home (2008) - ursula meier

A Swiss film in French, Home tells the story of a family who live next to an unused road, leading an isolated yet idyllic life.  The road is then opened up as a motorway/highway, and their peaceful existence is shattered. It could be a metaphor for the encroaching industrialized (and polluting) ''progress', and how one deals with it, or maybe l could have had another funny turn.  The sunbathing daughter who is against the traffic and tries to ignore it (then rebels against it), eventually leaves home to join it.  The others worry about the noise, danger, and pollution, and retreat back into their home, sealing it off as protection against the road and traffic, until they can stand it no longer, and have to break free (as Freddie would say).  A gentle slow moving film, ideal for a rainy day, as most of these so called 'summer' days are turning out to be.

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john romita sr artwork

While perusing the Liveauctioneers site (as you do), l came across these little beauties.  Original artwork for The Amazing Spider-man no 43 by John Romita (Sr). Iconic stuff indeed, if (like me) you're a fan.
If l only had more money.......


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le boucher (1970) - claude chabrol

Le Boucher (The butcher) can be pretty ambiguous as far as understanding the story goes.  Behind the fact there is an unrequited love story between Popaul  the butcher (Jean Yanne) and Hélène (Stephane Audran), the village headmistress.  There are murders, suspicion, doubts, pent up frustrations and bad memories (plus 'blood, lots of blood'). Popaul is messed up from being in the army and growing up as a butchers son (and later, a butcher himself).  Hélène  is repressing herself and is single, due to an earlier relationship that has left her emotionally scarred (although she appears pretty happy for most of the film).  They fall for each other, but Popaul is rejected in his attempt to take it further, and is then suspected by Hélène of being responsible for some local murders.  She covers for him when she finds incriminating evidence, but there is a twist to this that could have been devised by Hitchcock himself. In the end, he comes to her home with a knife, and you are left to ponder at how you feel at the conclusion.  Was it her rejections that drove him to kill, or would he have done it anyway?  Does she have transference of guilt, or does he confirm that men are not to be trusted?  Does she fall for him in the end, or just feel sorry for him?   My own view (probably wrong) is that they are both messed up from their past experiences, both lonely and eager to please, but Popaul is pushed over the edge by rejection slightly sooner than he would have been without meeting Hélène.  The kiss at the end could be out of pity or just kindness being returned to someone who has always been kind to her.  What the hell, watch it yourself and make you're own mind up.  It's starting to make my head hurt thinking about it.


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van persie to united

 How he might look

This is one transfer that l thought would never happen.  Robin Van Persie has signed for Manchester United from Arsenal, as long as terms are agreed and he passes his medical.  He could even be turning out for United against Everton on Monday evening.  As long as he stays fit (and l really hope he does), he is one hell of a player, and his partnership with Wayne Rooney (mocked up above) should be awesome.  This will really strengthen United, but if l was an Arsenal fan, l would be really pissed of.  They need some new players, and at the moment, have no chance of competing for the title.  Unfortunately, Manchester City will still be difficult to beat, with Ciddy the main threat, but Chelsea have also been splashing the cash about to the tune of £60m, so they should be in contention as well.  I feel sorry for Dimitar Berbatov, as he is being edged out, and is one classy player, but he will always be a United legend for his hat trick against Liverpool.   Michael Owen would be a match made for Everton if they could afford his wages, and it's time for Danny Welbeck to show he has the makings of a top class striker, but l guess the long term plan behind the Van Persie move would give a couple of years for him and 'The Little Pea' to progress and develop.  I haven't even mentioned Kagawa, who is also someone who could become a real star for United, as he is like Anderson, but with talent and a finish.   It's back at the weekend!. As Delia would say "Let's be 'avin you".

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liverpool v manchester united 1972

As l am looking forward excitedly (but with a lot of trepidation) to the new football season, l was checking out some old football cuttings and memorabilia, and was reminded of this game.  It was 40 years ago to this very day that l went to it  -   Liverpool versus Manchester United at Anfield.  Our family were back in Bootle at the time, so l didn't have far to travel, but that didn't make up for Liverpool winning the game 2-0 (unless my memory has completely gone).  40 bleeding years!!  Where does the time go?

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octopus lamps by vladimir tomilov

These ultra cool designs of Octopus lamps are by Vladimir Tomilov, and l wouldn't mind one or two of these lights myself.  They remind me a bit of the aliens in The Simpsons (Kang and Kodos), but that probably says more about my warped viewpoint than about how the lamps look.  These little beauties are much, much sleeker and groovier (if the kids still say that).  More photographs of them are here, and Vladimir can be found here.

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defective heart girl scar and operation

Damn!!   Summer Ash is a physicist who blogs under the name Defective Heart Girl and she has posted about her recent heart operation and put up some pictures of it here. That is the sort of scar l was after, a proper one that can be shown off in years to come, rather than the pathetic efforts l have at the moment.  Maybe l should widen my stitches and incisions so it looks like l have been attacked by a shark or something.  Once again in my life, jealousy seethes all over me.

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£148m win on lottery

This couple from Suffolk have just won £148m on the Euro lottery.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

l am so jealous.

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should a woman be spanked?

Ah, the good old days, although l'm not sure l would like to visualize Mr Desiderio descending upon any female with his hairbrush in his hand.

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a cat in paris (un vie de chat) - jean -loup felicioli and alain gagnol

I'm a sucker for the old school foreign animation style, and 'A Cat In Paris' ticked the boxes for me.  A young girls cat goes out at night following and assisting a burglar, but the girl, the cat and the burglar get caught up in a crime lords plot to steal a rare artifact.  There are some laugh out loud moments, it's surreal in parts, and the size of the shoes have to be seen to be believed.  Did l mention the girls mother is trying to catch the crime lord, as she is in the police, and he killed her partner (the girls father).  If you enjoyed stuff like 'The Pink Panther Show' cartoons when you were a kid (and l did), you'll certainly derive pleasure from this little beauty.  I don't know why they had to change the title from 'Un Vie De Chat' (The life of a cat), but l guess it was probably thought (by some think-tank or committee) that putting 'Paris' in the title would encourage more people to check it out.  Never mind, at least it is worth checking out, whatever it is called.

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jimmy saville and elvis presley

This is a picture that caught me unawares.  I knew Jimmy Saville had led an interesting life, but l never knew he had met Elvis Presley.  I wonder what The King made of Mr Jim'll Fix it.  At least they both appear to be enjoying themselves (although l bet Jimmy thought of himself as the bigger star).

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the innocents foreign film posters

For no other reason than l like artwork and foreign film posters, here are some of the alternate artworks for 'The Innocents'.

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the innocents (1961) - jack clayton

Based on 'The Turn Of The Screw' by Henry James, 'The Innocents' is a proper, good old fashioned ghost story that pretty much sticks to the original story.  Sure, as usual with the old black and white films, the acting and speech can be too over the top and affected, but there were still plenty of scary moments (which have become standards in horror) to keep you interested.  Deborah Kerr plays a governess who thinks the children in her charge are being possessed.  That's about all the storyline you need (although there's more, including implied sexual abuse),  and the film gets better and better as it goes along.   I don't want to make it sound as though it is one of the best films ever, as it certainly isn't that, and l thought the ending was a bit sudden and poor, but if you like your entertainment to include ghoulies (and who doesn't), this is well worth checking out.

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writing home - alan bennett

The second collection of his that l have just read, but unfortunately, this one was not as good as the other (Untold Stories).  Alan Bennett sure knows how to spin a yarn, and there is some top notch stuff in this book, especially the story of the Lady in the Van (Miss Shepherd), so l would recommend both collections, but if only one was to be read, l'd go for the later book, as it has more poignant recollections. However, both of them make you want to delve into more of his work, so he has obviously been tickling my fancy recently (OOEer).  The only man from Leeds it's OK to like.

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chest update

Ah it's fantastic being off work.  I can potter about, drink and eat what l want, read, watch TV and go on the computer, but l can't do anything like stretching to change the cat tray or clean out the rabbit.  What a great result!!  The footie has just about started again, and with a bit of luck, we may even get some sunshine.   This is what the wound is looking like at the moment, still sore, and it is preventing me sleeping properly, but that's a price worth paying.  Hurrah! to modern medicine.

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co co the clever rabbit

Also amongst the old pictures....This is Co Co, one of our old rabbits, now sadly dead.   He was easily the cleverest one we've had, and the only one to go up the stairs by himself in our house.  He used to come trotting (if rabbits can trot) over and leap onto your knee for a stroke, and even fetched stuff if you threw it.  Now we are stuck with Tubbs the idiot rabbit we have at the moment, stinking the place out with his stupidity (but he'll also be missed when he's gone).

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russell brand and peter hitchens on newsnight

While we were at the caravan at the weekend, Robbo mentioned to me about Russell Brand arguing drugs policy on Newsnight with Peter Hitchens, so l thought l'd have a look, as l like Russell Brands humour (most of the time) and am interested in the different views on drugs policy.  Although Russell did deflect some of the questions with humour, l would still rather that, than Hitchen's unswayable belief in his own self worth and righteousness.  With Brand being an ex addict, actor, author and articulate, of course he has a right to have his views heard, despite Hitchen's not thinking he should be.   I assume that Hitchen's thinks his own opinions are more important, because he is an author and columnist for the Daily Mail.  They already have history (see the second clip) and were never likely to agree to anything.  His brother Christopher was so much better, also opinionated, but you didn't want to slap him.

My own view is a mixture of theirs (or what l could gather theirs were).  I don't think locking people up will  deter people trying drugs or prevent  them becoming addicts, and if they become addicted, they should be treated with compassion, as they are ill, with a disease, and require help and assistance.  Saying that, l don't think methadone is a great solution either, as it's swapping one addiction for another, and is equally as (if not more) difficult to get off.  People will only quit when they are ready, but for me, it has to be through detoxing and support.   There can be all sorts of reasons for the initial taking of drugs (of any kind), and just because some are illegal, doesn't mean the takers do not deserve help.

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elvis is alive!

Looking through some old photographs on the computer, l came across this one.  What a classic - it's as if Elvis Presley himself is still alive.  This is the Elvis impersonator that we hired when we renewed our wedding vows in Las Vegas.  He was excellent, off his head giggling crazy, and getting stuck into the ceremony like he was full of beans, probably because he was also doing lines of cocaine in his office, so he had energy to spare (although the photograph catches him looking as though he is asleep).  The thing is, because The King himself was so nutty at the end, it was better for us to have somebody like this, as it added to the Vegas Sin City and Elvis madness, which was certainly the vibe we were going for.  It's not like we were angels ourselves at the time, and all of our (touring) party went out and got wrecked pretty much every day we were there.  Happy times indeed.   I wonder if this version of Elvis is still alive?   I'll have to dig out his website and check.

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giant 3d art in china

The Chinese twins Wan Yiju and Wan Yiheng have created the worlds largest piece of 3D art in Guangzhou,  Guangdong, which is 148,63 meters long. It only took them three months, painting for 10 hours a day.  More of their artwork is above, with thanxs to China Underground.  Those crazy kids - whatever next?

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at the caravan with the babies

What happens to the decking area when there are kids around

The crazy mother in law with Lauren and Cairan

Called in at the caravan at the weekend, and Robbo and Kerry bought Cairan along, to join Louise, Dazzer  and Lauren, so it was baby madness all the way.  Luckily there were also hotdogs, crisps, cheesecake and lager, so it wasn't that bad, plus l got to go to The Wine Bar for a while afterwards (unlike Robbo), so l could show off my chest wound.  Result!!

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