The rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless
Extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence
I met a woman on a train who claimed to be a nihilist; that nothing you ever do will have any lasting impact on anything or anyone. I think this photograph is testament to the counter-belief, my own belief, that no matter how insignificant we think or assume our actions to be, this is simply not true. The one inevitability, ironically, in life is that we all die. Just as the Flaming Lips song proclaims. Yet, is it not human nature to maximise the time we do have through actions and activity which we measure by our own subjectivity?
Major news stories this year: the Pakistani floods, the Gulf Oil Spill, the Wikileaks scandal, the British coalition, Student fees, Obama's health care reforms, the Haiti earthquake. But my top story, simply because I found it so engrossing and heart warming was the Chilean Mine rescue in September.
SPORT.
It was a great season in F1. Wimbledon was very exciting, and the Ashes and the Ryder Cup were brilliant but of course the big sporting story of 2010 was the World Cup. Yet, I shall not simply focus on England's dismal showing in South Africa. In fact, the biggest sporting moment of 2010 was a moment of heartbreak for Ghana. Never had an African nation progressed to the semi-final stage of the World Cup. Cameroon in 1990 returned as heroes following their success in reaching the quarter-final stage. Ghana had a penalty in the last minute of extra time, the stage was set for Asamoah Gyan, to send his team through on African soil...
But what composure the striker showed, when after missing this kick, he slotted his penalty in the shoot-out, unfortunately it was not enough for Ghana, as Uruguay progressed to the semi final. Spain ultimately won football's biggest prize, for the first time in their history.
FILM.
2010 was the year in which 3D announced itself as a cinematic force. Avatar released at the beginning of the year broke all the box office records and ran riot at the Oscars. I personally thought it was a very disappointing film, which was utterly predictable over the 3 hours which it ran for. It relied on style and synthetics rather than substance of character development and plot. Of the other 2010 films I saw Toy Story 3 was fun, Devil was awful, Nightmare on Elm Street was just ridiculous, the Social Network was very good, Paranormal Activity II was surprisingly good, Due Date was very amusing and Saw 3D just made no sense. 3D films should simply be regarded as good simply because they're shot in 3D. My film of the year comes down to two films, both starring Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception and Shutter Island. I'm going to have to give it to Shutter Island simply because of Scorcese's directing. He is one of my favourite directors. Shutter Island is well worth watching twice and DiCaprio is brilliant.
MUSIC.
I can't even remember what music has come out this year to be honest. Rihanna has become huge, her duet with Eminem in the summer, Love the Way You Lie, was one of the most popular songs of the year. Example's Kickstarts was definitely a summer tune and more recently Duck Sauce with Barbra Streistand has become my winter 2010 part tune. Did Take That welcome back Robbie...? Oh well. Plan B announced himself on the scene in the summer with Prayin and Stay Too Long. King Blues released their third album in the summer, as did the Gaslight Anthem, both of which I can't get enough of. Florence and the Machine became THE band to like. Florence Welsh's rendition of You've Got the Love with Dizzie Rascal at the Brits was one of the highlights of the year for British music. Yolanda Be Cool & DCup had the huge hit, We Speak No Americano as well. Kasabian also hit the big time and headlined V Festival. 2010 was also the first time I went to Glastonbury, and it was fantastic. Probably the highlight set was Fatboy Slim to be honest. Either that or Shakira. I can't pick a song of 2010 so I'll just leave on this, it's such a sick mash-up -
On a personal level 2010 has been a funny old year. It started sober in a Wetherspoon's car park, has taken me to Barcelona hitchhiking, Cyprus, Middlesbrough, Brixton and Dawlish Road, all via Wilmslow. My 21st in June was a birthday to forget, but shit happens. This summer was fantastic, and things seem to be on track to graduate next June (touch wood). The Thursday Night Show has been great fun, as has playing football about 78 times a week. It's just a shame Ipswich are doing so poorly. But on a positive note, I couldn't have envisaged where I'd be now 6 months ago, so I must have done something right. Here's to a Merry Christmas and Happy 2011. More of the same please.
I haven't done this thing for ages, so in theory I should have a lot to talk about, but I really don't.
Firstly - a shameless plug for my new radio show. The Thursday Night Show, every Thursday at 7pm on www.burnfm.com. We have a facebook group and our own show page. Check us out.
The only other thing I really want to mention is this. I was at a party the other night and I was trying to make friendly conversation with some people I'd just met. However, after about 3 or 4 minutes of trying to converse, I got the impression they just weren't interested in anything I had to say (this was either because I genuinely had nothing interesting to say or because I was very very drunk) so I just kind of wandered off. However, I think looking back these kids were just a bit too cool for school. You know what I'm on about, the whole why is life so hard look when smoking a rizla or the I can't speak any quicker than about 4 words a minute in a really depressing tone vibe. Yeah, this song is for you and it's complete and utter genius. I'm not a massive fan of deck shoes with no socks or 3D glasses with no lenses to be honest, although maybe I'm just jealous I can't grow a moustache.
I can't be bothered writing a lot for this blog. Current thoughts are as follows:
The Rectory turning into a Steakhouse is just plain wrong. Working there this summer has been amazing.
The taxpayer should not be funding the Pope's visit. Watch Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" for an insight into this opinion.
C4, E4 and Film 4 are sick. This is England '86, the Inbetweeners, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands and the above mentioned Religion defying, Richard Dawkins' documentary.
Times quick crosswords are a challenge, but do-able.
Cyprus is really nice.
The Sopranos is better than the Wire.
This year is going to be carnage. I can't wait.
The King Blues and Biffy Clyro are probably the two best British bands at the moment. Muse who?
This summer I've earn't over £2500, of which I'm very proud. My overdraft is clear for several hundred, which is a good feeling.
Ipswich aren't quite as good as their early form suggests.
Philosophy and spirituality are both overrated. Sooner or later you've got to take a proper look at life. It is what it is.
iPhones are very cool, but also quite pretentious. Blackberrys are better
This picture is from the first game of the Championship season between Ipswich and Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Ipswich won 3-1, scoring 3 goals in the second half. It was the 2oth league ground I've visited of the English League's 92 football grounds. Next on the list for this season are Gresty Road, Glanford Park, Vicarage Road, City Ground, Keepmoat Stadium and Loftus Road.
Next summer I want to try and visit the gates of every single football league ground in the country in 72 hours with my general-up-for-anything mate Rick. Challenge accepted.
I'd rather go see Ipswich on a freezing, snowy January day at Bloomfield Road, not the best place to showcase the delights of football to your girlfriend (this may be a contributing factor to why I'm now single), than anything else.
Check out this new tune from the King Blues. Out on 29th August.
I met a woman on a train who claimed to be a nihilist; that nothing you ever do will have any lasting impact on anything or anyone. I think this photograph is testament to the counter-belief, my own belief, that no matter how insignificant we think or assume our actions to be, this is simply not true. The one inevitability, ironically, in life is that we all die. Just as the Flaming Lips song proclaims. Yet, is it not human nature to maximise the time we do have through actions and activity which we measure by our own subjectivity?
