Reviews Category
We don’t just report off-beat news, breaking news and digest the best and worst of the news media analysis and commentary. We give an original take on what happened and why. We add lols, satire, news photos and original content.
Epic Adverts: Stevie Wonder Plays Atari Video Games
IN 1977, Stevie Wonder advertised Atari Video games:
“If I could play video games, you bet it would be an Atari”
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Posted: 30th, April 2014 | In: Celebrities, Flashback, Technology | Comments (2)
Clayton Lockett’s Death Creates Stunning AP Headline
THE AP’s report on the news on the laboured execution of Clayton Lockett, 38, who shot a 19-year-old woman and buried her alive after a robbery, features an odd headline:
Yes, they do, Scoop.
More here.
DIY English Fashions Of The Mid 20th Century
JAMES Lileks has looked beyond the shards of lard and war-effort carrot stuck between our grey teeth to DIY British fashions of the mid 20th Century.
We kick off with…
Lovely bird – drove the lads down at the Enigma labs just mad, except for that chilly Turing fellow – but there doesn’t seem to be enough of her. The more you look at her, the more she looks like a doll that’s been put together from different parts, half of which were attached backwards. But it’s a nice jumper.
When in Brighton, give her a call; tell her Pinky sent you.
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The Daily Mail Discovers Heredity In Hull 150 Years After Darwin Published
Charles Darwin poses in a wicker chair in 1875 at an unknown location.
THIS is pretty good of the Daily Mail, rediscovering something that was published only those 150 short years ago. That there’s something to this heredity argument, that children tend to look a bit like their parents and so on. You know, this idea that daughter of pretty woman might be pretty woman sorta thing?
A teen beauty queen has followed in her mother’s high heeled footsteps – by clinching the same beauty pageant title as she did 30 years earlier.
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Trout River’s Whale Bomb Presents The Greatest TV News Report Of All Time
A HUGE rotting blue hales lying on the bank of the Trout River, Newfoundland, could explode. Those things can be messy.
Trout River’s town clerk, Emily Butler, tells the Telegram:
“This is about the fact that this whale is blowing up on the beach. It has gases trapped inside of it. Until we get some definite answers back, this still remains a situation that we haven’t been given a final solution on. If that whale does explode, we don’t know what danger that would be to our infrastructure, the longliner itself, or to people.”
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Posted: 30th, April 2014 | In: Reviews, TV & Radio | Comment
Driver ‘Deliberately’ Runs Into Cyclist In Manchester (Video)
GREATER Manchester Police are seeking the driver of a blue estate car who “intentionally into the back of the cyclist… slamming him to the ground”.
Det Con Darren Byrne says:
“This was a deliberate, shocking attack against an innocent man, who was lucky to escape more serious injury.”
Indeed.
Shocking stuff…
Anyone Sending Goods To North Korea Needs To Fill In This Paranoid Customs Form
ANYONE seeking to send supplies to North Korea, needs to fill in this customs form:
Spotter: Tamerlane’s Thoughts
Posted: 30th, April 2014 | In: Reviews, The Consumer | Comment
Ann Maguire: Her Death Was A Sign Of God’s Love And A Sickness In Our Schools
ANN Maguire: a look at media reporting on the teacher killed by a student at a Leeds school:
The Indy: “Ann Maguire killing: Teachers across Britain reveal horrifying tales of classroom violence”
There have been two teachers killed in 20 years. But is that just the extreme end of a woeful tale?
The killing of Ann Maguire, stabbed to death in front of her class, has highlighted the risks inner city teachers take every day dealing with threats of violence in the classroom. The trauma suffered by many in the profession is shown in shocking personal accounts by teachers, often speaking on condition of anonymity.
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From Movies to TV: 10 Tragic Failures
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
1986 TV Adaptation “Fast Times”
MOVIES adapted for television series aren’t necessarily terrible; in fact, the outcome is often quite good. The Odd Couple and M*A*S*H* both had great translations for the small screen. Even Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a dark drama by Martin Scorsese found an interesting niche in the sitcom universe via Alice.
Unfortunately, for every success, there are a sizeable number of failures. This is where I come in and deliver up ten tragic examples of where a movie was adapted for television yielding regrettable results.
Animal House (1978)
1979 TV Adaptation: “Delta House”, 13 episodes
When you remove the bawdy humor from Animal House, you’re cutting out its heart. It’s like removing the dancing from Singin’ in the Rain. Crass jokes and irresponsible humor were the lifeblood of the original film; to clean things up for prime time TV was a mistake of epic proportions.
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Posted: 30th, April 2014 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, TV & Radio | Comment (1)
Want To See What Space Age Police Wear To Burn 11 Tons Of Drugs In Peru?
FACES of the day: Workers wears a heat reflecting suit during the burning of seized drugs at a police base in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Police say they burned on Tuesday more than 11 tons of drugs including cocaine, marijuana, opium and heroin that was seized over the last 5 months. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
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The Five Weirdest Things Ever Thrown Onto A Pitch
WHEN Villarreal fans taunted Barcelona’s Dani Alves by throwing him a banana, it was not entirely surprising.
Spain does, after all, have a history of this kind of racist goading, including such notable incidents as the monkey chanting directed at England players during the 2004 international in Madrid….
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Posted: 29th, April 2014 | In: Flashback, Key Posts, Sports | Comment
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell: Who Beat Up Who?
REMEMBER Edie Brickell? She was a pop-folkie way back when for Generation Xers. She’s best known for ‘Circle’ (here, with the catchier-than-mumps “I quit, I give up” hook) and ‘What I Am” which was covered by Spice Girl Emma Bunton of all people.
That is, she’s formerly best known for these things: now, she’s going to be known in the press as Paul Simon’s Wife, which of course, is what happens to any woman married to someone more famous. Look at how talented clothes designer and fashion powerhouse L’Wren Scott was referred to as ‘Mick Jagger’s girlfriend’ when she died.
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Posted: 29th, April 2014 | In: Music, Reviews | Comment (1)
1962-1977: The Wonderful Designs Of Sainsbury’s Own-Label Groceries
IN the 1960s, Sainsbury’s began selling own-label groceries. The packaging was marvellous:
Like these cornflakes from 1968.
And these Ritz crackers:
You can find out more in the book Own Label: Sainsbury’s Design Studio, 1962-1977:
In 1962, when Peter Dixon joined the Sainsburys Design Studio, a remarkable revolution in packaging design began. The supermarket was developing its distinctive range of Own Label products, and Dixons designs for the line were revolutionary: simple, stripped down, creative, and completely different from what had gone before. Their striking modernity pushed the boundaries, reflecting a period full of optimism. They also helped to build Sainsburys into a brand giant, the first real Super market of the time. This book examines and celebrates this paradigm shift, which redefined packaging design, and led to the creation of some of the most original packaging ever seen. Produced in collaboration with the Sainsbury family and The Sainsbury Archive, the book reveals an astonishing and exhaustive body of work. A unique insight into what and how we ate, the packaging is presented using both scanned original flat packets and photographic records made at the time by the design team. An essential book for graphic designers and those interested in the culture of consumerism, these designs remain fresh and relevant today. This feast of nostalgia taps into the fond memories of a generation brought up on these beautifully packaged goods.
Lard, ginger beer and wonderful pale ale (ask grandpa), via TrunkRecords:
Peas And Carrots 1970
The Creative Review noted Doxon’s vision:
“If you have a big batch of red labels one side and a big batch of green labels the other, then it’s best to design a white label with stark typography, which would then stand out from the other brands,” says Dixon of his approach to making sure shoppers noticed the own label goods on the shelves of its newly-opened ‘supermarkets’.
Broken eggs packaging, 1965
Biscuit assortment, 1967
Bitter Lemon via LukeHoney:
Egg packaging, 1964
Sainsbury’s Own Label Cola label, 1966
Posted: 29th, April 2014 | In: Flashback, The Consumer | Comment
Pages of Polyester: The Sears 1974 Catalog
FROM the women’s fashion section of the 1974 Fall-Winter Sears Catalog, here are 35 pages of earth-toned acrylics, skin-tight polyester, and knitted creations that should have never seen the light of day. Seventies fashions are fun to behold because they could be so frighteningly terrible; however, if you can resist the easy temptation to scoff at 70s styles and view them with an open mind, some are actually quite brilliant. Today’s everyday styles can be so tired and unremarkable – it’s refreshing to see something bold and unique. Come take a look….
A black and orange striped sweater-vest over a tight olive green turtleneck sweater…. can somebody explain how this happened? The simple answer is widespread recreational drug use, but I’m open to other theories.
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Posted: 29th, April 2014 | In: Fashion, Flashback, Key Posts | Comments (8)
Pupil Kills Teacher Anne Maguire In Leeds: Calls To Treat All Schoolchildren As Criminals?
ANNE Maguire, 61, a Spanish teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds has been stabbed to death with a knife in front of pupils. A 15-year-old male pupil is in custody.
Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, from West Yorkshire Police:
“We would like to reassure people that this has been an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to pupils or staff at the school. The situation is under control and officers, including safer schools officers and members of the local neighbourhood policing team, are currently at the school and are liaising closely with staff. The rest of the school is continuing to operate as normal and we would ask that parents do not attend the site unless directly requested to do so by the school. Our enquiries are at a very early stage but the full circumstances of this incident will obviously be the subject of a full and thorough investigation.”
Steve Mort, the headteacher, says:
“We try to put our mission as a Catholic College into practice every day in the way we treat others within our community – together we work, learn, pray and grow.”
The Telegraph gives us some more facts:
According to Ofsted, 52 per cent of pupils achieved expected progress in English last year and 60 per cent in Maths – putting the school in the bottom 40 per cent of all schools.
Good to know. But relevant?
The buildings date back to 1968 and the site is one of the city’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ projects. In 2010 it was awarded the International School Award by the British Council.
After the filler, we hear from an eyewitness:
“He just did it in front of everyone really. I was doing some science work. I just heard everyone screaming and running about and then we got told to stay there and told that a teacher had been attacked by one of the students… I did not expect it to be him at all.”
The Times adds:
Mrs Maguire, who had been stabbed a number of times, died later in hospital.
Adding:
The incident will provoke memories of Philip Lawrence, a head teacher stabbed to death outside his school in Maida Vale, London, in 1995 when he went to the aid of a pupil being attacked by a gang.
Undated hand photos of Philip Lawrence (left), the headmaster who was brutally murdered by Learco Chindamo (right), outside his school as he defended a pupil. Chindamo, who was 15 at the time of the stabbing, was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey in October 1996.
Indeed, the killing of a teacher at a school in Leeds brings back memories of the murder of headmaster Philip Lawrence in 1995. He had gone to the aid of one of his pupils who was being attacked with an iron bar at the gates of St George’s RC School in Maida Vale, west London. Mr Lawrence, 48, was seeing his pupils off from school, as he did every day, when he spotted one of his students being hit over the head.
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, adds:
“We are shocked and saddened to hear the news that a teacher has been stabbed to death at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. Our thoughts are with her family, her colleagues and the students of the school. Teachers carry a great weight for our society and we owe them so much. It is terrible that they should be asked to pay this price too. We know that the close community of schools in Leeds will rally round to offer colleagues their support.”
Is a campaign mounting?
Margaret Morrissey OBE, a former OFSTED inspector and founder of forum Parents Out Loud, has urged the Government to wake up to the fact that the UK faces a similar problem to North America in the weapon culture and violence which are rife in educational institutions.
Two deaths in 20 year is two deaths to many. But is treating all children as suspects a good thing? Surely not:
Mrs Morrissey said: “What happened in Leeds is going to terrify parents. Regardless of the circumstances a pupil has had a weapon in their hand in a classroom and used it. Violence in schools is very present in London, but I would not have expected this in Leeds. It shows that it is spreading across the country.”
Because Leeds is an especially peaceful place?
“We think we are not America, that we are not a country which has drugs, weapons and violence in schools – well I’m really sorry but we are and the sooner we admit it, the better. The Government must consider metal detectors. It is the only way you are going to resolve the issue of pupils carrying offensive weapons in schools.”
The Post has some facts:
Last year the D of E revealed that 8,030 primary school pupils aged five to 11 were expelled in the 2010/2011 teaching year – a rise of 15 per cent over four years. 550 pupils were excluded permanently for physical assault against an adult, and 470 pupils were excluded permanently for verbal abuse or threatening behaviour.
The Guardian adds:
Schoolchildren were expelled or suspended on 17,520 occasions for physically assaulting adults in 2011-12, according to the latest available figures.
We hear from Brian Lightman, of the Association of School and College Leaders. He….
….said it was “an isolated incident”, but questions needed to be asked “to make sure every precaution is in place” to prevent such things happening.
Hilary Benn, the Labour MP for Leeds Central, adds a note of sanity:
“Schools are places of learning. We want our schools to be open – we don’t want to lock pupils and staff behind high fences.”
Let’s not let a horrible story lead to a disastrous policy.
1943: Bizarre American Locomotive Company Advert
IN 1943, The American Locomotive Company published this advert:
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Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Flashback, The Consumer | Comment
Call Carlton The Doorman: Broadway Producers Sue Actress Valerie Harper For Having Brain Cancer
YOU can assume that having brain cancer is difficult enough to deal with, but actress Valerie Harper is finding out that there’s things worse than brain cancer.
And that’s having brain cancer and being sued for it.
That’s right! The clearly sensitive and empathetic playwright, Matthew Lombardo and several Broadway producers, are suing someone with a spectacularly dreadful illness!
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Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Celebrities, Reviews | Comment
Is This The Most Epic Photograph Ever Taken At A Dog Show?
IS this the most epic photograph ever taken a dog show:
Hands down the best photo ever taken at a dog show. pic.twitter.com/ouKlVbiK24
— MicahGoulart (@micahgoulart) April 22, 2014
Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Reviews, Strange But True | Comment
Venezuela: You Won’t Believe The Crap Hugo Chavez Spent The Bolivarian Revolution Oil Money On
In this April 24, 2014 photo, a sculpture decorated with newspaper clippings is on display near the site where anti-government student protesters are camping out in Bolivar square in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, Venezuela.
THIS is a story to really take the cake. So, Chavez in Venezuela, decided to start spending the oil money on improving the society. OK, that’s a good idea. But then we come to what he actually started spending the money on. Like a farm with no water. No, really:
Work on William Lara, the rural version of the Steel City, stopped last year after about $120 million was spent on clearing the land and building the first 176 houses.
The construction will resume after the government figures out a way of bringing water to the site 125 miles south of Caracas, Agriculture Minister Yvan Gil said.
“This is a technical problem, that our specialists are working to resolve,” Gil, 41, said in an interview in his Caracas office on April 10. “The project is advancing.”
That’s a pretty big thing to overlook when you’re planning a farm, where the hell’s the water going to come from?
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Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Money, Reviews | Comments (2)
Max Clifford: If He’s So Good At PR Why Does Everyone Think He’s Such A Cock?
MAX Clifford has been found guilty of 8 counts of indecent assault.
Publicist Max Clifford has been found guilty of eight indecent assaults on women and girls as young as 15. The 71-year-old, from Surrey, was convicted of a string of assaults which happened over nearly 20 years.
Before the verdict, Max represented (according to his website):
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1955 Hair Tonic Advert: Lucky Tiger Gets the Gals
IN the 1950s, Lucky Tiger would seduce the girls. If you got really lucky, you could mount their heads.
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Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Fashion, Flashback, The Consumer | Comment
Epic Adverts: ‘Tolerant Lesbian Mona (w), 31 Searches For A Shared Apartment In Berlin’
THIS is great. Mona “(w), 31 searches in shared apartment in Berlin Friedrichshain”.
Tolerant Lesbian tolerant you
Min Room Size: 20m ² Max Rent: € 5
I, 31, am a good-natured open leftist* and openly feminist student of history (HU) and am searching a cosmopolitan and anti-capitalistic apartment to share with others in Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg. You need to be open minded when it comes to other lifestyle models and tolerance should be among your top values. Moreover it would be super if there was already a washing machine that I could also use in the apartment.
I don’t like aggressions and power games, and so I’m searching for an apartment that is 100% shared by women who are active against terror, war, racial madness, fascism, chauvinism and US cultural imperialism. I am myself a vegan and think that long-term living together makes sense when absolutely no animal-based products find a place in my apartment.
In general I am easy to get along with, but must also be able to say where the limits are and when I don’t want to see anyone. For me this is part of an honest cohabitation. In the past unfortunately I often have had to make the experience of putting up with people who stayed around even when I asked them to (temporarily) leave the apartment.
In return for a room (20-30 sqm) I offer work in the household, repairs and discussions (also therapeutic). Money is the lever of the powerful with which I cannot identify with. But because I respect other views, I would be willing to contribute to WLAN and electricity (even it belongs to the fundamental needs of a person and thus MUST be provided free of charge.)
I’m looking forward to the “casting”.
Mona
*Anarcho-syndicalism (but do not always agree with the International Workers Association)”
Mona is willing to pay is 5 euros.
Spotter: here, via NoTrickZone, Viz for the picture
Posted: 28th, April 2014 | In: Reviews, The Consumer | Comment
1947: Edward Moffitt And His Stable Of 80 Albino Racing Rats
FLASHBACK to June 30, 1947, to see Edward Moffitt and his stable of 80 albino racing rats at his home in San Francisco.
Mr Moffitt clocks his rats over the 150-foot course (50 turns of the treadmill) and notes the times. Moffitt’s newly patented rat race is elaborately equipped with six treadmills, dials, buzzers, bells and trick lights which together set up a terrifying clamour when the winner crosses the finish lines.
The Reading Eagle’s report said rats are “a terror to women and a boon to medical science…”
They are a terror to men, also. And – hold the front page – some women love them.
Said Moffitt:
“Look at all the little people of the world, most of them have been in the human treadmill, going around in circles and getting no place. They love to watch my rats do the same thing.”
