Dean Whitbread http://deanwhitbread.co.uk usefully imaginative since 1984 posterous.com Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:09:47 -0800 Glomma Ice Birds http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/glomma-ice-birds http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/glomma-ice-birds

Ice drifts upriver on the tide in sub-zero early February, Fredrikstad, Norway.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:37:00 -0800 Atheist Illogic http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/atheist-illogic http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/atheist-illogic

When atheists use logic to confront belief, it really is as dumb as fighting for peace, or fucking for virginity.

Belief is by its very nature non-logical. The basic approach to deal with belief through "rational" argument therefore is fundamentally flawed. God, whether you believe or not, cannot be "destroyed" or removed, except by a similar kind of brainwashing which religions frequently employ.

I am not anti-Science, per se, but I am anti-brainwashing and anti-received, unquestioned belief. When you look not that hard at atheist cant, much of the anti-religion rhetoric falls into this category. When I dare question the sweeping assumptions in atheist pronouncements, I'm frequently categorised as stupid, closed-minded, and ignorant. This is sad but predictable. They make the non-scientific assumption that I must be a God-botherer. But I don't care if the surgeon operating on me believes in God or not. I just want the operation to go well.

Now I am not even going to go into the numerous revisions which scientists make in which long-held truths are found to be invalid, thrown out or updated in the light of new evidence. That is clearly part of the process. But many atheists are not rational about their choice, they are Science Believers, preferring to put their faith in a Church of Science which requires they disregard esoteric "truths" and believe in human "proofs". These proofs are very, very rarely proven directly, it's all taken at face value by most atheists, as read in the atheist bible, the New Scientist.

Intelligent atheists, please get real, and stop being such hypocrites. Generally, you don't care if your personal battle is against God or not - you just want a good fight. I could be any kind of person representing something you've taken against, in the same way certain people hate "all gays" "all socialists" etc etc. I don't like anti-religious prejudice as much as I don't like anti-atheist prejudice, and this is one reason I continue to point out the glaring flaws in self-righteous zealots, no matter what side of the belief / non-belief divide they stand, be they Scientologists or Christian Scientists or Science Believers, wherever I find them, dressed in whatever colour.

I want people to be educated and work things out for themselves. I want religious people to be free to question their beliefs and I want atheists to be free to question their non-belief. Is that not far more reasonable?

Fighting_for_peace_is_like_fuc

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:47:00 -0800 That view again.. #funwithgardens http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/that-view-again-funwithgardens http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/that-view-again-funwithgardens

I frequently take a picture of the view from my kitchen, which happens to also be my office, so I'm there quite often. It's not an obsession or a compulsion, I don't mind if I miss it, but while I am there, I document the banal in all its beauty.

I note the passing weather, the changes in light, the changing seasons with the coming of winter, the appearance of a second storey on the temporary building which workers renovating a nearby property are using. I see birds, clouds, shadows, and high visibility jackets, and always that view again.

Images taken between 29 Oct 2011 & 08 Jan 2012.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:08:39 -0800 Kisses http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/kisses http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/kisses
A woman I know has an assistant who dotes upon her. Every so often, she pays her with a kiss. Cheap deal. So I owe this woman money, and I said to her, "I am taking lessons from you. You pay with charisma, with kisses. I think I will do the same. I owe you two kisses."

She was righteously shocked. "But I have electricity bills!" she said.

I said, "I'm a very good kisser."

P29dd99e2

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:13:09 -0800 French http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/french http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/french Thoughts on my way back from Paris, Dec 13, 2011

I sit in the plane surrounded by the people in whose land I sought refuge less than six months ago, hearing the lilt and scrape, the fiddle and swing of their language. Suddenly, it is devoid of charm, and feels only parochial, odd and stilted, instead of curious, intriguing.

Speaking French and drinking coffee in one of the greatest and most inspiring world cities has effectively disrupted my plans. My sincerely nurtured, long-held desire to live in this long, thin land of oil and gas and prawns, and to fit into it by observing certain rights of passage such as suffering the winter months, and by learning to speak the hurdy-gurdy tongue of modern Norway has evaporated in eight, short, Parisian winter days of art.

French is an entire world, an intellectual empire, a way of existing expressively, vibrantly. It is the global experience of countless millions.. French is a real language, a lingua franca full of subtlety and mystique. It is the other half of my own tongue, the sexy half, the half that kisses and seduces. It is a masterful language, spoken with passion and pride, things which moralist, democratic Scandinavians in general and Norwegians in particular like to hide out of a misguided sense of propriety.

Everyone in the city of Paris is an artist, if they want. In London or New York you’re not a real “capital A” Artist if some gallery hasn’t hosted your work and rolled out wine for intellectuals and reviewers, and you can’t be a proper writer if you haven’t had a book published. In Paris, anyone can be creative, and so, everyone is, it seems, everywhere, in superb measure, often, and sans inhibition. There’s no hiding your light out of deference to an obscure concept which keeps everyone “equal”, or British class-obsession to keep you in your place; instead there’s the appreciation of talent both raw and refined, acknowledgement of the struggle along the path, the pain of creative birth, and the assumption of one’s natural place being at least as elevated as the next person.

London is the only real competitor to Paris, by dint of history and proximity. I am London, formed of it, 80 kilos of its mud and water walking around, talking English, thinking in English, planning in English. Fifty years of born and accumulated London, until so recently laying thick upon me like an old wet Cromby. But London has nothing on Paris, not air, not water, not light, not music, not literature, not fashion, not the underground nor the overground, and certainly, definitely not art, which is everywhere, unabashed, unexcused, and stupendous.

I went to Paris and something just changed. A new SIM went in. My settings became parametres, my methodology gained élan. Eight short winter days changed me for an improved model. I feel awake, interested, stylish. I want to up sticks, desert the north, and eat French food forever. I want to sleep with French women until I fall in love and plight my troth. I want lightbulbs powered by nuclear energy, and police with large, visible guns. I want irony, snobbery, intellectual, quick-fire wit, and the right to complain. I want to rail against hypocrisy at the same time as exemplifying it.

French is the other side of me, the side I deserted twenty five years ago, and I want it back.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:18:30 -0800 Père Lachaise , Paris http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/pere-lachaise-paris http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/pere-lachaise-paris

Shot using Panasonic Lumix GF1 with Photojojo TV lens, December 10th 2011

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:51:37 -0700 What Is The Point? http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/what-is-the-point http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/what-is-the-point
When people say that art is difficult, I laugh. I say no, art is easy. Disease is difficult, death is difficult. Love is difficult.

And then I ask, do you know what the point is?

People say, no. We do not know.

What is the point?

And I say,

The point is

T
h
e
sharp bit at the end.

P05c8e334

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:50:00 -0700 Real Swearing http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/real-swearing http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/real-swearing

People need to swear. There is a need to cuss. People need an outlet for the insanity of every day life. I've found that as long as I don't watch TV news, and avoid 80% of the press, I can avoid swearing, mostly, and this is an improvement.

News. I watch people's behaviour incredulously. People are just insane.

I can't believe the shit that goes down. I don't just swear, I am in awe of the levels of crap that raineth down upon all humanity, let alone the really bad bits of it, you know, torture and all that fucking evil shit.

It's fucked, totally fucked. Right? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?

I try not to watch it. I begin to swear and shake my head. Much as I think I need to swear, it's not a good look for a civilised man.

Yet I do not feel ashamed to be reacting like this. If I didn't swear, it would be a lie. I must cuss, to tell it as it is. 


http://realswearing.org/

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:38:34 -0700 Peace first, then act http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/peace-first-then-act http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/peace-first-then-act Remember: peace first, then act.

When you feel frantic, when you feel worried, peace first. Then act.

When you feel the pressure, the expectation from within and without, peace first. Then act.

In a crisis, peace first, then act.

That moment of peace, it is always nearer than you think. Just ask for it, find it.

Then act.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:15:07 -0700 Noise http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/noise http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/noise

Noise. Made by people all over the world.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:28:03 -0700 People are wondering why the rioting started... really? http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/people-are-wondering-why-the-rioting-started http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/people-are-wondering-why-the-rioting-started There are no banners. Since yesterday the entire event has been about crime and brutality and has nothing to do with the original event, the death of Mark Duggan.

  This is how it looks to have started. The protest was a vigil outside a police station, after Duggan was shot dead by police in hotly disputed circumstances. During the vigil the liquor store was robbed, the empty bottles lobbed at the police station. The 50 or so friends and family (who were kept from the body for 36 hours - police have since admitted this was a mistake) were angry, but not rioting. At some point a 16 year old girl was bashed up by five cops in riot gear, that sparked stone throwing, so it went.

  Of course there is widespread anger. But many working class people despise their rulers, regardless of colour or background, or even who happens to be in power. People have seen all authority exposed as a sham, and they ask, why the hell should I care?

  The shadow side of Britain is criminality which runs from top to bottom. MPs and members of the upper house have been prosecuted and sent to prison for cheating on expenses. Murdoch's minions have been exposed for paying off police. Cameron attended News International meetings 24 times in one year.

  There is little respect for law even among police who have a string of dodgy deaths and clumsy cover-ups in recent years, Tomlinson, Menezes, Smiley Culture.

  Our establishment is seen as corrupt, and everyone knows this. Authorities do not command respect from anyone, least of all savvy, hard-nosed, selfish opportunist criminals, a generation born into the kind of valueless, amoral consumer-driven materialism dominant since Thatcher.

  Then there is the fact that young people's futures have just been chucked in the trash, with education now out of reach and costing a fortune, courses cut, and youth centres closed, public sector jobs cut, all to get a "well done" back slap for Britain from the IMF...

  Add to this one spark of genuine grievance as a catalyst, and you have your British storm. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sun, 24 Jul 2011 01:50:00 -0700 Little Dragon - When I Go Out http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/little-dragon-when-i-go-out http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/little-dragon-when-i-go-out

Highly distinctive and unusual, Little Dragon, my favourite band, has a new album out, and this beautiful psychedelic video to promote it. The harmonised treatment on Yukimi Nagano's voice reminds me of Jon Hassell, over a rushing, tumbling Brazilian rhythm. It seems like they are maintaining their usual high musical standards.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:27:33 -0700 Post-Pizza Report http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/post-pizza-report http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/post-pizza-report
dean_s_Video_-_post-pizza_report_-_Keek_-_July_22nd_2011.flv Watch on Posterous

This is a stealth morning-after post-pizza report. I'm trying to avoid contagion from the Italian industrial by investing in the agricultural economy.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:38:58 -0700 Gripping http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/gripping http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/gripping

P214

We all want to make our lives easy, don't we? But, you know, it can be too easy. There is only so much that we can do to improve the quality of our communication. And, Mobile blogging is not necessarily one of those things. This is even worse - it's being dictated, not even written, or typed.

So I'm using a telephone to write to group of people most of whom I have never met.

The telephone, that most intimate of devices, meant as a way of bringing lips to ears has been turned into the telegraph, that least intimate of ancient modes of expression.

Oh well, I only had to stop and correct it five times. I suppose I have saved myself that much labour.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:53:00 -0700 The Purple Glomma http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-purple-glomma http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-purple-glomma

The river Glomma is Norway's biggest river. At Fredrikstad, it's just about to meet the sea. For twenty five minutes at around 22:30, the sky turned everything shades of purple.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:29:00 -0700 Adriano Celentano - Raffaella Carrà http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/adriano-celentano-raffaella-carra http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/adriano-celentano-raffaella-carra

Have a close listen to the lyrics, which don't mean a thing. It's all made up sound-alike phonetics, designed to resemble contemporary Anglo pop of the day.

What a great groove. Alright!


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:30:30 -0700 Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/gamlebyen-fredrikstad http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/gamlebyen-fredrikstad

All pictures taken 25th June 2011.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:12:00 -0700 The True Cost of Nuclear Energy http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-true-cost-of-nuclear http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-true-cost-of-nuclear

1650800152468_46392.mp4 Watch on Posterous
Nuclear facts you'd be more comfortable not knowing from a very clued up professional who will not be bought or intimidated into silence: Dr Helen Caldicott, true to style, tells it as it is/as she sees it/like you wont usually hear it.

NB: this originates from a symposium held in April 2011 in Canada by the Centre for Research on Globalization http://www.globalresearch.ca - I had nothing to do with the making of it - I copied it from a Facebook post. Repeated here in the public interest.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:19:00 -0700 Botswana Music Guitar - Ronnie - "Ba koba bana" http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/botswana-music-guitar-ronnie-ba-koba-bana http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/botswana-music-guitar-ronnie-ba-koba-bana


Welcome to April.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:43:27 -0700 The Ning Nang Nong http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-ning-nang-nong http://deanwhitbread.co.uk/the-ning-nang-nong

One of my true heroes, Spike Milligan, with the nation's favourite poem, performed at his house in 1996.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/394274/me_in_egyptland_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/15T7vTYtQDn Dean Whitbread Dean Dean Whitbread