I have most recently had the opportunity to see a screening of the latest remake of the classic King Kong, produced by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame.
For three hours, you are transported to Skull Island the home of Kong and other creatures both large and others you can only wish were smaller - insects and other bugs that literally make your skin creep. This is NOT a film for those under 13 as it will solict nightmares.
King Kong was in the thirties a film to go see, a real experience. Peter Jackson's version some seventy years later is as much a go-see and experience on the big screen with surround sound.
The use of technology only enhances the filmmaking. The cast, expecially Jack Black who I personally do not usually like, is well suited for this role as a villian of the piece as are his fellow cast members in their roles. Kong is impressive, very impressive and you will cheer for him at times and be saddened by the eventual and well known conclusion to the film.
King Kong is a film you will want to see more than once, if only to pick up on the subtle details. I will be adding this to my Amazon wish list in the future and score this as a 10+/10.
I expect that King Kong will be included in some ways among the Oscar nods in the New Year, we will see in time. Best film possibly not as I would suggest that Memoirs of a Geisha will be a hot runner for this category. Nevertheless, Best Actress / Best Supporting Actor have to be considered together with a host of technical nominations.
LONDON CHIMES by Malcolm Friend. An expat Brit from London who now lives near Philadelphia.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Sad goodbye to 05
I am saddned that 2005 is coming to an end, personally and professionally it has been a banner year for me, first and foremost in becoming a Dad, a parent to my daughter Celeste.
Johnson and Johnson are currently running a commercial (advert) here in the US with the tag-line that "A baby changes everything" a little sentence that I have experienced first hand means so much than a couple of words can attempt to illustrate.
Having had the opportunity not to work since December 22nd, I have spent quality family time with Celeste and my wife Taney through the build-up to Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and a family trip to the zoo in the run up to New Years Eve, just the three of us a handful of other families and a host of animals that Celeste if not could name, could recognise from her books.
I have watched Celeste use her imagination having he first pretend tea-party with her new friends, La-La (TellyTubbie) Bear (Panda-Bear) Elmo (Seasame Street) and Mulan. I have walked in to the nursery with a welcome shreek of "Daddy" and arms held upwards. Each day she does something to surprise me and to see her grow a little more each day since May has been a wonder unto itself.
As she opened her first stocking gift, a coloring book she called for crayons having little idea that there were a mountain of gifts to be opened that morning with her name on. The first couple of gifts were nibly opened with small finger tearing carefully at the paper. By the time we reached the gifts under the tree Celeste was overwhelmed at the generousity of her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Through the year, I have watched my daughter day-in day-out with wonder. 2005 marks the end of our adoption journey, us waiting for Celeste, and Celeste waiting for us.
As 2005 is reviewed it will mark other stories, those reported on the BBC, CNN and Fox. Celeste's story will not be among them, but is to me the most important and best of all.
A baby does change everything - for the best in ways you truly cannot fathom until you reach that stage in life.
2006 will arrive I resolve to be the best Husband and Daddy I can possibly be.
Johnson and Johnson are currently running a commercial (advert) here in the US with the tag-line that "A baby changes everything" a little sentence that I have experienced first hand means so much than a couple of words can attempt to illustrate.
Having had the opportunity not to work since December 22nd, I have spent quality family time with Celeste and my wife Taney through the build-up to Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and a family trip to the zoo in the run up to New Years Eve, just the three of us a handful of other families and a host of animals that Celeste if not could name, could recognise from her books.
I have watched Celeste use her imagination having he first pretend tea-party with her new friends, La-La (TellyTubbie) Bear (Panda-Bear) Elmo (Seasame Street) and Mulan. I have walked in to the nursery with a welcome shreek of "Daddy" and arms held upwards. Each day she does something to surprise me and to see her grow a little more each day since May has been a wonder unto itself.
As she opened her first stocking gift, a coloring book she called for crayons having little idea that there were a mountain of gifts to be opened that morning with her name on. The first couple of gifts were nibly opened with small finger tearing carefully at the paper. By the time we reached the gifts under the tree Celeste was overwhelmed at the generousity of her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Through the year, I have watched my daughter day-in day-out with wonder. 2005 marks the end of our adoption journey, us waiting for Celeste, and Celeste waiting for us.
As 2005 is reviewed it will mark other stories, those reported on the BBC, CNN and Fox. Celeste's story will not be among them, but is to me the most important and best of all.
A baby does change everything - for the best in ways you truly cannot fathom until you reach that stage in life.
2006 will arrive I resolve to be the best Husband and Daddy I can possibly be.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Routemasters anchors and nostalgia.
In the last week an icon of the roads in London, the red Routemaster double-decker bus ceased service, only to be replaced by more modern accessible buses in the London Transport fleet.
I for one mourn the passing and from 3,500 miles way, I am nostalgic in my memories of jumping on and off the back of the number 26 (North Finchley Gaumont to Victoria) 260 (North Finchley Gaumont to Willesden Garage), 2B (North Finchley Gaumont to Crystal Palace) and 13 (sharing the same route as the 26 in later years), along Ballards Lane in Finchley.
Over the years the routes and terminus points changed but the sight of the buses stopping at the stops and passengers holding out their arms at the request stops, was as common as red phone boxes.
As a young teenager I recall trying to walk down Oxford Street faster than the buses. At least during busy traffic periods then you could at least jump on and off the stationary (or slightly moving) buses rather than be trapped behind the hydraulic doors of the new buses as you can only alight at stops along the route.
A tourists perception of visiting London and crass American films in London would always include the obligatory black cab and routemaster bus.
Recently they have with few exceptions been sold off after two months short of 50 years service on the roads of London. Some have been bought up and refurbished for corportate entertainment, others as shelters for the homeless, others simply driven by since retired drivers nostalgic to own a piece of history.
There will continue to be two routes served by routemasters in London, so they are not completely vanishing, although they will be more of a novelty than a matter of everyday life.
You would have thought given the advances in technology that someone would have come up with a design that meets current access requirements while retaining some of the design elements of the original in some way. Akin to BMW remaking the Mini and maintaining some of the character traits loved so much.
In the same week that Sir Trevor McDonald said his final, “and finally” on the News at Ten, the route master, not originally favored by the public when they arrived 50 years ago have been taken to the hearts of those who have traveled on them. These are both statements that nothing lasts forever no matter how much we want them to.
Returning to the subject of Sir Trevor, considering the recent departure of many main news anchors in America as well, and the cancellation of one of the ITV news channels because of low ratings compared with other news channels in the UK (BBC and Sky), the shape of news broadcasting is changing, not least that individuals have multiple ways and sources to gather and receive news. Perhaps the traditional anchor is like the routemaster, affectionally thought of but redundant in this day and age.
I suppose this is considered progress.
Hold-on-tight-please “ding-ding”.
I for one mourn the passing and from 3,500 miles way, I am nostalgic in my memories of jumping on and off the back of the number 26 (North Finchley Gaumont to Victoria) 260 (North Finchley Gaumont to Willesden Garage), 2B (North Finchley Gaumont to Crystal Palace) and 13 (sharing the same route as the 26 in later years), along Ballards Lane in Finchley.
Over the years the routes and terminus points changed but the sight of the buses stopping at the stops and passengers holding out their arms at the request stops, was as common as red phone boxes.
As a young teenager I recall trying to walk down Oxford Street faster than the buses. At least during busy traffic periods then you could at least jump on and off the stationary (or slightly moving) buses rather than be trapped behind the hydraulic doors of the new buses as you can only alight at stops along the route.
A tourists perception of visiting London and crass American films in London would always include the obligatory black cab and routemaster bus.
Recently they have with few exceptions been sold off after two months short of 50 years service on the roads of London. Some have been bought up and refurbished for corportate entertainment, others as shelters for the homeless, others simply driven by since retired drivers nostalgic to own a piece of history.
There will continue to be two routes served by routemasters in London, so they are not completely vanishing, although they will be more of a novelty than a matter of everyday life.
You would have thought given the advances in technology that someone would have come up with a design that meets current access requirements while retaining some of the design elements of the original in some way. Akin to BMW remaking the Mini and maintaining some of the character traits loved so much.
In the same week that Sir Trevor McDonald said his final, “and finally” on the News at Ten, the route master, not originally favored by the public when they arrived 50 years ago have been taken to the hearts of those who have traveled on them. These are both statements that nothing lasts forever no matter how much we want them to.
Returning to the subject of Sir Trevor, considering the recent departure of many main news anchors in America as well, and the cancellation of one of the ITV news channels because of low ratings compared with other news channels in the UK (BBC and Sky), the shape of news broadcasting is changing, not least that individuals have multiple ways and sources to gather and receive news. Perhaps the traditional anchor is like the routemaster, affectionally thought of but redundant in this day and age.
I suppose this is considered progress.
Hold-on-tight-please “ding-ding”.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Buncefield Disaster Hemel Hempsted Dec 11.
Am I possibly in a minority of one over the recent Buncefield disaster?
I wanted to post this record as a reminder in the months that follow that officials may have been to quick to call Buncefield an accident and that more sinister dealings were in the hands of terrorists and I offer to explain why.
Let me start by qualifying my interest in this news story. I was a resident of Hertfordshire for many years. During that time I both organized and competed in a large number of treasure hunts promoted by a motor club in the county under the rules of the RAC Motor Sports Association.
Buncefield sits in the middle of Ordnance Survey Landranger Series Map 166 (Luton and Hertfordshire) and the country lanes to the north and north-east of the site were frequently used for 12-car rallies and treasure hunts.
Its location very close to both the M1 motorway, and M10 link for access to the M25 orbital motorway around London would provide easy access both to the site and from the site for would-be terrorists.
Buncefield is clearly marked on maps and is not a secret installation.
The area most affected is towards the north of the site bounded by a small country lane, not more than 16 feet wide with woodland on both sides of the street providing cover to anyone attempting to cut through the chainlink fencing to gain access to the site possibly undetected under the cover of night when security could be at its lowest.
The British Oil industry has a remarkably good safety record, there are marks against it of course, Piper-Alpha Oil Rig comes to mind in the North Sea, but the stringent safety and construction of the 3 million gallon oil containers and the infrastructure around the site is not in my opinion in question.
Here are a few simple facts:
Terrorists have threatened oil installations.
Buncefield is a soft target, but strategic insofar it receives oil from the North Sea, and serves two of London’s Airports, including Heathrow and Luton.
Such an attack could cause loss of life and significant property damage, which thankfully only the latter has proven.
Buncefield is an obvious economic target that if terrorism was the cause could have created increased oil prices, difficulty in providing oil to Heathrow and Luton and the spiraling effect could cripple the UK economy and the South East. Refer back to the recent oil blockades, demonstrating against the petrol tax to the UK government. It took some time after the peaceful blockades were removed for the country to get back to normal.
Any attack on allied oil installations would impact the price of oil and create further economic pressure.
So on the first day of the fire the cause was announced by police and officials as an accident and this is the story they continue to tell. Meanwhile the heat and devastation caused by the fire and subsequent explosions may be enough to cover the tracks of any terror campaign as evidence has melted in the intense heat or been destroyed from the many explosions.
An official inquiry will be started, questions will be asked, fingers pointed to blame for any number of reasons, (echo’s of the finger pointing after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans), and the truth or a version of it will eventually out.
One thing is for certain, in this current economic climate, an attack on the oil industry and let us not forget the American interests as Chevron is one of the parent companies, is not what Britain or America needs right now.
Just placing my marker on this one and no doubt will be reviewed in the future.
I wanted to post this record as a reminder in the months that follow that officials may have been to quick to call Buncefield an accident and that more sinister dealings were in the hands of terrorists and I offer to explain why.
Let me start by qualifying my interest in this news story. I was a resident of Hertfordshire for many years. During that time I both organized and competed in a large number of treasure hunts promoted by a motor club in the county under the rules of the RAC Motor Sports Association.
Buncefield sits in the middle of Ordnance Survey Landranger Series Map 166 (Luton and Hertfordshire) and the country lanes to the north and north-east of the site were frequently used for 12-car rallies and treasure hunts.
Its location very close to both the M1 motorway, and M10 link for access to the M25 orbital motorway around London would provide easy access both to the site and from the site for would-be terrorists.
Buncefield is clearly marked on maps and is not a secret installation.
The area most affected is towards the north of the site bounded by a small country lane, not more than 16 feet wide with woodland on both sides of the street providing cover to anyone attempting to cut through the chainlink fencing to gain access to the site possibly undetected under the cover of night when security could be at its lowest.
The British Oil industry has a remarkably good safety record, there are marks against it of course, Piper-Alpha Oil Rig comes to mind in the North Sea, but the stringent safety and construction of the 3 million gallon oil containers and the infrastructure around the site is not in my opinion in question.
Here are a few simple facts:
Terrorists have threatened oil installations.
Buncefield is a soft target, but strategic insofar it receives oil from the North Sea, and serves two of London’s Airports, including Heathrow and Luton.
Such an attack could cause loss of life and significant property damage, which thankfully only the latter has proven.
Buncefield is an obvious economic target that if terrorism was the cause could have created increased oil prices, difficulty in providing oil to Heathrow and Luton and the spiraling effect could cripple the UK economy and the South East. Refer back to the recent oil blockades, demonstrating against the petrol tax to the UK government. It took some time after the peaceful blockades were removed for the country to get back to normal.
Any attack on allied oil installations would impact the price of oil and create further economic pressure.
So on the first day of the fire the cause was announced by police and officials as an accident and this is the story they continue to tell. Meanwhile the heat and devastation caused by the fire and subsequent explosions may be enough to cover the tracks of any terror campaign as evidence has melted in the intense heat or been destroyed from the many explosions.
An official inquiry will be started, questions will be asked, fingers pointed to blame for any number of reasons, (echo’s of the finger pointing after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans), and the truth or a version of it will eventually out.
One thing is for certain, in this current economic climate, an attack on the oil industry and let us not forget the American interests as Chevron is one of the parent companies, is not what Britain or America needs right now.
Just placing my marker on this one and no doubt will be reviewed in the future.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
I AM NOT SHOUTING.
THE FACT THAT THIS POST IS IN CAPITALS DOES NOT REFLECT THAT I AM SHOUTING - A COMMON PRACTICE IN BLOGGING TODAY. THE KEYBOARD BEING USED THIS EVENING TO UPDATE THE SNOW FIGURES IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.
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