Saturday 21 March 2015

Spending Targets

From the Telegraph

More than two thirds of Britain’s aid budget is being given to organisations such as the EU and the World Bank to help meet official targets, despite billions of it going unspent for years, an investigation has concluded.
MPs found that £6.3 billion of Britain’s aid budget is being handed to major agencies to help hit the Government’s target of spending 0.7 per cent of the nation’s income on overseas aid.

Everyone should see Falling Down at least once (contains swearing)


7 comments:

Mark Wadsworth said...

splendid.

Rich Tee said...

Never liked Falling Down. Dfens takes it out on people who are just doing their jobs, like the worker in the clip.

Also, he intimidates a Korean shop worker whose life is probably harder than his, complaining that he doesn't speak English when he clearly does.

A pretty nasty film I find.

Tim Almond said...

Rich,

Takes it out on him? Asks him a load of uncomfortable questions?

The Korean store owner is asked for change, when D-Fens is told he has to buy something is the price, works out that doesn't give him enough change, and even offers the shopkeeper money for change, which he refuses. How would you feel in that situation?

The genius of the film is how D-Fens' reaction to these situations is presented as black comedy, with to some extent, the audience siding with his frustrations about petty shop owners, burger chains and graffiti, but the director then undermines all of this, and you see the truth of him.

Pablo said...

There was a film of the same ilk on last night - "God Bless America".

Tim Almond said...

Pablo,

I've seen it and I'm not too keen on it. It's targets are too easy, like reality TV and right-wing shock jocks. It's just Bobcat Goldthwait ranting.

Anonymous said...

Was just going to post what Pablo said. I enjoyed God Bless America for what it was. A comedy noir. The targets were easy... but I was with him on each and every one.

Bayard said...

It's great being generous with other people's money..