More howlers for Christmas
‘Tis the season to be illiterate, apparently, as well as jolly. The following howlers are nearly all taken from the letters page of a single issue of the Guardian [More >>>]
Category: Arts & Entertainment
X is for X Factor
The X Factor amateur talent programme has been won by a pleasant young woman called Leona (without the or), accused by some of not really being an amateur, and singing in a style that doesn’t much appeal to this elderly square. But she’s already a multi-millionaire as a result of her triumph, so why should she care what I think? [More >>>]
Cartoon history of the Labour Party
Alan Mumford’s cartoon history of the Labour Party (£19.99 from [email protected]), by a cartoon and contemporary political history pundit and an old friend, is a must-buy, and makes a perfect Christmas present — no, nothing in it financially for me [More >>>]
You Couldn’t Make It Up Department (8): recent items to alarm or amuse
Some recent media items that are unintentionally revealing, chilling, or otherwise off-centre [More >>>]
The BBC, Michael Grade and the licence fee
Media people are always wildly excited by media events, most of which tend to leave the rest of us relatively calm. One such event is the departure of Michael Grade from the top of...
Then and now: Poetry, the President and the Prime Minister
Lines of poetry quoted by F D Roosevelt to Churchill and by Churchill to Roosevelt, and quoted in Churchill’s wartime speeches, have acquired a huge emotional; charge for older people from that wartime context. Do Bush and Blair exchange poetry, and if so what poems would be appropriate? [More >>>]
A glorious Cosi Fan Tutte
A beautiful and sexy production of Mozart’s glorious opera Cosi Fan Tutte, broadcast from Glyndebourne by BBC4 — digital television only, alas. [More >>>]
Royals in uniform
Some thoughts about two members of the royal family who have recently appeared in military or naval uniforms and other ceremonial costume without benefit of any supporting military or naval careers of any significance in their cv’s (US: resumés). [More >>>]
North London’s Rachel breaks out into verse
Don’t miss the brilliant verses by Rachel North, 7/7 bombing victim, on New Labour’s assault on our civil liberties [More >>>]
Kalinka online
Thanks to Councillor Bob Piper of Sandwell Labour Party (who he?) for providing a link, in his blog, to a wonderful clip of the Red Army choir doing a rousing performance of Kalinka [More >>>]