I suppose I'll go out for a walk in a minute.
I'm only writing this because I am currently tied to the computer by the virus-scan thing, which seemed to reset itself rather than completing when I let the computer idle. Therefore, maybe I have to do something with the computer to ensure that the scan completes – e.g. write in my blog.
I don't actually have anything to say.
There is nothing to say.
I remember Quentin Crisp's little aphorism that books are for writing not for reading.
Occasionally people – strangers – will get in touch with me through the internet and ask me to listen to their music or something. I don't always have the time, but if I do have time, I'll listen. Presumably these people want you to take an interest. I get the impression, though, that there are those who can't handle it if you are actually interested.
I felt this way in Japan. I felt that people wanted me to admire Japanese culture, but wanted to make damned sure I could only admire it from a distance.
When I was a teenager, I used to greatly admire David Bowie. I read some biographies and stuff. Apparently, Bowie's manager in the 70's was fascinated by the legend of Elvis (Bowie, incidentally, shares his birthday with Elvis), and wanted to create a similar legend around Bowie. One of the strategems he used to create such a legend was to impose the rule that no one was allowed to touch Bowie (presumably this rule was relaxed in private for groupies, of which the biographies informed me, there were many).
They knew how to deal with the ambiguities in the relationship between performer and audience in those days…
Okay, looks like my scan has been successful. Thank you for listening.
H writes:It seems to me that when we think we’ve got nothing to say we sometimes go straight at the heart of things. I just think that you’ve stated in a way one of the most indisputable “laws” (sadly) of human relationships.
It does seem sad. I hope it’s not immutable as a law, though.
H writes:Laws are meant to be broken.
I think that’s Sir Ian Blair’s motto, isn’t it?
I once attempted to learn BSL. I even sat the elementary exam (the first level, or whatever it’s called), so I understand something of the attraction of Deaf culture. I’ve forgotten, unfortunately, most of the little I learned. In my class, the teacher was not, herself, deaf, but we had a social get-together with the teacher from the neighbouring class, who was, and some others. As far as I recall – rather sadly – that was the only occasion outside of the classroom on which I was able to use what I had learned. My memory of that occasion leaves me with the feeling of incredible attraction to Deaf culture. I don’t know why. I can’t really explain.I do still remember things like the BSL for ‘bullshit’ – a completely ingenious piece of sign language. I can’t demonstrate over the Internet, unfortunately.People don’t realise that sign language occupies the same areas of the brain as verbal language. Apparently children growing up learning sign language can mistake pointing to another person for the sign for ‘me’ – the same cognitive phenomenon as when a young child uses the word ‘you’ to mean ‘me’, because they are used to being called ‘you’ (apparently this happens).
I think it is cool that you took BSL. I wonder if my ASL bullshit would be the same as yours? I’ll try and describe it. One arm rests on the other so that wrists and elbows are together. I’m right-handed, so my right wrist goes over my left elbow and my right elbow over my left wrist. My right hand makes a rock’n’roll devil’s fist, like this::headbang: (A bull’s head, of course). My left hand is a fist, but it springs open in spread fingers. One difference I remember between ASL and BSL is that BSL uses two hands for spelling. I believe ASL only uses one. http://www.aspexdesign.co.uk/bsl.htmSome signs I remember:A kind of backwards clap – the hands come together and one comes back towards you. This means ‘happy’.Fingers dragging across the heart, like talons. This is ‘jealousy’.The side of the forefinger sliding down the cheek. This is ‘woman’.Forefinger and thumb making a V towards the point of the chin. This is ‘man’.The last two signs in quick succession is ‘people’.Damn… I want a refresher course for this.
I forgot to answer the most important question – why do I hate my blog?Well, just because it’s…Actually, I’m not sure I can answer that at the moment.I’ve just been looking through my favourited YouTube clips to see if there are any I can use to answer that question, but there don’t seem to be. But I’m enjoying a burst of Lene Lovich after an interval without:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nu2QX3GU-U
Do you also like Nina Hagen? Ha ha! Good question. I don’t know the answer, actually, because I’ve heard very little of her stuff. I know it’s ‘challenging’. I watched some clips of her songs not long ago on YouTube, and they made me laugh. That’s not a bad thing. This is an example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_vKMDryqt4The “no more, no more” chant at the end had me laughing again. I don’t know why.Do you know Togawa Jun?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkXIOdOwGTEWhile we’re here, slight change of direction – do you know Tama?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdVCW40EFfo
I’ve had a pretty good day, thanks. Will keep this brief for now, as I’m about to attempt another blog entry, write some e-mails and so on.I’ve just been looking up stuff on ASL and BSL on YouTube. I found this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s417dWUsYwIHis sign for ‘people’ is different to the one I gave above. It’s the two forefingers held up (I remember this one, too). IN this next one you can see him doing the signs for ‘guy’ and ‘girl’ – the signs I mentioned above:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLgKmXpqqygI like this guy’s style:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3OgopZFZSQ
Have you ever seen any sign language plays? I haven’t seen any. I would like to, though. I’m afraid I know very little about dancing, and suspect that I’m very uncoordinated. I like watching tap-dancing, though. I mean, just clips, really. I enjoy tap-dancing clips, like this one:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3aETNaThI