The Daily Teaser …

Oh, my lord, that’s embarrassing.

I’ve actually managed to sleep through my alarm … !

Whilst I’m out of a job, it’s not necessarily that important, I know.

But the simple fact is, I like to try and get up early, in part, to try and keep some sort of normal working structure to my day.

And in part because I’m also very aware that I like to get the Teaser’s up nice and early, so that all of my regulars — on both sides of the pond — get a good chance to mull over their answers.

Right, with that in mind, lets get on with things, shall we … ?

Shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor — not in a bikini* — Kaiju and Pink Fluff scoring 6 out of 6 on what was one of the most commented Teaser’s I can can remember.

Lets see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we … ? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 29th July, 2007, saw the death of comedian and actor, Mike Reid: which children’s quiz show did he present, in the 1970s … ?


Q2) 29th July, 1968, saw Pope Paul 6th formally announce that the Roman Catholic Church would be keeping it’s ban … on what?

Q3) 29th July, 1959, saw the birth of rock guitarist, John Sykes: one of the bands he was a member of, took its name from creature in a Michæl Moorcock short story. Which band … ?

Q4) 29th July, 1924, saw the birth of Elizabeth: how did she become better known, in 1947 … ?

Q5) 29th July, 2005, saw the discovery of the Solar system’s largest dwarf planet: what’s that dwarf planet called … ?


Q6) And finally … 29th July, 1974, saw the birth of US rapper, Joseph Foreman: or Afroman, as he was better known. What was hie only UK number 1 … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 28th July, 1540, saw who executed under orders of King Henry 8th … ?


A1) Thomas Cromwell.

Q2) More to the point, who did Henry 8th marry, that same day … ?

A2) His fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

Q3) 28th July, 1943, saw the birth of keyboard player Richard Wright: with which band did he achieve fame … ?

A3) Pink Floyd.

Q4) 28th July, 1865, saw Welsh settlers first arrive at the Chubut River: in which South American country is the Chubut River?

A4) Argentina.

Q5) More to the point, what’s the Welsh name for that river … ?


A5) Afon Camwy.

Q6) And finally … 28th July, 2001, saw which swimmer become the first to win six Gold medals at a World Championship?


A6) Ian Thorpe.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll catch you later …

* No, trust me, Trevor’s not in a bikini. Really …

Again With The Cinema

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve bought this week’s Brentwood Gazette.

After all, the amount of times I’ve cropped up on the letters page … ?

Well …

You’d be surprised if I didn’t, wouldn’t you … ?

At any rate, I know that my whole habit of mailing Brentwood’s local paper all started because I’d sent them a note or two in support of the development where it is: even going as far as writing to the various local development authorities, and (then) government ministers in charge of such things.

Isn’t local politics a wonderful thing … ?

Hard bloody work, though … !!

At any rate, the Gazette’s once more announced some interesting news: this time, about the developers who are building the proposed cinema, flats, shops, and what-ever-else will be put there.

It seems that, although the UK branch of Stocklands — in charge of the development — have given a commitment that it will be built as soon as everything is properly organised, the Australian parent company is keen — for the moment — to pull out of its UK commitments.

Hmmm …

You can imagine what MY response was, can’t you … ?

Here’s what I sent to the Gazette, and to Paul Ainsworth, the reporter that did this article.

Dear Editor,

I’ve got to admit, I’m definitely disappointed.

Well. Less disappointed, than worried.

I read in this week’s Gazette, about Stockland’s apparent commitment to the cinema development in Brentwood, and I’m happy to admit that seeing that it’s possibly now in doubt is a worry.

After all, I’ve gone quite publicly on record — in the Gazette, and on my blog — as saying that it will bring more jobs, and chances for entertainment to our town.

Now I realise that this commitment comes from Stockland’s UK arm.

But, since its Australian corporate HQ seems to be struggling … ?

Well.

Maybe it’s time for them to sell the development on to Taylor Wimpey.

After all, with the amount of people who’ve objected to Taylor Wimpey plans for the Rollason Way site, myself included, they’re bound to want to try something else.

For want of something to do.

Yours,

There …

And, just so you can send him some mail, as well, I’ve linked his email address to his name.

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Lets move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

Now, you’ve probably worked out, by now, that I’m a Mac fan, haven’t you … ?

You hadn’t … ?

Pay attention … !

I’ve got to admit, Movie Night Adrian’s been crowing — only slightly — about the spec on the laptop he has to use for his volunteer work.

Well …

Look’s like HP aren’t the only ones to include the new i3, i5 and i7 processors.

It seems Apple have just upped the spec on their latest range of iMacs.

After all, where else do you want to put an iProcessor … ?

But I’ll be honest, the one thing that did catch my eye … ?

Was Apple’s decision include — and separately market — their new Magic Trackpad.

Which saves them money.

And means you don’t spend stupid money on thousands of pounds worth of touch-screen computer, only to have it covered in greasy fingermarks.

Oh, and one last thing about that trackpad … ?

I WANT one!

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The Daily Teaser …

You know, Yesterday do have this tendency of digging up some old BBC docu-dramas, they really do.

They’ve managed to get — and show — an old one called The Seven Wonders Of the Industrial World.

And they episode they’re showing, today … ?

Is all about the Panama Canal.

Amazing to see what Malaria and Yellow Fever can do to a major construction project, isn’t it … ?

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Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets.

Yesterday’s Teaser saw AlexandraFunFit and Trevor going head-to-head: with Trevor bagging 8 out of 8, and Alexandra scoring 0 out of 8.

Is it me, Trevor, or is Alexandra keeping her batting average low … ?

At any rate, lets see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we … ? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’ and License …

Q1) 28th July, 1540, saw who executed under orders of King Henry 8th … ?

Q2) More to the point, who did Henry 8th marry, that same day … ?

Q3) 28th July, 1943, saw the birth of keyboard player Richard Wright: with which band did he achieve fame … ?

Q4) 28th July, 1865, saw Welsh settlers first arrive at the Chubut River: in which South American country is the Chubut River?

Q5) More to the point, what’s the Welsh name for that river … ?


Q6) And finally … 28th July, 2001, saw which swimmer become the first to win six Gold medals at a World Championship?
.

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 27th July is National Sleepyhead Day: in which European country?


A1) Finland. (The Finnish city of Naantali celebrates by chucking the Mayor into the sea, in order to wake him up. Sensible way to treat a politician, surely … ?)

Q2) 27th July, 1981, saw which British soap achieve record viewing figures, by screening the wedding of two characters … ?

A2) Coronation Street.

Q3) Which either of those two characters … ?

A3) Ken Barlow and Deidre Langton.

Q4) 27th July, 1938, saw the birth of E. Gary Gygax: which game is he credited with co-creating … ?

A4) Dungeons and Dragons.

Q5) More to the point, who did he co-create it with … ?


A5) Dave Arneson.

Q6) 27th July also saw the birth — in 1950 — of English actor, Simon Jones: in which Terry Gilliam film did he have a small part as a zoologist … ?


A6) 12 Monkeys.

Q7) Jones also — famously, and in many of its versions — played which character in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?


A7) Arthur Dent. (Or DentarthurDent, if you’re of a Magrathean persuasion.)

Q8) And finally … 27th July, 1944, saw the birth of comedian, actor, and DJ, Tony Capstick: name either of the two tracks that made part of the double-A side that was his only hit, in 1981.


A8) The Sheffield Grinder and Capstick Comes Home.

And, after Alexandra mentioned the Richard Harris cut of MacArthur’s Park, yesterday … ?

Well …

I’ll catch you later. Enjoy the videos …

The Wolfman: Barking at the Moon, but in a Fun way … !

You know, I’ve got to admit, as I write, the weather has taken a very muggy, cloudy, turn.

Which is a shame, in a way …

Because, considering the movie that Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky, and I were watching, tonight, I’d’ve liked to be able to tell you whether or not there’s a full moon …

Because, obviously, if you’re watching a werewolf movie, like the 2010 version of The Wolfman … ?

You want a full moon.

Or one of Ozzy Osbourne’s more poppier tunes, as an option on iTunes …

Seriously …

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And, BOY, I think I’ve got to admit, I know I enjoyed meself, watching this.

The Wolfman sees Benicio Del Toro — as Lawrence Talbot — returning to his family estate on Broadmoor, after the death of his older brother, Ben.

Who — seemingly — has been killed, after being attack by some sort creature, whilst he’s been visiting a local Gypsy* camp.

And, while Lawrence is investigating his brother’s death, he helps fend off an attack — by the same unidentified creature — on the nearby Gypsy camp.

As a result … ?

Lawrence is bitten …

By the creature …

And it’s tempting to add the phrase “With Hilarious Results”, but however ironic I’d like to be at this time of night, ‘Hilarious Results’ aren’t what happens.

Because it sees Lawrence suffer.

From childhood, we discover: he had, after all seen his mother die, seemingly as a suicide.

And see him — during the course of The Wolfman — suffering all the best in Victoria psycho-therapy.

And towards the end of the film … ?

Having something of a major fight with his father, Sir John Talbot. Played by Sir Anthony Hopkinsº.

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Now, there comes the question, though …

Is the 2010 version of The Wolfman worth watching … ?

After all, it is a remake.

And remakes, re-imaginings, re-workings — whatever one chooses to call them — do have an unfortunate reputation, for being not as good as the original on which they’re based.

I’ll be honest, here, having not seen the 1941, Lon Chaney Jnr original, I couldn’t tell you.

What I CAN tell you is fairly simple.

The Wolfman is not an arty, intellectual film, with high ideals, or a message of betterment for humanity.

What it is … ?

Is an atmospheric little horror film.

Very atmospheric!

And one with enough blood, guts, gore, romance, tension and drama, to be very riveting watching.

And a film I’d’ve not minded catching at the cinema.

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* Right, just in case I’ve any offended Romani readers, I’m using the term Gypsy, as that’s the one used in the film: I’ll stick with it — for this post — as I’m using it to indicate the fictional take on Roma culture presented in The Wolfman. However, if it’s a problem, please feel free to leave me a comment: I’ll go with whatever I’m told is the preferred term.

º Who’s used to playing monsters, after all …

Something I’ve Noticed …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I couldn’t help notice something, when I was happily writing up a post about Sherlock, on Sunday.

No, seriously …

And I can’t help but wonder if anyone else has, to be frank …

Actually, I’m convinced people have, but that’s the way it goes …

I do know that the ever-keen ComBom managed to catch a something he wanted to flag for our attention.

Which, after Sunday, I definitely rummaged through, I know that …

At ANY rate, I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

Let me get to the point, shall I … ?

Yes, lets …

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Right, now, where was I … … ?

Oh, yeah …

I was telling you I’d noticed something.

Well …

Noticed a similar scene.

Let me clarify, shall I … ?

One of the earlier scenes I noticed in the first episode of Sherlock — A Study In Pink — was one where Holmes and Watson are called into a crime scene, by Inspector Lestrade, to give their views on a an apparent suicide: the most recent in a series of four.

And it struck me that it reminded me of something else I’d seen: something ALSO penned by Steven Moffat …

Now, I know those two scenes are from very different shows.

But … !

But I’m thinking that the fact Steven Moffat is heavily involved with both gives a certain spin.

I mean, beyond the fact that we’re looking at two central characters who’ve developed their mental and perceptive powers to an acute level, or or have innate ones that quite advanced.

Now, did that sound incredibly snotty … ?

Possibly … !

But either way, I think you get my point, I hope … ?

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At any rate, I’ve one last video to post up, courtesy of Grub, over at 100 Albums You Must Have.

Enjoy … !!