There's a programme called "I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue" on the BBC's Radio 4 channel. It's a comedy show, described as "the antidote to panel games". In each episode, the host (currently Jack Dee) gives the four panellists silly things to do for no other purpose than to entertain the largely intellectual audience of…Read more From a Fading World
Album
White Buses
White is the colour of innocence and purity. It was the colour of the Red Cross ambulances that brought Scandinavian prisoners of war from Nazi concentration camps to safety in Sweden at the end of World War II. The "White Buses" humanitarian operation rescued 15,345 internees during March and April 1945, including at least 425…Read more White Buses
Black Classical Music
The lounge TV was tuned in to Later ... with Jools Holland. On the bill were some names I recognised (Róisin Murphy, Nitin Sawhney, Suggs) and some I didn't (Tom Walker, Yussef Dayes, English Teacher). When Jools announced the fourth act, the camera focused on the saxophone player in a 5- or 6-piece band. Taking…Read more Black Classical Music
Directions
Asking directions When you want to phone a friend, you could type their number into the phone and press the call button, but these days you're much more likely to find your friend's name in the Contacts app and click the button there. The phone will look up the number for you and make the…Read more Directions
Breathing
Thank you for dropping in at the Crotchety Man blog. ... We are currently experiencing a very high number of visitors. ... All of our customer service agents are busy right now. ... The answers to most of the questions you might have can be found on our website. ... Your visit is important to…Read more Breathing
The Harmony Codex
Busy, busy, busy. No time for the tools of the wordsmith's trade. But I can just squeeze in a wholehearted recommendation of Steven Wilson's latest solo album release, The Harmony Codex. https://open.spotify.com/album/0qEIPJU8WQdXpr3eIc6dHK?si=c_RzD9nZToix9Y6hXvEJ9Q Steven Wilson's seventh solo album Anyone who is at all familiar with Steven Wilson's work will find no great surprises in this codex.…Read more The Harmony Codex
Songs for the Old Man
On my Release Radar this week, there was a track called Secret by an artist with the curious name of Yom. Nothing grabs the attention of Crotchety Man faster than the itch of curiosity and, tout suite, he was trawling the Internet for information on the musician. A Google search for "yom musician" produces an…Read more Songs for the Old Man
Solstein
Viking sunstone 'Solstein' is the Norwegian for 'sunstone', a birefringent form of calcite. It may have been used by the Vikings for navigation in mediaeval times, although that idea is still little more than speculation, as this article on the Wikipedia wiki explains. "It permits the observer to follow the azimuth of the sun, far…Read more Solstein
The Fusion Syndicate
Inside the tokamak There are no prizes for guessing why I have chosen this 2012 album to grace the pages of the Crotchety Man blog. Just look at this partial list of artists: Billy Cobham Mel Collins Larry Coryell Colin Edwin John Etheridge Jerry Goodman Gavin Harrison Percy Jones Theo Travis Rick Wakeman And that's…Read more The Fusion Syndicate
Protocol
"The use of the word 'extinction' breaches diplomatic protocol", says dinosaur. protocol[ proh-tuh-kawl, -kol, -kohl ] noun The customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence and etiquette. An original draft, minute or record from which a document, especially a treaty, is prepared. Medicine. The plan for carrying out a scientific study or a patient's…Read more Protocol
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