people magazine and the death of elvis and michael

There was an interesting article yesterday on David Hepworth's blog yesterday about the death of Elvis Presley, and how little of it was shown on the front cover of People Magazine, the USA's top selling magazine at that time.  As he said, although Elvis was a legend, celebrity death was not such a huge deal at the time, and just before his death, he was only popular with his old die hard fans.  I remember he was openly mocked for his appearance and shambling stage appearances just before his death, and no one was really interested in his new records. He was, to all intents and purposes, a joke.  Elvis died on August 16th 1977 (a month before Marc Bolan fact fans!), so the August 15th magazine above was obviously out before his death. However, it took until the September 5th issue before it was even mentioned (in a round about way), and even then, just in the top left hand corner.  How times have changed, and when you consider Michael Jackson, the circumstances are very similar.  A legend who became an oddity/laughing stock, who most people just wanted to see in concert (at the planned O2 gigs) so they could say they had seen him, but expecting a possible shambles.  His records had stopped selling, and there were also the child abuse allegations following him around.   When he died though, the papers, magazines and TV knew what was expected of them, and the droves rushed out to buy his product.


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jeremy clarkson is upset about his dog

Jeremy Clarkson has declared Britain to be a nation of 62 million bastards, after he received twitter messages mocking him over the death of his dog.  I don't condone such actions on twitter, but if Clarkson is happy to take the piss and mock other peoples (and countries) weaknesses, disadvantages or basically just be an all round pompous opinionated arse (as if l can talk), he should expect people to have a go and mock him whenever they get the chance, as it will be one of the few chances they get to piss him off, annoy him, or upset him.  Clarkson goes on to complain about the British hating anyone who has a supercar (or is basically successful).  He is missing the point.  If someone has become successful through talent or expertise in some field, and do not behave or pontificate like a  gay hating, same sex marriage, anti abortion southern preacher, they are generally liked, no matter what car they drive.  It's the rich prats who think they are above everyone else and have a superior, pompous attitude (hello Mr Clarkson!), especially to the working class,  that the majority of the public despise.  If you can't take abuse, don't dish it out, and if you don't want people taking the piss about your dogs death on twitter, don't go on twitter to announce it.  I wish he'd piss off out of the country and take his Chipping Norton set with him (or change it into some kind of Peoples Temple set instead) . Some say he is just controversial for the sake of it, to have a laugh and promote the show.  I say he's an absolute twat of the worst kind, and l agree wholeheartedly with Stewart Lee and what he has to say about Top Gear and it's presenters.



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national geographic photography winners

Fred An

Camilla Massu

The winner!  By Cedric Houin 

Michelle Schantz

Lucia Griggi

The winners of the 2012  National Geographic photography competition have just been announced, and here are some of them.  More information and photographs can be found at their site.

animals versus man and drink

 The drivers viewpoint (possibly)

 The pissed off bear (possibly)

Talk about having a bad day driving.  A Norwegian driver was pottering along, minding his own business, when a elk (moose in America) came out in front of him.  Bad day at the office or what?  Luckily he managed to swerve and miss the moose, but he then crashed into a bear as he was swerving out of the way.  That is what you call wildlife on the road, non of your crappy rabbits and hedgehogs that we get.  Saying that, l did hit a deer a few years ago that ran out in front of me, barely 4 miles from where l live on a place called Longwood Bank, without it even giving me time to brake or swerve.  That is what you call living in the country brothers and sisters, but soft English style, it sure doesn't compete with Norway.   Moose and bears, that is hardcore.


On a similar note, the story reminds me of the moose (elk in Sweden) that got itself pissed on fermenting apples in a garden by Gothenburg and then stumbled and got stuck in a tree (below).  Pissed up animals stuck in trees - l'm living in the wrong country.

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baby carrying jacket

I don't know if this is a genius idea and looks great, or it's one of the most scary things l have ever seen.  I think I'll sleep on it (if l can).

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paul mccartney is available

A cracking flyer by Tom Scott (@tomscott), which rather sadly, rings way too true.
Book Paul McCartney for your own Hey Jude-O-Grams now!

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the pussy riot verdict

The verdict is due today for Pussy Riot, the Russian girl band that have been in prison since March for playing an impromptu show at The Cathedral Of Christ The Saviour in Moscow, and subsequently being charged with hooliganism (nothing to do with being anti Putin).  They face up to 3 years imprisonment, and whether you like their music, performances, or political stance is irrelevant.  They have already served long enough and should be freed.  The Sex Pistols designer Jamie Reid came up with the above advert as one of the many worldwide shows of support.  It would make a great t-shirt.

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richard o'sullivan (and me) getting old

2009 Photo from the Daily Mail (probably the worst one they could find)

It's a bugger getting old, and sometimes it hits home what an old git you are when you remember shows or records from the past, and realise how long ago they were.  Not just that, but l recently found out that Richard O'Sullivan, who used to be Robin Tripp in Man About The House (1973), and Robin's Nest afterwards, had a stroke in 2003, and lives in the artists retirement home Brinsworth House.  He was in lots of other TV shows and films before Man About The House (including a role as  Cleopatra's brother in the 1963 film), but that is the programme l most associate him with.  I knew he had an relationship with Sally Thomsett (Jo) from the show, and was later with Tessa Wyatt (who famously made Tony Blackburn plead for her return on the radio), but l didn't know he had been ill.  Time waits for no-one and all that garbage, but l wish him well, as, although the shows don't appeal to me now, l liked them a lot when l was younger.

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the border at nogales arizona

When you see the picture above of the wall between Mexico and the USA at Nogales Arizona, it makes you wonder how so many Mexicans manage to get into the USA.  Just a thought from a simple man, but maybe if they are clever enough to manage it, they should be welcomed with open arms, rather than deported back.  Surely their ingenuity must be good for the USA in the long run, and it's not like they are short of space or don't have a history of immigrants coming in.  Then again, maybe that's one of the many reasons l'm not the president.

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off work medication - cocaine tooth drops

I've been doing well so far while prating about off work.  I've not taken any painkillers (apart from drink) as l want to be aware of how much l can move my arm without hurting it too much or putting back the recovery.  It's sore but manageable, but maybe if l found a bottle of this in the medicine cupboard, l might change my mind and indulge myself.
Ah, the good old days....

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rebecca (1940) - alfred hitchcock

Another film starring Joan Fontaine that l have seen while off work (the others being Jane Eyre and Ivanhoe).    As Rebecca is an Alfred Hitchcock suspense, l half expected her to re-appear from the dead at any moment, and she might as well have done, the influence she had on all of the characters.  She is the dead wife of  Maxim de Winter (a dashing Laurence Olivier), who re marries a naive yet loving Joan Fontaine (who is never named in the film).  They move back to his country estate at Manderley, but the new Mrs de Winter feels Rebecca's presence everywhere.  Mrs Danvers the housekeeper (Judith Anderson) spooks her out, probably because of her floating, unblinking and unexpected appearances.  There are secrets to be told, blackmail regarding the death of Rebecca at sea, and there are also unexpected revelations aplenty.  Top stuff, despite the over emoting.  Yet another black and white classic, and if you want to see Hitchcock make his cameo, it's near the end while the policeman is talking about the car being illegally parked.

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ivanhoe (1952) -richard thorpe

Starring Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe, and Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor as the love interests, this is very similar to 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood', starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Fontaine's sister), only it's not as good.  Although Ivanhoe also features Robin Hood, the basic premise is the same.  Richard The Lionheart (Richard 1) is held captive abroad, and his evil brother John (Guy Rolfe) takes the throne in his absence.  Ivanoe (or Robin Hood) is loyal to Richard, battles John's men, and seeks the hand of the fair maiden.  Good for a bit of escapism, and as l have loads of time on my hands at present due to being off work but pretty much housebound, it was worth viewing. However, the film isn't that good (and features some cringe worthy singing at the start). Elizabeth Taylor looks great, and King John is suitably evil, but that's about it.  Give this a miss and go for the Robin Hood film instead.


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invisible dick

This strip was in Sparky comic, and is dying out to be reborn on ironic t-shirts.  Invisible Dick indeed.

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the african queen (1951) - john huston

After her fellow missionary brother dies (Samuel Sayer - played by Robert Morley), after an attack by the Germans in German East Africa at the start of the First World War, Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) persuades Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) to take his steamboat down the treacherous Ulonga- Bora river to try and destroy a German gunboat with homemade torpedoes, as it is based in the lake at the end of the river, and preventing English counter attacks. Despite their differences, love blossoms (of course) as they overcome the dangers and obstacles in their way.  The African Queen is a classic, and Bogart is superb, even if you can't watch him nowadays without imagining people imitating him.  He won a well deserved Oscar for this in 1951, but l wasn't that keen on Hepburn's performance, and she looked too emaciated.  In the past, l have been amongst the reeds shown in the film, as they are in Dalaman, Turkey, and they sure are plentiful.  If l'd been aware that it had been filmed there at the time, l'd have leapt overboard and re-enacted some scenes, cigar and whisky in hand, leeches or no leeches, so it's probably a good job l didn't know.  I have however, wrestled naked in the amphitheater there, so it's not all bad (apart from the poor sods who viewed it).

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the strange necker cube

This is doing my head in, and I think l may need a lie down.  A version of the 1832 Necker Cube that makes me feel giddy (it doesn't take a lot).

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a rather large crocodile

That, brothers and sisters, is what you call a crocodile.  Not like the namby pamby ones you normally see.

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the wacky practicals bucket

What a brilliant idea by those folks at Wacky Practicals.  A flat bucket that can be transported easier, but is still long lasting and sturdy.  Available in red and blue (and more!)  Less that £20!!  Genius!!

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charlie brown and peanuts books

After the Dandy post, l was thinking about how comics from my childhood, and how they change, not just the stories, but the drawings themselves.  A great example is the early Charlie Brown 'Peanuts' strips by Charles M Shultz.  They look much different from the later versions l liked as a child, but certainly improved as they went on (although l was never keen on Woodstock, the bird).  Linus (Van Pelt) was my favorite, but l could definitely identify with some of Charlie Brown's problems.  I've still got the books somewhere (wrapped up in the garage is my bet), and l used to spend a lot of my dinner money buying them.  Money well spent l'd say.  Here's the last ever strip.

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the loss of the dandy

 The first issue in 1937

Some of the newspaper coverage

Kids looking like they are eating shit

A sad git who will miss it (I hasten to add this picture is not me).

So, it looks as though The Dandy, the UKs longest running childrens comic, is to cease publication in September.  This could be a ruse to increase readership, but its circulation has dropped from about 2 million a week in its heyday, to about 8,ooo now.  They have tried various rebranding exercises (Dandy 'Xtreme' anybody?), but the market has changed a lot in the last 10 or 20 years.  The Beano should survive for a bit longer, as that has circulation of about 30,000, but you can easily envisage that going down the pan in the future as well.  It's a shame, as these were essential reading to millions of UK kids, with some great storytelling and characters. To me, what ruins them, is when they try to make them too modern, glossy, TV orientated and  tacky, such as the fart and poo article above, which makes it look as though the young kid is going to eat the poo (I'd buy it if they made him).  If you are going to put TV stars or celebrities on the cover, it takes away it's identity, and there are lots of other magazines out there that look similar and cater for that.  Once kids get out of the habit of buying it every week, they often don't go back to doing so. Also, kids want funny, interesting or adventurous stories, and at a cheap price.  Sadly those days have gone, and their entertainment can now be found elsewhere (Hello Mr Computer!).  Lots of views are here, plus Lew Stringer's site is worth checking out.

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home (2008) - ursula meier

A Swiss film in French, Home tells the story of a family who live next to an unused road, leading an isolated yet idyllic life.  The road is then opened up as a motorway/highway, and their peaceful existence is shattered. It could be a metaphor for the encroaching industrialized (and polluting) ''progress', and how one deals with it, or maybe l could have had another funny turn.  The sunbathing daughter who is against the traffic and tries to ignore it (then rebels against it), eventually leaves home to join it.  The others worry about the noise, danger, and pollution, and retreat back into their home, sealing it off as protection against the road and traffic, until they can stand it no longer, and have to break free (as Freddie would say).  A gentle slow moving film, ideal for a rainy day, as most of these so called 'summer' days are turning out to be.

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