markus mueller sexy tshirts

What a fantastic couple of photographs by Markus Mueller to advertise a company called 'Das Handwerk'.
He took the original pictures of the girls, put them on the shirts, then took these pictures.
Genius!
I'll have to get my hands on some of them to make my brothers arse more appealing when he comes to stay in August.

toodle pip

the young lions (1958) - edward dmytryk

The Young Lions has certainly got some top names in it. Marlon Brando! Montgomery Clift!  Dean Martin!
It's anti war, shows that the Germans (Brando) weren't all bad, the USA army could bully their own troops for being a Jew (Clift), and some people just want to avoid war and have a good time. but can be dragged into it whether they like it or not (Martin).
War! Urgh!! What is it good for?
Dated, but excellent, and all three lead characters shine (even if it was a bit too long).

toodle pip

an exciting medical life in photographs

It's not all trips abroad and lots of time off you know. Sometimes it's hanging around at medical establishments waiting for appointments or courses.
Someone's got to put the hours in, and it makes a change from the usual routine.

toodle pip

fox attacking a bird

While working yesterday, l managed to get a great photograph of a fox (with huge knackers) leaping off a house to attack a bird, which l caught by accident as l was going to take a picture of the torrential rain (it's non stop work when l'm in).
The bird escaped, but that is not really surprising, as the 'so called' fox is actually a slug that was on the window. It just so happens that when l took the photo, it was at that angle, and a bird flew past at the same time.
Looks good though.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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!

toodle pip.

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?

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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).

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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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