Thursday 31 December 2009

The Last Post of the Year … !!

Yes, I know, it’s sad …

Me and Allison are indoors, because we couldn’t afford to go out.

But that’s the breaks, for you!

At any rate, I thought I put up a few photo’s from the past few days.

Happy New Year.

May your problems be few, and your blessings, many.

And wish me luck for Wednesday, everyone: I’ve an interview in Chelmsford … !













The Daily Teaser …

Ooh …

I’m just going over Andrea’s answer, for yesterday, and thinking she seemed a touch unsure of her answer for Q5.

Or possibly surprised.

After all, you wouldn’t necessarily think it was only in 1986 that the National Coal Board stopped using canaries as methane detectors.

And starters using … um …

Well …

Methane detectors …

Yeah …

You know, I know it’s hard on the canaries, but it sure they’re cheaper than a gas detector … ?

I’m burbling: let’s move on, shall we?

Yes, lets … !!

Andrea did managed to get 5 out of 5, AND the Official First-In-Clap: and I’m thinking Trevor’s answers have vanished. Through no thought of my own, this time!

Anyway, let’s see how people do with today’s questions: here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License

Q1) Eve is the first woman and wife of Adam — or First Man, at least — in three of the world’s Holy Books: name any two of them.

Q2) In which 1991 film did Renée Soutendijk play Dr Eve Simmons?

Q3) In which 2008 film is there a robot character called Eve?

Q4) What’s the traditional term for New Year’s Eve, in Scotland?

Q5) More to the point, which day of Christmas is it, the 7th, 8th or 9th?

Q6) 31st December, 1759, saw Arthur Guinness sign the lease on his by now famous brewery: how long was that for, 8000 years, 9000 years, or 10000 years?

Q7) 201 years later, 31st December, 1960, saw which British coin cease to be legal tender?

Q8) 31st December, 1599, saw the original chartering of which British company?

Q9) Today in 1857, saw Ottawa named as Canadian capitol; by which British political figure?

Q10) 31st December, 1999, saw Boris Yeltsin resign as President of Russia: who tool over as acting Russian President?

Q11) And finally … 31st december, 1999, saw the Panama Canal being handed by the USA to which country?


And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 30th, December, 1816, saw the signing of the Treaty of Saint Louis between the US Federal government and six Native American Tribes: name any of them.

A1) The Sioux, Sauk, Winnebago, Ottawa, Ojibwa and Potawatomi.


Q2) Again, on 30th December, 1916, which famous — or notorious — Russian was assassinated?

A2) Grigori Rasputin.


Q3) 30th December, 1993, saw full diplomatic relations established between which two countries?

A3) Israel and Vatican City.


Q4) Which star was arrested for drink-driving, on 30 December, 2002?

A4) Diana Ross.


Q5) And finally, the UK Government announced the phasing out of more than 200 what, on 30th December, 1986?

A5) Coal mine Canaries.


Enjoy those, everyone.

I’m going to watch David Jason do things to condoms …

Wednesday 30 December 2009

The Day After the Triffids …

You know, I really much more impressed with Part 2 of Day of the Triffids, than I was with Part One.

To the point were I’m watching it, at the moment, while I’m writing this.

All credit to QuickTime X, there, by the way: the usual scalability that the application shows has been somewhat improved over Quicktime 7. It means I can watch the back up I’ve made, for until I buy the DVD, in one window, and play Café World and write this, in another!!

¿But I’m rambling, aren’t I?

I am …

At any rate, the second part of Day of the Triffids was — in my humble opinion — was a lot stronger than Part One.

Saying that, there are a few differences between this version and both the original BBC series and Wyndham’s original novel.

Coker’s an American, for starter’s.

Mind you, I think it was a good decision, there. Somehow, having the cynical — but idealistic — character as an equally idealistic — but practical — American character, played by Jason Priestly*, helped me make a touch more sense of the character.

There’s other plot changes, as well: maybe a few too many for some people’s comfort.

But, to my mind, I can at least point to many of them, and work out which bit of the book the producer’s got them from.

The deeply ambiguous Torrence, played by Eddie Izzardª, for example?

Wasn’t that prominent in the novel.

And Vanessa Redgrave’s deranged Mother Superior, or Brian Cox’s portrayal of Bill Masen’s father, Dennis?

They weren’t, either: nor the side plot that sees Bill — wonderfully played by Dougray Scottº — along with Dennis hatch a scheme to eradicate the triffid menace.

Nor were the African tribal references, but that was actually a nice little twist …

I also know a few of my friends weren’t completely stunned by the pacing.

But …

But …

But on the whole?

After seeing Part Two, I’m more than happy to admit, I liked the effort put into this version of Day of the Triffids.

Granted, the pacing could’ve been better. And maybe a Children of Earth, five night mini-series could’ve helped, there.

But that’s something of a side-issue, maybe.

As things stand, the 2009 series was a nicely done, work-man-like job.


  • Bill Masen Dougray Scott.
  • Jo Playton Joely Richardson.
  • Torrence Eddie Izzard.
  • Dennis Masen Brian Cox.
  • Mother Superior Durrant Vanessa Redgrave.
  • Coker Jason Priestley.





















* Yeah, Andrea, Sean, @fanofcullen: that Jason Priestley. You know, 90210? Yeah, him. Wouldn’t have thought it, but he did rather well.

º Who seems to make a habit of playing academics …

ª Who actually played a sort of villainous version of himself, I think: and rather well, actually. Beautiful bit of casting …

The Daily Teaser …

Trevor, I’m sorry!

Would you believe, I missed your email in the piles of stuff from Facebook, I’m gonna HAVE to cut down on them!!

And do a bit of address juggling …

Oy Veh!

Let’s move’s move on, shall we?

Shall we?

Yes, let’s … !

Yesterday saw both Trevor and Andrea get seven out of seven, with Andrea getting the Official First-In-Clap, for the second day in a row!

Grab the Ointment, hun!

Here’s today’s questions, along with the ‘How To’ and License

Q1) 30th, December, 1816, saw the signing of the Treaty of Saint Louis between the US Federal government and six Native American Tribes: name any of them.


Q2) Again, on 30th December, 1916, which famous — or notorious — Russian was assassinated?


Q3) 30th December, 1993, saw full diplomatic relations established between which two countries?


Q4) Which star was arrested for drink-driving, on 30 December, 2002?


Q5) And finally, the UK Government announced the phasing out of more than 200 what, on 30th December, 1986?


And here’s yesterdays questions and answers …

Q1) 29th December, 1170, saw the martyrdom of which ‘… troublesome priest’?

A1) Thomas à Becket.


Q2) Which cathedral was that priest in, when he died?

A2) Canterbury Cathedral.


Q3) More to the point, which king unintentionally order the priest’s death?

A3) Henry 2nd.


Q4) 720 years later, 29th December, 1890, saw a massacre of Native Americans: near which creek?

A4) Wounded Knee.


Q5) More to the point, which Native American tribe were massacred at this creek?

A5) Various sub-tribes of the Lakota Sioux.


Q6) 29th December, 1938, saw the birth of actor, Jon Voight: what’s the name of his actress daughter?

A6) Angelina Jolie.


Q7) And finally: 29th December, 1986, saw the death of Lord Stockton: Lord Stockton was better known as which former British PM?

A7) Harold MacMillan.


Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll catch you later!



Tuesday 29 December 2009

Death In Beijing …

Which is what happened, this morning, according to the news

British man, Akmal Shaikh, was executed by lethal injection, the Chinese government, on drug smuggling charges.

And I’m feeling fairly mixed.

On the one hand, the death sentence is one of those emotional things: one with both supporters, and people against it.

I’m with the latter, on the whole: I don’t believe two wrongs make a right.

And, in this case, what makes it worse is that Mr Shaikh has a serious form of Bipolar Disorder, what used to be called Manic Depression.

No, I’m not condoning China’s execution of a very vulnerable person.

But I am wondering if anyone’s thought to also condemn the criminals who — whoever and where-ever they are — who are equally complicit it Akmal Shaikh’s death by government.

Just a thought.