Thy Name Is Context!

I mean, I hate the idea of having a bomb hanging over us, but I also hate the idea of a kid being sent to war and blown away that way.
— Gary Glitter, 1986

I may have the Smash Hits book. Just mayyybe.

currently playing: Syreeta Wright – I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You

Includes Dearest, Blackest, <strong style="color:black">Black Type</strong>

Available at all good bookshops! And probably some mediocre ones, too, but try the good ones first!

currently playing: Betty Boo – Where Are You Baby (King John 7' Mix)

Posters!

Motorcycle posters, in fact.

And if anybody can find details of getting a print of this poster, I'd be impressed. I have seen it in the depths of Hell, but the internet is failing me for once…

currently playing: Regina Spektor – 20 Years Of Snow

November is Approaching

For those of you who have been reading this blog for a couple of years: I’m very sorry. But, also, you might remember, during those halcyon days of 2004, that every other post was about the American elections, including the insanity of liveblogging both Conventions (and staying up to 4am watching them on C-SPAN). You may have noticed that this time around, I haven’t spoken much about the upcoming mid-terms. Well, I have intended to, but work has meant that the last thing I want to do when I get home is write a thousand words on the political wisdom of the day.

But, obviously, I still think about it.

And the other reason is of course that I was so convinced that Kerry was going to win back in 2004. I saw the conventions, I saw the debates, I saw the polls, and I truly believed that John Kerry was going to be the 44th President of the United States.

I was an idiot.

This time around, things seem to be going even better. Even before the revelation of Mark Foley's cybersex sessions with House Pages, the Democrats have been beating the Republicans nationwide in the polls, and in individual races it looked like they may have been able to take back either the House or the Senate.

Now, people are predicting a landslide.

I say: never underestimate the Democrats' ability to screw up an easy victory. But I live in hope. And I will be liveblogging November 7th. I have the 8th booked off work, and yes, I'll be watching all the news networks as they whip themselves up into a frenzy.

Because I'm an idiot. And willing to be crushed at 4am again…

currently playing: ABC – Valentine's Day

It's Pancake Day, It's Pancake Day, It's P-P-P-Pancake Day!

The new Robin Hood, then: for all his faults, thank goodness RTD was in charge of Doctor Who. The best you can say about it is that Hungary looked quite pretty.

For quality Robin Hood tales, I think we're going to be better off in the hands of CBBC.

(Oooh, Captain Jack doing the Batman walk in the Torchwood trailer!)

currently playing: Stuart A. Staples – That Leaving Feeling

SILENT. STEALTHY. DEADLY

I think everybody has got the wrong idea about Jack Straw. He just had a very traumatic childhood experience with ninja, that’s all…

One Upon A Time, There Was Optimus Prime

And twenty years later, this is Masterpiece Prime, a 20th Anniversary version of the original Transformer. Almost thirty centimetres high, die-cast metal parts, more articulation in one arm than the 1984 has in its entirety, the Creation Matrix, his energon axe, and Megatron in gun form.

It is Thing of Beauty Optimus Prime.

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currently playing: Camera Obscura – I Need All The Friends I Can Get

Hurrah For Chapel Hill Comics!

I have a transatlantic Phonogram connection! Hurrah!

currently playing: Fuzzbox – Pink Sunshine

A Link Return

How to dismantle an atomic bomb. Just in case.

There is no way that WarGames 2 won't suck. But The Cutting Edge 3?

Make your own devil horns!

No kissing on American Airlines?

Ooooh. Shiny.

Wonderful Penguin book designs.

currently playing: Jimi Tenor – Spell (Radio Edit)

LaurenSpotting

Back on a Saturday, for twelve weeks at least! And, in the first episode, the delights of explicit origami and looks of bored horror at Sting playing a lute. You might have to tune out during the “let’s set some books to music! That’ll be fun!” segments though…

currently playing: R.E.M. – Finest Worksong