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Archive for in the news
May 9, 2007 at 1:23 pm · Filed under in the news
Yesterday, the BBC here reported on the demise of the audio cassette – Curry’s (UK) sold just 100,000 cassettes last year, versus 83million in 1989 and so they’ve been pulled from the shelf, never to be sold again.
Do you even have a tape player anymore? A cassette walkman maybe? So what are you going to do with all those cassettes that you’ve got hanging about?
Marcella Foschi is the creator of the cassette wallet that you see above. Just stitch in a zip and you’re done! You can get your own for a mere $43 using this hyperlink that I’ve installed. Slightly better and more useful might be a business card holder – split the cassette, remove the tape, remove the spools, screw in a hinge on the top and a clip on the front… maybe I should set up a business.
December 27, 2006 at 5:19 pm · Filed under in the news
At 93 years old, America’s oldest living President sadly dies.
Gerald Ford had the good fortune to meet me in the mid 80s when he visited the town of Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, UK. Gerald was in town to play some golf at the Bob Hope Classic Pro-Amateur tournament in Moor Park. I lived in the town – good fortune had me at the golf club because, as a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, I was on public duty providing first aid for those that needed it. I was a boy in uniform and Gerald was an average golfer.
What he recalls of our meeting is not public knowledge as, oddly, it doesn’t feature in his memoirs. However, for the curious, I’ll fill you in. Dressed in my uniform, I was granted access to parts of the club to which the general public were barred. It was a handy cover as I was keen on collecting autographs from anyone I could. And so I strolled off towards the 19th hole where all the pros and celebs were hanging out but due to Gerald’s standing in world politics, my route was blocked due to the US secret service. In Hertfordshire. Incredible.
I asked the gentlemen, politely, why I couldn’t get closer and they told me about Gerald, politely. And loudly. So loudly in fact that Gerald overheard and came across and apologised to me in person. He shook my hand. I asked for his autograph but he didn’t ask for mine. He apologised once again but said he couldn’t give me an autograph and I left a little crestfallen.
As I said, history doesn’t tell Gerald’s side of this story. Shame.
December 25, 2006 at 10:40 am · Filed under in the news
James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, died today aged 73. Sad news for Christmas Day.
I had the good fortune to see James Brown live, playing a gig in a large marquee in my home town of Bristol. The summers here often see a number of music events held at Ashton Court, a large open space in the grounds of a stately house. Most concerts tend to feature local bands on the way up, or local made-it-big bands on the wane but this one was different : it cost money and featured artists you might want to actually see.
Our headline act was James Brown. Amongst my friends, we were incredulous that we were going to see the ‘actual’ James Brown, rather suspecting that it could well be the much less famous James Brown, of Bedminster, Bristol. As the lights went down on the previous set by Asian Dub Foundation, the anticipation rose. The spotlights focussed. The real show began.
But it was him. James Brown, legend, in Bristol, supported by his enormous band comprising maybe 30 people. What a gig, what a man.
He was an immaculate performer – even in his late 60s or early 70s. It’s important to remember though that we were not just hearing a man perform great songs (although, that was obvious), we were listening to a man that created a music genre and not just great music. That’s remarkable.
Sad day to hear he’s gone.
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