The Urbane Guerilla Diaries

Sham-pions League

2010-05-18T19:05:00.001+01:00

Avid watchers of the soap opera that is the FAW will no doubt be slightly baffled by the latest news regarding Uefa licenses. While it is nice to see Airbus UK rewarded for the hard work their committee have put in, the decision to effectively stop promotion and relegation to the league for a season and demote the league’s biggest crowd puller, Rhyl is beyond explanation. A cursory glance at the

Review: Dirtee Disco - Dizzee Rascal

2010-05-09T12:49:00.001+01:00

Riding his current wave of adulation Dylan Mills could probably surf into Number 10, considering our view of politicians and his enduring popularity. How reassuring then to find he’s bang on message with the latest offering under his musical nom de plume “Dizzee Rascal”. Dirtee Disco, timed to be released a week before a new remix of his Tongue N’ Cheek album (the Dirtee Deluxe Edition), is 70s

Are Labour Talking Tripe In Wales?

2010-04-26T17:07:00.001+01:00

I have just received the above Labour leaflet, supposedly from Chris Ruane, MP for the Vale of Clwyd. It's called 'On Your Side'. On it he says he will protect the pensioners' winter fuel allowance, bus passes and TV licences against Tory threat.He will also protect breakfast clubs, investment in education and healthcare against Tory cuts too. As far as I am aware, apart from the fuel allowance

Taio Cruz and Ke$ha - Dirty Picture

2010-04-26T13:10:00.001+01:00

Well dear old Taio appears to have hit a rich vein of form and his latest offering, Dirty Picture, gives more than a nod to Messers Timberlake and Aguilera. The resemblance between Ke$ha, who guests on Dirty Picture, and the diminutive Miss Aguilera is not to be underestimated. That’s a shame really because one then spends most of the video comparing Dirty Picture with Dirrty, Aguilera

Sometimes The Picture IS The Story

2010-04-25T19:55:00.001+01:00

No words needed from me. Any Takers? Posted via email from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

JK's almost got it right

2010-04-14T21:17:00.001+01:00

Read this - then read on.It's hard to pick holes in the comments of one who has experienced that of which she writes, unless one has experienced it oneself.Unfortunately, it seems the travailles of those who endured the last Tory regime and were not landed gentry, high flyers in business or bereft of a social conscience, is enough to put the mockers on Cameron's plans this time around.Sadly

Bangor City v Port Talbot Town: 03 April 2010

2010-04-12T02:03:00.001+01:00

Download now or preview on posterous Bangor_PTT_03_Apr_10_2.rtf (33 KB) Posted via email from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

Dear MP

2010-04-12T01:09:00.001+01:00

Download now or preview on posterous Dear MP.rtf (36 KB) Posted via email from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

Review of 'Bittersweet' by Sophie Ellis-Bextor for Big City

2010-03-27T19:38:00.001Z

Janet Ellis was a Blue Peter presenter of note in the 1980s but her best work was arguably done by giving birth to yummy mummy Sophie Ellis-Bextor. In keeping with her mother’s rich heritage, the angular songstress delved back to the electro-synth-led sounds of the 1980s for her latest and some would say overdue, pop offering. Having popped out baby number two on her way back to the recording

Review of U2's 'No Line On The Horizon' Limited Edition for Bauer Media

2010-03-27T19:29:00.002Z

U2 worshippers are offered a rare gift with the ‘No Line On The Horizon’ Limited Edition boxed set. As a treat, the band recruited Dutch film director Anton Corbijn to colour Bono’s evocative voice with stunning visuals on a bonus DVD. Gallic, film noire overtones, stunning photography and brooding anti-hero, create an epic moving canvas as the music’s backdrop. ‘No Line’ is 'The Unforgettable

Spot the spelling mistake. Not a good omen.

2009-12-04T14:37:00.001Z

"From: Bruce Shapiro To: sec@bjtc.org.uk Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 4:02 PM Subject: A journalism award you can win Apply for the New Multimedia Dart Awards For the first time in their 15-year history, the Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage on Trauma have broadened the competition to include television, video, multimedia, magazine and online journalism, in addition to the

Open Democracy

2009-12-04T10:10:00.001Z

A new service means citizens can see full details of planning applications made to Lancashire County Council over the internet. All documents relating to planning applications submitted to the council can be viewed via the council's website. Now there's no excuse for journalists to miss what's going on.Click here to go to page. Posted via email from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

The case for Restorative Justice

2009-12-01T22:42:00.001Z

Posted via email from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

Dogs are dogs, people are the problem.

2009-12-01T19:39:00.001Z

The death yesterday of John Paul Massey has brought up the perennial debate about dangerous dogs.Although four specific breeds are banned from being bred, sold or exchanged under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, any dog considered to be dangerous or out of control in a public place can bring censure for the owner - in theory. Getting away from this particular case, which is now the subject of a

How 'clean' is your club?

2009-11-27T19:44:00.004Z

According to a recent BBC article, football is being used as “a vehicle for laundering money”. Yet the notion that what is essentially a cash-rich business was previously squeaky clean seems laughable. St Andrew's Stadium with a rare full house In the 1970’s my Dad would take me down to St Andrew’s where crowds never seemed to look as small as they were advertised. Often we looked at a stadium

Banking on a decent outcome

2009-11-26T00:28:00.002Z

What on earth were we thinking in imagining the Supreme Court would rule in our favour against the banks? In one of the least surprising results since Mugabe won the Zimbabwean presidency, the banks now get away with paying back the phenomenal amounts they've prised out of our hands over the last six or eight years. The real irony is that over the past couple of years, since we have been awaiting

Airbus UK 2-Newtown 1: Welsh Premier League_Nov. 21 2009

2009-11-21T18:16:00.001Z

Airbus UK 2- Newtown 0By Jez HemmingManager Craig Harrison believes Airbus can make the grade after seeing his side beat Newtown at the Airfield. One each from Carl Owen and Danny Desormeaux was enough to see off the Robins and Harrison was delighted. “That’s two on the bounce and two clean sheets,” he said. “Now we’ve got two or three games where we feel can pick up points, then we have tough

Thierry Henry Should Be Banned

2009-11-19T21:01:00.002Z

I couldn't believe my eyes when Henry wheeled away last night and celebrated like he'd just done something fantastic. Short of dribbling the ball through his legs like Meadowlark Lemon, he couldn't have been more blatant. All this interminable guff about 'it being part of the game' and 'one of those things' is just a red herring to indemnify cheats against future misdemeanours. Henry cheated.

Judge strikes out fair comment defence in Lynn Barber book review - Press Gazette

2009-11-16T17:57:00.001Z

via pressgazette.co.uk The end for criticism or just bad journalism? Posted via web from theurbaneguerilla's posterous

The Postal Strike

2009-10-24T12:22:00.001+01:00

The postal strike is threatening to put a damper on Father Christmas's delivery schedule, so a few Preston locals gave their view on the current dispute. Hasta La Revolucion

Where Now For Michael Shields?

2009-09-19T19:05:00.006+01:00

I went to Michael Shields' birthday party last night with about 500 other people. It was a great way to show him the breadth and depth of support he's enjoyed since he was railroaded into a ludicrous conviction four years ago. It occurred to me that, unlike many other young men of his age, he is now on an exciting journey to find his place in the world - albeit a little later than planned. Where

Potty Motty is Footy Hottie

2009-09-03T10:22:00.007+01:00

Listen to this interview with John Motson in a new window.Has there ever been a more enthusiastic commentator in the history of British broadcasting? I think not.Here's a man who does a job that probably 99% of the male population of the UK would give their right arm to do for a week. Yet he continues to do it with the wonderment of someone who just got the job and can't quite believe the bosses

There's Hope Yet

2009-08-11T15:39:00.007+01:00

Comrades. Many is the time I have despaired at the human race. Its ability to be selfish, dishonest and uncaring never ceases to amaze me.Yet occasionally, just now and again, something happens that restores a little bit of faith in mankind. Today was one such day.Having been to town to see Mrs U-G for lunch I saw her 15-yr-old walking to meet her boyfriend so I gave her a lift. After hinting

You'll Never Walk Alone

2009-07-14T11:22:00.011+01:00

On Saturday myself and Mrs U-G attended the vigil for Michael Shields at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.Having never been to the Cathedral before we were struck by its beauty and its size. It somehow seemed an appropriate place to make a bold statement and a plea for justice. There were some inspiring words for what amounted to a crowd of around 1,500 people.There were Everton shirts mingling

The Shields of Justice Dented

2009-07-11T10:58:00.020+01:00

I don't know Michael Shields but I know his sister Laura. Through working with her I have become familiar with the case and from occupying a position of "there's no smoke without fire", I become ever more astounded at what amounts to a serious miscarriage of justice.Jack Straw has indicated that Michael Shields is destined to serve his full jail sentence. Nothing remarkable about that unless you

Madness that was a hair's breadth from genius

2009-06-26T14:27:00.017+01:00

Michael Jackson via last.fmJacko's dead and all kinds of weirdos and 'experts', from Paul Gambaccini to the weird looking boy who is something to do with his fan club, have been waxing lyrical on the BBC about the genius 'King of Pop'. Was he though? He was undoubtedly talented but in my opinion his madness left him a hair's breadth from genius.Last night at 11.40pm I sat up like a prairie dog

Open and Accessible Politics

2009-06-24T23:30:00.007+01:00

Image via WikipediaToday was interesting. I called some political parties to get copies of their press releases regarding the EU elections.I'd already emailed them all over a week ago, so I had a story going into the call and it was interesting to see the reactions of them all, bearing in mind the results of our study will probably be of interest to them all when it's done.First off I gave the

Collection Times...

2009-06-24T12:05:00.003+01:00

Just a quick note to myself to remind me that I'm still capturing data from the EU elections that was given online.Calling the political parties this afternoon as not one of them has replied to my email requests for access to their press releases. It seems getting information from political types is a problem for the body politic, not just the government.I shall update anon.Hasta La Revolucion

The Results Are In And...

2009-06-23T16:57:00.004+01:00

My 2nd year results are in from university, three days early I might add, and it's sherbets all round methinks!Barely any cash for two years, job packed in and family on the verge of destitution (although extremely supportive), never having the time to cram everything in and all the opportunities for decent work experience seemingly reserved for those under 25 but the dream lives on. A good 2:1

The Oldest Intern In The Village

2009-06-22T21:26:00.008+01:00

I'm an intern, although not in the style made famous by Monica Lewinsky and I'm hoping it stays that way to be honest.No I'm an intern for a research project at my university over the summer, looking at the use of digital and online media in coverage of the recent EU elections. Excited aren't you?My mentor is a PhD lecturer of some note in the halls of journalistic academe and a man of some dry

Iran Spam

2009-06-16T22:40:00.005+01:00

Twitter twits talk bollocks as Rome burns? Or is Twitter the new "Radio Free Europe"?It's been a momentous time for Twitter Inc. over the past few days. Iranians are exercised about the recent elections and the debate appears to be raging on. In any event Twitter's value as a networking tool has been proven, or so we are informed by those who use it - and it seems the major news networks. The

Iranian Portal

2009-06-16T10:06:00.002+01:00

IranHasta La Revolucion

Shopping for Technology...The New Hunting

2009-05-18T08:53:00.005+01:00

A day late posting due to important mission.We went to Wrexham yesterday so that our 15-year-old trainee WAG could spend her money and some of ours on essential fashion items, clothing and jewellery. Mission accomplished.I spent several hours hanging around uncomfortably in womenswear and underwear sections, eyed suspiciously by burly security guards (and that was only the women). Something

Lazy Saturday

2009-05-16T10:24:00.004+01:00

All quiet in the Guerilla household this morning. Woken up at 5.59am by previous phone of the one that flew the nest. It was vibrating and tinkling extremely loudly and woke me up despite being downstairs.Will go to oldest's flat tomorrow morning at 5.59am, on his day off, ring the doorbell 20 times and run off. Then I shall go back to bed and sleep soundly.UrbaneGuerilla jnr is still in bed at

(First Published in October 2008) Blast From The Past - Archives (American Mass Debate)

2009-05-01T00:38:00.003+01:00

From the sublime to the ridiculous, John McCain has turned to comedy in an attempt to spend what remains of his dotage in the White House.He dropped in for a guest appearance on US satire factory Saturday Night Live this week and I fully expected him to make us cringe even more than when he called out theatrically for 'Joe the Plumber' at a rally on Friday, only for Joe not to be there.As we over

The University of Free Speech

2009-04-30T23:13:00.007+01:00

One of the by-products of the ‘war on terror’ is the erosion of civil liberties. One of the cornerstones of civil liberty is the right to free speech. One of the last bastions for free-thinkers to exercise this right is university.Since the Magna Carta gave the common man rights, men have spoken uncomfortable truths. Without Galileo, for how much longer would the Sun have revolved around the

Manifestly Wrong

2009-04-23T21:53:00.012+01:00

Just as an exercise I decided to have a look at Labour's 2005 manifesto to see whether they had hit the nail on the head so to speak, or bashed their thumb with a rather large hammer.There was a lot of talk during Wednesday's non-budget speech about income tax and Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise it, so it seemed fair to have a look at the facts. I don't particularly like or dislike Labour

Am I Anti-Semitic If I Criticise Israel?

2009-04-20T22:08:00.003+01:00

I have no hatred for Jewish people, for the Jewish faith or for the notion that an oppressed people should be granted sanctuary after a period of unimaginable persecution. I take it this sentence is acceptable to most reasonable people.Equally, I have no hatred for the Iranian people, the Islamic faith or for the notion that people who were routinely persecuted by a Shah who was tied financially

Turn the Failed Banks Into Credit Unions

2009-02-27T00:03:00.010Z

Comrades, friends and economically oppressed peoples of the world.The time has come to unite against the thieving/bungling* (delete as applicable) acolytes of the City who ruined our banks and toss them out in favour of something a little more user friendly. I speak of course in favour of the humble, much-maligned and virtually covert credit unions that do such an amazing job. If credit unions

Fraser Digby's Washbag

2009-02-22T18:00:00.028Z

Thank you Danny Baker for using my lyrics on your 5 Live show on Tuesday evening. Bless you kind sir and come the revolution you shall be retained for the Urbane Guerilla's Socialist, Cooperative Junta. Link here The task was to provide lyrics set to a well known tune. The subject being Fraser Digby's washbag. Yes that Fraser Digby, the ex-Swindon keeper. The reasons for this challenge are

Police Get Camera Shy

2009-02-16T00:05:00.009Z

Dear fellow worker ants.Do as I say, not as I do. That appears to be the message of British police, armed forces and security services, under the terms of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008, which comes into force this very day.It amends the 2000 Act and has a number of interesting provisions but one which has major implications for the media in particular, that could stop them going about their day

Obama-rama

2009-01-20T23:50:00.003Z

Friends and erstwhile comrades. I was, considering my terminal cynicism of all things politico, strangley moved by Obama's inaugural address.To celebrate his accession and Dubya's passing I wrote a little pome.A Farewell To DubyaYou came, but not like Clinton did,In spurts of litigationHarbouring thoughts of your revengeFor daddy’s big frustrationYour first few months were pretty drabAn