District 9

Dir: Neill Blomkamp

At last! Real science fiction! Break out your prefered drug of choice and celebrate, for here is a film with a budget small enough to retain its edge but large enough to push its special effects all the way to the back of your skull and beyond.

The acting is spectacularly good considering Sharlto Copley who plays the lead character Wikus Van De Merwe, had no previous experience, was interacting with characters who aren't there in real life and was ad libbing his way through the film.

The ambience was terrific, especially how the callous attitudes of the humans created a highly oppresive atmosphere which grew ever more belligerent as the story progressed. I particularly liked the simple way language was used to create a series of scenarios ranging from personal disdain to out right danger. The effects were good too, not least the aliens and the way they acted. The only thing I didn't particularly care for was their big cute eyes which seemed slightly out of place on their hard cockroach style bodies, but this is a minor point, something easily accepted as possible, if not probable.

The alien mothership is nice and very photogenic, with its oil refinary look and brooding presence, but as interstellar ships go, its way dodgy. Luckily I can forgive this, as it looks like an old rusty heap, and that goes a long way in my book!

Best of all was the story which didn't rely on spectacle or drama but cut right to the heart of our humanity and described everything it found there. That is what art is all about; describing the human condition. Don't believe any one who tells you otherwise. Art is not about what the artist thinks or feels, its what you think and feel, and 'District 9' makes you think and feel. It might also make you laugh and cringe.

The only bit I didn't like was seeing Peter Jackson's accursed name at the beginning of the film. He gets credit for his role in helping Neill Blomkamp make this film, but I still haven't forgiven him for raping Tolkien.

War of the worlds: Goliath

Being a big fan of War of the Worlds, I have a weakness for any adaptation I can find... even the bad ones. Here is a trailer to what looks like a dubious Japanese sequel. I shall almost certainly buy it eventually, no matter how bad it is.

Avatar trailer

'Cause I am a rocket on fire!

Things are good. Tomorrow I will have been on a diet for two weeks, and I reckon I've lost 3-4 kilo's easy. Mette's lost weight too, but perhaps not as much. Cycling to work every day has also strengthened me some what, but I still sweat copiously when I arrive, though not nearly as much as I did previously. My plan is to keep on dieting until I reach my BMI, which is approx 75kg. Mette says this particular diet, if kept to, can take one or two kilo's off a man per week. As I've started at about 102kg (circa 220lb), that means I'll be finished around my fortieth birthday.

At some point I'd like to work on strengthening the rest of my body, but I can't decide how. Basic work out might be an option, but perhaps yoga would better, as I'm less interested in building up my body and more interesting in getting the rusty bits to work better. Feel free to offer any suggestions.

Today's music is an old favourite, by Kate Bush (by far the greatest female musician ever in my opinon). I was going to add 'Comfortably numb' by Pink Floyd, but it just doesn't capture my mood at all. These days, I feel like I'm glowing, full of energy and verve. I wish I could bottle how I feel, because I'd make a million!

That November night, looking up into the sky,
You said,

"Hey, wish that was me up there--
It's the biggest rocket I could find,
And it's holding the night in its arms
If only for a moment.
I can't see the look in its eyes,
But I'm sure it must be laughing."

But it seemed to me the saddest thing I'd ever seen,
And I thought you were crazy, wishing such a thing.

I saw only a stick on fire,
Alone on its journey
Home to the quickening ground,
With no one there to catch it.

I put on my pointed hat
And my black and silver suit,
And I check my gunpowder pack
And I strap the stick on my back.
And, dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge--
Nobody seems to see me.
Then, with the fuse in my hand,
And now shooting into the night
And still as a rocket,
I land in the river.

Was it me said you were crazy?
I put on my cloudiest suit,
Size 5 lightning boots, too.

'Cause I am a rocket
On fire.
Look at me go, with my tail on fire,
With my tail on fire,
On fire.
Hey, look at me go, look at me...

Freja: Four years old today

Freja's official picture, from just before she cut half her hair off

Today is the Snoos's fourth birthday and since its a week day this meant all the girls from her kindergarten group were invited over to play and have an ecological, politically correct meal. No chocolate cake or chocolate fingers, no white bread sandwiches, no coca cola, trifle or jelly. No sausage rolls, nor meat of any kind. In fact none of those staples of festive childhood fare that I remember with fondness from my own childhood. Its what they are used to though so they tucked in with gusto.

Last year, Freja was still too young to really understand the concept of a birthday and we didn't do much about it. I don't even recall giving her any presents, but I must have done. This year I made sure to get her something we could do together, so her presents were almost all sensible. She only had one wish, a bubble blowing device, and she got it.

Freja seemed to be enjoying herself, bossing the others around, but every so often she'd get the family frown out and make some protestation of indignation. Its not easy when ten other people are messing about with your stuff I guess. Personally I've always been ambiguous with regards to other people's children as I find most children to be very boring company after the first ten minutes and almost always unreasonable. Spoiled kids are even worse. Today was not so bad though. A couple of them were bossy and one was quite sly and greedy, but they were a well behaved as a group and the two wardens who accompanied them made the whole experience rather enjoyable. I was completely knackered by the time it was over though and I stole Mette's coffee and crashed on the sofa whilst she cleaned up. I had no pangs of conscience either because I knew I had to go out and buy a ton of food just as soon as I'd got my breath back...

Speaking of kids...

Ten of the best kids questions as posed by the BBC

1) Why don't all the fish die when lightning hits the sea?
2) How much does the sky weigh?
3) Why can't people leave other people alone?
4) Why are birds not electrocuted when they land on electricity wires?
5) What is time?
6) Why is the Moon sometimes out in the day and sometimes at night?
7) Why did God let my kitten die?
8) Why do I like pink?
9) Why is water wet?
10) Why does my best friend have two dads?

Awakening

I especially like the EVE style music

I don't wanna sleep!

So now only the week end remains of my holiday, and then its back to work, and if all goes according to plan, full employment. I don't know what I'm going to be doing when I get back, there are several possibilities, some more interesting than others, but one thing I hope to find time to work on is a series of four paintings of Århus street scenes. Inspired by last months artist of the month; Mark Lagüe I'm hoping to be able to push myself beyond anything I've managed thus far. The first picture I'd like to start on is all the people sitting in the sun, drinking coffee on Klostertorv.

In other news, I'm back on the diet again, and this time its for real. No half measures like last time, and this time, no stopping to pat my back after 10 k. I have to get down to my natural weight because where I am now is just too damned uncomfortable. Its no fun to have difficulty when tying your shoes laces! Some good news is, the daily cycle rides into work have paid off. Yesterday I cycled out to Moesgaard, which is something I've not done for about six months, and I found that I had no trouble what so ever on the hills. All I have to do now is figure out how to go about training the other 90% of my muscles so I don't fall over with a heart attack next time I climb the stairs carrying a whining daughter!



Life is good. For now.

The Kuroshio Sea

The second largest aquarium in the world. I don't care much for the song but the video is excellent

Courtesy of Uncle Krigga (som er en stinker!)

"Deep thunder rolled around their shores...

...burning with the fires of orc". Good ol' Blake, where would we have been without his madness?

Todays inspiratinal music is by Pete Namlook, and is titled, 'The Fires of Ork'. Ork being a reference to William Blake's epic poem; America, a prophecy. Follow the link for the full poem.

On those vast shady hills between America & Albions shore;
Now barr'd out by the Atlantic sea: call'd Atlantean hills:
Because from their bright summits you may pass to the Golden world
An ancient palace, archetype of mighty Emperies,
Rears its immortal pinnacles, built in the forest of God
By Ariston the king of beauty for his stolen bride,

Here on their magic seats the thirteen Angels sat perturb'd
For clouds from the Atlantic hover o'er the solemn roof.

Fiery the Angels rose, & as they rose deep thunder roll'd
Around their shores: indignant burning with the fires of Orc
And Bostons Angel cried aloud as they flew thro' the dark night.

He cried: Why trembles honesty and like a murderer,
Why seeks he refuge from the frowns of his immortal station!
Must the generous tremble & leave his joy, to the idle: to the pestilence!
That mock him? who commanded this? what God? what Angel!
To keep the gen'rous from experience till the ungenerous
Are unrestraind performers of the energies of nature;
Till pity is become a trade, and generosity a science,
That men get rich by, & the sandy desart is giv'n to the strong
What God is he, writes laws of peace, & clothes him in a tempest
What pitying Angel lusts for tears, and fans himself with sighs
What crawling villain preaches abstinence & wraps himself
In fat of lambs? no more I follow, no more obedience pay.

So cried he, rending off his robe & throwing down his scepter.
In sight of Albions Guardian, and all the thirteen Angels
Rent off their robes to the hungry wind, & threw their golden scepters
Down on the land of America. indignant they descended
Headlong from out their heav'nly heights, descending swift as fires
Over the land; naked & flaming are their lineaments seen
In the deep gloom, by Washington & Paine & Warren they stood
And the flame folded roaring fierce within the pitchy night
Before the Demon red, who burnt towards America,
In black smoke thunders and loud winds rejoicing in its terror

Astute readers will recognise it as Roy Batty's witty self deprecation.

Yesterday was Neil Armstrongs birthday BTW

Artist of the month: Robert Ingpen

If I were a mad thaumatechnical scientist, who'd invented and built an infernal device, a machine for stealing the talents of other people, there are only two or three illustrators whom I would not hesitate to rob, so jealous am I of the quality of their line.

Robert Ingpen tops my list.


Ingpen is a genius to rival even the great Arthur Rackham. His work is so beguiling that I fell in love with it from the very first time I saw it, just as I did with Rackham's, though I have little knowledge of what he's done outside of childrens literature, his narrative style and execution are very similar. I have two of the books he has illustrated, and they are both excellent. Unfortunately his images are not easy to find online, probably because he is relatively obscure.


Ingpen was born in Australia, in 1936, and thats about all I know of him, except he uses water colours, possibly hand painting over intaglio, but more likely over a pencil sketch. He is very prolific and has illustrated numerous classics, such as 'Peter Pan and Wendy' (see the image at the top of this post), 'The jungle book' (see image below), 'The wind in the willows' and 'Treasure island'. His work is excellent, but best of all, he is extremely prolific, filling the books with many illustrations often with an image for every page, and always with charm and a fine attention to detail. Despite this, he is not well known.

More Rocketman characters

French resistance girls from Black tree design (May have been discontinued, as they do not appear on BTD's new home page).

The first two are French resistance fighters from Black tree design and the third is an American mercenary from Copplestone casting.

The first is Thrilling tales character from Artizan designs, the others are from Copplestone castings. The one in the middle appears to be modelled on Brendan Fraser's character Rick in the film, 'The Mummy'.

Two more from Copplestone, but the heavy machine gunners have been converted with African heads for RM5. Originally they were British Indian army Sikh's.

The first two are from Copplestone, and the mad fireman is from Hasslefree Miniatures.

When I was painting these figures, Freja came over to inspect them and after a few minutes of grave examination, she turned to me and asked, 'why do they all have water pistols?'

Öppna upp ditt fönster

Todays musical inspiration comes from Sweden. This is the only song I like by Lisa Ekdal, but I really like it.

Öppna upp ditt fönster means open your window.

The Rainforest...

Deep in the primordial forests of the mind

...where ancient civilisations lie forgotten...

...and the dragons wait to devour young adventurers

Randers is a small Danish city about half an hours drive to the north of Aarhus. Its a bit of a dump, but it does have one redeeming feature; it is the home of Randers Regnskov, and on Wednesday, we packed the kids into my Dad's car and we all drove north. I have never been to the 'Rainforest' before, so the first surprise was the size. It was much bigger than I had imagined. I'd seen it from the train when travelling to and from Aalborg (a city in the north where Mette's parents reside) and it had always seemed some what cramped. When we arrived however, and saw the domes up close (there is a third dome now, even bigger than the two originals which I knew of) I realised that the whole place was significantly bigger than I'd imagined.

The second surprise was that it was significantly more expensive than I'd imagined, though to be fair, it does have a lot to offer and had I been aware of it I could have had the tickets stamped and laminated which would have made them good for the rest of the year.

I may go back alone with a sketch book one day when the holiday season thins out the mob.

20kr for a 500ml bottle of water though is day light robbery.

The third suprise was the lay-out. I'd expected something less labyrinthine, and more zoo like, and whilst some of the animal enclosures were a tad small for my liking, lethargic animals compounding the impression, for the most part it seemed almost authentic, in a staged, Indiana Jones film-set sort of way. Having never been in a real rainforest (Italy is the closest I've been to that kind of climate and Italy is nothing like tropical, or even sub tropical) the humidity also seemed appropriate. I was certainly sweating like a sick dog within ten minutes of entering the South American dome.

Look at the size of that crocodile!

Freja was like a pinball on acid, bouncing about like crazy, constantly running off and completely disinterested in staying close by the rest of us. I spent about two thirds of my time pushing my way through hordes of shuffling families, like Bruce Cambell in a crowd of zombies trying to find her.

Part of the problem was, Freja has been quite ill of late. Early on Tuesday morning, her throat swelled up during the night and she awoke just after midnight coughing with a noise like a rutting seal. Some what alarmed, Mette and I watched in consternation as, within the sapce of two minues, Freja went from coughing, to choking, to unable to breath. Thankfully we live in a city with an excellent emergency service and within five minutes there was a doctor and three medics in the room, Freja had a face mask on and was inhaling some form of gas that counteracted the swelling. After this, Freja and I spent the rest of the night in Skejby hospital, in the childrens ward whilst she was under observation. She was released the next day and Mette and Magne came to take her home. Having not slept much during the night, I then passed out and spent the rest of Tuesday getting over the shock.

A some what appropriate sign

By Wednesday Freja was better, but still cranky. She lasted until about two thirds of the way through the Rainforest, but when we reached the Asian dome, she'd had enough and started kicking up a fuss, collapsing on the floor and whining mightily. I picked her up and sat her on my shoulders (no mean feat as now she weighs twenty kilo's and I'm not very strong any more). The Snoos rewarded my generosity by slapping off my glasses and breaking both lenses.

Thankfully I am insured against just such an eventuality

Leaf cutter ants, busy cutting leaves

The Rainforest is a great place, and we shall visit it again when Magne is old enough to actually participate in the adventures. Next time however, we shall visit during a week day, and not in the industrial holiday season. The place was packed. According to local internet news, the Rainforest is due to be enlarged again with a fourth, super dome making it the largest indoor zoological garden in the world.

There were many interesting animals, but most of the time, they were either hiding, alseep, or obscured by the mob. We saw, a manatee, lots of huge fish, some small sharks, sea snakes, piranha's, catfish, several varieties of ape, flying dogs, wild dogs, wild pigs, some crocodiles, one of which was quite big (circa 1½m), lots of colourful birds, including a macaw and something that resembled a big brown peacock with attitude. There were hundreds of moths, butterflies, spiders and millions of ants, in several sizes and shades. We also saw snakes, giant snails, some kind of giant rat that gave me the evil eye, a family of porcupines, a tribe of large tortoises, a curiously flat turtle and lots of iguana's lazing about the place.

A handsome, dynamic young fellow, and his son

Afterwards we drove back to my Dad's place to pick berries from his garden, and inspect the renovations he is doing on his house. Its odd to see the place looking so empty and sparse, and sad in a way. When my Mother was alive they were always talking about renovating the house, and it seems strange that this is only happening now Understandable though given my Mothers propensity for hording things. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rebuilding eventually turns out.

Inside the South American dome.

No sign of any revolutionaries, just tossers with Che T shirts