"The only item you'll find in my fridge is soup. Forty litres of the stuff. Beat that. M, 46. Box no. 7524."
better than Virgin vs. b3ta anyday.
Monday, October 30, 2006
New Order were really, really, good. So good, in fact, I even bought a bootleg top afterwards. (Ok, it was £10, it is a hoody, and the print wont wash off as it has none - it is embroidered, and has a zip. i've been after a new hoody for a long time, and it will get years of use.)
New order set list was:
Crystal / turn / Regret / Ceremony / Hey Joe / Transmission / Krafty / *some new song I cant remember * / Atmosphere / Waiting For the Sirens Call / Bizarre Love Triangle / Te,ptation / the Perfect Kiss / Blue Monday
encore: Love Will tear Us Apart / true Faith
Friday was interesting, as I wrote.A birthday party for someone at work.
Saturday was frentic, and it didnt come together into the last minute. It turned out I went out with Andy and Rachel, who having known them for about 13 years and that they are moving to a place about 150 miles away, I might not see too often. Though I didn't find out until the last minute pretty much, I went over to theirs and then off into town; this involved lots of cider (Honestly there's nothing classier, and no better way of avoiding being asked for money than walking around in a hooded top drinking Value cider from a brown generic 2 litre bottle. People tend to think you are a hobo, which was the general plan for avoiding trouble). And then cans of lager. And then a night out at the academy and air guitar. Followed by talking rubbish til six AM,
Sunday was similarly busy, as I crashed at Andy and Rachels place, left about half eleven, went home, and then went out back to town to meet mark, went and had a pint, then went to new order, and then asleep.
And today, i woke up and went to the library, I similarly feel quite relaxed for the first day in a very very long time.
Anyway, not much else too report, So enjoy the wikipedia page on cocaine , and I'm off. bye.
New order set list was:
Crystal / turn / Regret / Ceremony / Hey Joe / Transmission / Krafty / *some new song I cant remember * / Atmosphere / Waiting For the Sirens Call / Bizarre Love Triangle / Te,ptation / the Perfect Kiss / Blue Monday
encore: Love Will tear Us Apart / true Faith
Friday was interesting, as I wrote.A birthday party for someone at work.
Saturday was frentic, and it didnt come together into the last minute. It turned out I went out with Andy and Rachel, who having known them for about 13 years and that they are moving to a place about 150 miles away, I might not see too often. Though I didn't find out until the last minute pretty much, I went over to theirs and then off into town; this involved lots of cider (Honestly there's nothing classier, and no better way of avoiding being asked for money than walking around in a hooded top drinking Value cider from a brown generic 2 litre bottle. People tend to think you are a hobo, which was the general plan for avoiding trouble). And then cans of lager. And then a night out at the academy and air guitar. Followed by talking rubbish til six AM,
Sunday was similarly busy, as I crashed at Andy and Rachels place, left about half eleven, went home, and then went out back to town to meet mark, went and had a pint, then went to new order, and then asleep.
And today, i woke up and went to the library, I similarly feel quite relaxed for the first day in a very very long time.
Anyway, not much else too report, So enjoy the wikipedia page on cocaine , and I'm off. bye.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
I appear to have been quadruple booked for this evening. Given that earlier in the week tonight was free, this is pretty astounding.Firstly, its a friend who is leaving to move home leaving do. Then, another friend I've known for years, then a trip to the cinema, and so forth.
Last night wa ssomeone at works 40th birthday. Very interesting. Opposite me, is a 36 year old bloke, married a year or so. Next to him, his workmates 24 year old daughter. He is alone, the woman he married last year at home with their child. Instead, he and his workmates daughter are touching, holding hands, her arm up his back, dancing, holding each other close. Her mother said i was too old for her at 33, and here she is, with a bloke 4 years older, a bloke married while his wife sleeps he flirts and touches and kisses other women. Women with no men to go home to - who perhaps would cling ionto the hope that one day he might leave his wife for her. But if he left her, he can sure as hell lkeave you. How can you trust him? Can you?
Call it pot and kettle,because I've been unfaithful in the past, but If you've got married about a year ago and a child at home, last thing you should be doing is chasing your work colleagues kids, leading them on. You know, he seemed like an ok bloke, but that was until there was a relatively attractive (Ok, big clown pendant aside, which is a big no no for anyone with taste) younger single girl was there.She seemed oblivious to the ring on the third finger of his left hand, that wedding ring - and so did he. Call it conservative, but its not what he should have done, chasing another woman while his wife sleeps; and then he goes home to bed at his mothers house, not his marital home.
Hmm, How little you know someone sometimes.
I'm not innocent, I've been unfaithful in the past. I'm not beyond succumbing to others when i've been in a relationship. There's a difference between that and actively set out to seduce and destroy, Tom Cruise style. I'm no innocent, I've cheated in the past, but this was less of a random accident than a deliberate attempt to take advantage of a situation where the cat is away , and there's a single mum out on a rare night out, and she never knows who she will meet. Hmmm.
How prudish of me. You could say hypocritical too, if you like.
I have no idea i I will end up out toinight. Possibly not, and its too late to reschedule. Hmmm. Collobs.
I would love to blog more, but this system is so damn slow, it wont catch up to the end of this sentence for about 10 minutes. So screw it, I'll do it another time.
Last night wa ssomeone at works 40th birthday. Very interesting. Opposite me, is a 36 year old bloke, married a year or so. Next to him, his workmates 24 year old daughter. He is alone, the woman he married last year at home with their child. Instead, he and his workmates daughter are touching, holding hands, her arm up his back, dancing, holding each other close. Her mother said i was too old for her at 33, and here she is, with a bloke 4 years older, a bloke married while his wife sleeps he flirts and touches and kisses other women. Women with no men to go home to - who perhaps would cling ionto the hope that one day he might leave his wife for her. But if he left her, he can sure as hell lkeave you. How can you trust him? Can you?
Call it pot and kettle,because I've been unfaithful in the past, but If you've got married about a year ago and a child at home, last thing you should be doing is chasing your work colleagues kids, leading them on. You know, he seemed like an ok bloke, but that was until there was a relatively attractive (Ok, big clown pendant aside, which is a big no no for anyone with taste) younger single girl was there.She seemed oblivious to the ring on the third finger of his left hand, that wedding ring - and so did he. Call it conservative, but its not what he should have done, chasing another woman while his wife sleeps; and then he goes home to bed at his mothers house, not his marital home.
Hmm, How little you know someone sometimes.
I'm not innocent, I've been unfaithful in the past. I'm not beyond succumbing to others when i've been in a relationship. There's a difference between that and actively set out to seduce and destroy, Tom Cruise style. I'm no innocent, I've cheated in the past, but this was less of a random accident than a deliberate attempt to take advantage of a situation where the cat is away , and there's a single mum out on a rare night out, and she never knows who she will meet. Hmmm.
How prudish of me. You could say hypocritical too, if you like.
I have no idea i I will end up out toinight. Possibly not, and its too late to reschedule. Hmmm. Collobs.
I would love to blog more, but this system is so damn slow, it wont catch up to the end of this sentence for about 10 minutes. So screw it, I'll do it another time.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Ok, six random facts. I love doing these, but hate it when I CAN’T THINK WHAT TO WRITE. So here’s a random meme. (Yankee murdochspace stylee)
1) are you in a complicated relationship? What Relationship? Mind you, some of my friendships are complexicated
2) Do you hate more than 3 people? I don’t hate anyone – its more an an active avoidance combined with dislike.
3) How many houses have you lived in?
4) Favorite chocolate bar? Whichever one I’m eating. Normally a Crunchie.
5) Have you ever tripped up someone? Not as an adult.
6) Least favorite school subject? pe
7) How many pairs of shoes do you own? One
8) Do you own a Britney Spears CD?: Don’t ask, and I’ll tell you no lies. (Does a track on a covermounted News of the World CD count?)
9) Have you ever thrown up in public?: Yes
10) Name one thing that is always on your mind ? Death
11) Favorite genre of music?: Oh, whatever moves me
12) What is your zodiac sign?: ~ Cancer
13) What time were you born?: ~ 2.40 in the afternoon
14)Do you like beer? ~ No. Cider
15) Have you made a prank phone call? ~ What am I, fifteen?
16) What is the most embarassing CD you own? ~ Like I’d tell you.
17.) Are you sarcastic? ~ Can’t you tell?
18) What are your favorite color(s)?: ~ Black with a splash of midnight.
19) How many watches do you own?: ~ Nil.
20) Summer or winter? ~ Summer
21) Is anyone in love with you? ~ Possibly.
22) Favorite color to wear?: ~ Clothes
23) Pepsi or Sprite?: ~ Taurine.
24) Where is your second home? ~ Work, I guess
25) Have you ever slapped someone?: ~ Only by request.
26) How many lamps are in your bedroom? ~ One
27) How many video games do you own?: ~ About a dozen
28) What was your first pet? ~ A Doberman called Storm.
29) Where do you want to live when your older? Home, which is where I live right now. Only tidier.
30) Do looks matter? Not If you are blind. And yes, but not much.
31) Do you use chapstick?: ~ No.
32) Name 3 teachers from high school: ~ Mrs Holland, Mr John, mr Smith.
33) American Eagle or Abercrombie?: ~ WTF?
34) Are you too forgiving? Yes. I’m filling this in aren’t I?
35) How many children do you want?: ~ Not many more! One is enough for now.
36) Do you own something from Hot Topic? Whats Hot Topic?
37) Favorite breakfast meal?: ~ Toast.
38) Do you own a gun ~ Not even a toy one.
39) Ever thought you were in love?: ~ Yes. I was too.
40) When was the last time you cried? ~ A while ago.
41) What did you do 3 nights ago?: ~ Tuesday? I stayed in. Listened to Anthrax, I think.
42) Olive Garden? Better than Secret Garden.
43) Have you ever called your teacher mommy? No, but I’ve seen a few movies where they do.
44) Have you ever been in a castle?: ~ Yes, lots of times.
45) Nicknames? ~ Unprintable.
46) Do you know anyone named Bertha? ~ No.
47) Ever been to Kentucky? ~ Only if its in conjunction with the words ‘Fried Chicken’.
48) Do you own something from Blue Banana or Republic?: ~ WTF?
49) Are you thinking about somebody right now? ~ Yes.
50) Ever called somebody Boo?: ~ Only my daughter.
51) Do you own a dimaond ring? ~ Whats diamond?
52)Do you want to witness a tornado? ~ Hell, I’ve been in one. Beat that.
53) Are you happy with your life right now?: ~ Mostly.
54)Do you like your hair?: ~ No.
55) Does anyone have a crush on you?: ~ Possibly.
56) What were you doing in May of 1995? ~ Erm, getting drunk, listening to punk, and dossing around.
57) Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD?: ~ No way.
58) McDonalds or Wendys? ~ KFC.
59) Are you closer to your mother or father?: ~ That’s like choosing a favourite hand. Impossible.
60) Favorite physical feature(s) of the preferred sex?: ~
61) Are you afraid of the dark? ~ No.
62) Have you ever eaten paste? ~ Hell, no.
63) Do you own a webcam?: ~ No.
64) Have you ever stripped?: ~ Only for bed.
65) Ever broke a bone?: ~ Don’t think so.
66) Do you chat on AIM often?: ~ Never.
67) Pringles or Lays?: ~ WTF?
68) Did you lose your virginity to the person you're dating now?: ~ God, no.
69) Full House or The Brady Bunch?: ~ neither.
70) Did you like your high school guidance counselor?: ~ Wasn’t one.
72) Has anyone ever called you a tease? ~ Yes.
73) What school you from? ~ .Hard knocks. *bifff*
74) Do you own a car? ~ Matchbox.
75) Can you cook?: ~ Badly.
76) 3 things that annoy you: ~.DVD antipiracy laws, Buses that stop for no real reason, people who stand in the middle of Aisles in shops.
77) Do you text message often?: ~ Im doing it now.
78) Money or love? ~ Love.
79) Do you have any scars?: ~ Yes, physical and mental.
80) What do you want more than anything right now?: ~
81) Do you enjoy scary movies? ~ Sometimes.
82) Relationships or one night stands? ~ The former.
83) Big Red or Juicy Fruit?: ~ WTF
84)Do you enjoy greasy food?: ~ yes.
85) Have you seen all the Rocky movies?: ~ Oh, hell yes.
86) Do you own a box of crayons?: ~ Nope.
87) Ever had sex in a public place?: ~ Yes.
88) Who was the last person you said i love you to? ~ *cant say*
89) Who was the last person that made you mad? ~ Myself.
90) Who was the last person that made you cry?: ~ My daughter.
91) Who was the last person that made you laugh?: ~ Giles.
92) Who was the last person that texted you? ~ Beccas mom.
93) who was the last person to call you? Hello, mark.
94) Who's your cell phone provider? Tesco.
---------------------------------
TWO
01. Is your hair wet? No.
02. Is your mobile phone right beside you? Yes.
03. Do you miss someone? Yes
04. Are you cold? no
05. Are you tired? yes
06. Are you excited? Nah.
07. Are you watching tv? No/
08. Are you wearing pajamas? No.
HAVE YOU EVER
01. Recently done anything you regret? Probably.
02. Ever lied? Yes.
03. Ever stuck gum under a desk? No.
04. Ever bit someone? Bit???? Only by request.
05. Ever trip over your own feet? yes
06. Ever cried so hard you almost threw up? No.
TODAY
01. Have you cursed? Frequently.
02. Have you yelled at someone? No
03. Have you cried? No
Q&A
Q 01: Is there a person who is on your mind right now? Sort of.
Q 02: Where is the last place you went? Work.
Q 03: Who is the last person you called/called you? Mark.
Q 04: Who do you like more, your mum or dad? Aaargh, wrong answer.
Q 05: Do you have any siblings? 1 Twin (evil version, of course)
Q 06: Do you smile often? Sometimes.
Q 07: Do you wish on stars? Nope. Brad Pitt never listens.
Q 08: When did you last cry? A while ago.
Q 09: Do you like your handwriting? Nah, its horrible.
Q 10: Are you a friendly person? Yeah, I guess.
Q 11: Who's bed did you sleep in last night? My own.
Q 12: What color shirt are you wearing? White.
Q 13:Do you have any pets? Not really.
Q 14: What is the color of your bedsheets? Blue.
Q 15: What were you doing at midnight last night? Phoning.
Q 16: I can't wait until... I finish this questionnaire.
Q 17: Look to your right. What's there? My Boss.
Q 18: Ever cried yourself to sleep? No.
Q 19: Are you normally a happy person? Its ok. Im fluffy.
Q 20: Has anyone ever said 'I love you' to you? yes
Q 21: Is your self-esteem extremely low? Sometimes.
Q 22: Do you like someone right now? Sort of.
Laters. im off next week.
1) are you in a complicated relationship? What Relationship? Mind you, some of my friendships are complexicated
2) Do you hate more than 3 people? I don’t hate anyone – its more an an active avoidance combined with dislike.
3) How many houses have you lived in?
4) Favorite chocolate bar? Whichever one I’m eating. Normally a Crunchie.
5) Have you ever tripped up someone? Not as an adult.
6) Least favorite school subject? pe
7) How many pairs of shoes do you own? One
8) Do you own a Britney Spears CD?: Don’t ask, and I’ll tell you no lies. (Does a track on a covermounted News of the World CD count?)
9) Have you ever thrown up in public?: Yes
10) Name one thing that is always on your mind ? Death
11) Favorite genre of music?: Oh, whatever moves me
12) What is your zodiac sign?: ~ Cancer
13) What time were you born?: ~ 2.40 in the afternoon
14)Do you like beer? ~ No. Cider
15) Have you made a prank phone call? ~ What am I, fifteen?
16) What is the most embarassing CD you own? ~ Like I’d tell you.
17.) Are you sarcastic? ~ Can’t you tell?
18) What are your favorite color(s)?: ~ Black with a splash of midnight.
19) How many watches do you own?: ~ Nil.
20) Summer or winter? ~ Summer
21) Is anyone in love with you? ~ Possibly.
22) Favorite color to wear?: ~ Clothes
23) Pepsi or Sprite?: ~ Taurine.
24) Where is your second home? ~ Work, I guess
25) Have you ever slapped someone?: ~ Only by request.
26) How many lamps are in your bedroom? ~ One
27) How many video games do you own?: ~ About a dozen
28) What was your first pet? ~ A Doberman called Storm.
29) Where do you want to live when your older? Home, which is where I live right now. Only tidier.
30) Do looks matter? Not If you are blind. And yes, but not much.
31) Do you use chapstick?: ~ No.
32) Name 3 teachers from high school: ~ Mrs Holland, Mr John, mr Smith.
33) American Eagle or Abercrombie?: ~ WTF?
34) Are you too forgiving? Yes. I’m filling this in aren’t I?
35) How many children do you want?: ~ Not many more! One is enough for now.
36) Do you own something from Hot Topic? Whats Hot Topic?
37) Favorite breakfast meal?: ~ Toast.
38) Do you own a gun ~ Not even a toy one.
39) Ever thought you were in love?: ~ Yes. I was too.
40) When was the last time you cried? ~ A while ago.
41) What did you do 3 nights ago?: ~ Tuesday? I stayed in. Listened to Anthrax, I think.
42) Olive Garden? Better than Secret Garden.
43) Have you ever called your teacher mommy? No, but I’ve seen a few movies where they do.
44) Have you ever been in a castle?: ~ Yes, lots of times.
45) Nicknames? ~ Unprintable.
46) Do you know anyone named Bertha? ~ No.
47) Ever been to Kentucky? ~ Only if its in conjunction with the words ‘Fried Chicken’.
48) Do you own something from Blue Banana or Republic?: ~ WTF?
49) Are you thinking about somebody right now? ~ Yes.
50) Ever called somebody Boo?: ~ Only my daughter.
51) Do you own a dimaond ring? ~ Whats diamond?
52)Do you want to witness a tornado? ~ Hell, I’ve been in one. Beat that.
53) Are you happy with your life right now?: ~ Mostly.
54)Do you like your hair?: ~ No.
55) Does anyone have a crush on you?: ~ Possibly.
56) What were you doing in May of 1995? ~ Erm, getting drunk, listening to punk, and dossing around.
57) Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD?: ~ No way.
58) McDonalds or Wendys? ~ KFC.
59) Are you closer to your mother or father?: ~ That’s like choosing a favourite hand. Impossible.
60) Favorite physical feature(s) of the preferred sex?: ~
61) Are you afraid of the dark? ~ No.
62) Have you ever eaten paste? ~ Hell, no.
63) Do you own a webcam?: ~ No.
64) Have you ever stripped?: ~ Only for bed.
65) Ever broke a bone?: ~ Don’t think so.
66) Do you chat on AIM often?: ~ Never.
67) Pringles or Lays?: ~ WTF?
68) Did you lose your virginity to the person you're dating now?: ~ God, no.
69) Full House or The Brady Bunch?: ~ neither.
70) Did you like your high school guidance counselor?: ~ Wasn’t one.
72) Has anyone ever called you a tease? ~ Yes.
73) What school you from? ~ .Hard knocks. *bifff*
74) Do you own a car? ~ Matchbox.
75) Can you cook?: ~ Badly.
76) 3 things that annoy you: ~.DVD antipiracy laws, Buses that stop for no real reason, people who stand in the middle of Aisles in shops.
77) Do you text message often?: ~ Im doing it now.
78) Money or love? ~ Love.
79) Do you have any scars?: ~ Yes, physical and mental.
80) What do you want more than anything right now?: ~
81) Do you enjoy scary movies? ~ Sometimes.
82) Relationships or one night stands? ~ The former.
83) Big Red or Juicy Fruit?: ~ WTF
84)Do you enjoy greasy food?: ~ yes.
85) Have you seen all the Rocky movies?: ~ Oh, hell yes.
86) Do you own a box of crayons?: ~ Nope.
87) Ever had sex in a public place?: ~ Yes.
88) Who was the last person you said i love you to? ~ *cant say*
89) Who was the last person that made you mad? ~ Myself.
90) Who was the last person that made you cry?: ~ My daughter.
91) Who was the last person that made you laugh?: ~ Giles.
92) Who was the last person that texted you? ~ Beccas mom.
93) who was the last person to call you? Hello, mark.
94) Who's your cell phone provider? Tesco.
---------------------------------
TWO
01. Is your hair wet? No.
02. Is your mobile phone right beside you? Yes.
03. Do you miss someone? Yes
04. Are you cold? no
05. Are you tired? yes
06. Are you excited? Nah.
07. Are you watching tv? No/
08. Are you wearing pajamas? No.
HAVE YOU EVER
01. Recently done anything you regret? Probably.
02. Ever lied? Yes.
03. Ever stuck gum under a desk? No.
04. Ever bit someone? Bit???? Only by request.
05. Ever trip over your own feet? yes
06. Ever cried so hard you almost threw up? No.
TODAY
01. Have you cursed? Frequently.
02. Have you yelled at someone? No
03. Have you cried? No
Q&A
Q 01: Is there a person who is on your mind right now? Sort of.
Q 02: Where is the last place you went? Work.
Q 03: Who is the last person you called/called you? Mark.
Q 04: Who do you like more, your mum or dad? Aaargh, wrong answer.
Q 05: Do you have any siblings? 1 Twin (evil version, of course)
Q 06: Do you smile often? Sometimes.
Q 07: Do you wish on stars? Nope. Brad Pitt never listens.
Q 08: When did you last cry? A while ago.
Q 09: Do you like your handwriting? Nah, its horrible.
Q 10: Are you a friendly person? Yeah, I guess.
Q 11: Who's bed did you sleep in last night? My own.
Q 12: What color shirt are you wearing? White.
Q 13:Do you have any pets? Not really.
Q 14: What is the color of your bedsheets? Blue.
Q 15: What were you doing at midnight last night? Phoning.
Q 16: I can't wait until... I finish this questionnaire.
Q 17: Look to your right. What's there? My Boss.
Q 18: Ever cried yourself to sleep? No.
Q 19: Are you normally a happy person? Its ok. Im fluffy.
Q 20: Has anyone ever said 'I love you' to you? yes
Q 21: Is your self-esteem extremely low? Sometimes.
Q 22: Do you like someone right now? Sort of.
Laters. im off next week.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
So last night, I owe an apology for being a swearer. When I get annoyed – and this happens mainly at things I can’t really control – I do swear. Can’t pretend I don’t. So turning up at the cinema to see the queue snaking out of the door into the cold wasn’t good. Waiting about fifteen minutes to get served was doubleplus bad, because by then, the film has precisely ONE seat left. In the entire auditorium. And I knew quite a few people behind us weren’t going to get into that movie. So, annoyed at the wasted journey, we validate the parking ticket, and run across the road to cineworld Broad St , where the same film was starting five minutes later.
This is the point where I turned into a swearer. Its not very pleasant of me, and I must apologise. Upon arrival to the cinema, thanks to some dunderhead who spent ages trying to work out just what film out of the one still yet to start he wanted to see (erm…you’ve only got a choice of erm…One film, so tough choice), we missed the beginning. But we did get to see The Departed.
And Its quite possibly one of the finest films of the year. Its full of brutal, gutter violence, swearing, and intense violence, personal relationship,s betrayals, interwebbing plots, and a allstar cast firing on all cylinders. I can’t recommend it enough. Jack Nicholson is being completely hammy like Jack always is – check out a scene listening to opera with a goatee beard completely bathed in red like the devil himself – and Mark Wahlberg is incredible. There’s people in this film who I’ve only ever seen slumming it before actually acting. And its full of random happenstance, like the unpredictability of life. The end shot is a cheap cliché (CGI Rodents, anyone?) but up until then, it doesn’t put a foot wrong. Except for one quite niggling thing – and that’s not that Its also incredibly sweary (with 22 uses of the c word, which guarantees an instant 18 with the BBFC. )
For all its hyperintense gangster backdrop, its actually quite funny. Gutbustingly funny, at wholly inappropriate moments, where people try to deal with the gravity and seriousness of death with the transparent and empty defense of humour (especially see the demise of one character who, bleeding to death ina police shootout in a car about to explode, sticks a gun in his mouth and utters the immortal last words in a world weary voice; ‘oh, f-ck it’). The problem is, when the end of some characters come, people in my screening just laughed there heads off. When there’s no humour, just the cold reality of death, the mood of the film was such that you expect the comic payoff. A small niggle, but incredibly poorly judged in terms of mood and tone it can’t seem to adopt a consistent outlook. But that’s one small, tiny, niggle, for a film that came in so unexpectably under the radar and I really must recommend it above most of the other dreck blocking up cineplexes. It really is very , very good. (Ok, it doesn’t deserve its #50 status of the best 250 films of all time on IMDB, but it really is bloody good).
Anyway, in other news:- my other reviews recently get rewritten into full on reviews proper with children of Men and World Trade Center at the linkees.
I've been tagged by mark for six random facts. not tonight though. Try tomorrow.
Just some linkees today:-
i)The story in the news…the pelican that ate a bird. Fascinating
ii)Sony admits to buying their own product on the grye market due to high demand…. Old hat I know
iii) How and where to go in Birmingham; snobs gets a paragraph all of its own, it is SO legendary… here
iV)How do you get 250 hours community service for stealing £175,000? Simple. Steal rare library books and sell them on ebay. If anyone else sold £175,000 worth of product, then they would get decades in prison. But no, this is 15 months suspended sentence, and community service. Ludicrous. Presumably, a love of Chaucer and Milton means you are too cultured to go to the nick, eh? Dammit, such hypocrisy.Send him Straight to Cell, boy. Linky
V)And just what is the government doing testing ‘Stay Awake’ pills (Modafinil) on soldiers? here
vi) And for that matter, heres an interesting student perspective on Birmingham LINKY
Vii) fascinating stuff about Birmingham (HERE) too, courtesy of Uncyclopaedia. I didn’t know that the citys mottos was "non faecus est" (It’s not sh*t), nor of the Birmingham Mud Riots of 682AD. (“They were bored and poor. Hence mud.”) Of particular note is this fact “There are more miles of canal in Birmingham than on Venus. This is primarily attributed to the fact that humans have yet to colonise Venus.”
Viii)And less said about London , the better.
Viiii) or the worlds most famous cockernee, Steve ‘Arris!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
I still don't know what is up with bloggers faulty links. There appears to be nothing wrong. And if you don't know what you've done wrong, how can you fix it? Well, you can't. The only possiblity is that they've set it up so that the system only accept links whilst in compose mode, which loses everythign i've done here due to some toggling in javascript.
Its been a horrible day where people have accused me of beign difficult with them on basis of simply the way they look, shouted at me for what appears to be no real reason whilst being agitated, and so forth. That side of the job I don't like, when people shout at me and I have to be happy as larry. Its thankless.
I just want to go home. think I might. Bye.
Its been a horrible day where people have accused me of beign difficult with them on basis of simply the way they look, shouted at me for what appears to be no real reason whilst being agitated, and so forth. That side of the job I don't like, when people shout at me and I have to be happy as larry. Its thankless.
I just want to go home. think I might. Bye.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Welcome to Planet Junkfood!
Ok, Sadly, Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually live on Planet Junkfood. I just surprised myself by having a KFC and then sitting down and working out what the calorific content was. It wasn’t so much calorific as horrific. Ever sat down and worked that one out , how many calories there are in that meal you’ve just had? Horrifying sometimes.
Another dull weekend, as they normally are. I can’t really remember what happened after I left the library on Saturday, except that I got the bus into town, and then off to do a bit of pointless window shopping. Ok, I lie – I did buy a DVD and some cheap albums on CD I’ve been promising myself for over a decade (such as Anthrax’s Among The Living and Alice in Chains Dirt, for about £1 each). It was 10% off day in music zone, and I bought the Directors Cut of the Chronicles Of Riddick. I don’t expect it to make the film much better, but maybe more comprehensible. (In fact, I really do admire what they tried to do with that film, which is make a universe with as much planetary scope as Star Wars where you get the idea that this really is a huge galaxy – but I don’t think it worked very well at all. Huge portions of the backstory are just not explained or are ill thought out. Kudos for ambition, not execution though.))
And then I came home and watched Star Trek, whilst pootling around the house, and then to Bed. I did mean to go to the Storm Thorgesen exhibition, but utterly forgot about it. Fortunately, it is open next Saturday. My plan was also to go to the movies and then to a supermarket, but Giles cancelled, again. Pah. The upshot of which is that Sunday, I hardly left the house. I had a nice long bath, listened to music and watched movies (Thomas Crown Affair, the mostly incomprehensible Serenity and commentary) ; and did some tidying up. Not that much. Its still all boxes in the living room, but there again, I can’t really remember a time when my life wasn’t chaotic if organised at home. And then giles came over, and we did a movie on the Sunday night; and after following my rather whingy complaint the other day, We got to see World Trade Center at a local fleapit; one I hadn’t visited since My first date when I was 16, watching “honey, I Shrunk the kids”. It was smaller than I remembered, and cold.
My thoughts on World Trade Center? Mmmm. They might surprise you.
Quite frankly, It was boring. The best bits are the opening 40-45 minutes, until the towers come down. Most of the action happens off screen – we never see the planes hit, never see them collapse. There’s some beautifully and meticulously reconstructed CGI shots of the towers, flames and smokes billowing , which are quite stunning. But its all about suggestion and confusion, where things are unclear, much like it would be on the day there and then. We see the shadows of a jet on the side of a building on its way to lower manhattan; we see clouds of smoke and debris rushing through the concourse, people rushing away to survive. They don’t know whats happening, neither would we. Its all immaculately well done. But its easier to admire the way its done than to like.
The next hour and a half basically consist of
I)watching people watch television and cry (this happens a lot)
ii)two guys trapped underground trade quotes from action movies. (This is by the far the most boring part of the movie.)
iii)Some dumbass marine saying “We are Marines, You are the mission, huh!”, the testosterone dripping off the screen while the ghost of john wayne patriotically salutes in the distance….before then promising that “They're gonna need some good men out there - to revenge this.". (This is by far the most dumb, macho part of the movie. Literally, at one point, where he’s spouting out phrases like that, I even saluted. Its that dumb, that much of an insult. )
Literally, that’s it. Probably the movie it most reminds me of is Spiek lee’s ‘The Inside Man’ in its new yorkness, but that film at least had style. This does not. Its emotionally flat, movie of the week family melodrama set to the backdrop of death of thousands, unexciting, uninvolving, emotionally unengaging, yet oddly feels forced. Emotional moments come and go, forced on you bya drippy score and obvious emotional manipulation. Its Oliver stones least personal, least interesting, most formulaic, flat movie so far. There’s no style. It could be just about anyone directing here, such is the treatment of the material. Focused on small scale characters, it’s a huge disappointment. Sure, the first forty minutes are very very well done (Check out just how the first plane crash occurs offscreen) and the effects brilliantly realised, but after that, you just get bored, and want to hurry things up. It gets very boring, very quickly. About the only trademark Oliver Stoneism is when one of the trapped men starts to hallucinate or dream about Jesus, all that potent Oliver Stone-esque dream imagery ala The Doors and NBK. But without that, ti could be anyone behind the camera.
A film about the biggest calamity of modern American history (*), from an inflammatory film maker? This is just a horrendous misfire on pretty much every single level. Honestly. I think the guardian got it spot on in their review:
There are some films so awful, of such insidious dishonesty and mediocrity, that their existence is a kind of scandal.”
World Trade Center commits the one crime that a film about this subject never ever should commit: be tedious, boring, uninvolving, dull and impersonal. Whilst that at the same time, its obvious emotional manipulation and dumbass heroics are cheap beyond belief. Quite frankly, it’s the worst film Oliver Stone has ever, ever done. It’s a horrific disappointment. Quite frankly, I couldn’t believe he had a film this dull in him. Guess I was wrong.
Anyway, heres some linkees:-
i)The Bbc goes into the heart of darkness
linky
ii)What happens when you get electrocuted? linky
iii)And are you an internet addict? linky
lateRS
EDIT:I suspect Blogger have done some tweakign with the templates and HTML formatting, because the manual HTML code I stuck into the webform is the same as always and corresponds exactly to the a href standard for links pages; Blogger seems to be automatically sticking my own blog address into the link for no bloody good reason at all. Its broke but there's no indications why it is broken, no logical reaosn why it should be; and therfore, no way to fix a problem that appears to have nothign wrong with it. How bizarre. Blogger, sort it out pls, ta.
Ok, Sadly, Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually live on Planet Junkfood. I just surprised myself by having a KFC and then sitting down and working out what the calorific content was. It wasn’t so much calorific as horrific. Ever sat down and worked that one out , how many calories there are in that meal you’ve just had? Horrifying sometimes.
Another dull weekend, as they normally are. I can’t really remember what happened after I left the library on Saturday, except that I got the bus into town, and then off to do a bit of pointless window shopping. Ok, I lie – I did buy a DVD and some cheap albums on CD I’ve been promising myself for over a decade (such as Anthrax’s Among The Living and Alice in Chains Dirt, for about £1 each). It was 10% off day in music zone, and I bought the Directors Cut of the Chronicles Of Riddick. I don’t expect it to make the film much better, but maybe more comprehensible. (In fact, I really do admire what they tried to do with that film, which is make a universe with as much planetary scope as Star Wars where you get the idea that this really is a huge galaxy – but I don’t think it worked very well at all. Huge portions of the backstory are just not explained or are ill thought out. Kudos for ambition, not execution though.))
And then I came home and watched Star Trek, whilst pootling around the house, and then to Bed. I did mean to go to the Storm Thorgesen exhibition, but utterly forgot about it. Fortunately, it is open next Saturday. My plan was also to go to the movies and then to a supermarket, but Giles cancelled, again. Pah. The upshot of which is that Sunday, I hardly left the house. I had a nice long bath, listened to music and watched movies (Thomas Crown Affair, the mostly incomprehensible Serenity and commentary) ; and did some tidying up. Not that much. Its still all boxes in the living room, but there again, I can’t really remember a time when my life wasn’t chaotic if organised at home. And then giles came over, and we did a movie on the Sunday night; and after following my rather whingy complaint the other day, We got to see World Trade Center at a local fleapit; one I hadn’t visited since My first date when I was 16, watching “honey, I Shrunk the kids”. It was smaller than I remembered, and cold.
My thoughts on World Trade Center? Mmmm. They might surprise you.
Quite frankly, It was boring. The best bits are the opening 40-45 minutes, until the towers come down. Most of the action happens off screen – we never see the planes hit, never see them collapse. There’s some beautifully and meticulously reconstructed CGI shots of the towers, flames and smokes billowing , which are quite stunning. But its all about suggestion and confusion, where things are unclear, much like it would be on the day there and then. We see the shadows of a jet on the side of a building on its way to lower manhattan; we see clouds of smoke and debris rushing through the concourse, people rushing away to survive. They don’t know whats happening, neither would we. Its all immaculately well done. But its easier to admire the way its done than to like.
The next hour and a half basically consist of
I)watching people watch television and cry (this happens a lot)
ii)two guys trapped underground trade quotes from action movies. (This is by the far the most boring part of the movie.)
iii)Some dumbass marine saying “We are Marines, You are the mission, huh!”, the testosterone dripping off the screen while the ghost of john wayne patriotically salutes in the distance….before then promising that “They're gonna need some good men out there - to revenge this.". (This is by far the most dumb, macho part of the movie. Literally, at one point, where he’s spouting out phrases like that, I even saluted. Its that dumb, that much of an insult. )
Literally, that’s it. Probably the movie it most reminds me of is Spiek lee’s ‘The Inside Man’ in its new yorkness, but that film at least had style. This does not. Its emotionally flat, movie of the week family melodrama set to the backdrop of death of thousands, unexciting, uninvolving, emotionally unengaging, yet oddly feels forced. Emotional moments come and go, forced on you bya drippy score and obvious emotional manipulation. Its Oliver stones least personal, least interesting, most formulaic, flat movie so far. There’s no style. It could be just about anyone directing here, such is the treatment of the material. Focused on small scale characters, it’s a huge disappointment. Sure, the first forty minutes are very very well done (Check out just how the first plane crash occurs offscreen) and the effects brilliantly realised, but after that, you just get bored, and want to hurry things up. It gets very boring, very quickly. About the only trademark Oliver Stoneism is when one of the trapped men starts to hallucinate or dream about Jesus, all that potent Oliver Stone-esque dream imagery ala The Doors and NBK. But without that, ti could be anyone behind the camera.
A film about the biggest calamity of modern American history (*), from an inflammatory film maker? This is just a horrendous misfire on pretty much every single level. Honestly. I think the guardian got it spot on in their review:
There are some films so awful, of such insidious dishonesty and mediocrity, that their existence is a kind of scandal.”
World Trade Center commits the one crime that a film about this subject never ever should commit: be tedious, boring, uninvolving, dull and impersonal. Whilst that at the same time, its obvious emotional manipulation and dumbass heroics are cheap beyond belief. Quite frankly, it’s the worst film Oliver Stone has ever, ever done. It’s a horrific disappointment. Quite frankly, I couldn’t believe he had a film this dull in him. Guess I was wrong.
Anyway, heres some linkees:-
i)The Bbc goes into the heart of darkness
linky
ii)What happens when you get electrocuted? linky
iii)And are you an internet addict? linky
lateRS
EDIT:I suspect Blogger have done some tweakign with the templates and HTML formatting, because the manual HTML code I stuck into the webform is the same as always and corresponds exactly to the a href standard for links pages; Blogger seems to be automatically sticking my own blog address into the link for no bloody good reason at all. Its broke but there's no indications why it is broken, no logical reaosn why it should be; and therfore, no way to fix a problem that appears to have nothign wrong with it. How bizarre. Blogger, sort it out pls, ta.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Yes, i did go out last night. After a coupel of pints, and feeling sort of out of place, and a HUGE KFC because I hadn't eaten since 9AM, I came home.
Incidentally, the KFC was a Large 3Piece Variety meal, which consists of
- 3 Chicken pieces,
- a 'Zinger' piece,
- 2 hot wings,
- 1 chicken strip,
- large fries
- large Pepsi.
I then say down and worked out the average calorific value for this at about 2,150 calories. The normal daily requirement for a man is about 2000-2500. Jesus Christ, thats like three meals in one and I was still hungry after that for about twenty minutes though. And after that I went home, and had a nice telephone call from my friend Lynn in Darlington who has just finished working at the same place at me, and now we can't email each other at Work to cheer ourselves up with silliness when the goign gets tough. Lovely to speak to her though, because it reminds me just how many friends I have that I don;t even realise most of the time....
Oh, and Nice to see drownedinsound's headline article of the day (celebrating their six years of indie doimination links to one of my old reviews of slipknot.
And then I spoke to a woman in Scotland who dumped me a month ago. Funnily enough, it appears my assessment of the situation was right on the ball. Though I was confused to what I had done wrong, sometimes its not what you've done wrong - its just what someone else isn't doing right. As usual, it appears her chaotic random life has messed things up again. What a surprise...but as I say, you still flashes of that person who isn't chaotic and random inside them , and thats what makes it worse, knowing they can't - or chose not to - make things not quite so ruibbish. And there's nothing you can do but watch as they destroy themselves piece by tiny piece, knowing theres no way you can help them until they decide to help themselves. Such a cliche. It was certainly aphone call that filled in a few blanks though, but as I told her, there's no way I can be with her as long as this chaotic, random life continues. And continue it will. Its certainly the case that you don;t stop loving someone just because they are a going throuhg a bad time, but sadly it seems to be taking the motto 'have a bad time, all the time'
Oh, and one other thing. The second someone nags about doing something, I won't do it. On principle. The principle is simple - and take your logic out of this, for a minute. Don't think of it as logically what is best. Think of it as control. Control and determination of your life. Its your life. You choose what to do with it. The second someone else tells you what to do, tries to control you, or whatever...well, thats the second you feel outof control. Not in control of your own life anymore - and what you do is try to re-assert control over your own life. Even if logically what they ask of you might be best, its not their life to control. its your life. So you reassert control of your life by choosing what to do. If you choose what they want to do, thats not the choice you have made, is it? So nag people, and it doesn't work. Whatever good work I would have done with decorating won't be done this weekend, I can assure you of that...simply because I was nagged about it. That made it no longer my choice, anymore, and so its a choice I did not make. its all about control - and sometimes youve got to let people find their own way sometimes. Even if they are stubborn.
Tsk. i am such a contrary sod sometimes.
I'm sort of written out for now. more on monday.
Incidentally, the KFC was a Large 3Piece Variety meal, which consists of
- 3 Chicken pieces,
- a 'Zinger' piece,
- 2 hot wings,
- 1 chicken strip,
- large fries
- large Pepsi.
I then say down and worked out the average calorific value for this at about 2,150 calories. The normal daily requirement for a man is about 2000-2500. Jesus Christ, thats like three meals in one and I was still hungry after that for about twenty minutes though. And after that I went home, and had a nice telephone call from my friend Lynn in Darlington who has just finished working at the same place at me, and now we can't email each other at Work to cheer ourselves up with silliness when the goign gets tough. Lovely to speak to her though, because it reminds me just how many friends I have that I don;t even realise most of the time....
Oh, and Nice to see drownedinsound's headline article of the day (celebrating their six years of indie doimination links to one of my old reviews of slipknot.
And then I spoke to a woman in Scotland who dumped me a month ago. Funnily enough, it appears my assessment of the situation was right on the ball. Though I was confused to what I had done wrong, sometimes its not what you've done wrong - its just what someone else isn't doing right. As usual, it appears her chaotic random life has messed things up again. What a surprise...but as I say, you still flashes of that person who isn't chaotic and random inside them , and thats what makes it worse, knowing they can't - or chose not to - make things not quite so ruibbish. And there's nothing you can do but watch as they destroy themselves piece by tiny piece, knowing theres no way you can help them until they decide to help themselves. Such a cliche. It was certainly aphone call that filled in a few blanks though, but as I told her, there's no way I can be with her as long as this chaotic, random life continues. And continue it will. Its certainly the case that you don;t stop loving someone just because they are a going throuhg a bad time, but sadly it seems to be taking the motto 'have a bad time, all the time'
Oh, and one other thing. The second someone nags about doing something, I won't do it. On principle. The principle is simple - and take your logic out of this, for a minute. Don't think of it as logically what is best. Think of it as control. Control and determination of your life. Its your life. You choose what to do with it. The second someone else tells you what to do, tries to control you, or whatever...well, thats the second you feel outof control. Not in control of your own life anymore - and what you do is try to re-assert control over your own life. Even if logically what they ask of you might be best, its not their life to control. its your life. So you reassert control of your life by choosing what to do. If you choose what they want to do, thats not the choice you have made, is it? So nag people, and it doesn't work. Whatever good work I would have done with decorating won't be done this weekend, I can assure you of that...simply because I was nagged about it. That made it no longer my choice, anymore, and so its a choice I did not make. its all about control - and sometimes youve got to let people find their own way sometimes. Even if they are stubborn.
Tsk. i am such a contrary sod sometimes.
I'm sort of written out for now. more on monday.
Friday, October 20, 2006
We all deal with death in different ways, all of us do. Some of us think we die and thats it, and some of us don't. Its as simple as that.I fall in the latter - There's not neccessarily any logical explanation to feeling that way, it just is. To explain why isn't important, I have my reasons.
I woke early and went to the crematorium. I always do on this day, every year. The book of rememberance wasn't there, it was currently being inscribed. I threw me a little, as I couldn't do what I normally do, as such - but I did not feel right doing it anywhere else. So I did what i always do. This might seem morbid to some, but when I'm there, Its wierd, I talk out loud to her as if she is. Like an annual update, i suppose. There's no one else there, no one else to listen, and it certainly does help sometimes. its like she's there, but she's not. There no silence that can ever replace conversation - or confession. And rememberance its not neccessarily what its about.Its about something else - a recognition that no one is truly dead, as long as we remember them. And if they out there somewhere, it doesn't hurt to let them know how we are.
Then I went to dudley, saw my friend who lives there and their 4 month old baby son (he slept the whole time, which was a real shame, because apparently he likes giggling and smiling lots and lots), bought a cheap CD of a long deleted james album (Wah Wah), a DVD of Kinsey (Blockbuster seem to have a sale on pre-owned arthouse titles like that and the StatioN Agent, McLibel, etc.) for £1.99, and some some cheap books - John Pilger, Louise Wiener, Barbara Enhreinich, and then I went and had a busmans holiday by popping into another branch of my workplace, where I might just write to the manager about the level of customer service I received, and small issues such as why the member of staff appeared not to have a name on their name badge, in violation of dress code, and so forth. pah.
that photo by the way, if of some church ruins in a town called Dunwich. They fell off the cliff in 1911; and now the whole city is lost underwater. Wikipedias list of Sunken Cities is most interesting, by the way....
I'm off to meet a friend for a drink. More tomorrow....
Thursday, October 19, 2006
My thoughts on World Trade Centre are….well, I don’t know yet. I didn’t get to see it, as Giles rang to say he wasn’t coming over. Don’t worry, we’ll do it another time, I’m sure, but I had sort of organised my plans around what I was doing later in the evening, which did not come to pass. Bah. And indeed, blee.
So last night instead comprised of coming home, cooking and loading mp3 data on my PC. A utterly dull and inconsequential evening. But at least I cooked. I’ve worked out that Friday night, I didn’t eat. Same for Monday Night after work, and Tuesday Night. No wonder I am hungry sometimes, skipping evening meals all the time. Still, it makes me less fat. Mind you, being awoken by the early morning rain doesn’t help. At Seven this morning I peered out of the kitchen window to see the sea falling out of the sky sidewards, crashing down in a constant hail. It awoke me splattering against the window constantly, persistently, unrelentingly.
The day at work was Ok, just a bit dull. I’m very tired, but I have tomorrow off. Tomorrow is a day I never work : Every year I go to a cemetery, it being the anniversary of my mothers death. I never feeling like going there after work – or, for that matter, before work either. Its too damn depressing.
I might be quiet tomorrow.
So last night instead comprised of coming home, cooking and loading mp3 data on my PC. A utterly dull and inconsequential evening. But at least I cooked. I’ve worked out that Friday night, I didn’t eat. Same for Monday Night after work, and Tuesday Night. No wonder I am hungry sometimes, skipping evening meals all the time. Still, it makes me less fat. Mind you, being awoken by the early morning rain doesn’t help. At Seven this morning I peered out of the kitchen window to see the sea falling out of the sky sidewards, crashing down in a constant hail. It awoke me splattering against the window constantly, persistently, unrelentingly.
The day at work was Ok, just a bit dull. I’m very tired, but I have tomorrow off. Tomorrow is a day I never work : Every year I go to a cemetery, it being the anniversary of my mothers death. I never feeling like going there after work – or, for that matter, before work either. Its too damn depressing.
I might be quiet tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
*CAUTION: SOPPY DAD POST*
Becca’s got a new toy. Its small, yellow and not entirely leechlike, nor do you stick it in your ear. Its bright, shiny, and lights up when you press the buttons on it. She was particularly fascinated by it last night, chasing the lights and blinking in amazement and wondering what it actually did. Its also just the right size for little becca hands to pick up and clasp it with, and she keeps shining the light on the ceiling and then laughing. I think she likes this new toy, it brings her great joy.
In the meantime, I appear to have lost my Tesco Value torch ; Its small, yellow, bright, and shiny….
They grow up so quick, they always do. It’s a cliché, but I’m seeing her little by little turn from a baby into a little person. Albeit one who can’t count above three too often (one, two and then three, three, three), and someone who now knows how to high five and giggle ; But its when she waves goodbye at me and say “byeee”, that’s what gets me all gushy. Incredible, in its own way.
Anyway, another busy day at work, though I did get to do some of the usual rambling, and heres some links:-
i) Ever wondered which Spice girl to impregnate, Eminem stylee? Why not ask Eddie Murphy (45) , who in the grand tradition on American R&B singers is about to have his eighth child; his current squeeze, ex-Scary Spice Mel B (31) is allegedly expecting twins, according to the Rumour Mill. So that’s child number eight and number nine. Who does this guy think he is, some kind of Mormon?
ii)And less said about Wesley ‘Blade IV: Direct to Video’ Snipes’ current indictment for a possible $7.6 million tax fraud the better. linky Apparently he made a claim for a overpaid tax refund for that amount in the years 1998-2004. He could spend up to 16 years in jail. Incidentally, eight of his past ten movies have gone straight to video: the only ones to be released theatrically in the UK have been the Blade series; and he is currently suing NewLine Cinema for £5 million for not giving him director approval for ‘Blade Trinity’ or Paying his agreed fee of $13million; hardly a salary he can justify with his poor box office performance….Nor can he justify his rather outrageous claim that if Shaft had been made with him in the title role rather than Samuel L. Jackson, the film would have made twice its $60 million+ earnings. After all, 13 million is a lot of money for a man whose all other films go straight to video. mind you, I expect to see his current Troubles remade puppet style as “Team America 2:Ultimate Sanction”; where Wesley Snipes is portrayed as a rogue FBI agent who is offered asylum in North Korea by its insane despotic leader in return for his defection following trumped up tax fraud charges, only to then fight his way through kung fu kicking IRS agents or be captured to face time in a military stockade for a crime he didn’t commit; and then fight his way out of Korea on his way out having exploderised and sabotaged their secret nuclear testing grounds….
Even better would be an hyperbudget action movie comprised entirely of team ups with striaght to video stars like Stallone, Seagal et al. Now, how about the sequel of “Snakes on a Train” with Stallone AND Samuel L Jackson eh? Even better. I’m hating this plan less and less….
iii)And Bully gets banned. yeehaw.
I’m really tired. Again I couldn’t sleep until late. About half two. Lord knows why. So that’s four cans of taurine powered energy drinks (entitled Rodeo) for me to power me through the day, combined with an unnatural chirpiness at the end of the day. So, to make things a little less interesting, I’m off to see World Trade Centre. I will let you know what exactly Oliver Stone does.
Aha, goodnight, y'all.
Becca’s got a new toy. Its small, yellow and not entirely leechlike, nor do you stick it in your ear. Its bright, shiny, and lights up when you press the buttons on it. She was particularly fascinated by it last night, chasing the lights and blinking in amazement and wondering what it actually did. Its also just the right size for little becca hands to pick up and clasp it with, and she keeps shining the light on the ceiling and then laughing. I think she likes this new toy, it brings her great joy.
In the meantime, I appear to have lost my Tesco Value torch ; Its small, yellow, bright, and shiny….
They grow up so quick, they always do. It’s a cliché, but I’m seeing her little by little turn from a baby into a little person. Albeit one who can’t count above three too often (one, two and then three, three, three), and someone who now knows how to high five and giggle ; But its when she waves goodbye at me and say “byeee”, that’s what gets me all gushy. Incredible, in its own way.
Anyway, another busy day at work, though I did get to do some of the usual rambling, and heres some links:-
i) Ever wondered which Spice girl to impregnate, Eminem stylee? Why not ask Eddie Murphy (45) , who in the grand tradition on American R&B singers is about to have his eighth child; his current squeeze, ex-Scary Spice Mel B (31) is allegedly expecting twins, according to the Rumour Mill. So that’s child number eight and number nine. Who does this guy think he is, some kind of Mormon?
ii)And less said about Wesley ‘Blade IV: Direct to Video’ Snipes’ current indictment for a possible $7.6 million tax fraud the better. linky Apparently he made a claim for a overpaid tax refund for that amount in the years 1998-2004. He could spend up to 16 years in jail. Incidentally, eight of his past ten movies have gone straight to video: the only ones to be released theatrically in the UK have been the Blade series; and he is currently suing NewLine Cinema for £5 million for not giving him director approval for ‘Blade Trinity’ or Paying his agreed fee of $13million; hardly a salary he can justify with his poor box office performance….Nor can he justify his rather outrageous claim that if Shaft had been made with him in the title role rather than Samuel L. Jackson, the film would have made twice its $60 million+ earnings. After all, 13 million is a lot of money for a man whose all other films go straight to video. mind you, I expect to see his current Troubles remade puppet style as “Team America 2:Ultimate Sanction”; where Wesley Snipes is portrayed as a rogue FBI agent who is offered asylum in North Korea by its insane despotic leader in return for his defection following trumped up tax fraud charges, only to then fight his way through kung fu kicking IRS agents or be captured to face time in a military stockade for a crime he didn’t commit; and then fight his way out of Korea on his way out having exploderised and sabotaged their secret nuclear testing grounds….
Even better would be an hyperbudget action movie comprised entirely of team ups with striaght to video stars like Stallone, Seagal et al. Now, how about the sequel of “Snakes on a Train” with Stallone AND Samuel L Jackson eh? Even better. I’m hating this plan less and less….
iii)And Bully gets banned. yeehaw.
I’m really tired. Again I couldn’t sleep until late. About half two. Lord knows why. So that’s four cans of taurine powered energy drinks (entitled Rodeo) for me to power me through the day, combined with an unnatural chirpiness at the end of the day. So, to make things a little less interesting, I’m off to see World Trade Centre. I will let you know what exactly Oliver Stone does.
Aha, goodnight, y'all.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
In Soviet Russia, Blunkett gets YOU!!
Sometimes, I don’t think Mr. Blunkett has the right aptitude to be – or ever to have been - a government minister. To me, his appointment smacks of a tokenist gesture of nominating a disabled person to the highest echelons of authority. Of course, in saying that, I would like to state that I am
Despite having been derided as one of the looney left in the notably reactionary right-wing councils of the day, Blunketts since about turn into rightwing gung-ho Rambo-esque style political solutions came as a shocking surprise – and yet, no surprise at all to the doublethink of current new labour policy. With civil rights derided as “Airy fairy”, his radical reaction to the situation whereby a prison riot in Lincoln got out of control was, according to the head of the prison service Martin Narey, during a telephone call with Mr Blunkett ; as follows:-
"[Mr Blunkett] shrieked at me that he didn't care about lives, told me to call in the Army and 'machine-gun' the prisoners and - still shrieking - again ordered me to take the prison back immediately.”
Hang on, Hang on. The Secretary of State advocates machine gunning prisoners to quell a riot? Is this Saddam’s Iraq, Thailand, or England? Advocating the murder of prisoners, like Rambo?
And People wonder why I say he is unfit for office. Attending a well below average number of votes in parliament (only 51%) and again a well below average participation in debates in parliament in the same period (4 debates) Accoridng to theyworkforus , and with an average mental age of 17 or 18 according to the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score, Blunkett is a disgrace to this government. And why is it suddenly acceptable to have Cabinet ministers sprawling their memoirs all over the palce in book form , seemingly exempted from the disclosure rules that bind other civil servants who need permission from the government to do so? Is it really one rule for one, and one rule for another? Of course it is. But never mind me, I’m just part of some conspiracy to keep a working class lad from Sheffield down. One whose worked hard all his life to get where he is. It is a conspiracy and I admit to it. Of course – because anyone who dare criticize Blunkett is part of that conspiracy, and make no bones about it. You’re either with him, or against him, never mind the facty that the adulterous p*ssing tomcat that he is, going around inseminating other mens wives (3,910) like Tony ferrino, openly admits to Mental instability in office, saying he was close to a mental breakdown , in an interview with the Daily mail where he says “At one point, I really did think I was going mad" . Would it be considered perhaps a little uncharitable to suggets that his self made problem could easily eb resolved by perhaps, keeping his parliamentary member in parliamanet and not in another mans wife eh? *alas, the best review of his memoirs is from here , but alas, I think the rather brilliant Uncyclopaedia has the best coverage of this matter when it summed up the whole situation as follows: 'If that's not a toupé then it's a wig; bad MPs never have real hair.' . After all kids, In Soviet Russia, Machine-Gun gets YOU!!
Anyway, It was going to be a pretty good blog post, until I was busy all day and couldn’t blog. Blast. So, here instead comes the small links I’ve been reading, mainly for fun, thanks to to the following:
i)Quite possibly the finest movie review I’ve ever read; A wholescale demolition of the risible Omen IV:The Awakening. In an alternative universe, they might as well have given ti a soundtrack by Cliff Richard and entitled it “Devil Woman”
ii) Hmmm. Now that Google owns Youtube, lets see the lawyers come out of the woodwork shall we?
iii)And while we ate it, it takes an amateur one small evening coding to track down predatory profiles on myspace, somehthign which Myspace themsleves said was unpossible . Amateurs, don’t they know that “The Impossible just takes longer”, as many a self-help tome suggests?
iv) I remember Brian Eno once did an album entitled “Wrong Way up” with John Cale, back in 1990, but did you know about the sister album entitled cryptically - “Ha Ha! Now You Don't Know How To Open The Album Case! My Clever Artwork Has Left You Confused On What Side Is The Front!”? Well, uncyclopaedia has the answers, as always….
v)Talking of which Uncylcopaedia also lifts the lid on a new craze: After all what is “Kitten Huffing” ? It’s a the new addictive craze sweeping the nation. Don’t take my word for it, just view the evidence though…I think its GoldCD showing how he powers the mighty pitch! With kittens!
vi) Midn you, what would I know? I'm a Blogger . And Uncyclopaedia has the turth, the whole truth on Blogs . With the truth to that immortal quesion, Is the Blogosphere Exothermic or Endothermic?
vii)And where were you at 5.53am this morning? Me? I was eating toast, before going back to bed for a nice nap. zzzzzz....
viii) And Remember, in “Soviet Russia, Internet gets YOU!”. In some paradoxical weird variation of Godwins Law, the mighty Russian Reversal as it is known simultaneously ends AND wins every argument it is every used in. Try it sometime. (Caution: I was very Amused. But remember In Soviet Russia, Amused gets YOU!!)
Ah, yes, the mighty RUSSIAN REVERSAL. Brilliantski.
bah. goodnight.
Sometimes, I don’t think Mr. Blunkett has the right aptitude to be – or ever to have been - a government minister. To me, his appointment smacks of a tokenist gesture of nominating a disabled person to the highest echelons of authority. Of course, in saying that, I would like to state that I am
Despite having been derided as one of the looney left in the notably reactionary right-wing councils of the day, Blunketts since about turn into rightwing gung-ho Rambo-esque style political solutions came as a shocking surprise – and yet, no surprise at all to the doublethink of current new labour policy. With civil rights derided as “Airy fairy”, his radical reaction to the situation whereby a prison riot in Lincoln got out of control was, according to the head of the prison service Martin Narey, during a telephone call with Mr Blunkett ; as follows:-
"[Mr Blunkett] shrieked at me that he didn't care about lives, told me to call in the Army and 'machine-gun' the prisoners and - still shrieking - again ordered me to take the prison back immediately.”
Hang on, Hang on. The Secretary of State advocates machine gunning prisoners to quell a riot? Is this Saddam’s Iraq, Thailand, or England? Advocating the murder of prisoners, like Rambo?
And People wonder why I say he is unfit for office. Attending a well below average number of votes in parliament (only 51%) and again a well below average participation in debates in parliament in the same period (4 debates) Accoridng to theyworkforus , and with an average mental age of 17 or 18 according to the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score, Blunkett is a disgrace to this government. And why is it suddenly acceptable to have Cabinet ministers sprawling their memoirs all over the palce in book form , seemingly exempted from the disclosure rules that bind other civil servants who need permission from the government to do so? Is it really one rule for one, and one rule for another? Of course it is. But never mind me, I’m just part of some conspiracy to keep a working class lad from Sheffield down. One whose worked hard all his life to get where he is. It is a conspiracy and I admit to it. Of course – because anyone who dare criticize Blunkett is part of that conspiracy, and make no bones about it. You’re either with him, or against him, never mind the facty that the adulterous p*ssing tomcat that he is, going around inseminating other mens wives (3,910) like Tony ferrino, openly admits to Mental instability in office, saying he was close to a mental breakdown , in an interview with the Daily mail where he says “At one point, I really did think I was going mad" . Would it be considered perhaps a little uncharitable to suggets that his self made problem could easily eb resolved by perhaps, keeping his parliamentary member in parliamanet and not in another mans wife eh? *alas, the best review of his memoirs is from here , but alas, I think the rather brilliant Uncyclopaedia has the best coverage of this matter when it summed up the whole situation as follows: 'If that's not a toupé then it's a wig; bad MPs never have real hair.' . After all kids, In Soviet Russia, Machine-Gun gets YOU!!
Anyway, It was going to be a pretty good blog post, until I was busy all day and couldn’t blog. Blast. So, here instead comes the small links I’ve been reading, mainly for fun, thanks to to the following:
i)Quite possibly the finest movie review I’ve ever read; A wholescale demolition of the risible Omen IV:The Awakening. In an alternative universe, they might as well have given ti a soundtrack by Cliff Richard and entitled it “Devil Woman”
ii) Hmmm. Now that Google owns Youtube, lets see the lawyers come out of the woodwork shall we?
iii)And while we ate it, it takes an amateur one small evening coding to track down predatory profiles on myspace, somehthign which Myspace themsleves said was unpossible . Amateurs, don’t they know that “The Impossible just takes longer”, as many a self-help tome suggests?
iv) I remember Brian Eno once did an album entitled “Wrong Way up” with John Cale, back in 1990, but did you know about the sister album entitled cryptically - “Ha Ha! Now You Don't Know How To Open The Album Case! My Clever Artwork Has Left You Confused On What Side Is The Front!”? Well, uncyclopaedia has the answers, as always….
v)Talking of which Uncylcopaedia also lifts the lid on a new craze: After all what is “Kitten Huffing” ? It’s a the new addictive craze sweeping the nation. Don’t take my word for it, just view the evidence though…I think its GoldCD showing how he powers the mighty pitch! With kittens!
vi) Midn you, what would I know? I'm a Blogger . And Uncyclopaedia has the turth, the whole truth on Blogs . With the truth to that immortal quesion, Is the Blogosphere Exothermic or Endothermic?
vii)And where were you at 5.53am this morning? Me? I was eating toast, before going back to bed for a nice nap. zzzzzz....
viii) And Remember, in “Soviet Russia, Internet gets YOU!”. In some paradoxical weird variation of Godwins Law, the mighty Russian Reversal as it is known simultaneously ends AND wins every argument it is every used in. Try it sometime. (Caution: I was very Amused. But remember In Soviet Russia, Amused gets YOU!!)
Ah, yes, the mighty RUSSIAN REVERSAL. Brilliantski.
bah. goodnight.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Pah. I had a lot of stuff to write on Saturday, but NO BANDWIDTH at the library. It took me four attempts to log into my yahoo mail, and then about three attempts for every email I read. Bah. Blee.
Friday was pretty busy. Left work late, went to see Becca. She was sound asleep by the time I got there. Babies wait for no man, not this man, and dreaming of stuff seemed like a better option for her than waiting up grumpily for me and shouting and screaming. (Not me shouting or screaming, I hope you understand). Anyway, I went home and went to bed. Bed was good, but Bed was sadly what I got out of at about half ten. I spent most of the day being boring with a computer and a pile of cds before before going to meet a friend and going to the pub. And then its rather odd, because after one point we decide to head back home; I have to go to town, and they have to go elsewhere. Via town. So we go to the supermarket, buy discounted booze and drink a can each on the bus trying to emulate those teenage rebellion years where you could actually get nicked on a bus for boozing. Now it seems like you can’t, even on a bus into the centre of town on a Saturday night. Pah. So much for my blatant and bloody silly ideas. Though it was inspired and spontaneous. And then in town I decided to trade in some clag at the local secondhand record store and then back to the pub. After another two pints (I’m a cheapo night out, girls) I feel slightly queasy. And how did those issues of Uncut and Mojo fall into my bag when I was in the bar? Oh, I don’t know.
The only way to deal with that queasy I’ve drunk too much feel is of course, to ladle down my body with greasy food. KFC, here I come! Four pieces of chicken (alongside two hot wings and a chickeny strip) I feel a little bit better, because I’ve actually eaten for once. Going out and having four pints on an empty stomach is not good, not good. I feel still queasy, but filled with empty calories, and that makes me sluggish, and hard to move about. Oh no, that’s actually the combination of bad food and bad beer. And I get on the bus, and go home. And sleep. I’m in bed before midnight, which never happens.
And I sleep. And its good.
And I wake up, And its bad.
Its eight thirty on a Sunday morning, and I can’t sleep. I can’t get no sleep. (Ok, Cue techno riff from 1995) . no seriously, I can’t sleep. Its there, I’m in bed, I’m tried, and I cannae get no sleep. It ain’t happening. So I get up and wander around and tootle around the flat and watch DVD commentaries and burn CDs off my hard drive and re-organise data and do the washing up and have a bath and finish reading my book and listen to great tunes and go to the shop to buy electric and gas and get a ‘card fail’ message when I’ve no gas in the meter and swear and keep on going like a one man energizer bunny and its loud tunes and telephone calls and listening to reports on radio4, and theres stuff to do, a list of stuff to do, like always, like tidy up , get up and organize, and its never going away its just keeping on going and going and going forever and ever and the morning is raqcing towards me at one minute at a time and it’s a school morning and I must sleep and I cant get no sleep and now its 2.20am and im lying awake in bed racing through my head and…
Last time I looked at the clock it was three thirty am.
Anyway, I’m awoken by the buzzing of the alarm and its off to work for me. Joy joy joy. I’ve had better days and I’ve had worse. I finished an hour ago and I’ve spent too long online reading up a thread on a message board, and Its too late and im tired and I only had four hours sleep And I gotta log on, blog on and go on.
And I still can’t get no sleep.
Anyway, heres some linkees:-
i) And whats all those little nasty sarcastic messages programmers stick into code which they don’t think anyone will ever notice, mmmm? Aside from the new coders equivalent of easter eggs… Naughty programmers tut tut tut
ii) tasers not good for your health, shocker.
iii) Its meant to be set on fire and smoke – but it just won’t stay on fire. Dammit, you can’t even burn those herbs down to the ground…and just make sure your troops aren’t downwind when it all happens, mmmmkay?
iv) Metallica DVD of videos released on December 4th. Yeah!
iv) 42 hours. 20 films. 3 guys. 1 mad idea. The Report from a continous, 42 hour bondathon in a locked in London office, going non-stop of coke zero, proplus and KFC. Starts well, tails off at the end, but check out page 12 for some interesting gaffes in OHMSS , like the incredible disappearing helicopters…, and quite possibly the best description of Moonraker ever….“God, it brings a tear to your eye knowing that we live in a world in which a 7ft tall homicidal maniac with steel teeth can find love with a cute girl with enormous melons.”
P.S. I do often find my writing style hits an automatic state after about 15 – 20 minutes,and stuff just flows. And that’s when it gets good,in that automatic state. What you reckon?
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
Aaargh. Another rubbish day,and an even worse night last night. Today at work was just exceptionally busy, and I’m only just about to clock off. As usual, first one in in the morning , and last one out of the building at night. Grrr.
Here’s some linkys.All Wikipedia stuff though…
i) You’ve watched Wikipedia, you know what a ‘paper street’ is – but what is a trap street ?
ii) And linking on from that, here’s an example of “the wilful avoidance of one's official responsibilities." Such as not putting made up words in a dictionary….
iii) And what is the Smithy Code , aside from a bizarre injoke?
iv) And here's news of the NEW kiss live box set,complete with the scheduled and aborted Millenium Eve recording supposedly going to be Alive IV, complete with online only bonus tracks. Sadly a compilation of rare live tracks from boxsets and compilations is very much notable by its abscence. Where are the four unreleased live tracks from 'You Wanted the best, you got the best!'? or the version of 'new York groove' exclusively on the japanese CD release and nowhere else in the world? Or The version of 'Talk to Me' from the box set? The 1996 live version of 'Shout it out loud' from 'Greatest Kiss'? or the 7 track, 40 minutes exclusive live album released as a bonus disc for Psychocircus, as listed here ? Hmmm? Sounds like a missed opportunity to me and then some...
Now I'm back,back in the New York groove...
Here’s some linkys.All Wikipedia stuff though…
i) You’ve watched Wikipedia, you know what a ‘paper street’ is – but what is a trap street ?
ii) And linking on from that, here’s an example of “the wilful avoidance of one's official responsibilities." Such as not putting made up words in a dictionary….
iii) And what is the Smithy Code , aside from a bizarre injoke?
iv) And here's news of the NEW kiss live box set,complete with the scheduled and aborted Millenium Eve recording supposedly going to be Alive IV, complete with online only bonus tracks. Sadly a compilation of rare live tracks from boxsets and compilations is very much notable by its abscence. Where are the four unreleased live tracks from 'You Wanted the best, you got the best!'? or the version of 'new York groove' exclusively on the japanese CD release and nowhere else in the world? Or The version of 'Talk to Me' from the box set? The 1996 live version of 'Shout it out loud' from 'Greatest Kiss'? or the 7 track, 40 minutes exclusive live album released as a bonus disc for Psychocircus, as listed here ? Hmmm? Sounds like a missed opportunity to me and then some...
Now I'm back,back in the New York groove...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Today. A dull but busy and hectic day at work. Lots of questions, relentless, Last night……
Children of Men.
It’s very good. Its like a science fiction film set in our world, just like the world we live in, but different. Its also brilliant, incredibly well realised – the level of background detail is incredibly detailed, incredibly convincing. The premise is quite simple – The future is a thing of the past ; mankind is dying out, there hasn’t been a child born in the world in 20 years, and life is just a clock ticking down to our inevitable extinction. With nothing left to live for, the world is falling apart. The verge of anarchy is controlled only with brutal violence and a hardline totalitarian regime which rules by propaganda and sheer bloody force. And as one of the characters says “I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?”
It really is the total antithesis of the megabudget Hollywood rubbish we see everyday. After all, if Michael Bay had shot it, it would be set in the blazing California sunshine, green green grass and with flying hoverbikes. Not this – the oil pipelines burn, people die senselessly and brutally in a bitter struggle over the remaining few prizes. Adverts constantly beam out about how to choose your own time to die, about how Illegal immigrants should be contained, whilst Troops ransack houses at gunpoint and keep people in cages; people commute to work in buses with Iron bars on the windows to deflect the thrown molotovs, coffee shops explode and the anarchists get blamed, and hope slowly, relentlessly, ceaselessy fades and dies. Suddenly the glory of the 2012 London Olympics seems like a far cry of the the past – and the fact that Theo (Clive Owen) spends the last half of the film wearing a grubby 2012 olympics fleece is a telling sign of just how close the attention to detail is. Newspaper headlines tell us about when Russia invaded Kazakstan, TV news programmes show us the list of cities gone and lost in the chaos of war, like the time of the nuclear mushroom cloud over New York , about the death of the worlds youngest person; about how Battersea Power station is renovated as a cultural museum to the art of mankind, restored with a floating pig hovering over the towers, about mankind celebrating its glory in its last few hopeless days . Chinooks fly over the exile of Bexhill-on-sea ; a very English Guantanamo bay, where the illegal immigrants are kept exiled away to fend for themselves at gunpoint, and the oil pipelines burn into the darkened sky.after all, there’s no future to save is there?
And then there is hope. A single pregnant woman, on the run; the seed from which mankind can be reborn. Rivals clash and factions play with the glory while the entire future of the world holds in the balance. And all along the clock is ticking, and Theo takes on the mantle as the only man that the mother to be of mankinds last, best hope for a future trusts. While every one else schemes and plots and life is lost, the only life that matters is that which he protects.
Children of Men is incredibly realised, and rich in detail, features a stunning action scene at the end, an uninterrupted five minute saving private ryan-esque one shot scene of desolation and destruction as an unprotected, unarmed Theo dashes through a full on military assault. Its like a science fiction film without the flash, without the sleek slick shiny future we hoped for. Its like today, but worse. It feels like a throwback to a day when science fiction actually tried to say something, not just sell us action figures and toy merchandising. Think the Andromeda Strain, Day of the Triffids, V for Vendetta (of which the totalitarian vision of England owes a certain debt) , Twelve Monkeys. Think The omega Man, 1984, Brazil, 28 days later; think Solaris and the great literary classic “I am Legend” (currently being bastardised by Will Smith). Think the kind of the intelligent, daring sci-fi films you haven’t seen in twenty five years, the kind of which you didn’t think Hollywood had the balls to do anymore.
They’ll hate it in Texas. It’ll tank in America. But don’t let that bother you. After all, does anyone remmber that Uncle Buck trounced the Abyss at the box office? Does anyone remember that fight club was deemed such a flop that it cost the head of the studio his job and was widely deemed a failure? Or do people still talk about love those films now? People will remember Children of Men long into the future. Long after the likes of Tallegeda Nights, Xmen3, and Fast And Furious: Tokyo Drift have disappeared into oblivion, Children of men will remain.
Children of Men.
It’s very good. Its like a science fiction film set in our world, just like the world we live in, but different. Its also brilliant, incredibly well realised – the level of background detail is incredibly detailed, incredibly convincing. The premise is quite simple – The future is a thing of the past ; mankind is dying out, there hasn’t been a child born in the world in 20 years, and life is just a clock ticking down to our inevitable extinction. With nothing left to live for, the world is falling apart. The verge of anarchy is controlled only with brutal violence and a hardline totalitarian regime which rules by propaganda and sheer bloody force. And as one of the characters says “I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?”
It really is the total antithesis of the megabudget Hollywood rubbish we see everyday. After all, if Michael Bay had shot it, it would be set in the blazing California sunshine, green green grass and with flying hoverbikes. Not this – the oil pipelines burn, people die senselessly and brutally in a bitter struggle over the remaining few prizes. Adverts constantly beam out about how to choose your own time to die, about how Illegal immigrants should be contained, whilst Troops ransack houses at gunpoint and keep people in cages; people commute to work in buses with Iron bars on the windows to deflect the thrown molotovs, coffee shops explode and the anarchists get blamed, and hope slowly, relentlessly, ceaselessy fades and dies. Suddenly the glory of the 2012 London Olympics seems like a far cry of the the past – and the fact that Theo (Clive Owen) spends the last half of the film wearing a grubby 2012 olympics fleece is a telling sign of just how close the attention to detail is. Newspaper headlines tell us about when Russia invaded Kazakstan, TV news programmes show us the list of cities gone and lost in the chaos of war, like the time of the nuclear mushroom cloud over New York , about the death of the worlds youngest person; about how Battersea Power station is renovated as a cultural museum to the art of mankind, restored with a floating pig hovering over the towers, about mankind celebrating its glory in its last few hopeless days . Chinooks fly over the exile of Bexhill-on-sea ; a very English Guantanamo bay, where the illegal immigrants are kept exiled away to fend for themselves at gunpoint, and the oil pipelines burn into the darkened sky.after all, there’s no future to save is there?
And then there is hope. A single pregnant woman, on the run; the seed from which mankind can be reborn. Rivals clash and factions play with the glory while the entire future of the world holds in the balance. And all along the clock is ticking, and Theo takes on the mantle as the only man that the mother to be of mankinds last, best hope for a future trusts. While every one else schemes and plots and life is lost, the only life that matters is that which he protects.
Children of Men is incredibly realised, and rich in detail, features a stunning action scene at the end, an uninterrupted five minute saving private ryan-esque one shot scene of desolation and destruction as an unprotected, unarmed Theo dashes through a full on military assault. Its like a science fiction film without the flash, without the sleek slick shiny future we hoped for. Its like today, but worse. It feels like a throwback to a day when science fiction actually tried to say something, not just sell us action figures and toy merchandising. Think the Andromeda Strain, Day of the Triffids, V for Vendetta (of which the totalitarian vision of England owes a certain debt) , Twelve Monkeys. Think The omega Man, 1984, Brazil, 28 days later; think Solaris and the great literary classic “I am Legend” (currently being bastardised by Will Smith). Think the kind of the intelligent, daring sci-fi films you haven’t seen in twenty five years, the kind of which you didn’t think Hollywood had the balls to do anymore.
They’ll hate it in Texas. It’ll tank in America. But don’t let that bother you. After all, does anyone remmber that Uncle Buck trounced the Abyss at the box office? Does anyone remember that fight club was deemed such a flop that it cost the head of the studio his job and was widely deemed a failure? Or do people still talk about love those films now? People will remember Children of Men long into the future. Long after the likes of Tallegeda Nights, Xmen3, and Fast And Furious: Tokyo Drift have disappeared into oblivion, Children of men will remain.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
1) My ex is: Now Someone elses problem and not with me any longer, thank god.
2) I am listening to: Mark, on the phone.
3) Maybe I should: Go Home
4) I love: My baby daughter Becca.
5) My best friend: I have a couple.
6) I don’t understand: People
7) I lose: my temper sometimes, and I hate it.
8) People say: I love you, and they don’t mean it.
9) The meaning of my screen name is: Randomly chosen so that its not my real name
10) Love is: An Impossible dream
11) Somewhere, someone is: wondering where someone like me is, and why I’m not in their life or something.
12) I will always: feel slightly lost in a modern world.
13) Forever seems: Like a mighty long time, and very far away.
14) I never want to: be hurt again. Or eat shellfish.
15) My cell phone is: A Nokia 1100 or something.
16) When I wake in the morning: I want to go back to bed.
17) I get annoyed when: Buses don’t turn up.
18) Parties are: Easily avoided if you don’t turn up.
19) My dog is: Much missed. Small, fluffy and quiet.
20) Kisses are the worst when: Unwanted or they come from a friends mother who is lecherous and drunk.
21) Today I did: Work.
22) Tonight I will: See a movie.
23) Tomorrow I will be: At Work.
24) I really want: to be loved by someone who I love.
2) I am listening to: Mark, on the phone.
3) Maybe I should: Go Home
4) I love: My baby daughter Becca.
5) My best friend: I have a couple.
6) I don’t understand: People
7) I lose: my temper sometimes, and I hate it.
8) People say: I love you, and they don’t mean it.
9) The meaning of my screen name is: Randomly chosen so that its not my real name
10) Love is: An Impossible dream
11) Somewhere, someone is: wondering where someone like me is, and why I’m not in their life or something.
12) I will always: feel slightly lost in a modern world.
13) Forever seems: Like a mighty long time, and very far away.
14) I never want to: be hurt again. Or eat shellfish.
15) My cell phone is: A Nokia 1100 or something.
16) When I wake in the morning: I want to go back to bed.
17) I get annoyed when: Buses don’t turn up.
18) Parties are: Easily avoided if you don’t turn up.
19) My dog is: Much missed. Small, fluffy and quiet.
20) Kisses are the worst when: Unwanted or they come from a friends mother who is lecherous and drunk.
21) Today I did: Work.
22) Tonight I will: See a movie.
23) Tomorrow I will be: At Work.
24) I really want: to be loved by someone who I love.
Another busy day. Not much time to blog. So I clocked off work five minutes ago, and here’s a quick blog.
i)One of my favourite albums of the year…and it was a covermount with Q magazine. The Sugababes track is great, and the Elbow track – the version of the the’s “August and September” is utterly beautiful. These, along with a few other tracks – have been soundtracking the journey too and from work all week. That with Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, and the old 60’s soul standard “Expressway To Your Heart” by Amen Corner. Which is very retro. Anyway, blogs and tracklists about the cd…. linky and linky
ii) I believe in a thing called drugs….
Talent quits Darkness. Justin Hawkins - the only thing talented about the band – quits due to his love of coke. Idiot. One hit wonder.
ii)Blogging is the work of the devil, says the church
iii) Playable Air guitar invented. I bet that sounds crap on the dancefloor.
iv)Water, its evil, I tells ya! That’s dihyrogen monoxide for ya! It’s a conspiracy
v)256th screen of Pac-Man.
i)One of my favourite albums of the year…and it was a covermount with Q magazine. The Sugababes track is great, and the Elbow track – the version of the the’s “August and September” is utterly beautiful. These, along with a few other tracks – have been soundtracking the journey too and from work all week. That with Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, and the old 60’s soul standard “Expressway To Your Heart” by Amen Corner. Which is very retro. Anyway, blogs and tracklists about the cd…. linky and linky
ii) I believe in a thing called drugs….
Talent quits Darkness. Justin Hawkins - the only thing talented about the band – quits due to his love of coke. Idiot. One hit wonder.
ii)Blogging is the work of the devil, says the church
iii) Playable Air guitar invented. I bet that sounds crap on the dancefloor.
iv)Water, its evil, I tells ya! That’s dihyrogen monoxide for ya! It’s a conspiracy
v)256th screen of Pac-Man.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Aha! Its Tuesday. Which means I get to work late again. Hurrah, mind you I work late pretty much everyday. There’s work to be done everyday, and not that many hours to do it in. After all, there’s so much work we are supposed to do, and not that many people to do it.
Anyway, I’ve got a few bits and pieces to do, a home to go to, and I’m working over. Well, now I’m piddling around on the internet and blogging. And keeping on thinking about Becca talking to me on Friday when I saw her last, saying all those things but her mouth just doesn’t know the words yet. Must be frustrating trying to talk and getting nowhere like that. But she is a wonderful child.
Yesterday? Dull, but busy. Today, dull but busy. All work and no play make jack a dull boy. I think I’ve been watching too much of the shining…..
Ok, linkees:
i) Wanna know about why all those railway stations got closed down? Try here linkee
ii) And what it this mysterious conspiracy? linkee
Anyway, I’ve got a few bits and pieces to do, a home to go to, and I’m working over. Well, now I’m piddling around on the internet and blogging. And keeping on thinking about Becca talking to me on Friday when I saw her last, saying all those things but her mouth just doesn’t know the words yet. Must be frustrating trying to talk and getting nowhere like that. But she is a wonderful child.
Yesterday? Dull, but busy. Today, dull but busy. All work and no play make jack a dull boy. I think I’ve been watching too much of the shining…..
Ok, linkees:
i) Wanna know about why all those railway stations got closed down? Try here linkee
ii) And what it this mysterious conspiracy? linkee
Monday, October 09, 2006
North Korea go Boom!
This is a very obscure reference to anyone who likes Gabba techno, for it is a track by Johnny Violent (aka Ultraviolence) off his 1995 album “Shocker”. Its an incredible – and insane – album of utter nosebleed gabba. Everyone should listen to it at least once, if only to revel in its utter dumbness. And I for one, welcome North Korea to the Nuclear Club… Of course, is it right that North Korea now have Nucelar weapons? Well, look at what Bush did to a nation that didn’t have Nuclear Weapons, but did have a lot of oil. Funnily enough, North Korea has no oil, and hasn’t been invaded. Coincidence? Schmoincidence! Of course, the blatant hypocrisy of the fact that we have nuclear weapons and invade countries and North korea doesn’t invade countries are never mentioned. If its ok for us to have them, why can’t they? Oh, because they might do bad things. Like invade other countries. Hmmmm.
(Obviously, I’m not saying it’s a good thing for North Korea to have these weapons; but it is hypocritical to expect to put the bunny back in the box and uninvent these things.Or to deny them to others simply because it does not fit out particular hedgemonical global power structure weighted in our favour. What North Korea is doing is trying to make sure it doesn’t end up the next Iraq; and who can blame it for that, in its quest for self-preservation? Wouldn’t our country do exactly the same? Of course we would. However, the Us having rattled its sabres one too many times to mention may well have destabilised the international community so much that its words carry no weight anymore ; After all, how can the US reasonably expect everyone else to follow international law when the US itself flagrantly disregards it as and when it sees fit?)
p.s. Mark, my questionnaire was written by a myspacer...I just nicked it.
If I weren't answering this question right now I'd be..
Ok, probably on the bus home, because I’ve finished work and messing around on the internet. Or walking around the supermarket, buying bread.
I wish people would take more notice of...
How great it is to be alive. Just to know that stuff is happening around me is wonderful. To See the joy in others through the dim haze. To rejoice in the innocence, and retain that themselves. The world may be grey and a drudge, but each day be a child, it only for a few seconds. Take that joy of seeing the world afresh and anew again.
The most suprising thing that ever happened to me was...
Lots of stuff. Probably seeing Pink Floyd. Oh, and that time with two girls…I’ve never had two girls fight over me before.So odd. So strange. I’m really not worth it, honestly. Mind you, I’m sure lots of girls would say that about me. It still amazes me.
A common misperception of me is...
That I’m confident, and / or I’m a knob. I’m not. I just don’t care for other peoples opinions, say what I think and sometimes blatantly trespass normal social conventions. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that I’m just me, and its me being way too over the top to hide the fact that I’m not very confident.
I am not a politician but...
I would like to change the world.
I'm good at...
Some things. Putting words down. Feeling miserable. Air guitar. And I bet I look crap on a dancefloor.
I'm very bad at...
Decorating. Being motivated. And tidying up.
You know me as a blogger, but in truer life I'd have been...
A professional dreamer. A writer. Someone with a better grasp on this world than I already have. Someone able to change peoples lives in a good way. Someone good.
A phrase I used far too often is...
Unprintable. It changes from day to day – a while back it was “This sucks on so many levels” , which I picked up from the cheap and trashy but enjoyable Jason X. I’m aware sometimes that I don’t explain things very well, that I annoy other people, hell, I even annoy myself sometimes, but there’s some phrases that just keep on coming back. Lord knows what they are.
The ideal night out is...
With friends far and near in the same room. Some relaxing tunes and just being excellent to each other.
The best age to be is...
Any time that you are alive. Because you can’t get any younger, you’re getting older by the second, so relish these days that only ever come once in your life. No matter how bad they may be…
In a nutshell, my philosophy is...“Be Excellent to Each other”. Same as Bill and Ted….
This is a very obscure reference to anyone who likes Gabba techno, for it is a track by Johnny Violent (aka Ultraviolence) off his 1995 album “Shocker”. Its an incredible – and insane – album of utter nosebleed gabba. Everyone should listen to it at least once, if only to revel in its utter dumbness. And I for one, welcome North Korea to the Nuclear Club… Of course, is it right that North Korea now have Nucelar weapons? Well, look at what Bush did to a nation that didn’t have Nuclear Weapons, but did have a lot of oil. Funnily enough, North Korea has no oil, and hasn’t been invaded. Coincidence? Schmoincidence! Of course, the blatant hypocrisy of the fact that we have nuclear weapons and invade countries and North korea doesn’t invade countries are never mentioned. If its ok for us to have them, why can’t they? Oh, because they might do bad things. Like invade other countries. Hmmmm.
(Obviously, I’m not saying it’s a good thing for North Korea to have these weapons; but it is hypocritical to expect to put the bunny back in the box and uninvent these things.Or to deny them to others simply because it does not fit out particular hedgemonical global power structure weighted in our favour. What North Korea is doing is trying to make sure it doesn’t end up the next Iraq; and who can blame it for that, in its quest for self-preservation? Wouldn’t our country do exactly the same? Of course we would. However, the Us having rattled its sabres one too many times to mention may well have destabilised the international community so much that its words carry no weight anymore ; After all, how can the US reasonably expect everyone else to follow international law when the US itself flagrantly disregards it as and when it sees fit?)
p.s. Mark, my questionnaire was written by a myspacer...I just nicked it.
If I weren't answering this question right now I'd be..
Ok, probably on the bus home, because I’ve finished work and messing around on the internet. Or walking around the supermarket, buying bread.
I wish people would take more notice of...
How great it is to be alive. Just to know that stuff is happening around me is wonderful. To See the joy in others through the dim haze. To rejoice in the innocence, and retain that themselves. The world may be grey and a drudge, but each day be a child, it only for a few seconds. Take that joy of seeing the world afresh and anew again.
The most suprising thing that ever happened to me was...
Lots of stuff. Probably seeing Pink Floyd. Oh, and that time with two girls…I’ve never had two girls fight over me before.So odd. So strange. I’m really not worth it, honestly. Mind you, I’m sure lots of girls would say that about me. It still amazes me.
A common misperception of me is...
That I’m confident, and / or I’m a knob. I’m not. I just don’t care for other peoples opinions, say what I think and sometimes blatantly trespass normal social conventions. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that I’m just me, and its me being way too over the top to hide the fact that I’m not very confident.
I am not a politician but...
I would like to change the world.
I'm good at...
Some things. Putting words down. Feeling miserable. Air guitar. And I bet I look crap on a dancefloor.
I'm very bad at...
Decorating. Being motivated. And tidying up.
You know me as a blogger, but in truer life I'd have been...
A professional dreamer. A writer. Someone with a better grasp on this world than I already have. Someone able to change peoples lives in a good way. Someone good.
A phrase I used far too often is...
Unprintable. It changes from day to day – a while back it was “This sucks on so many levels” , which I picked up from the cheap and trashy but enjoyable Jason X. I’m aware sometimes that I don’t explain things very well, that I annoy other people, hell, I even annoy myself sometimes, but there’s some phrases that just keep on coming back. Lord knows what they are.
The ideal night out is...
With friends far and near in the same room. Some relaxing tunes and just being excellent to each other.
The best age to be is...
Any time that you are alive. Because you can’t get any younger, you’re getting older by the second, so relish these days that only ever come once in your life. No matter how bad they may be…
In a nutshell, my philosophy is...“Be Excellent to Each other”. Same as Bill and Ted….
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Watching my daughter grow up is a little wonder. Watching her mouth form words I myself have said, trying to say the same words, to say the same sounds..."Hello" I say and it comes out of her mouth slightly differently, trying to make the same words, but missing out syllables and saying "Hey- wooah". Watching her spill her bottle of milk and then trying to clean it up with a cloth, little wonderous things like that. Shes' such a joy, to see those things happen.
Aaargh. I filled it in once, and then the PC ate it.
1. Are you wearing shoes? Yes.
2. Whats the third letter in your name? A
4. What color is your backpack? Black
5. Are you sick? I'm not sick but I'm not well...(Flagpole Sitter by Harvey Danger)
6. Do you go to school? No
7. Is the bathroom door open? Doubt it
8. Are you on a laptop? No
9. Are you watching MTV? I don't watch kids TV.
10. Are you smiling? Smirking.
11. Do you have on eyeliner? No.
12. Is it early? No .
13. Are you blonde? NO
14. Do you have a myspace? Yes, but its rubbish
15. Are you in high school? No
16. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? No.
17. What is your favorite name? My own
19. What color is your bathing suit? I don't swim, I sink.
20. Does your school start in August? No.
21. Did you go on vacation last month? *pah*.
22. Have you ever been on a cruise?Nope.
23. Do you have a sister? "A sister?" (Darth vader voice) "No"
24. Are you upstairs? No
25. Do you have a friend named Alex? No
27. Does your name end with a Y? None of 'em
28. What was the last thing you said to a mate? 'bye'
29. is your ear pierced? no
30. Do you own a digital camera? No
31. Do you live in Florida? no
32. Do you like Florida? No
33. Ever had sushi? raw fish? What Am I, a bloody whale?
34. Are you listening to rock at the moment? I rock you in the morning asnd roll you in the night, hunny.
35. What color is your chair? Blueish.
36. Where'd you get your trousers? Tesco.
37. Do you type with your feet? Nope.
38. Have you dyed your hair red? No, But i do like redheads.
39. Are you tired? Yes
41. Are you an idiot? Only in waking hours.
44. Are you "Fake" at times? No
45. Is Alcohol Bad for the Soul? Only INXS.
46. Are you bored? Yes
47. What time is it? middayish.
49. Chocolate or peanut butter? Chocolate
50. How many kids would you like? One at a time, please.
51.Possible girl names : Cant decide.
52. Possible Boy names: Cant decide.
52. What is your computer? My brain.
53. CDs or Cassette? CD
54. Ever been through or to Detroit? Nope.
55. Seen all of the American Pies: yes, sadly.
56. Been to the movie theatre the past month?
59. Been to a concert in the past months?
60. What color is your toothbrush? green.
61. Was this quiz really random? yes
62. Do you think abortion is good or bad? I think its your choice to make.
63. Are you depressed right now? *sobs*
64. do you like harry potter? No, I've grown out of childrens books.
Free DVDs:
Letter to BRezhnev (Guardian, I think it is)
Snows of Kilimanjaro (the times)
Mona Lisa (The sundya times, tomorrow)
Old Jokes Home:
Bono is at a U2 concert in Glasgow when he asks the audience for some quiet. Then in the silence,
he starts to slowly clap his hands.He says into the microphone..."Every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies."
A voice from near the front pierces the silence... "Well, stop f**king clapping then"
1. Are you wearing shoes? Yes.
2. Whats the third letter in your name? A
4. What color is your backpack? Black
5. Are you sick? I'm not sick but I'm not well...(Flagpole Sitter by Harvey Danger)
6. Do you go to school? No
7. Is the bathroom door open? Doubt it
8. Are you on a laptop? No
9. Are you watching MTV? I don't watch kids TV.
10. Are you smiling? Smirking.
11. Do you have on eyeliner? No.
12. Is it early? No .
13. Are you blonde? NO
14. Do you have a myspace? Yes, but its rubbish
15. Are you in high school? No
16. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? No.
17. What is your favorite name? My own
19. What color is your bathing suit? I don't swim, I sink.
20. Does your school start in August? No.
21. Did you go on vacation last month? *pah*.
22. Have you ever been on a cruise?Nope.
23. Do you have a sister? "A sister?" (Darth vader voice) "No"
24. Are you upstairs? No
25. Do you have a friend named Alex? No
27. Does your name end with a Y? None of 'em
28. What was the last thing you said to a mate? 'bye'
29. is your ear pierced? no
30. Do you own a digital camera? No
31. Do you live in Florida? no
32. Do you like Florida? No
33. Ever had sushi? raw fish? What Am I, a bloody whale?
34. Are you listening to rock at the moment? I rock you in the morning asnd roll you in the night, hunny.
35. What color is your chair? Blueish.
36. Where'd you get your trousers? Tesco.
37. Do you type with your feet? Nope.
38. Have you dyed your hair red? No, But i do like redheads.
39. Are you tired? Yes
41. Are you an idiot? Only in waking hours.
44. Are you "Fake" at times? No
45. Is Alcohol Bad for the Soul? Only INXS.
46. Are you bored? Yes
47. What time is it? middayish.
49. Chocolate or peanut butter? Chocolate
50. How many kids would you like? One at a time, please.
51.Possible girl names : Cant decide.
52. Possible Boy names: Cant decide.
52. What is your computer? My brain.
53. CDs or Cassette? CD
54. Ever been through or to Detroit? Nope.
55. Seen all of the American Pies: yes, sadly.
56. Been to the movie theatre the past month?
59. Been to a concert in the past months?
60. What color is your toothbrush? green.
61. Was this quiz really random? yes
62. Do you think abortion is good or bad? I think its your choice to make.
63. Are you depressed right now? *sobs*
64. do you like harry potter? No, I've grown out of childrens books.
Free DVDs:
Letter to BRezhnev (Guardian, I think it is)
Snows of Kilimanjaro (the times)
Mona Lisa (The sundya times, tomorrow)
Old Jokes Home:
Bono is at a U2 concert in Glasgow when he asks the audience for some quiet. Then in the silence,
he starts to slowly clap his hands.He says into the microphone..."Every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies."
A voice from near the front pierces the silence... "Well, stop f**king clapping then"
Friday, October 06, 2006
I shouldn’t be here. No, I shouldn’t.
I should be on a train headed up North. But I’m not. I’m not because even though I purchased the ticket four weeks ago for a cheap as chips price (Ok, it should have been £99 return, I got two separate singles there and back at a cost of £18 and £25 respectively.£43) the person I should be seeing decided to call it off, leaving me totally dumped with the tickets for which I have no use at all anymore. So forgive my mild annoyance at a pointless and senseless waste of Money. (In fact, right now, I should be at Carlisle station, not sat at my desk at work. Pah. Having never been to Carlisle before, I do feel a little like I’m missing something. Even if it is nothing).
So,last night? I came home from work, eventually, walked because the buses are useless, cooked, and decided to have a bath. A little bit of jiggery pokery with a fusebox and a lamp and it was ok. It was, quite possibly, the finest bath I’ve ever had. I also cleaned the bathroom floor of glass, before doing so. Then I spoke on the phone for a bit and had an early night.
This morning, the electrician came and sorted out the fusebox problem. And then I got into work about Midday, and that was that. Its mufty day, so I’ve come in fancy dress as George Lucas – ie plaid shirt and jeans, Luke skywalker T-Shirt.And Here I am, still. I shouldn’t even be here. I should be arriving up North, stepping off the train into the arms of a loved one.
Either way, the weather is bloody horrible and Im glad not to be there. Think I'll have a quiet weekend at home instead, ya dig? i'm really glad the electrician turned up though, I really am.
I should be on a train headed up North. But I’m not. I’m not because even though I purchased the ticket four weeks ago for a cheap as chips price (Ok, it should have been £99 return, I got two separate singles there and back at a cost of £18 and £25 respectively.£43) the person I should be seeing decided to call it off, leaving me totally dumped with the tickets for which I have no use at all anymore. So forgive my mild annoyance at a pointless and senseless waste of Money. (In fact, right now, I should be at Carlisle station, not sat at my desk at work. Pah. Having never been to Carlisle before, I do feel a little like I’m missing something. Even if it is nothing).
So,last night? I came home from work, eventually, walked because the buses are useless, cooked, and decided to have a bath. A little bit of jiggery pokery with a fusebox and a lamp and it was ok. It was, quite possibly, the finest bath I’ve ever had. I also cleaned the bathroom floor of glass, before doing so. Then I spoke on the phone for a bit and had an early night.
This morning, the electrician came and sorted out the fusebox problem. And then I got into work about Midday, and that was that. Its mufty day, so I’ve come in fancy dress as George Lucas – ie plaid shirt and jeans, Luke skywalker T-Shirt.And Here I am, still. I shouldn’t even be here. I should be arriving up North, stepping off the train into the arms of a loved one.
Either way, the weather is bloody horrible and Im glad not to be there. Think I'll have a quiet weekend at home instead, ya dig? i'm really glad the electrician turned up though, I really am.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Its been a couple of days since I wrote. Please accept my humblest apologies for being quite busy.
Tuesday was work. It was sadly busy. Nic came in and was supposed to see a preview screening of The History Boys.Went back, changed, cooked the ultimate god of all foodstuffs (bacon Sandwiches, no sauce, neat on white bread) and enjoyed it. Then it was on the bus and into town to see the movie.
The bus came almost immeadiately. We didn’t get to the movie though. We were supposed to turn up at seven for a seven thirty start. At 5 past seven, we were just before the five ways island. Ok, so we might be a little late, but it’d be ok. At twenty five minutes past we were just turning onto five ways island. 20 minutes in a hundred yards. Given it was a seven for 7.30pm start for a free film not out yet and over a mile away with five minutes left fo go - no, we weren’t going to get there. So we go off and walked into town. The Bus did not pass us, I get to the library and get some books out, check email, and send an apology for missing the movie. And then its back up plan alpha.
Selfridges.
Confused yet? You Will be. Selfridges shuts at eight. We get there at ten past. One of the floors is running a 20% night for listeners of Kerrang! Radio Wow, what a concurrent demographic there, though I must admit, more than you think: Are you going to get young, affluent, counterculture, students types with money to burn on a £90 pair of jeans listening to Radio WM or BRMB…or are you gonna get it at Kerrang! ? Simple answer really. So Kerrang! Fits the bill, and there’s the after hours promotion with Selfridges. But better than that, there’s free booze and Cds. After all, we all know that I shop better when drunk. That’s why I didn’t spend a single penny but instead, got loaded on free lager. I hate lager. Hate it. But I’ll drink it for free. So, four bottles of Tiger Lager later (its that Indian stuff that gets you drunk), I’m feeling a little like I’ve had a free night out, not the mention the Kerrang DJ blaming tunes at us all evening. (Most were rubbish, but the Clash wasn’t).
They also had a freebie box of CDs for people to choose one for themselves. So free CDs then! Mostly not all clag, thank the maker. Though there was some real clag in there, there were a few worth picking out. I made multiple trips there, hoping no one would notice the handfuls I picked up, even if it did get as far as people telling us off for taking more than one each. But I got the new INXS album, new Sparklehorse album, the Fear Factory album, the new Arab Strap Album, that sort of thing. Well worth skipping the film for, I reckon. Even when drunk on free booze, trapped in consumer hell of a closed off mall, It was like Day of the Dead – with better music. It felt like a vacous,consumer driven hell, but at least the booze was free. Well worth leaving the house for, is a free blag, and the free tunes and free booze helped. Pretty fun, it makes a change from staying parked in front of the PC for hours.
Wednesday was a rubbish day though. Because since Monday, I’ve had no lights in the bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen. The lightbulb blew on Monday in the bathroom, shattering glass onto the floor. It was dark by the time I got back, and last thing I want to do is clear up shards of broken glass in the dark with a flashlight, fumbling around like an idiot waiting to get shards in my hands. So, What I did was stick a lightbulb in, and try to find the flipswitch for the fusebox. There wasn’t one.
Which confused me. A lot. You see, I’m used to fuse boxes with circuitbreakers and flipswitches. I’ve never lived anywhere that didn’t have it like that. I’ve never seen one, before, one of those old style fuseboxes. But I do know enough to know that what you don’t do is mess around with unfamiliar pieces of electrical equipment in order to see just what happens,because it’s a bad idea. Electricity can Kill, I remember that from all those adverts about kids playing on railways and getting electrified. Hence why I called an electrician from the council,. Rather than messing with things I don’t understand.
He was supposed to be here on Wednesday morning. He didn’t arrive Wednesday morning. Or Wednesday afternoon. Or at all, for that matter. A day off wasted for that. Ridiculous. I only made four phone calls to the helpline too. But Ultimately, even though I got some stuff done which I really couldn’t put off – such as moving boxes of books from the shed back into the main body of flat before winter, where they would be a little more exposed and prone to damage which took a long time and needed to be done when it wasn’t raining less the books get damaged – It was a very frustrating day. Very frustrating day indeed, having spent the entire waiting around for something not to happen. No amount of listening to Pantera extremely F**KING loudly helped with this annoyance. ( It was a Vulgar Display of Power, which is a monolithic slab of intense riffage)
And then, to the movies. Clerks II. Which is already, my favourite Kevin Smith Movie. As he grows older, I prefer his films. Here it is, the case of fast friends who work in a burger joint, with one on his last day before going to Florida to get married to his domineering girlfriend. And why do I Like? Because, like me, these guys have hit 33 and realised they’ve done nothing and gone nowhere, achieved nothing great, just put on weight and keep the clock ticking at a job they don’t particularly like, but just can’t afford to leave. Its poignant, its grown up, and its all about realising the best person for you is who your heart tells you, not what the brain tells you. Its really heartwarming and joyful at times, really obscene and gutbustingly funny with great dialogue, deeply uneven at times with schizophrenic pacing, and deeply touching. Fact movie it probably reminded me of was…Blues Brothers. Two guys hang out, save their friends, and it has musical numbers, The scene with the Jackson Five is just joyful in the extreme. As is the true realisation of just who is right for Dante. Loved it, it really cheered me up after a horrible day. And it was a horrible, horrible day.
Thursday? It was work. Its alright.
Tuesday was work. It was sadly busy. Nic came in and was supposed to see a preview screening of The History Boys.Went back, changed, cooked the ultimate god of all foodstuffs (bacon Sandwiches, no sauce, neat on white bread) and enjoyed it. Then it was on the bus and into town to see the movie.
The bus came almost immeadiately. We didn’t get to the movie though. We were supposed to turn up at seven for a seven thirty start. At 5 past seven, we were just before the five ways island. Ok, so we might be a little late, but it’d be ok. At twenty five minutes past we were just turning onto five ways island. 20 minutes in a hundred yards. Given it was a seven for 7.30pm start for a free film not out yet and over a mile away with five minutes left fo go - no, we weren’t going to get there. So we go off and walked into town. The Bus did not pass us, I get to the library and get some books out, check email, and send an apology for missing the movie. And then its back up plan alpha.
Selfridges.
Confused yet? You Will be. Selfridges shuts at eight. We get there at ten past. One of the floors is running a 20% night for listeners of Kerrang! Radio Wow, what a concurrent demographic there, though I must admit, more than you think: Are you going to get young, affluent, counterculture, students types with money to burn on a £90 pair of jeans listening to Radio WM or BRMB…or are you gonna get it at Kerrang! ? Simple answer really. So Kerrang! Fits the bill, and there’s the after hours promotion with Selfridges. But better than that, there’s free booze and Cds. After all, we all know that I shop better when drunk. That’s why I didn’t spend a single penny but instead, got loaded on free lager. I hate lager. Hate it. But I’ll drink it for free. So, four bottles of Tiger Lager later (its that Indian stuff that gets you drunk), I’m feeling a little like I’ve had a free night out, not the mention the Kerrang DJ blaming tunes at us all evening. (Most were rubbish, but the Clash wasn’t).
They also had a freebie box of CDs for people to choose one for themselves. So free CDs then! Mostly not all clag, thank the maker. Though there was some real clag in there, there were a few worth picking out. I made multiple trips there, hoping no one would notice the handfuls I picked up, even if it did get as far as people telling us off for taking more than one each. But I got the new INXS album, new Sparklehorse album, the Fear Factory album, the new Arab Strap Album, that sort of thing. Well worth skipping the film for, I reckon. Even when drunk on free booze, trapped in consumer hell of a closed off mall, It was like Day of the Dead – with better music. It felt like a vacous,consumer driven hell, but at least the booze was free. Well worth leaving the house for, is a free blag, and the free tunes and free booze helped. Pretty fun, it makes a change from staying parked in front of the PC for hours.
Wednesday was a rubbish day though. Because since Monday, I’ve had no lights in the bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen. The lightbulb blew on Monday in the bathroom, shattering glass onto the floor. It was dark by the time I got back, and last thing I want to do is clear up shards of broken glass in the dark with a flashlight, fumbling around like an idiot waiting to get shards in my hands. So, What I did was stick a lightbulb in, and try to find the flipswitch for the fusebox. There wasn’t one.
Which confused me. A lot. You see, I’m used to fuse boxes with circuitbreakers and flipswitches. I’ve never lived anywhere that didn’t have it like that. I’ve never seen one, before, one of those old style fuseboxes. But I do know enough to know that what you don’t do is mess around with unfamiliar pieces of electrical equipment in order to see just what happens,because it’s a bad idea. Electricity can Kill, I remember that from all those adverts about kids playing on railways and getting electrified. Hence why I called an electrician from the council,. Rather than messing with things I don’t understand.
He was supposed to be here on Wednesday morning. He didn’t arrive Wednesday morning. Or Wednesday afternoon. Or at all, for that matter. A day off wasted for that. Ridiculous. I only made four phone calls to the helpline too. But Ultimately, even though I got some stuff done which I really couldn’t put off – such as moving boxes of books from the shed back into the main body of flat before winter, where they would be a little more exposed and prone to damage which took a long time and needed to be done when it wasn’t raining less the books get damaged – It was a very frustrating day. Very frustrating day indeed, having spent the entire waiting around for something not to happen. No amount of listening to Pantera extremely F**KING loudly helped with this annoyance. ( It was a Vulgar Display of Power, which is a monolithic slab of intense riffage)
And then, to the movies. Clerks II. Which is already, my favourite Kevin Smith Movie. As he grows older, I prefer his films. Here it is, the case of fast friends who work in a burger joint, with one on his last day before going to Florida to get married to his domineering girlfriend. And why do I Like? Because, like me, these guys have hit 33 and realised they’ve done nothing and gone nowhere, achieved nothing great, just put on weight and keep the clock ticking at a job they don’t particularly like, but just can’t afford to leave. Its poignant, its grown up, and its all about realising the best person for you is who your heart tells you, not what the brain tells you. Its really heartwarming and joyful at times, really obscene and gutbustingly funny with great dialogue, deeply uneven at times with schizophrenic pacing, and deeply touching. Fact movie it probably reminded me of was…Blues Brothers. Two guys hang out, save their friends, and it has musical numbers, The scene with the Jackson Five is just joyful in the extreme. As is the true realisation of just who is right for Dante. Loved it, it really cheered me up after a horrible day. And it was a horrible, horrible day.
Thursday? It was work. Its alright.
Monday, October 02, 2006
How are you?
Ok. And you?
Where are you right now?
At Work.
What were you doing 20 years ago?
AT School. It was Midday, on A Monday, in 1986. I think It was Geography, just before Games afternoon. It was third form, so I was probably being annoying and dreading French lessons on Monday.
How have you changed over the last 20 years?
I’ve got fatter, balder and older. Wiser, but I don’t always act on it. I know now, though, how to please a woman. Back in those days, it was but a frenzied figment of imagination.
When did you get a mobile phone?
I was given one in may 2004. I bought my first one Sept 2006. Different network, cheaper texts, better value really.
What was the first album you bought on CD?
Queen’s “Live Magic”. I hardly play it.
And the first track you downloaded?
First one I remember is “Rock N ‘ Roll (Will set the nite on fire)” By pretty Boy Floyd. Its an incredible piece of bubblegum metal. But I don’t have it anymore.
If you could talk to yourself 20 years again what advice would you give?
Firstly, don’t wait that week for clearing before going to Uni. Secondly, don’t marry her. Thirdly, stay off the internet. Yes, stay off it. It only causes trouble. You’ll regret it in the long run. Fourthly, that job you said you’d only do until Christmas? Only do it until Christmas. Stick at that. Move into a better job. Fifthly, go See Nirvana. Buy up lots of copies of “Motown Junk” and early Nirvana singles.
Whats the single biggest thing that's changed for you?
Growing up. Slowly but surely.
Whats the best thing you bought?
Oh, my computer probably. Certainly the most time consuming, and most useful I think.
Your favourite drug of the past 20 years?
Caffeine. (B# Newey, which is my obscure injoke for the week)
Whats been the highlight of the last 20 years?
Erm…there’s been a few. My daughter especially. Seeing Pink Floyd, that kind of thing. Most days don’t have highlights, and are just drudge, but some days are better than others.
And the low point?
There’s lot of them. Being homeless, being turned away from a hostel, getting the hell kicked out of me in Middlesbrough (not once but twice)… that sort of thing.
Whats been your worst haircut of the past 20 years?
1990-2000. Long lanky hair. Not good.
Your biggest fashion disaster?
White Trainers. Long hair. Anthrax shirt and Hawaiian shorts. What was I thinking? It was 1989, and I was metal kid though.
Who's your favourite artist of the last 20 years?
I’ll give you a hundred If I have to give you one.
What was the most money you spent?
Oh, come to think of it….I once spent £1200 in one go on rent and deposit for a place to move out of my dads too when I was with a girl about ten years ago.
Which song of the last 20 years do you wish you'd written?
Oh, erm….”Smells Like teen Spirit”, but sadly, I’d be dead now If I had. I’ll settle for something else instead; how about “Wonderwall” Or “Angels” instead? Songs a bit rubbish, but the money’s Ok.
Where will you be in 20 minutes?
At Work. Bored.
Ok. And you?
Where are you right now?
At Work.
What were you doing 20 years ago?
AT School. It was Midday, on A Monday, in 1986. I think It was Geography, just before Games afternoon. It was third form, so I was probably being annoying and dreading French lessons on Monday.
How have you changed over the last 20 years?
I’ve got fatter, balder and older. Wiser, but I don’t always act on it. I know now, though, how to please a woman. Back in those days, it was but a frenzied figment of imagination.
When did you get a mobile phone?
I was given one in may 2004. I bought my first one Sept 2006. Different network, cheaper texts, better value really.
What was the first album you bought on CD?
Queen’s “Live Magic”. I hardly play it.
And the first track you downloaded?
First one I remember is “Rock N ‘ Roll (Will set the nite on fire)” By pretty Boy Floyd. Its an incredible piece of bubblegum metal. But I don’t have it anymore.
If you could talk to yourself 20 years again what advice would you give?
Firstly, don’t wait that week for clearing before going to Uni. Secondly, don’t marry her. Thirdly, stay off the internet. Yes, stay off it. It only causes trouble. You’ll regret it in the long run. Fourthly, that job you said you’d only do until Christmas? Only do it until Christmas. Stick at that. Move into a better job. Fifthly, go See Nirvana. Buy up lots of copies of “Motown Junk” and early Nirvana singles.
Whats the single biggest thing that's changed for you?
Growing up. Slowly but surely.
Whats the best thing you bought?
Oh, my computer probably. Certainly the most time consuming, and most useful I think.
Your favourite drug of the past 20 years?
Caffeine. (B# Newey, which is my obscure injoke for the week)
Whats been the highlight of the last 20 years?
Erm…there’s been a few. My daughter especially. Seeing Pink Floyd, that kind of thing. Most days don’t have highlights, and are just drudge, but some days are better than others.
And the low point?
There’s lot of them. Being homeless, being turned away from a hostel, getting the hell kicked out of me in Middlesbrough (not once but twice)… that sort of thing.
Whats been your worst haircut of the past 20 years?
1990-2000. Long lanky hair. Not good.
Your biggest fashion disaster?
White Trainers. Long hair. Anthrax shirt and Hawaiian shorts. What was I thinking? It was 1989, and I was metal kid though.
Who's your favourite artist of the last 20 years?
I’ll give you a hundred If I have to give you one.
What was the most money you spent?
Oh, come to think of it….I once spent £1200 in one go on rent and deposit for a place to move out of my dads too when I was with a girl about ten years ago.
Which song of the last 20 years do you wish you'd written?
Oh, erm….”Smells Like teen Spirit”, but sadly, I’d be dead now If I had. I’ll settle for something else instead; how about “Wonderwall” Or “Angels” instead? Songs a bit rubbish, but the money’s Ok.
Where will you be in 20 minutes?
At Work. Bored.
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