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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Allegory of Iraq Weapons Inspection Process Performed in London |
| 2003-09-14 |
| Monkey Nut Nudger Reaches End of a Hard Road LONDON (Reuters via Workldwire) - A British man who has been nudging a monkey nut along the streets of London with his nose for 11 days finally reached the seat of power on Friday. After seven grueling miles, Mark McGowan pushed the nut up the steps to Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Downing Street residence and told waiting reporters: "I’ve got a sore nose." Performance artist McGowan -- nose shielded by a grimy sticking plaster -- deftly flicked the nut onto Blair’s front step, and was greeted by an official who handed him a mug of tea. The 37-year old has gone through 13 nuts during his grueling quest to highlight rising student debt. "I’m trying to show the Prime Minister that he needs to bring back grants to people who need them," he told Sky television. "I’ve got 15,000 pounds worth of debts -- and now I’ve got a sore nose," he added. McGowan, who has previously walked for 11 miles with a turkey strapped to his head to persuade fat people to eat less, was unimpressed by the tea he received from the premier’s office. "It was like a builder’s mug -- you could see the stain on the inside," he said. But the mug was nothing to some of the trials he has to endure during his stunt. "The streets of London are filthy," he said. "There’s human hair, bird poo and all sorts." And for victory celebrations? "I’m just going to have a bath," he said. While the artist has not said so, I think this is an obvious statement about the futility of attepmting to work with the UN on substantive issues. The bird droppings and the need for a bath afterward gave it away. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #6 What he did wouldn't qualify for art in the States. His work is neither scatalogical nor anti-religious. The turkey piece might have played well in West Virginia. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-14 9:38:56 PM |
| #5 Yep, SH, he doesn't get how the system works (i.e. you ask for the money before you do something "controversial" and "thought-provoking"); you don't do something comprehensively stupid in order to get the cash. Did a monkey-nut-rolling nutter really expect the Queen Anne china? OK, so he left the turkey at home, but... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-9-14 5:19:59 PM |
| #4 Bulldog, Isn't the guy supposed to secure the lucarative grant before he performs the "art piece?" |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-14 5:03:42 PM |
| #3 Hmm. London's certainly the place to find self-publicising loons at the moment... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-9-14 4:54:31 PM |
| #2 I just can't stop shaking my head. This guy is so stupid. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-9-14 2:34:58 PM |
| #1 LMAO. I've wouldn't have made the connection, but it's quite obvious now that you've pointed it out. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-9-14 11:44:48 AM |