// September 2008
Paterson Joseph
Tell me, someone, is Paterson Joseph actually capable of putting in a bad performance?
From Doctor Who to Mitchell and Webb - even via bloody Casualty for Christ’s sake - and when gathering considerable critical acclaim for all his stage work, he just seems incapable of putting in a bad turn. Even when the material’s thin he manages to be mesmerising.
Most recently, when watching my freshly arrived Neverwhere DVD I was stunned to find him putting in a scenery-chewing performance which was nothing short of punch-the-air brilliant.
Genius actor. And… okay… kind of hot too.
(For a female comparison I can only grasp at Tamsin Grieg who also turns up in Neverwhere to similarly bewitching effect. Love! Her!)
Posted on September 27, 2008 | Filed Under Film and Television | 1 Comment
TV Licencing
Now, I know I have in the past whinged about the ineptitude of the TV licensing authority, but I do strongly support the fee in principle.
Recently, Noel Edmonds announced that he hasn’t paid for his TV licence in a while (a statement which may actually not be true).
Personally I think such actions are the actions of an utter cock (because as far as I’m concerned he is) but I’m all for him doing so as long as legislation is enacted that means that people who don’t pay their licence are not allowed to appear in any broadcast media in the country. It’s a win-win situation that way.
The trouble is, though, that the news has suddenly opened up a debate about licensing again and it’s all so tedious. There’s a lot of crap about, I know. But as far as I’m concerned the following are worth £140 of anyone’s money so I’m happy to pay:
- QI. It’s the best programme ever. End of story.
- Doctor Who. It’s the second best, and it keeps a number of acquaintances and an ex employed.
- The Sarah Jane Adventures. Because children need good shows too.
- The BBC News. Not perfect, but still a damn sight better than 90% of its rivals. (I mean… have you seen how shit Sky News is?)
Plus… if there’s one compelling argument in favour of the BBC being publicly funded it’s this: ITV. And, more to the point, a quick comparison of Miss Marple and Marple really does make it crystal clear.
We need this tax, people. It may be an evil, possibly - aren’t all taxes? - but it is a necessary one since it keeps one organisation in a position to save the souls of millions of TV viewers who don’t even know they need saving.
God bless you BBC.
Posted on September 21, 2008 | Filed Under Film and Television, Musings | 2 Comments
A Question of Democracy
Much is being made at the moment of the fact that Gordon Brown is under attack from inside and outside of his own party and generally it does look like he won’t be able to hold on much longer.
I think this is all generally pretty unfair, to be honest, but there we go. That’s a discussion for another day, really.
What is annoying me though is the constant references to what will happen if he goes and that the country will then end up with another prime minister that it didn’t vote for.
Er… hello? Since when has this country voted for its Prime Minister? I think, roughly, it comes to about never. It votes for its governing party, and the leader of that becomes Prime Minister. We don’t vote for the guy at the top, it’s not the way the system works. Please, people, try and put that idea out of your heads.
So if shortly a general election is announced please don’t vote for the party based on the leader, vote for the party itself. (And if you do that, you’ll note, Cameron becomes a much less attractive option, because however reasonable he sometimes looks, the Conservative party itself is still definitely a bunch of c**ts.)
Posted on September 14, 2008 | Filed Under The World we Live In | 2 Comments
Say What Now?
Some of you will know that I have over the last six months or so joined the Cult of Apple. A now extremely well-used Macbook has become my only home PC, and recently an iPhone 3G and Airtunes have joined my arsenal of Apple products.
And I must say I’m enjoying the experience enormously. Whilst I know a lot of people find the phrase misleading (and in some particular cases a downright lie) my whole interaction with Apple and all their products can be summed up in the words “it just works”. And as a day-to-day IT professional, occasional PC builder and generally technologically clued up guy it has come as something of a relief to get home of an evening and not have to do any of that tech-support type stuff.
That said, though, the recent release of the new iPod range has left me with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
I mean… “funnest”? What sort of a fucking word is that?
It’s a good thing us Grammar Nazis are not really a vigilante bunch, otherwise Mister Jobs would probably find rumours of his death not so greatly exaggerated after all.
Ugh. Even thinking about the word makes my flesh creep.
Posted on September 12, 2008 | Filed Under Battles with Technology | 0 Comments