Old, new, borrowed and, occasionally, blue. (intro and disclaimers)*

Hmm, where to start?

Much of the work on this blog is work in progress, experimental or thinking out aloud if you like. As such it has the odd flaw and can be fragmentary. It is something of an adventure and perhaps self indulgent but that is down to an individual's perception. It is based on an attempt to understand the world and play a part in putting it right. After all, isn't that what politics ought to be about?

This blog was going to be named allsorts of things - Frontline, Mainline, Streamline (unlikely), Work in progress (1), oh,woe is me!, passtheviolin, thekidsallneedbrandnewmobiles, Man o' letters, Go fuck yourselves, it could all bellyflop . . . but then what's in a name? (2).

'Frontline' was an original theme for reasons that may become apparent. Maybe it reflects something of the boy who never quite grew up - still playing at 'japs and commandoes', perhaps. It was specifically chosen as despite the obvious capacity for destruction, much can be learnt from war. More than diplomacy by other means it reveals plenty. In this case the 'war' being fought is a Battle of Ideas.

If nothing else the aim is to prick, spike or bloodily impale a degree of consciousness (perhaps if only for myself). Nothing is claimed for expertise, excellence or originality; ideas are picked up, modified, ran with, attacked and shelved. If you see anything you feel struck by then feel free to use/abuse as you see fit.



This blog takes over from the long-time defunkt ww.frontline-online.org website. Originally set up to make something of a stand for the ordinary, long-suffering Joe public and named 'Frontline' as it is us that bears the brunt of Government policy and the interests of capital, be it in industry or at time of war, always expected to follow orders without question and to make up the shortfall of a decrepit system.

I've left it a bit late in the evening to start proper so this guff will have to do.

On a more serious note I highly recommend a visit to www.spiked-online.com, www.WORLDwrite.org.uk and www.audacity.org, in an uncertain world these people have some serious comments to make.


Regards, Mark.


Disclaimers

(1) On a return to Kenan Malik's website I found his 'Work in progress' blog which likely played some subliminal role in these ramblings. Other elements of 'my' work seem to indicate a direct borrowing of ideas which was not intentional in this case even though there are no qualms in doing so.
I even shelved his book 'Man, Beast and Zombie' part read as too many phrases occured that I'd been using. Although I'm sure he doesn't lay claim to originating phrases or words the regular coincidences became startling.

As much as it would be nice to claim great minds thinking alike Kenan Malik is in an entirely different league to myself. And this is a poor excuse for not finishing his book, although l think some of it did rub off. Amongst many other things it was Malik's Channel 4 documentary (3) re boundaries that inspired me to stand in the elections. l never got around to addressing Phil Mullan's work regarding pensions and the gearing to productivity (amongst too many other things) but that was also a prime mover (4). Though neither are responsible for my mistakes or whether any of it was the right thing to do.

See http://www.kenanmalik.com/work_in_progress/index.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0753812959/qid=1126777180/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2821967-4595869

(2) Turns out that the good old family name of 'Harrop' has its origins in the Danish 'Arup'* as in Ove Arup, the Engineer. As much as I'd like to lay claim to something of the spirit of this fascinating man any traits are entirely superficial. Although some comfort comes from the fact that he was apt to wander off mid sentence . . . . .
http://www.arup.com/DOWNLOADBANK/download5.pdf
(*Somehow, in Yorkshire, an 'aitch' 'as been added).

Genetics, huh? Not really - I'm as much influenced by the tale of distant relatives on my mother's side who walked from Scotland to Yorkshire to find work and a home.

Grapes of wrath?

cut and paste
(3)Let 'em all inhttp://www.kenanmalik.com/essays/immigration_times.html
(4)http://www.spiked-online.com/Search/Search-HTML.asp?q1=pensions&c1=%40all&c2=%40epx_section_contentspage&SortBy=nitf_daterelease%5Bd%5D&q2=

*and occasionally puerile. However, if it was good enough for Charles Levi then it'll do for me . . . sometimes. Humanising idols - See/read Karl Marx by Francis Wheen