Whatgetsmygoat

Where were you when you heard the sad news? Did you think it was a hoax?I got a phone call from my brother, and then checked web.Like 9/11 or Diana's death, you could not quite believe it. He has been with us for decades. Some of us can even recall watching the cartoon series on TV.

Deapite all the rumours about his death, one thing is clear: Michael Jackson is now at peace. No longer needing to take painkillers,no longer having to mutilate his face with cosmetic surgery. No man who totally alters his appearance in the way that MJ did, can be happy. For all his fame and talent,Michaal Jackson seems to have been tormented by demons.The papers have shown us the various pictures of Michael at various stages of his life. The Michael from the late 1970s is totally different in appearance from the Michael who saw in the late 1990s. Was there no one around him to say stop!How many operations did he have on his face?Is that global superstardom does to you?

I do not think we will ever know the truth surrounding his death.There are too many competing interests, that will prevent the truth comming out,not least of them being,money. You can expect everyone to start cashing in from the nanny, the lawyer and the bodyguards.The sad thing is that there are three children who have been left without a father. They are the ones that will need love and care.We should pray for them.

Rest easy Michael.

May you keep moonwalking forever.

Do you remember a film called Blazing Saddles??It was a gloriously funny Western made in the 1970s. Some of the jokes were so outrageous that you had to laugh despite the un-PC nature.In the 1970s, you could get away with being blatantly sexist, racist and homophobic.

Today, we all tread on egg shells, because we are scared. We can't say Merry Christmas for fear of offending non Christians, even though this is a Christian country!!If you express any kind of preference for immigration control, you are deemed a racist, even though we are an island with limited resources to accommodate all who want to come here. Is is unfair to expect that if someone comes here illegally, that they should be deported back to their home country?Should we let in everyone who wants to live here, just because they use the magic words Human Rights??Speaking as a child of immigrants, I know that there must be a limit in the numbers.Social cohesion depends on it.

What about Europe??The EEC has now morphed into the EU at such a speed that it has become a giant.It has moved further East taking in more and more of the former Warsaw Pact. Who approved this?When did we have a say in this? If you express any type of dissent, then you are labelled anti European or Euro sceptic.The reality is that Britain ability to rule itself slowly being taken away without our say so.UKIP may come across as nutters and Little Englanders, but they do have a point.

If I were to express my opinion that I object to gays being ordained to become priests or gay marriage, would that make me a homophobe?

What political correctness has done is stifle debate. We are now so afraid, that we adopt a neutral non offensive stance to avoid hurting anyone.In a democracy where free speech is fundamental, we should be able to express ourseleves without fear. Unfortunately, that is slowly being eroded.

Where is this going to lead?

I've started watching a US drama called Sons of Anarchy about motorcycle gangs in California. As expected it's well written, fast paced and well acted. It's great drama. Like a lot of imported dramas like 24,Lost, Mad Men,Heroes and Prison Break,it's compulsive viewing.

The question I have to ask is: Why can't we make dramas like this? We don't make great sitcoms anymore(My Family???)and we hardly make good drama. What we do make is reality TV that appeals to the masses like Big Brother, Britain's Got Talent and X-Factor. When the history of our popular culture in the 2000s is written, what will historians say?

British TV became lazy and dumbed down. No longer willing to take risks or try anything daring.The suits that run television became obsessed with ratings and celebrity. Which is why Emmerdale is on almost every night, and Channel 4 is littered with reality TV shows like Wife Swap and Super Nanny.Where is the vision in this country to produce something like The Wire?What happened to the creative genius that used to make The Singing Detective or Cracker?Where are the writers with any ambition to think outside the box?Dramas like Life on Mars are very rare.

It's no accident that so many British actors are working in Hollywood.Without a Trace,The Wire and Rome all have or had British actors in the cast.

The fault is ours- we have not demanded better television.We have accepted the shit that has been offered to us.No one else is to blame.

The Labour Party has got itself in a real pickle.It has occurred that many within the party that Gordon Brown is a liability.Now what do they do?

The Guardian practically told him to get lost last week. Effectively, they have seen the lack of any leadership from him.This is a man who lacks vision. He offers nothing for the country, as his strategy is to hold on to power until 2010.The reality is that the Gordon Brown has failed to inspire the nation, he lacks the communication skills that a modern leader needs.Watching him on YouTube made you cringe!

The expenses scandal exposed the lack of leadership from Brown. He failed to get out in front of the story. He allowed David Cameron to outflank him. He even allowed Joanna Lumley to take centre stage on the Gurkha issue.

The Labour Party should have had a proper contest in 2007 when Blair stepped down. That was a perfect opportunity to discuss ideas and renew the ideals of the Labour Party. What did the party stand for? Instead,they made Gordon Brown the leader without a debate. This was a man who craved to be Prime Minister above all else. All the problems the party faces now began in 2007.Gordon Brown made sure that there was no opposition, and therefore no debate.He does not like to share the stage, as he believes that he alone has the qualities/substance to lead.

Today,the Labour Party is still afraid to get rid him even though the Tories look like winning the next general election.Someone has got to grow a set of cojones(balls)and stand against Gordon. Either that or Labour will be wiped out at the polls next year.

Who is going to man up??

I have always loved movies.However,I know there will come a point when I will stop going to the cinema.Most films are not made for the 40+ male.

Here are the things I truly hate about going to the cinema:

1. People who keep talking during the film:You are not at home-SHUT UP!

2. People who answer their mobile phones-Voicemail??

3. People who arrive late and then wander around endlessly until they find the "right" seat.

4. The over priced snacks that they sell.Three quid for a Coke!

5. Crappy trailers, that usually show the best bits of Hollywood movies that are usually mediocre at best. The worst movie I've seen this year was Duplicity starring Clive Owen and Julia Roberts. The trailer was quite good.

6. The price of the tickets, some of them are ludicrous,especially in Central London.

Those are my gripes,I'm sure people have many more.I have left out things like the poor quality of the cinematic product ie Hollywood.