tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67817316050887539002024-03-13T03:40:07.506-04:00office pestthey're waving from the cupboards..!office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-8778158084424627532015-12-12T23:16:00.000-05:002015-12-12T23:16:05.861-05:00Advent 12<br />
Ziggy Glitterdust .. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJchUsQ2oLl07GM9CvWUBLI_YZ_yKBXiMhVQr8Q5tMXqXxZIGyGr4hfvdSsZevmjSxVQp9WRyKEQMHE4Rj0RwhY4gy_iYNMD_5jqTSL_PJo9zYcJ-7yk7QI4pNskPT-JEvc65dQNNPOI/s1600/bowie-xmas.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJchUsQ2oLl07GM9CvWUBLI_YZ_yKBXiMhVQr8Q5tMXqXxZIGyGr4hfvdSsZevmjSxVQp9WRyKEQMHE4Rj0RwhY4gy_iYNMD_5jqTSL_PJo9zYcJ-7yk7QI4pNskPT-JEvc65dQNNPOI/s320/bowie-xmas.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-85569752197116187982015-12-12T09:22:00.001-05:002015-12-12T09:22:58.212-05:00Advent 11Delayed post for Advent 11 due to computer problems.<br />
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Now if only I'd gone to Currys for a ZX Spectrum ..<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udPpPDih1Qo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udPpPDih1Qo</a><br />
office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-71504660202491531452015-12-10T23:01:00.002-05:002015-12-10T23:13:52.931-05:00Advent 10Selection Box - Mars<br />
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Looking at the box, I'm not too sure, from the male style top half and the female bottom half, whether it's meant to be a male or a female Santa. It doesn't look as if Rudolph is too sure about what's going on either. <br />
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Still, as this selection box dates from the early-mid '70s, perhaps the artwork imagines a kind of Ziggy Santa, complete with 'optical illusion cards'.<br />
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Full Value.<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-35321570471955073572015-12-09T23:35:00.000-05:002015-12-12T09:24:51.939-05:00Advent 9TV adverts, 1983<br />
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Billed as 'Christmas Adverts', and certainly featuring the kind of booze, chocs, aftershave and gifts associated with Christmas shopping. Some familiar faces and voices are to be found.<br />
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But except for Woolworths and arguably Quality Street, which have a 'parade' or 'pantomime' theme, absolutely no Christmas styling - no snow, no snowmen, no Christmas music, no Father Christmas .. and, apart from Woolworths and Debenhams, it's all about advertising for products and brands, not supermarkets, department stores etc.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzzxZRXJPQg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzzxZRXJPQg</a><br />
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Highlights include:<br />
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Spy themed Black Magic with the proper centres, not the soft pap of today<br />
Baileys, where the woman behaves oddly<br />
Quality Street in a decent sized tin, probably four times larger than now<br />
Pint and a Castella - first sighting of a cigar ad this advent<br />
Bisodol for the huge pace of 1983 life; hmm; when you went home you went off the radar<br />
Mel Smith advertising Terry's chocolates<br />
Braun Independent, the excitement of gas<br />
Timex watches<br />
BT with a precursor to the internet 'network' adverts featuring the short lived and missed K7 box<br />
Debenhams toy sale<br />
SKOL lager, voiced by Tom Baker<br />
Old Spice<br />
Martini, featuring the Martini Girl on her roller skates. An Italian drink sold by a vision of America<br />
Hugh Laurie in a Kestrel Lager advert sketch<br />
Joe Brown and an all-star cast sell Woolworths, through the familiar song and dance style routine.<br />
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I think I'm right in saying that Woolworths is the only one that's gone.<br />
<br />office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-77392611002970844762015-12-08T22:04:00.002-05:002015-12-08T22:04:42.440-05:00Advent 8It's time to get those Christmas cards written, especially if you're sending them overseas ..<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-28718997781945656332015-12-07T22:21:00.000-05:002015-12-07T22:21:29.563-05:00Advent 007James Bond! What's that got to do with Christmas? Well, a fair amount in the UK, mainly because of the unavailability of the 007 films before the advent of VHS [and therefore any DVD, streaming, YouTube, etc]. <br />
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Since the mid-1970s the periodic screenings of the James Bond films [by ITV] at Easter and Christmas became a major event and a ratings winner until at least the mid-80s, and maybe later.<br />
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But I don't want to write too much about the whole series of 007 films here; as someone who had read and re-read all of the James Bond books before I'd ever seen even one of the films, I have a definite view about the Bond movies. Which is - they're a mixed lot; entertaining - more, or less; but overall a shallow set compared with the original Ian Fleming source material.<br />
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The book that's part of this Advent series is of course Ian Fleming's 007 Christmas story - 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Well, it's Christmas-themed, anyway; it starts as the shops do in September and ends as the rest of us do, on New Years Day.<br />
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The film version of OHMSS is traditionally derided, but in reality it is one of the best 007 films ever made. Staying faithful to the book, the storyline needs little enhancement, only a skilful and intelligent transfer to film, which it gets. George Lazenby is very well cast as James Bond - arguably better than the subsequent Roger Moore. The studio sets and location settings are excellent, and the cast peerless. I like this film, almost as much as I love the book.<br />
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Back to that book. If you've never read it or indeed any James Bond book, this story is worth your while. It's superbly written and beautifully paced. Many editions are available, it doesn't matter which one you choose. The one pictured here is the paperback edition that I grew up with. I think that this edition-series has the best cover artwork set of all of the 007 issues.<br />
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If you fancy reading this up to Christmas why not try to find a copy soon; it's already December the 7th, so you haven't got all the time in the world.<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-52294398994838760122015-12-06T23:01:00.001-05:002015-12-06T23:01:23.319-05:00Advent 6These are the 2015 UK Christianity based, Christmas (Nativity) themed Christmas stamps. Remarkable if only because a few years ago this kind of issue was predicted to be unlikely - at best.<br />
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It can appear to some that potentially up to two of the stamps feature settings on a moon orbiting a gas giant planet such as Jupiter and the others are based on a 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' storyboard theme. <br />
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People are also saying that in the 1st class stamp, Mary appears to be playing a Bontempi Organ that she got for Christmas!<br />
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That's just ridiculous; Christmas only started the year after - at the earliest.<br />
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They may not be the *best* Christmas stamps Walford's ever 'ad, but, they're all we've got. <br />
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Laaavv-lley.<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-50121914756221120952015-12-05T21:30:00.003-05:002015-12-05T21:30:41.174-05:00Advent 5Put your tree up yet?<br />
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Before real trees came back into fashion, in the mid 90s I suppose, 'real looking' artificial trees were the thing in a phase that lasted from the 80s onwards. You can still get them and many folks still use them as they're convenient and don't have to be purchased anew each year. We've got five that we've collected along the way.<br />
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But, before the fashion for 'realistic artificial' trees came along, artificial trees were somewhat different. Quite minimalist and you could say, 'Space Age'. Considered very fashionable alongside the Scandinavian design furniture, and from the U.S., Eames influenced household designs.<br />
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Needless to say this kind of tree in original condition, with the fake red pot and Pifco lights, concave baubles and thin tinsel is the height of fashion once again in certain quarters .. <br />
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Reminds me of 'Christmas on Tracy Island'. <br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-73816992268187347322015-12-04T19:23:00.000-05:002015-12-04T19:23:00.706-05:00Advent 4Are you a Wise Man? Do YOU smoke cigarettes? <br />
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No, me neither. But I used to and my favourite-evers were Camel Filters. Although I never had any packs with Christmas themed adverts on them like these ones, from RJ Reynolds in Germany I think.<br />
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I can't imagine many, or any, countries these days allowing a tie-up between tobacco and Christmas. It's still ok for alcohol, but not cigarettes, or even cigars come to think of it which always had a Christmas themed ad until the 90s I'd guess. I'll see if I can find a cigar advert for later on in Advent.<br />
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But for now we'll close with the Camels, associated with (it's said) the Three Kings. I hope they were Wise Men who soon gave them up.<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-49969952155233881672015-12-03T17:44:00.002-05:002015-12-03T17:44:54.431-05:00Advent 3My first Christmas .. <br />
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Christmas stamps were issued by other countries well before the UK. I'll come back to the subject of UK Christmas stamps, and Tony Benn, later on in Advent.<br />
office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-17767751975960782242015-12-02T19:02:00.000-05:002015-12-02T19:02:08.164-05:00Advent 2Just crackers.<br />
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office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-77771946169504141742015-12-01T23:02:00.000-05:002015-12-01T23:23:56.519-05:00Advent 1I was wondering what to put here to create a kind of Advent calendar. I've decided on some pictures of a nostalgic and vintage theme, with just a few words.<br />
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So to kick off we have a few old fashioned (vintage!) Christmas light bulbs. I'll probably put some more of these up in the next 23 days as I like them. This kind of bulb is usually in a string of 12, being rated at 20V (for anyone reading from overseas, domestic UK power is 240 volts). <br />
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They have been produced in this voltage and fitting (MES) format since at least the 1930s, and many of the original bulbs are still around and working today, having had relatively little use in total during the past 80 years. <br />
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This type of decorative bulb, called 'figural' when representing a particular item, person, or fruit, are an interesting and attractive thing to collect. It's even better if they're still working. So if you're looking around flea markets, reuse shops or car boot sales - my advice is - always carry a 9v battery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxG0h1m6tki_D6JSB8nKOPDIugU_tU5LAX2XwkPkXoNKWOfwJECsZRmoRDgQzWblwSNtlh-nLabtEBt6pqRmB64WI9Y_4FPAbm_sQkmaJUfW05zDgWKkjRPIGd67uK1h5fSeEU30ajaQ/s1600/christmas+bulbs+olive+pifco+figural+chinese+lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-19145225731587891662015-11-18T10:38:00.000-05:002015-11-18T10:38:03.035-05:00Well well well,so this old thing still works.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTyYGC4nK72hg8jEEwHopgtW22CYwvikDqBRA3NWqCT_ty7Fe7O2gdAW8rmmjBEMfUQimbi1Z0YJq16hP81piq1qGlDqD78QzUbAXKtl4So1pZfKA8txGTu58gyDxpNEKKUklESchADM/s1600/valve+amplifier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTyYGC4nK72hg8jEEwHopgtW22CYwvikDqBRA3NWqCT_ty7Fe7O2gdAW8rmmjBEMfUQimbi1Z0YJq16hP81piq1qGlDqD78QzUbAXKtl4So1pZfKA8txGTu58gyDxpNEKKUklESchADM/s320/valve+amplifier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-73154071189164465132011-12-22T21:11:00.000-05:002011-12-22T21:11:57.045-05:00The Number One Job on the Number One Day<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vzfJdSmTNdk" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
I hadn't seen this little gem of a cartoon for I don't know how long. I hope you like it.<br />
<br />
If you're celebrating, have a good time. Merry Christmas.office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-52808215220267978462011-09-23T22:01:00.002-04:002011-09-28T08:04:29.168-04:00Talk Talk the latest, it's official - they ARE crap.Talk Talk voted wankiest internet provider and most complained about bunch of internet scam artists and tossers in entire history of the on-line world;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15018161">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15018161</a><br />
<br />
No news really. <br />
<br />
I've moaned about this before. Here's the local proof;<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLX63h8YjVAVBUL5Hf5ytFcYDDACA-l3l9Ip2WpjTj2ADVzwsEdRvU2E7xknr6zdCm2Irm3nFLkTAUXujYG-3QdOvUhyphenhyphen-em1Co1xMJaxyhEFwzI1Lz-2oZqpp0iu5QsMDIkGREgYG7EA/s1600/talk+talk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLX63h8YjVAVBUL5Hf5ytFcYDDACA-l3l9Ip2WpjTj2ADVzwsEdRvU2E7xknr6zdCm2Irm3nFLkTAUXujYG-3QdOvUhyphenhyphen-em1Co1xMJaxyhEFwzI1Lz-2oZqpp0iu5QsMDIkGREgYG7EA/s320/talk+talk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see the magnificent Talk Talk, with their pardners in cowboy hats and jangly spurs Openreach, manage to deliver an APPALLING one thirtieth, rising to one twentieth, of the expected and paid for service speed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lets review:</div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their fault reporting system is debilitating and wearing. Deliberately so, I am sure.</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their complaints process is exhausting and impenetrable - and relies on web access to use it HA HA HA HA. Oh my aching sides!!!</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The transfer and switching process to a new ISP frankly does not bear thinking about.</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OPENreach, who's fault some or all of this abomination still 'technically' COULD be, (who knows), are UN'reach'able except through one's ISP (see above).</div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frankly, dear reader, I am so sick of this shit, and much else to be honest, that I might just cancel the accounts, rip out the plugs and return to 1989. Opting out of the information super-ditchway really appeals to me now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What do you think? Drop me a postcard and let me know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh and if you are reading this, TalkTalk, do please sort your shit out once and for all. It's your problem, not mine. We're not 'all in this together'. I am not your friend, nor your 'colleague', just a soon-to-be-ex-customer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for tuning in to Pest Media Updates.</div>office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-54944847260989541742011-08-02T09:40:00.001-04:002011-08-02T09:40:45.868-04:00Talk Talk = Walk Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbPM083-rIaTPIkNilyk77ouFgNcqY3lEQTXp_1U_Oab5B3grj" data-sz="f" height="320" name="TTnt-KFV0IzQGM:" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbPM083-rIaTPIkNilyk77ouFgNcqY3lEQTXp_1U_Oab5B3grj" width="283" /></div>Now, if someone was to have said to me awhile back, when Tiscali (who I was with) were taken over by Talk Talk I'd one day be looking back on the <em>Tiscali Years</em> like they were some kind of Golden Age, I'd have laughed in their face. <br />
<br />
Yep that's right folks, the service from Talk Talk is officially worse than Tiscali's. And it's not just the technical stuff that doesn't perform, it's the reporting and resolution process as well - almost as if they don't want you to tell them that they're El Crappola. OpenReach are part of the problem too no doubt, but they won't talk talk to me, only to Talk Talk - who you just cannot get a grip on. So everybody gets away with it. <br />
<br />
Currently 'enjoying' a 0.2Mbps download speed, off a supposedly 5Mbps service (which at it's best only reaches a tolerable 3.8, but I'd settle for that today).<br />
<br />
The Talk Talk fault resolution process seems to revolve around a self-help forum 'moderated' by people with avatars like the one above. The very sight of which is enough to tell you that it's going to take forever to get anywhere, and not end well.<br />
<br />
Useless, useless, smug arrogant bastards.office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-46746227489989079272011-07-21T14:05:00.000-04:002011-07-21T14:05:37.027-04:00Listen Lads, I've Got a Great Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In these angst-ridden days what we really need is less Murdoch lies and corruption stories, less Eurozone economic crisis stories, less Dollarzone debt default stories, less corrupt police and politician stories and <strong>more</strong> Fluffy Kitten stories. So here you are then, and please don't ever say I won't show you a good time, loyal reader.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These little guys and gals were born on the 22nd June, so have almost known a life without The <em>News Of The World</em>. Lucky them. They do have their own agenda though and it's fuelled by greed and excitement 24/7. When they're not sleeping that is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3yPDxS-HfLRr3JzQSTk-vEnuHHj7DtcEDA06fZCJL-o2ZNfj0DznmBa9W3DOAMSvxwQI7ZPuTsi9nhcFV0F9xyIjFie11AjdV1d9-FXvCk75XH66E5PVPyBpsUfPDBbnw4NDIyohyphenhyphenNE/s1600/July+2011+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3yPDxS-HfLRr3JzQSTk-vEnuHHj7DtcEDA06fZCJL-o2ZNfj0DznmBa9W3DOAMSvxwQI7ZPuTsi9nhcFV0F9xyIjFie11AjdV1d9-FXvCk75XH66E5PVPyBpsUfPDBbnw4NDIyohyphenhyphenNE/s400/July+2011+007.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center">"Hey look! There's Mum"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51BeERtnadum769lh0-9IC92cmcFApF2rKvc5T8MWLxjTvLZKWcQJYa6CfAPlsk_ELJqF-9cHgYMV6Alf8s9za_vQ4wfNtIQFgEctY_RlkBeZwgWZnrDIrVMP61VYJINPKV3PySVa2wM/s1600/July+2011+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51BeERtnadum769lh0-9IC92cmcFApF2rKvc5T8MWLxjTvLZKWcQJYa6CfAPlsk_ELJqF-9cHgYMV6Alf8s9za_vQ4wfNtIQFgEctY_RlkBeZwgWZnrDIrVMP61VYJINPKV3PySVa2wM/s400/July+2011+028.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center">"Come on, he's spotted Mum"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWv3vjcveOiu_E7dPN7asWEPZ64vRRfKq-tCH1DriYLuRIAb8R1aPGqK_1Wr7wu5LGvfxJywkK2L9n4tp3FchOrjIkV1aGVrMOkM3GNBN0-45-NnUDvwxxtZ3s1Nxn97JTej6V3zhMqM/s1600/July+2011+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWv3vjcveOiu_E7dPN7asWEPZ64vRRfKq-tCH1DriYLuRIAb8R1aPGqK_1Wr7wu5LGvfxJywkK2L9n4tp3FchOrjIkV1aGVrMOkM3GNBN0-45-NnUDvwxxtZ3s1Nxn97JTej6V3zhMqM/s400/July+2011+030.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center">"Get out of my way, kitties, I'm coming through"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk1oNwOJHZyj17MnznTIwbSNrpLTW4a9-jMtwOoPA8iiVNTE4RTrTJkllsXahVxUNAYdFdgZ6YeKy3XdHAyiSCtR8UKYnDavJirS6IPB5DnW1FNFKPRBi0-RuXCiDwTE0-lZoXk8CctI/s1600/July+2011+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk1oNwOJHZyj17MnznTIwbSNrpLTW4a9-jMtwOoPA8iiVNTE4RTrTJkllsXahVxUNAYdFdgZ6YeKy3XdHAyiSCtR8UKYnDavJirS6IPB5DnW1FNFKPRBi0-RuXCiDwTE0-lZoXk8CctI/s400/July+2011+032.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center">"Nice one, Number 6, get that headlock working"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiI8Tdo8cX6QLbPfF6wnbjmZN_hDbRIq6RzDTPWLtrU2WcNQ9rEfsLZdNxqgz4klxA8SylO5fDTNzzZ1lb6Se6fvonZxp7u-nUa3ezTCPSi5W2fZ7oKrBf4ba9YyRSCcsuunnPyDSxnw/s1600/July+2011+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiI8Tdo8cX6QLbPfF6wnbjmZN_hDbRIq6RzDTPWLtrU2WcNQ9rEfsLZdNxqgz4klxA8SylO5fDTNzzZ1lb6Se6fvonZxp7u-nUa3ezTCPSi5W2fZ7oKrBf4ba9YyRSCcsuunnPyDSxnw/s400/July+2011+035.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center">"Cheers yeah, Mum. Now, where shall we go next?"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILHEocMwTWNzwjRnjVi0IQ9iXuzYbOBzTPPnR6BatDuGJU8cqglp7AOmIGHuPLfA8YRXxbx8AELZmN3I8XEjo5CpRnjzKjBlGJVreN583xUoIZ5adxfxUXzp9YfCel9VdawJ2NvO7ouQ/s1600/July+2011+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILHEocMwTWNzwjRnjVi0IQ9iXuzYbOBzTPPnR6BatDuGJU8cqglp7AOmIGHuPLfA8YRXxbx8AELZmN3I8XEjo5CpRnjzKjBlGJVreN583xUoIZ5adxfxUXzp9YfCel9VdawJ2NvO7ouQ/s400/July+2011+036.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Six. SIX! Do I really deserve this?"</div>office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-65585032073966891202011-07-10T10:12:00.006-04:002011-07-20T10:16:55.282-04:00... and relax, on the Longest Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MAACKmnHEaYn4tYz9hG3KUuczHFN_FkPSh4bwDmSG5h4QvMWF18Y4xCx6fU4dPqCpBOx09aE1r9Xc0Chgi2bmw2xGvUuzxdZkc-gv5_iwOZXdCdccr52LNZkG34ELcD3bJsnQhwyPww/s1600/July+2011+677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MAACKmnHEaYn4tYz9hG3KUuczHFN_FkPSh4bwDmSG5h4QvMWF18Y4xCx6fU4dPqCpBOx09aE1r9Xc0Chgi2bmw2xGvUuzxdZkc-gv5_iwOZXdCdccr52LNZkG34ELcD3bJsnQhwyPww/s400/July+2011+677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Northamptonshire poppies as currently showing; slightly blurred and colour shifted as these 70's camera Lomo & hipster enthusiasts would like to have it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The real story - low light in the last light of the Longest Day - getting on for 10pm, the old Spotmatic, 35mm lens and using an old roll of Ektachrome up which should have been finished and developed years ago. Never mind, looks alright I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This light and at this hour seems unbelievable, a fantasy, in England after the beginning of October and before the middle of May...I post this to reassure myself it's really possible, and true, and will return.</div>office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-8634537324704767282011-02-08T07:50:00.002-05:002011-02-08T07:54:58.074-05:00It's Space Age Britain - and he's John Hodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4Cr1mi95xIK4bkXXjaQA48wf-dZtut5RkuNba-VBCW9Cc9HeYYx8TaMO4Vw7vpZe9JOEFvYcUxk6fjkO5eCkhwr0lDyhNOPeXoCDLV6NZhByDyfdidvCDd4C0BJAETN8BiTJC_N4hbI/s1600/John_Hodge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4Cr1mi95xIK4bkXXjaQA48wf-dZtut5RkuNba-VBCW9Cc9HeYYx8TaMO4Vw7vpZe9JOEFvYcUxk6fjkO5eCkhwr0lDyhNOPeXoCDLV6NZhByDyfdidvCDd4C0BJAETN8BiTJC_N4hbI/s400/John_Hodge2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Congratulations to Louis Barfe <a href="http://cheeseford.blogspot.com/">http://cheeseford.blogspot.com/</a> for successfully identifying our Mystery Man. Almost making it off his planet to orbit was Mondo <a href="http://planetmondo.blogspot.com/">http://planetmondo.blogspot.com/</a> . Piley is still on the Pad <a href="http://piley.blogspot.com/">http://piley.blogspot.com/</a> ,we started the lift-off without him.<br />
<br />
Yes, it's John Hodge. Originally from Leigh-on-Sea, then via Avro Canada to Nasa, becoming amongst other things, the second Flight (or Mission) Controller appointed, during the Gemini programme.<br />
<br />
The story of the Avro Arrow project cancellation and 'what happened next' to a group of highly talented engineers and scientists is told very well in the book Arrows To The Moon <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arrows-Moon-Avros-Engineers-Apogee/dp/1896522831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297164713&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arrows-Moon-Avros-Engineers-Apogee/dp/1896522831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297164713&sr=1-1</a>. As the book description puts it:<br />
<br />
"On 20 February 1959 the Canadian government shut down the CF-105 Avro Arrow jet interceptor programme, putting the cream of Canada's aerospace engineering talent out of work. Many of the Avro engineers had just arrived in Canada from Great Britain. A brand new U.S. organisation called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was charged with putting U.S. astronauts into space, and in 1959 it desperately needed engineering talent. Within 10 weeks of the demise of the Arrow, 25 Avro engineers were working for NASA, and another seven joined them later. <br />
<br />
Other Avro engineers found work with the aerospace contractors that built spacecraft and boosters or NASA. A little more than 10 years later, US astronauts were standing on the surface of the Moon in the climax of one of the greatest stories of technology and exploration in human history. This book tells for the first time the story of the Canadian and British engineers from Avro Canada who played key roles in putting Americans on the Moon and in building today's US space programme, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station."<br />
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Hodge became deputy to Chris Kraft and effectively number two in the Mission Control business. He was the second Flight Controller appointed, by, and after, Kraft himself. More here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.avroarrow.org/AvroArrow/JohnHodge.html">http://www.avroarrow.org/AvroArrow/JohnHodge.html</a><br />
<br />
Perhaps the most famous incident that Hodge was involved in was a potential disaster scenario in space, as Gemini 8, crewed by Neil Armstrong (yes <em>that</em> Neil Armstrong) and Dave Scott (later Apollo 9 & 15), attempted the first docking between two spacecraft in Earth orbit, an essential precursor technique to achieving any lunar mission. <br />
<br />
All went well until a manoeuvring thruster jet stuck 'on', resulting in the whole spacecraft spinning up to about one rev/second, approaching the danger level for humans, even test pilots, to endure. Armstrong kept his cool and stopped the spin by using the re-entry thruster fuel to do so; unfortunately, it meant an early return for Gemini 8. Hodge made the call, and Gemini 8 returned to an unscheduled, but safe landing. You can hear him in action here. You can tell who's who pretty easily.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TLrGDZrvTI0?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
For those people who ever wondered what it would have been like if Britain had carried on with it's own space programme, then I guess that the old recording of an English voice running the show would give you a little flavour.<br />
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The longer film of the incident itself is below. Incidentally, the CapCom in this film (an astronaut who's job it was to be the only direct point of contact to the astronauts in space, to prevent confusion) was Jim Lovell, later to fly around the moon on Apollo 8 and 13). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.maniacworld.com/Gemini-VIII-Docks.htm">http://www.maniacworld.com/Gemini-VIII-Docks.htm</a><br />
<br />
A few more links here - <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hodge_(engineer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hodge_(engineer</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.southendtimeline.com/whoswho.htm">http://www.southendtimeline.com/whoswho.htm</a><br />
<br />
(Good to see that the <em>Southend Timeline</em> is on to him, I'm looking at you Mondo and Piley)<br />
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<img height="303" id="il_fi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/S65-19374.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /><br />
(Flight Controllers - Clockwise from lower right: Chris Kraft, Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney and John Hodge).office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-7420283490079457742011-02-05T17:39:00.007-05:002011-02-07T05:42:12.940-05:00Who Am I ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5uWU-TXgTI0S-ehtdo3hNLLJfyaXB4C7hsD0TJ9_S8XdH9S41apSU0pg5wOCu8V43HqTfcjxGg5-s2FA0E3-HnU9984a8Ts_ZWU2ZVvEYILdW7_tLRF9MhMHKJVhDNIaXVdjroQC8_k/s1600/our-star-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5uWU-TXgTI0S-ehtdo3hNLLJfyaXB4C7hsD0TJ9_S8XdH9S41apSU0pg5wOCu8V43HqTfcjxGg5-s2FA0E3-HnU9984a8Ts_ZWU2ZVvEYILdW7_tLRF9MhMHKJVhDNIaXVdjroQC8_k/s320/our-star-man.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
Born in Leigh-on-Sea in 1928, or 1929 (the date and year is disputed), this man's career took him all over the world. The work he did enabled others to go even further. He's still walking on the earth at the time of writing. <br />
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But - Who is he...??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zO8BgzJ2TFIZOBUqSZM6av9k5mZ5CZ7SraJAXbz_KuQYMJBOX-2ru-N5diAOdvHnt4xQoNAg0uEFAFpfFvbbhy247S_jDxm8wGbQWsiep0-UH8kLM7-uXcaID9ETG3IE0U-SIyDp7_A/s1600/Heavenly_Twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zO8BgzJ2TFIZOBUqSZM6av9k5mZ5CZ7SraJAXbz_KuQYMJBOX-2ru-N5diAOdvHnt4xQoNAg0uEFAFpfFvbbhy247S_jDxm8wGbQWsiep0-UH8kLM7-uXcaID9ETG3IE0U-SIyDp7_A/s400/Heavenly_Twins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's Horoscope:</div>"Gemini - Long-distance and foreign connections, exchange and trade will be favored. You'll travel a fair amount and may strike up a chance acquaintance who shares your views, ideals and ideas. A period of happiness, true spirituality, intellectual and moral growth — a truly cosmic gift comes to you. <br />
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The preceding period had lots of highs and lows for you to reckon with. This month reorients you to your lasting values, and greater idealism is the result, in conjunction with heightened consciousness and conscience." <br />
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A little music for a Sunday lunchtime I think.. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BavRrRNvz8g?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
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So then, from William Tell to an Arrow. We'll come back to Gemini presently.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RlrfGx4ncgI?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Our man was involved with the design and production of this little beauty: <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_arrow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_arrow</a><br />
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Then he was caught up, like thousands of others, in the chaos which ensued from its sudden and untimely cancellation. But from that dark period, a new dawn was to break for a lucky and talented few; for whilst one great technical project was suddenly ending, almost simultaneously another was being kick started to urgent life...in the USA.office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-49771993111489669022011-01-10T22:37:00.001-05:002011-01-10T22:54:45.023-05:00Tell Me When The Work Is Done / Tell Me When The Day Is ThroughMick Karn died on 4th January. I guess all those of us of a certain age would remember Japan, some more fondly than others. Me, I loved Japan, and amongst a group of talented musicians Mick Karn was a very individual bass and woodwind player, respected by his peers and well beyond the 'New Romantic' scene (which Japan significantly pre-dated, by the way), as well as by the fans.<br />
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I had the pleasure of seeing Japan play live a couple of times in the early '80s (yes Piley, I'm <em>that</em> old) and they were of course superb.<br />
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Hard for me to pick out a favourite track from one of the pillars of the soundtrack to my youth, or indeed one that shows Mick's talents using his fretless bass, above all the others - but here's a couple whilst I think about it a bit more:<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/flHWJoDt3Yo?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/flHWJoDt3Yo?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0KPofwnTTSs?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0KPofwnTTSs?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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God keep you Mick, you really were one of a kind. <br />
Condolences to the family and I hope you get all the support you need.<br />
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More info here:<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Karn">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Karn</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mickkarn.net/Pages/Message.htm">http://www.mickkarn.net/Pages/Message.htm</a>office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-50758474317494044872011-01-09T22:53:00.001-05:002011-01-09T22:53:44.274-05:00What a Bloody Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVG3oMGKidBCLrfNPA9lVZUfDruWeHEyh5DUBooHYjgXS4XnZhMw0fFvNsQKXejQHfObXe1CtMu3V4dbFDYSW_a7AYPtcCxMvbw4ce8gZFqdXSuUENPKrqEQmiD0QqxyiLr0zQ0Nn9Lk/s1600/Rob+McElwee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVG3oMGKidBCLrfNPA9lVZUfDruWeHEyh5DUBooHYjgXS4XnZhMw0fFvNsQKXejQHfObXe1CtMu3V4dbFDYSW_a7AYPtcCxMvbw4ce8gZFqdXSuUENPKrqEQmiD0QqxyiLr0zQ0Nn9Lk/s400/Rob+McElwee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The BBC have sacked Rob McElwee from doing weather forecasts. I didn't know about this, and no one asked me if it was alright to do it. It isn't. We all know that the weather forecasts are sometimes a bit wrong if not wholly fanciful, though I think they are quite accurate these days as it goes.<br />
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But that's not the point. As the weather forecast is only partially viewed for an actual prediction, and more often than not looked at to see what the weather's been like elsewhere in the UK or the World, to remind one of other places in the islands that we might like to visit and also to see how bad others have got it, it falls into the 'entertainment' category of programme. So then, to sack the most idiosyncratic and entertaining of weather presenters on the BBC is classic 'missing the point, BBC', BBC.<br />
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Get rid of <em>Top Of The Pops</em> because of 24 hour music channels? Missing the point - I don't want to watch 24 hour music channels to see what's in the top 20, I want a review show. On that reasoning, the BBC would have got rid of the 9 o'clock News, because there's 24 hour rolling news. 'But people want a round-up', they bleat. Exactly, idiots, so give me a pop round up, and make it entertaining. Also, give me an entertaining weather review/forecast, and make that amusing as well. I pay you for this shit.<br />
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Employ an entertaining weather forecaster/presenter, not a robot or a crazy man. I can get all that if I want it from ITV or Sky.<br />
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I only caught Sir Rob's last show by accident. I'd been out at work (don't ask), came back, put the TV on at just gone midnight to see what was on and saw that the <em>Weatherview</em> was coming up. Essential viewing. At the end RM goes and says, 'that's it from me', then adds 'that's <i>really</i> IT from me', winks, and he's gone!<br />
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The year before last, I handed the bankers all my money for the next 25 years (how's the loan repayment plan going on by the way, Mr Shitbag Clegg?). Last year I get handed a right wing coup d'etat instead of an election result. This year the BBC do this. I pay you all, for this kind of shit?<br />
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I'm becoming quite unhappy about this sort of thing.<br />
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Harumphh!!!office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-1428664870818571642010-12-23T22:35:00.000-05:002010-12-23T22:35:55.106-05:00White Christmas<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cl4pJwcE7JI?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cl4pJwcE7JI?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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Steam trains and snow - at Christmas? Really, what could be better.<br />
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Wishing you all a Happy Christmas.office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-32657425597313810322010-12-08T20:02:00.000-05:002010-12-08T20:02:56.884-05:00I'm Spartacus!<img height="265" id="il_fi" src="http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/images/large/lustforlife2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="347" /><br />
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Well, I'm not of course, but he is. He's also Vincent van Gogh as far as I'm concerned. <br />
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So, another day and another birthday of a long lived movie star and cultural icon. A proper icon as well.<br />
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Born in 1916, and 94 today. You can read about him here:<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Douglas">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Douglas</a><br />
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And see a fairly recent interview (below), where Mr Douglas talks about the stroke that afflicted him. <br />
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Or, why not look him up on MySpace, if you take part in such things - he's apparently the oldest celeb on it and quite accessible, as these things go.<br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_k6aemk6sck" frameborder="0"></iframe>office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781731605088753900.post-58746447740503639632010-12-06T21:03:00.003-05:002010-12-06T21:10:59.674-05:00Hey, Blondie!<img height="169" id="il_fi" src="http://www.threedonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/eli_wallach_eyes.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /><br />
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A Happy Birthday to Eli Wallach, born 7th December 1915 and 95 today.<br />
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You can read about him here<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Wallach">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Wallach</a><br />
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And see a recent interview here:<br />
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<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sNJbXwhgtOw?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="400"></iframe><br />
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I thought I might have forgotten how to work this blogger, but I haven't, surprisingly.office pesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15516888180507856752noreply@blogger.com3