talking about those bloody spiders...

I have just been reading about how scientists think they have managed to make silk worms produce a spider-like (and strength) silk (spider-man silk!). This led onto an old link (from April) which featured an article and photograph of the largest spider fossil found so far. All well and good (sort of). I then foolishly checked out it's relatives still living today, and discovered the pictures below. No wonder l am not in a hurry to go to Australia or Thailand, as that is where these bloody things are hiding out, waiting for me to make an appearance.

toodle pip

trees full of spider webs

I've had this picture up before, but l came across it again the other day and it is certainly worth repeating. It's from after the floods in Pakistan, when the spiders in the area decided to take refuge in the trees.Bastards!!!!!
Thank the great God Keith l don't live there.

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a pufferfish sunbathing

After the post about an Octopus sunbathing, here is a similar picture, this time featuring a pufferfish off  the Island of Maui. My advice? - don't ever get into the sea. It's well dodgy.

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ac/dc promo shots and their image

AC/DC were a great band back in the day, and in my mind, no better than when they still had Bon Scott as the singer. Obviously he died, and I do like the 'Back in Black' album with Brian Johnson which followed, but l lost interest in their subsequent releases pretty shortly after that. Anyway, l digress. The reason for the post is I bet Angus Young must be a bit tired of dressing as a schoolboy at whatever ripe old age he is now, but the rest of the band must be glad they achieved a better look and image than what they first started out with, as the promotional photographs above can testify to. Fancy being lumbered with that look. At least Brian Johnson can still wear his flat cap if he ever goes out in his native Newcastle.

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barneys version (2010) - richard lewis

I had no preconceptions about Barney's Version before l watched it, as l had heard nothing about it apart from the fact it was about a TV producer looking back on his life. I did however, really enjoy it, as it just managed to stay on the right side of dark comedy without trying to be too funny, or too sentimental. Paul Giamatti plays the eponymous Barney, and it does indeed have him reflecting on his past marriages and life. He also leaves his wedding reception to chase a romantic dream, but then manages to blow it when he has achieved his goal. There is also a missing friend and an unsolved murder case, and a descent into old age and forgetfulness (alzheimers?). Great stuff.

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new year resolutions from woody guthrie

I'm not a person who makes New Year resolutions, so there is nothing forthcoming from me in that department. However, to compensate, here are some resolutions from Woody Guthrie that he made in 1942. Some of them l should maybe follow myself (take bath, clean teeth, drink less, wear clean clothes etc), but the way l look at it is  'Would Keith do it?'.
I think l may have my answer.

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an empty london at christmas

These were all taken by Ian Mansfield on Christmas day (in the morning) when the streets of London were deserted. More photos from the morning shoot can be found here. It looks pretty spooky and it would be good to see London like that, but there is no way l would be up and about in the early hours of Christmas day.

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more cats on lp covers

More excellence!

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cats on lp covers

Excellent!

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how to draw an owl and trouble with passwords

I've been having some trouble recently with my passwords and access to my blog and my Hotmail account. I'm still having trouble with the Hotmail one, and l am seriously thinking of just starting afresh with that, but at least the blog seems OK (at present), hence l am back to posting again (a nation rejoices!).
More crap coming soon, but in the meantime, some outstanding advice for the likes of me, who loves art but can't draw for toffee.

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a trippy merry christmas

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the lost bowie totp film of jean genie

This is the film of David Bowie performing The Jean Genie live on Top Of The Pops in 1973, which had not been seen since then and was considered lost, but was thankfully unearthed by John Henshall (one of the cameramen). A great performance and superb quality. Magic stuff indeed, and l hope the good Mr Henshall has a load more performances stashed away that will also be given a viewing in the near future.

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nowhere boy (2009 ) - sam taylor-wood

Focusing on John Lennon's teenage years and the tug of love between his prim and proper Aunt Mimi, and Julia, his fun-loving mother, up to the trip first to Hamburg, Nowhere Boy was a let down to me. I thought it was too obvious in places, presented a version of Liverpool that was a lot tidier and cleaner  than it is/was, and his mother was just waaaaay to wacky and joyful, or depressed. The first meetings with Paul and George, although based on facts, did not ring true with the acting, and the crazy way it was portrayed when they were riding the buses, or swapping the record, also seemed unbelievable, even though those kind of things happened. Most of it just seemed false, which is a hard thing to aim at a film based on well known facts.

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the arc rouges gallery

While out and about recently, l was persuaded to go down to the Arc in Colburn as they were showing some football game or other I wasn't that interested in. Now don't get me wrong, l enjoy a drink as much as the next man. I also frequent the Arc now and again. But just take a gander at the collection of rogues they have in the (out of focus) picture above, which is on the bar. What a scary sight first thing in the morning.

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