The Megaphone : A Debate Blog

Hello, kids. It has been a long time I know, but I’m back and I’m bigger than ever… I don’t know why, that just sounded right.

Anyway, I have got a lot to get off my chest, but let’s start with an easy one. Since the invention of the amazing boredom saver known as the TV people have been reading less and less. Along with the TV we have computer games, which are also an ace boredom killer. I suppose the internet has probably got people reading a bit, but that’s not proper reading… you’re reading this, but if anything it will probably make you less intelligent and less cultured.

I have to admit that I’m not a big reader. I get really into a book, but then I can’t be bothered reading it so I leave it for a bit… then when I go back to reading it I have forgotten what has happened so I have to start again and it’s a vicious cycle. The last book I actually read from start to finish was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which admittedly is a kids book, but a very good one. I am currently reading Russel Brand’s autobiography, as Sarah thinks I have a man crush on him… I do not.

So do you read, what are you reading, do you think the next generation of kids will be silly because they play Halo instead of reading Dickens… let me know.

Big Love… Ryan

Coca-Cola is the UK’s top grocery brand.

M&M’s were created so as not to melt when American soldiers were in war in hot countries

To follow up on my post about world records, this guy Tomas Vogel has set the world record for unhooking bras… you’d think a woman would hold that record, he’s not even attractive. But somehow he put in enough practice to bust open 56 bras in 60 seconds… that is impressive. I reckon I could do one… if I tried really hard and was really lucky.

Another bra related stat is that Viking women were the first in the Western world to wear bras.

Add your own random facts below… thank you please.

And to throw in a topical one tonight I think Andy Abraham is going to win the prestigious career improving(?) right to represent their country in the Eurovision Song Contest… who do you think will take the UK crown?

EDIT: Added the “Hello Boys” ad… just for you Rhys.

I realise this post is a little belated, being that lent is already three days in, but I shall continue anyway.

I am not a religious person in any way, but I have decided to give something up for lent anyway. Sarah is giving up crisps and apart from that one slip up which I have already forgotten about she has done it perfectly. I have decided to give up something that I should never have started in the first place, and that is watching crap TV.

I know what you’re thinking… Ryan that is not possible.

I spend loads of time watching rubbish stuff like Corrie and Eastenders because Sarah wants to watch it and I’m not just going to go in the other room and never see her, so I watch it too… or I stare into space just beyond the TV. Or those times when you know there is nothing on until like 9pm, so you just channel surf, hoping and praying there will be an episode of Friends you’ve never seen on or something… which there never is, and then before you know it it’s 9pm and that thing you wanted to watch is on.

So what I intend to do is do something else when that rubbish stuff is on. Like draw / design or read or make something. I have been doing this already and am finding it very fulfilling and productive.

So what are you giving up for lent this year?

Don’t worry this isn’t going to be a list of 2008 films, it’s going to be like 5 films I’m excited about which are going to be released in 2008.

So I don’t know why, but there hasn’t been a film I’ve wanted to see in the cinema for ages… but all of a sudden there are loads of films I want to see. This post is going to be a trailerfest by the way.

Be Kind Rewind

I will start with the film I am most excited of all about. It is the release of Be Kind Rewind which comes out on the 22nd February. As you may know I have a man crush on Michel Gondry, so I am always excited about anything he does… excluding like going to the shops, having a wee… you know what I mean.

Juno

I am also very excited about Juno, which I have been avoiding watching on a bootlegged DVD which is flying around in here in favour of the big screen experience. I could have gone to see it for free with SeeFilmFirst, but I was busy last night grrr.

Jumper

I am also excited about Jumper (which is not about those ones your gran knits for Christmas). I am not just excited about this because Rachel Bilson appears to make an appearance in her brassiere (which is obviously included in the trailer), but it also includes people with superpowers and other geekery.

Cloverfield

Then of course there is Cloverfield which comes out here today and is produced by JJ “Lost” Abrams. I will be venturing out to see this sucker. The problem might be that it has been massively (over?) hyped and I hope it isn’t a let down. I have heard reports that the whole film is ace, but the end is poor. Please don’t tell me what happens if you have already seen it.

No Country For Old Men

I also want to see No Country For Old Men. I am a big fan of The Coen Brothers. This has already been released, but only in those cinemas that show good films (of which there are none anywhere near me).

And More…

I will definitely have to wait for the DVD release of Paranoid Park, which also looks good. And Forgetting Sarah Marshall by Judd Apatow of Knocked up and Superbad fame.

Also coming out will be loads of sequels and prequels and stuff, like the new James Bond film, The Dark Knight (with Heath Ledger… like you didn’t know) and even a new Indiana Jones film. As well as Harry Potter and Rambo.

So… which 2008 films are you looking forward to? Also, have you seen any good films already this year?

I can’t believe it, according to this article (and many more) The Gladiators is making a comeback. I used to love The Gladiators. Although I was a scrawny child I knew I could do better than those pathetic contenders… they couldn’t even do the Travelator, come on!

When I was at school, me and my friends always used to argue who was the hottest out of Jet and Lightning. There was a definite divide in opinions between the people who (wrongly) thought Lightning was hotter than Jet and (correctly) visa-versa.

When I think about it, it is probably wrong to fancy girls who really could kick the crap out of you, but when you are as weak as me, that is just a fact of life you have to get used to.

So which Gladiator did you used to fancy? If any, maybe you hated them all… although no one can deny that Wolf was a handsome devil wasn’t he?

I love Lego. It brings back many happy memories of a budding creative Ryan as a child building away into the wee small hours.

So to celebrate this momentous occasion I thought I would share the absolutely unbelievably good Michel Gondry music video for the White Stripes song Fell in Love With a Girl, enjoy…

Oh and contrary to what Jack White might have you believe in videos like this, there is absolutely no CGI* … it is all pure lego and childlike genius of my hero Michel Gondry.

* Michel Gondry said so in his DVD

You have a dirty mind.

Today I really want to know what people think of the big toothbrush debate. Are electric toothbrushes actually better than manual ones?

I have been considering buying an electric toothbrush, because on TV ads they really get rid of the dirt with ease. Plus in the morning, I am pretty much incapable of getting myself dressed, let alone the manual labour involved with getting your teeth clean. I have a feeling though that those TV ads are about as real as Kate Moss’ eyelashes.

There was a freelance guy at my work for a while, and one day he came in after being to the dentist and he said the dentist had suggested he buy an electric toothbrush. The dentist has never suggested I buy one, so maybe he was just rubbish at brushing his teeth. Or maybe they are better, I don’t know.

So should I buy an electric toothbrush? What kind of toothbrush do you use?

Let’s settle this once and for all, what is better… electric or manual?

Ok, so I got the idea for this post while watching Elektra on five the other day. Electra is a Marvel Superhero (hottie) who has been transmorphed from the pages of comic book illustration into a real human in the movie version, played by Jennifer Garner.

This got me to thinking… who is the sexiest superhero of all time?

Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple Computers Inc.),
You and your team of trusty employees are pretty good at designing stuff, so I have a challenge for you. The conventional supermarket trolley still seems to be the worst designed thing in the universe ever. You have already made mp3 players work really well, so why not stop improving them further and make a supermarket trolley that does all of these things:

• Has all 4 wheels on the ground at the same time
• Rolls along silently, and does not sound like the clean, smooth supermarket floor is made of gravel
• Goes exactly where you intend it to
• No matter how many times you touch it… it never… ever sends a bolt of lightning coursing through your body

With today’s technology, it really can’t be that difficult.

Dear Jodie Marsh,
I have a strong distaste for you.

Dear Sky,
Please could you sack the wise-guy who came up with the idea to use corporate blue as the colour of making the top and bottom letterbox elements bright, distracting, eye-catching blue… damn you. This is just a way of punishing those of us not fortunate enough to have a new-fangled widescreen TV. I am sending you negative energy as we speak.

EDIT - Since I originally wrote this, the problem has been resolved… wow this blog has got some power, I hadn’t even published the post… Dear Shannyn Sossamon…

Who would you like to write to today and what would you write?

Ok so Radio 2 is running this competition as you can see above it is insane. Basically the listeners of Radio 2 have to vote on a celebrity who is the ultimate icon symbolising all things Radio 2 over the past 40 years… ok, so it’s not that insane, but the 16 finalists are.

Yes these are the finalists, which suggests they beat off some competition to get here. So understandably there are some names in the running who are the epitome of Radio 2 like the man himself Mr Wogan and even the Beatles, they are popular and clean cut and loved by people my parents age.

There are however some bizarre (I reiterate) FINALISTS. My personal favorite is Lara Croft. Yes you heard me right Tomb Raider herself. She is young sexy adventurous, and hasn’t even been alive for a quarter of the time Radio 2 has. Also I doubt if many Radio 2 listeners have heard of her let alone tried playing one of the games. How the hell is she a finalist, is this some sort of joke… I have no idea.

You know the first thing that pops into my head when I see this image… Radio 2. What do you guys think?

So here is the full list of finalists:
Muhammad Ali
The Beatles
David Bowie
Kate Bush
David Cassidy
Lara Croft
Diana, Princess of Wales
Michael Jackson
John Lennon
Nelson Mandela
Sir Paul McCartney
Morrissey
Donny Osmond
Elvis Presley
Sir Cliff Richard
Sir Terry Wogan

My vote is with Lara. Who would you vote for?

So on Sunday night I watched an ace programme on BBC4 about the dispute over whether or not Steve Ditko is deserving of being called Spiderman’s co-creator.

For those of you who don’t know (shame on you) Stan Lee is the incredibly famous writer and widely acclaimed “creator” of the Spiderman comics and head honcho over at Marvel comics, home of such greats as X-Men, The Incredible Hulk and The Fantastic Four. Steve Ditko is the artist who originally artworked all of the Spiderman comics before walking out after a man row with Stan Lee.

Stan Lee’s Side of the Argument…
It has been said that Stan Lee will “take any credit that hasn’t yet been claimed”, and with this mentality to this day he made no effort to hide the fact he believes he is the sole creator of Spiderman. Stan lee believes that because he came up with the concept of Spiderman he is therefore the creator.

Steve Ditko’s Side of the Argument…
Steve Ditko believes he should be considered the co-creator of Spiderman because the instantly recognisable appearance of Spiderman we all know and love to this day was completely dreamed up by Steve Ditko.

Before Steve’s departure from Marvel Stan did write Steve a letter saying he considered him to be co-creator of Spiderman and said he could show that to whoever he wanted. The letter really was written in a kind of “yeah right” manner and Steve was not happy. Soon after Steve Ditko left Marvel and had a relatively un-successful career writing politically conservative comics which were not popular with rebellious comic reading teens. He also voiced his opinion on the matter with a comic he produced which showed on the left Stan Lee’s contribution to Spiderman which was a paragraph of text and then on the right, his contribution which was a beautifully illustrated image of Spiderman swinging on a web trough the city.

This dispute continues to this day. Although on the Spiderman movies’ opening credits Steve Ditko does get a mention. Most people including the man hmself believe Stan Lee is the creator of Spiderman.

What do you guys think? Does Steve Ditko deserve the title “co-creator of Spiderman” or does that honor belong to the legend that is Stan Lee, as it was after all his idea?

Leave your comments in the box…