president obama on the rosa parks bus

President Barack Obama visited the Henry Ford museum the other day and sat on the bus that Rosa Parks made famous when she refused to give up her seat, which was a defining moment in the fight for civil rights. Who would have imagined at that time that a black man could ever become the president of the United States,  and, even though he would have been pandering to the press when he got on the bus, l am sure he would have been truthful when he said that he took time to 'Ponder the courage and tenacity that is part of our very recent history'.
I am however, surprised he did not sit on the same seat as Rosa, and maybe he had the image above in his mind, from when she was on a bus at a later date, but l would have thought sitting in the original seat would have been more significant and poignant. Perhaps he was badly advised, in which case, l should be leading his advice team. Another wasted opportunity (for both of us).

toodle pip

david jon kassan's realistic wall paintings

David Jon Kassan does super realistic wall paintings and they look great. That's about it really - his web page is here.
Damn! l wish l was good at art.
I blame God.

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the broken (2008) - sean ellis

A horror movie where doppelgängers come out of a broken mirror and try to kill off the original people, The Broken wasn't scary or interesting enough for me, and the story seemed too stylised and could have done with some more gore (or maybe that was just me).
It featured the father from 'Six Feet Under' (Richard Jenkins), and had Lena Headey as Gina McVey (a 'beautiful' radiologist), who tries to put the missing pieces of her life together after a car crash (what a metaphor) and work out what has been happening to herself and her family (but with a twist at the end).
Not that impressed really.

toodle pip

bram stoker stamps

There are a couple of stamps that have been issued in Ireland to commemorate Bram Stoker (who was born to the north of Dublin). They certainly look a bit different, and I think the one above is excellent.
Available here.

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urethroplasty - ouch!

I am rather glad that, until yesterday, l had never given urethroplasty a second thought. That was until somebody mentioned having scars from an operation, and l foolishly looked it up to find out more.
I will now try to remove the images from my head, but seeing as how l had to suffer them, l thought others can as well.
It certainly looks as though it might smart.

toodle pip

joe cocker - mad dogs and englishmen film (1971)

I had been planning to watch Joe Cocker's tour film 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen' for years, but it is one of the many things l had never got around to doing.
Until Now!
l was alerted to the fact that somebody had put the entire film up on You Tube, so l have just sat through it, and let me tell you brothers and sisters, it was not a disappointment, as it had just the sort of footage l was expecting.
If you are a fan of old rock music, this film is right on the button, even if it does drag in the odd places. There's Joe, being his manic best on stage, and a quiet chap off it, Leon Russell leading the band and being his laid back, unfazed and cool self, the southern gentleman that is Bobby Keys on sax, and too many people (and a dog) on stage  to take count. The music has (as Led Zeppelin would say) a 'Tight but loose' feel, and is like old time revivalist church music in many places. There are interviews with groupies (the butter queen!), meetings with the locals, and plenty of shots of the travelling and hotels.
Spot on!, but it would have sounded a lot better in a movie theatre (or live).
The whole film is available here.
Fill your boots.


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unexpected belgium drama

Some excellent work by those crazy Belgiums, and that's not something you hear every day.

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freaky little gifs

I wish l could remember where l got these from, as they are great. I have a few more, but will try and find out who did them before posting others.


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a really famous football pitch

This is one of the most famous and well known (but probably not recognised) football pitches in the UK.
Any ideas??

OK, stop crying.
It's the pitch from The Edward Sheerien School, and was featured in Kes ("I'll be Bobby Charlton" etc).
One of the greatest films (and books) of all time.

toodle pip

mcdonalds food from around the world

Bubur ayam , Malaysia

 McCurry pan, India

 McRice burger, Singapore

Nurnburger, Germany

 Pizza McPuff, Japan and the Far East

Samurai Pork Burger, Thailand

Sausage, egg and twisty pasta, Hong Kong

Spam and eggs, Hawaii

I am not a big fan of McDonalds, as l am not that keen on burgers, but at least you can get a variety of stuff if you go to some of their outlets around the world.
I'd still rather have a KFC although the Nurnburger looks pretty heart threatening.

toodle pip

the church up a tree in tennessee

                           

This is a Church Treehouse in Crossville, Tennessee that was built by the (I assume self-proclaimed) Reverend Horace Burgess (above).
Now l don't want to wish ill upon him and his future congregation, nor tempt fate, but wouldn't it be ironic if, after all his hard work and devotion to the cause, it was struck by lightning and burnt down.

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the ox bw incident (1943) - william a wellman

The Ox Bow Incident stars Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan (as Gil Carter and Art Croft) and sees then getting dragged along to assist in some rough justice and a lynching by an angry mob from Bridger's Wells, where they had been drinking. The three men about to be lynched plead there innocence, but have a hard time convincing the mob.
It's about justice, racism, giving a man a fair trial, family expectations, bravado, the power of a mob, and who will stand against then and do the right thing, especially if it means putting themselves in danger.
It doesn't end well.
It was good to see Harry Morgan in a different role, as l was used to seeing him in M*A*S*H from when l were but a nipper, and l love watching Henry Fonda when he plays cowboys (he has such expressive and solemn eyes).
Another classic.

toodle pip

another childhood (like) photo

Ah, what's not to like about this photo? The crazy ladies are one thing, but the naked old timer in wellies sitting on the fire just takes it to another level.
Another reminder of my childhood.

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some recent weather photos

Ah....the beauty of nature and all it's heavenly glories.
Some shots from when l have been out and about, and at one with the environment, absorbing the cosmic energy like a jedi master.

OK - I admit it (and not for the first time) - l'm a sad bastard.

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