Visual brain teasers

There are occasions, with time on your hands, when just just fancy a few good brain teasers .....

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MISS AFFECTION

Miss affection where are you now?

Miss affection, I need your hand in mine.
I miss you miss affection.
Know the state I'm in
and realise I miss you

miss affection.

Personal comment - There was more to this.

Meaningful songs #23 - STAN RIDGEWAY

This  is the twenty-third in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Camouflage", released in 1986, is by a singer called STAN RIDGEWAY.

Stan Ridgeway

Hear the song here

Camouflage is certainly a story, albeit fanciful and sentimental; not for the Vietnam war itself, but for extraordinary feats of heroism and camaraderie between fellow combatants. I don't know why I like it but I do. The full story of Camouflage is told here.

CAMOUFLAGE

    

I was a PFC on a search patrol, hunting Charlie down

It was in the jungle wars of '65

My weapon jammed and I got stuck way out and all alone

And I could hear the enemy moving in close outside

Just then I heard a twig snap and I grabbed my empty gun

And I dug in scared while I counted down my fate

And the a big marine, a giant with a pair of friendly eyes

Appeared there at my shoulder and said "Wait"

When he came in close beside me, he said "Don't worry son, I'm here

If Charlie wants to tangle now, he'll have two to dodge"

I said "Well thanks a lot". I told him my name and asked him his

And he said "The boys just call me camouflage"

  

Woohoohoohoo Camouflage

Things are never quite the way they seem

Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
I was awfully glad to see this big marine

Well we fought all night, side by side, we took our battle stands
And I wondered how the bullets missed this man
Cus they seemed to go right through him, just as if he wasn't there
And in the morning we both took a chance and ran
And it was near the riverbank when the ambush came on top of us
And I thought it was the end, we were had
Then a bullet with my name on it came buzzing through a bush
And that big marine, he just swat it with his hand
Just like it was a fly

Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully strange marine

And I knew there was something weird about him
Cus when I turned around he was pulling a big palm tree
Right up out of the ground and swatting those Charlies with it
From the here to Kingdom come
When he lead me out the danger, I saw my camp and waved goodbye
He just winked at me from the jungle and then was gone
And when I got back to my H.Q. I told them about my night
And the battle I'd spent with a big marine named Camouflage
When I said his name, a soldier gulped and a medic took my arm
And led me to a green tent on the right
He said, "You may be telling true boy, but this here is Camouflage
And he's been right here since he passed away last night
In fact he's been here all week long"
But before he went he said, "Semper Fi", and said his only wish
Was to save a young marine caught in a barrage
So here, take his dog tag son, I know he'd want you to have it now
And we both said a prayer for a big marine named Camouflage
  
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully big marine

Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully big marine

Whoho Camouflage

Whoho Camouflage

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.

YOUR LOVE

I read your letter,

became aware of your love,

its depth and purity,

forgiveness and loyalty,

a love untainted by conditionality

with joyous forgiving

and ever-present hope;

and I envy that love,

for I have no reply.

Personal comment - this poem was a  response to a letter after a choice.

Word of the day - CORUSCATE

The word today is Coruscate

Coruscate is a verb and means the following:

- To give forth flashes of light and sparkle and glitter

- To exhibit sparkling virtuosity or skills

- To be brilliant or showy in technique or style or performance

You're said to be coruscating if you exhibit brilliance of spirit

A coruscating performance leaves the audience coruscated

1. 
   

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

Pamela Anderson - Bravo!

Pamela Anderson, the oft' maligned actress, model and latter-day campaigner, may have just become an inspirational influencer of women who may believe that more (lots more) make-up makes them more attractive (to who?). 

In Baywatch (aka body watch) she was beauty and glamour personified, but recently, at the 2023 British fashion awards, she once again succinctly proved that make-up may be something to hide oneself behind, but confidence without it reveals a much more truthful beauty.

Bravo Pamela Anderson.

Pamela Anderson (56!)

Old pictures of Pam.

What?

WHAT?

Case: A child (and friends) trespass on a building site surrounded by tall fencing, which they ignore to have their fun on the deserted site (no workmen there). He decides he would like to descend a manhole shaft, loses his footing in there and falls a further 20 feet to his death. Cause and effect right? Death by a misadventure that he freely undertook after ignoring much signage and obvious obstacles meaning stay out?

Conclusion: £860,000 fine for the building company, found in breach of some health and safety law(s) in place for the protection of it's authorised site workers, NOT some child (10) with nothing better to do,  who in law is the legal responsibility of  his parent(s).  I'm pretty sure that kid would have been in even if the perimeter had been mined, so why is a firm who had done what was required and keeping many in employment fined. This is clearly death by misadventure, self inflicted.

Question: Why is this company, who simply "facilitated" the death of a voluntary trespasser found guilty when others who made or installed faulty and dangerous building cladding, proven to have killed hundreds in building fires, not prosecuted commensurately under "health and safety" law? My belief is easy targets get duly processed by the law and slippery buggers get off. What say you?

Read about the case starting here.

Meaningful songs #21 - THE STRANGLERS

This  is the twenty-first in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Golden Brown", released in 1981, is by a group called THE STRANGLERS.

The stranglers - Punks for a while but so much more

Hear the song here

Golden Brown, credited to all band members, is a lyrically vague song having two accepted interpretations: Either s song about a woman with golden brown skin, or about heroin - a golden brown powdered opiate drug. It is musically complex and was expected by the band "to tank in the Christmas rush", but it took off and became a hit, such was the appreciation of its unique musicality at that time. The full story of Golden Brown is told here, though a lesser narrative accuses The Stranglers of plagiarising the US band Quicksilver Messenger Service and their instrumental piece Gold And Silver.

N.B. There is an exceptionally good spoof video of a 1950's-60's Jazz group called the Dave Brubeck Quartet "performing" Golden Brown; actually a real group who never did perform Golden Brown. The spoof was created by Englishman Laurence Mason. Also, following the demise of the band, Hugh Cornwell resurrected the song with a Mexican band, "The Mariachis".

GOLDEN BROWN
    

Golden brown, texture like sun

Lays me down, with my mind she runs

Throughout the night, no need to fight

Never a frown with golden brown

Every time, just like the last

On her ship, tied to the mast

To distant lands, takes both my hands

Never a frown with golden brown

Golden brown, finer temptress

Through the ages, she's heading West

From far away, stays for a day

Never a frown with golden brown

Instrumental break

Never a frown (Never a frown)

Never a frown with golden brown)

Never a frown .....

 

There is a musical link to Angie by The Rolling Stones, in that both songs appear to be love songs but relate to the use of Heroin.

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.

Word of the day - MALEFICENCE

The word today is Maleficence

Maleficence is a noun and means the following:

- An act of harm or malignant mischief

- Harmful or malicious intent or action(s)

- Doing or producing evil

Surely this should be non maleficent?
(do no act of maleficence)

You are said to be maleficent if you do an act of maleficence

If someone says you are maleficent they are calling you an evil bastard

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

COP Out - 28/29

COP stands for Conference Of (the) Parties: globally significant producers of oil and petroleum. The  best article I have read about it is here.

Dec 13th 2023 summary: It ended, everyone slapped themselves on the back, condemned fossil fuels and flew home. Nothing much will come of it: Poor countries can't do much other then buy carbon credits, rich countries will do noting if there is a better profit with "fossil" and oil producers will keep laughing because they think you still believe what they promise.

Nov 16th 2024 summary: It ended, with s consensus that it is are no longer fit for purpose.

The United Arab Emirates are hosting COP28 (in 2023) in Dubai but they have a cynical cheek for they flare Methane gas day in and day out and planned to secretly promote the burning of even more of their oil whilst at COP28. Hypocrites! Do these climate conferences ever achieve anything meaningful? (No, not really - with their carbon credits scam and buy-off payments to salve their non-existent consciences.)

As usual this COP ended with smugness for some and annoyance for many, and the latest one (COP 29) kicked off surrounded by yet another reported act of hypocrisy, and the UN at COP29 saying these meetings are no longer fit for purpose.

Not Clever!

Don't think I'm just highlighting the UAE's duplicity today; all oil producing countries of the world espouse the reduction of globally destructive by-products of their trade, but never wish to offer and undertake effective solutions (that hit the bottom line!?) said Greta Thunberg, because without oil extraction most would revert back to feudal desert kingdoms of little global focus.

Why can't they turn their attention to the production of electricity or liquified Hydrogen, for export,  generated via their seas and their abundant sunshine?

P.S. Trees of any kind (maybe not Palm oil plantations) are good for the earth as they soak up all sorts of crap, air air-born gaseous pollutants and give us Oxygen, whilst enabling many forms of biological diversity amongst them; so if you are able, please plant a tree and nurture it as best you can, if not for yourself but the children of the next 200 years. Perhaps checkout this site as well.

Restoration of the Earth and its diversity should be a major human aim of this 21st century, probably by stopping global sea temperature rises, so that restorative endeavours can be effective. (This link might not work outside the UK due to copyright stuff).

STICK VICKY : RIP you legend

"Sticky Vicky", Victoria Marie Aragüés Gadea died with the mantel of fame still brilliant in the memory of many awe-stuck viewers of her extraordinary X-rated stage show. Starting in Benidorm in the 80's, it  continues to this day, performed by her daughter Maria. One is a legend, the latter is becoming so. 

R.I.P. "Stick Vicky"

Obituaries: BBC      Mail     Mirror     Sun     Wiki

Nigerian nutcase #1 - Somtochhukwu Okwuoha

Being a masters student or not, send this nutter back to Nigeria from whence he came. No ifs and buts and "human rights lawyers" claiming, at our expense, that he's not responsible for his actions; kick this bugger out forever.

Somtochukwu Okwuoha (Nigerian)

Send this nutcase back to Nigeria

After research on our friend I also came across this and this then this suprising  BBC SPOOF SITE.

Another GUMTREE experience

Gumtree is a very good idea for recycling, upcycling, repurposing, almost anything, but my God there are some idiots, scammers, greedy, grasping, weird or just plain insulting people using it. Below is one I believe was just a time-waster, or a "phisher" for details (who was successful in this case because I foolishly gave "BAZ - a new user with no history" my address).

This is our Gumtree conversation (over 5 days for an old PlayStation and a few games that had not sold for £10 for months)

Hi, is this still available? Thanks!

Wed 11:26

Baz it is. If you pick it up from Hull I'll give you it for free.

Wed 18:29

B

Hi - sorry for late response. I am very happy for that. What's your address and I can pick up on Friday afternoon

Wed 22:37

1020 Summergangs Road, hu88lp

Wed 22:50

B

Actually if you're in - it might be best if I come on Sunday morning.

Wed 22:58

Ok sun am no earlier than 10am

Wed 23:00

B

Ok thanks

Wed 23:00

B

Actually - it might be a chore getting a bus there. could you meet me at hull interchange - I'll give you a £5 for your trouble

17:26

B

I can't come tomorrow to hull. I can come to town please leave me a reply

19:30

You are having a laugh mate, the deal is off. If you had given me your address to start with I might have delivered, but no way am I running around town. I'm gonna just chuck this lot in the bin now, please don't contact me again.

Truism about Receivers?

Receivers are called receivers because they receive any residual value in a company; they hollow out companies by financial filibustering that only concludes with the cessation of the flow of residual funds to themselves. Their job is that of a vulture: To asset-strip the warm body of a company and hand back worthless dry bones of dashed hope to the investors. Good job eh?

Personal thought - This truism may not really be a "truism" but I'd bet it is fairly close and experienced by many, many other investors. I was scammed out of thousands by a notorious pair of investment scammers and the government appointed receivers were totally ineffectual. You may read what a receiver should do and should be (in the UK at least), by clicking here.

Meaningful songs #20 - THE SPECIALS

This is the twentieth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Ghost Town", released in 1981, is by a group called THE SPECIALS.

Underrated and brilliant social commentators

Hear the song here

Ghost Town by the SKA-style group, The Specials, is a hard-hitting and factually correct song that narrates the decline of urban life and lifestyle choices throughout the UK in the late 1970s-early 80s, when social unease, racially motivated behaviours and industrial decay was seemingly being forced upon many working class cities, as manufacturing and unrest within it industries struggled to seem relevant alongside the "yuppy" cultures being engendered within social media and a newly upcoming culture where "greed was good" and that "loads of money" was deemed to be the only goals to aim for.

From the city of Coventry, it's decay inspired The Specials' acerbic lyrics about their home town. 

Ghost Town became a hit in the UK as major riots were springing up all around and was ironically the band's final single as their own internal decay and implosion mirrored the sentiment of this, their finest song.

N.B. Jazz singer Beverley Beirne covered Ghost Town in 2018 and drained it of its potency, urgency and relevance like no other cover version I have heard. See what you think.

GHOST TOWN

    

This town is coming like a ghost town

All the clubs have been closed down

This place is coming like a ghost town

Bands won't play no more

Too much fighting in the dance floor

Do you remember the good old days

Before the ghost town?

We danced and sang as the music played

In any boomtown

This town is coming like a ghost town

Why must the youth fight against themselves?

Government leaving the youth on the shelf

This place is coming like a ghost town

No job to be found in this country

Can't go on no more

The people getting angry!

This town is coming like a ghost town

This town is coming like a ghost town

This town is coming like a ghost town

This town is coming like a ghost town

The BBC did a few pieces centred around the song Ghost Town and The Specials who were critiqued, through modern eyes recently, some 40+ years after their heyday; but before you leave have a listen the 10 best Specials' songs

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.

Oh, OK - Let's have a SKA-fest ..

PRINCE BUSTER - They Call It Madness

THE SPECIALS - Gangsters (cover of Al Capone?)

DANDY LIVINGSTONE - Rudy A Message To You (orig)

THE SPECIALS - Rudy A Message To You (copy)

BAD MANNERS - Wooly Bully

THE SELECTER - On My Radio

THE SPECIALS - Too Much Too Young

DESMOND DEKKER AND THE ACES - The Isrealites

THE SPECIALS - Nelson Mandela

PRINCE BUSTER - Enjoy Yourself

BAD MANNERS - My Girl Lollipop

THE BEAT - Hands Off She's Mine

BAD MANNERS -Lip Up Fatty

SYMARIP - Skinhead Moonstomp

DAVE AND ANSELL COLLINS - Double Barrel

THE BEAT - Mirror In The Bathroom

THE SPECIALS - Do Nothing

BAD MANNERS - Inner London

DENNIS BROWN - Money In My Pocket

THE HARRY JAY ALL STARS - Liquidator (no vocal)

THE UPSETTERS - Return Of Django (no vocal)

UPTOWN TOP RANKING - Althea And Donna

THE BEAT - Rough Rider

DESMOND DEKKER - Baby Come Back

LORD CREATOR - Hurry Up

MUSICAL YOUTH - Pass The Dutchie

MADNESS - One Step Beyond

PRINCE BUSTER - Al Capone

THE PIONEERS - Long Shot Kick De Bucket

JUNIOR REID - Banana Boat Man

THE BEAT - Rankin Full Stop

Meaningful songs #19 - DAVID BOWIE

This is the nineteenth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Letter To Hermione", released in 1969, is by a singer called DAVID BOWIE.

The album containing the song

Bowie and Hermione

This song is a wistful lamentation for a past love; an acknowledgement that though their affair is over a frisson of love may remain. Written by David Bowie, he himself revealed it was a real letter (never posted) to a dancer, Hermione Farthingale, with whom he had a brief but passionate relationship whilst working with the mime artist Lindsay Kemp. She left him "broken-hearted" in 1969 when offered a role in the film Song Of Norway, breaking the relationship as she departed to film in Scandinavia; though there were contemporary rumours of repeated infidelity! There's nothing like being dumped to bring on nostalgic thoughts, as expressed here.

LETTER TO HERMIONE
    
The hand that wrote this letter

Sweeps the pillow clean

So rest your head

And read a treasured dream

I care for no one else but you

I tear my soul to cease the pain

I think maybe you feel the same

What can we do?

  

I'm not quite sure

What we're supposed to do

So I've been writing just for you

They say your life is going very well

They say you sparkle like a different girl

But something tells me that you hide

When all the world is warm and tired

You cry a little in the dark, well so do I

I'm not quite sure

What you're supposed to say

But I can see it's not okay

He makes you laugh, he brings you out in style

He greats you well and makes you up real fine

And when he's strong

He's strong for you

And when you kiss

It's something new

But did you ever call my name

Just by mistake?

I'm not quite sure 

What I'm to do

So, I'll just write some love to you

Do, do, do, do

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in this series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.