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Sunday, March 17, 2002
Punk Rock versus Punk Rock

Did you know you can download a font based on Mark E Smith’s handwriting? I’ve used it for the title on William Crain’s personal appreciation of the man which you can read here. William also wrote a piece on Black Flag, which is all ready to be posted on receipt of the promised scans of photos… the article, and an overheard comment in the corridor at school has caused me to scribble some silly notes about ‘Punk Rock’ and specifically notions of UK versus US interpretations of that phrase, based on the emphasis of pronunciation. I mean, how do YOU say ‘Punk Rock’?




Sunday Morning

I hate being ill. I hate having my head still full of thoughts and ideas for things to do, and my body being singularly incapable of dealing with even the simplest of activities. And even though it’s nice to slide in and out of sleep punctuated by books and movies, it’s still pretty damn annoying.

I also hate it when the weather decides to perk up, as it did yesterday, and the leaves begin to unfurl on the trees, and I’m too ill to venture out into the world on my bicycle; when even a wander to town to pick up and send mail leaves me exhausted and head in a spin. Grrr…. So instead I sit in my chair and gaze out the window, attempting a few words and listening to a new Bob Mould album which, on first experience sounds rather peculiar and not a little dull, which is a shame because as a rule I’ve always rather liked Bob Mould. On this new record though he seems determined to drown his best asset, which is his great voice, in dodgy electronic treatments. Maybe it’s a grower. I do hope so.

But I rather doubt it is.


I Couldn’t Afford to Fight The Law, and The Law Won. Obviously.

Last week brought the first legal admonishment for Tangents. I’ve been ticked off by lawyers before of course, for using the term ‘image bank’ on another website, but this was the first time for Tangents. Seems like the attorneys who work on protecting the copyrights for the UK National Lottery finally caught up with the, ah, situationist-style re-contextualised graphic of the crossed fingers icon that graced the six, or is it seven year old article ‘It Won’t Be You’. I was very unwilling to take the image down, I must say, but in the face of a potential law suit, what could I do except take it down. I felt not a little sad doing it… I also took down the awful picture of Bob Monkhouse that was on the same page, not because Mr Monkhouse’s lawyers objected, but because it reminded me of just how rudimentary my graphics skills were at the time. Ugh.