Hello Just checking in again to say hey to three actual people who've hit the site today at time of writing. I'm still here still noodling away at the background (I'm actually improving my sources list tonight). With a site this frequently updated I was bound to need a slow down eventually so call this a recess -- a busman's holiday. Back soon...
Film CHUD reports that the third Matrix film now has a title ... it gives the plot away somewhat ...
Animation Disney may be a monolith production company but there are some hugely talented artists working for it as this hugely entertaining interview with the makers of Atlantis (from '24framespersecond') proves. They also know their limitations when it comes to actors like James Garner: "We would give him a line to read. Not only would he not give us the same line reading twice, but he would not give us the same line twice. Just let him go. We learned early on that it doesn’t really help to write for him. Just write generally where you want him to go and keep the mic on (pretending to read the script) Hmm, funny line about dynamite and paper clip. (imitating Novello) OK, I can do that."
Commuter Life With my job I'm beginning to the lose the ability to rationally express my thoughts. As usual my train was delayed tonight so I didn't reach Liverpool until a quarter past seven. Having missed all the buses there might be for half an hour, I resolved to get a taxi. Trying to cheapen the fair, I went up to two girl students and asked them where they were going.
'Smithdown Road.'
'Oh I'm going to Ullet Road.' I smiled.
They look at me trying to grasp the importance of this information. I look at them realising that I for some reason look like the strangest man alive. Then it dawns on me...
'I wanted to know if you'd like to share a cab...' I said, clicking my fingers for effect.
Oh how we laughed.
Then they said no, they had bus passes....
'Smithdown Road.'
'Oh I'm going to Ullet Road.' I smiled.
They look at me trying to grasp the importance of this information. I look at them realising that I for some reason look like the strangest man alive. Then it dawns on me...
'I wanted to know if you'd like to share a cab...' I said, clicking my fingers for effect.
Oh how we laughed.
Then they said no, they had bus passes....
Film(ish) The Brains Trust reports that George 'multi-chin' Lucas next marketing strategy will be a trilogy set at the same time as A New Hope etc.
Museums Not at all surprised to read that regional museums are in crisis. Such places are run by visitor figures -- more visitors, greater revenues -- but many are so cash strapped that they can't afford advertising leading to a nasty Catch 22 situation. I've always thought that a way to work would be to think of themselves as a single body -- in many ways the Museums Association is too loose an organisation.
It People Tara Palmer-Topkinson visits her astrologer. Disturbing in many ways: "The last few years have been traumatic for Tara as Pluto brought her face to face with her own demons. “It’s been dreadful”, she admits,“ just horrible”. Facing her own emotional pain has been a necessary step, and she’s not going back there."
TV The oldest tabloid story ever. Yes, we know that Rainbow recorded a six minute innuendo filled burlesque. Where the hell have you been?
Music For some reason, I'm deeply impressed that any band would put themselves out into the mainstream market with a name like Incubus. Google suggests this is a well established band, so all of the flyposters all over Manchester must be their attempt to establish themselves in the UK. Good luck lads. You can't ever do as badly as Hootie and the Blowfish, who never really took hold here, despite heavy play on Danny Baker's radio shows (or possibly because of)...
Architecture A Momentary Vignette visits Villa Savoye, a living building in Paris. Domestic building design is a untapped area.
Blog! Sunday Hero Melissa has had one of the best ideas I've ever heard -- read it yourself, it involves dietry staples and little else. With a simple, effective design, this actually feels like the blog Alanis Morissette would write given half the chance, her words directed at the world in general and generally someone specific: "I don't like you. I'm sorry. That's just the way it is."
Blog! Mindy's 5ilver always makes me smile just for being so up-beat and for her lovely pink design. Her article yesterday about visitors to her site makes me wonder about you lot. I watch my hit rates and I see that the site was visited over three hundred times this week. Who the hell are all you people? Now that I've got BlogBack installed you've the perfect opportunity to let me know... go on ... click that comment tag ...
News Slightly worried (slightly!?!) by this piece by Lawrence Freeman from The Independent. He's already declared that this is The Third World War (which I know I implied a few days ago but still): "In one critical respect the basis for the Third World War as traditionally conceived has not gone away. The major powers all possess substantial nuclear arsenals, and if events got out of control and just a fraction of the available weaponry was unleashed, the ultimate catastrophe could still be upon us."