TFM Radio

Oscar who?

The terms “BC” and “AD” have been used for centuries to signify a certain element of time.

My wife and I also use these acronyms to distinguish a period of history, but for us “BC” and “AD” have an entirely different meaning.

BC = Before Children

AD = After Delivery

In my life “BC”, I was an avid cinema-goer.  I loved film, and still do!  I would attend the cinema 2 or 3 times every week.  I would go to see certain films based solely on who directed or produced it.  I would scour film forums and join in debate on how poorly critics had judged particular aspects of film, or defend their views.  I dreamed of one day being a bona fide film critic, and replacing Barry Norman on Film ’98!  The Oscars was one of my favourite yearly events.  I would sit, with popcorn of course, and watch them clutching my predictions to see how many I got correct.  But that was all “BC”.

In my life “AD”, cinema is a rare treat.  Rarely do we find the time in amongst work and parenting (and my children’s enviable social life).  When we do finally get the chance to go, you can guarantee it’s to queue with the rest of the weary mums and dads to see the latest Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks creation, and endure endless trips to the toilet with the kids.  So, when the Oscar nominations were announced last week, I had the sad realisation that I had only heard of 4 of the 5 Best Picture nominations.  And I hadn’t seen any of them.

On the plus side, I still find Kung Fu Panda 2 very funny…regardless of seeing it 37 times.

Feeling Blue

Do you think pregnant celebrities have long, complex meetings with their marketing teams and agents focussing solely on coming up with ridiculous names for a human?  Or perhaps celebrities are really funny, but we lesser mortals just don’t get the joke?  There must be some valid reason as to why someone would inflict some of these ludicrous names on their precious little bundles!

2011 saw celebrity baby boys called Bear Blu (a CBBC character?), Kannon (a weapon typo), Spike (a dog’s name), and even Moroccan (that’s not a name, that’s a sandal)!  2011 saw celebrity baby girls called Monroe (a boy’s name…or is it Marilyn?), Indiana (Jones), Haven (a holiday park), and even Harper Seven (since when are numbers in names…unless in sci-fi?) But it seems celebrities mean to go on as they started, as we start 2012 with Beyoncé and her husband Mr Z, naming their gorgeous little girl “Blue”.  Blue!  It’s a primary colour for crying out loud!  Whenever a new, laughable, baby name is announced in Celeb World, I can’t help but think of these people in job interviews when they’re older…”So Miss Blue Z, tell me about your qualifications”.

Highfive
Ant