ROSS

ON

...WHY?

The BBC reports that Glastonbury headliner Diana Ross’s voice “betrayed the signs of her advancing years. But, when the 78 year-old missed the occasional high note, or jumped ahead of the beat, she made it look intentional… as if it was the band’s fault for not keeping up.” Shoot the messenger, eh? 

Some viewers criticised the diva’s delivery as being... “off-key”!

The timeworn troubadour told the turnout that she loved “…singing in the daytime, where I can see your faces, and see your eyes.” Shots of the crowd showed that the vast majority were wearing sunglasses, and some were simply dots on the horizon. A new scriptwriter needed I think!

Artie Shaw, born May 23 1910, was an American musician, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists".

In July 1954, at the age of 44, he stopped playing the clarinet, citing his own perfectionism, which, he later said, would have killed him. He explained to a reporter: "In the world we live in, compulsive perfectionists finish last. “I have taken the clarinet as far as anyone can possibly go. To continue playing would be a disservice. He never played again. 

He was harshly critical of himself and of the music business. He died on December 30, 2004, aged 94. 

Before you accuse me on being ageist, I was born just 72 days after Ernestine. I used to be in showbiz, but I retired a good few years ago. Quit while you’re ahead... and capable!

 

Last Sunday was ‘Father’s Day’, when we papas are praised for… whatever. On this distinguished, designated day, whilst checking through the BBC Red Button text service, I came across the fourth ranked story, under the (International) ‘News’ heading. It read… “Dame Kelly Holmes shares relief at coming out…” It was the second story under the ‘Entertainment’ (?) heading!

I confess I was a little confused, as I wasn’t aware that hide and seek was an Olympics event! However, further reading revealed that she has in fact revealed “…she is gay!”

Ironic, really, because the 19^th of June was the anniversary of the birth of another Dame… the stage and film actress, Dame Mary Louise Webster, DBE (née Whitty), known professionally as May Whitty, who played the role of the vanishing lady, Miss Froy, in Alfred Hitchcock's mystery thriller film, 'The Lady Vanishes' (1938). So… one Dame comes out… another disappears into thin air!

With this planet’s plentiful problems, does the Kelly Holmes story really merit such a high ranking? As far as I’m concerned, it’s about as interesting as watching walls in Wales!

Personally, I don't really care if she comes out, goes in, or stays on the doorstep!

SUPER

MARKET

A recent BBC news report informs us that “…critics have hailed the release of ‘MS Marvel’, Disney’s first on screen Muslim superhero* story as a… “joyful slice of pop culture history…”

Apparently… “the show centres around geeky teenager and Avengers comic book fangirl Kamala Khan, played by Pakistani-Canadian newcomer Iman Vellani.”, who “struggles to fit in until she gains superpowers, becoming Ms Marvel”. Well I suppose that happens to the majority of young people these days!

 

So, there you are then, this could run and run... or maybe... run and then fly! 

It is estimated that there are some 4,300 religions in the world. Christianity is the largest with around 2.4 billion adherents, or 31% of the world’s population. Globally, there are 40,000 Christian denominations. Wow! If Disney manages to cover one per annum, they are not going to tick all the boxes by doomsday, are they? No siree bob (or Roberta)!

 

But… maybe we can look forward, or perhaps upwards to...

 

Anglican Adventurer

Blazing Bretheren

Captain Quaker

Daredevil Disciple

Epic Evangelist

Hard-hitting Hutterite

Incredible Independent Baptist

Legendary Lutheran

Marauding Mormon

Powering Pentecostal

Rocket Rosecrucian

Spiffy Seventh-Day Adventist

Wonder Wesleyan

 

And … if Mr Schwarzenegger is still in business, hows about… Salvation Arnie! Hotcha, hotcha, hotcha!

 

For my 'faith', I would choose… Atheist Avenger!

 

Let’s hear it for hokum!