Milk’s Site

Saw this the other day with Fluffy and Mies. Enjoyed, although I usually like doing my own focus pulling in 3D contexts.

Some links with spoilers, natch, follow.
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A few brief notes.

Disclaimer: My views are not that of Beltane Fire Society, thank you!

Google News search gives;

Beltane good way to mark the coming of winter days

Sacrificing clarity for an awful pun with the headline there. Some unfortunately incorrect statements which handily come in order of ‘wut?’; “stilt-walkers dressed as crows and wolves, among other predatory animals”, “The Cailleach, who embodies the Winter aspect”, “The festival is believed to be based on pagan celebrations which predate the Celtic culture”

The comments on the article being evidence of the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory (protip; typing “fuckwad theory” into [Firefox's] address bar and hitting enter gets you straight there).

Revellers join Samhuinn fun

Brief and generally correct, apart from the “ghastly ghouls and demons” in the first paragraph which could have been averted if the author had searched their own news archives for “samhuinn”.

Celebrate ancient traditions with Samhuinn festival, while coming from a PR style perspective, is much better thought out.

Until, that is, one gets to “With the festival ending in a dazzling firework display at West Parliament Square, the Edinburgh sky will be lit up, offering spectacular sights for local and tourists – including those who choose to rent a castle in Scotland – alike.” In parsing that sentence, I started out thinking “oh cripes, they’ve heard there will be flares and have decided to apply artistic license and spin the facts to make it sound a better report, ‘cos, like, well, who’s gonna check?’”, then I got to “including those who choose to rent a castle in Scotland” and the WUT kicked in.

It continues “However, with much of the celebrations taking place outside, visitors may want to ensure they bring hats, scarves and other warm clothes into their Scottish holiday homes to keep the chill away.” and “Once the procession is over, visitors may find that opting to stay in a self catering castle gives them the chance to carry on the new year celebrations in style before taking in everything else this stunning city has to offer.”

Then it clicked – the phrases “rent a castle in Scotland”, “Scottish holiday homes”, “self catering castle” are links to scottscastles.com. This, if you’re not familiar with some of the antics folk get up to in the domain of PR, is astroturfing, and in this kind of instance, an attempt to, by writing a blog/forum/other post that seems to be grassroots but that is not, trick Google’s PageRank algorithm into thinking that the linked-to website has more people honestly referencing it online than there actually are. This one is a more sophisticated and “above board” than a fake blog in that it’s within the “Travel Partners” section of travelbite.co.uk and does actually note “Scotts Castle Holidays” in the top left, though it’s still pretty sneaky and I wonder how much travelbite gets for such articles.

Also, it notes “Visitors will also find that hot chocolate and mulled wine stalls which line the streets should help them to stave off the cold”, which, while greatly grander than the reality of the situation, was correct in some regard – a thank you to the Edinburgh City Mission for providing free hot drinks to our punters as I’m sure some eedjits will have come out without forethought to the situation they’d be putting themselves in, i.e., outside for an hour and a half at this time of year. That comes from the top of my secular humanist heart rather than the bottom for your trying to convert folk, but hey, the world isn’t black and white. Your PR was “better” than previous Samhuinn Fire Festivals, although less amusing.

I’m looking to purchase one very soon. Amazon has it’s cheapest at ?89.99 (Seagate Expansions 1.5TB External Desktop USB 2.0 Hard Drive), free delivery. PC world has the same drive online for ?93, though you can buy online and pickup (and take back if it breaks) IRL. dabs.com has it for 117 – s’like fuck that shit.

Does anyone have any recommendations for hardware shopping sites I should check out that do good deals and service? Thanks!

Put the oven on at 180°C.

In a bowl, mix;

• 3 cups self-raising flower
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons caster sugar

Add 1 cup water, mix, get your hands sticky.

Plop mix on a baking tray or bread tin if you have one, shape/pat-down a tad, throw into the dark hole of heat.

Wait roughly 50 minuets, remove, stick on an airing tray or dish towel for roughly 10 mins (or sod that if you can’t wait), nom.

Add more sugar for a sweeter taste or don’t bother with either salt or sugar for a plain taste. I’m sure throwing in herbs would work also. I’ve added one cup of cocoa plus some chopped up baking chocolate and a bit extra sugar before. The dough can also be used as a pizza base – is easiest to use a rolling pin for that. You can substitute the water for milk which IMO gives for a nicer texture depending on how not skint you are.

I’ve just shifted all my piccies from Google Picasa Web to Flickr using Migratr (which can migrate between multiple services). Bah, I’m sure I’ll be bothered to sort titles and descriptions at some point.

Just mailed this out to my Things and stuff to do in Edinburgh group on Facebook;

*** LGBT History Month Film Night
13 February 2009, 18:30 – 21:30, LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing

“To celebrate LGBT History month we’re having a film night!

We’ll be showing: a short film about the experiences of older gay men and lesbians; the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s animated film Stand up to Hatred; and then the feautre film The Celluloid Closet – a look at the way homosexuality has been represented on the silver screen over time.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=50308173075

*** Forest Free Shop
15 Febuary 2009, 12:00 – 17:00, Upstairs at The Forest,
“Come people we have loads of stuff! It would be great if some people could be there at 10 and help setting everything up and being around”

http://theforest.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=6034

*** Paper X, Issue 2, Needs You !!
15 March 2009, Edinburgh cyberspace

“Send in your writings, mad storys, tall tales of things that have happenened to you/friend/place. Your page can be a section, put forward a review or a story, a day in the life of an artist etc.

Lets create something that matters, that will amaze, inspire, something that you would like to look at and read. This will be an excellent platform to show your work these books somehow get everywhere. So make it count your piece must register truthful and be contemporary. Same rule as before, no dull stuff, keep it fresh and take a risk.

this is a free opportunity, im paying, all that is asked is if you can, buy a copy. the more copys bought, the more gets made, the better the spread.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=48622232725

*** Cabaret Noir Auditions
17 February 2009, 14:00 – 18:00, The Pentland Room, Pleasance

“Theatre Paradok & The Edinburgh Revue join forces once again to bring you an evening of music, dance, performance and comedy, and whatever else you can do.

CALLING ALL PERFORMERS – The show consists of 3-5 minute slots of whatever you want to do. Last time we had everything from belly dancing to bhangra via sock puppets and a saxophone duet. If you think you’ve got what it takes to take the stage for a few minutes or more, then pop along to our exceedingly informal auditions with some vague idea of what you want to do. Show it to us, and bask in our appreciation.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=61768739119

*** The Golden Hour feat. Paper CInema!
18 February 2009, 20:00 – 23:00, The Forest

“A Very Special Golden Hour featuring the Legendary Paper Cinema w/ Kora!!! The Lost World – “You can’t escape the dinosaurs. You can only hope to contain them! (on a remote island; preferably with Samuel L. Jackson).” All performances will have a Lost World Theme that will tie together One City / One Book campaign!

Readings: David Gow – Prose that makes you lean in and listen, keeping you close to the edge beyond your seat. Launching a new Chapbook. Kona Macphee – Bloodaxe poet who won the acclaimed Eric Gregory prize and who’s work is sometimes described as “bleak, but never bitter.”

Music: Jed Milroy – Legendary local singer songwriter finally back from the Woods. Robert Blake – A folkie able to subdue the punk-est crowds armed with only a guitar and a mean set of pipes with insightful, raise-a-glass lyrics. On tour from the USA!

Performance: Paper Cinema and Kora – A real treat! A cast of hand-drawn marionettes are magically brought to life with a special “Lost World” theme.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=48272179319

*** COME Collective presents: Gesamtkunstwerk
18 February 2009, 21:00 – 03:00,
Upstairs in the Bongo Club

“For this exhibition, there will be a host of artists creating new and exciting pieces of work featuring: performances, installations, music, videos and paintings. The combination of these different mediums aim to compliment and play of each other, with the aim to create an environment that the audience will be able to interact with, discuss and investigate.

The exhibition will open at 9pm-11pm, from which there will be a FREE afterparty from 11pm-3am, featuring live DJs. There will be some free booze at the exhibition, and the Bongo Club bar will be open all night, serving drinks form just ?1.70!!!”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=50263144556

*** Queer Mutiny
20 February 2009, 21:00 – 03:00, Old St Paul’s Church Hall

“Yes, despite the slight inconvenience of the forest hall being closed, we are still having a party this month. This means we’ve had to find a new place to play but you’re bright, we know you’ll find us (it’s just off the Royal Mile). Expect the usual free food, BYOB and a bunch of odd people jumping up and down like mad things.

With performances from Hug Party, Mr Discotheque and the Fannies and a playlist best described as wildly eclectic. ”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=64982461010

*** The FOrest Drama Drama Drama Group presents….
20 February 2009, 20:35 – 01:00, The Forest Cafe

“A night of film, poetry, music, dancing and performance.

Once all that was powerful in word and body grew between man and woman between parent and child between earth and sky.It became The Forest Cafe Drama and Performance Group. The group has many purposes many people and many moments.It loves poetry and tragedy and laughter and love and passion.It loves eyes and ears and mouth.It wants you to find it…”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=49428353166

*** Taking Photos
21 February 2009, 10:00 – 15:00, Scottish National Museum

“The Scottish National Museum is an absolutely gorgeous building with lots of natural light, interesting walls/backdrops, and varied settings. I propose getting people together in their prettiest/most interesting/coolest/anythingest outfits and taking pictures of them… and that’s where I need your help! Do you have an hour or so (or more) free on Saturday, February 21? If so, then join me at the museum and have your picture took! You can stay for a little bit or for hours – everyone who shows up will have a chance to pose and vogue for the camera.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=63081291971

*** The Canongate Project Report
21 February 2009, 14:00 – 17:30, Scottish Storytelling Centre

“Since October 2005, The Canongate Community Forum has been campaigning against plans to demolish listed buildings and people’s homes on the Canongate, part of The Royal Mile in the World Heritage Site . Caltongate is the name given to the controversial ?300million project, which could cost Edinburgh her World Heritage status”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=51532173394
http://eh8.org.uk/

*** italoBLACK : Disco Caligula : Weekend Speciale!
21 February 2009, 23:00 – 03:00, Sneaky Pete’s

“Italo Disco has never been this decadent! your DJ Benetti and Cassavetes cordially invite you to celebrate italoBlack’s first Saturday at Sneaky Pete?s with a party of epic Roman proportions – a celebration fit for the Emperor Caligula himself – and of course free entry and drink promos! hail Caesar!”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=51928386681

*** Beltane Open Meeting
22 February 2009, 16:00 – 18:00, The Bongo Club

“Come and find out what’s planned for this year. Dance, drum, perform – whatever your thing, we want your energy. Earth, air, fire, water, red, white, processional, beastie, bower. Which excites your imagination?

Invite everyone.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=63549798153

*** ELECTROsexual
22 February 2009, 23:00 – 03:00, CC Blooms

“Dirty electro bootlegs and remixes, providing sweet relief from the usual chart and cheese routine. We are giving away 100s of glowsticks as well as body paint. Pre-party in Habana. The best dressed dancers will be photographed an featured in QS Magazine and the official ELECTROsexual Bebo!”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=63368979616
http://taa-freak.proboards80.com

*** F.R.E.A.K meeting
26 February 2009, 19:00 – 21:00, Wash Bar, Mound Place

“The time has come for another meeting to discuss our plans for a fabulous Edinburgh TAA 2009. We’re making progress now that we’re well into the new year… the wheels are in motion to do a 2 day mini-F.R.E.A.K where folks can make and customise clothes for the Electronica festival’s junk fashion show, people can bring instruments and have a jam, perform, paint, draw – you get the idea!”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=59735757867

*** Writers’ Bloc: Doyle M for Murder
26 February 2009, 20:00 – 23:00, Pleasance Cabaret Bar
?3.00 (?2.00 concessions)

“As part of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature’s One Book ? One Edinburgh campaign for 2009, which celebrates Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 classic The Lost World, Writers’ Bloc will present a night of literary mayhem, with original fiction, Doyle apocrypha and, er, Nazi dinosaurs.

Writers appearing at Doyle M For Murder will include: Stefan Pearson, Morag Edward, Jane McKie, Hannu Rajaniemi, Andrew C. Ferguson, Andrew J. Wilson and Gavin Inglis.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=42763909385

*** Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival Roadshow
28 February 2009, 16:00 – 18:00, The Meadow Bar, Buccleuch Street

“This event is aimed at performers who wish to come to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and are interested in performing with us at the Free Festival venues.

Thsi is generally an informal walk-in session, to give you the opportunity to speak to Free Feestival organisers and performers who have previously performed with us, with an aim of explaining how the Free Festival works, and to guiding performers who have not taken a show to Edinburgh with us before of what to expect, and what the experiences of performers from previous years have been.”

http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=49811056603

*** Edinburgh Uni Student Occupation for Gaza
“On the morning of Wednesday 11th February Edinburgh University students occupied the George Square Lecture Theatre. We have acted against the university because of its financial and commercial links to the apartheid state of Israel, in addition to its unacceptable silence in response to the Gaza conflict, described by the UN President of the General Assemby, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, as “genocide”. We will sit-in until the heads of the university agree to the following demands?”

http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=65164054407
http://edinburghunioccupation.wordpress.com/

• Hang drum on Wikipedia
  • “Hang Drum Solo“
  • “Well Hang“
• Hank drum how-to by Dennis Havlena
  • “A propane tank drum“, “The making of a propane tank drum”
  • “Hank Drum (Propane Tank Drum)” on oddmusic
  • “The Original Propane Tank Hank Drum“
  • “2nd Tune – Original Propane Tank Hank Drum“

Hmm. A potential project/workshop for The Forest and/or FREAK…

91% Dennis Kucinich
89% Mike Gravel
82% Chris Dodd
81% Barack Obama
80% John Edwards
78% Bill Richardson
77% Joe Biden
77% Hillary Clinton
37% Rudy Giuliani
28% Ron Paul
26% John McCain
20% Mike Huckabee
20% Mitt Romney
15% Tom Tancredo
11% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Whitehouse + Savier + Ingen
6th September, 7pm
Cabaret Voltaire
£6, no advance tickets
flyer

Rinse it out propa.

Just spotted this via backstage.bbc.co.uk;

“Edinburgh TV Un-Festival 2007: This year the MGEITF (Media Guardian International TV Festival) has spawned its own fringe event, the TV Un-Festival. This day-long event which takes place on Saturday 25 August will centre around the clash of the well established TV world and the constantly accelerating Internet world using the unusual un-conference format, where the cost of entry is participation.

“The highlights from the TV Un-Festival will be presented at this special event, giving everyone a chance to speculate on the future of TV, online entertainment and cross platform narratives. This year the TV Un-Festivial hosted by Backstage.bbc.co.uk and guided along by the fabulous Suw Charman, aims to explorer the clash with in a series of free formed sessions similar to BarCamp known as unconference style. Everyone will be able to participate by using one of the free 30 minute slots which will be available.

“We’re getting together a real solid line up of people including people from Joost, Microsoft, BT, BBC, Google, etc. But we’re also inviting some of the people from the darker areas of online TV like the guys behind some of the cleverest p2p sites online today. We’re also inviting you – the passionate geek, media/net/culture professional.

“The collision of technologies means a collision of cultures – expect to meet those like you, and nothing like you. Media for sit back, lean forward or run around? This is the place to discuss ideas, share technologies, start larger debates, forge alliances and futures.

“There are many questions that arise from the collision of TV, Internet, Mobile, and the wide variety of media, new, old, future. This is the place to discuss these questions, explore what is happening today at the fringes, and to bring it together, celebrate differences and move forward in a headlong rush.”

The BBC Backstage blog notes that is to be giving a talk on Machinima, and subjects such as alternate reality games and remixable films are also on the agenda. I’ve registered my interest in attending and thought others might appreciate the heads up.