paper

Reality bites. I need to respond to most of this. Fortunately, the Americans have a simple suggestion to assist this.

invent yourself a shortcake

I know this is a totally obscure post...A surprise package arrived this morning, containing a little book to accompany a strangely great album called 'Aeroplane over the Sea' by 'Neutral Milk Hotel'.

What, you say? I have never heard of this? No surprise really.

The little book is from the 33 1/3 Press and contains the equivalent of extra sleeve notes for this 1990s composition. Occasionally an album is so intriguing that it is quite fun to get further into the head of the performer and like many (OK a few thousand) I have puzzled through the lyrics on many occasion.

Jeff Mangum composed these lyrics partly about Anne Frank but mixed with circus imagery and other wild thoughts from an intense and creative mind. Some parts are simple to interpret and the recording flows like a single live set to be run chronologically. Neutral Milk Hotel was originally a name for the various cassette recordings of Jeff, but became the 'band' name for this and a prior record. Also, tucked into the book was a plastic bagged CD of Jeff live at Jittery Joe's. I shall enjoy a listen in this strange semi-private world.

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

quantum glue

Like reading the cornflakes packet during breakfast, when unwrapping dishwasher tablets I've wondered why they don't just make the outer wrappers degradeable?

Well, Finish solved it and their 'Quantum' have this feature. I discovered, however, when I accidentally got water into the box, they all stick together into one big blob and now I have to cut them apart with a kitchen knife.

Oh well.

hot aire

Excellent dawn experiment today in Stratford-upon-Avon with five hot-air balloons broadcasting ambient music and sound bites from A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest.

The idea is to see whether it affects the dreams of the residents. Luke Jerram is the person behind this with music from the Sky Orchestra. The Shakesperian extracts are read by the actors Patrick Stewart and Janet Suzman.

Dreamy.

Thursday Thirteen (V24)

Tonight's Thursday Thirteen is a bumper bundle. You have a choice of two versions - SPORT or LIES.

sport

OK - I lied with the SPORT one slightly, its Thursday Thixteen instead of Thursday Thirteen. And why? Because these are probably going to be the final 16 teams. From the original 32, I picked 11 of the 16 winners but in a couple of groups there were surprises, meaning that a few lower ranked teams seem to have hopped into the last 16. The green ones are my predictions and the reds are the surprises!
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lies

Not telling the truth is not good. But I think I might have used these at some point. Have you?
1) The train was late.
2) I'm stuck in traffic.
3) It was on special offer.
4) I posted it yesterday.
5) There was no signal.
6) They didn't have any.
7) I didn't get it.
8) I've never seen it.
10) I must have been out.
11) I couldn't find one.
12) It was already cracked.
13) They didnt give me the receipt.

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Tag: Thursday Thirteen, free link friday

OTA Wordless Wednesday

Solstice at Stonehenge


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Tag: Wordless Wednesday

long day and long game

The M25 sign tonight said beware of delays on 20th and 21st June around Stonehenge. Tomorrow is the longest day so we can expect the sun worshippers to be out in force. Indeed rashbre central usually shows Stonehenge as its logo.

Its a shame we couldn't move a minute out of today into tomorrow. When Sweden equalised in the last minute creating a 2:2 draw against England it was a remarkable turnaround. But now England is still top of the group and get to play Ecuador(!) in the next round whereas Sweden play Germany(!)

kooky

I spent part of yesterday evening listening to The Kooks. They are an indie-esque electric guitar band but with added acoustic guitars providing some light and shade to their performance. They've got a radio play at the moment with 'Naive' but have several other very listenable tracks.

I also checked out their fun to explore web site, which is clickable. Interesting to note that bands like this and also Dirty Pretty Things are almost mainstream in the UK.

camels of England

Although I live close to London, we have some pretty countryside nearby and I have a choice when I leave home to head for the big roads and motorways, or to take a slightly different route about 300 meters from home, which leads to a country road and finally into a track. Ideal direction to take the now mainly functional bicycle.

So today, thats what I did, and before long I spotted the first red deer, munching foliage by the side of the track. I did spot a few more, and they generally stood to observe me before sauntering away.

Further along, the track thins further, but is still quite easy to ride.

Then I spotted some wild ponies. The area is technically an extension of a much larger forest further to the south called the New Forest which was first given this name in 1079 by William the Conqueror - that the fella that fought King Harold back in 1066.

Then the track continues and more conventional livestock such as sheep graze by the side of the track.

But my favourite spot today was the camel, grazing in a nearby field.

rough house

So USA managed to get a point against Italy. Final Score 1:1. Let's not forget the three red cards (one Italian and two American), one own goal by the Italians, one disallowed goal, one bloodied face, three stitches and 37 fouls.

The United States have now conceded 49 goals in World Cup finals. Italy is the main contributor with nine goals in three matches. America's record against teams from Europe in the World Cup is now three wins, two draws and 11 defeats.

Italy have stretched their unbeaten sequence to 20 internationals.


Meanwhile, for petrolheads, France's Le Mans continues! Here's a Porsche and Ferrari battling it out at 10:30 this morning.
UPDATE: Le Mans
Yes, this Audi diesel won the Le Mans 24h endurance race.

big sister

The only part of this Big Brother series I have watched was the kickoff, when Davina said it was a smaller house this time.

I said, "That's because they have hidden another house next to the first house".

I could be right...Wait till they need 6 beds.

blow

I managed to find my mountain bike in amongst the self-inflicted debris of the garage and discovered it had two completely flat tyres. I then searched for about an hour for the pump. Unsuccessfully.

So I had to get in the car to go to the shop to get a pump before I could ride the bike.

Anyway a Joe Blow pump made short work of the tyres and so this afternoon I was out bouncing along a dusty track whilst I figured out how the handlebars had slid upside down and thats why the brake handles were pointing to the sky.

By tomorrow we should be back to normal.