Sharp Practice

Richard Sharp: BBC chairman. It is nice to see another Tory bastard bite the dust but which crony will Sunak appoint to this sinecure?

Strike Day Plans

As you will have read, NEU members have voted by an overwhelming 98% to reject the government's derisory unfunded pay offer. We have two further strike days confirmed - Thursday 27th April and Tuesday 2nd May. Plans for the two days are as follows:

Thursday 27th April

• Picket lines
• March and rally in Chichester: Assemble at 11.30am West Street, March from 12midday, Rally at 12.30pm at County Hall

Tuesday 2nd May

• Picket lines
• Strike brunches at locations across West Sussex (details to follow)
• Leafleting in town centres

We will again aim to close as many schools as possible in pursuit of our campaign and will support reps and members who encounter difficulties in attempting to achieve this. For both days, we are looking to minimise disruption to Year 11 and 13 exam classes.

Travel and lunch expenses can be claimed.

In the meantime, if you have any queries in relation to the strike days, feel free to email michael.spain@neu.org.uk

Dominic Raab syndrome

I had three head teachers in my 32 years.

One was pleasant but ineffective.

One had Dominic Raab syndrome and was permanently at war with the staff. He tried to sack the union rep (me!) and was thwarted by the united opposition of the NUT and other unions in the school. 

One was supportive of the staff and open to negotiation.

You can guess which head got the best results. Bullies never prosper.

Lyrics Quiz 11

Song Lyrics 11

1) According to Vera Lynn "You gotta wait and see" what?

a) when the world is free b) when the cows come home c) when hell freezes over

2) According to Irving Berlin (in "Always") "When the things you've planned need a helping hand"

a) I'll make an excuse b) I will understand c) I'll see what I can do

3) Why did John McCormack say he wanted to go to Tipperary?

a) my heart's right there b) the beer is cheaper c) it's a lovely place

4) In the traditional song You are my sunshine, please don't WHAT?

a) ever do that again b) take my sunshine away c) leave the heating off

5) Frank Sinatra will be seeing you

a) in all the old familiar places b) on Friday c) at the races

6) If "You've got to accentuate the positive" what else must you do?

a) stop asking questions b) see the glass as half empty c) eliminate the negative

7) The Ink Spots didn't want to do what?

a) pay their poll tax b) set the world on fire c) ever see you again

8) Dick Haymes sang "You'll never know" what?

a) the time b) how much I earn c) how much I miss you

9) Les Brown was going to take a what?

a) holiday b) sentimental journey c) week to recover

10) What didn't Duke Ellington get?

a) a kiss b) a hug c) around much any more

11) Very Lynn didn't know where and she didn't know when. What did she know?

a) the sweet mystery of life b) we'll meet again some sunny day

c) the value of everything

12) Perry Como will go on loving for how long

a) an hour b) a day c) until the end of time

13) Dick Haymes will get by as long as

a) I have you b) a piece of string c) the leaves fall in autumn

14) Bob Weston thought you'd be so nice to what

a) have tea with b) have a pint with c) come home to

15) Bloody Mary in South Pacific sings "Come to me your special island" but what is it called?

a) Bally Small b) Bali Hi c) Ballet Rambert

16) Ella Fitzgerald sang a lullaby about what?

a) Bo Peep b) Three Little Pigs c) Broadway

17) "when you see a guy reach for stars in the sky," why is Frank Sinatra doing that?

a) for a bet b) for some doll c) to pass the time

18) The people all said sit down, why?

a) you're rocking the boat b) you make the place look untidy c) there's a spare seat

19) Frank Sinatra again, what reminds me of you?

a) the mess in the lounge b) these foolish things c) everything

20) "Each night I ask the stars up above" what?

a) why must I be a teenager in love b) what is my horoscope c) give me a clue.

Have a go at the questions before looking at the answers!

1) a 2) b 3) a 4) b 5) a

6) c 7) b 8) c 9) b 10) c

11) b 12) c 13) a 14) b 15)

16) c 17) b 18) a 19) b 20) a

History of Nazism in Good Play

   The National Theatre broadcast this play to a number of cinemas nationwide. Let's face it the good people of Worthing would never see a play by a left-winger (C P Taylor) any other way!

   The main role is played by David Tennant as Professor Halder, a professor of literature who ends up taking part in book-burning to make the university 'pure German.'

   Other parts are played by Elliot Levey and Sharon Small. Their work is excellent because they have to play a number of characters and convince the audience. No mean feat.

   The play is a look inside Halder's mind. He initially joins the Nazi Party to further his career. It certainly does that because all Jewish academics are hounded out of their jobs.

  He then presents a thesis to the Nazi Party on the "Right to Die" which is very topical. The Nazis were very generous with the "Right to Die" and extended it to anyone, starting with the disabled but taking in Jews, communists, homosexuals and trade unionists.

   His only male friend is his doctor who is Jewish. Halder leaves him to his fate and even justifies that to himself saying "The Jews brought this on themselves."

   At every point Halder is haunted by music as a kind of audio hallucination until at the end he is face to face with the orchestra at Auschwitz where his ideas on the right to die are being put into practice and the musicians are there to lull the prisoners into a false sense of security. He sees this as making the holocaust "more humane".

   When "Good" comes to your local cinema, it is well worth watching.

Evil Quizmaster video ‑ Made with FlexClip 5

Response to Laura Kuenssberg

I think anyone who is concerned about the nurses being on strike ought to have protested against the Tory cuts which have put patients at risk.

Anyone who opposes escalation of the strikes should be blaming the government which is pathetic in its approach to negotiation. They attempt to "negotiate" by telling unions to reduce their demands. That is not negotiation. Send Sunak a dictionary.

 

Not My King

The police are profiling and filming those who are opposed to the monarchy. It is not (yet) a criminal offence to want an end to the monarchy.

Clearly this Charles has as much respect for democracy as Charles I. 

The Daily Mirror story is here

Song Lyrics Quiz 10

 

Song Lyrics 10

1) According to Nelly Forbush in South Pacific life was

a) a minestrone

b) a cabaret old chum

c) just a bowl of jello

2) According to Liza Minelli life was

a) a minestrone

b) a cabaret old chum

c) just a bowl of jello

3) According to 10cc life was

a) a minestrone

b) a cabaret old chum

c) just a bowl of jello

4) How do you get to Oz?

a) fly in to Sydney Airport

b) take the path less travelled

c) follow the yellow brick road

5) 5) When Russ Morgan is cruising down the river what time is it?

a) Tuesday morning b) Thursday lunchtime c) a Sunday afternoon

6) When Glen Miller asked "Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?" who is the boy in question

a) porter b) shoeshine boy c) his son

("you can give me a shine")

7) According to various artists, "When the boys would call, Lilly would yell" what

a) get out of here you scoundrel b) Who on earth are you? c) Ma, he's making eyes at me.

8) By the light of the silvery moon Doris Day will do what?

a) act like a loon b) spoon c) read Lorna Doone

9) What else might Doris Day do by the light of the silvery moon?

a) sit on a dune b) croon love's tune c) think it's past noon

10) Doris Day again "Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be" why?

a) It's just like that b) the future's not ours to see c) I said so

11) If "there's none so classy as this fair lassie," who is Eddie Cantor singing about?

a) Doris b) Morganna c) Susie

12) Barbara Streisand suggests "let’s sing a song of cheer again" because

a) we won the pools b) winter's gone c) happy days are here again

13) Elvis is not made of

a) money b) wood c) clay

14) Gene Kelly was singing in the

a) drawing room b) Panto c) rain

15) If "folks dressed up like Eskimos " what are the chestnuts doing? (Rosemary Clooney)

a) being eaten b) being bought c) roasting by an open fire

16) Who is Steve Earle going to see in his dreams

a) Frankenstein b) Dracula c) Irene

17) If Tootsie does not get a letter from Al Jolson what should she assume?

a) he is in jail b) he's lost interest c) he can't find a stamp

18) Ella Fitzgerald found "another season, another reason" for making what?

a) cake b) whoopie c) money

19) According to Etta James what's it been like since she broke up with her man?

a) too darned hot b) sunny intervals c) stormy weather

20) Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby both found what falling from heaven?

a) rain b) pennies c) angels

Please try the questions before looking at the answers.

1) c 2) b 3) a 4) c 5) c

6) b 7) c 8) b 9) b 10) b

11) c 12) c 13) b 14) c 15) c

16) c 17) a 18) b 19)  c 20) b

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Quizmaster-Mr-Derek-McMillan/dp/B0BSMCP1FX/

Flyer for The Evil Quizmaster

The Evil Quizmaster is a collection of quizzes which have been tried out with Guildcare Quiz Club and the Worthing U3A. They are suitable for more mature readers and can be used for informal quiz sessions.

The focus is on fun. Everyone has enjoyed these quizzes.

The book costs £2 from

Derek McMillan

9 Pond Lane

Durrington

West Sussex

BN13 2RH

derekmcmillan1951@gmail.com

There are no postage costs within Worthing.

Song Lyrics Quiz 9

Song Lyrics 9

1) Perry Como wanted to put what in his pocket

a) your money

b) his hankie

c) a falling star

2) Frankie Laine loved the wide open spaces so he sang what

a) Don't fence me in

b) Don't sit under the apple tree

c) Don't take your love away

3) Doris Day thought "what will be will be" but how did she translate it?

a) Hasta La Vista, Baby

b) Que Sera Sera

c) arrivederci

4) For Nat King Cole what is going to "carry my loved one home safely to me"

a) American Express

b) P and O line

c) red sails in the sunset

5) who did Eddie Cantor describe as "oh what a girl"

a) Suzi

b) Lady Gaga

c) Kylie

6) Barbara Striesand was going to sing a song of cheer because

a) happy days are here again

b) the gas bill arrived

c) she'd had a little drink about an hour ago

7) For Ella Fitzgerald sugar was sweet and so was she

a) a blackbird

b) a bluebird

c) a grey bird

8) Elvis Presley asked "Please don't break my heart in two" because

a) it's the only one I've got

b) I haven't got one

c) I don't have a wooden heart

9) Dean Martin was going to buy what for a blue lady?

a) a matching blue dress

b) a part in the Smurfs

c) red roses

10) Connie Francis want to know "who's heart is aching for" what?

a) breaking each vow

b) breaking the dining service

c) breaking parole

11) Al Jolson and Dean Martin thought "Nothing could be finer than " what

a) a train to chattanooga

b) to be in Carolina in the morning

c) to be in Memphis in the evening

12) Louis Armstrong sang "Rain may glisten but I still listen for hours and hours " for what

a) a bluebird

b) a blackbird

c) a red red robin

13) Why was Gene Kelly laughing at clouds so dark up above?

a) he had a strange sense of humour

b) the forecast was sunny intervals

c) The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love

14) What was Tiny Tim's invitation

a) come round for drinks

b) pick me up at eight

c) tiptoe through the tulips with me

15) What was Jerry Lee Lewis's invitation?

a) come round for drinks

b) pick me up at eight

c) tiptoe through the tulips with me

16) Al Jolson and Brenda Lee were "Just a rolling along, just a rolling along " but where were they?

a) in a Chevrolet

b) in a Nash Rambler

c) sittin' on top of the world

17) The Andrews Sisters sang "He's in the army now". Who?

a) Elvis

b) Eisenhower

c) the boogie woogie bugle boy of company B

18) Who was Al Jolson wishing goodbye to?

a) Toot toot tootsie

b) Desmond Tutu

c) Two ton Ted from Teddington

19) The Four Aces thought "Those wedding bells are breakin' up" what?

a) that old gang of mine

b) the silence

c) the party

20 For Sinatra when did "The whole world smile with you" ?

a) when you're doing something daft

b) when you're smiling

c) when you're as rich as Rockefeller

Please try the questions before looking at the answers

1) c 2) a 3) b 4) c 5) a

6) a 7) a 8) c 9) c 10) a

11) b 12) c 13) c 14) c 15) b 

16) c 17) c 18) a 19) a 20) b

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Quizmaster-Mr-Derek-McMillan/dp/B0BSMCP1FX/

 

Tory Lib Dems

I notice Lib Dems are appealing to Labour voters to back them against the Tories.

 They would also like them to kindly forget their disgusting coalition with the Tories as well.

 

 

Anti Social Capitalism

The government website boasts that "Perpetrators of anti-social behaviour will face swift and visible justice".

However, does this mean the profiteers of Southern Water will have to don high visibility jackets with "Community Payback" on the back while they clear up the sewage they pump into rivers and the sea every day of the week?

I wouldn't bank on it.

 

 

 

La Belle France

Such a pity Charles' visit to France has been delayed. They really know how to treat royalty over there. They cut them down to size.

Song Lyrics Quiz 8

Song Lyrics 8

1) Why wouldn't I give you tuppence for your old watch chain?

a) it's stolen b) it's old iron c) I don't want one

2) Dusty Springfield didn't know what to do with...

a) her hair b) her money c) herself

3) Gene Austin asked you very confidentially

a) ain't she nice? b) are you from round here? c) can you lend me a dollar

4) Frank Crumit had a little drink about an hour ago and what does he want now?

a) more money b) a breathalyser c) the way to go home

5) Vera Lynn thought there would be "love and laughter and peace ever after " when?

a) on Tuesday b) when this lousy war is over c) tomorrow, just you wait and see

6) "Roll out the barrel" and what will happen?

a) we'll have a barrel of fun b) we're going to need a bigger barrel c) somebody's got to pay for this

7) "Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester Square " but where was John McCormack going?

a) to Kilkenny b) to save Kenny c) to Tipperary

8) The Peerless Quartet (also Betty Boop) wanted to "Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true" and what

a) let me take you to the pictures b) let me call you sweetheart c) let me call you on the phone

9) "you’ll never know dear how much I love you, " so

a) don't ask where I went last night b) don't take my sunshine away c) wash my socks for me

10) According to Patsy Klein, "Oh we ain’t got a barrel of money, maybe we’re ragged and funny" so how will we get on?

a) rob a bank b) badly c) side by side

11) When Russ Morgan was "Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon" what were they waiting for?

a) the postman b) the moon c) the wind to change

12) Which train arrived for Glen Miller on track 29?

a) the starlight express b) the last train to Clarksville c) the Chattanooga choo-choo

13) (Andrews Sisters) Don't sit under which tree with anyone else but me?

a) cherry tree b) apple tree c) old oak tree

14) Ev’ry minute he gets bolder, now he’s leaning on my shoulder, how did it start?

a) ma, he asked for my phone number b) ma, he bought me a drink c) ma, he's makin' eyes at me

15) Harry Dacre sang "It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage," what did he suggest instead?

a) a bicycle made for two b) we'll get the bus c) We'll hitchhike

16) Artie Shaw sang, "I'll be with you" when?

a) in tulip time b) in apple blossom time c) during the summer hols

17) Bing Crosby (inter alia) sang, "they steal your heart away" What were they?

a) Irish eyes which were smiling b) heart thieves c) the blarney stone

18) When Jack Norworth "ain't had no lovin' Since April, January, June or July. " what is he waiting for

a) Doris b) the harvest moon c) the right girl

19) Pat Boone complained "How you laughed when I cried, Each time I saw the tide" do what?

a) soak my towel b) destroy my sandcastle c) take our love letters in the sand.

20) Doris Day was going to be cuddling soon by what?

a) lamplight b) starlight c) the light of the silvery moon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Quizmaster-Mr-Derek-McMillan/dp/B0BSMCP1FX/
 

 Don't look at the answers before at least trying the questions.

1) b 2) c 3) a 4) c 5) c

6) c 7) c 8) b 9) b 10) c

11) b 12) c 13) b 14) c 15) a

16) b 17) a 18) b 19) c 20) c

 

OFSTED

OFSTED throws words like "inadequate" at other people and schools.

I can think of several words for OFSTED and I expect you can too. How about callous, unfeeling, bullying, ignorant, arrogant and of course "inadequate"?

Cases of OFSTED behaviour ought to be more widely publicised and this is something the union could do without exposing teachers to OFSTED retaliation.

 

 

Institutional Racism

The Met does not see ‘institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia’ as an issue to be tackled. They wear it as a badge of honour.

There are police officers who want to tackle crime and serve the community. In some forces, however, they are a persecuted minority.

I once drank in a pub frequented by Met police officers. Their racist jokes were ones school children would have found too childish.

Worthing Flash

#worthingflash has had 57815 visitors and there is always room for one more.

My story is a flight of fancy and it is published today:

https://worthingflash.blogspot.com/2023/03/im-not-here.html 

 

 

20,000 Leagues under the Sea

Jules Verne's book anticipated some of the features of modern submarines and drew on an encyclopedic knowledge of the oceans. I can thoroughly recommend this book.
Captain Nemo is an enigmatic character who has turned his back on the world in order to explore the depths of the ocean. His very name means "nobody" and the exploration of his enigma exercises the thoughts of Professor Arronax as much as the natural phenomena which he describes in graphic detail.

Incidentally 20,000 French leagues is about 40,000 nautical miles. A lot in other words.

Song Lyrics Quiz 7

Song Lyrics 7

1) Who must know sumptin but don't say nuthin' ?
a) old man river
b) Boris Johnson
c) Mr Thames

2) Glen Miller thought nothing could be finer than what?
a) lunch in the Pullman
b) dinner in a diner
c) breakfast at Tiffany's

3) Madam Rue on 34th and Vine used to sell ?
a) Love Potion number six
b)  Love Potion number five
c)  Love Potion number nine

4) "When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now, " how old will Lennon and McCartney be?
a) forty
b) sixty four
c) ninety nine

5) The people's flag is deepest what?
a) red
b) white
c) blue

6) A famous Beatles Album was
a) red
b) white
c) blue

7) How were Earth Wind and Fire feeling?
a) red
b) white
c) blue

8) Meanwhile how were Simon Garfunkel feeling?
a) groovy
b) rich
c) disconsolate

9) What did Carol King feel moving under her feet?
a) her shoes
b) the earth
c) the bus

10) Where has Carole King been?
a) Glasgow
b) Edinburgh
c) way over yonder

11) Who or what was girl's best friend according to Carol Channing?
a) her mother
b) her school
c) diamonds

12) When might you see a stranger across a crowded room?
a) some enchanted evening
b) after seeing your optician
c) someday

13) Marlon Brando hoped who or what would be a lady?
a) luck
b) Lauren Bacal
c) the queen

14) Who has been gone too long?
a) Nathan Jones
b) Nathan Smith
c) Boris

15) While strollin' through the park one day, I was taken by surprise by...
a) the park-keeper
b) a talking tree
c) a pair of lovely eyes

16) If the rain is Tess and the fire's Joe what do they call the wind?
a) Doris
b) Mariah
c) North West

17) Who claimed to "know the kings of England, and quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical"
a) a modern major general
b) the ruler of the Queen's Navy
c) the lord high executioner

18) To whom must you defer in Japan
a) a modern major general
b) the ruler of the Queen's Navy
c) the lord high executioner

19) Who "always voted at my party's call, And I never thought of thinking for myself at all."
a) a modern major general
b) the ruler of the Queen's Navy
c) the lord high executioner

20) And finally from Gilbert and Sullivan who were "filled to the brim with girlish glee
a) three little maids from school
b) the captain's daughter
c) the Mikado's daughter

Please do the quiz before peeking at the answers!

1) a 2) b 3) c 4) b 5) a

6) b 7) c 8) a 9) b 10) c

11) c 12) a 13) a 14) 15) c

16) b 17) a 18) c 19) b 20) a