The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

Menu

Navigation

Tariff-busting idea to save Britain

by 78 Comments

Trump has announced some punishing tariffs that will affect China and India very badly. We are talking 30%, 40% and more. EU countries are being charged 20%.

Meanwhile, thanks to Kier Starmer’s tough stance against the big fat bully, the UK percentage is at the lowest end – a meek, simpering 10%.

So here is my idea. We get Mr Bates to set up a huge post office in somewhere like Stevenage and invite the whole world to send their US-bound goods to us. We will charge them 5%. We then slap a Union Jack on the boxes and send them on the States.

Just totting up some numbers here, global trade from China to the US totals 500 billion dollars a year. Our 5% facilitation fee would bring in 2.5 billion US dollars from China alone.

Would this break some kind of international trading treaty/protocol? Maybe. So what? We’re in a different world now.

Tell us about something that doesn’t interest you in the slightest

by 149 Comments

Whenever a thread gains a little bit of traction, as sure as eggs is eggs, someone will post about how they have absolutely no interest in the subject and probably never will. I have done this myself, I am sure of it.

What propels us to do this? I wonder if it’s because we read a bunch of posts on a thread about (say) Lena Zavaroni and some psychological peer pressure kicks in to have an opinion, any opinion.

It’s as if you are in a pub and everyone in your group is having a long, detailed and spirited yatter about the genius of the deceased M!HMEAMHM. You try to change the subject but it’s Lena this and Lena that. Noticing your lack of engagement, then they fall silent and look at you and ask directly what YOU think. If you’re anything like me, you will say to them “Honestly, I literally have ZERO interest in her or her music! I never have and I probably never will!”.

That is fair enough.

But when you overhear a group conversation that doesn’t interest you – would you make a point of joining the group just to tell them that you’re » Continue Reading.

Unlikely song sources

by 37 Comments

There was this thunderingly unfunny cartoon show in the early 1970s called Tomfoolery, which promised hilarity and belly laughs, but actually delivered bemusement and anger. Anger? Well, yes – the child of the 70’s was a much more demanding consumer than today’s equivalent. The show on the telly was the ONLY entertainment available and if it was bilge, then genuine anger would well up. This created a culture of frequent disappointment and mistrust, causing jaundiced, disillusioned young adults. And we all know what happened next…Thatcher!

Anyway – listen to the Spots of Greece song (2:40) and tell me what song pops in your head? I think a certain angry young man might have watched this and subliminally introduced it into one of his top pop songs!

If you get it right, I will forward to you one of my hampers.

Is the Nostalgia Circuit as good as it used to be?

by 32 Comments

I have a friend who really wants me to go with him to see a show featuring The Human League, Nik Kershaw, Go West and The Choirboys (who I don’t know at all). I have never been to one of these nostalgia circuit things…I assume each band come on for about 30 minutes and as they are headlining, perhaps HL’s set is a bit longer..?

Reader, I am worried about this. My feeling is that Go West and Nik Kershaw will be just fine, perhaps a pared-down band and a good-natured run through of some great pop songs. Much like the recent China Crisis gig.

My worry is The Human League. I think there’s an element of them thinking they’re a going concern and will play it ice-cool and 100% seriously. I suppose I wouldn’t want it any other way…but knowing the local crowd here in NZ and how refreshed they will be by the time the (KF)FHMs come on – there may be open laughter from the f-wit contingent and caterwauling from the cheap seats.

Has anyone seen them in recent years? I really like them a great deal.