TV: 9/11: Phone calls from the Towers

Why are we drawn to the mawkish? Because it's ALL that awaits us. Death, or watching everyone you know die. Take your pick. Those are the only two choices you got. To hide from that; well, you're just fooling yourself.
Imagine calling your partner to tell him you're going to die; and they don't pick up. I reckon I'd be pretty pissed off. But I'd still say I love you.
Why is it so important to say a final 'I love you' ? The people you love know it. But still; it's so important. And there is something wonderful about that; that counteracts the two choices above.
So many bodies on 9/11, equals so many stories. And it's visceral nature leaves a footprint on the mind stronger than any bomb after, even the 7/7 one; even though I lived, and still live in London at that time. That just felt like a slap, 9/11 was a kick in the guts somehow; I suppose because we were innocent then, but also, very much so, the spectacle of it.
Looking at the towers burn, you just think 'get out, get out' but they were being told to stay put. 'Sit tight, we're on the way.' WHY? English people are naturally suspicious of skyscrapers, and with good reason. They are precarious. They defy logic. There should never be a ninety-seventh floor of anything.
'Please hurry.' Just heartbreaking. 'Put a towel under the door'.
The randomness of who died seems so unfair. But the whole thing is. How could that mother have not been tempted to turn on the telly? I don't think I could have stopped myself. I know I couldn't.
I liked the extreme bravery of the friend who called the guy called Shimmy, how calm he was. If I'd been on the other end of that phone I'd be going 'FUCK! GET OUT OF THERE!' but he was so controlled. He really made a difference to the end of that guy's life; what a gift to have a friend like that.
WOW that Jim Gartenberg thing on the news was pretty amazing; just how he didn't know the extent of the damage and was telling people to chill out from inside the tower. That was brave and attention seeking, and a great legacy.
Oh that poor guy who didn't answer his phone. That would be me, I NEVER answer my phone. How could you forgive yourself?
'We're young men in here, we're not ready to die.' That guy sounded angry, not calm. And who can blame him?
I found this programme a struggle after about an hour. It reminded me of that documentary 'The Bridge' about suicides on the Golden Gate bridge, just relentless sadness. I think you do need light and shade in a programme; just a phone call from one survivor would have helped. And if that sounds trite, I'm just trying to hide from those two facts. It's you, or your friends and family. Take your pick.

Jade: As Seen on TV

The last time I wrote about Jade, she was alive. After that I watched her wedding, which was riveting TV; tense, sad, calculating, moving. It was her final job, really. Oddly, she was about the only one holding things together that day.
Then there was the overblown funeral (not forgetting Jack's poem) but after that, it seemed to go pretty quiet. Maybe it's because Jack was in prison (hanging with Boy George) and Jeff (wisely) flew away. But there seemed to be few pickings for the vultures. So here we are (just in time for the new series of BB, and there's an advert for BB, how convenient!).
Why was Jade the most successful Big Brother contestant? I dunno. Because she was stupid, bawdy, silly, funny? Because she was a contradiction?
Hmm, don't know if Patsy Palmer is great doing the voiceover, she doesn't exactly have the most pleasant voice. But maybe that's the point.
What's Rod Liddle pontificating about Jade for? At least she was honest, even if she was common as muck. It was weird seeing all those old clips of her; just how big she got before the whole race hate.
Interesting to see how they dressed up all that. It still made my stomach curl up in a ball; even now. I will never forget how Big Brother tried to protect her; she didn't deserve it. Her whole exit interview was primed, scripted, pre-prepared. And that's not what Big Brother was about. Miranda Sawyer does herself a disservice by saying 'when you are angry you'll say anything' because I (and many others, I suspect) wouldn't say something racist under ANY circumstances.
Yet weird see Gordon Brown condemning her then; he couldn't even get her name right when she died, but instead said he was sorry about 'Jane Goody'. Doh.
I learnt bugger all from this, it was just the last bit of gold from the (dead) goose.
I wonder what that PJ wanker is up to now? They didn't have him talking about her I noticed. Funny old world.
Will there ever be another Jade? No. Big Brother is nearly on it's last legs too; it's the end of an era. And all we can do is watch (or not).