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googled it, "man taught insects to float"
The fictional character appeared in television advertisements for British commercial telephone directory company Yellow Pages, first shown in 1983. The character was played by the actor Norman Lumsden.
The advertisement shows an elderly man asking in several second-hand bookshops (which are recognisably real shops in London's Cecil Court) for "Fly Fishing by J. R. Hartley". Every attempt fails, and the next scene shows him at home looking dejected. His daughter, sympathising, hands him the Yellow Pages; in the next scene he looks delighted as his end of a telephone conversation reveals that a shop has a copy of the book. He asks them to keep it for him. He responds at dictation speed to a question: 'My name? Oh, yes, J. R. Hartley.' The advertisement ends by promoting the Yellow Pages.
The advertisement is one of the most popular ever made in Britain[1], and remained a part of popular culture long after it ceased to be shown. The advertisement was affectionately parodied many times in the 1980s by comedians such as Jasper Carrott, Harry Enfield, and Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones. When Lumsden died on 28 November 2001 at the age of 95, despite his numerous other roles and distinguished career as an opera singer, the death of the man who played J. R. Hartley was in the national headlines, and the advertisement was broadcast again in his memory, nearly 20 years after its first appearance.
posted by
benzinha
on April 26, 2010 at 11:07 PM
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Some botanist must be!
posted by
Straightforward
on April 25, 2010 at 3:52 AM
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This is what I found for yli:
posted by
sam444
on April 24, 2010 at 2:55 PM
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famous entemologist? or Yaway?
posted by
dsm_tchr
on April 24, 2010 at 7:16 AM
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Z Ha I can’t handle the question. But, enjoy your gardening. In any event the Bible has the message of salvation. BC-A, Bill’s RJLst
posted by
BC-A
on April 23, 2010 at 9:21 PM
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could it be some special fisherman who introduced fly fishing for trout
or something. I have no idea. Here it looks wonderful tobeout doors ...the sun is shining but the wind chill is very cold so I am not out as much as I want tobe .
posted by
Kabu
on April 23, 2010 at 7:22 PM
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That's great how you have been enjoying the weather!
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on April 23, 2010 at 6:53 PM
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Re: Before he floated like a butterfly,
I have dredged up the relevant post and reposted it today in my Universe blog, for anyone who wants to see it.
posted by
Ciel
on April 23, 2010 at 11:59 AM
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Before he floated like a butterfly,
his name was Cassius Clay. Has a Y at one end, anyway...
I have written a few times on atheists and theists, some time back... It is my contention that there are no Unbelievers: some of us believe there is a God; some of us believe there is not a God. But everyone believes something. And while we can feel and say we know, in truth, it is still belief.
posted by
Ciel
on April 23, 2010 at 11:26 AM
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I have no clue to the question, but I am glad you are enjoying life
posted by
Lanetay
on April 23, 2010 at 9:29 AM
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atheist are very interesting, but most of them are just not sure about
the fact that there is or is not a god.
posted by
Tzippy
on April 23, 2010 at 8:25 AM
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if I wasn't imprisoned in the office
I'd be outside too! I tend to smile at those people who adamantly believe that religion is not true because there is nothing to back it up but faith... because there is nothing to back up the idea that it is not true except faith of a different sort.
posted by
lionreign
on April 23, 2010 at 6:43 AM
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Wonderful to have you back! I know exactly what you mean by the weather and outdoors beckoning--always loved the first chapter in the Wind in the willows, where the mole says "bother" to spring cleaning, and rushes out!
posted by
Nita09
on April 23, 2010 at 4:33 AM
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I am not one of those who think the bible has to be taken literally too RR given the many religious backgrounds and traditions existing in my family line. I'm sorry, I don't have a clue either to the puzzle. Thanks so much for your visit and comment.
posted by
shobana
on April 23, 2010 at 1:56 AM
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