the jiaozhou bay bridge

This is the rather impressive Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the longest bridge over water in the world, at 26.4 miles long, and it only took the Chinese four years to build - very impressive!.

I imagine it might be a bit scary if the weather gets bad or your car starts playing up.

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scott pilgrim vs the world

This was a brilliant surprise at the weekend (watched it on Saturday afternoon). I did not know anything about it beforehand, and was a bit unmoved at the very start, but turned out to be really inventive and it had a great deal of effort put into minor details, which always helps make a movie, (but is hardly ever done). It is directed by Edgar Wright and stars Michael Cera as Scott, who has to defeat his new girlfriends ex partners in fights. Sounds a bit boring, but there's a lot more to it than that, and it is a film l will definitely watch again. Hell, l might even lash out and buy the DVD (or even the comic books it is based on, by Bryan Lee O'Malley).

Why can't the Spider-Man films have been like this?

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another busy weekend - the mcorville - cross keys and jt's.

The McOrville - venue of thefree meal

Inside The McOrville

The view down to Middlesbrough from The Robinsons abode

The Cross Keys, venue for the cider, pate and toast (with Roseberry Topping in the background)

Mark, the manager and drunken birthday boy - outside JT's

Another splendid time was had at the weekend. First off, it was off to Middlesbrough to meet Robbo and Kerry, for a meal on Saturday night at The McOrville, a new 'Gastro pub' just off the A19 (http://www.themcorville.co.uk/). The FPO had won a meal worth £100 through a competition with Nivea, and as luck would have it, the meal came to £110, but we were let off the extra £10 as her food was rubbish first time round(they changed it). Everyone else's food was fine, and the manager was really friendly, so we let them off (and left a tip).

Stayed overnight in Nunthorpe, then sat in the back garden catching some rays on Sunday morning, before heading off to The Cross Keys, (just up the road) for a lunchtime snack and some ale (http://www.pub-explorer.com/nyorks/pub/crosskeysupsall.htm). Louise and her that shall not be named came and met us all, so we stayed for a while in the outside part, as it was really sunny and no-one was in any great hurry to go anywhere. Very pleasant (and my cider, pate and toast was really tasty).

We then called into JT's (http://officialpubguide.com/pubdetails.php?pubid=4737) on our return to Catterick (the FPO was driving), and discovered it was Mark (the managers) 40th birthday. Sat outside with him and some of the other lads for a while, then back home to fire to the bonfire, to try and get rid of all the bushes and crap that was cut last week. Managed to do it, but it took a mighty long time, and l also managed to fall forward when picking something up and banged my shoulder and forehead. Blithering idiot that l am. I think l may also have concussed myself slightly as l got up during the night and was sick, which l never usually do. Fine now though, although l still have the scratches/marks. Battle scars of the weekend is how l shall be describing them.

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the girl can't help it (1956)

This is one of the best Rock and Roll films going. Admittedly, it is not that funny, but it does have the odd moment, such as Tom Ewell playing a drunken Tom Miller, and the start of the film, which l was not expecting when l first saw it many moons ago. What makes it is the performances. It is great seeing Little Richard, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent when they were still young, but my favourite part is probably Julie London singing 'Cry me a River', a song l first heard when sharing a prison cell at Durham prison with a guy called Bronco, as he (thankfully) had a radio in the cell when l arrived (and also, thankfully, he never came on to me). It is also an amazing thing to see the wonder that is Jayne Mansfield's bra. It is just very, very silly.

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food rotting

Check out the maggots!

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a cymbal hit in slow motion

l never knew they did this - l'm freaked out!

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christian vander (from magma) sings otis

This is pure class, especially when he starts shrieking at about 1.40 minutes in

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on strike

I suppose l should have posted this on Thursday when the striking was going on, but this is me until 4pm on Tuesday, as l am off work again. Hurrah! (although l don't like the look of that spider).

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the lovely bones

Watched this with the FPO last night and was mightily disappointed with it. This is the Peter Jackson film of the book (2002) by Alice Sebold. I really liked the first half of the book, but thought it got weaker and weaker as it went on. The film was just rubbish. It looked really arty and there were some great shots and colours, but the storyline was a mess and some of it was unbelievable. I certainly can't believe that a dungeon could have been built in front of the houses, as depicted in the film. How did he dig something that big without anyone from the houses spotting it? Where did he put all the earth? Stanley Tucci recieved a lot of praise for his portrayal of George Harvey, but l didn't like it myself, as it seemed too heavy handed, too odd. Saoirse Ronan (Susan Salmon), was good, but it was all too airy fairy/hippyish for me. What a let down.

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andy murray loses the semi final against nadal (again)

Thank the heavens for that. For one millisecond every year, l have a tiny smidgeon of doubt in my own beliefs and foolishly imagine Murray (or in the past, Henman) had a chance. Thankfully (as usual) my fears have been abated and all is well with the gods of lawn tennis. As someone who used to play a lot ( a working class kid who was a natural), l loved playing tennis (and was undefeated), but met nothing apart from obstacles when trying to find somewhere to play. Luckily l was fantastic at football, so l followed that path (and had a lot more respect from my working class mates). I only watch football on TV, but was pleased to see that Murray had gone out today (on the BBC news website). Scottish bastard. By the way, one of my heroes was/is the Lawman (Scottish), but l would respect Murray if he stated he wanted to win Wimbledon for Scotland, and sod the English. He has no backbone or self belief as far as l am concerned. When the football is on, he has stated he wants anyone to win 'apart from the English'. Now l have no problem with that and l respect him as a Scotsman if he feels that way inclined. On the other hand, he will happily take the support of the (middle/upper class tossers) at Wimbledon who are desperate to see an English winner (but would, at the moment, settle for a British one). If he told them all to bugger off and say he was doing it for Scotland and l would respect him and love his attitude, but l can't see that happening until he starts waning and wants to appeal to the Scots as a local hero (although he has been abroad since he was about 15). Wanker.

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muhammed ali - attica state prison poem and the lighting of the olympic torch

What a handsome, cool, hard, funny and intelligent guy he was.

It bought a tear to my eye seeing him carrying the Olympic torch in 1996.

Still cheated 'Our 'Enry' out of a title though.

And another thing......... People can be crazy. Here's a post on You Tube after an Ali clip.

@dudetube911 He is a great human being, and I believe God loves Ali so much that he made Ali suffer from the disease so all his sins could be burnt away and so Ali can go to heaven as a pure soul because he deserves it.

WavinFlag92 1 week ago

So, if l have understood this right, the good people that God loves the most are the ones who he makes suffer the most to burn away sins. Hasn't he heard of repenting for your sins?. Idiot.

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status quo - paper plane and down down advert

Something l never get sick of. Quo sounded so good back in the day, when they sounded like a real heavy (maaaan) rock band. The difference in the sound of this compared to the 'Rocking all over the World' album does not bear thinking about.

Things have changed since l were a lad, jumpers for goalposts, leaving the front doors open, looking after your own etc etc.

On another Quo topic, what kind of hellish advert is this?

Lie down time soon

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batman - alan moore - the killing joke

I have re-read this again (it came out in 1988) as it is without doubt and absolutely certainly (is that the same thing?) one of the best short graphic novels ever printed. The Joker and his crew goes on one of his rampages, they all end up in an amusement park, and sanity is tested, along with ethical codes, especially Commissioner Gordon's. As Pop Will Eat Itself sang, Alan Moore certainly does know the score. It is also the story where Barbara Gordon (due to what happens in the story) finishes her stint as Batgirl, although she later became Oracle. My copy has been signed by the great man himself (Alan Moore, not Batman), so l have a tenuous connection to him. Anyone who does not like or enjoy this is a blithering idiot. There! - l've said it now. Get with the beat.

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frankie boyle - my shit life so far

What it says on the front. A lot funnier than most comedians autobiographies, and he also recommends comics (as in reading) to get. What's not to like?

He has had issues with his put downs to a parent with a Down Syndrome child, and the Daily Mail tried hounding him about his 'near the knuckle' humour, but l'm not sure where l stand on this, as l do think you should be able to make fun of anything, as long as it is funny. This however, opens up the can of worms that is racism and bullying, so it is a bit of a conundrum. Stuff should be judged on whether it is funny or not, even if it is close to the bone, so l would like to think the racist or bullying jokes would be ignored/put down/vilified for the simple fact they are not funny, just embarrassing. Then again, l am just an old stinking hippie libertarian.

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some great adverts

Very clever indeed.

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the front of the house

It's Hiroshima all over again.

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some recent films l've seen - frankenstein (1931)

By jove, it looks like all l do is watch old black and white films, but l assure you this is not the case. However, as an addition to my earlier posts, l have also just watched Frankenstein again, starring Boris Karloff as the ultimate Frankenstein's monster (in my eyes). The (rather brilliant) flat head and bolt through the neck look was created by Universal make up artist Jack Pierce, although James Whale states he created sketches for it. To think it was originally going to star Bela Lugosi, it does not bear thinking about. I prefer the Mary Shelley novel, which has a lot more detail, and helps you understand the monster and his viewpoint, but this is based on the 1927 Peggy Webling play (where the creature was first called Frankenstein), so there are loads of differences from the original text. However, it is always great seeing Boris wandering around with all the slap on. Not a great film, but a classic non the less. It reminds me of making plastic models of Frankenstein and Dracula when l was a kid (which glowed in the dark). You all know the routine..... Professor Henry (Victor in the novel) Frankenstein (Colin Clive) creates a monster, and it all goes pear shaped afterwards. And Maria (Marilyn Harris), the farmers young daughter gets thrown into the lake (restored in the version I saw). Hurrah!

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some recent films l've seen - dracula (1931)

Obviously as l am a a sad old git, l have a soft spot for the 1922 Nosferatu film starring Max Schreck, but l also like this version. Bela Lugosi is excellent as Dracula, as his mad accent actually suits the role of the Transylvanian count. Saying that, I also love the 1979 remake of Nosferatu starring Klaus Kinski, so l have no idea what l am on about. Maybe not as good as the CBBC series Young Dracula, as l used to love that on a Saturday morning, but it passes the time. l won't bother with the story, as let's face it, everyone knows it, although this film is based on the stage play by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, (which is of course, based on the 1897 book by Bram Stoker). I wouldn't really recommend this film too much to other people, but l grew up watching this stuff, so Bela Lugosi, Max Schreck and Klaus Kinski are the authentic Draculas in my eyes.

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some recent films l've seen - all quiet on the western front (1930)

Based on the Erich Maria Remarque novel, l prefer this adaptation to the later (1979) film with John Boy ( Richard Thomas) from the Waltons, even if this one is very dated. A German schoolteacher encourages his class to do their duty for The Fatherland in World War I, but they soon get to experience the horrors of war. Lew Ayres stars as Paul Baumer, the lads unofficial leader, (as they all look up to him), but when he gets injured and returns home, he is disgusted that people are still glorifying the war. He even contradicts his old schoolteacher in front of his class, much to their displeasure. The film also rams the point home about how men should just get along and help each other, how we are all the same, and how futile the conflicts are, but cracks along, and is finished in no time (to me anyway). Superb.

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some recent films l've seen - beau geste (1939)

This is the film l relate to about when l think about adaptations of the book (by P. C. Wren). It stars Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston, and is obviously in black and white. It's slightly stilted, and pretty upper class, but that is the point of the film, ie 'doing what is right'. It is confusing at first, when the French Foreign Legion reach the fort to find everyone dead, but it has a good twist at the end, both with the fort (and what happened there) and the missing jewel. A fine way to spend a couple of hours on a miserable day.

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my highlights of glastonbury - jessie j (price tag) - chase and status (blind faith) - janelle monae (come alive, war of the roses)

My favourite songs from what l have seen on TV from this years festival (and l have seen a lot).

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michael kalish - muhammad ali punchbag sculpture

This was made by suspending punch bags in such a way that they looked random, until you go to the front, where you suddenly realise that it is Ali. Very clever, but l don't think it will fit in the spare room.

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patti smith and robert maplethorpe

This is when they were living in New York before fame beckoned, and when they were still poor.

Just check out how skinny they were. They would not have been able to afford the rents that are charged nowadays, that's for sure, as it's all turning mightily upmarket (unfortunately). Saying that, they could have been squatting when this photo was taken, l don't have a lot of information about it (and, as usual, l am too lazy to find out).

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