Geoff Coupe's Blog

Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…

Category: Entertainment

  • You’re Hired

    The third series of The Apprentice drew to a close last night. Lucy Mangan sums up the finale very well. I see that the same thought struck her about Simon’s design for a building – as soon as I saw it, I said out loud: "Er, excuse me, but the new iconic building landmark for London appears to be a set of dancing dildoes…" Shows what little appreciation Lucy and I have of the finer points of architecture.
     
    I really thought (again, like Lucy) that Kristina was going to win. She managed her team far better, and the building design was less unfortunate than Simon’s. But Sir Alan didn’t get to where he is today by being predictable – for some unfathomable reason he still picked Simon.
     
    Although the Wicked Witch of the West, a.k.a. Katie Hopkins, wasn’t present in the teams helping the two finalists, she was present in the studio audience in the post-mortem programme afterwards. Somehow, given the strong whiff of sulphur that attends her presence, I don’t think throwing a bucket of water over her would be efficacious in the slightest, much as I would like to do so. She was as unrepentant as ever. I still can’t make out whether she’s acting, or whether she really is a psychopath. Whatever; I never, ever, want to be in the same room as her.
     
    And so, the circus has left town. But never fear, The Apprentice will be back for a fourth series. Already, the hopeful candidates are signing up. Human nature never changes.

  • Unaccustomed As I Am…

    Oh dear. Some time ago, a meme was released onto the internet over at the thinking blog. It’s purpose is to give recognition to bloggers who make you think. The rules are:

    1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think and
    2. Link to the original post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme. Winners get to display the award logo.

    It’s a rather nice idea, but to my surprise and consternation I’ve found that I’ve been tagged for the award by Dr. John Carter Wood, over at Obscene Desserts. What ratchets up my consternation to a whole different level is that he lists my poor little effort of a blog alongside such heavyweights as Notes and Comments over at ButterfliesAndWheels, Pharyngula and Fisking Central. Not only that, but the good Doctor has thus ensured that I can’t tag them in return. Curses!

    So here, in no particular order, are a further five blogs that make me think:

    • The Loom – a blog about life, past and future. Carl Zimmer writes about the Life Sciences, and he writes very well. He seems to have a special passion for parasites, which flowers in his brilliant book: Parasite Rex.
    • Not Saussure – mostly, but not always, delving into UK society and politics. He has a fine rapier-like analytical wit, with which he pricks pomposity, not to mention his occasional bludgeoning with the broadsword of invective.
    • Stephen Law – the eponymous blog of a philosopher. I must admit, I’ve always thought of philosophy as being a bit poncy, and much preferred hard science. But people such as Stephen Law are changing my mind. His book The Philosophy Gym, with such gems as "Is time travel possible?" "What’s wrong with gay sex?" and "Where did the universe come from?" is excellent.
    • Mind Hacks – a blog devoted to developments happening in the field of cognition, psychology and neuroscience.
    • Unspeak – the blog by Steven Poole devoted to analysing the way in which words are weapons. I learned at a very early age, by growing up gay, that words were subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) weapons.

    There are several other blogs that I’d like to list as well, but I’ve reached my limit of five tags. Obviously, as hinted at above, Notes and Comments, Pharyngula and Fisking Central are amongst the list of blogs that I would like to name. Perhaps I can sneak in one more, by reason of the fact that it’s already earned a Thinking Blogger award, so it’s not as though I need to name it as part of my list…

    • The Republic of T – a blog by an American man who describes himself as a black, gay, vegetarian, buddhist and left-leaning dad.  

    And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and see how I can add the little Thinking Blogger banner to my blog space. Thank you, thank you, thank you… Exit stage left, pursued by a bear.

  • Don’t Blink

    While the episode was entitled Blink, the operative command was clearly "Don’t blink!" Another superb episode. This series of Doctor Who has had some real crackers in it. While the "weeping angels" were, for me, almost a MacGuffin, there were some fascinating ideas on show. The time-separated conversation, for example, and the sequence at the end when the Doctor clearly doesn’t have a clue who Sally Sparrow is (yet).
     
    And Billy Shipton was terrific.
     
    Nicely directed, too. The shot where Larry Nightingale blinks certainly caused me to cry out involuntarily. Nicely done.
     
    And it looks as though next week’s episode will have the return of Captain Jack and an appearance by Derek Jacobi. I can’t wait.

  • The Family Of Blood

    That was, I think, one of the most satisfying episodes of Dr Who that I have ever seen. Absolutely wonderful.

  • Jurassic Park

    I’m coming very late to this particular party, but I’ve just stumbled across Weird Al Yankovic’s parody of MacArthur Park: Jurassic Park. As usual, the video is full of visual jokes and style references. I love the homage to the style of Yellow Submarine, and (Andy, this is for you) the Pitch Black joke. Mind you, since this video came out in 1993, and Pitch Black in 2000, perhaps the homage is the other way around…
     
     

  • Human Nature

    Ooh, this looks as though it’s going to be one of the great episodes. Part two next week…
     
    But why, oh why, did the Doctor exclaim on seeing a meteor, that it was a meteorite? You did not see it fall to earth, you fool. Oh, bad writer, do not make such ridiculous errors…
     
    But, but, but, the scarecrows, the reference to Sidney and Verity as the Doctor’s parents, the slanted smile of Baines. All of this is such joyfulness, my droogs. Enjoy!

  • From The Sublime…

    …to the ridiculous. From Sir Ian McKellen illuminating Shakespeare to the camp extravaganza that is known as Eurovision. Yes, tonight is the night of the finale for 2007. Martin and I will be there in front of the telly, waving the flag along to the High Life pastiche that is Flying the Flag performed by Scooch.

  • Twisted

    I suppose it should come as no surprise that I’m twisted…
     

  • A National Treasure

    That’s Victoria Wood. I’m pleased to say that she’s back on our TV screens at the moment with a series called Victoria’s Empire. Lucy Mangan’s review in The Guardian captures the same sense of pleasure that I felt watching it.

  • Viral Rubbish

    The third series of Doctor Who got underway last weekend. The first episode was pretty good, with lots of hints about future storylines. Vote for Saxon – for example – the posters were fairly obvious in the background to some scenes. So, as is in keeping with 21st Century entertainment, we have to have some fake web sites to beef up the viral marketing. Except this web site is so lame. It might just as well have been done by a six year old, except that I’m probably denigrating today’s six year olds.
     
    This, on the other hand, has possibilities. Only possibilities, mind, I’m a hard critic of something so personal as Doctor Who.  

  • They’re Baaack!

    Another bunch of 16 people whom I definitely wouldn’t want to bump into at parties has hit the screen tonight. Yes, the third series of The Apprentice has begun in all its tacky, toecurling glory.

    Apparently, all the candidates have left their previous jobs to take part in the show. I can’t think why. Probably that very thought was going through the mind of tonight’s – ah – victim, Andy Jackson.

    In fact, I can’t help but wonder why on earth anyone would want to take part in this at all. The process does seem to have a tendency to self-select the candidates who appear for the most part to have the most unappealing human characteristics. Speaking of which, it would seem that Tre Azam is easily the leader in the candidate from hell stakes on the boy’s side. I’m not sure yet about the girl’s side, but Gerri Blackwood has possibilities. 

    Still, I have to admit that it has all the appeal of a road crash. You know you shouldn’t look at it, but it has a certain morbid fascination, and you rubberneck as you drive past on life’s road.

    Update: Anna Pickard’s got a brilliant blow-by-blow blog of the opening episode here.

  • Eurovision Beckons…

    The season of Eurovision is upon us. Last Saturday, the UK chose its "song for Europe". There were some real stinkers in the line-up, but I’m pleased to say that camp won through, with Scooch and Flying the Flag (for you).
     
    Is it just me, or did this song and the act remind anyone else of the brilliant Scottish sitcom The High Life?

  • Here’s One I Made Earlier…

    My belief in one of the bedrock institutions of British Society has been shaken to its very core today. I refer, of course, to the news that the institution in question, the children’s TV show Blue Peter, has been caught rigging the results of one of its competitions.
     
    I may never be the same again…

  • Are You A Nerd?

    Another pointless quiz. But if you’re a Nerd, you probably will want to find out how much of a nerd you are…
    I am nerdier than 64% of all people. Are you nerdier? Click here to find out! 

  • How Will You Die?

    Another little quiz, and I learn that…
    You’ll die from a Heart Attack during Sex.

    Your a lover not a fighter but sadly, in the act of making love your heart will stop. But what a way to go.
    ‘How will you die?’ at QuizGalaxy.com

     

    Well, I can think of worse ways to go, but it might prove to be a bit traumatic for Martin…

     

  • Bowling With The Buurt

    We went bowling with the neighbourhood (the buurt) last night. Organised by three of our neighbours, about forty of us descended on the bowling alley in the local village. It was a great evening, but it only served to confirm that I am a terrible bowler…
     
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    Working out the scores…
     
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    More photos here.

  • Carnaval 2007

    Carnaval is Dutch for Carnival. In the Catholic areas of The Netherlands, Carnaval is celebrated with great gusto. See the Wikipedia article for more background. Yesterday we went with friends to the little town of ‘s-Heerenberg to see the carnival parade. This is organised by citizens who belong to an organisation that glories in the name of d’ Olde Waskupen (the Old Washtubs). The whole town – and indeed the whole region – throws themselves into celebrating Carnaval. If they are not in the parade, then they are watching it – and usually in fancy dress themselves.
     
    After the parade was over, we retired to a cafe for a beer. The place was already packed when we got there, but shortly after we arrived, the last of the parade passed by and the doors opened and a further deluge of people poured in from the street. I could not help fail to notice that out of this great mass of humanity, I was the only one not in fancy dress. I made my excuses and left, pursued by the quizzical glances of those left behind. I finished my beer out on the street, being eyed at by a man dressed entirely in black, with a black top hat and a stuffed raven perched on his shoulder. I couldn’t help but feel that I was breaking some sort of rule by being dressed in my everyday clothes. OK, next year, I’ll go with the flow…
     
    Here’s some of the pictures from the parade, more are up on Flickr.
     
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    These clowns were scary – I can see why some people have coulrophobia…
     
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    Even the onlookers were in fancy dress… 
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  • The French Dalek

    I’m sorry, but this is simply brilliant. Roger, this is for you…
     
     

  • Which SF Writer Are You?

    Another little quiz. My result:
     

    		I am:

    Olaf Stapledon

    Standing outside the science fiction "field", he wrote fictional explorations of the futures of whole species and galaxies.

    Which science fiction writer are you?

     

    Interesting that it’s Stapledon. I don’t actually have any of his books in my collection, although I’m sure that I have read some of his work when I was growing up. Perhaps that’s a gap that I should seek to fill.

  • Is It, Or Isn’t It?

    …Real, that is. I’m talking about the video: God Hates Fags. I blogged about it here, in an entry called WTF? The video was taken down from YouTube, but now I’m told that it’s still (at least at the time of blogging) available on MySpace. So, if you go now to my WTF? entry, hopefully you’ll be able to see Donnie Davis in all his glory.
     
    And, is it real? My money, and my sanity, rides on the proposition that it’s a brilliant parody. Sacha Baron Cohen, you have competition in the room…