October 26, 2004
Goodbye John Peel
I’ve just read the incredibly sad news reporting the death of radio DJ John Peel.
As you may guess (if you’ve visited my weblog before) I’m generally not inclined to giving gushing compliments, but in the case of John Peel, I feel that I have to make an exception. This man had a fantastic (and extensive) musical knowledge and combined with his enthusiastic yet gentle self-deprecating manner, makes him, in my eyes, the greatest radio DJ there has EVER been! In many ways, I’m convinced that my own experience and enjoyment of a wide range of musical genres can largely be attributed to this one man. I am sure that those who also had the pleasure to hear his radio shows over the years would have to agree with me.
He died after suffering a heart attack on holiday in Peru with his wife Sheila, on what Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt described as the holiday of a lifetime
.
My deepest, deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his family - the world of music will be all the poorer without his influence.
October 14, 2004
Not Like This In My Day
It’s been a long time since I last heard an evening show (in fact ANY show) on BBC Radio 1. I’ve just turned off a show on there at the moment that appears to be hosted by someone that is educationally subnormal on their first day at a radio studio.
This person talks over records that have barely started, he attempts to sing along, he talks loudly with his mouth too close to the microphone, he makes strange noises, and he seems to be so impressed with all of the buttons and switches with little lights on them that he has to press them all.
The name of this individual is, I am told, Zane Lowe, and apparently, he’s even DJ’d before.
Now I don’t wish to get into a rant about how Radio 1 used to be better in the good old days (Peely was/is superb, and even Lamacq’s Evening Session was OK, despite his enthusiasm for terms such as ‘boss tunage’), but come on - this Zane Lowe character seems to have no respect for the music that he plays! He seems to be more intent on coming across as some sort of watered-down, indie-loving, wannabe Westwood (another strange fella - I happen to like a lot of hip-hop, but when it’s introduced by a vicar’s son attempting to sound like some bad-ass mo’fo from da street, I’m afraid I have to leave the room).
Oh, it HAS turned into a rant after all, but what the hell! I happen to think that it might be a good idea to have a DJ that actually knows about the music itself, as opposed to one that happens to have met the musicians/producers at some sponsored gig or record company promo party.
June 5, 2004
Seeing With Your Tongue
An Eye On The Tongue describes a sytem allowing the blind to literally ’see’ with their tongue with the aid of a Tongue Display Unit or TDU.
January 6, 2004
An Animator Returns
Mentioned previously, today sees the return of a fellow Homfray’s site David Homfray Animation.
It had to be taken offline after being listed in the B3ta Issue 14 newsletter. Subsequently, the server was so FLOODED by visitors, the main site was threatened! It was pretty amazing as I’ve got a monthly bandwidth limit of 12Gb and 80% of that limit was achieved in the space of about a week - I ended up finishing the month off at just over 90% bandwidth.
It’s back now, but please don’t all rush at once…
October 6, 2003
The Journey of a Writer/Animator…
Just completed a small site for my brother highlighting animations that he’s completed for clients such as the Paramount Comedy channel, UKPlay, and Spinon.
The design and layout was his idea (”…it complements the style of the animation…” was one of the phrases that he used) - my job was to implement it “…as quickly as possible!!“
Anyway, if anyone’s interested, take a look at David Homfray Animation (my particular favourites are The Idiots Guides).
