19 June 2009

Daily Chat 19/06/09

On this day in 1269, Louis IX of France ordered that any Jew not wearing a yellow badge in public would be fined 10 livres of silver. In 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas finally learned of the Emancipation Proclamation a full two years late. The day is celebrated as Juneteenth in Texas and 13 other states to this day. The first Fathers' Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910 and in 1982, the body of Roberto Calvi was found hanging beneath Blackfriars Bridge. Celebrating birthdays today: Louis Jourdan, Niels Bohr, Aung San Suu Kyi, Salman Rushdie, Ann Wilson, Kathleen Turner and Boris Johnson. In addition to being Juneteenth in parts of the US, it is Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago.

77 comments:

  1. Nobody tell my Dad that father's day goes back to 1910, he believes it's a load of commercial rubbish invented by greetings card companies and insists I don't get him anything!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy birthday, Niels. Don't eat all the cake.

    niels

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gr-o-o-a-n. Why do I do it?

    My head is ringing like the proverbial 20 shilling pisspot this morning. Blurred vision, sweating, the lot - it's going to be a long old day today.

    Re. Father's Day - I shall be getting the obligatory box of Maltesers and a book token, it's tradition now in the SwiftyBoy household. I think there are plans afoot at the daughter and heir's school as well, but I'm not meant to know about it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hmm, speaking of Aung San Suu Kyi, I see our old friends the Burmese junta are still getting gold plated support from the French government - in return for a virtual monopoly in their oil/gas production for French company Total Oil... who are also rather big in the news here too !

    Got to love the French. When they do dastardly underhand overseas stuff they never get accused of it in CiF...

    ReplyDelete
  5. @ SwiftyBoy

    Take a small dog at lunch.My last silliness took almost 72hrs before I could stop my vision bending in the middle.

    deano30

    ReplyDelete
  6. @deano30:

    I'm coming to the conclusion that I may take a small articulated lorry round the back of the head mate, I feel that rubbish.

    My colleague's just got in to work, he's actually in worse shape than me which has cheered me up marginally, he was sniffing round the girls yesterday at Ascot and obviously overdid it in good stylee.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Have you tried a bacon sandwich? Irn Bru?? Pickled Onion Monster Munch???

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hangovers and offices are one of the worst combinations known to man. I very, very rarely drink midweek because i just feel like crying the following day, trawling through banalities in your inbox whilst feeling like death, sweating, clammy forehead, its just too much. Unless its a particularly special night involving a serious concoction of narcotics and over-friendly page 3 girls (and their liberally minded friends), then the working hangover just isnt worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Re Fathers’ Day: I was in my local Sainsburys the other day and saw a special display of T-shirts ready for the big day.

    The theme was the Mr Men. Any guesses as to which two were featured most prominently?
    I’ll come back in a couple of hours and see how you’re getting on...

    ReplyDelete
  10. If you did it properly last night your liver should already be crippled.....

    Deano is on the money then, if a bacon sandwich won't do it, a brandy is the only option.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Have to agree, no matter how unpleasant the thought of it a couple of pints really does do wonders for the hangover.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks all for the suggestions, I'll bow to your collective wisdom, as usual.

    The pub it is.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Blimey, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (crazy name, crazy guy!) has just called the British Government "the most treacherous". He must have been reading the expenses revelations in the Torygraph.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The only known cure for a midweek hangover, is an extra hour in bed, combined with a feeble excuse to your boss. But a bacon butty and sugary pop does have it's uses.

    Mendoza

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Mendoza:

    The bugger of it is, I meant to take the laptop home with me last evening, but a "quick pint" to celebrate the 18th with a couple of mates at lunchtime turned into a huge bender and I never made it back to the office to pick my machine up.

    Otherwise I'd have been, *cough cough* "working from home" today and all would have been well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Swifty

    According to a friendly pharmacist I know you should take ibuprofen on an hangover, not paracetamol, as paracetamol and alcohol both attack the liver........

    (my friendly pharmacist is full of very useful drug knowledge..........)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cheers Dot, that makes total sense, I presume that ibuprofen doesn't have aspirin in it? I'm allergic to aspirin (possibly).

    ReplyDelete
  18. Swifty

    Ibuprofen and aspirin are two separate drugs, some brands of painkillers might mix them though, read the label carefully!

    Another handy tip from my pharmacist: always buy supermarket own brand medicine, much cheaper, and just as effective!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Only a few more minutes SwiftyBoy and then the sun will be over the yardarm - and your problems will soon to pass.

    But some discipline my man - no more than a small dog

    deano30

    ReplyDelete
  20. @deano:

    I'm thirsty enough to drink a very large dog indeed, but I shall heed your wise words and take a nip of something smaller and fierier.

    But at least headache-wise, things seem to be improving.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Because I'm not afraid of dogs I sometimes mistakenly see St Bernards as quite small dogs!

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1) Resolve Extra first thing
    2) Mug of hot marmite or tea. No coffee (your liver is already working its ass off, so don't take the piss with esspresso)
    3) No fags. None.
    4) Bacon butty (with brown sauce) You NEED the salt.
    5) Tea / water the resst of the morning at regular intervals

    You'll be right as rain !!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh, and do try and get some pasta in for lunch.

    You'll be fine by tea time...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sorry to change the subject (get well soon, Swifty).

    I found this while checking the exact wording of a quote which is now on my profile:

    I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
    Alive as you and me
    Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
    "I never died" says he.

    "In Salt Lake, Joe, by God" says I
    Him standing by my bed
    "They framed you on a murder charge"
    Says Joe "But I ain't dead."

    "The copper bosses killed you Joe,
    They shot you Joe" says I
    "Takes more than guns to kill a man"
    Says Joe "I didn't die."

    And standing there as big as life,
    And smiling with his eyes
    Joe says "What they forgot to kill
    Went on to organise."

    "Joe Hill ain't dead" he says to me,
    "Joe Hill ain't never died
    Where workingmen are out on strike
    Joe Hill is at their side."|

    From San Diego up to Maine,
    In every mine and mill,
    Where workers strike and organise,
    Says he "You'll find Joe Hill."

    On 19th November, 1915, a young Swedish immigrant named Joseph Hillstrom was executed by a Utah firing squad on a phoney murder charge. Joe Hill, as he was known to workers throughout the west was a union organiser and songwriter. His last words were "Don't mourn for me, organise!"

    (But I’m sure some of you knew that already)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Swifty

    You're probably at lunch, but for future reference, a Bloody Mary is unsurpassed for giving relief from your symptoms.

    Not just a crappy vodka and tomato juice, it must have the works, and the Angostura bitters are the most crucial component. Trust me on this.

    ReplyDelete
  26. staybrite
    But surely in the stationary cupboard else they'll all want one ?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Heheh

    At one office I used to work in my gaffer had a large bottle of the pre-mixed bloody mary (just add vodka, always in plentiful supply) on her desk and she'd make one up for anyone who looked a bit peaky in the morning, at their desk.

    Happy days...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Crikey !

    "Have you finished that report staybryte ?"
    "Yes, you just ate it."

    %-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. @staybryte:

    "my gaffer"

    That's "Chief Superintendent Gaffer, ma'am", as she's officially known.

    I've just had two tots of neat Drambuie, half a gallon of lemonade and a big plate of fish n chips, but thanks for the Bloody Mary tip, I'll remember that next time.

    @BW: I used to use Resolve regularly, I'm not sure why I stopped. Good tip, thanks for that (shame I hadn't read the bit about pasta before I went out, but I'll have that for tea tonight when MrsSB is out with her friends).

    ReplyDelete
  30. @ andysays

    Ah the wobblies aint thought about them for some years.

    Regards -deano30

    ReplyDelete
  31. Deano: glad to rekindle the memories, mate.

    Sounds like Swifty’s feeling a bit wobbly today, too ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I hope that the lemonade wasn't mixed with the Drambuie, I'm a tolerant person, sympathetic to your hangover etc, but that's not right at all, oh no....

    Good call on the fish and chips though, proper kill or cure....

    ReplyDelete
  33. Bitterweed

    The place was, shall we say, connected with the drinks industry, and the entire office was stacked with every form of booze under the sun the whole time, with virtually unlimited access as a perk of the job.

    And to think I actually left of my own free will. It just wasn't compatible with having a wife and children any more. Or indeed, functioning internal organs...

    ReplyDelete
  34. @d'nibor:

    Christ no, church and state were kept well apart, the Drambuie was drunk neat, the lemonade followed (to wash down the fish n chips).

    And my colleague has just gone off to be sick, which is never good.

    ReplyDelete
  35. staybryte
    Fair call. Sometimes a man (or a woman) just has to walk away...

    SB
    Sick ?? Very poor show ! I hope you give him the beasting of his life when he gets back !

    ReplyDelete
  36. @BW:

    I've just spent the last five minutes laughing my arse off at him, to be honest, he's come back looking even more wretched... he banged his head on the toilet on the way down and he's managed to get sick on his T-shirt .

    Brilliant. He really should not be here today.

    ReplyDelete
  37. @SB
    F@ck me man, that's a facebooker !

    Good work.

    Can you give him anything really hard to do now ?

    ReplyDelete
  38. swiftyboy

    I've just spent the last five minutes laughing my arse off at him, to be honest, he's come back looking even more wretched... he banged his head on the toilet on the way down and he's managed to get sick on his T-shirt .

    This just made me LOL. Hope you're feeling better mate.

    I'll second the bloody mary cure with a decent breakfast. Works a treat

    ReplyDelete
  39. @BW: you ask

    "Can you give him anything really hard to do now?"

    Hmm, good thought. Might set him to working up a tricky cost-per-thousand deal, they can e quite mind-bending. And maybe have a look at month-end reconciliation as well...

    Nah, I don't have the heart. I've told him he can POETS if he wants. If he can get the car out of the car park, that is...

    ReplyDelete
  40. PS

    BW, do I remember you saying you're down in the South West? If you are, you may already be familiar with this spot, but July 29th Crooked Still are playing.

    Too far for me to travel, I'd be there like a shot if it was Sussex-wards though.

    And thanks BB, slowly surfacing again. There'll be some grim times ahead in the next few hours, no doubt about it, but the sight of the big red mark on my colleague's forehead is keeping my spirits up.

    ReplyDelete
  41. "...month-end reconciliation as well"

    After having worked ten + years in finance, I know know exactly how evil you are !

    Hmmm... Poets though... pretty damn good idea !

    ReplyDelete
  42. SwiftyBoy
    I visit there regularly, frienda and family in Bristol & Cornwall. (Last time, May, I was at Plymouth Jazz and Blues Festival, great fun) but alas no... I'm stuck here right slap in the middle of England.

    Thanks for the tip though, looks good.

    Have you checked out Hayes Carl ?

    He's very good.

    ReplyDelete
  43. ...But if I ever find Jesus, I'm kickin his ass...

    Top stuff. I think that's the song my mate was trying to find earlier this year, I'll have to ring him and let him know.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Excellent news dude !

    I'm off soon. Gigs tomorrow night & Sunday so 'behaving' tonight (can't stand playing with a hangover)... just a couple for me then and a few hairs for yourself
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  45. @BW:

    Nice one mate, have un bon weekend, gig hard!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Poets - I hear Saturday calling.

    I've spent the last couple of hours trying to conect to a rare recording of "Joe Hill" by Paul Robeson for andysays - fegged if I can get it work today.

    Will keep trying inbetween other things andy.

    deano30

    ReplyDelete
  47. I loved the quote that after Joe Hill's execution he instructed his mate to drag his body to the state line - cos he didn't want to be found dead in Utah

    ReplyDelete
  48. Right, I'm off. Have a good weekend all.

    ReplyDelete
  49. http://www.archive.org/details/raretunes 203 joe-hill


    See if this copied and pasted gives you Robeson's 1949 performane of joe hill before Scottish Miners nr Edinburgh

    ReplyDelete
  50. Yes that works - just press on the joe hill last week button which will take you through to a mini player which you start in the usual way.

    The write up is unclear - not 100% sure if this is a recording of the actual 1949 Scottish performance.

    Either way for those who may not have heard Robeson for a while a treat of one very fine voice.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Cheers, Deano.

    No time to check it out now, but I certainly will.

    Have a good weekend, everyone.

    Watch the hangovers...

    ReplyDelete
  52. Re Paul Robeson singing Joe Hill - try this

    ReplyDelete
  53. Andy
    I went to a Labour Party event a few weeks ago, about Paul Robeson (he was very much revered in the S Wales valleys- my Dad - valleys boy used to talk of him in hushed tones)

    they played a recording of him singing Joe Hill. All the old people in the room joined in- there was this soft murmer in the background.

    Wonderful moment.

    Listen to this version of Old man river!

    Here

    ReplyDelete
  54. @ annetan42

    Thanks for the youtube link -

    I can't get into the 1949 film archive of Paul Robeson with the miners in Scotland

    There was an earlier mainstream film that involved a story of him as a USA sailor who finished up in the pits of Wales but I never saw it - did you?

    If I understand it correctly the Scottish performance in 1949 is on film @

    http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/4745

    But you seem to have to be member or an educational establishment to get at it - still know anybody who can get us in?

    I'm long out of touch with teachers.

    Strange that only a week or so ago on philhall (Ishouldapologise)'s blog I read that he could recall his parents playing Paul Robeson's songs in exile in Kenya whilst missing ANC friends left behind in SA prisions.

    I left him a comment to say how I too liked Robeson.

    My mum a Yorks miners daughter and wife thought him magnificant.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Error in that film link above.

    Should read:

    http//www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/474544/index.html.

    If andysays is still a registered student at uni/college he should be able to get access from the library computers!

    I see that the short Robeson film extract is included in a set of very interesting DVD's about early British documentaries for sale at about £35. Think I'll buy it.

    If I can extract Robeson singing Joe Hill from it I'll put it on you tube in due course.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Anne: my girlfriend and I have listened to Robeson singing Joe Hill. Thanks from us both.

    She's apparently got a book about the Wobblies she inherited from her stepdad, who was Welsh and a Robeson fan.

    I'll let you know what I think when I've read it.

    ReplyDelete
  57. hey deano - nice to see you again.

    We still don't have a dog because the small person has decided he wants a rat! (How emo!) Hope you've been keeping well

    ReplyDelete
  58. Deano
    that film of Paul Robeson in S Wales.

    I've seen a bit of it recently - can't remember the name of it now - will do some research -

    ReplyDelete
  59. Just got this in an email & thought I'd share:

    Five Caribbean Surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.

    The first, a Cuban surgeon, says, "I like to see accountants on my operating table, because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered."

    The second, a Jamaican surgeon, responds, "Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is color coded."

    The third, a Barbadian surgeon, says, "No, I really think librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order."

    The fourth, a Trinidadian surgeon, chimes in: "You know, I like construction workers...those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end, and when the job takes longer than you said it would."

    But the fifth, a Guyanese surgeon, shut them all up when he observed: "You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass are interchangeable.

    ReplyDelete
  60. The film was called Proud Valley. Couldn't access any clips but will keep trying - available on DVD though.

    ReplyDelete
  61. MsChin: Brilliant!

    Big up the Guyanese, yet again!

    I'm being told to sign off now, so good night all.

    ReplyDelete
  62. You people have no idea how stupid you've made me feel today.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Montana!

    If it's any consolation, I always go to bed less stupid having read what a lot of people on here have written during the day too :o)

    ReplyDelete
  64. @ annetan42

    That link to old man river was stunning - the visuals and the vocals were outstanding. I played it lots of times.

    If I get a video of the '49 I will find a way to post a copy. Might have the kids get me the DVD of "Proud Valley" for dads day.

    @ BB sorry to hear about the rat - tell him about Jack Russel dogs. If they come together it's no contest.

    @ Montana - your site here is class most who call here from time to time (me very much included) leave with something we did not arrive with.

    I thought your comment on ???'s reduced pay for workers as a clever manipulation by bosses was sharp

    ReplyDelete
  65. Deano30
    Hope all is good.

    Jack Russels rule

    As does this

    Nite dude.

    ReplyDelete
  66. -BW

    Fuck my insensitive hair. I parked it at the back of my lasses leg (calf no more than shall we say a shadow before dawn) that was fucking class that you invited me to hear .Will in wig is very special and I loved him.

    But my soul belongs tO ROBESON AND HIS MATES.

    ReplyDelete
  67. On the Robeson theme, can't do tidy link yet so
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYjZcmG4vR4

    navro

    ReplyDelete
  68. @ navro

    you seem to have posted a dead link - same as Deano posted above on the film link - redirected.

    Stay with us - there is a Paul Robeson singing Hill.

    I have faith in my madness - it is warm. deano30

    ReplyDelete
  69. Knackers. Anyway Deano it's a Manic Street Preachers song called 'Let Robeson Sing'. Stay warm.

    navro

    ReplyDelete
  70. It's not far short form Solstice. It it is about 3.50am in Yorkshire. The Dawn cracks the sky - it's fucking grand.

    ReplyDelete
  71. @ navro

    Slight child and very warm friend your tits are in your shoes. Check the Wiki.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I am not half baked .I know the Solstice is a day or so away.

    But It's fegging fine for me.- I regret there are no possible exceptions.

    I wish it were different but it is not.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Feel well young soul as I look from my caravan window I see Acer's that in 18C Japan would have caused a consternation.


    Such warmth and conversation and passing of tea.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Bed time for deano - every one else has passed

    ReplyDelete
  75. nite deano

    navro

    ReplyDelete