledged.

Moral ambiguity.  The Baltimore of this show, right from the lowest gangster errand boy in the projects, to the movers and shakers at the highest echelons of power, consists not simply of bad guys and good guys.  Rather it’s all shades of gray in web of human intrigue.  This simple fact, may well be the shows greatest strength of all.

Writing.  Okay maybe everything above comes under this heading to some extent, but when watching this show I frequently find myself marveling at the brilliance of the writing.  A cop drama show with half of the ideas here, and half of the characters, would still be worth watching.  Quite simply it spoils us with its depth and breadth.

This is one of those stories that’s so exasperating I can hardly bring myself to follow it. BBC 1 controller Peter Fincham may have to resign because the editing of a trailer shown at a program launch for a documentary has offended the queen. I’ll say it again: BBC 1 controller Peter Fincham may have to resign because the editing of a trailer shown at a program launch for a documentary has offended the queen.

Hang on a minute, what century is this? Alright maybe I’m simplifying things a bit here, but if you break this situation down there is no substance beyond this simple point of fact to this whole brouhaha. Of course it’s pressure from the media itself in their criticism of Fincham and his handling of the affair that may ultimately be his undoing. But even so. Can’t we all just grow up?

If I were him I’d tell them all to fuck off, the queen especially.

Here is a lazily cobbled together list of likes and dislikes that have been sustaining me over the past few weeks. Other stuff has been happening, it’s just well, y’know…

Hates

1. That advert that features a guy using a car for a skateboard. I can’t begin to describe how much this advert annoys me. The thought of thousands of gawpers sat in their homes transfixed by this singularly empty imagery fills me with despair. I think it’s the tinkly piano music cynically employed to try and lend it some air of nuanced grace or profundity that gets to me. There was this jerk I went to University with who works in advertising and I imagine this to be exactly the kind of unadulterated crap he’d come up with.

Actually I can’t think of any more hates right now (aside from moaning about the British weather and my personal gripes with the department of work and pensions with whom I’ve had some regretful yet necessary dealings with lately), so I’ll just move on to more positive things instead.

Loves

1. Cosmos by Carl Sagan. I’ve been watching this seminal series from 1980 on tv links and believe it to be the best effort of its kind I’ve seen on television. Though they cover mostly things I’ve encountered before somewhere, the shows have a remarkable way of clarifying ideas and explaining them in a simple way. This must in part be down to the sympathetic and affable narrator himself, (though bizarrely I’ve noticed how a Sagan has a strong resemblance in speech to Agent Smith from the Matrix films). It also has a kind of retro appeal reminiscent of a gentler and more subtle time. A contemporary rendering of the same ideas would no doubt bombard you with impressive visuals but at the same time it would spoon feed you information and generally insult your intelligence.

2. The Adventures of Augie March. This is the most difficult but rewarding novel I’ve read in a long time. I’ve struggled with Saul Bellow in the past but once you get into the flow of this one it’s really compelling. It reminds me a little of Felix Krull by Thomas Man. Both novels follow a young man into maturity and both central protagonists seem to have a similar quality of being empty vessels able to alter themselves chameleon-like to each new situation that presents itself. Though not having finished it yet, I’m sure its full off great insights into the the nature of the American experience. For instance, the way in which Augie’s brother Simon marries into a family of money despite being from a poverty stricken background. It is the very quality of having come from a modest background and being a self-made man that is seen as an attribute by the new in-laws, who themselves were once poor. This is the very opposite of the European way where almost invariably the monied marry the monied and the nouveau riche are to be looked down upon. The way immigrant families picked themselves up and carried on after the great depression is at the heart of the American myth and a prelude to its becoming the undisputed superpower in the second half of the twentieth century. The text is peppered with references to European literature and history that, though perplexing and obscure at times, throw into the relief the human drama playing out in the New World. I’m also enjoying the rather lost quality of Augie as he tries to find a place in the world for himself.

3. The Office (US Vesrion). Like most people I was a bit prejudiced when I heard that there was to be an American version of the classic British comedy, and this probably explains why I’d not given this show a try until very recently (again through the generosity of tv links). I’m pleased to be able to report that it works! Sometimes marvelously so; I have on occasion uttered forth proper belly-laughs when viewing it. It fills a gap left by the end of the brilliant Peep Show 4. Once you get over the fact that it’s just different actors playing the same parts, and realise that they’ve achieved more or less the same formula its really very enjoyable. ‘Michael Scott’ i.e. David Brent is played by Steve Carall who is as we all know a gifted comic. Give it a try.

At perhaps arguably the slightly too old age of twenty six I am officially no longer a student. From now on I’m only going to read books I really want to read; in fact I’m only going to read science fiction from now on. Don’t try and talk me out of it. I know where my place is and it’s thousands of light years from the here and now.

I went to see Alex Garland and Danny Boyle’s new film Sunshine the other day. I really enjoyed it. Despite failing on the science front somewhat (it’s never explained why the sun is suddenly dying in the near future, or how putting a bomb in it will somehow replenish its fuel), it does get you thinking about some big questions: for instance, is conscious life the supreme accomplishment of the universe, and can life outlive it’s own solar system of origin? All the way through I was thinking about that saying, I can’t remember which physicists said it, that “human beings are atoms way of thinking about atoms”.

Speaking of sunshine, I can’t believe the weather we’re having. It’s been great for about a month now. Last year was the hottest on record and April this year was the hottest April on record. Perfect weather for sitting in the garden reading.

So before I go outside myself I just want to draw your attention to the video below. I was searching for footage of Christopher Hitchens’ recent appearance on the daily show when I came across the video below. I didn’t realise that Penn and Teller did this kind of thing. They haven’t been on our screens for ages it seems which is a shame. incidentally I’m sure everyone is excited about the release of Hitchens’ new book ‘God is Not Great’. I’ve got mine pre-ordered already.

Just in case anyone hasn’t discovered Sarah Silverman yet and isn’t completely in love with her, here’s a little taster. I can’t really post much at the moment because I’m busy with other things so this’ll have to keep you going for a while. That said Joe and Matt have agreed to write for this blog so watch out for their contributions coming soon. Actually if you read some of the comments it will tell you that Joe has already posted, but this is incorrect. There are few bugs in the system that need to be looked at (or rather it’s me being an idiot) . It could get confusing.

Part of me resents the channel 4 weekend ‘list format’ for its lazy and cheap approach to programming, but ‘The 100 Greatest Stand Ups’ on Sunday evening was interesting and informative - the two of the four hours of it I watched anyway. It introduced me to some new comedians, and showed some rare footage of well established performers. Particularly shocking was footage of Eddie Murphy’s deleted ‘delirious’ show where he makes some very ignorant comments about homosexuals and AIDS, but Eddie Murphy was never exactly ‘alternative’. What was more interesting was how this program highlighted the radically alternative right-wing, misogynistic, proudly bigoted and down right obscene fringes of the circuit, and I’m not just talking about Jim Davidson here.

There is this vile man, the successful career of which stateside, I am probably too young to remember, who goes by the name of Andrew “Dice” Clay. He was selling out venues like Madison Square Garden in the 80s and 90s to an audience of white suburban adolescent boys who lapped up his obnoxious sexist take on life. On this page you can read samples of his trademark nursery rhymes which I’ve deemed too disgusting to reproduce here.

What puzzles me is that some fairly influential people must have thought him funny because in 1989 he hosted the MTV video awards. His act was so blue and offensive he was subsequently banned from the network. Even more remarkable was that shortly after this appearance, he guest hosted Saturday Night Live causing cast members and other performers to boycott the show. But looking back, it now seems that what was going on at that time was the beginning of the backlash against political correctness, and for a brief moment, it may have seemed hip to adopt such a stance. Feminism was coming under a sustained attack from the political right and it seems television executives couldn’t resist a piece of the action.

Fortunately Andrew “Dice” Clay’s star faded as quickly as it had risen and the entertainment establishment saw some kind of sense. After a brief spell trying to remodel his image in the 90s, he now performs (according to this website), in his “Dice Man” persona again in Las Vegas - but to considerably smaller audiences one would imagine.

The astute comedian, critic, and commentator Stewart Lee, who was one of the talking heads on the show, made the point that there are ‘comedy greats’ among us now, who may not be receiving the coverage and adulation they deserve. In particular he singled out Daniel Kitson for high praise. But this show also reminded me about people like Jerry Sadowitz and Dennis Leary who I’d like to hear more of in the future.

Kramer.  All that nasty business with the racism soured my Seinfeld viewing experience for a bit; I was part way through the box set of series seven at the time when someone gleefully sent me the video evidence on YouTube.  Thankfully I have learned to see him differently; he’s still funny, just less lovable, instead slightly weird and creepy.  It’s as is there’s something bubbling below the surface that is somewhat unsavoury, nevertheless we’ve all known people who we thought were odd, unpleasant even, but still made us laugh.  This adjustment of attitude is something akin to an optical illusion where an object or representation can be made to appear as either hollow or protruding, and one can flip between the two choosing which aspect is perceived at a given time.  Arguably the principle characters in the show keep him at arms length anyway, and any true fan knows that the best thing about the show was the dialogue between Jerry and George, and that Kramer was just the clown at the party.  I mean, he’s friends with Newman for god’s sake.

Maybe I’m taking this a bit too far now and yes I need to get out more.  I just need one person to agree with me here to prove I not crazy, sad yes, but crazy no. I know that Michael Richards and Cosmo Kramer are different people, one real and one complete fiction, and that it’s only a somewhat dated situation comedy show.  So yeah, I’m over the shock of that whole nasty, depressing, unpleasant incident you might say.  I’ve gotten over it in my own way.

The Larry David connection is intriguing, as far as I know one of Hollywood’s true liberal, environmentalist, scourge of Republicans everywhere, and ‘friend of Lesbians’, if Michael Richards was harbouring some dodgy views, how come, as it seems, everyone was in the dark about it?  One can only speculate.
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I really enjoyed Steve Coogan’s new BBC comedy Saxondale and have to admit that I got most of the nerdy references to 70s music “Toni Iommi’s fretwork” etc.  I thought that the length and tempo to some of the scenes was pleasingly modern in sit com terms.  Coogan gave a pretty nuanced performance though I can’t place the accent – something midlands – though there were perhaps inevitably echoes of Partridge.  Creepy but somehow quite nice at the same time Saxondale seems quite fully realised though we’ll have to see how the series develops.  The look on Saxondale’s face when a hapless prospective employee proudly lists his DJ mate’s dubious achievements in the ‘dance scene’ was absolutely priceless.  Can’t wait for the next one.

Weirdly the word ‘anthropomorphosis’ came up in an irritating News Night discussion about the rights and wrongs of whaling afterwards.  I suppose that makes sense, though I wonder whether Paxman had been briefed before hand.
With regard to the world cup that is fast approaching what pundits love to call ‘the ‘business end’ of the tournament, I can’t help but feel sorry for Michael Owen.  Seeing the man literally crawl off the pitch only to have a camera thrust in his face to fully capture the agony was pretty undignified.  And now all the journalists are describing his exit from the tournament as a blessing in disguise.  I hope they’re proved right.

But much more distressing is the massacre that happened in my own back garden involving poor Robben Robin and his family.  Well I’m not sure you can call two dead chicks a massacre but nevertheless I’m beginning to see why some people loath cats so much.  More than being a menace they can just be pure evil sometimes.  Having just got home from work I could here a racket coming from the garden and having read recently in the line of research that Robins can fight to the death sometimes for territory I feared the worst and made my way quickly outside to investigate.
Robben and his partner were indeed making an almighty racket about something though at first the source of their distress was unclear.  Then I spied the dead chick, the second in a week.  A few seconds later the cat, that has been an occasional lodger of ours, appeared out of no where and disappeared over the wall.  I shall kick it the next time I see it.

It’s been interesting to observe these Robins.  They have a reputation of being tame birds and now I see why.   They are the quintessential garden bird.  I can see how the partnership between robin and human would beneficial as the presence of humans might frighten of other nuisance birds.  They hop around from perch to perch as we sit in the garden sometimes pulling off spectacular aerial manoeuvres right in front of us as if to show off.  At first I thought this behaviour was aggressive given our proximity to the nest, but now having seen them when they really are aggravated I realise this is not the case.  In fact they’ve been remarkably tolerant to our presence in their domain.  Given the ordeal they’ve just been through I’m beginning to feel a bit guilty about playing robin calls from the internet out of my bedroom window to freak them out the other week.  And yes before anyone points it out I think I’ve been guilty of doing a bit of  “anthropomorhisising” my self here.
Anyway Matt and I have discussed placing some sort of cat proof net under the nest that would still allow access from above.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  The good news is that there are still a couple of chicks left alive.  I’ll keep you posted on their progress though I fear the outlook is bleak.