MIND GAMES I
Re: All in the mind (456)
Your ‘All in the mind' analysis of Beckham. Jackson et al was a work of genius. Just great. What a laugh.
And getting a host of world leaders to share their thoughts on Bowling for Columbine (like hell you did) was inspired too. Tom Allen via email
MIND GAMES II Re: Hills are alive (456) I'm puzzled by Tony Sandy's letter about meditating at Loch Ness. When he says he saw ‘the opposite bank transform itself into a totally different shape to the one it usually possesses' is he saying that he believes it really did change shape or just that his perception made it seem so? If it‘s the former, then I'd Suggest he‘s been meditating too much and might even need medical help. If it's the latter. well. our eyes and our brains can always play tricks on us. Is he wondering if they play tricks in similar ways from one person to the next? Annie Parsons via email
TAXING THOUGHT Firemen’s dispute
In the light of the firemen's strike. I feel moved to write about the plight of myself and my fellow colleagues. We are perhaps the most hated brand of office workers in the UK: the Inland Revenue.
This is an organisation which sees fit to pay its employees resident in London more. simply because the cost of living down there is higher. This I do not dispute. but the pleas of myself and my fellow union colleagues to reassess Our own wages and up them accordingly have fallen on deaf ears. We have been offered a lousy pay deal for two years running, forced through against the wishes of our union. the PCS. simply because the board does not negotiate properly with us and throws us
2 THE LIST 12 Dec 2002-3 Jan 2003
React, The List,
14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE
or React, The List,
Letters
at the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD
or email react@|ist.co.uk
instead the breadcrumbs it knows we cannot turn down.
Many people have criticised the firemen for going out on strike for a decent wage. Watercooler wisemen mutter under their breath 'greedy bastards'. Yet. these people are the first to come to union representatives such as myself and complain they're not getting paid enough.
I offer my full support and respect to the firemen in the hope that it inspires others. Jonathan Robert Muirhead via email
JOIN THE CLUB
Re: Devil may care (456)
I agree with David O'Connor. The people who complain that life's boring are invariably the ones who don't make the effort to seek out all the interesting stuff. They latch onto a club or a band only when it’s hitting the mainstream and inevitably within a month or two they're finding it tedious. If they only listened when publications such as The List tried to draw their attention to something new. they wouldn't have cause to moan.
That said. I‘m off to Vegas for a night of mainstream fun. Vicky Mason via email
TALKING ROCK
Re: Shop’n’roll star
Braehead Arena? Oasis? What
was Ian McKeown expecting? Come to think of it. what
were Oasis expecting?
Del Bryan
via email
FLOORED PERFORMANCES Live Floor Show Please help!! I cannot watch yet another dull. inexperienced comic on The Live Floor Show. Greg McCue was awful. Colin Ramone was dull and nervous and Andrew Maxwell was utterly patronising. Tell the BBC to stop putting people off live comedy. Looking forward to seeing some of the excellent Stand
female comics on the show: surely they will reinstate my faith in live comedy.
Mary Glasgow
via email
FOR THE RECORD Re: Echo beached (457)
Is this really so hard to son Out? Can't someone just tell us straight what the deal is? Is it — as is repeatedly claimed — that better access to music. via the internet etc. tends to generate interest in music and increase sales or is it — as your men from Echo record shop claim — that illegal downloading of music is putting them Out Of business?
I think it's a great shame that Echo has had to close. but are they certain that it's the internet that has beaten them out of business? I mean. shops come and go all the time and there are all sorts of reasons for it.
I don't see that the argument is any different from the old ‘home taping is killing music' line that the Musicians Union used to bang on about. We've all taped songs off the radio and the record industry has only got more wealthy (witness the recent payday bonanza for Robbie Williams).
It‘s true that the Quality of digital copying is higher than your old tapes of the Top 40.
but in my experience. hearing new music only makes me want to hear more of it. And for that. I'm happy to pay.
But that's just me. It strikes me that there are too many vested interests in this discussion to get a straight answer. The music biz always wants bigger profits and yOU can't blame a small record shop for feeling aggrieved when it goes out of business. But what's the truth?
John Lynch via email
GIFT HORSE WANTED
Re: Christmas crackers (456)
I thought yOu put together a great selection of gift ideas in your Christmas shopping feature. New I really want my own inflatable chill-out room. I don't have a spare £389 to afford one. though. so if anyone who knows me — and really. really likes me — is reading this. please club together and get me one. Mandy Black
vra email
DID WE GET IT WRONG?
Occasionally we might get something wrong or miss something out. If so please tell us. Email editorCailistcouk
And we'll keep you drinking.
A new year and a new best friend. We've chummed up to the lovely people at Sol who are so impressed with your letters they want to reward you for your efforts. As of our next issue. out Thursday 2 January. the best letter of the fortnight will earn its writer an all too drinkable case of Sol Beer. And there” be another case every fortnight after that.
Because of the Christmas holidays. letters need to reach us for the next issue by Wednesday 18 December. So get writing.
THE LETIER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE
A CASE OF SOL BEER
Li'sf
GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH
evens cum: V CONTRIBUTORS
Publisher & General Editor Robin Hodge Editor Mark FiSIIC‘.’
EDITORIAL
Deputy Editor
Brian Donaldson Assistant Editors Maureen EIIIS. Miles Fielder. Mark Robertson Research
Helen Monaghan (Art). Maureen Ellis (Comedy 8 Sport). Henry Nonhrriore (Film 8. Rock). Anna Millar (City Life. Dance & Theatre). Ruth Hedges (Classical. Folk. Jazz 8. KldSI
SALES AND MARKETING
Sales & Sponsorship Director Amanda Mungall Media Sales Support Barbara Crichton Senior Media Sales Executives Gordon Eldrett 8. Caro: FergLISOn
Media Sales Executive Rachel Shields Promotions Manager Sheri Friers PRODUCTION
Art Director
Krista Kegel-Dixon Production Manager Simon Armin Production Assistants Lucy Reeves.
Graham Clouston Subeditor Richard
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette RenWick Accounts Assistant Manager Donna Taylor Reception Suzannah McMicking
Edinburgh Office Diana Dignan
Glasgow Office
Jane Hamilton,
Elaine Graham
New Projects Director Mhairi Mackenzie Robinson IT Andy Bowles
SECTION EDITORS Art Helen Monaghan Books Brian Denaldson City Life Anna Millar. Jane Hamilton
Clubs Henry Northmore (With Johnny Regan) Comedy Maureen EIIIS Comics Miles Fielder Dance Kelly Apter
Film Miles Fielder
Food Barry Shelby Games lain Davidson Gay Jane HamiitOn Internet Brian DonaIdSOn Kids Ruth Hedges Music Mark RobertSOn (With Norman Chalmers. Carol Main, Kenny Mathieson & Fiona Shepherd)
News Ruth Hedges Shopping Maureen Ellis Sport Maureen Ellis Television Brian Donaldson Theatre Steve Cramer Travel Anna Millar Video/DVD Miles Fielder