Lionel Jeffries 1926 - 2010

A great actor that gets little or no media attention. He was powerful in the Ealing Comedy set of films in the 1950s: 'The Two Way Stretch'.

Others he was involved in included: 'Blue Murder At Saint Trinians' and 'Murder Ahoy'. His career continued but I'll always remember him for these. He will not be forgotten.RIP

Labour & Brown are in denial over election

The left-wing media in the UK are throwing everything they can at the Conservatives. With an upcoming general election (possibly as early as April), David Cameron has been focussed on as being a ‘toff’ and a ‘Class War’ is what Labour are pinning their hopes on. This, they think, will rescue them at the election – a mentally ill person wouldn’t be so deluded.

Polls are putting the Conservatives at roughly 40 per cent which means they would be on course to take power. Talk of a ‘hung’ parliament is more advantageous to the Liberal Democrats and Ulster Unionists. But Cameron’s party will, more than likely, be awarded a landslide by the voters.

Despite a positive showing on Piers Morgan’s television programme last week, Gordon Brown must be realising that Tony Blair passed him the ‘fag-end’ of the government for him to lead in 2007. Brown has consistently failed to communicate his message properly to the British people and this, in large part, is why he’ll be departing Downing Street in a matter of weeks.

There needs to be a reality check by those on the left. The Guardian, a newspaper I and many others love, has failed to accept a Labour loss. Many seem to think that a ‘class war’, a Brown resignation, or an economic upturn will keep Labour in office. This won’t work.

The sugar-coated approach of some on the left needs to end. Cheap platitudes ought not to be employed. The left must wake up and realise that it is the Conservatives that are in the ascendency at the moment. You’re not going to win this general election, Gordon. Even if you book a month of Sundays with Piers Morgan.

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Sexualisation of Children

Watching TV3 last week I switched on to a programme featuring a panel of, not unattractive, middle aged women. The conversation turned to the pressure put on girls to ahem… pleasure boys. My feeling, as a bloke, is that girls and boys are being forced to perform, sexually, in an unprecedented way.

Of course underage drinking, drug use and sex have long been the staple activity for teens but this has been ramped up considerably in recent years. Sexual activity is occurring at a much younger age and with it a certain amount of ignorance over STDs, quite apart from girls feeling that performing Fellatio is compulsory.

The TV3 panellists appealed to girls to be more honest about how they felt and to draw back from the brink, especially if they feel uncomfortable in a sexual encounter. It’s time sex education came to teaching respect for each other’s bodies – we’re not built solely for sex.

David Cameron has spoken out about children being sexualised:

“You can’t cut children off from the commercial world, of course you can’t but we should be able to help parents more in terms of trying to make sure that our children get a childhood and they are not subject to unnecessary and inappropriate commercialisation and sexualisation too young.”

Cameron may well be a ‘toff’, but he, unlike some on the right of British politics, seems to genuinely care about social justice. We shall see after the next UK general election if this rings true.

Mary Coughlan must resign

Willie O'Dea is in hot water at the moment. He's due to face a motion of no confidence next week and, despite Enda Kenny's theatrics in the Dail this morning, O'Dea will more than likely keep his job. As a pal of Brian Cowan's what would anyone expect? Undoubtedly the popular Limerick TD will be knocked in the short-term but he will bounce back.

This, however, is not what the media should be concentrating on. The big, irritating, news is Mary Coughlan's scandalous attitude on emmigration. She has reportedly told the media that she's basically relaxed at the prospect of young Irish, skilled professionals leaving our shores. Senator Paschal Donohoe has, rightly, raised the issue in the Seanad and the true colours of our,supposedly nationalist-loving government are now being exposed.

Whatever 'mistakes' O'Dea has made are nothing to the brazen attitude of Ms Coughlan.It is the view of THE FAT DUBLINER that people should not be forced to leave our country and go abroad.By all means go away and sample what the world has to offer, but coerced emigration is wrong and someone quickly needs to break the news to the Tanaiste that she is losing touch with reality. Next thing she'll be setting up a bureau to assist people to leave Ireland. It's good to know that there's no famine in our country - otherwise we'd have nobody left to live here thanks to this government.

The O'Dea watchers ought to be replaced with Coughlan watchers. She is fast running out of ideas and, as the youtube piece above shows, many are feeling that she is just not up to the job as a minister. We, the voters, deserve better and throwing 'our brightest and best' to another, perhaps distant, nation is not only admitting failure but it is actively cheering it on. She should resign from this clueless government at once instead of pretending to be in control.

Talk Radio

Want to listen to uninterrupted, advert-free radio? There are currently no radio stations, in Ireland, that cater for someone who demands this type of listening. With the latest JNLR survey results just published, there can be no better time to do a case study of how real radio should sound.

From early morn to the darkest of nights, one radio station keeps the listener educated and informed on a daily basis. While many radio stations busy themselves with commercial gain, Radio Four is solely concerned with serving the public. Many specialist programmes are featured and when you tune in (Long Wave or Online) there is nearly always something that will make you think. What follows is a short selection of the programmes on offer at the station.

Start the week is on air each Monday morning at 9 o’clock where a range of guests discuss what’s happening in the world of culture for the week ahead. Originally the show was presented by Melvyn Bragg, and then Jeremy Paxman before the baton was passed to current host, Andrew Marr. Each guest gets an opportunity to talk about their contribution and the programme ends after roughly 40 minutes when the listener is sufficiently stimulated, or bored depending on the content of the week’s programme.

Broadcast on Friday’s at 8pm, Any Questions brings together a panel of guests (usually politicians) to debate news and current affairs. It is an opportunity for listeners to concentrate on the political issues of the week and the discussion is chaired by the thoroughly professional, Jonathan Dimbleby.

Comedy is also catered for on Radio Four. One of the funniest and best acted is Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show. This character mispronounces words and phrases and can be extremely amusing. The programme has run for a number of series’ – demonstrating its popularity with listeners. Radio Four has other comedy shows broadcast daily and is at the cutting edge. Lucy Porter, Jeremy Hardy and Laura Solon are just a few of the comedians to be heard.

BBC Radio Four has many other highly stimulating programmes aimed at the discerning listener but space precludes me from mentioning them here. Suffice to say you’d be doing yourself a favour by tuning in to what must be the doyen of talk radio in these islands.

Lee turns his back on politics

What do you do to make a high profile higher? leave your well paid job as a broadcaster, make plenty of money as a politician and, when your ego has been sufficiently inflated, return to your old job. This is exactly what George Lee TD has done. He's taken Fine Gael and the people of Dublin South for fools while all the time building himself up like some sort of Superman.

Apparently the bespectacled, former RTE Economics correspondent, was not asked to front FG's economic portfolio. This dissapointed him and because no one went to knock on his door he, today, decided to throw in the towell and walk away from his responsibilities as a public representative. Why did he stand for election in the first place? One can only conclude that politics was not as cushy a number as he first thought. Afterall you have to be accountable, don't you George?

Not content with damaging his party colleagues, Lee has decided to dump those he represents in his constituency. Most probably his resignation from the Dail will result in another pointless by-election campaign in which much money and time will be wasted. This is Lee's legacy as a politician. The executives at RTE will be rubbing their hands with glee now that their golden boy, their prodigal son, is returning.Unless he plans to follow another,as yet uncharted path. Now we know what side Lee's bread is buttered on. He's definitely not a political animal.

IANO'S CHRONICAL RIP

Hi folks, just to let you know that IANO'S CHRONICAL is no more - THE FAT DUBLINER is born. After weeks and months of wrangling this blogsite was taken over by irishchronicals.ie

The sale was completed last week and I am only now getting round to informing viewers of the change.Around E20,000 was paid for the site. At a time of cashflow problems the deal was entered into, despite the obvious great reluctance as there was considerable pride associated with IANO'S CHRONICAL.

The new blogsite will continue to bring viewers some of the best writing in the blogosphere and hopefully the audience will grow, especially with the new title, which should be easier to remember and spell. Comments on postings are welcome but it would be preferrable if they were intelligent.

Now go and view......

Why I’m not a fan of Uncle Sam

Apple pie, Independence Day, state of the union. These are things that enthral Americans. Not me though. Even as my compatriots across Ireland enthuse and are enraptured by the US, I remain unexcited. The Irish it seems are devoted to anything ‘stateside’. Indeed many teenagers in Dublin speak with an American twang, humorously dubbed the ‘Tallafornian’ accent.

Most television here features plenty of soaps, comedies, ‘reality’ shows, quizzes and films taken from American networks and programmes such as 24, Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City and The Wire , as well as many others, are constantly talked about in the Irish media and there’s plenty of chatter about the coolest new trends. Much is taken from American life to suit young Irish minds and bodies.

It is true that we owe much to American culture but I don’t want, or need, to have it rammed down my throat. Sinfully, I like the ambience and simplicity of Irish life and no amount of ‘cookies’ or ‘candy’ will change that. RTE, Americana lovers themselves, are currently screening a documentary series, presented by Charlie Bird, about ordinary life in the US. Despite my cynicism, viewing it is a thrill. But Bird, a thoroughly professional broadcaster, even admitted he wanted to return to the Emerald Isle.

Many of my contemporaries have turned their backs on Ireland and moved (temporarily or permanently) to the USA. It has been said that if U2 had stayed in Ireland they would still be playing gigs in the Baggot Inn, not stadiums across the world. There’s no doubt if they want to make it in show business, Irish artists and entertainers must move abroad. But why America?

I don’t begrudge for one second anyone seeking success. If people have their lives enriched by moving across the Atlantic, they are to be applauded. But a minority of Irish people have not stepped on American soil and I’m one of them. The USA holds little or nothing for me. “It’ll broaden you’re perspective”, people say to me but I am unimpressed. Even the ‘big apple’ holds no charms for this fat little Dubliner. American life, despite the music and celluloid wonders they export around the world, is based on greed and gluttony (we’ve got plenty of that here too, by the way).

My intrepid sister, who once made a trip to Chicago, relayed tales of gross obesity among the locals when she returned to Ireland. While I’ve no doubt she enjoyed herself, my sister had nothing to say that would entice me to buy a ticket and go to the land of ‘Uncle Sam’. This writer will never willingly trek to such a large, unforgiving land mass. I don’t need to go there to enjoy apple pie and won’t be watching any American television soon either. No ‘green card’ for me, thank you!