"I'll remain a grumpy old man. It's where happiness lies."

To thine own self to true.

I always knew that I liked Ken Stott - not for apparently ruling out appearing in Rebus again, but for criticising JKR. Good man!

Rowling's books are derivative populist rubbish.

What made JK Rowling move to Edinburgh and not England?

Fantastic.
An article on Rebus without a mention of Rankin.
Surely a first?

"I can't believe idiot educationalists are praising children for turning up at school and reading Harry Potter."

Maybe he'd prefer they turned up with knives, guns, drugs etc.

"Rowling's books are derivative populist rubbish."

Its a kids book for gods sake!

#1 Well said Mario,and not a mention of Mr Rankin.

Here we go again...knock, knock, knock!!!
If only the contributors to this forum had just half the talent of Rowling and Rankin.!!!

I take it that Mr Stott failed to get a part in the Harry Potter film series........

Rankin has not been mentioned in this paper for at least 3 days.
No wonder I feel that something is missing from my life.

8.
I think they have, and when you total each one up it's quite considerable.

Mario contributes 15.5 Rowlings :)

Is Rankins still a green grocer shop in Embra ?

#4 "What made JK Rowling move to Edinburgh and not England?"

I believe it was the fact that Edinburgh offers the best quality of life (according to last weeks survey), the availability of tartan produce at very reasonable prices, a Harvey Nicks with the highest value sales per square foot of any of the chain, the promise of tram-based transport system to meet the needs of the 21st century - and they might be opening a Wetherspoons on the bridges.

I'm sure it was the Weatherspoons that did it for her, she likes a Pint and a cheap Fish Supper.

Grant Stott has gone way up in my estimation , more power to his world weary chops.

#13 I like his films - or was that his brother ?

Grant Stott. I'm getting confused with this guy and the blue peter rapist , andy maybe somebody else.

Anyway , his name is Grant Stott from now on.

#4 The answer was desperation. And a free place to stay with her sister. Next question.

The point isn't so much that kids are reading fairy stories as that educationalists are so amazed that kids are reading anything at all.

I'm sure with a few more "Emotional Literacy" classes though, they'll soon put a stop to it.

ok Jock , next question is how Grant Stott can be John Leslies Brother but Ken Stott isnt related to Grant Stott ?

His Dark Materials isn't as good as many people think it is! My son and daughter read the trilogy and didn't like them as much as the Potter books.

And what would Ken Stott know? He's well past HIS childhood days!

Dirty Great Stott conspiracies afoot.

#19 Yes it was his brother I was thinking of. Some people criticised the lighting and the lack of pace to the story, but personally I felt it was typical of the genre and added an authentic ambience to what must be one of his finest works. Haven't seen Abi Titmuss for ages.

Mr Stott the fact that kids are reading at all is a bonus. Whether Harry Potter or whatever it makes little difference.
Stop being so dammed precious and allow a little latitude into your obviously narrow vision

No , I agree with Glen Stott, i think we are setting our standards too low. Remember all the talk of society dumbing down from the early '90s ? well , it happened. Look at the "reality" dross on TV.

#24 is right you know: even documentaries these days repeat what they've said every five minutes in the expectation that their audience has the attention span of a goldfish.

Harry Potter just isn't for kids. The first couple, sure. But once it hit book 4 I really don't think it's that much of a kids series. It's dark, scary, intense, creative, and it's soooo detailed and carefully woven that I found myself reading the books multiple times just so I can catch and understand everything that was going on and I'm 19. I highly doubt a 10 year old could read the series and come out with the same messages I got. Personally, I think that the entire time the series has been directed to the wrong age group and should be more directed to the teenagers and young adults. But hey.. without Harry Potter, I wouldn't have become the avid reader I am today. The first time I ever read through an ENTIRE book was when I was 17 and guess what book that was... Harry Potter. Ever since then I've been a book addict. So I think it's WONDERFUL that kids are being introduced intothe literary world by reading Harry Potter. I'm sorry that it's such a crime for people to USE IMAGINATIONS and have something fun to read to leave their stress filled lives.

Nothing wrong with children reading the Harry Potter books as far as Im concerned given they are infact books for children. Its the moronic grown ups like the lunatic above me there and the millions more grown up imbeciles who cream themselves over the adventures of a child wizard who for me are beneath contempt

Can't children read Harry Potter AND Philip Pullman? I hadn't realised these two series were mutually exclusive ...

no 11 ... very funny! Rankins is NO LONGER in "embra" as you well know. YOU must be as ancient as .... well ... Dr Blockbuster :roflmao:

The point of this article?:
Dr Blockbuster says .. The Radio Times ... I never knew how much there was in it !!! Worth every penny.

Enough of the amusement ... sign Dr Blockbuster's petition to Gordon Brown (remember, heez the chap what is taken ova from Tony Blair :wink:), at

http://www.petitiononline.com/gwsdrb/petition.html

and listen to Valentina at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P33p_LcMcF0

after all that, you're dischmisched, til tomorrow :roflmAo:

Dr Blockbuster

Except Pullman's ending of His Dark Materials is in dire need of Viagra...whilest J K Rowlings is all wood.