alec smart profile picture

alec smart

I'll ask questions first and shoot you later..

About Me

Reside in the U.K., having immigrated from Sydney, Australia, in 1990. I work as a photojournalist and a features writer.===================================================== ============================================Have liaised with loads of fascinating and inspiring characters from the world of entertainment and war - often the two are indistinguishable! Currently, I contribute to, and edit, arts and entertainment magazines in Southern England, writing features on music, travel, films and theatre and interviewing bands/performers.=========================================== ============================================================ ============================================================ ===============================I also freelance as a photographer, covering local news, live music, performing arts, wildlife, plus riots, parties and occasional weddings as well as foreign assignments.Tempted to return home to Australia, but I have large portions of the world to explore, and several civil wars to participate in, so that might be postponed for the forseeable future.===================================================== ============================================ ============================================================ =====================================Some video footage of mine was included in the documentary film 'The Corporation', which toured the world and won a host of awards. It featured a ten-minute segment of 'eco-warriors' Earth-First! visiting Shell petroleum director Mark Moody-Stewart at his Sussex home. Despite their intention to cause a little 'mischief', they ended up exchanging reasoned debate and enjoyed a picnic on his lawn when Mrs Moody-Stewart came out with a tray of coffee and biscuits!=================================================== ==============================================

My Interests

Photography, reading, writing, music, cycling, travel, swimming, scuba diving, movies, sailing, dancing, revolution - though not necessarily in that order.. =========================================================== ===========================================================


Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting

I'd like to meet:

Some of the most interesting or inspiring characters I can think of I've already been priviledged enough to interview and/or meet: campaigning comedian Mark Thomas; South African acapella troupe Ladysmith Black Mambazo; folk legends Billy Bragg, Eric Bogle, Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Ralph McTell and Eliza Carthy; punkers Anti-Flag, Charlie Harper (UK Subs), Captain Sensible and Breed 77; contemporary pop stars Razorlight and The Zutons; seminal rock bands Madness and The Jam; dancer Ian Waite; opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa; comedians Shazia Mirza, Emo Philips, Gina Yashere, Robin Ince, Pam Ann and Phil Nichol; jazz-fusion pioneers Femi Kuti and Soweto Kinch; alt. folk-rockers Hayseed Dixie and The Levellers; singer Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet); politicians Gerry Adams and the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat; and loads of authors, musicians and actors. Never a dull moment, folks!====================================================== ============================================================ ============================================================ ============================================================ ============================================================ ============================================================ ================================== I was one of the last people to interview 1960's pop crooner Gene Pitney, in April 2006, two weeks before his UK tour, where, sadly, he died of a heart attack. Luckily, not all of my interviewees pass on this way.======================================================== =========================================I enjoy conversing, drop me a line and we can exchange plans for world domination...

Music:

Everything from World Music (African and Middle-Eastern, particularly) to the adrenaline and ideology of Hardcore Punk, with folk (Celtic, especially), rock, classical, pop, ska and metal thrown into the mix. Check out my friends..

Movies:

(Alphabetically) Almost Famous, American Beauty, Apocalypse Now, Betty Blue, Blood Diamond, Breakfast Club, Catch Me If You Can, Citizen Kane, Constant Gardener, Crash, The Dancer Upstairs, The Departed, Donnie Darko, Gosford Park, The Green Mile, Hotel Rwanda, Jacobs Ladder, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Koyaanisqatsi, Life of Brian, Little Children, Magnolia, Man Bites Dog, Master and Commander, Mean Girls, Meaning of Life, Minority Report, Mon Oncle, My Life as a Dog, North by Northwest, Pirates of the Caribbean, Quiet American, Rumble Fish, Tailor of Panama, (and all these ones that start with 'S') Spirited Away, Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, Schindler's List, Seven Samurai, The Shining, Short Cuts, Silence of the Lambs, Spirited Away.. + any wildlife documentary involving David Attenborough.

Television:

I don't have time to watch any TV.

Books:

WRITERS: John Le Carre, Tim Winton, Thomas Keneally, Raymond Carver, George Orwell, Robert Fisk, Germaine Greer, Graham Greene, Noam Chomsky, Kate Adie, Ronan Bennet, David Attenborough and John Pilger. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Leonard Freed, Roger Bamber, Glen E. Friedman, Donna Ferrato, Dan Cheung, Lucy Nicholson. CARTOONISTS: Gary Larson, Herge, Patrick Cook, Goscinny, Robert Crumb, Martin Rowland, Steve Bell.

Heroes:

I'm working on becoming one, for my teenage son, Asher.====================================================== ===== =========================================================== SELECTION OF FILM CLIPS TO DISTRACT YOU, ENJOY! - ===========================================================T he inimitable David Attenborough, with a popular highlight from his TV series of a lyrebird that imitates kookaburras... and chainsaws.================================================== ========= ===========================================================W hile on the subject of David Attenborough: Not the Nine O'Clock News comedy sketch 'Gerald the gorilla', on a scientist's interraction with a gorilla he has domesticated..============================================== ============= ===========================================================S urreal cartoon 'Spirited Away'; the Japanese Studio Ghibli aren't in the same technical league as the Americans but their imaginative stories animate the pants off Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar.====================================================== ===== ===========================================================E xcerpts from the documentary 'The Corporation', examining the global power of corporations.=============================================== ============ ===========================================================' Sorrow' by veteran Californian punk rockers Bad Religion.=================================================== ======== ===========================================================C lassic pink paint scene from start of French film Betty Blue======================================================== === ===========================================================M edley of quips from late, great comedian Bill Hicks.====================================================== ===== ===========================================================A USTRALIAN SECTION:==================================================== ======= ===========================================================' I Was Only 19' by folk band Redgum, about Australia despatching troops to fight in the Vietnam War, and its consequence on two young soldiers.=================================================== ======== ===========================================================N atalie Imbruglia's international hit 'Torn' (written by American band Ednaswap), mimed by comedian David Armand at the 2006 Secret Policeman's Ball benefit for Amnesty International. Wait until Natalie comes onstage to join in!========================================================= == ===========================================================' Blue Sky Mining' by Midnight Oil; song about Western Australian asbestos mining town Wittenoom, closed and evacuated after residents were afflicted with severe respiratory diseases.=================================================== ======== ===========================================================' No Word from China', punky-pop by Sydney band Pel Mel from 1981, the heyday of guitar-based Aussie pub bands - before gambling machines took over as pub 'entertainment'.============================================ =============== ===========================================================S ince 1945, the USA has tried to depose the rulers of over 50 countries. Campaigning Australian journalist John Pilger's 2007 documentary about America's ongoing war on democracy.================================================== ========= ===========================================================' Australiana', Austen Tayshus' 1983 comedy sketch spoofing Australian mannerisms, with puns on place names and familiar expressions.================================================ =========== ===========================================================' Don't Tear it Down', 1989 song by Sydney band Spy v Spy about government plans to tear down the historic Rocks area in Sydney to construct high-rise offices and apartments for the rich.======================================================= ==== ===========================================================' My Country' - the Oils again..===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Solid Rock', an Aboriginal land rights song by Goanna.===================================================== ====== ===========================================================F eminist Germaine Greer's controversial suggestion that the late 'crocodile hunter' Steve Irwin taunted wild animals for entertainment purposes. Channel 9 TV reporter Karl Stefanovic suggests she's being provocative and un-Australian. Interesting debate..==================================================== ======= ===========================================================D ivinyls' early rocker, 'Boys in Town', which predates their international hit 'I Touch Myself' by a decade.===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Treaty' - Yothu Yindi challenge white politicians to recognise aboriginal land rights in this great dance song.======================================================= ==== ===========================================================1 933 footage of the last captive Thylacine or Tasmanian wolf, a marsupial dog (ie, with a pouch) that was hunted to extinction by sheep farmers.==================================================== ======= ===========================================================' Throw Your Arms Around Me', Hunters and Collectors from Melbourne with their painful and often-covered break-up song.======================================================= ==== ===========================================================' Aloha Steve and Danno'. In 1978 few could touch Radio Birdman for the sheer energy of their live shows and punchy Stooges-inspired punk rock. "Book 'em Danno.."==================================================== ======= ===========================================================' Four Seasons in one Day' - Crowded House with yet another song about the weather..=================================================== ======== ===========================================================' Warnings Moving Clockwise' - Do Re Mi. Singer Deborah Conway is still writing consistently good music..===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Dog Eat Dog' - AC-DC in 1977 with the late Bon Scott; when guitarist Angus could get away with wearing a school unifrom (no receding grey hair!).===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Land Down Under' by Men at Work. Yeah, you've probably heard it a 1000 times, but it's a surrogate national anthem for Aussies abroad.===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Take a Long Line' - few live bands had the enigmatic presence of The Angels' frontman Doc Neeson.===================================================== ====== ===========================================================' Breaking the Silence', John Pilger's documentary questioning who are the real 'terrorists' and examining Britain and US motives for war.======================================================== === ===========================================================' The Unguarded Moment', The Church's jangly 1981 debut======================================================= ==== ===========================================================T he Go Betweens - 'Streets of Your Town', a commentary on Sydney life.======================================================= ==== ===========================================================' I'm Stranded' - in 1976 everyone was talking about the Sex Pistols, Damned and The Clash, but The Saints were there first.====================================================== ===== ===========================================================' Happy Man' - The Sunnyboys troubled singer/guitarist Jeremy Oxley wrote great pop songs about young love.======================================================= ==== ===========================================================T hey don't get much heavier (or uglier!) than Rose Tattoo - 'Scarred for Life'.====================================================== ===== ===========================================================' Maxine', Sharon O'Neill's biographical hard-luck tale of a prostitute================================================== ========= ===========================================================' Beds are Burning', Midnight Oil's international hit demanding Aboriginal land rights, performed at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.====================================================== ===== ===========================================================S kyhooks' cheeky 'Women in Uniform', later covered by Iron Maiden====================================================== ===== ===========================================================A ustralia Tourism advert - 'Where the Bloody Hell are You?'======================================================= ==== ===========================================================S poof of Australia Tourism advert, 'Where the Bloody Hell are You?'======================================================= ==== ===========================================================' Skippy the Bush Kangaroo' - children's TV program, kind of like an Australian version of 'Lassie' with a kangaroo instead of a dog. The original series, filmed between 1966-1968 and repeated up until the 1980s, was made a few kilometres from where I grew up in the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, Sydney. (Incidentally, a wallaby was used instead of a kangaroo!)================================================== ========= ===========================================================P aul Hogan as Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee, with the infamous 'that's not a knife' scene from the film..====================================================== ===== ===========================================================A ustralian Rules football - fast and furious non-stop action. 6 points a goal (centre posts) 1 point behind (side posts):What is the AFL/Aussie Rules?

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My Blog

How I ended up in Britain

(This originally appeared on my profile, but I felt it was too much waffle to leave there)MY HISTORY - I often ask myself WHY I came to Britain, but here's a summary of HOW: Left school at 15 (and hom...
Posted by alec smart on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:09:00 PST

Marriage of Convenience

Whilst debating politics with the xenophobic, racist British National Party, I was reminded of the lyrics to a humorous song I play when I'm out busking, about alternative methods of facilitating immi...
Posted by alec smart on Thu, 03 May 2007 01:25:00 PST

New proposals for Metricated Time

METRICATED TIMENew proposals for metricated timeYear Zero begins (divisible by ten)*Each day will be renamed as a Decaval, divided into ten time intervals*Each interval is called a Metrival; each Metr...
Posted by alec smart on Thu, 03 May 2007 12:53:00 PST

Debate with the xenophobic BNP (British National Party)

I'M ENGAGED IN AN EXCHANGE OF WORDS WITH THE FASCIST BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY, WHO TOOK UMBRAGE TO MY ACCUSATION THAT THEY'RE NAZIS, YET STILL ASKED ME TO BE THEIR 'FRIEND'. CORRESPONDENCE BELOW..------...
Posted by alec smart on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:53:00 PST