newcastle city hall from the stage

I have been to many concerts at Newcastle City Hall over the years, and although it holds just over 2,000 people, it does not look that large in this shot from the stage. Pretty deceiving l'd say, as l never realised how much you could make out so many of the audiences faces from upfront.

The man in the shot is Jason Issac, who l have no idea about, but my guess is it may well be a religious meeting of some kind (I can't be bothered looking it up - fill your own boots if you want to).

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another dodgy comic panel

This time it's the turn of The Fantastic Four to corrupt the innocent minds of the youth.

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helmi el touni - folk stories (1983) cover

I just love the colours and simplicity of this (although l can't understand a word on the cover).

Pictures from the Helmi el Touni exhibition are here.

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bandolero! (1968) - andrew mclagen

Another classic Western (if you are into that sort of thing). Bandolero! has it all. There is a great cast, with stars including Dean Martin, James Stewart, George Kennedy and Raquel Welch, and plenty of desert scenery and killings.

Dee Bishop (Martin) and his gang are apprehended after robbing a bank. They are then assisted to escape by Mace Bishop (Stewart), who had been posing as a hangman, and Mace then robs the bank after the gang escape and the townsfolk give chase, not being aware that he had aided them in their getaway. During their escape, they capture Maria Stoner, a wealthy widow (Welch) and flee over the desert, where they are rejoined by Mace, but also followed by sheriff July Johnson (Kennedy) and his deputy and sidekick Rosco Bookbinder (Andrew Prine) plus his increasingly reluctant posse. The sheriff continues with the chase into bandit country, as he hopes to win the hand of Maria, but (as happens in these films) she has already fallen for the charismatic/misunderstood/messed up from the war/good at heart Dee. Let's face it, who wouldn't? Dean Martin is one cool character and looks pretty good in a cowboy outfit. At the end, there is a shootout with the bandits, and it does not end well. Marvellous, but it would have been improved if Dino also sang some kind of theme tune (it's an instrumental).

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the narrative of the life of frederick douglass

Another ex slave memoir, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass relates his experiences as a slave, his views on everyone being equal, his religious views, and the outcome of his eventual escape (after staying in Baltimore and New York). He does not go into detail of how he escaped, as he did not want to give away any information that may hinder further escapees. Douglass later went on to be a leading figure in the fight against slavery and became a speaker for the abolitionist movement. They (the slaves) sure had it mighty hard back in the day.

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little manhattan (2005) - mark levin and jennifer flackett

A lightweight and sometimes quirky coming of age comedy drama about a young boy falling in love for the first time.

Little Manhattan is also (like Woody Allen's Manhattan) an homage to the city itself, with some great shots around Central Park, the Upper West Side, and the Hudson.

It is very similar in style and pace to 'The Wonder Years' (Mark Levin was a writer for the show), but includes some surreal/fantasy shots, such as a building turning into a ship.

Our hero, Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) gets reacquainted with an old school friend (Rosemary - played by Charlie Ray), at karate classes, and manages to fall for her just before she is to leave for summer camp (and then onto a private school).

In the meantime, his parents are in the process of getting a divorce, and he (like his father), finds it difficult to express or act upon his feelings.

I must have got something in my eye towards the end of the film when Gabe and Rosemary danced. Either that or l think l have turned soft and senile (or it is my allergy to the idiot rabbit).

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a really huge insect - the little barrier giant weta

This is a Giant weta and is to be found on New Zealand's Little Barrier Island.

I am so glad l don't live in that part of the world, if this is the sort of thing that is going to be found in the house. It's bad enough being scared of spiders and having to look out for them (in case they are lying in wait to attack me).

Just think, if we are ever visited by an alien life form, they could all look like this.

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the bloody snow has arrived in catterick

After posting earlier about the weather in Middlesbrough yesterday, the snow has arrived in Catterick and it is pretty crapy weather outside. I'm at work at 2pm, and l can't say l am looking forward to going out in it. Where the hell did the summer go?

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the bleeding weather in middlesbrough yesterday

I went through to Middlesbrough yesterday to do a bit of bobbing and weaving (and diving), and just as l was arriving the sky became mighty dark and foreboding. It was bright sunshine when l set off, but it soon changed, and it was chucking it down with sleet and snow on the drive back. Thankfully though, that soon stopped, the sky cleared up again, and as the FPO was still busy doing her assignments, l buggered off to The Arc and JT's for a fine old time with Ritchie and Shuggs (although l think Shuggs may have put some alcohol in my drink, as l was a bit tipsy on my return).

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job prospects and the economy

With workers going on strike, the Euro on it's (supposed) last legs, and no money left in the pot, l wonder if we will soon see a return of these sort of advertising gimmicks. I thought we were meant to be living in the space age.

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very dodgy canadian tv

This from an old Canadian TV show called 'Just Like Mum'. Just like being a perv would be more like it.

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70 million - hold your horses (and the paintings)

Now this video is what l would call a clever and well worked idea, referencing classic paintings, but also featuring a decent song by Hold Your Horses (70 Milllion). Imagination being used - it's a very rare occurrence.

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anders petersen photos from cafe lehmitz and the rain dogs cover

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits is a great album, probably (along with Swordfishtrombones) my favourite Tom Waits album. And the cover is pretty striking as well.

I think most people think it is an early shot of Tom, or has been doctored in some way, but the photograph is from the Cafe Lehmitz, a dodgy cafe near the Hamburg red light district, and was taken between 1967 and 1970 by Anders Petersen, along with lots more, all showcasing the drunks, hustlers and prostitutes that used to frequent it.

That's what the Colburn Lodge in Catterick used to be like (Ah....happy days).

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comics - great but expensive - check out this first superman

The first Superman comic (Action comics no 1) has been sold for 1.4 million pounds and is believed to have belonged to Nicholas Cage. He bought it in 1997 for $150,000. If l had possessed that kind of money in 1997, l would also have bought it and sold it on, and l would now be a millionaire, instead of a poor hippie with a comic collection probably not worth a hill of beans.

Bastard!

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sydney from the usa office - 2 be simple

I actually don't mind this song, and it kind of reminds me of Dead Or Alive's - You Spin Me Round (but obviously not as good).

Strange to see Sydney (Leslie David Baker) from the Office (USA) starring in it, as l would never have envisaged him releasing a single.

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batman re-enacts christmas in sunny catterick

As it's the first of December, l thought l would post this, as it is a re-enactment of the way l respond to the FPO when she dares to quiz me about Christmas (me being a poor orphan boy and all of that).

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the public sector strikes and growing up

The Public Sector strikes today are likely to be the largest for a generation, according to the BBC news website. I'm all for a bit of action, in fact if anything, l would prefer more action (and certainly more of the direct kind). On the other hand, l do think the slogan above is pretty true, as (for most people), once they get older, any political fires that may have been burning in their undernourished bellies when they were young/unemployed/a student/low paid tend to go out when wealth/home ownership/family responsibilities (and general selfishness) come into the picture.

Viva la Revolution brothers and sisters!!

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flagg bros - clothing for the brothers

You have to be a special kind of dude to carry these clothes off.

Would suit Shaft (who they say is a mean motherSHUT YOUR MOUTH).

Rise on!

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outrageously large 3d painting at canary wharf

Just brilliant!

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colonel sanders and alice cooper

These are the sort of people l should have been going out drinking with years ago, instead of all the 'ordinary' ( in the loosest possible sense) people l know. Colonel (Harland to his friends) Sanders created the finest foodstuff known to man, and Alice (Vincent to his friends) Cooper was still knocking out great records and drinking as though the well was about to dry up*. Unlimited KFC, booze and rock music (and all the trappings that go along with that). What's not to like? (apart from my guaranteed early death, and that would have been well worth it).

*That maybe makes no sense, as you would probably limit your drinking if the well was drying up, hoping more water would appear from somewhere. Nevermind.

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