For Amy — Russell Brand

For Amy � Russell Brand

You know, I’ve got to make a confession, here.

About Russell Brand.

I — personally — don’t find the guy funny.

I really don’t.

Although, to be fair … ?

I know there’s plenty of people who.

(And will probably say about Al Murray, give you an example: who I’ve always thought is hysterical, whilst being TOO realistic for comfort. Or mine, anyway … )

But at any rate … ?

Can I suggest you click on that link at the top of the post … ?

It’s a link through to his post about his late mate, Amy Winehouse, and how she struggled with addiction.

And this coming from someone who’s ALSO had issues with the substances.

Now while I wouldn’t throw people at a Russell Brand gig/bookywook/what-have-you, I think I’m going to ask you to have a read of this piece.

I think he’s making some VERY good points.

Not just about romanticising this sort of death.

But also in how we — and he’s right, WE — view addiction.

It’s a disease, after all.

The Daily Teaser - 25-7-2011

Oh, bless … !!!!

You know, I’ve got to be frank, I was in Kent, yesterday.

Having Sunday dinner — in a nice little pub-restaurant called The Horseshoes — just outside East Farleigh,

And I’m thinking my nephew, Jude has done it again.

Charmed the rocks off someone, in other words.

In this case … ?

He managed to charm the proverbial rocks off our (unnamed and rather efficient) waitress.

And on top of that … ?

I’m thinking one friend had brought her 4 year old son along, complete with his toy laptop.

Jude, bless him, was fascinated … !

Pretty much as he was with the till at the restaurant, which is what he’s actually eyeing up, in this photo*.

I’ve GOT to be honest, I think Jude’s going to be turning into something of a techno-head.

Judging by the way he’s just downright fascinated by various bits of kit.

Hmmm …

You know, it really is shame I’m as skint as I am.

I mean, I’m thinking it’s my duty, as an uncle, to make sure he get’s a sensible computer …

»»·««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — all on her ownsome, bless — putting her answers: and, along with putting up a post on the costs of fame, managing to bag 4 out of 5.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 25th July, 1978, saw the birth of the world‘s first test tube baby: what was her name … ?

Q2) More to the point, how much did she weigh at birth … ?

Q3) Equally to the point, who famously raised concerns that the procedure could lead to women becoming ‘baby factories’, whilst refusing to condemn the parents … ?

Q4) Moving on … 25th July, 1898, saw the USA begin its land invasion of where … ?

Q5) 25th July, 1603, saw James 6th of Scotland be crowned as James 1st of England: what did he dub the union … ?

Q6) 25th July, 1992, saw the Olympic Games open with a record number of nations, attending: but in which Spanish city … ?

Q7) And finally … 25th July, 1965, saw who notoriously pick up an electric guitar … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 24th July, 1938, saw the first ascent of the North face of which mountain … ?

A1) The Eiger.

Q2) More to the point, in which mountain range is that mountain … ?

Q2) The Alps: the Swiss part of the Alps, I should say.

Q3) 24th July, 1911, saw the discovery of the lost Incan city of Manchu Picchu: in which South American country … ?

A3) Peru.

Q4) 24th July, 1935, saw a heat wave which a peak in many parts of the USA: how was this heat wave known … ?

A4) The Dust Bowl.

Q5) And finally … 24th July, 2005, saw who win his 7th consecutive Tour de France … ?

A5) Lance Armstrong.

Enjoy those, folks. I’ll leave you with this tune from the late Big Mama Thornton, who died today, in 1984.

* Gotta admit, I was trying to flirt with the waitress, but I don’t think she was interested.

The Daily Teaser: 24-7-11

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m just glad I managed to record this week’s episode of Click.

You see, I’m a bit of a fan of the BBC News channel’s technology show: and always get frustrated when it’s not on.

Given the attacks in Norway, it’s been delayed, obviously.

Well …

That …

And the death of Amy Winehouse.

Which I think we can say is generating a lot of talk.

Well …

Talk, and posts.

After all, I’m thinking it’s both a shame that such a talented singer has died at such a young age.

And also that she died without getting to the help she so badly — and notoriously — needed.

Sad, that …

»»·««

But lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, I think we should, shouldn’t we … ?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: and, along with highlighting a local pet flight service, she also bagged 6 out of 6.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 24th July, 1938, saw the first ascent of the North face of which mountain … ?

Q2) More to the point, in which mountain range is that mountain … ?

Q3) 24th July, 1911, saw the discovery of the lost Incan city of Manchu Picchu: in which South American country … ?

Q4) 24th July, 1935, saw a heat wave which a peak in many parts of the USA: how was this heat wave known … ?

Q5) And finally … 24th July, 2005, saw who win his 7th consecutive Tour de France … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 23rd July, 1903, saw which car-company sell its first car … ?

A1) Ford.

Q2) 23rd July, 1984, saw a government report state that a cluster deaths in Cumbria were not linked to which nuclear plant?

Q2) Sellafield.

Q3) 23rd July, 1995, saw the discovery of which comet … ?

A3) Hale-Bopp.

Q4) That comet became visible to the naked eye in May of which year … ?

A4) 1996.

Q5) 23rd July, 1952, saw the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community: name any of the six founder members.

A5) Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.

Q6) And finally … 23rd July, 1974, saw the collapse of the military government in which European country … ?

A6) Greece.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

RIP Amy Winehouse

Oh …

That’s …

Well, quite a few thing’s, actually …

Calling it a shame seems to be understating things.

Yeah see, the only thing that’s knocked the news of the attacks on Oslo off the metaphorical front pages … ?

Is what’s scrolling down the metaphorical screens, as I write …

Sadly … ?

Sadly, today see’s the death of singer and song-writer, Amy Winehouse.

There’s no official confirmation, as I write …

But plenty of indications, going by the BBC’s news channel.

««·»»

Including reports that Amy’s label, Island, weren’t happy with the progress of her third album, both in terms of how long it was taking … and the quality of the material they’d received, thus far …

Hmmm …

Now …

««·»»

Gosh, isn’t it surprising how much you can think of to say, when something like this happens … ?

Says I.

I’ll be honest, I’m sort of struggling for words, here.

You see …

I was never much of a fan of hers.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I liked what I heard of her songs.

And, although I don’t know if I’ll go as far as calling her a genius — it hasn’t taken long for reporters and commentators to start throwing the word around — I was certainly impressed with what I heard of Back to Black, her seminal second album.

So, yes, I’ll happily say this is a loss: to her fans and family.

But I have a very strange view of these things.

««·»»

You see …

Well …

The main thing I’m thinking, here, is that Amy famously had substance issues.

Or possibly I should say notoriously.

But that’s what gets me, here.

You, I’ll happily confess to having my own issues with the booze and fags over the years.

I’ve also known people who’ve had more serious substance abuse issues, as well.

People who’ve — in various ways — come through them.

And I’ll stress come through them.

And I’m thinking, here, that that’s where the tragedy really lies, in a way.

The recovering substance abusers I’ve met — are for the most part — the first people to admit that their drug use has given them problems, and that it’s taken a long time for them to get into recovery.

And they’d ALSO admit that they’re happier, now, they have been whilst using.

And — here’s the key part — that they’re generally grateful to be where they are, today: in spite of their past.

That’s kind of what I’m thinking, here.

Amy Winehouse is now dead.

And what I’m thinking is the tragedy …

Is that she’s not alive to say “In Spite Of Her Past”, for herself.

Hmmm …

I think that’s where I’ll leave this …

But as a last couple of thoughts … ?

Well, I can’t help but play this to you, only a few weeks after she’d announced she’d changed her mind about this …

And …

Well, leave you with the question, from Valerie … “Why don’tcha come and see me … ?”

The Daily Teaser: 23-7-11

Oh, blimey, that’s what’s happening.

I’m going to be frank, here, and admit I’ve got the BBC channel news on, at the moment.

Who are covering the news of the bomb/gun attacks in Oslo.

Which were originally being described as terrorist attacks — understandably, although no-one was sure of by whom, or on what basis — but seem to have been put together by a Lone Gunman.

And one that Norwegian police are speculating is linked to an extreme neo-nazi group.

Nasty.

»»·««

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi, bless her, putting in her answers: and, along with letting me know she didn’t know ice-hockey players could kick the puck*, she also scored five out of five.

Lets see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 23rd July, 1903, saw which car-company sell its first car … ?

Q2) 23rd July, 1984, saw a government report state that a cluster deaths in Cumbria were not linked to which nuclear plant?

Q3) 23rd July, 1995, saw the discovery of which comet … ?

Q4) That comet became visible to the naked eye in May of which year … ?

Q5) 23rd July, 1952, saw the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community: name any of the six founder members.

Q6) And finally … 23rd July, 1974, saw the collapse of the military government in which European country … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 22nd July, 1099, saw who named as Defender of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem … ?

A1) Godfrey of Bouillon.

Q2) 22nd July, 1987 death the death of cartoonist, Naji Salim al-Ali, outside his home in which part of London … ?

Q2) Chelsea.

Q3) More to the point, what nationality was he … ?

A3) Palestinian.

Q4) 22nd July, 1934, saw the death — at FBI hands — of bank-robber, John Dillinger. Who played Agent Melvin Purvis, opposite Johnny Depp’s Dillinger, in the 2009 film, Public Enemies?

A4) Christian Bale.

Q5) And finally … 22nd July, 1933, saw who complete the first solo ’round-the-world flight … ?

A5) Wiley Post.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

After leaving you with possibly one of the better known guitar riffs going: after all, it is Slash’s birthday, today …

* Neither did I, Debbi, although — given I’ve now got something of an international audience for the 60-question-set, which were originally design for a largely British audience — I’m going to have to double check that one. Sports fans are a funny bunch, I’ve noticed: and if ice-hockey fans are anything like football fansº, here in the UK, they’ll be much more aware — and accurate about — of the rules than me.

º Or, indeed Dr Who fans: Robert Holmes, who wrote many of what are regarded as some of the finer episodes in the original series, always said fans could surprise him on that front. Especially when they could identify the third monster on the left in an episode broadcast ten years before they were born, and that he’d forgotten about … and written …