There’s going to be an A-Team movie
Because no-one commissioning big movies can have any original ideas any more. They’ve already cast BA and Face.
Nostalgia
When Calvin & Hobbes grew up 1
Some sweet, some disturbing. The one I like, though I can’t help feeling I shouldn’t, lies somewhere in between.
Well can’t you see me standing here, I’ve got my back against the record machine
I get up, and nothing gets me down.
You got it tough. I’ve seen the toughest around.
And I know, baby, just how you feel.
You’ve got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real
Oh can’t you see me standing here,
I’ve got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen.
Oh can’t you see what I mean ?
Might as well jump. jump !
Might as well jump.
Go ahead, jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Aaa-ohh hey you! Who said that ?
Baby how you been ?
You say you don’t know, you won’t know
Until we begin.
Well can’t you see me standing here,
I’ve got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen.
Oh can’t you see what I mean ?
Might as well jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Might as well jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
(guitar solo)
(keyboard solo)
Might as well jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Get it and jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
As a bonus, here’s the bluegrass version-
From Strummin’ with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen
Nostalgia time- Total Control Racing 3
I never had a Total Control Racing set, but I knew someone who did. Supposed to be an improvement on Scalextric, TCR allowed drivers to switch lanes by flipping a switch on their controller. No explanation is given on the wikipedia page on how they did this, but I think only one rear wheel was being driven at a time, forcing the car over to the opposite wall. TCR disappeared quite quickly, compared to good old Scalextric, which seems to have been around for ever.
Tony Hart can no longer make art
Tony Hart can’t use his hands anymore because of the effects of two strokes. The 83 year old former childrens tv presenter retired in 2001 but had carried on doing art until the strokes stopped him.
Kryten says there will be more Red Dwarf
Robert Llewellyn announced at a recent appearance that there are plans for a one hour Red Dwarf special.
If this is true will it be a worthy addition or just a reminder of how much fun the series was.
The Ed mobile
I found this picture, but no sign of the faculty of arty-farty subjects ones yet.
The Ed mobile. This was a support vehicle on teh 1993 or 1994 Bogle Stroll, I’m not sure which. The silhouette in the driver’s seat is almost certainly Peter Larkham and the guy in the middle seat will be John Bilham. I haven’t a clue who the bloke in the yellow jacket is, but the person walking toward the van is Richard Ambler, Bogle warlord that year or the one previous.
The Stonehenge Bogles
They don’t make Rag stunts like they used to. In 1966 a bunch of Manchester Raggies scaled the fences at Stonehenge and left behind 16 Bogles- stick figure likenesses of the Rag mascot. You couldn’t do that nowaays, what with all the security paranoia.
Time to confes a couple of my own Rag indiscretions, all over a decade old.
I was the man who painted a banner with “UMIST Faculty of arty-farty subjects and Mickey Mouse degrees” which was hung on the front of Manchester University students’ union one Rag week. I took pictures, but I don’t know if I still have copies.
I was also one of the conspirators in the kidnapping of Ed- the ESCA drinking bunny. Whilst on a raid North of the border we rescued the unfortunate rabbit from captivity in the offices of the Edinburgh Students Charity Appeal (or Association, I can’t remember) and took him back to Manchester where he lived a pampered life. Apart from that time we tied him to the front of a van and drove him around supporting the Bogle Stroll, of course.
I don’t know where Ed is now. Can anyone tell me?
Manchester Rag homepage. Recently refurbished and with one of my pictures on the front page.
Elite 4?
After seeing it mentioned on Bowch’s blog I did a little digging and yes, David Braben says that Elite 4 is on the way. It won’t be as big a deal for most gamers as, say, GTAIV, because too many of them will be too young to remember.
The original Elite(wiki) holds a very special place in the hearts of gamers of a certain age ie those of us who now have phones with nearly a million times more memory than their first computer. I don’t think I ever attained the hallowed status, only getting as far as Deadly. I played both the Frontier sequel games as well, but they were so buggy it was a terrible experience.
Please let Braben be telling the truth. I’d love to see what can be made of this flashback to my teens.
The Dead Code
I watched WarGames: The Dead Code last night. I think the best word to sum it up is unnecessary. Replacing nuclear holocaust with bioterrorism and WOPR with RIPLEY it follows almost exactly the same arc as the original film, right down to a virtual replay of the ending.
All this film did was make me want to watch the original again. It’s WarGames‘ 25th anniversary this year. If you can play Region 1 discs there’s a 25th Anniversary edition coming out soon. Wired talked to some of the people involved in WarGames, including the scriptwriters, director John Badham and geek crush Ally Sheedy.
Mid Life Crisis
I used to buy both the comics pilfered for this poster.
This post was brought to you by the number 3
Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street
Come and play
Everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That’s where we meet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
It’s a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To Happy people like you–
Happy people like
What a beautiful
Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street…
How to get to Sesame Street
How to get to…
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
No, I sent you that letter
To ask you if the end was worth the means
Was there really no in between?
And I still don’t feel better
I just wondered if it could be like before
And I think you just made me sure!
But then that’s typically you
And I might have been a bit rude
But I wrote it in a bad mood
I’m not being funny with you
But it’s hard to be engaging
When the things you love keep changing
Brassneck, Brassneck
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
First time you came over
Do you remember saying then you’d stay for good?
No I didn’t think you would
Well we couldn’t’ve been closer
But it was different then and that’s all in the past
There I’ve said it now at last!
You grew up quicker than me
I kept so many old things
I never stopped quite hoping
I think I know what it means
It means I’ve got to grow up
It means y
Brassneck, Brassneck
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just know, you weren’t listening were you?
Oh please go, whenever you prefer to
I said it means a lot, when you use an old phrase
But then so what? We can’t have it both ways
I know, you’re not bothered are you
Even so, I’m not going to argue
He won’t object! Keep writing to me
Just don’t forget you ever knew me
I just decided I don't trust you anymore
No, I sent you that letter
To ask you if the end was worth the means
Was there really no in between?
And I still don’t feel better
I just wondered if it could be like before
And I think you just made me sure!
But then that’s typically you
And I might have been a bit rude
But I wrote it in a bad mood
I’m not being funny with you
But it’s hard to be engaging
When the things you love keep changing
Brassneck, Brassneck
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
First time you came over
Do you remember saying then you’d stay for good?
No I didn’t think you would
Well we couldn’t’ve been closer
But it was different then and that’s all in the past
There I’ve said it now at last!
You grew up quicker than me
I kept so many old things
I never stopped quite hoping
I think I know what it means
It means I’ve got to grow up
It means y
Brassneck, Brassneck
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just decided I don’t trust you anymore
I just know, you weren’t listening were you?
Oh please go, whenever you prefer to
I said it means a lot, when you use an old phrase
But then so what? We can’t have it both ways
I know, you’re not bothered are you
Even so, I’m not going to argue
He won’t object! Keep writing to me
Just don’t forget you ever knew me
Dead on arrival, the Nineties revival
I’m pondering something with flashbacks to the nineties so, as well as digging out all my old photos, I should read a few books about the music and culture of the decade.
24 Hour Party People is obligatory of course, and I should finally get round to watching the film.
Freaky Dancing: Me and the Mondays. If only to see if Bez can string together a coherent sentence on paper.
Hallelujah!: The extraordinary story of Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays.
The Stone Roses and the ressurection of British Pop.
Goodnight Jim Bob: On the road with Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.
Not quite like Nana used to make
But not bad for a first attempt. Ginger biscuits based upon one of her hand written recipes scanned and emailed to me by my sister. They’re close enough that I welled up a little at the taste from my childhood when I tested one.
My next batch may contain stem ginger to up the gingeryness. A departure from the original recipe, I know, but worth a try.
Stop! —————————————————————— —————————————————————- Hammer Time!
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
My, my, my, my music hits me so hard
Makes me say oh my Lord
Thank you for blessing me
With a mind to rhyme and two hyped feet
Feels good when you know you’re down
A superdope homeboy from the Oaktown
And I’m known
as such
And this is a beat uh you can’t touch
I told you homeboy,can’t touch this
Yeah, that’s how we livin’ and ya know,
can’t touch this
Look in my eyes man, can’t touch this
Yo let me bust the funky lyrics, you can’t touch this
Fresh new kicks and pants
You got it like that now you know wanna dance
So move out of your seat
And get a fly girl and catch this beat
While it’s rollin’ hold on
Pump a little bit and let them know it’s going on
Like that, like that
Cold on a mission so fall on back
Let ’em know that you’re too much
And this is a beat uh they can’t touch
Yo I told you, can’t touch this
Why you standing there man, can’t touch this
Yo sound the bell school is in sucker
can’t touch this
Give me a song or rhythm
Making no sweat that’s what I’m giving ’em
So now they know
You talk about the Hammer when you’re talking ’bout a show
That’s hyped and tight
Singers are sweatin’ so pass them a wipe
Or a tape to learn
What it’s gonna take in the 90’s to burn
The charts legit
Either work hard or you might as well quit
That’s word because you know
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Break it down!
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Stop! Hammer time!
Go with the flow it is said
If you can’t move to this then you probably are dead
So wave your hands in the air
Bust a few moves run your fingers through your hair
This is it for a winner
Dance to this and you’re gonna get thinner
Now move slide your rump
Just for a minute let’s all do the bump
Bump bump bump yeah, you can’t touch this
Look man, can’t touch this
You’ll probably get hyped boy ’cause you know you can’t, can’t touch this
Ring the bell school’s back in, break it down!
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Stop! Hammer time!
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Break it down!
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Stop! Hammer time!
Every time you see me, that Hammer’s just so hype
I’m dope on the floor and I’m magic on the mic
Now why would I ever stop doing this
With others makin’ records that just don’t hit
I toured around the world from London to The Bay
It’s Hammer go Hammer MC Hammer Yo Hammer and the rest can go and play
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Yea, Can’t touch this
I told you, can’t touch this
Too hype can’t touch this
Get me outta here, you can’t touch this
I feel stupid and contagious
Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose
And to pretend
She’s overboard
Myself assured
I know I know
A dirty word
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
It’s hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind
Hello (x 16)
With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea
Savoy Books
Being served in the post office in Withington this afternoon I looked down and checked out the name on the big package the person to my left was weighing. Alan Moore, it said, which I found amusing- I was standing next to a package destined for the greatest living comic writer. Northampton was where it was headed, noticing which I did a little mental double take- maybe it really was going to the greatest living comic writer. Then I spotted the name of the company sending the package- Savoy Books– and was absolutely certain it was going to THE Alan Moore.
Savoy Books is based in Withington. I didn’t know Savoy Books was even still a going concern. I should have said something to the guy posting the parcel, but I’m me, and terribly English about starting pseudo-random conversations with strangers in Post Office queues. So I didn’t. I really should have.
Savoy books was started in 1976, as a publisher for material that was too risky or strange for other imprints. They almost immediately fell foul of the law and were regularly raided by the corrupt vice squad of “God’s Cop” James Anderton. Publisher David Britton has to be one of the last writers in this country to go to jail for his art, serving two spells in Strangeways. Undaunted, he incorporated his experiences into future works such as Savoy Dreams and Lord Horror– which went on to become an inflammatory multi media cottage industry, spawning comics, sequels and music.
My first experience of Savoy Books was in a seedy little second hand bookshop in a building where Bar 38 in MAnchester’s “Straight Quarter” now stands. I’d look at the Lord Horror and other comics- large format and too expensive for a student- and tell myself I’d buy some one day. Eventually I managed to get The Adventures of Meng and Ecker, collecting their comic appearances and reprinting articles about Savoy and Lord Horror. There’s something to offend on every page and the art’s dense and dark. It’s not easy reading, but I’ve just pulled it off the bookshelf and I’m going to flick through it and lose more time, having already spent an hour or so trawling the Savoy website.