the reaction to terrorism

These pretty much sums up how l feel about the current terrorist activities, and the gung ho reactions to them.
Never mind folks, we'll soon be bombing Syria.

From here

And here

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the project apollo archive

If you want more proof that man has been to the moon, check out the hundreds of photographs at the Project Apollo Archive, which has just been released, and can be found here.
Some of amy favourites are below, and the released batch reinforces to me how brave the astronauts were, and how alone they must have felt out there, looking back at Earth, or the never ending vastness of space.
Yet also, the best moment of their lives, never to be repeated.

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the deluded jimmy liddle commentates on liverpool

The deluded scouse commentator, Jimmy Liddel (who in the real life, was my father's favourite player), is, to me at least, one of the funniest things on the internet, especially when Liverpool get a good hiding.
I can't work out how to embed the recent videos from their site, but here's Stevie Gerrard's farewell game at the end of last year.
As it goes on, it just gets better and better.
Warning - does contain the odd swear word.
And here's a recent one against Manchester United that l can't work out how to transfer over properly.

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the velvet / peanut underground

Excellent. I used to love the Charlie Brown and Peanuts books when l was a kid, and l love The Velvet Underground now.
A win / win situation for me.
This would look great on a t-shirt.



And as proof that The Velvet Underground is not just weird music, here's one of their many slow love songs. Lou Reed sure knew how to write a tune.



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squibb's funeral, adam and the ants and the motive - plus slade!

I've had a busy time lately.
I was at York and Middlesbrough with Robbo last weekend, and then this week, there was Squibbs' funeral on Wednesday, (although l went off to work after it), then an Adam and the Ants tribute band at Catterick Village on Friday, followed by The Motive in Richmond on Saturday night. Plenty of people out and about, and stoppy backs on both Friday and Saturday (and in York). Apparently there's a load of photographs about to be emailed to me from Saturday in Richmond (I insisted they were not to be put on Facebook), and it was a pretty raucous affair, but excellent fun.

                                                        Adam Ant has let himself go a bit recently

It's a hard life, but sometimes you've got to put the hours in, and the funerals bring it home that you've got to try and enjoy life while you can, although l do have an assignment l have to complete and send off this week.
Next up, a Slade tribute band in Darlington on Saturday. So to get me in the mood....





By the way, the Adam Ant picture is actually two people l know, Jacket and Mrs Jacket.
Both mad.

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large rat alert

Now this is what l call a rat! Killed by Wapping on the London Underground.
I'm glad l haven't had to deal with any that size in the back garden.
What a beast.

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nikolai tolstyh photographs / papercuttings

This is a simple idea, and has no doubt been done many times in the past, but l'm impressed by these papercuttings / photographs by Nikolai Tolstyh, which have cut out animals, coloured in by being held over colourful backgrounds, mainly from nature.
Simple yet very effective. Check out his instagram page, where there are plenty more to be seen.

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the bob dylan cutting edge boxset - and rich hall

I'm currently still trying to work my way through the 18 cd version of the latest Bob Dylan boxset 'The Cutting Edge', which, for a sad geek like me is 100% enjoyment, as it features some of his best work (1965-66). Sadly, l've only got the cds, not all the packaging and extras, but l'm living in bliss street at present.
Rather like The Rolling Stones (amongst others), I'm slightly obsessed by him and his music, but have no great desire to listen to any of his current releases, and especially don't want to go and see him live these days, as l'd rather remember him when he was good. And when he was good, he was very good indeed.
Here's one of my favourite comedians, Rich Hall's view on the current Dylan live shows, something l wholeheartedly agree with.



As a flipside, here's Dylan when he was special. A live version of 'Tangled up in Blue' from the 'Desire' album.



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adele entering an adele impersonator competition in disguise

I'm not her greatest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Adele entering an Adele impersonator contest in disguise as 'Jenny', was really well done, and l actually found it pretty moving at the end, when the other 'Adeles' realise who it is.
From Adele at the BBC



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lionel messi reacts to the new cristiano ronaldo movie

Lionel Messi keeps his cool and reacts to the new Cristiano Ronaldo movie






Yes l know it's a spoof!

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strange chinese poster and text - bums and cocks

I have absolutely no idea what this picture and text is meant to represent, but it amuses me anyway.
Found on this blog.

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look who's back (er ist weider da)

I'm waiting for my ebay delivery of  the book version of 'Er Ist Weider Da' (Look who's back) by Timur Vermes , and while eagerly hanging around my letter box for it, have been checking out the trailers of the film, which look pretty good.
l guess l may have to catch it on DVD or Sky, as l can't see any local cinemas putting it on, but  hopefully l may be proven wrong (and it's not often l say that).
Hitler has returned to face the modern age, and he's not a happy man.
Who say's the Germans haven't got a sense of humour?



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my pumpkin is sorted (fnaaar)

I'm actually going out tonight to see my mates band, but just in case any trick or treaters decide to pop round, this should give them a loud and clear message.

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the doors alive

Urgh, good night last night with the boys.  These were great. The Doors Alive at Darlington Forum.
Will definitely be going to see them again (possibly on acid next time).

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tape transfer to cd - reliving some of the past

I've recently been transferring some old cassette compilations that l made back in the day to CD for itunes
etc. It was good hearing some of the songs again after such a long time (I'm guessing about 10 years), but most importantly, it also confirmed what excellent eclectic taste in music l had, and still have (Track listings are above).
Anyone disagreeing must have cloth ears and a tiny brain (and crappy taste in music).

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richmond firestarter locked up

Although l have sympathy with people who have mental health problems, and who are obviously seeking attention and help when they try to kill themselves on numerous occasions, the person above, Robert Kenyon (who is actually nicknamed 'Firestarter' and 'Rubber legs' around Catterick / Richmond), used to live below me in Hipswell, and was one of the main reasons for me wanting to move, as, apart from lots of noise at all hours, he tried to kill himself and set fire to his place when myself and my wife were living above him, and at one time we were tempted to go round and smash up his stereo with a baseball bat (I'm from Liverpool). Instead, the council were informed about the noise, (the fire brigade dealt with the fire) but they were pretty hopeless, despite warning him about disturbing neighbours (so to speak). Luckily, a house nearby that we wanted became available to buy at that time, so we moved out, otherwise it would have ended badly, one way or another.
He more than likely requires psychological help rather than imprisonment, but he certainly needed to be removed from his housing, as he posed such a risk to us, and laterly, to others.
I'm just surprised it has taken so long, as the earlier episodes living below me were over 10 years ago.
The story was taken from here.

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ayers / uluru rock and mount augustus / burringurrah

Sometimes when l read about stuff, l am amazed to discover facts that have been unknown to me, despite the fact that l feel l should have been aware of them.
One case in point is Ayers (Uluru) Rock in Australia. That's it in the bottom picture, looking magnificent, and yes, l have been aware of it for many, many years.
However, what l was not aware of until last week, was that it is not even the biggest rock hill in Australia, as there is also Mount Augustus / Burringurrah (The top two photographs), which is more than twice the size of it.
Admittedly Ayers looks aesthetically better, but even so, l never knew there was another one.
Annoyingly, the more you try to learn, the more you realise how much you don't know (including the fact that rock hills are known as Inselbergs).
I think l need a lie down.

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the original gypsy petulengro and spiritualists

To call me sceptical about Spiritualists and Palm Readers / Forecasters would be massively understating my contempt and disbelief for the money grabbing charlatans. This advert in Blackpool made me chuckle though, 'Tony Christie to make a comeback', as forecast by Gypsy Petulengro 34 years ago. I bet she would have lost count of the amount of stars she would have forecast would make a comeback in those intervening 34 years, and if you have enough non specific guesses, you are bound to strike lucky. Sadly, lots of people part with their hard earned money in the hope of some comforting news from dead loved ones, and to rip them off is contemptible. Either they are deliberately fleecing the public (lock them up), or truly believe they have a gift (in which case they are delusional).
Gits.

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friday night mayhem

A random photograph from Giz's birthday do on Friday night. It must have been good as we ended up in Club Louis until about 3 or 4am. Watched some TV while eating kebab on our return home, then off to bed, where l had to put up with Robbo's snoring, before dragging myself out of the pit early doors so l could collect my car, visit Joseph, and head to work (admittedly l wasn't at work till 3pm, so it wasn't that bad).
Us old bastards still know how to party!

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some funny tweets

These all made me chuckle, with the bottom one amusing me the most.
More available here

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robert crumb sums up record collecting

Robert Crumb nails what it's like to be a collector, in this case, of records.
I can relate to it sooo much.

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