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Sunday 31st August
It's amazing what you can find when dragging up the past. Poor old Arnold Schwarzenegger obviously forgot about some of the things he'd said in his overtly-muscular youth or else didn't think that anyone would go to the bother of dragging out old copies of the defunct 'adult' magazine that he told his stories of group-sex and soft drugs to, in order to tarnish his current political campaign. A slightly more successful time was had by Elton John when he rummaged around and found an old tune that nobody liked, had it re-vamped by some trendy producers and starred in a commercial for football. Et voila! A number one single on his hands. Does that say something about the song, or just the gullibility of the record buying public? Don't get me wrong, I like the song... just not enough to buy it.
Posted on August 31, 2003 | Comments (4)
Friday 29th August
Photo time! I've uploaded my pics of the Europride parade here but they didn't come out very well as I'm a short-arse without a monster zoom SLR, so you may want to look at some better ones that Topper took which are here. And in film news... if you're in the area, the aforementioned entry into the National 48 Hour Film Challenge will be screened between 1 and 2pm at the AMC in Manchester this Saturday. Twentyeight 80 productions, we salute you.
Posted on August 29, 2003 | Comments (1)
Wednesday 27th August
The Radio Times has unveiled a list of the top 40 TV shows of all time and, unsurprisingly, I'm not impressed. I don't know who voted for this as The Guardian doesn't mention it, and I'm not buying a copy of the RT just to find out, but they don't have much taste. It was inevitable that there would be a lot of shows in the list that I've never seen because, contrary to the urban myths, I wasn't around when TV was invented, but I object to some of the placings of the programmes I have seen. Much as I love The League of Gentlemen, why is it above Monty Python's Flying Circus? I'm Alan Partridge better than The Morecombe and Wise Show? And The Simpsons are only at number 33! What is that all about? The only placing I don't have an issue with is Blackadder Goes Forth, which was a truly great show, so I've come up with a quick TV top ten of my own to compensate for the Radio Times' shortcomings: The Simpsons, Spaced, Angel, This Life, South Park, Six Feet Under, The Young Ones, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Cracker, Red Dwarf. I have a funny feeling that I've missed a whole bunch of good stuff out of that though...
Posted on August 27, 2003 | Comments (14)
Monday 25th August
Rummaged around Guardian Unlimited today and was amazed to discover that "the simple, inescapable fact is that lap dancing clubs are demeaning to women". Perhaps I'm a bit naive, but I don't understand this at all. Just to make sure I wasn't missing something, I checked out dict.org for a definition of the word and discovered the following: demeaning adj : causing awareness of your shortcomings. Surely lapdancing clubs are demeaning to men, in that case. After all, it's the men who are so desperate to see sexy women that they'll pay for it. If a woman chooses to dance wearing very little clothing for whatever reason (the money, or maybe even because she likes it), then surely it's up to her? I don't think anyone has the right to say that anyone else's profession is an embarrassment to their sex. Men would lapdance too if they'd get paid as much, but who wants to see some oily bloke in a thong gyrating about six inches from your face? You never know, but I doubt there's as much of a market for it.
Posted on August 25, 2003 | Comments (6)
Saturday 23rd August
Went to watch the Europride parade through town this afternoon. Totally failed to recognise Ian McKellen because he was looking the other way as his car went past but did manage to get plenty of photos of pretty much everything else, including more drag queens and semi-naked men than you can shake a big fat rainbow-coloured stick at. However, the sight of a small army of street sweepers scuttling around to clear up confetti in the traffic-free streets afterwards was actually the strangest of the day. I hate to admit it, but the idea of Manchester city centre without cars is more appealing now I've had a taster. Photographs of the silliness will be online in due course but, for the meantime, you'll have to make do with my half-arsed new colour scheme. Thanks to Topper for his assistance with the tricky bits.
Posted on August 23, 2003 | Comments (8)
Friday 22nd August
Computer trouble is keeping me from completing some of the tasks I currently have in hand, but it should all be sorted out by the end of this weekend. In the meantime, I've been looking for something interesting in the news and found that the British have trouble with sex (OK, so the headlines caught my eye). Due to our lovely habits of keeping emotions bottled up and refusing to talk about 'bedroom antics', we Brits are experiencing all sorts of problems. Or maybe we're just like everyone else but have only now discovered it.
Posted on August 22, 2003 | Comments (0)
Tuesday 19th August
Now that the dust has settled and I can get back to the computer, it's time for another update. Over the last four days, our house has been a kind of 'command central' for a team producing an entry into the National 48 Hour Film Challenge. Friday evening was when the actors auditioned, Saturday and Sunday was for the main bulk of the challenge (planing, scripting, filming, music, editing, credits), and all that was left on Monday was to hand in the tape and spend the last of the budget on drinks at the pub. The resulting five minute film was pretty impressive for a first effort and a good time was had by all (including me who just got out of the way for most of it!), even if they didn't get much sleep at all. We have our fingers crossed for the judging but I think the team feels happy enough with their entry to not be bothered with prizes. Ideas being mooted for the second film include a 3D musical in Esperanto. I'll keep you posted.
Having a quick browse through some news sites before leaving for work, I spotted another BBCi story on the north-south economic divide. Seems like there is a mini south-east developing in Cheshire but, even with their hundreds of satellite tv channels, these rich people still have nothing decent to watch because Noel Edmonds spent years lowering the standards. Looks like Paul Gascoigne is keen on lowering some standards himself too. At least it's better than stories about the weather.
Posted on August 19, 2003 | Comments (5)
Friday 15th August
In lieu of my imminent site re-design, I have completed another article for you which can be found here. Another will be on the August update of the f-word and I have some more brewing, as it were. Until I get a bit more inspiration for further updates, why not check out some of the sites on my blogroll. All top quality sites, vetted by myself... there must be something to interest you.
Posted on August 15, 2003 | Comments (5)
Thursday 14th August
Take these words and rearrange them into a headline for a really original piece of journalism: getting A-Levels easier are. There are a few additions to this age old non-story with the new claims that students are now opting for 'softer' subjects, but it's mostly still the same tired arguments being rolled out to make a bunch of 18-year-olds feel bad and fill column inches while nothing else is going on. When does the real news start up again? Is there a set date for it? I really do hope it's soon.
Posted on August 14, 2003 | Comments (3)
Tuesday 12th August
I don't usually go in for meme blogging but this one seemed like fun.
1. Would you rather be smothered in jam and stuck in an ant hill or weighed down in pond and sucked dry by leeches?
Smothered in jam and stuck in an ant hill, definitely. The idea of being weighed down under water scares the hell out of me. I've never been particularly scared of water but am not what you'd call a 'water baby' either. Floating on water = brilliant. Under water = not so good.
2. In what ways do you think you are different now from how you were five years ago?
I think I've changed a lot since 1998. I'm financially more independent with a better paid job, a car that's mine and a mortgage (as opposed to earning 9k, living with my parents and paying 200 quid a month in car payments). That, however, is nothing next to the emotional changes that I've gone through, mostly as a result of a wonderful four and a half year relationship. I'm still stubborn but far more willing to compromise; know when to reveal information about myself and when to keep quiet; am a better listener than before; and am more open to different points of view. Additionally, I have recently developed a distinct loathing for the sort of gossip and fashion magazines I was hooked on five years ago. I think it's a new improved me, but some may say otherwise!
3. Do you believe in Karma?
No. I don't believe in God, either. I'm not good with things that can't be proven to exist.
4. What's the most irritating thing someone could say to you?
"...but, I read in the Daily Mail that..."
5. If you're not allowed to use it for food, rent, electricity or anything sensible like that, on what would you spend your last fiver?
Either a cinema ticket to see Return of the King or, if I couldn't save it until December, a copy of Kate Adie's Autobiography.
(Questions asked by Green Fairy.)
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Posted on August 12, 2003 | Comments (13)
Monday 11th August
Whilst sifting through a lot of dull news stories today, I came across this laughable tale - AOL wants its parent company, AOL Time Warner, to ditch the first part of its name as it is creating a negative image with their customers. So the stories of their software being impossible to remove from your pc once you've installed it have nothing to do with it? Or the move to faster services, as the BBC reports? One of the reasons I wouldn't go near AOL is their terrible UK advertising campaigns. Although we don't have to suffer Connie any longer, it still amazes me that they try to sell the internet as their idea. Where can you get all the music, movie trailers, and information you could ever want? Err, on the interwebnet. At least they had the decency to admit in a recent television advert that most people use their free CDs as drinks coasters.
In other news... my week got off to a fantastic start with a drive to work in a thunderstorm accompanied by Smells Like Teen Spirit on the radio. Hurrah for the British weather and Colin & Edith. If only Radio One would see sense and not let the grating Sara Cox back to work after her holiday.
Posted on August 11, 2003 | Comments (5)
Sunday 10th August
Temperatures hit 100.6F in the UK today (or 37.9C in proper terms), so the press might finally stop talking about it now. Gave the BBC a chance to use a photo of a wet girl in a bikini too so I bet the Sun/Mirror/Star will have a field day tomorrow. Like I care. The Brits always keep yapping on about the weather so I'm going to be a bit different and... well, talk about telly (again). It's nearly time for the last episode in season two of 24 so I'm off to get myself a drink and claim some sofa space. This had better be good.
Posted on August 10, 2003 | Comments (4)
Friday 8th August
After the success of the first series, five is now looking for more people to enter another round of Britain's Worst Driver. That's right, are you a shite driver who gets on everyone else's tits with your total inability to perform even the most simple of manoeuvres without causing every motorist within a 1 mile radius to take evasive action? Are you oblivious to everyone else using the UK's roads? If so, then you could win a car! Yes, they're giving away prizes to someone who's the worst at something - it's like awarding a recording contract to the most out of tune singer at the Pop Idol auditions. Who watches this dirge? We see enough atrocious driving on the roads without having to put up with it on the telly as well. And I thought Dinner Party Inspectors was a bad concept.
Posted on August 08, 2003 | Comments (2)
Wednesday 6th August
I know that television programmes that portray jobs are not always entirely accurate, but someone please tell me that being a teacher in 2003 is nothing like the Channel 4 series, Teachers. I understand that artistic licence is needed to make the story lines interesting and the characters exciting, but part of me still wonders whether there are actually schools out there where teachers discuss fancying another member of staff in front of the kids. Perhaps I should start watching the other show on Four where 16-year-olds are subjected to a 1950s style education instead. Before you say it, however, I'm not saying that kids these days have it easy, I just realise now that I'm out of touch with today's 'yoof' and therefore must be old. Hurry up and bring back Spaced! That show made feeling old before your time seem cool.
Posted on August 06, 2003 | Comments (5)
Sunday 3rd August
Why are we obsessed with hoarding things? Not everyone does it, but it's certainly not just me who puts things to one side rather than getting rid of them. Some things that we keep are indeed like memories and should be kept to look back on every now and again, but others are simply junk items that continue to clutter up our homes. Even a clear-out for me involves days of reminiscing followed by the placing of items in one of three piles - must keep, must throw out, and might come in useful one day - when all I really need is two. Some household items are great to keep because, as long as you have somewhere to store them, they really might come in useful to someone someday, but what I keep is junk. Some of it is kept because it was a present from someone who doesn't know my taste as well as they thought and so I'm sparing feelings, but most of it really could find a better home.
Car boot sales are a very British way of getting rid of stuff you no longer want or need. I did quite well at one a few years back, making £75 from old CDs and videos, but you can't do them on your own or the vultures who swoop right at the start will take advantage of you. These days, however, there is no need to fill your car and then sit in a field for the best part of a day selling your junk only to spend the cash on somebody else's. The same thing now happens online, and eBay is cashing in... it's about time I cleared out my cupboards.
Posted on August 03, 2003 | Comments (7)