More thoughts than usual for a change

[cheekbones3]

Excellent weekend last weekend in Crinan, which is "near" Lochgilphead, and if you don't know where that is, I don't think you're missing much. Was in the company of bunnyphone and dee_ and neriedes amongst other hippy types, and we did ritual and drank and talked and ate and relaxed.


As reminded by this article, I complained to Radio 1 the other week regarding their selective playlisting on the Chart Show (or should that be the blatant ignorance of anything that falls outwith their core musical obsession, to wit, anything with an electronic beat, MOR vocal whining and, erm, that's it), especially prompted by the complete failure of the hosts to play Iron Maiden's latest single, even though it was the highest new entry at number three. I got quite a well written reply actually, which I unfortunately didn't keep. It didn't really say much, but at least they've registered my comment, which is something, and as far as I can tell actually will have a little influence, although possibly not enough.


The teaching of history has been on my mind too today. I heard a proposal (on the news or something probably) that history should focus more on British stuff. I think if this is done right, it would be a positive thing, especially if the purpose is to "integrate" people from ethnic minorities. If everyone understands the history of this country, then they can get a handle on the British mindset, or at least some of the threads of it, and if we all get this understanding, then surely this would remove some of the, erm, interdermachromal (yes I'm making words up) problems that seem to flare up, especially given the government's current feckless floundering on such issues. As long as there is also a clear illustration of this country's relations with other nations, and the differences found in the mindsets of other nations and races for similar reasons.

Mind you, such thinking is reasonably flawed too (you can point them out if you wish), and essential before a decent history syllabus I think would be the teaching of thought, or more specifically, how to think. Philosophy! Then the wee mites could actually know that sometimes working things out for themselves and forming sensible opinions by referring to more than the most seductive (or the first) viewpoint they hear. If they have opinions at all at the moment about anything more than the activities of fictional or pseudo-fictional characters that is.


Had a pretty pointless training course today, talking about things I could have learnt during my A-levels. Ho hum, at least I got out of the office and fed. Then I won both games of our monthly poker session this evening to come home with £60. All buys more biccies!

Right, thank you and good night.

And yes, I know my sentence structure is garbled, but I'm pouring this off my brain, so lump it.

Comments

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I never even considered the English/Scottish aspects of this, which do indeed complicate things greatly, although given that we've got centuries of common history, you'd think some common British aspects would be able to be found somewhere...