The Goons

While appearing on "The Goon Show," Peter Sellers received a curious letter from one of the program's fans:

"Dear Mr. Sellers,

I have been a keen follower of yours for many years now, and should be most grateful if you would kindly send me a singed [sic] photograph of yourself..."

Encouraged by his friend and fellow-comedian Harry Secombe, Sellers carefully burned the edges of one of his publicity photographs with his cigarette lighter - and sent it off by return mail...

Several weeks later, another letter arrived from the same address:

"Dear Mr. Sellers,

Thank you very much for the photograph, but I wonder if I could trouble you for another as this one is signed all round the edge..."

Whiskey In The Jar

There’s nought better than a rollicking traditional Irish pub song, there’s nought better Irish pub song than Whiskey in the Jar, and there’s nought sings it better than the Dubliners. You can keep your versions by Metallica, Smokie and Thin Lizzy.

The story in the lyrics is of a highwayman (ie bushranger) in the Cork and Kerry mountains who is betrayed by either his wife or his lover.

After robbing Captain Farrell, a military or government man (“for he were a bold deceiver”), the narrator takes his booty home to his wife or sweetheart, Jenny. Whilst he is asleep, Jenny fills his pistols with water and betrays him to Captain Farrell. He is taken prisoner and presumably Jenny makes off with the money. The song ends on a slightly positive note with the narrator hoping that his brother in the army will assist him.

Sit back with your coffee for a few moments before starting the day's work, relax and let the music of Whiskey in the Jar set your foot tapping.  Click on the following links:

Dubliners, audio only: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eOIU9ekSMk  

(clearer audio and lyrics)

Dubliners, live performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46EXY4oP1Do  

(live performance in later years, skips one verse and reverses the last two))

Reader Response and Hats

Another  message from Byter Steve:

Thanks for the Cobbers definition, very interesting. I never knew it meant “mate(s)” although in hindsight it seems pretty logical. I totally agree with your comments in regard to the Americanisation of our unique language.  America seems to infiltrate our lives in so many ways – kids still wear their caps sideways or backwards, have you noticed how many people do a “high five” in everyday life now?

Talking about kids wearing caps sideways / backwards. An interesting study for a Bytes? I seem to recall reading somewhere that film producers used to turn their caps backwards as they peered through the lens of camera’s to review a shot or take, When done, the cap was returned to the correct position. People on the set therefore felt there was a “reflected glory” in wearing their caps backwards in that they may be mistaken for being a “Director”................................?

Ta again.

Steve

Some comments and responses:

Backwards Baseball Caps:

From Wikipedia:

The idea of wearing the cap backwards is commonly attributed to catchers in baseball, as when they began using facemasks, they had to turn the cap around to fit the mask on. It can also be found in professional tennis. Another profession associated with the wearing of a baseball cap backwards is that of photographer, notably paparazzi – for the reason that an SLR camera cannot be held vertically to the eye whilst wearing a baseball cap with the peak forwards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_cap

Cobbers

Byter Steve dropped me a note as follows:

I noticed you signed off the Bytes today, using the word “cobbers”. We don’t hear that used so much today, but I would be interested to know how it came about if you have space on a Byte sometime in the future please.

When I used the word “cobbers” previously, I deliberately selected an Australianism that contrasted strongly with the wish for a happy Fourth of July, a contrast between Australia and an American celebration that really has no relevance as a celebration in Australia.

The word “cobbers” has, however (and regrettably) fallen into disuse, having been replaced by the Oz word “mates” and (shudder) by the Seppo word “buddies”.  “Cobbers” was placed on the list of endangered Australian words by the Australian National Dictionary and the Australian Oxford Dictionary in 2003:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/07/1068013393539.html

Anecdotes: Beatrice Lillie

Beatrice Lillie (1894-1989) was a comedic actress born in Canada. In 1920 she married Sir Robert Peel, thereby becoming Lady Peel, a title she did not use in her show business career.

While she was starring in the Chicago production of "Set to Music" she attended the famous beauty and hairdressing salon of Elizabeth Arden. A wealthy socialite, Mrs Armour of the meat-packing company of the same name, became irate at having to wait whilst Beatrice and the girls of the show’s chorus were attended to, having been there before Mrs Armour arrived. She boomed "If I’d known there would be chorus girls here today, I would never have come!" Beatrice wasn’t flustered and carried on as if she hadn’t heard. On her way out, she said to the salon manager in a voice loud enough to be heard by those in the salon, "You may tell the butcher's wife that Lady Peel has finished."

Quotes: Groucho Marx

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.  I can choose which it shall be.  Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet.  I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

- Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

John Hancock

The Fourth of July is upon us. Having adopted other American special days and holidays - Valentines Day, Halloween – we may well end up celebrating it in Oz one day.

Independence Day is a non-event in Australia but a meaningful celebration and holiday in the US. It is their celebration of the founding of the republic, of gaining independence in 1776, yet in a recent poll 26% of Americans polled didn’t know that the country from which independence was gained was England. Of that 26%, 20% didn’t know which country and 6% nominated other countries, the nominations being France, China, Japan, Mexico, and Spain. Bear in mind, however, that the poll included persons originating from other countries and from groups with lower educational opportunities and qualifications.

http://maristpoll.marist.edu/72-don%E2%80%99t-know-much-about-history/

Looking at a pic of the American Declaration of Independence, the document rather than the event, I recalled the signature that gave rise to a colloquial term for signatures generally, that of John Hancock.

Quotes: Joan Rivers

"I wish I had a twin, so I could know what I'd look like without plastic surgery."

- Joan Rivers (1933 - )

Angry Penguins and Ern Malley

The Robin Williams / John Travolta movie Old Dogs has a scene in which they break into a zoo and find themselves in the penguin enclosure, watched by hundreds of sweet looking penguins, that is until the penguins become hostile and attack, prompting our heroes to yell “Angry penguins.” Whether that was intended to be a reference to Australia’s greatest literary hoax is unlikely but it did bring that incident to mind for me.

Not only is the hoax an illuminating, cautionary tale, it raises issues of the fundamental nature of literature and art and as to what constitutes good and bad art.

Quotes: Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a man's self-respect is a sin."

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 -1944)

French writer and aviator, author of the The Little Prince and other works, who was shot down on a reconnaisance flight in 1944 over France whilst fighting with the Free French Forces.

In a separate item, the German Luftwaffe fighter ace who shot down Saint-Exupery was tracked down by Saint-Exupery's biographer.  It was the first that the ace knew of having shot down his favourite author.  He said that if he had known who was in the plane. he would have held his fire.

The Daily Mail, 1 July 2010

htthttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-536468/How-German-wartime-flying-ace-discovered-shot-hero.html

Great Replies: John Barrymore

John Barrymore (1882 - 1942)

After a long day of shooting a film in Hollywood, John Barrymore and some fellow actors stopped in at Lucey's, a popular watering hole near Paramount Studios. After one-too-many drinks, Barrymore excused himself to go to the bathroom. In his slightly inebriated condition, however, he inadvertently chose the ladies' room. As he was relieving himself, a woman entered and was shocked to see a man urinating into one of the toilets. "How dare you!" she exclaimed, "This is for ladies!" The actor turned toward the woman, organ in hand, and resonantly said in full actor's voice: "And so, madam, is this."

Quote: Friedrich William Nietzsche

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

-  Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

Christine Keeler

Someone in our group tonight mentioned the iconic Christine Keeler photo of the 1960’s. I knew which photo he meant, the one of Christine Keeler in a chair, but my 21 year old son asked what photo was referred to and who Christine Keeler was.

Here is 30 seconds of history and photography, my lad..

Last Words: Kurt Cobain

"Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away.

Peace, love, empathy,

Kurt Cobain "

Kurtt Cobain (1967 - 1994), suicide note

How God Makes Decisions

(Click to enlarge)

Quotes: Ernest Bramah

"Although there exist many thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet."

-  Ernest Bramah  (1868 - 1942)

Edison's Last Breath

Left to right: Henry Ford, Bishop William F. Anderson, Harvey Firestone (stooping). Thomas A. Edison and President Warren G. Harding.

(Click on pics to enlarge)

Getting ready for work on Monday morning with Sunrise on in the background, I heard Grant Denyer talking about Thomas Edison’s last breath. Denyer was doing a tour of the Broadsmeadow Ford plant in honour of 50 years since the first Ford Falcon rolled off the assembly line.

What about Edison’s last breath?

We’ll get to that. Denyer showed the assembly line, including futuristic robots with extended arms carrying out spot welding, and mentioned that the assembly line had been developed by the Ford Motor Company.

What about the last breath?

Denyer also said that Thomas Edison was Henry Ford’s idol, so much so that when Edison was on his deathbed he asked Edison’s son Charles to catch Edison’s last breath in a test tube for him, which Charles did.

Surely not, I thought. Would a loving son try to catch his father’s last breath in a test tube on the point of death to satisfy a request from a fan?

Illusion

I'm not a great one for illusions, possibly because a couple of times when I have been concentrating on them they have turned into screamers, those horrible ones where the picture suddenly turns into a horrific image, such as a close up of the girl in The Exorcist, with extremely loud frightening screams.  I hate those things.

Having said that, I came across this illusion again recently.  The first I saw it was many years ago where someone had an enlarged one on their front lawn as part of a Christmas lights display.  The instructions were to look, then look at the clouds.  It was eerie.

If you haven't seen this before, spend 30 seconds looking at the 4 dots in the centre.   Then quickly stare at a blank surface, such as a wall or a ceiling.  It takes a few seconds but you should see an image appear.

As It Was: Railway Square 1913

(Click on pics to enlarge)

Next time you're driving into Sydney via Central, try to visualise it as it was nearly 100 years ago.  That's Railway Square above, formerly Central Square, as it was nearly 100 yeras ago.

Some points to note in respect of the above pic:

- The large number of trams.

- The presence of horses and carts but no cars (there is one car, parked next to the trees on the right).

-  The pedestrian friendly streets.  Pedestrians are walking everywhere on the streets unconcernhed by the trams, horses and carts.

-  The large building in the centre, occupied by the Marcus Clarke department store, still existing (see below).

-  The church alongside, Christ Church St Laurence, also still existing (see below).

-  The tower above the tram terminus building, a control tower for tram movements.

Kodachrome, Simon & Garfunkel

Sometimes listening to music is like putting on an old coat or pair of shoes. Music from when we were younger can be comfortable and just feel right. Some music makes you recall a moment, a period; other music can make you recall events that were happening, and some music.. well, some music just was. So it is with Simon & Garfunkel’s melodies, harmonies and lyrics. They weren’t just part of the 60’s and early 70’s, they helped make the 60's and 70's what they were. Along with artists such as Dylan, the Stones and Santana, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are still doing today what they do best.

Kodachrome, released by Paul Simon in 1973, is one of my S & G favourites. Hearing it brings back memories of when they (and I) were a lot younger. We knew then that the lyrics of Sounds of Silence were heavy poetry, even if like Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, we didn’t know what the lyrics meant. Nonetheless, being in high school, we all understood the opening lines of Kodachrome: “When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school/It's a wonder I can think at all ..”  Today, the familiarity of the opening notes and the opening lyrics immediately sets my foot tapping and the psyche grooving.

So sit back for a moment, click on:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1g9q7_simon-garfunkel-kodachrome_music

and listen to Simon & Garfunkel at the Reunion Concert in Central Park sing about simpler days, before 9/11, before economic global downturns, before global warming and pollution… Mind you, they were also the days of the Vietnam War, racial bigotry, oppression, gay intolerance, women’s inequality, US covert destabilisation of governments… However, as Simon and Garfunkel say, those days don’t match imagination, everything looks worse (or better – see below) in black and white…

Quote: Kim Stanley Robinson

"The distinguishing mark of true adventures, is that it is often no fun at all while they are actually happening."

-  Kim Stanley Robinson (1952 - ), American science fiction writer

Haywood Jablome strikes again...

Anyone who watches The Simpsons will be aware of Bart’s regular calls to Moe at Moe’s Bar where he asks for someone whose name ends up having a double meaning. Example:

Bart: Is Oliver there?

Moe: Who?

Bart: Oliver Clothesoff.

Moe: Hold on, I'll check. (calls) Oliver Clothesoff! Call for Oliver Clothesoff!

Readers may also remember the classic scene in the movie Porky’s where the young guys ask the waitress to have someone named “Mike Hunt” paged.  See it at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghsuk6GiEN8

Quote: Winston Churchill

"Why should I accept from my sovereign the Order of the Garter, when his people have already given me the Order of the Boot?"

-  Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

After having led Britain through 6 years of war, the first two years as First Lord of the Admiralty and the following four years as Prime Minister, it was surprising that Winston Chuchill and the Conservatives were not returned to government in the 1945 post war general election.  This was the first general elction to be held since 1935, elections having been suspended during the war years.  The Labour Party, led by Clement Atlee, won by a landslide.  It is generally thought that the population were eager for post-war reform and that they felt that the man who had led Britain in war was not the man to lead the nation in peace.

Perhaps somewhat in sympathy and as a token gesture, King George VI offered Winston Churchill the Order of the Garter. a prestigious honour.  Churchill declined, speaking the words quoted above.

Simplified World Maps

Click on pic to enlarge.  Thanks to Leo for emailing this one.

And  another simplified world map.  Click on this one as well to enlarge.

Problem Solving Flowchart

Quote: Julia Gillard

"We've got a long track record of working together and working together well."

-  Julia Gillard on Kevin Rudd, Interview Lateline, 5 December 2006

Vintage Ads

(Click on pic to enlarge)

Quotes: Homer Simpson

Homer Simpson quotes:

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand.

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers.

Marge, don't discourage the boy! Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals! Except the weasel.

Quote: Marcus Aurelius

"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."

- Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180)

New Zealand Nude Blacks

You have to hand it to the Kiwis.

Whereas the New Zealand Rugby Union team is known as the All Blacks from their all black playing kit, the NZ Soccer team plays in all white kit and is known as…  the All Whites. Ironically, the All Whites are playing in South Africa.  That in itself would be something but what is amazing is a 1-1 draw with Italy.

Now the Kiwis have taken a step further in respect of Rugby Union: the Nude Blacks. As a curtain raiser to the Rugby Union test in Dunedin between the All Blacks and the Welsh Dragons, another test match took place afew hours earlier  in another location in Dunedin, a place located at the bottom of NZ’s South Island.  That test match was a nude test between the NZ Nude Blacks and the Welsh Leeks. That’s right, totally nude.