bookmark_borderIn my place

Oh crap, it’s Monday morning. Already.

Today will be an exercise in self-control. Having had only about 4 hours sleep I’ll be attempting NOT to make sarcastic comments to any of my co-workers, and to stay awake at least until lunchtime.

I had planned to discuss Derren Brown and whether his latest tv show is starting to break the boundaries of responsible programming, but I’ve not done any research into any possibly long term effects of his methods so that’ll have to wait.

I had also planned to comment on a recent comment left here, but even generalising will be transparent and I can’t be bothered with the hassle. I’ll file that under “one more chance” I think and let it pass.

And with that cryptic piece of non-blogging I’m off to get another coffee. Back later if I’m still awake.

bookmark_borderMental

Even if you don’t agree with his methods, if you’ve caught any of episodes of Derren Brown’s show Trick of the Mind, you’ll have to admit that he is very talented at what he does. Some of the results are remarkable. If you caught any of his first series you can see he is building on the foundations of the methods he developed back then but it’s one thing having a rough idea of how something is done, quite another to do it.

I’m not a fan of his more grandiose projects, the live Russian roulette was in a little poor taste, and think the series showcases his talents much better. Watching him bemuse a scouser into handing over his watch, wallet, keys and mobile phone, TWICE in quick succession was both hilarious and fascinating. If you are really interested, he reveals some secrets from the last series on his Channel Four website (including how those people in the phone boxes ended up slumped on the floor after a thirty second phonecall).

Tonights show, has him guess what object someone is thinking of as they stare into space, get slapped by Jo Whiley (lucky devil) and the finale is quite creepy, nasty and possibly a little sick, you are warned of this before the segment starts. I’m not going to spoil it for you, suffice to say that I was uttering various swearwords as the reveal slowly took place. “Twisted fucker” being one of the more choice phrases.

So tune in tonight, 9.30pm on Channel Four.

bookmark_borderSpooky

Derren Brown was at it again last night with his televised séance. He has done public séances before as part of his stage show, and fully admits that they are mocked and he is simply showing how easy it is to fake these things.

Still damn clever though, even if it is using simple techniques of suggestion. Now we did figure out that the grid of photos was, basically, mathematics, and of course we don’t know what information he knew about the 12 students he chose to participate – presumably enough to manipulate one of them to enter room G7. The rest of it he explained – the wine glass on a oujia board moves because you push it, even if you don’t realise you are pushing it – but he nicely left some things unexplained to add to the mystery. I’m guessing these were the things that are completely trick/fraud based, rather than anything that relies on mental manipulation.

Clever bloke that. I wonder what he’s really like?

bookmark_borderRadar

British soldiers torturing Iraqis – why are we shocked? Too close to home? How naive.
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Malta – welcome!
Kilroy on have I Got News for You – rascist to the core.
Derren Brown – simple tricks (some of them) but very very effective and ‘good TV’.
Google IPO – will it change the company ethos?
30 minutes a day – Government recommends our exercise; big brother? the kick up the arse the country needs? Neither?