My Heroes & Heroines

Elwood's Heroes (some quite obscure):

This is my list of people past & present who have made a considerable impression on me. The list is deliberately short.
I have left out a lot of more obvious names in favour of those who IMHO deserve more attention than they usually get.
Click on the names to go to dedicated websites in most cases (which open on a new tab if you're using Opera.)

Isaac Asimov Brilliant writer in every genre from Science Fiction to crude limericks - Foundation series is no.1 SF

Roger Bacon The world's first scientist. If people had listened to him we might all be living in space by now.

Leonard Bernstein Composer, conductor and lecturer par excellence. His lectures are an invaluable source for music lovers.

Havergal Brian Composer of amazingly craggy & highly individual music who continued writing till the age of 96. Inspirational

Kate Bush Kate's music is a refreshing breath of cool air in a world choking on a surfeit of stale pop regurgitations.

Roy Castle Amazingly versatile musician, dancer, wit and all-round good guy whose battle with cancer was legendary.

Arthur C. Clarke Arthur's departure from this world was marked by the brightest GRB ever seen in the sky. Coincidence?

Pat Condell Click that link and go to his website and listen to what he has to say. You might not like it, but LISTEN!

Salvador Dali I'm not a great admirer of art, but Dali's works fascinate me, possibly because of the dream connections.

Richard Dawkins "Darwin's rottweiler". Everybody on the planet should read his book The God Delusion. Get a copy and READ IT.

Richard Feynman One of the greatest geniuses of the 20th Century. Autobiography: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman?

Mohandas Gandhi A truly great and wise man, excellently portrayed by Ben Kingsley in the film of the same name.

Bob Geldof Autobiography Is that it? written just after Live Aid, is Essential Reading. Bob is a living saint. though he'd deny it.

Terry Gilliam From cartoonist to film director, a man with a truly unique perspective on the world.

Robert Heinlein Science fiction writer extraordinaire and eminently quotable genius. Try some of these quotes for example.

Mike Jittlov Beg, steal or borrow his superb film The Wizard of Speed & Time - or download the LEGAL torrent file!

Stan Laurel Arthur Stanley Jefferson, I salute you. Forget Chaplin - Movie comedy began with Laurel & Hardy.

Harpo Marx Hollywood's most genial gentleman. Read Harpo Speaks!, his hilarious autobiography.

P.Z. Myers Deserves to be in my heroes list for this, if nothing else.

Terry Pratchett A great writer and just as quotable as Heinlein or Gandhi. Heed the wisdom of all three and you're set for life.

Gene Roddenberry Even non-Star Trek fans should read Yvonne Fern's book on Gene The Last Conversation - Philosophical.

Carl Sagan Scientist and astronomer with remarkable insights into the cosmos, and our place in it.

Dmitri Shostakovich The archetypal tortured composer, brilliantly played by Ben Kingsley (him again!) in the film Testimony.

Ben Kingsley I suppose I had to include him here as he has so convincingly played many of my heroes on film.

More to come soon - when I think of them! (Only one woman? Must think some more...)

Plus some I think are (or were) a total waste of air:

George W. Bush How this cretin ever got to be U.S. president for two whole terms totally defies logic. During his time in office he managed to make the U.S. a figure of hate and scorn throughout the world. Good riddance George, you were not misunderestimated. Shoo.

Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio Finally I can now add another name to this roll call of evil. According to this BBC news item, this particular deranged individual gets my vote as the person currently in most need of having his mouth sewn up. Careless talk costs lives, especially talk of this kind - and he claims to be a "man of God" too. Utterly shameful.

THE CURRENT POPE Yes, I'm afraid I now have to add Ratzinger to this list. Reasons? PLENTY.
1) Reinstating a known holocaust denier into the ranks of the Catholic Church.
2) Defending the excommunication of doctors who helped a raped nine-year-old who was pregnant with twins.
3) Exacerbating an ongoing viral holocaust by falsely claiming that condoms actually increase the chances of contracting AIDS.
Plus of course for
4) organising the protection of known child abusers and making it a MATTER OF CHURCH POLICY
and who has now been granted immunity from prosecution by George Bush over
5) hundreds of thousands of cases of child abuse by Catholic priests.
Need I say more?

Some of my favourite obscure films - try to get hold of these if you can:
Brazil (by Terry Gilliam. The "Film that 1984 should have been, but wasn't.")
Harrison Bergeron (starring Sean Astin. Satire on "political correctness" taken to extremes.)
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953 film on a par with Wizard of Oz. Seriously.)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (Seriously weird.)
The Tune (by Bill Plympton)
The Wizard of Speed & Time (Download the LEGAL torrent file here - authorised by Mike Jittlov himself)
Testimony (Biography of Shostakovich, with Ben Kingsley)

Elwood's Home Page

Isaac Asimov	Brilliant writer in every genre from Science Fiction to crude limericks - Foundation series is no.1 SF
Roger Bacon	The world's first scientist. If people had listened to him we might all be living in space by now.
Leonard Bernstein	Composer, conductor and lecturer par excellence. His lectures are an invaluable source for music lovers.
Havergal Brian	Composer of amazingly craggy & highly individual music who continued writing till the age of 96. Inspirational
Kate Bush	Kate's music is a refreshing breath of cool air in a world choking on a surfeit of stale pop regurgitations.
Roy Castle	Amazingly versatile musician, dancer, wit and all-round good guy whose battle with cancer was legendary.
Arthur C. Clarke	Arthur's departure from this world was marked by the brightest GRB ever seen in the sky. Coincidence?
Pat Condell	Click that link and go to his website and listen to what he has to say. You might not like it, but LISTEN!
Salvador Dali	I'm not a great admirer of art, but Dali's works fascinate me, possibly because of the dream connections.
Richard Dawkins	"Darwin's rottweiler". Everybody on the planet should read his book The God Delusion. Get a copy and READ IT.
Richard Feynman	One of the greatest geniuses of the 20th Century. Autobiography: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman?
Mohandas Gandhi	A truly great and wise man, excellently portrayed by Ben Kingsley in the film of the same name.
Bob Geldof	Autobiography Is that it? written just after Live Aid, is Essential Reading. Bob is a living saint. though he'd deny it.
Terry Gilliam	From cartoonist to film director, a man with a truly unique perspective on the world.
Robert Heinlein	Science fiction writer extraordinaire and eminently quotable genius. Try some of these quotes for example.
Mike Jittlov	Beg, steal or borrow his superb film The Wizard of Speed & Time - or download the LEGAL torrent file!
Stan Laurel	Arthur Stanley Jefferson, I salute you. Forget Chaplin - Movie comedy began with Laurel & Hardy.
Harpo Marx	Hollywood's most genial gentleman. Read Harpo Speaks!, his hilarious autobiography.
P.Z. Myers	Deserves to be in my heroes list for this, if nothing else.
Terry Pratchett	A great writer and just as quotable as Heinlein or Gandhi. Heed the wisdom of all three and you're set for life.
Gene Roddenberry	Even non-Star Trek fans should read Yvonne Fern's book on Gene The Last Conversation - Philosophical.
Carl Sagan	Scientist and astronomer with remarkable insights into the cosmos, and our place in it.
Dmitri Shostakovich	The archetypal tortured composer, brilliantly played by Ben Kingsley (him again!) in the film Testimony.
Ben Kingsley	I suppose I had to include him here as he has so convincingly played many of my heroes on film.

George W. Bush	How this cretin ever got to be U.S. president for two whole terms totally defies logic. During his time in office he managed to make the U.S. a figure of hate and scorn throughout the world. Good riddance George, you were not misunderestimated. Shoo.
Maputo Archbishop Francisco Chimoio	Finally I can now add another name to this roll call of evil. According to this BBC news item, this particular deranged individual gets my vote as the person currently in most need of having his mouth sewn up. Careless talk costs lives, especially talk of this kind - and he claims to be a "man of God" too. Utterly shameful.
THE CURRENT POPE	Yes, I'm afraid I now have to add Ratzinger to this list. Reasons? PLENTY. 1) Reinstating a known holocaust denier into the ranks of the Catholic Church. 2) Defending the excommunication of doctors who helped a raped nine-year-old who was pregnant with twins. 3) Exacerbating an ongoing viral holocaust by falsely claiming that condoms actually increase the chances of contracting AIDS. Plus of course for 4) organising the protection of known child abusers and making it a MATTER OF CHURCH POLICY and who has now been granted immunity from prosecution by George Bush over 5) hundreds of thousands of cases of child abuse by Catholic priests. Need I say more?