I came across this video on YouTube, which I have been using a bit more recently and have even set up a profile where folks can see all the videos I have found or uploaded. Don McMillan demonstrates how not to use powerpoint; a must see for all people who use powerpoint (or similar presentation tools).
Becky got some free tickets to see the filming of Omid Djalili’s new show, on BBC in the autumn so we trundled off to Wood Lane (where there was a Tardis outside the audience entrance!!). We saw two episodes being filmed and whilst the format is quite traditional (stand-up interspersed with sketches), his talent as an actor made the sketches and his stand-up material had me in stitches for much of the show. Yes, the content could be seen as quite close to the mark (wherever the mark happens to be, probably somewhere near Edgeware Road for one joke referencing the recent london bombings…) but is always carefully thought out and usually very funny. Ethnic catchphrase was a popular skit, pandering to sterotypes something chronic or challenging the pomposity of political correctness, or whatever – it was FUNNY!! His take on the news getting the ‘view from the middle east’ by talking to some obsessive, hook-handed jihadi before cutting to the weather is hilarious yet strangely accurate at the same time (surely, it has to be noted that groups of normal folks going about their business are usually absent from the media, in favour of those banging their heads and screaming…?). This is obviously material he has prepared well; in the HBO films below we see this expanded to see Al-Jazeera getting the ‘view from the Christian west’ by speaking to some redneck Ku-Klux-Klan leader – yee haw! Of course, not all his material is so contraversial; some of the sketches are proper old-school humour, verging on the Russ Abbott (I’m thinking the caring skinhead and over-involved parent here, two classics).
Supported by Patrick Monohan (an incredible standup who I’ve seen before in Bristol and who just could not say Djalili – hilarious!!) who did the warmup and anything else the floor manager wanted. Also spotted was Ian Stone working in the wings on Omid’s material; I saw him in Bristol too, amazingly funny bloke (and very quick to deal with hecklers so beware, if that’s your thing).
Omid on HBO in the USA (if you like this, you’ll love the show as many of the jokes make an appearance in episodes 4 and 5):
And there’s plenty more on YouTube
Yes, the long awaited release of the definitive work in the genomic dub genre… Videos and mp3s are now online, as are comprehensive notes on the lyrics!
This project draws on the skills, knowledge and experience of an eclectic mix of individuals, united by a common love of science and music, including: a Professor of Microbial Genomics, a Jamaican scientist who is a native speaker of Jamaican Creole, a talented programmer with experience of organising student events and a clinical psychologist with extensive experience as a musician and events organiser.
What a line-up! There’s more on the project manifesto here
He’s done it again; this time it’s the Chamillionaire tune ‘riding dirty’ which has been Alified into ‘white and nerdy’, the first single from his new album. I nearly fell off my chair when i first heard it I laughed sooo much (dangerous as i was driving at the time!) The video is linked from his MySpace.
