All we need is love?
I had the misfortune this afternoon to look at my Twitter feed, nothing wrong with that in itself, I hear you say? Well in the trending topics section was something marked #PunishAMuslimDay . My first thought was ‘what the hell?’, followed by a great deal of outrage on my part. My second thought was to go and look at the thread out of curiosity. Thankfully, most people posting there seemed to be as outraged as me about the whole matter. Apparently, some letter from some right wing group had got itself a larger audience than planned, and had gone viral on there. So hopefully, on the whole, its had the opposite effect to the one desired, I just so hope no one has been hurt, or worse, due to this nasty piece of work.
Irony is, I went back a couple of hours later, and it had disappeared off of the trending topics list, and had actually been replaced by one, #LoveAMuslimDay! This one seems to be an eclectic mix, about half being people supporting Muslims, and the other half seemingly being right wing extremists (mainly from US, despite the whole thing starting in the UK) doing just the opposite. The funny thing is, none of these had locations on their profiles, while having very similar profiles, how strange? Russian bots, supporting Trump, oh surely not? Sadly I know there seem to be far too many Americans with these sort of views, so I’m not going to say they are, but its strange how none have any location against their name?
Who, me? Oh please, the moment I saw that, my inclination was that if I had a Burka handy, I’d have been dressing up in it, and going out in support of Muslim women as a whole! I must admit, in this corner of West Yorkshire, that might attract less attention than it would in some places, though there may be a few who would…? But no, as unsurprisingly, I dont have one, nor did I have immediate access to one, so I didnt do it of course.
I suspect it could be ‘actress curiosity’ that I would dearly love to wear the Burka out on the street, to find out what life is like from the other side. I’ve seen it worn numerous times in Bradford especially, and indeed in Huddersfield, and wondered what it would be like to be out, with only your eyes visible to the world? So please, if anyone reads this, who wants to give me the chance to wear this item, and solve this piece of ‘actress curiosity’, please, let me know, because I’d love to find out what its like to wear. I’m not sure if, as a white woman, whether a ‘minder’ might be wise, if I went out wearing it, though I suspect in Bradford at least, probably not!
I know, some might suggest that as a Trans, Bisexual woman, Muslim people might have issues with a woman like me. However, in an office with numerous Muslim people working there, not once! I suspect there is one that might try to avoid me on the whole, but I’m not even certain on that! So let me say, if anyone has issues with Muslim people, because of issues like LGBT, come and see me, and learn about my world!
Equally, I’m not saying all Muslim people are a delight to know, but lets face it, its equally fair to say that of some supposed Christian people either!
OK, rant over. Yes, that means video time. Big clue in the blog title? Well, maybe…?
50 years ago this week.
We had what they term the start of a pop revolution, the first single by a new group called the Beatles. Yes, that moment passed me by pretty much, I was only 4 at the time lol. But for a few years, this group totally dominated the pop scene.
And before anyone asks, no, I wouldnt know about this anniversary but for the BBC news broadcasts.
The funny thing was, my mother wouldnt let me “buy” any of their records, not quite sure why. Especially as buying stuff by the Kinks, and other “subversive” groups seemed to be absolutely fine by her! But anyway, I will never know why now, thats for sure. Funny thing was, even when I grew older, and bought my own music, I still never bought a single Beatles single or LP. Cant have been totally influenced though, as Wings, and solo Paul McCartney stuff entered my collection.
But you know, when you hear things like this, and you remember the group in its hey day, albeit as a child, you start to feel old lol!
The video, no, its not Love Me Do, that first single, I suspect many are tired of hearing that this week. So lets go with one of my favourite Beatles tracks instead
45 and counting.
Yes, I’m old enough to remember when the only way to buy a pop single, was a 7″ piece of vinyl, that played at 45 RPM, on a record player. Some of my younger readers may be wondering what I’m talking about, but anyway…
My record collecting started young, certainly by 1964 (at age of 6), the family shopping trip would include a trip to the music section of Boots, and I would get to choose a record to add to my collection. I was only ever given one rule by my mother, no Beatles records, no idea why? Even when her iron rule over my record choices ended, I still never did. Ended up buying Wings, Paul McCartney and John Lennon records, but have never owned an actual Beatles one to this day.
To be honest, given my tastes hankered for the flower power era music, I’m not sure she would have approved much more of those anyway! No, I didnt buy Lola, by the Kinks, some will get that comment lol! Waterloo Sunset however, has become one of my all time favourite tunes though.
As I say, back then, there was only the one option, and for years, a single cost 6 shillings and 8 pence, that I still remember even now, nearly 50 years on, frightening stuff really! Towards the end of my singles buying, I did get a couple of cassette singles, a few on CD’s, and even a few on 12″ records it has to be said. But most were those cute 7″ ones.
Back then most records played at 2 speeds, singles at 45, albums at 33 (strictly 33 1/3, but they were never called that), though some record players still had the capacity to play old 78’s. One I owned even had a 16 rpm setting, though I never found anything that played at that speed.
Sad to say, all but a handful of items are long since gone, and those I do have, well I havent played them in ages, just using You Tube seems so much easier now. Ah, the memories, especially when I find an old black and white video from those days…
Yes, there is a significance in this look back into the past today, as 45 is quite a significant number today. 45 days from now, well I’ll be in the US, starting my holiday. Finally took one of the last major steps tonight, got around to sorting out my travel insurance. Trying an annual plan this time, rather than just getting the expensive travel agent deal. With luck, I wont need it anyway. Only thing left to do now, is to get the spending money, and my share of the accomodation bill, when a friend tells me how much that is! Beyond that, I’m ready to go, and after the last couple of days at work, even more so on that front!
But anyway, the music video, even more apt tonight. I dont know quite how suitable this title is just yet, but it seemed to work, and it came out on a 45 lol! Lets just say its headbanger mode tonight lol!
stevielounicks 
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