otto shade artwork

 

I'm all for a bit of Surrealist and Abstract artwork (Salvador Dali used to be a big favourite), and Otto Shade, a Chilean artist now living and working in London, hits the right buttons for me. More of his work is here.
Damn! I wish l could paint.

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the spikes gang (1974) - richard fleischer

An old (ish) western l hadn't seen before, The Spikes Gang features Lee Marvin as Harry Spikes, an outlaw who is found by three impressionable and innocent boys. After fixing him up and helping him on his way, they decide to hit the road, where they meet Spikes again. This time he feeds and clothes them, and they become his bank-robbing gang (after an earlier unsuccessful bank robbery by the boys). At first the boys worship Spikes, but mistrust and greed start to take over (as it normally does). It doesn't end too well (for anybody), but Marvin is his usual excellent self throughout, which is the reason l taped the film in the first place, so at least l was happy.

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different era movie posters

A selection of spoof  movie posters that feature stars from different eras, done in the proper old school style.
Clever stuff indeed. They are by Igor Ovsyannykov, who can be found here if you want to get in touch.


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brough hall, catterick

When l was a young lad (OK, in my 20's), myself and other members of the 'Colburn Popular Front' used to go to Brough Hall at Catterick for a wander round, as it had been derelict for years, was all boarded up and falling apart, and it was pretty spooky down there in the middle of the night. Years later and what's happened? It's been tarted up and gentrified, is now divided up into separate accommodations and is private property. Christ on a bike, even William Hague lives there (probably so he can still be 'part of the community' around Catterick/Richmond, where he is an MP). Look on my brothers and viddy this well. If he ever starts harping on about living by a large council estate, this is what he means. He is not roughing it, l can assure you, even though the closest l have come to living there was when myself and a friend got employed to clean the windows as it was being restored, l can vouch that it is very posh inside.
I also get chased away from that area years ago, and it was the most frightening night of my life, but that's for another time.


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people you'd like to meet on a night out no 852 - bob dylan, johnny cash, brigitte bardot and jane birkin

 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - oh yes indeed - l wouldn't leave them alone, l'd pester them all night and l'd wear them down and bore them to tears

Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin - see above, but hopefully without the tears

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sexist lp covers no 43654 - have organ, will swing

They don't make em like this anymore.

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cool travel photographs

It's the time of the year to be entering  Photographer of the year competitions, and here are some photographic examples that will have to be matched or bettered.  It looks like l am going to have to up my game to win a prize this year. Here's one of mine.

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does the noise in my head bother you? - steven tyler

As expected, 'Does The Noise In My Head Bother You' was full of rehab, drugs, scatological musings and the history of Aerosmith (with some sex thrown in). There was a lot more whining about the other members of Aerosmith than l expected, and some repetition (the drugs talking), but overall, l enjoyed it, even though l am not a massive fan of the band. I did tape then many moons ago, but l haven't got a clue where the tape is stashed now. Probably in the garage with loads of other crap. One of the best shows l'd seen, even if they were off their faces at the time. Rock and roll maaaaaaaan - it's the lifestyle you expect from your rock stars, as long as they remain cool, but it's a fine line of knowing when to stop, as Steven Tyler himself found out many times.

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anne frank - the diary of a young girl

Read while l was taking my extra long bath yesterday, this was pretty much what l expected, after all, although Anne Frank was bright, she was still a young girl trapped in hiding, had been persecuted as a Jew, and l knew what was going on in the war and the ending of the diary before l started.
It was interesting because of the ending hanging over it and some of the period details (in both senses), but there was too much moaning about her mother and the others in the hiding place, and waaaaaay too much pining for Peter and the attic.  If she was going to get caught by the Nazis anyway, they could have done it earlier, and l'd have been spared a lot of the teenage lust and devotion in the second half of the book. I could also have got out of the bath earlier, instead of boiling and cooking all my insides, and everyone would have been a winner.
That's obviously a joke, so don't bother with emailing me and telling me it is in bad taste, because l won't be bothered. Anyway - l blame God.

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mother night - kurt vonnegut, jr

The metafictional story of American Howard W Campbell, Jr, who is being held for trial after the Second World War for aiding the Nazis through plays and propaganda broadcasts while he stayed on in Germany during the war. Campbell was actually working as a double agent, and his broadcasts delivered secret messages to the Allies, but he cannot get the proof he needs to defend himself. He tells of his war story experiences, (intertwined with real life characters), his relocation to the USA after the war, and his love life and capture.
In the end, a letter comes, but what is it, and will he use it?
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr is one of my favourite authors, and in Mother Night he raises issues about what is good, the effects of supposedly good deeds, belief systems, and responsibility for ones own actions. Make your own mind up about the moral of the story.
A Classic.

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and thinking about preening, self loving footballers...ronaldo!!

If there is one footballer in the world who truly loves himself with 100% conviction, it has to be the preening, petulant, self loving show off that goes by the name of Ronaldo. He is always compared to Messi, which must drive him up the wall, as most pundits would consider Messi the better player, and would rather have him in their team. At least Ronaldo can console himself with a large mirror and loving gazes at himself (as he no doubt oils himself up), as he can at least beat Messi on the looks and body department.
A bit like me in the bottom photo after my 8 hour bath yesterday (a new record!).

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recent graphic novels

A prequel novel to the film, but not as good as the film (especially the Swedish one)

 Batman and the Joker - always great

Referencing 'The Wandering Jew' and a rare novel, set in London and Calcutta, this was pretty strange but pretty damn good. I'll be checking out more of Sarnath Banerjee's stuff in the future

More great Batman stuff, this time with vampires!

 They are dead - yet alive....and persecuted!!

 More Batman and Joker stuff - don't get dragged into The Joker's world...

 People close to Peter Parker die as he re-assess everything again. Not as good as the early comics.

In it's own mad world, Captain Haddock is the star for me.

All recent acquisitions from the good old library at Colburn, except for the Tin Tin book, which is mine.
What a way to spend your life. It's great.

the euros - the story so far

Lots of shots of pretty ladies in the crowd

                                        Shots of pretty ladies who are scantily dressed in the crowd

Is it just me, or is Scott Parker's head too big for his body? (and he looks like a Thunderbirds puppet)

How on Earth did the Russian fans manage to get this banner past the (obviously very poor) security?

The wacky Irish fans

The kick around everyone wanted to see

This is how the footballers 'headphones constantly in place' look is going to end up.

More wacky Irish fans

Rooooooney, and all the hype about him coming back after suspension, even though he had not played well in the last two tournaments (now three)

Our likeable and heroic (definitely not racist) captain marvel - at least he will still be lifting the winners trophy (no matter which team wins)

The stupid bloody boots that so many of the overpaid, self loving, style conscious superstars are wearing

What they should be made to play in. If they were good enough for Sir Stanley Mathews etc...

What a surprise, knocked out in the quarter finals on penalties, only this time by Italy. At least it saves us the humiliation of being thrashed by the Germans again. 

Now that all the hype has died down, at least l can relax and enjoy the remaining games, plus l've got a week off to make the most of it.  Hurrah!!

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