Just Snooping...

Just taking a peek around and wanted to remember these places of interest:

San Francisco Photos by Donald Kinney
I particularly liked the pictures of China Town and Chinese Food Merchants.

Woolgathering
This journal is as beautifully crafted as the things Eileene "Iko" Coscolluela makes.

One Point Five One Degrees
My favourite picture from Chromasia

A couple of other good photoblog sites linked from Chromasia:

My Expressions
No Traces
Orbit 1


I've just read some interesting opinions on the use of Photoshop to enhance digital photographs via Daily Dose of Imagery. The discussion in the forum can be seen via http://www.topleftpixel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49.

I'm not sure how I feel about enhancing photographs. Somebody mentioned that they use Photoshop to enhance their images because the camera equipment they have is not good enough and as a student they can't afford to upgrade. However, a trip to irony corner tells us that they seem to be able to afford to buy really expensive digital image-editing software (or not as the case may be).

I am not sure how my camera equipment rates but I think it may be mid-range in price and technical flexability. I so far haven't used Photoshop to enhance my images and may only be tempted for cropping purposes. I am not sure that I would use Photoshop any more than a traditional photographer would use his developing equipment in the dark room. The thought of changing a digital image by playing with colour and saturation levels, channel mixers and curves feels a little dishonest to me. I think that I'd rather go out to take the photograph again another time when the conditions are more appropriate. How else will I learn from my mistakes and really develop as a photographer?

Killer Sunset

Lando C and I faced up to the festive cabin fever last night and decided leave the comforts of the house. We've been cooped up here like chickens trying to fight our infections for over a week now without much luck. He had bought me a magnificent gift for Christmas which we would be able to use on our trip outside, consisting of - G3 lens converter, three filters, a wide-angle macro lens, zoom lens, tripod and other accessories.



The weather was amazing considering this is England and winter is upon us. It was brisk but sunny with great light for taking pictures. I suggested that we visit a place I'd not been to for years and which I'd forgotten the name of. It is an old church on a hilltop which overlooks South Derbyshire. I thought it was called Calke Abbey seeing as there was brown-sign turn off from the A42 which the church overlooks.

As it turns out, Calke Abbey is a completely different place altogether! It was a nice little jaunt though in the sunshine with many sheep and other tourists about. There is an impressive manor-style building with a similarly looking stable and also, as suggested in the name of the destination - an abbey. This however, was not the religious edifice that I was looking for.

Later on, Lando C and I tried to photograph some hungry Blue Tits munching away on hanging bird feeders on a tree near the car-park. Every time we crossed a three metre threshold near to it though, one always chirped to the others warning them that our presence probably meant we were going to steal their souls or something and they collectively flew away. Sadly, the digital zoom just doesn't do the pictures justice.

Eventually, we did find the church on the hill before the sun went down and unlike Calke Abbey, it was pretty desolated. So that I remember for next time, it is at a village called Breedon-on the-Hill just off the A453. The earliest headstone I managed to find without treading on any graves was from 1758.

We tried taking lots of pictures around the church but the lighting by this time started to fade creating really hi-key or extreme over/under exposed conditions.

The best picture I managed to take was about 5 minutes from home as the sun finally went down. I had to pull over, as the sky was so breathtakingly dramatic.

Tonight we are venturing out again to the Broadway to watch House of Flying Daggers. Last night we watched a cool movie that Lando C's parents sent for Christmas from Canada called Hard Core Logo. We'd watched another Bruce McDonald film called Roadkill earlier this holiday which probably due to my Beechams overdose, was a little out there man. Hard Core Logo hit the spot though and rocked!

Cool Stuff of 2004

2004 was a year of cool stuff. Kitsch, mullah-saving, labour-aiding, hi-tec, tasty, cool stuff. It was either a gift to me, a gift to others or just something found.


1. Broadway Cinema Screencard.

This is a passport to the local independent cinema, given to me as a gift from the GB Beach Ultimate Women's team for organising their entry into WCBU Portugal 2004. It rocks.



2. Dodo-Pad.

My Mum now knows what to buy me every Christmas to keep me organised throughout the year. It is the handiest diary, planner and doodle-jotter known to man. Lando C also supported my 2004 Dodo-Pad with a cool Dodo-Travel Journal to take to Arizona. Your dates have never been so beautifully illustrated.



3. Coasters made from recycled 78's.

This has been one of the coolest gifts ever and given to me by my Mum's friend. Taken from the centres of old 78 vinyl records, coffee-tables across the land are now protected from ringmarks thanks to Perry Como. The vintage HMV record label artwork is inspiring.



4. Technicolour Thailand Bag.

Dad bought this back from Thailand for me. I love the colours and the size is perfect for purses, Dodo-Pads, mobile phones, keys etc,. It makes me feel like an Indie-Disco Kid again.



5. The Bees Mug.

Lando C bought this for me from the Bees gig. The art is cool and it holds tea fantastically.



6. Russian Caviar.

Lando C bought this back from a business trip to St. Petersburg. The blue pot contained Beluga Caviar and the beautifully decorated pot contained Salmon Roe. I love the way Caviar pops in your mouth. It also goes great with vodka.



7. CF Card Reader.

This came free with our new flash card and it makes taking digital pictures really versatile.



8. Rainbow Crystal

This present (from my Mum's friend again) is cosmic. Stick it to a sunny window and the solar energy propels rays of rainbow sunlight around the room. It makes me feel like a hippy man.



9. Russian Dolls

Lando C bought these back from Russia. I have always wanted Russian Dolls since I was a child. The have a smell that reminds me of primary school.



10. South Devon Dried Chillies - Ring of Fire

I bought these for Lando C for Christmas along with some Chilli Chocolate, Chipotle Chillies (Smoked Jalapenos) and hot sauce. We have tried the Ring of Fire and it nearly took my fingers off just handling it, even though it is dried.



11. DAB Digital Radio

Thanks to this, I can now listen to BBC 6Music all over the house.



12. Kitsch Napkins

These made a great accompaniment to the Boxing Day seafood fondue that Lando C and I put on for my family this Christmas.



13. Bright Green Skirt

I love this skirt. It is so bright that it makes you feel alive. I bought it from an independent shop in Hockley and it was a bargain!



14. IRobot Postcard

A customer sent this to me asking that I give him a good home. There's a store in Hockley that sells these old-style made-in-Tawain-last-week tin robots but they are super expensive, especially if they have a box.

TV of 2004

2004 was a good year for TV, especially with a host of new series from across the pond. The UK effort was incredibly disappointing but the Long Way Round pulled us through. Top 2004 shows were:

1. Deadwood
2. Smallville
3. ER
4. Battlestar Galactica
5. Long Way Round
6. Scrubs
7. Last Chancers
8. Las Vegas

I also lived on a staple diet of TV-Reruns:

1. That 70s' Show
2. Frasier
3. Seinfeld
4. Star Trek Voyager/Next Generation
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Pics of 2004

In February, I lucked-out with a trip to Arizona as a birthday gift from my better-half. While Lando C sadly had to spend his daytime living it up by the free beer stand with his other sales-conference buddies, I was able to stake my place by one of the many vacant Camelback Inn hot tubs instead. It was then, accompanied by some thirst-quenching, fruit-filled, on-the-company, booze-fest, that I finally read the Canon Powershot G3 manual we'd had stuffed in a draw for eighteen months. After that, I then tried my hardest to recall anything that I may have learnt in the A-Level photography course I'd taken 10 years previously. Ice-cream headache.

Here are the best photographs that I took in 2004 and the best negative I was able to resample from my college days:



1. Before the Bee.

Summer arrived late this year and didn't leave much time for plants to flower before the Autumn came. I think I took this one in August.




2. Arizona Oranges.

I took this in February at the Camelback Inn whilst wandering around the complex. I am amazed by anywhere that can grow citrus fruits.



3. October Sunflower Seeds.

I was a bit late planting the sunflower seeds this year and wasn't too sure if anything would survive long enough to flower in the Autumn. They all developed into miniature bright yellow sunflowers.



4. St. Jordi Lighthouse.

This was taken on our annual visit to the Copa Pescadisco in Mallorca in October. We took a few days off before the tournament to take in the Island's rugged landscape and divine seafood.



5. Blackpool Pier.

Inspired by the versatility of the G3, I dug up some of the negatives I took at college. I can't believe how much crap there was and also why I had never submitted this photograph.

Books of 2004

1. Where Did It All Go Right? - Andrew Collins
I enjoyed this book because it reminded me of my teenage times in Northamptonshire which unlike Andrew's, were not so tantrum free.


2. Heaven Knows I'm Misarable Now - Andrew Collins
The follow up to "Where Did It All Go Right?". Whilst I didn't identify as much with this book (seeing as I would have been about 10 years old during his University years), I often wondered if my brother went through anything like this during his 1980's University education. Oh dear.


3. A Short History Of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
This is a brilliant book for people like me who did reasonably well in the sciences at the time but now couldn't remember which end to plug the bunsen burner in.


4. The Lies & The Lying Liars Who Tell Them - Al Franken
Still in the middle of this. It's hilarious yet tragic as many of these anti-Republican affairs are. Come on Uncle Sam - DO SOMETHING!


5. Dude, Where's My Country? - Michael Moore
A great follow up to Stupid White Men that I read in 2003. In the middle of this one too. I guess with this guy, old Al up there, the terrible US elections result and Fahrenheit 9/11, it all becomes a bit too much to take in after a while.


6. Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
This book changed my life. I have not eaten at McDonald's, Burger King or KFC since the end of May 2004. I still nip into Subway though which is still bad apparently due to their unfair franchise agreements.


7. Eats, Shoots & Leaves - Lynne Truss
In the middle of this one too. Enjoyed the obsession of it all to start with, as I also believe in correct spelling and grammar where possible. However, this took it to another level and made me feel quite guilty for not quite remembering all that I'd learnt about grammer and punctuation in A-Level English Language. So sod it.


8. All Families Are Psychotic - Douglas Coupland
So far so good. Another Coupland masterpiece.

Books to avoid:


1. Jim Giraffe - Darren King
This and Lynne Truss's book was all I took to Arizona with me. No wonder I spent more time reading my digital camera instruction book which was far more enjoyable than this. Firewood baby.

Flicks of 2004

This is a tough one because I didn't feel compelled to visit the cinema much this year. Not so long ago, you could forgive a little bit of fuzziness, scratches and a stray hair or two onscreen because the big screen projection system in theatres was much better than anything you could recreate in your living room.

Now though, many movies require the technical capability that is only available in the multi-media centres we have invested in back home. The Incredibles is one example of a long-awaited movie that I ruined by watching in the cinema. Bring on digital projection!

Here is a list of movies I watched either at my home cinema (complete with cheap home-made popcorn), independent cinema (I still believe in those) or multiscreenplex, which I would like to remember from 2004:

1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. Shaun Of The Dead
3. School of Rock
4. Monster
5. Big Fish
6. Kill Bill Vol. 1
7. Kill Bill Vol. 2
8. Fahrenheit 9/11
9. I, Robot
10. The Incredibles

I Missed It - Movies Of 2004:
(Damn It!)
1. Dodgeball
2. Supersize Me
3. Sideways
4. The Aviator
5. Beyond the Sea
6. The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Don't Think - Trashy Movies Of 2004:
(I love it!)
1. Starsky & Hutch
2. Spiderman 2
3. The Day After Tomorrow
4. Shrek 2
5. Troy
6. Van Helsing

Think Hard - "ooooh...look at me, aren't I being clever!" Movies Of 2004:
(I know I should love it but I hate it!)
1. 21 Grams
2. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
3. Lost In Translation

Gigs of 2004

I've probably been to fewer gigs this year but I think maybe I've seen more bands, if that makes any sense. T In The Park certainly racked up the number of artists on my 2004 Band-Bedpost but there were fewer trips to Rock City than 2003.

The Rescue Rooms definitely became my favourite venue of 2004 thanks to its many hidden compartments and intimate gigs. I am very sad that on reflection though, we didn't go to The Maze once this year.

1. The Bees - The Rescue Rooms - Sat 9 Oct 04



This was definitely the gig of 2004. They expanded so much energy, I was surprised to see members of the band hanging out after the gig had finished. I found this poster under a chair at the front and one of the band kindly went backstage and got all of them to sign it (see also later post about best buys of 2004).

2. Barenaked Ladies - Carling Academy - Thu 6 May 04



Again, this gig rates because of everything they gave on stage. I haven't listed any of the Ladies new stuff in my radio singles or album lists because it wasn't the best I'd heard from them. However, I did a couple of trips in the car with Everything to Everyone CD just because it reminded me of how great this gig was. I also managed to fight of some girl next to me for Steve Page's pic.

3. The Delays - T In The Park - Sat 10 July 04

Just divine. That is all that needs to be said.

4. PJ Harvey - Rock City - Wed 8 Sept 04

This gig makes it, not just because I was able to see her giving it up close and personal compared to what I saw at Leeds 2001. This is the gig where I felt strange stirrings in the force and thought early on "if I don't bump into my old house-mate here I never will".

About 5 minutes later I bumped into my old housemate as predicted. We had originally gone to the Leeds festival together in 2001 to see PJ among other artists but sadly lost touch after we both moved on in 2002. It was great to make contact again and get caught in the headlights of PJ's colour changing shoes like the startled bunnies we were.

Albums of 2004

Albums have a different kind of existence to Radio Singles. They have been the soundtrack to many lonely and repetitive car journeys up and down the A60. There is nothing like singing off-key to keep the ravages of road rage at bay.

1. The Bees - Free The Bees
2. Delays - Faded Seaside Glamour
3. Charlatans - Up At The Lake
4. Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues
6. The Vines - Winning Days
7. Dears - No Cities Left
8. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

Radio Singles of 2004

These are the radio singles that got me through my work day in 2004. They have been the water-cooler conversation equivalent for work-from-homers and listening has never been better thanks to BBC 6Music.

There is an order to this I am sure, but best not read too much into it really.

1. Nancy Sinatra (feat. Morrissey) - Let Me Kiss You
2. Dears - Lost In The Plot
3. Ambulance Ltd - Heavy Lifting
4. Vines - Winning Days
5. Franz Ferdinand - The Dark Of The Matinée
6. Kaiser Chiefs - Oh My God
7. Elliot Smith - Pretty (Ugly Before)
8. Modest Mouse - Float On
9. Thirteen Senses - Thru' The Glass

I'll probably add some more as they come to me.

More retrospective blogging.

This is a necessity right now seeing as 2004 is nearly over and by the time 2005 hits, so will my memory of it. This year I have been guided by music, books, tv re-runs, photographs, food, films, trips to new places, trips to old places. In fact, you might say that this entry could parady a well known Saturday supplement.

2004 was a significant year although I can't quite place why. Perhaps it was a little more eventful than others. Maybe I stopped listening so much to my inner voice and the voices of those around me. I have found this year to be thoroughly inspiring but I feel that this is all stored somewhere to be unleased in 2005. Let's just hope I don't just go and forget what it was.

The following entries are laundry lists of the kind of things I would like to remember about 2004 and take into 2005 with me.

Rules are meant to be broken...duh!

I had no idea that blogs existed until about two months ago. Talk about living under a rock. I've always had an interest in the culture and design of websites so this new media came as a bit of a welcome kick in the pants. Perhaps someone had told me about blogging before, maybe over a pint in the pub or something and I just somehow forgot.

Anyhow, after straying onto Radio 2's Miles Mendoza's Website of the Day, I discovered not only the solution to my life-long memory problem but also the creative inspiration required to start a blog of my own. I like is the perfect introduction to weblogs, with its simple and clean design and "how the hell did you come across that Anne?" links to other visit-worthy sites. And when she publishes something that I also like, well, the thrilling coincidence gives me goose bumps and makes me feel a little bit hip and cool. I like I like A lot.

In building up the nerve to create my own blog and banish my techno-fears (can't remember foreign languages - so I wouldn't bother trying to sell me html), I discovered many great blogs. I also discovered that some bloggers take this whole thing a bit seriously. According to some, there are rules for writing blogs. I'll summarise as follows:

1. Thou shalt create a blog not in one's own image and should always consider the reader as King.

2. Thou shalt always provide a means for the King to pass comment.

3. Thou shalt always provide the King with blogroll.

4. Thou shalt not waste the King's time explaining why they have been unable to post recent blogs whether it be due to busy work schedules, visits from long lost Aunts or nursing sick children. One should just get on with it.

5. Thou shalt edit ones posts and then edit them again. The King does not permit non-working words.

Somewhere along the line, it seems that the Blog-Nazis were invited.

Screw that! Blogger.com aren't going to confiscate my blog just because I not conforming to what the blogeoisie consider to be the purpose of writing a blog. If someone wants to read this then that's cool. And if they don't...well the outcome is a little irrelevant isn't it?



As Dr. Frank-N-Furter might proclaim whilst thrusting his rubber-gloved finger at Janet, "I didn't make it for you!"

Investment for old age

Over time I have often wondered - when I grow old, will I sit on my porch in a rocking chair reminiscing of old times, recreating in my mind events of the past as if they were yesterday? Will I hug that Technicolor crocheted blanket to my now hairy chin and say "Aaah, those were the days...We used to have two pints of milk delivered everyday then you know, ...by a battery operated float that whirred through the streets holding up traffic. And the bottles were made of glass. Made of glass I tell you. It's not like that now you know... there's no such thing as the pint anymore. It's all exploding cartons and cut your lip plastic...blah, blah, blah".

Not bloody likely!

I can't remember in any great detail what happened last week, let alone decades gone by. And it staggers me how old people do it. Now you might say it's probably just as well that I suffer from the agonising mental torture of retrograde amnesia rather than inflict the kind of wild irrelevant ramblings displayed above on the rest of the world and I would whole heartedly agree.

But not knowing what I have done with the 84 years of this life just as I am about to waft onto another ethereal plain of existence bothers me. Keep-me-up-at-night kind of bothers me. What if I am the last one in my generation to cark it and I've nothing to remember to while away those last few days? Who knows what bombs that I may of hidden that may go off without any explanation or motive? And you wouldn't know either because I probably forgot to tell you.

So this blog is a "Memoria Technica" to help me remember what was that enjoyed so much about yesterday. I wanted to call the blog that too but someone obviously remembered to beat me to it. Another thing I noticed was that there are about 353,000 blogs out there that use the term "Chronic". What a bunch of self-depreciating whiny hypochondriacs we are.