bigjohn

I’ve just watched the final episode of the new “Perry Mason” TV series. Apart from some of the characters’ names being the same, it is nothing like the old ‘court room drama’ shows from more than 50 years ago, although I believe it is somewhat true to the first few books written by Earl Stanley Gardner.

However, I enjoyed this kind of “noir detective” tale of a hard drinking scruffy gumshoe in 1930’s Los Angeles. It reminded me of another great series “Boardwalk Empire” with it’s very ‘authentic look’ and ‘believable’ characters, with Matthew Rhys as good in this as he was in “The Americans”.

Oh ! .. before I forget .. According to this new series investigator Paul Drake used to be black and Della Street was a lesbian. I’m not sure what happened with Paul, but at least we know why in the old series …

I see that one of my favourite poets, Rudyard Kipling, is in the news again, because the BBC has decided that the musical version of his celebrated poem “Mandalay” is being removed from their showpiece programme commemorating the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, much to the distress of the WWII veterans’ organisation the Burma Star Association. This is because just one of the performers objected to the line ..“an wastin’ Christian kisses on an ’eathen idol’s foot”  .. as he felt .. “it derogatory to people of colour.” Quite how that works, is a little beyond my old brain’s understanding. 

If you have not read Kipling’s poems, I should warn you that they do not fall into the category of ‘WOKE-PC’ , although “Fuzzy-Wuzzy” was written about the bravery and fighting skills of Sudanese tribesmen and his …

“Of all them blackfaced crew
The finest man I knew
Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din…

… Though I’ve belted you and flayed you,
         By the livin’ Gawd that made you,
     You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!”

… are extracts from a poem which may be complicated by the reality of imperialism and the overtones of racism. However, this soldier’s tribute to the Indian servant who saved his life is touching nonetheless.

“There is no sin so great as ignorance. Remember this.” … Rudyard Kipling

Just what we need at this traumatic time when a deadly pandemic sweeps across the world …

Yes ! You guessed right … 36 new members of the House of Lords, including Boris’s little brother and an ex-captain of the England cricket team.

Some clever-clogs has worked out that their combined annual expenses will cost the British tax-payer £1.1 million a year. Mind you this isn’t even a “drop in the ocean” when you consider the billions (we don’t have), being tossed around on such idiotic schemes as barmy Bojo’s “on yer bike” and Tricky Rishi’s half price pizza plan.

Never mind. The sun is still shining, the pubs are now open, your nails can be manicured, and if you have a mind to, you can have your bum tattooed before heading for the nearest beach to join all the other halfwits who seem completely oblivious to the fact that they risk far more than getting sunburned and finding some real sand in …