Author Archives: Jon

Already, it’s mid-June

It doesn’t feel like last week since I wrote anything here, but it is. Given that May was possibly the most prolific month on Listen To Musak, I think I am subconsciously giving myself a day or two off. The weather has been wonderful for the past couple of weeks, and I’ve been extra busy in the office, so there has been little time to get into the writing spirit.

Interestingly, the vote is in for the Mayor (Ken is back) and the local council elections. The results of the European elections were announced last night, and it seems the new countries didn’t see a very high turnout, which seems odd given their recent arrival in the community. It also seems that a good number of people in the UK wanted to get the message across that they are not happy with plans to take us further into Europe. I think this is sad and wonder if it’s only a shot across Blair’s bow in the mid-term or a sign of something more powerful. The two main parties all lost, and I watch with interest what their reactions to the recent votes will be. Turnout in the UK was up, which was certainly one good thing to come out of last Thursday’s poll.

Of course, the main news pushing Europe to the middle pages is last night’s football defeat at the hands of France, when it looked so certain that we had the game in the bag. Even I could tell there were some silly mistakes in injury time. And then, I woke up this morning to see Ralf Schumacher was disqualified from yesterday’s Canadian Grand Prix, resulting in a podium place for Jenson Button. And then we beat New Zealand at Cricket. I could almost be interested in a summer of sport.

On this day…

2004: Personal Information Management
2004: Cameraphone Backlash
2003: Show Me Your Bottom
2003: I Capture the Castle

On this day…

2004: Personal Information Management
2004: Cameraphone Backlash
2003: Show Me Your Bottom
2003: I Capture the Castle

Digital Radio Lust

Adot’s Notblog discussed the concept of Tivo for radio a few Fridays ago. This reminded me that only last weekend I had picked up a leaflet for Pure Digital’s Bug in a store. You will be aware of my love of radio and my delight at Pure’s other products: the Evoke-1 and the Tempus-1 (actually, I never mentioned that I also have a Tempus-1). The Bug looks cool (it’s designed by Wayne Hemingway) and has a host of features (including some recording capabilities and radio rewind). I am not sure if I’ll actually invest in it (given I am running out of rooms to put digital radios in), but I will be keeping an eye out for the products that Pure comes up with. I think Pure (or Imagination Technologies, as they are also known) have some really imaginative products of high quality. They only lack one thing in their range: I wish they’d come up with a small, nicely priced portable radio that included FM for times when you can’t get DAB reception.

Elsewhere: Here’s my comment on notblog:

I know it’s not for the car and it’s not available in the US but Pure Digital’s ‘The Bug’ has those features for the UK digital radio market. It’s designed by Wayne Hemmingway (of the Red or Dead fashion label). Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these (or – at least – one of the other Pure models with the same feature) for exactly the reasons you point out. http://www.thebug.com
Posted by: Jon on May 28, 2004 08:04 AM

archived here

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On this day…

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Thoroughly Modern Millie

PY and I have a knack for seeing musicals in London’s theatreland just before they close. We’re just back from seeing Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre, which we decided to do very last minute.

Amanda Holden is the Kansas girl arriving in New York at the height of the Roaring Twenties and is something of a revelation. She was truly excellent and carried the show. It’s such a shame it’s closing, and she’s taken some of the blame, but I didn’t think it was a killer show.

Although it’s set in the twenties, it was written much more recently, yet, sadly, it had a somewhat dated feel, which Anything Goes (which is older) didn’t have when we saw it a few months ago. I don’t think it’s helped by Anita Dobson’s character, Mrs Meers, a failed actress pretending to be an Oriental landlady. The character seems dated, and the impersonation of a Chinese woman is somewhat patronising. I had wanted to see Maureen Lipman in the role (she starred when the play first opened) and was described by one review as, Grotesque and comical, she’s verbally and physically sharp-witted” [source], but I think I am glad I didn’t. I don’t think it was Dobson, but the character who was uncomfortable.

Still, it’s such a shame so many of London’s plays and musicals are closing right now. I do enjoy a good night out at the theatre. This, sadly, was only mediocre.

On this day…

2005: Where Are You?

On this day…

2005: Where Are You?

S.W.A.T (Again)

So last night I saw S.W.A.T on DVD. PY had not seen it, although I had watched it back in December on a plane to the US. It was as good as I remembered, and I don’t think they cut too much from the version I saw on the plane. Always worth watching Colin Farrell in – almost – anything.

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On this day…

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Missed It Yesterday

Just re-read yesterday’s post about The Day After Tomorrow and the link to Ian Holm’s page at IMDb. I see he was born on the same day (admittedly, in a different year) as I was. Which, in turn, made me look at who else they say was born on that day. Turns out it also lists those who died on 12th September, which is quite a depressing way to start a new week.

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On this day…

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The Day After Tomorrow

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So I’ve just got back from a nice – but rushed – meal and a visit to Clapham Picture House to see Roland Emmerich’s The Day After Tomorrow, starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s a vision of what will happen if we don’t all take up cycling, ditch the cars and stop throwing out refrigerators with the trash (or some such thing).

Actually, it’s a disaster movie with a message, and it certainly makes the grade as the first, although the message is somewhat lost along the way, and the plot is, like all movies in this genre, ridiculously enjoyable. Basically, it starts to rain and then gets very cold, and the only place where you seem to be able to survive in New York is the public library (and that’s because you can burn the books). Gyllenhaal’s dad is, of course, the only person on the whole of the American continent who can save him, so he tries to. Marvellous, stupid and thoroughly entertaining.

Ian Holm puts in a notable performance from a remote Scottish weather station where, at the moment of disaster, they decide to toast England, Manchester United and Mankind (so not very convincingly Scottish – although they, of course, drink a decent malt to ward off the end).

It’s a mankind in peril, gripping disaster movie, and I found it immensely entertaining. It’s stunning when it’s building, and the effects are at their best (and who cares if the ice at the start looks computer-generated)? Sadly, it does fade a little towards the end – especially as any last elements of believability fly out the window – but as a couple of hours’ entertainment, you must go and see this film.

The message to all of Planet Earth is, of course, corrupted to work for the film and lost after the first third. But that doesn’t make any difference.

On this day…

2003: We all love Dermot
2003: Just In Time
2003: Last Night

On this day…

2003: We all love Dermot
2003: Just In Time
2003: Last Night

Excuses To Show Semi-Naked Men

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Not that I really needed another excuse to show this picture again but, hell, it’s Friday so who cares? AdAge is reporting that ‘the hunk’, Jason Lewis, is claiming Absolut used the fake ad as genuine one:

The actor who posed as the “Absolut Hunk” in a fictitious ad that appeared in an episode of Sex and the City is suing the Absolut Spirits Co., alleging it promoted the make-believe ad from the HBO series as an actual advertisement without his permission [source]

Previously: Silent For A Week.

On this day…

2005: links for 2005-06-04

On this day…

2005: links for 2005-06-04

Brother Beyond Star Charged

The Scotsman is tonight reporting:

The former lead singer with boy band Brother Beyond was charged with trying to pick up a street prostitute in LondonÂ’s seedy King’s Cross red light district. But friends of the former model claimed the accusation was ‘ludicrous’ because he is gay. Moore is to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court in north London tomorrow, charged under the Sex Offences Act.
[source]

Also of note, Nathan Moore is now the manager of Phixx, Eurovision entry James Fox and Pop Idol finalist Hayley Evetts.

UPDATE: 6 JUNE 2004: Moore pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute at Highbury Corner magistrates court.

On this day…

2003: The Government Could Learn Much From Big Brother
2003: Workings of Parliament

On this day…

2003: The Government Could Learn Much From Big Brother
2003: Workings of Parliament

Whitsun 2004

So, today is both Memorial Day in the US and the Whitsun bank holiday in the UK. Apparently, Whit Sunday commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the disciples (source). I see the cheese rollers of Gloucestershire have been at it again. That must really rank as one of the oddest of the British customs. Honestly, people roll cheese down a hill in the name of sport.

I am having a quiet bank holiday before returning to work tomorrow.

On this day…

2006: links for 2006-05-31

On this day…

2006: links for 2006-05-31

Troy

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So why did I go and see this film? Perhaps it was for the epic nature of the story, or perhaps it was to see the battle scenes in all their cinematic glory. Of course, it could have been just to see Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt buffed up and clad only in armour for a couple of hours on the screen.

The film was a huge let-down. The epic, cinematic battles looked old hat when compared to The Lord of the Rings. The story seemed disjointed and unfulfilling. There was nobody to side with, nobody to support and precious little humour to lighten the feel. It may be based on real-life events, but if you are going to take a license, you may as well bring some feeling into it.

Trojan champion Prince Hector (Eric Bana) is the most likeable, but while not wanting to spoil anything for you, his fate is entirely predictable even if you didn’t know the story. Pitt had all the moves, looks and swagger, but was an unsympathetic mercenary, and Orlando Bloom came across as a wishy-washy waste of space. Sadly, Achilles’ end (the heel, if you will) is entirely lost despite the best efforts of the filmmakers.

I’d wait until it’s on television if I were you.

On this day…

2004: Polo Shirts: A Fashion Idea For 2004
2003: Open Secret
2003: Crossroads ‘was all a dream’
2003: Pop Life
2003: Unfortunately There Are Effectively No Funds Available To Pay The Salaries
2003: No Consensus In Support Of Same-Sex Unions
2003: Dr Kildare is a Sissy