February 2008

Here comes another hastily put togother video. This time its a version of the Cheers title sequence, but featuring the folks from The Shrewsbury Arms in Stafford.

Cobbled together by myself, with photographs supplied by Alf Jackson, and some old ones from the Staffordshire Past Track website. Gary Cartwright gave my the idea for this last week, and frankly I'm amazed that I could be bothered to get it done, considering i'm such a lazy oaf.

"Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)". Words and Music by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo. Performed by Gary Portnoy. Earthtone Recording, Inc.

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I just have to post this photograph of myself and Little Jeni. It makes me chuckle.

Sorry Jeni.

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Once again i've designed something, but for a change its been for someone else, and its become real.

I present the Beer Clip for the Shrewsbury Arms.

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Not many days ago, I recieved a package containing a copy of my very own rubbish quality book "How many Goths does it take to change a light bulb?"

Now, once again, "I have in my hand a piece of paper". And, I'm in the toilet (as that, oddly is where the best lighting in the house is), and i've used my cameraphone to take the picture. _{Feckin' quality linking that was. Unless anyone noticed the tense-change...}

So here is physical proof of the book...

 

Hmm. Something is missing, but I can't think what... Oh yeah, the FRIGGING TITLE! Still, at least my name is on it. Anyway, let us look inside.

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Actually, i'm quite happy about the whole thing, apart from the cover. Honestly, I spent minutes thinking of that title and might as well have used "Coppulam Eam Est Se Non Posit Acceptera Jocularum". There are a few printing errors that didn't appear in the original version (such as the footer line breakage that i'm pointing to up there), but I'm still happy with it. And I'll be even happier if you click here are buy a copy to feed my nicotine, alcohol and curry habits.

Also, I can now say I am a published author and you are not. And that, in a very small way, makes me better than you.

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And, as the great Brian Blessed once advised us, "Lead on my brave Hawkmen!"

Over the past few weeks, a number of my associates (they cannot be called friends anymore, as I refuse to be friends with idiots) have become high-and-mighty about changing their electricity supplier to one which, and I quote, "only provides electricity from green and renewable sources". How very noble and fluffy. Tossers.

Have these people had a team of workers outside their houses putting new power lines in? No. Do they realise that they are getting their Watts from the same coal burning/nuclear/hydroelectric mishmash that I am? No. Does one of them think that a special device in the local substation is filtering power so that he only gets the "environment friendly green power" (his quote)? Yes.

Now I'm sorry about this, but it matters not a jot who you think you are paying for the juice to light your bulb. It is all coming from the same grid. Your electricity, just like everyone elses, is generated by either burning fossil fuels, disrupting wave patterns, exploiting Algerian peasants, annoying yokels, the beauty of wind-turbines, or smashing atoms together. (only one of those was false).

You, my candidate for Idiot of the Month, are paying more to power your toaster, merely because your brain is feeble.

Ah, you say, by my energy supplier is planting trees to offset my carbon footprint.

Ah, but I say, give me one shred of proof. A lot of companies say they are planting trees to offset carbon emissions, but i've yet to see any actual evidence. Most companies can't be arsed to answer the phone within ten minutes, never mind plant a tree.

Um. maybe thats it. "All our operators are busy planting trees. Your call is important to us, but not as important as the threat to the planet. You may be sitting in the dark, but Dave is out planting a tree".

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I found an interesting little site yesterday, myminicity.com. So, I command you to visit the ST16 Minicity immediately, or else the little township will not grow.

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Ideally, I'd like a 110 Hard-top, but i'm really not fussy.

So, why would I want such a vehicle?

The Defender is big, ugly, thirsty, noisy, and desperately un-cool. Much like myself. Question answered.

In a world where the Volkswagen Kombi has become the epitomy of cool, I'd rather drive around in something that actually "does what it says on the tin". Seriously, I've always loved the Landrover as not only a style icon, but a bloody good four-by-four. The Defender must be the only currently available vehicle, over ten years old, that carries any of the spirit of its original incarnation. Plus, if the British Army can't kill them, no-one can.

This is where you come in.

I would like you to contribute to my fund for buying a Defender. I work in a very low-wage job, but i'm saving up for one. I came up with the idea of this site after seeing hundreds of begging sites over the years, but i'm not begging.

No. Seriously, I'm not.

I am willing to display the name (and web address) of any contributor somewhere on the vehicle for a minimum of two years. Obviously the size of the donation would correspond to the size, and location, of the placement. For example, £500 might get you an entire door, £300 for a front wing, or £25 for a 6"x3" block somewhere on the bodywork. The bumpers are already accounted for.

Think of this as an advertising opportunity. Be part of the "Internet Defender Project". Once I have the vehicle, i'll set up a website thanking everyone involved, which will run for two years. How cool would it be to be part of this?

At the moment i'm just canvassing for pledges, to see if this project will pan out.

You can contact me at defender@tonyblews.co.uk to ask any questions, or offer money. I'll set up a paypal account soon.

If you are involved in a company which sells Ex-MOD LR kit, you could offer me a big discount!

If you are an owners club or magazine, you could give me some free publicity. the website address is www.iwantadefender.co.nr, but you knew that already, didn't you?

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