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Because of the thing, I have been catching the end of random episodes of the Father Dowling Mysteries. The end of one episode this week had thingy who played Ken Molansky, who you know I had the worst crush on when I was wee, playing Sister Stevie's ex-boyfriend. The Sister Stevie who I also had the worst crush on at that age.

Now somehow, despite my grandmother being a detective-show fiend, and liking the aforesaid Father Dowling Mysteries, I had never seen this episode. This is probably for the best, as 10-year old me would probably have spontaneously combusted, but oh ... I was basically *hearts eyes* for the duration. Comment here or on Dreamwidth, wherever you prefer.

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Sword-fighting Films - Robin Hood

This is the first in an irregular series of posts about films with sword fights. Although they're all part of a series, the formats will be slightly different, for reasons which will become clear as the posts occur.

Some time ago, in a post about the 1938 Oscars, [personal profile] nwhyte wrote that he'd never seen the Errol Flynn Robin Hood. I was surprised, but looking back on it, I'm not sure why, because former housemate P didn't watch it until his mid-20s, and as a fencer, he'd had more reason for watching it.

Following on from that post, I wondered which sword-fighting films I would recommend for people to watch. And then I realised I'd watched a lot, and probably needed a way of splitting them up, so I am writing about them by topic, starting with Robin Hood, since it was the Errol Flynn version that kick-started this idea.

Robin Hood:

Must watch: As you may have guessed from that intro, as far as I'm concerned the Errol Flynn version is the best film version. Partly it's Flynn himself, in all his charming, insouciant glory, but there's also Olivia de Havilland as a beautiful, charming and courageous Maid Marian, Claude Reins and Basil Rathbone as excellent villains, and comic relief characters who get to be both funny and heroic.

Of course, the fight scenes are famous for a reason (spoilers for the big end fight). It's amazing what you can do when one of your principals is a fencer.

Ex-housemate P didn't like it because it wasn't flash enough for him and too slow, but he was more than occasionally wrong about films (he didn't like Casablanca). His favourite version will be mentioned shortly.

In the same vein: The Richard Todd and Richard Greene versions of Robin Hood stick closely to the Errol Flynn model, and the Richard Greene TV version is one of my family's favourite ways to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Something different: The Disney Robin Hood is actually my favourite version. However, because it's animated, I have to admit that the sword fights aren't all that. On the other hand, there are some truly excellent villains, an adorable Robin and Maid Marian, one of my favourite Friar Tuck's (seriously, watching him go full "badger don't care" at the Sheriff is glorious), excellent music (A Pox On The Phoney King of England, Not In Nottingham) and Lady Cluck.

I could write whole essays on how Lady Cluck is just the best (which she is), but I shall provide video evidence instead:



Anyone who has ever seen me do sports may recognise a certain similarity in both shape and attitude.

The Disney Robin Hood is an hour and a half of sheer sugar candy joy.

Other options:

The ITV Robin Hood, Robin of Sherwood, which is housemate P's favourite. I happen to think it's New-Agey, pseudo-realistic nonsense, but several other people I know like it.

I also blame it for several of the modern Robin Hood cliches. It popularised one of the Merry Men being a Saracen, Will Scarlet being an (angry) working class man rather than Robin's cousin, and Robin going off to the Crusades before the story starts. This annoys me. It's like, 'why are you doing this to the character and the story, not going to the Crusades it what gets him outlawed in the first place?!!!'

I find it interesting that in 1938 you could get away with a Robin who says "no way, you go fight your own pointless war if you want to but I am staying here to protect my people" whereas nowadays you can't. I don't know how much of that was due to US isolationist policies pre-WW2 and general public opinion, or wanting to stay close to the original legend, but it's an interesting difference.

I like that Robin doesn't go to war, despite the threat of being outlawed if he doesn't. He goes ahead and follows his conscience. It makes him a more impressive hero. It's all well and good to show him fighting against a prince who has usurped power, but for him to disobey someone who he regards as the rightful king, with all the moral and legal force that implies, now that's a different thing.

If storytellers want to have a story with a Crusader veteran horrified with what they'd seen for the one (and it's only ever one) PTSD-related episode or section, then Will Scarlet, nobleman with fewer reservations than Robin, seems like an excellent choice. He already canonically wanders around a forest wearing red, which I think might well be described as a death-wish.

Unnecessarily long story short - I don't particularly like this version, although I do recognise that it has its own distinctive feel, and does its own thing its own way, which I admire.

The Patrick Bergin Robin Hood, which was unlucky enough to have been released at the cinema at the same time as the Kevin Costner version. I prefer it, even if it is a bit heavy-handed. Also, it has Owen Teale's Little John and is about the only modern version that gives Little John anything to do. (Why do modern versions give all/most of Little John's important bits to Nasir/Azeem?)

Avoid:

The BBC's 2006 Robin Hood - But, I hear you cry, you spent far too much time watching it. And this is true, any time spent watching it would be too much.

via GIPHY



Basically the BBC Robin Hood was one very good performance, four good performances and Keith Allen eating more than the Recommended Daily Allowance of scenery, being hamstrung by increasingly poor and peculiar authorial choices on the part of the writers.

The Kevin Costner version (mild spoilers ensue) - I am about to be accused of being mean, and it's not just that they hew very closely to Robin of Sherwood to the point where you think they should have paid licencing fees, but I can explain my objection to the film in four words: Will Scarlet would never.

I don't mean this Will Scarlet, I mean any Will Scarlet. In fact, having any Merry Man betray the rest is a good way of ending up in the avoid list. Even Alan Rickman's glorious, vivid and vile Sheriff of Nottingham cannot save this film, nor can Morgan Freeman and Michael McShane. It is un-salvagable.

If anyone has any other Robin Hood recommendations, please send them my way. It's a legend I never tire of.

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The two of the three big trailers from Comic Con have left me underwhelmed. I was worried that I was being impossible or nostalgia was blinding me, because the one I quite enjoyed is the one where I don't know anything about the source material but I don't think that's the case.

Let's start with that one I enjoyed. The Witcher looks like perfectly servicable nonsense. And let's be honest, they had me at "people with swords". I am a simple creature.

Cats does not look like perfectly servicable nonsense. I did wonder whether I felt that way because it didn't live up to my expectations but no, I think even a completely disinterested observer would go, "nah, that looks terrible."

It looks like someone has spent a lot of money on SFX that are not up to the job.* I know that the only way we will ever get SFX that are up to the job is through failures like this, but I'd much rather they'd fail on something I am not fond of.

Because I am fond of Cats. I went to see it for a birthday party when I was little, and will still happily belt out random bits of songs for no good reason. As someone who does like it, this looks godawful. None of the characters look right and I do not even want to know WTF they have done to my beloved magical Mr. Mistoffelees. He is supposed to look magical and mysterious, not like Charlie Chaplin Cat! I am sure Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench will be having all the fun in their roles so it does at least have that going for it.

I am somehow even less impressed by the new Watchmen trailer than I am by the Cats trailer.

It's not like Watchmen is my favourite Alan Moore comic. Promethea is (yes, I know). But I have long since given up on ever getting any film or TV version of Promethea (mostly because of the yes, I know).

But there is already an Alan Moore comic about a violent police state with people running around in masks. It's called V for Vendetta. But I can imagine it is hard to raise funds for a TV show where a fascist is brought to power with help from the religious right, and then puts people in cages. Obvs. too far-fetched (and yes, I know it's set in the UK).

Either which way, I have no interest in watching Damon Lindelhof's dark future AU fic of the Watchmen! Mostly OCs with a few canon characters appearing.

Not least of all because he suffers from JJ Abrams problem of "dude, I have seen the same films as you, that is not anything new!" For instance, I suspect we're supposed to be shocked, shocked I tell you that FBI lady is Laurie when we find out somewhere in episode 13-17.

If they do decide to give him any depth, Jeremy Irons will knock (possibly spoilery character) out of the park. Plus, he gets to practise his German again. I am intrigued, just a little, by how they will handle (spoilery character) because, yeah, I had problems with how the film did him. I have no idea if that's because I read the character differently to everyone else, or because the film decided to simplify his character, which ruined a lot of the glorious ambiguity of (spoiler) but either which way, (spoiler) is the only thing that interests me about it.

I would prefer to be thrilled by Comic Con trailers!

* There is a reason why everyone is posting that image from What We Do In The Shadows.

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Links (part 3)

History:

Torrey Canyon oil spill: The day the sea turned black - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39223308

WW2 soldier killed in Italy to be reburied - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39288659

Miscellaneous:

Is this the 'worst pint of Guinness imaginable'? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39261330 The Paul Ryan incident from March 2017

Spaghetti Junction picture mystery solved as workers identified - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39295025

MP Dawn Butler praised for using sign language in Commons - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39295244

Sign language costs 'too high' for some families - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39270335

Polio's last stand: frantic effort to eradicate Pakistan's 'badge of shame' - https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/mar/15/polio-in-pakistan-the-frantic-effort-to-eradicate-the-countrys-badge-of-shame

Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger: Should a rapist be invited on stage? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-39274941

Ikea drivers living in trucks for months - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39196056

How the government’s new child maintenance service leaves domestic abuse survivors out in the cold - http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/new-child-maintenance-service-leaves-domestic-abuse-survivors-out-in-the-cold/

Why does everyone keep making Nazi comparisons? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-39266863

Science:

The crimes against dopamine - https://medium.com/the-spike/the-crimes-against-dopamine-b82b082d5f3d

Three-person baby licence granted - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39292381

Colourful, creative and close up: Wellcome Images 2017 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-39272111

Sport:

Cricket:

Bob Woolmer: Pakistan coach's death remembered, 10 years on - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39282939

Football:

Football, bloody hell! Leicester's triumph was one of the special nights - https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/champions-league/2016-2017/football-bloody-hell-leicester-s-triumph-was-one-of-the-special-nights_sto6093758/story.shtml Leicester vs Sevilla

Ice hockey:

Harrison Browne retiring after breaking hockey transgender barrier - https://sports.yahoo.com/news/harrison-browne-retiring-after-breaking-hockey-transgender-barrier-152233217.html

Motorsport:

John Surtees: Former F1 world champion was a 'towering figure' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/35126201

Tennis:

BEST OF ENEMIES: FEDERER, NADAL AND THE GREATEST RIVALRY IN SPORT -https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2017/australian-open-2017-final-the-greatest-rivalry-roger-federer-v-rafael-nadal_sto6037774/story.shtml

Television:

Can Big Bang Theory learn from past TV spin-offs? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39265553

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Links

Journalism:

Trump and the media - Is it war or love? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39221378 From March 2017

Miscellaneous:

An absence of peace: When is a war actually a war? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-39222619

Shunned 'unlucky' 13 sheltered houses get rebrand - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-39218565

Post-partum psychosis: Why I thought I'd killed my baby - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39205485

Cambodia's female construction workers - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-39102989

Were Mysterious Caves Used by the Knights Templar Recently Discovered in Shropshire? - https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/knights-templar-caves-shropshire/ In bestest Snopes tradition, no.

The mysterious death of a live-streaming gamer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39232620

The wine boss who was glad to be sacked - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39153993

'LED street lights are disturbing my sleep' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38526254

Living loud in China's lively public spaces - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-39214869

International Women’s Day - https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/comment-and-opinion/international-womens-day/5060135.article

News:

Park Geun-hye: How identity politics fuelled South Korean scandal - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39228815

Hounded and ridiculed for complaining of rape - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39204086

Hospital drug admissions for over-50s up 50%, report shows - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39220676

Politics:

Why the Russia Story Is a Minefield for Democrats and the Media - https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/why-the-russia-story-is-a-minefield-for-democrats-and-the-media-126505/

Rex Tillerson Might Be the Weakest Secretary of State Ever - https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/10/rex-tillerson-might-be-the-weakest-secretary-of-state-ever/ Again, March 2017. I have no idea who the US Secretary of State is this week. I'd feel bad, but I don't think Trump does either.

Science:

Can city 'smellfies' stop air pollution? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39179098

Sport:

Formula 1:

I know John Surtees is bigger than just F1.

1964 Formula One champion John Surtees dies at 83 - https://www.eurosport.co.uk/formula-1/motor-racing-1964-formula-one-champion-surtees-dies-at-83_sto6087873/story.shtml

John Surtees: Former F1 world champion dies at 83 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39235608

Television:

There was a bit of a Buffy special around Buffy's 20th anniversary

10 Best ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Episodes of All Time - https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/10-best-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-episodes-of-all-time-113273/the-body-season-5-episode-16-116024/ Not as wrong as Rolling Stone lists normally are

Buffy’s James Marsters on the hardest day of his professional life - https://tv.avclub.com/buffy-s-james-marsters-on-the-hardest-day-of-his-profes-1798258915

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: How the show influenced modern entertainment - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39229395

We should thank Buffy for today’s ‘Golden Age’ of television - http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170303-we-should-thank-buffy-for-todays-golden-age-of-television

Technology:

How the invention of paper changed the world - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/the-reporters-38892687

Writers:

Oscar Wilde's jail key and letter on display in Malta - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39230065

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Links

Or link rather.

TV:

Network analysis of Game of Thrones - https://datascienceplus.com/network-analysis-of-game-of-thrones/

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Thunderbirds Are Go

Which I have now seen 2 episodes of. And enjoyed. I might not like it as much as proper Thunderbirds, but it's great fun.

It has more Gordon, but only because they have turned him into Alan (blond and excitable is Alan's thing). John, meanwhile, is suddenly red-headed.

Other than that minor confusion, everything and everyone else is present and correct. (Except Jeff Tracey who is spoiler).

It's done in a mixture of CGI and models so there's still some solidity to the action. I think it's WETA who have done some of the CGI. There's a distinct NZ twang to several of the actors as well.

And, in the most recent episode, they used bearded lizards to play giant lizards, which made me think of Attack of the Alligators and squee.

It's not perfect, but it's fun.

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Good Omens

You know how I was the only person not hyped for Deadpool. I feel like I'm the only person not hyped for Good Omens. Because I think the leads are horribly mis-cast and I've seen the costume photos and think they look horribly, horribly wrong too.

I will do most of my Eeyoring in private :) but I had an urge to shout this at the universe just once.

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Links (Part 1)

Law and Order:

When a system upgrade gets you arrested - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38153992

THE REAL SPECTRE - https://www.1843magazine.com/features/the-real-spectre

Miscellaneous:

Korean grandfather's long-distance Instagram story-telling - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-38153553

Barbados at 50: Home of Rihanna, cricket and coucou - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37078244 Bajan friend is ridiculously proud of Rihanna. And the cricketers. Sometimes. Not as often as he'd like to be.

New five pound note: Not suitable for vegetarians - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38144598 and Hindus urged not to donate new fivers at Leicester temple - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-38156650

The thing that gets me about this is that the government doesn't seem to get the number of people that don't use animal fats, for a variety of reasons. How no-one in the decision-making process didn't go "wait a minute!" is beyond me.

Ben Carter's Tommee Tippee cup search 'incredible' success - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-38141319

On The Navajo Nation, Special Ed Students Await Water That Doesn't Stink -
http://www.npr.org/2017/04/12/523303559/on-the-navajo-nation-special-ed-students-await-water-thats-doesnt-stink?utm_source=tumblr.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170413

Time's "The Most Influential Images of All Time" - http://100photos.time.com/

Politics:

Hong Kong's rebellious lawmaker Yau Wai-ching - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-38129773

YOUR FILTER BUBBLE IS DESTROYING DEMOCRACY - https://www.wired.com/2016/11/filter-bubble-destroying-democracy/

How to Talk to Someone You Hate - https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/gqymzx/how-to-talk-to-someone-you-hate

Science:

The many ways lasers help us see the world more clearly - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38130375

Her Code Got Humans on the Moon—And Invented Software Itself - https://www.wired.com/2015/10/margaret-hamilton-nasa-apollo/

Sport:

Serena Williams pens open letter: Dream big with steadfast resilience -
http://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/serena-williams-pens-open-letter-dream-big-with-steadfast-resilience_sto5965399/story.shtml From 2016

The other lives of England's netball team - as they fit work around practice -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38136075/the-other-lives-of-englands-netball-team---as-they-fit-work-around-practice

Cricket:

Phillip Hughes' death: Have attitudes to the bouncer changed? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37883388

Football:

It’s not the Ronald Koeman derby, Southampton v Everton is a clash of contrasting ideas -
http://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/premier-league/2016-2017/its-not-the-ronald-koeman-derby-everton-v-southampton-is-a-clash-of-contrasting-ideas_sto5960789/story.shtml

Snooker:

UK Championship 2016: Mark King talks about gambling addiction and recovery - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/38097569

Television:

30 Years Later, 'The Simpsons' Are A Part Of The American Family - http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524542090/30-years-later-the-simpsons-are-a-part-of-the-american-family?utm_source=tumblr.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170419

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A Fic Challenge, a Mini-Series and A Film

From Musesfool, the OPI Nailvarnish Colors as Prompts fest. Full details here - http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/953230.html

(I may be working on a couple already.)

~~~~

One of the weirder Freeview channels was showing the 2003 version of the Lion in Winter. Which was an odd experience. Because I know the film very well. And it's not that it's bad.

Part of the problem is that, to pinch a line from Douglas Adams, very little money has been spared to show no money has been spared, but most of the crowd scenes looked like extras had been told to look like they're having lots of fun.

Nothing wrong with their Henry or Eleanor, though the characters are read very differently. I think there's a conscious decision to underplay the theatricality of the roles, which makes very little sense to me but it does affect the feel of the thing. The other problem is that of the younger people, Rafe Spall as John is by far the strongest actor, and that really skews things because where the film one is just a sulky lump, he's actually cruel to the servants, but he's very good at making you feel sorry for John.

I would have watched the rest of it but a friend called and we went to see Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

So I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the opening best of all. I entirely understand anyone who complains that parts of it feel like a less fun retread of the Fifth Element, but bits of it stand up on its own. Luc Besson continues to be a magnificent director, he just needs help with his scripts. Like, possibly someone going "people don't speak like that" every now and again. It would be a good start.

I think having slightly stronger actors in the lead roles would help too. Because Clive Owen and whoever played General Okto-Bar did a much better job of coping with the dialogue than Dane DeHaan or Cara Delevigne.

But I happily forgive all of that for the visuals. I am a Cinema du Look girl, and always will be.

Comment here or on Dreamwidth, wherever you prefer.
I have just finished writing nearly 2000 words of somewhat fluffy Solly/Gloria It Ain't Half Hot Mum fic.

Solly/Gloria is one of my pairings from before I knew what shipping was. They're pretty much unique in that sense because they're non-canonical. Young me was not a shippy person (okay, so present me isn't a shippy person either but young me even more so). I think part of it is that it took me until I was older to realise it wasn't canonical.

I first saw It Ain't Half Hot Mum when I was somewhere between 8-11. And I just presumed that Solly was Gloria's boyfriend because he always stepped in when the 'orrible Sergeant Major was being horrible to Gloria, more so that he did when the horrible Sergeant Major was being horrible to anyone else.

I caught it again when I was a bit older (14-18), and I realised that I may have misread (miswatched?) the show because I saw things that were not there.

I rewatched the show for the fic and the thing that interested me is that I could see why mini-me had seen what she saw. It's mostly due to the set up of the show.

Because Solly is the ranking member of the Concert Party, he's got to stand at one end of the line when they fall in. For camera work it makes sense that the more one note characters* are at the other end of the line so they can be ignored if they don't have anything to do in that scene. You can't put Gloria next to Gunner Sugden if you want the full effect of Sugden's lack of height (I think that's also why Sugden's placed between Atlas and Parky in the line up, who are the tallest of the regulars), and putting Gloria next to Solly is therefore the sensible thing.

That means Solly has to react when Shut Up shouts at Gloria because he's next door and in camera. The synchronised sour look he and Gloria do is also probably just for giggles, but the fact that he also reacts every time the Sergeant Major says anything about homosexuals might be where tiny-me got confused. It also means that it makes some sort of sense for Solly and Gloria to get teamed together whenever the gang have to split into twos.

It's really clear where tiny-me got confused and why and how much of it is down to the constraints of the medium (TV sitcom), which are "rules" that you don't know at that age.

*sorry Nobby, Nasher and Atlas

Comment here or on Dreamwidth, wherever you prefer.

Links (Part 4)

Award Ceremonies:

Jackie Chan awarded honorary Oscar - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37253382 I suspect I may have shared this before.

History:

Slum photographs spark charity appeal - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-37288396

Oscar Wilde love letter celebrated 'behind bars' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37277397

What Al Capone can teach India about prohibition - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37230259

Mary Rose shipwreck skulls go online in 3D - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37250413

Miscellaneous:

Single mum drags up for 'Donuts with Dad' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-37307984 1 - this Mum is awesome. 2 - why is it always 'x with Dad' events. It's like once again, father's get cookies for just doing the basics.

Downton's effect on the political mood - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37288981

Dying mum's letter found in book in second-hand bookshop - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-37284497 Update: letter's intended recipient found.

Marvel, Jack Kirby, and the Comic-Book Artist’s Plight -
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/marvel-jack-kirby-and-the-plight-of-the-comic-book-artist/498299/

News:

What Is Aleppo? This Is Aleppo - https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/09/what-is-aleppo-this-is-aleppo/499163/

Workers must not pay the price of Brexit, says TUC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37300445

Mapuche community in Argentina fights fracking site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36892770

Science:

Why We Still Don’t Have Better Batteries - https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602245/why-we-still-dont-have-better-batteries/

Sport:
Football:

The Old Firm rivalry opens new chapter - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37310016

USA star Megan Rapinoe kneels during national anthem to support Colin Kaepernick -
http://lebuzz.eurosport.co.uk/viral/megan-rapinoe-kneels-during-usa-national-anthem-to-support-colin-kaepernick-18545/

Football tackles conflict on the front lines - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37153684

FA Cup: Rio Ferdinand's body double & the ex-Man City player looking to spend £500 -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37177613

Formula 1:

Felipe Massa: the closing of an F1 career that has experienced ecstasy and agony -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37244253 Obviously from before the un-retirement

Ice hockey:

Lightning's J.T. Brown speaks out on life 'as a black athlete in the NHL' -
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/jt-brown-on-his-reality---as-a-black-athlete-in-the-nhl/2292690

Paralympics:

Rio Paralympics 2016: GB stars hoping to shine on the big stage - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37220234

Rio Paralympics 2016: Lee Pearson to be Great Britain flagbearer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37290538

Rio Paralympics 2016: 'It's not about how full the stadiums are' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37196387

Rio Paralympics 2016: Ex-Liverpool junior Sean Highdale is heading to Rio -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37232402

Rugby League:

Batley Bulldogs fan banned over Keegan Hirst tweets - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-37278162 You'll notice that it's a life time ban because rugby league does not tolerate this.

Television:

In pictures: The Prisoner at 50 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-37232329 Just ignore some of the text. I'm not sure the unnamed writer has ever watched the show.

Comment here or on Dreamwidth, wherever you prefer.

Feb. 1st, 2017

Because I get bored, I was reading online comments about NCIS: New Orleans and people complaining that they had more characters visiting from the original NCIS than NCIS: LA ever had. To me it's obvious why. Donald Belisario actually understands his international audience a lot more than a lot of other US showrunners. Because New Orleans's rep as being a bit different from the rest of the US hasn't percolated through to popular culture in other countries as much as you might expect and the basic gist of NCIS: NO is more or less the same as original flavour, while NCIS: LA at least has its own gimmick.

I was reminded of this when I caught part of an episode of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour. Because I don't get its purpose. What stories does it tell that couldn't be told by Criminal Minds Original Flavour? And if that's the case, there's no reason for people to watch it.

(This is not a diss against Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour because yay Forest Whittaker on my TV and I fell for Prophet something chronic within half an episode. I'm still not sure what Matt Ryan's accent is supposed to be, mind you.)

Tags:

TV and Films

At the minute, Australia seems to be sending us it's murder mysteries, so Drama (the channel) are showing them early in the a.m., possibly to appeal to the hungover student crowd. The most recent one I've caught is Mr and Mrs Murder (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_%26_Mrs_Murder), which comes so close to working, but doesn't quite. It has awesome opening credits. L thinks that there must be an American TV producer out there looking for an idea who can pick it up and turn it into a mega-hit.

We also originally intended to watch the first of the Star Trek reboot films but L turned it off in disgust midway through, because he couldn't stand what they were doing to Kirk. So we watched the second Hobbit films instead. Or, as it's known, 'Do something Thorin. No, not that, anything but that'.

I am not kidding about that.

I'm also really not sure if I was supposed to see, instead of the love triangle someone foisted on PJ and the others, Thranduil trying to set Tauriel up with Legolas, who is oblivious, because Tauriel is his bestest bro.

Finally saw Dredd.

I can see why people who aren't 2000AD fans didn't like it, and why the 2000AD fans went absolutely nuts over it. Because it's the very best 2000AD adaptation we're going to get, and all the things that made it that are the things that turned non-fans off. It's the ultra-violence, the grittiness, that we didn't see Dredd without his mask (thank you Karl Urban for standing up against that nonsense).

Anderson was a great example of how you do vulnerable but not squishy (and props to whoever cast Olivia Thirlby because she looks right). I loved how they shot the effects of Slo-Mo on the users, because it really looked like some of the Judge Dredd artwork.

Lena Hedley was amazing. Actually, all of the acting was damn good. (And I have decided that if Wesley Snipes and Tony Curran are too old to play Sinister and Dexter now, I'm having Anthony Mackie and Domnhall Gleeson as replacements.)

I could have done without spoilersCollapse ) but apart from that, it was A++ Double Good, and as I said, the best 2000AD film we're ever going to get.

Links

Cars:

THE SECRET SIX - A half-dozen groundbreaking Ferraris were built for the Prince of Brunei.
Only one made it out of the jungle alive - http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/6/11371554/pininfarina-ferrari-fx-first-semi-automatic-transmission

Miscellaneous:

See the secret airplane bedrooms where flight attendants sleep on long-haul flights - http://www.thisisinsider.com/secret-airplane-bedrooms-where-flight-attendants-sleep-2016-5

Swedish nun Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad canonised for saving Jews - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36455982

Rescuing Warsaw's overgrown Jewish graves - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36444205

What Is The Sun? An Explainer for DC Locals - https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/05/13/sun-explainer-dc-locals/

News:

What happens in a university run by IS? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36417382

Politics:

Shady accounting underpins Trump’s wealth - http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-money-net-worth-223662

Science:

Are Things Getting Any Better in the Clinic? - http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2016/06/02/are-things-getting-any-better-in-the-clinic

Fish eat plastic like teens eat fast food, researchers say - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36435288

Sport:

Boxing:

Muhammad Ali: The man who changed his sport and his country - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36450806

Muhammad Ali's life in pictures - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/16159374

Obituary: Muhammad Ali - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10985926

Muhammad Ali: 'The kid who lost a bike and found a calling' -http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/21533990

Football:

Euro 2016: Tiredness not an excuse for England in France -http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36443970

World Cup 1966: When the West Germans came to Ashbourne - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-36436654

Horse racing:

A day in the life of Nyquist: ice boots, exercise, maybe even acupuncture - http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nyquist-24-hours-20160519-story.html

Olympics:

Rio 2016: Olympic Games refugees team unveiled - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36446531

Technology:

The Average Webpage Is Now the Size of the Original Doom - http://www.wired.com/2016/04/average-webpage-now-size-original-doom/ I feel I may have linked to this before

The importance of a one-handed saxophone - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-36168077

Television:

Carla Lane's sitcom Bread and its legacy in Liverpool - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-36425330

Tales From A Move

Only real problem is that I came down with a cold on Wednesday (30/3), and it's either a very bad head cold or a mild flu*.
More stuffCollapse )

* I suspect flu due to fever and minor hallucinations but I am also a wuss. But I am a wuss who has slept for 16 of the past 24 hours so I am an ill wuss.

** Yeah, I don't even either. If someone can figure out where the (blank) this came from, I'd be obliged. Please use the smallest possible words when explaining because I just don't and can't.

*** C has a bizarre thing about people of Pakistani origin that cannot be explained just by him being old and from Bradford. It is one of the many, many, many things about him that I object to.

Links

Economics:

Cheap oil is taking shipping routes back to the 1800s - http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160303-cheap-oil-is-taking-shipping-routes-back-to-the-1800s?ocid=fbfut

Films:

London Has Fallen reviewed by Mark Kermode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xctC_q7ZvKU Treat yourselves and watch this. It caused me to giggle for 3 minutes straight.

History:

The Daily Life of a Medieval King - http://www.medievalists.net/2016/03/13/the-daily-life-of-a-medieval-king/

Miscellaneous:

Auschwitz survivor is world's oldest man - Guinness World Records - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35787569

What a difference 400 years makes: the London skyline 1616 v 2016 – interactive - http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/03/london-skyline-1616-2016-interactive-faders-visscher?CMP=share_btn_tw

So when is International Men's Day? Richard Herring knows - http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35753559/so-when-is-international-mens-day Headline is godawful but basically, every International Women's Day Richard Herring replies to tweets complaining that there's no International Men's Day by saying what day it is. It's awesome.

New spider discovered in Australia is named Brian - http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35764249?ocid=socialflow_twitter

The mystery over the @ sign - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35744456

Pacers: The train that the UK has struggled to get rid of -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35725299

Museum of Lost Objects:

Museum of Lost Objects: The Armenian church in Deir al-Zour - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35757576

Museum of Lost Objects: The unacceptable poet - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35745962

Museum of Lost Objects: The Genie of Nimrud - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35755273

Museum of Lost Objects: Mar Elian Monastery - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35725220

Music:

New Order, olden style: A unique take on Blue Monday - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/qnLLpZgBW92dSrV2mmGyCb/new-order-olden-style-a-unique-take-on-blue-monday?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=arts&intc_campaign=arts&intc_linkname=vidclip_new_contentcard4

Politics:

DON'T PANIC! Here's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the EU - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dont-panic-heres-hitchhikers-guide-7538496

An Extremely Detailed Guide to What the Heck Might Happen at a GOP Contested Convention - http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/10/a_contested_republican_convention_explained.html

Science:

Snake walk: The physics of slithering - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35563941

Sport:

Cricket:

The Maasai women hitting gender inequality for six - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03lwzjx

Football:

Edwin van der Sar steps out of retirement to help old club VV Noordwijk - http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/10/edwin-van-der-sar-vv-noordwijk?CMP=fb_a-sport_b-gdnsport

Manchester United icon Edwin van der Sar comes out of retirement, immediately saves penalty - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/manchester-united-icon-edwin-van-7544514

It's one of the few acceptable reasons to unretire if you're a footballer. And then there's the 'what if they've not still got it' thing, but of course Edwin's still got it.

Riyad Mahrez: Leicester forward's journey to top of Premier League - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35688719

Annie Zaidi: Football coach faced racism, sexism & Islamophobia - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35731494

Formula 1:

2016 Testing Stats - http://f1statblog.co.uk/2016/03/2016-testing-stats/

Rugby Union:

Six Nations 2016: England, Wales and the pride of Pontypool - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35786702

Technology:

Quietly, symbolically, US control of the internet was just ended - http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/14/icann-internet-control-domain-names-iana

Television:

How The Tube changed the TV landscape - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-35534864
And also a couple of things I watched while I was there.

We ended up watching half of Bellator 147 on Fox Sports Mexico. Mostly because I could follow the sports without a need for a translator.

I have one question about the Anderson vs Patricky fight. How did Anderson get the win? One of them was bleeding and one was not. And it wasn't Patricky that was bleeding. Small words please for any explanations.

I also saw the first episode of 'Into The Badlands' which looks like precisely my kind of nonsense. Swordfights, a kickass, conflicted, slightly mysterious hero (Daniel Wu), actually interesting mystery (even if it makes me think of the Wizard of Oz) and Marton Csokas, even if he's putting on a Southern accent last heard on Foghorn Leghorn, although even the Baron becomes interesting in the last scene. I've not seen any channel in the UK carrying it, which is annoying, because I want to see what happens next.

On the flight over I watched 'The Emperor's New Groove', which is as good as people say, a documentary about the Lipizzaner called 'Perfect Horse', because of course I did (they are the perfect horse, and I am biased). It's very interesting, if a bit bizarre and probably not suitable for a plane flight.

I also ended up watching 'Wild Card' which is a miscellaneous Jason Statham film. In it's defence, the fight scenes are very well done and Michael Angarano is really good as the pencil-necked geek he is supposed to be playing. The setting and the feel of the thing are also well done. The problem is it just sort of stops when you think the story is about to kick in. Definitely not as bad as people would lead you to believe but some pacing issues. And also Milo Ventimiglia either doing a very bad job of playing a gangster or doing a very good job of playing the son of a gangster who is about as dangerous as kitchen towel but plays at being a bad guy. Stanley Tucci meanwhile is very good at playing one of those happy, polite people who is still terrifyingly dangerous.

On the way back I watched Man From U.N.C.L.E again and confirmed my main thoughts, which is to say, it's fun but it's not UNCLE.

Followed by Hitman: Agent 47, the Hitman reboot that no-one wanted or needed. It's not Rupert Friend's fault that he's not as good an actor as Timothy Olyphant. When the film gives him something to do other than look mean and moody (and lets him have facial expressions), he's actually quite fun. Ditto the heroine.

SpoilersCollapse )

The same problem, more or less, was the problem with the fight scenes. Agent 47 is so over-powered that there is no threat to him, so there's nothing interesting about the fights. In the one fight where he is at risk, even though there's no more flair to it that the others, it's suddenly a lot more fun.

~~~~

I also feel tempted to e-mail the BBC to ask them to ask Tolsen Tullet who does the sport on the World Service to enunciate more clearly because I could barely follow him and I'm English as a first language so I don't know how EFL people cope and that's pretty much who the World Service is aimed at. It's not just me for once, my mother, whose hearing is better than mine, had the same problem.

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