Good Stuff

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Actually, these guys, Idiots of Ants are pretty good. I believe they appear on BBC Three's The Wall.

The Other Talented Briton

So everyone knows who Susan Boyle is by now. But Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent has another sensation, Shaheen Jafargholi from Wales. I can't embed the clip unfortunately, but click ...

here.

We Need More of This

I love this idea:

http://slowdownlondon.co.uk

"Festivities" continue through May the 9th.

Do You Need More Proof?

This webcast happened about six months ago, I think, but I just can't get it out of my head.

Radiohead. The Smiths. Was there ever a more amazing convergence of gear-ness? So British, so awesome. It's motivation for keeping the blog up for another several months, I'll tell you that much.

The Funniest Memorial in History

So last week, my favourite Beatle was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Eric Idle said a few words, including praise for Paul McCartney's relationship with George in his final days. Few people know this, but Harrison actually died in Macca's house. According to Idle, "... it's one of the reasons I won't go and stay with John Cleese."

I will definitely pay homage next time in Cali.

Disturbing News from Across the Pond

The trouble and strife has submitted the following link to Phonybrit: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e3d8e9b1-8caa-4290-b566-2aff2216016e.

It's an amazingly constructed piece by Howard Jacobson from The New Republic on the rise of antisemitism in England. Of course, the English aren't famous for being big fans of MOT's. Just Wikipedia
Photo: © Jonathan Cape "York Castle" for proof. And from time to time, this kind of thing flairs up, particularly during rough economic times (hmmm).


One reason I've heard is that, like the South Asians, Jews (at least the ones who are not "Jews by Choice") are not *ethnically* English. But Jacobson points to something else at work ... the only standby that it's not antisemitic to criticize Israel (which of course we all agree with, otherwise most of the Knesset would be keen bigots) is falling a bit flat lately. Jacobson's primary example, Carol Churchill's play, "Seven Jewish Children." Why not "Seven Israeli Children"? We'd have to ask Churchill.

Anyway, interesting piece in TNR that you should at least scan when you get a chance.

He Even Makes Our Flanimals Laugh

Sesame Street, our Blue Peter, turns 40 in November and they've already started to make their anniversary show. Unfortunately, the producer lost control of the shoot when she invited Ricky Gervais to appear with Elmo.

I truly believe that that is puppeteer Kevin Clash actually laughing, just trying to keep in character.

Another Special SNAFU

You'd think the Obamas would be on their best behaviour with in the UK, what with their poor performance when the Brown visited Washington. (For those who don't recall, beyond a White-House-gift-shop gift to the Brown boys, it turns out that the 25 DVDs that they gave the PM were all region one and unplayable on British DVD players).

Now this: Michelle broke protocol and put her arm around the Queen.

I don't get it ... they're so cool, so elegant ... you'd think they'd be getting on like a house on fire in UK and Europe.