10 Famous People Named after Famous People

1. Martin Luther King, civl rights leader named for the Reformer
2. John Calvin Coolidge, American president named forthe Reformer
3. George Washington Carver, agricultural scientisit and inventor named for the first American president
4. Grover Cleveland Alexander, baseball playe named for the American president
5. Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, musician named for the American president
6. William Bramwell Booth, founder of the Savation Army named for a Methodist leader
7. John Wesley Hardin, wildwest outaw named for a Methodist leader
8. James Dean Bradfield, rock musician named for the actor
9. John Wilkes Booth, assassin of Abraham Lincolnn named for the readical English politician (a distant relative)
10. Cassius Marcellus Clay, birth name of boxer Muhammed Ali named for the American planter, politician, abolitionist and ambassador

10 Whimsical Questions about people in the public eye (with answers)

1. Is the soports commentator Andy Swiss Swiss? No
2. Was the comedian Arthur English, English? Yes
3. Is the comedienne and writer Dawn French French? No, Welsh and English
4. Is the writer Irvine Welsh Welsh? No, Scots
5. Was the singer and presenter Cilla Black black? No
6. Is the musician Jack White, white? Yes
7. Is the singer Heather Small small? Yes
8. Was the singer Prince a prince? No
9. Is the actor Mark Strong strong? Yes
10. Did Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray go grey? No and yes

La La Land

We went to see the famous La La Land this week. My wife was talking about this film well before all the hype and the Oscar nominations. I went only because of all the talk about it. One of my sons came too.

I was a little sceptical knowing it is a romantic musical but it kept my attention and made me think and I enjoyed the score (chiefly jazz). I don't ask much more of a film than that to be honest. As to why this is such a successful film I have no real idea. The dancing and the singing are okay no more, the acting fine. The story is fairly predictable in some ways but with a post-modern twist. It helps you to think through again this whole matter of talent and desires and celebrity and God's providence. It's nice to be an old person watching it rather than a young one still wondering quite how it is all going to pan out. Not that I don't struggle still with the whole matter of using one's gifts and the temptation to simply do what is popular. At least the opening question of the Shorter Catechism (What is man's chief end?) and its wonderful answer (To glorify him and enjoy him forever) gives us all a head start on that one.

The film is a 12A because one of the main characters swears a bit. he film would be better without the irrelevant swearing. One fears that film makers don't like a U certificate because people will think it is just for kids.

The film was good but we all thought one of the highlights was when a little group wandered into the cinema and sat down only to realise they were in front of the wrong screen. Poor show on the part of Vue Cinemas.