Frankly, I’m not actually going to be celebrating.
I’ve not really got the cash to go out: and the pubs around here have this bad habit of only letting you it …
If you’ve paid for a ticket.
OK, I don’t drink: and haven’t done for years.
But that still strikes me as a bit cheeky: even though, as a former barman, I’m very aware it’s a handy way of filtering known problem drinkers out of the premises.
Personally? I’ll possibly have an early night, now I’ve got the next few weeks of teas videos done.
But there’s three things.
Have a happy new year.
Be careful, and drink responsibly.
If you end up dancing on tables? Burn the negatives!
You have just seen the intro video, there, haven’t you?
Just in case you’re wondering … ?
Just in case you’re wondering about the Japan reference, there, I’ve got Japan’s Tin Drum album on in the background.
It’s both a personal favourite, gorgeous to listen to …
And possibly something I’ve listened to a lot, at this time of night.
Good knows what the neighbours must be thinking.
Either way, it’s a LP I like listening too, while I write …
~≈§≈~
Which is possibly something you may or may not have worked out.
As I think I’ve mentioned the blessed thing a few times …
Funnily … it’s also not a CD I’ve ever owned …
Nor, unfortunately, am I ever likely to.
Who buys CDs, or DVDs, these days, with things like Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and Netflix?
That sad fact, there … ?
Is that record retailers, HMV, have gone into administration: and their owners make no bones about the fact that people’s move to streaming and downloading has played its part.
It’s sad: and believe me, I’m sympathetic to what the staff are going through, having been working at Threshers, when it collapsed.
But … ?
I can’t help but think a better online offering from the company could’ve been helpful.
Let’s face it, we all of us finding the streaming option so much easier than walking into a shop.
~≈§≈~
That’s not necessarily always the case.
Sometimes?
Sometimes we can happily watch a movie on DVD or blu-ray.
Although, personally?
I’ve not actually owned a DVD player for 3 or four years: if you see me mention my movie collection, that collection consists of digital files I’ve either bought on iTunes, and streamed across the internet.
Or digital files I’ve ripped, and have stored on an external hard drive.
That later? I can watch on my AppleTV.
That later option, raiding that external drive?
Is something I’ve done, tonight.
Yes: I’ve not seen fan favourite, Alien, for some time …
I think we can safely say that going back to bed has …
Well, definitely has appeal.
The fact that, after I made that intro, I had a nice hot cup of tea?
Does help keep me up.
The reason I’m tired?
I’m getting old!
Or staying up late to watch movies!
Am I the only one that thinks David Cronenberg’s Videodrome is just ever-so-slightly odd … ?
~≈§≈~
Talking of films?
I’ve got Radio 4’s Today programme on in the background: as ever.
They’ve told us that the BBC’s Film programme is to finish: after some forty-seven years.
The show, and its presenters — Barry Norman, Jonathon Ross and Claudia Winkleman — has built up a reputation for being both entertaining, accurate, and knowledgeable about its subject.
Personally?
I think that’s both a shame … and a mistake.
~≈§≈~
Oh, one other thing the Today programme mentioned?
Apparently, there are plans afoot to have more in-cell phones in UK prisons.
Yes: I can see there’s arguments — good arguments — about prison management, there.
But I’m also aware that — in many prisons — prisoners share cells.
I can’t help but think doing this will reduce violence on the wing — arguments about access to pay phones is a big cause of fights — but will increase the amount of in-cell violence.
As men sharing a cell argue about who’s turn it is to use the phone.
I was trapped, on the floor of a lift: a jammed lift.
With something horrible — I got the impression it was female — trying to get through the door.
And very aware that I had to keep really still: otherwise whatever it was would seriously get me.
It was that unnerving … ?
I actually woke up.
And was able to send myself a just about coherent email about it.
At twenty to four in the morning.
Tell me …
Have you got any idea what the hell THAT was about … ?
~≈§≈~
That’s one quick point.
Over the past few months, many Western governments have decided to stop using Huawei kit in various infrastructure projects.
Western governments … apart from the UK.
I’ve always felt governments should encourage their own IT sectors in various ways: infrastructure, operating systems*, what have you.
The UK’s government has always seemed slow to act on that front.
However?
It turns out that BT is to remove Huawei kit from the telecommunications network it’s building for Britain’s emergency services: and that others have their doubts about using Huawei parts for Britain’s 5g mobile network.
Frankly?
I’m glad to hear it.
Just as long as Huawei isn’t replaced by Ericsson …
Granted, I’ve not been able to get much, given the job situation: but at least I could get something …
Someone’s due to get a lot of Lego, I know that.
~≈§≈~
Despite the Christmas theme?
There’s still news happening …
One piece I did notice?
Was that Apple have picked up some kudos.
As they’ve removed an app from the iOS App Store, written by a US religious group known to be homophobic.
The LGBT group that’s highlighting it are — understandably — pleased: but still want to see the app removed from both Google Play, and Amazon.
Good luck on that.
I do know, though, that there’s a film doing the rounds, called I Am Michael: which, although based on a true story, looks very much in favour of Gay Conversion therapy.
I’m left handed, so you know, rather than gay: and heard several stories about fellow lefties who’d been forced to become right-handed.
So I’m sympathetic: as I can see the comparison.
Given that?
I’m concerned enough to ask a film about gay conversion therapy … is still on the UK iTunes Store … ?
You know, it’s the night before Christmas Eve, and all through the house?
There’s the odd bit of dust.
I think that — potentially — I should be doing the odd but of … you know … sweeping up.
Possibly.
If I can … you know …
Get motivated.
Or get bothered!
At ANY rate … ?
It can’t have escaped you — or me — what time of year it is.
Yes …
It’s Christmas.
And frankly?
Whilst I’m not working, now, I can, at least be grateful I bought a few presents, whilst I was … !
Not much …
But someone’s going to get a lot of Lego*.
~≈§≈~
At any rate … ?
It’s Christmas: with all that implies.
If, like me, you’re at home?
You’ve a couple of options.
Some of them repeatable in public.
In my case?
Well, in my case, the first thing I did, was do my mother a favour: updating her iPad to the most recent version of the operating system it could deal with, and updating some apps.
THEN … ?
Well, I figured a movie would be the thing.
I’d seen Christmas horror films, before now — Rare Exports and Krampus — and felt the genre was maybe something to explore.
The big question … ?
Did I make the right decision, with A Christmas Horror Story?
A) I really need to catch up: the charts are published on Fridays, now, rather than the Sundays of my youth. (I’d’ve posted it earlier: that’s why I didn’t … )
And B) … ?
We now have LadBaby’sversion of We Built This City as the UK’s official Christmas number one for 2018.
It’s …
Nice …
But at least any money earns is going to a good cause.
As for me, singing along … ?
No …
Just no … !
~≈§≈~
There’s another thing …
I read that parts of the US Government have been shut down: after a row in Congress about funding for Trump’s Mexican Wall.
You know, going as far away as possible from the intro …
I have to admit, a patch of unemployment can either be good or bad for the soul, it really can.
If you can keep yourself occupied, it can be good.
Occupied … and financially afloat, that is.
I’m surviving: with a lot of help, it has to be said.
If you’d like to donate to the cause?
The PayPal button’s on the sidebar: on the non-mobile version of the sidebar.
Which is something I normally wouldn’t even mention: except times are a little … um … iffy … right now.
So, apologies, if that seemed a little rude, there: I’m sure you can appreciate the situation.
~≈§≈~
At any rate, I was saying about keeping myself occupied … ?
I’m thank that, over the years, I’m managed to build up a movie collection: mostly as digital files, mostly on an external hard-drive.
And mostly sharing that hard drive with a lot of TV box sets.
Although, if I get the money?
Getting DVD or blurry versions of current favourites are always welcome.
Over the past couple of days?
Over the past couple of days, I’ve had to confess, I’ve hit the collection to see what I have: only to find I’ve a well known Australian film trilogy sitting there being forgotten.
Given one of my regular commenters had mentioned Road Warrior, recently?
It seemed rude to not watch the first three in the Mad Max trilogy.
Tonight I had room for Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome.
Well … It would have been rude not to …
~≈§≈~
Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome opens with Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) travelling across the wastes of post-apocalypse Australia, in a camel-drawn truck … only to be attacked by a pilot called Jedediah.
Max?
Is forced to chase on foot: eventually following the trail to Bartertown, the one place in the desert with anything resembling an electricity supply.
The power?
Is supplied by Master (Angelo Rossitto), and his body guard, Blaster (Paul Larsson).
Who are the political rivals of Aunty Entity (Tina Turner): Bartertown’s unscrupulous ruler.
When Max get’s to Bartertown, he finds two things.
His camels have been sold to the highest bidder.
His truck?
Is going the same way.
And Aunty?
Wants him to fight in the Thunderdome, itself.
Two men go in.
Only one is supposed to come out …
You can tell there’s going to be chainsaws, can’t you … ?
~≈§≈~
Now …
Good … ?
Yes …
Possibly a qualified yes, but nonetheless, yes.
I can remember, back in the day, the talk when Mad Max 3 hit the cinemas: talk that — effectively — said the Lord of The Flies style plot line — involving the group of children led by Savannah Nix (Helen Buday) — slowed the film down, somewhat.
I can certainly go with that: there’s a good ten minutes of wondering around Australia’s desert interior that could have been trimmed, there.
On the other hand?
Whilst maybe not as trend setting as Mad Max Two: The Road Warrior — my personal belief is that Mad Max Two: The Road Warrior set the template for the rest of the franchise — nor as visually focused as
Mad Max: Fury Road*, it is still a very good, watchable film.
* Fury Road is possibly the best film in the series.
† One thing I did notice? When Aunty Entity‡ sends Max into the desert to die, he’s sat on a horse, backwards. And masked: with a papier-mâché head. I’m wondering if George Miller, the series long term creator, had seen a Dr Who story called Terror of the Autons. That head looked familiar.
‡ One last thing? Aunty Entity’s “Ain’t we a pair” line, before she and her troops walk off, seemed to hint at so many things. Personally? I can’t help but wonder if the producers had her sketched in for another appearance: as a friendly rival to Max. I guess we’ll never know.
I’m listening to the relatively obscure From Ato B, by New Musik, right now.
Possibly the only hit LP New Musik ever had.
Complete with the only actually hit they had, too: Living by Numbers.
Apparently, the song’s writer, Tony Mansfield — New Musik’s lead singer — was a bit of a fan of The Prisoner.
They really don’t want your name …
~≈§≈~
That possibly beside the point, though.
For one thing?
I’ve been meaning to try my hand at video compositing: as soon as I learnt I could do basic green screen work with iMovie, the basic video editing app on the Mac.
I’ve not managed to get the spare bedsheets, green dye, or curtain pole I’d need.
But have worked out that I can use Keynote to make a quick animated slide, with a black background …
That I can then manipulate in iMovie to produce … well … things like today’s intro movie.
Basically, I’ve woken up this morning, turned on the TV — as ever, I’ve got Radio Four’s Today programme on — only to be told by Justin Webb that Gatwick airport had been closed.
Because someone’s been flying a drone, over the runway, since nine o’clock, last night.
It’s been creating havoc.
On the other hand?
It’s the first thing to knock Brexit off of the headlines in weeks …
~≈§≈~
The one good thing I can say about today … ?
Is that;
I’ve a phone interview, this evening.
I’ve got all the stuff I need to send off for my drivers license.
OK, granted: it’s going off in the middle of the Christmas Card Rush.
But, hopefully?
It — and the various bits and bobs I’ve sent off to get it — will be with me soon.
