mean girls (2004) - mark waters

Lindsay Lohan stars as the new kid, but with a twist! - she's been home schooled and lived in Africa, so she has no experience of fitting in at school before (pity she never appeared at my school, as l'd have shown her what to do - phnaar).
Because this screenplay was by Tina Fey, l thought l would give it a go, despite my reservations about it being just another in a long line of American high school 'comedies' where someone tries to fit in, gets into 'capers', falls in love, and it all ends up fine in the end, after interaction with the jocks, the cool kids and the geeks.
I admit was wrong, as Mean Girls has 'a message' for the kids. Hey brothers and sisters, stop picking on each other (especially you girls), and try to be nicer, instead of just being judgemental and mean (hence the title).
Apart from that, it was just as l expected - crap.
Why do l punish myself watching this kind of rubbish? I'm usually pretty pessimistic about the outcome beforehand, my instincts are usually correct, and it's not like l'm getting any younger.
I've forgotten who's quote it was, (and l certainly can't be bothered looking it up), but it's 'the definition of a madman is someone who repeats the same process, but expects the results to be different' (or something like that).
I guess that's me - l am just waaaaaaaaaaay to stupid (or just a madman).

toodle pip

metamaus - art spiegelman

One of my Christmas presents that l have just got around to reading (Cheers Robbo!), Metamaus is superb, and had a lot more information than l could ever have imagined.
It's about Art Spiegelman, and his earlier creation, 'Maus', featuring interviews, transcripts, early sketches and even a DVD with 'Maus' plus extra information.
I was enlightened about other comic artists and Art's ideas behind his work, and came away from the book wanting to know (and buy) more, which is always a good thing.
Sets an outrageously high standard for any other projects of this kind, and l'll certainly read it again in the future.

toodle pip

the battle of wounded knee (1890) and the busby babes

White Lance, Joseph Horn Cloud, and Dewey Beard (Iron Tail) all survived (and are brothers)

Whenever l think about the wild west and the various battles with the Indians, l always imagine then fighting when it is warm. Obviously this is not correct, as the photographs above, taken after The Battle / Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 can testify. They had it hard in those days, especially the Indians, who were kicked off their land, and then put into reservations. I know they were no angels, but wouldn't you defend your land against a foreign invader, exploiter, and double crossing land grabber?
There was a mix up with some ghost dancing at Wounded Knee, and the U.S 7th Cavalry massacred a load of mainly unarmed Lakota. It is also thought that amongst the injuries the cavarly suffered, a lot was by 'friendly fire'.
There's a great book called 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' (by Dee Brown) that deals with all of this stuff, and it is highly recommended if you have even the slightest interest in what atrocities occurred.
Another thing is...Dewey Beard (AKA Iron Tail) lived until 1955. I will say that again - 1955. When The Busby Babes were starting to rule, and not long before l was born.
Even though l am an old git, that is just staggering.

toodle pip

it was 3 years ago today - edna's funeral

Time certainly is flying by. It was three years ago today that l was down in Walsall with the FPO and her family for the funeral of her grandmother on her mothers side, Edna (Collins).
It certainly wasn't a solemn occasion, and we had a good time down there, but it was made better by the fact Edna had not been scared of death, as she was very religious, and she looked forward to meeting up with her husband again (who was already dead).
I don't believe in the afterlife myself, but if it gave her comfort, and supported her during her illness, that's certainly fine by me.

toodle pip

julius shulman's photograph of the stahl's house (case study house #22)

This photograph is by Julius Shulman, and it is the home of the Stahl's, overlooking Sunset Boulevard from the Hollywood Hills, taken in 1960, and his most well known picture, known as Case Study House #22.
There is no way in Gods green earth that the FPO would ever live in a place like that, as she would be constantly cacking herself (no change there then), thinking it was going to collapse.
I must admit, l would be a bit dubious about it myself.

toodle pip

cherry tree lane (2010) - paul williams

This started off so well, but ultimately, Cherry Tree Lane is just waaaaay too stereotyped and predictable.
A couple are at home, obviously growing apart from each other and hardly talking, when some lads burst in looking for their son, who has 'grassed up' one of their cousins. They then wait for the son to return home so they can get their revenge.
All well and good.
However....other things come into play that reduce it to an absolute cliché.
Of course the boys from the hood talk about their rough backgrounds and  they sometimes show empathy with the victims. They invite round a couple of girls and a young lad (as you do in these circumstances), and they display their ignorance of anything cultural (while smoking the weed).
They also seem amazed that the TV has so many channels, and can't work out the remote.
One of them even goes to the local shop to get money out of the hostage man's account (£1,500!!!), but they don't bother seeing if the woman has any bank cards as well.
The mother is sexually assaulted by the leader, which the other one left in the house at the time, thinks 'is out of order',  and the father eventually escapes and takes some revenge.
l felt like taking some revenge on the stinking idiot rabbit after sitting through this.
Unbelievable tosh.

toodle pip

william blake negro hanging picture

I have read a few slave diaries, seen documentaries etc and thought l knew a bit about what happened to them, but until l saw this picture by William Blake, l didn't realise that they would sometimes be hung from a gallows by the waist and then left.
They certainly had a tough time in those days, poor sods.

toodle pip

ali and elvis get ready to rumble

I know that Elvis Presley did karate, and fancied himself a lot, but if this encounter had ever happened seriously in real life, l know who my money would have been on, even if Muhammad Ali appears to be wearing a spangled dressing gown.
Two pretty boys at their peak (arguably).

toodle pip

louis wain and his cats

The brains a funny old thing.
I have been reading about (and looking at pictures by) Louis Wain, a prolific artist from Clerkenwell, who developed a fondness for cats when his wife fell ill (and later died). He then slowly deteriorated mentally after his mother died, until he was placed into a Mental Hospital in Tooting in 1924 by his sisters.
From there, he was eventually moved to a hospital in Napsbury, thanks to the intervention of prominent figures of the time.
There are arguments about whether he had Schizophrenia or Asperger syndrome, but what is not disputed, is how his cat illustrations became pretty wild and colourful.
They certainly appeal to me (and he taught Peter, his cat, to wear spectacles).
Brilliant.

toodle pip

35 shots of rum / 35 rhums (2008) - claire denis

A strange one this. 35 Shots of Rum mainly deals with the story of  Lionel and Josephine, a father and daughter, and the people they share an apartment block with. It does not tell a straight story, and seems to dip in and out of episodes of their life, with plenty of close ups and lingering shots, so many viewers may find this a bit boring, as it's not exactly an edge of the seat roller coaster of a film.
However, l enjoyed it, and it's the real life way the action (or lack of it) is portrayed that appealed to me.
It's about loneliness, moving on, and dealing with life in it's everyday (and sometimes boring) form.
A work colleague of Lionels retires, but is lost and bored. Two suitors are after Josephine, and Lionel realises he has to let her move on with her life. They all go to a concert but the car breaks down and they don't make it (so hit the pub instead). There is a death and a marriage, and at the marriage (of his daughter), Lionel has the 35 shots of rum, as it is a special occasion. That's about it really, but that is fine by me.
Now where did l put that rum.....

toodle pip

chelsea 3 manchester united 3

Football - bloody hell!
We were going to go through to Middlesbrough today so l could watch the Chelsea v Manchester United game with Robbo (relaxing man to man with an ale or two) while the FPO went to the hospital with Kerry to see little Ciarun. Unfortunately, because of the snow, tiredness etc we stayed in sunny Catterick and l watched the game at home.
After about 55 minutes l nearly gave up and got into the bath to sulk, but l am so glad l didn't.
Another magnificent comeback (rare nowadays) by the glorious reds, from 3-0 down to 3-3, plus a world class save from De Gea at the end to boost his confidence. Torres missed a good chance again, and everything is fine with the world once more. Although it is two points dropped on City, the comeback and belief that will install in the team is more important.
Footie and being off work - marvellous!!

toodle pip

think! before it's too late - edward de bono

One of Edward De Bono's recent books, although, like the others, it re-works a lot of the same ideas, and he spends a lot of the book self publicising himself and his achievements with various organisations that use his methods. I must admit, l was glad when l had finally come to the end of it.
If you want to find out about the GG3 (Greek gang of three), using PO (provocative operation), The Six Hat techniques (black is judgemental etc), Opreacy (not literacy or numeracy, but getting things done), plus more, 'Think! Before It's Too Late'  is the book for you, as they are all within.
"You can analyse the past, but you have to design the future". Yawn.
He's obviously a clever guy, and does try to think of new ways to do things, but a lot of the book was just boring and repetitive, with plenty of mentions of other books by him that you can also buy.
Good luck to him if he is making a fortune out of this stuff, but he certainly shouldn't be treated as some kind of all knowing guru and just slavishly followed, as some people do.
Then again, what do l know? l'm just a poor uneducated scumbag.

toodle pip 

birdsong - bbc series - philip martin

Birdsong stars Eddie Redmayne as Steven, the posh Englishman who falls in love with Isabelle (Clemence Poesy - a French woman) before the First World War, but is heartbroken when she suddenly leaves him.
He then has to deal with the troops under his command, (including the tunnellers, known as 'sewer rats').  Meanwhile, he also overcomes his fear of the tunnels, becomes empathetic with his men, and gazes into the distance a lot, looking solemn, whether thinking about his love, or considering the cruel damage that war inflicts.
I was recommended this by somebody at work who loves the book, but the constant sly glances, unspoken words, and lovey dovey shots with piano in the background infuriated me.  After a while, I started wishing he would cop off with Jack, the main tunneller (Joseph Mawle), just to liven it up a bit.
I would have preferred it to be one episode instead of two, cutting to the chase and missing out a load of the crap, which the makers will probably say are the parts that make it romantic, and give it depth and resonance.  Pah!
Some excellent shots of the tunnels and battlefields, but l just felt like slapping some life into the two lovebirds, as l couldn't relate to either of them, and they just got on my ample man boobs.

toodle pip

monster amphipod found off new zealand

 The monster one that has just been found

Normal sized ones

This outrageously huge Amphipod has been discovered about 7km underwater in the Kermadec Trench, just off  New Zealand.
Things like this make me dread the day when they eventually come across a huge spider in the rainforests.

toodle pip

darkness - boulet

The Darkness, is on the internet and doesn't  take too long to read, but is pretty good and easy to relate to (although also a bit girlie and romantic).  Written by Boulet between 24th and the 25th January,  during a 24 hour session, this is an English translation, and it can be found here.
Being off work - it's great!

toodle pip

hidden babies everywhere

I think l am starting to crack up, as now everybody seems to be having babies, l'm seeing them everywhere.
Damn my 20/20 vision and my watery old eyes! (or maybe it's the lack of sleep).

toodle pip