Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Professional Wrestling Circus: A Breeding Ground for Conservatism
On April Fools Day, the biggest event of the professional wrestling calendar, Wrestle Mania 23, takes place in Detroit. As such, this is the opportune time to look at an industry that is so political, it is considered more political than the world of party politics itself.Professional wrestling is a dog-eat-dog world that is so cutthroat that there are no trade unions in the industry. The results and some elements of the matches maybe predetermined and choreographed, but the infighting behind the scenes between the wrestlers and the promoters and among the wrestlers themselves is more real than you can imagine. The off-screen feuding, backstabbing and power plays are far more vicious and bloodthirsty than both the on-screen battles and the most bitter grudges in party politics. The wrestling promoters are all corrupt without exception, while nepotism among both the promoters and wrestlers has been running rife since the existence of this dysfunctional circus.
However, despite these problems and others such as rampant drug abuse caused be frequent and relentless injuries, poor pay for 90% of wrestlers in the business and a short life expectancy, the public and Conservative party can learn a lot of positive virtues from this misunderstood industry. Even the laziest wrestler works harder than the average employee does by putting their bodies through such tremendous punishment, that if it occurred in most other working environments, it would cause a public scandal. The wrestlers are expected to be multifaceted performers that are as proficient at acting, public relations and even psychology as they are at what is in effect a form of manual labour. As such, many wrestlers develop into libertarians so fervent in their beliefs, that even Baroness Thatcher would be proud of them and see their trade as a character-building and self-reliant example to the rest of us.
Some of these wrestlers have even made or are in the process of making a successful transition from the wrestling world to the rather calmer environment of party politics. The classic example of this was the surprise 1998 gubernatorial victory of the infamous wrestling icon Jesse “The Body” Ventura in Minnesota. Governor Ventura enjoyed a popular term in office before he decided to stand down in 2003 to prepare the ground for a presidential campaign next year. No doubt, the political influence of retired professional wrestlers will gradually grow during the future within the United States and their conservatism could be as vital for the future of free-market capitalist society as actor Ronald Reagan was in winning the Cold War for the West.
Labels: jesse 'the body' ventura, lycra, politics, wrestling
Monday, March 26, 2007
Behind the scenes: 99 Red Balloons
Last week's budget was accompanied by some rather weird imagery.99 Gordon Brown's releasing 99 red balloons to highlight the 99 stealth taxes that Gordon Brown has imposed in his time as Chancellor.
Look out for a surprise appearance by Richard 'Action' Jackson...
Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams
Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams have grabbed the top jobs in Northern Ireland by being the most extreme choice on either side.How extreme? Observe this particular piece of history in action. Paisley in full flow in his 80's heyday. (CAUTION: viewers from countries outside of Cuba, Zimbabwe and Northern Ireland may find this a bit too much)
Labels: Gerry Adams, Ian Paisley, Ireland, No surrender
Thursday, March 22, 2007
99 Red Balloons
Behind the Scenes Exclusive to Follow!Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Blue Peter in Trouble
Blue Peter has hit a spot of bother by faking the result of a TV phone in.Unable to connect calls from viewers to the studio, the producers of the show decided to ask a visiting child to fake the call instead.
The Blue Peter Presenters have apologised - however, here at Blue Shark we believe that true repentance can only be found at the bottom of a gunge tank.
Cue another excuse to show that fit Irish bird frolicking in a bathtub of purple paint...
Labels: Blue Peter, Gunge, Wet T-shirt competition with a difference
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Nobody Has it Right
Monday, March 12, 2007
Al Gore's Starts an Internet TV Station
Al Gore embarked upon a new project in the UK today, by launching his own internet TV station designed to break the monopoly of the big broadcasting conglomerates.
Why? Two years ago he set out his vision for restoring true freedom of speech to american democracy.
Labels: Al Gore, funny, Internet TV, The Office
Shameless Self Promotion
Ok we all do this once in a while, so forgive me Andrew and Caroline. I'm appearing on 18 Doughty Street tonight at 7pm, on the Up Front programme with Donal Blaney and Simon Maynard to talk about the days events.I have no idea what to expect, and I shall try and be serious instead of my usual crazy manner displayed on Friday Night Live-Ish. Feel free to leave to stinging critiques in the comments after the show.
Blue Shark personnel are infiltrating the blogosphere!
Labels: 18 Doughty Street
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Best That Money Can Supply: Membership of the House of Lords
There were a few eyebrow's raised on Wednesday evening when a 100% elected second chambers was the clear choice of the Commons. "It was a victory for democracy". "It was a result of tactical voting". "The Tories went for the extremes so as to mire Gordon Brown in a Constitutional quagmire when he takes office". "The Labour whips 'suggested' that reforming might lead to loans being recalled". All the skullduggery that brings the best and worst of British politics to the fore.
100%, 80% or even the 50% as proposed but the Labour front bench. Wrong wrong all wrong. The only correct percentage of elected members of the House of Lords is zero. 0%.
Exactly the same percentage as for nominated members.
The 'Cash for Peerages' scandal is not a scandal at all. It simply shows that people tend to forget the bigger picture. They are blinded by ideological hatred and/or simple jealousy. Those left, those right, and that large bunch in the middle. While in theory the idea of a bicameral government is great, in practice it will do us no favours. While the White Paper states that the "primacy" of the Commons will remain, it is rather wishful thinking to assume that the Lords will be a mere "complement" rather than a "rival". With the legitimacy of being elected nothing other than an impasse will result.
It's been eighty years since any government has really understood what is most appropriate. Lloyd George, and his bagman Arthur Maundy-Gregory's, ideas were just a little before their time. The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act of 1925 must be repealed immediately. If not we will be left with a second chamber filled with party hacks, failed MPs and fools. The House of Lords would be nothing more than a political remedial class and a home for the senile.
(by the Blue Shark Copywriters)
Labels: lords
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Erotic Furniture
This will make sense once you listen to Friday Night Live-Ish tomorrow!
More can be seen here
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
MPs vote to increase the grip of party politics
Members of Parliament have taken the historic and entirely unsurprising decision to extend the grip of their own narrow, self-serving party patronages by voting for a 100% elected Upper House, demolishing the prospects for anyone entering public who is not beholden to a small self-serving clique.The writing is on the wall now the the MPs have cast their 'advisory' vote. Say goodbye to principled stands, eloquent speeches, detailed policy scrutiny all at a ridiculously low cost. Say hello to the perma tanned, party whipped, self-serving careerists indulging in sofa politics and professional political hackery.
All because the goverment needed some extra pocket money.
These guys have the right idea, albeit with socks.....
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
An Apology...
It has come to our attention that some Blue Shark fans may have been offended by the comments made in our last edition of Blue Shark Radio's 'Friday Night Live-ish'.We would like to make it clear that Blue SharkTV has no official position on the role of ginger people in public life and would like to issue an apology to anybody* offended by the comments made within the show.
We rely on the goodwill of our listeners and viewers (and the links to the multimedia that they provide) to operate. We hope that this post will go some way to allaying their concerns...
...we hope the video entertains everyone else who has had to read the apology to get this far.
*With the exception of Neil Kinnock, Mick Hucknall, Chris Evans and Ginger Spice
Labels: Apology, carrot tops, Friday Night Live-ish, Ginger nuts
End of Days
Hat tip Dizzy
Labels: leave, Tony Blair
Ann Coulter Makes Controversial Remark
Not big, not clever and definitely not funnny in my opinion
Labels: ann coulter, bigot
Friday, March 02, 2007
Friday Night Live-Ish 1st March
Andrew Young and Sophie Fernandes struggle on in the absence of Crowley and Hunt. Listen to them insult fat kids, northerners, gingers, the welsh and the christian right!Labour's Vision for the Future
Hat Tip: Beau Bo D'OrLabels: Gordon Brown, Labour