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I watched House of the Devil last week. It's pretty good, similar to what carbomb said about The Omen (and a rule that applies for all good horror- see Hitchcock, A) in that it works on anticipation and ambiguity. It's both superficially retro (the title sequence will make you think you are actually watching a film made in the 1980's) and structurally quite retro. I tried comparing it to Drag me to Hell (another good horror from last year) and whilst it doesn't have the jumpy scares there is ample tension and it doesn't suffer from the tongue-in-cheek stupidity that Drag me to Hell does. Hope that hasn't spoiled/ruined anything!

I'm on a bit of a Western kick at the moment. Having watched the excellent 3:10 to Yuma and very good Seraphim Falls (which just fella little flat at the end), I'm working through the trifectum of early 90's efforts- Unforgiven, Wyatt Earp and Tombstone. Like anyone who's into Western's I guess, there's just something so intriguing about the vast open, lawless spaces, and I really dig how these characters were built on reputations so a stranger would turn up at a town and demand a load of attention based on the fact that word got around that he was 'Wild Bill', 'Doc Holliday' etc. etc.

Unforgiven was great. I thought Clint was sometimes comically over-serious (maybe I'm missing a point somewhere) but it was a nice touch having him prove pretty fallible (struggling to shoot, mount a horse) in old age and not being the bad-ass cowboy I kind of expected to just tear through everything unbeliavably. I got the feeling I should have watched some of Clint's older westerns to appreciate it fully but still very good, Gene Hackman playing a great 'bad cop'-esque foil.

I'm on my last of three sittings to get through the epic 3.15 Wyatt Earp. Kevin Costner I just don't really like. Something so corny and cheesy abut him.

There's definitely an underclass of long-term unemployed in this country who feel that if a job is "below them" or indeed just too difficult they won't bother and would rather stay on the dole. That's an attitude that would doubtless horrify their parents' or grandparents' generation, and it also strongly suggests that the welfare system needs to force people more quickly and forcefully back into work.

There are major problems with the unemployment system in the UK, and I tend to find that it isn't really helpful at all to people who are actually seeking work.

 

I know people who actually find they are better off not working than they would be if they were.

 

There were some interesting points brought up regarding the current system in this thread.

I was chatting to friends last night. Having had a baby last year the wife has got back into full employment recently, earning minimum wage. Now, they are not in dire straits as the husband earns a good wage to cover all essentials, but it seemed pretty demoralising for the wife knowing that after tax, and taking off childcare (which obviously she wouldn't have to pay if she was off work) and work travel, her contribution for a weeks work was to buy the food shopping. She receives benefits on top of this, which is obviously fair enough as they are a young couple with a child. But it just struck me as really odd how it works. If the minimum wage was higher, and the bottom tax rate higher she'd take more home and not require as much benefit. Business would take a hit with higher wages (scare tactics would be used that it'd destroy the economy etc.) but obviously they would have a smaller tax bill as they wouldn't have to pay as much to fund a complicated benefits system. But more importantly you wouldn't have the soul destroying notion that the money the wife is earning just goes before it's hit the bank, and then just given a top up to get by on and called a scrounger for taking it.

Farage Attacks Bilderberg EU President As

After this weeks 'It's Always Sunny..' I' saying Nora Dunn (57). Not on a par with others mentioned but for her age still looking pretty good.

Lister is the winner though. Great call on Wifey. Seems so obvious too. .

Just to re-iterate Chesty's sentiments- keep up with. The first episode didn't entice me (I think it was because I didn't really know what to expect) that much and I didn't end up watching the second until a few weeks later, but it gets very good. Mixing the bigger political/moral picture with the awesome banter.. once you get to know the personalities (there are a load to take in in one episode so it's hard to appreciate that early on) it's very gripping, and quite moving tv.

You confused me with 'Ziggy' comment thinking I hadn't been paying enough attention (after just writing about how you need to keep watching to get the personalities).. but I now read it's who Ray plays in some other show called 'The Wire'(sp?) or something like that.

'It's a colonoscopy. In your experience what should I be expecting in terms of sensation?'

It's Always Sunny is back on top form (although the second ep edged the first for me), and I also enjoyed the first episode I saw of Community.

Gina Gershon if she hasn't already been done. Wait, there's some innuendo in that last sentence somewhere.. erm.. I tell ya what, I'd, I..I would be partial to a bit of sex with her. Yeah.

Bastard! Seymour and Steenburgen were ones I was going to post (along with Julianne Moore). I think my love for Steenburgen is probably influenced by Larry David's penchant for her although they both (Steenburgen and Seymour, not Steenburgen and David) have high cheekbones which I adore on women.

The woman off Emmerdale is a good pick also- and leads me to..

Claire King- partially because she was such a devious bitch

and..

Lusardi

..although admittedly in that picture she has a face not too disimilar to the guy who drinks Jeff Daniels' piss in Dumb and Dumber..

whiiiich ingeniously segues intoooo..

Lauren Holly

Christine Brinkley

..and

Sarandon looking really, really slutty in that picture if I'm being honest

I reckon picks get more remarkable with age so 45+ only are worthy in this thread. The picture of Raquel Welch means there's a 70 yr old in the World I definitely would bone. Learn something about yourself on these forums.

Decided to lower myself into the canyon of reading that is Independent foreign correspondent Robert Fisk's 'The Great War for Civillisation' (1200+ pages) which is a semi-autobiographical look back at his reporting of the middle east from the last three decades of so. I think some try to paint him as a left-wing 'loon' but it's kind of hard to question a journalist who has seen, first-hand, so much quiet suffering. The book is generally very depressing, covering the Afghan/Soviet war, Iran-Iraq war and despicable silence over the early 20th century Armenian genocide in a way that neatly interchanges between personal stories and bigger overviews, the two complimenting each other along the way.

Some quite neat retrospective insight too- drawing some quite scary parallels between the British's ill-fated excursions to Iraq in 1920 and in 2003. At least we were a bit more up-front about our resource-pillaging tactics in 1920, no benevolent talk of 'humanitarian intervention' or 'spreading democracy' just- 'Attention Brown People! We Are Bigger than You and Want Your Oil'.

I'm just getting started on what I am sure will be a beast of Israel/Palestine.

Usual 'sorry if she's already been posted' caveat. MILF and such.

The first time I watched 15 Storeys I didn't get it and didn't put it on again for weeks but I now think it's one the best sitcoms ever created. Just such an unusual approach with genuinely different humour. Like Seinfeld focusing on the comedy of mundanity and 'nothing'-ness, but so very British. I've been meaning to pick up the 2-series set for the commentaries. Check out the radio show and '15 Minutes of Misery' if you want more.

I've been pacing myself through Curb Your Enthusiasm series six. I'm almost afraid to watch them too quick as it means no more . I think it's a definite improvement on the fifth series which, while great, dragged a little at times, getting a bit too far out there. The Blacks have brought a new freshness to the series and Jeff and Suzie have excelled.

My favourite bits are when Larry ruins the school entrance interview for Jeff and, Suzie's kid, initially thinking Jeff's anger was fake but then him hilariously conveying the anger as genuine- it's just he's more nervous of Suzie's subsequent moaning than his kid not getting into the school.

Also, although it's one of the few times Larry and Suzie are allied, when they think the waiter has been slipping something into their doggy bag she gave to their dog, and Larry having to go back to confront him, the way she relishes suggesting to Larry 'Tell him you shit all over yourself all day. Shitting in your pants, can't make it to the toilet, you got shit running down your leg.' was wonderful.

Mill's On Liberty- which is as great an example of a thought-provoking book that I've ever read. Literally every page provides some utterance that bears relevance to some common ethical discussion. I think the broadness of how it's central point (that governments should only legislate to prevent individuals harming others) can be interpreted helps it's acceptance, but also provides numerous points for debate. Also picking at a condensed version of the (Tony) Benn Diaries which runs up to a mere 500 pages. Although obviously there is no deep analysis or anything, it's great to see how all the bigger players enter and leave the fold. He was actually quite a moderate (well, when there was a real left-wing faction of the Labour Party) during his earlier days.

With the infuriating absence of Alexander, JLM, Tiger Rick, and Mab I'll pic- oh, wait. Mab.

Freaks and Geeks is great.. I would describe it as heartwarming. Teenage me is totally in love with the girl in that show.

The format works well though and all the characters are very believable. As much as I'm sure some things are exaggerated for the sake of good television, I'm sure it's a fairly accurate representation of what it was like growing up in suburban middle America in the early 80's. The interrelationships between the characters, especially the the main characters and their friends is spot on and a lot of it has reminded me of my own school years.

 

Plus, Thomas F Wilson~!

 

I think that's the best thing about the show. How it doesn't try and be cool and use wanky hip-language (see Skins) but doesn't do the typical over-the-top 'geek' comedy thing. I expected a puerile, laugh-a-minute show, and was disappointed at first, but as it progresses you really appreciate it not being that way. There is one story later in the series that I don't want to spoil but it goes perfectly against the unbeliveable 'fairytale' type ending cliche but ironically makes the show all the more 'heart-warming' (I agree with Chesty on that).

I've pretty much ignored any and all tv drama so I'm making AN '09 EFFORT to watch some. Got the West Wing set for Christmas (only a quid a disc for 44 discs) then I'll probably get The Sopranos deluxe set after, and by 2012 I'll get stuck into The Wire as I hear it's not too shabby. The West Wing is shaping up well as I near the end of the first season. Suppose the great thing about a presidential drama is they manage to touch on so many of big, important topics (racism without it seeming contrived. Similar to The Thick of It (though not demonstrated in quite a watermelon + sledgehammer way) it shows the dangerous, frustrating nature of 'spin', the weight placed on image management. Also, Rob Lowe is so dreamy .

I've caught the first two episodes of the CH4 show John Adams about the US founding father of the same name. It's kind of more educational for me as I'm quite ignorant to that part of history. Shows (until now at least) how principled a man he was and how that led him from a passive man to one of the more radical voices in the independence struggle. Great to see the other big names introducedn (Ben Franklin is an exceptional character- wise, humorous) and passing references to what would become huge turning points (e.g. that trouble dumping tea in the harbour).

I'm not a nature buff or anything but have been steadily making my way through the Planet Earth series. If anyone has a blu-ray dvd player buy this. Absolutely spectacular images (refuse to even single out examples as there are so many), simple enough for the layman yet so easily keeps your attention and interest. Surely one of the BBC's finest achievements.

Elsewhere, Sealab 2021, with it's wonderfully-defiant lengthy 'still' scenes is edging Harvey Birdman off it's perch (sorry) as my favourite Adult Swim show. The Office US is incredible as ever.

'Babies are one of my many areas of expertise. Growing up I performed my own circumcision.'

Bring back Mab!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6qiDi_YH5rc

US interviewer gloriously using some clueless neocon's ignorance to expose the latters narrow-minded, reactionary views.

I think Bob and Draz are the biggest LOL'ers but Frank gets the nod for this year.

Link is all messed up!

Really can't remember if I have already uploaded it on this site recently and can't be arsed to trapse through the pages but I've been listening to this song every day for weeks, love it.

Junior Boys- In The Morning (Hot Chip Remix)

Sam Cooke- A Change is Gonna Come

Mono- Life in Mono

Black Flag- Depression

Not the funky brand of punk rock that they exceled at but.. just.. wonderful.

Minutemen- History Lesson pt.II

Listen to Bullhead and Houdini. I'm not that into their really early stuff, bit too[i/] plodding for my liking but they do the catchy/heavy thing to perfection on Houdini. 'Lizzy' is like a proto Nirvana song with the quiet verse heavy chorus, 'Honey Bucket' is just a savage hardcore track and Hooch . Really versatile and inventive band- and I still need to listen to half their LPs!

Alcest are great too. Rob Edwards in good music shocker! Where has SC gone Rob?

Nice one for the blues comp! Much appreciated. I'll give it a listen tomorrow.

Killah Priest- One Step

I'm currently in love with Catherine Townsend, Sex Columnist for the Independent.

I think he meant the song Here!

Mine..

Eiether that or the noisy In the Mouth of a Desert.

Just bought Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Luxe & Deluxe but haven't listened to it properly yet so may stick it on now.

Forgot to leave a tune..The Draft- Zo Lee RoseFIXED~! - so what's the difference between those two smilies then?

Any chance of some Gary Moore stuff in here..maybe Jumping At Shadows...