Confidential memo from agent representing Sasha Baron Cohen, to head of comedy at Unamed Hollywood studio.
Hank,
Great to see you at the last Vanity Fair party. I mentioned to you that Sasha has been pretty busy lately. He revived Ali G at the Britsh Comedy Awards, which was a reminder of his genius. After two character roles in films, which he was pleased with, he is now ready to unveil his latest deep cover project.
The success of the whole Borat character was remarkable, Bruno has done pretty well too and we're sure you will be delighted he is looking to the same format of spoof character. For this Sasha has had to go further and deeper in his public deception than anything he has ever done before.
I am telling you about his latest comic creation: "Shebby".
We started out as a football (soccer to you) summariser on TV in Malaysia. Unbelievably, people bought into his phoney past we created for him. We thought this was good enough, right up there with Ali G at his cheeky best, but a couple of Bollywood guys over in Pune, India, decided they wanted to get out of this crazy deal they'd struck to buy an English soccer club. Long story short, it had all gone horribly wrong, they wanted to get out and agreed to invest in the next film as long as we could stretch the character in a role as "global adviser". They expected it to last a week or two, but do you know the craziest thing? He has been on Sky TV, he has met the fans, he has even fired two coaches. The first quit and sued the club because of some of the things "Shebby" suggested. We have all this on film, hidden cameras are great. We've got shots of him in the pub talking to fans. Some of them are totally into this guy. And get this, right. He did this public meeting where they were firing questions at him, and they actually applauded and cheered.
We're going to get this in the can pretty quickly now as the rest of the fans have turned against him. He's going to get lynched if we're not careful. I love Sasha's bravery, but he is properly messing with these guys.
Now, he's done this lame radio interview with some ex-soccer player, Robbie something, and his cover is like totally blown now. I mean, it was comedy gold - making up his role with each question, agreeing with the questions, dodging questions, getting aggressive. Our next move is to get his sidekick in as coach, this other character we've created - Judan Ali. Then the fun really starts, a new strip, a dwarf playing as goalkeeper, the appointment of a guru. Changing the strip to saris. But the clock is ticking.
So, Hank, what do you say?
Chuck
REPLY
Hey Chuck,
I love it. I agree that Borat may have jumped the shark, but this is genius. Let's meet for lunch at the Mondrian on Friday. Seems a bit far fetched, but it has promise.
Hank
Showing posts with label jokes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jokes. Show all posts
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Sunday, December 04, 2011
On Jeremy Clarkson
Frankly there have been quite ludicrous flights of indignation over Jeremy Clarkson's comments on the One Show that public sector strikers should be shot.
Most people had made their minds up already, probably before they'd heard what he had to say. It struck me as an opportunity for anyone who doesn't like him to say - "ha, there you go". Equally, some responses in his defence brought up comedians who wished death on Margaret Thatcher. Yebbut, he said, she said, yebbut, yebbutt.
If you took every utterance of a celebrity pundit, journalist or comedian as seriously as those of a serious figure in public life then you'd never stop.
I found myself agreeing with a comedian called Dave Gorman. He posted a blog entitled "Jeremy Clarkson should be lined up and shot". Many commenters didn't get past the headline, but you should, especially for the Bill Hicks references and clips.
Here's the essence: "Because if you really think that you and I are entitled to live in a world without offence, then you have to concede that everyone else is equally entitled to the same. And that means that all the jokes you like but they don't will have to go too."
Most people had made their minds up already, probably before they'd heard what he had to say. It struck me as an opportunity for anyone who doesn't like him to say - "ha, there you go". Equally, some responses in his defence brought up comedians who wished death on Margaret Thatcher. Yebbut, he said, she said, yebbut, yebbutt.
If you took every utterance of a celebrity pundit, journalist or comedian as seriously as those of a serious figure in public life then you'd never stop.
I found myself agreeing with a comedian called Dave Gorman. He posted a blog entitled "Jeremy Clarkson should be lined up and shot". Many commenters didn't get past the headline, but you should, especially for the Bill Hicks references and clips.
Here's the essence: "Because if you really think that you and I are entitled to live in a world without offence, then you have to concede that everyone else is equally entitled to the same. And that means that all the jokes you like but they don't will have to go too."
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Made up Manchester
Very amusing contributions to the concept of a made up Manchester facts on Twitter today. Here are my favourite 10. One is mine, I am allowed to laugh at my own jokes on here.
Magic buses are so-called as they are run on ecstacy tablets confiscated from the Hacienda in the 90s
Manchester was created by the men of Chester after being driven out by the womenfolk in the feminism riots of 1682
The M60 was built by the Romans as a defence wall around Mancunia to protect from marauding Celts.
Corbieres Wine Bar was originally owned by the Grand National winning racehorse of the same name.
New York Street in the city centre was in fact originally called New Amsterdam Street
From next January Princess Street will be renamed Howards Way
The Peak District, Lake District and Penines are man made and were built by the people of Manchester to maximise rainfall
The king of the ancient kingdom of Mancunia was Affleck. His palace is where Affleck's now sits
Spinningfields, Spinning Buildings and Spinning Bedroom Ceilling are all in the Drunk Quarter
The Manchester Canals were built to export water from the city for re-sale as it has a surplus supply
Magic buses are so-called as they are run on ecstacy tablets confiscated from the Hacienda in the 90s
Manchester was created by the men of Chester after being driven out by the womenfolk in the feminism riots of 1682
The M60 was built by the Romans as a defence wall around Mancunia to protect from marauding Celts.
Corbieres Wine Bar was originally owned by the Grand National winning racehorse of the same name.
New York Street in the city centre was in fact originally called New Amsterdam Street
From next January Princess Street will be renamed Howards Way
The Peak District, Lake District and Penines are man made and were built by the people of Manchester to maximise rainfall
The king of the ancient kingdom of Mancunia was Affleck. His palace is where Affleck's now sits
Spinningfields, Spinning Buildings and Spinning Bedroom Ceilling are all in the Drunk Quarter
The Manchester Canals were built to export water from the city for re-sale as it has a surplus supply
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Cheerio Shelagh
The 6.30 alarm call won't be the same without Shelagh Fogarty's voice easing us into the day with news, a bit of a link to the weather, some Mickey Clarke, before the rampaging titan of the airwaves that is Nicholas Andrew Argyll Campbell crashes in to form the best double act in broadcasting at 7.
The send off on Thursday, the last day in the studio was superb. I was quite into the idea of Professor Anthony Grierson from Syracuse University and his views on DNA democratisation, political paradox, the inside of the inner tracks of the Beltway. Here is Shelagh asking him the "wrong question".
The send off on Thursday, the last day in the studio was superb. I was quite into the idea of Professor Anthony Grierson from Syracuse University and his views on DNA democratisation, political paradox, the inside of the inner tracks of the Beltway. Here is Shelagh asking him the "wrong question".
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Remember the name, Patrick Monahan
April fool
I don't mind the tradition of April Fool jokes. Some are pretty rubbish, some are good fun though. I agree with Mark Solomons that none has ever beaten the spaghetti tree one from 1957 (yes, the date shocked me too). We did a school project on it in 1976. It was a great fun day.
Anyway, I was responsible for Insider's attempt at humour yesterday. It was a version of this mildly tailored for each region We fooled a few people, one bloke emailed our reporter accusing us of printing rubbish stories.
Anyway, I was responsible for Insider's attempt at humour yesterday. It was a version of this mildly tailored for each region We fooled a few people, one bloke emailed our reporter accusing us of printing rubbish stories.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Some amusing links
Why Newcastle chose Alan Pardew.
Billy Bullshit, ace new website. A compendium of complete and utter bollocks from out of the mouths of idiots…
Speaking of which....
Heather Mills brokers deal to get Beatles on iTunes.
Great tattoo. Though I would probably stick to oven gloves.
Billy Bullshit, ace new website. A compendium of complete and utter bollocks from out of the mouths of idiots…
Speaking of which....
Heather Mills brokers deal to get Beatles on iTunes.
Great tattoo. Though I would probably stick to oven gloves.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
How the Irish stimulus package works
My pal Tim Murphy forwarded me this, allegedly from the Irish Independent....
IT IS a slow day in a sleepy little Irish town. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted.
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
On this particular day a rich tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub.
The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.
The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the stimulus package works.
IT IS a slow day in a sleepy little Irish town. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted.
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
On this particular day a rich tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub.
The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.
The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the stimulus package works.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Alright, if you like laughing
I was very lucky to see Michael McIntyre, Jason Manford and Peter Kay last week. Not all at once but on different nights. All were good in their own way and were in different settings. Peter Kay's Arena gig was a spectacle, McIntyre did a corporate gig and wasn't on for long. Jason Manford did a warm up at Burnley Mechanics which was the most intimate, which usually brings out the best of these occasions.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Links for Mayday
A rather silly song about Stockport, here.
Great speeches of all time, very American, here.
A wonderful Rovers memory, courtesy of Simon Garner. Bury away 1980.
John Squire does Penguin Books. Superb.
What really happened when Keith Andrews chucked a water bottle at a fan, full transcript is here.
Glasgow Rangers fans don't want the "hassle" of going to Boston. I'm sure Boston isn't too keen on rivers of piss.
John Stewart mocks the UK election.
Then there's this from here:
Michael O'Leary walks into a Dublin pub and asks for a pint of Guinness. 'That will be one Euro' says the barman. 'That's a very reasonable price' he says handing over the money.
'Now will you be wanting a glass with your drink Mr O'Leary?'
Great speeches of all time, very American, here.
A wonderful Rovers memory, courtesy of Simon Garner. Bury away 1980.
John Squire does Penguin Books. Superb.
What really happened when Keith Andrews chucked a water bottle at a fan, full transcript is here.
Glasgow Rangers fans don't want the "hassle" of going to Boston. I'm sure Boston isn't too keen on rivers of piss.
John Stewart mocks the UK election.
Then there's this from here:
Michael O'Leary walks into a Dublin pub and asks for a pint of Guinness. 'That will be one Euro' says the barman. 'That's a very reasonable price' he says handing over the money.
'Now will you be wanting a glass with your drink Mr O'Leary?'
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Marple Leaf reviews 2009
Here are this blog's highlights of 2009 based on the ten most common categories.
Marple - I was moved beyond words at how Marple turned out for Remembrance Day.
Book review in a lift - I still haven't got over quite how brilliant The Road by Cormac McCarthy is. As with many fine things in life it was recommended by my best pal John Dixon.
Wine - Stopping drinking for a few months was quite a cleansing experience. That said, a very hearty Unicorn from Robinson's went down well on Tuesday.
Politics - what a dreadful mess. Definite low point was the North West electing that goon. Tory conference in Manchester was good sport, liked Philip Blond and Philip Hammond. Cameron was vapid.
Commuting - It has been a very pleasant year on the Rose Hill thunderbolt, unless the worst guard on the railway is working.
Jokes - I had a go at stand-up, of a manner, but I still think the best joke I've heard this year is this - the best Irish joke ever.
Music -I've really struggled with new music this year. Nothing really stands out. But live wise, Elbow with the Hallé was an amazing experience.
Blogging - this was the year when I got into Twitter, but never at the expense of this blog. I will resolve in the new year to cross post, link and blog a great deal more.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Get up stand up
Regular readers will have noticed I do a bit of public speaking as part of my job. I enjoy it and try and do new things all the time. Occasionally I tell the odd story, or short joke, but it's always secondary to the main event and core message.
When I heard that Richard Bacon was going to do a night at Edinburgh as a stand up comedian I was full of admiration. I think stand up looks incredibly hard and was interested in what he went through.
Well, last night I had a go myself. Admittedly, 110 people at Marple Cricket Club was not quite an open mic session at a comedy club, but I think it went OK.
My role was to just do a few bits of housekeeping to welcome people to our junior football club Christmas party for parents and supporters, no kids. After dinner, my pal Jason Isaacs was going to be performing with his band A Few Good Men, so the least I could do was put a smile on people's faces to get the evening off to a happy start.
I had the routine worked out: pepper the housekeeping announcements with gags and a few stories about being a football parent.
I started with some short tales about some of the rough arsed places we go to for away matches and a few friendly jibes at local rivals - paying off with an old old gag that some people hadn't heard before.
Next I moved on to golf - we have a club golf day at the same venue - I thanked the bloke who organises it - didn't get much from him and remembered that I just don't know him well enough to take the piss out of his business - which I did consider - but moved on quickly. Quick Tiger Woods quip which was mistimed and misjudged. Move on quickly.
Next, the open goal. The club secretary is a mine of material - Scouser, attractive younger wife, nice bloke, lost weight recently. Kept going for a while with this, lot of laughs. Really pleased, was on a roll here. People seemed surprised and happy.
The finale was an amended joke I've seen done with expert precision by Ted Robbins. So I've introduced people, said thanks, name dropped a Bryan Robson story, so people think it could be possible that we really do have a special guest. I take off my specs. Cough, look nervous and serious and ask for hush. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a special surprise guest. He's a local sporting legend, he's fought in Manchester and Las Vegas, he's held world titles, he usually walks out into bigger rooms than this to the chimes of Blue Moon, but tonight let's give a warm Marple welcome to our special *surprise* guest tonight.... Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton."
This will either die on its arse, or people will believe it. They look round, they applaud. There are gasps.
I put my glasses back on. And I say, squinting at the table by the door: "Oh dear. I'm sorry love."
Bingo. It works. The best and biggest laugh of the night. I love this. What an incredible feeling. Time to end, quit now on a high. Thank them for their time, encourage them to give generously.
This may not count as a "thing to try before you die" but it was a nerve wracking experience and something new for me. I'd like to have another go, in another environment, and will work on more stories. 'Ave it!
When I heard that Richard Bacon was going to do a night at Edinburgh as a stand up comedian I was full of admiration. I think stand up looks incredibly hard and was interested in what he went through.
Well, last night I had a go myself. Admittedly, 110 people at Marple Cricket Club was not quite an open mic session at a comedy club, but I think it went OK.
My role was to just do a few bits of housekeeping to welcome people to our junior football club Christmas party for parents and supporters, no kids. After dinner, my pal Jason Isaacs was going to be performing with his band A Few Good Men, so the least I could do was put a smile on people's faces to get the evening off to a happy start.
I had the routine worked out: pepper the housekeeping announcements with gags and a few stories about being a football parent.
I started with some short tales about some of the rough arsed places we go to for away matches and a few friendly jibes at local rivals - paying off with an old old gag that some people hadn't heard before.
Next I moved on to golf - we have a club golf day at the same venue - I thanked the bloke who organises it - didn't get much from him and remembered that I just don't know him well enough to take the piss out of his business - which I did consider - but moved on quickly. Quick Tiger Woods quip which was mistimed and misjudged. Move on quickly.
Next, the open goal. The club secretary is a mine of material - Scouser, attractive younger wife, nice bloke, lost weight recently. Kept going for a while with this, lot of laughs. Really pleased, was on a roll here. People seemed surprised and happy.
The finale was an amended joke I've seen done with expert precision by Ted Robbins. So I've introduced people, said thanks, name dropped a Bryan Robson story, so people think it could be possible that we really do have a special guest. I take off my specs. Cough, look nervous and serious and ask for hush. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a special surprise guest. He's a local sporting legend, he's fought in Manchester and Las Vegas, he's held world titles, he usually walks out into bigger rooms than this to the chimes of Blue Moon, but tonight let's give a warm Marple welcome to our special *surprise* guest tonight.... Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton."
This will either die on its arse, or people will believe it. They look round, they applaud. There are gasps.
I put my glasses back on. And I say, squinting at the table by the door: "Oh dear. I'm sorry love."
Bingo. It works. The best and biggest laugh of the night. I love this. What an incredible feeling. Time to end, quit now on a high. Thank them for their time, encourage them to give generously.
This may not count as a "thing to try before you die" but it was a nerve wracking experience and something new for me. I'd like to have another go, in another environment, and will work on more stories. 'Ave it!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Comic in need
Peter Kay makes me laugh. I love Phoenix Nights. But he made me laugh in a different way last night. He announced on BBC Children in Need that he is returning to stand up and that his new tour (to Manchester's MEN Arena), would donate (wait for it), from all the merchandising (oh, OK, just the Garlic bread t-shirts then). That he would be donating the money to Children in Need. Well, £1. From the proceeds of everything sold.
The four dates have already sold out and no doubt he will stretch to a couple of weeks. The amount the charity will get will be enormous, but it's still just £1 from each piece.
Coincidentally, the tickets went on sale yesterday. The very same day of the biggest charity appeal of the year. For the avoidance of doubt he has worked very hard for this appeal, with this lovely new video with all the cartoon characters. He has done an incredible amount for this project over the years and for Comic Relief. But am I being cynical when I say that I feel this feels all a bit contrived?
Maybe it's because this comes on the back of a story I heard involving a dapper snapper from Liverpool, who recently took a picture of Peter Kay at Liverpool Airport. Granted, he wasn't on show, he was just going on holiday and went mad and refused to play ball. My pal, who is not a paparazzi, but does a load of charity work, politely saw his point and deleted the picture, respecting his privacy, but not before telling him: "As long as you've got a hole in your arse, you'll never be as funny as Ken Dodd."
He needs to be careful that boy.
The four dates have already sold out and no doubt he will stretch to a couple of weeks. The amount the charity will get will be enormous, but it's still just £1 from each piece.
Coincidentally, the tickets went on sale yesterday. The very same day of the biggest charity appeal of the year. For the avoidance of doubt he has worked very hard for this appeal, with this lovely new video with all the cartoon characters. He has done an incredible amount for this project over the years and for Comic Relief. But am I being cynical when I say that I feel this feels all a bit contrived?
Maybe it's because this comes on the back of a story I heard involving a dapper snapper from Liverpool, who recently took a picture of Peter Kay at Liverpool Airport. Granted, he wasn't on show, he was just going on holiday and went mad and refused to play ball. My pal, who is not a paparazzi, but does a load of charity work, politely saw his point and deleted the picture, respecting his privacy, but not before telling him: "As long as you've got a hole in your arse, you'll never be as funny as Ken Dodd."
He needs to be careful that boy.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Swine flu, Jesus, Frank Skinner and us
Frank Skinner writes a column in the Times, which I've only just discovered, but this early delve has found some belters.
His latest one is about swine flu hysteria and how it is affecting the taking of holy communion.
Forgive me as I move from the ridiculous to the sublime. When I take Holy Communion in church on Sunday mornings, it involves eating a thin disc of bread and then sipping from a chalice of wine. As a Roman Catholic, I believe that this bread and wine, through some supernatural process, has transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Being a recovering alcoholic, some sceptical friends have accused me of using transubstantiation as a loophole. I can’t blame them for this. I’ve had similar doubts about Catholics on a no-carbs diet.
His latest one is about swine flu hysteria and how it is affecting the taking of holy communion.
Forgive me as I move from the ridiculous to the sublime. When I take Holy Communion in church on Sunday mornings, it involves eating a thin disc of bread and then sipping from a chalice of wine. As a Roman Catholic, I believe that this bread and wine, through some supernatural process, has transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Being a recovering alcoholic, some sceptical friends have accused me of using transubstantiation as a loophole. I can’t blame them for this. I’ve had similar doubts about Catholics on a no-carbs diet.
Either way, in recent weeks, my local church has withdrawn the wine element as a precaution against the spread of swine flu. Given that it too believes in transubstantiation, the inference is that I might catch it from Jesus. Surely that strain would at least be self-healing.
Brilliant. I'll let you know if such madness spreads to Holy Spirit Marple this Sunday.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Some more best jokes ever
It's a pretty bold statement to say a joke is the best ever. And so I'm slightly suspicious when TV channel Dave has awarded the best joke at Edinburgh this year.
It's this from Dan Antopolski : "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?"
The last best joke I'd heard in ages, from Jason Manford (on Twitter), is this:
"How does every racist joke start? With a look over the shoulder."
Thanks to Ted Robbins, here's the best comedians' joke ever:
Two comedians meet up at Edinburgh. "How have you been?" asks one.
"Great," replies the other, "haven't you heard? I was doing some work in New York, got on the Letterman show as warm up, got on a Broadway Show."
"No," says the other, "I never heard about that."
"Yes, then my agent got me in the new Ben Stiller film. It was a raging success. I won an Oscar, now I'm doing a new film with Simon Pegg."
"Oh," says the other, "I never heard that."
"And to warm up some new material I did a couple of pub gigs at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester, but I died on my arse if I'm honest."
"Ah," says the other, "I heard about that."
It's this from Dan Antopolski : "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?"
The last best joke I'd heard in ages, from Jason Manford (on Twitter), is this:
"How does every racist joke start? With a look over the shoulder."
Thanks to Ted Robbins, here's the best comedians' joke ever:
Two comedians meet up at Edinburgh. "How have you been?" asks one.
"Great," replies the other, "haven't you heard? I was doing some work in New York, got on the Letterman show as warm up, got on a Broadway Show."
"No," says the other, "I never heard about that."
"Yes, then my agent got me in the new Ben Stiller film. It was a raging success. I won an Oscar, now I'm doing a new film with Simon Pegg."
"Oh," says the other, "I never heard that."
"And to warm up some new material I did a couple of pub gigs at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester, but I died on my arse if I'm honest."
"Ah," says the other, "I heard about that."
Monday, July 13, 2009
Bookmarks for mid July
Me and my old pal Steve Connor are off to see The Durutti Column on Wednesday at the Manchester International Festival. It's a Paean to Wilson, and there's a link to their site here, and a lovely piece about drummer Bruce Mitchell here.
Don't get scammed. Read this.
Author of Kill Your Friends - John Niven, on Michael Jackson.
Frank McKenna on Michael Jackson, Michael Owen and Michael Shields. Sensible on all three counts.
Here's a sensible and pragmatic body of thought about how best to rebuild community politics and to oppose the BNP. And here are a series of profiles on some of the female supporters of the master race party (Babes of the BNP).
Real Journalism's David Conn covers the latest twists at Leeds United. Superb, but check out the messages, so many have been removed.
To become an extremist hang around with people who agree with you. From The Spectator, interview with bloke who wrote Nudge.
Great piece on Manchester International Festival from Prospect magazine.
Christopher Hitchens on Gordon Brown, from Vanity Fair.
Don't get scammed. Read this.
Author of Kill Your Friends - John Niven, on Michael Jackson.
Frank McKenna on Michael Jackson, Michael Owen and Michael Shields. Sensible on all three counts.
Here's a sensible and pragmatic body of thought about how best to rebuild community politics and to oppose the BNP. And here are a series of profiles on some of the female supporters of the master race party (Babes of the BNP).
Real Journalism's David Conn covers the latest twists at Leeds United. Superb, but check out the messages, so many have been removed.
To become an extremist hang around with people who agree with you. From The Spectator, interview with bloke who wrote Nudge.
Great piece on Manchester International Festival from Prospect magazine.
Christopher Hitchens on Gordon Brown, from Vanity Fair.
Friday, July 03, 2009
It's July - some bookmarks of stuff I've been liking
Blimey - I've been made Man of the Week in Liverpool. Here's me with Frank McKenna and his report on the event we did last week.
Danny Baker's stunningly well-written and brilliantly observed piece on Michael Jackson from The Times in 2005.
When I said last week that it is far from a foregone conclusion that the Tories will sweep to power next year, I had this in mind - Jackie Ashley puts it very well
A very amusing video with Hardeep Singh Kohli.
The Spectator's Debroah Ross has lunch with Jimmy McNulty from The Wire.
Hazel Blears to face wealthy independent opponent at next election.
Adidas Beckenbauer - superb black wheels
OB well on top - good interview with Manchester's top cop by ManCon
Danny Baker's stunningly well-written and brilliantly observed piece on Michael Jackson from The Times in 2005.
When I said last week that it is far from a foregone conclusion that the Tories will sweep to power next year, I had this in mind - Jackie Ashley puts it very well
A very amusing video with Hardeep Singh Kohli.
The Spectator's Debroah Ross has lunch with Jimmy McNulty from The Wire.
Hazel Blears to face wealthy independent opponent at next election.
Adidas Beckenbauer - superb black wheels
OB well on top - good interview with Manchester's top cop by ManCon
Friday, June 05, 2009
Bookmarks for early June
Time travel seduction - This is one of the funniest things I've seen in ages.
Somalia beat Rwanda to win the Third World Cup - from The Onion - "In the Third World Cup every group is the group of death."
Thinker Charles Leadbeater is coming to do some talks in the North - The Art of With
Roque Santa Cruz - the first Paraguayan Rugby League player
Nice Trainers Mate - Another good website about trainers
A reference to the story of the Adidas Opus Dei
Spiteful piece about Rafa Benitez
I've been at the Yorkshire International Business Convention today - enjoyed being part of a sizable Twitterati - made some new chums - #yibc - feed results
Caroline Flint - her resignation letter - and an old favourite for old time's sake
Somalia beat Rwanda to win the Third World Cup - from The Onion - "In the Third World Cup every group is the group of death."
Thinker Charles Leadbeater is coming to do some talks in the North - The Art of With
Roque Santa Cruz - the first Paraguayan Rugby League player
Nice Trainers Mate - Another good website about trainers
A reference to the story of the Adidas Opus Dei
Spiteful piece about Rafa Benitez
I've been at the Yorkshire International Business Convention today - enjoyed being part of a sizable Twitterati - made some new chums - #yibc - feed results
Caroline Flint - her resignation letter - and an old favourite for old time's sake
Monday, May 25, 2009
Journalists and expenses tales
George Dearsley, a great journalist and a real character, has started blogging here.
There is a brilliant story about journalists claiming expenses, also mentioned on the excellent Grey Cardigan column on the Press Gazette website.
Legendary sportswriter Peter Batt submitted a receipt for a meal he’d had with his wife and two young kids on expenses, passing it off as a lunch with "contacts in the horse racing world". When quizzed as to why there were two “children’s portions” on the restaurant receipt, a straight-faced Peter said: “They were jockeys”.
There's another good one here, courtesy of the Spectator regarding Tory MP Michael Gove in his days as a BBC hack.
One of the receipts was for lunch with Ken Clarke. Gove's boss said he thought that was very interesting, as on the day of this lunch, he himself had lunch with Ken Clarke. Without missing a beat quick-witted Gove looked up and replied, "The greedy bastard... two lunches!"
There is a brilliant story about journalists claiming expenses, also mentioned on the excellent Grey Cardigan column on the Press Gazette website.
Legendary sportswriter Peter Batt submitted a receipt for a meal he’d had with his wife and two young kids on expenses, passing it off as a lunch with "contacts in the horse racing world". When quizzed as to why there were two “children’s portions” on the restaurant receipt, a straight-faced Peter said: “They were jockeys”.
There's another good one here, courtesy of the Spectator regarding Tory MP Michael Gove in his days as a BBC hack.
One of the receipts was for lunch with Ken Clarke. Gove's boss said he thought that was very interesting, as on the day of this lunch, he himself had lunch with Ken Clarke. Without missing a beat quick-witted Gove looked up and replied, "The greedy bastard... two lunches!"
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