Modern Life Is Rubbish...Or Is It?

Over the last few years there have been a number of books and TV shows such as Grumpy Old Men which have the common theme that life was much better in 'the old days' than it is now. In fact this very author has often strayed dangerously close to the wind on this subject (please refer to old blog entries). However, there are many reasons why modern life is much better now than it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. How good is mobile phone technology? I know people moan and say ' oh I never get any peace anywhere, mobile's always going off' - well turn the bloody thing off then! In fact most new technology is great - the internet, all technological advances in media such as flat screen TV, DVDs and the like and digital music is great. I know it was always a thrill when you bought a new LP (remember those, kids?) and took the big black vinyl disc out of the shiny cover but it wasn't long before it was scratched of jumping. CDs are much more robust and to my ears much clearer, MP3 files are even better. And remember when you wanted a beer anytime on a Sunday or after 11pm? No chance, it was digging out the old Party 7 that you had stored away under the stairs to quench your thirst. I also greatly appreciate central heating, having never had the benefit of this until I was 30 years old - I'll stop now before this turns into the four Yorkshiremen - 'Central heating? Luxury! We had to huddle round spittle bowl to get warm'.

Tears are not enough

So the football season is upon us again. Come the end of this season let's hope we have no more histrionics from Premiership fans, boohooing because their club have been relegated, usually after only one season in the top flight anyway. So you really thought you had a chance of winning the league? the best you were ever going to get was 6th, be thankful you are going into a league that is one of the top 10 supported leagues in Europe and at least you have a chance of some success there. If you want real football tragedy then look at the clubs at the bottom of league 2 who are going out of the league, that's a real reason for blubbing on the tv. Out of the league, having to go and play in places like Barrow and Crawley, real possibilities of players having to go part time, that's something to moan about. Pathetic Premiership fans, support a proper football club, like Brighton (but never, ever, support Palace - sorry Pete!)

Football trivia question:

Name 8 England players with an "x" in their surname?

Answer in next posting (and no cheating and looking it up on the internet- like I did.)

You wanna be starting something?

So, Michael Jackson RIP : misunderstood pop genius manboy or Gary Glitter with a lot more money?
I veer towards the former -I can't believe that anyone wouldn't realise that if you appear on a worldwide tv documentary and readily admit that you that share your bed with young boys then this is going to be a big deal?
It was quite interesting watching the whole circus surrounding his death and comparing it with pop celebrity deaths of the past. I wasn't around when Buddy Holly died, was that treated with such worldwide grief? I expect not, but in those days the media was much more limited than nowadays, although there was a lot of outpouring of grief and large media coverage for both the deaths of Elvis and Lennon even though they were both past their 'sell by' date in terms of popularity but so was Jackson who hadn't had a decent record record out for 20 years and has been an international figure of fun for the past decade. Still, which rock or pop star that is alive now will create the same media frenzy when they die? I can't see the same reaction when Jay-Z or Bono pop their clogs.

You are awful..but I like you!

I was sorry to read the other day of the death of the actor Ivan Dixon. Who, I can hear you saying, is Ivan Dixon? Ivan Dixon was a member of Hogan's Heroes, that US sitcom from the 1960s set in a WW2 POW camp. Now when I was a lad this was one of my favourite sitcoms, in fact I think all of my favourites at the time were American imports including such gems as Bilko, Gilligan's Island, F Troop and the Munsters. I would like to say that there were as many good British sitcoms at the time but apart from Steptoe and Son and Till Death Us Do Part I can't think of any, although at the end of the decade we did get Dad's Army and On the Buses (and sadly Nearest And Dearest).
I guess that the golden age of British Sitcom was the 1970s when Fawlty Towers, Porridge, Rising Damp, Reginald Perrin. I'm sorry, I still can't see the appeal of The Good Life. It's hard to think of any US sitcom from that period that could match any of these, apart from MASH. However, since the 80s we have had Cheers, Frazier, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm from across the pond and since that it seems they have started to take our best work, such as the Office, and remaking it. Typical of the Americans to come in late and take credit for the good work...like a couple of wars I could mention..

Finally, congratulations to poster Adam who correctly identified last blog's quiz answer as John Cazale. If the name's not familiar he played Fredo in the Godfather films, for more info look him up on Wikipedia.

First of all, answers to last blog's quiz:

WHO SAID:
Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I do not know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. John Lennon
Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good Night. Johnny Rotten
I'd rather have a cup of tea than sex. Boy George
If it's illegal to rock and roll, throw my ass in jail! Kurt Cobain
If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Alice Cooper
I am the most well-known homosexual in the world. Elton John
We're a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules. It's unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear . Freddie Mercury
Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards. Keith Richard
I only got seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use James Brown
America's greatest living poet (about Smokey Robinson) Bob Dylan

I have to apologise for the lack of recent blogs. However, I have to admit that this hasn't quite turned out as I expected! When I started this blog I envisaged it to be a forum of like-minded people who would add comments and anecdotes and there would be lots of witty Wildean repartee, thus making my job of adding a blog that much easier as I would have lots of material to draw from and create the blog. Unfortunately apart from a few welcome comments from my hard core devoted following, apparently it's too much effort for most of you to enter your email address and a password to register and add some comments. Therefore my blog will continue but not as frequently, unless there is a sudden outburst of commentary (which I doubt).

This week's quiz question (for film buffs):

Which actor appeared in only six films (five films while alive, plus a sixth using archival footage after his death) that were all nominated for the Academy Award for best picture?

The no-blog blog

Apart from having another cold I can't think of anything to moan about at present, but being aware that my hordes of readers are eagerly awaiting another post from me here is a pop quiz

Rock Quotes, some easy some hard - who said the following? (and no googling!)

1. Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I do not know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity.
2. Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good Night
3. I'd rather have a cup of tea than sex
4. If it's illegal to rock and roll, throw my ass in jail!
5. If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are.
6. I am the most well-known homosexual in the world.
7. We're a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules. It's unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear .
8. Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards.
9. I only got seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use
10. America's greatest living poet (about Smokey Robinson)

Pop On Trial

Anyone been watching the excellent BBC4 series on pop music? Using a motley collection of pop stars old and new and music journalists, they voted that the 1970s were the most influential decade in pop music. Quite interesting, but I would say that it's very difficult to burden one decade with the responsibility! Every decade provides something new and influential, although it's hard to make a case for anything from the 90s and beyond as by this time there wasn't much new that could be invented. What we do need today is something akin to another punk revival - the scene at the moment is too predictable and we getting like the early 60s when the music scene was run by pop impresarios moulding unknowns into pop stars for 5 minutes of fame - Simon Cowell is just today's Larry Parnes. I know that the internet is now providing much of the best new independent music but it's very fragmented, it's a shame there's not a good up and coming independent label out there promoting the best new stuff in the manner of Stiff or Two-Tone. If only I was 30 years younger.....yes! I'd be 20!

Some things you don't know about me (although you may do if you know me well enough)

1) I have an IQ of 152
2) One of my ancestors fought in the Napoleonic Wars (For the British, I think...sacre bleu!)
3) I have a strange affinity with animals
4) I used to work with a Bootleg Beatle
5) I can play the balalaika (Russian stringed instrument)

All true, but not necessarily interesting.