Tuesday, 27 September 2011
A return to feudalism
In feudal times, the serf I am told had to work two days on the land of their lord and had the rest of week for their own land. We have a similar situation now in the UK where some people have to give the proceeds of 2 out of the 5 days they work in housing costs. At the same time - a new breed of 'Buy too let Barons' - have property empires of tens, and in some cases hundreds and thousands of properties. I am sure being a responsible landlord involves more than just collecting rent each month, but most of us might think it's hardly the toughest way to get money. Of course there are some awful tennants who can make the lives of landlords a misery and trash much love properties - but on the whole I wonder if a property owning democracy would be better is we had a maximum number of properties one person can own? Just a thought.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Books
Comedy Rules - From the Cambridge Footlights to Yes Prime Minister by Jonathan Lynn. ISBN 978-0-571-27795-7
150 essential rules of comedy.
Probably the best book on writing comedy ever. It is not a how to do book, not a practical guide, it is part memoir, part stories and part 150 views on what makes people laugh.
150 essential rules of comedy.
Probably the best book on writing comedy ever. It is not a how to do book, not a practical guide, it is part memoir, part stories and part 150 views on what makes people laugh.
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy - A Tragic Flaw by Greg Hurst ISBN -10:1-84275-176-X
The blurb on the covers says Greg Hurst understands the personalities and working of the Liberal Democrats better than any other political journalist... a fascinating and often dramatic, insider account of Charles Kennedy's leadership.
The first part of that is undoubted true, the second part rather undersells a book which covers Kennedy's entire life and career as well as providing a clear account of the history and workings of the SDP and the Liberal Democrats.
The tragic flaw is of course alcoholism, which very sadly. As a friends of Kennedy say - it is hard to tell when heavy drinking turns into alcoholism, even when Kennedy appeared to cut down on his drinking, his body was already less able to cope both with and without alcohol. That is the cruel dilemma for addicts.
The events in the book often seem like a different age, how quickly politics can move on. Even Kennedy resignation as leader is almost 6 years ago.
Kennedy emerges as a politician of great judgement and rare ability to connect with the public. Rather than
'lazy' as he was sometimes painted, he comes over a thoughtful and unwilling to close down options and seeking to avoid unnecessary conflict. Clearly he was not someone for detailed policy but that need not be a disadvantage for a party leader.
Little snippets - the revolting Labour party by-election campaigns - particularly at Birmingham Hodge Hill.
The huge frustration of leading a party which gained over a million more votes and yet won only a handful more seats. The huge reluctance of the Lib Dem MPs to be ruthless in getting rid of Kennedy,which made the process worse.
Despite his easy TV manner and chat/game show appearances, Kennedy was a shy person, disliked long formal meetings, sometimes lacking in self-confidence despite his ability to master a brief incredibly quickly.
The book almost argues that Kennedy fatal flaw was being elected an MP at 23, being a gifted politician who would have been a Cabinet Minister in any other party but who instead chose the SDP and Liberal Democrats, but in the end it concludes that failure to address his drinking until it was too late was the fatal flaw.
The blurb on the covers says Greg Hurst understands the personalities and working of the Liberal Democrats better than any other political journalist... a fascinating and often dramatic, insider account of Charles Kennedy's leadership.
The first part of that is undoubted true, the second part rather undersells a book which covers Kennedy's entire life and career as well as providing a clear account of the history and workings of the SDP and the Liberal Democrats.
The tragic flaw is of course alcoholism, which very sadly. As a friends of Kennedy say - it is hard to tell when heavy drinking turns into alcoholism, even when Kennedy appeared to cut down on his drinking, his body was already less able to cope both with and without alcohol. That is the cruel dilemma for addicts.
The events in the book often seem like a different age, how quickly politics can move on. Even Kennedy resignation as leader is almost 6 years ago.
Kennedy emerges as a politician of great judgement and rare ability to connect with the public. Rather than
'lazy' as he was sometimes painted, he comes over a thoughtful and unwilling to close down options and seeking to avoid unnecessary conflict. Clearly he was not someone for detailed policy but that need not be a disadvantage for a party leader.
Little snippets - the revolting Labour party by-election campaigns - particularly at Birmingham Hodge Hill.
The huge frustration of leading a party which gained over a million more votes and yet won only a handful more seats. The huge reluctance of the Lib Dem MPs to be ruthless in getting rid of Kennedy,which made the process worse.
Despite his easy TV manner and chat/game show appearances, Kennedy was a shy person, disliked long formal meetings, sometimes lacking in self-confidence despite his ability to master a brief incredibly quickly.
The book almost argues that Kennedy fatal flaw was being elected an MP at 23, being a gifted politician who would have been a Cabinet Minister in any other party but who instead chose the SDP and Liberal Democrats, but in the end it concludes that failure to address his drinking until it was too late was the fatal flaw.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Kinks, Dave Davies
Dave Davies is the younger brother of Ray Davies of the rock band the Kinks.
Dave Davies website describes his autobiography as a cult.
It is an fascinating and incredibly honest read.
I do part company with his over his use of psychic powers and messages form UFO's :-O but if you want a very good account of life in a rock band and his complex relationship with his brother and other people, this is a very good book.
I think it is right to say that Dave has and will be over shadowed by his brother, but that his contribution to the music of the Kinks has been very undervalued.
Interesting for me, Dave is a fan of Tony Hancock and recently attended the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society Dinner as a guest speaker.
Dave Davies website describes his autobiography as a cult.
It is an fascinating and incredibly honest read.
I do part company with his over his use of psychic powers and messages form UFO's :-O but if you want a very good account of life in a rock band and his complex relationship with his brother and other people, this is a very good book.
I think it is right to say that Dave has and will be over shadowed by his brother, but that his contribution to the music of the Kinks has been very undervalued.
Interesting for me, Dave is a fan of Tony Hancock and recently attended the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society Dinner as a guest speaker.
Monday, 29 August 2011
what's his name from the carry on films
Charles Hawtrey has been destined to be remembered as whatshisname, the skinny one with glasses from the Carry on films. You know the one a bit like Kenneth Williams.
In a cruel irony, Hawtrey career was blighted by arguments over billing. He would often lose out on work or put people off employing him because he wanted to be top or higher up the bill.
Far from being just that chap in the Carry on films, Hawtrey had a incredible career.
He started out as a child actor in silent movies and in the theatre, he was Englands leading boy soprano with 'hit' records. He worked with a vast who's who of film and stage in the 1930's and 1940's. Errol Flynn, Lawrence Oliver, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Max Miller, Alastair Sims, George Formby and on almost endlessly) Admittedly he would exaggerate his links with such stars.
He was a writer, director and composer. (although without great success, except in one murder mystery where he played a role in drag only to be revealed as a man at the end of the play, so convincing was he, even theatre critics were stunned by the revelation)
The Henry and Norman Bones Mysteries (No I've never heard of them either) which he starred in with Patricia Hayes ran for 17 years on Radio, yet his involvement ended over an argument as to whether the billing should be Charles Hawtrey with Patricia Hayes, or Charles Hawtrey and Patricia Hayes.
Our House - an hour long sitcom on ITV he starred in with Hattie Jaques and Joan Sims ran to 39 episodes and a spin off series best of friends a further 13.
More remembered are his film with Will Hay and perhaps his time in the Army Game, another early sitcom.
In his early days, Hawtrey was well known for being utterly professional and very talented as a performer.
Unfortunately, Hawtrey acquired a drink problem which descended into alcoholism. For most of his later years the only people who would employ him were the Carry On Films and one organiser of theatre shows - Aubrey Philips who had to work round his drunkenness.
In another cruel twist of fate, Hawtrey felt he wasn't given big enough roles or high enough billing - which no doubt fueled his drinking and his awkward and rude behaviour - but these were the reasons people felt they could not give him bigger role or higher billing.
For the Carry On Film he was paid £2000 a time, (for 6 weeks filming) compared to £5000 commanded by Sid James and Kenneth Williams. Although he grumbled about the films, he was usually keen to promote them, as it meant a free meal., drink and being treated like a star for a day.
For touring in panto and such, he could get £250 a week plus expenses. Not bad, but not the £1000+ a week top stars would expect.
Well known as an eccentric - he would buy cheap cigarettes and expensive champagne. He's drink tea and bring sandwiches when filming to save money yet take a taxi for ridiculous journeys.
He did become very reclusive towards the end of this life, but was not without friends. It was his wish that few people came to his funeral. Admirably he was one of the first stars to come out as being gay.
People would ask for autographs thinking his name was Kenneth Williams or Kenneth Connor, so much so that he started saying "I suppose you think I'm fucking Barbara Windsor" and would be incredibly rude.
Did this mean he was right to be so concerned about billing all along ?
He felt typecast by the carry on films, yet without them and the endless repeats, for which he received no money, he would probably be hardly remembered at all.
whatshisname - the life and death of Charles Hawtrey by Wes Butters ISBN 13:978-0-9557670-7-4
In a cruel irony, Hawtrey career was blighted by arguments over billing. He would often lose out on work or put people off employing him because he wanted to be top or higher up the bill.
Far from being just that chap in the Carry on films, Hawtrey had a incredible career.
He started out as a child actor in silent movies and in the theatre, he was Englands leading boy soprano with 'hit' records. He worked with a vast who's who of film and stage in the 1930's and 1940's. Errol Flynn, Lawrence Oliver, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Max Miller, Alastair Sims, George Formby and on almost endlessly) Admittedly he would exaggerate his links with such stars.
He was a writer, director and composer. (although without great success, except in one murder mystery where he played a role in drag only to be revealed as a man at the end of the play, so convincing was he, even theatre critics were stunned by the revelation)
The Henry and Norman Bones Mysteries (No I've never heard of them either) which he starred in with Patricia Hayes ran for 17 years on Radio, yet his involvement ended over an argument as to whether the billing should be Charles Hawtrey with Patricia Hayes, or Charles Hawtrey and Patricia Hayes.
Our House - an hour long sitcom on ITV he starred in with Hattie Jaques and Joan Sims ran to 39 episodes and a spin off series best of friends a further 13.
More remembered are his film with Will Hay and perhaps his time in the Army Game, another early sitcom.
In his early days, Hawtrey was well known for being utterly professional and very talented as a performer.
Unfortunately, Hawtrey acquired a drink problem which descended into alcoholism. For most of his later years the only people who would employ him were the Carry On Films and one organiser of theatre shows - Aubrey Philips who had to work round his drunkenness.
In another cruel twist of fate, Hawtrey felt he wasn't given big enough roles or high enough billing - which no doubt fueled his drinking and his awkward and rude behaviour - but these were the reasons people felt they could not give him bigger role or higher billing.
For the Carry On Film he was paid £2000 a time, (for 6 weeks filming) compared to £5000 commanded by Sid James and Kenneth Williams. Although he grumbled about the films, he was usually keen to promote them, as it meant a free meal., drink and being treated like a star for a day.
For touring in panto and such, he could get £250 a week plus expenses. Not bad, but not the £1000+ a week top stars would expect.
Well known as an eccentric - he would buy cheap cigarettes and expensive champagne. He's drink tea and bring sandwiches when filming to save money yet take a taxi for ridiculous journeys.
He did become very reclusive towards the end of this life, but was not without friends. It was his wish that few people came to his funeral. Admirably he was one of the first stars to come out as being gay.
People would ask for autographs thinking his name was Kenneth Williams or Kenneth Connor, so much so that he started saying "I suppose you think I'm fucking Barbara Windsor" and would be incredibly rude.
Did this mean he was right to be so concerned about billing all along ?
He felt typecast by the carry on films, yet without them and the endless repeats, for which he received no money, he would probably be hardly remembered at all.
whatshisname - the life and death of Charles Hawtrey by Wes Butters ISBN 13:978-0-9557670-7-4
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Jeremy Kyle
The Jeremy Kyle Show - shorthand for dysfunctional lives, trash television watched by students, the unemployed and housebound.
I have a big concern about the "lie dectector' tests - as it ought to be well known that they do not detect lies and can be deceived.
I suspect Jeremy knows this, but doesn't tell his audience what he knows. But how cane we find out ? Perhaps he ought to be made to take a lie detector test?
I have a big concern about the "lie dectector' tests - as it ought to be well known that they do not detect lies and can be deceived.
I suspect Jeremy knows this, but doesn't tell his audience what he knows. But how cane we find out ? Perhaps he ought to be made to take a lie detector test?
Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal, hosted by Noel Edmunds can be a compelling programme to watch. The format is simple, but the psychology is interesting.
Noel Edmunds is well known for his belief in cosmic ordering - you order your hearts desire and the cosmos will arrange it. Noel asked for a revived TV career or not depending on your point of view :-)
Despite knowing that they can't actually change the value of their box, everyone is encouraged to hold hands, cross their fingers, send vibes and above all be 'positive' to help the contestant choose a low value box for elimination. This all switches of course when a deal is made with the banker and then everyone has to send positive or negative vibes wishes etc that the box is of high value.
I don't think anyone yet has just started with box number one and worked numerically through them, although mathematically, it ought not to affect the outcome.
The programme is quite sad in that people are encouraged to "be brave" and believe that they are fated to have been dealt a high value box - and so plough on to the end,rejecting all offers from the banker, with usually disappointing results. This is worse when it is people who would find even the relatively small wins
"life ttransforming"
I am sure there is a website somewhere which lists all the games !
Noel Edmunds is well known for his belief in cosmic ordering - you order your hearts desire and the cosmos will arrange it. Noel asked for a revived TV career or not depending on your point of view :-)
Despite knowing that they can't actually change the value of their box, everyone is encouraged to hold hands, cross their fingers, send vibes and above all be 'positive' to help the contestant choose a low value box for elimination. This all switches of course when a deal is made with the banker and then everyone has to send positive or negative vibes wishes etc that the box is of high value.
I don't think anyone yet has just started with box number one and worked numerically through them, although mathematically, it ought not to affect the outcome.
The programme is quite sad in that people are encouraged to "be brave" and believe that they are fated to have been dealt a high value box - and so plough on to the end,rejecting all offers from the banker, with usually disappointing results. This is worse when it is people who would find even the relatively small wins
"life ttransforming"
I am sure there is a website somewhere which lists all the games !
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