Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Those acronyms can be bit of a pain
Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/05/2024
» One of my pet peeves with newspapers around the globe has always been the proliferation of acronyms, especially in headlines. Apart from the fact that no one really has the faintest idea what they stand for there's something about them that's just plain ugly.
Keep on rockin' in a lockdown
Life, John Clewley, Published on 14/04/2020
» The sonic landscape of my life in central Bangkok has changed dramatically over the past few weeks of social distancing. Gone are the sounds of construction drills, booming pile drivers, honking horns, unmuffled motorcyles and throbbing tuk-tuks. I can hear birdsong of all kinds in the mornings and, at dusk, the whirring and squeaking of different bat species as they zoom around hunting for insects.
Global genius honoured
Life, John Clewley, Published on 14/05/2019
» The summer festival season kicks off in Europe, Japan and North America early next month, with many bands from developing countries joining the festival circuit. There are lots of festivals that celebrate musical diversity, which is, I believe, important in these times of rising intolerance and xenophobia.
David Attenborough's longtime field-recordings passion project
Life, John Clewley, Published on 27/11/2018
» Sir David Attenborough is famous for his natural-history TV series and documentaries. Life On Earth, Living Planet, The Life Of Birds, The Private Life Of Plants, Life In The Undergrowth and, most recently, Blue Planet have all been shown in many countries. His hushed, almost whispered narration to all these fascinating films is now part of the broadcasting ether.
Lewis Gilbert, director of three James Bond films, dies
Life, Published on 01/03/2018
» Director Lewis Gilbert, whose dozens of movies included three James Bond thrillers -- You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker -- and the Swinging London classic Alfie, has died at 97, colleagues said this week.
Food for thought and deep pockets
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 17/12/2017
» Reading about the launch of Bangkok's first-ever Michelin Guide, I felt a little guilty having just consumed my own gourmet dish of baked beans on toast. A generous topping of grated parmesan cheese hardly lifted it into a creation that would win the approval of a Michelin bon vivant. Anyway, congratulations to all the restaurants that get a mention, even though I can't afford them. I wonder if any of them do a chip butty or mushy peas?
When shortwave radio was my best friend
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/03/2017
» After 20 years the BBC is ending its foreign-language shortwave transmissions from Nakhon Sawan after failing to renegotiate its agreement with the Thai authorities. The transmissions were directed mainly at places like Afghanistan and Pakistan where radios are sometimes still the only source of news.
Facing the music on a desert island
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/02/2017
» The daily news is so depressing it is time for a bit of unabashed escapism. Last weekend marked the 75th anniversary of Desert Island Discs, one of BBC Radio's most iconic programmes. The format involves celebrities being interviewed about their life and selecting eight records if castaway on a desert island. Each guest is allowed a book of their choice and an inanimate luxury.
As Sinatra would put it, 'doo-be-doo-be-doo'
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/10/2014
» Following last week's column concerning singers who hated their biggest hits, several readers rightly pointed out a major omission was that of 'Ol' Blue Eyes' himself, Frank Sinatra, and Strangers in the Night.