the official batman batbook and the tv series

While l have been off work today l have had a bash at sorting out the spare room, and getting rid of some of the old bits of crap. This took bleeding ages and it is still in need of more sorting out, but the stuff l uncovered while in there made it all worthwhile in the end (well, some of it anyway). Old remote controls and phones have turned up, plus plenty of old books, cds etc. This rediscovery was a corker. The official Batbook (Batman guide) by Joel Eisner. These are some of the pages from when Batman was proper old school, non of this new fangled 'Dark Night' nonsense. Batman (the TV series) is often accused of being pretty camp or even gay (can't disagree with that), but it looks like Robin's thoughts are pretty hetrosexual in one of the pages above. Dirty little crimefighter.
OK, l've crumbled. I like the Dark Night stuff as well, but to me, Batman and Robin will always be Adam West and Burt Ward. Sod the bad costumes, acting and sound effects - bring them on! - Embrace it!  Lose yourself in it!  If you don't take any of it seriously, and go with the campness (easy for me to do), it's great.


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the size of the man made stuff in space

This is pretty interesting to a geek like me. It's a drawing of the relative sizes of all the man made space stuff that has floated about at one time or another, by the astronomy blogger 'Invader Xan' (what a great geeky name). If l didn't have to go to work, l could spend hours reading stuff like his blog.

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deus - quatre mains and their latest news

dEUS are a band l have loved since 'Worst Case Scenario', waaaaay  back in the day, and l have just been listening to their new cd ''Following Sea' this afternoon (on my return from my solemn re-emergence to work  after a week or so off). The stand out track that l can't get enough of at the moment is 'Quatre Mains', hence the video above.
Their website is here, there's a good short interview with Tom Barman  (the singer) in The Guardian here, and the album is available on iTunes here.
They're a top band, and certainly different from most.
Now, want to hear my tale about the time myself and Robbo were annoying and singing to them backstage at 'The Riverside', Newcastle?
It may appear at some stage, so be warned.

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hugh cornwell and glen matlock tour poster

Hugh Cornwell (ex The Stranglers) and Glen Matlock (ex The Sex Pistols) are doing some dates together, and this tour poster to promote them is an excellent play upon the old boxing posters. A very good idea indeed, simple and obvious (once you've seen it) like most of the best ideas are.
Punks not dead!

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the 10 commandments of bowieism

Good rules to live your life by. The rules of Bowie.

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carrots on a stick

Times used to be tough back in the day. Carrots on a stick. Mmmmmmmmmm

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beginners (2010) - mick mills

Myself and the FPO kept putting off watching this, as it didn't look too promising, but Beginners turned out to be a really good film, even if it did flag a bit in the middle. Ewan McGregor plays Oliver, who is coming to terms with his fathers death (an excellent and moving performance by Christopher Plummer), and the fact that he came out to him as gay after his mother died (when his father was 75). McGregor is also looking for love, and dealing with looking after his fathers dog (one of the highlights of the movie is the dogs thoughts). Bases on Mike Mills' own experiences with his father, it's well worth watching, and awards were justified and forthcoming for the film and Plummer.

the smell of new york

Missing the big apple? Here's the thing designed especially for you! The smell of New York in a bottle!
I assume it won't just be the scent of pizza, sweat, exhaust fumes and piss, but who knows?

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getting ready to go out

The FPO went out to Richmond with her sisters on Friday night, and as am a good lad, l agreed to drive them in and pick them up afterwards. I'll admit they weren't too drunk when l picked them up at the end of the night, and at least l had the house to myself for the evening (apart from the stinking animals and ants) to potter about in.
This however, was the scene in the bedroom when the FPO was trying to decide what to wear. More clothes were tried on as well as these, but this was just a snapshot of the madness.

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food, drink and dexy's - result!

Of to the Boro today to meet Robbo and  Kerry (plus Cairan) for lunch at the Cross Keys. A splendid time was had by all, l stuffed my face with a cheese and bacon fat supply (see above), and we ordered some tickets to see Dexy's at the Sage in September, after a possible holiday together at the start of September. Not a bad day's work by anyone's standards, and myself and the FPO even went down to JT's in the evening. One of us was a bit tipsy by the time they came home, lost his balance, and fell in the bath, but l won't say who that was (OK, it was me - drunken idiot).
Keith would be proud. Here's our half of the bill.

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billy connolly's route 66

Myself and the FPO have been considering doing the Route 66 road trip next year (at the moment it's that or Japan), and saw the Billy Connolly TV series when it was on, to help whet our appetite. I have also just finished the book of the series, and it's made me want to get out there and explore (and meet people). The route and stops that Billy did are easily manageable in a month or three weeks, but obviously, the longer you have to do it (and the more money), the better it would be. I love the USA, but there are still plenty of places l haven't been to, both there and abroad (like Japan), so we will have to see how it goes.
I suppose l could always do a 'Vanishing Point' kind of trip and travel it as fast as possible, and with minimum sleep (3 or 4 days?), but that would be a different experience altogether, and l would have to go back to illegal substances (what a sacrifice). Not sure if the FPO would be up for that kind of trip (in both senses).

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the uk at night from the international space station

As it says in the title, this is the UK at night from the International Space Station.  I think l can see our house (looks like we are having a BBQ).
It looks really populated and built upon, but as anyone knows when you fly over it, there is plenty of greenery. In fact, if l remember correctly, only about 10% is classed as urban, and that includes roads and back gardens, so if anyone says the UK is full, they are talking crap.

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5,000 ducks going to a pond in china

Something you certainly don't see very often, unless you live near Taizhou, Zhejiang, where these pictures were taken on June 17th. About 5,000 ducks being taken to the pond by local farmers. I would hazard l guess that they are not being altruistic, but have plans for duck eggs and soup. I could be wrong, but l doubt it.
The photos came from here.

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this weeks nme stone roses cover

Nothing to say really, apart from l really like this weeks old school  NME Stone Roses cover, advertising their gigs at Heaton Park this weekend. It's raining now, and it's set to continue (bloody British summers)  so pack your wellies.

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geronimo (1962) - arnold laven

 The real Geronimo

Geronimo, played by the blue eyed Chuck Conners, surrenders to the army for a life in the reservation, but rebels against the way the Apache were treated, going on the run with his small band of followers, before gaining respect and surrendering again. Conners certainly looked the part (although he should have worn some contact lenses), but it was not exactly historically believable. The films dialogue and acting was often wooden, and pretty much all the white men were baddies (apart from Adam West - AKA Batman). At least it gave the Apaches point of view, which was rare back in the day. Conners later married his love interest in the film, Kamala Devi, and she really reminded me of Samantha (In Sex and the City) and Jenna (In 30 Rock). Maybe she is secretly their mothers (or at least one of them).
Geronimo (and his life), is well worth checking out, and it's amazing that he didn't die until 1909 (of pneumonia). That is just before The First World War. As l've often said, the past is not that far away. Saying that, Conners life, both as a sportsman and actor was also pretty impressive.
Now l might go and dig out the old 'Branded' TV series that l have on DVD and give that a dusting off. It's much better.

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under attack from bleeding ants

When l was pottering about yesterday, l went to put some trainers on in the hallway and noticed some ants and a few flying ants. Tracing them back, l discovered a load of the little buggers in our storage space under our stairs, trying to get nests going. It's a good job l spotted them when l did, as there would have been flying ants all over the place, but l seem to have more or less sorted them out (I hope). The worst part was having to move all of our crap in the hallway to even get under the stairs to spray them, there were shoes, coats and clothes everywhere. So far, l've used Mr Muscle, flea killer and spray adhesive. It'll be bleach next, and ant powder if more appear.
There is still the odd one trying to escape and struggle for life, so l haven't put stuff back yet, but methinks the end is near (famous last words).
Watch this space.

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spreadable spam - mmmmmmmmm

Spreadable Spam - what's not to like?

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the odd couple (1968) - neil simon

An easy going feelgood comedy from 1968, The Odd Couple was originally a Broadway show, and Frank Sinatra was one of the considerations for the film, but after seeing the movie, you can't imagine anyone else playing the roles that Walter Matthau (as Oscar Madison) and Jack Lemmon (as Felix Ungar) made their own (although Art Carney played Felix on Broadway). I know there was also TV series and a follow up film with Matthau and Lemmon reprising their roles, but for me, this is the definitive article, played superbly by Matthau and Lemmon, and with a great supporting cast (including John Fiedler from '12 Angry Men'), unlike  the follow up, which stinks the place out Surstromming style. 
Not much story to the movie though. Felix doesn't turn up for his regular game of cards with the boys at Oscar's house, and they learn that he may have been trying to kill himself as his marriage has broken up. He ends up staying at Oscar's, they get on each others nerves (mainly due to Felix, with his constant cleaning, cooking and aches and pains), but it all works out in the end.
Another American classic, if, like me, you like old movies.

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the weathermen's place is up for sale

With a really corny headline about the apartment exploding onto the market, the place that 'The Weathermen' used as their bomb making factory at 18 West 11 Street, (with the resulting accidental explosion in March 1970 a consequence) is now up for sale through  Corcoran brokers for a cool $10.9 million. Dustin Hoffman and his family narrowly escaped the blast, as they lived next door at the time.

The top photograph is me (my arm anyway) pointing at the bear in the window in 2006. This was dressed by Norma Langworthy, who his since passed away at the ripe old age of 92, but hopefully her descendants will keep the tradition going.

How time flies, and how sickening it is how gentrified New York is becoming.

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nagai hideyuki 3d artwork

These drawings by Nagai Hideyuki are just great. Drawn on notepads to give a 3D effect when they are positioned at the right angle, they must have taken loads of planning. It certainly takes loads of skill (more than l have).
His website is here fore more information and drawings.

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