Virtual G8

Virtual G8 

This is me at the virtual G8 rally. Go. Join up. Do the right thing.

Ectoplasmic Freeze Cannons

I found this while sorting through my stuff for eBay:



It was tucked in an old Real Ghostbusters annual. I was a big fan of Ghostbusters, both the film and the cartoon, and I must have designed this back in my creative youth.

Look at the detail! You could almost start construction.

Buy Ghostbusters (DVD)@Amazon.co.uk

Post-It Elvis

from Mental Hygiene

Isn't this AMAZING! A wall mosaic made from 2,500+ post-it notes. Head over to Mental Hygiene to find out how to make your own.

Now if I can just find someone at work to sign that requisition form...

Buy Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits (CD)@Amazon.co.uk

Chocolate Sunday Morning

How to Make:

1 part Brandy
1 part Baileys
1 part Tia Maria
Cola to fill.

How to make:

Add the spirits to a tall mixer glass, then add the cola.

It should react with the Baileys and foam up. The whole thing will look like brown foam with sludge at the bottom. It looks like someone's thrown up in the glass but tastes like chocolate; hence the name.

It might look horrible but it tastes really nice ... Honest.

I invented this cocktail by accident a couple of years ago. It costs about 8-quid in a bar. I used to buy it for peoples birthday drink, the girls would rarely drink it though ... sissies!

Final Countdown

Channel 4 Countdown presenter Richard 'Twice Nightly' Whiteley died on Sun. Student life will never be the same...

BBC News Obituary

Clearout!

I'm doing a bit of a life laundry to raise some money and make some room.

Why don't you take a look at my eBay site and see it there's anything you are interested in:

Mark's Great eBay Clearout

I'm listening dreaming.

I had a dream the other night that they had made another season of Frasier. However, Kelsey Grammer didn't want to appear so they replaced him with Lionel Blair!

And I didn't even have cheese before bed...

Buy a Fraiser (DVD)@Amazon.co.uk

Old iron, old iron ...

BBC News

Isn't this cool.

The a statue is built from the average WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) a person discards in their lifetime. WEEE Man is touring the country highlighting this waste problem. Find out more here.

It reminds me of the Iron Giant; one of my favorite books as a kid. I still haven't got round to watching the film.

Buy Iron Giant (DVD)@Amazon.co.uk

Good game, good game.

Learn how to cheat play better at some classic games in this BBC News article.

If you don't believe me, go ask the folks at Christie's...

Supertrooper

I just found a link to the Star Wars fan film Troops.

A brilliant SW spoof featuring Tatooine Stormtroopers in 'Cops' style documentary. I haven't seen this in years. An A+ short film, I just can't believe it's eight-years old.

If you've never seen it or, like me, haven't seen it in a while, go and view it now.

<wave of hand> This is the short film you're looking for.

Mange tout Rodney, mange tout.

I'm going to Paris.

This will be the first trip since I went to the US for my birthday last year. I must admit I developed an itch for traveling then and I've finally saved up enough money and courage for another adventure.

It's only a short trip; four-days in Paris. I arrive on Bastille Day and will be staying in another hostel. Apart from the sights and sounds of the city, I plan to spend a day at Disneyland Paris.

I guess I'd better start practicing my Del Boy language skills ...

Buy a Only Fools and Horses DVD@Amazon.co.uk

One Happy Bat Geek

I saw Batman Begins last night and I nearly cried when it ended ...

4/5 - the best Batman film by far. Harsh, believable and scary. Batman (rather than just Bruce or the villains) works for the first time; he finally becomes the star and is both believable and effective. With a good balance of action, drama and wit it's as good as Spiderman (with which it shares a similar structure) only darker.

If you don't believe me, that's OK I'm not offended, check out the Empire review.

If you have no idea what I'm going on about, shame on you, go immediately to BBC News and read their history of the Batman films. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not collect £200.

Then go to DC Comics and discover the source ...

Circle of Cup Life

Save a Cup

There's something very Buddhist about vending machine cups being recycled into vending machine cup holders.

---

Aside: Thinking about this I looked up the definition for reincarnation. According to traditional beliefs there are five classes of living being: god - human - animal - hungry ghost - denizen of hell. Hungry and a ghost! Man, that's just mean.

Grave News 3

In addition to my previous posts, here are a couple more celebrity epitaphs courtesy of an article in today's Daily Express:

Billy Wilder 1906-2002: I'm a writer but then nobody's perfect

Jack Lemmon 1925-2001: Jack Lemon in

As this is almost a regular feature now, I though I'd explain my interest...

Despite the creativity and wit of well chosen 'final words', I have a particular fondness for cemeteries. As a young lad, my Grandad and me would take his dog Bluey for a walk in his local cemetery; the only green space nearby. These fond memories and a sense of reverence found my like of cemeteries and mean that I think the 'people' who defile them are scum.

Of course this doesn't mean I'm not scared in cemeteries at night ... O-o-o-h! S-p-o-o-o-k-y!

See my vest ...

From BBC News Magazine

All together now ...
See my vest, see my vest, made from real gorilla chest.

Buy a Simpsons DVD@Amazon.co.uk

Star Wars Redux

So, I've seen Revenge of the Sith.

It's over. Well, if you don't count the TV plans.

So, final verdict? It was enjoyable; 3 out of 5.

I think the reason why I like the original trilogy so much as a kid it because I was a kid. They were genre-setting and evolutionary in film making/special effects term and they will always have a special place in my heart. The new films not so. I'm sure the kids who see them with feel the same way I did 20+ years ago. Which is fine, after all it's this new generation who the films were aimed at.

If you going SW cold-turkey is too much to handle, here are a couple of quick-fixes to tide you over:

• Keltech Strikes Back: see and listen to Darth mix the Imperial March like a master.
  
  
• Revenge of the Brick: EpIII Lego style. Don't forget to visit the screening room for the previous
  
  
• M&Ms Chocolate Mpire: see the true power of the Dark Chocolate side; product placement.

Or you could buy the original trilogy on DVD and re-live that childhood awe all-over again...

I said white GLOVES.

The Michael Jackson trial is over and the verdict is 'Not Guilty' on all 10 charges.

To be honest that's what I expected. I think MJ is eccentric, which isn't surprising considering his childhood in the spotlight, and probably needs some professional help but I never truly believed anything more sinister was going on.

His 'true' fans on the other hand ... there's the real danger to society. There was one woman the Sky News coverage focused on who released a white dove every time a not guilty verdict was announced. Why?

Buy Michheal Jackson - Number Ones (CD)@Amazon.co.uk

That T-Shirt thing

I've always has a thing for t-shirts. When I received the first wage for my 'before school job' as a kid, I spent the majority of it on t-shirts. Ashamedly, it was on WB character Ts. I know ... sorry.

More than just a piece of clothing; they are mobile works of art, social statements and public jokes. Now I buy funny Ts, Ts to reflect my interest and Ts to support the things that matter to me.

Over the past few months, I've even been dabbling with the idea of creating my own Ts. More on this later

Preshrunk.info is a blog recommends cool Ts that you can get over t'internet and associated gossip. Well worth a look.

I've mentioned T-Shirt Humor.com in a previous post. To which Dave Harty suggested T-Shirt Hell.com. Nasty/funny Ts, with a capital NASTY. Not for the PC-centric.

Threadless.com is a cool site for Ts with an interesting twist. You can submit designs, which if they receive enough votes are printed and put on sale - you get a cool $500 for your troubles. So, surf over and pick your favorites.

WARNING: Man At Work!

Please bear with me while I make some changes to the site. Things may look a little odd while I try some new ideas and features.

Mark

Red Hot Fruit and Veg

The Vegetarian Society have chosen an unique and rather saucy way of promoting National Vegetarian Week; they have made a fruit and Veg porno. No really. Take a look for yourself via the link below - but only if you are over 18 of course.

Rude Food Movie

You will never look at a pea pod the same way again.

The Funniest T-Shirts in the World?

You decide!

GIANT Monopoly!

From BBC News.

Excellent! And probably a better idea than life-size Cluedo, that could be dangerous.

Batman: New Times

OH MAN! Dave's School is a computer animation school in Orlando, Florida. Each year the students complete a number of projects to practice and promote their skills. One of their 2004 porjects was a short Batman film in a animated LEGO style and it features the voices of Adam West, Mark Hamill and Dick Van Dike! Go and view it at the link below. NOW!


Dave's School - Batman: New Times

It's 10x better than Carry On Caped Crusader cack.

Fingers crossed for Batman Begins. Xm

Lorem Ipsun, don't you know ...

Ever wondered what that filler text is they use on faux newspapers, the stuff that looks real but makes no sense? Well, it's called Lorem Ipsun. Visit the link below to learn more.

http://www.lipsum.com/

Hey, maybe I can use it to create more regular posts ... hmm.

Stonehenge3

NZ unveils Stonehenge replica - BBC News

It turn out they have built a replica Stonehenge in New Zealand, adjusted to the southern hemisphere of course.

I guess that makes a triumvirate of henges including the original and the motor-version in the US.

Hmm, interesting ... Let their powers combine!

Previous post - Monumental Motors

BRIDEZILLA!

Bridezilla! 

My friend asked me to help her make some t-shirts for her friend's hen party.
This is the outcome.

Think she'll ever forgive us?

$tan the Man!

Stan 'the Man' Lee has just won a court case granting him a percentage of the profits from the Spider-Man films.

Does he deserve them?

He did create the character back in '61, along with many of Marvel Comics most successful characters like The Fantastic Four and the Hulk. Nowadays Stan Lee is to Marvel what William Shatner is to Star Trek; a popular face to a cult empire. But he had little involvement with the actual films, aside from a cameo and an executive producer credit.

Personally, I believe in creators rights and don't think the film would not have succeeded if it had not been heavily influenced by Stan's many years writing the character. So yes, he should be entitled to a share of its success. But I also agree with Stan's statement that it's a shame it had to go through the courts.

You can read more about Stan and the court case at BBC Online:
The comic book genius of Stan Lee

On a brighter note: there is now a online trailer for the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. Check it out at www.fantasticfourmovie.com
It looks fab, I have high hopes for this one.

Show me the money!

I'm the 600,879,690 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are! >>

Divorced?

divorced? 

I found this in a park in Boston. Read the inscription and come to your own conclusion.

Free Games (mustache and tight trousers not included)

Enjoy these free games from some of your favorite 80's TV shows, courtesy of Universal Home Video.

Magnum Dress-Up - Help Magnum Go Undercover!

Knight Rider HOT PURSUIT - Take K.I.T.T. For A Spin!

Mmm ... Twinkies

Mmm ... Twinkies 

"We are the Knights who say... NI"

Does the Holy Grail exist and could the secret to its hidden location be in a Staffordshire garden? Find out more by reading this interesting article on BBC online.

Once you've read that, check out these other sources of 'further research':

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

God's Toast

A 10-year old toasted sandwich that allegedly features face of the Virgin Mary has sold for $28,000 at auction. Money well spent? Decide for yourself...


image from BBC Online

Personaly, I think it looks like Gillian Anderson.

Cityscape

I drew this! 

Can you tell I didn't do art at school?

HOW TO BE ANNOYING.

HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.
HOW TO BE ANNOYING.

Incarcerated Irony

The daily work of prisoners in New Hampshire penitentiaries is pressing license plates like the one below. At the bottom of each plate is the state motto. Check it out...



I wonder what the mortality rate in their prisons are?

Never make a decision again!

Just type your two options into Google Battle and let the global internet community show you which is the most popular choice.

Google Battle

The last words you ever want to read

Front Toward Enemy

While the cat's away...

There will be a 3-week break in transmission while I go on a trip to America for my 30th birthday. You can follow my travels at my holiday Blog:

My 2 Grand Adventure

While I'm away I'll leave you in the hands of some of fellow Bloggers and regular Internet haunts. As you may (or may not) have noticed I've expanded on the links on the right-hand side of the page. Here's the low-down on what's recommended:

Blogs:
Bri's MaxPower Blog - My friend's Blog, to be honest I'll be very surprised if he updates it before I get back...

Cinema 24 - A couple in America who are setting up their own Art House cinema. Very detailed Blog and fascinating for fellow movie buffs.

Die Puny Humans - The personal Blog for Warren Ellis, one of my favourite comicbook writers. Be warned though, Mr Ellis has some 'unique' tastes.

Wil Wheaton dot Net - Also known as Wesley Crusher of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame. It turns out there is more to him than the uniformed space nerd, he's actual a poker playing, super-Blogging, celebrity Geek.

Dailies:
BBC News Magazine - The homepage for BBC news online.

Dork Tower - Comic strip from John Kovalik, it covers all the important stuff like, Star Wars, roleplay and computer games. Updated thrice weekly.

Empire Online - The web page for the Empire Film Magazine. Daily news, weekly features and all the latest movie reviews.

Metro Cafe - The web page for the best daily newspaper in the world (because it's free!) the Metro. Be sure to check out the 60-Second Interview archive.

Off The Mark - Topical cartoons, updated daily.

Word of the Day - Dictionary.com's word of the day, go and learn some new works to befuddle your friends with...

See you when I get back,
Mark

The Death of Superman

We interrupt the regular happy posting to bring you some sad news:

Christopher Reeve Dies at 52

He played a hero in film and was a hero in real life; R.I.P.


Tribute image by Scott Kurtz

Support his memory by making a donation to his paralysis research foundation.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

Mark

Song

I heard a song today,
I’d heard it before she went away.
It had words it didn’t have before,
Now she won’t be around anymore.
Now I understand what they say
And hear the song everyday.

Pop Goes the Weasel

A half a pound of tupenny rice,
A half a pound of treacle...

All without leaving the comfort of your PC:

A Quarter Of...

Deeply Dippy

Some people think a lot,
some people think very little
and some people just think wrong...

Jack Handy is one of those people and these are some of his thoughts:

Deep Thoughts

The future is here, the future is Virgin!

SpaceShipOne has successfully won the Ansai $10m X-Prize, by reaching high orbit twice within a week. So start saving up for your Virgin Space ticket, you'll need £100k by the time the first one takes-off in 2007.

SpaceShipOne rockets to success

Are you sitting comfortably?

Go and search for all those programs from your square-eyed youth...


TV Tome 

The World of Tomorrow

The 25 Best Futurama Moments Ever

Pretty self explanatory.

Off the Mark

A daily dose of cartoon humour.

More Grave News

In a previous post I told you about Spike Milligan's grave stone. Well, it turns out he isn't the only famous name to use his wit to pen his own epitaph. Here are some others:

That's All Folks! - Mel Blanc
Do not walk on the grass - Peter Ustinov
Quoth the Rave, 'Nevermore' - Edgar Alan Poe
Don't cry for me - Eva Peron
I told you, you damned fools - HG Wells

Mine will be 'He wore a white hat'.

Had a rear shunt, luv?

Sporty Edition? 

Pop quiz, hotshot!

Think you know your music?

Then take the BBC Test The Nation Popular Music Quiz - 70 questions on music throughout the decades.

Test The Nation

My score is 41/70. Think you can do better?

TWINS?

One member of a pair of twins is known as a TWIN.
The pair together are known are TWINS.
But what is the correct collective term for several pairs of twins?
Remember the word TWINS can only apply a pair, i.e. two beings/items.

Answers on a postcard to ...

Once You Pop...

Bubble Wrap online 

Warning Team, Terrorist Disruption Approaches!

If you believe everything they say on TV, then the world we live in today is becoming increasingly dangerous. Suicide bombers hide around every corner and the only thing your likely to get for Christmas is an Ice Age.

Hopefully we will all live happy and peaceful lives, but just in case check out the UK and US governments advice on what to do when things do go wrong via the links below.

Preparing for Emergencies (UK)

Be Ready (US)

Who knows, it might even help save your life one day. Or even better, help you save mine.

Monumental Motors

An ancient monument of a civilization long gone?

A mysterious folly whose purpose has been lost in history?

Carhenge, NA a modern re-creation of our own ancient Stonehenge or a pile of knakered old cars? You decide...

Carhenge vs Stonehenge

A Musical Interlude

Ever wondered what was number one in the hit parade the day you were born?

Alright, probably not but just play along OK?

Find out via the link below:

ThisDayinMusic.com

Or if you're stuck with one line of a song and are tired of just DE-DUM-DE-DUMing through the rest of the song, visit the site below and find out all the lyrics:

LetsSingIt.com

Enjoy, and I'll see you at the karaoke machine...

Manchester, my Manchester

I recently bought a digital camera, the very capable and easy to use Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P72.

The main reason for buying it was to record my trip to America later this year (more on this to come). To help justify the expense (a very reasonable £150 for a camera with 3.2 MegaPixels and a 3x optical zoom) I decided I should try do some creative projects with the camera.

I've always had a passing interest in architecture, so I decided to photograph some of my favourite places and the interesting buildings in and around Manchester. Below is a link to my online album of these photos, take a look and I hope you like them.

Manchester Photos

Searching

I keep looking, looking in a sea of faces.
In a crowded room and along a quiet street.
Searching by day, searching by night.
Out of the corner of my eye and in the reflection of a windowpane.
Ever vigilant and ever anticipant.
Looking for the face of love.

Window on the World

Pint of Bitter

Normal Transmissions Now Resumes

Apologies for the break in communications and the lack of recent posts. Fingers crossed there will at least be weekly updates from now on...

Mark

Well, you have to have a laugh don't you?

Find out how the professionals do it.

Please note this is NOT a party political broadcast by George W Bush or the Labour Party

Clown Ministry

Gibberish.

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in
waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht
frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl
mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do
not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Writing on the Wall 2

Lass O' Gowrie, Manchester 

I'll name that film in one ...

Empire Magazine are doing their 2nd annual movie quote quiz:



Three sets of 30 question: easy, moderate and hard. See how may you can get correct - you can record your score in the comments below.

And remember - cheats never prosper. So no looking the answers up on the Internet.

Son of Quote Quiz @ Empire Online

Writing on the wall

Printworks, Manchester 

Accrue metritorous vernacular eloquence?

Or you could increase you word power. Visit Dictionary.com's Word of the Day site below to learn a new word today...and tomorrow...and the day after...and the day after that...

Who knows, it might win you a pint in the pub quiz some time.

Word of the Day

I told you I was ill!

This is what the late comedian Spike Milligan wanted on his grave stone.
Unfortunately the local parish where his grave was situated didn't share his sense of humour and objections were raised.
His estate managed to solve this problem by having the quote written in Welsh.

Clever.

So everyone after three ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ...

"Duirt me leat go raibh me breoite!"

Is there anybody there?

Is there anybody there? 

This is a picture of my Niece.
This is what happens when you buy a five-year-old a camera.
Whitney Houston sang Children are our future ... God help us all!

Oh Er, your Honour!

Two young men were arrested for doing unmentionable things together in a public place.
The traditionally conservative judge was disgusted by their actions and fined them to the full extent of his power.
In his closing statements he said "I hope that the two of you are fully appreciative of the contempt that this court hold your actions in and will reform your ways. Now, both of you go away and pull yourselves together"

Joke courtesy of John Humphrys

WARNING! It's catching!

As you may, or may not have noticed (you know who you are), I've added a link to the right-hand column for my mate Bri's own Blog (he of the running fame).

Check it out. Now. GO! But make sure you come back...

Mark

Note: the owner of this Blog accepts no responsibility for the contents or quality of the blogs of others.