If it’s news to me, it must be news to you!
Head or tails?
The Royal Mint had to put its Brexit commemorative coin back in the money box for obvious reasons. Similarly the makers of British Independence Day t-shirts.
Is the EU worth it?
Much is made about the amount of money that goes to the EU but this online tool for finding out your personal contribution is an eye-opener. (My contribution: £25.41 a year.)
Seriously though
This academic study from 2017 Who Voted for Brexit? found that exposure to the EU in terms of immigration and trade was not a major factor for leave voters. The key drivers were education profiles, historical dependence on manufacturing employment as well as low income and high unemployment.
Goodnight sweet art
Two Ukranian artists have produced a portrait of president Petro Poroshenko. Called the Face of Corruption, it is made from 20 kilos of sweet wrappers from the confectionary firm he owns.
In other art news
Cosimo Cavallaro is building a wall along the US-Mexican border made from blocks of cheese.
Ecky thump
The University of York has published a dictionary of over 4,000 Yorkshire dialect words online, the life’s work of Dr George Redmonds.
Speaking of words
Someone has published a grammar test from 1984 that he reckons no one can score more than 10/20. Not true
Brief Lives
Politician and instigator of the World Trade Organisation Frans Andriessen; The Beat singer Ranking Roger; Her’s band members Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading; Mossad chief Rafi Eitan who kidnapped Adolf Eichmann and; enigmatic and influential rock star Scott Walker.
I’m not really sure you would call Scott Walker a “rock star,” Mr P. To me he was (along with the other two) more of a bland, middle of the road, pop performer. However, he certainly had a good voice, knew how to present a song for the best effect and had the female fans (and no doubt a few males) drooling over him. He seemed to go “off the radar” for such a long time, which usually suggests that recording artists have other issues which are getting in the way. However, he made his contribution to the Sixties merrygoround.
I’m not really sure you would call Scott Wlker a
A rock star may be the wrong epitaph but he was certainly cited as a major influence by diverse performers as Brian Eno, Jarvis Cocker and David Bowie. Personally, I loved his orchestral rock.
I missed that Ranking Roger died! We need all the good Rogers as we can get.