Mailbox Ask Bob
Bob Servant, window cleaning kingpin and beneficiary of Dundee’s Cheeseburger Wars, turns Agony Uncle for The List
Bob, I’m a bit worried about my diet. I know that you’re a former cheeseburger van guy and I’m a fan of the snack myself but my doctor says that cheeseburgers are exactly the kind of thing I should be cutting down on and I should also think about jogging. Thoughts? Sid Sid, It’s lucky you got in touch – your doctor is an absolute quack. Cheeseburgers famously featured in the training diet of Daley Thompson, Eric Bristow and Rock Hudson, all of whom are far more famous than your doctor. As for jogging, that was something that seemed a good idea for men when it was invented but has ended up causing a huge amount of death and embarrassment, like communism or the side parting, and I for one would like to see it banned. Your Servant, Bob Servant
Bob, Few problems with the wife. She claims that ‘at her age’ she is barely capable of taking on any physical task whatsoever. But get this Bob, she’s 58 and I’m 61. What’s that all about? Could you help me find a way out of this? Harry Harry, I take no pleasure in telling you this but your wife is pure evil. Not only should you leave her immediately but you should also be thinking about notifying the police because she is committing an array of offences against you on a daily basis. She is behaving, Harry, like Adolf Hitler and you have inadvertently become her Eva Braun. Get out the bunker Harry, Bob
Send your questions to bob@bobservant.com twitter.com/bobservant
LETTER OF THE FORTNIGHT STOP: HAMMER TIME Dear Sir, Edinburgh University's Film Society shows a wide variety of films, both in foreign languages and in English. Last month I saw the South Korean film Old Boy, which The List pronounced 'a masterpiece'. What does that consist of: convoluted plot, stylized acting and graphic violence?
To be fair, it did earn a round of applause, surprisingly, at the end. Students are an appreciative audience and it left me wondering, is it me or is it them? Yours sincerely, Gordon Crandles, Edinburgh
Editor's note: Who's to say, Gordon? May we instead recommend Mike Leigh's Another Day? It has naturalistic plot and acting, and is very light on violence.
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE ONE BOTTLE OF THE BLACK GROUSE WHISKY Smoky and Smooth – a marriage of fine peated Scotch malt whiskies and The Famous Grouse
NEXT ISSUE Wednesday 16 February
YOU’VE GOT 15 DAYS TO LIVE!
GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL The west coast city’s film fest returns with a stunner of a line-up, including James Franco as Allen Ginsberg in Howl. See our extensive coverage in the next issue for details on all the unmissable films. LORD OF THE FLIES Innovative ballet star Matthew Bourne adapts William Golding’s famous tale of tribal schoolboys abandoned to their own devices. After spellbinding interpretations of Swan Lake and Dorian Gray, we can hardly wait.
96 THE LIST 3–17 Feb 2011
CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & General Editor
Robin Hodge Director Simon Dessain
EDITORIAL
Editor Jonny Ensall Deputy Editor Claire Sawers
Assistant Editor Henry Northmore, Allan Radcliffe
Research Manager
Laura Ennor Research Siân Bevan,
Siân Hickson, David Pollock, Fiona Shepherd, Kirstyn Smith Editorial Assistant
Niki Boyle
Editorial Intern Francine Bell
SALES & MARKETING
Media Sales Manager Juliet Tweedie
Media Sales Executive
Jude Moir
Media Project Sales Manager
Suzanne Robertson Business Development
Executive Adam Coulson Business Development
Manager Brendan Miles
Sponsorship & Promotions
Manager Sheri Friers
Promotions Executive
Amy Russell
Circulation Executive Murray Robertson
PRODUCTION Senior Designer
Lucy Munro
Production Manager Simon Armin
DIGITAL Web Editor Hamish Brown
Senior Developer Andy Carmichael Senior Designer Bruce Combe
Software Developer Iain McCusker
Online Editorial Assistant Alice White
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Renwick
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Kirstin Innes
Books/Comedy Brian Donaldson Clubs/Play Henry Northmore
Dance/Kids Kelly Apter Food & Drink Donald Reid
Film Paul Dale LGBT Lauren Mayberry
Music/Shopping Claire Sawers Noticeboard Anna Millar
Theatre/Visual Art Allan Radcliffe