the slap (tv series)

Well, I finally got round to watching The Slap, and l must admit, it was pretty good. I'II probably get around to reading the book sometime in the future, but coming to it fresh and with no preconceived ideas was fine by me (although the FPO kept trying to tell me what was about to happen, as she has already read the book). A spoilt and misbehaving child is slapped at a party, which causes fractions to appear and re-appear amongst family and friends. The series deals with one character per episode, but non of them came across as  pleasant. There are issues with sexuality, breastfeeding, alcoholism, infidelity, and also underlying past issues with violence. Splendid stuff.
Now there's only the The Killing 2, Boardwalk Empire and Romanzo Criminale series to plough through.
It's a hard life. If it wasn't for bleeding work, l would have plenty of time to watch them at my leisure.

toodle pip

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

I heard this for the first time today and l think it is excellent. It's by Gotye and is called 'Somebody that I used to know'.  I'll have to do a bit of exploring to find out more, but l do know that the girl in the video is called Kimbra (as she has released other records) and the tune is number 1 in Germany at the moment. Looking at the crap we have in the charts, they must have better taste than us (if you discount The Scorpions, who the Germans took to their hearts).

toodle pip

album covers without the dead guys

What a great idea. More here.

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talking about those bloody spiders...

I have just been reading about how scientists think they have managed to make silk worms produce a spider-like (and strength) silk (spider-man silk!). This led onto an old link (from April) which featured an article and photograph of the largest spider fossil found so far. All well and good (sort of). I then foolishly checked out it's relatives still living today, and discovered the pictures below. No wonder l am not in a hurry to go to Australia or Thailand, as that is where these bloody things are hiding out, waiting for me to make an appearance.

toodle pip

trees full of spider webs

I've had this picture up before, but l came across it again the other day and it is certainly worth repeating. It's from after the floods in Pakistan, when the spiders in the area decided to take refuge in the trees.Bastards!!!!!
Thank the great God Keith l don't live there.

toodle pip 

a pufferfish sunbathing

After the post about an Octopus sunbathing, here is a similar picture, this time featuring a pufferfish off  the Island of Maui. My advice? - don't ever get into the sea. It's well dodgy.

toodle pip

ac/dc promo shots and their image

AC/DC were a great band back in the day, and in my mind, no better than when they still had Bon Scott as the singer. Obviously he died, and I do like the 'Back in Black' album with Brian Johnson which followed, but l lost interest in their subsequent releases pretty shortly after that. Anyway, l digress. The reason for the post is I bet Angus Young must be a bit tired of dressing as a schoolboy at whatever ripe old age he is now, but the rest of the band must be glad they achieved a better look and image than what they first started out with, as the promotional photographs above can testify to. Fancy being lumbered with that look. At least Brian Johnson can still wear his flat cap if he ever goes out in his native Newcastle.

toodle pip

barneys version (2010) - richard lewis

I had no preconceptions about Barney's Version before l watched it, as l had heard nothing about it apart from the fact it was about a TV producer looking back on his life. I did however, really enjoy it, as it just managed to stay on the right side of dark comedy without trying to be too funny, or too sentimental. Paul Giamatti plays the eponymous Barney, and it does indeed have him reflecting on his past marriages and life. He also leaves his wedding reception to chase a romantic dream, but then manages to blow it when he has achieved his goal. There is also a missing friend and an unsolved murder case, and a descent into old age and forgetfulness (alzheimers?). Great stuff.

toodle pip

new year resolutions from woody guthrie

I'm not a person who makes New Year resolutions, so there is nothing forthcoming from me in that department. However, to compensate, here are some resolutions from Woody Guthrie that he made in 1942. Some of them l should maybe follow myself (take bath, clean teeth, drink less, wear clean clothes etc), but the way l look at it is  'Would Keith do it?'.
I think l may have my answer.

toodle pip

an empty london at christmas

These were all taken by Ian Mansfield on Christmas day (in the morning) when the streets of London were deserted. More photos from the morning shoot can be found here. It looks pretty spooky and it would be good to see London like that, but there is no way l would be up and about in the early hours of Christmas day.

toodle pip

more cats on lp covers

More excellence!

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cats on lp covers

Excellent!

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