little angus young

I know rock stars are usually a lot smaller than you think, but this picture amazed me.  It's Angus Young of AC/DC  signing autographs in Perth, and there is no way l would have visualised him being so small.  The worst thing is, l've even been to see AC/DC a few times back in the day, and although l knew he wasn't tall by any stretch of the imagination (or his backbone), l didn't expect this (or The Spanish Inquisition).
My brain hurts (again).

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x factor humiliation

Now that l have returned home, l have been tidying up, washing clothes, and catching up with the TV (while drinking wine).  Rather sadly, The X Factor was one of the shows l usually tape and flick through (not in that way) in case there is anyone good on it.  This performance above, and the reactions to it by the crowd, the panelists, and more importantly the children, have made me uneasy about watching the programme again.  Alison Brunton is obviously deluded that she can sing, and thinks she has a chance of getting into the charts.  She is mocked and then applauded, but the crowd are laughing at her, not with her.  This sort of thing often occurs on the programme, but they are dealing with real people here, and the two poor kids that are filmed cringing with embarrassment will have to put up with all the ridicule and humiliation due to it.  Brunton is an adult (although maybe barmy), and has a right to make  a fool of herself if she so wishes, but the children should not have been filmed and exploited, no matter how they try to dress it up as concern, a laugh, or 'they should be proud'.  What next?  Laughing at the (apparently) educationally or emotionally sub normal or retarded as they delude themselves they have the magical 'X' Factor?  Oh, l forgot, they do that as well.  It's my own fault for adding to the exploitation by watching it in the past, but count me out from now on.

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back from holiday

Damn!  I am now back from holiday, so normal service shall be resumed in the next day or so.


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gina rinehart tells the poor how to get rich

This sort of story is priceless for an old Socialist like myself.  Gina Rinehart, an Australian mining tycoon (of Hancock Prospecting), who is the worlds richest woman, has told the poor that they should stop smoking, drinking and socialising so much, stop being jealous of the rich, and spend more time working. "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire"  according to her, and the poor should stop complaining.   This is from a woman who is for lower minimum wages and less tax.  How did she become rich?  She might have worked hard and invested well, but it helps if daddy leaves you $75 million, which coincidentally, is what happened to her (and she has definitely been sitting around eating and drinking a lot).

Perhaps if the poor in Australia got together, went on strike, and refused to work for crappy wages (including in her mines) they would improve their status and monetary gain immediately (as long as they stuck together).  How about them taking over the mines and getting rid of her, and then running them as collectives, so everybody gets a share in the profits?  That would certainly help the poor and redistribute the wealth.  I would not advocate killing her or violence of any sort to remove her from her no doubt enormous homes and leadership job, but l wouldn't lose any sleep if that happened.  In fact l would rejoice - like Nazareth themselves (Loud and Proud).

Time for an uprising - once again the rich are taking the piss.

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wartime bombing and the munich bomb

 Dresden

 Nuremberg

Burning bodies in Dresden

Cologne

The above photographs are from 1945, and show some of the aftermath of bombing raids over Germany during the war.  Nowadays, you can't imagine what it must have been like to have bombs dropped on you on a regular basis, and it's also amazing that the flattened cities were rebuilt so quickly, when you think of all of the work that must have been involved.  It must have taken ages just moving all of the rubble and demolishing unsafe buildings.  This also applies to English cities as well, and l remember lots of bombed out places when l was a kid in Liverpool. 

To give an idea of what it must have been like, a war time bomb was discovered in Munich this week, and the safest way to get rid of it was to detonate it.  The video demonstrates how powerful just one bomb could be, let alone a whole bombing raid.

We have got it soooooo easy.

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lee marvin falling down drunk

This is something l never tire of seeing.  It's Lee Marvin in 'Paint Your Wagon', falling down drunk into the river.  He does it completely straight backed, and by the look of it, that river is not very deep.  Even if it was, it would still hurt, dropping down face first like that.  Luckily for Lee, he was meant to be drinking heavily throughout most of the shoot, so he might not have felt the pain at the time.

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the book of drugs - mike doughty (2012)

Mike Doughty used to be the singer in the USA band 'Soul Coughing', and is now a solo artist.' The Book Of Drugs' is his memoir that deals with his army based childhood, time forming and being in the band, having some success, being mates with Jeff Buckley, going solo, drug taking, travel and groupie type sex.  However, it is not your usual account, as he is pretty fucked up (in all ways) most of the time (he has since been classed as bi-polar), he hates being in his own band, he hates his own voice (and questions if he is even a musician),  he gets seriously addicted to the drugs, he has trouble with going straight and dealing with real emotion, and his lucky number is 27.  Wow, l can relate to most of what he is saying, but he has had more of a rock star life and can articulate it in a thoughtful (and spitefully honest) way. Highly recommended, even if you don't know his music (which l didn't), as it pinpoints how unhappy someone can be, even if they are being (to all intents and purposes) successful.  I'll admit a lot of the drug stuff (and travel tales) made me jealous, as l have indulged with both in the past, but for now,  l'll settle for checking out his music.  At least it keeps me occupied and out of trouble.

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countess dracula (1971) - peter sasdy

Countess Dracula is based on the real life exploits of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and stars Ingrid Pitt as a woman who tries to remain young by bathing in murdered young girls blood.  She then discovers they have to be virgins, and is helped in her gruesome task until it all goes wrong at her wedding.
Was it made by Hammer?  Check
Are there buxom wenches?  Check
Are there scared peasants?  Check
Dramatic castle?  Check
Horse drawn carriages?  Check
Are there topless scenes? Check
Are there killings?  Check
True (ish) story?  Check
Dramatic acting?  Check
Any good?
Nope - not at all, even if Ingrid does go topless, it's not worth watching.  Certainly not one of the better Hammer films, and she's not even a vampire. Just skip through to the saucy bits if you are that bothered, but you'd have to be desperate, like when l was 14 or 15. Not because of what Ingrid looks like - she was always proud about showing off her body.
Hence this publicity shot from The Vampire Lovers - a much better film (if you are 14 or 15)

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psy - gangnam style

They do things differently in South Korea, that's for sure.  This is the full on, funny and energetic PSY - Gangnam Style, and l'd love to hear it in a club while on drugs (but of course, those days are gone).  Altogether now - do the dance and sing    "HEEEEEY  SEXY LAYDEEE"

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different sin

What a great statement and another mind bending slogan that would look great on a t shirt.

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albums listened to yesterday

What a hard life l'm having (part 3456)


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the only game in town (1970) - george stevens

Will Las Vegas dancer Fran Walker (Elizabeth Taylor) fall for the piano playing smoothie Joe Grady (Warren Beatty), or will she run off and marry her ex lover before Grady loses all their money gambling?  Who cares.  I certainly didn't, and l sat all the way through the bloody thing.  'The Only Game In Town' has the odd bit of decent dialogue, but don't waste your time with it.  In fact, l'll do you a favour and let you know the outcome.  They fall in love and stay together.  Yawn.

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holidays, las vegas and new york

 Ah, lovely Las Vegas / Sin City

 You've got to go under the sign!

Midtown comics in New York.  Mmmmmmm.....Spidey comics

Myself and the FPO (and maybe others) are jetting off early next week to go somewhere for a last minute holiday.  It won't be in the USA, but looking through some earlier photographs, these ones leapt out and reminded us of other splendid holidays thereabouts.  I don't really care where we go this time, as long as it is hot and relaxing, so we can do some reading and chill out.  The weather in the UK has been crap this year, with near constant rain oop north, so it will be good to get away.  You know who l blame?   God.   He's meant to be in charge of sunshine duties (or did l misread the Bible?).

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the london zoo animal audit

The London Zoo have been doing an audit of their animals, which means that they have to be weighed and measured.  What a great job to have, and it has resulted in some cute animal photographs for all the family.  The Humboldt penguin getting measured (and then stroked) are my particular favourites.
Photos from The Guardian.

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nellie the otter stacking plastic bowls

It's clever AND cute! (and like me in the bath).

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the stupidly handsome paul newman

I've said it before on the blog when reviewing films, but Paul Newman was one handsome dude.  These photographs are from when he joined the U.S Navy in about 1943, and l tell you this now brothers and sisters, it's a good job he went up in planes for the Navy rather than being sent to sea, as there would have been a few fellows after some late night action with him once the loneliness crept in and they were a long way from land (because that's what they do).

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confessions / kokuhaku (2010) - tetsuya nakashima

A teacher tells her class before she leaves that she knows two of them have murdered her daughter, and she has taken her revenge on them (which they are shocked to discover).  The story then develops, giving alternate viewpoints and showing different time frames, until the unexpected twists at the end.  Confessions / Kokuhaku  is a Japanese film by Tetsuya Nakashama with English subtitles, and it is one of the best films l have seen.  It seems longer than it is, due to the interweaving and dark plot, and it certainly drags you in, gets you involved, and keeps you guessing.  Egotism, bullying, revenge, an Oedipus complex, love, grief, betrayal, inventions, killings, blood and gore, denial, the internet, a dog and some dance moves.  All are present and correct.  Even the soundtrack, featuring Radiohead and The XX (amongst others) is excellent.  What more could you possibly want from a movie?  Marvelous.

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where dalton trumbo liked to write

Yes, the picture is correct.  Dalton Trumbo, the rather magnificent author of 'Johnny Got His Gun' (amongst others) liked to spend hours in the bath, relaxing and writing.  No wonder l feel as though l can identify with him,  l've spent half my life in the bath (although for some reason, l still stink).  Now l need to get some kind of equipment like he was utilizing.  I'm impressed with his set up and forward planning, and I may even take up smoking and get a cigarette holder. It sure looks cool to me.

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the trial - franz kafta

I'd only ever read (but enjoyed) 'Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafta, so while l have got time on my hands due to being off work, l got stuck into 'The Trial', one of his uncompleted novels.  I'd heard a lot about it and knew the basic premise of the story, but it did surprise me.  Joseph K is arrested on his 30th birthday, but not charged.  He then spends the rest of the novel trying to find out what his charges are, how to get help, and what is the best way of bringing it to a conclusion.  Along the way he meets lawyers, painters, girls and priests, but is still non the wiser when he is taken out again on the eve of his 31st birthday.
There was some repetition about the trial that l found boring, and the end of the book was a bit sudden, but there was plenty of other stuff contained within to keep me interested and occupied.  At one stage l thought it all may be in K's imagination, and he was just going mad and fantasizing some events, as they were certainly illusory and semiotic.  Other parts certainly seemed to be religious (and confusing) metaphor's, (especially the part in the cathedral), but more than likely it (to me) represents guilt about past actions, how to acknowledge and deal with  it, and how to repent or pay for it ("Like a dog").
Then again, what the hell do l know?  I'm just a drunken opinionated fool.


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baby trashing a bar (las palmas by johannes nyholm)

Watching Adam Buxton's 'Bug' tonight, he showed an excellent video by Johannes Nyholm of a baby supposedly trashing a bar in Las Palmas.  The above video is the shortened version, but the full (but still short) film can be seen here.  Funny and cute!  What a combination!

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the pete townhend book is nearly out!

The long awaited Pete Townshend (of The Who) autobiography is nearly out!  He has also promised that it will deal with his caution in 2003 for downloading child pornography (which he said was for research).
The book has taken over 15 years to complete, but he has done well to knock one off (so to speak) in such a (relatively) short amount of time.
After all, books take a long time to write when you have to keep pausing your research in order to delete your browser history.
And cookies.
And cache.
And hard drive.
And set fire to your office.
And flee the country.
(with thanxs to The Afterword and @Bobtheidiot)


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chalk farm graffiti

This graffiti around Chalk Farm in London is by Blu (via artofthestate), but l am not sure what l feel about the work.  In a way, it looks too amateurish for my liking (not that l can do any better) but there is also something surreal about it that appeals to me.  It doesn't take a lot to confuse me, and this graffiti certainly does that.  Time for another lie down - my head hurts.

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the sun - old mocked up covers

I'm not exactly a huge fan of 'The Sun' newspaper, but l have to admit that these are a good idea.  They are mock ups of historical events in the past, as though The Sun was reporting on them at the time.  Respect is due to whoever did them, as they are pretty good.  More covers are  here.

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a lord howe stick insect hatching

This video is the Lord Howe Stick Insect (Dryococelus Australis), which was thought to be extinct by 1930, but was discovered on  The Lord Howe Island group in 2001, and has been bred, notably at Melbourne Zoo, where the above video was taken.  That however, is not the only amazing thing about them.  The video goes on for a while, but it is worth the time viewing it, as the hatching of them is unbelievable.  How on Earth they manage to fit inside their shells before hatching beats me, and even after seeing it emerge, you still can't believe what you have seen.  They certainly can't have been comfortable, no matter how flexible they are.  Nature - it can be freaky.
More information is at Discovery magazine.

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drawing a realistic playing card

OK, I'm impressed.  Mark Crilley rips up a playing card and then does a realistic drawing of it.  Why?  Who cares, it's something l would love to be able to do, and it's an incredible skill.
Git.
From Boing Boing.

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