Mad Men Returns

The second series (I refuse to say season - footballers and cricketers and dogs have seasons) of Mad Men must have begun in the big country to the West. After giving the first lot of programmes a thumbs down a few weeks ago, I was reminded I had forgotten to mention how much my views had changed by the last episode. It really grew on me. A man called Dave Winer seems to think that the first of the new series was very good.

So! Mick Jagger at 65

It was in the news yesterday and one feeling was So What? Mick and his gang have now spent the major part of their career, thirty years and more, having the age question hanging over them like some perpetual curse. And they carry on playing and people turn up to see them in their thousands and the press asks the same old question each time a new world tour begins: Could this be the last?

Then I heard that five minute slot on Radio 4 about 1968 which mentioned that on the corresponding day then he was celebrating being 25. He would be, of course. Do the maths, as they say. But it still gave me a creepy feeling. Only a year before, the Beatles had sung When I’m 64. And now they are.

Last Goose Report

No more goose news after this, I promise. I’ve been out all day but when I returned this evening my neighbour had left a message on the answerphone. Apparently the RSPCA came today and saw the goose. They agreed with my neighbour that it was not in any discomfort and that in all likelihood the leg would heal. So all has ended well. Wanted to take a photo to illustrate this but unfortunately the heavens opened and it poured.

Being fair to the RSPCA

As it turns out, contrary to my report yesterday that the RSPCA had failed to show, apparently they had. About an hour ago I received a call from one of their representatives saying that a colleague had visited, unbeknown to me. She had reported back that she had seen the geese, too far out, and that a boat would be needed to investigate further.

When I explained that our ex-mill pond was only moderately sized, and that the geese were quite prepared to come ashore for bread, we agreed that she might have been at the wrong stretch of water. There is a reservoir a mile or so up the road and she may have been there.

Anyway, they are possibly going to visit tomorrow and have assured me that they will phone either my neighbour or me if they fail to find our pond.

Meanwhile all geese are continuing to eat heartily.

Update: Goose News

As my Twitters indicated, the RSPCA did not turn up yesterday, nor did they phone to give any explanation. More positively, my neighbour who actually owns the pond called to let me know she had returned from a weekend away and that the injured goose was safe and eating a hearty meal in her carport.
Tonight I went out to feed them and they were all there pretending to be ravenous (apparently the same neighbour feeds them regularly as do others - no wonder they’ve come back this year). Injured one remained in the water while the others got out to harrass me for bread. It remains to be seen whether the dicky leg recovers.

Injured Goose

For a second year we have geese residing on our mill pond through the summer. While certainly not tame, they are quite willing to accept a few crumbs and each year the parent, bolder than the others, has been prepared to take such food from the hand. As happened last year, a couple of nights ago one of them went missing. Whereas previously the bird had disappeared for good, this afternoon I arrived home to find that this year’s absentee had returned. Unfortunately, one of its legs was hanging uselessly, and it was only able to hop awkwardly.

After feeding them, I rang the RSPCA. I was reassured that someone would come to see what could be done but as today is Sunday, this might not happen til tomorrow. It could be a worrying night for us all, particularly the goose. Picture shows injured goose in the background.

Carl Bromwich Photography

As ickledot’s twitters have indicated in recent weeks, a new working relationship has been formed with portrait photographer Carl Bromwich. In addition to being a superb photographer with many years experience, Carl is a fine chap and ickledot is proud to be playing a small part in his success.

From Clay Shirky

just so -- connecting the dots in quite incredible new ways.

hope you like the rest of the book -- thanks for reading

-clay

To Clay Shirky

I don't know whether this is a tiny example of what you are on about but it certainly amazes me.  Two or three months ago I go to a presentation about how social neworking on the net can help business and the guy mentions Twitter and the work of Hugh MacLeod.  I should mention that this happened in Bradford, a former textile city in the north of England, near where I live.  So there's thousands of miles between us all here.

I have formerly never heard of Hugh MacLeod and he certainly has not heard of me (to my knowledge still hasn't).  So I set up a Twitter account of my own and followed his twitters and even became concerned when he stopped twittering for a while - he had mentioned that his dad was ill and I thought something terrible might have happened.  Anyway, one day he mentions you and your book.  So I begin following you twittering and I buy the book.  It arrived today, I've read the first chapter now and enjoyed it immensely.

Not too many years ago, none of this could have happened.  As you say - a social revolution.

Guy Tortora at the Bronte Blues Club - A Tortora de Force

Another great night at the Bronte Blues Club. BBC5 in great form to warm up the proceedings, followed by what ickledot considers to be one of the highlights of a great first year: The Guy Tortora Band. As mentioned before, ickledot is no purist and so this performance was right up his street.
First point of note was the clarity of Guy’s soulful voice. Each word heard clear and words worth hearing. A particular favourite was Cotton Was King: a bitter critique of the slave trade. Tortora is supported by a band of superb musicians: Andy Roberts on bass, Janos Bajtala on keyboards and Adam Roman on drums and percussion. If the second year is to bring more like this, ickledot’s ten quid membership fee (paid last night) is the best value he’ll get in 2009.

Charles Wheeler

ickledot was saddened by the news of this great journalist’s death last night. His reports and documentaries were always insightful, intelligent, thought-provoking and often moving.
A number of years ago, ickledot was delighted to receive a personal handwritten reply from Mr Wheeler after he had written to commend a programme which reassessed the presidency of Lyndon Johnson. It had described how supporters of Johnson’s successor, Richard Nixon, had deliberately caused the peace negotiations to end the Vietnan conflict to stutter through the last months of his presidency. Thus Nixon, not Johnson, would be seen as the successful peacemaker. In his reply, Mr Wheeler was kind enough to clarify a number of questions ickledot had raised regarding these events.
Many would not have bothered to take the time and trouble to do this. His personal postcard even included his home address, as if indicating a welcome of further correspondence. It reflected the fact that he truly cared about the issues he reported. He will be sorely missed.

Long time no blog

Well, the whole month of June has gone by and nothing new has appeared on the ickledot blog. No excuses.

Into July and the work moves on apace.
Last Saturday the Industrial Museum opened its Summer of Science Exhibition. ickledot designed the text panels for this display and hopefully there will be some images soon.

As indicated by ickledot’s twitters, some new work has come from Carl the Photographer. Having spent some time working on an archive of Belle Vue Studios, one of Bradford’s former portrait photographers, it is good to see the tradition is thriving and styles have moved into the 21st century.