A personal note, from the Badger Diary, if you’ll forgive me.
A personal note, from the Badger Diary, if you’ll forgive me.
Throughout this whole ‘mourning period’ I’ve been incredibly aware of What Others Think. Am I being too ‘normal’? Will people think me a cold fish? Do they know what’s happened? Etc etc.
Well, now I am utterly focused on other people in a different way. I’m asking them to give me money to shave my head next year.
Here are the details. If ever a post of mine on BMTV has amused or entertained – or just wasted 5 mins before the lunch break – please chuck me a fiver. http://www.justgiving.com/projectegghead/
My family are Jewish, and during the morning period, the men grow a beard – a physical manifestation of their grief. As a non-religious Jew (and a woman!) I felt quite frustrated in the months that followed my Dad’s death that I didn’t do anything physical to mark what has happened. I also wanted to do something to raise awareness and money to fund research for Pancreatic cancer. So my boyfriend Dave and I have decided to raise £2,000 for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (http://www.pcrf.org.uk/index.html) – and during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week next year (probably mid November 2010) we’ll shave our heads.
I’m not a runner (I can’t do the marathon thing), but I wanted to do something that would test me. Anyone can sit in a bath of baked beans. Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about fashion – perhaps too passionate! My hair is a very important part of my ‘look’ – it’s basically my permanent accessory. Plus, as a woman, my hair is an important part of my femininity. So there’s absolutely no doubt that this will be difficult for me. But I’m determind to do it. After all, I’m lucky enough that it’ll grow back. Others aren’t so fortunate.
To put Pancreatic cancer into perspective:
Forty years ago few children survived childhood leukaemia. Now the survival rate is 80%
Forty years ago only 46% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived five years or more. Now that figure is also 80%
Forty years ago 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived five years or more. That figure is still 3%
When I read that last statistic I was utterly appalled. I hope you are too.
The problem with Pancreatic cancer is that it’s so difficult to detect, so by the time it is diagnosed, there’s very little that can be done. But with research, hopefully the boffins can find some way around it. Already there is an operation that can be done if the cancer is detected early enough.
Pancreatic cancer seems to be the black sheep of the cancer family. Not many people know about it, and those who do know it to be severe and unrelenting. Hopefully with research and raising awareness this can change. Years ago, cancers like leukemia and lung cancer were feared almost as highly as pancreatic cancer. Now, thanks to funding research and raising awareness, the survival rate is growing daily. I hope in years to come, the same will be said for pancreatic cancer.
My boyfriend Dave is also shaving his head in support. This is a team effort, so please support him too!
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
What have they done to her mouth?????
Surely the point isn’t whether or not Dannniiiiii Minogue’s comment last Saturday was homophobic or not, it’s that she had absolutely no right to discuss Danyl/Daniel’s sexuality live on TV, when the poor guy hasn’t even come out (yet).
“If we’re to believe what’s in the papers,” she said, “there was no need to switch the gender reference.”
Well if we’re to believe what’s in the papers, Dannniiiiiii, you clearly would rather have been back in Puss N Boots watching canoodling with a female lap dancer, or at the other end of a botox needle, or under the surgeon’s knife or hating Cheryl Cole. Etc etc etc.
Glass houses, Dannii, glass houses.
It’s not even as if his being or not being gay (straight, bi or whatever) has anything to do with his performing abilities. Her half-arsed apology the following night merely drew attention to her embarrassment – even as she said it the first time, she knew she’d cocked up. And Simon’s very clever ‘mishearing’ only forced her into a corner to repeat it again, thus making her look even more of an arsehole. It just goes to show that Dannii is absolutely under qualified to judge X Factor, if all she can muster for commentry is a pointless ‘joke’ she had no business making.
From glass houses to pots calling kettles black. Oh dear, Elly. Listened to the new La Roux track on the radio the other morning and it sounded just like the other whingy out-of-tune song she released this year. Boring…
Been watching the unravelling Sugababe palaver unravel since my return from the States. One thing that amused yesterday was this little comment from failed Eurovision act and new ‘Babe Jade. “Not that talented and always slagging people off?” Hmmm, ever heard of glass houses, Jade?
Oh and this (about Sony dropping her after her Eurovision defeat) almost made me gag on my cornflakes it was such a jem – “I tried everything afterwards and worked as a receptionist but I thought there is no way I can do this for the rest of my life. I just knew from being a teenager all I wanted to be was a star.” Don’t worry Jade, I’m sure your old employers aren’t keeping your seat warm after that humble admission.
And while we’re on the subject of the Sugababes, what the fuck are they doing releasing such nasty initial publicity photos? I can only assume they were rushed out after Keisha’s firing. Seriously, what are they doing here? Farting? waiting for some bumming action? Bizarre.
Thanks to Digital Spy for their loan of the banner. Loving this – see the mastery? Mix n match Sugababe line-up!
Oh, Matt. Do you panic buy petrol any time there’s a sniff of a strike too? In fact, you’re probably out bulk buying it now because I’ve mentioned it here and some kind of twat alert has gone off in your home (or should I say, bunker?).
Loving your oh, so wise words about history. I’m sure your girlfriend really has “seen it all” because she’s from Italy and they had the Roman Empire. Does that mean I personally (at 28 years of age) have seen it all because I’m Jewish and we had the Holocaust?
Also coming out of the closet this autumn are Dale Winton, Julian Clarey, Elton John and… Peter Andre.
Hello there. So it’s been another break in the world of BMTV. I was debating about whether or not to explain, what to say, how much of the story to tell or just make something up. It’s a tricky one when your blog is technically your diary, but I have issues with journalists spilling their guts. What’s sacred? What matters? What do people really need to know?
My dad died on 28th July and I haven’t felt like writing anything – even if I’d had time in between funeral organising and all the gubbins that goes with something like this. It was all very unexpected and sudden, and I’m still finding the whole thing rather surreal – I haven’t even properly got my head around it yet.
I think that’s all the blogosphere needs right now!
So. That’s the explanation for why I’ve been away. Better than the last few, eh? No doubt my posts over the next few months will be few and far between (I’m not watching BB or Enders which were fabulous fuels for firey posts). I have meant to write something about Dragons’ Den but my heart isn’t in it. Maybe one day soon when I’m full of bile, resentment, guilt and anger!
I’ve discovered the joy of BBC iPlayer and have even got geeky enough to regret the loss of 4OD’s download facility – if an episode of The IT Crowd freezes one more time while streaming I shall go on a Falling Down-style rampage. Which is why I’m mostly sticking to iPlayer. And my weak lemon drink.
Jeez.
So. Anyway. A proper blog post. OK so I agree with this – glad someone of weight has finally said it. I’m also thrilled that Woo is back! Baby steps, Woo. We’ll do it together, yes?
Don’t care what the whingers say I chuffing love the new Doc’s look – “A NEW SUIT AND A HAIR CUT!” I think it makes him look quirky (as the doc should, and always has done – with the exceptions of Ecclestone and Tennant). In fact looking at him alongside the others just confirms him in my mind as a solid Doc. He looks like an alien reckons a doctor should look, and that’s what I was always lead to believe the Doctor was doing when dressing as a ‘human’ right? Smith is perfect. I don’t care that he’s the youngest, or that he looks like a potato. More the better as far as I’m concerned.
I’m just glad they’re totally going the other way to Skins. Imagine if he HAD been all skinny-jeaned, trilby-hatted and skinny of tie? No, this is a far better course. And check out the new Amy Pond (if that is indeed her real name) and her awesome Cons! I’ve spotted her in two versions – deep, dark red (just like Doc 10) and blue ones.
So, what WAS Alex Kingston doing on set on the first day? Are we to finally see the sweet history of the Doc and River as so beautifully described in Silence in the Library – scroll to 3.25? Is Amy, River?
Woargh! I can’t wait for the Age of Moffat! It’s going to be awesome!
No major spoilers – even for those who’ve not read the book. But don’t read if you want to keep your hopes up!
To London on Friday for the Half-Blood Prince preview. It was (apparently) the first ever international screening of the film. Which is why I was a tad confused later in the veening when Wossy told Hermione he’d seen the film and loved it – his show is pre recorded no? Maybe he got a special uber-celebrity viewing. Or maybe he’s lying.
In fact, he *is* lying because… Would it be breaking the embargo to say I was pretty much let down by it? Sod it, the Guardian have stuck a review up early, and as BMTV is more or less on a par with them as far as quality writing goes, I shall publish away! I know I was utterly excited by it – so much so that I actually had butterflies whenever I thought about it the day before. I shouldn’t have got my hopes up – I only did because Order of the Phoenix was so good. Half-Blood Prince basically ignores one of the central strands of the plot. I found that quite difficult to grasp until I got my head around it. I came out of the cinema thinking, “Hmmm. Something wasn’t quite right about that. It was OK. The snogging and teenage-ness was bearable – it’s more or less all you think about as a teen really. But no… it was something else. Ah yeah! They ignored the whole HBP thing!”
In the book, Harry is obsessed with finding out the indentity of the Half-Blood Prince – the mysterious owner of his second-hand Potions book. He’s so obsessed with that (and trying to work out what Malfoy’s doing scuttling around in the Room of Requirement) that he ignores Dumbledore’s mission; to get Slughorn’s hidden memory. He ignores it so much, that by the end of the book, he sufferes immense guilt that he hadn’t found it sooner – if he had, then perhaps certain tragic events wouldn’t have happened… By the time of the big reveal in the film, “Yes Harry – *I* am the Half-Blood Prince!” you’re left feeling not at all surprised (who else could it be, really – although in the book, this first thought is red herring’d only to pull the rug under you at the final twist, but as they didn’t delve into this strand of the plot, there’s no confounding to be done and therefore, no surprise at the end), but also you’re left going, “Oh yeah… there was something about that at the start, like, three hours ago, right?” Because the film is also far too long.
Slughorn is wonderfully cast, as is Lavender Brown – Jessie Cave has great comic timing and presence. Why she wasn’t cast as Ginny way back when I’ve no idea. Seriously, anyone could have done a better job. I don’t mean to be cruel because she is young, and I’m sure she’s got a lot still to learn (boy does she have a lot to learn) but surely someone, somewhere down the line should have said, Bonny, love, how about maybe using some expression? Remember, Ginny has loved Harry since she was able to know who he was. Maybe use your eyes a bit? Maybe make your lip wobble when you’re feeling emotional? Maybe use the tone in your voice to show when you’re excited, angry, upset? Something like that? Otherwise, we maybe as well use a cardboard cut-out and save on your fee.” Please don’t think this is hyperbole. She honestly made even Emma Watson look RADA-trained.
The film itself was fine. As a teen film. Good comedy from Harry, Ron – even Hermione. Great Broadbent stuff, and extra special kudos to Tem Felton who did a wonderful torn, bitter and confused Draco. For once, he had something to do other than snarl a bit. I’m just a tad upset that – even though it was an epicly long film – they didn’t really do much in terms of characters and plot. It just seemed to be a lot of snogging and Rom Com stuff. They could have made more of Draco’s mission, Harry’s obsession with the HBP, Hermione’s anger at Harry for not turning in the book (and jealousy for not being the best at Potions anymore). Half-Blood Price is such a rich book – the teen Rom Com stuff is only a small part of it.
I’m not sure how the film works in the series as a whole. Maybe they’ll make more of who the Half-Blood Prince is and their backstory in the next film – although they’ve enough to cram in, even with the splitting of the Dealthy Hallows into two films! They should have split Half-Blood Prince too. Why they didn’t is beyond me – and why JK Rowling let them ignore this HBP strand I’ve no idea. It’s a shame because it does a lot for the characterisation of the HPB. It starts to ball rolling into your vision of them as the multi-structured, tortured, character they are. Without the pulling apart of the HPB thread I’m afraid the films will make them into a 1D villain. And they’re not.
Anyway. Enough of that. I’ve most probably triggered some kind of Harry Potter Cyber Alert and any minute now Harry Potter Cyber Ninjas are going to burst thru my ceiling and comendere my laptop (I think that’s what my next job is going to be – a Harry Potter Cyber Ninja, sounds excellent fun!). I’d like to say more about the trip to London (you know how I love my London rants) but I’ll save that for my diary as I’ve not posted over there for a while, and this has already turned into an essay.
