Disqus - Latest Comments for bounder

Re: Sing for Peace at Highclere Castle

Jon Bounds — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 10:43:15 -0000

Testing

Re: From Cruxwan University to Deep Thought | Beware of the Leopard - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy podcast

Jon Bounds — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 17:57:17 -0000

If anyone is interested in E.R.N.I.E (who may have been the model for Deep Thought) there is this excellent film: https://m.youtube.com/watch...

And this lovely, if odd, website http://www.lightstraw.co.uk...

Re: Hypothetical Netflix TV casting - Marvin | Beware of the Leopard - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy podcast

Jon Bounds — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 04:02:03 -0000

Kenneth Moore, Kenneth Moore, Kenneth Moore.

Re: Christmas poll: shadow cabinet rankings

Jon Bounds — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:20:10 -0000

No Clive Lewis on the list?

Re: Birmingham: you get the culture you deserve

Jon Bounds — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 08:54:11 -0000

Here's a table *see pic* (from a few years ago, but not sure there's a more recent one) that shows just how much harder it is to get people off their arses in Birmingham than on average in the U.K.

From the same document (http://birminghamculture.or... is a qualitative assessment of why that is which includes perceived 'cultural elitism' as one reason for that. Lack of coherent information is another.

It's true that things fail because they don't/can't get out of the circles they exist in. Means they grind to a halt. May be why commercial events (or arts council, grant funded etc) use 'festivals' so much. One offs that can be promoted as 'news' but then don't have to back it up.

It maybe be true that there are things that 'work' but that doesn't mean there isn't a structural problem built in to the system. May be that years of no decent venues (which starting to change) has created a culture where not enough people try things. May be that years of funding and policies geared towards certain large institutions and certain art forms (dance!) have hollowed out base.

I doubt anyone knows, however to dismiss Mark's point is to close your eyes.

look at other cities:
* they have higher attendance rates (see that table)
* they seem to grow things

Could it be lack of criticism? Where are the reviews of events? They might help things get better.

Or maybe it's a lack of a decent media. Which we can all agree on, right? Creative stuff's only outlets treat it as a business. And the loudest voices are inevitably in favour of the status quo.

It's true that the industry part of the creative industries are good at co-opting and recuperating stuff in Bham. Our take on that is here: http://www.contributoria.co...

Re: Brutal, beautiful, battered: we’re losing the war for our soul

Jon Bounds — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 03:38:45 -0000

This was not PFI, which might have been cheaper. The *conservative* council took on debt, paid contractors.

Re: Last-ditch attempt to save Birmingham Central Library

Jon Bounds — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 10:10:26 -0000

Arguments against the retention of this building fall into two camps:

a spurious one about 'flow' of people across the city centre, which will get worse during any redevelopment and at the most no better when the planed dull office blocks are built and open.

a gut 'I don't like it' reaction. While this is as valid as any, it is not overriding. I personally dislike the way the bull ring cuts the city in half and spews bland across the city but I understand that demolition would be costly and pointless as more bland would be put in its place.

Architectural merit not a popularity contest, and a city that is striving to be seen as special cannot afford to dismiss its heritage. This building is special, and it is the history of modern Birmingham

Re: In Labour

Jon Bounds — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 18:46:23 -0000

Cheers Simon, you're right. Have made a tweak, although I don't think it changes JT's thrust thankfully.

Re: Book lack in anger

Jon Bounds — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 02:40:59 -0000

Well, there were plans for better — the original Birmingham Grand Central.

Re: Contributoria launches 'Topics' to allow the public to comission stories

Jon Bounds — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:41:51 -0000

10,000 financial backers - seriously? Most backing is done with free 'points'

Lot's of positive things about the site, that spin either from them or the reporter is not needed.

Re: Disappearing Brum

Jon Bounds — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 13:50:37 -0000

Blimey, things have changed in the last 3 years, well a bit.

Re: B’ham Student Guide: how to avoid students

Jon Bounds — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:00:16 -0000

You gotta look somewhere.

Re: Birmingham in Real TimeBETA

Jon Bounds — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 08:08:34 -0000

yep, check the credits page for as much info about where it came from as we've got. Good luck.

Re: Birmingham in Real TimeBETA

Jon Bounds — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 08:07:53 -0000

Approve.

Re: Help Bill Drummond sue UKIP

Jon Bounds — Fri, 09 May 2014 08:49:20 -0000

I'm in for £10.

Re: 13 ways to solve the Birmingham Council funding crisis without flogging the NEC

Jon Bounds — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 05:10:38 -0000

I've always wondered what one was—can you organise one so we can all find out?

Re: Papal account

Jon Bounds — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 06:51:41 -0000

Thanks for spotting the typo, any factual errors will have to be taken up with God's representative on earth (Danny, obv.).

Re: 101 Things Brum Gave The World. No. 32: The Weather

Jon Bounds — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 08:35:45 -0000

I'm glad that it's that particular inaccuracy you've spotted in this series.

Re: Is Birmingham Happy?

Jon Bounds — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:10:42 -0000

Hi, sorry Twitter have turned off the bit of the API that this used. It may be back, but isn't working right now.

Re: Bill Drummond – The Manager

Jon Bounds — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:05:33 -0000

here it is: http://youtu.be/kcIevkPsmR8

Re: Bill Drummond – The Manager

Jon Bounds — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:19:36 -0000

I think I did. I'll look it out and upload.

Re: Ah, so that’s what it’s called

Jon Bounds — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:49:48 -0000

There's an awful lot of wood around here…

Re: Sparkhill Sound

Jon Bounds — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:49:01 -0000

Thanks for the feedback.

Re: Brummies

Jon Bounds — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:15:20 -0000

I have mate, not with me however. Will have a looksee.

Re: Brummies

Jon Bounds — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:34:52 -0000

From the fashions I'd assumed 80s—wikipedia says 1995 tho'.