cyclops shark

This fetal cyclops shark was cut from the belly of a pregnant one in the Gulf of California. Spooky little critter. More information here.

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some (very) close up pictures

The head of a mosquito

A black widow spiders foot

The foot of a fly

One word for all these - Urrgghhhh

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midnight cowboy (1969) - john schlesinger

One of the best films of all time (IMHO), Midnight Cowboy tells the tale of Joe Buck, an innocent would be hustler (John Voight), coming to New York, where he hopes to make his fortune by being a Gigalo. Things do not go according to plan, and he then falls in with Enrico 'Ratso' Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), an ill vagrant and streetwise hustler, who rips him off at first, before they eventually form a partnership of sorts. There are also flashback scenes which show Joe and his girlfriend being raped, which led to his girlfriend being institutionalised, Joe joining the army, and his grandmother (who raised him) dying while he was away, before he headed to New York. Times get hard (Unlike Joe in one scene) as Rizzo and Joe try to make a living, and just as Joe gets some work and is recommended to others, Rizzo's illness gets worse, so they head to Florida for a better life. Both Hoffman and Voight are excellent in this (especially Hoffman), and the soundtrack is top notch. There is the odd scene which really dates the film, but overall, it is superb. It also ends with Hoffman leaving on a bus with his partner, and the bus passengers looking at them, just as he did in 'The Graduate' (but with a different outcome).

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the victorians - jeremy paxman (featuring richard dadd)

The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke

Richard Dadd

The Queen album with the song on

Although l have not seen the TV series of this, l enjoyed the book, and it did exactly what it said on the cover, interpreted The Victorians through the painting of that age. I am curious to know how much work Paxman actually put into the book, as l bet pretty much all of it would have been done by the researchers (he admits himself that he is just a 'keen amateur'.) Amongst the painters, Richard Dadd is probably my favourite. Lets face it, what's not to like about a man who cracks up, kills his father (thinking him to be the Devil), is then put away in a lunatic asylum (but allowed to paint (over nine years) such great works as 'The Feller's Fellows Master Stroke', (which l first discovered through the song by Queen in 1974). Mad geniuses - we need more of them (Dadds, not Paxman).

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les valseuses (1974) - bertrand blier

Les Valseuses (slang for waltzers/testicles) was released as Going Places in the UK, and stars Gerard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere as a couple of bad boys getting into trouble, stealing cars, and trying to have sex with people. The film pushes the boundaries in a couple of places, and can be shocking in places, but l liked it (because l like that sort of thing). They pick up a hairdresser (Miou-Miou) along the way, then a released female prisoner, then her son, then get into more trouble. It's hard to say whether there is a happy ending (OK, l don't think so), as the film ends with a number of options. They carry on to do more mischief, they crash in the tunnel, or they are in the car that they had previously doctored (but with a different number plate). The audience gets to decide. In French with subtitles.

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great artwork on the columbian protesters

It took me a couple of minutes just to work out how they had done this. Brilliant stuff and a great idea.

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george best and 21 others - colin shindler

Although Colin Shindler is a Manchester City supporter (he also wrote Manchester United ruined my life), l will forgive (and pity) him for that, as he was pretty even handed in his analysis of the players in this book. It concerns the teams (United and City) that played in the 1964 Youth Cup semi final, and what happened to their careers and lives afterwards. Everyone knows what happened to George of course, but most of the other tales are pretty much unknown. It does highlight what a cruel game football can be, especially back in those days when the money was poor and you were more or less at the mercy of your club. Recommended.

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songs of america 1969 - simon and garfunkel

This was not that great a documentary of Simon and Garfunkel, but it had some good clips of them rehearsing, and some great live footage from the 1969 tour. This was back when Paul Simon could still write a decent song, and Artie still had the voice of an angel. A show I would definitely liked to have seen years ago, as l wouldn't be that bothered about seeing them now (unless it was cheap and down the end of our street). Just think, the people at these shows were hearing 'Bridge over troubled water' for the first time, as it had just been written. Jammy bastards.

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london boulevard (2010) - william monahan

London Boulevard was pretty much as l expected it to be, although l was (foolishly and naively) hoping for a lot more. It's a gangster film full of cliches, where Mitchell (Colin Farrell), is released from Pentonville after being banged up for three years. He tries to go on the old straight and narrow, but (of course), gets sucked back into having to deal with gangsters, especially the daddy of the firm, Rob Gant (Ray Winstone playing his usual hard man role). On his first day of release, Mitchell gets given a place to live in, scares off some crooks by being cool and hard looking, has a party in his honour, then defends his sisters honour and decks someone. He then gets offered a job protecting Charlotte, a reclusive actress (Keira Knightley). He certainly fitted in a lot before he even had time to get his head down and take stock of his situation, but l guess that's how it must work in gangster land. Anyhows, the characters are all predictable, there's a lot of Laaaandan accents, violence, intimidation and crooked cops. Oh, and guess whether the star he is protecting falls in love with him.

Correctumundo!!!

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jimmy saville gets up close with the nolans

Uncle Jimmy gets close to the 14 year old Nolan on TOTP. He's done a lot of work for charidee but this looks a bit dodgy (about 3.45 m in).

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kajagoogoo return!

Just look at the state of their hair! Very sad indeed.

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endangered rhinos being moved

These black rhinos are being airlifted (after being sedated of course) to a safer area of South Africa, resulting in their safety and some great photos. The middle picture could be used for an album cover.

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a murmuration of starlings

This video just gets better as it goes along. Those crazy starlings look amazing and it must have been great to be so close to them.

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timmy mallet is a painter!

Well well well, l never thought l would see the day when young Timmy Mallet is taken seriously as a painter, but he is currently selling his wares for a decent price. He's come a long way from The Wide Awake Club, but why does he still have to wear such crappy clothes? More work can be found here if you are interested in making a purchase. I would myself, but times are hard, it's nearly Christmas etc..

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feel good autistic basketball story

Ahh - Something nice from the land of basketball.

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great beer advert

This was done for Australian TV for the cricket (which every upstanding Englishman/normal man knows is crap), but it is still a clever and funny advert.

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great timing for a photo opportunity

I would like to think that this picture wasn't staged, but l have a feeling it probably was. Still good though!

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sharks are getting smarter

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a real life banksy

A real life version of the Banksy painting. Damn!, l wish l had thought of doing that.

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predator pumpkin

The finest pumpkin carving of the year.

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I've won an election - about bleeding time

SCOTLAND POLITICS

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5 November 2011 Last updated at 13:47

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Jamie Davidson: David Cameron is not my boss

A happy voter and David Cameron.
Jamie Davidson said if David Cameron needed a "slap around the chops", he would do it

Continue reading the main story

Richmondshire leadership

• Davidson is new Richmondshire leader

The new Labour Catterick and Richmondshire leader has distanced himself from London control by insisting David Cameron is not the party boss north of Watford.

Jamie Davidson was elected leader on Friday after beating William Hague, who had been seen as the front runner.

He told a press conference: "While David Cameron is the prime minister, when it comes to myself and my beliefs he's not my boss - we're enemies."

Mr Davidson is the party's first overall leader for Richmondshire, following a shake-up of the voting structure.

The former paint sprayer, magazine publisher and charity worker also highlighted his different approaches to policy.

He said: "I'll be making a vision that is right for me, right for the county, and right for the country and I hope very much this annoys the prime minister.

"If he needs a slap around the chops to make him see sense, then I'm just the man to do it. In the meantime, stay cool, stay free, and do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law"

Mr Davidson said policies would be developed over the coming weeks.

Let's hope it's the same in the morning (if l haven't been killed, or l find out it's all been a crazy dream).

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