Fragment Magazine: "a quarterly PDF journal (free and downloadable) and an intermittently updated webzine, devoted to critiquing outstanding work in the independent presses and providing a showcase for new music and fiction. Fragment aims to remain positive in focus and encourage creativity."
Ossian
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
HM Department of Vague Paranoia - Press Release
How to cope with a Zombie attack etc.
"In an effort to worry the public and convince them to vote for us again next year, and because George Bush asked us to, this website includes the common sense advice found in the Preparing for Emergencies booklet, and information on what the government is doing to protect the country as a whole. (Hint: we're praying really, really hard.) National editions of the booklet will be available here when we can be arsed to get translators to put them into your crazy moon languages."
Ferdinand Crabbe
How to cope with a Zombie attack etc.
"In an effort to worry the public and convince them to vote for us again next year, and because George Bush asked us to, this website includes the common sense advice found in the Preparing for Emergencies booklet, and information on what the government is doing to protect the country as a whole. (Hint: we're praying really, really hard.) National editions of the booklet will be available here when we can be arsed to get translators to put them into your crazy moon languages."
Ferdinand Crabbe
Monday, July 26, 2004
DeadDrunkDublin Festival plans "to stir literary roots!"
Performances include "Meet the Beats in Dublin"
— the journey from Joyce to Kerouac
"The 1st Dead Drunk Dublin Festival, a gathering of writers, poets, performers and musicians from America, Germany, Canada, England, Wales and Ireland will take place on Wednesday August 4th at Mother Red Caps, near Christchurch in Dublin. An irreverent, informal, eclectic mix of music, words, chant and performance, the event will run from 6.30pm until the wee hours." (More)
I am looking forward to covering this event for the International Willesden Herald. I will be packing a complete new set of crayons, and I will buy a colouring book locally when I get there.
Dr Noël Knowall
Performances include "Meet the Beats in Dublin"
— the journey from Joyce to Kerouac
"The 1st Dead Drunk Dublin Festival, a gathering of writers, poets, performers and musicians from America, Germany, Canada, England, Wales and Ireland will take place on Wednesday August 4th at Mother Red Caps, near Christchurch in Dublin. An irreverent, informal, eclectic mix of music, words, chant and performance, the event will run from 6.30pm until the wee hours." (More)
I am looking forward to covering this event for the International Willesden Herald. I will be packing a complete new set of crayons, and I will buy a colouring book locally when I get there.
Dr Noël Knowall
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Paul Foot talking about Shelley
Lenin has linked some interesting soundfiles here, including Paul Foot giving a very amusing talk about the poet Shelley. [Later...] Wow, it goes on a bit. Most of the fun is at the beginning of the recording.
Ossian
Ossian
Monday, July 19, 2004
Robert Mugabe bans the colour red
According to a report in The Independent this week Robert Mugabe has banned the colour red because it is used by Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Meanwhile, Britain prepares for a rare state visit....
Remember, guys. Don't roll out that colour carpet. And only serve white wine. Certain humanitarian organisations will temporarily be known as the White Cross, and the White Crescent. It's a ridiculous idea. Enough to make you see ... er. Well, enough to make you think it's part of Comic Relief or something. By the way, don't call it a certain colour nose day, okay?
We want blondes and brunettes only here at the reception. No leggy r - ginger mingers. And I see you've been up all night rearranging the Union Jacks to green, white and blue. Put that can of R Bull away sharpish. And tell the minders there are orange and yellow alerts only.
There'll be no flypast by those colour Arrows. Best make sure he doesn't see the sunset either. Can't risk a Shepherd's delight. Don't put the footie on telly in his hotel. He can't risk seeing Liverpool or Man U play, or seeing the ref sending anyone off. We don't want him catching any of that comic sci-fi series with the certain colour dwarf either. And no CDs by the Chilis, okay? Grey squirrels only in Hyde Park, please. Oh, there already are. So that shouldn't be a problem.
It doesn't matter that it clashes with the Labour Conference. Most of them don't know the words for keeping the certain coloured flag flying here anyway, and they were thinking of dropping the rose. But I think to err on the side of caution, we'd best tell Ken Livingstone to keep out of sight...
Shona Mckensie
Remember, guys. Don't roll out that colour carpet. And only serve white wine. Certain humanitarian organisations will temporarily be known as the White Cross, and the White Crescent. It's a ridiculous idea. Enough to make you see ... er. Well, enough to make you think it's part of Comic Relief or something. By the way, don't call it a certain colour nose day, okay?
We want blondes and brunettes only here at the reception. No leggy r - ginger mingers. And I see you've been up all night rearranging the Union Jacks to green, white and blue. Put that can of R Bull away sharpish. And tell the minders there are orange and yellow alerts only.
There'll be no flypast by those colour Arrows. Best make sure he doesn't see the sunset either. Can't risk a Shepherd's delight. Don't put the footie on telly in his hotel. He can't risk seeing Liverpool or Man U play, or seeing the ref sending anyone off. We don't want him catching any of that comic sci-fi series with the certain colour dwarf either. And no CDs by the Chilis, okay? Grey squirrels only in Hyde Park, please. Oh, there already are. So that shouldn't be a problem.
It doesn't matter that it clashes with the Labour Conference. Most of them don't know the words for keeping the certain coloured flag flying here anyway, and they were thinking of dropping the rose. But I think to err on the side of caution, we'd best tell Ken Livingstone to keep out of sight...
Shona Mckensie
Saturday, July 17, 2004
New short stories online
Guardian Unlimited Books / Special Reports / Original fiction
"Stuck for summer reading? This week's Weekend is devoted entirely to brand new fiction from leading authors. So pour yourself a long drink, settle down in your deckchair, and enjoy ..."
Extremely loud and incredibly close
Two German immigrants in New York mould a future from holes in the past in this story by Jonathan Safran Foer.
If I'm spared
Can the death knell turn an adrenaline junkie's life around in Helen Simpson's story of addiction and redemption?
Notebook no. 9
William Boyd gives us a glimpse into the musings of an ageing film director.
The white room
A celebration of moments under the microscope in Jeanette Winterson's tale of desire.
The dogs
A nightmare scenario unfolds in this short story by Hanif Kureishi.
The white room
A celebration of moments under the microscope in Jeanette Winterson's tale of desire.
Trcks
One woman finds herself in a real life Shakespearean mix-up in Alice Munro's tale of thwarted love.
We ate the children last
A medical breakthrough leads to a social experiment that goes horribly wrong in this tale by Yann Martel.
Click on the link above for the page listing these and many other online short stories.
Ossian
"Stuck for summer reading? This week's Weekend is devoted entirely to brand new fiction from leading authors. So pour yourself a long drink, settle down in your deckchair, and enjoy ..."
Extremely loud and incredibly close
Two German immigrants in New York mould a future from holes in the past in this story by Jonathan Safran Foer.
If I'm spared
Can the death knell turn an adrenaline junkie's life around in Helen Simpson's story of addiction and redemption?
Notebook no. 9
William Boyd gives us a glimpse into the musings of an ageing film director.
The white room
A celebration of moments under the microscope in Jeanette Winterson's tale of desire.
The dogs
A nightmare scenario unfolds in this short story by Hanif Kureishi.
The white room
A celebration of moments under the microscope in Jeanette Winterson's tale of desire.
Trcks
One woman finds herself in a real life Shakespearean mix-up in Alice Munro's tale of thwarted love.
We ate the children last
A medical breakthrough leads to a social experiment that goes horribly wrong in this tale by Yann Martel.
Click on the link above for the page listing these and many other online short stories.
Ossian
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Apparition
The other night while shambling past the Willesden library centre...
...I swear I thought I saw Josh Davis of The Muse and the Mechanism in Osama's phonebox (the one with the number that Osama made about twenty calls to from his satellite phone.) I was seriously thinking about giving up the booze. Then I found this image in my digital camera. Eerie.
Ossian
...I swear I thought I saw Josh Davis of The Muse and the Mechanism in Osama's phonebox (the one with the number that Osama made about twenty calls to from his satellite phone.) I was seriously thinking about giving up the booze. Then I found this image in my digital camera. Eerie.
Ossian
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Fly-tippers are getting worse
This picture was taken this morning. North End Road, the same Wembley back road we showed you on June 16th, blocked by fly-tippers has been hit again. Now Willesden has been hit by these ruthless shitehawks.
Here is the path from Donnington Road to the Willesden Sports Centre, this evening.
Next time your builder says, 'Oh don't worry, I'll get rid of that rubbish. No problem,' insist that they take it to the local dump, and budget for it.
Mobile Unit
<< Previous | Next >> (fly-tipping)
Monday, July 12, 2004
Blair quits, Brown to lead Lib-Lab government
In his resignation statement, Tony Blair today admitted that he had "failed to convince the public that he was always right." Gordon Brown declared that he was very happy to work with Charles Kennedy, and that the objectives of Labour and the Liberal Democrats were not very different. Labour's failure to gain an overall majority has led to the revival of the infamous Lib-Lab pact.
Newsdesk
I told you to prepare it, not to POST it! Ed.
In his resignation statement, Tony Blair today admitted that he had "failed to convince the public that he was always right." Gordon Brown declared that he was very happy to work with Charles Kennedy, and that the objectives of Labour and the Liberal Democrats were not very different. Labour's failure to gain an overall majority has led to the revival of the infamous Lib-Lab pact.
Newsdesk
I told you to prepare it, not to POST it! Ed.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Mother Redcaps, Christchurch, Dublin, August 4th, 6 p.m.
nosafetynettin-buckleppin-highsteppin-fucksakin-cantstopshakin-muffdivin-heavypettin-bestforgettin-wontbeletin-nameojazes-purplehazes-pipebubblin-herecomestroublin-deaddrunkdublin
The 1st DeadDrunkDublin Festival
This is the next stop on Ossian's world tour. There will be reeling, roaring and howling at Lughnasa. A huge party with live music, readings and divarsion.
Be there or be ... safe at home.
Ossian
The 1st DeadDrunkDublin Festival
This is the next stop on Ossian's world tour. There will be reeling, roaring and howling at Lughnasa. A huge party with live music, readings and divarsion.
Be there or be ... safe at home.
Ossian
What's On
Tell Tales with Courttia Newland, Maggie Gee, and Rajeev Balasubramanyam
If anybody can make it to Willesden, I think this event will be worth a visit. It's at 8 p.m. upstairs in "Studio 95" at the Willesden Library Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden, London NW10. Look out surprise international cerebralty guests, sponsored by the Willesden Herald. Admission is free.
"Tonight, in association with the Westwords Literary Project, you can hear three authors whose work appears in the just published anthology, Tell Tales Vol 1, edited by Courttia Newland. The book celebrates the short story, and that is just what our authors will be doing tonight. Featuring Rajeev Balasubramanyam, the award winning writer of In Beautiful Disguises, Courttia Newland and local author Maggie Gee. They will be joined by Brent Library Service's Black Inc. creative writing project, who will be reading a selection of short stories from their second anthology Turf. There are 8 million stories in the big city, and some of them will be told tonight, so come along and celebrate the wonderful diversity of short stories with us." Contact: Anne Mullane 020 8937 3485.
Local author Maggie Gee writes about Willesden, thinly-disguised. She has published 8 or 9 novels and was short-listed for the Orange Prize in 2002, for The White Family. (More)
Rajeev Balasubramanyam won the Betty Trask Award, and was longlisted for the Guardian award for In Beautiful Disguises. (More)
Courttia Newland is an accomplished writer, listed by British Council among Contemporary British Writers. (More)
Mona Bone-Jakon
Tell Tales with Courttia Newland, Maggie Gee, and Rajeev Balasubramanyam
If anybody can make it to Willesden, I think this event will be worth a visit. It's at 8 p.m. upstairs in "Studio 95" at the Willesden Library Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden, London NW10. Look out surprise international cerebralty guests, sponsored by the Willesden Herald. Admission is free.
"Tonight, in association with the Westwords Literary Project, you can hear three authors whose work appears in the just published anthology, Tell Tales Vol 1, edited by Courttia Newland. The book celebrates the short story, and that is just what our authors will be doing tonight. Featuring Rajeev Balasubramanyam, the award winning writer of In Beautiful Disguises, Courttia Newland and local author Maggie Gee. They will be joined by Brent Library Service's Black Inc. creative writing project, who will be reading a selection of short stories from their second anthology Turf. There are 8 million stories in the big city, and some of them will be told tonight, so come along and celebrate the wonderful diversity of short stories with us." Contact: Anne Mullane 020 8937 3485.
Local author Maggie Gee writes about Willesden, thinly-disguised. She has published 8 or 9 novels and was short-listed for the Orange Prize in 2002, for The White Family. (More)
Rajeev Balasubramanyam won the Betty Trask Award, and was longlisted for the Guardian award for In Beautiful Disguises. (More)
Courttia Newland is an accomplished writer, listed by British Council among Contemporary British Writers. (More)
Mona Bone-Jakon
Letters
I've just read the report about the large scale destruction of agricultural land [in Palestine. Ed.], unjustifiable demolition of thousands of homes and discriminatory licensing system, in the latest Amnesty magazine. Houses are often blown-up in the middle of the night, with occupants only given minutes to evacuate the building with their children, no time even to collect their belongings. ETC ETC
It occurs to me that we have expected far too much of the Israeli government. We have expected them to be more humane because of their experience of how foul and murderous governments can be. Instead we should have realised that they are no different than anybody else, no different than the Nazis were. We should only expect from the Israeli government what anyone would have expected from the Nazi government. Nothing.
Furthermore they are trading on the Holocaust. They have harnessed it like a river to hydro-electric generator, and they will not stop till they have extracted all the violent energy from it and expended it on their neighbours, and destroyed all around them. In effect what we are seeing is a slow tantrum, of colossal proportions, a slow-motion re-enactment with hidden pleasure of everything that was done against them.
Where are the United Nations now? Why invade Iraq but do nothing with Israel. Why can nobody stop the annexation and destruction of land. This is a lawless world.
They are allowed to stockpile hundreds of nuclear weapons, probably trained at population centres around the Middle East, with impunity. If some other country tries to acquire a microgram of something radioactive, the entire world jumps on them and kicks the hell out of them.
There is no truth in the Roadmap / The Peace Process - it's all crap. Israel is out to annexe as much land as they can, and they won't stop till they are forced to. They don't give a damn about Arabs, whom they treat as subhuman, or without rights.
The US is simply continuing where it started at home with its native Americans, happy to see the disappropriation of indigenous peoples in order to install their friends and clients instead.
As for the UK government, its position is beneath contempt. It has no position. They should all be kicked out at the next possible election, even if it means a Conservative government. Labour needs punishing, and it's worth suffering under the lousy Conservative spivs for four or five years, just to tell Blair clearly what we think about his treachery. If you're going to have a Conservative government, have a genuine one, not a hypocritical, mealy-mouthed, secret one.
E. L. Voynich
I've just read the report about the large scale destruction of agricultural land [in Palestine. Ed.], unjustifiable demolition of thousands of homes and discriminatory licensing system, in the latest Amnesty magazine. Houses are often blown-up in the middle of the night, with occupants only given minutes to evacuate the building with their children, no time even to collect their belongings. ETC ETC
It occurs to me that we have expected far too much of the Israeli government. We have expected them to be more humane because of their experience of how foul and murderous governments can be. Instead we should have realised that they are no different than anybody else, no different than the Nazis were. We should only expect from the Israeli government what anyone would have expected from the Nazi government. Nothing.
Furthermore they are trading on the Holocaust. They have harnessed it like a river to hydro-electric generator, and they will not stop till they have extracted all the violent energy from it and expended it on their neighbours, and destroyed all around them. In effect what we are seeing is a slow tantrum, of colossal proportions, a slow-motion re-enactment with hidden pleasure of everything that was done against them.
Where are the United Nations now? Why invade Iraq but do nothing with Israel. Why can nobody stop the annexation and destruction of land. This is a lawless world.
They are allowed to stockpile hundreds of nuclear weapons, probably trained at population centres around the Middle East, with impunity. If some other country tries to acquire a microgram of something radioactive, the entire world jumps on them and kicks the hell out of them.
There is no truth in the Roadmap / The Peace Process - it's all crap. Israel is out to annexe as much land as they can, and they won't stop till they are forced to. They don't give a damn about Arabs, whom they treat as subhuman, or without rights.
The US is simply continuing where it started at home with its native Americans, happy to see the disappropriation of indigenous peoples in order to install their friends and clients instead.
As for the UK government, its position is beneath contempt. It has no position. They should all be kicked out at the next possible election, even if it means a Conservative government. Labour needs punishing, and it's worth suffering under the lousy Conservative spivs for four or five years, just to tell Blair clearly what we think about his treachery. If you're going to have a Conservative government, have a genuine one, not a hypocritical, mealy-mouthed, secret one.
E. L. Voynich
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
whiskey river
Rescue the Dead by David Ignatow
One of the many wonderful snippets in the whiskey river. I like the one from Leonard Cohen too. "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash."
Ossian
One of the many wonderful snippets in the whiskey river. I like the one from Leonard Cohen too. "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash."
Ossian
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Breaking News - Exclusive
Plague of flies hits Willesden today
From Willesden High Road all the way to Herald House, a swarm of giant flying ants has descended. We call for emergencyornitholigcal [nice try, Ed. Feargal] entomological teams to be sent to Willesden immediately and for a state of emergency to be declared. One of the creatures was photographed by our brave photographer before he had to run for cover.
Ed.
Via Audioblagger™
Plague of flies hits Willesden today
From Willesden High Road all the way to Herald House, a swarm of giant flying ants has descended. We call for emergency
Ed.
Via Audioblagger™
Monday, July 05, 2004
Climate change - "Far worse than previously thought"
New picture sparks alarm
Last night we showed you how the sea is freezing off the coast of Alperton. Tonight, after just 24 hours we reveal how it has been tranformed into a coral reef, with lush seaweed swaying in a turquoise lagoon.
Willesden Observatory
New picture sparks alarm
Last night we showed you how the sea is freezing off the coast of Alperton. Tonight, after just 24 hours we reveal how it has been tranformed into a coral reef, with lush seaweed swaying in a turquoise lagoon.
Willesden Observatory
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Friday, July 02, 2004
Roll up, roll up!
See the amazing vested President
It seems our exclusive picture of George Bush in underwear / vest has doubled the traffic to this site. Well if that's what you're here for, step right this way.
Reception Desk
See the amazing vested President
It seems our exclusive picture of George Bush in underwear / vest has doubled the traffic to this site. Well if that's what you're here for, step right this way.
Reception Desk
"What're you rebelling against?"
"What've you got?"
Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Marlon Brando dies aged 80
"'The only thing an actor owes to his public is not to bore them,' Marlon Brando once said. Throughout his 80 years, Brando could be enraging, enthralling, mysterious and exasperating. But Marlon Brando was never boring."
In a memo to the editor, Herald Proprietor Ed Woodward has called for "a day of international maundering."
Lempik Obit
"What've you got?"
Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Marlon Brando dies aged 80
"'The only thing an actor owes to his public is not to bore them,' Marlon Brando once said. Throughout his 80 years, Brando could be enraging, enthralling, mysterious and exasperating. But Marlon Brando was never boring."
In a memo to the editor, Herald Proprietor Ed Woodward has called for "a day of international maundering."
Lempik Obit
Pictures from Saturn
NASA - Cassini-Huygens: Close Encounter with Saturn:
"MISSION NEWS:
Fresh Cassini pictures show the majesty of Saturn's rings."
Willesden Space Centre promises even better pictures after its spaceship Zadie-1 reaches Saturn, which is expected to occur when the Moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars.
Willesden Observatory
NASA - Cassini-Huygens: Close Encounter with Saturn:
"MISSION NEWS:
Fresh Cassini pictures show the majesty of Saturn's rings."
Willesden Space Centre promises even better pictures after its spaceship Zadie-1 reaches Saturn, which is expected to occur when the Moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars.
Willesden Observatory
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