bill glover and the local elections

As the local elections are coming up soon, we have been getting leaflets through the old letterbox from the various candidates, including this one from Bill Glover.
I have seen Bill out and about over the years, and say hello when l do see him, but was surprised that l knew so many people in his pamphlet photographs (including some of the in laws).  Bill might also be a fine upstanding gentleman, and have the communities best interests at heart, including the protesting about Green Field development, which l agree with.
On the other hand....
He is a Conservative, who stand for all l hate about politics, and who l would not touch with a pooey stick (unless violently). They look after the rich, are self serving, and will try anything underhand if need be to get into power.
Which brings me to my second point.
The leaflet makes a huge thing about his local involvement with real people, and puts across how normal he is.
It also avoids mentioning that he is a Conservative anywhere in the main 4 pages, and to find out that he is, you have to open the leaflet up fully to check out the inside, which is something that a lot of the public will not do.  I would not normally have done so myself, but l was curious in case there was any more photographs of people l knew. That is something that has obviously been planned in advance, probably with the hope that the casual uneducated, half interested, or blase reader would not link him with the much maligned Government, and maybe vote for him at the elections, as he comes across as a nice caring guy, and 'one of us'.  Richmond is such a safe Tory haven, that he would probably have walked it anyway.  There's a reason William Hague loves it here (apart from living in the mansion that is Brough Hall)
Politicians - most of them are a bunch of sneaky bastards not to be trusted, and they treat us like fucking idiots, so be careful where your vote goes.

toodle pip

a great advert for alcoholics

What a great idea for home drink delivery.  Of course it may be classed as distasteful (after all, alcoholism is an illness), but l find it funny.

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the rolling stones - start me up shred

And another shred - The Rolling Stones - Start me Up.
That's it, I've got to get ready for work




Edit - this has been blocked, but you can see it here.  Trust me - it's worth it!

toodle pip

radiohead and dire straits shreds

My attention has recently been drawn to some music video shreds (here and here), and l am now cursing, as there is something else on the internet l can waste endless hours watching.

The first shred is 'Weird Fishes' by Radiohead, and it can easily be mistaken for one of their more 'out there' experimental sound collages of recent times.  If this was released officially by Radiohead, l'm sure there would be numerous fans and music critics declaring it to be a work of outstanding genius, and the naysayers who dismiss it ignorant buffoons.



As for the Dire Straits shred of Sultans of Swing, that is just out and out funny.



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celebrities who are the same age

All of the above celebs are the same age, but some certainly look a lot better than others.
For their names and more pictures, go here.

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kosmo vinyl on the danny baker show

Danny Baker and Kosmo

I've been pottering about, listening to some podcasts of The Danny Baker Show while l have been off healing my wounds over the weekend, and one of them featured the raconteuring delight that is Kosmo Vinyl. Kosmo was a bit of a mover and a shaker back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, but is probably best known for his involvement with Ian Dury and The Clash, and he can be heard introducing The Clash on the 'Live At Shea' album.
He has always been a man of ideas, and one of his recent ones is producing impressionistic artwork to represent the latest West Ham United game after it had just finished (he is an Iron).  A fantastic and original  idea, which l was kicking myself for not thinking up first.
Some of the artwork l can take or leave, but it deserves a viewing, just for the initial idea.
One of a kind.

toodle pip

the piano (1993) - jane campion

I haven't been able to sleep at night since seeing this.  Why you ask?  Because of Harvey Keitel getting naked yet again, that's why.  I had only just got over seeing him up to no good and butt naked in 'Bad Lieutenant' (the 1992 version), and l wasn't expecting more from him (not in that way) in this.
Anyway, l digress.
'The Piano' has been out for ages, but it was one of those films that l didn't really fancy seeing, as it seemed too wimpy when l saw the trailers for it back in the day.  I kept thinking l would catch it eventually on TV, but have never been that fussed when it has been shown over the intervening years.
Until now that is.
It was, as l suspected it might be, a bit drippy for my tastes, but there was a bit more to it than l had imagined, what with the nudity and love scenes, plus the odd bit of violence and excitement towards the end.
Some might consider it a gothic masterpiece, what with the period clothes and a mute, piano playing heroine, all detached and alone (apart from her young child), until she falls for another, in muddy and untamed 1850's New Zealand.  Holly Hunter was magnificent in it, but l wasn't that smitten, and found it to be pretty dull in places, and certainly not deserving of all the praise, even if it was unusual.
Also, at the end, the clicking of the metal finger on the piano would drive anybody crazy.  Why not put some rubber on it, or a bit of cloth?  Things like that really bug me.

toodle pip

the boston marathon bombing

WARNING - SOME OF THESE ARE GRAPHIC

As it's such a big news story today, l thought l would post these photographs of the bombing at the Boston Marathon.  Some of them are pretty gruesome, but they bring home what a shocking thing a bombing is.

There will be even more heightened security in London this week, as there is Margaret Thatcher's funeral on Wednesday, followed by the London Marathon on Sunday.  Of course this bomb could be the work of an American with issues, not a foreign terrorist, and therefore have less significance for the UK, but surely the security for the funeral will be on outrageously high alert already, even just in case of protests.  As for a Marathon, how much security can you really have if people want to watch a 20+ mile race around a city, without shutting it down completely and banning people from attending?

Although it seems mad to say it after today, if we get bogged down with too much security infringing on our everyday lives, the terrorists have won, as they are depriving us of some of our basic freedoms.  What if the funeral and marathon pass off without incident?  There are always trains, coaches, building etc to be bombed (as has been done in the past), but you can't spend your whole life in fear.

I'm always (pleasantly) surprised that where l live (Catterick Garrison) hasn't been bombed or attacked, as it is the largest English army base in Europe, and let's face it, England has enemies.  But as l said before, you can't let the terrorists win, and have to overcome the fear and get on with life, even if, as in today, things go wrong.

The photographs were taken from Buzzfeed, and they have more if you want to see them.

 Image by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe / Getty Images

 mage by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe / Getty Images

 Source: @brm90

 Image by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe / Getty Images

 Image by Charles Krupa / AP

 Image by Charles Krupa / AP

 mage by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe / Getty Images

Image by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe / Getty Images

dave bartram from showaddywaddy (and stuart pearson)

When l was watching some old editions of Top of The Pops on You Tube (as you do), my curiosity was piqued as to how Dave Bartram, the large gobbed singer from Showaddywaddy who looked a bit like Stuart Pearson  (from Manchester United) was holding up nowadays.  Depending of course, on whether he was even still alive.  If you are interested, I'm glad to report that he is still kicking about, knocking out books by the look of it, and to my amazement, Showaddywaddy are still touring, and probably coming to a town near you this year (If you live in the UK).
Ah....A happy ending (and everybody loves them).
Showaddywaddy tour dates here.

toodle pip

bad teacher (2011) - jake kasdan

Cameron Diaz is Elizabeth Halsey, the (eponymous?) Bad Teacher from the title, who has to stay on at school when her rich boyfriend ends their engagement. She has little interest in the job or the pupils, and is just after doing as little work as possible and having a good time (who isn't?).  While she is killing time, she is also on the lookout to find and snag another rich man, this time to marry and retire with.  Nerdy and dull substitute teacher Scott Delacorte then arrives on the scene (in the form of Justine Timberlake), and as he is from a very wealthy family, Halsey tries to woo him.  Unfortunately for her, she faces competition from another teacher, the neurotic but dedicated Amy Squirrel, played by Lucy Punch (as though that would have happened in real life).  Deciding to save for a boob job, Halsey then discovers there is a monetary prize for the best class results, so she changes tactics, and decides to win the money by any means possible.  All the while, she herself is being wooed by the gym teacher, who, because of the fact he is just an ordinary joe with no money, she bats off (but of course, grows to like).  Don't bother asking me who she ends up with, l think it wouldn't take much brainpower to work that one out.  There's drug use, swearing a plenty, boob inspecting by Diaz (I thought that was my job), drinking and a general all round bad attitude (once again, my job). A much better film than l anticipated, but although it is not as good as 'Bad Santa', it is still one of the better rom com films out there (although let's face it, that's not saying a lot).


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the madness of the bedroom tax has already started

 This is a letter from Richmondshire District Council to somebody l work with, claiming that there appears to be 5 unused bedrooms in their house, and that the persons Housing Benefit will be reduced.  This person lives with other people and has full time care, 24 hours a day.  She is also on the councils polling information at the same address with the other people, so they should be aware of how many people live in the house and how many bedrooms there are.  Luckily, this is being sorted out for her, but if the councils are making such glaring errors without proper checks at such an early stage of the benefit changes, think of how many others will also be sent letters, stating they might be subject to reductions.  Not everyone has carers to sort the mistakes out, and a lot of the recipients of the letters will be old, confused, worried by them, and may possibly even accept the cuts without protesting, being from the generations that didn't question authority.  If you notice on the letter, the reductions to benefit were to come into effect less than two weeks after the letter had been sent out.  Because of this, there is also the chance that someone might not receive their letter, and the payments would be automatically reduced, possibly without some vulnerable folk noticing until much later.
The bunch of bastards in government are to blame for this, but frankly, they don't give a fuck as long as they can demonise the poor and bang on about the welfare budget and how Labour's mistakes have forced them into the cuts.
All in it together?
Ha!!  Don't make me laugh (my face is still aching from Friday)

toodle pip

the dubai police's new car

This is apparently the new patrol car that the Dubai police are going to be using.  It's a Lamborghini Aventador (or so l have been told).  The Dubai state reckon they will not have to go chasing criminals in it, but it demonstrates how rich and classy they are.   It sure does that all right.
Saying that, my brother in law is a copper, and l bet he would love to go swanning around (if that's possible in a car) and hightailing it after the baddies in this bad boy (if that's also possible in a car).
My language skills, and my knowledge of cars for that matter, leave a lot to be desired.

toodle pip

more spiders to be worried about

While l was watching some of Sir David Attenborough's series featuring the Galapagos Islands last night, something disgusting was revealed to me.  No, my pants hadn't suddenly fallen down, and l didn't pass by a mirror.  I wish it had been one of those options.  Instead, I saw some Amblypygi, (which are half spider, half scorpion) for the first time.  I'm scared of spiders, but not scared of crabs or anything else, but these look just as frightening as the spiders l already detest.  What is the bleeding point of them, if not just to add to my phobias and prevent me visiting certain places? Bloody hideous things.  As usual, I blame God.

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the strypes on jools holland and dr feelgood on the geordie scene

After the last post featuring female singers who are past the first flush of youth, l thought l would re-affirm my rowdy rock and roll tastes by posting about how great l thought The Strypes were on 'Later With Jools Holland' on Friday evening.  They are between 15 and 17, look about 12 to me, but they have got that swagger, dress sense, haircuts and attitude that gets my old juices flowing (and not in a Jimmy Savile way).
They are obviously in debt to early Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and Dr Feelgood, but they have got it all going on at the moment, and if l was 15 again, l'd be off to see them like a shot.
Funnily enough, l have just received a new Dr Feelgood compilation and DVD, which includes them performing on 'The Geordie Scene' back in 1975, which l skived off school to watch.  Classic stuff indeed, and l hope the DVD is excellent quality, as l already have a bootleg of it, and it was the main reason l wanted the compilation (only £14.99 from Spin!).  At one time, Dr Feelgood were huge.  Their live album (Stupidity) went to no 1, (when it mattered) and they were an escape from most of the crap in the charts at the time, and like The Strypes, were a throwback to early blues and rhythm and blues records.  Throw in some great sweaty and loud live performances (including my first proper concert), with the bug eyed speed freakery of Wilko Johnson, and they were unstoppable   That is, until  punk came kicking the doors down shortly afterwards.  They then appeared ancient, even if they still had the swagger and sound, the image didn't fit with the youthful energy that was everywhere.  Something The Strypes don't have to worry about.  Sadly, Wilko currently has cancer, and not long to live. At least he has certainly left his mark.






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iris dement and bonnie raitt get meloncholy

I've been listening to some Iris DeMent recently (when l am not busy injuring myself), and this song (My Life) in particular, as it was used at the end of Mister Lonely, which l saw for the first time the other day.



It also reminds me of the rather marvelous 'Angel From Montgomery' by John Prine, which has become one of Bonnie Raitt's signature songs.
I prefer the 'Angel' song, as l think the lyrics are better, but both of them capture that melancholy feeling superbly.
Enjoy!



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hand painted walls

I don't know who the artist is, but l'm impressed, and l got the images from a Polish site here.

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