The Politics of EATB

[Voodoo Billy]

At least I can add up.

You are living in some fantasy land where a £10 bet will get you £65 on the conversion from $10.00 US - it is more like £16.

I was joking. Where do you get the £16 from though, unless she was giving me odds of 8/5 ?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Which is maybe why they should cancel due to political unrest in the region and the travel warnings that have been recently upgraded for travelling to Israel.

Not by the UK's FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office), just warns against travel to Gaza. But then our old ministry of funny walks is usually slow with travel advice compared to the US State Department. I think when the US, Australia and France warned against travel to Egypt during the recent unrest, the FCO was still saying, yeah go, have a lovely time and make sure you bring us back one of those stuffed toy camels and silly Fez hats they sell over there.

[morty]

I was joking. Where do you get the £16 from though, unless she was giving me odds of 8/5 :confused: ?

£16 = $10.00 US

I didn't take notice of the odds . . .

Then it is I who cannot add up as well as being the dreamer.

Highly likely I am guilty of both as I am still in Australia and have been staying up to watch the football live at 3 in the morning here.

Am considering moving here for good but back to UK for summer.

[morty]

Not by the UK's FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office), just warns against travel to Gaza. But then our old ministry of funny walks is usually slow with travel advice compared to the US State Department. I think when the US, Australia and France warned against travel to Egypt during the recent unrest, the FCO was still saying, yeah go, have a lovely time and make sure you bring us back one of those stuffed toy camels and silly Fez hats they sell over there. :confused:

Yes I noticed that the UK was still saying it's fine to travel to Egypt at that time - how embarrassment as they say.

Even Smart Traveller has a high caution on Israel I notice but there is always caution in Gaza as you say.

Who knows what the hell is going to happen.

I had just left Christchurch in NZ before the earthquake hit so am becoming increasingly paranoid of travel anywhere as I was going to stop over in Japan when heading back to UK . . . Not.

[Kounelaki]

£16 = $10.00 US

Um, $10.00 US=£6.16

[morty]

Um, $10.00 US=£6.16

This would be due to my dyslexia with figures I get back to front more often than not.

The conversion baffles me - especially after a few bevvies.

You should see my face when I think I have made on the deal when switching currencies in Asia only to find that I have spent a fortune.

[moses (2)]

At this precise moment in a time and certainly next month, I would actually be quite willing to get on a plane to Israel, other than the occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza), but would, obviously, be on my guard. Maybe in a year or two who knows. There is a constant threat of terrorism in Tel Aviv, especially in public places, but that risk is always there.

Besides, as far as I know in regards to the place the Bunnymen are/were due to play in Tel Aviv is only a short distance from Ben Gurion International Airport. So assuming there is any risk, fairly easy to get in and out. Anyway, I doubt there is a risk directly to the band themselves given the protests seem moreso to be coming from people sitting at their computers in the relatively safety of downtown New York.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do cancel, seems to be a lot of hassle and they don't appear to be one of these bands that would do it just to say fuck off, we just want to play to our Israeli fans - or later tomorrow there would be a live broadcast on the Bunnymen website of Mac standing on the steps outside Bunnymen HQ flanked by Will, Pete, Peasey and a strange man in a suit to announce to the world's media "The Bunnymen officially declare that they are not playing Tel Aviv as a political statement of our dislike of the Israeli regime and its policy towards the Palestinian people. Yeah. free Nelson Mandela!" - perhaps when they were younger. Problem is these protestors will think that they won a victory and claim that it was political activism that got the Bunnymen to cancel, no doubt writing messages on facebook saying how right they are not to support the Israeli government and shit like that. Guess at least it'd eventually get them off their backs.

they could play Bombers Bay on the night

I have been to Israel and there is no need to stay in Swanky Hotels to avoid seeing the above - and in case anyone gets all shirty I have no desire to return to the country....

anyway isn't the bunnymen a band who do not get involved in politics -- if they where they would not play in any of the following countries -

Germany
USA
Ireland
UK
Japan
France
Italy

Jesus this list could go on and on

[Ivan]

so, it's afternoon in the UK - press release come out yet?

Free speech is great, but I would bet most of the people posting to the Bunnymen's FB page haven't ever listened to the band. I understand the message, I may agree with the message... but the campaign is fucking annoying.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Nowt on the Israel gig. But they say they will make an announcement about the coming UK September Ocean Rain in its full entirety once in a lifetime gigs... hang on...

They say they will make an announcement about the UK Ocean Rain Seen It Before tour. Six fantastic venues in six cities. I'm told that the Islington Women's Institute branch at the Islington Community Centre is right now eagerly awaiting for news as to whether it has been picked to be one of the lucky venues to hold this historic event. They are more excited about this than a planned street party to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Willie and Kate Ra-Ra Jolly Hockey Sticks Sexy See-through Dress.

[crystal89]

Totally agree with that Ivan,

Most people on FB have probably never heard
of The Cutter, or KIlling Moon, just NLF, which gets
played endlessly at festivals. At this rate BOTDH
will acquire massive hit status before too long.

As for the Israel thing, fuck it who cares what some self-righteous
pricks think!! If they want to play there, and there's an audience
that want to see them, and many there won't see them ever again,
then they should go.

then people would wax lyrical about, a fan pleasing greatest hits tour,
rather than moan endlessly about a fan pleasing greatest hits tour.

[Voodoo Billy]

As for the Israel thing, fuck it who cares what some self-righteous
pricks think!! If they want to play there, and there's an audience
that want to see them, and many there won't see them ever again,

What exactly do you mean by 'many there won't see them ever again'? Are you aware of some huge episode of impending doom that is about to afflict the Israelites?

[crystal89]

Billy, I think you know what I mean.

But for those without intelligence, it simply meant
that the Bunnymen will probably not play in Israel
again, whereas we can look forward to UK Tours
for many years to come.

I do not subscribe to this 21/12/12 nonsense.

Pile of pish.

[Ivan]

Are you aware of some huge episode of impending doom that is about to afflict the Israelites?

Jesus is the Son of God. He's coming back. And he's pissed at the Jews.

[Voodoo Billy]

Jesus is the Son of God. He's coming back. And he's pissed at the Jews.

If they do a movie of this one I think Clint Eastwood should play him. Better be quick though.

[Ivan]

If they do a movie of this one I think Clint Eastwood should play him. Better be quick though.

I think it should be Robert Downey Jr. - with Iron Man-like Jesus powers, but without the suit