the cardiff city promotion and tiger comic from 1972

Whilst scanning some comics for another blog (OK - l admit l am sad), l saw this picture of Cardiff City in an old Tiger comic from 1972.  They have just been promoted to the football premiership this week for the first time in about 50 years, which must be real 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff for Craig Bellamy, who went back to Cardiff to play for his old boyhood club, who he used to watch with his father, and who he has just helped gain promotion (the club, not his father).
The thing that sours it, is, as you can notice in the photograph, they are known as 'The Bluebirds' and play in a blue kit.
That is, until they were taken over recently by Malaysian billionaires, who then changed the kit to red, and bugger the team (or community that support the team's) tradition.  Luckily for them, the team have done excellently since then, but that is not the point.
Money doesn't talk, it corrupts and steamrolls everybody's principles, and leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Then again, having no money at all is even worse.
At least now they will be amongst other teams with the same kind of ownerships and disregard for the fans, and l should know, l support Manchester United.
The modern commercialisation of football is shit.

toodle pip

harrison ford won't answer questions about star wars

I have never been a fan of Star Wars, and can't see what all of the fuss is about.  I guess you had to be a certain age or something and by the time it came out, l had moved on from most sci fi films of that type, preferring stuff like '2001 - A Space Odyssey'.
However, Harrison Ford used to be pretty good back in the day, and he remembers what it is to act on The Jimmy Kimmel show, where he refuses to take Star Wars questions.
Thankfully, you don't have to be a fan of the movies to enjoy this.

toodle pip

the american national anthem at boston before the ice hockey

This is the American National Anthem (Star Spangled Banner) before the first game of Ice Hockey played in Boston after the Boston Marathon bombings, between Boston Bruins and  Buffalo Sabres.  The 8 year old that died in the blast was supposedly a Boston Bruins fan.
It's easy to take the piss out of the USA, as it can be so insular, bigoted, narrow minded and optimistic, and waaaaaay too religious for my liking, plus places like Boston gave plenty of money to the IRA  when the troubles were on (which l did not agree with), but their patriotism is also to be commended, and at least when you get into America as an immigrant, you are adopted as an 'Italian American/Greek American/Irish American' or whatever.  The singing of The National Anthem helps forge the bond and encourages all the citizens to believe that wherever they (or their families) originated from, they are all Americans now (The land of the free).  This helps because the Anthem is about the country, unlike the UK one, which gives praise to our rulers (God Save The Queen), which l also don't agree with. There is also the belief by the general populace in America that anybody can become president if they work hard enough, but that is obviously crap of the highest order.
Anyway, the crowd take over the singing, and it is all pretty emotional.
Watch, listen, and rub that itch in your eye.

And as for the UK, here's The Sex Pistols.



toodle pip

the kfc map of london

My favourite map of London, given away free in KFC.  It looks good, it's easy to follow, and more importantly, it has all the KFC outlets at the time. Result!
I think l got it in 1978 when l was sleeping rough in London for a couple of days before heading to Reading Festival.
I might try and find a larger pristine copy and have it framed (even more crap to fill the house with).

toodle pip

hey kids - don't do meths

I'm sure l have posted some of these mugshots before, but who knows, with the drugs l have done, my memory has gone.  At least l never got into meths, though l looked worse than this lot last Friday night.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.



toodle pip

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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