the apprentice returns

I can't stand the bloody programme, but here's a handy bingo game to go with it.

toodle pip

brian wilson on the one show

I love the The Beach Boys stuff, especially around the time of Pet Sounds/Smiley Smile era, and Brian Wilson has been the creator of so much good stuff in the past. It is also good that he is now able to get out and about after his well documented problems, but this is bloody awful. Talk about milking a golden calf (or whatever it is l am thinking about). Leave the poor bastard alone, he won't need much more money, and it's not like he enjoys being out on the road, despite what he says on this programme. Everyone will be turning up to see the concerts because it is him, but the band are doing all the work (and vocals). Brian is just a figurehead to make a load of money. What a con. Go and see The Wondermints instead.

toodle pip

spiral series 3

This has been great. I haven't watched any of the other series (yet) but after being on so many sites where people were raving about this, l thought l would give it a go on the good old BBC iPlayer (Hurrah for the fact we are living in the space age). I have just finished watching 6 episodes (one straight after the other), as that is the kind of guy l am, plus l have no work again until Friday. It is very similar to 'The Killing'' in that there is a murder at the start, there is a strong willed (but slightly unhinged) female police woman leading the investigation, and there are corrupt government officials. I am off to bed now, but shall continue my viewing tomorrow afternoon, unless it is really nice weather, in which case l will be off to Richmond /shops/pub (in that order) and watch the rest in the evening.

toodle pip

walk home from work

I went to get the bus home early from work today, only to discover the bus timetables have changed. As it was a nice day l decided to have a walk home, listening to the latest 'Adam and Joe' podcast on the way, even though l could have got a taxi, or strolled back from whence l came, done a bit more work, then got a lift home at 3pm, as someone was going my way then (but l am getting fit for the holidays and all that). While l was walking along, minding my own business, an athletic looking black guy came running past me. God knows where from, as it was pretty much as soon as l started. Now l don't know if l was walking home pretty quickly, but this guy was sprinting ahead so far then stopping and walking for a bit to compose himself, before sprinting off again. It turned into a mad game of tag, without him realising, as l kept just about catching him up all the way home. He did not look round, and was not aware l was so close to him on a few occasions, and l would have also overtaken him just past the Colburn Lodge if l had not crossed over the road and walked through the woods (obviously hoping he would follow me and bum me). Either he is rubbish at running, or l walk pretty fast when l get my gander up.

I then cut the grass when l got home. I think l must have a fever or something (or l am still on a high from Manchester United beating Chelsea 2-1 yesterday to pretty much clinch the title ( one point now needed from the last two games).

more sand sculptures

More excellent stuff on the beach - who needs the ladies?

toodle pip

mmmm.... the walk to the pub

Nothing better than a sunny day with nothing to do but take a leisurely walk to the pub for a couple of ales.

Mmmm...ales.

toodle pip

man or woman?

Myself and the FPO have disagreed on this. I definitely think this is a man who has had (or is in the process of having) a sex change. Good luck to him/her, but the FPO thinks it is just a woman. Barmy. I am right (as usual) and she is wrong.

toodle pip

one day trailer

The book that this film is based on is meant to be good. After watching the trailer though, why bother? It has given away all of the plot and also has the gift of making the film itself look shit. I don't think there will ever be a day when l am so bored that l will watch this (or read the book) . Cheers Hollywood (or the UK film industry, l can't be bothered checking), that's saved a bit of my precious moments on this Godforsaken planet.

toodle pip

last day off before work .. spring is here...

The remaining idiot rabbit in the garden yesterday

The remaining idiot of a cat

The food for Ken's (sick boys) birthday at Stockton

The back of Dazzer's pants - they look a bit suspicious

Rather sadly, this is my last day off before heading back into work tomorrow, no doubt to a shed load of work and problems to be solved.

I have been off since last Tuesday afternoon (last Wednesday was my first day off), and it seems like ages ago, although (of course) it also seems to have flown by and l now have work entering my tiny little mind again.

Myself and the FPO have been out and about (to visit the family for a birthday do, off to watch a post grunge band at JT's, round Richmond castle etc), but most of the time we have been at home relaxing and generally chilling out.

She was back to work on Tuesday, so l have had some time by myself to read, play music, watch TV and doss about (the usual stuff).

I have managed to cut the bloody grass again (two bin fulls packed tight), but no decorating has been done (what a surprise!).

It's my last night of freedom tonight before the toil continues, but at least l have just had a phone call to meet old Joe down the pub at 4.45pm, so l suppose that will top off the holiday (to go with Manchester United's reserves beating Shalke 04 last night).

Ah well, forget about tomorrow and enjoy the rest of today while l can. The sun is shining, the weather is sweet (but windy).

As Tom Lahrer would say..

Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.

Life is skittles and life is beer.

I think the loveliest time of the year

Is the spring! I do - Don't you? 'Course you do.

but there's one thing that makes spring complete for me

and makes every Sunday a treat for me

All the world seems in tune

On a spring afternoon

When we're poisoning pigeons in the park

toodle pip.

the queens hall in leeds

This place was a right fucking dump. The walls and ceiling used to drip with condensation and the floor was always wet (which ruined your shoes/boots or trainers). The floor was also solid concrete and there were pillars that obstructed the view of the band if you were unlucky enough to be in shoved into the wrong place (it was standing room only).

It is now a car park which is meant to be getting developed, but keeps getting put off.

You would think l would have no problem with this place closing, but it was one of the few places (back in the day) near Catterick that had famous bands on and was easily accessible, as it was straight down the A1.

I never saw The Rolling Stones there (unfortunately), but l did see Adam and the Ants, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Rainbow and Culture Club amongst many others.

Another good thing about the venue was you could sneak in or pay the guys on the door to let you in, so most of the shows l went to l never bothered getting a ticket to in advance. Those where the days my friends...

I can't remember what concert it was, but l travelled down one evening to see a band and there was a note on the door saying it had been cancelled (luckily l had not spent money in advance on a ticket). I then went to the pictures in Leeds to see the new Dirty Harry film, which l think was Sudden Impact. Not as good as the band would have been but at least l got something out of the trip.

Used to spend ages cleaning my footwear when l got home though.

toodle pip

osama bin laden - operation geronimo

The operation to capture/kill (depending on your viewpoint - mine is further down) was named Geronimo. This is all to do with the USA's love of the wild west and limited history. Identifying an operation like this helps to drive some kind of wedge between the good guys/bad guys cowboys/indians. They want to be carefull about that kind of talk. The above is a picture of Geronimo from 1887, a very angry man, and with good reason. The Indians when l was growing up were the baddies, now they have (pretty much) world-wide sympathy for the way their way of life and land was decimated. The USA should ensure history does not repeat itself.

As the rather fabulous Aswad said...

"Without a knowledge of history, you're like a vegetable in this society"

toodle pip

the fforde grene in leeds harehills

Another great venue for seeing bands in Leeds. Many was the evening when l used to hitch-hike from Catterick to see up and coming bands there (Def Leppard being one). They also used to have on people from larger bands that had split up (Alex Harvey/Ian Gillan). It was also a handy stopping off point before going to see bands at Roundhay park (U2,Springsteen,Madonna etc). It was known as a bit of a dodgy pub, but l never experienced any trouble in there, but l suppose l was one of the people that may be considered dodgy. After a few too many drug raids, it closed down and is now a supermarket. The area it is in is really multicultural with loads of food shops (known as the curry mile), and the supermarket itself is meant to be really good, selling all kinds of foodstuffs, which l have no problem with. It's just a shame the pub had to close for it to exist. Now does anybody want a Dedringer 'Sunday drivers' single l had autographed by the band in there? No? DAMN!!

toodle pip

closing down of pubs - the duchess in leeds

Starting this off with some Leeds venues. I used to go to the Duchess in Leeds quite often when l where but a lad. It was a great little pub by the centre of town that had some great acts on in their early days (Oasis and Nirvana to name two). Now it's a bloody clothes shop. It makes me SOOOOOOOOOOOO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

toodle pip

the hottest chilli on earth

I have just been reading about the bhut jolokia, the hottest chilli on earth. It is 1,041,427 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale, more than double the score of the previous world record-holder (the red savina habanero). That means it is 200 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. And yet, when you bite into a bhut jolokia, there is no pain at first, only a smoky flavour with an intense, apple-like sweetness. Then, after about 20 seconds, all hell breaks loose. Sounds great.

I will have to put some of that into someones pizza if l ever get around to going to India.

toodle pip

recycling time after the bank holiday

The bin men come around today for the recycling bottles. They will be in luck at our house. You can tell it's been a Bank holiday weekend.

toodle pip

some photographs of the milky way galaxy

Who are we? Why are we here? What's the point?

It's a good job l am enjoying it, or someone would be getting a stern letter of complaint.

A very small part of the Universe in the night sky

toodle pip

some amazing sand sculptures

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more bob gruen photography

" Great rock photography is about capturing the attitude " Bob Gruen

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bob gruen photography

There was a great programme on Sky Arts about Bob Gruen, which made me so very jealous of the man. I was caught up with the rock and roll mythology and music, especially from the early 1960's to the present, and Bob Gruen was pretty much there to capture a load of the stuff l loved (and still do) with his photographs.

He has loads of iconic ones, such as John Lennon in a New York City t-shirt, but one of my favourites is the shot he took of Tina Turner with a one second delay. That one really captures the energy and passion of a great show.

He admits himself that he is not that great at capturing the moment in focus, but he was more concerned with the spark that sometimes shows itself, after all, who cares about being too precise if the energy and enthusiasm is there. He also had a cool looking apartment/workplace, with a wall of CD's.

I should have tried photography when l was younger, because l certainly can't write, sing, or play anything, and it may have granted me access to all the rock and roll shenanigans that went on. Mind you, with that kind of involvement,l would have been dead by now.

http://www.bobgruen.com/

toodle pip

obamas speech in full

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osama bin laden dead

So, Osama Bin Laden has been found, killed, identified and then buried at sea. I can understand the USA not wanting his grave to become some kind of terrorist shrine, but l have a lot of reservations about all of this.

It seems as though the Pakistani government knew he was hiding in Pakistan, and would have probably advised him to move again if the USA told then they were going to attack. But it is only going to add to the dislike of the States that they have gone into a foreign country , killed a foreign suspect (what happened to innocent before being proved guilty ) and then taken away the body to dispose of. This smacks of American imperialism and will only fuel further terrorist activity, create more martyrs and conspiracy theories about whether it was actually him they killed, whether they actually disposed of the body or have it stored somewhere, whether the money recently given to Pakistan was so they could kill Osama etc etc.

It also does not look too good to the rest of the world when images of USA show the gleeful crowd chanting "USA, USA!" and celebrating, although l do understand that it will be a form of closure for people involved with 9/11.

This is not going to end well.

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
--Martin Luther King, Jr

toodle pip

some cool optical illusions

Pass the drugs maaaaan

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those crazy japanese part 583

The crazy marshmallows game - who thinks of all of this stuff?

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me (the blonde god) at richmond castle today

All the info is in the title

toodle pip