:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Saturday, February 07, 2004 ::

Lost Highway - The Opera
Yes, someone has made an opera based on the David Lynch film. Unfortunately they've removed the Trent Reznor, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and Rammstein from the soundtrack, which I think could ruin it. I wonder if they left in the guy getting impaled through the head on the glass table?

:: Dan 7.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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How to fsck your children up, totaly, in one easy step.


What is that girl doing?

:: popcorn 7.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Flash BMX Tricks game

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Some Orb live dates have been announced for May. Ultraworld hasn't been updated yet but wayahead are selling tickets already for:
Manchester University 05/05/2004
Bristol Academy 09/05/2004
Brighton Concorde 2 10/05/2004
Brixton Fridge 11/05/2004

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Another ridiculously addictive online game: Gridlock
Manoeuvre the blue block out of the hole in the box. Pieces will only move lengthways.

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Via G3RM:

Newspeak Dictionary

TETRIS: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE is another documentary about a very specific event and time in Russia that ends up showing a far wider picture of what was going on at the end of the cold war. (I’m thinking of ‘Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine’ when I say another, although I haven’t actually seen either documentary) So, if you’re interested in Russia generally, Testris, 80’s computer games or the cold war, watch this on BBC4 next week (it’s on each night at a different time).

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Pigeons reveal map-reading secret

This story was drummed up by the Today program as "Growing concern over removal of whale carcass" as if it's a matter of national importance. I think the removal of the badger on the hard shoulder of the M4 is equally if not more important.

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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TiVo Users Couldn't Get Enough of Janet Jackson

:: Dan 5.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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I have been developing what I call my Episode III theory for sometime (most of that time in pubs) and with the help of Slim and Spokes and a few pints of Caffrey's. A movie related message board thread has today led to my unleashing it on the rest of the world. So here it is, in its full spelling error corrected glory:

There is a formative age when kids will watch the same things on TV over and over and over again. It gives them a feeling of control over an uncertain world, they think that because they know what is going to happen that they are controlling what happens. I, and many of my generation, grow up and went through this phase using the original Star Wars films. (Many kids are doing it now with Lord of the Rings, and God help them, maybe even the Matrix.) Everyone who did this with Star Wars and who has subsequently seen any of the prequels feels as if a defining part of their childhood has been cheapened, distorted, abused and manipulated. Lucas owes us compensation for the mental damage he has caused.

However, I have been trying to look on the bright side about what the third film may be like, as surely Jar Jar is going to be killed off! The only thing that could upset this theory is if the new footage Lucas is shooting to add to the original trilogy (yes, its true, there's going to be another set of special special editions) is going to include Mr Binks. At least if this is the case, none of the existing characters will interact with him, he'll just skulk around in the background saying things like "how woode" and "me'sa jar jar binks, me'sa spek lika noying lil cwunt" with everyone will ignore him. Potentially this could be even funnier than his death scene. Although the first death by anal lightsabre penetration would also make me watch it.

:: Dan 4.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Via Link Machine Go:
Ask The Mysterious Orb. Less useful than a Magic 8 Ball.
Random Einstein Quotes (and Groucho Marx, Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain etc)
My favourite eerily relevant Groucho quote; "Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms"

:: Dan 4.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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I've just picked up a copy of the Phthalocyanine - 25 Tracks Fer 1 Track CD from 2000 on Planet Mu. I won't bother reviewing it except to say that this is some of the most interesting, complex, involving, evolving and listenable "experimental noise" I've heard (nice artwork too). But in case you've ever wondered what Phthalocyanine actually is, you'll be pleased to know that it has been Bristol Universities Molecule of the Month. Dimitri Fergadis discography here.

:: Dan 4.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Wallet returned after 40 years

:: Dan 3.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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This is big news (and good news as far as I can tell) so it doesn’t really need blogging, but as I tend to vent my spleen about Golf Wars: Episode II quite a lot it seems relevant; An independent inquiry is to examine intelligence which led Britain to war over Iraqi weapons of mass destruction

:: Dan 3.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Microsoft in human rights row: Gates's firm supplied technology used to trap Chinese dissidents, says Amnesty

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Just had a look at the search strings that have led people to the site in the last couple of months. My favourites are: "sean of the dead", "stepping or step on his or my nads", "custerd boom bang price" and this. I hope these people found what they were looking for.

:: Dan 3.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Inquiry into Janet Jackson flash. Pictures on this Mu thread.

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Jongleurs have recently opened a new live comedy club in Bristol. Check out listings of what's on there and elsewhere.

In other local news, three men dressed as superheroes (the forth man pictured is presumably a real superhero) have been arrested following their traffic stopping protest on the Clifton Suspension Bridge for better rights of access for divorced fathers. I didn't know the bridge restricted access to divorced fathers.

:: Dan 3.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Google has a front page logo link to a nice collection of Julia Fractal images today. Not sure why, is it the anniversary of something? Here are some nice Mandelbrot images while we're at it.

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If you a sad little movie geek like myself then you might like these.

If you aren't a sad little movie geek then you might like these.

:: Spokesy 2.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Georgia considers banning 'evolution'.
I can't get my head round this. Georgia state is proposing to replace, in it's shcools curriculum, the word "evolution" with the phrase "biological changes over time".
But the theory stays being taught the same.
And using books with the word in is okay.
And teachers can still use the word.

Damn beurocrats.

:: popcorn 2.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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"The entire universe gets the joke. Only a lawyer could say 'Booble' without smiling"

The Producers, Mel Brooks' bad taste musical which sends up the Nazi regime, is set to open in Germany

Art's Bar is an online art gallery offering Art Prints, Originals and Commissions from new and established artists

:: Dan 2.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Want a nice introduction to RPG computer games?
Quest for the Crown could be right up your street.

Oh, and turn the sound up :)

:: popcorn 2.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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I got dragged by the in-laws to the Nutcracker on Friday. By Nutcracker, I mean the ballet, and by in-laws I mean the wife's parents, so not quite as painful as it might sound. It was my first experience of ballet and was an interesting cultural experience. (I should drag them to one of our gigs next, mowhahahah!) Here are my thoughts on it:

1. Thin as the plot was, it was still impossible to work out what was going on in terms of story development. Suffice it to say that I had to be told afterwards that it had all turned out to be a dream, which immediately makes understanding any of the rest of it a completely futile exercise.

2. I still have absolutely no idea where the rats came into it. (Just found this after a quick search, explains a bit.)

3. I'm sure the dancing was technically very good, much of it looked very impressive and extremely difficult, although the sword work in the opening piece was pretty sloppy, one of the women looked like she was trying to stab the each of the other dancers in turn in the eye.

4. There was quite a lot of gusset action. At one point the female lead is lifted up and held aloft by the gusset. Probably the closest you will ever get to seeing a public act of fisting.

5. The local paper complained the following day of the lack of chemistry between the two leads. This was obviously because the male lead could not possibly have been any more mincingly gay and self-obsessed unless he insisted the only thing he would dance with was a mirror. He also had two-tone brown / blondish hair that looked like Princess Di in the 80's and from a distance took on a strange green tinge, that probably put her off too.

6. The sets and set painting could have been a bit better. Looked like little thought had gone into it and it had been painted in a rush (possibly by Rolf Harris).

7. The second act was made up primarily of solo spots for each of the dancers which was completely pointless plot wise, many sections were over long and in some cases not very impressive either.

8. Showing my age, I recognised most of the music (Tchaikovsky) from cartoons (some Warner Bros, that MGM era Tom and Jerry where they freeze the kitchen floor, some Disney, etc) and adverts. Some of the titles also explain a bit more about what was going on.

9. Lot's of cute girls in sexy tights somehow makes it all bearable.

P.S. A string of Amazon "people of bought this also bought" links has led me to this little gem.

:: Dan 2.2.04 [Arc]    ::
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Interview with Seth MacFarlane about new episodes of Family Guy

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