Hello, and how are you?
Sunday the 9th of March sees the Mighty Cannon haul its gun-carriage up to the northern marches of England for a visit to Old Trafford as we take on 14th placed Manchester United. Kick off is at 4.30pm western European time.
All week I’ve been stumped, blocked (not in the Mod sense) and feeling all dried up like a sundried tomato over this preview. I thought about discussing ideology and its role in society, its limitations and it necessity, I thought about discussing CS Lewis’ ‘Abolition of Man’ and despite its failing, pugilistic tendencies, all roads in such matters rest in the real dilemma: to believe not to believe. But belief is conjecture and conjecture remains not knowing? I thought about discussing the film ‘Priscilla’ and how it barely scrapes the surface of its characters and despite some echoing of the same old Forest Gump tropes (conservatism versus New Left) its a film that does stay with you afterwards though, which is something most films don’t? For good or bad I can’t say, but haunt you it does. I thought about discussing the early spring I experienced this week, the warm air and bird-song cacophony, and the conflict of your inner human clock: its just way too early to be 20° in very early March? I thought about discussing how ‘time’ seems to go quicker than ever due to our relationship with technology; but I couldn’t prove Einstein right or wrong, not being smart enough. I wanted to potentially discuss cultural linages, how certain torch-relays of culture are more in the limelight than others, how does this happen, whose in control of it and how do other cultural linages outside of the prescribed system survive? Evolution and survival of the fittest isn’t who does the most press-ups at the gym or the biggest bully in the playground of life, but who fits in the best. Not me. Ideas might get lost in the fogs of perspectives but inclusivity and acknowledgment are really worth fighting for, as long as that’s actually happening? Jospeh Beuys said “everyones and artist”. Maybe, mabe not, all depends on what we might mean by artist? But for this to work it might mean that everyone has also to open a gallery, otherwise its the same old; certain people selecting themselves and friends as the non plus ultra and everyone else is charged as irrelevant unless the fashion changes? Maybe flat-line hierarchies are much more interesting? As already mentioned in prior blogs, to me, value plurality is all we really have in our system of absolute relativity, there’s going to be clashes as certain idea’s naturally don’t always fit perfectly with others (liberty and justice etc). I also spent ages thinking about why on football blogs its mostly presumed we should only stick to football when all life is inter-connected and football is at most only a couple of links (sometimes only one) away from any other idea or aspect of life? You can see why I didn’t peruse that one further! LOL!
I then thought of George’s friend dying and the gap death leaves behind in our lives and Eddies friend being ill and tragically diagnosed and all the fears that person must be feeling and what Ed and George might be feeling recently and how demise changes our perspectives on all our daily activities and values. And realised how often I just take life for granted, I try everyday to be grateful, but there’s always a part of the day where I feel frustrated and angry and selfish at how human systems are and often how corrupt, competitive, cold and consuming they seem. Its a horrible trap to be caught in, but genuinely being grateful is an uplifting thing and seems part of an antidote to the rough and tumble of horseshit that we have to deal with? Of course over the years I’ve often put the boot in about the internet (all apologies), twitter, and bloggers and aspects of everyday online life. Yet the flip side is how the world was opened up by the internet, how people could connect, how people could share interests and feel a great joy in that. I mean dang! Its a wonder, and really well worth gushing over. Its easy to take things too seriously and I’m a sinner in that sense, but there’s a heck of a lot of great in life too, and sometimes I wonder if there’s too much division where really divisions could be applied to only truly greater moral dilemmas? Although once you’ve stated something like that we find ourselves stuck in the relative ideas of whats a major moral idea and what isn’t? But I’m sure I’m pissing against the wind with that kind of thought anyway. Strange thing is I’ve just recalled a conversation I had with an (now dead) very famous artist back in 1995, who thought the grand utopias were dead and future life would be about smaller ones. In some ways he called it right when you look at the endless online/offline communities? But there’s still a hitch; utopias weren’t made for living in, they are an unlivable idea (this includes dystopias too), but perhaps they still worth chasing after nonetheless but we could also keep that in mind? Our real problem (maybe, or at least one of our billions of problems) is how to get along without destroying each other and avoid any absolute thinking and speaking, something that’s not easy and hypocrisy follow us like a spectre? As I’m about to prove…
So its them again. Blooming ManUre, and at Old Toilet. A club and team at this moment, well fallen, yet despite their flirt with the fearful and sulphurous end of the table I’m sure the they will not go down. How would you feel if they did? I suppose its joy enough to see them lingering in the depths though? Could well be that City join them soon?
The Spuds would be a different thing if they were relegated, and ‘orrible as they are, our clashes with them are always an exciting experience? Its still a highlight of the season to play them and St. Totteringham’s day is always a feast day to be celebrated? Of course its always been the same with Utd, I don’t need to go over the endless games, utter classics, barmy battles and both side humiliated.You were there.
I think as Arsenal fans we would like to see the Guns nail this lot for six or seven, especially after the FAC debacle, and other historically difficult results that are still hard to swallow. Trouble is can we do it? If the handbrakes are off and the leash is long enough then sure. I think United will be up for this one though, we seem to bring out some rank and festering pride in them? I can see them relying on the system that saw them win on penalties in the cup, I’m not sure how else they will beat us?
Both clubs are hit with injury problems, but Arsenal seem to be finding a better way of adapting and watching seven goals fly in with only Trossard and Sterling as named strikers is pretty dang exciting, if that sort of thing gets you excited.
ManUre have been given by statto HQ a 19.6% chance of winning and the Mighty Cannon, a 53.4%, which is the highest its been a while.
Well that is it, I’m off as the gravel needs counting on the drive way. Its an art project.
Take care of yourselves. COYG!
Mills