10 Things We Hate About Gadgets

February 5, 2016 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | LIFE |

As follows: Buffering. Appliances with no ‘on/off’ switch. Planned obsolescence. They don’t do what they say. They don’t do what we say. Blenders…that are so much more. Buttons with (impressionist) pictures. Artificial lack of intelligence. The zoning of DVDs. They’re no good!

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Terry Wogan

February 2, 2016 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | LIFE, Modern Music |

Programme Name: n/a - TX: 20100101 - Episode: n/a (No. n/a) - Embargoed for publication until: n/a - Picture Shows: - (C) BBC - Photographer: Lorenzo Agius

Michael Terence Wogan (3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) The Varnished Culture farewells this mellifluous long-standing caller of the Eurovision Song Contest.  He obviously loved the event, but that didn’t stop the old smoothie from dripping the occasional cup of acid, particularly when hosts gave too much of themselves or acted like ‘eejits’, or when anticipating the voting predilections of each country, which he did with uncanny accuracy (and sardonic smugness).  You’ll be missed Woges.

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10 Things We Hate About TV

January 30, 2016 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | LIFE |

Perhaps we ought to play outside? (photo by Julian Tysoe)

There might be more than 10…

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Stars in the Drug Show

January 29, 2016 | Posted by Peter Jakobsen | LIFE, PETER'S WRITING, Ulalume |

Who can tell the honest score When no-one knows or can be sure That the ball in the net / an incomplete pass Or the bungled catch / upon the grass Weren’t planned? Should you work the mobile phone, With your team well in the zone Where Olympic pride / the bikes they ride Head for the lowlands, on a peptide Of flasks, all banned? We’re all ‘stars in the drug show’ now, We made it happen – we showed them how By greasing on our couches, betting And buying all they sold us, letting Them jab their engorged hand.

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10 (or more) Gestures & Sayings We Hate

January 27, 2016 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | LIFE |
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