the modern guide...better lies

So goodbye 2008.
The credit crunch - half the people we never trusted in the first place proved us all right and the the other half bailed them out.
The Olympics - a world sporting event was held in a country with one of the worst human rights records in the world . But it was ok, it all went really smoothly an the UK won a shed load of medals. Its up there with "you know you can say what you want about Stalin/Hitler/Pol Pot etc..,but at least he got the trains running on time"
President Obama got Eelcted - the world breathed a sigh of relief- maybe just maybe.

On a personal note; Nick Sanderson Died - and I'll never see his like again.

There's loads more. But that's about it for me.

Happy New Year from the modern guide

I was stopped in the street yesterday (Christmas Eve) by a raggedy girl of about 19. She was thin with a noticeable bump. Her skin was sallow and eyes pastel pale. She was pretty given half a chance.
She said - "Excuse me I've just arrived in the city I'm 25 weeks pregnant (she rubbed the bump) and I need money for a cup of tea?"
Is this a modern Mary? Was the bump real? Was it nativity themed begging? I don't know if I believed her or not.
But I took the change out of my pocket. There was about a fiver and I gave her the lot.
I walked on feeling bad about not asking her not to spend it on drugs or drink. Then feeling worse about being such a puritan wanker.
Two minutes later there's Romany woman knelt down arms straight out chewed out cellophane cup in hand. I feel worse for not sharing the change.I even consider giving her a note.Ten yards further up there's another woman being moved on by the police for much the same approach. Two boys about the same age as my modern Mary walk by. One comments "that's what I like to see ...get them out...send them home". I think I'll confront them. I don't
Instead I haggle with a flower seller and get three Christmas Bouquets for £25 rather than £30.I buy some stocking fillers for the wife and kids and wonder if she'd bought me the David Holmes album "The Holy Pictures" or should I just buy it myself.
I go home. We wake up. Breakfast and presents, ripped paper and sweet filled stockings. Happy pictures and videos - happy family's.
I keep thinking about Mary, my fiver, the Romanies and the teenage one nationers.
I'd like to see them all in a Christmas miracle.
I'll play that movie in my head today. It beats the TV.
Or maybe I'll just download "The Holy Pictures".
Merry Christmas from the Modern Guide

What with Oliver Postgate dying (sod Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog is where it was at)
and having just re-read the brilliant Paul Auster collection "True tales of American life"
It got me thinking about story tellers and it reminded me of this -
"Stories only happen to people that can tell them".
It's an old quote, I can't remember where I first heard it. If it was my line I'd add ..."and everyone can tell a story".
Stories are all powerful, they comfort and educate us when we're small. They're how we record and share life as we live it. They become the wisdom and memories we pass on and use to keep the cold away when we're old. Now more than ever before there's the means to tell little stories to huge audiences.
When You Tube says "Broadcast Yourself " it's challenging - tell us a story.
Blogs. Social Networks. Idea Sharing . Innovation boards. Stories. Stories. Stories.
I suppose its what people who like to tag things call Web 2.0 .
Its primal. It's drawing on cave walls.
But who would have thought that it could become so democratic.
That so many people would be so great at telling them.
So valuable.
Because now we call it content. And everyone wants good content.
Because everyone knows the power of a good story.

Including me.
So If you've nowhere to send your stories. Send them to the modern guide
- I'm very good at telling them.