I refer to my film, "Old Git Goes Green", now appearing on You Tube at a computer near you. It hasn't gone viral just yet, but my wife informs me that that can take some time, so I'll be patient. I'm already delighted so many people have seen it. I put its success down largely to my friend Pat's skill at having put together a beautifully tight little six minutes from the 50 minutes of digital "rushes" he had available to him.
Interestingly, he didn't include my little confession that my recycling initiative is in part expiation for the thousands of cigarette butts I have tossed in the gutter or thrown from my car window in the nearly 50 years I have been a smoker.
Regarding that, I do have 1 thing in my favour: cigarettes bio-degrade, even the filters, in about 2 years; so, within 2 years of my death (or my giving up smoking, if that ever happens), all trace of my smoking will have re-entered the carbon cycle, unlike the glass, plastic and aluminium I've been collecting, which will take hundreds, or even thousands of years to re-incorporate into the environment, causing lasting damage to living things in the process.
Yesterday saw asignificant little marker in my life. I saw my psychiatrist for the last time. I have felt for some time now that I have reached an emotional plateau, where I am reasonably stable and even passably happy some of the time. This, I sense, is as good as it's going to get and that things are unlikely to change now, unless of course something unforeseen happens, which is always possible in a human life.
So I have cast out on my own, no longer believing I need his help to get through. I just hope I'm right. He did, bless him, offer his services at any time in the future should I think I need them, and when I thanked him for all his help over the past 5 years, he, in return, wanted me to know that I had "taught him many valuable things over the years".
Ain't that cute?
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Sunday, 22 April 2012
quiz swiz
Last night my wife and I participated in a charity quiz night. My general knowledge is excellent, though not as good as when I was in my teens and 20s, when it was, I blushingly admit, pretty awesome. My wife too has excellent, all-round skills, being quite extraordinarily good in the areas of food, music and the arts.
We were feeling pretty optimistic then, when the first category was food and she single-handedly got 18 of the 20 questions right. By half time we were leading the large field by a single point.
Then disaster befell. At the interval half of our team (myselkf included) repaired outside for some Olympic standard smoking, in the course of which we missed the instructions for the next category. My wife was locked in conversation with a friend she hadn't seen for years, while our team captain, our anchor if you will, and who should have been listening closely, completely failed to pay attention to the instructions, as he had by now consumed 1 1/2 bottles of wine.
By the time we returned to our seats we had no idea what was going on, and finished at the bottom of the scores on the category in question, scuppering our chances of winning. Doh!
Moral: next time, smoke your fag quickly and get back to your seat with dispatch, or risk screwing yourself royally.
We were feeling pretty optimistic then, when the first category was food and she single-handedly got 18 of the 20 questions right. By half time we were leading the large field by a single point.
Then disaster befell. At the interval half of our team (myselkf included) repaired outside for some Olympic standard smoking, in the course of which we missed the instructions for the next category. My wife was locked in conversation with a friend she hadn't seen for years, while our team captain, our anchor if you will, and who should have been listening closely, completely failed to pay attention to the instructions, as he had by now consumed 1 1/2 bottles of wine.
By the time we returned to our seats we had no idea what was going on, and finished at the bottom of the scores on the category in question, scuppering our chances of winning. Doh!
Moral: next time, smoke your fag quickly and get back to your seat with dispatch, or risk screwing yourself royally.
Friday, 20 April 2012
the message goes out
My recycling of street waste film has now been seen by a number of people on my contact list and I have already had some very positive feedback about it.
Unfortunately by sheer idiocy I managed to distribute my friend's phone number to the same people. I have apologised to him personally, and I use this page to re-iterate my regrets for any embarrassment I may have caused him. I hope and trust there will be no negative consequences from that as my contact list consists exclusively of warm, gentle people, most of whom know his number already and the others would have no interest in it.
Still, I have learnt a lesson. I have never done a "group email" before- this illustrates the potential problem and I recommend others to be careful how they do this.
Best moment in film: I pick up a can of Red Bull and comment how often they are found in gutters around our city. My cameraman points out that it's a bit of a shame that the said "high energy" drink doesn't seem to provide quite enough energy to enable the purchaser to dispose of the can sensibly- nice one Pat!
Unfortunately by sheer idiocy I managed to distribute my friend's phone number to the same people. I have apologised to him personally, and I use this page to re-iterate my regrets for any embarrassment I may have caused him. I hope and trust there will be no negative consequences from that as my contact list consists exclusively of warm, gentle people, most of whom know his number already and the others would have no interest in it.
Still, I have learnt a lesson. I have never done a "group email" before- this illustrates the potential problem and I recommend others to be careful how they do this.
Best moment in film: I pick up a can of Red Bull and comment how often they are found in gutters around our city. My cameraman points out that it's a bit of a shame that the said "high energy" drink doesn't seem to provide quite enough energy to enable the purchaser to dispose of the can sensibly- nice one Pat!
Monday, 16 April 2012
the old right click trick
The other day my computer settings altered themselves somehow, and I lost the list of photo folders that usually appear on the left of the page. This meant I was unable to transfer photos from one file to another. I took my laptop next door to a friend who has worked with computers since the 80s, but he was unable to help: beyond trying to click every box available, which didn't get us very far.
Then on Saturday an old friend visited and he had the solution instantly: just right click. Like magic my problems were solved.
Why don't more people know about this immensely useful, but underrated button. From now on, I shall always try it before giving up on any niggly little computer problem. I thoroughly recommend it!
The same friend, anxious to try out his new Lumix digital SLR, also filmed one of my recycling forays and within 24 hours it was on Youtube (under "Old git goes green") and is now available to view by the entire Universe. Talk about efficiency. Pat, you are legend!
Then on Saturday an old friend visited and he had the solution instantly: just right click. Like magic my problems were solved.
Why don't more people know about this immensely useful, but underrated button. From now on, I shall always try it before giving up on any niggly little computer problem. I thoroughly recommend it!
The same friend, anxious to try out his new Lumix digital SLR, also filmed one of my recycling forays and within 24 hours it was on Youtube (under "Old git goes green") and is now available to view by the entire Universe. Talk about efficiency. Pat, you are legend!
Monday, 9 April 2012
Is time running out for Assad?
COMMENT
When Russia and China refused to endorse the UN resolution to ask President Assad ever so nicely to stop killing his own people, he must have thought he was bulletproof. The shootings, the shelling and the torture were renewed with increased vigour.
But now China is losing its patience with a regime which is now causing even that repressive administration a little embarrassment. They have strongly suggested that Syria adopts "Plan A", the Kofi Annan initiative to stop shooting and allow humanitarian aid to enter the wartorn suburbs of towns and cities up and down the country. There is, as an observer pointed out yesterday, no "Plan B".
Assad will have to play his endgame with great care. Above all, he does not wish to end up like his neighbour Moamar Gaddafi, who, once discovered by a furious populace, was torn limb from limb, to the grim approval of most of the citizens of Libya, if not the rest of the World. Assad and his henchmen, I imagine, dare not let up now with that potential fate awaiting them. But cracks are beginning to appear in their power structure; they'd better look out...
When Russia and China refused to endorse the UN resolution to ask President Assad ever so nicely to stop killing his own people, he must have thought he was bulletproof. The shootings, the shelling and the torture were renewed with increased vigour.
But now China is losing its patience with a regime which is now causing even that repressive administration a little embarrassment. They have strongly suggested that Syria adopts "Plan A", the Kofi Annan initiative to stop shooting and allow humanitarian aid to enter the wartorn suburbs of towns and cities up and down the country. There is, as an observer pointed out yesterday, no "Plan B".
Assad will have to play his endgame with great care. Above all, he does not wish to end up like his neighbour Moamar Gaddafi, who, once discovered by a furious populace, was torn limb from limb, to the grim approval of most of the citizens of Libya, if not the rest of the World. Assad and his henchmen, I imagine, dare not let up now with that potential fate awaiting them. But cracks are beginning to appear in their power structure; they'd better look out...
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Paris dispatch
Today is our final day in Lutetian bliss, courtesy of the hotel "Pavilion de la Reine, on the elegant Place des Vosges.
On Monday we visited the Pompidou Centre, having not been there since 1986. I had forgotten what a tremendous collection of 20th century art they have there, but today there was a very special treat in addition to the permanent collection: a major retrospective of Matisse, featuring the biggest collection of the master’s works in one place ever gathered. The exhibition is shortly travelling to America, though sadly not to the UK, which is a terrible shame.
Tuesday saw us at Versailles, which was awful, not because of the place itself, which is unarguably stunning, but because of the shameful cramming of humanity conspired at by authorities more interested in ticket sales than comfort, or even safety. Crowds of people processed from room to room in a hideous rugby scrum which made it impossible to see anything properly. At one point, a Danish schoolteacher became so obsessed by the possibility of losing touch with her charges, she started ramming people with her body. But I was trained in crowd survival techniques by watching Liverpool play several times and just rammed straight back at her. You should have seen the horrified and wounded expression on her face, all outraged innocence (and slightly bruised arms, I imagine). I don’t like being barged aside like something less than human.
Yesterday, by contrast, saw one of the most pleasant museum experiences I have ever had, at the Petit Palais, repository of many glass designs by the Art Nouveau master, Emile Galle. Free, not crowded, beautiful exhibits in a stunning setting, this for me represents museum visiting at its best.
Today it was the Rodin museum, also good, though the dark statues, shown in flat, overcast skies, appeared, to my weakened eyes at least, almost in silhouette, which took much away from their undoubted grandeur.
However, like London, I suspect Paris will take many more visits before I exhaust its wonders. Vive la France!
On Monday we visited the Pompidou Centre, having not been there since 1986. I had forgotten what a tremendous collection of 20th century art they have there, but today there was a very special treat in addition to the permanent collection: a major retrospective of Matisse, featuring the biggest collection of the master’s works in one place ever gathered. The exhibition is shortly travelling to America, though sadly not to the UK, which is a terrible shame.
Tuesday saw us at Versailles, which was awful, not because of the place itself, which is unarguably stunning, but because of the shameful cramming of humanity conspired at by authorities more interested in ticket sales than comfort, or even safety. Crowds of people processed from room to room in a hideous rugby scrum which made it impossible to see anything properly. At one point, a Danish schoolteacher became so obsessed by the possibility of losing touch with her charges, she started ramming people with her body. But I was trained in crowd survival techniques by watching Liverpool play several times and just rammed straight back at her. You should have seen the horrified and wounded expression on her face, all outraged innocence (and slightly bruised arms, I imagine). I don’t like being barged aside like something less than human.
Yesterday, by contrast, saw one of the most pleasant museum experiences I have ever had, at the Petit Palais, repository of many glass designs by the Art Nouveau master, Emile Galle. Free, not crowded, beautiful exhibits in a stunning setting, this for me represents museum visiting at its best.
Today it was the Rodin museum, also good, though the dark statues, shown in flat, overcast skies, appeared, to my weakened eyes at least, almost in silhouette, which took much away from their undoubted grandeur.
However, like London, I suspect Paris will take many more visits before I exhaust its wonders. Vive la France!
Sunday, 1 April 2012
march 2012 book and film review
BOOKS
HE WHO HESITATES, by Ed McBain. A young man from out of town comes to the big city, but there's something on his mind. Something he knows he has to report to the police. But what? This is the fifth book I've read in McBain's "87th Precinct" series, and I'm still not tired of them yet. His spare, clean style still appeals, and the plot always hooks you in to the end. I think I've got at least 2 more in me before I move on.
THE SENSE OF AN ENDING, by Julian Barnes. A man now retired reflects on his early life, and the relationships he forged then which still exert their power over him after a lifetime's interval. Winner of last year's Booker Prize, this book was, I am informed, chosen in part because of its "readability" It is certainly easy to read, and meticulously written as we might expect. But does it represent the best of contemporary literature?. I thinknottle. The twist at the end shows Barnes's skill, but true substance remains wanting, in this reader's view at least.
MANSFIELD PARK, by Jane Austen. The goings-on of a noble family and their friends, complicated when an impoverished cousin is brought into the fold. Talk about a book where not a lot happens... A sedate comedy of manners at which Austen excelled, but really, this offering from the mistress of early 19th century literature fails to hold the interest of the reader despite its immaculate style. To me, "Persuasion" and "Pride and Prejudice" remains the twin summits of her career, and the others don't really hack it. But you decide...
FILMS
A PROPHET (2009) D- jacque Audiard. A young Arab is sent to prison where there are 2 main factions: the Arabs and the Corsicans. Unfortunately he is adopted by the Corsicans, leaving him in a slightly invidious position. Despite this he comes through to become a figure of power and menace in both factions. Highly watchable story of power and manipulation. Worthwhile.
SENNA (2010) D- Asif Kapadia. The life of the inspirational Brazilian racing driver, who was so good he thought he was immortal... A highly professional piece of documentary film making, clearly made by a committed fan, though it does not suffer from that. There's nothing wrong with a committed film; indeed I actually prefer them to "balanced" views which often end up offering less truth and reality than the other kind. Superior.
HANNA (2011) D-Joe Wright. A father raises his daughter to be the ultimate killing machine (why?) and she proves too good for all the grownups around her who wish her harm. I'm sorry, but I'm beginning to become a little exasperated by all the hitman films that are around at the moment. If you were to believe Hollywood, every other person you walk past in the street is tooled up ready for their next assassination- and that's bollocks. Not really good enough.
THE COWBOYS (1972) D- Mark Rydell. John Wayne, in the absence of any good men to help him move his herd of cattle, enlists a crew, literally, of boys. Really rather good western in the old tradition, with some moving moments.
MURDERBALL (2005)D- Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. The American and Canadian Paralympic rugby teams battle it out for supremacy coming up to the Athens Games of 2004. Terrific documentary giving us great insight into the minds and damaged bodies of 2 teams of outstanding athletes, determined to win at all costs, whatever their own disabilities. Utterly compelling.
THE GUARD (2011) D-John Michael McDonagh. An Irish policeman used to doing nothing more exciting than issuing an occasional speeding ticket, becomes mixed up with big-league international drug dealers. An American FBI agent becomes involved too, and cultures clash... Highly entertaining vehicle for Brendan Gleason, who can do no wrong in my eyes since his top-flight performance in "In Bruges"
UP IN THE AIR (2009) D- Jason Reitman. George Clooney plays a man who spends half his life flying around America in his job which basically involves firing people for companies too scared to do it themselves. Then he falls for a fellow frequent flyer... Highly professional offering from Ivan's son, though a little too slick for my tastes.
KILLING BONO (2011) D- Nick Hamm. A bunch of aspiring rock stars in Dublin want to be famous. Some of them form U2, and the rest is history. The others struggle to make it at a much reduced level, and slowly resentment builds. Watchable film, though nowhere near as good as "The Guard" (qv)
SCREAM 4 (2010) D- Wes Craven. Ghostface is back, and this time he's scarier than ever. Wes Craven has got this sort of thing down to a fine art: pretty teens get slashed from first frame to last, and we love it, don't we? The "safe fear" of the horror movie remains as popular as it has ever been, and if that's your bag, you could do worse than this.
HE WHO HESITATES, by Ed McBain. A young man from out of town comes to the big city, but there's something on his mind. Something he knows he has to report to the police. But what? This is the fifth book I've read in McBain's "87th Precinct" series, and I'm still not tired of them yet. His spare, clean style still appeals, and the plot always hooks you in to the end. I think I've got at least 2 more in me before I move on.
THE SENSE OF AN ENDING, by Julian Barnes. A man now retired reflects on his early life, and the relationships he forged then which still exert their power over him after a lifetime's interval. Winner of last year's Booker Prize, this book was, I am informed, chosen in part because of its "readability" It is certainly easy to read, and meticulously written as we might expect. But does it represent the best of contemporary literature?. I thinknottle. The twist at the end shows Barnes's skill, but true substance remains wanting, in this reader's view at least.
MANSFIELD PARK, by Jane Austen. The goings-on of a noble family and their friends, complicated when an impoverished cousin is brought into the fold. Talk about a book where not a lot happens... A sedate comedy of manners at which Austen excelled, but really, this offering from the mistress of early 19th century literature fails to hold the interest of the reader despite its immaculate style. To me, "Persuasion" and "Pride and Prejudice" remains the twin summits of her career, and the others don't really hack it. But you decide...
FILMS
A PROPHET (2009) D- jacque Audiard. A young Arab is sent to prison where there are 2 main factions: the Arabs and the Corsicans. Unfortunately he is adopted by the Corsicans, leaving him in a slightly invidious position. Despite this he comes through to become a figure of power and menace in both factions. Highly watchable story of power and manipulation. Worthwhile.
SENNA (2010) D- Asif Kapadia. The life of the inspirational Brazilian racing driver, who was so good he thought he was immortal... A highly professional piece of documentary film making, clearly made by a committed fan, though it does not suffer from that. There's nothing wrong with a committed film; indeed I actually prefer them to "balanced" views which often end up offering less truth and reality than the other kind. Superior.
HANNA (2011) D-Joe Wright. A father raises his daughter to be the ultimate killing machine (why?) and she proves too good for all the grownups around her who wish her harm. I'm sorry, but I'm beginning to become a little exasperated by all the hitman films that are around at the moment. If you were to believe Hollywood, every other person you walk past in the street is tooled up ready for their next assassination- and that's bollocks. Not really good enough.
THE COWBOYS (1972) D- Mark Rydell. John Wayne, in the absence of any good men to help him move his herd of cattle, enlists a crew, literally, of boys. Really rather good western in the old tradition, with some moving moments.
MURDERBALL (2005)D- Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. The American and Canadian Paralympic rugby teams battle it out for supremacy coming up to the Athens Games of 2004. Terrific documentary giving us great insight into the minds and damaged bodies of 2 teams of outstanding athletes, determined to win at all costs, whatever their own disabilities. Utterly compelling.
THE GUARD (2011) D-John Michael McDonagh. An Irish policeman used to doing nothing more exciting than issuing an occasional speeding ticket, becomes mixed up with big-league international drug dealers. An American FBI agent becomes involved too, and cultures clash... Highly entertaining vehicle for Brendan Gleason, who can do no wrong in my eyes since his top-flight performance in "In Bruges"
UP IN THE AIR (2009) D- Jason Reitman. George Clooney plays a man who spends half his life flying around America in his job which basically involves firing people for companies too scared to do it themselves. Then he falls for a fellow frequent flyer... Highly professional offering from Ivan's son, though a little too slick for my tastes.
KILLING BONO (2011) D- Nick Hamm. A bunch of aspiring rock stars in Dublin want to be famous. Some of them form U2, and the rest is history. The others struggle to make it at a much reduced level, and slowly resentment builds. Watchable film, though nowhere near as good as "The Guard" (qv)
SCREAM 4 (2010) D- Wes Craven. Ghostface is back, and this time he's scarier than ever. Wes Craven has got this sort of thing down to a fine art: pretty teens get slashed from first frame to last, and we love it, don't we? The "safe fear" of the horror movie remains as popular as it has ever been, and if that's your bag, you could do worse than this.
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