Steelso vs Real Life

World gone mad?

This is the homepage of the BBC News website as I sit here. In a world of earthquakes, economic ruin and the unspeakable horrors that man inflicts on his fellow man two of the top three news stories on the BBC are entertainment led.

Now don’t get me wrong, Brand and Ross did step over a line. They are fantastic entertainers and I am going to miss my Jonathan Ross podcast this week but is this really the most important story in the UK right now? Really? Or is it something that the Daily Mail readers can all agree is an outrage and vent their anger on? After all when the initial radio show was broadcast it only received two complaints. Two! Now, thanks to the moral contagion that the press has released we have over 24,000 complaints?

And also the news that David Tennent has left Doctor Who. I’m sad to see him go, I geek out on Doctor Who. But the third most important story in the country? Reallllly?

I know, I’m putting too many question marks in here.

Is this trivia being pushed higher in our agendas because we’ve had such doom and gloom in the recent past? Have we reached the breaking point of bad news that we want to dive into some non-news that distracts from matter that we know will hugely affect us but yet we have no way of controlling?

Anyway. There was an earthquake in Pakistan today. Hundreds died. That has to matter more than celebrities behaving badly and actors wanting a new job. It just has to.

Tags: bollocks, celebrity, news, sad

Thought for the day

It’s not what we have that make us unhappy. It’s what we don’t have.

Tags: Thoughts

Away

Over Easter, Sam and I went off to Stockholm for a wee trip. I’ve been before for a stag weekend a couple of years ago. We had a great time and Sam started to learn more about my fondness for taking pictures of stupid things. Like shop window dummies. And hat shops. Hotel was great and the weather was fantastic. But sweet jebus, it was expensive for beer. I mean really! Oddly we never noticed this two years ago.

Still it is truly a great place and we had a ball. I am forbidden to mention Sam’s fan club though. Forbidden!

Bought Guitar Hero. For the kids. Really.

Off to see the guys from work after I do this. They are having a chat about work flow, processes, etc and given that I maybe an obstacle and also that I can’t keep my mouth shut in those kind of chats I’ve decided to let them do their thing then I’ll get my kicking after I have something to eat.

There is no way, no how, that we’re off to a strip club.

Inspired

The lovely Steph pointed this wee note out to me last Thursday while we were walking on Sauchiehall Street. It was next to a shop with a six foot sculpture of a creature from Alien.

As she knows me so well Steph knew that I’d want to take a picture. And blog it. I found the note to be a really sweet and brave thing to do and I hoped that Elena found her man.

So intrigued was I that I decided to call her later to see if she had any joy. We had a wee chat and she sounded  very hopeful and positive that she would find her lovely man. I hope she does too. I’m going to call her tomorrow to see if her last ditch attempt worked. Good luck lady, good luck!

I Know You

“Do You?”

“Yes, I’ve been looking for you. Don’t you recognise me?”

“No, sorry, should I?”

“Not me, no. But you do know Susan and Andrea and Jane.”

“I do?”

“Yes and probably a load of others that we don’t even know about, you callous fuck”

“I’m sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh yes, that’s your way, isn’t it? Fire and forget, have your fun then fuck off, not caring what the fuck mess you leave behind. That’s the I*** S***** way, isn’t it?”

“My name’s Stewart Steel”

“Fuck off”

“It is, really, look, I’ll prove it.”

“Fuck. Sorry to bother you. Sorry.”

Trust

Show this yesterday spray painted to a wall. It’s on quite a busy wee path between Kelvingrove tube station and Gibson Street. It got me thinking who wrote it, why and who is it meant for? Me? You? What do you think?

I imagine someone has to walk that route everyday. They may not know that it was written for them but it gives a great pleasure to the artist.

I dunno. But I can’t imagine a better use for pink paint.

Busy

It’s been a while but I’ve been rushed. Went to Disneyland Paris with the kids and my ex last week for a few days which was hilarious. It quickly became about me rather than the kids. I met the main man above and could obnly say, “I love you”. Danny gave me kudos for this saying that I was the only Dad that got his pic taken with his new friends. Damn straight.

Various rides taken, many queues stood in but altogether a fantastic time. I hate the feckin dumbo ride that said 30 min wait but actually was 1hr 15min. And the kids loved it. Whatever. Pics on my Flickr.

Got back to Glasgow and went to see the Hold Steady at the Cathouse. Went with Sean, Sally and Sam. Way, way too many ’s’s to deal with and some considered it the worst Valemtines evah. I rocked out anyway. Which was odd. Then Bier Halle for poshness.

Friday and Gareth, Julia, Sam and I went to some fantastic Morrocan restaurant. Awwwwww. Then to Steph’s (not the Steph, another Steph) leaving party. I had never met her before but I think I left an impression.

Saturday was cool, watched a week’s worth of TV inc the brilliant Life on Mars. Happy that’s back.

Sunday went for sushi then cooked a fucking incredible carbonara that went down very well. I was like a real world fucking tv chef!

Today Sam and I went to see Hot Fuzz which is just so, so, so, so much fun. I implore you all to see it, it’s hilarious. Timothy Dalton is amazing and the action sequences… well. Kick arse. This shit got real. See it.

Then we went for the noodles, Sam went home (rubbish) and I met up with the lovely Neil McKinven for a quick chat then I headed home.

We also launched a website today. Sexual health website no less. With Miss Hoolie doing the voice over for the books. I was sick in Miss Hoolie’s bath once after drinking the classic combo of Blue label vodka and pineapple juice. Swish!

Since Saturday I have left in taxis my wallet, camera and ipod. I have also got them back. That luck will run out soon enough…

Friday

All started off well, I went for some tea at the Hallion with Debs, Brian, Topher and Johnny. I had a great slab of meat with some lovely creamed spinach that Brian kindly shared. It was lovely and a great start to the evening. And a lovely bottle of wine there too. Sweet.

Then off to see C-90 at the Arches. I as surprised as I thought this was a stand up but it was a little bit of theatre. And it was beautiful. I can’t really go into what it was about, I can’t really remember. I laughed and felt sad and felt happy and felt that I had no idea what had happened at the end but I was elated that I had seen it. I want to see it again. I loved the fact that one of the characters decided to be a lollipop lady rather than a lawyer as she could then save the lives of thirty children a day. A thoughful, moving, funny, wonderfully performed show.

Couple of G&T’s after the show then it was time to take the five minute stroll to Barfly to see Beecake. Earlier in the evening I had a chat with Topher about the fear of seeing a friend’s band. What if it’s pish? What if you hate the music? What if? And then you have to see them and have to give the honest answer to the question,”What do you think?”.

I needn’t have worried. The guys we’re great, for me they really kicked in around the song “I’m Sorry”. It was brilliant to be there. I jumped along with the best of them. Also got to see some people I haven’t seen in a while which was great too, esp. the lovley Mark. What a surprise, what a treat.

After the boys finished I spent some time talking to people, went “backstage” (silly little room) and passed on my congratulations to the guys and talked about me being a roadie in LA for them. Which would be hilarious. Have to learn to tune guitars though…

Talked to some peeps, esp the people who came from Japan for the gig. They were lovely and very sweet. I wasn’t sure who was more excited about being there, them or me. It was good to meet fans that are fans rather than hiding in fucking forums being nasty and cruel about people that they haven’t met and don’t know. Scared, sorry little fuckers. Anyway…..

Then off back to the Hallion to drink and laugh. Billy, Mark, Aude and Ali came up after and we had a right good chat about the gig, the importance of stories and how you tune guitars. I’m also getting my Garage Band lesson soon too. Turns out my camera works just fine when I’m pissed too. Good camera, good.

I got a bus home. At 3.15am. That was weird, I don’t usually get a bus home at 3.15am. All good.

S

x

Har-de-har-har

My team are a shower of cheeky bastards.
That is all.
S
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Viral Ads: It’s about the conversation

Interesting point I heard yesterday from Rocketboom (I love you Joanne, not in a really bad stalkery way, more in a geek love way, we could be happy. I’ll stop now) from a guy called Jeff Jarvis on how content isn’t king, design isn’t king, delivery isn’t king but the conversation is king when it comes to on-line marketing.

That is also backed up by this CNN article on Viral Marketing. My take on it is that the experience is king. If it’s not well written, well designed, well executed then no converstion will start. I totally agree with the conversation being hugely important but people have to have something they feel compelled to talk about first.