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Oh Japan, how do I love thee.
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The beaver is a proud and noble animal
Notes from a bemused canuck
Among those to have raised the most eyebrows is Lord Buckethead, who appeared alongside Theresa May on the podium as results were read out for the Maidenhead constituency. Buckethead, a self-described “intergalactic space lord” whose real name is unknown, won 249 votes in the Berkshire contest. It is not the first time Buckethead has stood against a prime minister – a candidate with the same name took on Margaret Thatcher in 1987 and lost with just 131 votes. He also stood against John Major in 1992. This time around, Buckethead campaigned on a platform of strong but “not entirely stable leadership” and describes himself as enjoying planet-conquering, dominating inferior species, and Lovejoy. His manifesto, he declared after the results had been confirmed, delivered him a “new Buckethead record”. Buckethead’s reappearance on the political scene did not go unnoticed.
While most British people are used to a varied range of candidates, mostly due to the advent of the oddball Monster Raving Loony party, election watchers from further afield were fascinated. Away from Maidenhead, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, had to contend with an unusual opponent in Cumbria’s Westmorland and Lonsdale. Farron held on to his seat with a reduced majority of 777. Adding insult to injury, he was upstaged during his victory speech by Mr Fishfinger, a man dressed as a piece of frozen food. Fishfinger, who changed his name by deed poll to take part in the election, decided to run after an informal Twitter poll found users would rather be led by a fish finger than Farron. He got 309 votes.
It would have been better, but it could have been a lot worse. Voter turn-out was the highest it has been for a general election since 1997.
Jeremy Corbyn said the face of British politics has changed and called on Theresa May to resign after her snap general election left Britain with a hung parliament 11 days before Brexit talks begin. The Labour leader declared: “Politics has changed. Politics isn’t going back into the box where it was before. What’s happened is people have said they’ve had quite enough of austerity politics.” Corbyn said May had called the election to assert her authority. “She wanted a mandate. Well, the mandate she’s got is lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that is enough for her to go.”
There is blood in the conservative water and the sharks are circling. Let the back-biting and finger-pointing frenzy begin!
Vincent’s arresting portraits are built on the assumption that society will always identify with rebels and the gritty underground world of urban subculture. For his latest work he has traveled around the UK visiting barber shops and events to gather material in a setting which transcends social class and makes everyone feel like ‘one of the boys’. These mesmerizing oil paintings evoke emotion, fascination and intrigue about both the backstory and the future of a character. He seeks out moments of tension, and explains: “My paintings are all quite dark, subtle and intense. I’m always imagining there’s something surreptitious going on in a perfectly innocent situation.”
He is heavily influenced by cinematography and its impact on storytelling, believing that by manipulating the composition, light and colour you can completely change the feel of scene.
Katy and I both registered for overseas postal ballots for the upcoming UK general election. It’s no secret that I’m completely fed up with the current Tory muppets and I was really looking forward to being able to do my civic duty. Unfortunately, my ballot got lost in the post. We received Katy’s ballot and got it sent back in time. However, even if I get mine tomorrow, it needs to be received at the electoral office in Saffron Walden by 10pm on the day of the election. Two days from now. Ain’t going to happen.
So, UK peeps, go vote. Even if you’re planning on voting for Tory muppet scum, go vote. It’s your right, and your responsibility, as a citizen.