Who runs the UK? The media? The Government, The mob? Who is more stupid?

2012-02-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

The 4th December 2011, the Nation watches as the Prime Minister engages in what has to be said a rather long act of sexual relations with a pig!

Of course this is the rather twisted world of Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker's baby. By the way Charlie, I loved Dead Set! Anything that gets rid of Davina McCall gets my vote!

In the first episode of Black Mirror, Brooker presents us with a Prime Minister (Cameron) that must engage in sexual intercourse with a pig or a Royal Princess will die (Kate). Of course the PM's office will do everything in their power to ensure he need not engage in a loving act with Betty the Pig. (just a name, it has no significance!) After the PM's office have literally "cocked" up a potential saving grace the country goes into orbit over twitter, the news channels and that book face site thing. The PM ultimately does his duty and has sex with the pig, of which is televised live to the entire country and of course everyone piles in front of televisions, fills pubs, congregate in front of any set they are near to watch the spectacle. The vast amusement soon turns to horror and disgust but by this point its too late....................................

Quite clearly the point of this is not the fact Brooker managed to get sex with a pig on our screens, although quite an achievement, the might behind Black Mirror National Anthem is mob rule, the tyranny of the masses, the manipulation of the media and the great unwashed. This truly unthinkable act for the premier very soon becomes a reality after any choice is removed by the baying for blood media, the masses and the darling of technology, social networking.

Whilst this may be a wonderful piece of writing, direction and acting, Black Mirror was always intended to be more. Black Mirror was intended to show the ugly side of the collective.

How much does it take for an individual to be egged on? or rather more bullied into acting?

Multiply that that by a million, and that is still a fraction of the power that sits with the masses, don't get me wrong I am a total Twitter whore, I constantly check my follower number and prostitute for more coverage. I love to feel people will see what I think, what I want to say and what I want to broadcast, but why? Who am I to be broadcast? The reality is I hold power along with the bookfacer, the blogger and the television viewer.

The issue is that the power that the blogger, the tweeter, the reader, and crucially the viewer collectively holds a unprecedented amount of power. This power is then manipulated by the media for monetary gain.

Its very easy to forget we delegate powers to members of parliament to make decisions on our behalf, democratic representation was developed because the masses were unable to make decisions that were for the greater collective good. Emotion gets in the way and logic is tossed out the 3rd floor window. Granted in the last few years the MP's have been the most phenomenal let-down and have taken us for everything bar HBOS, but essentially we delegate our individual power to them to make decisions on our behalf. Therefore what is wrong with this reality is the fact that the mob, the masses manipulated by the media are able to influence and direct the cabinet and even the head of state.

The news media has a mandate to report the news, not create it , however as news has become literally the new pornography, newscasters, channels, anchors and reporters have become the new national darlings all aiming for the next big scoop. The BBC our national broadcaster, the voice we should look to in the event of a national disaster hosts Robert Peston, the man who it could be argued influenced and contributed the collapse of RBS, HBOS and Northern Rock. Over 200,000 people read his city blog each morning pre trading? tell me that there is no influence on the markets? Should this be allowed on the national broadcaster funded so uniquely by you and I! In fact who trusts the BBC any longer? Egomania has taken over so we cannot even trust what is reported by the broadcaster we are forced to pay for if we have TV in our a homes! Something has gone seriously wrong auntie! I really cannot single out the Beeb, I must address more ghastly entities. Bear with me whilst I attempt to type this, tis no easy task..... Murdoch, and the News International brands along with the Daily Fail, and many, many more vile "news reporting" things! The clue is there, report, not create. But no egotistical freaks are set out to twist, spin and manipulate the truth the make money and further careers. At who's expense? Ours, liberty's truth's, the future! As if we cannot deal with this then we are set to experience this hysteria more and more and it can only be destructive to society. Need I even mention the riots of last summer?

Mob rule, has advanced in almost infectious ways, through the media and social networking and is only set to increase. How long is it until we are forced to make an irrational unbalanced decision that brings considerable ramifications for the entire country, not just an individual, a newspaper or a bank....

Do we not place power with those who hold our best intentions dearest?

But who holds the power and the legitimacy?

The ballot box?

The news channel?

The tabloid?

To be continued...............

My first trip urban exploring - The Derelict Asylum

2011-05-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

As a geek I have a interest in pretty much everything! And of course that interest goes into orbit if if I am doing something I shouldn't!

Over the last year or so I have been reading about derelict hunters or urban explorers. Basically its an interest in our mark on this earth, so akin to buildings from the industrial age that are abandoned or derelict. This truly sends my geeks sensors into a frenetic spin. So my first weekend after my exams I jump on the trusty motorbike and head out to the site of a disused asylum in Surrey.

"take nothing but photographs,

leave nothing but footprints"

Ladies and Gents this is Cane Hill Asylum

Cane Hill was a psychiatric hospital in Coulsdon. Built to care for patients in the eastern part of Surrey, it opened in 1882 as the Third Surrey County Lunatic Asylum. Following a gradual winding down of operations, it closed all but its secure unit by late 1991. It formerly housed up to 2,000 patients, but with care in the community and modern medication it was almost empty by the time of its closure.

During its lengthy period of operation, many notable patients passed through the doors of Cane Hill - these include Charlie Chaplin's mother, and the brothers of Michael Caine and David Bowie. Bowie's album The Man Who Sold The World featured the administration block of Cane Hill on its sleeve.

(facts come from Wikipedia, I cannot take credit for knowing this much)

As I take a turn off from the main road and head onto a dirt track with the first sign advising me that I am entering private property the air already feels eerie (ok... my rather over-active imagination!)

Following the dirt track the first sign of the old asylum the sign post directing visitors to the wards and facilities

Before I continue I must add that I understand from other explorers that Cane Hill has been demolished to quite a considerable extent. So this blog is what's left I am afraid. Hey its my first one, hardly going to trip over Birkenau!

So continuing down the road network that is the outer perimeter of the asylum. Rather better secured than I imagined ;)

The first pictures are of the chapel.

As you can see the chapel has been boarded up quite extensively since its closure in 1991.

The following shots are of the secure unit, which was the last part of the hospital to close in 2008. First two taken from the top of a fire exit on the wardens building.

The fencing around the secure unit enclosed an exercise yard / garden.

Inside the secure unit's garden

The exterior of the secure unit

From the signs I work this out to be the domestic building.

There are massive areas that are just rubble now, from what I understand a massive amount of buildings and wards have been reduced to dust in the last few years.

One remaining building that stands proud is the old water tower

The tower in all its glory! hard to imagine it was surrounded by a vast array of buildings and wards!

Rather strange opening!

The shame!

The chapel

The well secured exterior

The administration building- or whats left!

The water tower

Admin building

The chapel point against a grumbling sky

More of the admin building

The wardens building by the secure unit, a lot of it being reclaimed by nature!

This is the road running up to the secure unit, it seemed like music appeared from nowhere to say why on earth would you go up there! ..............ok the over active imagination again!

The site as it stands

The outer perimeter

Domestic block

The trip to Cane Hill Asylum was fantastic, not only did I shoot some history I experienced our history that is soon to be wiped from this earth. At time it did feel eerie but the majority was pure excitement. I cannot wait to document my next site.

I hope you enjoy reading / viewing as much as I did shooting.

Yes, its a disappointing I didn't not get Cane Hill in its former glory but as a starting point I am proud of my first outing.

Please feel free to leave feedback and comments.

Kindest regards

R

At no point do I confirm that I was trespassing or anywhere I should not be, I do not condone trespassing or encourage it, just in case they ask!

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Ryanesq

Who runs the UK? The media? The Government, The mob? Who is more stupid?

My first trip urban exploring - The Derelict Asylum