“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” Arthur C Clarke
A 15-year long conspiracy is fighting for its life. The conspiracy, committed by desperate Dr Who fans, permeates the corridors of British television. […]

THE DADDINO FAMILY TREASURY OF CHRISTMASES PAST
Christmas 1972

L-R: Bobby, me.
Weeks of preparation. Several hundred dollars spent on presents. Two hours of sleep. And after all that fussing towards perfection, you get what every parent wants to se[…]

This variation on the Groucho Marx joke was not something that ever really needed fleshing into a full movie. Nevertheless, given the literal meaning of the title, a pretty good fist was made of it. It is a superhero origin film, just with Santa as t[…]

Ghastly Tales for Gruesome Kids
It might be a little late to post about this programme as I think it’s off our screens for the moment, but hopefully it will return. Firstly, yes, it’s a children’s show. And strangely it’s been[…]

Even more help needed…: the ‘Shopping CD’ went down so well with the PTB at work that I’ve been asked to put together a Christmas CD to accompany the Head Office Xmas dinner. The word ‘tasteful’ has been bandied ar[…]

The Advent Calendar Of Comics: Dec 4[…]

Stingray: the comic
I came across a Stingray graphic novel (haha not really, it’s a squarebound collection of old strips – but I thought I’d abuse the term the way it so often is these days) in a charity shop today. There are all so[…]

The Silent Cry by Kenzaburo Oe
This was the first book I’ve read by this Japanese Nobel Laureate. It’s certainly impressive, but I’m not sure that he’ll ever become a real favourite of mine. I can see why Henry Miller compares[…]

THE DADDINO FAMILY TREASURY OF CHRISTMASES PAST
Christmas 1972

Bobby looks very solemn with his Snoopy pajamas and Bicentennial kitsch drum, but sooner rather than later that drum’s gonna a receive a whack too hard and off to the trash it goes[…]

Pop Factor: 258 Controversy Rating: 214
Brian McFadden’s two-fisted attack on the Catholic Church is a braver and more lucid political statement than anything, say, Bono has ever managed. That it’s also part of the most naked grab for cr[…]