the milky way and the andromeda galaxy to collide

NASA have just announce that the Andromeda galaxy and our own Milky Way are going to collide. Then again, chill out, have a drink, put your feet up and relax, it's not for another four billion years.
The above photos show NASA's prediction of the sequence it will all pan out in.
Just a shame l won't be around to witness it.

toodle pip

Some graffiti by Sir X  ( from Spain).
Good stuff.

toodle pip

super (2010) - james gunn

I had never heard of Super until l stumbled across it the other day, and l must admit, l thought it would be crap. I only checked it out because Rainn Wilson (from Six Feet Under and The USA Office) was in it, but l was pleasantly surprised by the end. It wasn't crap at all, just crap for sections of it. Otherwise, there were some laugh out loud funny moments, some sad parts, but mainly, some very graphic and long lasting bouts of gratuitous violence.
Frank D'Arbo (Wilson) has his girl stolen, and after a vision, dresses up as 'The Crimson Bolt' to fight crime and win her back. In the meantime, he meets Libby (Ellen Page), a comic book attendant, who discovers his identity, and then dresses up and acts as his sidekick (as well as having sex with him). This was a bit disconcerting for me, as, although Libby says she is 22, she looks about 14. Then again, l am an old git, so everybody looks young to me nowadays.
I felt like the film wasn't sure in which direction to go in, as the violence was pretty gruesome, but in parts, it also tried to be wacky and serious. With a bit of tweaking, it could have been a lot better, but it felt like a rush job, and it was very nearly switched off after about half an hour, as it certainly didn't pull you in and get you wanting more. I'm glad l stuck it out, and it was certainly a lot better than anticipated, but poor marks all round for the lack of effort.

toodle pip

jonah hex (2010) - jimmy hayward

Although Jonah Hex has been panned by the critics, l rather enjoyed it. Based (loosely) on the DC comic books, the FPO was complaining that the story wasn't clear at the beginning (which it wan't), but it was gradually explained as the movie went along. A disfigured bounty hunter, Jonah (Josh Brolin) and his prostitute sweetheart (Megan Fox) try to foil his evil arch enemy Quentin Turnbull  (John Malkovich) from ruining the USA centenary celebrations.  There's more than that, as Jonah re-animates and talks to the dead, does loads of killing while looking cool,  and also makes himself a friend in a raggedy old dog.  The make up on Brolin was excellent, and the musical soundtrack was pretty spot on.  Pure escapism, but better than most comic book adaptations l have seen (Hello Captain America, l'm talking about you).

toodle pip

my new t shirts (nearly)

Once l manage to drag myself off my lonesome spotty behind, l am going to get these slogans transfered onto tee shirts for myself.  Obviously, knowing the speed l get things accomplished, this will be in about 2023, and if l can fit into them then, l shall wear them with gay abandon.

toodle pip

newcastle mayfair in 1961

One of my favourite venues for seeing bands and having a 'Rock n Roll' night out was Newcastle Mayfair, now sadly demolished to make way for the gentrification of Newcastle (like the Haymarket pub). Back in the the day l saw loads of gigs there, played loads of air guitar, and annoyed the local lasses. As it was a standing venue, you could get as close to the stage as you wanted (within reason), or just stay at one of the many bars and watch from a distance. I usually did a mixture of both
These are photos from when it opened (1961?), and the amazing thing is, it wasn't that much different when rock bands were 'kicking ass' in the 'rock n roll capital of the world'  in the 1970's.
Happy days indeed.

toodle pip

my wife and the shunt

Sitting on our doorstep drinking red wine the other night (classy, l know), myself and the FPO were talking about plastic tubes going into bodies, such as the ones drips can be attached to (the evenings around our way just fly by). During the course of this discussion, she mentioned they were called shunts. Now don't get me wrong, she may look like a blithering idiot, and may indeed be one, but every now and again, usually on the occasions that Manchester City win the league, she startles me with a minuscule sliver of knowledge that l don't have, and this was one of those rare occasions.  I thought she may be taking the piss at first, as l didn't realise they were known as that, and obviously l never mind her knowing something l don't, but suffice to say, once l had looked it up, l sulked from then until now.
I still can't get over it,
l'm devastated.
Dumbfounded.
Depressed.
If we had a cat that wasn't so raggedy, l'd go and boot it over next doors fence.
It's the last time she gets some wine of mine (someone at work bought me it).

toodle pip

the (bleeding early) london trip for work

Well dear reader, l did it. I managed to drag myself out of bed, drove to the train station (setting off at 5.45am) and caught the early train to that there London.  I was a bit tired early on at the meeting, but perked up until the train journey home, when l could have easily fallen asleep, but, the trooper that l am, l hung on gallantly, drove back from Darlington, and was home for 8pm, in plenty of time for some chicken and a soak (and no, they are not euphemisms).

The meet was at The Holiday Inn by Kings Cross, where l discovered there were only about 100 of us staff invited (from about 7,500) and due to our splendid work, money has been put aside for our development within the organisation (whatever that will entail). At lunchtime l managed to go outside for some fresh air and have a wander round the surrounding area, as Tavistock Square was nearby (plus Kenneth Williams' childhood home/flat).  I know about the Bloomsberry group centred around the area, but it was bugging me what else l remembered Tavistock Square from, and thought it may have been the location for 'Performance', which, it turns out, was at Powis Square.  It was only when l got home and checked that l found out - it was the scene of the 7/7 bombing, when an explosive went off on a double decker bus, in the same place as the one in the photograph above, outside the British Medical Association, where there is now a small plaque (which l didn't see).
If you are wondering what the drawing is, it is a representation of my passions, drawn by someone else as an exercise during the day. I'll let you guess what they are from the artwork.
What a gay day.

toodle pip

the sun on the way home and london tomorrow/today

The sun looked pretty good on the way home from work tonight, and it feels as though summer time is here at last (it probably won't last long).
Hopefully it won't be too hot tomorrow as l have to go to London for the day with work (getting up at 5.30am to do so, as the train is about 6.30am!), and l don't want to be traipsing around underneath the scorching sunshine. I should really have gone down this afternoon and stayed overnight beforehand, and if l am knackered tomorrow, that is precisely what l will be doing next time. Then again, maybe l should have had an early night instead of pratting about on the computer, but l wouldn't have been able to sleep if l went to bed early, as l am not used to it.
Let's see how it pans out tomorrow.

toodle pip

inside deep throat documentary (2005)

Inside Deep Throat was not as good a documentary as l was expecting, as it hardly featured Linda Lovelace and her views, until right near the end. It was mainly about the making of the film and the aftermath, which involved dealing with government prosecution, bans, Christians and the mob. Artistic freedom was at stake, and ultimately, the more 'the man' tried to ban it, the more people wanted to see it (like everything else). Linda Lovelace starred in the movie, became famous because of it, promoted it, and then joined the feminists and rallied against it, saying she was forced into it and people watching the film are seeing her being raped. Later on, she poses for an adult magazine and finds nothing wrong with doing so, saying she is providing for her daughters and there's nothing wrong with being sexy. She certainly seemed (she died in 2002) pretty contradictory and mixed up, and her partner comes across as a twat, but as to being forced into the movie and the promotion/books etc, it certainly didn't seem like that at the time. She went on to do Deep Throat 2 and pretty much any crap for publicity (and money) but what do l know? I never walked a mile in her shoes (as Elvis would say). As l stated at the beginning, it's a shame she wasn't featured, questioned and probed in depth (unlike in the movie), as that is the real story.

toodle pip.

a manatee and a child

What a great picture. A Manatee and a child, taken by CMGW photography. It makes the Manatee look somewhat wise and all knowing, as though it is passing a silent and withering judgement on the next batch of humans (or is that just me thinking that?).
Anyway, our idiot rabbit will end up looking like that once we shave his hair off. It's only a matter of time...

toodle pip

bikers in catterick

While l was out and about today minding my own business, l went to Tesco in Catterick for some much needed provisions (wine/cheese - you know how it goes), when l viddied a load of bikers by the new sports centre. I know it was a sunny day, and they like to meet up, but l think l would rather have been driving through the countryside, rather than hanging around, looking at an industrial estate. Honestly, some people have no imagination, and they are meant to be rock and roll hellraisers.

toodle pip