This morning I was listening to me old mate Justin Webb on the Today Program........ They had the artist David Hockney as the guest editor of the show..... I've always liked him...... and admired his art work........ these days he has been accused of distinguishing himself as the 'grumpy old man against the smoking ban'........ and he is sort of that....... he wasn't very eloquent on other issues....... and to be fair to him he denied he was political or motivated by other political issues but he did use the smoking ban to express a frustration at the atmosphere of regulation, authoritarianism and control that exudes in Britain.......... Im not a smoker....... So personally the smoking ban does not really affect me........ But I see the smokers huddled outside in the winter rain and snow and can't help thinking this seems harsh treatment of them.....
I certainly am affected by the hundreds of new sign posts affecting speed limits and bus lanes......... so much stricter specific control of the speed you are supposed to be doing on a given stretch of road.... gone are the straight forward days of 30mph or 60mph...... now you see 15mph, 20mph, 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, 60mph,....... bus lane enforcement at particular times...... blah blah....... all policed by cameras....... if you do not know a stretch of road..... and unless you constantly watch the signs you might inadvertently break the law and be ticketed without ever driving dangerously...... this stops you from driving in a smooth regular way..... as you approach cameras you need to slow right down just incase ..... as you never know what the speed limit on a particular stretch might now be deemed to be these days as you may have missed a sign ...... you must watch signs not watch the road..... I find it all counter to actually being a good driver....... and its true....... all this feels really intrusive and is very controlling.......
And of course you know my particular problems with the rise of the 'No Photography Laws'....... and the 'No photographs without permission' culture........ Britain's recent Labour Governments have passed thousands of new laws including 'No photography laws' as part of anti terror legislation .......... Although I am not a smoker........ I am a photographer....... And anyway I felt a fair bit of sympathy with the David Hockney position..... even though it wasn't really that eloquently put...... but it was born of a real frustration which I share more than just a tiny bit.... Yeah... I definitely share a frustration with and fear of the increasingly powerful and proactive, authoritarian Nanny State.
Something to illustrate this ?........ er...... well no not really right now ........ but here on my desk top floating about ....... I found this bike protest picture........ I shot it a while back for the Sunday Times Magazine........ 'Critical Mass' ............ a large bunch of cyclists....... they get fed up with always riding inside the rules of the road.......... So they hit 'critical mass' then just block the road for other users and just ride as they please ........ causing enormous frustration to those other road users but hey its fun for the bikers...... :-))........ I guess on this one it depends......... Depends if you are on your bike having fun......... or paying the taxi meter in a massive jam........ as to whether you like the rules of the road to be properly policed and harshly enforced against errant massed cyclists.
Cheers Jez XXXXXX
PS......... Sorry about my lapse blogging over the last couple of days ....... the Jezblog service always goes out the window a bit when I am visiting my folks in the Warwickshire countryside....... in the wintery wifi, internet and cellphone connection desert they call home......... and Im still here like a smoker chewing my finger nails.... looking for somewhere to be allowed to service my addiction ....... in my case just connect to the web:-))
PPS........ Hope you had a great Holiday Break and are chilled as we all head for the New Year......... :-))
David Hockney is probably my favorite artist. I remember being captivated by "A Restrospective" at the Tate when I was 14, especially his photo montage work. As for his lack of eloquence I've always found that part of his charm and assumed quite deliberate on his part.
As for the freedom to smoke where I want, I think the stingy passive smokers should stop complaining and go and buy their own. I also think that since smokers pay more to the NHS through cigarette tax that they should get priority treatment :)
Smoking and photography forever!!![reply]Matt @ December 30, 2009, 12:09 am
He is a good bloke David Hockney...... like I say I've always liked him.... :-) i was really excited by those joiners he did when i first saw them....... and love his painting especially from California.
Although I like to sit places without smoke i kind of think some facilities should be offered to smokers if the bar or club wants to...... like in Soho House in NYC where they have a smoking and games room...... which really smells like the past when u go in....... but i find quite a nice blast from the past and a great facility for friends who smoke. No staff go in there and nobody who does not like smoke needs to go in....... the rest of the place.... by far the majority of the club...... is smoke free....
And photography....... its important to fight for our rights now...... here in Britain especially otherwise we will wake up and find we have draconian French style privacy laws imposed by European law..... like those that have been a disaster for French press freedom and their public's right to know ...... and which have bred corruption and a contempt for democracy...... oh and of course stifles art.
Yeah Matt is almost right I think he means....... smoking for those who want to..... (as long as others don't get their health or their dinners spoilt)...... and photography for ever!!!!!!!!!!.......:-))
Me thinks maybe Matt is tryingf to wind non smokers up!!! You pays your money and takes your choice as they say, but the photography issue is a different kettle of fish altogether....Have a great New Year mate, and all others who read your blog...[reply]Paul S @ December 30, 2009, 4:09 am
Matt is almost as eccentric as David Hockney....... hehehe.......
Cheers Paul....... Thanks for your best wishes to me and all us in the jezblog crew...... :-))Happy New Year to you and all your lot baby :-))
Hey Jez if you are in Warwickshire fancy a pint?[reply]John Harris @ December 30, 2009, 1:02 pm
That would be fab mate but Im not sure I can fit it in now...... cos Im taking my folks out at lunchtime.... Ive been hanging about here requiring my mum to cook for me so its only fair I get to supply food now its my turn ......... :-)) ...... then Im doing a family new year with the assembled clan...... then I gotta roll back to the smoke..... but I will give having a beer with u highest priority next time Im up here..... or next time we are both in London bro...... :-)) Hope u r having a good time and looking forward to a great 2010 John...... I see Jess is rolling mate which is great and i know makes u happy............
Have fun New Year's Eve. Happy New Year! In 2010, may all your days be "squeaky toy" days :-)[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 6:15 pm
But it's my God given right to be a stupid arrogant smoker. Actually, if they banned God in all forms then there would be less opportunity to become a fundemental... just kidding Lynda :)
I'm hoping my days are all "Hot Wheels" days as I'd completely forgotten how fun they are... I need to get my little boy a track to go with them though.
Best wishes to you and yours.[reply]Matt @ December 30, 2009, 7:39 pm
Uh Oh....... When people start their sentence with the words its my God given right to..... blah.blah....... the blah blah bit is normally the kind of thing that makes u cringe....... things like...... I have the God given right to shoot this Elk....... blast this bear...... pollute this lake...... drink these 17 pints of beers....... but maybe its the whole sentence that makes u cringe......... ???
Lynda is right arrogant stupidity is one of the serious problems of the world.... no one should be arrogantly and stupidly doing anything...... especially arrogantly or stupidly forcing others to do things or think things ....... what is needed is a bit of rational analysis and reasonable human decency....... all free of superstition, racism, prejudice and short term gain....... it would do the world a power of good...... :-)) XXXXXX
Ringo has had a brilliant Squeaky toy day today....... when she is having a brilliant squeaky toy day I am having one too :-)) ...... but Ringo could take squeaky toy day after squeaky toy day for ever ...... in the end those things do my brains in........ hehehe....... I have to take a flight somewhere or hide it...... hehehe :-))......... so we can all calm down....... hehe....... she ran and ran at the ruins of Kenilworth Castle today..... in the pouring rain I was happy just to see her go...... she was so happy and so beady..... she was running in crazy circles doing what is known to my parents as beserking........ :-))
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
:-) please tell that cute little dog she's welcome to come stay with me, anytime ... and that everyday in my house is a squeaky toy day :-)[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 8:44 pm
She will drive u crazy with those squeaky toys they r really only for special occaissions but visiting your house would certainly be one :-))
I might be up for banning God in all forms, or banning all forms of people thinking that they know anything at all about God :-) ... but dude, hot wheels?? Seriously? Nooooo, it's MATCHBOX CARS ... Matchbox cars rule ... and I still have all of mine :-) ... and somewhere in my parents basement storage, I think I have the hot wheels tracks too. I was not a "doll" person, can you tell? Hey, it's almost New Years Eve. Shouldn't ur band should be rockin' out Times Square or something?[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 8:42 pm
Ooh! Matchbox yes, the true classic, but hot wheels do all the funky hotrod cars that little boys like. The lead paint also tastes better when you chew it :)
As for the band, NYE is out since our guitarist is in CT and our bassist is under the thumb :))). We do have some dates lined up for Jan though.
Where were we... oh yes, God, Photography and my favorite, smoking...[reply]Matt @ December 31, 2009, 12:41 am
Ringo has had a brilliant Squeaky toy day today....... when she is having a brilliant squeaky toy day I am having one too :-)) ...... but Ringo could take squeaky toy day after squeaky toy day for ever ...... in the end those things do my brains in........ hehehe....... I have to take a flight somewhere or hide it...... hehehe :-))......... so we can all calm down....... hehe....... she ran and ran at the ruins of Kenilworth Castle today..... in the pouring rain I was happy just to see her go...... she was so happy and so beady..... she was running in crazy circles doing what is known to my parents as beserking........ :-))
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
Ringo has had a brilliant Squeaky toy day today....... when she is having a brilliant squeaky toy day I am having one too :-)) ...... but Ringo could take squeaky toy day after squeaky toy day for ever ...... in the end those things do my brains in........ hehehe....... I have to take a flight somewhere or hide it...... hehehe :-))......... so we can all calm down....... hehe....... she ran and ran at the ruins of Kenilworth Castle today..... in the pouring rain I was happy just to see her go...... she was so happy and so beady..... she was running in crazy circles doing what is known to my parents as beserking........ :-))
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
Careful Jez,I think you might be stuck on repeat.....or are you malfunctioning?.....Have a good meal with your folks and a great New Years Eve/Day.....watch out for the hangover Bro[reply]Paul S @ December 31, 2009, 8:43 am
i think she's giving a thumbs up because she hasn't been hit by a London cab yet![reply]crash @ January 5, 2010, 12:24 am
More+
This morning I was listening to me old mate Justin Webb on the Today Program........ They had the artist David Hockney as the guest editor of the show..... I've always liked him...... and admired his art work........ these days he has been accused of distinguishing himself as the 'grumpy old man against the smoking ban'........ and he is sort of that....... he wasn't very eloquent on other issues....... and to be fair to him he denied he was political or motivated by other political issues but he did use the smoking ban to express a frustration at the atmosphere of regulation, authoritarianism and control that exudes in Britain.......... Im not a smoker....... So personally the smoking ban does not really affect me........ But I see the smokers huddled outside in the winter rain and snow and can't help thinking this seems harsh treatment of them.....
I certainly am affected by the hundreds of new sign posts affecting speed limits and bus lanes......... so much stricter specific control of the speed you are supposed to be doing on a given stretch of road.... gone are the straight forward days of 30mph or 60mph...... now you see 15mph, 20mph, 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, 60mph,....... bus lane enforcement at particular times...... blah blah....... all policed by cameras....... if you do not know a stretch of road..... and unless you constantly watch the signs you might inadvertently break the law and be ticketed without ever driving dangerously...... this stops you from driving in a smooth regular way..... as you approach cameras you need to slow right down just incase ..... as you never know what the speed limit on a particular stretch might now be deemed to be these days as you may have missed a sign ...... you must watch signs not watch the road..... I find it all counter to actually being a good driver....... and its true....... all this feels really intrusive and is very controlling.......
And of course you know my particular problems with the rise of the 'No Photography Laws'....... and the 'No photographs without permission' culture........ Britain's recent Labour Governments have passed thousands of new laws including 'No photography laws' as part of anti terror legislation .......... Although I am not a smoker........ I am a photographer....... And anyway I felt a fair bit of sympathy with the David Hockney position..... even though it wasn't really that eloquently put...... but it was born of a real frustration which I share more than just a tiny bit.... Yeah... I definitely share a frustration with and fear of the increasingly powerful and proactive, authoritarian Nanny State.
Something to illustrate this ?........ er...... well no not really right now ........ but here on my desk top floating about ....... I found this bike protest picture........ I shot it a while back for the Sunday Times Magazine........ 'Critical Mass' ............ a large bunch of cyclists....... they get fed up with always riding inside the rules of the road.......... So they hit 'critical mass' then just block the road for other users and just ride as they please ........ causing enormous frustration to those other road users but hey its fun for the bikers...... :-))........ I guess on this one it depends......... Depends if you are on your bike having fun......... or paying the taxi meter in a massive jam........ as to whether you like the rules of the road to be properly policed and harshly enforced against errant massed cyclists.
Cheers Jez XXXXXX
PS......... Sorry about my lapse blogging over the last couple of days ....... the Jezblog service always goes out the window a bit when I am visiting my folks in the Warwickshire countryside....... in the wintery wifi, internet and cellphone connection desert they call home......... and Im still here like a smoker chewing my finger nails.... looking for somewhere to be allowed to service my addiction ....... in my case just connect to the web:-))
PPS........ Hope you had a great Holiday Break and are chilled as we all head for the New Year......... :-))
As for the freedom to smoke where I want, I think the stingy passive smokers should stop complaining and go and buy their own. I also think that since smokers pay more to the NHS through cigarette tax that they should get priority treatment :)
Smoking and photography forever!!!
[reply]Matt @ December 30, 2009, 12:09 am
Although I like to sit places without smoke i kind of think some facilities should be offered to smokers if the bar or club wants to...... like in Soho House in NYC where they have a smoking and games room...... which really smells like the past when u go in....... but i find quite a nice blast from the past and a great facility for friends who smoke. No staff go in there and nobody who does not like smoke needs to go in....... the rest of the place.... by far the majority of the club...... is smoke free....
And photography....... its important to fight for our rights now...... here in Britain especially otherwise we will wake up and find we have draconian French style privacy laws imposed by European law..... like those that have been a disaster for French press freedom and their public's right to know ...... and which have bred corruption and a contempt for democracy...... oh and of course stifles art.
Yeah Matt is almost right I think he means....... smoking for those who want to..... (as long as others don't get their health or their dinners spoilt)...... and photography for ever!!!!!!!!!!.......:-))
Cheers Baby Jez XXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 7:22 am
[reply]Paul S @ December 30, 2009, 4:09 am
Cheers Paul....... Thanks for your best wishes to me and all us in the jezblog crew...... :-))Happy New Year to you and all your lot baby :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 7:33 am
[reply]Marcie @ December 30, 2009, 9:08 am
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 9:37 am
[reply]John Harris @ December 30, 2009, 1:02 pm
Cheers Happy New Year bro............ Jez XXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 8:57 pm
Hey, have you checked out the year end photos in the New York Times? This one was good/funny:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/world/2009-decade.html#/2009_5_29810
Have fun New Year's Eve. Happy New Year! In 2010, may all your days be "squeaky toy" days :-)
[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 6:15 pm
I'm hoping my days are all "Hot Wheels" days as I'd completely forgotten how fun they are... I need to get my little boy a track to go with them though.
Best wishes to you and yours.
[reply]Matt @ December 30, 2009, 7:39 pm
Lynda is right arrogant stupidity is one of the serious problems of the world.... no one should be arrogantly and stupidly doing anything...... especially arrogantly or stupidly forcing others to do things or think things ....... what is needed is a bit of rational analysis and reasonable human decency....... all free of superstition, racism, prejudice and short term gain....... it would do the world a power of good...... :-)) XXXXXX
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXX
PS...... Matt U got those pics I was after baby....... :-))
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 8:05 pm
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 8:19 pm
[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 8:44 pm
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 9:00 pm
[reply]Lynda @ December 30, 2009, 8:42 pm
As for the band, NYE is out since our guitarist is in CT and our bassist is under the thumb :))). We do have some dates lined up for Jan though.
Where were we... oh yes, God, Photography and my favorite, smoking...
[reply]Matt @ December 31, 2009, 12:41 am
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 8:18 pm
Hope you guys have a fair few Squeaky Toy days yourself in 2010 :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog Warwickshire :-)) @ December 30, 2009, 8:47 pm
[reply]Paul S @ December 31, 2009, 8:43 am
[reply]crash @ January 5, 2010, 12:24 am
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