The unknown states

Again , filling in the Map I realised that I have been very "coast myopic " in my visits to the USA.. I thought I had visited a lot of America in my over 20 visits there.. only 37% of the country.. Its a good job Im still a bright young thing..!!

The world less travelled

Id always considerd myself a seasoned traveller ,but when I put down the 21 counties I have visited it made me reaise I had only visited 9% of the world...shocking..and prooves to me how I need to do far more travelling...
create your own visited countries map or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Mark Thomas rants

Mark Thomas http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuq3a1VxFk2oBnopXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2ZnYyaG5yBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGODQ1Xzc0/SIG=11aj9ah48/EXP=1163798362/**http://www.mtcp.co.uk/ entertained The Dancehouse for 3 nights , preaching to the converted I know , but his great use of facts , figures , humour , characterisations , storytelling and references to Yes made me think , laugh and get angry over the dispicable worldwide arms-trade... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Thomas He never stopped moving about , talking and ..ranting..for over 2 1/2 hours.. A national treasure ..

The master race

What I always thought was science fiction /fantasy about a Nazi "master race !"actually happend . The concept of Lebensborn , "source of life " children http://www.rickross.com/reference/hate_groups/hategroups164.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/correspondent/729902.stm really did transpire . They were part of a Nazi racial experiment where 200,000 children were selected for Aryan physical qualities and placed with families of SS members. http://www.jewishgen.org/ForgottenCamps/General/LebensbornEng.html http://www.barnesreview.org/lebensborn.htm Not only did many survive..they all met in the German eastern town of Wernigerode http://www.world66.com/europe/germany/saxonyanhalt/wernigerode last week for the first time . Imagine the trauma and atmosphere in that little town. And it was in Germany , not Brazil... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_from_Brazil_(film) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077269/

Is that it

Maybe I have seen too many films , but modern films seem soooo obvious. None more so than The Prestige http://theprestige.movies.go.com/ I was really looking forward to this film... see previous blog.. and the acting and directing was OK , but , dear me , the plot and denoumount was so lame.. The by-line is "Are you watching closely ". My suggestion is not to watch closely at all , or you will guess the "shock " ending in the first 40 mins... even if , like me , you fall asleep when Dame Vera Bowie hams it up.... There is no explanation for the 3 main protagonists change in attitude or behaviour towards each other..in the end one wants them all hung.. Other people are kinder though http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prestige/

Third time bloody

I sat through Saw 3 ,open mouthed , its even more gory and violent then the other 2 Saw gore-fests. A relentless , splatter -filled explosion of tourture and exploytation....I cant see how the inevitable SAW 4 will be more bloody...

Borat ;A world ambassador

I laughed and laughed at the outrageous adventures of Borat http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/9544561/review/12221746/borat_cultural_learnings_of_america_for_make_benefit_glorious_nation_of_kazakhstan remembering when I met him when Sacha Baron Cohen http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_150/186c_ali_g.html was filming as Ali Gee in Manchester Town Hall in 2001. A true star , outrageous , sharp and funny as a button

Tapes and Tapes terrific

In my favourite University venue , the intimate Hop and Grape , newish band Tapes and Tapes http://www.tapesntapes.com/ entertained and beguiled the expectant crowd with spikey melodic rock ,that could have a great future.. I love seeing bands at the begining of their career, they have an ethusiasm and drive that soon dissapaites in the rock machinery. A good solid night of rock promise...

Flaming Lips explode

The Apollo exploded with balloons , streamers , dry ice , lazers , and a dizzying powerful sound as The Flaming Lips http://www.flaminglips.com/main.php roared onto the stage, with Wayne in a huge plastic ball..very Peter Gabriel and extreamely PROG. The night carried on in fine acid- tinged style , creating a real community feel A wonderful night..if you want specticale , melody , heavy rock and a real sense of "belonging " check out The Lips at a rocking theatre near you..you will not regret it...

Sufjan stimulates

I was really expecting a wonderful show from Sufjan Stevens http://www.sufjan.com/ and when the 10 piece band came on in masks and wings ...making the packed , hushed , reverent crowd go crazy... I knew it was going to be a special night. http://www.soundsfamilyre.com/soundsfamilyre/ss/ Indeed it was..the band veared between gentle folk and hard free jazz , they enthralled and excited me and the crowd ,who remained absolutely quiet,until the end when they roared their appreciation. A superb ,reflective and varied night of soulfull, moving music. It even turned on the Manchester Evening News http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/s/227/227295_sufjan_stevens__academy_2.html He will be back..but never in a venue so intimate