Tuesday Titter 3:

I've previously featured a couple of "Just a Minute Reloaded" videos on these pages in the past and I've found another one. This time featuring a certain Mr Stephen Fry talking about digital radio:

Enjoy!


Andrew

Cue Barwick Green

A while ago, I promised you a post about my love of The Archers. So, here it is! 


Thanks to the wonder of podcasts, I am now able to follow it regularly in a way that I've never been fully able to in the past. It makes my walk to work in the morning even more of a joy.

So, why do I like it so much? Well, here are a few of the reasons:

Real time events: Unlike TV soap operas, each episode of The Archers records events of that day... This means that future events can be trailed in advance, within the show. Rather than not knowing whether there has been seconds, hours or days between episodes, you know exactly when the action is taking place!

Handling of Death: Characters live long in The Archers and it's not unusual for the actors to die while still contracted to the show. This creates obvious problems which are handled with a great deal of sensitivity. Somehow the writers, cast and production staff always seem to hit the right note.

Long lasting stories: The lack of the ratings pressure which TV soaps are subjected to mean that there isn't the constant pressure for high profile storylines. This means that some stories can be developed over a long period of months or years. The best example in recent years was the development of Jack Wooley's Alzeimhers which won awards from mental health charities.

Regular events: Birthdays and wedding anniversaries are referenced as a natural part of the ebb and flow of the drama - not only when it suits the storyline! This adds to the feeling that your eavesdropping on real people, not artificial constructs.

The short lead-in times that radio can offer - and lack of visual  continuity issues - allow for topical references to be inserted at short notice. Examples include English World Cup scores or the death of the Queen Mother... One year they even recorded John Peel on location at Glastonbury!

Celebrity appearances - from Stephen Fry to Ewan McGregor, Alan Titchmarsh to Terry Wogan and Dame Judy Dench to Princess Margaret, The Archers has always drawn the great and good!


Of course, all these things are in addition to fantastic storylines, great characters and superior acting. Well, mostly superior acting - that of the children and sheep can leave a lot to be desired!

Andrew

A History of the World

As I've mentioned previously, I started a new job last week. One of the benefits of this is that my commute is that by foot and train rather than car, which means I can read and listen to my iPod.

As well as having music on my iPod, I've also downloaded a whole host of podcasts from the BBC - meaning I can listen to programmes I wouldn't normally be able to. One of these is Radio 4's A History of the World in 100 Objects.

The series is presented by Neil MacGregor, who is a director of the British Museum. He has chosen 100 objects from the museum's collection with which to illustrate the story of human development from the earliest times. Each programme takes the form of 15 minute essay describing the object in question, the cultural background of it's creation and what it tells about our history.

I have to say I was sceptical at first - indeed before I knew the format of the programme, I thought it might be in a 5 minute slot. I've been won over by the conversational style of delivery and the obvious enthusiasm MacGregor has for his subject.

The programme is supported by an interactive and informative website which contains information on all the objects as well as allowing listeners to view the objects in detail.

Andrew

The Uxbridge English Dictionary

One of my Christmas presents was a copy of the Uxbridge English Dictionary. Compiled from contributions made by panelists on the excellent Radio 4 programme "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", it provides new definitions for old words.

Here are two pages worth, picked at random:

Feckless
(1) A censored version of Father Ted
(2) An unsuccessful Irish Lothario

Fecund
The one before "Fird"

Fiasco
An unsuccessful wall painting

Fibre-optics
The healthy alternative to eye candy

Finesse
A woman from Finland

Trifle
A three barrelled shotgun

Trigonometry
A cowboy's method for locating his horse

Trilby
A bee that rings

Tripod
A carrier for tripe

Truculent
Your kind loan of a Transit

Turpentine
A Geordie highwayman

If you are not acquainted with ISIAHC, you can find more info here.


Andrew

Just a Minute Reloaded

Some time ago, I came across the following animation. Having recently been reminded of it, I thought I would share it. The narrative is taken from an episode of the Radio 4 programme "Just a Minute" and Paul Merton has been tasked with talking about Sudoku. Cue a typically surreal flight of fancy from Merton...

Enjoy!

If you liked that, then try this.