West Wing Season Four

I’ve just finished watching the DVDs of Season Four of the West Wing. It’s taken me longer than usual to watch the complete season, primarily because there’s been so much other stuff going on in life at the moment, but I’ve still got through the last two discs in about three days.

And the combined effect of those two discs can be summed up as either “Wow” or “Fucking Hell!” depending on who you’re talking to. I’ve always been impressed by the series, by the scripting, the acting, and the story curve – but I have to say that the final three episodes of Season Four are an amazing example.

And the only other reaction I’ve got having seen those last episodes is to thank the Lord that Season Five is already showing on E4, and TiVo has got sorted so that I can find out what happens…

Hungry Caterpillar

Amazingly, the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is now 35 years old today. Since being published, it’s sold at least one copy every second minute (My mistake) of every day somewhere in the world. That’s quite something.

The piece in the Guardian is fascinating, detailing the way it’s been popular with not just children but also teachers, education authorities, artists, and even US Presidents (Bet you can’t guess which one…) There can’t be many people who don’t know the book, and I think it’s a stunning achievement to have been constantly in print for 35 years. Long may it continue. (Along with “Where the Wild Things Are“, which is slightly older at 37years old.)

Buzz

Apparently, Boots are considering going into partnership with Durex, and selling vibrators and sex toys in the new year. So far I’m impressed that no-one has called this “A shake-up of the business plan“.

Anti-chav

Interesting to see that Liverpool is launching a campaign to get people to remove hats, helmets, or hoods before going into shops. I can see that this is – potentially – a good idea, having seen the number of little scallie bastards in Manchester who use these items to conceal their faces. In the majority of cases I’ve no idea whether they’re doing it to “buy into” the stereotype ‘urban criminal’ look, or whether it’s because they intend to steal/threaten – however, it’s deeply unsubtle, and I’ve often wondered whether in fact that style of appearance doesn’t attract more attention from store detectives and CCTV operators etc., instead of providing the intended anonymity and prevention of identification.

Deprived

You know, there’s one brilliant indicator that’ll tell you if an area is depressed or not. And that sign is this :

When the local “pound shop” is closing down, and has a sign on the window reading “Closing Down. Everything Half Price“

Oldham has a shop doing this.

Nicely Avoided

Further to the guff from yesterday about the work Christmas Do, an email has just come round saying that all the remaining tickets have now been sold.

Even better, not one of the tickets has been sold to me. A couple of people yesterday suggested I should go, but well, no, I think I’ll avoid it. Wednesday the 23rd is going to be my last day in the current job anyway, so to finish and then go to the Christmas Do would be dedication above and beyond. Besides, I can think of several better things to do. Watching paint dry, for one. Celebrate the end of the contract, for two. Pack a bag for the Festering Season being another.

But now it’s a moot point – the tickets have been sold, and I’m not going. Works just fine for me.

Festerous

Do you have days where you simply despair of both the retail world, people in general, and really just the Festering Season™ altogether? Yes, you’ve guessed it – this is one of those days. And it’s only October.

Superdrug has all its Christmas-theme wrapping paper stocked up at the front of the shop, Tesco has a load of boxed chocolates and special Festive-type fare (including Mince Pies, for fuck’s sake) and – as observed last week – Next in the city centre has bloody silver christmas trees in the window. (And I must remember to get photographic proof of that one…)

However, not content with that little lot, this email came round last night at work…

DEAR ALL,
There are only 35 tickets left for the work’s Christmas Do on Wednesday 22nd December.
We have been informed that if anyone wants to go, they are going to have to
be pretty quick. It is definitely first come first served now.
Can you let me know by tomorrow at the latest who wants a ticket, so we can
reserve them.
We have been informed that at the rate they are going, all tickets will be
gone by Friday.
Be quick if you don’t want to be disappointed!
[the organiser]

Two bloody months beforehand, and people are buying tickets for a work Christmas Do. I dearly hope I’m never that organised…