Tuesday, 30 April 2024
LA BREA SEASON THREE
Last night, I watched the final season of LA Brea on Prime Video.
This is a sci-fi drama action series, based in the year 2021 and 10,000BC. The survivors are still trapped in the past and now being hunted by dinosaurs that have come through various time portals and they also have to face the dangers of a black-ops governmental agency who wants to weaponise time travel for the American government.
This third season has a reduced budget and episode order (6 episodes) to wrap all the plot lines and plot holes, which they never did, they skipped several characters by having them disappear from the story after the first episode until the last episode, due to money issues and also location filming as the whole series is filmed in Australia and not LA.
With that, the contracts were reduced and mishandled so a few key characters did only a few scenes and had doubles do the rest of their filming from behind.
A lot of vital story lines were swept under the carpet as they had new writers for the final series, so a lot of things changed and it made it a complete mess.
This was like "Lost" where the creators had no idea where the story was going.
The whole Timeline has changed various times due to them meddling with having so much technology not only from 2021 but also from the 2070's too, all stuck in 10,000 BC from technological buildings, weapons, vehicles, helicopters, planes, etc.
Plus there was also a lot of people roaming around the era too, for nothing made any sense. I was hoping that the past would have been a parallel world, but no it was our past and our world.
They really screwed this series up so much as I was hoping something great that "Terra Nova" almost had.
This was mostly a soap opera with time travel elements in it.
Because of this season, I will have to rate this a terrible score of 2/10.
SCARY TIMES
If the acting and writing is good, then I would be happy. I hardly ever get scared, I don't mind jump scares as that is cool.
What I've experienced and seen in real life is far more scarier then a horror movie.
Monday, 29 April 2024
REVERSE TARDIS
Britain’s Smallest Police Station. Did you know that located rather surreptitiously at the south-east corner of Trafalgar Square is a rather peculiar and often overlooked world record holder; Britain’s Smallest Police Station. Apparently this tiny box can accommodate up to two prisoners at a time, although its main purpose was to hold a single police officer…think of it as a 1920’s CCTV camera!
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Built in 1926 so that the Metropolitan Police could keep an eye on the more troublesome demonstrators, the story behind its construction is also a rather secretive. At the end of World War I, a temporary police box just outside of the Trafalgar
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Square tube station was due to be renovated and made more permanent. However, due to public objections this was scrapped and instead it was decided to build a less “objectionable” police box. The venue? Inside an ornamental light fitting…
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Once the light fitting was hollowed out, it was then installed with a set of narrow windows in order to provide a vista across the main square. Also installed was a direct phone line back to Scotland Yard in case reinforcements were needed in times of trouble. In fact, whenever the police phone was picked up, the ornamental light fitting at the top of the box started to flash, alerting any nearby officers on duty that trouble was near.
Today the box is no longer used by the Police and is instead used as a broom cupboard for Westminster Council cleaners!
VASA
The Swedish warship Vasa. It sank in 1628 less than a mile into its maiden voyage and was recovered from the sea floor after 333 years almost completely intact. It is now housed at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, it is the world's best preserved 17th century ship.
The vessel has come to symbolize Sweden's Great Power Period, when the nation became a major European power and controlled much of the Baltic.
Though not the largest or most heavily armed ship of its time, the 'Vasa' was formidable: The 226-foot, 64-cannon ship could fire a combined weight of more than 650 pounds of shot from one side.
It was designed by the experienced ship maker Henrik Hybertsson, and was initially expected to carry 36 guns aboard the deck. However, the King of Sweden demanded aesthetic perfection at the cost of the ship's stability. When she set sail on her maiden voyage from the castle fortress at Vaxholm on August 10, 1628, Vasa was laden with heavy ornamental decoration and 64 bronze canons.
But the maritime pride of Sweden never saw battle - it was too top-heavy, and it capsized and sank after sailing less than a nautical mile. The Vasa was recovered in 1961, almost entirely intact, and was raised from the ocean after 333 years at the bottom of the sea. It has been displayed in its own museum since 1990, attracting more than a million visitors per year.
CHARIOT BRIDGE
"A 3300-year-old chariot bridge that is still in use today.
The Arkadiko Bridge in Greece was built between 1300 and 1190 BCE, making it one of the oldest still-used arch bridges still in existence. Built on a road that linked Tiryns to Epidaurus, it was part of a larger military road system."
Sunday, 28 April 2024
THE SMALLEST HOUSE
"The Smallest House in Great Britain, also known as the Quay House, is a tourist attraction on the quay in Conwy. The house, which has a floor area of 3.05 by 1.8 metres (10.0 by 5.9 ft) and a height of 3.1 metres (10 feet 2 inches) to the eaves, was used as a residence from the 16th century until 1900. Conwy, Wales. It is built into the walls of the medieval Conwy Castle."
ALEX RIDER SEASON 3
Last night, I finished watching the third and unfortunately the final series of this British espionage action adventure series on Amazon Prime. Alex Rider is based on a series of books.
"This time round, Alex joins the enemy organisation SCORPIA, to find out the truth of his father's death and to get revenge against the people who killed him, that might have been The Department (MI6). He is helped by his two friends on his quest in Malta, and then in Great Britain as they help the Department to stop the WMD "The Invisible Sword" and save humanity."
This was a great series but it's a shame it has ended as they could easily adapt most of the other books in the series.
I shall rate this a score of 7/10.
STOKER'S VAMPIRE!
"Contrary to popular belief, Bram Stoker did not base his most famous character, Count Dracula, on Prince Vlad II of Romania (at the time called Wallachia). Most of his novel was completed and his vampire protagonist was to be named Count Wampyr. Then, during his research, he came across William Wilkinson's book "An Account of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia". In this book were brief passages about "Voivode Dracula" (never referred to as Vlad), who crossed the Danube to fight the Turks and helped to drive them out of Wallachia, but was betrayed to them by his brother. What intrigued Stoker was a footnote that in Romanian, Dracula meant Devil (although it actually means "of the dragon," in reference to Vlad's father's membership in the Order of the Dragon). Liking the name for that reason, Stoker changed the name of his vampire from Wampyr to Dracula.
Another story is that the Dracula character is actually based on actor Henry Irving, for whom Stoker served as personal manager and with whom he did not get along. This story is given some credence by the fact that the Dracula character in the play, which Stoker did not write, is quite different from the Dracula character in the book, which Stoker did write, and most film versions of the story are based on the play, not the book.
In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker travelled the world, although he never visited Eastern Europe, a setting for his most famous novel. Stoker was a member of The London Library and it is here that he conducted much of the research for Dracula.
About the year 1971, there were plans to make a film on the tumultuous working relationship of Stoker and Irving. Peter Cushing was set to play Stoker and Christopher Lee as Irving. The project was eventually cancelled."
DEEP WELL
"The deepest and largest natural well on earth is called Xiaozai Tiankang. It is located in Penji, in the heart of China. This amazing well is completely natural and reaches a depth of 662 meters, a length of 626 meters and a width of 537 meters. But what stands out the most is the explosion of life it inhabits.
Xiaozhai Tiankang is what geologists are confused about due to the influence of water. In this case, it was created on top of a cave with an underground river of 8.5 kilometers in size and flowing into a spectacular waterfall. Its enormous size makes it the deepest sinkhole in the world.
It houses close to 1,300 species of plants and wild animals. Among the most fascinating "tenants" that roam their underground forest, the misty panther stands out.
Locals have known him since ancient times."
Saturday, 27 April 2024
JOHN "THE CAT" WICK
To create using A.I. Bing Prompts. -
John "THE CAT" Wick
Prompt:
A remarkably detailed illustration of a minuscule chibi Ragdol cat dressed as John Wick, braving the rainy and foggy streets of a bustling city. The Ragdol, donning a sleek suit and fedora, holds a tiny gun in its paw and bears a small injury on its face. A tiny Beagle dog wraps itself around the dachshund's arm, tightly clutching it for support. The atmosphere of the scene is a unique blend of action and whimsy, with natural light capturing the intricacies of the fur and costumes, creating a vivid and engaging image.
Friday, 26 April 2024
RENEGADE NELL
This afternoon, we finished watching "Renegade Nell", a British historical fantasy action adventure television series written by Sally Wainwright on Disney+
Sally Wainwright also created other shows that I've not seen, but are all acclaimed and award winning. (Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley, Scott and Bailey, among others.)
This was a well written, well acted, good cast list, and well produced series that was absolutely brilliant. It has a lot of humour and action, as Billy Blind, a magical Sprite grants her superhuman strength and fighting abilities, as he helps and guides her on a quest to save the crown and the whole of England by a nefarious black sorcerer and his servants of evil.
You can tell that this is pure fantasy, as England is populated by Blacks, Indians, and Chinese people in seats of power as well as being poor servants. Trust me, history fans, this never ever happened in the UK.
Apart from that minor mishap in history, just for those woke tickboxers of the panderverse, we even had a woman who was in charge of a powerful newspaper, which also would not have happened in 18th Century England.
But this was a damn good series and well worth a watch, hopefully they will commission a second series.
I shall rate this a score of 9/10.
EROTIC VAMPIRE STORY
My Facebook friend, Jason Greenfield wrote a very short and funny Vampire story for me.
THE LONG ROAD AHEAD
"The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana is the longest bridge in the United States, spanning 23.79 miles across Lake Pontchartrain. It's also the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. The bridge connects New Orleans with smaller communities on the north shore of the lake. It's made up of two parallel bridges supported by 9,500 concrete pilings."
Thursday, 25 April 2024
THOSE BEINGS WITH GREAT CLAWS
The Kukilialuit [Inuit mythology]
"According to Inuit mythology, the frozen landscapes of Canada and Greenland are home to a mysterious and highly dangerous race of monsters. They are called the Kukilialuit, and while that name is often translated as ‘trolls’ or a different common word for monsters, their most defining characteristics are their long and viciously sharp claws, said to be like knives. Literally translated, the name Kukilialuit means something like “those beings with great claws”. Aside from their hands, they have a humanoid body.
Supposedly, the Kukilialuit live inland, far away from the coasts. Despite their monstrous nature, they are intelligent and build huts to survive the winter. Whether these are isolated huts or built together in a society or settlement is unclear.
What we do know is that they are relentless hunters and regularly eat human flesh. After killing a victim, the Kukilialuit carry their prey away and vigorously slice the flesh from their bones until only the skeleton remains. Slingerland and Collard use the story of a Kukilialuit as an example of folktales where lone travelers (or people who get isolated from a group) get picked off by monsters, teaching the audience that traveling by yourself is dangerous in inhospitable environments like the Arctic.
Only a particularly powerful Angakkuq (an Inuit shaman) can escape from these monsters."
BONE COLD
Last night, I watched this very boring and cheap Sci-Fi military movie on Prime Video.
"An experienced Black Ops American sniper attempts a nightmarish escape after a failed mission, tracked by enemy soldiers hellbent on revenge, and hunted by something sinister and monstrous, hungry and determined."
The trailer looked alright, and I stayed with it until the end, hoping for some big pay off, and alas I did not receive one.
The Alien entity was never explained nor was certain scenes as you don't know if it was all in the head of the sniper or not.
I was bored with this film and I would not recommend it.
I shall rate this film a score of 2/10.
HELLO HUMAN!
A Squiggle popped his head through our bathroom window to say "Good Morning" and "'Ello."
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
SCOTTISH PSYCHOPATH
Name: Angus MacLeod, a.k.a. the Scottish Psychopath
Age: 32
Background:
Angus MacLeod was born into a noble Scottish family with a long history of power and influence. However, from a young age, he displayed a disturbing fascination with violence and domination. Despite his privileged upbringing, Angus harbored a deep-seated resentment towards authority and society, viewing himself as a superior being destined to rule over others.
As he grew older, Angus's dark tendencies only intensified. He became increasingly unhinged, indulging in acts of cruelty and sadism for his own amusement. Eventually, he was disowned by his family and cast out from polite society, branded as a dangerous sociopath.
Embracing his newfound identity as the "Scottish Psychopath," Angus embarked on a reign of terror across the Scottish Highlands, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in his wake. He became known for his brutal methods and complete disregard for human life, earning him a reputation as one of the most feared villains in the region.
Appearance:
Angus cuts an imposing figure, standing tall at 6 feet 5 inches with a muscular, imposing build. His piercing blue eyes gleam with madness, and his rugged features are twisted into a perpetual sneer of disdain. He keeps his fiery red hair cropped short, and his body is adorned with various tattoos and scars, each a testament to his violent nature.
Dressed in dark, tattered clothing adorned with Celtic motifs, Angus exudes an aura of menace and unpredictability. He carries himself with a predatory grace, moving with a silent, predatory precision that belies his savage nature.
Skills:
1. Unbridled Strength: Angus possesses immense physical strength, capable of overpowering even the most formidable opponents with ease. He revels in hand-to-hand combat, relishing the opportunity to unleash his raw power upon his enemies.
2. Tactical Genius: Despite his erratic behavior, Angus is a cunning strategist with a keen understanding of human psychology. He excels at manipulating others to further his own twisted agenda, using fear and intimidation to bend them to his will.
3. Master of Manipulation: Angus is a master manipulator, skilled at exploiting the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of those around him. He preys on their fears and insecurities, twisting their minds to serve his own malevolent purposes.
4. Weapon Proficiency: Angus is proficient in a wide range of weapons, from traditional Scottish claymores to modern firearms. He is a deadly marksman and is not afraid to use any means necessary to achieve his goals.
5. Charisma and Charm: Despite his violent nature, Angus possesses a charismatic charm that allows him to sway others to his cause. He is a master of persuasion, able to convince even the most rational individuals to abandon their morals and embrace his twisted ideology.
Personality:
Angus is a volatile and unpredictable individual, prone to fits of rage and irrational behavior. He is driven by a burning desire for power and dominance, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He revels in chaos and destruction, finding pleasure in the suffering of others.
Despite his brutality, Angus is not without charm. He possesses a magnetic charisma that draws others to him, manipulating them with his silver tongue and compelling them to do his bidding. He is a master of psychological warfare, using fear and intimidation to control those around him.
Motivation:
Angus's primary motivation is the pursuit of power and control. He seeks to impose his will upon the world, reshaping it in his own image through fear and violence. He views himself as a superior being, destined to rule over lesser mortals as a god amongst men.
Driven by a deep-seated hatred for authority and society, Angus seeks to tear down the existing order and establish himself as the ultimate arbiter of justice. He sees himself as a force of nature, unstoppable and unconstrained by the laws of man. In his quest for supremacy, Angus will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted vision of a world ruled by the Scottish Psychopath.
LEPRECHAUN 5: IN THE HOOD!
Last night, I watched Leprechaun 5: In The Hood (2000) on Prime Video.
"Three young rap artists are looking for a break. They need money to buy some music equipment so they can go to Las Vegas and enter a contest. They meet up with a local pimp named Mack Daddy who agrees to "hook them up", but later declines. The rappers want to get even with him so one night they break into Mack's place and steal a lot of his jewellery, gold, and even the medallion from an ugly looking statue. Shouldn't have done that! Because without the medallion, the statue transforms into the Leprechaun, who goes on a killing spree looking for his missing gold, once again! And the song says it all, "there's nothing' scarier than a Lep' in the hood!"
This is yet another tongue in cheek horror comedy film that has some well known actors and rappers in today's music.
Ice-T is the Pimp Mack Daddy, Coolio has a cameo as himself, and Anthony Montgomery (Ensign Mayweather from Star Trek: Enterprise) is the hero of the film. Warwick Davis reprises his role as Lubdan the Leprechaun.
This is a very funny movie and I am hoping to watch the other two films with Warwick Davis (Numbers 3 and 6)
Very entertaining!
I shall rate this film a score of 6/10.
RESPECT
Apart from me, as I was never allowed outside after school and I was locked indoors all the time, so no playing with my friends.
"I grew up on a Council Estate and never once questioned my parents income, it was never a discussion.
We didn’t eat a lot of fast food because it was considered a treat, not a food group.
We ate homemade meals consisting of meat, potatoes and vegetables - (which were not an optional choice). No vegetables, no dessert!!!
We grew up during a time when we mowed lawns, pulled weeds, babysat, helped neighbours with chores to be able to earn our own money.
We by no means were given everything we wanted.
We went outside a lot to play, ride bikes, run with friends, play hide and seek, or went swimming.
We rarely just sat inside.
Bottled water was unheard of.
If we had a coke, it was in a glass bottle and we didn’t break the bottle when finished.
We saved it and cashed it back in at the shops for a sweet.
After school, we came home and did homework and chores, before going outside or having friends over.
We would ride our bikes for hours.
We had to tell our parents where we were going, who we were going with and be home when the street lights came on!
You LEARNED from your parents instead of disrespecting them and treating them as if they knew absolutely nothing.
What they said was LAW and you did not question it and you had better know it!
We watched what we said around our elders because we knew if we DISRESPECTED any grown-up, we would get a real telling off, it wasn’t called abuse, it was called discipline!
We held doors, carried the shopping and gave up our seat for an older person without being asked.
You didn’t hear swear words on the radio in songs or TV.
“Please and Thank you”, were part of our daily vocabulary! 
The world we live in now is just so full of people who hate and disrespect others.
Consider Re-posting if you’re thankful for your childhood.
I will never forget where I came from and only wish children nowadays had half the chance at the fun and respect for real life we grew up with!
And we were never ever ever ever bored"
DRUID'S IDOL
The Balancing Rock - Druid's Idol - located within the stunning Brimham Rocks near Harrogate, Yorkshire. Formed naturally over millions of years, the many formations at the site are just incredible, not least this one, which seems to defy all logic and science. However, having visited and sat under it, I can assure that this is a genuine photo of a genuine rock formation, taken during my visit last December. Folklore about the site is rife of course...
'In the 18th and 19th centuries, antiquarians such as Hayman Rooke wondered whether they could have been at least partly carved by druids, an idea that ran concurrently with the popularity of James Macpherson's Fragments of Ancient Poetry of 1760, and a developing interest in New-Druidism. For up to two hundred years, some stones have carried fanciful names, such as Druid's Idol'...
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
REST IN PEACE COLONEL
Rest in Peace to Terry Carter aka Colonel Tigh from Battlestar Galactica (The original and the best)
SMOKY
Smoky was a 4 lb, 7 inch tall, Yorkshire Terrier who served in World War II. In 1944 Smoky was found in a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea by an American soldier who brought her back to camp and sold her to Corporal William A. Wynne for $6.44. For the next 2 years Smoky lived a soldiers life. Because she was not an official military dog, she did not get dog food or medical care. She shared Wynne’s meals and slept beside him in his tent.
The little dog even flew 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions, secured in the soldiers backpack. She survived 150 air raids and saved Wynne by warning him of incoming shells. Like many Yorkies, Smoky also loved to learn tricks and perform. She did so with the Special Services – entertaining soldiers in hospitals. After the war Smoky was flown back to the US hidden in a oxygen mask carrying case.
For the next 10 years she made television and public appearances in Veterans hospitals until her death in 1957. Smoky is considered the first Therapy Dog.
FALLOUT SEASON ONE
Last night, I finally finished watching this god awful and boring post-apocalyptic series based on the computer game of the same name. on Prime Video.
"Over 200 years after a nuclear apocalypse devastates America, a violent raid on an underground fallout shelter forces one of its residents to set out into the barren wasteland filled with radiation, mutated monsters, and a society of surface dwellers who abandoned virtue long ago."
Oh my days, this has been a huge slog to watch, what a boring ass show this was! I have never played any of the games but I don't think you needed too to enjoy this series.
There was no likeable characters in this show and nobody to relate to and to root for. The background of the show was weird, I thought the pre-war scenes were set in the 1950's due to the fashion and the way people behaved, but then finding out that it was set in 2070+ and then you jump 219 years after the bombs fall and that's where the story starts. Very confusing for viewers who don't know anything about the game and that is very lazy writing by the directors and show writers.
The main lead in Lucy was annoying and the first person who met her above the surface should have killed and eaten her straight away. Maximus, the cowardly squire to the knight Titus was so unlikable and deserves to have been killed off by a cannibal. He was not a hero. The only two interesting characters in the whole show was Walter Goggins as Cooper the long lived Ghoul and
Moisés Arias as Lucy's brother Norm.
I was pleased that the actor Michael Emmerson was going to be in it, only to be killed off in the only episode he appeared in.
Not even Matt Berry could have saved this show.
The acting was rubbish, the scenery of wasteland desert after another wasteland desert was tedious and the special effects were rubbish.
Candy only lasted 4 episodes until she quit watching as she was bored but I struggled on and it was a chore.
We were looking forward to this show as we do like sci-fi and post-apocalyptic shows, despite they always have the same usual problems like having fat characters throughout the show, like what the fuck are they all eating to be that fat?
Anyway, This was shit and I shall rate this a score of 3/10.
And each 3 points were for Goggins, Berry, and Arais only!
STAND BY FOR ACTION
Yesterday, I watched or should that have been listened to in the background of "Stand By For Action! Gerry Anderson in Concert" on ITVX.
Played at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham from 2022. and presented by the comedian and Impressionist Jon Culshaw.
This program plays all the theme songs and other music from all the shows created by Gerry Anderson from his first to his last show including any of the movies as well.
I usually do like Culshaw, but in this, he was not really funny and his impression of Parker from the Thunderbirds show was rubbish.
The music was alright in the show and I discovered programs that I never knew he was behind.
I shall rate this show a score of 6/10.
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