Advantages: Supremely original and shocking
Disadvantages: There are a few weak sketches

...Even if it were not for his occasional appearances it would be obvious this programme was the work of master-surrealist, Chris Morris. What Morris has created is a selection of extremely bizarre, original and often shocking sketches. What is also notable is the variations in camera angle and general effects it seems this technique has been neglected up to now and I can't for the life of me see way. While such comedians as Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse are standing still (although they can be very funny) Morris is a long way in front.... Read review

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Advantages: A heart warming tale that will make you view the world differently if only while you're reading the book
Disadvantages: I didn't have any tissues with me when I was reading it

...I bought this book while I was on holiday in the US and read it in one evening. I was that engrossed in the story and the character of Morrie. Morrie is dying and Mitch learns this fact almost too late but manages to spend time with Morrie before he dies during which time Morrie imparts his wisdom and experiences he has learnt from during his life. I found this book deeply moving and have recommended it to numerous friends and family or lent them my copy and have added it to my list of favourite books for the year if not my all time list. It makes you think and view the world in a slightly different manner, it makes you aware of other people and their feelings and reminds you that everyone is special and deserves your time/kindness. These thoughts/ideas may not last with you but at least it's a nice reminder that people shouldn... Read review

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Advantages: Great fun, great company and good exercise too
Disadvantages: Sometimes they sing

..."Costwold Morris" The stereotypical image of a morris dancer is a middle aged to elderly man, probably with a beer gut, dressed all in white, waving hankies and jingling to the tune of a concertina. If this is your view of morris men, stop! You need to be more specific. What you see before you is a cotswold morris dancer. Let us examine him more closely and, most importantly, more accurately. Your cotswold dancer need not be old; the youngest one in the team which I "'follow', for want of a better word, is 11, and the team has eight or more members under the age of 35. They even have a following of teenage girls. So your dancer may be young or old; let's say for the moment that he is in his twenties. He probably drinks, this is almost universal, but there are exceptions. He may be tall or short, fat or thin, but if he's any good he... Read review

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Advantages: Keeps me from writing poems !!
Disadvantages: Rapidly using up all my A to Zs

...Pharmacy High School part 3. As Miss Cephalaxin took a seat at the side of the class Morris had a chance to get a good look at her. She looked nice, too nice.” They are going to make mincemeat out of her,” he thought. His feeling of sympathy toward her was short lived though. Why should he worry what the brats would do to her, he had enough problems of his own to deal with. “ At least it will take the heat off me for a while “. Morris suddenly felt better than he had in a long time. Morris wasn’t the only one analysing Miss Cephalaxin, his pupils were doing so too. They didn’t try and hide it though, kids don’t do that. Ax and his cronies were leering; Kawasaki Zoton had forgotten his mobile for the moment and was obviously having some kind of adolescent daydream. Panda Calpol was still eating, though with a little less urgency than... Read review

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Advantages: Beautifully written and touching.
Disadvantages: It is too short....

...I recently read, and loved, a book called The Five People You Meet in Heaven, written by American author Mitch Albom. I loved this book so much that I rushed out to buy another of his literary offerings: Tuesdays with Morrie. A Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lessons and I wasn't disappointed. Tuesdays with Morrie was published 8 years before Albom wrote The Five People You Meet in Heaven and the book tells the true story of his relationship with his old college Social Psychology professor: Morrie Schwartz. In the 1970's when Albom was a student, Morrie was his favorite professor and they regularly spent time together outside of classes. Sadly, after he graduated Albom lost touch with his old professor and he did not hear from him until years later, while he was in his 30's, by pure chance. During these lost years Albom... Read review

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Advantages: Short
Disadvantages: Patronising

...Oh dear - I'm going to sound like a party-pooper again. I was offered this book to read by a well-meaning friend, and read it on his recommendation. The reason he thought that I would like it is that I was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and published the diary i kept during the first year after my diagnosis (It's called The Purple Butterfly, if anyone is interested). This book is about a man called Mitch who starts to visit the terminally ill Morrie, who used to be one of his college professors. It's about the way he reacts to Morrie's illness, not so much about Morrie. Anyway, I read the book. Perhaps it was too soon after my own diagnosis, or perhaps I just didn't like the tone, but I am afraid I didn't like it. Sorry to all those people who did, but this is my opinion. I think I was looking at it from Morrie's point of view. Who... Read review

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Advantages: More fan mail !!!
Disadvantages: Might get spotted in public !!!

...Pharmacy High School part 2. At the back of the class Ax had finished clearing out the contents of his nostrils and had started work on his ears. “ If only he put as much effort into his school work “ thought Morris as he glanced round to make sure nothing was headed his way. “ Oh well, at least he’s quiet “. It may only have been a brief glance but Morris’s trained eye also took in Lotus Aspirin organising her desk, Kawasaki Zoton trying to hide his mobile phone while he texted and Mini and Woolsey frantically copying down everything he had written so far. Morris turned back to the blackboard and carried on writing. ‘ Pi, The Ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle ‘ he had put so far. He already knew he was wasting his time. Most of this lot had trouble adding up let alone understanding Pi... Read review

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Advantages: Easy read, thought provoking
Disadvantages: Not as good as you hope

...I bought Tuesday's with Morrie after reading another one of the author's books - The Five people you meet in heaven - and was pleased with it in the main. The story is about a student - Mitch Albom - and a college professor - Morrie Schwartz - who was a very big influence on Mitch's life. They part company at the graduation ceremony and do not meet up again for 16 years. By this time Morrie is dying - slowly - from ALS or motor neurone disease and he still has more lessons to teach Mitch. The book progresses with the men talking about life, love, marriage, health, money - everything - with lessons being learnt along the way. The book explored our attitudes to death and dying, losing our dignity and shows one man's way of dealing with it all. As Morrie gets weaker and starts to lose his ability to help himself, he and Mitch get even... Read review

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Advantages: very funny satire, causes media to be up in arms when the programme satirises them without them knowing it
Disadvantages: some will be offended

...Brass Eye is once again showing up on TV on Thursday nights on Channel 4. The man behind it is Chris Morris and if you haven't seen it then you are missing out on pure comedy genius. The show is in the style of a hard hitting current affairs programme that every week exposes some truly horrific plights in the world. Only they are not real. But Morris doesn't tell his guests that. One of the shows questions the merits of science. Morris takes on the guise of a serious young presenter and is joined by fleet street big wig Eve Pollard. She is horrified at the footage shown to her of a scientific experiment that went wrong and resulted in the birth of a large testicle which was being incubated as it was premature. Obviously Eve took this very seriously and declared it wrong for science. Anyone with any common sense wouldn't be able... Read review

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Advantages: A great history of the earliest days of a great city
Disadvantages: -

...'Londinium: London in the Roman Empire' by John Morris is an absolutely wonderful book on the history of London's origins. A narrative history that is thorough and interesting, this text covers a wide range of historical issues. Morris organises the book in three sections: The Making of London, Roman London, and The Survival of London. Apart from these three primary sections is an Introduction, notes, bibliography, and an index. Morris correctly identifies that prior to Rome, there was no London, and after Rome, not much is known about/heard of from London for hundreds of years. Therefore, to understand London, one must have at the very least a basic understanding of Rome -- Roman architecture, Roman social structures and hierarchy, Roman military and economic institutions, and Roman concerns. There are two primary sources... Read review

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