dextermixwith v2

3July2007

My Musical Timeline

Posted by Dexter M under: music.

Courtesy of somewhat incomplete, but none-the-less great Seven Ages of Rock

15June2007

Tesco Comes to Belper - The Movie

Posted by Dexter M under: belper; tesco; films.

A work of Lego animated Genius :

Courtesy of ThisIs Derbyshire

14June2007

Why Tesco Needs Belper - Is the feeling mutual?

Posted by Dexter M under: belper; tesco.

Since my previous post about the first BATS (Belper Against Tesco Superstore) meeting a few more things to report:

• Tesco have announced they are to hold a public consultation about their plans - although they won’t say when (or where) this will happen - will have to stay alert about this one.
• Local coucilors Alan Cox and Barry Lewis have carried out a straw poll about the Tescos plans and the “relief” road - 68% against Tesco and 64% infavour of the road (out of 850 people).
• The BATS people were on King Streetlast Saturday - selling (out of) badges and giving away (all their) posters - sounds like they had a good response there too.
• Following my last post about all of this I actually had someone writing a lengthy comment in favour of Tesco (!)

Tesco seem to be ticking the required boxes in that they have to have a “consultation” - the generally held believe is that this is likely to be more of a “presentation” - we’ll wait and see on that.

It’s not too surprising the results of Alan Cox and Barry Lewis’ poll has worked out that way - a clear majority (more than 2/3) against Tesco, but also a a clearswing in favour of the road. Well done guys for your work there - a good sized sample too. If anything this prooves the potential confusion over the road situation - the point is, it will not be a “relief road” it will be an ACCESS ROAD TO TESCO. Adding the road will mean some or all of the following:

• Moving/disrupting the Cricket and Sports and Social clubs
• Moving/Disrupting the Nailers Ground
• The demolition of Pyms solicitors - a well established local firm
• The destruction of the Triangle
• A large increase in through traffic
• The potential destruction of naturally rich riverside landscape (due to the above)
• The potential ruin of the potentially vibrant heritage inspired tourism trade that is likely to develop due to Belper being in the middle of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site

Bridge Street is considered to be badly congested - that is the received wisdom. I would challenge the belief that it is so bad that it can be tackled by other measures - such as vehicle weight restrictions. I cycle up and down it regularly - and it’s not so bad that I would avoid it - unlike the lower part of the A6 from Duffield onwards!

The other important thing is Tesco isn’t developing for the people of Belper.

Everyone (even my commentor) agreed that Belper doesn’t need another supermarket. So who is it for then - Milford, Duffield, Allestree, North Derby, Riply, Denby, Ambergate etc. After all Tesco now want to define local as within 30 minutes drive of where you live. By their definition - we could nip up to our “local” Tesco at Alfreton!

Therefore Belper doesn’t need a Tesco in the town - they already have a local one 15 minutes up the road!

1June2007

Breathtaking! Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Rock City

Posted by Dexter M under: gigs; music.

For someone unfamiliar with the phenomenon that is Rodrigo Y Gabriela: in a nutshell - two mexicans with accoustic guitars playing incredible high octane mash-up of flamenco, jazz and heavy metal.

I caught most of their set at The Big Chill last year and it blew me (and most of the other people at the village green stage) away. Touring again this year, they put in a great appearance at the dark and dirty pit that is Nottingham’s Rock City. To start off with they seemed a tad weary - as Gabriela explained, they seemed to have been touring almost constantly for wel over a year now - bound to wear anyone one down, but with the energy these guys put into their show it’s going to be even worse.

However, as the set went on - mixing up self penned tunes from their last aponymous album and covers of Metallica, Pink Floyd (the sing-along “Wish You Were Here”) and even Take Five (yes that take five) - the audience reaction lifted them. By the end, the smiles were well and truly back on their faces.

It’s difficult to explain why two people with accoustic guitars can be so exhillerating, but Rodrigo Y Gabriela have taken their rock influences (they where both in Heavy Metal bands back in the day) and baked them firmly into their sound, along with a strong jazz/improssational streak. Above their music has a raw energy running through it that just lifts you and demands a reaction.

30May2007

Last.fm - Acquisition by CBS - Good or Bad?

Posted by Dexter M under: music; web 2.0; news.

I’ve been a big fan, and sporadic user of Last.Fm for some time now. Their talk at FOWA 2007 was inspirational, and they are genuinely nice guys too!

When I found out today from Vicky about the news their buy-out by CBS by first reaction was something like : NOOOOOOOOOO!

I’ve thought about it a bit more, and, in a way, this kind of thing is innevitable - a genuinely good idea well executed, with a big popular following of people who love music is ripe for the picking by a media giant like CBS . There’s every chance this could work out - in the short term the big guys are unlikely to try to meddle too much. Time will tell as to what the long-term effects will be.

One things for certainly, people making and listening to music will always find a way to go “underground” when they need to escape the mainstream - it’s happened before, it’s kind of happening now, and and it will happen again.

Last.fm have almost done their job - it may be time to move on at some point - after all where is Napster in the scheme of things now?

30May2007

This Is England - Shane Meadows’ Greatest?

Posted by Dexter M under: belper; films.

Another trip to the Ritz in Belper last night - this time to see Shane Meadows’ latest This Is England.

It was a full house - clearly Mr. Meadows has a strong following round here - not too surprising considering all of his features so far have been based within 50 miles of the town. Indeed, his take on a revenenge western Dead Man’s Shoes was filmed right up the road in Matlock.

This Is England focuses (in a similar way to Room for Romeo Brass) on a young boy and “loss of innocence”. This time lead character Shane Fields (a young looking 12 year old played by the amazing Thomas Turgoose) is a loner who has just lost his dad in the Falklands War of 1983. Living in a un-named town (some weird juxtaposition of Nottingham and Grimsby!) Shaun is taken in by a friendly gang of skinheads - all older than him.

The film manages to conjure up the feel of the time - Roland Rat, Thatcher in her prime, the tail end of Two Tone/New Wave, the Falklands War, the menace of the National Front and their insidious influence on young unemployed and dis-affected young people. The characters are rendered with the usual care Meadows takes - complex, sympathetic, genuine. There’s moments of real humour (e.g. the gang rampaging through a deserted housing estate dressed in ridiculous costumes). There’s the menace of Combo (Stephen Graham) - who returns from a stint in prison to take over the group and lead them towards the NF and racist thuggery. Central to all of this is the superb portrayal of Shaun - being only 12 and seeking security and a possible father figure. The Soundtrack isspot on too -vintage ska, reggae, two tone and an great cover of The Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” delivered by Clayhill.

It’s a testament to Shane Meadows’ talent that all the elements gel, without excessive violence or sickly brit-flick sentimentality. He shows a complex and even balance picture of the state of skinhead culture inEngland at that time. Not to mention capturing a real essence of Thatchers’ Britain at the time.

25May2007

Happy Star Wars Day!

Posted by Dexter M under: films; nerdery; joy.

It was 30 years ago today and…

When (The Award Winning) Andy Ravenwood and Lactose reminded me today and I suddenly felt the need to watch the original films again. It’s been a while, and I wasn’t sure if I’d re-capture any of the awe and joy I experience when I saw the first one in 1977 at the age of 7.

But you know what - it was great. All of the funny little details, the humour, the aliens, the vast spaceships, the heros who you really care for - they were all still there. After the rather tedious episodes 1, 2 and 3 - that largely left me cold, the great team spirt built up between Luke, Leia, Han (or Sam Holo as he was recently refered to), Chewy, C3PO and R2 - it was still genuinely fun and exciting to watch.

Happy Star Wars day!

24May2007

Belper Against Tesco Superstore - The First Meeting

Posted by admin under: belper; tesco; civic forum.

After my previous post about the loss of Ambergate’s own village shop and the possible Tesco development in Belper, I’ve been to 3 really encouraging meetings of people who are, like me really concerned about the way things are going in the local area.

The Belper Civic forum are a really together group of people who’s main interests are to do with positive ways of developing Belper - i.e. making sure that the great things that go on there now just carry on and the poeple of Belper can really have a say in how the town is developed. Hoppefully I can write more about this soon.

BATS - Belper Against Tesco Superstore held there first public meeting tonight in the Lion Hotel. I was (I must admit) a little bit reticent about going at first - possibly worried about a “minority fringe” meeting of ranters. How wrong I was! There was easilly at least 100 people packed into a very warm meeting room - people of all sorts and interests. The core BATS people really seem to have their heads screwed on, and have already realised how well organised and well thought out their campaign needs to be.

There was plenty of good points and ideas raised, plenty of money donated (for the fighting fund) and a general feeling that things really can be achieved for the best - and that we can stop this apparent juggernaut.

All very positive!

24May2007

Tecnorati Claim - Nothing to See…

Posted by Dexter M under: Uncategorized.

Technorati Profile

22May2007

New Blog, And Good Intentions

Posted by admin under: blogging; conferences; resolutions; belper.

Back at the beginning of this year I made a new year’s resolution to write a blog post every day.

Guess what - like many good intentions, it lasted for a while - 17 posts in the 1st twent days of 2007 from me meant that I almost followed through. Embarassingly though, since then I’ve been somewhat rubbish on that front.

I’ve actually been very busy :

• Going to the very enjoyable WebDD conference
• Experiencing the 2 day web extravaganza that was The Future of Web Apps
• Started to cycle to work again (all be it not quite as often in a week as I would really like) - with my nice new bike.
• Started to take and develop in black and white 35mm again - see the reults on Flickr.
• We’ve been working on our first real Agile project at work - Lasting Tribute - a site for putting memorials and tributes for people into the digital meta-world.
• Celebrated Lactose’s 40th i with a Virtual party in Second Life and a real shindig - both very enjoyable.
• Celebrated my niece Lara’s christening in Southport.
• Been for a very nice weekend in Paris.
• Seen the mighty Belper Town win again (twice) with Daz and Matt.
• And now joined the Belper Civic Forum - after going to 2 very positive and interesting meetings with them.

Anyone would have thought I would have posted loads - but no [blushes with embarrasment]. I have (in my defense) posted lots on Flickr in the mean time.

But here’s to another new start…

I’ve finally managed to set up my own WordPress blog and moved everything over here, and I have to say it was a real doddle to set up. I think I’ll do some tweaking on the template, but I hope you like the new style - thanks to Jon Rowett’s excellent blog for the template inspiration (I guess you could say I largely copied it really) - a (very) slightly adapted Autumn Concept 1.0 theme by Ed Merritt.

So here’s to more good intentions.

Talking of which I’m starting to properly learn Ruby On Rails too - more genuine excitement about this as I go on.