2010: A Retrospective [updated]

I’d planned to do a Top 10 album review but frankly, I just cannot think of enough decent music to fill that list. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been some fucking blinders come out (there’ll be more on that later on), but there’s also been enough average bollocks to make me hate life itself. Rather than bore you with the in’s and out’s of music you’ve probably already heard – chances are, that’s how you’ve ended up here – I thought I’d give you a retrospective run down of the last year: What it means to me, what it means for everyone and where the hell we’re going next. By all means feel free to disagree, but if you do, you’re probably the sort of cunt I’m raging against.

In to the Eye of the Shit Storm
Or the coalition government as it’s known.

The hot thing on everyone’s lips was the worn and tattered Labour party losing the General Election to, well, nobody. Out of the chaos of scandals surrounding a poor voting system and every sane person in the country (who isn’t a blue-blooded raging Conservative) demanding a rethink on the voting system, it seemed a pretty bleak future from my eyes. Hell, I’m a worker. I’ve not come from a rich family so I don’t expect anything from the state other than a kick in the arse. I stood by my ethics and voted left. Labour may not be the current party of choice, but I’d sooner take them than anyone else.

People who I knew to regularly vote left suddenly swayed right, which was understandable given the state of the, err, state. Most worryingly however, they didn’t understand WHY they voted right, but rather just regurgitated the same old “It’s time for a change” spiel. I get it, you can read propaganda billboards. Other people who I would class as ‘workers’, voted right and in some cases even far right, all of which are now suddenly shocked that some of their previous benefits have disappeared and cuss the Tory name. “Damn you Etoooooooooon!!!”

I can’t help but lend an “I told you so.”

Next up was the student riots, born out of numerous factors from the new coalition government but mostly to the minority share of the Lib Dems – the student favourite – not keeping their promise in not increasing the cost of student fees – wow, that’s a fucking surprise, a party lying. A large majority of students showed themselves up as being brilliantly resilient with some good old fashioned protesting whilst a minority showed themselves up as bunch of cunts who jumped on the lefty band wagon with all the wrong ethics and subsequently got charged at by a police horse. It’s dodgy grounds between students, universities and police – all have questionable motives over the last few weeks. That’s my bias.

Regardless, I’m not a Daily Mail-reading, knee-jerk reactionist, nor am I lefty, socialist scum as I’ve been called on several blogs and sites, but I know a good arse fucking when I see it and this is one of them. If you’re not a student, it might be of little concern to you, if you are a student, it’s a massive deal. To call students work shy, lefty scum as implied by some of this countries hateful tabloids (and even broadsheets) is an insult, lest we forget that many journalists have already paid for their degree (media, pff), but more importantly the ethical questions it raises. In the ‘free’ world, why should only the rich be entitled to that further education people seek? Admittedly, I don’t personally see the benefit in many degrees now aside from the obvious career choices where it’s required. The degree system is old and flawed but everyone should be entitled to learn.

Topped off in the recent weeks round of protesting, a disabled protester being dragged from his wheelchair by the police, a fucking disgusting act regardless of circumstance and worse, follow ups from such heinous cunts like Richard-fucking-Littlejohn who compared the protester to Andy Pipkin from Little Britain. Oh Littlejohn, you’re another one of those sanctimonious cunts who really should be lined up and shot, but even that’s too good for you. “Yeah I know”.

Nice work.

Scum
A scarily large proportion of an idiot country

Ironically, The Daily Mail will be first up to complain about a comedian like Frankie Boyle crossing the line (that man’s also worn thin over 2010 – cunt) but feel no shame in publishing a biweekly, insidious column by a hack columnist who feeds on the fears of idiots. Unfortunately in the times we live in, with the strung-out, nervous, fence-sitters who aren’t sure if they’re meant to be friends with the blacks, gays and jews or if they’re meant to be fighting them, a prick like Littlejohn finds his true vocation as the voice of hate and scaremongering. The asylum seekers ARE going to get us y’know. And steal your wallet. And ejaculate gay semen in it. Then paint it black.

On a similar stupid cunt note, in Portsmouth, we finally had our run in with the “EDL” or “E E EDL” as they kept reminding us. The constant chanting made it hard to differentiate whether they were freedom fighters or pissed up football hooligans with little-to-no-tolerance or any sign of sticking to their manifesto. Considering the “E E EDL” (I’ve heard the L stands for Lout, but I reckon LOL) policy is against Islamic extremism  (which is fair enough as ANY extremism is NOT COOL), they lose the plot by chanting “paki” and “Allah is a paedo” and the real creme de la creme, throwing missiles.

The best part was when I was told by some fat chap in a flat cap (I lol’d), that I was dole scum, then his mate squaring up to a group of us and asked – with no irony, mind – “If you students like the paki’s so much, why weren’t you protesting yesterday?!” The obvious, salient response was “I was at work”. He couldn’t say what sort of job you need to have to prioritise your workload in order to attend E E EDL rallies, but I’m assuming it’s one that a) doesn’t exist or b) dole. Fnar fnar fnar.

These people are scared of everything. Even whites who aren’t thick.

Irony
I’m not a student. I’m not in the UAF

Ah yeah, work. Well, I’ve managed to finally bag myself the promotion I needed to bring my motivation back up to scratch and as of January the 1st, I’m a trainee manager  for the port, dealing with the distribution of cargoes in. Thrilling no? Well thankfully, it’s on a great rota shift system, comes with a sweet pay rise and gives me something to sink my teeth in to as frankly, the change of scenery is needed as I think I’ve reached a plateau in my current role which really can’t get any higher.

It’s hard work being a dole scum, student, account manager.

[an update - way, way, way overdue in 2011]

I’d planned to post another article concerning the better things of 2010, such as the music and arts but unfortunately my laptop died mid December and I’ve literally just got a replacement today (March 10th, 2011) so that’s all, well, irrelevant. I promise I’ll be better to you, my lovely blog .

Kyle