Mailbox
ELTON’S EGO
Re: Answer Machine, 541 So Ben Elton is 'not into unearned income'. Good for him. Presumably he's also not into giVing to charities (who generally don't provrde serVices for their DOTTOIBCIOTS) and doesn't intend to live long enough to need a penSion (state penSions being paid from current workers' NI contributions). PreSumably he also declines to receive interest on his bank accountls) and doesn't pay interest on his mortgage. If he had ever spent time in the ranks of the long- term unemployed. he would know that in the real world. you take your income from any source you can find. He clearly has no experience of this. which is why he comes across as an egocentric little tw't.
O Connor
By email
LOST IN MUSIC
Vinyl. CDs. albums, singles . . . where will they all be in the next ten years? As a music enthusiast l'm furious at the way the music industry is heading. Yes. new technology is there to be experimented with. BUT having recently witnessed an iPod DJ set. I'm getting extremer concerned. Come on. people. the independent music stores in and around Glasgow need you. So many stores are closing down and being replaced with yet another fast food joint. Everyone should get off of their comfy seats in front of their computers and take a wander into their local independent record shop and remember how good it is to search for that hidden gem that you've wanted to add to your record/CD collection. Karen Lindsay
Glasgow
The List,
SPINAL TAP
Re: Travel, 541
Is your travel ediIOr having some kind of meaningful relationship With Alasdair Bouch? This was the only reason i could come up wrth for you printing his article on Cambodia. Havrng travelled extenSively round ASia l was looking forward to waves of nostalgia being conjured up from the evocative descriptions of a familiar c0untry. imagine my surprise then when l found myself fighting waves of nausea instead. Is it me? Either this is the most cliched piece I've read in ages or it's genius and is the Spinal Tap of travel journalism.
Jen Nicholson
By email
Rachael Street. travel editor. replies: We appreciate that readers don 't always agree With our writers' views of the world, which is why we want to hear more of your experiences for a new travel column (see page 98).
GREATNESS TI-IRUST UPON THEM
Re: Cover, 541
First Belle and Sebastian are voted the ‘greatest Scottish band of all time' and now you have splashed them over your cover. Are you monomaniacs. or is a member of your editorial staff taking a backhander? Even so. it's still good to see at least one reputable publication regularly sticking up for Scottish acts over the fads that pop their heads across the border every so often. Gustav McLeish
Aberdeen
lt wasn 't The List's editorial team who voted for Belle and Sebastian, but your fellow readers. Though we still think they were worthy cover stars.
14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE
or The List at the CCA
350 Sauchiehail Street, Glasgow 62 3.10 Or email editor@list.co.uk
A WRITER WRITES
I am a writer who left Scotland in 1998. l'd been living fOr a year on Faslane Peace Camp. and walked out of the COurthouse in Helensburgh,
burnt out and in need of a rest.
Somehow I turned up in Galway. lreland. and haven't been back to Scotland Since. While in Ireland I have not neglected my writing, and I'd be happy for people to check out what I've been up to. In 2004, NUI Galway set up frink.nuigalway.ie/~rab. to bring my work together. Thanks to this webSite. my work is now being read in writing groups in Padua and Bangalore. used as a teaching aid for English students in Prague. and. starting this
Edinburgh
CELEBRITY SQUARES l tuned in to watch the grand finale of the jewel in Channel 4‘s reality TV crown. Celebrity Big Brother. Now. not all contestants on celebrity reality shows can seriously be called ‘famous'. but the bigwigs behind CBB went a step further this year with the incluSion of Chantelle. a complete unknown. Who would have thought she would walk out of the house as the winner of a ‘celebrity' competition? Cynically or unwittingly, the programme's controllers gave birth to the most perfect example of the Modern British Celebrity: Chantelle. famous for being famous. Why is it that we feel the need to put these people up on a pedestal? Five years ago no one would have given serious mention to the idea of a 'chav'. but now they're part of our popular culture. Five years ago no one was inclined to take the piss out of poor people in public and in print, but now they're fair game. as attested by such websites as chaVSCumcom and any glossy ‘celeb' magazine. I believe that the new ‘celebrity' says a lot about British people. especially of my generation. We don‘t want people to be famous for something worthy because it makes us feel inadequate: instead. we idolise people who are really extensions of ourselves.
T Alexander France Ritchie
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE TWO BOTTLES OF BLANDY'S ALVADA
month, will be serialised in a montth Connecticut-based newsletter. Ceiga/lus. Peeple can subscribe to it for free by e-mailing aokrenalycoscom. Most important of all, I would like to get back in touch with wrtters and readers in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Rab Swannock Fulton By email if you want to contact Rab. email editoro/istcouk and we Wl// forward your message.
PRIME TIME
Thanks for the tickets for the XFM show that l was lucky enough to Win. Primal Scream were on blistering form. A truly memorable gig.
Simon
By email
What you Jordan book signing event Woolworths. Edinburgh, Tue 7 Feb
Sophie Student
2 THE LIST 16 Feb—2 Mar 2006
i loved seeing Jordan because she has such nice big bouncy breasts. It's also amazing how she has looked after her disabled son. Her marriage to Peter sets an example to us all.
Falgun
Finance officer and scratch DJ
Jordan seems all right but I don't know what the hype is all about. She's here and that's cool: its just funny to see her on Lothian Road.
Richard
Student
Her handwriting is wonderful but her boobs are tiny! To hear she is actually having them reduced defeats her point completely.
“ i
EVENTS GUIDE
CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & General Editor RCDin H0009
EDITORIAL
Editor Nick Barley
Deputy Editor Brian DonaldsOn Assistant Editors
Mark Robertson Paul Dale Subeditor Ashley Dawes Research Manager Julie Graham
Research Henry Northmore iiilm Rock 8 Jazz), Rachael Street iVisuaI Art. Theatre. Dance. Comedy 8 Sport). Moraq Bruce (Around Town, Classical. Folk 8 Kids}
SALES & MARKETING Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Shields
Senior Media Sales Executive Brigid Kennedy
Media Sales Executive Richie Meldrum
Media Sales Support Sharon Stephen
Promotions Manager
Sheri Friers
Circulation Manager
Neil Earnshaw
Circulation Executive
Keith Benzie
Special Projects
Amanda Munqall
PRODUCTION Art Director
Krista Robertson Production Manager Simon Armin Designer Lucy Reeves Production Assistant Russell Steedman
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Renwick Accounts Assistant Manager Donna Taylor
Accounts Maternity Cover Gemma Beard
Reception
Tracey Fisher
Edinburgh Office Manager Katie Scott
Glasgow Office Manager Katharine Haslett
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Moraq Bruce Books Brian Donaldson Clubs Henry Northmore (WlIh Sandra Marron) Comedy Brian Donaldson Comics Paul Dale
Dance Kelly Apter
Eat E Drink Barry Shelby Film Paul Dale
Gay Robin Lee
Kids Kelly Apter
Music Mark RobertSOn
(with Norman Chalmers. Carol Main, Kenny Mathieson. Fiona Shepherd)
News Allan Radcliffe
Play Henry Northmore
(with lain DaVIdsonI
Shop Nick Barley Television Brian Donaldson Theatre Steve Cramer Travel Rachael Street Visual Art Alexander Kennedy