December 2006

A great American died this week. So did Gerald Ford.

Submitted by rickeyre on

"Tune Into FOX News Channel for Live Coverage of President Ford's Death"

- foxnews.com home page, 27.12.06

James Brown emulated WC Fields on Monday by expiring on Christmas Day. Gerald Ford emulated Harry Truman by expiring on Boxing Day.

James Brown was a legendary R&B performer who spent time in jail for crimes of violence. Gerald Ford was an unelected president who complicity in Indonesia's invasion of East Timor - among other episodes - has gone unchecked.

Wikipedia's bio of President Ford is currently in a state of flux, as one would imagine. It does include a 1975 photo of Ford having a chat with his Chief of Staff Richard B.Cheney, and his Secretary of Defense, Donald H.Rumsfeld. (This at a time when Nobel Peace Laureate Henry A.Kissinger was Secretary of State, and George W.Bush was National Guardsman In Absentia.)

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Melbourne Day Two: Queenslander! Queenslander!

Submitted by rickeyre on

I was just about to congratulate Andrew Symonds for being the first non-white person to score a Test century for Australia in men's cricket. Of course, he's the second... one Jason Gillespie beat him to the punch by eight months.

Still, it's testimony to the conservative, imperial institution that Australian cricket has been over the past century and a half. It's getting better - very, very slowly.

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ashes 2006-07

If you can't say something nice about someone...

Submitted by rickeyre on

"The Secretary-General has learned of the sudden death of Turkmen President Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov. President Niyazov made important contributions to United Nations peace processes in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the family of the late President and people of Turkmenistan."

- Complete and unexpurgated statement by Kofi Annan, 21.12.06 Or maybe he was too busy clearing his office.

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Warnie's Farewell Tour dates

Submitted by rickeyre on

Dates and venues for the Shane Warne Final Farewell Tour have been announced through till September 2007, and can be viewed at a glance on the Hampshire section of the CricInfo website.

Tour dates for 2008 will be released towards the end of November next year. Tickets from the usual outlets. Be there!

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Melbourne Day One: Whoa Nellie!

Submitted by rickeyre on

"It wasn't enough for Melba to become one of the greats of the Golden Age of Grand Opera. She wanted to be the greatest. her glorious voice took her to the top; her ruthless determination to overthrow any rival kept her there long after the voice had begun to decline. Revealed in this relentlessly candid yet sympathetic study is Melba the drama queen, the monstrous prima donna, the canny businesswoman, the generous and kindly friend, the unique star who refused to fade."

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ashes 2006-07

A Christmas Carol Playlist 6: The Final Cut (Subversive Mix)

Submitted by rickeyre on

It starts curiously enough, and takes a sharp turn into the bizarre about half-way through. (And no, this is not the final playlist in this series...)

  1. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" Johnny Cash
  2. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" Sufjan Stevens
  3. "Joy To The World" The Jambalaya Cajun Band
  4. "Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney" Ella Fitzgerald
  5. "O Come All Ye Faithful" Twisted Sister
  6. "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" Dr Elmo
  7. "You're A Mean One Mr Grinch" Aimee Mann
  8. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" The Klezmonauts
  9. "Deck The Halls" William Hung
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A Christmas Carol Playlist 5: The Final Cut (Easy Listening Mix)

Submitted by rickeyre on

A shorter playlist than the one that comes next, but a neat mix of traditional choral performances with some ever-so-unexpected American jazz/blues/folk artists. Five religious numbers and five secular ones:

  1. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" Tonus Peregrinus
  2. "What Child Is This" Mahalia Jackson
  3. "Joy To The World" Joe Williams
  4. "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" (GF Handel) The Cambridge Singers/John Rutter
  5. "Good King Wenceslas" The Sixteen And Harry Christopher
  6. "The Holly And The Ivy" Anonymous 4
  7. "White Christmas" Louis Armstrong
  8. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" Aimee Mann
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