Category Archive: LIFE
Andrew’s Been Busy
'I haven't been so flat-out since the Civil War'
The Varnished Culture has decided to suspend our Dead Pool out of fear that we may be contributing to the general morbidity of 2016. So far this year, the Angel of Death has visited, inter alios: Richard Adams Edward Albee Muhammad Ali David Bowie Michael Cimino Leonard Cohen Umberto Eco Keith Emerson Carrie Fisher Glenn Frey Zsa Zsa Gabor Merle Haggard George Kennedy Harper Lee George Martin George Michael Prince Debbie Reynolds Alan Rickman Leon Russell Peter Shaffer Garry Shandling Abe Vigoda Elie Wiesel Gene Wilder
Continue Reading →Merry Christmas
When did they build this Sky-deck?
Xmas 2016: Celebrating the most famous surrogate birth in history… And a Happy New Year to you all.
Continue Reading →Prohibition Ends
The Twenty-first Amendment was adopted on December 5, 1933 and became became officially effective on December 15. The (1920) 18th Amendment (that “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited”) was thereby repealed and such activities (albeit subject to regulation) became legalised. This wowser-inspired law conclusively demonstrated that when you wish to ban a well-established vice, be careful what you wish for… Repeal was enough to justify reaching for the nearest bottle of really good…
Continue Reading →Richard Wagner Society of Victoria
(Federation Hall, Melbourne, 30 November 2016) The Varnished Culture was honoured to attend a soirée at the Victorian College of the (we trust, Beaux,) Arts on the eve of the 2nd cycle of Melbourne’s Ring. New President of The Richard Wagner Society (in Victoria) Inc., the urbane and congenial Mr. Trevor Clarke, who’s learned discourses on Wagner matters are well known, welcomed Wagnerites from all compass-points, including the Presidents and representatives of Wagner Societies in Singapore, Toronto and the great State of Western Australia. Over copious drinks and sandwiches on trays prettily bedecked in tussie-mussie, distributed by diverse and erudite Norns from the Society, TVC…
Continue Reading →Roll Away the Stone
Leon Russell (2 April 1942 to 13 November, 2016) Leon features among our selection Funerary Songs, and now it’s his turn. Rock and or Roll is one of the few areas where a guy from Comanche country, Oklahoma, can become a star. He was a superb session musician who also crafted great songs, and eventually, his work with Joe Cocker on the “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour and his increasingly popular brand of heartfelt, nasal gospel with a slice of piano honky-tonk-boogie added, elevated him to legendary status. At a Bluesfest a few years ago, he smoked the big tent with a wonderful…
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