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