Friday Fun 37: Swotting up on the English Reformation with Sellar and Yeatman

A day late, but hey. It’ll be worth it. But whatever you do, don’t use this for your GCSE history revision. [If you have done your revision, you'll see why]. Having read this, how will you ever be able to confuse the Reformation and the Restoration again? What’s more, whoever thought we’d need Hilary Mantel to bring this era to life?

Anyway, thought I would dedicate one or two Friday Funs to the sublime brilliance that its 1066 and All That. So let’s dive in straightaway, with Henry 6th and his 8 wives. Or was that the other way round?

Friday Fun 36: Bloggers in Therapy

Every blogger needs to feel the love. But it’s a dangerous pursuit. And sometimes, we need help to get over our hangups.

The cartoon department at The New Yorker is an ever-present help in such troubles – so for your joy, delectation and general therapy, here are some important pointers…

60-second adventures in religion

I can’t remember who told me about these, but they’re fab. The Open University Religious Studies is obviously plugging its wares – but fair enough. The results are wonderful and very useable in all kinds of places I suspect – wryly humoured animation with the added bonus is the wonderfully-suited satirical voice of David Mitchell.

Friday Fun 26: US Election Season cartoons

The last New Yorker of September was the annual cartoon edition – with some genuine chuckle-worthy moments.

Many of them pick up on the rigours and absurdities of US politics, what with the Presidential debates and elections next month, n’ all.

Friday Fun 24: More perils of modern relationships

Reliable as ever, The New Yorker Cartoon production line has produced a few corkers recently.

Couldn’t resist these. Especially the killer paisley. I’m now on high alert for this hitherto unforeseen strain.

Friday Fun 23: Hobbes knows the answer to the Meaning of Life

It speaks for itself…

Friday Fun 18: Some Essential Relationships Advice from the New Yorker

Oops – I’ve not done a Friday Fun for a couple of months. Terribly sorry, dear reader. Anyway, here are a couple of perfectly formed little numbers from recent New Yorkers – including this very week’s edition – how up to date is that?!

Anyway, I’m sure we all need a bit of help with our relationships. Here’s a little nudge in the right direction for the cause of improved male-female communication…

Friday Fun 17: Harry Graham’s Ruthless Rhymes

Haven’t done a Friday Fun for a couple of months – oops. So thought i’d share something from a lovely Christmas present I received – a 1942 printing of Harry Graham’s 1930 classic, More Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes. It doesn’t get much darker or blasé than this. Just the ticket to keep morale up during the Blitz no doubt.

Happy Thanksgiving from the New Yorker

To all my American Friends:

Happy Thanksgiving

Thought you might enjoy this from the current edition of the New Yorker.

Have a good day!

Friday Fun 15: Some New Yorker gems

I don’t just read the New Yorker for the cartoons… honest.

Well… they are a big part of its joy… So here are a few recent gems… I especially liked the guy who always manages to get a train-seat. I’d only add that if you want a whole carriage to yourself (even during rush hour on the London underground) just wear a dog-collar.

That’ll get them fleeing for their lives.

Friday Fun 13: Beware men with Guns and Megaphones

The US cop show has immersed us all into the clichés of American gun culture. It is one aspect of American life which most of us find hardest to comprehend (especially when it gets defended theologically by the Christian right – though if this is where you are coming from, please help us out here – I do want to understand how it can still be justified other than on purely pragmatic grounds). After all, in contrast to most police forces in the world (including across Europe), the British police do not carry guns while on normal duties. And I would argue that we are all much safer as a result.

Friday Fun 11 with Poker chips – and a blogging vacation

Well, this is a lot of fun – done by my son and nephew. It’s amazing what you can do with a camera and some poker chips when you put your mind to it. Enjoy

and that concludes Q’s service for this academic year. Off for a couple of weeks – may be the odd photo posted. But normal service will resume in September.

Fun Friday 4: If it’s all random…

The fatal flaw in the claims to a random universe…?

Signs of the times: you’re just so, like, totally conquered, man…

Here’s a couple of great, revealing, and on-the-ball cartoons from a recent New Yorker (18th April 2011). Fantastic, as ever. This time the genii responsible are Tom Cheney and Bruce Eric Kaplan.

Sorry to burst your bubble… welcome to our twittering present…

This has done the rounds a bit – but I love it… it speaks for itself…

Have tried to trace its origins and give credit where it’s due – but have been unsuccessful so far. If you know, let me know…

Smiley Romance! But doesn’t he seem a little old for her…?

Another classic from last week’s New Yorker…

So you want to be a better person…?

Just love it – by one of my favourite cartoonists, William Haefeli - from the New Yorker, Oct 2009

United Church of OMG

Somewhat irreverent (and oh, how I hate the OMG acronym) but this New Yorker cartoon did raise a smile. It amazes me when standing at the door on Sundays how many people are already thumbing away on their mobiles before leaving.

By Ed Koren, from The New Yorker (31 Jan 2011)

 

Searching for an easier religion…?

I’m afraid I couldn’t resist this cartoon from the 24 Jan 2011 New Yorker.

Two quotations sprang to mind – which I’ll just throw out for reflection… The first is from G K Chesterton:

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.

The second is from Jesus Christ (in Matthew 11:28-30), as he contrasts the experience of being his disciple with Pharisaic religion:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Confessions of a magazine junkie

Someone made the mistake of asking me the other day what magazines I read. And it came as a bit of a shock to me when I tried to work out my list. I’ve always been a magazine junkie, I suppose – because at their best, they’re far more significant than mere advertising vehicles or glorified gossip columns.

So here’s my main list, in no particular order. I remember Tim Keller saying in a talk once (but can’t remember for the life of me which talk it was, so you’ll have to take my word for it) that he reads a careful selection of magazines simply because they are often the best indicators of the shifts and prevailing winds of popular opinion or insight. Well, that did it for me! I became a professional magazine consumer as a direct result. So you can blame him…

To get a taste of each magazine, click on its image.

Well, some would say it’s a ridiculous indulgence. And it probably is. But here are my justifications (!)

• Wired UK (monthly) – it’s not just a geek’s bible. It often has fascinating and well read, insightful articles about all kinds of technological and scientific advances. It is an education – but a highly enjoyable one (especially for geeks). The heights of human ingenuity are on display.
• The New Yorker (weekly) – ok, yes I know it’s high-brow and its articles are probably the longest on the planet. Each edition will have at least 3 or 4 10 page articles. But this is my biggest treat. It is perfect for long journeys – and it’s range of interests is incredible. One week you can be reading about an American art philanthropist, gun-running in the Sudan, the history of late night chat shows on US TV etc etc. The cartoons are fab too. What’s not to like?
• BBC History Magazine (monthly) – it partly reflects the centres of gravity of modern history teaching (eg there’s always something about the Tudors and the Nazis) which is a bit annoying. But the range of articles is usually good; there is always a fascinating section looking at the historical background of a big news item; and the book reviews are great. Oh and I always enter the crossword competition in the vain hope of winning a book. No such luck so far.
• Private Eye (fortnightly) – during his 5-minute interview on BBC Online, editor Ian Hislop explained that the purpose of satire was “to expose vice, folly and humbug“. Private Eye does that in spades – most of the time, it is not too scurrilous. Much of the time it is doing a great public service and I’m grateful for it. As well as hugely amused.
• Empire (monthly) – probably my longest subscription. I adore movies – and love to know how they were made etc. But I hardly get time to see them or even to watch DVDs these days. So at least I can read the reviews. Though my frustration with Empire is that it is becoming a bit too celeb-dazzled (or has it always been? can’t work it out).
• Christianity Today (monthly) – it’s always interesting to see Christianity from another cultural perspective – and this American mag (if you can get past the interminable adverts for Christian colleges and seminaries in the US) often provides that.
• Tate Etc (quarterly) – this comes automatically with being Tate Friends – and it is lavishly produced and a real treat. Very interesting for keeping up with developments in the art world. Often provocative but always informative and beautiful to look at.

I also, from time to time, dip into The Briefing, Church Times, and EN – and for finding books I want to read, my most productive source has been the Culture section of Saturday’s Daily Telegraph.

Ok, so I know what some of you are thinking. How on earth does he have time? Doesn’t he have a day job? Should his employers not be informed?

Well, here are my explanations/further justifications:

• Reading stuff is part and parcel of my job – and being in touch with what’s going on is essential to it. So this is work.
• Although it is fair to say that this definitely combines business with pleasure.
• I have strange reading habits – I’m fortunate enough to be able to pick something up and read it for 5 minutes and then come back to it later. So if I’ve got a spare moment waiting for someone to turn up, I’ll read something. In fact, I’m sure I need to see someone about this – but I have a pathological need to be reading something all the time (even if it is about the calcium content of Corn Flakes).
• Most magazine articles are bite-sized anyway (apart from the New Yorker obviously) – and so designed to be read in short bursts. Perfect for loo-reading, then.

So there we have it.

Would be very interested to know if you have particular favourites. Or even if there are magazines you think I should add to the list!! :-)