Freelance writer specializing in comedy and the geekier end of the pop culture spectrum.
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Neologism: Generation X-Wing
Generation X-Wing noun A generation of people born between the mid 1960s and the mid 1970s who's childhood and adult life can be characterised by a fanatical devotion to George Lucas' original Star Wars Trilogy.Disillucased adj An extreme, specific form of mid-life crisis common amongst members of Generation X-Wing [see above]. Characteristics of this psychological disorder include an overwhelming sense of betrayal, regrets for wasting so much of one's youth watching low-grade space opera and a firmly-held conviction that - whatever anyone else might say - "Han shot first". First identified in 1997, cases of Disillucasism reached epidemic proportions in [...]
Blurt at the Curate’s Egg this Thursday
For the benefit of those who live in and around Birmingham, Al Hutchins and the Courtesy Group are hosting a Curate's Egg night with Blurt at the Hare & Hounds this Thursday. Here's the flyer:I hadn't heard of Blurt before, but their Wikipedia entry intrigues me:Blurt's compositions are based around repetitive minimalistic guitar and/or saxophone phrases with relentless, machine-like drum beats, over which Ted Milton orates his lyrics in a variety of "voices" that betray his days as a puppeteer. The overall effect is hypnotising, compelling and sometimes even unsettling.Blurt have a very strong live reputation due to the extra-ordinarytheatrical [...]
Strange New Words Revisited
I'm into neologisms in a big way. When I get bored, I make up new words. I got bored today, so I made up a new word. You can have it if you like.This may become a regular feature. Consider yourself warned.Q. If suicide is the pre-meditated murder of one's self and homocide the pre-meditated murder of another person, what do you call the pre-meditated murder of a football team? A. "Fivecide."
When Mr Bill came to Birmingham
My workpal Kuz has a second job working weekends on the front desk of the 4-star Marriott Hotel in Birmingham's city centre. Having a second job seems to be increasingly commonplace in this 21st Century economy. As I'm planning to reacquaint myself with the property ladder later this year I might have to do it myself. Not this week, though. I'm too knackered. With Hillary Clinton's victory in the New Hampshire primary in the news today, I'm reminded of a Birmingham Marriott-related incident from some years' back involving her illustrious husband Bill. You remember Bill, don't you? He was very [...]

























