Flowers for Algernon

‘Charlie Gordon is a floor sweeper’, so the jacket blurb describes.  This is not in the same ball park as those standard 'space based' Sci-Fis akin to Star Trek. This could well be considered a psychological insight into the ever changing human state.
In this tale we follow the fortunes of Charlie who, at the outset, is ‘blessed’ with an IQ of 68, well below normal. There’s little to distinguish him from anyone else other than his inability to understand anything more than the ‘here and now’ – and with those around him either despairing at his ignorance or taking advantage of his simple nature there seems to be no real chance for progress.
That is, until he is confronted with the option to be ‘made’ intelligent through a surgical procedure. Without hesitation he takes the option with the assumption it will improve him, such is the engrained belief that everyone else knows best.
Over time he surpasses all around him, including those that performed the experimental procedure. He finds himself able to comprehend so much and yet, at the same time feels completely isolated from all – far more so than when he was a simple floor sweeper who was the butt of all jokes.
This book is not an easy read for the personification of the language itself – at the start this ‘diary’ monologue is that of a man with an IQ of 68. However, as the language improves so does Charlie’s understanding of his situation – and with hindsight he is conflicted by feelings of animosity to those around him for taking advantage of such an innocent; the former him.
Extra-ordinarily architected, this story shows the shifting of a human psyche from a constant to a growing, changing, learning individual who, once capable of objective and abstract thought, is from time to time offended by the routes used to get there. The conflict creates dead ends of thought to be avoided and quickly, as described in the text, the protagonist understands that to be productive, one must be happy.
In numerous ways this book illustrates humanity, from the the ‘birth’ of the new consciousness to the ‘nursing homes’ visited towards the end, and all the confusion of love, sex and work between the two.
In short – fantastic. I thoroughly recommend this book – but don’t take my word for it, read it for yourself! ;)

Bordering on convenience (or: Tescos takes over Border store)…

Yes – astonishing as it may seem – news broke today that Tescos would be taking over the Borders store in Bournemouth Square.
Shocked pensioners were seen to be dancing in the street as they heard that they too would be eligible to buy cheap alcohol from right in the centre of Bournemouth, despite initial protestations from the chap who owns the mini-convenience store round the corner on Richmond Hill.
When interviewed Barry Garlow of “Extract This” (the well known boy band of the 90’s) demanded, “This is just the sort of inner city rejuvenation project old pop bands like ourselves love, it’s a win-win situation all round”.

The Bournemouth IMAX– on it’s way?

Who can forget the all pervasive sounds of disgruntlement that seeped into your car as you drove past Bournemouth Pier – back in the years that followed the erection of the IMAX cinema. What an erection it was.
For some reason or another the planning office had agreed to give planning permission for what appeared to be an enormous metal box next door to the pier. After construction it was clear that it deprived everyone approaching the sea front of half of the view of the Solent.

I could do with a 'D'

Do you remember the good old days when advertising was fun in some way or another...? I watch it nowadays and it seems to lack something. I'd struggle to say that British advertising was the most innovative now - although many people will tell you it's more subliminal than it was before (I can agree with that),

Gorgeous legs - what was the ad about...?

 

I have to say that much of the entertainment that used to be there seems to have gone missing. The only exceptions seem to be the strange Honda adverts that tell you all sorts of weird and wonderful things whilst you are treated to all sorts of weird and wonderful cartooons... 

 

Anyway - enough of this, for some obscure reason I remembered the phrase I could do with a 'D', the other day...  and I was en-route to the kitchen for a tea break. Shortly afterwards I had found this advert - not the *best* example of advertising humour (although Boycey(?) from Only Fools and Horses is in it); my overriding memory is the first: nice legs...  followed by pretty much everything including 'wouldn't mind living with those three'... Anyway - here it is for you to peruse...