the stupid cat in the morning

The only trouble with being off work and then trying to have a lie in, is Jack, our stupid bleeding black and white cat.
She is about 21 years old, pretty death, blind and cronky nowadays. She also sleeps right outside of the bedroom door, and because she is used to the FPO getting up early every morning, she just meows constantly for her food to be put out at that time. It's no good shouting at her to shut up, as she can't hear us, so it's a matter of wearing earplugs or having to get up, trying to resist the temptation to boot her down the stairs for some peace and quiet (the cat, not the FPO). If there was any kind of God, she would have lost her voice, rather than her hearing. Bloody thing.

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jeff meadows painted shoes

Shoes that have been altered by artist Jeff Meadows. Simple yet very effective.

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more wounded knee pictures

After the earlier post about The Wounded Knee Massacre, here are some more photographs from then.
I've said it before, and l'll say it again - they had it hard in them days.

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outlaw blues (1977) - richard hefflon

The type of film that gives hippies a bad name. Outlaw Blues stars Peter Fonda as Bobby Ogden, a prisoner who has a song stolen by Garland Dupree, a visiting country star, who Ogden confronts when he gets bailed (from one of the softest looking prisons l have ever seen).
That is when the film starts getting even more stupid. An argument and scuffle ensure, whereupon Ogden accidentally shoots Dupree in the leg. All of this is captured by a video crew who just happen to be making a documentary at the time, and Ogden goes on the run. He ends up at the home of Tina, one of Dupree's backing singers (who had already taken a shine to him), and they persuade Dupree's manager to release Ogden's version of the song (to great acclaim and success), while Dupree is still in hospital (because Tina also turns out to be some kind of mastermind when it comes to publicity, promotion, and management).
Ogden bmanages to make plenty of public appearances at radio stations and record shops, and even sings before the start of an American football game, though the police are constantly trying to find and arrest him, becoming an anti-establishment hero in the process. There are plenty of chases, in cars, speedboats, and on motorbikes, but trust me on this, the film is crap. It's like a bad version of 'The Dukes OF Hazard', so try to imagine that if you can.
The 'Outlaw Blues' song itself is OK, but that's it.
I blame the drugs.

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still off work with a sprained ankle

The good news for me is that l am still off work, as the doctor has now signed me off for another week or so  due to my ankle still being bad (I'm now due back to work on the 25th Feb). Not so good news for the FPO, as she is now cursing everytime she leaves the house in the morning, leaving me asleep in the nice warm bed after being up till silly o'clock (no change there then). I can't even say she is cheerful when she comes in later, as l am usually sitting with my feet up watching a film or reading.
Also, regarding the technology problems, on the good news front, the washing machine and hoover are both fixed (although the washing machine cost £60), the kindle and web counter been sorted, and l have also repaired one of my ipods.
Results all round!!
Right - back to reading, music, TV and the internet.
Life is hard (for some).

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another wild night out with jack, dennis and michelle

This looks like it would have been a good night out, and I would bet anything that there had been a lot of alcohol and drugs taken.They certainly don't look sober, that's for sure.
There is also a good chance that this is Dennis Hopper and Michelle Philips wedding do, as their wedding only lasted for eight days, and l can't imagine Jack Nicholson was hanging about with them all the time.
Then again, maybe that was the reason they split up. I would normally think maybe the wedded couple would want some peace, quiet, and a relaxing time on their honeymoon, but l wouldn't think that was the case with these two lovebirds from the party planet.

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a matter of life and death (stairway to heaven) 1946 - michael powell and emeric pressburger

Although an oldie, this is one of my favourite films, with a decent story, superb effects (especially for when it was made), and a Frenchman (Marius Goring as conductor 71) who dresses wildly, is pretty camp and funny, and could easily have been my role model.
A Matter Of Life And Death was renamed Stairway To Heaven in the USA, even though it specificity does not state in the film that the celestial type place is Heaven, and in fact, was probably all just in the imagination of Peter Carter (David Niven) who is a pilot who jumped out of his damaged plane, but somehow miraculously survived, even though he bailed out minus a parachute.
Carter meets the female radio operator he had been talking to when he jumped, falls in love with her, and refuses to join the afterlife when he is visited  by apparitions encouraging him to do so (as his time on Earth should have been up). He then has to argue his case to stay for longer before a celestial court, while he is simultaneously under a life threatening operation.
A mixture of black and white for the imagination/afterlife parts and technicolor for the earthly bits is used, which is the opposite of 'The Wizard of Oz' (but l prefer this film).
There is plenty of upper class 'What Ho!' type language, arguments whether 'the rules' or love should be followed, and disagreements regarding the merits of England and The USA.
A spiffing tale

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shane (1953) - george stevens

Alan Ladd stars as Shane, the mysterious stranger who is trying to give up his gunfighting past.  He befriends a family and tries to settle down, but (of course), the family and Shane are hassled by the baddies (including an impressive Jack Palance). Shane is worshipped by the families young boy, and avoids any confrontation with the bad guys, until he eventually cracks, goes into town, and sorts them all out (naturally).
A classic.

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elton's copying our décor

Watching a documentary on Elton John the other day, and was surprised by this. By this, l mean the Damien Hirst painting in the background. After Homer stalking me, it also turns out that Elton is copying the décor in our humble abode, as we have the same in our living room. Rather sadly, his will be the real thing, and ours is definitely a print.

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it's official - homer is copying me

Watching 'The Simpsons' last night, Homer behaved like me. He appeared with a Vodka bottle and a jar of mayonaisse, mixed them together, drank them, and then fell over. I'm sure he must be stalking me.

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crappy bloody stinking snowy weather

After the rather excellent January we had, the snow that fell at the beginning of February is taking some time to shift. Although l have been indoors 99% of the time while l have been off work, it's still annoying. Then again, it doesn't take a lot to annoy me.
There had better not be any more snow tonight, as l am planning to go to the Boro tomorrow to watch the Manchester United v Liverpool game with Robbo (and maybe see the baby).

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mystery computer artwork for sale

Go on, try and guess who's artwork this is. It's a famous man, and some have sold out already.
You can sell anything when you are well known, as you are either 'talented in other fields', or any kind of crap produced by you becomes collectable, good or bad.

If you want to find out who it is - go here.

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bananas (1971) - woody allen

One of the classic early Woody Allen films, Bananas has Woody (as Fielding Mellish) falling for Nancy (Louise Lasser), losing her, and then going on holiday to San Marcos to get over it.
Unfortunately, he is set up to be killed as a patsy, but escapes and joins a gang of rebels, becoming their leader (as the old one let power go to his head).
He comes back to the USA, where he is recognised, put on trial, but still gets the girl in the end.
Some classic dialogue and physical comedy, but l preferred watching it years ago, when it still seemed fresh, not as it is now (dated).
Nowadays l prefer the 'Annie Hall' type films of his, but l would still rather watch this than most of what passes for American 'comedies' these days.
And yes, it did feature a young Sylvester Stallone bullying Woody on the subway.

toodle pip.

breakdowns - art spiegelman

I must have been drunk or hallucinating or something recently, as this book arrived in the post, and l can't remember ordering it. Hurrah! An excellent surprise for me, as l didn't have it already, and l love Art Spiegelman's cartoons.
Breakdowns covers his early years, the start of Maus, and his various issues (he ended up in a mental institution), using different comic styles.
There is also a fair bit about how comics work, but a lot of this was in Metamaus, so l had prior knowledge of that.
Still, an unexpected bonus, that l read in one sitting.
Let's hope there are some more on the way that l also don't know about.

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