war! urgh! what is it good for? pictures of the vietnam war

I know the soldiers currently fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan have an (obviously) hard job, but at least they volunteered for it. The poor buggers that were sent to Vietnam were mainly drafted, and didn't want to go (and as Paul Hardcastle reminded us, the average age of the soldiers was nnnnnn19). There were also plenty of brave photographers that also risked their lives to capture, as Kurtz would say - 'The Horror'.  Due to so many documentaries and films about the Vietnam war, it has become one of the most iconic wars of all,along with the Second World War. Obviously this has to do with the many available images from these wars, both still and moving, as the First World War was certainly no stroll in the park, but there just isn't the same amount of footage. I am so glad l was born in sunny Liverpool at just the right time to miss conscription and major wars. The pictures above are from The Denver Post and there are plenty more available for viewing. Just not many cheerful ones.
Rather them than me.

toodle pip

speedy chilean artist showing off

This is pretty amazing and clever stuff. It's the Chilean artist Fabian Gaete Maureira, who l do think is just showing off (because he can - the flash git). There's more at his flicker stream.

toodle pip

the recession is hitting everyone

Antony (without the h!) Worrall Thompson has been caught shoplifting in Tesco.
You couldn't make that sort of stuff up.
It takes me back to the glory days when l was a young shoplifter (but thankfully, didn't look like him).

toodle pip

some photos from christmas time

The Arc (with the back of Jacket and Doghead)

Mick and Gails

The tree being put up

Louise and Dazzers

Our street

Robbo and Kerries

Two fat Geese

Joe's place

Some sheep waiting to be slaughtered

Stocking up on some booze

What a gay old time was had by all.

toodle pip

sammy hagar - red - my uncensored life in rock

Red (written with Joel Selvin)  is a book l would not normally have purchased, but as it was on a disc l have with loads of Kindle books on, l thought l might as well give it a go, as l used to like Sammy Hagar back in the day, especially when he was singing for Montrose. It is actually one of the better autobiographies  l have read, as he is certainly honest about stuff, including his own infidelities and dealing with his mentally unstable wife. He also had a really poor and fucked up childhood, but has succeeded in becoming outrageously successful, not just as a singer (solo and with Van Halen), but with a Cabo Wabo tequila business (amongst many others). There are some great tales about how messed up Eddie Van Halen (and his brother) are, some good put downs of Dave Le Roth, and another insight into the wonderful and madcap world of Keith Richards. Slightly too much about 'we were the biggest band in the world', but that is forgiven due to the rest of the content. Recommended, even if you have never heard of him before.

toodle pip

the empty a1 this morning

Driving back from work this morning, this was the view. An apocalyptic red sky disappearing into the horizon, and no cars at all on the A1 (either way).
No wonder l don't usually get up early (unless l have to).

toodle pip

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.

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