Our intrepid columnist Big George does his nut at his own kind... If David Davis can act on conscience, then so can I!
Frankly I’ve had it with middle class, middle aged white men in expensive shirts, spouting cultural fascism. The drip drip effect of their criticisms about our very own Olympic worthiness is sickening. I’m not talking about spiraling costs, any fool knows that everything goes up. Or whether the buildings will be finished on time, or the relevance of any legacy the games might leave.
No! I’m spitting feathers at so called commentators dictating who we are! Londoners. So, who are we? Who represents us? Is it the Gawdblimy Guv Pearly Kings and Queens on an open top bus? What about Coffee Shop chains (And I’ve cracked on them too. Despite the fact I love a nice cuppa cappuccino, or in desperate times need of a double strength shot of espresso, if I see another iron mongers, green grocers or bookshop turn into a Latte lounge, I’m liable to turn Caffine Free. They’re simply everywhere. Inside department stores, post offices, clothes shops, doctors surgeries... How long before someone opens up a coffee franchise inside a rival coffee chain?).
Anyway, back to my rant! London is the whole world in one city. One thing it’s known for is it’s business dealing success... Hang about, why not let The City shell out the entire cost? They could name every stadium and street after a bank or chief executive for all anyone cares. It’d be equivalent to about one month of fat cat bonuses. London has too much history to pick a period. We need to look to the future, and focus on what we are NOW. Sadly one of London's headlines is its tragic reputation for youth crime. But that’s only the headline news. For every bad attitude there are 100’s of young people with hope for the future (despite the hurdles we've bequeathed them: student loans, pension uncertainty, unachievable housing costs) and a drive to excel. In my view no other group of young Londoners epitomises this spirit more than Zoonations, Into The Hoods. The MUST SEE Westend Smash.
It features young poets with refreshing outlooks on life and virtuoso dancers who literally fly. Dazzling on their own and in perfect harmony as an ensemble. With no help from reality TV or Sir Andrew or anyone but their own drive, Kate Prince of Zoonation has created the hottest, most contemporary show on a London stage for years. So what, they dance to hip hop beats! Everything is hip hop nowadays. High St shops around the world are pumping out bedroom made beats, and guess what? London is one of the centres of hip hop production excellence.
Maybe what annoys the Islington elite is the play is set in a rundown tower block, facing all its problems full in the face. At this point the 40 year old words wailed out by Bob Dylan ring out loud in my ears “don’t criticise what you can’t understand”. As a middle aged middle class white man in a reasonably priced shirt, I can think of no better ambassador to represent the committed youth of London and the World at the Olympic handing ceremony than the superbly athletic and immensely entertaining performers that sparkle eight times a week on a multi extended run in Into The Hoods.
DNA tests will be needed to identify many of the 153 people killed in a Spanish plane crash, officials say. Authorities say many victims were so badly burned that fingerprint and other identification will be impossible. The crash of flight JK5022 at Madrid's Barajas Airport on Wednesday is Spain's worst air disaster in decades.
