Valerie
1. A popular Girls name.
2. A pop song-cover by Amy Winehouse Produced by Mark Ronson.

Okay, so I may not particularly like the song but I feel that it is subject to a rant or at least an outpouring of objection, not because of the song itself, but more because of the singer if you can call her that, who has covered this song recently; I speak of course of the inimitable Amy Drug-house sorry Amy Wino, correction; Amy Winehouse. I am confused that she; someone who could have had anything she wished has sunk to a low to which, the tabloid world is taking a great interest in.

When you initially hear Miss Winehouse you are impressed, her vocal prowess is stunning, her voice has taken music back forty years to a time in which the R and B world was relished and looked upon with fascination and intrigue. I have no doubt that she is a good singer; it may not be my cup of tea, but I understand and appreciate that she is intriguing.

So why ruin such a talent? Why take life to an extreme of drug abuse and ruin what surely will be a long-serving and fulfilling career? I believe that the answers to these questions are answers which cannot be answered fully, however we can but try to delve into the psyche of the woman in question. It is a trend that when you have it all you are destined to crave more, maybe Miss Winehouse has developed an extreme case of greed or that she feels a need to fill her young life with something which makes her unappealing to the vast majority of society. Drugs are; as we are aware a taboo subject.

It appears that most teenagers have dabbled in some form of drug use, be it marijuana to nicotine or ecstasy to heroin. I will not be judge-jury and executioner on these younglings but I will agree that all of the above are to a degree an element of rebellion; as we know that they are restricted, but we tend toward them with an open mind.

What I fail to understand is; (I may warn you that this will be a long drawn out debate)

Miss Winehouse you have everything you need; yes we agree that money cannot always make you happy but we can argue the point that nor can drugs and alcohol, mostly they make you depressed, force you into to a situation in which you have little or no control. This would be what is known as ironic having what you want and constantly searching for more, never happy until you have consumed a third world sized amount of Heroin.

I will not dwell on the situation that you have placed yourself into; it is essentially your choice, a choice which you have made and one that it would seem you will follow through to its bitter and heartbreaking end.

I implore the tabloid journalist to take heed of this warning please do not follow them and make light of the downfall that they have developed for themselves, by all means tell us about them, but what we don’t need is a full front page of A3 grandeur showing what they have done to themselves…

v., -grad•ed, -grad•ing, -grades.
v.tr.
1. To raise to a higher grade or standard: upgrading their military defences.
2. To improve the quality of (livestock) by selective breeding for desired characteristics.
3. Computer Science.
a. To replace (a software program) with a more recently released, enhanced version.
b. To replace (a hardware device) with one that provides better performance.
v.intr.
1. To exchange a possession for one of greater value or quality; trade up.
2. Computer Science. To replace software or hardware with an upgrade.
n.
1. The act or an instance of upgrading.
2. Computer Science.
a. A software program that provides added enhancements over an earlier version.
b. A hardware device that provides greater performance than an earlier model.
3. An upward incline.
adv. & adj.

I should add that for the most part an upgrade is an essential and inherent part of life, whether it forms a part of a new step towards a goal or if it is simply to make life that tiny bit easier. In the immortal fashion to which we; as Homo-sapiens follow, we must upgrade, re-write and reconsider our position constantly and it is that fact that can make life difficult. We must re-write our path in life, for as we know; it is not written before us, we make our own destiny and make our own way in life.
But, as ever I digress and my better senses tell me that the poetic shite above is boring to read. I hate it that I can write elegantly but get so distracted that my pretentious drivel is a frustration to both myself and the subscriber. I am aware it is horrid but I will continue to write my pretentious drivel as I have coined it.

People seem to enjoy my writings.

This is good.

Well done for sticking with the most inconsistent blogger on the internet.

A particular vein of annoyance of mine at the moment is with the state of the world in general. In general, that’s right, in general. I enforce the “in general” as there remain fifteen thousand things which annoy me. I will list them all one day and you will die of boredom as they are minor and insignificant. It is two-thousand and eight, a new year, we’re 21 days in. Already two-thousand and eight has begun with a bang as we continue to watch the housing market crash; the American financial system fail and the trains not get any better! I had entered two-thousand and eight with a vague impression that things in the world of Mr. Rant might improve, they haven’t. Mr. Rant is still miserable about trains, tax, and people not walking straight.

So a new year and a new start that’s what it is for. I agree that you should in principle make resolutions, but in practice they’re a pointless waste of time. I believe that people make them to break them. This year already I have succeeded in my resolution to break every resolution I make. I had planned to attempt to become a little more cheery but this hasn’t worked, in essence it’s been a complete failure. I promised myself that I wouldn’t moan when Mrs. Cheery says “hello!” in that strikingly horrible voice, high-pitched which dogs can only hear, or that I wouldn’t complain when I’m taxed a massive amount or when people ask me for a spare cigarette!

There is no such thing.

A spare fag?

There is no such thing!

It needed to be repeated it that’s ridiculous! But I’ve failed again! I had planned to blog more often but it’s the age old excuse/problem of having a busy life and not enough time to do it. I will be writing this blog, even though I moan so persistently about it, I do enjoy it wholeheartedly. So you will be able to read my feelings more regularly or at least I hope so.

Once again I’ve wondered off-topic. Did you notice? I’ve recently installed the latest version of WordPress, I haven’t noticed any changes I guess they’re all coding updates, hidden deep inside SQL land, a land which to a certain extent I don’t understand. It seems to be more stable however and it works so I’m not complaining… yet.

I have now the most advanced system for blogging in the known universe. (Disclaimer: WordPress’ Tagline not mine.)
I look forward to the next moan, I mean blog…

At long last, and I emphasise the long, the silly season which we affectionately call Christmas is over. Thank Fuck. It’s not that I’m mean spirited or that I dislike receiving presents which; I will most likely never use.
It’s deeper than this.

I have not a clue where it stems from or where the feeling is rooted that this year 2008, I have not enjoyed Christmas. It has been tedious, tiring and down right hard.

Christmas Eve

As is customary for me at Christmas I venture into town, I don’t know why. I moan enough that town is busy the rest of the year but for some unknown reason I choose quite possibly the busiest day in the year to explore the riches which are Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre; a place which I despise not just for its tacky over-rated and downright ruining architecture also for it’s inane stupidity and useless design.

I have never seen the point of making the pathways into and from the Bullring so narrow that only about three people can pass through at any one time. For a start this is surely a fire hazard, so excuse me while I pop on my safety hat. (It’s red and has a big yellow “S” on the front; you can often see me using it in conjunction with my high-horse).
I believe that when you design a building it should have ample access to and from the building, am I distorted in this view? Some would say that I am, but I believe in this view, and after all, you are allowed to say what you want!
So as my tangent has diminished now, I shall continue.

Christmas Day

In it’s usual fashion Christmas day ran in its most annoying of veins.  My only salvation is that its over just as soon as it begins and that i can finally remove the snow flakes from my blog.  I won’t dwell on Christmas day to much there isn’t a lot to say about it except that it came and went without a fuss. 

Christmas this year was unique i haven’t really experienced one like it before, it was a non event…. which was weird.