redfiona99: (Default)
To pinch a twitter update - Fine #Hollyoaks, you win. I will try and watch Friday's Hollyoaks Later.

Brendan Brady happened to me. Again. (Ref: any previous post mentioning Hollyoaks) And they've now given me something I wanted to happen to his character, but in the worst way possible (well played, Hollyoaks).

Spoilers )

~~~~

Also, help, Russell Howard caused laughter-related snorting, mostly when he was corpsing.
redfiona99: (Default)
Or why I have no such fear.

(A minor TMI warning - for those who wish to avoid the TMI, skip the first paragraph)

Then again my Friday the thirteenth started quite badly on Thursday when my bowels decided to try to escape without warning. Not good times. Worryingly, this is the second time in two months this has happened the day before my period starts. Dear body, we are 26, new symptoms are not required or expected.

Anyway, so I have maybe 3 hours of sleep the night before my final corrections, which I'm expecting to be horrible. I catch the train, a different one than the expected on because the trainline lies.

During this I get a Red Bull shot drink freebie. Now I still say that Red Bull tastes worse than anything you should ever consume, unless you're taking a medicine, and we know that they all taste terrible, however, at five to eight in the morning, when you've been ill all night and you cannot cope with the idea of food, but you need sugar and caffeine, it's a life saver.

So I get to Leicester, and internal examiner is not in yet so I have to sweet talk my way into the building. Not a problem.

I get the corrections, they're done in a couple of hours, and I'm printed out by three, and fully submitted by four.

Silly hat day is go.

(Or, for those who haven't seen the headwear that PhD graduands have to wear, graduation is go.)

~~~~

CSI:NY -

Can't really get to liking Hawkes's new girlfriend in CSI:NY because she reminds me so much of ex-housemate's girlfriend. You know, my-fun-is-more-important-than-your-work girl. Argh!! Then again Sheldon being all 'can't say no dude' is not helping either.

I see the idiot writers are back. Half the characters are acting like themselves, and half of them are totally wrong. And Not-Stella is still a judgemental know-it-all.

Dude, Mac is now a chilled person. It's freaking wierd. Good but weird.

Bonus:

No CSI: Miami, atomic force microscopy does not work like that.

~~~~

Mostly for Twig, but the TV adverts for Blitz are starting showing (it's out the 20th of May). I am mostly unimpressed. I have no idea how you do that given that I <3 one of the actors in it, and am v. fond of another one, but fail, TV advert maker, fail!

Still not sure whether or not to go and see it, part of me says yes, because how am I supposed to resist, part of me says no, not least of all because I have no idea where the local cinema is.

~~~~

In terms of TV that's caught my eye, my Sunday night sleep-plan is presently being wrecked by 'The Shadow Line' which is brewing up nice and slowly into something complex.

It features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Ecclestone, and five hundred different you know, that guys.

The opening scene with David Schofield (or creepy guy from Pirates 2 as you might know him) basically monologuing was a work of genius.

I spent the whole of the first episode hoping something horrible would happen to Jay Wratten, played by Rafe Spall. Partly it's that Rafe Spall has the most unfortunately punchable face. Partly it's that his character is a little Caligula thinks he's so tough when he's really not, and he keeps getting into confrontations with people who are far more dangerous and they're not smacking him, for their own reasons and I think not smacking him is only going to rebound badly on them later.

Spoilers )
~~~~

Comedians - Dave Fulton is looking old. I remember when he had long black hair.

As a general point, since I no longer have the time to watch late night tv the way I used to, I have to rely on Mock the Week and the other stand up shows to find out about the new, upandcomers, and mostly I'm not impressed, with the exception of Andi Osha.

The problem is, the way I see it, half of them have only one schtick and that's 'look, I'm posh and yet I swear', which is not funny to me. The other half are funnier but not much, including a fair few who are poor re-treads of other people's stuff.

(Honourable exception is Tommy Flanagan, who is funny, but just has a really unfortunate voice. My issues with him are not his fault.)

~~~~

Motorbikes - oh BBC commentators, how I love you. Calling Simoncelli Side-Show Bob is naughty but funny.

The trouble is that much like Ruben Xaus, there's a lot of Simoncelli so occasionally he takes stupid lines. (And he now has a reputation.)

It looks like there's going to be a punch up between a team manager and the stewards. I have seen that walk before.

Dani Pedrosa has pulled an Uncle Ste - my Uncle broke one collarbone, had it fixed, then broke the other one. I hope Pedrosa doesn't finish the cycle, because my Uncle then broke the first collarbone again but it only fractured and healed really quickly because it was in exactly the same place.
redfiona99: (Default)
Apparently Being Human, the US version, is premiering tonight. If anyone who watches it feels like telling me whether it's bad, good or indifferent, I'd be obliged. Being Human (UK version) is a show I love rather a lot, and I'm worried that a bad US version might sour people on the UK one. I have seen photos of the cast, and, I shall admit, it does not look promising. They seem to have missed something important with George/Josh at least, which is very sad-making because he is my favourite character. And they seem to have made Herrick/Bishop far too obviously evil. Herrick's everyday evil (imagine if the Mayor from BTVS was a Bristol policeman) was one of my other favourite things.

Have seen nothing about who won what at the Golden Globes, but a lot about Ricky Gervais. No, US, you're supposed to like him, because if you do, you'll keep him and I won't have to put up with him being everywhere over here. On the matter of Ricky Gervais, I want two things known. 1) He wasn't funny when he was on the radio and he's not funny now. 2) When invited to perform at the Secret Policeman's Ball, he turned it down. In an interview later, he said that, as a comedian, it was his job to entertain and therefore he didn't do politics. In that vein, as a viewer, it is my job to be entertained, and therefore, I don't do Ricky Gervais.

The Golden Globes did lead to me gaining a love for Robert Downey Jr ("Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?") and Tim Allen and Tom Hanks (Tom Hanks - "We recall when Ricky Gervais was a slightly chubby but very kind comedian." Tim Allen - "Neither of which he is now.").

On to happier things, an Austrian won in Wengen :D I now fully expect a Swiss skier to win in Kitzbuehel, but I'd love for Michael Walchhoffer to win there.
redfiona99: (music)
Or Sunday at Summer Sundae

BBC pictures here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8921000/8921041.stm

I had a totally different day to the one described by the BBC photos, but I think that's what happens.

One of the nice things about Summer Sundae is that unlike most fests that claim to be family friendly, it actually is, so they basically set aside one half of DMH and the garden behind DMH as kiddie-friendly, no booze zones. Also really good for frazzled festival-goers to chill. One of the things was a 'learn how to knit' tent. I took advantage of this, so I can now cast on and cast off. At the minute I'm working on a scarf, but if any of you, as I know several of you knit, have a very easy pattern for anything else, I'd be pleased to look at it.

So I spent a couple of hours knitting. I could do that because the sun finally decided to shine, and so I could just lounge on the grass. Which is pretty much what everyone else was doing. While I was doing that Pete Molinari was on (www.petemolinari.co.uk). Nice semi-blues, if it's your kind of thing.

That was followed by Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit (www.johnny-flynn.com) who were folk blues, and again, reasonably fun.

The next band on were Junip who I was informed were good but they bored me to tears. Same general style, I think the organisers had gone for laid-back blues for the afternoon.

I wandered round, thinking I ought to have a look-see at the lastfm new bands tent. Ellen and the Escapades were getting ready while I was there. There were issues (they'd been banned from using bass and drums) and the soundcheck took forever. The lovely and adorable guitarist was lovely and adorable, and I'm sure they were perfectly wonderful if they're your kind of thing, but they were a bit too twee for me.

Next came the comedy tent, and I can now cross Milton Jones off my list of comedians I have to see. He was funny, even if, because I let other people in front of me, I couldn't catch everything. Lip reading is a very useful skill, once again, even if M declared it to be cheating.

After that I went to the Musician Tent. The act that was on David Ford (www.myspace.com/davidford) - apocalyptic folk, right down my alley. I recommend him highly, especially as, due to tech issues, he'd had to start with a mini-acoustic set.

This was followed by El Pussycat (www.myspace.com/elpussycatska). Trad ska. Great fun. Lots of dancing. Best bit - Neville Sharples from the Specials making a cameo appearance.

After that it was back outside, where it had suddenly gone awfully dark. I caught a couple of Mumford and Sons's songs. They're better live than expected, and managed to make their music carry. I was good and didn't yell 'Judas' when they played electrics.

However, no matter how good they were, I wanted to see the Futureheads. Who were even better than expected. One live set has turned them from a band I like into a band I love. Oh the adorable guitarist (who I was right in front of, oh he's so lovely), oh the lovely bass player, oh the wonderful drummer and the fantastic singer. Definitely my band of the festival. I recommend going seeing them if you have the chance.
redfiona99: (Thinking)
day 01 | a song
day 02 | a picture
day 03 | a book/ebook/fanfic
day 04 | a site
day 05 | a youtube clip
day 06 | a quote
day 07 | whatever tickles your fancy

Unspeakably late, sorry.

A Miscellany:

As promised Dave Allen sketches, still not the one I wanted but still very funny:

On his first day at school - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk

The funeral sketch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kLTbvjqF6Y Possibly my favourite of his sketches.

Sex - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDnDyjWSH4Y

Masturbation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA-chhs5uOA&feature=related

Formula 1:

Jenson Button is champion, which I don't begrudge him, but oh how I wish Rubens could have won. Mostly because he's been such a good sport about it. And I'm in love with Ross Brawn's brain, as per, because he's totally won it for Brawn GP. Blog on why this is all quite amazing here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2009/10/the_remarkable_story_of_brawn.html

Boxing:

Normally I'm all for cheering on the smaller guy, but I really hope Nickolay Valuev knocks seven bells out of David Haye - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8317039.stm - mostly because Haye is not only nasty in a most uncalled for manner, but because he always backs down when called on it. Because whichever Klitchko brother was going to fight him and mysteriously, a back injury happens.

Music:

I have finally found a video of Symposium, one of the lost Brit-pop, and how I still miss them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1yo2SSvtxw (although I do prefer the live version).

Other lost brit-pop bands -

Gene - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT1JSa_quLk - Speak to Me Someone aka the one where it's obvious that he wants to be Morrissey.

3 Colours Red - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5mCkIrbPvU - basically one of those unlucky bands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Colours_Red) and this is my favourite of their tracks. Copper Girl, how you haunt my dreams to this day.

Hurricane #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jPZgLszqRY Step Into My World, which I love for the guitar line. One of their members was a member of Oasis before they split up.

Elastica - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPeJixp-zp4 Waking Up - I had such the greatest crush of Justine Frischmann, the lead singer. She's still quite close to my ultimate woman.

Dark Star - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCRhcTJGfwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6mZDWNo6RU&feature=related

Very personal choice, I saw the Jools Holland both of these are from and bought the album the next day which I just don't do. They are every bit as awesome as they look.

Other Brit-pop bands that just weren't as successful as they ought to have been -

The Bluetones )

Seahorses )

Cast )

Kula Shaker )

Feeder )

Mansun )

Space )

Ocean Colour Scene )

Idlewild )

Supergrass )

Skunk Anansie )

Ash )
~~~~

Other than that, another link that won't ever not be awesome - Rage Against the Machine at the RNC - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYwzW2QFnwo
redfiona99: (life is good)
Tickets to go see Ed Byrne in November and Henry Rollins (!!!!) in January. All for the princely sum of £32.

Eee!
redfiona99: (Default)
Dylan Moran, who is touring and who at least two of my f-list are going to see, is gigging in Leicester tonight. I was about the only person out of my set of friends that wasn't going. This is mostly because I didn't want to go with them, not any fault of Dylan Moran's. So they all buy tickets, and leave them with one of them, and look at me funny when I say I don't want to go. (As it stands I'm going for a drink with collegues instead)

So of course, the guy they've left the tickets with has lost them all. This could be most interesting, because I think they paid with cash, not with card. Seriously, for losable things, pay by card, it makes proof of purchase easier. It still might not work, but you have a much better chance.
redfiona99: (Default)
I was trying to come up with a punchline about this election - I'm mostly going for '2008 - Making 1908 look progressive' which I don't want to use because hello, there's a black person and a woman standing for election to powerful positions and insofar as I am aware, neither of those groups could even vote in 1908 but apparently that was the last time religion wasn't a huge issue in an election (thanks to nhw for that info).

The line above, which I might use instead, comes from Frankie Boyle on 'Mock the Week'. A lot of his schtick is very similar to Bill Hicks, but he gives it his own spin so they're different enough that it's not a blatant copy. This brings me round to why I don't watch the Daily Show, even on those infrequent occasions when I'm back home in time to watch it. Every time I turn it on John Oliver is on, and he's not funny. Worse than that, he's not funny while stealing someone else's schtick. Now the person he's stolen from is Jeremy Hardy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Hardy) who would happen to be one of my favourite comedians. So he's stealing a schtick and doing it so badly that he's not even a poor man's version, he's a beggar's version of someone I like a lot, and being praised for it. I trust the italics convey my annoyance suitably.

BTW, I recommend clicking on that link about Jeremy Hardy, because it details his awesomeness.

On a secondary point, other than Ed Byrne slowly turning into a joyously bitter person in his later 30s, if even he can't carry off slightly too short suit and Converses, no wonder the Doctor can't.

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