Hard News by Russell Brown

Happy Birthday, Russell, and thank you for all the good you have done for so many people.

Happiest of birthdays Russ, notwithstanding the physical impairments. Looking forward to the party and catch up. As Hillary says, you’ve done a shitload of good out there and really made a difference. That’s something to be proud of.

we're a few years older, only got married for a green card (almost 40 years ago).

I've seen claims that the 'boomers' are a double-sized generation (as we measure them now) there are essentially two peaks in some countries' birth numbers which essentially map to "hippies" and "punks" - I distinctly remember a piece on TV1 (our only TV channel) news the summer before I started Uni that was essentially "look at these crazy kids in London with safety pins thru their noses, they say they're all going to commit suicide before they are 21"

Yeah getting old sucks, at the moment I'm mostly hoping I'll survive covid to 65 in good enough shape I can enjoy that retirement I've been saving for for 40 years. Bits of me have been wearing out, broke an achilles a while back that will never be right, I take a bunch of drugs to deal with stuff that essentially killed my parents, I've almost lived longer than my Dad.

I had a heart attack a few years back, caught it really early (suddenly feel puffed? talk to your Dr!), had a stent put in - my Dad died of essentially the same thing he was looking at them cracking his chest open and a full bypass - my stent was put in through my arm while I was wide awake, I could easily have walked out of the room afterwards - we truly live in magical times.

I've also come to realise that I'm probably different, a little, maybe a lot, aspie - it was really really tough as a kid, I've learned to cope as an adult, not really sure there's a point in a diagnosis - on the other hand now that I see my world through the eyes of today's amazing aspie kids I'm a lot less accepting of neurotypical bullshit, maybe learning to cope was a mistake, kids have so many more cool options these days

Happy Birthday Russell.
Thanks for all your goodness over the years and informed comment over many topics that mean a lot to me and others.
I too put off a big birthday celebration last year as you know, cos of the lurgy and still avoid crowds. Love a good dance and a good gig & long may it continue. I feel senior housing of the future will ring out with a range of dance music and it fills me with glee and contentment of growing old well. See you there!

Happy birthdat Russell. I’m a year behind you in age, but everything you wrote resonated with me (started Uni in 81).

All the best as you ease back into the workforce!

Happy happy birthday Russell
I'm a year ahead (next week - I think that makes us both fellow July Leos?). I tried to have a big party last year but that omicron covid lockdown got in the way, but I did manage to have 25 neighbours spontaneously in my living room on the actual day, a Tuesday, a school night. Dancing and everything.

A year of being 60 has me feeling very comfortable in this new decade: I can only recommend it. Does it give us gravitas, finally? Who knows.

We were in Chch as cadets for local papers at the same time; we were in London at the same time, and possibly in the same field in Pilton in 1987. The dancing hasn't stopped here either, and I hope it won't: it's what keeps us young, right?

Hope you have a lovely week/month (a 60th birthday must be a festival, spread over at least two if not three occasions).

And welcome to your seventh decade.

Happy birthday, Russell. Thank you for the observations and words over the years on all the subjects. I hope someone gets you a copy of Ted Kessler's new book "Paper Cuts" on the demise of the UK music press. I imagine it'd be something you'd enjoy.

Happy Birthday, and thanks for all your work.

I wonder how many people realize what a valuable resource Public Address still is. There are not many places online where you can follow old stories from the Clark and Key years, revisit old debates and reflect on our wisdom and prescience (or lack thereof!). I often find myself reacting to today's news and thinking "hang on, didn't we do this before?". And the search engine says "yes, we did".

Those old dudes churning out columns could do worse than consult this website. It works better than their selective memories.

Anyway, I know you're much more than PA and I hope you enjoy your day.

It’s been a while since I posted here but this was worth popping back in for. What a lovely warm post that is. You’ve said and written great things over the years and many of us owe you a great deal – I know I do and you’ve long had my back when I needed it. Thank you.

Thoroughly looking forward to that drink we managed not to have, at least not beyond the boundaries of work as great as that was, last time I was back. Next time, I promise. Have a wonderful day and let the family spoil you.

S

Happy Birthday Russell!

You've done important work here, and I know I'm not the only one who did a lot of personal development in the System, and made some wonderful friends. I value the space you created, and your tolerance of diverse approaches.

I hope this will be a great decade for you, with exciting new projects and opportunities to connect with whoever the new live wires turn out to be. :-D

PS: I wouldn't be me if I didn't occasionally (!) nitpick, what's now the EU was the EEC in 1973. But you knew that. :-)

Happy Birthday Russell!

Hope you have a great day celebrating all the good things you’ve done and all the good times you’ve had.

I sympathise with the feeling of suddenly reaching that age that I thought was “old”. It’s a combination of accepting that my knees aren’t 18 and appreciating the things I’ve discovered I really love doing that I never would have considered when my knees were young.

I’ve appreciated the work you did to create this community and I wonder if we might find this space where slightly longer form conversations can take place will have its time in the sun again.

Have fun and dance all night

cheers
Bart

Happy b'day Russell. Being a last-wave Gen X cusper, I've still got plenty of time to get things done. Including the rollback of a ladder-pulling Social Darwinist system.

HB Russell - have long enjoyed your work - long may it continue, on your terms of course :)

Best wishes - keep keeping on

Cheers. I had my 80th last July. Assorted people are still turning up at our rusticated provincial plot semi sleepy hollow wanting a party. (sigh).
Keep on trucking.