Mar 2008
Ebay apology
12/03/08 23:14 Filed in: Personal
I received an email today from an Ebayer using the handle border2walking. He or she commented that they had read my Eburks posting and while they agreed with most of it (especially the lack of space for adequate comments) they had something to tell me.
My partner and I used the account to buy and sell the odd item off Ebay and it appears the Sue had a run in with EBay member pompington. I think Sue was selling tickets and pompington won the auction then pulled out. The bottom line is that we failed to offer up either a negative or neutral score and for reasons I cannot explain, a positive score was given along with a negative "they pulled out, these things happen" sort of comment.
border2walking makes the comment that had our comments truly reflected the situation then he/she might not have also fallen into the same trap.
They are right of course... and I'm apologising herel
My partner and I used the account to buy and sell the odd item off Ebay and it appears the Sue had a run in with EBay member pompington. I think Sue was selling tickets and pompington won the auction then pulled out. The bottom line is that we failed to offer up either a negative or neutral score and for reasons I cannot explain, a positive score was given along with a negative "they pulled out, these things happen" sort of comment.
border2walking makes the comment that had our comments truly reflected the situation then he/she might not have also fallen into the same trap.
They are right of course... and I'm apologising herel
Who gives a stuff!!
10/03/08 18:06 Filed in: Personal
I am piggin' sick of this!
Today, we've been having typical winter weather. That is to say, strong winds and rain.
But according to the news (BBC and ITV) we are having the sort of weather only seen before the forth horsemen of the apocalypse turn up. Oh, look as the waves crash over the sea wall onto the road. Look as 'warning signs' have to be illuminated on the M5.
What!
Worst storm of the winter!?! Give me a bloody break.. and what comes after it. Seven people dying in a car crash, the rapist and presumable murderer of a 15 year old girl in Goa is arrested and the costs of the war costs are increasing.
It's a disgrace. Tomorrow we'll have some 'expect' (you can read that as spokesman from the Government) saying it's all due to Global Warming and everybody's carbon footprint.
Sadly, recent admissions that temperatures are falling GLOBALLY, not rising. Oooops. But I could write a book about the whole thing. Who would ready it?!
Today, we've been having typical winter weather. That is to say, strong winds and rain.
But according to the news (BBC and ITV) we are having the sort of weather only seen before the forth horsemen of the apocalypse turn up. Oh, look as the waves crash over the sea wall onto the road. Look as 'warning signs' have to be illuminated on the M5.
What!
Worst storm of the winter!?! Give me a bloody break.. and what comes after it. Seven people dying in a car crash, the rapist and presumable murderer of a 15 year old girl in Goa is arrested and the costs of the war costs are increasing.
It's a disgrace. Tomorrow we'll have some 'expect' (you can read that as spokesman from the Government) saying it's all due to Global Warming and everybody's carbon footprint.
Sadly, recent admissions that temperatures are falling GLOBALLY, not rising. Oooops. But I could write a book about the whole thing. Who would ready it?!
Actors Not 'Acting' Their Age
09/03/08 23:44 Filed in: Personal
In a LIST mood again.
There is something of a tradition for actors to portray people considerably younger than their true age. I suppose part of the problem is control of the actor. Certainly, in the pre-70's movies, it would the case that actors would be part of a studio collective and therefore that usually meant a contract and a responsible age to go with it. The other could be experience. With some very few exceptions.. and lets be fare here, most child actors are crap. The exceptions proving the rule.
But what's the worst affront to age dislocation? Here is my top five.
15-20 years OUT OF AGE
By the time North By Northwest was made, Grant was already 55 years old. Twenty years senior to his onscreen femme fatale Eve Marie Saint. I'm guessing the Grant is meant to be playing somebody in his late thirties or early forties. So that's either twenty or fifteen years out of whack.
To add more amusement to the proceedings, his mother in the film is played by Jessie Royce Landis. The common fact about this is that while she plays his somewhat over bearing mother (does anyone find that a little odd) she's actually only 7 years his senior.
9-14 years OUT OF AGE
Lets get this right out. Michael J. Fox was never going to have a problem playing a teenage boy. Despite being 24/25 at the time. Even by the time the final film in the trilogy (the terrible) part three, he was still only 14 years older than his character. You'll realise the Marty never actually gets much older and all three films take part over about the space of four days for Marty.... although many decades in 'space time'.
You should also note that co-star Lea Thompson was ALSO 24/25 at the time of shooting... which brings me too...
10 - 15 years OUT OF AGE
Who was 10 years older than his character and therefore 15 years older by the time the last film came out. Old git!
But that's nothing..... lets move onto Ferris Beuller's Day Off. But not who you think...
13-15 years OUT OF AGE
At the time of shooting Matthew Broderick was a fresh faced and convincing 15 year old. Despite actually being 25 at the time. So that's quite a jump of ten years. But hey.. I was convinced at the time. It WAS 1987 after all. Mia Sara, by the way, was a fresh faced 20. Making her the babe in the pack... mainly because by the time Ferris Beuller was filmed... Alan Ruck was 31 years old! Lets just say that one more time.
HE WAS THIRTY ONE YEARS OLD! Or put it another way, he was TWICE the age of the person he was portraying. In fact, he was 9 years younger than the woman who played Ferris's mother, Cindy Picket and just ten years younger than Jeffrey Jones who played "Ed Rooney"!!
But most shocking of all... and I mean this sincerely. He was just five years younger than Edie McClurg who played Rooney's somewhat dappy secretary Grace!
12-14 years OUT OF AGE
OK. This is purely down to the "should he really be doing that" factor. Jackson is Hannah's brother in the series. Which would be fine, except that while Hannah (Miley Ray Cyrus) is her correct age of 15.. Mr Earles is a somewhat more senior 30 years old at the start of shooting. Making him at least twelve years older than his character (assuming he's meant to be 17).
Now this wouldn't be quite so bad if Robbie's character wasn't so frequently seen chasing 'babes' who frequently appear to be in Hannah's age group. Including Libby who's actually only 15!
In other words, we have a thirty year old man pretending to be a teenager and chatting up fifteen/sixteen year old girls. NOW do you see why I find this a little odd?!
What's even odder is that Hannah Montana is made by Disney. Can Disney REALLY not find a suitable child actor to play Robbie?
So.. that's my list for today.
There is something of a tradition for actors to portray people considerably younger than their true age. I suppose part of the problem is control of the actor. Certainly, in the pre-70's movies, it would the case that actors would be part of a studio collective and therefore that usually meant a contract and a responsible age to go with it. The other could be experience. With some very few exceptions.. and lets be fare here, most child actors are crap. The exceptions proving the rule.
But what's the worst affront to age dislocation? Here is my top five.
1. Cary Grant in North By Northwest
15-20 years OUT OF AGE
By the time North By Northwest was made, Grant was already 55 years old. Twenty years senior to his onscreen femme fatale Eve Marie Saint. I'm guessing the Grant is meant to be playing somebody in his late thirties or early forties. So that's either twenty or fifteen years out of whack.
To add more amusement to the proceedings, his mother in the film is played by Jessie Royce Landis. The common fact about this is that while she plays his somewhat over bearing mother (does anyone find that a little odd) she's actually only 7 years his senior.
2. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future Trilogy
9-14 years OUT OF AGE
Lets get this right out. Michael J. Fox was never going to have a problem playing a teenage boy. Despite being 24/25 at the time. Even by the time the final film in the trilogy (the terrible) part three, he was still only 14 years older than his character. You'll realise the Marty never actually gets much older and all three films take part over about the space of four days for Marty.... although many decades in 'space time'.
You should also note that co-star Lea Thompson was ALSO 24/25 at the time of shooting... which brings me too...
3. Thomas F. Wilson as Biff/Griff/Whatever Back to the Future
10 - 15 years OUT OF AGE
Who was 10 years older than his character and therefore 15 years older by the time the last film came out. Old git!
But that's nothing..... lets move onto Ferris Beuller's Day Off. But not who you think...
4. Alan Ruck as Cameron in Ferris Beuller's Day Off
13-15 years OUT OF AGE
At the time of shooting Matthew Broderick was a fresh faced and convincing 15 year old. Despite actually being 25 at the time. So that's quite a jump of ten years. But hey.. I was convinced at the time. It WAS 1987 after all. Mia Sara, by the way, was a fresh faced 20. Making her the babe in the pack... mainly because by the time Ferris Beuller was filmed... Alan Ruck was 31 years old! Lets just say that one more time.
HE WAS THIRTY ONE YEARS OLD! Or put it another way, he was TWICE the age of the person he was portraying. In fact, he was 9 years younger than the woman who played Ferris's mother, Cindy Picket and just ten years younger than Jeffrey Jones who played "Ed Rooney"!!
But most shocking of all... and I mean this sincerely. He was just five years younger than Edie McClurg who played Rooney's somewhat dappy secretary Grace!
5. Jason Earles as Robbie Jackson in Hannah Montana (2006 - 2007)
12-14 years OUT OF AGE
OK. This is purely down to the "should he really be doing that" factor. Jackson is Hannah's brother in the series. Which would be fine, except that while Hannah (Miley Ray Cyrus) is her correct age of 15.. Mr Earles is a somewhat more senior 30 years old at the start of shooting. Making him at least twelve years older than his character (assuming he's meant to be 17).
Now this wouldn't be quite so bad if Robbie's character wasn't so frequently seen chasing 'babes' who frequently appear to be in Hannah's age group. Including Libby who's actually only 15!
In other words, we have a thirty year old man pretending to be a teenager and chatting up fifteen/sixteen year old girls. NOW do you see why I find this a little odd?!
What's even odder is that Hannah Montana is made by Disney. Can Disney REALLY not find a suitable child actor to play Robbie?
So.. that's my list for today.
Adam Buxton
09/03/08 23:26 Filed in: Personal
I've subscribed to Adam Buxton's YouTube Channel. For those in the know, Adam Buxton is one half of the 90's comedy clip duo Adam & Joe. The Joe being Joe Cornish. They have a radio show on BBC 6 (Radio) and I suggest you listen to it if you can.
But here's something from another program. Late night comedy quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Adam is describing his experience with the experimental drug us 'magic' mushrooms. Not suitable for office or youngsters.. but very funny all the same.
But here's something from another program. Late night comedy quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Adam is describing his experience with the experimental drug us 'magic' mushrooms. Not suitable for office or youngsters.. but very funny all the same.
No posts... too busy.
01/03/08 23:02 Filed in: Personal
I'd love to find the time to post something intelligent or thought provoking. There's always a first time! Right?
But I've just not got the time.
What's not been blogged.
The tremor come MAJOR EARTHQUAKE TO HIT THE UK. What a load of tosh.
Harry getting a let off and coming out of harms way. I'm sure he must very sincerely be upset about it. Honest.
Gordon Brown gave a very sinister speech about services being highly personalised and fair for those who chose to comply. I'm paraphrasing. But the implication was that you either do as they (they being the Government) or it might get a little unpleasant. I can't say I like the way UK Government has turned in the last ten years. The whole CCTV, be scared of your neighbour, rhetoric is getting a little too much to bare. But where is it any better? America? I don't think so. And Canada might not end up any better given the whole North American Free Trade Agreement being extended to both currency, movement of people. The bottom line. They plan to turn Canada, USA and Mexico in a North American Union. In the style of Europe, only even more of a single super state. God help us.
But I've just not got the time.
What's not been blogged.
The tremor come MAJOR EARTHQUAKE TO HIT THE UK. What a load of tosh.
Harry getting a let off and coming out of harms way. I'm sure he must very sincerely be upset about it. Honest.
Gordon Brown gave a very sinister speech about services being highly personalised and fair for those who chose to comply. I'm paraphrasing. But the implication was that you either do as they (they being the Government) or it might get a little unpleasant. I can't say I like the way UK Government has turned in the last ten years. The whole CCTV, be scared of your neighbour, rhetoric is getting a little too much to bare. But where is it any better? America? I don't think so. And Canada might not end up any better given the whole North American Free Trade Agreement being extended to both currency, movement of people. The bottom line. They plan to turn Canada, USA and Mexico in a North American Union. In the style of Europe, only even more of a single super state. God help us.
