Bric a brac a blog

This post is a complete mish mash of junk; various things that probably wouldn't support a post on their own but can meld together here in a beautiful mixed-up melody.

Lets start off with this ingeniously simple flash animation on the evils of peer pressure and one-upmanship and the crass individuals who perpetrate such an environment, I would like to say you know who you are, but you're so self-obsessed you can't see past your big fat arse or head. The source of this clip is the ever wonderful fat-pie.

While on the subject of animation I came across this odd little film and this rather wonderful piece which can only whet your appetite for the forthcoming live action Transformers film... no? Just me then.

A smooth leap then from animation to coloured snow... seamless, quickly onto alcoholic houseplants and you hardly noticed the transition did you?

You may be wondering what the picture of the stormtrooper is all about, well I was checking out the prices of fully assembled costumes recently and unless I get myself a new sugar-daddy... I aint getting one of these.

Although if I push it, I will definately be getting a set of these.

Science and religion

Oh here we go again, one of my favourite subjects; creationism up for a 'chinning' courtesy of the Royal Society, god love 'em. I know I'll definately be tuning in.

Not that you can argue with people of 'faith' take this recent study on the power of prayer... better still read this version and you will see the time-honoured tradition of sheer idiocy in the name of god:

"Bob Barth of Silent Unity, said the results didn't shake his confidence in prayer. "People of faith don't need a prayer study to know that prayer works," he said."

Give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves... religious zealots are really really stoopid, but the more stoopid they are, the more intelligent people will turn their backs on organised religion, so it's all good as far as I'm concerned. Although I am interested to hear what a once prominent scientist has to say about religion, so over to Albert.

Also of interest this week has been the story of the Judas gospel although reading this article I am confused as to the timing of the whole thing, the most interesting article related to this story has to be this one, yeah just what are they hiding? One of the more startling links within this article points to this and I can't help but see similarities with scientology: Archons indeed.

By the way if any of you out there are interested in which religion the likes of Spiderman, Daredevil or Batman adhere to you can find out here, smashin, just super.

Finally we have this 'revelation' which makes perfect bloody sense to me.

Go figure.

Scary biscuits!

I don't suppose it's escaped your notice but we could have a real-live were-bunny on our hands...

In other strange animal news a monkey trained to move a robotic arm by thought alone... does what any self-respecting monkey would... and flings his faeces.

Toad problems in Darwin have prompted this genius scheme; Australians and free beer, what could go wrong?

Koala's and crocs are the last animals in this post, but what is it with the Aussies? I'm so moving to the southern hemisphere...

If only to escape 'thought crime' or sheer absurdism or such culturally highbrow events as the launching of the butt-bottle rocket which despite my concerns for the iq levels of today's youth is actually really funny, really, and it's always good to laugh at other people's stupidity.

Insomniacs Ball

It has been more than a fucken age since I went to any fezzie of any sort but an indoor fezzie in London? This is a first, and I like firsts.

My fantastic friend Ann has, in her divine wisdom bought me a ticket for the insomniacs ball and I'm kinda excited; it goes on until 6 the next morning so Friday Morning I'll be walking home along the river Thames sometime in the sunrise, people passing me on their way to work and I'll be pissed... nice, classy like.

So who's on I hear you ask (that was you right... the voices haven't come back... right?) well there's tonnes, a total shitload of new bands Art Brut are pretty good Battle too Black Wire are up there but check out their .tk domain and the free domain offers it's all slightly odd if you ask me... there was another band that are playing here with the same tag Komakino and they is also very good. Not only are Cazals pretty decent but they have a nicely designed website; all funeral parlour Victoriana. Another band with a really pretty website are the Good Shoes but it is also worth popping along to their My Space page and check out the video for we are not the same here, sweet lil indie boys (link courtesy of the beat surrender)

To 50's obsessives The Pipettes love the look love the sound, can't help but think of Sarah Blackwood from Dubstar (remember them?) when I hear the blonde do her bit, apart from the nose job she would have needed and the fact that she is now in Client, I'm pretty sure it's not her.

Another band with the .tk suffix are the Holloways and they are fantastic. As with any fezzie though there is some shit on too... British Sea Power, Vincent vincent and the villains great name, crap music. Dustin's Bar mitzvah, inspired name, rubbish music.

Shame they couldn't swap one of them for The Crimea scroll down for the new video or get it here. Or even the brilliant The Automatic; speaking of new videos, I had an email this morning from Video-C for the new Wigwam single. Wigwam for anyone who doesn't yet know are 80's pop icon Betty Boo with Bassist from Blur; Alex James and what the hee-haw it's kinda fun. I like the nonsensical bits in the middle where she makes mad cat-like noises and the video is funny if slightly reckless; encouraging violence against policemen, like they haven't got enough of that already >snigger<

So this year is already lining up to be a goodie first this fezzie and so far I've got tickets for the O2 festival on the night with Bauhaus, Goldfrapp and Depeche Mode; tickets to see the Knife at la Scala and Radiohead at the Hammersmith Apollo... nice... NEXT!

Chikinki

Just the one band in this post, as opposed to a whole host of new music; Chikinki, they aren't even that new to be honest, I first heard all eyes well over a year ago but they never seemed to catch which is a shame cos they do some good stuff.

The video for Assassinator is quite cool and funny and they get nekkid...

If you wanna check out their music there are various places to preview, such as their web-site Chikinki click music then listen to music and scroll to the bottom for All Eyes the video is pretty bog-standard but the tune is sublime, if you want more then some kind person has posted some live stuff over at myspace and X-Fm have posted a few live sessions.

All fall in love with them NOW!

S.H.D

Sexual Harassment Dalek...

Tom put him down... that's not for you...

What is he doing? Well when he's not fondling mass-murdering cyborgs he's reading the dictionary. There are a lot of sites decicated to the best doctor who (ever) so if like me you revere La Baker you should check some of em out.

On the subject of relative cool this little gem was brought to my attention by the uber-cool Neil Gaiman, how great would it be to have secret passageways, or better still, somewhere to put them.

More uber-coolness in this inspirational little piece, maybe it's just me but I've always been fascinated by colour-blindness, if you couldn't give a tiny toss don't click the link.

For the web enthusiasts of little to no skill (amongst which I have to number myself) there will soon be a new website tool to kick the sorry arses of all other website tools right off the field of play. If you would like some tips on how not to annoy potential visitors to your site there is a list here and on reading it I have to agree wholeheartedly with every point bar one, and even then only because I am guilty of it myself; No. 12 the dark page, another website I have www.dirdybirdy.com is black with red text and I like it, I really do; it's slightly menacing and to be honest the website was set up with a limited choice of designs and I liked that design the most, it's a collaboration site as there are two of us who work it and even the imbecile I work with likes it... I don't see what the beef is. Get yer eyes tested if you can't see it, you might be colour blind.

>snigger<

Go Figure.

The walls have mice... the mice have ears

The title is the original saying from war propoganda posters that was eventually shortened for modern usage into 'the wall have ears' well the job of spying it seems, is firmly back with the mice.

All the items in this post are utterly un-related apart from a single thread of weirdness that permeates them all.

Any excuse to ridicule religious nuts is always welcomed as is the chance to highlight some spectacular stupidity.

While quite sad (especially for the guy who has to help him up the ladders) this is kinda gross.

This is just stoopid and this is funny as fuck whereas I don't really see the point of this but we like to think we're helping.

Music news

Currently I is listening to Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger, constantly that is, it's a class album and I urge everyone to buy a copy. The best tune on it has to be Once a Glimpse but all of it is fanfuckentastic, anyways on with the post:

Check out the new Gorrilaz video El Manana it's quite sad; it's a follow on where the feel good inc. video left off with the helicopters chasing after the windmill,I really liked that windmill, I wanna live in a windmill or a lighthouse, bastard helicopters.

I was quite excited to hear about this planned radiohead covers album and can't wait to hear Sia's Paranoid Android, but, erm I don't know who any of the others are, anyone who does, feel free to leave a comment or email me purdy@dirdybirdy.com.

The lovely Milkandcookies.com has once again caused pant-leakage with this invaluable little gem of The Flaming Lips and Cat Power performing together and this funny little video from the lovely Milla Jovovich, it's a good video but the song isn't one of her best... didn't know she recorded music? well then you should check her out cos some of the tunes are actually really bloody good.

If anyone saw the recent NME awards show you will have seen a young guy who goes by the name of Plan B and although I hate rap (it's way too aggressive and hateful - I think Dylan Moran summed it up best in his monster dvd) I thought that this guy was fucking excellent I have also heard snippets from the album and I was well impressed to hear the opening of the first song cos he's sampled the beginning of Pyramid Song by Radiohead and it's nice. If you didn't catch the performance there is a video of it on the NME media player (link on right of NME home page) and it's well worth registering for. Alas the fly in this otherwise beautiful ointment is his choice of single; you can catch the video here I saw this ages ago could've been like a year ago or something and I thought interesting video but the song is fucken dreadful: 'stab you in your eye though with a biro' God Grow up man, there is a difference between gritty reality and glorifying violence, I only hope that his gigs are full of hateful bastards like himself and someone shoots him cos that's the sort of shit this crap promotes, anyways other than this single some of his other stuff is quite good and clever but I have a funny taste in my mouth for promoting him when I really all-consumingly HATE the single. I think I'll write a rap about it.

You can also listen to the new Delays album on the media player and the new sound has me creaming in me knicks.

Doesn't scan?

April 29th 2005 I posted about the first male pregnancy and nothing has been disclosed since... I would imagine that the actual birth would get some sort of coverage so I thought I would check out the website to see what progress had occurred only there doesn't seem to have been any, if anything he looks smaller rather than fuller. So off I trotted to the FAQ page and the first question is about his due date... only there isn't one, now I'm definately no mathmetician but if he was impregnated (I assume, before I heard about it to blog it) around the time I posted the blog then hasn't he been pregnant for 11 months?

How does that work?

Weird and wonderful world

This picture is a new kind of lobster just recently discovered in the South Pacific (that's the ocean not the musical) and isn't he odd and strangely cuddly looking... unlike the large lobster recently found in Tasmania which is just scary and quite gross.

Other recent discoveries in the world of science include a survey that seems to indicate that ugly people are more likely to commit crimes... which seems like a totally preposterous conclusion to draw from such a survey as there are many factors why people commit crimes, mostly poverty, addiction, peer pressure, but there are people who commit crimes without even knowing it depending what strange and often archaic laws remain in place; one of my favourites is that all London cabbies have to carry a bale of hay by law, a remnant of times long passed when horses pulled the cabs. Then there are the people who know the law and use their knowledge to engage in morally dubious business practices, lawyers for instance, and finally there is the fact that power corrupts and politicians pass more and more legislation to grant themselves more and more power and control, oh but then thinking on it >woof< look at Michael Howard or Anne Widdecombe (god bless 'er and all who sail in her) maybe there is some truth in the ugly theory after all, two words: Cherie Blair. Whilst on a crime-related theme I have to admit I was impressed by this burglar's M.O. ingenuity like that has to be admired but I wonder what he would have done confronted with this particular aroma.

It's always good when you read things about your own personal vices having benefits of sorts.

A while ago I blogged about the Philip K. Dick robot and then shortly after it went missing... how the fuck do you lose something like that?

W.T.F.? no seriously though, what the fuck?

This is cool though, this is odd, aproaching David Icke odd, this is fascinating and it's good to see that scientists can think outside of their firmly defined boxes once in a while.

Finishing this post I am gonna link to some amazing images that are also from some very interesting articles. Enjoy x.

P.S. stop wanking.

X-men Ah-gen

Yeah the title is a hard 'g' as in again but metered to match X-men... least I think so, feel free to differ and moan about it to someone other than me coz I don't give a shit.
And so with such friendly introductions let's proceed with the post:

Firstly everything I've posted about the film before seems to be true and there are more revelations here but I think some of them need to be taken with a pinch of some salt substitue as salt is bad M'kay and the picture above is Rebecca Romijn-Stamos who plays Mystique after her encounter with the anti-mutant gene serum... god that's even dull to say/type but without her mad make up (she looks SO fucken cool in the comics with her little skimpy dress cossie thing and skull belt buckle) she is fucken hot... pretty lady.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that I am a comic book geek and whilst not as vociferous as some (although read on and make up your own mind) of the 'fanboy' generation I do have my reservations about the upcoming X-Men movie, namely the first two films.

What I think many of the comic book fanbase needs to realise is that Hollywood needs the comic book industry for ideas it is rapidly falling short of and a captive market audience that will slavishly devour whatever product is heaped upon it but in the process of studio interference etc and the drive towards fiscal rewards many things are lost and forgotten primarily, in my opinion that they are using mass-marketing techniques on a crowd that will not tolerate it and why? Because in general the comic book aficionado is already outside of the mainstream, we maintain our elitism for a reason; it means we differ from the rest of society but not on the grounds of socio-economic status or any of the usual trappings; it is as we are intellectually naked (like everyone is) but we are admitting it and enjoying our social exclusion with the background of some very fine artistry (in my time it was John Romita Jnr., Marc Silvestri, Brett Simpson and Mike Mignola) and when elitism is punctured by crass popularity the object of our affections becomes destroyed. (the following examples are very U.K. based - sorry)

Dandy Warhols killed their cool with a vodafone advert that opened them up to everyone and now they're shite.

The Ordinary boys were on the verge of cool when Preston went into the celeb big brother house and now they are the biggest bunch of toss regardless how good the music is.

Arctic Monkeys god bless 'em; (hate that I might have aided the phenomenon) loved loved loved the music but now they are 'everyone's' I have no interest in knowing more; conglomerate corporatism doesn't understand the need for things to maintain their personal closeness and the search to provide 'individual' mass production will only be acheived by making us all the same consumer, which (I hope) will never happen but it is what business wants: an easy sell. It's all about making the most amount of money, there is no product loyalty, there is NO consumer loyalty and so from this blatantly anti-capitalist rant here are the links >heh!<

This was the latest from the original source of the leaked script and what I loved about this page was that the link they post to: Miss Lady Venus was dead within hours of them posting that 'we' need not worry about things like dead links etc. Yeah great...

Anyways back to the topic of the post... you can catch the official trailer for the new (and allegedly final - of this three film storyline) here and it aint that hot.

Things that really bug the shit outta me though (and here comes the fanboy!) are the character fuck arounds like Rogue: can't fly aint invulnerable or super strong, no former relationship with (her step-mom) Mystique, Iceman (A FOUNDING FUCKING MEMBER!!! In the 60's!!!) is a teenager... FUCKEN WHY???????

The new fuck arounds come with Psylocke... one of my favourite characters until they fucked her over with a new japanese body storyline crap... she was English and I kinda liked that... and she was weak and strong and now she has been apparently HIDEOUSLY misrepresented...

My opinion for what it's worth (even though I WILL see the third film -even with the shite Colossus suit... check the trailer and Leech isn't green or odd looking and tha sucks like greedy bastards) is that all of the X-men films are SHITE.

So there.

Placebo

Ah so the lovely Mr. Molko n ko are back yay I hear you say! Well wait until you've heard the new single (only this and the official site site suck a bit in the quality stakes... nice quality hi or crappy low... no midrange or the option to download it at your own speed but playback in high quality WHICH SUCKS by the way); it sounds like old album filler crap Uh-oh! God I hope the rest of the album is better, usually each album has been preceded by an excellent first single, this does not in my opinion, bode at all well, still as long as he's cute I'll still go see 'em live.

Finally the Knife's Silent shout video has been placed online you can find it half way down the page here (U.K. that is - other countries will have to check their own Yahoo music sites to see whats on offer).

Totally non-music related but honestly check it out WTF??

Finally totally unrelated to any of the other subjects in this post is this.

Geek Alert!

You have been warned...

Lets start with something that every computer user should be aware of, and move swiftly on to something I think every photographer should know about, ending this section of shoulds: with something that should be read by anybody interested in science; it's a blog the way they should be and it's bloody interesting and it's handled bloody well if ya ask me.

Who'da thunkit? Mainly that the 'Dick robot' is not what you were really hoping it would be... but its' still bloody cool.

News that Aardman are branching into CGI.

Ending with a small collection of bits dedicated to 'the best supporting character... everrr'.

Place your votes now for laziest blogger... everrr.

Oh my!

Well anyone with half an inkling will tell you that C3-P0 and R2-D2 are like totally gay, check the photo above to see R2 taking a whole foot!
Well in the recent flurry of excitment over the 'mainstreaming' of gay issues in America, this is where we're at now.

Although I would encourage you to check out this warning firstly, before watching any film...

And whilst on matters homo it's really heartening to see couples sticking it out.

And as Anyone knows the gays do good interiors; and I do dubious links but check out the heating that I WANT in my house...

This last story just shows that Google are 'gay'! (worst link ever...).

BTW the film clips were found on this excellent site: Milk and cookies.

More music

PJ Harvey is undeniably a goddess and her new song is classic Peej.

On the other end of the music spectrum; Madge has been gettin about a bit lately and I think her disco sound is ok but the 'disco dancing granny in a leotard' look is so no go.

The Cardigans have a new song out and I don't know I love the Cardies but this is all fart and no substance, the video has a cool look but it's a confused song that's nowhere near as clever as their older stuff.

Of course because it's Valentines day I am gonna include a brief history for you, and remember romance kills.

Aliens in the attic

Who doesn't have one nowadays?
They're all the fucken rage, oops no wait sorry they just went out... again... too slow.

Ok Go

Ok Go get the title for this blog purely based upon the new video a million ways it's funny as all hell, shame the guy in the glasses is the worst dancer cos they is some slick moves boy...
The song's quite good too. Whilst searching for the full video I came across this rather cool site, which in turn lead me to this one where I saw this and it reminded me I have to get the 8" design your own Qee.

The now well established Arctic Monkeys have released a new single and the opening riff is fantastic. You can check out the whole video here, this Video-c site is quite good (whereas gigwise.com have a better selection they even have idiot pilot who never get covered anywhere bless 'em, lovely boys) but slightly annoying in the respect that some videos are only snippets and you vote for them... I don't know if voting means that they will then go on to post the full versions but if it does then you all have to go and vote for the Knife's new song and the Delays too, or if you can't be arsed to wait then you can catch the full video for the Delays new song Valentine here. The Knife however I fear we are just going to have to wait for.

The Sunshine Underground however do get a full video posting so it's worth checking them out... and not just because the drummer looks cute, although speaking of cute Four day Hombre has just become my new boyfriend, only I'm not sure how to break the news to him... if anyone has his phone number... mail me.

He sounds a bit like Elbow. There is a bigger and better quality version here.

The final piece of music is from Sia, I love this girls voice and this video is brilliant; I love that polaroid/animated technique.

Hopefully the posting will be more regular from now on. Adieu.

Fridgehenge

How quaint, I want one (although I don't think it would fit on me balcony) and I only learned of it from this rather interesting article on Stonehenge and I have to say I agree with the guy.

Whilst on learning new things I discovered some very interesting facts about scorpions, the fact that we are long overdue a magnetic pole reversal and if I dig a hole straight down from my house I would end up out in the ocean off the south-east coast of New Zealand... better pack a dinghy then.

Finally in this post I include for your erudition this.

Tom Cruise is Gay!

Gay, gay, gay, gay, gay.

I can't believe the guy has muscled into censorship, what a wanker; I assume most of you know about the South Park episode where Tom Cruise is encouraged to come out of the closet, I only assume as I posted about it in December.

Well we in the UK will never get to see this episode as big ol' gay boy (Tom Cruise if you are wondering) has decided for us. What a cunt. A big gay cunt that is.

At least the link is still alive although I do wonder for how long... UPDATE: the WHOLE episode can be seen here.

Thank the lard we still have the divinely sane Andy Dick.

Bye-bo

Sad sad news, the Aibo gone byebo.

Console yourselves here.

Or have a wee giggle at the "Chewin' the fat" gang doing Star Trek. Big thanks to A Welsh view for this one.

Set phasers tae Malki.