the shining - original photograph

Everybody must have seen 'The Shining' by now.  It's a stone cold classic of the horror / psychological movie genre.  Contained within it is a touched up 1921 photograph featuring (supposedly) Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) at the Overland Hotel.  The top photograph reinstates the man who was replaced (name unknown). Good work by whoever did it.

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this is not here

Another t shirt l will eventually get around to making or buying.  Based on the John Lennon / Yoko Ono art exhibition in New York (1972).
I just think it will mess with peoples minds, especially when they are drunk.  I might even print 'But this is' on the back.
Feel free to nick the idea if you are a t shirt maker, just send me a free copy (usual address) if you do.

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the snow has arrived

The bastard snow has arrived in Catterick, and it is only October.  This is the view from outside my front door about half an hour ago.  It's bleeding cold as well.
I blame God.

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richard and willie

I'm all for a bit of dirty, surreal, and political comedy, especially if there is a potty mouthed ventriloquist's dummy thrown in for good measure, but the trouble with these Richard and Willie albums from the late 1960's to the early 1970's, is that they are not that funny, the politics is laboured (not that way) and they are just foul mouthed yet boring (hard to believe, l know). Created by Richard Sanfield (Willie is the dummy) in 1967.  They may be funnier live, but these feature live performances, so l pretty much doubt it.  Bit of a shame really, as the idea is magnificent.
If you want to check out various dummies  through the ages, there's a great site here.

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debbie harry photograph

Now that is what you call a promotional photograph.  Debbie Harry of Blondie looking good.  She has got a punk attitude and is also intelligent, arty and funny. She also stayed with and helped nurse Chris Stein after he became ill.  That's why nobody really dislikes her.

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king george v and a poor person

King George V in his carriage being chased by a poor person ("Spare a shekel guv"?) in a photograph that l never get bored of.  It's like it was taken yesterday.  Soon to be re-enacted.

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eric cantona french film poster for l'outremangeur

I took this picture while standing outside the Gare Du Nord in Paris, and it is of the great man himself, Monsieur Eric Cantona, starring as Superintendent Richard Milina in the film L'Outremangeur (The Overeater).  How French can you get?
He was lucky he got the role, because if l had been born in France, there is absolutely no question that l would have had that role sewn up as mine - l was born to play it.

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homer simpson and adamson (silent sam)

This has been common knowledge for a while (amongst comic geeks).  the old cartoon strip 'Adamson', which in the USA was known as 'Silent Sam', was originally drawn in 1920 by Oscar Jacobsson, a Swedish cartoonist.  I don't think Matt Groening ripped him off when he came up with 'The Simpsons' (and 'Homer'), but he may have seen the strips when he was growing up, and been influenced by them, even if it was only subliminally.  I suppose everybody already knows that 'Homer' was named after Groening's own father, but l am throwing it out there anyway.

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galactus costume

Christ on a bike, l thought l was a geek!  Just take a butchers at this chappie,  photographed at the EECC (Emerald City Comicon) in 2012, wearing a home made 'Galactus' costume.  I would never, EVER, wear a costume like that, but l do admit l have a grudging admiration for the fact that he just doesn't seem to care.  I wonder if he has got a girlfriend?
Photograph from mattpagedotcom.

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du levande (you, the living) - roy anderssonn (2007)

Is it Swedish?  Depressing? No great story to it? Subtitled? Strange? Weird Music?  Untrained actors?  Black comedic moments? Dream sequences?  
All present and correct (SIR!!).
50 short sketches that sometimes have links, Du Levande (translation - You, the living) certainly isn't like most films out there.  I like to relax with this kind of stuff, but that probably says more about me than the film itself.  Mind you, it took Roy Andersson 3 years and a lot of haggling to get this project completed, so he must be an even stranger cove than l am (high praise indeed).
Now pass me some drugs so l can watch it again, as l might discover some great hidden meaning to it all, apart from the futility of existence (but l doubt it).

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the casual vacancy - jk rowling

I have never read any of the Harry Potter books, and am not that interested in the films (I've only seen two), but l thought l would crack on with 'The Casual Vacancy' as it is J.K Rowling's first 'adult' book, and l knew it to be about class, bigotry, politics, and responsibility for others (four of my favourite subjects).  It didn't let me down in  the slightest, as there is plenty of swearing, a bit of sex and violence, and as far as the political angle goes, if Jan Moir of The Daily Mail considers it to be "More than 500 pages of relentless socialist manifesto masquerading as literature, "Then that also ticks my boxes.
A local Parish Councillor (Barry Fairweather) dies, leaving a vacancy.  As he was arguing for the amalgamation of  a local housing estate (The Fields) and drug rehabilitation centre (Bellchaple) with the West Country town of Pagford, and the votes were more or less split, some take this as an opportunity to put themselves (or family) up for Council so they can sway the vote.  'Ghostly' revelations about the nominees are then posted on the Council website'e online forum, with varying consequences.  Along the way, there is the tale of the misunderstood Krystal Weedon, her young brother Robbie, and her ex prostitute, drug addled mother.  Also heavily featured are two school friends, 'Fats' and Andrew (and their families), a cyber bullied Sukhvinder Jawanda (and her family), plus Howard Mollison, the overweight leader of the Parish Council (and his immediate and related family). If you are looking for pomposity, self righteousness, class war, bigoted attitudes, narrow mindedness, overestimated self worth, rape, drugs, and a bit of humour, this novel has them all.  I don't consider it a masterpiece, as it is (even to me) a bit preachy, but parts of it were really well written, and l can't overstate how pleased l am that it is out there in the first place, selling by the bucketload, and (hopefull) changing some peoples perceptions and attitudes towards the working class scumbags (like me) that they so readily despise.

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ellen ripley - believe it or not

This silicone sculpture looks amazingly life like, and just a little bit spooky.  It's of Ellen Ripley from the Alien films (Sigourney Weaver) and it is by Steven Scott (who's Facebook page is here).   Some people are just so talented it is sickening (or at least sickening to me).  Bastard!

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killing time at the kings head in masham

It's not exactly been a very taxing day at work today.  Once again I had time to kill in Masham, so l went to The Kings Head hotel for a drink.  The photograph at the top shows how busy it was and how the non existent barmaid was (not) rushed off her feet.  Mind you, it was only 11.40am, so l couldn't really expect it to be heaving with local pissheads (apart from me).  I had so much time on my hands, that l discovered (after much fiddling - phnaar) there is a drawing device on my phone, so l drew a cartoon face with my thumbnail.  Impressive stuff, l'm sure you will agree.
Still, l was getting paid for it, so technically, that makes me an artist (sort of).

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the new evil dead trailer

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to this film.  Evil Dead is one of my favourite films, even if the effects are rubbish and it has really dated.  I just hope the new version isn't a let down (or there will be trouble!)

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aston villa programmes - 61 seasons worth

This collection of Aston Villa programmes is for sale on Ebay now, and it consists of 61 seasons worth.  Now if that was a collection of Manchester United ones stretching back that far, my fingers would be red raw from placing bids. As it is, l still wouldn't mind these myself.  I have nothing but respect for the bloke (it's got to be a bloke) who collected them.

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smokey robinson and the miracles - the tears of a clown

I heard this on the radio in the kitchen while l was downstairs making myself a cup of Oxo (yummy).
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Tears of a Clown
Has there ever been a song that is so joyous, with such sad lyrics?


Answers on a postcard please.

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Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (1992) - peter kosminsky

Wuthering Heights is a book l have never got around to reading, and as l had not seen any other films of the book, l came to this with only a very vague idea of what it was about, most of which l had gleaned from various sources over the years, (but mainly from the Kate Bush song). Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (to give it its full title) stars Ralph Fiennes (Heathcliff) and Juliett Binoche (Cathy) as the two lovers pulled apart by their upbringing.  Heathcliff is a young scamp who had been rescued from Liverpool and taken into the Earnshaw  household, where he meets and falls in love with Cathy. Sadly for him, as she is pulled further away from him as he gets older, he grows steadily embittered. When he overhears her say she is to marry another (Edgar Linton), he takes off, only to return years later, stinking rich, and out to exact revenge on all who he feels betrayed him (including the children).  There's some great shots of the moors, and Fiennes is strikingly good looking and moody (great eyes!), but much as l like Binoche in other movies ('3 Colours Blue','The English Patient'), her portrayal of Cathy just irritated me for most of the film, and l didn't find her likeable at all (which kind of spoiled it). Maybe it is aimed more for the laydeees (but in which case l should have liked it more).  Look out for a brief appearance by Sinead O'Connor at the end as Emily Brontë herself.  I now consider myself an expert on the book (although l still haven't read it).



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the last post

One of these days, either myself or the FPO will end up here.

Then the world will be a whole new experience (but l can't see it happening for  a long, long time)

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chocolate from joes

As they say in the 'Airplane!' film,  I've picked a fine day to give up chocolate.  I called round to Joes earlier  this evening as his leg/knee was playing up, and he may have to go back into hospital.  He is seeing how he gets on in the next couple of days, but before l headed back home, l was presented with a box of goodies that contained a mixture of chocolates from Cadbury's.  Joe gets them free for some reason (maybe because he owned/owns shares?) but doesn't eat the stuff, so the FPO was happy, and l attacked the Liquorice Allsorts watching United pull back a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 against Braga.  What a pleasant evening.  Now l'll have to find a place to hide the rest of the chocs or we will be sitting and stuffing our faces every night.

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marijuana - the devils harvest

It's fortunate that l have never been bothered about smoking this (unless in Amsterdam, where it is compulsory), as it doesn't look too healthy for you.
If you are ever in doubt, just ask yourself 'what would Keith do'?
Stick to class 'A's is what l say (although l am a good boy now).


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