o
v
e
r
y
o
u
r
h
e
a
d
.
.
.
|
|||||||
|
| |||||||
|
Crawling through technology, life and love Contact me: hotmail home 
Listening: Playing: Pool Paradise - GC on Wii iTuning: Podcasts - Chris Moyles, Mark Kermode and Stephen Fry Reading: All Bits and Bobs: Wish List Gerry's Lyrics Pop Quiz Minipops Quiz Sites I like: Marc Almond Top 40 Singles News IMdb The Register Hacks Recent GBlogs Arsenal FC Some blogs I enjoy: bboyblues2000 bitful blogadoon brainsluice chig groc minkered scally sparky troubled diva Books recently read: Time Out Guide to Havana (and Cuba) And The Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks - William S Burroughs and Jack Kerouac At My Mother's Knee ... and Other Low Joints: The Autobiography - Paul O'Grady Star Maker - Olaf Stapledon My Booky Wook - Russell Brand When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris Then We Come To The End - Joshua Ferris A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon The End of Mr. Y - Scarlett Thomas I Never Knew That About London - Christopher Winn The Arsenal Miscellany - Adam Gold Young Hearts Run Free: The Real Story of the 1970s - Dave Haslam Magical Thinking - Augusten Burroughs Veronika Decides To Die - Paulo Coelho Time Out Guide - Amsterdam Lillian's Story - Kate Grenville The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins Schott's Original Miscellany - Ben Schott Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling A Gay History Of Britain - Matt Cook Time Out Guide to Madrid Time Out Guide to New York Kingdom Come - J. G. Ballard The Hours - Michael Cunningham Mutants - Aramand Marie Leroi A Young Man's Passage - Julian Clary Growing Pains - Billie Piper The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath Wild Swans - Jung Chang Highbury: The Story of Arsenal N.5 - Jon Spurling Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins - Rupert Everett Affinity - Sarah Waters Lighthousekeeping - Jeanette Winterson Tipping The Velvet - Sarah Waters The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini Of Human Bondage - W Somerset Maugham Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier Lucky Man - Michael J Fox Labyrinth - Kate Mosse Fingersmith - Sarah Waters The Night Watch - Sarah Waters The Pedant's Revolt - Andrea Barham The Republic Of Trees - Sam Taylor Written On tbe Body - Jeanette Winterson Untold Stories - Alan Bennett The Plot Against America - Philip Roth Read All About It - Max Clifford The Folding Star - Alan Hollinghurst Thursbitch - Alan Garner Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris Staying Alive - Matt Beaumont The Bookseller Of Kabul - Asne Seierstad Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - J K Rowling A Short History Of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Count Karlstein - Philip Pullman The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood The Spell - Alan Hollinghurst The Double Life Of Daniel Glick - Maurice Caldera The Smoking Diaries - Simon Gray Straight- Boy George Digital Fortress - Dan Brown Deception Point - Dan Brown The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith Angels and Demons - Dan Brown Sydney - Time Out Guide Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood Eleanor Rigby - Douglas Coupland The Scarecrow and His Servant - Philip Pullman Tha Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky Planet Simpson - Chris Turner The Line Of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst Barcelona - Time Out Guide The Closed Circle - Jonathan Coe The Clerkenwell Tales - Peter Ackroyd Copenhagen - TimeOut Guide The Butterfly Tattoo - Philip Pullman The Broken Bridge - Philip Pullman In Search of the Pleasure Palace - Marc Almond Brick Lane - Monica Ali Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre Last Exit To Brooklyn - Hubert Selby Jr You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers Touching The Void - Joe Simpson Life Of Pi - Yann Martel Istanbul - Time Out Guide Millennium People - J G Ballard The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down - Jesse Browner Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss The Wind-up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami Our Man In Havana - Graham Greene The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon Lyra's Oxford - Philip Pullman Doran - Will Self Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides the book, the film, the t-shirt - matt beaumont High Society - Ben Elton Man And Wife - Tony Parsons I Was A Rat - Philip Pullman Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix - J R Rowling Great Apes - Will Self Barrel Fever - David Sedaris Round Ireland With A Fridge - Tony Hawkes Close Range - Annie Proux The Third Way - Anthony Giddens dot.con - John Cassidy The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams One Hit Wonderland - Tony Hawkes The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen The Cloud Sketcher - Richard Rayner Keane: the Autobiography - Roy Keane A Wasteland of Strangers - Bill Pronzini The English - Jeremy Paxman How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Toby Young Dead Famous - Ben Elton The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman (again) The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman (again) Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman (again) The Bear and The Dragon - Tom Clancy 101 Reykjavik - Hallgrimur Helgason Forward The Foundation - Isaac Asimov Carter Beats The Devil - Glen David Gold The Tin Princess - Philip Pullman Atonement - Ian McEwan The Tiger In The Well - Philip Pullman The Rotters Club - Jonathan Coe Generation X - Douglas Copeland Perfume - Patrick Suskind All Families Are Psychotic - Douglas Coupland The Shadow In The North - Phillip Pullman No Logon - Naomi Klein The Dirt - Motley Crue Miss Wyoming - Douglas Coupland The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman The Ruby in the Smoke - Phillip Pullman The Sandman - Miles Gibson Blood and Gold: The Vampire Marius - Anne Rice The Actrocity Exhibition - J G Ballard Shameless - Paul Burston Sing Out! - Boze Hadleigh Brilliant Orange - David Winner New Boy - William Sutcliffe London - Peter Ackroyd Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon One For My Baby - Tony Parsons How To Be Good - Nick Hornby White Teeth - Zadie Smith Lust - Geoff Ryman Tulip Fever - Deborah Moggach Dead Souls - Ian Rankin The House Of Sleep - Jonathan Coe A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers What a carve up! - Jonathan Coe The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck Heartwood - James Lee Burke Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson Man and Boy - Tony Parsons The Map Of Love - Ahdaf Soueif e - Matt Beaumont The e Before Christmas - Matt Beaumont  
Archives: September 1971 February 2001 March 2001 April 2001 May 2001 June 2001 July 2001 August 2001 September 2001 October 2001 November 2001 December 2001 January 2002 February 2002 March 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 
|
Friday, October 29, 2004
Happy Hallowe'en...
Barcelona...
Marky, Paul, Drew, Carl and I are in Barcelona for a few days. We arrived last night and are here for a city break - to do a bit of sight-seeing and some much needed R&R (that's 'rest and relaxation' by the way not 'rock 'n' roll'). We're staying at the H10 Marina Hotel. It says here: "A new concept of a hotel which individuality consists of being a meeting point in the promotion of the fascinating culture of wine, and designed to provide an unforgettable stay for visitors to our city as well as the people of Barcelona themselves." 'Culture of wine'? Sounds like my kind of place. Thursday, October 28, 2004
Marc Almond out of intensive care...
Marc's family would like you to know that because of the progress he has made so far, Marc has today been moved out of the intensive care unit. His family have passed on to him the overwhelming amount of good wishes which have been received and Marc is aware of all the messages of love and support. He still has a long way to go in his recovery and his family have asked that his privacy continue to be respected. They would also like to thank the IT staff at the hospital for their work in aiding his recovery so far. I'm sure you will all join us today in breathing a sigh of relief at this positive news. Michelle -------------------------------------------- Theatre of Marc Almond http://www.marcalmond.co.uk
Man erects 10ft origami penis...
Pornogamist Nick Robinson - practitioner of saucy paper-folding and author of new guide Adult Origami - has wowed Londoners by pulling off the world's biggest paper penis outside the city's London Assembly building. Robinson took half-an-hour to erect the 10ft phallus, after which he delighted tourists and locals alike by waving it about from the Assembly's gallery as a stunt to promote his book. Rather appropriately, the London Assembly is known to some as the "Glass Bollock" in recognition of its ground-breaking testicular form. London Mayor Ken Livingstone's reaction to his authority's newest member is not known.
Washing machine sends you email when your laundry is done...
This smart tag reading washing machine developed by the Japanese Dai Nippon Printing Co. can read smart tags and inform users of the best method of washing of clothes. The washing machine has a LCD panel and a internet connection. If smart tag enhanced clothing (All my clothes have of course smart tags) is placed into the washing machine, the machine will read the tags to identify the material and the number of past washings. When finished washing the machine can send a SMS or email. Now if only I could actually get used to doing my own washing... Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Brain Teasers : The answers...
1. Rowing - the oarsmen face the stern of the boat and therefore move backwards, while the cox faces the bow and moves forwards 2. A towel Tuesday, October 26, 2004
John Peel dies...
Legendary radio DJ John Peel dies. RIP. I was never what you'd call a regular listener to his Radio 1 show but those times in my life when I did listen (when studying for exams usually) I used to love it. He just had that amazing knack of picking great songs - whether it was punk, techno, jazz, blues, rock, pop or rap. You may not like the songs he played but you had to admit they were the best in their field. The man had taste. And that amazing sense of humour. On Radio 4 he could talk about the gravest of subjects and yet still keep the ability to see the lighter side - that ironic outlook. Top bloke.
Parking...
A bit of fun for a Tuesday - Parking: Battle of the Sexes. [Thanks Roger and the many others who sent me this link]
Brain Teasers...
1. In what sport do all the players except one move backwards? 2. What gets wetter as it dries Monday, October 25, 2004
Roberto's birthday...
Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday, dear Roberto Happy Birthday to you The lovely Roberto invited some of his nearest and dearest round for some pre-S.L.A.G.S. drinks and nibbles yesterday afternoon. We were celebrating his 36th one day early. We all had a grand old time followed by the short trip to the RVT to watch the fantastic Dame Edna Experience's show. And to round the evening off there was much minkering on the dance floor. All the gang were there including a few fresh faces too. Great night out.
The Producers...
Marky and I took Ian and Sarah to see The Producers in London's glitzy West End on Saturday night. It was just the second night of previews starring Lee Evans and the recently drafted in Nathan Lane. It was an amazing show. We laughed and laughed. The songs were fantastic and the whole production left us lost for words. Go, go, go! Friday, October 22, 2004
Band Aid III...
The Band Aid project originally came to life on November 25th 1984, when Do They Know It's Christmas? was recorded in London. Written by Geldof with Ultravox singer Midge Ure, the recording featured an damned impressive cross-section of the most successful British rock and pop acts of the time: Bananarama, Bob Geldof, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Heaven 17, The song was re-recorded in 1989 as Band Aid II and released with the original recording on the B-side. This time there was more of a Pete Waterman influence in the line-up: Kylie Minogue, Bananarama (again), Big Fun, Bros, Rick Astley, Cliff Richard, Cathy Dennis, Jason Donovan, Chris Rea, Cliff Richard, Wet Wet Wet, Lisa Stansfield and Sonia doing the honours. And now I hear it's to be re-re-recorded for 2004 as Band Aid III. This time round featuring Coldplay, The Darkness, Keane, Noel Gallagher, Travis, Jamelia, Beverley Knight, Katie Melua, Damon Albarn and Dido. And Thom Yorke and Robbie Williams are maybes. A sure fire Christmas number one again obviously. And hopefully loads of money for famine relief. But I gotta say this, where's Bananarama's invite this time round?!
Junk Mail...
Here is a screen shot of the junk mail folder in Outlook on my PC at work. I've not deleted them since April. So that's 16,302 in just over 6 and half months - averaging just under one hundred a day. Leave me alone you bastards!  Thursday, October 21, 2004
Goldfrapp vs Depeche Mode...
The Goldfrapp remix of Depeche Mode's Halo is finally out this week. It's beautiful. And yes, it's Alison singing on it too. Apparently Depeche Mode absolutely loved the fact she'd added her own vocals and it's become almost like a duet. Anyhow, it's on CD1 of Enjoy The Silence 04 in the shops now.
Gaffer!
Mark, Andy, Drew and I went to see Gaffer! last night at the Southwark Playhouse. It's a play. About football. And homophobia. One-man show. Comedy. Very funny. And poignant.  Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Boris Johnson...
Our recent next-door neighbour, bumbling blogger Boris Johnson, is going to Liverpool today to apologise for his remarks in The Spectator this week criticizing the way Liverpudlians reacted to the killing in Iraq of the hostage Ken Bigley and accused them of "mawkish sentimentality". He also blamed drunken Liverpool fans for contributing to the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. The trip is widely seen as the penance demanded by Conservative party leader Michael Howard. I would so love to hear the radio phone-in. Lamb. To. Slaughter.
Guilty Pleasures...
 Last night the scrumptious Darren, the delicious Martin and I went to the club night of Guilty Pleasures at the Islington Academy Bar. It was a night of some of the most memorable, enjoyable and forgotten pop music ever. The kind of songs that leave a lump in your throat. All those tunes you hate to admit you love. We air-guitarsed, air-drummed and air-keyboarded the night away. Magic.
To top it all the wonderful Terry Hall was on the decks. It's going to a regular event for the next few Tuesdays with Saint Etienne taking to the decks next week with Adam and Joe. To give you a flavour of the music that was played here's the track listing of the Guilty Pleasures CD. Track Listings 01. Alessi - Oh Lori 02. Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together 03. Pilot - January 04. Electric Light Orchestra - Sweet Talkin' Woman 05. Climax Blues Band - Couldn't Get It Right 06. Ace - How Long 07. The Fortunes - Storm In A Tea Cup 08. Andy Kim - Rock Me Gently 09. Sherbert - Howzat 10. Carole Bayer Sayer - You're Moving Out 11. Marshall Hain - Dancing In The City 12. 10cc - The Things We Do For Love 13. Andrew Gold - Never Let Her Slip Away 14. Peter Skellern - Hold On To Love 15. Gallagher & Lyle - I Wanna Stay With You 16. Billy Swann - I Can Help 17. David Essex - Gonna Make You A Star 18. Jim Gilstrap - Swing Your Daddy 19. Brian Protheroe - Pinball 20. Helen Reddy - Angie Baby 21. Andy Fairweather Low - Wide Eyed And Legless 22. Colin Blunstone - Say You Don't Mind Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Richard Dreyfuss pulls out of The Producers...
We are going to see smash hit musical The Producers this Saturday. Bad news. Good news. Bad news: Richard Dreyfuss has pulled out of playing Max Bialystock. Shame. Good news: The role will now be filled by Nathan ("I'm not gay") Lane, who played the part when the musical opened on Broadway, winning a Tony award. Cool.
Lady Sovereign...
I don't know if you've heard Jentina's Bad Ass Strippa track but if you have you'll know what Darius is talking about here: If you hate Jentina, you might like Lady Sovereign´s answer record. After hearing it, you might not believe she´s a "lady" after all. Monday, October 18, 2004
Marc Almond critically ill in hospital...
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Singer Almond critically injured From the BBC: Singer Almond critically injured Soft Cell singer Marc Almond is critically ill in hospital after a motorcycle crash in central London. The singer was injured after he was pillion passenger on a bike that collided with a car near Cannon Street station on Sunday. Both he and the rider were taken to hospital, where Almond, 48, was put in intensive care. Almond scored his biggest hit with his group Soft Cell when their song Tainted Love went to number one 1981. Police investigation A spokesman for City of London Police said: "We can confirm that at about 4pm on Sunday there was a serious collision between a car and a motorcycle at the junction of Cannon Street and New Change in the City of London. "Both the motorcycle rider and the pillion passenger are in hospital. The rider has severe injuries and the pillion passenger is critical. "City of London Police are investigating the collision. Marc Almond was the pillion passenger." The vehicles involved were a Suzuki bike and a Vauxhall car, the spokesman added. UPDATE: Soft Cell singer Marc Almond is in a "stable" condition in hospital after a motorcycle crash in central London.
Duckie's Kate Bush Tribute at the ICA...
Friday night's Duckie Kate Bush extravaganza at the ICA was just so perfect. Fake Bush, Kiki & Herb, dressing up in Kate costumes, Kate make-up, Kate badges, bush shaving, Kate puppetry, Kate hedge clipping (!), Kate quiz - it had it all. But most of all we were there for the music. Something the London Readers Wifes brought us in abundance. High point for me? A tie between Kiki & Herb's The Saxaphone Song and hearing Suspended In Gaffa in a night club for the first time. Who knew she still had so many devoted fans? Here is a picture of those super sexy boys David and Mark and co. - can you spot the video connection?  Sunday, October 17, 2004
I wanna Ice Queen...
Saturday night. Royal Festival Hall. Siouxsie Sioux. Surrounded by a devoted crowd of aging skins, punks & Goths worshipping at the church of Sioux. All in black. 'Natch. Our tickets said 7:30pm. Ms Sioux arrived on stage a little after 8:20pm. At least she turned up at all! She was suitably attired in flowing silk robes with what looked likes a cockerel on her head. Like Elvira in pantaloons. The High Priestess of Punk. She did look good on it though. The diva had arrived. The show had begun. Siouxsie was in great voice. The sound was excellent too - she obviously was running a tight ship. We were treated to hits galore (who knew she had so many?). And it was all gratefully, not to say enthusiastically, received. Her fusion of jungle rhythms, Japanese drumming and eastern influenced music worked surprisingly well live - especially with a full backing orchestra. It was all quite infectious. Soon we were all up dancing. It was a great first half. Sadly the 15 minute interval actually turned out to be the 40 minute interval. Waiting again. The second half was far more sensual than the first. The Ice Queen had melted. Pulsating drums drove the erotic thrust of the set list as each song had Siouxsie bumping, grinding and gyrating for the audience. She obviously has a sexual relationship with her fans while on stage. Never more so than when seductively singing Disney's Trust In Me. The climax of the show, Second Floor, had the crowd going wild for encores. We all left happy little bunnies. Happy House, Spellbound, Cities In Dust, Peek-a-boo, Dear Prudence, Kiss The Girl, Christine - we got them all. If I wasn't a Siouxsie fan at the start I certainly was by the end. Someone should buy her a witch watch though. Saturday, October 16, 2004
Duckie's Kate Bush Tribute at the ICA : The Denial ...
I would just like to state publicly that I did not, would not and could not do Kate Bush drag at the ICA last night. Anyone who says I did is a filthy rotten liar and will be receiving a legal gagging order very soon. The evidence has been destroyed, the negatives have been burnt and all witnesses duly tampered with. There is no proof QED it didn't happen. Believe me?  Friday, October 15, 2004
Google's Desktop Search...
Google have just released a desktop search engine stealing a march on Microsoft and others. Might be fun. I'll give it a whirl. 
How To Give A Cat A Pill...
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. 2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. 3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. 4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. 5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden. 6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously. 7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later. 8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw. 9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, have drink to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. 10. Retrieve cat from neighbour's shed. Get another pill. Open another bottle of scotch. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band. 11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Have another drink. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Apply whisky compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom. 12. Ring fire brigade to retrieve the ------g cat from tree across the road. Apologise to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap. 13. Tie the little bastard's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down. 14. Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the A&E, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table. 15. Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters. Thursday, October 14, 2004
Unfortunately named authors...
Puerile humour for a wet Thursday. Those wonderful boys and girls at B3ta bring you: Unfortunately named authors on Amazon.co.uk. My favourite is Super Naturalism of New England by John Greenleaf Shittier.
Retroteasers Pop Quiz: The Answers...
You're right, Mike, it was pretty tough. You both did about the same as us - Mike you got 8 and Jett you got 9 - well done. 01. Girls On Film - Duran Duran : reached number 5 - Top 5 02. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us - Sparks : reached number 2 - Top 3 03. Make It Easy On Yourself - The Walker Brothers : reached number 1 - Top 3 04. Car Wash - Rose Royce : reached number 9 - Top 10 05. Fame - David Bowie : reached number 17 - Flop 06. Mad World - Tears For Fears : reached number 3 - Top 3 07. Rocker Fella Skank - Fat Boy Slim : reached number 6 - Top 10 08. Get Down Tonight - K C And The Sunshine Band : reached number 21 - Flop 09. Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin : reached number 4 - Top 5 10. LSI - The Shamen : reached number 6 - Top 10 11. Roxanne - The Police : reached number 12 - Flop 12. No Scrubs - TLC : reached number 3 - Top 3 13. Because The Night - Patti Smith : reached number 5 - Top 5 14. Girl From Mars - Ash : reached number 11 - Flop 15. Bedsitter - Soft Cell : reached number 4 - Top 5 16. Kiss - Prince : reached number 6 - Top 10 17. Georgie Girl - The Seekers : reached number 3 - Top 3 18. Virginia Plain - Roxy Music : reached number 4 - Top 5 19. Blame In On The Boogie - The Jacksons : reached number 8 - Top 10 20. Love Action - The Human League : reached number 3 - Top 3 Wednesday, October 13, 2004
RSS Feed...
I've ditched my Atom Feed and replaced with an RSS one. Hurray I hear you cry. If you'd like to subscribe it's free - simple use the address http://feeds.feedburner.com/Overyourhead in your favourite RSS reader.
Retroteasers Pop Quiz...
Last night the delicious Darren and I ventured along to The Retro Bar for the Retroteasers Pop Quiz. Why? We'd not been in ages, we had some bridges to build with Wendy and we just thought it'd be fun: we hadn't, we did, it was. Joining us in team BOYZ PIN-UPS was hunky Boyz editor David Hudson and his glamorous boyfriend George. The quiz was set by guest question setter Peter and was all based on official UK chart positions. There were four possible answers: Top 3 (i.e. did it get to 1, 2 or 3) Top 5 (i.e. did it get to 4 or 5) Top 10 (i.e. did it get to 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10) Flop (i.e. failed to make Top 10) 01. Girls On Film - Duran Duran 02. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us - Sparks 03. Make It Easy On Yourself - The Walker Brothers 04. Car Wash - Rose Royce 05. Fame - David Bowie 06. Mad World - Tears For Fears 07. Rocker Fella Skank - Fat Boy Slim 08. Get Down Tonight - K C And The Sunshine Band 09. Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin 10. LSI - The Shamen 11. Roxanne - The Police 12. No Scrubs - TLC 13. Because The Night - Patti Smith 14. Girl From Mars - Ash 15. Bedsitter - Soft Cell 16. Kiss - Prince 17. Georgie Girl - The Seekers 18. Virginia Plain - Roxy Music 19. Blame In On The Boogie - The Jacksons 20. Love Action - The Human League How well can you do? We failed miserably and got just eight out of a possible twenty. The winners got sixteen and walked away with the semi-booby prize of CD singles of Rachel Stevens' More, More, More, Marilyn Manson's Personal Jesus and DJ Casper's Opps Upside Your Head. Lucky them. Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Beckham admits deliberate booking...
I don't know whether you saw the football match on Saturday - England were playing Wales. It was good to watch. Nice goal by David Beckham. The shine was perhaps taking off a little by his accidental late tackle of Thatcher. This tackle was especially unfortunate as he had only been a yellow card away from a one-game ban. Now it was assured. He was to miss out on the next game against Azerbarjan tomorrow. What bad luck. And it was an accidental late tackle, surely? Surely. Well, the surprising news today is that Beckham has admitted deliberately getting booked during the match in order to get his suspension out of the way. England's captain said he knew he had broken ribs in an earlier tackle and would be out for a month. Beckham told the Daily Telegraph: "It was deliberate. I knew I will be out for a few weeks, so I thought 'Let's get the yellow card out of the way'. I'm sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever. But I do have the brains. I could feel the injury. So I fouled (Ben) Thatcher." So it was a deliberate foul, huh? Call that brains??? That should be a THREE match ban at least, you muppet! It's cheating!
The Rain In Spain Stays Mainly On The Plain...
The BBC has selected HTK for it's updated pronunciation database. HTK has added its speech synthesis system to an existing BBC database, creating a computer generated voice which accurately pronounces foreign words and names in English Broadcasting context so presenters can hear how to say them correctly before going live on air. Shame. I quite liked it when news readers trip up over long foreign words. Jan Lemming's 'Robert Moo-gar-bay' was always a favourite. HTK worked closely with BBC's in-house pronunciation research team to adapt the database, which has been compiled over 80 years of broadcasting and includes over 200,000 pronunciations. The original database relied on modified spelling, a technical language that shows each preferred pronunciation as a sequence of individual sounds and intonations in a simple format, much like a spelling. HTK has enabled the system with a spoken output that renders the pronunciation, so anyone with a networked computer can not only see the ?spelling? but hear it as well. So it'll just be ITV who still pronounce Uranus as 'your anus', then? Monday, October 11, 2004
Google Search...
You may have noticed I've added a Google search bar to my site. You can use it to either search the wobbly wide web or just the postings on this site.
Cybill Disobedience...
On Saturday night all my favourite redheads (Marky, Drew, Mikey) and I went to see the rather disappointing Cybill Shepherd show Cybill Disobedience at the Soho Theatre. It's hard to pinpoint what it was that made it quite such a flop. It was scripted OK but perhaps not quite well enough. The singing was fine but her choice of songs was rather er... unusual. Most of the anecdotes we'd heard before. Cybill tried to have her cake and eat it - criticising many of the very things that made her so famous and yet living off them. She dished Elvis, Bruce Willis, read from her book (on sale in the foyer - ker-ching!), she showed us oh-too-many family snaps (cringingly self-indulgent) and happily let her jazz duo perform instrumental(!) As I say, disappointing. The show lasted. a mere 60 minutes after which Mikey, Drew and I headed off to Duckie to join Ian, Charlie, David, Roberto et al. Not content with the 2am finish at Duckie Ian, Drew and I then proceeded to Crash. Lordy. Friday, October 08, 2004
Twenty Questions...
A bit of fun for a Friday. Think of an object and the A.I. will try to figure-out what you are thinking by asking twenty simple questions.
Standard Life Breaks It's Promise...
To help pay off my mortgage I took out two endowment policies with Standard Life. And in 2000 they promised they would make up the shortfall when these policies mature. They called it the Mortgage Promise. Only now they've broken that promise - the best they can do is probably only 40% tops. Fuckers. I should have stuck with using a piggy bank. Thursday, October 07, 2004
Blue Is The Colour...
So the latest 'musicians' to become Tory supporters are Busted and Rick Wakeman. Who next? Blue? Maybe they'll join Phil Collins and Andrew Lloyd-Weber in leaving the country when the Tories get thumped into third place at the next General Election. Let's hope so.
Arsenal Fly Emirates...
Arsenal have done a deal to rename their new stadium Emirates Stadium and will be sporting 'Fly Emirates' shirts for the 2006/7 season. The payoff? £100,000,000. Nice. And just to sweeten the deal for us Gooners, Emirates are dropping their £4-million-a-year shirt deal sponsorship of Chelski at the end of this season. Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Pink Paper...
The Pink Paper has finally folded citing ad revenue problems. Paul used to write for them and we both went to their launch party way back in 1987 at the then gay night, Thursdays, in Shaftsberry Avenue. I never really liked the Pink Paper - I always found it too 'worthy'. Mind you it's sister organ, Boyz, swings too far the other way and is just too trashy. No the gay freebie I used to love was Capital Gay which foldered back in 1995. A rag, yes. But a fun one. It used to have an item called 'Cottage Alert' warning of the places where pretty policemen were hanging out. Now that's what I call news.
"I don't like his humour anyway"...
Comedian Billy Connolly made some tasteless gags about Iraq hostage Kenneth Bigley and his wife. Paul Bigley's reply? "I don't like his humour anyway." Oh touché. Tuesday, October 05, 2004
The Bitch is Back...
Elton John has attacked Madonna for miming. "Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay £75 to see them should be shot," Sir Elton said. Ouch! EJ was speaking out at the Q Awards recently where Madonna was a nominee for best live act. I kind of agree with EJ about miming (although Madge has denied that she mimed during her recent tour) but on the flip side, you try singing and dancing around on stage for a few hours and not sounding out of breath, EJ! All you do is just sit there at your piano! The Q Awards themselves are quite good, I think - generally avoiding manufactured bands they celebrate 'all that's great and good in music'. This year was no exception. Here are a list of the 2004 winners:- Best new act - Razorlight Best producer - Mick Jones (for the Libertines) Best live act - Muse Best video - Franz Ferdinand (Take Me Out) Q Merit Award - Shane McGowan Best single - Jamelia (See It In A Boy's Eyes) Q Innovation and Sound Award - Human League Q Inspiration Award - Pet Shop Boys Best Album - Keane (Hopes and Fears) Best Act in the World Today - Red Hot Chili Peppers Q Classic Songwriter award - Sir Elton John Q Icon Award - U2 Q Lifetime Achievement Award - Roxy Music
When is a CD not a CD?...
When it's produced by Sony. Or EMI. Or Universal. Or BMG. But not any longer. Sony is abandoning its copy-protected 'CDs' that use built-in technology to limit copying them. I'm not surprised. These modified 'CDs' broke the Red Book audio CD standard and so failed to work on many devices. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Monday, October 04, 2004
Camp Records...
Can this really be real? I do hope so. Camp Records - the queerest record label of the 60s. I especially like I'd Rather Fight Than Swish.
Honda Advert...
Have you seen the new Honda advert? A sort of yellow-submarine-cartoony-trippy bit of stuff and nonsense. Gorgeous. Amazing what a good advertising agency can do sometimes. Friday, October 01, 2004
Marathon Man 2 : Nashers Return...
I've just got back from my first dentist visit in 27 years. The dentist was gay, cute and very professional (Wimpole Street, darling). I got his number from QX. I'd recommended him. Steve. I filled in a fairly brief form and before I knew where I was I was lying back on his chair of torture gazing up at him. He offered me a drink of water (I declined), some anesthetic (I declined) and a winning smile (I accepted). "Nice set of teeth", he said. "Thanks", I mumbled. He then proceeded to drill as if looking for oil. I squirmed a bit as a few things flew out of my mouth (tartar? jawbone?) and were promptly sucked up by the vacuuming Aussie nurse, Jane, as she nattered on about Kath & Kim (we'd earlier bonded as fans in the waiting room). I tried to think sexy thoughts to try and take my mind off the discomfort and occasional pain I was feeling. But none came. But it didn't take long for him to finish. Within half an hour I was scrapped clean and polished. "No need for any fillings", he said. What a relief! "But you might like to try our whitening treatment - it's on offer at the moment." "OK", I said, "Why not?" Perhaps my head was still spinning a bit from having dodged the bullet with the fillings. Within ten minutes I had pink clay in my mouth making casts of my nashers to house some overnight bleaching agent. Ten minutes after that I was out on the street £200 poorer but generally having enjoyed the experience. When I say 'enjoyed' what I really mean is 'relieved'. Revealed that I've got over the psychological barrier of going to the dentist again. I guess I'm quite pleased that I'm now 43 and never had a filling too. My mother needs to take part of the credit though - we never had sweets as kids.
Marathon Man...
It's something I haven't done in 27 years. It feels scary. I'm not sure what to expect and I'm not sure why I'm doing it. It will hurt, it will cost me money and I always said I wouldn't do it until pain drove me to it. This morning at 10:30am I'm going to... the dentist.
OneTwo...
 [Click for bigger version]
Last night Paul, Simon and I went to see OneTwo at the Carling Islington Academy. OneTwo, as you may have read here before, are Claudia Brucken (of Propaganda fame) and Paul Humphreys (of OMD fame). We were treated to over 90 minutes of all the Propaganda hits (Dr Mabuse, Duel and P-Machinery being the main ones), an Act hit (Snobbery and Decay - did they have more than one?), many OMD hits (too many to list here but not Enola Gay - copyright reasons?) and a smattering of new songs too (their 'easy listening' EP currently for sale on eBay features a song penned by Depeche Mode's Martin Gore). The mainly gay and/or aging, balding crowd lapped it up. In fact all the whooping, screaming and general jumping about seemed to genuinely suprise Claudia and Paul. "Thanks", Paul said, "I had no idea you still remembered us!" I got chatting with the DJ who was doing the warm-up set. Turns out he and his partner are writing for Andy Bell's new solo album. Small world. < -5 BoyLOGS +5 ? > < webloggers > < # Blogging Brits ? >
|
||||||