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At last

Originally uploaded by Clive Murray.

At last

It occurred to me yesterday that Velvet Revolver must be due a second album soon, and sure enough a quick look around turned up “Libertad“, due out on 2nd July. All well and good, and as long as it turns out to be better than a couple of other disastrously awful second albums I could name, I shall be voting with my English pounds at my earliest convenience.

Additionally, in finding this out, I discovered a few more albums coming out that may be of interest to people of my ilk. Poison (original line-up, sadly) are releasing an album of covers, indicating that the creative well truly has run dry. Still, it might be interesting – it’s called “Poison’d” if you’re bothered. I was highly gratified to see that Megadeth are still cranking them out too, and their latest offering “United Abominations” will surely grace a CD player near me sometime in the not-so-distant. The inimitable Ozzy has a new one coming out entitled “Black Rain“, though personally I’m going to try before I buy on that one.

But by far the biggest thrill for me was seeing this on play.com, complete with release date. It cannot possibly live up to the expectations, but as long as we remember that, and also keep in mind the constant line-up changes and egomania involved, we might get something enjoyable at the end of it. So set your alarm clocks for 17th of September.

–c.

I have an extremely good memory for names and faces. So good in fact that when I was at a conference recently, I saw a guy who I recognised and managed to work out that he was from my home town, and that his surname was Jones. He went to the same school as me when I was 10 or 11 or so, but in the year below me. I’d never even spoken to him, but still my brain managed to pull him out of the database. Of course, I naturally had to go and do the “Excuse me, are you originally from Eastbourne? Thought so.” bit. Freaked him out somewhat, as I knew it would.

So the other day I was watching “Silent Hill” on DVD, and thoroughly enjoying it. Then an actress came along who I knew I recognised, but could not for the life of me place where from. This continued to bug me throughout the film, so when it ended I looked her up in the credits. Turned out I didn’t know the name, so I figured I must have just seen her in something else, but still it irritated me that I couldn’t remember what.

Then on Monday night I was watching TV with Saffron, and we happened to watch an episode of the Amanda Redman/Dennis Waterman[1] series “New Tricks” and damn it if the same thing didn’t happen again. There was this actress who I knew I’d seen in something before, but couldn’t place where. Again it bugged me to the end of the show, but this time I didn’t even remember to look up her name.

Fast forward to lunchtime today when I remembered both these events, and realised that I had an intarweb to hand. Within 30 seconds I had the first one nailed – the actress from Silent Hill was Alice Krige, and I had previously seen her in “Star Trek: First Contact” in which she played the Borg Queen. Easy.

The second one proved harder to nail, but I eventually discovered that the part of Hannah in New Tricks, series 2, episode 5, was played by Georgina Rylance, who I had previously seen in “Poirot – The Mystery of the Blue Train“.

The internet’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
–c.
[1] Yes, he does sing the theme tune.

Yeah, it’s by some ad agency or other, but I don’t care. It’s still the best spoof ever made, referencing the excellent Sony Bravia “Paint” advert.

“I can’t find my dog.”

(via The Hale)
–c.

Dear Mr. Michaels,

The English words “ten” and “sin” do not rhyme.

Kthxbai.
–c.

Airline food? Will tells it like it is.

–c.

In lieu of any actual content from me while I’m busy, have a nice nootrishus YouTube morsel.

Evil Mary Poppins!

–c.

“A doctor in Oregon flushed out the aching lughole of a nine-year-old boy to find two spiders had set up home inside his ear canal.”

AAAAAARGH. Make them stop, please. At least this was in the U.S. of States, and not here in good old blighty.

*shudder*

–c.