• Friday 22 July 2005

Finally received my complimentary copy of the first issue of the new Forbidden Planet International Magazine, featuring an article on the 'rise, fall and rise' of the graphic novel written by yours truly.
The magazine is basically a full-colour glossy catalogue for the FP chain, but with a number of articles and features making it quite an interesting package. Who would have guessed there were so many movie and TV-related toys and statuettes? I would imagine that it's available in FP shops and to FP mail-order customers for the next couple of months.
Forbidden Planet Website

In all the sudden excitement of the current spate of terrorist attacks in London yesterday, Channel 4 newscaster Jon Snow made an unfortunate slip during a newsflash (neatly squeezed in between overs during the channel's coverage of the first ashes test). Referring to the suspected undetonated bomb on the top floor of a London bus, he said, "... and we are receiving unconfirmed reports of a bus in Hackney Road."
I mean, I know London Transport is bad, but ...

Finished watching the excellent eight-part Death on the Staircase series last night, and it's left a gap in our evenings. Hopefully it'll be repeated and/or released on DVD. A damning indictment of not only the US justice system but the US media too.

• Tuesday 19 July 2005

My nephew Reece sent me a link to a piece of fantastic software called Google World. It's a virtual globe, the beta version is downloadable for free and allows to to zoom in on anywhere in the world, depending on satellite coverage. You can overlay road maps, terrain maps and in some cases 3D models of buildings, which can be viewed at variable degrees of tilt. Not only that, it's a sophisticated routefinder, with locations of restaurants, hotels and all kinds of other things ... just stunning, quite frankly.
So while I missed out on San Diego this year, I have earlier this evening visited the city virtually. You will need a reasonably up-to-date PC (sorry, Mac fans) and a broadband Internet connection to take advantage of it, but try it if you can.
Google World

• Monday 18 July 2005

So Shaun Wright-Phillips finally joins Chelsea with no claims of "tapping up" and will join the rest of the squad for their pre-season tour of the USA. A fantastic signing, much needed cover for Duff and Robben (who both spent periods out injured last season, requiring a change of tactics in some vital matches). He'll get a good run in the team no doubt, with Joe Cole apparently relishing the challenge of further competition for places. And the new centenary kit looks pretty classy too.

For all iPod fans, here's some gret news (link sent to me by Anne Timmons):
The iPod Flea

Have been gripped by a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary about a high-profile homicide prosecution shown on BBC Four over last weekend, Death on the Staircase. At first, I thought it was some kind of reconstruction rather than actual footage. Amazing access granted to the documentary makers and a fascinating insight in the American legal system. Highly recommended.
Death on the Staircase

• Last week's nonsense

television
Death on the Staircase [BBC 4]
Ends of the Earth [BBC 2]
Cold Creek Manor [2003]
Taking Lives [2004]

dvd
Blood Simple [1984]

cd
Elemental [Tears For Fears]
Raoul and the Kings of Spain [Tears For Fears]
A Grand Don't Come For Free [The Streets]
Mellow Gold [Beck]

comics
Sea of Red #1 [Salgood Sam]
Girls #1 [Luna Brothers]

footie
Benfica 0 Chelsea 1
[preseason friendly]

cricket
The First Ashes Test
England v Australia [Lords]

blog archive
week ending :
17 July 2005
10 July 2005