Twelvetrees

Not so much a musical recommendation as a literary one, but for the curious-minded, I can wholly recommend Rohan Kriwaczek's gorgeously obscure 'An Incomplete History of the Art of Funerary Violin' (Duckworth, 2006).

Lady Susana Walton, the widow of Sir William Walton will be 82 on August 30th - suprisingly young considering that Sir William died in 1983 at the age of 80. A definite obit., but she's looking and sounding very healthy. Probably not a keeper.

for Mrs Porter's feet

And an AP link for those of us who distrust Wiki. FYI, catch 'Stop, or My Mom Will Shoot' for an idea of her genius. D'oh - forgot she was a pick...someone move this, please?

Making a good point there, BS. I grew up at a seaside resort and never saw the fascination...I did see the results, though - and that's what put me off. Maybe the sun burned this guy's cock off?

Nor can I, that privilege is mine. Thread closed. Archimandrite

Can you let me have the last word, please? And can that word be 'archimandrite' ?

I've only just found out about the death of the Dutch-American author Janwillem van de Wetering on July 4 at the age of 77. Maybe not a household name, but he managed to combine his own experiences as an Amsterdam cop with his Buddhism in an enjoyable set of police procedurals, as well as writing various childrens' books and non-fiction.

The racehorse trainer Monica Dickinson has died at the age of 83. Even I'd heard of her and I hate horse racing for ruining my Saturday afternoons as a child.

May I tentatively suggest anyone who shacks up with Sally Dudmesh? She's got a death rate higher than Jessica Fletcher.

Good old Jesse...he provided me with some choice quotes for my thesis on censorship years ago. However, he far outlived his usefulness. By about 86 years.

It's worse than that. He's dead, Octopus. Hmm, the headline currently reads: "Zambia denies President Mwanawasa is dead", and the story says he's fine, resting up nicely in bed, etc. Too bad it's not 31 December, because this would be some low-hanging (and apparently quite rotten) fruit for DL pickers. Never heard of him. It's the week for ridiculous African leader's names, as President Omar Bongo of Gabon made news when he defended President Mugabe's triumphant election win. someone should beat him like a drum Well, he was dead when I posted. Quite a remarkable recovery really. Actually, if he is still going, it's good news. Mwanawasa is one of Africa's better leaders.

It's worse than that. He's dead, Octopus.

Punch drunk? Needle-thin

I haven't voted...yet. I'm just observing the fact that BS appears to have become much more lucid on this thread. It's as though he's cast aside the veil of obscurantist drivel and allowed us a glance at what's underneath. Can we have the veil back now...please?

Qualified? Do you know the definition of the word? The standard definition: meeting the proper standards and requirements for a position or task. Now let's seperate the facts from your ignorance. As for qualification, that is something I straight-own. I'm startled because I'm trying to figure out (who you think you are) to even feel as if you have the capacity to call me out on such an issue? I can never be 100% sure of anything, but I have a theory you might have misinterpreted something I've said. If that isn't the case, you seriously need a little reality check son. Because I'll teach you straight how to act. Somebody posted a link the other day (in the ideas and possibilities thread) about a Vietnamise general who still thought Vietnam was going on thirty years later. I'm trying to convince myself both of you aren't on the same level of awareness but somehow I hear another drum beating. You call me out and mention words such as dignity? I appologize for taking you as an intelligent man. You've made this about me and you've made it about you. I'm going to be a gentleman and say "if you have any dignity" you will just pretend none of this ever even happened. Save yourself the embarassment. Well I don't think anyone can deny that Twelvetrees hasn't been well and truly put in his place by that well-worded little riposte from Banshees Scream. Welcome back, NAP. I had hoped for something other than the usual syntactically-challenged BS, and I wish I could say I was disappointed. My expectations were low, but he managed to limbo-dance beneath them as usual.

I think it involved the constant hijacking of SC's posts. Notapotato and Star Crossed are very different if you analyzed both of their styles. Star Crossed (the eccentric side) will manipulize or exaggerate or (analyze a certain situation in massive detail) which usually dragged the topic far off course. The fact which makes one wonder is (in doing so) his posts were always very quality. He has been ridiculed by (Canadian Paul for example) for (being hypocritical of his stance on posting etiquette) which everybody has a different opinion. It really doesn't matter to me. Nap is more of a "two lines that say more then that" kind of poster. Quality itself isn't about the structure it's about what the structure represents. Notapotato (being the chief mod) liked to distort what he disagreed with at one point and Star Crossed wouldn't lay down to the not-a-potato hijacking. Anyway, the forum just gets more liberal as time goes on so that kind of hijacking isn't common anymore. I have been here for a while now, and tended not to make comment until comment was due. On this issue, however, as well as many other issues on which you have felt qualified to comment in recent times, I feel unable to remain silent. Banshees, you are a gibbering idiot. You impress no-one except yourself - if that. You are the living evidence that those who have nothing to say will say it loudest. I'd challenge you to a battle of wits, but would feel no satisafaction in defeating an unarmed opponent. I trust that you realize that any reply you might seek to make will work against you. Go silently, and with whatever shreds of dignity you can muster, go now.

The Independent is reporting that Mugabe has ceded power to a military junta run by General Constantine Chiwenga, whose wife Jocelyn seems even more delightful than he does. Quite what this military coup by invitation means for Mugabe himself is unclear, though the end - in one sense at least - must be closer.

Mel Ferrer, the film and television (Falcon Crest) actor, director and producer who was probably best known as the former husband of Audrey Hepburn, has died at the age of 90.

He is the obvious and natural choice, but in my view an unlikely successor as he's quite likely to predecease our current mascot. I think we ought to be nurturing someone younger the way Clive's going. I vote for Ian Lavender myself. It just feels right.

Good calls for top 10 aging artists. Jasper Johns (78)? (Edit. Sorry just seen TAFKAG above) May I add Claes Oldenburg (79) Wayne Thiebaud (87) Christo (73) Bridget Riley (77) Jose Bernal (83, has Parkinsons) Gerhard Richter (76) Howard Hodgkin (75) Pierre Soulages (88) Also, the critic Brian Sewell is 76, but looked in rude health (what other sort would you expect?) when I saw him at the opera yesterday. However, Robert Hughes, the influential author of 'The Shock of the New', though only 69, is not in such good shape.

What's the title of that one Godot? The moneybox? I think it's called: "Open for Small deposits." I can see this is going to be a minority thread. I thought the title was "put your money where your mouth is".

Changes in the Zimbabwean regime may not spell good news for fomer President Mengistu, who has been sentenced to death in absentia. Whoever succeeds Mugabe will have a tough call on this one.