The obligatory Live8 post

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There's been quite a backlash against the rich and famous people who used to be quite popular who took part in the concerts, suggesting that they are ignorantly and hypocritically spouting off about trendy issues without understanding them. This has annoyed political commentators, because that's their job.

I for one would rather hear a multimillionaire tell me about the importance of looking after other people than their more usual topics, encouraging gun crime, drug abuse, or vague New Age mysticism. I remember being shocked when Nelson Mandela agreed to be photographed meeting the Spice Girls; but now he's had his garden done up by Alan Titchmarsh and the Ground Force team, it's clear he's just a has-been C-list celebrity who would attend the opening of a packet of crisps if there was going to be a photographer there.

I saw in one comment the view that "Live8 has proved that miracles can happen - if the members of Pink Floyd can be persuaded to share a stage for 10 minutes then sorting out poverty and the environment will be easy".

I didn't actually catch much of the concert, partly because the BBC TV coverage seemed to assume that having assembled a panoply of stars unparalleled in the history of pop (or whatever), the music should be punctuated (and obscured) by witless interviews backstage, mainly by Fearne Cotton (who is born to do witless). (Incidentally, the BBC seem desperate to try to turn her into a happening presenter, unaware that she was disqualified for a Best New TV Personality award because she hasn't got one).

Our 4-year-old was happily dancing to Ms Dynamite, and my wife said "She would love to be there if she was older". I said that with any luck there would be another global catastrophe in 20 years time, and she could go to that.

I'd've liked to see Neil Young closing the Canada concert, but the BBC ignored that one completely. (Apparently it was very good. Thanks, BBC)

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Overall, though, I'd have to say that any event which united the 18-25 lads and ladettes in thinking about the world, the future, and other people, is a good thing, and that the Big Brother gang cannot be taken as representing a true cross-section of the population. Thank St Bob for that.