Big Cats

"   As soon as the daughter is ready to breed, she becomes a direct threat to the mother. " David Attenborough

Women As Demons - Tanith Lee

Last Summer I fancied reading something different. I chose a book of short stories by a British female author called Tanith Lee. I heard she came highly recommended, so rather than plough through a whole novel to find out if I agreed with this outlook, I took  my preferred route when I check out a new persons books, and decided on reading a selection of their short stories. I find this system works well as you get a good feel for whether they are your cup of tea.
    Opening the book I first see the dreaded " sf " logo. Im not a fan of science fiction. Then I see the phrase " Womens writer " and Im not feeling this book is going to be me at all. The reason I chose this collection of stories is because its selling point was how women are seen through the eyes of men. Tonight I was thinking the book was no such thing, but it is done so subtly that I didnt even spot any give aways, its that skillfully done. A woman's view of a woman can make a me smile inside and Tanith Lee understands how to do this.
   Firstly her science fiction writing is so fresh and overwhelmingly full of human emotion that you forget the science fiction setting. The science fiction compliments the stories and yet  raises more male / female scenarios. Im thinking You Are My Sunshine or Discovered Country .
   Tanith Lee is also a master of changing the perception of a story by adding an explosive line in the last paragraph that changes the whole meaning of what youve just read. The Truce is an excellent example. Two warring tribes cannot put aside their differences despite the future of human race being at stake. In the last paragraph we learn the two tribes are solely of men or women. They live separately, they dont put their differences aside. The human race is doomed ! Nice.
   There are a wide range of styles in this book. All are done well, and some chapters gave me that fuzzy feeling in my stomach. You know the one when a book moves you ? The last time I felt this was in Simon Iff In America, so thats quite an achievement.
   There is something organic and strange about her writing. There are hints of knowledge about magic and occult thinking too. Despite all this her writing is never heavy going, and a knowing nod is often given to the dance that occurs between our sexes. Its the way she weaves this into different genre's thats so impressive. If a book doesnt hold my attention I wont finish it. My reading span is short, twenty minutes or so.This book caused me a few cold baths as In was so engrossed in the characters outcomes ! I guess thats the mark of a good book. No ?

Its a paradox, but a post a blogger decides to withdraw from view can tell you more about their mindset than those writings they post and leave on...

Ive noticed that if a post is published, and then later removed, I still get the first paragraph on my blog feed funnily. Its a rather naughty system . But it is damned amusing none the less !

If a problem requires two people to each leave what is most suited to them behind, then it will indeed become a problem....

TISWAS - Algernon Razzamatazz hoe key coe key joke

The comedian Lenny Henry is a national treasure, so I was annoyed recently when I heard him playing the race card when complaining about how only a handful of black actors in Britain actually appeared in films that were destined for the world stage. He strongly suggested that discrimination was holding back opportunities for so much black talent, and that racism was denying many actors the chance to star in block buster films that are produced in the U.K   That's a funny view for a person of colour whom Im sure most people in the U.K love and admire with great affection. It becomes even more bizarre when I thought back about his early days on T.V when he was very famous originally for portraying a racially stereotyped over the top character that ive posted above ( God Bless YouTube ) So is he correct in his reasoning then ? Well another national treasure who is also an actor and comedian; Stephen Fry, answered  Lennys assumption in a radio interview that I was lucky enough to catch a few days later .And what he said really surprised me...

                                            
                                            Stephen Fry, another national treasure.....


   Stephen Fry stated that in his experience the rest of the world had a very limited appetite for British made films. In fact it was limited solely to period dramas, or historical type films, hence black actors were not suitable to play many roles. He also suggested that black Britain's  were associated with an urban image, and urban Britain unlike say urban America was not deemed  sexy, exciting or relevant to film audiences in other countries. Of course films with a rural setting are popular abroad due to our  Ye Old English Victorian image, but again these films were not big employers of black actors obviously. Its all basically a situation of supply and demand, not racism thats denying more black actors the chances they deserve. I just wonder why a man as experienced and loved as Lenny Henry expresses such views ? I think he knows that what he says is not entirely true, and like most people with axes to grind isnt bothered as long as it amplifies and serves his purposes better when getting his distorted " chip on the shoulder " message across. Most wont be bothered by this, but it really gets my goat !

Frankenstein The Movie !!

Ive finally finished reading Frankenstein. I was totally taken by surprise just how far from the Hollywood or Hammer Film versions this book was. I can now see why a movie version thats true to the original book can never, ever be made. Here are a few profound reasons....


1 )  The books all about the emotions of the monster thats being created, and how alienated he feels from the world. An articulate monster does not fit with movie stereo types. How can a killer be emotional and philosophical  ?  A modern taboo. Audiences would run....

2 ) The monster kills those closest to his creator as a punishment  for the misery he now faces being alone in the world as an outcast. No one is saved. No surprise last minute happy out comes. People die, people suffer. To unacceptable in a unrelenting manner for today's film watcher

3 ) Frankensteins creator dies having failed to destroy the monster he created. No happy endings here. Messy loose ends abound...

4 ) The monster decides to destroy himself. No great good versus evil finale here !!! A damp squib ending by modern standards. Today we like nice tidy moral conclusions to our films.


Maybe most strange of all though is that modern film versions are all about how the monster is created and brought to life. There are NO details in the book about this scene. Its all very low key. Its rather funny as this scene is the bread and butter of all film adaptations ( I think the word adaptations is pushing it a little here lol ) . No, I have never seen two versions of a story that are so far apart. Sadly many people will judge the book they have only heard about, by the tacky, shallow film they have  seen. I did up until now anyway...

Fallen Angels Amongst Us

  They've got it nailed. Yes, the average teenage female has mastered the art of the perfect profile picture. Poses that have been borrowed and perfected from fashion magazines are now the norm. I expect much time has gone into there execution ,as most appear picture perfect. Maybe Im getting older, but surely everyone cant be so beautiful, can they ? Even with youth on their side...
  Of course this is all an illusion as in real life these people I know are not that perfect in appearance, hence their manipulation of  photography is all the more baffling and impressive. Just when, and how have they found the time and skills to produce such professional images ?
  I have to laugh though as now everyone is at that high level its become the norm, hence nothing is gained. Such is life...
   This reminds me of an amusing incident in which a woman of my approx age appeared on " people you may know " She looked like a celebratory with a boob job. I was even more surprised when my cousins son was friends with her. I asked him who the woman was. Id forgot her name, but gave him a description of her glamorous appearance. He was baffled, and couldn't think who I meant. A few months later he recalled who the woman was. He had been thrown of the scent by my glowing description. He told me said woman was not so special, in fact she was scrawny, cheap, starved herself, and took literally hundreds of photo's  of herself from every angle possible, then picked the best one. Maybe this method also works for younger women ? Its probably just another one of  those tricks of the trade that women will always keep a well kept secret.

Now Were All Guilty

There is a brand new age that has just arrived. Its been delivered by a new self righteous generation. Old ideas regarding discrimination are being taken to whole new levels. These people can often be heard on our radio stations spouting their blurb, no doubt aided by a Psychology degree or a Media Studies degree  ( young people have told me most jobs require them )  Yes, the people Im talking about are mealy mouthed, politically correct spokes ( nearly always women ) people for organisations against discrimination, often sexual or racial. They are very articulate, and highly trained in how to get their message across on the air waves .  So whats my problem then ?
  Well recently ive got so annoyed ive turned my radio off in a hail of expletives. I have a healthy distrust of certain issue groups, and the way they constantly re justify their existence as we all move with them in changing our out looks, they constantly dilute what is deemed " unacceptable " in their eyes, hence we can never " win ", and they keep themselves on a job. I personally think they sometimes enjoy being offended... but well, thats for another post for another day...
   No, what really pissed me off was the new idea that  that such spokes people are banding about that our, and I quote  " subconscious bias or discrimination " maybe a problem we do not even realise exists. We maybe discriminating or be racist and not even know it !! My god how do we fight that accusation ? It seems we are all doomed by this typically extreme criminalisation of absolutely everyone ? Even if it is true, just how the hell are we meant to fight it ? Maybe by discriminating against every instinct we have and, or cowering before every minority or person we meet of the opposite sex ? Words fail me, they really do. A new level of insanity has been reached. We are all deemed guilty. Well such people can take their media trained views and stickem where the sun dont shine. Period !!

Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut

   



This week the body of one of my old school friends was unfortunately found in a wooded area. I was close to him at school, but had seen little of him since. He was as described by his father " kind and gentle " . Apparently he was troubled, and often at a loss with the world. Thats no surprise to me either as he was a sensitive soul indeed. He was also very quietly spoken, and in a hostile school environment his company was safe haven to me and others. Anyway he was a big Stray Cats fan, as was I back then, and I know he would smile if he could see this post ! And whose to say he cant ? The internet is more than the sum of its parts....

 Its unlikely that youve ever met him if your reading this blog, but I cant stress how much this track sums up his spirit. Its making me smile tonight. This is for you Caspar...

Women And Leggings

 Yes, quite a subject, and where do I start ? Well theres the idea banded about that they are worn just to be " comfy "  and that they cover everything up. Er, yes if thats what you want to believe. As a man Ive not yet seen an article of clothing that reveals more of a womans reproductive tackle. No ? Well try walking behind a woman wearing them. Do they really cover everything up ? No, they dont. In fact just the complete opposite is true as all can be revealed in its glory. In fact more is revealed than wearing a short tight skirt. And Im not nearly naive enough to believe that women are not completely fully aware of this fact.    
  Secondly, a certain age of girl should be banned from wearing such items. Im thinking mid teen age should suffice. A mans biology is not designed to resist such a site as a blossoming girls repro area clad in skin tight material that contours every, ahem, crevice. Crude ? Well a man will never let on what he sees ... but lets just say its not fair on him at any level, and nothing is left to the imagination.Period.
  We have had in recent times the cleavage, backside and facial areas promoted in fashion, but promoting the area between a womans legs in the same visual fashion is a step too far ! Just think what your doing !!!

David Lynch & Lykke Li - I'm Waiting Here

Who Will Rise To The Challenge ?

 

 

 

 

Its no longer too strong a statement to say we need a modern equivalent of The Knights Templar to fight the almost cartoon like evil of the mighty ISIS as they maraud their way across the The Middle East. Until now we have wasted our forces fighting political wars in such countries as Iraq and Afghanistan. Today we are morally and politically exhausted from these silly jaunts, and now a real problem has emerged we cant find the energy or enthusiasm  to fight it, and besides this will be a war in which the luxury of morals and codes will have no place. It will be a Holy War because it will be a war of beliefs and ideals. One will only rest at the destruction of the other, old school style or rather Medieval style. Archetypal evil requires an Archetypal opposite to oppose its agenda. Such strange days as these demand this rather outlandish thought. It is after all a logical conclusion is it not ?!

Our food. Your questions. Does McDonald’s use real eggs?

O.K,  McDonalds have always seemed to be quite unpopular in the press, and like many large companies, they will always have their critics. Sometimes in the past this was well deserved though. Im thinking mid 90's when their food quality was awful, and their beef came from cattle raised in re-claimed Brazilian rain forests ( slash and burn ) There was no disease monitoring, and foot and mouth was just ignored in cattle destined for the Big Mac, well it was all about price back then...

   Well times have changed. Quality is up, and beef is U.K sourced, eggs used are free range. I personally like McDonalds as they are warm, dry, consistent and reasonably priced. You always know what to expect, and that's nice in today's ever changing world. No they are no angels, but they do make a considerable effort to improve, and that is also a rarity nowadays. All in all quite impressive ! I must add I am currently obsessed with their Egg McMuffin, so maybe Im a little biased ?Well, possibly.

Pure Genius !