Personal Genius: Gruff Rhys

I love Gruff Rhys. Look at him:


He's mostly known for being the lead singer for Welsh-o-phile indie-psych-rockers Super Furry Animals. However, here are some other reasons why I like him:

1) He looks like he should be in a Personal & Social Education (PSE) video about respecting the Countryside Code:


2) In his Neon Neon side project with Boom Bip, he created the album Stainless Style, a commentary on the life and times of DeLorean creator, John DeLorean. Said album actually sounds like a DeLorean in its kitch retrofuturism, it's really quite marvellous. I would like someone to suggest to Messers Rhys and Bip that their next album should be entitled 'Oh Mumsie! The Richard O'Brien Experience'. Actually don't, that's my idea.


3) Super Furry Animals' Welsh-language album 'Mwng' is the highest selling Welsh-language album of all time and for this reason got a mention in Parliament, and the Welsh Assembly:


4) I would not be surprised to learn that he has been an extra in Welsh lanugage soap opera, Pobol Y Cwm. However, I could not find any evidence, so here you go:


5) In the top photograph he is holding a keyboard that I own, a rather special Casio effort that comes with song cartridges. there is a Beatles one but sadly no Super Furry Animals one. What this does prove is that we should be friends so if anyone could pass the memo on, please do.

So, Gruff Rhys:

1) Friendly face
2) Sensitive historian
3) Political pioneer
4) Potential TV star
5) Casio enthusiast like me

Lovely stuff.

Living in a Box

Idols. Leaders. Inspirations. We all need them. The problem is, they're generally human, and humans die. And when they die, they're gone, at least physically speaking. Of course you can say their spirit lives on, and stuff like that, but unfortunately, they're not there, and considering my only interactions with massively influential people is that I get shouted at by them, it's quite a big difference.

Anyway, this needn't be a problem anymore, thanks to taxidermy. Enter academic behemoth University College London - so attached were they to their utilitarian founder Jeremy Bentham, they stuffed him:

Quote: "Hiyaaaa!"

What is better is that they have also put him in an action pose, inside a box on which is written 'JEREMY BENTHAM'. Anyway, I was reminded by this as I walked past him the other day, and by this rather stoic notice on the BBC's front page:


Apparently they got Stuffed Bentham and made him attend the UCL big wig meetings, where they would vote on things and Jez would be marked down as 'absent'. Touching stuff. It's quite easy to be sentimental about things after you've stuffed said things and they can't shout back at you: 'I AM NOT ABSENT, I AM JUST FULL OF FEATHERS'.

Deviant Sexual Practices Afoot

Again, some classic commentary from the MSN web output mandible:


A year? That's some mad tantric sex thing right there. Is that legal? Wouldn't some kind of rot set in? Isn't that more Ashley's cup of tea? Answers on a postcard before things start to get sick.

Also, wouldn't a year-long video eat up the world's bandwidth something awful? We all know how crazy we are for a bit of over-intrusive celeb coverage, after all...

Our Radio Rocks

I've got a radio show and have done for some while. It is on www.rarefm.co.uk from 3-4pm on Thursdays. It's really good and you should listen to it, to be honest.

But sometimes people can't tune in for whatever reason, so I got told about this amazing website called MixCloud, where I can create podcasts of my shows. It's really fantastic and easy to use. More Importantly, it's easy for you to use, so you can listen in and whatnot. How fantastic. Yes!

Bang Bang Bang Pow Pow Pow - 10 Dec 2009 by Bangbangbangpowpowpow on Mixcloud

I mean, just try this baby out for starters! I'll be posting these up on the blog as and when they happen. You can also access all this stuff via http://www.mixcloud.com/bangbangbangpowpowpow/ .

Also, don't forget you can enjoy the BANGBANGBANGPOWPOWPOW Spotify playlist: BANG BANG BANG POW POW POW

Don't wet yourselves too much, like.

Crifty Crafty Update

I do craft, you know? Brooches, badges, coasters, necklaces, hair barettes, medallions, lifestyle solutions, cool point opportunities. I do it all. I'm doing it at this craft fair in Stoke Newington on 6-7 March, details below.

It has been arranged by Of Cabbages and Kings who sell some stuff in a shop in the area. So good on them. I hope to sell lots of stuff and show off my fancy new business cards. You should definitely come along and say hello, perhaps buy something. Apparently cups of tea are going to be 20p a go. So get involved with that, at least.


DETAILS:

6-7 March 2010

11am - 5pm, Abney Hall, 73a Church Street, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AS

FREE ENTRY

From designer knitwear and hand-printed stationery to glitzy jewellery and gorgeous home wares, each weekend a different selection of designers and makers will be peddling their wares.

Hot and cold drinks and tasty treats available

http://www.ofcabbages.co.uk/OCK-News.htm

NICE PICTURES:

Don't forget, you can also buy my craft from my online store, or by contcating me for more information. I do commissions and I am currently a very poor student, so am willing to be exploited.