Insominia

It has gone 4am, here. I cannot sleep. I went to work tired yesterday. I remember looking at my watch, at 4.30 in the morning, I thought it cannot be that late. But it was 5.30 an hour later, and than 06.15. So, I got up at 10.am. Actually, at 0955 am. I showered and had a crude breakfast, of crisps and caramel bars. I made it into work. I spent the whole day replacing books, it seemed. My boss decided, to let two people go early. Despite the fact that we were, seven people down already.
Anyway, when I came home. I thought I would fall asleep easily. I took, Nytol, and boots herbal sleeping aid. Neither worked at all. I tried reciting the names, of cartoons, and TV programs. It has not worked. All my life, I have been prone to bouts of insomnia. I remember I once, got a detention. I stayed up the whole night before. I am not sure, why. I remember an espeically bad period of sleeplessness after, I split from Jaqui.

January is over at least. That is something.

Erika Soria

Costa Concordia victim died after she gave life jacket to elderly man
Young Peruvian waitress Erika Fani Soriamolina, whose body was recovered from the shipwrecked Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, has been hailed a heroine.

Peruvian crew member Erika Soria poses in front of the Costa Concordia cruise ship Photo: Reuters
By Josephine McKenna, Rome2:23PM GMT 29 Jan 2012
Erika Fani Soriamolina's body was found by divers on the sixth deck of the vessel wearing the ship's uniform but no life jacket.
Witnesses said Soriamolina had helped dozens of terrified passengers into lifeboats on the night of the disaster before giving the life jacket to an elderly man.
A tourism graduate, Soriamolina was working on only her third cruise on the Costa Concordia .
The recovery of the young woman's body ended a desperate search by her parents and sister Madeleine who were among the family members of passengers and crew waiting for news of their loved ones on Giglio.
On Saturday the body of a woman found several days ago was identified as German passenger Inge Shall.

Seventeen people are now confirmed dead after the cruise ship struck rocks and ran aground on January 13 with 4,200 passengers and crew on board and more than 15 people are still missing.
The 17-deck Costa Concordia was run aground in the rocky bay about an hour after its captain, Francesco Schettino, misjudged a 'sail-past' of the Italian island of Giglio and rammed it into rocks, ripping a massive tear in its hull.
Schettino is under house arrest at his home near Sorrento, accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship along with first officer Ciro Ambrosio.
Meanwhile, there were fresh concerns on Sunday about a potential environmental disaster after experts discovered the ship had moved 1.4 inches over a six-hour period from midnight to 6am.
Search and salvage operations were suspended after the move was detected while heavy seas and strong winds also made it unsafe to continue operations.
A barge carrying pumping equipment that was attached to the capsized ship was withdrawn on Saturday and it was unclear when operations might resume.
One of the scientists monitoring the ship, Professor Riccardo Fanti from the University of Florence, said the ship's latest movement was of serious concern. Until now the ship has been moving 3 to 4 millimetres an hour.
"This is much higher than before," Prof Fanti said on Sunday. " It is the highest rate we have recorded. We are very concerned about this acceleration." Experts are concerned that the ship may slide off the rock shelf where it is perched into deeper water before salvage teams can recover the 2,400 tonnes of fuel on board and avert an environmental disaster in Giglio, a popular marine reserve.
Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Costa Concordia emergency operation, on Sunday said it would take "seven to 10 months" to remove the wreckage of the ship from Giglio once the fuel had been removed.

So far away, from home. Never to hear the noise, of Lima again.

Farewell, Erika. Graduate, Immigrant, Peruvian and Heroine.

Derby day

I had managed to get the weekend, before my long weekend off. The key is to book early. So, I booked a ticket, to QPR V Chelsea.

I thus had to set my alarm. Which sort of defeats the point of having a Saturday off. Anyway. I walked down into the ground. The first thing, I noticed was the absence of people from the nearby pubs. The Pubs, were stewarded, and quiet.

There was a much stronger police presence. Than normal. I was searched on my way into the ground. I had to explain, that my printed ticket, was valid for the match. The lady who scanned my ticket, was quite cute.

This is from my return home. I counted 8 police horses. There were several, dogs. There were 8 police vans, on the road out of the stadium, towards Westfield, and the tube stations .

( Not the first time, there has been a horses ass, on this blog) Anyway as you can tell, it was a mid winters day. The temperature stayed below 10 degrees. I was worried I would feel sick, from a chill. But that passed. My thermal socks, did not prove thermal though.

I was sitting in an unfamilar, part of the stand. So it took me a few moments to find my seat. The sun was in our eyes. I was sitting in a season ticket holders place. Mr H, was not able to attend the game, for whatever reason and his loss, was my gain.

The Chelsea fans, were in full voice. There were no banners, or flags allowed it seems. The Chelsea fans, commented on the size, of the ground:

``Your grounds too big for you ''

and they sung the blue flag...
The QPR fans, responded. With...

John Terry you know what you said

.. which morphed into John Terry, your Mum's a thief..John Terry, he sleeps with his Mum!

I would like to thank our fans, from refraining from the vulgar euphemisms, for sleep
The Chelsea fans, replied with

John Terry is probably your Dad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Terry#Recent_seasons
Why Terry is a figure of controversy.

The game was not one I would commend to neutrals. QPR had very few shots on goal. The first half, was quite free flowing. There was only a moments of added, time.

The second half. was more dramatic. Chelsea broke the deadlock. One of there players dived in front of the QPR goal. Paddy Kenny did his best. But as Ron Atkinson, observed. Your not going to save a great penalty....

One of the Chelsea, players was injured. The Game, was held up, for several moments. QPR substituted Helguson, a mistake in my opinion. We were granted 7 minutes, of time added, on, and Sean Wright Phillips, came close. However in the end, this was not our day.

Happy Birthday Patwa

Happy Birthday Patwah/Loon/Sashie

My youngest brother, who is 26 today

I was killing time, at work. I wanted to sneak out 5 minutes, early. So, I walked through the public areas. There was an exhibition on Dickens and Ghosts.

I have to say, if there is one thing I loathe its ghost stories. I get scared too easily. I basically, spent a lonely adolescence. As I would not have been able to sit through horror movies, to impress young ladies

Possibly, its because of that, that I never got round to watching the unquiet dead, for years

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unquiet_Dead

There is a section at work, full of books about this. Most written in the years after the horror of world war 1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for one became obsessed by spiritualism. Lest we forget Duke university had a parapyschology lab, till a generation ago.

Dedicated to someone who is working hard, and would enjoy resting and reading a ghost story

Cowboys and Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens

I caught the trailer, for this sometime, last year. The trailer looked fantastic. Its a classic B-Movie. A one line pitch. ``Cowboys v Aliens'' In the way that Miami Vice, was MTV Cops.

Well, there is no great revelation to be had here. However I did enjoy it. Its a bit smarter than the average blockbuster. The cast is stronger. Craig, and Harrison Ford, and than... Paul Dano, the Preacher from there will be Blood. Walton Goggins, (Shane Vandrell from the Shield, and Sam Rockwell. Sam Rockwell is third billing remember when he was going to be the next big thing. Moon, and parts in Iron man 2, and this are not exactly working for food, but its a moon which which is waning rather than waxing,

Daniel Craig wakes up somewhere in the old west. With a blood stained shirt, and no memory. Only a strange bracelet on his hand. For the first chapter of the film, Craig remains silence. There is an economy

Craig reminds us of why he is the most effective Bond, since Connery. Connery, was a hard man. Not an especially likeable one. See his comments about hitting women. Craig gives off a similar vibe. Similar.. See his line in Casino Royal, the Bitch is dead... Craig Bond works for that part of the British Secret Service, which poisoned wells, in Oman.

Ford, plays against type in this movie. Harrison is Dolarhyde a ruthless cattle baron. The paths, of Craig and Ford, cross when Craig, hits Fords son, in a confrontation in the one horse town, which Craig heads to for shelter after waking. Dolarhyde is introduced, to the camera having a man pulled between two horses. So Dolarhyde, goes into town, to free his son, who shot a deputy, after a confrontation with Craig. Who it turns out, is the notorious Jake Lonnegan, who stole gold, from a stage coach, belonging to Dolarhyde.

Its at that point the Aliens attack.

Interestingly the Aliens, use drones

One thing, I did like about this film, is that it knew its history. Yes its a comic book. However the Mexican war, and the United states civil war, were fresh in the characters minds. The Apaches, who are introduced later in the film, are a figure of menace at first. They are wild and dangerous. Than the Hollywood treatment steps in... However the film, does not flinch from the marital prowess of the Apache. The leader of the Apache, taunts Dolarhyde, with the question of if he is such a great warrior, why do only a man and a boy follow him...

At one point Craig, fighting with an alien drone. Realises he is flying. Powered flight, is still a generation away. Assuming this 1878. 1848, plus thirty years.

Olivia Wilde, is pretty. I was glad of the nod towards the real old west. When Oliva joins the posse, who ride out, after the townspeople. The preacher says, a boy and a dog, why not a woman!

There was also a nice piece, when she approaches, Craig in the Bar, and he tells her he is here, to drink.

On occasion Daniel Craig, sounds too english. To be monikered Jake Lonnegan, why not lawford? The same is true with David O 'Hara's North Channel Accent.

Still it is very enjoyable, and should introduce the brighter parts of the younger audience, onto better things

Good luck

Good luck to my Valya, who has to work the whole weekend!

¡feliz cumpleaños Nancy!

The World at war

I saw the first few episodes of this at High school. Its a British TV series. That sets out the History of the Second world war. I did not study the second world war directly at High school.
From than on, I have caught various episodes, on various history channels. I was at a loss for something to do, one night. I had tided out my wardrobe, so. I put them on..

Narrated by Laurence Olivier, before he was knighted. The series was filmed in 1974. I think it holds up well. The only mentions of the contemporary world. Are references to fighting in Vietnam. A father, a veteran telling his children, that burning child, is a person. It could as well, have been Iraq. Or the foothills of Helmund.

Well as History, it has held up well. The series, gives a good broad account, of World war, 2. Its strength, is bringing home, the War what it meant

Its cast of thousands, but from both upstairs and downstairs.

Lord Avon, shares the stage with Albert Speer, and the Marquis Ito,( One of the higher ups, in the Japanese cabinent/ Karl Doneiz, Doeniz, sounds almost like a comic german. `Ve have vays'' Mark Clark, and Lord Mountbatten. Mountbatten would become a casualty of another war, a few years later. There are Russian officers and Bomber Harris. Harris is unrepentant and there is a French General. Speaking of the collapse of France. Hitler's Valet and Secretary, talk into the Cameras about life, in the Bunker.

Than there are Berliners, who were waitresses, and cooks. Sailors, who describe the battle of the Atlantic. Sleeping dripping wet on lockers, for less money then there wives made in the factories. A British soldier talks about Burma. A land, where Bully beef, became liquid. There is Dame Vera Lynn, as a young woman, with her long legs bare, and smile, entertaining the forgotten army in Burma. A Dutch Woman, still pretty, despite her age, talks of her life, as the Holocaust swept her up. She was spared because of all things, scarlet fever. She was took sick for a concentration camp. Dutch civil servants, and policemen, talk about how they became unwitting tools, in mass murder.

The series, often ends an episode, on a low note. The Normandy episode, which ends with the liberation of Paris, concludes with images of bloody street fighting. A man firing a rifle, over a huddled crowd, including children. The occupation episode, finishes with the words, that thousands of Dutchmen, and women and children would starve, before there liberation.

An episode about life on the British Home front. Does not paint a pretty picture, of the war. It ends with a newsreel, showing a redheaded, public school boy who had been conscripted into the mines. Much to his surprise, his peers would have become officers. The Series had tracked him, down and interviewed him. It concluded, with the observation, that such measures would not change the problems,

Finally, its final episode, has Steven Ambrose, summing up fruits of the British contribution, as a moral victory. Saving themselves from the dark night of Nazism. Not to be dismissed, but compared to the Two Superpowers.

Something I have taken, from the episode. Which may not have struck the viewers, at the time. Is that this is a world I knew. I see the Allies crossing the Rhine at Cologne. They are about 100 m upstream from the Chocolate factory and sports museum. I see Kiev, and it looks familiar, I swear. A German talks, about reading the papers, at the Hauptbahoff, in Colonge. There are the buildings of Berlin. ( I took, the war walking tour there)

Than there is the horror of the holocaust episode. It starts slowly. Its interesting to observe, that the episode criticises Nazism, on quite strong Christian grounds. The SS are portrayed as a perverse mockery of the Jesuits. The 1970s, were a time, in which the UK thought of itself, more of a Christian country, than it did today. I noticed the choirboys and Bishops at a service at the Centotaph.

The horror of those events, escape my words. I am not sure, this blog is the place. To try. My notes mention a woman, who had hidden under a pile of corpses somewhere in the US. The bodies included her child

I saw Lord Avon recount the House of Commons condemnation of those events. A well meaning man, at the limits of his power. I do not think its fair to criticise individuals, but the impotence, of the action. Struck me.

Speaking of Parliament. The series shows us, that the Past truly is a foreign country. I have mentioned the visibility of the Anglican Church. Newsreels, of the mainland, have Catholic priests everywhere. The series, is at pains to mention the role of Indian soldiers, in the Far East Campaign, Dutch Muslim soldiers, from the Indes, and African American GI's are shown. Mark Clark, mentions he commanded Muslim troops in Italy. There are discussions of the events in the House of Parliament. At a time, when the House, was the life blood of British politics. An attempt to foist Churchill from leadership fails, when the Tory MP, who rises to speak. Suggests the Duke of Gloucester for reasons best known to himself, and the almighty.

The last image I was left with was the Africa corps reunion, which Australians, and British attended.

A vision of a different world. A horrible one, but an excellent attempt to explain it. A fine and ennobling piece of television

Wikipedia down

As wikipedia, is down today. In protest against SOPA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more

I have decided, to step into wiki's shoes briefly, and supply everything you need to know about Old school cartoons. You are very welcome

The family ness
The Loch Ness Monster was big in the 1980s. A teacher called me Noisy Ness, Malchera
Sport Billy.
A hero from another planet. One of my favourite cartoons, as an under 5. I presume, because like me, sport Billy had black hair, and jeans. Contrary to rumour not banned in Scotland
Mr Men.
Written about my affections for the show earlier on my blog
The Smurfs
The only thing worth watching on Sundays. However never forgave Papa smurf, for saying you are behaving like humans. Bigot! There was a reboot, which I saw only once. Which featured Grandpappy smurf. First fan website, I ever saw produced was by Robyn on the smurfs
Galaxy High.
Galaxy High, Why should the under tens, worry if they are popular at HS? No seriously America why? Something wrong with the system there...1980s fish out of water cartoon.
Battle of the Planets.
They used drones Automated Missile trucks, when fighting the bad guys!
Thunderbirds, 2061.
I remember the line, make it jump like a scalded cat. Also one of the pilots had PTSD, and there was a rebellion in the Asteroid colonies. Not enough fighting though. True to the Gerry Anderson series, in that case
Rupert the bear.
Rupert your a wonderful bear, you wear love hearts on your underwear. British comic strip, which is the only thing in the Daily Express, worth reading
Centurions.
One of my favourites. There was an episode, where a kid, is kidnapped and recruited, by the main foe and happily beats the Heroes, with the Baddie's robot army. Also had an Irish astronaut, and a pretty redhead. Quite interesting in retrospect, as it features a transporter beam, but no internet
Captain Planet.
Geordi La Forge, solves the Troubles. This is not a joke
MASK.
Did the hero, just jump out of Aircraft, to solve the episodes problems? Also an American secret society that acts outside the law, and wears disguises should worry people.
Galaxy rangers,
Never really watched this.
Bravestar,
There was a thing for Cowboys in Space, end of the 1980s start of the 1990s. Native American in Space. Was he the inspiration for Chakotay in Voyager?
Hulk cartoon,
I remember this on Saturday morning. The female lead, was captured in one episode, trying to Hitch Hike, there is a moral for you there.
The Get along gang. They lived in a caboose ( American term for an railroad car) Hey kids, play on the railways! The leader was called Montgomery.
Duckula.
British TV series. Voiced by David Jason. Pray your never meet, with Duckula? Did ITV make more animation than the BBC?
Tailspin.
Disney keeping Baloo, out of the Public Domain
Kissyfur.
Sentimental series, they would show on Saturdays. bear, and father. grieving over his mother's death. Attacking a crocodile that used to try and eat the kids.
Godzilla and Godzooky.
First Cartoon, that I would sit through BBC Young persons, TV on saturdays for.
Spiderman and his amazing friends. Played this in Primary school. I was the lizard. I fought Spider man! I still remember that
The Fantastic Four
( Version without the Human Torch, another BBC Moral panic)
X-Men.
( Several versions)Theme tune, was a kicker. I was called a hypocrite for whistling the tune in senior year. ( For the cousins) As I would have told someone else, they were childish for doing so.
Spideman,
1998 version, I saw in the USA, when I should be in class. Introduced me to the black cat. Who in my mind is linked with Catherine W. Crush I had in UNC
The new animated Batman, and Superman adventures.
I used to watch this in UNC, after class. Really good. Described in SFX as cartoon Noir
Animaniacs.
Suprisingly smart scripted series, on the WB channel. Yet covered US civic history-crossing of the Delaware, the Star spangled Banner the Also featured a long haired blonde nurse as a regular
My little Pony.
Sisters had the videos and the toys. There was one of the Ponies who was a genius. Who said things like, ``in theory, yes in practicality no!'' I still use this line. There were villains called Crabnasties.. giggle
Biker Mice from Mars.
British series, I don't know if I ever watched it. Recent, remember the titles though.
Teenage mutant Ninja turtles.
Favourite of my youngest brother. BBC had a slight moral panic over the word Ninja
Batfink
-My wings are like a shield of steel. Asian stereotype sidekick
Rodger Ramjet.
used to be shown in the morning. Odd as its actually a US satire. US Jet age hero, is an idiot
Rainbow bright.
My middle sisters favourite show, at 8 years old. Oirsh Patty o' Green character
Carebears.
Fun fact Harry Dean Stanton worked on the Care bear movie
Flintstones
. A favourite of my mother.
Jetsons... Again... See Family guy spoofs, for this and the flint stones too
( Wasn't there a third series based on the premise of an ordinary modern family in ancient rome?)
Chip N Dale.
.One of my favourite shows of all time. Pretty mouse techie. Wicked theme tune..
Duck Tales-
I know the theme tune, in Russian. ``Life is like a Hurricane'' I was compared to scrooge McDuck at work. By an ex supervisor. Who I presume earned more money than me...Also Scrooge wears a kilt, but the tight fisted Scotsman is a lowlander nae?
Gummi Bears-
I used to make gummi berry juice, out of black currant and orange. Cartoon based on a piece of Candy.
Willy Fogg-
Great series gateway, to the books. Oh and quite accurate. Notice the duel. Willy Fogg, fights a duel.
Jayce and the wheeled warriors. A woman once slapped me, because I remembered the name.
Jayce crosses the galaxy fighting veg.
Reboot-
I saw one episode, which was incredibly well written featuring cameo's from Mulder and Scully at the height of their fame)
The Raggy Dolls-
British series. I used to pretend it was called Ragga dolls
The Ratties-
( Voiced by Spike Milligan)
Rhubarb and Custard.
People thought the tune was hysterical in HS, it was. Once!
Visionaries.
The arrows fierce the swords, repel, may nothing pierce this mortal shell''
Go-Bots-
My brothers friend was in trouble for singing the theme tune in class. I wonder if the Go-Bots are more remembered now, as they are mentioned in passing in Lethal weapon
Transformers-
The classic. I cried when Prime died. Grimlock....
GI. Joe.
Never watched the series here. I used to read the blurbs on the videos in Woolworths
He-Man, and the Masters of the Universe..
In today's story..One truly terrifying two part episode. Featured a gate with snakes, and maniac laughter
The Mysterious cites of Gold..
Epic PC series. Probably responsible for my love of Latin women, The colonisation of the Americas, meets the Chariots of the Gods. Find a live action TV series with that ambition?
Belle and Sebastian..
Did they ever get over the Mountains?
Thundercats.
I had the sticker book, which someone stole. Also, Thundercats, left there people to die on Thundera. They are the Aristocrats. Mutants the Villians, brought a fleet, of people. The Thundercats saved their manservant and let the cities die. Pilot featured nudity though
Voltran.
They showed this in Texas. The home and garden store, not the US state. Though the show is more popular in the United States of America
Dino Riders.
I had one of the toy dinosaurs. No one else seems to have noticed the show though. The toy was cool.
The Paw Paw Bears.
The lead villain was quite sympathetic. I always wanted him to win. Esp, as the leader of the Paw Paw, bears, was a whiny girl ``Flying cloud'' You would almost wait for Phil Sheridan to show up
Dogtanian, and the Muskerhounds.
Heard Italians singing the tune, in Sienna, in Italian.
Defenders of the Earth.
Broadcast here, a decade after the US.
Conan.
My brother and sister, make fun of me by singing a song, based about me..based on the theme tune of Conan. Malchera the adventurer
Once upon a ...life.
( French Cartoon, Channel 4 used to show, did the whole of world history, and Biology)
She-ra-
I had the poster. I thought Hordak, was a better villain than Skeletor
Droids-
Curiously I may have had a friend who worked on this
Ewoks.
See above.
Dangermouse-
Kid at school named Penfold. He grew up learning how to fight
Bucky O Hare.
Lets croak us some toad...The comics were worthless, in the 1990s. Friend collected a lot to sell. Nothings
Maxie's world.
My littlest sister, loved it. She used to watch it on saturdays. Nice theme tune Feminist horror. The male charcters are all idiots.
Bill and Ted.
Whenever they show elephants, they mention one of there fathers is a republican.
Police academy the cartoon,
shown on saturdays. I swear I am the only person to have seen this I know off. Possibly because Tackleberry would use firearms to open doors.
Mr T.
My brother had the cassette and book. For years I confused, the phrase limoscene, with liberty.
The Happy Days cartoon.
I remember one episode, which featured a Beyonce lookalike running around the North African of Timbucktu, in a bikini. Not the most accurate history. Oh and my brother had the cake, based on the time machine for his birthday
The Raccoons.
Watched the TV movie in class. The TV movie, is a retcon. TV movie makes Cyril sneer an Alien.
Was the Alligator Tycoon, supposed to be a Texan?
Pirates of Blackwater.
Foxy female lead. There is an urban legend that there is a banned second series.
Dungeons and Dragons.
Even as I child, I found there was something hellish about it. Remember an episode, where one of characters got older and older. Why would a Tween/Teen be scared of that? Also, again, African American girl wears a bikini. Oh and they once had an Aircraft carrier, in an episode, and did not strip it for guns. Also I found Eric the character who complained a lot, was right most of the time/
Star trek the Animated series.
I have caught a few episodes, from time to time. Kirk quoted Shakespeare at the end of one episode. I mean to sit down and watch it all
Stargate infinity.
I never got round to seeing this. Considering how big I was into Gate Fandom
The Simpsons.
I did not see, this until I was in my first year of college, and they showed it on terrestrial. We did not have cable.
Family Guy.
I kept the video for years, until the series was relaunched. I used to have write commentaries, for a French person. Have stopped watching it though.
American Dad
US series by the writer of Family guy. Spoof of the securocrat Bush years. Not ageing well.
South Park.
I heard about the pilot, and laughed out loud. I was in a cafe, with Robyn's friends, than went to New England and watched it with my cousins.
Ren and Stimpy.
Nickname for two teachers in High school
Rugrats.
There is ``a dingo stole, your baby joke'' in this series.
The Real Ghost busters.
Written by JMS, the guy who wrote Babylon 5..and featured Marduk, the Babylonian god
Filmation Ghostbusters.
Someone bought us the books, for a cheap birthday or Christmas present. Its a cartoon of a barely remembered 1970s/60s US series. That once the 1980s version of Ghostbusters came out, someone decided to cash in.
Teddy Ruxpin.
Took ages, to get to the action.
Perishers.
British rip of Charlie brown?
Animals of Farthing wood.
They show this in Irish, in Ireland
Charlie brown-Snoopy.
Cannot watch it now, without remembering the family guys spoofs
The Tick,
Sadly missed show. Featured a cameo from Joey from friends, playing the ticks roomie
God the Devil and Bob.
James Garner should play God. My brother loved the lie, about God getting a cheap shot in a fight.
Jem.
Truly outrageous. Inspiration of pretty Nordic singers
Futurama.
I always liked the woman who voiced Leela. Look her up when Wiki works again. Oh and Zoidberg. However it was never as sharp, as the Seth McFarlane stable
The Midnight patrol.
(Potsworth and company are called by the cousins)
Yogi Bear.
This is obviously, a heritage show
Tom and Jerry.
Again another heritage show, used to be shown before the news.
Woody Woodpecker.
He wears UNC colours, white and Sky blue
Mighty Mouse.
They showed all the episodes in 1987 than stopped
Betty Boop.
Became fashionable again in the 1990s. Suspect any middle aged man, who likes this show.
Top Cat,
I would never have been allowed to watch this, had my dad known it was based on Bilko
Heathcliff
Another crazy cat cartoon often confused with Garfield. The lead terrorizes the neighbourhood. Thus our problems with street crime began...Also there was a Gang, of cats who lived in a junk yard, featuring a 6ft tall female cat, who wore leg warmers..
Laurel and Hardy the cartoon.
Not remembered fondly. I guess a nice idea. Introduce kids, to classic comedy. But was even mocked on little Britan.
Highlander the Cartoon, Better than one of the Highlander movies. The second.
Popye, and Popeye, the new adventures One of the new adventures episodes, has Popeye living somewhere in the American West Coast, and talking about his grandfather the Chicken Plucker. Surely that was deliberate
Hulk Hogan, the Cartoon.
I ignored this. It made Thunder in Paradise, look Indie
Garfield.
Bored me, I dislike cats,
Plastic man
The side kick, was a Pacific Islander called Bad Luck Jimmy. Who bad things happened to, One presumes in his last life, he was working the watch towers.
The Snorks.
Teaser promised, a guy investigating the snorks. It looked cool. Instead, it turned out to be the Smurfs, underwater
Captain Caveman. Sadly I never acheieved my ambition of traveling across the US south, with three teenage girls. Nor did I ever get to say, a ``Truckosaurus rex''
Scooby do.
I actually liked Scappy do. Look it up on TV tropes. Live with it

A picture I saw at work. I thought it bore a passing resemblance, to Christina ricci. Indeed, its probably a production, of her remote cousin. Or ms Ricci is the Highlander

Magazines and Doctors offices

Magazines in the Doctor's office….
Of late there was a BBC documentary about Irish soldiers, who deserted to the
allied side in WW2. The BBC is looking for them to be Pardoned. As is the Irish Times

Someone asked me, if there was any threat to the Irish state at the time.
Well indeed there was, what Dan Byran called ``our Pearl harbour''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Raid

Almost the entire Irish states military resources were captured.

This AH starts with the the death of Sean Russell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_Russell The IRA chief of staff, in
1939. Russell is to die, earlier of the gastric ulcers, that plagued him all his
life. For giggles make it in Detroit. Just after Russell was arrested by the Secret
service. In our time line he was arrested because Colin Firth, (Sorry George VI
was visiting Canada, and was just across the border) , have the Ulcer, burst
while he is in American custody. For fans of everything connects have Father Coughlin say the last rites. Now in our time line. ( OTL from now on) there was a protest in the House against the arrest of Russell, and
rather cutely it gives Coughlin, a last national story to front.
With the death of Russell, the S Plan, filters out in England, as the IRA
regroup.
The deaths of Barnes and Mcomrick, mobilised a lot of popular support in
Ireland. With Russell dead. Have Sean McBride, move back into the organisation.
Thinking that he can lead, a popular front republican movement. For a while he
will succeed. The purists, will drift away, from him in time. This does not
actually matter. While the hard boys, are quieter, they are getting more guns
and ammo, from the US and the UK. That's where Coughlin came in handy.
Anyway they are making bombs, they are scouting targets. With Russell dead, and
McBride on paper in charge, they are quiet for a year. They are still doing
robberies, Bakers Vans.
So McBride, leads protests and sit ins. The use of the treason act, and the
offenses against the state act are challenged in the Irish Courts. McBride holds out
the promise of a reunited republican movement, that FF want
So McBride, will be the leader nominally at least of the IRA. He will also be
the figure head of a popular front movement disaffected against Dev's
government. For the moment, its mostly peaceful. Its members are IRA men,
republicans. Communists Some Pro Germans, who are just there for devilment?
Some of FF, want to explore the offer. There are those who argue Dev sought a
truce with the IRA, until about 1940. ( Bryan Girvin)
Events from outside are going to take over....
Special branch, in Ireland, has their headquarters in Dublin Castle. (As one
presumes, that someone really decided to mess with the minds of Irish subversives)
The IRA smuggled a bomb into special branch offices. Now with McBride's
leadership, we will make the IRA militarily less ambitious,
Instead of trying to capture the ammo at Magazine fort. They content themselves
with destroying the ammo. Which tactically makes sense since, the Irish Army
are useless without it too. This also mean a larger attack on Special branch. A
bigger bomb, and have someone with a grudge take Alan Clarks advice and wait for
the survivors to come out. Waiting with a tommy gun
The explosion, is dramatic and distracts Irish law enforcement, allowing the
Ira to get away. In otl, some were just captured after the event. This time, the
Ammo and the files, are destroyed
The result is that the Irish state, is now basically defenceless. It's
ammunition stores have gone up in smoke. In our timeline, they were recovered.
But a year has passed
Its July 1940..
Now it gets interesting. Dev orders, the Garda after the IRA. So instead of a
large operation with a visible tail, and prisoners captured to interrogate. The
IRA has been quiet. Sean McBride, leads protests against the Police tactics. He
takes it out to to the streets
There are sit in's and strikes, and marches across Ireland.
However despite what McBride thought
``They have not gone away you know''
Turns out, McBride, was not in the charge, of the organisation. ( Or perhaps he
was. The Irish intelligence agency believed he was too close to the soviets.
Lying outright to him, when he asked for information on British forces across
the border. Its 1940, and Moscow and Berlin are still allied.
So the special branch men go out. They round up dozens. But when night comes,
it's a different story. The IRA are eager for a fight. They are a few hundred
men, with fewer weapons
Except that the Irish army are not much better off.
And the Garda are worse off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_O'Brien_(policeman)
Now imagine, that was a
village policeman who had pissed off the wrong person in West Cork
In normal times, the state security forces would win this easily. But it's not
normal times its an emergency.
So Devalera is looking for bullets. Churchill refuses. France has fallen, and
asking for help, from Germany, is giving Churchill, another excuse to act. DE
Valera tries to bluff his way out. But the country is in trouble. A mood of
general lawlessness and protest and once, it becomes apparent, that the IRA can
act with impunity in some areas things begin to snowball. A shoot out, with some
B-Specials who live don the Irish side of the border. Raises tensions with
Northern Ireland . Across the Island Scores are settled. Churchill, will not act
to save Dev, if Britain should fall, than it should take Dev down with him. Not
an inch, not a bullet.
Somewhere in Meath a parachute lands, with a few German rifles, and a small
amount of ammo. In our timeline, a German parachutist was landed successfully
there, and with the support of Irish groups other than the IRA, or the state
evaded capture for a year. The rifles are used to scare of a robbery at a bank
in Old Castle. Was it the IRA, was it local thieves. The news is reported around
the world. Dev is not in control. The Garda are exhausted. The RC church, is
looking to buy ammo from Salazar, and Franco. They will not sell.
In September 1940. Archbishop McRory, and Lemass, and Douglas Hyde insist dev.
to ask FDR for help. FDR agrees on the insistence, that the Irish open there
ports, at least to US shipping.
Dev agrees, in the winter of 1940. The second Irish civil war began. Despite
joining the united nations during the war. Ireland would never be a happy member
of the Allied family. It did not join NATO, and remained outside the EEC until
1980

For someone who is feeling a little moody today, and is taking care of everyone, when she would rather go out and buy a nice dress

Get well soon

Get well, soon Valya

Parish Pump

After I went to the doctors, on Monday. I was walking to the supermarket. 

The walk to the shops  passes by an Episcopalian church. Which I guess would have been the centre of town, a hundred years ago, or more.

 I was looking at the graves there, before Christmas. My attention was caught by the actual Parish pump

A relic of older times.

Work thoughts

When your boss asks you to take a seat, its either bad news for you or someone else

It always snows, on the week, that you don't have saturday off.

There are people I have seen, on and off, for ten years. I have no idea what they do, where they work. But they seem to have much longer lunch breaks than me

The other shifts always seem to have less to do.

No matter how, low paid the job, how cold the weather, how warm the weather. No matter what the attractions outside, and the rules inside. Some people never want to leave

Conan

My brother, wanted to see this film, in the cinema. I was not so keen. It was not as bad, as I thought it would be. It would have made a decent, pilot for a film. But as a piece of cinema, not so much. It lacks the scope, and the spectacle of the Milnus-Arnold S, version

Anyway, I wrote a walk through. There are spoilers here...

His Mother gives birth on a battlefield. In a particular clean delivery. Very good, of the enemy, to let this happen.
I had an idea, for how conan could work. Attacotti, merc, running around, the roman empire, at its fall. Picking up a war band, and moving to the mainland.
Horned helmets/ Really I should not critique that.
Conan wants to be warrior. The test is to carry an Egg unbroken, in the mouth up and around the hills. A fraternity test?
``Well by Crom boy'' Crom Cruach, the big God, from the Celtic Panetheon
Young Conan is ambushed by the Horde from Xena, red skins. Woad. Mo hawks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xena:_Warrior_Princess_(season_4)
The Hyberoeans foes are carrying copies of the Battersea shield
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/t/the_battersea_shield.aspx

The villan has a multiracial warrior band, and is fighting Nordics
This is there church…The word church implies christintay.
Spudgun, is one of the baddies
Older conan, team, are multi racial. His African buddy, refers to people as pink bellied though.
Older conan frees slaves. His warrior band, drop rubber rocks down a hill. With CGI, now, cheap, why use something that looks, fake?
There is an American accent on Conan...
Pot smoking seer. He is the chief monk, of some ancient and lost city. But again, he is smoking pot... Its getting more mainstream
Blond actually she is brunette, with an Asian American soroity sister plays vestal virgin, she sits listening while her monkish master, preaches
Another American accented friend. The older version of the villians daughter
Desert, city. Forest, ocean . The film, really scowers the world for scenary. It does not seem to get a sense of the vastness of the world, that the Milnus version did.
Ist that the set of hbo’s rome, as the Villians, forces storm the city. In which the monk, was living with the pretty woman and her Asian American sorority sister. Remember the Arnold version, was written by John Milnus, who also worked on HBO’s rome

Protect the master. The love interest cannot be passive. How many women are going to watch this film?
Oh the bad, guys have a chariot. Interesting!
Marique the female villain, looks like a suicide girl. Again, her father, comes off as too sympathetic
There is an incest subplot subtext. It looked like the villians, were beco7ming to intelligent., too sympathric again. The father brushes it off.
Johnny lee miller, has terrible teeth, and a native accent. Funnily enough he survived, the night, after being ambushed. Miller, tries to swap, the pure blood for gold/
Marique, is dressed like evil lyn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Lyn
Battle in the place, does not go well for Conan
The tales are true.. Does he have, scales and a golden eye.. Conan's African friend asks, him? Thats a nice touch, the power of rumour
Barbarians, do not enslave their children. or sacrifice them to God. This is from the Howard source material. Its not true. Its the noble savage myth
Cimmerian women dress as warriors. Again heroine cannot be passive
Oh, the fight, on the ship, involves, a crate of chickens, falling on someone. Nice cliché
The love interest,(Tamara) has a peaches and cream complexion.
Tavern scene at the end of a movie.. rather than the start?
There is expoiton, of why the badies, need the heroine.
A battle with the baddies, dragon. Sorry been reading to much tv tropes. A battle the antagonists, squid monster
Okay onto the ceremony. The pure blood. She is purely descended, from necromancers. I thought It was an odd, trope for an American movie. Anyway, peaches and cream, is having her blood drained
The show down,
The villain tells the Cimmerian, he does not like him anymore

Evil lyn/mMrique and peaches and cream, have their battle too. Mariqure is dressed in chainmail, with a loose thread, and very little else. Marique, has her hand amputated, and peaches, commits, the coup de grace. Marique is impaled. We shall ignore that symbolism!
Villian, is dressed like the Kurgan, from Highlander. ( Khalar Zym, I wonder if that was a reference to zimry Lyn)
Peaches and cream-Tamara, almost falls to her death during the final battle
Oh, it is all circular, Zym repeats his words to Conan's father. Oh but Conan gets , the upper hand...Hurrah!

Zym, the villain, falls to his death. Calling his wives name. You see sympathetic to the end
He leaves Peaches, at her city, which was not burned? And than buries his father
Cue Credits....

Who is this terrible person

Lord Halifax complete ghost book

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Halifax%27s_Complete_Ghost_Book

I was looking at this, yesterday at work. Its written by the father of Lord Halifax.Indeed he wrote a prologue for the book. The Younger Lord Halifax, The Holy fox, the man who was in the running for Churchill's job in 1940. He was a member of the House of Lords, and thus it would be have slightly awkward politically for Chamberlain to recommend him to the King. Halifax is believed sought an accommodation with Herr Hitler.

29 of December, I visited casualty department of my local hospital.

I had terrible stomach cramps. No diarrhoeal symptoms. But a painful, bloating, sensation. Eased slightly if I belched. I tried to apply a hot water bottle, to my stomach and drink, mint tea. It was too painful, to sit or lie down. I was up and down the stairs, trying to vomit
Drinking water, made the pain worse. Once at the casualty dept. I vomited profusely But the pain did not stop. After several pain killers, of varying strength. I relaxed, and slept for a bit

(A similar thing happened to me, five years ago. It was one of the reasons, I quit smoking)

Blood tests, and urine tests, revealed nothing unusual. I had a slight infection. I had a cold and have a cold sore

Since the earlier incident. I have had terrible heartburn and bloating on and off. That's what I thought was happening, when it begun.

I have no idea, why this is happening. I am going to go to my GP on Wednesday, and seek medical advice. Anyone have any ideas, or pointers to questions I should ask? My specific worry is that this will happen on vacation.

I am feeling better now.

Seasons greeting from the Dnieper banks!

Bon anniversaire Sonia

A christmas card from my friends in the USA

My New Years message