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Harbinger's avatar

The strange reversal of things politically left and right, things culturally conservative and radical; the the dominance of the cacophonic matriarchy over a detumescent patriarchy, and the other current cross-eyed weirdness in our binary vision of things, is of course worthy of analysis against various models. and narratives. However the impact of technological apocalypse may be the most important frame for inquiry of all. This is apparently what is coming: https://www.realvision.com/shows/the-exponential-age/videos/raoul-pal-this-is-the-most-important-interview-in-the-history-of-real-vision-GvbN

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Harbinger's avatar

...apologies if the link is inactive. There are other Youtube items featuring Emad Mostaque. and his work on AI.

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Elias's avatar

keeping us on our toes Ed with those unexpected Sunday Wests!

I was going through that Cool Britannia playlist and I have to admit, music was an important factor (apart from the language, quality of post graduate studies, Greek failed state etc.) that made me want to move to these isles from an early age. Realisation came very quickly though, instead of Radiohead, Bowie and Morrissey, the national soundtrack was more Miley Cyrus, Pitbull and Dj Khaled.

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Ed West's avatar

I should do a piece on Manchester's outsized musical contribution. It seems on paper to be wildly disproportionate to its population.

(Have to admit I haven't even heard of the last two acts you mentioned)

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Howard Ahmanson's avatar

I know about Liverpool, but Manchester? (Or do I just reveal my age when I say that?)

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Elias's avatar

It definitely played a role to portray UK as a “cool” place to be - at least to a teenager in the 90s/00s. I might have lost touch with the current cultural trends but it seems it’s all americanised these days.

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Akiyama's avatar

From the 1960s through to the 2000s there were elements of British popular culture that were cool and sexy. But I can't think of any part of British culture in the last decade that could be described as cool or sexy. As you say, our culture is completely Americanised.

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Schwarzgeist's avatar

I noticed this myself. I'm an Anglophile but nothing that sparked my Anglophilia was made in the 21st century. Everything recent I've seen just seems like American stuff but with British accents.

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Ed West's avatar

that feels true, although I am middle aged.

But maybe American culture is less cool and sexy too?

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Schwarzgeist's avatar

We had that in America in the 90s, too. There was a mini-British Invasion of sorts (Spice Girls, Oasis, Pulp, Simon Cowell, etc.). Mr. Cowell is still a cultural fixture here.

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Toad Worrier's avatar

> HIV is a man-made virus resulting from a disinformation campaign run by the Stasi and the KGB in the 1980s.

This still sounds unlikely, but my priors have shifted.

> Other more insidious elements have adopted parts of the American QAnon philosophy, mixing Covid conspiracies with theories about a secret global government.

This theory is obvious rubbish. The global government was no secret.

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Schwarzgeist's avatar

Ya gotta expand your most-read piece into a book some day like you hinted at before. Lay out what the revolution was and the roots of it (goes back well into the 19th century y'know).

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Ed West's avatar

I have sort of turned into a very long essay which I will look at later in the year. Am also going to send to you and another reader to look at, as promised. Then I plan to run as a series in the new year and someone publisher wants to snap it up is up to them!

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Schwarzgeist's avatar

Oh yeah, I forgot you were going to send it to me. Looking forward to it!

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Aivlys's avatar

I think I'm that other reader! I hope I am, at least!

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Ed West's avatar

yes!

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Basil Chamberlain's avatar

Surely drinking either an espresso or latte in the Scruton Cafe is not really getting into the spirit of things. Any true conservative ought to be drinking something more Habsburg in style! I seem to recall they do have a distinctive style of cappuccino in Vienna, which might fit the bill - reminding us of under whose authority Budapest really was at its best.

I think there's a kind of coffee called a Wiener Melange too... or was "Wiener Melange" the Habsburg equivalent of the American melting pot?

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Nov 17, 2022
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Ed West's avatar

thanks!

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Nov 19, 2022
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Ed West's avatar

Sorry I had already included this when I scheduled the newsletter. I cant remember what your other recommendation was but have it on my maybe for next week. Would have preferred this one to be longer but have man flu (will probably make it, manfully struggling etc)

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Nov 6, 2022
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Ed West's avatar

interesting. there is obviously something to it that you only get in the flesh.

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Nov 6, 2022
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Ed West's avatar

I've expanded that right is the new left article and am going to run as a series in the new year. Appreciate all the links Aidan!

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Ruairi's avatar

This is true- I was radicalised by my ex wife and several ex gfs

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