http://www.andrewpointon.com Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:42:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It's a few minutes into 2009 and I sit on my sofa back from a New Year's Eve party I attended almost out of a sense of compliance because to be honest I don't particularly enjoy New Year celebrations. However 2008 was such a remarkable year personally that I feel ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2009/01/01/reflections-on-2008 When I was a teenager during the 1980s I was a keen viewer of Channel 4 / Cheerleader's production "American Football" hosted by Nicky Horne. The Sunday night show brought edited highlights of a main game, and a summary of all the action from the rest of the weekend's matches. ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/12/20/jacksonville-jaguars-24-indianapolis-colts-31 Determined to be more than an armchair supporter, a week ago today I started to deliver leaflets for the Green Party. Tonight was my fourth outing, not too far away from the library in Armley. The first street I had to do was a dimly lit back alley, and dispatching ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/12/09/dogged-resistance-on-the-doorstep-but-nhs-deliver-quality-response 30th November, Manchester Evening News Arena: Leonard Cohen in concert. A good way to spend a birthday. I thought so, and thankfully Tina and Dave thought so too, plotting in secret to organise a ticket for me, the wonderful present from Tina. The journey to Manchester from my parents' wasn't ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/12/01/leonard-cohen-is-a-real-birthday-treat I suppose as a Green I should be supporting Green candidate Cynthia McKinney or Independent and environmentalist Ralph Nader in the US Presidential Election. However I am also a pragmatist and I realise that this is a two horse race between Democrat and Republican. Senator McCain once impressed me in ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/11/04/pointon-endorses-obama "Are you Tottenham in disguise?" sang the Stoke fans to the visiting Arsenal fans. Cruel. But the scoreboard above says it all. A most unlikely scoreline, Arsenal's millionaires and artistic expressive talents defeated by determined effort and a more direct approach. A report to follow soon, but for now here's ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/11/03/are-you-tottenham-in-disguise Ok so turning up five minutes before a match might not be the best idea but there were mitigating circumstances. Firstly my Sunderland supporting colleagues and I had to travel down from Leeds after work on a busy motorway network. Moreover the opportunity to get a feed at my parents’ ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/10/30/blunderland Monday evenings have recently turned into an interesting time to settle down in front of the television. I say that as a fan of investigative journalism, and believing it is necessary to hear two sides to a story, especially when powerful forces back one point of view to the extent ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/10/21/182 Considering the global economic crisis that has been unfurling over the last few weeks, I guess it's timely and appropriate that I'm currently reading the so far excellent book "Green Alternatives to Globalisation: A Manifesto" by Michael Woodin and Caroline Lucas. Arguing that globalisation increases poverty, undermines democracy and destroys ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/10/15/globalisation-and-a-green-alternative I'm just on a train heading back from London, browsing the internet courtesy of National Express East Coast's free wifi service for all passengers. I've been to an event at the stunning National History Museum held in the equally impressive Mary Anning Room. While a welcome distraction from the usual ... http://www.andrewpointon.com/2008/10/14/talking-about-a-social-revolution