People's heads on a beach

Photography


People's heads on a beach
Originally uploaded by feelinglistless.

Like the cliff photo, I wonder if the heads were a mistake during the really great framing of the island. That one of the heads is smiling into the camera doesn't really help me work it out.

Links for 2004-10-14 [del.icio.us]

Links for 2004-10-14 [del.icio.us]

  • Taoism @ Wikipedia
    There is an order to everything. For every good thing, there is a bad thing.
  • Carla Bruni
    Model turned singer with a restful voice
  • They call it puppet love
    Shakespeare's poem 'Venus and Adonis'. With marionettes. For some reason I'm thinking of 'Being John Malkovich' right now.
  • Google Desktop
    Bit of a blow for the Blinx people really. Doesn't this do much the same thing? That said it doesn't work with my Windows 98SE set up so I can't tell you.
  • Chris Rock to Host 77th Academy Awards
    Probably perfect casting. I'm assuming his entrance will be more dignified than in 'Dogma'.
  • Interview with Edgar Wright director of 'Spaced' and 'Shaun of the Dead'
    Includes and especially convincing explanation of another boxset of 'Spaced' some bitterness of the lack of repeats on Channel 4. Their answer is that they can't see the point. How can what was once a great channel now be run by such kretins?
  • how to get a knife through a metal detector
    A truly disturbing search request
  • Brain drain hits African athletics
    Examination of athletes representing countries elsewhere
  • Film of the Day: Good Bye Lenin! (2003)
    Amazingly funny and nostalgic.
  • 'It's the end but...'

    Life It's difficult to put today into coherent words but I'll try anyway. Two things happened which will change my life if not forever, but for the forseable future. The first was a change in my work hours. When I started my present job it was on a rota basis. So over a repeated seven weeks programme I've been working anywhere between an 8am-4pm shift or a 2pm-10pm shift with one weekend in there as well. At the beginning it was good to have the variety but after a while it became very tiring, because for some reason the concert I'd want to go to or the private view or the film would always seem to fall at a time when work commitments meant I simply couldn't go. Also my sleeping patterns were always in constant state of flux. I found out today that the rota is being scrapped and from Monday I'll be on fixed hours, like the song says I'll be working Nine 'til Five and to a degree I'll feel like I can get my life back. For the first time, routine sounds like magic. And I smiled broadly for three hours.

    Then I spoke to Fani. Fani is one of my best friends, who I've known for five years since I met her at a night school course, who's been one of the few constants through everything else which has happened. She's studied a BA and 2 MAs and now that her course is finishing she's been looking for work so that she can afford to stay in the UK. But apart a couple of weeks of voluntary teaching observation and the odd hour of tutoring here and there she hasn't been able to find anything. So when I spoke to her early to check about a night out we're having tomorrow she told me that she'd bought a one way ticket back to Greece and she'd be leaving on the 3rd November. I went to pieces, and frankly after she'd gone from the phone I cried. It's funny - I knew that she'd be going eventually, and the possibility has presented itself at the end of each of her different courses. And with our work and school schedules lately we haven't been seeing each other as much as we used to but its just going be a shock for her not to at least be there or the possibility of her returning. I know she's only going to be in Greece and if she goes through with her plan for applying for a PGCE and returning to the UK she'll be even closer so we can get together now and then, but it won't be the same -- these things never are. As usual I won't be saying goodbye really. But it's the end of an era.

    People in front of a cliff

    Photography


    People in front of a cliff
    Originally uploaded by feelinglistless.

    Reminds me of a cover illustration from an Enid Blyton novel. Was the photographer taking a picture of the cliff and the people happened to be there or was something else go on.

    Links for 2004-10-13 [del.icio.us]

    Links for 2004-10-13 [del.icio.us]

  • Do you DVD or dvd?
    Prompted by the Clerks X review on the main weblog. I have gone with the right one?
  • Raimi Super-Sizes Spidey 2.5
    A second extended version of Spider-Man 2 is appearing on DVD next year. It's good to know these things, saves anger and heartache. No really.
  • BBC Three and Four 'poor value'
    At what point can BBC Four stay true to its charter and spirit and get an audience? You say you want fewer arts programmes that "virtually no-one watches". Sounds like the kind of opinion someone who doesn't even watch BBC Four might have.
  • 'Boo Hoo: A Dot Com Story' by Ernst Malmsten, Erik Portanger and Charles Drazin
    Surprisingly relaxed and insightful confessional about the failure of a company which grew too big, too fast before the technology and market were ready for them. The book I read when I was volunteering at the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
  • I Wasn't Even Supposed To Be On This Network
    Clerks: The Animated Series (disclosure: an article written by me)
  • TV Clerks
    Synopsis of the tv pilot which Kevin Smith knew nothing about until one of his actor friends told him about it. Jeff 'Randal' Anderson auditioned for it. As Dante. And believe me, the wrongness doesn't end there.
  • Now, for Your PC: Mac OS X
    I can see why Apple would be concerned about the welfare of their hardware sales, but one lesson they could pick up from games consoles is that if your software is good enough you really can make your money that way. Why haven't they created their own?
  • The 45-minute claim was false
    So basically lots of people died and the BBC was weakened over a misundertanding. Classic.
  • "I will not apologise for removing Saddam Hussein. I will not apologise for the conflict. It was right then, is right now and is essential for the wider security of the region and the world."
    Pick and choose, pick and choose.
  • For your ears only
    In the ear headphones which actively remove all of the noise you hear but the music. At the reasonal price of $850.
  • Film of the Day: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
    About the only silent film which has created an emotional response in me. I laughed, I cried. Well before its time, and still relevant seventy-odd years later.
  • When Employers Google You, It Can Hurt Your Chances
    Admittedly hadn't thought of this. Although I've followed The Rules so although there isn't any widespread employer grumbling there is certainly enough confessional in here to present an unstable front. Oh well. Too late now ...
  • Nick Nolte's Diary
    "I had a strange dream last night. Sammy Shepard and a childhood friend and I were driving a U-haul across a desert...."
  • maggie gyllenhaal.net
    New film "Criminal" coming soon
  • 'Just an idea but ...'

    Ideas I've had an idea for a collaborative weblog. Just a simple thing set up at Blogspot, easy to post to and quite interesting. I don't want to say what it is here (ideas currency and all that) so anyone interested in joining should email rather than leave a comment. feelinglistless@btopenworld.com

    'I'm 37?'

    When DVD was launched in the UK and the only thing you could buy was Batman and Robin film fans scratched their head wondering what the point of ditching their VHS collection or 'upgrading' from laserdisc if all you got was a cd with a film on it. For some time afterwards discs would appear and time after time they would be empty of all the bells and whistles of their US counterparts. Although some of these so-called vanilla discs were due to laziness or hubris on the part of what were and oddly still are called home video companies, in some cases it was because in the production and selling of the movie a different deal was struck internationally for distribution which meant that for the extras to appear elsewhere they would have to be re-licensed from the original film company. Since most DVDs are created on a budget because expectations are usually fairly low it was easier to release a vanilla than give the film fan what they want. This has changed gradually in the past few years, especially because distribution contracts have been re-written to include a clause regarding secondary sales. But even then some films have fallen through the cracks and into another category. VHS only releases. Like Kevin Smith's Clerks.

    Although bought from Smith by Miramax in the US, they sold on the British distribution and video rights for the film to Artificial Eye who, along with Tartan were and still are the main supply of art house films in the UK. When the VHS arrived that fact didn't really matter much because all you were getting was the film. This deal seems to have been in perpetuity because when a DVD was released of the film the US in the mid-late nineties with commentary, deleted scenes and the usual extras, a comparable release failed to happen in the UK. There is little doubt that Miramax would have released the film already but they're stymieded by the original distribution agreement. And for some reason Artificial Eye have continued to decline even a vanilla release despite the popularity of all of Smith's other films in the UK. So the only way to see the film is on that ropey VHS which I believe might even have been deleted.

    It's a bizarre state of affairs, especially considering his next film Mallrats has been released twice on DVD (without and with extras) even though it went straight to video in this country. It's become an even bigger tragedy this month because a three disc special edition has been released in the US to commemorate the film's tenth anniversary. It's the kind of rich package which would do really well in this country but unless Artificial Eye do an about turn with their release policy and (a) release any kind of dvd and (b) decide to license the material from this release, the only people who can order Region One DVDs and play them will be able to enjoy this. Luckily I'm one of those people and over the past week or so I've been working my way through what is a staggering achievement for DVD, and well worth seeking out if you can.

    The first disc of Clerks X is features a restored version of the theatrical cut of the film. A hate to use the cliché, but this really is the best you're ever going to see this film. The transfer is so crisp you can see all the grain in the 16mm black and white material. To some degree it's a depressing experience because I've seen this film so many times that it's lost that shock of the new. It's the kind of piece which people are still discovering and I wish I still could. Even at student age I wasn't old enough to appreciate the melancholic desolation which seeps through the cracks of the comedy. Like the best film with longevity it changes each time we revisit because we are older and our perceptions change. Which is the film's real achievement - that something could cost that little money, be made under those production limits and still be have that value.

    On the second disc there is a second version of film, the original version in fact, the one which first got the film noticed by agents and film festivals. In a brave move it's presented in a dub from the original Super-VHS, so its full frame and looks and sounds horrible. In comparison with the theatrical cut, even though it's longer it feels incomplete. The pacing is all off and some scenes, while giving more information, go on far too long. There is a weird naivety to it and reminds me of my own crack at a film from my school days, a made-on-video unfinished comedy about the apocalypse. As the extras reveal the film might have cost $28,000 to make, but it cost over $100,000 to get it ready for release.

    Disc Three finishes the fine-tooth pick going over of the film with the documentary 'Snowball Effect: The Story of Clerks' which tells the rags to riches story of Kevin Smith and his friends, from birth right up until the theatrical release of the film. Ben Kenobi might say there is no such thing as luck, but believe me when you see the agonizing process the film went through from script to being picked up by Miramax at The Sundance Film Festival and all these stages were things could have failed you probably love the film even more. Almost everyone is interviewed, from Kevin Smith's Mom right through to Harvey Weinstein, with a few exceptions. It's as good a DVD documentary as any I've seen and only a hair's breath away from being worth a cinema release itself.

    It is basically as comprehensive release of any film as you'd expect. As well as including all the content of the original DVD release, a 'lost scene' in the style of the animated series, a short film, Mtv adverts, audition tapes, 'Mae Day' (Smith and Mosier's student film) a 10th Anniversary Q&A (which covers the rather bitter falling out between the director and Jeff 'Randal' Anderson) and a mass of text articles and interviews charting the making of the film and the press which spurred it on. The only things missing are the comic books, the cartoon series and the aborted unapproved pilot for the tv series - but its understandable why all of those would be missing and with the exception of the latter are freely available.

    Two main personalities pervade the whole package. Kevin Smith himself is there throughout, on the commentaries and introducing almost all the content. This has been customary on all of the View Askew releases and has the effect of personalizing everything. You really get the feeling that despite ten years of stardom and celebrity pals he's still the man from behind the counter at the Quick Stop and really understands how lucky he's been and above all wants to entertain the viewer and thank the people who continually turn up for everything he does.

    The other face is Scott Mosier, Smith's producer and collaborator. In a deleted scene from the documentary the director comments that he couldn't function on set without Mosier around. He was there at the film's inception (even forgoing his own directing ambitions) and is very much the unsung hero of the enterprise. He's also the knowledgeable one and there to fill in the blanks when Kevin has one of his many memory lapses. Other figures include Walt Flannigan, Brian Johnson and of course Jason Mewes (who appears both before, pissed up on the original DVD commentary, and after, sober for a year on everything else), all helped by Smith's continued loyalty. Funny to think that the main thrust of the film is the friendship of Dante and Randall and how that is reflected in real life amongst the movie makers.

    Group photo on porch

    Photography


    Group photo on porch
    Originally uploaded by feelinglistless.

    Another mystery photo from the box of slides. Looks like a group shot gone wrong. Did the photographer know the people or was he passing by? The reaction of the woman on the far left proves that nothing stops for tea.

    Links for 2004-10-12 [del.icio.us]

    Links for 2004-10-12 [del.icio.us]

  • Film of the Day: Freaky Friday (2003)
    Finally got around to seeing this tonight. Where the hell did Lindsay Lohan come from and how can all that talent appear from such a small person? Who would have though a live action Disney could be that good?
  • "Get out of my mind, get out of this room."
    Rave review for Bruce Nauman's sound piece at Tate Modern with a list of some of the speech which can be heard.
  • Inside the mind of Bruce Nauman
    A more contemplative review, but no less of a rave. Actually made the correspondent emotional and wanting to admit the fact. Amazing.
  • The Real 'Northern Exposure'?
    A teacher from Philly moves to Alaska to teach the indigenous population. 'Etre et Avoir' ensues.
  • French cinemas act to jam mobiles
    "Mobile phone signals will be jammed in French cinemas and theatres to prevent the devices disturbing the audience." According to linked article, Picturehouse who run the cinema's in Liverpool's FACT are in favour, they just need permission. Yes!
  • The trailer for Star Wars: Episode III in text form
    [SPOILER] This is a [SPOILER] Well actually it's not if you've ever seen the Star Wars films and know that you know what happens to thingy. Still an extraordinary way to sell the new film. It's selling the how rather than the what.
  • Froogle UK Beta launches
    Definately early days. Doesn't seem to include the larger online stores like Amazon in the main search. But it might prove useful when it grows up.
  • Le Centre Pompidou Guide du visiteur
    For a small book, it really captures the collection
  • How to Complain
    It's all about empowerment apparently. Vouchers please.
  • Robert Altman interview at The Onion
    The man continues to say a lot in so few words. Amazing.
  • Still 'Smells'
    I Hate Music directs it vitriol against 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. Still don't know what any of the words are. Prefer the Tori Amis cover version.
  • I think I last had an empty inbox in 1995.
    Sashinka embarasses me. I've 2633 messages in my email inbox, first is date stamped 20/08/2001. But to some extent its as much the story of the last few years for me as the weblog.
  • Franka Potente - die offizielle Fanpage
    Intriguingly designed fan site
  • Children in fake beards as middle age woman looks on

    Photography


    Children in fake beards as middle age woman looks on
    Originally uploaded by feelinglistless.

    Probably the most manic of the collection. Why are all those children wearing fake plastic beards. For some reason I'm leaning towards a Rolf Harris explanation, or it could be something even more sinister than that.

    [This is not my photo. I bought a box of slides at a car boot sale a few years ago and inbetween the art pictures and oddly images of Apollo 16 were a series of photos of holidays, weddings and family life. They have an erie quality to them which suggests not only a different time and place but also reality as though they mean something other. I'm posting them in case anyone has any idea what that might be.]

    'We are gathered here today ...."

    Life I spent Saturday evening at Tim and Toni's wedding reception (my friend Chris's brother and his new wife). More than some I probably find weddings difficult. The last wedding I went to a few years ago was a bit difficult for me* so I was expecting the memories to descend here. But happily I actually had a really good night and able to observe just how accurately Richard Curtis captured the nuances all those years ago. For example, I'm standing at the bar ordering my latest bottle of water (it was a warm place) and glanced over to the table which had all the people I knew sitting at it. And all of their girlfriends. It sort of underlined that I'm not with someone and haven't been for quite some time. It was not entirely a revelation to me (as you'd expect) or for you I suspect (which is slightly worrying). But isn't it funny how weddings can act as a reminder.

    Luckily I didn't have to speed there by Beetle down a motorway. The reception happened at The Solna Hotel in Sefton Park. I live in Sefton Park. The venue was five minutes away. Plenty of room for jokes about lifts home and sharing a taxi. It did mean that when I realised that I was over dressed with my suit jacket and all I could pop home to drop it off. It was disconcerting though when I found out the mother and father of the groom could see our flat from their room window and for them presumably if they could see us walking around on Sunday morning.

    To a certain extent I kept myself from thinking about the other stuff by dancing all night, sometimes to songs I didn't even know. Quite rightly considering they were paying, the groom gave the DJ a 'not list' music which could not be played under any circumstances. Top of the list was no dance music, drifting downwards to No Robbie Williams. In the event he played his way through compilations from the mid-1900s onwards. I think the newest track was The Foo Fighters. As happened at my eighteenth birthday part, John Parr's St Elmo's Fire cleared the floor with masses of bewildered faces and me the only person to know all the lyrics. I also apparently know every work of Chesney Hawkes The One And Only -- but so did everyone else -- even the second verse, so that was a voyage of mass discovery. As we worked our way through Sit Down, Smells Like Teen Spirit and I Think We're Alone everything was going very well. Then the DJ decided to play Angels as the final song which not only contravened the 'not' list but protentially ruined the night as fifty people stood and shouted 'Noooo!' So we got The Life of Riley by The Lightening Seeds instead. Which is equally bizarre but at least they're local boys.

    * Reasons available on request.

    I tried to post this last night but ...

    Quiz!

    This is shockingly accurate. Anyone? [via]

    She is a hybrid of:
    Progressive Girl and Granola Girl

    Click on the pictures below to read more:

    Progressive Girl Granola Girl

    Take the 'What Kind of Girl Is She?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

    Links for 2004-10-10 [del.icio.us]

    Links for 2004-10-10 [del.icio.us]

  • Vintage Album Covers
    What's most stunning is that these have both style and content. [via]
  • Off The Telly reviews NY-LON
    My review from a few days ago republished in a lovely shade of sky-blue at the tv website. Was I too harsh?
  • The Daily Script
    Huge collection of film scripts from various stages of production and non-production in various formats, such as 'Indy IV' by Chris Columbus and the unproduced George A. Romero version of 'Resident Evil'.
  • Liverpool's sons and daughters
    Liverpudians at The Internet Movie Database
  • Film of the Day: Heartbreakers (2001)
    Absolutely horrid film up until the final really good ten minutes which feel like and probably were written by someone else. Odd.
  • The Other Eleanor Rigby
    "Her legendary debut single `I Want To Sleep With You' was released in 1985 and came complete with free condom."
  • "Eleanor Rigby" - Hacker Style
    "Sits at the keyboard / And waits for a line on the screen / Lives in a dream."
  • Confessions of Christina Ricci
    Will 'Cursed' ever be finished?
  • 'The Miller's Tale' by Geoffrey Chaucer
    I had to study this in the original English during my A-Levels at school. No wonder I failed.
  • Eleanor Rigby

    Photography


    Eleanor Rigby
    Originally uploaded by feelinglistless.

    I took this picture of the Eleanor Rigby statue in Liverpool a few years ago. The flowers were already there, as was the Vodka bottle which I like to think means she had a lovely late night rendevous with someone. Due to building work, she's being moved to a more secluded spot, not too far away from The Beatles.

    Links for 2004-10-09 [del.icio.us]

    Links for 2004-10-09 [del.icio.us]

  • Round Two in the Town Hall
    Metafilter's running commentary of the second Kerry/Bush debate. Internets?
  • Video de Milo
    Amazing photograph and commentary about the art of shooting in Paris @ flickr