the sons of katie elder (1965) - henry hathaway

This is the kind of film l grew up with.
The Sons Of Katie Elder is based on the true story of the Marlow brothers, who, like the Elder boys in this film, are ambushed while supposedly being moved to safety by the law.
The four brothers had come home for their mothers funeral, and try to find out who shot their father. They are then framed for a murder and then ambushed while being transported away from town.
The Duke does get some revenge at the end, but after a high cost to the brothers.
I can watch pretty much any cowboy film with Dean Martin in, and John Wayne is his usual self (even after his recent bought of cancer). As a bonus for me, it also features a young Dennis Hopper as a cowardly baddie, and George Kennedy (from Cool Hand Luke) as a not so cowardly baddie, so l was quids in with this.
Also, Katie Elder was a real person, more commonly known as 'Big Nose Kate' and was very friendly with Doc Holliday. She didn't die until 1940, which is just amazing to me, as that seems so recent.
Top stuff.

toodle pip

three people you shouldn't go out drinking with - when stars were stars

What a night out this must have been. All hail, from left to right -  Keith Richards, James Brown, and John Belushi.
Sadly (but to be expected) only one of them is still alive (obviously the inspiration that is Keef).
Stars nowadays? Pah!
Gym going, moisturiser applying, funny haircut wearing, lip syncing and choreographed dancing in 'trendy' clothes bunch of girls.
And that's just the blokes - don't get me started on the women.

toodle pip

in the valley of elah (2007) - paul haggis

I know The Valley Of Elah is based on a true story (and it's where David fought Goliath), and maybe l was just not in the mood for it, but l tried watching it this evening, and thought it was crap. I was lent it by somebody at work, and a few people there had said they enjoyed it, but l most certainly didn't. I just hate the sort of films that  have an old soldier who still lives as though he is in the army, walking into bases and everyone  kowtowing to him, telling him classified information, saying they will withhold evidence (a hash pipe), and treating him like he is some general, rather than the sergeant he was. Of course there's a dodgy bloke in a van who can assist him with high tech stuff, and of course he is dissmissed by the police, until a disillusioned and attractive female officer ends up taking pity on him and helping him out, and .......
That's it, l got no further than the body being found.
The sort of serious, over the top and unbelievable kind of film l hate, even if the only part of the film l saw was pretty slow and bathed in misery (which l would normally like).
It's the last time l  take advice from anyone at work.

toodle pip

lookalikes - some good - mostly bad

 Amy - even better than the real thing. Looks good.

Billy Connolly - more like the cockney comedian Micky Flanagan with a false goatee

 Bruce Willis???? No way! Pull that vest over his ugly mug.

 Cameron Diaz? - I don't think so! More like David Cameron's spoon fed daughter.

 Our Cilla -  a lorra lorra testicles on this version

The Dame - Nothing like him, and he needs some sleep

 Reg, but with worse hair (who thought that would be possible?). Also, like a wino l know down the pub

The great and good  Frankie Howard - titter ye not - he looks good

 Matt Le Blanc???????????????????? Piss off!!! No friend of mine.

 Jose???????   That's even worse!!! The special one? Special needs more like.

 Lara Croft - she seems to have aged a lot and looks pretty unhappy about it.

 Patsy Kensit - looks like she needs a trip to A and E

 Becks - waiting for the muscular body, tattoos, and his balls to drop

Macca - been pigging out at to many (of his own) wedding receptions

Wazza - he looks good. Probably enjoying the Bootle prozzies right now.

These are all available to be booked here, but there are some right stinkers amongst them. I think Amy Winehouse, Rooney and Frankie Howard look great, otherwise.........I don't think so.

toodle pip

tron motorbike

Ooooohhh, once again, if l only had the money........
This is just the sort of motorbike l should be riding. A rather magnificent and powerful Tron one from Hammacher Schlemmer, which is a snip at $55,000.
Still, it's lottery time again tomorrow, so there's always hope.

toodle pip

collecting bags

As l often tell the FPO, she should be grateful l am not loaded, as the good old homestead would be full of even more junk.
Here's something else l could easily collect.
Bags.
Yessirie - that is correcumundo - l said bags.
Rather sadly, l used to have a load of plastic ones from stores (record and toy) and my travels, but l am not sure if l still have them (they could be stashed away in the garage).
I really need to get a life.
But saying that........ Here's a website.

toodle pip

fulop gabor ladybird sculpture

I think this ladybird sculpture by Fulop Gabor is pretty damn cool. There some more stuff here, but l like this one the best. The only thing now is I think l may have to crack on and do a George Best one made out of beer bottle tops.

toodle pip

anti aging mouthpiece from japan

I'll have to but the FPO some of these. An anti aging mouthpiece from Japan.

The promo says

'This easy-to-use beauty and skincare product was developed by an ordinary housewife. Chikako Hirama was simply concerned about her own age and wanted an easy way to combat those telltale lines. Just try the yellow or pink Pupeko daily using such techniques as puffing out your cheeks or sucking them in while breathing through the mouthpiece. Then you can try it while keeping your head upright to give your neck and other muscles further exercise training'.


It can work on so many levels. It looks dirty, it might keep her quiet for a while, and it helps her look younger.
A result on all levels! Hurrah!!!
Look here.

toodle pip

the alabama tornado and underground houses

This is one of the pictures of the devastation caused by the recent Tornado in Alabama. What gets me, is why everyone still adheres to the old way of designing and building houses, especially when there is a good chance a Tornado will come along at some stage and destroy them. Why not build them so they are mostly underground?  The houses would be cooler in summer, warmer in winter, pretty soundproof, and a lot harder to destroy. You could probably get some kind of false windows put in if you wanted, with some kind of periscope device that shows the views from above. Don't even go there if you are thinking about flooding or drainage, as that could easily be sorted.
I tell you, l'm wasted in my job (in more ways than one).

toodle pip

limitless (2011) - neil burger

Limitless stars Bradley Cooper as loser Eddie Morra, who has been dumped by his girlfriend, is pretty broke, and can't get his book written.
He bumps into his old brother in law, who gives him a new smart drug (NRZ) that is yet to come onto the market, and although reluctant at first, Eddie takes it (of course he does, or there would have been no film).
This transforms Eddie, as the pill enables him to access all parts of his brain, making him super intelligent, multilingual, tough, a hit with the ladies, and a lot tidier.
Eddie (naturally) decides he would like some more of the little beauties (tablets not ladies), but his previous brother in law just becomes previous, as he is murdered.
Luckily for Eddie (or is it?), he finds the hidden stash and continues to take it. He dresses smarter, earns lots of money, and gets involved with some shady people, including gangsters he borrows money off (you would think he had more sense), and Robert De Niro, who plays Carl Van Loon, a powerful businessman.
Eddie then starts to feel sick, is followed around by dodgy looking men, has memory loses, and gets involved (closely) in  a murder. Eventually (after a bit of bloodshed), he tries to sort everything out, and runs for senate, but is pressured by Van Loon, who knows he is on the drug, and offers to supply it.
I thought the ending wasn't that great, but the film itself was OK, and pretty good in some places (with some great cinematography). Bradley Cooper transforms himself in the film (the good looking bastard), and De Niro is back to his mean old self, and yet.....
The trouble is, films like this also annoy me, as l am always thinking 'He wouldn't do that' or 'Why doesn't he do this', as, after all, he is meant to be super intelligent.
For starters
He must have known he may be watched or in danger after his old brother in law had been murdered, after all, Eddie called the cops to report it, so the baddies would have known he turned up, and may have the stash.
Following on from this, he would have moved and laid low, while making some serious money, rather than being in a hurry and borrowing off a very dodgy criminal (or pay the criminal back afterwards, and then move away).
Rather than showing off with his new found powers, getting featured in newspaper articles etc, he would have avoided the publicity and played down how lucky he had been, to stay safe.
He buys a state of the art secure home for millions, and yet the windows shatter when someone is thrown against them (Pah!!).
One of the first things he would have done is make some more pills himself, rather than reaching into his stash and being surprised there were non left.
I could go on, but my life is already draining away as it is.
A decent enough movie, but they should make the effort and think these things through, but, once again, l suppose there would be no story, as these things (supposedly) make the thing dramatic.
It still does my head in - maybe l need some pills.

toodle pip.

zakaria tamer book illustrated by hijazi

This Egyptian book is by Zakaria Tamer, and is illustrated by Hijazi. Now l haven't got a clue what the book is about, or anything about the author and illustrator, but l sure do like the cover. It's colourful, surreal and childlike. Marvellous stuff.

toodle pip

more dodgy comic panels

I've never trusted Superman.

toodle pip