2016 Strikes Again

GEORGE MICHAEL

June 25, 1963 - December 25, 2016

So terribly saddened to hear, this evening, Christmas day 2016, that George Michael has passed away at the age of 53.

This man, his talent, his God-given ability to move you to joy, happiness, peacefulness, calm and even tears, was as iconic throughout my life as he was throughout the music industry. A turbulent life in his later years, George Michael struggled with his demons, and if it were not for his public incidents associated with his troubled life, we would not have been aware.

Nonetheless, his fan base still loved him and for a while his music lifted both he and us, and it is now that we are left to pick ourselves up from the shock of his passing. 2016 has been an awful year on many fronts, none more so than in human cost. It is as if this year has had one purpose: to remind us of our fragility within this world and the frail grasp with which we cling to it.

F**k you, 2016. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

A-Z Day 25

Copyright ©2015 Mark Kelly.

Y is for Youth.

Odd topic, I know. But why choose this? For the second time I am reading Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose, and I cannot help but be moved by the incredible courage, sacrifice and determination that these young men displayed during a time when the whole world was lost in an ocean of chaos, suffering and uncertainty.

Asides from the controversy that dogged Ambrose, even after his death, regarding plagiarism and innacuracies, his book regarding the forming, training and deployments of Easy Company of the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy, to the ill-fated Operation Market Garden debacle, and eventually to Hitler's Eagle's Nest, leave you feeling awed, humbled, sometimes saddened, but for me, overall, is greatful. And make no mistake, these men were not alone in such things, as on all sides, amongst all nations, such groups of men existed, but have had little said about them and what they did.

Farewell to Rik Mayall

It is with great sadness and shock that I found out today that one of Britain's foremost revolutionary comedians of the 80s and early 90s, Rik Mayall, has died.

First appearing on the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' first broadcast in 1985, Rik Mayall was one of a new wave of fresh comedic talent to appear on British tv screens in the 80s amidst Margret Thatcher's iron grip on the UK political platform, the yuppie era and the eclectic new wave in British pop/rock music.

Starring alongside the likes of Ben Elton, Ade Edmonson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, to name but a few, British comedy was to be reborn anew and the comedic bar raised for others to follow - though sadly this does not to seem to have been the case today with the demise of comedy produced for television within the UK, especially with the rise in 'popularity' in docu-soaps, pseudo reality programs and trash in the form of Big Brother, etc. British television has slumped badly and will now be all the poorer for the loss of such a brilliant comedy/writing talent.

Rik Mayall and Ade Edmonson were best know (and loved) for their comedy show, 'Bottom', in which Rik played Richie, and Ade played Eddie, two out of work friends and flat mates. The show was also a great success on stage in live tours around the country. I have included a compilation clip of those live shows where they fluff their lines and lose the plot - be advised, swearing is contained within.

He will be greatly missed.

~ Rik Mayall 7th March 1958 - 9th June 2014 ~

Sad News

Alice and her best friend, Mabel.

Some time ago I read about a very brave young girl with terminal cancer. Her name was Alice. Knowing that every moment was precious, she decided to create a 'bucket list' of things she wanted to do and achieve before her time ran out and set up a blog entitled: Alice's Bucket List.

I, like many, many others, joined her blog and followed discretely, occasionally posting words of encouragement. Alice loved her family, and was an extremely brave and up-beat individual.

I'm so very saddened to hear that Alice passed away yesterday, Saturday, 12th January 2013, surrounded by her family. She was aged 17.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand - A tribute to Andy Whitfield

- Tribute to the late Andy Whitfield aka 'Spartacus', who died of cancer age 40 -

A brilliant series for television; gritty, violent, explicit in many ways, but full of twists and turns and never fails to deliver. Filmed in the style of that great Spartan film, '300', everything was done in studio with green screen CGI for backdrops. Read on...