Tuscan Tony

Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:04:00 +0000

Pure genius and comedy gold.

Victorian Drinking & Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Not often the Tuscan is persuaded to air public service messages, but this one made the cut.

Hat tip: The excellent and reliable 45govt.

Tumbleweed

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:27:00 +0000

3 posts here over the past 5 months: hard not to spring to the conclusion that social media is killing Tuscan Tony off somewhat.

Would love to reinvigorate this, which has provided me with both rich entertainment and a number of real friends (met and as yet unmet but all very much enjoyed) - but not sure how that might happen. Answers on a postcard please, maybe an aggregate blog with others in a similar predicament?

The Tuscan blames Mark.

Aardman Production

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Definitely the work of the kings of plasticine.

Someone told the Tuscan that Red Ed is Grant Shapps' cousin: can this be true?

ZZ Top

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:50:00 +0000

The early years.

Gun Laws - a measured view

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Your host at Tuscan Towers - as sketched in a not-at-all-gay way by Paolo The Peasant.

Following the lead spraying that went on in Cumbria on Wednesday your host did a bit of Googling to determine the relative state of gun laws around the world. Rather than putting together something himself however, the bone-idle Tuscan would like to steer you to this article by Durban photojournalist Gavin Foster where it appears his words and thoughts have already been written down verbatim.

Do please invest the 5-6 minutes to read it, and while you do, hold this image in your mind, taken in a Swiss supermarket:

Spamalot

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:38:00 +0000

Hi all, someone from South Korea has decided that this is a good place to punt his shirts/shoes/whatever and has been "commenting" 10-20 times a day as "qqq" or anon. To be honest it got a bit boring and was filling up my inbox with weeds that I don't presently have time constantly to clear away, so will be leaving this open for a bit (with comment moderation enable for posts older than 14 days, an interesting new-to-me option I've just discovered) to see what happens and unless one of you has a bright idea as to what I can do about this will need to think about plan B.

Meantime I am alive and very much kicking on the biggest source of hot air this side of Neil Kinnock's biography: Facebook.

Modern Warfare

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:40:00 +0000

This should be a fun evening tonight, 27th May at the Frontline Club, London. Sorry not to be there.

Olympic Mascots

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:41:00 +0000

Well done the chaps at b3ta.

Idle In Tuscany

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:52:00 +0000

The departure of the eponymous blogger (seen here trialling the Tuscan's best python boots) and his entourage after four oenologically-packed days at the Towers is viewed by your host with a little sadness but a substantial need to hit the hay for about a fortnight to recharge the lithium ion power cells. Normal service will it is feared possibly resume later this week after the Tuscan's blogging sabbatical of the past couple of months.

Flights of Fancy

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:22:00 +0000

This is good.

Easter Bunny - Full Length Version

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:02:00 +0000

Gordon Brown: A Reconstruction

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:42:00 +0000

Brownonomics

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:51:00 +0000

A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

A billion Pounds ago was earlier today for Gordon Brown, OPM* waster extraordinaire.

*other people's money.

(stolen and adapted from a Guido commenter)

65,000 Years later

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:50:00 +0000

...the last member of the Bo tribe died.

"Boa Sr. is the eldest member of the Great Andamanese tribe. She is about 80 years old and looks rather fit for her age. Otherwise, how else could she have managed to climb a tree when tsunami hit Strait Island? She is also the only member in the tribe who does not have anybody in her family surviving. Her mother, To, was a Bo, and father, Renge, was a Jeru. She was married to Nao Sr., a Jeru, at an early age. Her parents’, as well as her own marriage only testifies further a point made by her that in earlier times marriages used to take place between different language communities, i.e. different tribes. A preference for the same could easily be seen in most of the earlier matrimonial alliances. For example, out of six most senior members of the tribe, which we have recognized as having four different family lineages, four have had mixed parents.

Although she claims Jeru to be her mother tongue, which might well be the case, her language has quite an evident and strong influence of Bo. Nonetheless, she is the most proficient of the surviving Great Andamanese speakers and still retains a vast repertoire of songs and narratives. Many of her songs have such strong influence of Bo that most of the other speakers of Great Andamanese today are unable to derive any much meaning from them. Little wonder then that Boa Sr., like most of the other Great Andamanese, insists that there is no similarity between Sare, Bo, Khora and Jeru.

She is presumably the richest surviving member of the Great Andamanese tribe in terms of linguistic-reservoir. Her love for life is quite evident when she says that she would love to stay in Port Blair. For a society which was not acquainted even with a barter system, it is interesting to observe that she understands the value of modern currency. Among the things she would often ask for are scissors, blades, and different biscuits (pickies). It is a treat to watch her when she bursts into laughter upon things she would herself say. Our predecessors would have very much been like her!"

RIP, No. 45.

The Lady Vanishes

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:16:00 +0000

One hundred year ago today young Cora disappeared, a matter that ultimately let to the first use of radio in a criminal arrest. Such is the power of modern technology, the house where the outrage took place, No 39 Hilldrop Crescent, can be admired on Google Street View, too.

Your thrilling Sunday morning factoid from Tuscany.

Cowabunga

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:19:00 +0000

Your host presents this to you, the intelligent and discerning readership of this blog, without comment other than that insurance and investments now seems an attractive career as an alternative to inflating cows.

Hat tip: Pillow Fluffer

2010

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:07:00 +0000

Its midnight at the oasis, and this camel's going to bed.

A very happy and exciting New Year to you all!!

Kim Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:28:00 +0000

The megasavant on whose life the film Rain Man was based has died in Utah.

"Kim could hold a book within eight inches of his face and read the left page with his left eye, the right with his right eye at the same time. He devoured books that way."

Blimey.

RIP, sir.

Tuesday Quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:02:00 +0000

OK, what happened here in 1854?

Bamopoly

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Col. Lewis L Millett

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:28:00 +0000

Hill 180 - a painting by the Colonel.

An extraordinary man. Not often the Tuscan laughs in amazement on reading an obit, but he did with this one.

RIP, sir.

World's Mellowest Man

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:56:00 +0000

Hat tip: Sam Gamgee.

Eight Calming Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:31:00 +0000

From 2:00 to 2:20 is awesome. In a sandy sketchy kind of way.

Hat tip: West London Man.

Barnes Wallis

noreply@blogger.com (Tuscan Tony) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:30:00 +0000

He died in Surrey 30 years ago today: the Tuscan pater promised to take your host to meet him, but sadly it never happened.

A rare man and a true hero.