Rise, Lord Vader - just don't monologue....

If Darth/Anakin followed these rules, espisode IV would be very different -- and a lot shorter as well..... and other movie heroes/villians might like to look here for help, too...... I particularly like the wholesale candle rule....

Random Irritations and Joys No 106

Random irritations of Life: leaking trainers..... lying taxi firms (ten minutes my arse!).... computers blowing up.... waking up with a headache but not doing anything to deserve it the night before.... only getting three points on Ken Bruce's PopMaster..... a young ingrate hissing at his father for looking at cheap trainers while his mates were around.....
Random joys of life: taking in the breathtaking views from Edinburgh Castle on a beautiful, clear, sunny day..... seeing how happy my friend Lorraine was with her new husband.... getting two days off for bank holiday....

If there's anything more important than my ego I want it brought out and shot...

The start of my relationship with H2G2 came about by accident. As a firm Radio One listener at the time, I didn't even know where Radio Four was on the dial. We'd bought the Radio Times for the Christmas TV schedule. While flicking through it, I saw a little caption highlighting a show called the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. In my youthful innocence I thought it was about astronomy, and as it was something I was interested in, I retuned the radio... and the rest is history. I taped the remaining programmes, memorized chunks of dialogue, bought the books, watched the admittedly dodgey TV series, and now we have the movie. And..... it's not as bad as I'd feared it would be. It looks good, with an English feel that reminds people of the Python movies. It's a bit of rollercoaster, which is only to be expected, as the movie doesn't have the luxury of time that the other formats do. And that's the movies' biggest failing. Cherished lines are missed, rushed or thrown away, leaving this viewer disappointed. As did Mos Def's performance as Ford Prefect, though his was the only duff performance. But the opening sequence put a broad smile on my face, as did the cameo of the TV Marvin. If they do decide to go the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, I reckon I'll be along for the ride....
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Random Irritations and Joys No 105

Random irritations of Life: Reminising on an event/music/TV show and someone telling you they weren't born at the time... bright sunny days and a busted motorbike....
Random Joys of Life: Goosebumps watching the Episode lll trailer.... trying out new widgets from konfabulator.... watching Michael J Fox in Scrubs while I type this....

Water Water..... nowhere

The things we take for granted.... we suddenly had no water coming from our hot water taps. A phone call to the council (our landlords) brought the reply that it would take upto three days for someone to come out and see us. It got me thinking how much hot water we would use - or not now- in those three days. We've already boiled a dozen kettles just doing minimal stuff, and there's only two of us.... and while I was looking for a suitable pic to head this item I came across this site, which made me think even more....
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We shall remember them....

Well done to Brum for putting on a fine VE day celebration. The parade of old soldiers with with their flags and medals brought a tear to the eye and the people dressed in 40s gear looked fab. The ration books were a neat idea, though some of the older members of the crowd took it a little too literally as they thrust the books at the poor cadets handing out the freebies shouting "two dairy milk!"
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I always know where my towel is...

Hitchhikers has taken £4.2 million in its first week in the UK.... as Zaphod would say, Neat. I haven't seen it yet meself, and I'm a bit apprehensive to do so, as I've seen many things from my past "reimaged" or "updated", all for the worst. At least Douglas Adams, the creator, had a hand in the prodution before he died, so that's encouraging... From what I've read so far it's a Marmite Movie, fans either love it or hate it. Guess I'll just have to go and see which camp I end up in....
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Random Irritations and Joys No 104

Random Irritations of Life: People who can't take simple instructions.... people who prove Ford Prefect's view that if people stop talking their brains will start working.... people who think sport equals football.... people.
Random Joys of Life: Looking out of the window at field of brilliant yellow rape seed swaying in the breeze.... watching a thrilling Ruby League match (though I prefer Union)..... the first cup of tea in the morning....

You're Hired!

Wednesday nights will be empty without the drama of The Apprentice. Well done to Tim for getting hired, though I was rooting for Saira at the end. It was marketed as a reality show but it was far better than that, and educational as well as entertaining. I can't wait for the next series, just hope they get another good mix of candidates....
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You'll just feel a little prick...

If I needed anymore incentive to go to Blood Donors, this would be it... from the excellent site The Sci-Fi Desktop Wallpaper Web...

Random Irritatons and Joys No 103

Random irritations of life: Superbikes on TV reduced from live races on the beeb to highlights all over the place on 4.... waking up with a headache after doozing off.... the grit in my left eye which won't go away..... explorer freezing while writing this blog....
Random joys of life: MotoGP is still on the beeb - and the Doctor wins again.... and the other Doctor is getting better.... Suzukis doing well... watching the sheet lightning at 3am this morning turning night into day.... new episodes of Hitchhiker on radio 4, the only medium to do it real justice...