10 x 10 # 2 – Best TV of the decade…

Day Two of my Top Tens for 2010 – looking back at some of the best TV I’ve consumed during the noughties – in no particular order:

• The Inbetweeners – British comedy at its finest
• Lost – still loving the island adventures
• Rescue Me – Truly brilliant scripts
• The Office – US is good, but original UK is the best
• House – Hugh Laurie, completely reinvented
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – a daily dose of reality
• Spooks – Britain spies never looked so real
• Doctor Who – aimed for children, loved by grownups
• Mad Men – if I could be in one of these, this would be it
• Californication – Hank Moody is my hero

What has kept you locked to the TV this decade?

10 x 10 – Best Gigs of the decade…

Well, everyone is doing it – so I have to join in – I’m finishing the decade with 10 top ten lists – today, I’m reminiscing on the best gigs I saw during the decade:

• Ian Brown @ Reading – October 2007
• Elbow @ Porchester Hall, London – February 2008 (the first airing of tracks from The Seldom Seen Kid)
• The Dears @ Astoria – July 2005 (honourable mention to The Dears at the Electric Ballroom in 2004)
• Morrissey @ the Roundhouse – January 2008
• The Editors @ Showbox in Seattle – February 2008 (honourable mention to Brixton Academy, but this was a small venue and great sound)
• Leonard Cohen @ O2 London – July 2008 (a lifetime ambition fulfilled)
• Damien Rice @ Reading – July 2007 (but not at Brixton a year earlier)
• Muse @ Wembley – June 2007 (Crap seats – venue too big, but great show)
• Depeche Mode @ Wembley – April 2006
• Stephen Fretwell @ London – September 2005 (with Liam Frost in support)

(in no particular order)

What were your favourite gigs of the decade?

Sunday Inspiration #9

A crisp cold Sunday morning here in Maidenhead, with only a few days to go until Christmas – time for some inspiration – first up, some beautiful music from Yael Naim, a track called The Only One with a video made by Readymade FC. And then onwards and upwards with some inspirational links.

• Letters of Note – such a simple concept, reprinting some fantastic letters from brilliant (and sometimes ordinary) writers. My particular favourite (which draws me back time after time) is this masterpiece from JD Salinger – which could very be my favourite letter of all time.
• A fantastic slideshow of vintage Los Angeles photographs taken by Ansel Adams – previously unseen and found via Kottke.Org
• As the year and the decade comes to an end – there will be thousands of top-10 lists (indeed this blog will have some – starting tomorrow) – but the authority on compiling the music lists has to be largehearted boy who puts together massive lists of the end of year (and decade) charts. I find these places great resources to find out about music I may have missed.

What is inspiring you today?

Friday Hero Speaks #6 – Authenticity

“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.” – Jack Kerouac

When I think of all the high achievers I admire, one of the things they have in common is that they are authentic. The quality that makes them trustworthy and genuine is plain to see. Even if you don’t agree with every action, their authenticity allows you to make a judgement based on their intentions as well as the outcomes.

Sunday Inspiration #8

 
Sunday afternoon inspiration this week – I’ve been out Clay Shooting, and back home to the comfort of a warm house with lovely smells from the kitchen. Time for some Sunday inspiration, which this week I will suggest an accompaniment from Mott the Hoople – Sea Diver, a beautiful song, head over to You Tube, start this up and then come back for a couple of nice inspirational links.

• Famous Actors in Famous Roles -  great photography, and in some cases some very subtle triggers of the original movie role. I love this photoset of great actors reminding you of the roles that made them famous.
• French children books of the 1930’s and 40’s – beautiful design and typography make these scans of vintage childrens books an absolute treat for the eye. (found via Mefi), also some later books scanned and online at Wardomatics Flickr.

What’s giving you inspiration this week?

Friday Hero Speaks #5 – Self Development…

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." – Muhammad Ali

As Nicholas Bate said this week – for phenomenal success you need persistence. Always be improving yourself and your chances of success in whatever you choose, can only grow.

What keeps you fighting?

A hero speaks #4 – time management…

I confess, I do not believe in time. – Vladimir Nabokov

I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that time management is a myth – task management is where we should be focused. Validating the task, planning the task and executing the task – if it’s righteous, then it doesn’t matter how long it takes.

Focus on whether the task is the right thing to do – not how long it will take.