Larkin might have written his famous poem for the damaged genius Michael Jackson.

I wouldn’t call myself a fan of his later work but I loved the Jacksons and The Jackson 5 and there is no doubt he was one of the most talented artists of the pop era.

It’s just sad that such a talented individual should have such a miserable life and an ignominious death.

Killed by the greed of those around him; his parents, his doctors. Echoes of Elvis…a tortured genius surrounded by sharks.

So RIP Michael you deserved your crown as King of Pop

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Irish church knew abuse ‘endemic’.

So the God Botherers yet again prove what a shower of hypocritical, low-life, filthy scum they are.

While I have no time for any of these purveyors of fairy tales it seems the Catholic Church is the worst of them all and it just goes to reinforce the belief that forcing men and women to live in an unnatural state of celibacy is asking for trouble.

Well, I hope their “faith” is true and they suffer eternal damnation for their appalling behaviour and breach of trust.  (They don’t go on to be Labour politicians do they? - Oh no, I forgot they get to stay on as “men of God” because their bosses cover up for them).

I see the infallible one is now denying that he was a member of the Hitler Youth - not sure why, the Pope at the time would have been proud of him.

So, Islamists (I won’t dignify them by calling them Muslims) kill young couples and gays for being immoral while the Catholic scum spend their time pleasuring themselves with the local children.  It’s pathetic.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Stephen Fry: The internet and Me.

You know I like Stephen Fry more and more…

…I concur with just about every word in this article.

Jade Goody marries Jack Tweed in fairytale wedding - Telegraph.

First let’s be clear - I feel very sad for Jade Goody.  It’s awful that a young mum has to die because of an all-to-common illness.

But…

It’s not that long ago that this poor soul was being vilified across the Globe for being a nasty, vicious, racist moron.

On the evidence she certainly was (is?).

Now she’s terminally ill she’s suddenly a saint.

Apparently millions of women are demanding smear tests as a direct result of her plight, although I’m not sure where the evidence for this assertion comes from.

Sorry folks but this is just the conclusion of a very tawdry story.

Some fairytale.  I thought they had a happy endings.

Apparently she’s going to screw as much money as she can out of the media to “ensure that her children have a better education than she did”.

I’d admire her more if she raised the money and gave it all to Cancer Research.

I just wish the poor lassie would go home and live what’s left to her with some dignity.

If the Press needed a story for the weekend they could have given much more coverage to the passing of Christopher Nolan.

A true story of courage overcoming the odds.

Here we are again celebrating Christmas, Xmas, Winterval - whatever, let’s go with the Yankees and call it “Holiday Season”.

Millions of people worshipping Mammon in the name of Jesus using an honest Pagan festival in temples of commerce built especially for this purpose.

At least the Pagans were just having a good old piss-up to celebrate the coming of the lighter days and easier times.  I could imagine that winter in a fucking yurt probably warrants a couple of parties!

Now; it’s all just a huge commercial exercise where people are conned into buying tons of plastic shite for their kids and unneeded boxes of crap for people who don’t want, need or deserve any of it.

The current frenzy in our High Streets is a sad sight to behold.  Shops are desperate, “We have lots of shite that we can’t sell, here, have it for 95% off” - and the sheep react as expected and buy all the shite thinking they’ve scored.  But shite is shite whatever the price.

Sorry, it’s not “bah humbug” on my part - I’m advocating a return to a simpler more basic celebration.  This should be a time for mending fences and strengthening friendships.  We need to get back to an appreciation of the simple good things of life.  So, count me in on the piss up just leave me out of the hypocrisy.

I remember when New Year and Hogmanay were much more important in Scotland.  I miss the thrill of New Year (and the extended festivities!).  Even that’s become a commercialised “event”.

Who would want to be in Edinburgh at New Year FFS!?  Surrounded by hoorays up from The Smoke to “do” Edinburgh at New Year.  Fuck that.

Possibly the only up-side of the current economic chaos is that many of the City types have had the arse burned out of their breeks!  With any luck they’ll stay at home - if they still have one, that is.

Anyway fuck them all and I wish you a very happy whatever-it-is-you-celebrate and all the very best for 2009.

Happy New Year!
(Ever The Optimist)