some more amazing photographs

More amazing shots, but rather sadly, not by me. I have got to get myself a decent camera (and then travel to some exotic places to take the snaps). If l only had the time...(and bucketloads of money)

toodle pip

the non apology letter to a crime victim

There has been a bit of a fuss in the last couple of weeks because a burglar was asked to write to the victim of his crime as part of his rehabilitation. He (the burglar) was obviously not sorry for what he had done, and, rather than playing the game and writing something false, decided to write an honest letter which (in his mind) blamed the victim for being stupid and leaving his property open to burglary. The letter was never actually sent, but people have been commenting that 'Society is going to the dogs' and 'The state of Britain today' etc, but whose fault is it? Now l have no idea who the writer of the letter is, but l would bet my life savings (luckily for me, that is bugger all) that it is a young 'working class' male, probably from a broken home, with his father either having left home, died, or being alcoholic or abusive (in whatever way). The young lad has obviously had a very poor education, and will live in a violent and poor environment (with the accompanying peer pressure). Now l accept he may be a little git and may have done nothing to help himself (apart from the burglaries obviously), but if he had decent parents and a nice middle class upbringing, l bet he would not be in the situation that he is currently in. I thought l was an inarticulate drunken fool (still am actually), but just take a look at the handwriting and mistakes on the letter. That person probably only had a very slim chance of avoiding the courts as soon as he was conceived. Improve poor peoples social environments, aspirations and education, and a lot of these crimes would disappear. I bet there are no convicted burglars amongst the Chipping Norton elite or any of the Eton crowd. Saying that, l would still want to twat the little git if he robbed my house.

toodle pip

the isolator (or gimp mask) from 1925

This was invented in 1925 and is just what l could do with (being a miserable sod and all that). It's only an Isolator (with it's own oxygen!) that you can whack on your head and shut yourself off from the outside world while you get on with whatever you want to do and concentrate on it properly.

Looking at the top photo, it could also double up as a kind of scary gimp mask or punishment hood. I guess if you used it in that way, you could cut back on the oxygen for the full, unrestrained experience.

There's money to be made in this little beauty. Now if l could only find out where to invest........

toodle pip

the h&m advert

So that's how they manage to get women with the same kind of (identical in this case) bodies. What H&M have been doing is computer generating the bodies of what they consider to be ideal models for whatever they are promoting, then just photoshoping different faces on them and adjusting their skin colours. Genius!!

toodle pip

newcastle city hall from the stage

I have been to many concerts at Newcastle City Hall over the years, and although it holds just over 2,000 people, it does not look that large in this shot from the stage. Pretty deceiving l'd say, as l never realised how much you could make out so many of the audiences faces from upfront.

The man in the shot is Jason Issac, who l have no idea about, but my guess is it may well be a religious meeting of some kind (I can't be bothered looking it up - fill your own boots if you want to).

toodle pip

another dodgy comic panel

This time it's the turn of The Fantastic Four to corrupt the innocent minds of the youth.

toodle pip

helmi el touni - folk stories (1983) cover

I just love the colours and simplicity of this (although l can't understand a word on the cover).

Pictures from the Helmi el Touni exhibition are here.

toodle pip

bandolero! (1968) - andrew mclagen

Another classic Western (if you are into that sort of thing). Bandolero! has it all. There is a great cast, with stars including Dean Martin, James Stewart, George Kennedy and Raquel Welch, and plenty of desert scenery and killings.

Dee Bishop (Martin) and his gang are apprehended after robbing a bank. They are then assisted to escape by Mace Bishop (Stewart), who had been posing as a hangman, and Mace then robs the bank after the gang escape and the townsfolk give chase, not being aware that he had aided them in their getaway. During their escape, they capture Maria Stoner, a wealthy widow (Welch) and flee over the desert, where they are rejoined by Mace, but also followed by sheriff July Johnson (Kennedy) and his deputy and sidekick Rosco Bookbinder (Andrew Prine) plus his increasingly reluctant posse. The sheriff continues with the chase into bandit country, as he hopes to win the hand of Maria, but (as happens in these films) she has already fallen for the charismatic/misunderstood/messed up from the war/good at heart Dee. Let's face it, who wouldn't? Dean Martin is one cool character and looks pretty good in a cowboy outfit. At the end, there is a shootout with the bandits, and it does not end well. Marvellous, but it would have been improved if Dino also sang some kind of theme tune (it's an instrumental).

toodle pip

the narrative of the life of frederick douglass

Another ex slave memoir, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass relates his experiences as a slave, his views on everyone being equal, his religious views, and the outcome of his eventual escape (after staying in Baltimore and New York). He does not go into detail of how he escaped, as he did not want to give away any information that may hinder further escapees. Douglass later went on to be a leading figure in the fight against slavery and became a speaker for the abolitionist movement. They (the slaves) sure had it mighty hard back in the day.

toodle pip

little manhattan (2005) - mark levin and jennifer flackett

A lightweight and sometimes quirky coming of age comedy drama about a young boy falling in love for the first time.

Little Manhattan is also (like Woody Allen's Manhattan) an homage to the city itself, with some great shots around Central Park, the Upper West Side, and the Hudson.

It is very similar in style and pace to 'The Wonder Years' (Mark Levin was a writer for the show), but includes some surreal/fantasy shots, such as a building turning into a ship.

Our hero, Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) gets reacquainted with an old school friend (Rosemary - played by Charlie Ray), at karate classes, and manages to fall for her just before she is to leave for summer camp (and then onto a private school).

In the meantime, his parents are in the process of getting a divorce, and he (like his father), finds it difficult to express or act upon his feelings.

I must have got something in my eye towards the end of the film when Gabe and Rosemary danced. Either that or l think l have turned soft and senile (or it is my allergy to the idiot rabbit).

toodle pip

a really huge insect - the little barrier giant weta

This is a Giant weta and is to be found on New Zealand's Little Barrier Island.

I am so glad l don't live in that part of the world, if this is the sort of thing that is going to be found in the house. It's bad enough being scared of spiders and having to look out for them (in case they are lying in wait to attack me).

Just think, if we are ever visited by an alien life form, they could all look like this.

toodle pip

the bloody snow has arrived in catterick

After posting earlier about the weather in Middlesbrough yesterday, the snow has arrived in Catterick and it is pretty crapy weather outside. I'm at work at 2pm, and l can't say l am looking forward to going out in it. Where the hell did the summer go?

toodle pip

the bleeding weather in middlesbrough yesterday

I went through to Middlesbrough yesterday to do a bit of bobbing and weaving (and diving), and just as l was arriving the sky became mighty dark and foreboding. It was bright sunshine when l set off, but it soon changed, and it was chucking it down with sleet and snow on the drive back. Thankfully though, that soon stopped, the sky cleared up again, and as the FPO was still busy doing her assignments, l buggered off to The Arc and JT's for a fine old time with Ritchie and Shuggs (although l think Shuggs may have put some alcohol in my drink, as l was a bit tipsy on my return).

toodle pip

job prospects and the economy

With workers going on strike, the Euro on it's (supposed) last legs, and no money left in the pot, l wonder if we will soon see a return of these sort of advertising gimmicks. I thought we were meant to be living in the space age.

toodle pip

very dodgy canadian tv

This from an old Canadian TV show called 'Just Like Mum'. Just like being a perv would be more like it.

toodle pip

70 million - hold your horses (and the paintings)

Now this video is what l would call a clever and well worked idea, referencing classic paintings, but also featuring a decent song by Hold Your Horses (70 Milllion). Imagination being used - it's a very rare occurrence.

toodle pip

anders petersen photos from cafe lehmitz and the rain dogs cover

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits is a great album, probably (along with Swordfishtrombones) my favourite Tom Waits album. And the cover is pretty striking as well.

I think most people think it is an early shot of Tom, or has been doctored in some way, but the photograph is from the Cafe Lehmitz, a dodgy cafe near the Hamburg red light district, and was taken between 1967 and 1970 by Anders Petersen, along with lots more, all showcasing the drunks, hustlers and prostitutes that used to frequent it.

That's what the Colburn Lodge in Catterick used to be like (Ah....happy days).

toodle pip

comics - great but expensive - check out this first superman

The first Superman comic (Action comics no 1) has been sold for 1.4 million pounds and is believed to have belonged to Nicholas Cage. He bought it in 1997 for $150,000. If l had possessed that kind of money in 1997, l would also have bought it and sold it on, and l would now be a millionaire, instead of a poor hippie with a comic collection probably not worth a hill of beans.

Bastard!

toodle pip

sydney from the usa office - 2 be simple

I actually don't mind this song, and it kind of reminds me of Dead Or Alive's - You Spin Me Round (but obviously not as good).

Strange to see Sydney (Leslie David Baker) from the Office (USA) starring in it, as l would never have envisaged him releasing a single.

toodle pip

batman re-enacts christmas in sunny catterick

As it's the first of December, l thought l would post this, as it is a re-enactment of the way l respond to the FPO when she dares to quiz me about Christmas (me being a poor orphan boy and all of that).

toodle pip

the public sector strikes and growing up

The Public Sector strikes today are likely to be the largest for a generation, according to the BBC news website. I'm all for a bit of action, in fact if anything, l would prefer more action (and certainly more of the direct kind). On the other hand, l do think the slogan above is pretty true, as (for most people), once they get older, any political fires that may have been burning in their undernourished bellies when they were young/unemployed/a student/low paid tend to go out when wealth/home ownership/family responsibilities (and general selfishness) come into the picture.

Viva la Revolution brothers and sisters!!

toodle pip