simbits

GEEK HITS

2011-12-21T11:16:00.004Z

Where did a month go?

Ahhh

The Hobbit

Boba Hat

Click to enlarge

Dark Knight Rises

Prometheus

HT: Bleeders, Geeks

DOCTOR WHO

2011-11-23T13:17:00.001Z

And speaking of Doctor Who, here are a few promo pics from the Christmas special and the trailer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOCTOR

2011-11-23T13:13:00.001Z

48 today, or 900 years or so!

DOCTOR WHO CON

2011-11-11T15:21:00.001Z

Oooo...

Chewie hairdryer

2011-11-11T15:18:00.001Z

me in the morning

PIC HITS

2011-11-09T13:15:00.000Z

When Jesus returns

Driven to the dark side

European finance explained

Ahhh

Rock and Roll timeline

The Jedi Fab Four

GEEK HITS EXTRA

2011-10-31T15:00:00.000Z

Forgot to put this bit of barmy up - David Tennant's wrap video

GEEK HITS

2011-10-31T13:14:00.001Z

Doctor Who wrap party videos surface

Halloween corgis

Halloween with Ipads, how cool?

HT: Geeks

NORMAL SERVICE

2011-10-31T13:07:00.000Z

And weee'rree back!

Various tech issues and work have got in the way of simbits but here I go again

Just call it the Winter season!

NORMAL SERVICE WILL RESUME...

2011-09-30T16:09:00.001+01:00

shortly, been on deadlines, apologies

MANGA RUGBY

2011-09-13T13:48:00.000+01:00

Okaaaaayy:

GEEK HITS

2011-09-10T10:49:00.000+01:00

Sylvester does Matt

Yes man

This week's geeks comes from the letters SFX

GEEK HITS

2011-09-02T13:38:00.000+01:00

Why George why, just leave it:

Ageing superhero:

Oh and I think that above pic needs a soundtrack: Newton Faulkner

Honest logos:

DCUNU:

The admiral's exam:

ht: Geeks

GEEK HITS

2011-08-27T14:05:00.001+01:00

Gameboy swimsuit

Corgi-Geek stylee

Darth Vader pwns Star Trek

Steampunk Vader

Jedi Kittehs

It's for a good cause, honest

HT: Geeks

WANT ONE

2011-08-26T11:25:00.000+01:00

From here!!

ERM…OK…GO MUPPETS

2011-08-23T23:51:00.000+01:00

GEEK HITS

2011-08-20T13:39:00.001+01:00

I want….

play god...

Space...

Phones...

Indiana Jones map?

Doctor Who: Let's Kill Hitler prequel:

where will you be when...

HT: Geeks , the Beeb & Bleeders

WHERE'S WALL-E

2011-08-20T13:19:00.000+01:00

And how many can you name? (click for larger pic)

HT: Bleeders

US DOLLAR WORRIES

2011-08-17T12:58:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Moz at Charteris

SHIFTING SANDS

2011-08-17T11:26:00.001+01:00

Isn't it always the way, you take your summer break and all-hell breaks loose, be it US downgrades, market runs or riots on the streets of London.

However, the roller-coaster still has some way to go.

Last night, the Franco-German summit failed to convince markets that there was an action plan in place to save the eurozone, indeed, proposals were resurrected to put fear into the stock exchanges with financials particularly taking a hit this morning.

As I have said before, a Tobin tax cannot work unilaterally. Money moves and in this electronic age money can move very quickly. Despite the individual costs being relatively low, it will add up and traders will shift to more friendly markets - in particular the burgeoning middle east bourses, I suspect will benefit, as will New York.

From a UK political perspective, this raises an extremely interesting scenario. The Conservatives have, for the most part, successfully clamped down on the European argument in their own party which threatened to overwhelm them with an image of being a one-issue party. Also, despite being portrayed to the contrary, Labour is also riddled with divides over Europe, indeed until the mid-80s it was Labour that was vehemently opposed to European union.

So the two biggest parties in the UK will find themselves in possible internal civil war with MPs from both the left and the right of the spectrum rising up against a further erosion of financial independence. The Lib-Dems will, inevitably, shift in the sand to the most politically convenient outcome for their party as personal manifestos make perfectly clear around the country, there is no real uniformed Lib-Dem policy, just convenient politicking.

And yet the question remains of whether there is anything the government can do to stop this tax? The Lisbon Treaty is an enabling document, that is it can continually be changed to suit circumstances. However, it has yet to be fully tested so it will be interesting to see what, if anything, can happen if the UK becomes a blocking point.

The so-called lines-in-the-sand that all UK governments boast about are about to be swept up in the wave of European tax proposals and it could mean that the only solution is the one that all leaders fear, the eventual departure from the EU to the European Free Trade Area by the UK.

Implausible? Possibly. But when you consider that the Tobin tax would essentially tax London which is not in the eurozone to bailout the eurozone and possibly kill-off a key component of the UK economy, the question becomes one of what risks are more important to the politicians?

Originally posted on Financial Risks Today blog

GEEK HITS

2011-08-16T13:59:00.000+01:00

Geek awesomeness: Gaiman and Moore (it looks like it was at Moore's wedding judging from his suit)

Tardis mug:

My name's Jedi, James Jedi:

Taken at Charles De Gaulle airport: Geeks international:

Angry sex:

Ht: Geeks

ESPANA

2011-08-12T11:26:00.001+01:00

So I have been abroad for what was essentially the first proper family holiday that we have had.

We stayed at the port of Estepona on the South Coast opposite North Africa. For all the fears about the European economies, the Spanish seem to just shrug it off as part of life. Of course there re a lot of apartments for sale and it appears that there are quite a few developments that appear to be on hold but the bars and restaurants were full as were the beaches and pools.

What was lovely was the attitude towards children. We quickly adapted to the times of the area so it wasn't rare for my seven-year-old to still be up and about at 11pm and on occasion, when coming back from a meal with our Spanish relatives in the town, to pop into a bar for a quick beer before bed and it was perfectly normal.

In addition, although the curse of the smoking ban has also arrived it didn't matter as you ate and drank outdoors anyway. And there were hardly any phantom coughers aside from English. Indeed, I saw one woman wave her hand in front of her face in disgust and her friend commented: "Good luck, we're in Spain."

One thing that was also apparent in its quality was the train. We went from Madrid to Malaga on the fast train and it was quite frankly astonishing. Leg room, cleanliness, punctuality and free headphones so you could watch a film they put on with both English and Spanish dubbing.

Now I don't know how much we had to pay for it through European funding or whether this was through it's own national funding but as I await going back to work on Monday with the delays and such like, I have to ask myself where the will is to get our ageing system up to the 21st century.

52 DCs

2011-08-10T14:48:00.000+01:00

DC has been over in London to explain the mechanisms of the new DC universe.
Now I am not convinced by the whole idea of this. The system looks far to messed uo with some continuities (eg Green Lantern) keeping going while others such as Superman debuting as the first superhero. It strikes me as the same mash that happened after Crisis where everything was all over the place.

In addition there is some confusion over the status of my favourite team, the Justice Society of America. I have been following them since a team-up with the JLA and the occasional All-Star comic that reached these shores in the days before comic shops. If supes was the first then how does the moored new JSA come into play? Perhaps they will follow Smallville's way and that people have just forgotten about the mystery men of WW2? I dunno but this launch fills me with unease. Will I check some of them out? Of course I will.

Still there is some good news- according to the bleeders report on the UK trade show, Bob Wayne commented:"Vertigo will continue as normal and there are new series in development, a batch of them will be debuting in 2012. Wayne pointed out that SPACEMAN #1 is set for October with a $1.00 introductory price..."

After mine, and others' fear that the knives were out for Vertigo this is very good news indeed!

A RIOT OF SURREALITY

2011-08-10T10:41:00.004+01:00

So you're in 40 degrees sun with hardly any web access blissfully unaware of events in the States or UK and you pop into the local supermarket and see the front pages of the Spanish newspapers. You what? Riots in London and elsewhere? Football matches cancelled, wtf?
OK it appears that morons have indulged in an orgy of summer fun but I do have a sense of disconnect watching events in my home town over the past few days. But, and I never thought I'd say this but hats off to Diane Abbott who told the BBC that 'cuts do not create criminality'. It is a message that I'm sure fellow travellers at the beeb and the labour party will heed...
As I have said before we are now seeing the effects of rights without responsibility. Uprisings in the middle east were because people couldn't afford to eat and not like here where idiots are jealous that they cannot have that flat screen hi-def tv that they want .
Gove has it right, these are Labour's children and I hoe they are proud of their offspring!

GEEK HITS

2011-08-05T07:58:00.000+01:00

A fairly limited geek hits today and very light blogging over this fortnight for reasons I will explain next Friday or so. Anyway here we go...

Ist pic of Henry Cavill as Superman

On iPad so struggling to embed but go to you tube for Doctor Who season trailer part 2!

That's it for now

DANIEL CRAIG'S MY WOOKIE BITCH NOW

2011-07-28T11:47:00.003+01:00

HT: Digital spy

AVENGING THE DEFICIT

2011-07-27T12:59:00.000+01:00

As some know I edit a mag called Financial Risks Today that has its own blog and I thought I'd share a take on the situation in the States today as the deadlock could have been in 1940:

The UK this week sees the premier of Captain America: The First Avenger.

The good Captain was the original 9 pound weakling Steve Rogers, rejected by the army but given a second chance through the use of a super-serum that German scientist Abraham Erskine developed.

Erskine was killed just after Rogers' transformation by Gestapo agent Heinz Kruger.

As the debt ceiling deadlock continues with politicians point-scoring and blaming each other as the deadline-day for default looms near, I wonder what would have happened back in 1940 with today's politicians?

Surely the Republicans would have appreciated getting someone out of 4F and into the US Army but would have baulked at the costs, complaining that this action can only happen if cuts were made elsewhere?

Meanwhile, the Democrats, although worried about the ever-increasing debt would have complained that the Republicans were playing petty-politics and that action was needed now to deal with the issue of a lack of super-soldiers. Any vote in favour of the Republicans would not deal with the threat in an instance but create problems six months down the line.

Of course, as events occured in the story, the Democrats would have won but with the killing of the creator of the Super Serum, the Republicans would go into the next elections complaining that despite the Democrats spending all that money, the country was only left with one super-soldier so how could President Roosevelt justify the costs.

The Tea Party would have questioned how a German scientist got a job ahead of a good old American boy and how the lack of immigration controls and decent security checks allowed the assassin to get into the lab in the first place.

Editor's note: Erskine was originally called Reinstein, why it was changed, I don't know

DOCTORING THE COMICS

2011-07-27T00:16:00.000+01:00

I have been a fan of the Cartoon Museum since it opened round the corner from the British Museum.

This summer they will be looking at Doctor Who and his time in comics:

SCI-FI HIT PARADE

2011-07-26T23:35:00.000+01:00

So SFX has done a top 50 of Sci-Fi theme tunes:
10 to four are:
Blade Runner
Back to the Future
2001 Space Odyssey
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jurassic Park
Harry Potter
Superman

(in my best fluff voice)
Coming in at number three

And at number two and a bit of a shock for pop pickers of a certain age

And steaming in at number one and proof that Tolkien fans have more time to access the computer, at the top of the hit parade is…

To be honest I am shocked that Star Wars wasn't number one and that Superman missed the top three

VAN DAMME'S NIPPLES

2011-07-26T23:08:00.002+01:00

Ok, I may be behind the curve on this one but this is just bizarre and funny

BWAHAHAHA GROMIT

2011-07-25T22:44:00.000+01:00

From Brave & The Bold Lost covers

DOCTOR WHO

2011-07-25T21:02:00.002+01:00

The loverly Karen Gillan confirms she's coming back to the good Doctor:

ht: Bleeders

GEEK HITS

2011-07-25T20:31:00.005+01:00

Doctor Who trailer from SDCC:

and a clip (warning clown!)

Indded:

Ahhh…

An anti-smoking message from Star Wars (?)

And no drinking - despite Han Solo was obviously over the limit going from the Cantina to the Millennium Falcon:

So I have been a huge fan of Judge Dredd for a long time and now, there's a new movie coming out, filmed in South Africa and starring Karl Urban and now, courtesy of scans of Empire magazine, more pics are out:

Urban as Dredd

Michael O'Conner:

Olivia Thirlby as Judge Anderson

HT: Bleeeders
Geeks
2000AD blog

AHHHH

2011-07-22T11:18:00.001+01:00

HT: Geeks

SPIDEY

2011-07-21T00:25:00.002+01:00

OK I know this has done the rounds but here's the revamped Spider-Man

BATMAN UNITED

2011-07-18T15:59:00.004+01:00

Just too cool for words

Ht: Reddit

GEEK HITS

2011-07-15T13:51:00.003+01:00

Phantom Menace dubbed:

What really happened at Stonehenge:

Steampunk Iron Man

Slave Leia party:

EMBED-Slave Leia PSA Starring Kaley Cuoco - Watch more free videos

New Spidey costume:

Darth Vader ballon:

HT: Geeks

TAPPING PERSPECTIVE

2011-07-13T13:59:00.006+01:00

1679 incidents by 144 journalists

1260 incidents by 98 journalists

258 incidents by 30 journalists

103 by 4 journalists*

73 incidents by 16 journalists

*no information given for The Guardian

Source: ICO

HT: Cranmer

GEEK HITS

2011-07-11T23:49:00.007+01:00

cats

ah:

T:

Mash:

I ref Geeks but here's the source

It is of course a pause in the space age, at least I hope so:

I am so sorry

Ht; Geeks

TINTIN

2011-07-11T23:45:00.002+01:00

New trailer for Tintin, shame it's bloody 3d

ht: dark horizons

TIPPING THE LIZARD

2011-07-11T23:33:00.002+01:00

Via Bleeders

SUN ON SUNDAY

2011-07-11T14:03:00.002+01:00

So here we go then:
Company registration:
Name & Registered Office:
THE SUN ON SUNDAY LIMITED
79 SOLENT ROAD
PORTSMOUTH
ENGLAND
PO6 1HJ
Company No. 07698029

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 08/07/2011

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Website registration:

Domain name:
sunonsunday.co.uk

Registrant:
News International Newspapers Limited

Registrant type:
UK Limited Company, (Company number: 1885543)

Registrant's address:
NI Group Limited
3 Thomas More Square
London
E98 1ES
United Kingdom

Registrar:
News International Newspapers Limited [Tag = NEWSINT]
URL: http://www.newsint.co.uk

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 05-Jul-2011
Renewal date: 05-Jul-2013
Last updated: 11-Jul-2011

Registration status:
Registration request being processed.

Name servers:
ns0.newsint.co.uk 143.252.80.3
ns1.newsint.co.uk 143.252.80.205

WHOIS lookup made at 13:54:10 11-Jul-2011

--
This WHOIS information is provided for free by Nominet UK the central registry
for .uk domain names. This information and the .uk WHOIS are:

Copyright Nominet UK 1996 - 2011.

And for interest, the last moments at the NoTW:
Editor Colin Myler addressing the subs:

Myler taking the staff out of Wapping:

Ht: Guido, Gordon

PRESSGATE GOES ATLANTIC

2011-07-11T13:46:00.002+01:00

ht: Millar

GIVE ME INFORMATION 2

2011-07-10T11:04:00.004+01:00

Speaking of journalism. Back in the day, there was a brilliant look at a future world where information is key to control - Transmetropolitan.

Written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Darick Robertson, this cutting satire saw Spider Jerusalem and his filthy assistants take on the City and in particular, the Smiler, a not too distant relative of Tony Blair.

As someone who was starting out in journalism and a politics graduate, TransMet had a relevance for me and I avidly read the story and it, and its characters have always had a special place in my heart.

Apart from the near impossibility of getting the original "Give me Information" page which illustrated the previous post (inker Rodney Ramos gave me crisp copy of it years ago), I have now got a wonderful piece by Darick.

Darick Robertson was in London yesterday - taking in the "joys" of sunny Slough where he was placed by the organisers of the London Film and Comicon.

Darick also told me that he is working on a story featuring a post-apocalypse London so he was also going to be taking loads of reference picture - I suggested South London as it wouldn't need to much "updating"!

The pic:

I am a happy bunny this morning.

BTW - someone want to tell me why I'm getting visitors from a Russian porn site?

GIVE ME INFORMATION

2011-07-10T10:53:00.002+01:00

There has been a lot of chatter about the NoTW phone hacking scandal and the role of journalists but at the end of the day journalists work in a business. If they don't get the story, they don't get the readers and this makes them edge towards taking greater risks, ever-increasing ones in these days of blogging and "citizen journalism".

Does this make what NoTW did right? No, of course not. However, it does raise once again a very important point which I am ever saying to friends who aren't in the industry - indeed to colleagues in the industry.

What interests the public is not the same as public interest. I do not think some footballer's sex life is in the public interest, unless his profile and commercial money-raising depends on his being portrayed as a family-guy. In the same way a politician that constantly bemoans single mums and feckless dads could spend his entire career shagging secretaries and prostitutes leaving a wake of illegitimate kids around is in the public interest.

It is this, of which all readers collaborate in, that has created a situation where NoTW shuts its doors today for the last time in 168 years.

EU WHAT?

2011-07-09T13:12:00.005+01:00

According to Reuters the EU is to come up with a support system for banks if they fail the bank stress tests which are released next week.
The deal will give banks 6 months to find the money privately before being bailed out.
Come on! No seriously, what happened to no, nope, never again? It's quite simple, if a bank fails, it fails. There is no logically reason for taxpayers once again to bail them out, it was a mistake the last time, it is a mistake now!
Of course, this has nothing to do with the perilous state German banks are in is it!?!

GEEK HITS

2011-07-08T13:46:00.002+01:00

Texting Habits:

Batman Year One trailer

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Iron Man and his Ironettes (seriously)

JE 2011 - Comic Con - Iron Man from cooladn on Vimeo.

Potter Chan

RUNNING OUT OF EXCUSES

2011-07-08T13:41:00.003+01:00

OK, you're out again with your mates, the missus will be fed up with you if she knows you're in a bar.

The phone rings

It's her

What do you do?

Don't panic!

The best invention ever

UPDATE: NEWS OF THE WORLD TO (SORTA) SHUT

2011-07-07T16:59:00.005+01:00

Aha, hear from sources, that this is apparently temporary - the rag is going to be rebranded.

I wonder what it will be called - The Sun on Sunday? The (Voice) Mail on Sunday?

James Murdoch's statement in full:

You do not need to be told that The News of the World is 168 years old. That it is read by more people than any other English language newspaper. That it has enjoyed support from Britain’s largest advertisers. And that it has a proud history of fighting crime, exposing wrong-doing and regularly setting the news agenda for the nation.

When I tell people why I am proud to be part of News Corporation, I say that our commitment to journalism and a free press is one of the things that sets us apart. Your work is a credit to this.

The good things the News of the World does, however, have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong. Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our Company.

The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself.

This Sunday will be the last issue of the News of the World. Colin Myler will edit the final edition of the paper.

In addition, I have decided that all of the News of the World’s revenue this weekend will go to good causes.

While we may never be able to make up for distress that has been caused, the right thing to do is for every penny of the circulation revenue we receive this weekend to go to organisations – many of whom are long-term friends and partners – that improve life in Britain and are devoted to treating others with dignity.

168 years down the pan

CALL OF STAR WARS

2011-07-06T23:38:00.003+01:00

As you may realise I am a big fan of Star Wars and I absolutely loved Battlefront(s) 1&2.

In addition I really love Medal of Honour and Call of Duty.

These brilliant people have helped all us Battlefront people mourning our time of need.

Absolutely brilliant!

Ht: Geeks

THE SUN WOT DONE IT

2011-07-05T23:33:00.005+01:00

According to Guido, the wife of Glenn Mulcaire, the phone hacker at the centre of the phone tap scandal has asked for the press to respect her privacy.

And I have a large degree of sympathy for her and her family.

As ironic as it may be, what did she actually know about what her husband does day-in-day-out?

I have spent my career in the relatively boring world of finance - yes I have received tip-offs, leaked memos etc but at the end of the day nothing that would excite the world.

But what if I was on the general desk at the Sun or News of the World? I very much doubt I would tell my wife all that I was working on.

So yes, I do feel sympathy but I has to admit the irony of the story does make me go ahahhahhahhaaahahahaa!

Oh, and on Rebekah Brook - Either she knew what was going on, so she should be sacked, or, she didn't know what was going on in her patch so she should be sacked for incompetence.

TECHNOLOGY

2011-07-03T16:27:00.006+01:00

When I first started out in journalism, you went along to conferences with a lump of plastic that purported to be a laptop but in all reality was likely to break your pelvis.

After firing up the steam engine, waited ten minutes for the boot-up and had a fight with other journalists over the last telephone line, you then had to make sure the right telephone number and access codes were correct - and that was before you went into the main auditorium to write down on a note pad (the paper kind) what a speaker said.

Last week I was at a conference and in the speakers' hall was full of journalists, with their note pads (electronic) already plugged into their page layouts and writing in real time what speakers were saying and publishing direct online.

How things have changed from this (computers throughout history)

ht: Geeks

GEEKS HITS

2011-07-03T16:05:00.001+01:00

Couple of videos this time:

Plot Device from Red Giant on Vimeo.

Robots of Brixton from Kibwe Tavares on Vimeo.

ht: Geeks

WHAT'S MY JUDOON

2011-07-02T21:54:00.003+01:00

OK probably far too late on this one but we stumbled across it tonight on Youtube from what looks like a sadly inactive blogger Dr Gaz

Ps: For those who've wondered over from the Telegraph, hi (I presume) Stink, Hi Morningstar, I don't just rail against political idiocy here!)

SMOKING

2011-07-01T15:26:00.004+01:00

Is it just me or are the powers that be using Judge Dredd as a how to guide?

We've had mass surveillance, riot foam is being developed, there are many more pseudo officals acting as judge and jury (if not executioner) with on-the-spot fines and now they want to ban smoking from public places!!!

It's only a matter of time before the smokatorium arrives

Pic tip: cover browser

DEFENCE

2011-07-01T00:53:00.002+01:00

With Fox threatening all unsundry with lapels over at the MoD, I was reminded of a post I did last October...

DEFENCE
One of the cuts is of course defence. Leaks, Liam being angry etc etc.

But...

Has anyone actually looked at defence in terms of national expenditure?

With Liam threatening all unsundry at the MoD. I was reminded of this blog I wrote a year ago…

In terms of National Expenditure it doesn't even warrent it's own segment!

The breakdown:
Total Spending by Function
Values in £ billion

2008 2009 2010 2011
Total Spending 576 631 661 681
Pensions 100 110 117 123
Health Care 204 221 239 244
Education 76 80 86 84
Defence 38 42 44 46
Welfare 88 94 105 109

For all the debate, Defence is nothing on the national budget in comparison to social expenditure.

I honestly am in shock that a government - even a coalition government that has to appease yogurt weavers- would consider such a miniscule section of national cost to be worthy of a 10% minimum cut when health can continue spending its merry way.

Note: if they get rid of the desk pilots and civil servants rather than making sure troops are under-equipped and die unnecessarily then the cut will be fine - unfortunately as I have posted in the past, the last people to be cut are those that aren't on the front line!

JOHANN HARI prt 2

2011-06-30T16:56:00.001+01:00

I have come to the opinion that Hari must be a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists.

I have taken a screen shot of their code of conduct, which appears to be very liberal in its views and has just the flexibility that Hari needs.

EU MUST BE JOKING

2011-06-30T16:23:00.001+01:00

The EU has proposed that its budget rise by 5% for 2014 to 2020.

I’m sorry, what? Really, everyone else is attempting to get their houses into order, this bloated bureaucracy want to spend even more money? The very same people that are strangulating Greece?

It gets worse. The EU is also proposing that a Tobin-tax on financial transactions. Oh well done. No, honestly that is a masterpiece of idiocy. Just when we are trying to get back on the road to recovery, along comes some socialist thinking to kneecap us.

Seriously, Tobin taxes can only work when spread right across the board. It cannot work on a territory basis. Why the hell would any trader use the City or Frankfurt if they are going to get taxed. Sure, the amount may be miniscule per trade but it could soon add up and financial institutions will probably head to a more favourable climate. Fantastic thinking there EU.

Thirdly, and oh what joy this is, the EU is considering a European value-added tax set at a maximum of 2%.

A direct tax? Marvellous. Could someone please enlighten me as to where I voted for a direct tax from this bloated beast?

And lastly, and probably more sinister, instead of rebates, UK, Germany, Sweden and Netherlands should receive annual lump-sum payments.

Hmm, I wonder how much more money we will lose to Europe if this goes through?

Why are we putting up with this? It is a nonsense. This undemocratic institution has veered so far from the original concept of a free-trade area that the likes of my Dad voted for that it is now time for a serious debate about our role and future in the EU.

UNRULY WORKERS

2011-06-30T14:21:00.003+01:00

So the great unwashed of the public sector are striking for their pension rights among other things.

For your delectation, here is a handy etiquette guide courtesy of the Daily Mash for whence you may happen to come upon the masses:

A guide to strike etiquette30-06-11
AS the country's public servants once again challenge Britain to notice the difference, experts have issued an essential guide to national strike etiquette.

Do try not to spray tea directly into their face Professor Henry Brubaker, of the Institute for Studies, said: "Too many people in Britain have forgotten the importance of good manners during an angry strike. This simple guide should ensure that the strikers' absurd demands are politely ignored without it descending into a foul-mouthed brouhaha."

National strike dos and don'ts:

When crossing a picket line do so with poise and grace. Imagine one is trying to balance a badly educated child on one's head.

However, it is important to remember you are now in the striker's place of entitlement. The striker is your host and you should treat them with respect. Do not put your feet up on the seats they put their feet up on.

If one finds oneself eating lunch in the same restaurant as a striker, always use a dessert fork to stab them in the face when when they start helping themselves to a third of your soup.

Never be arrogant or condescending - particularly when pointing out the horrendous spelling mistakes on a teacher's placard.

Listen patiently and politely to the striker as he or she explains loudly why their pension needs to be better than yours, before smiling and saying 'thank you so much, that was very entertaining'. You should then offer them a sweet - perhaps a Rolo or a Chewitt.

Do not burp, spit or pick your nose at them.

A man should always open a door for a lady striker, even though she will find it violently sexist.

If the striker continues to insist that you should pay for his pension and that he should retire five years earlier than you, always say 'pardon me?' rather than 'huh?', 'come again?' or 'what in the name of shitting fuck are you talking about you delusional, self-serving piss-bucket?'.

LABOUR PAINS WHEN SMOKING

2011-06-29T16:21:00.003+01:00

Sometime's fate is just too giving.

I am amused to read that Labour constituencies were the most hit by the ridiculous smoking ban in pubs. In research, seven (not nine Guido) of the top ten constituencies with the most closures since the ban have been Labour-held.

I wonder if the voters actually realise?

JOHANN HARI

2011-06-28T22:34:00.004+01:00

So doyen of the left Hari is accused of plagiarism.

It was interesting to note other journalists commenting on various blogs about this, let alone Hari's ridiculous defence of his actions.

I'm sorry Hari but what you have done is plagiarism.

It is not a simple matter of clearing up quotes that you received through actually talking to your interviewee nor is it a matter of showing your readers what an interviewee's thought process is.

What you have done is pass off someone else's interview as your own. You did not reference the previous interviews nor did you make it clear that comments were not given in your actual interview.

Jeez, our profession comes under attack as it is (some justified, others not so). Where do you get off trying to claim the higher ground when you behave like that?

The organisers of the Orwell prize are apparently re-examining Hari's award...good

HOLY BOOBIES BATMAN

2011-06-28T20:09:00.003+01:00

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHA…AH!

HT: Bob Mitchell

GEEK HITS

2011-06-27T23:44:00.002+01:00

Here we go…

Hmm, think my kid's getting there:

A cute tribute to Rocketeer on the 20th anniversary of the film and, of course, the late lamented Dave Stevens:

The Rocketeer 20th anniversary from John Banana on Vimeo.

Predewok:

Even Empires have defence cutbacks:

You see, this is what you get if you never watch the original trilogy:

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

HT: Geeks

AMERICAN GODS

2011-06-27T23:27:00.003+01:00

So Neil Gaiman talks a bit more about the American Gods series..

Doesn't Neil's accent veer, you trans-atlantican you

Tags: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

HT: Bleeders

CAPTAIN AMERICA TRAILER

2011-06-26T00:30:00.002+01:00

OK this looks really good.

I am a great fan of Green Lantern but something just didn't sit right with the trailer, can't quite put my finger on it…but this, this certainly ticks the boxes

RIP GENE COLAN

2011-06-24T14:18:00.003+01:00

An absolute genius of an artist died yesterday.

RIP Gene, September 1, 1926 – June 23, 2011

pic: Inside pulse

HAPPY SMURFDAY

2011-06-24T08:17:00.002+01:00

Happy Birthday you blue things who fight evil humans who want to take over your village and way of life

Ah, hang on…

that's better

And here's something guaranteed to stick in your head and annoy you for hours, enjoy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC

2011-06-23T16:53:00.004+01:00

Are all these anniversaries coming out just to make me feel old?

Sonic the Hedgehog is 20 years old...

sheesh

GEEK HITS

2011-06-23T14:47:00.009+01:00

Kid plays Cantina Band on harp

I'm F(&*^%^&( James Bond...

Geek joke

Who watches the Empire

Starry Starry Sauron

What does Admiral Ackbar say?

Ht: Geeks

HOW THE BBC WORKS

2011-06-19T11:05:00.003+01:00

You have a top programme such as Doctor Who

It makes you millions of pounds

It breaks records for iplayer, top rating on BBC America, top download on iTunes, is the mainstay of Saturday scheduling...

Then the rumours start about budget and actors...

Will it get a full series in 2012?

And then what does the beeb do?

Spends £22m on the rights to some US talent show

Sickening

And it complains about cuts?

GHOST TOWN

2011-06-17T13:41:00.004+01:00

On a more reasonable note of racial harmony and how it should work, The Specials' Ghost Town is 30 years old this week.

White, black, didn't matter, they united in a love of British Ska and fusion.

OK, so like most in the 80's, they were left wing but at the time, as they say, the devil always has the best tunes.

Enjoy, and happy 30th Ghost Town!

HAIR

2011-06-17T13:26:00.002+01:00

I am in a state of disbelief over the latest ruling from the courts.

A 13-yr-old boy was told that he couldn't wear a cornrows hairstyle at his school because it contravened uniform rules.
The judge, Mr Justice Collins, sitting in London, ruled that the hair policy was not unlawful in itself, "but if it is applied without any possibility of exception" such as in the case of SG, "then it is unlawful".

Let's read that again: "but if it is applied without any possibility of exception" then it is unlawful".

I'm sorry but have I missed something here - school uniform rules are exactly that, rules.

With certain exceptions on grounds of religion (and I am not talknig about headscarves - pre-pubescent girls should not have to wear them whatever their belief system), uniforms and dress codes are enforced for reasons of discipline, identity and wealth.

Wealth? Well if everyone is wearing the same clothing then a poor kid without the best kicking clothes and shoes does not feel like an outsider.

Secondly, the judge ruled that the school should have taken into account individual pupils' family traditions.

The kid's solicitor told the BBC: "It makes clear that non-religious cultural and family practices associated with a particular race fall within the protection of equalities legislation."

I'm sorry but what? A fashion statement is now cultural practice? In the 70s Afro's were in, 80s, buzzcuts and so on. Where the hell is the cultural practice in cornrows?

Sikhs and Rastafari have specific religious reasons for having long hair, I honestly cannot see where a haircut can be equated with the same?

Also family practices are just that, family practices. They are not indicative of race, they are indicative of a family's way of behaving.

NOT EASY BEING GREEN

2011-06-16T21:54:00.003+01:00

ht: Bleeders

ASTERIX THE THUG

2011-06-16T16:58:00.002+01:00

I am glad to see that academics have some time on their hands to work this one out:

A group of academics have analysed the traumatic brain injuries in the Asterix comics, identifying 704 head injury victims in the 34 books.

A paper published in the European Journal of Neurosurgery, Acta Neurochirurgica, examines the much-loved books in detail, discovering that of the 704 victims, 698 were male and 63.9% were Roman. One hundred and twenty were Gauls, 59 were bandits or pirates, 20 were Goths, 14 were Normans, eight were Vikings, five were Britons and four were extraterrestrials.

I mean, and...?!?!?
ht: The Guardian

TELEGRAPH

2011-06-14T10:04:00.002+01:00

OK following on from Superman's pants, the Telegraph has now noticed that Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) is going to walk again in the DC revamp.

Who is the geek at the Telegraph?

BTW I haven't talked about the 52 relaunch because, quite frankly, they've shafted JSA by the looks of it, and the whole thing looks like a mess at the moment - where are we in the timeline? It doesn't seem to look like everyone is starting at the beginning - Essentially it appears that DC is making exactly teh same mistakes they made 26 years ago with Crisis!

DC RETIREMENT

2011-06-13T23:30:00.002+01:00

Should have done a geeks hit

Ht: Geeks

THE DOCTOR: KINDERGARTEN

2011-06-13T23:27:00.002+01:00

OK forgive me, but this is…

Some lad does Pandora's Box for his talent show

ht: Geeks

GEEK HITS

2011-06-12T22:08:00.002+01:00

Noah's Ark: The True Story

How to turn to the darkside

Ht: Geeks

TELEGRAPH AND SUPER PANTS

2011-06-12T21:57:00.003+01:00

Either I missed that it was an completely slow news day and there is absolutely nothing going on in the world or this editorial from the Telegraph is mind-boggling.

If anyone doubted that Superman had the courage to be the world's greatest hero – and to foil Lex Luthor's sundry evil schemes – such misgivings were instantly dispelled by his choice of costume. For more than 70 years, the fashionistas have pointed out that underwear is more conventionally worn inside the trousers, rather than over them. The Man of Steel not only defied them – he advertised his choice to the world, by sporting Y-fronts in a fetching shade of bright red.
We cannot help feeling rather disappointed, therefore that DC Comics, the character's owners, have decided not just to rebrand the character (doubtless to make him "funkier", "edgier" and "more relevant") but to place the pants on the inside. Indeed, given that the hero still wears a cape, can leap tall buildings, block bullets and generally defy the laws of physics, this gesture towards normality seems token at best.

OK, it's online but Superman's pants? In the Telegraph?

CAPTAIN AMERICA

2011-06-12T21:46:00.004+01:00

There is something about 30s and 40s graphic that I just love and I don't know if the film is going to be any good but I adore this poster:

ht: Bleeders

SPOON:THE UNDERDOG

2011-06-12T02:04:00.001+01:00

Hell I may as well play along

HT: Leg Iron

CONGRATULATIONS BERNARD

2011-06-12T01:37:00.004+01:00

Bernard Cribbins was given an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Not only was he brilliant in Doctor Who but he is essentially part of my childhood, be it Jackanory or the Wombles.

Well done that man!

GAIMAN'S DOCTOR

2011-06-11T18:59:00.003+01:00

Neil Gaiman on WhoSay

I didn't know this
One of the callouts from Doctor Who fans has been why the swimming pool in the Tardis wasn't shown in The Doctor's Wife?

It wasn't budgetary reasons, or stinginess by the producers

Karen Gillan can't swim.

Neil Gaiman:

Making television - and especially making Doctor Who, where you have to imagine a new world (in my case a new universe) with every episode - is always a negotiation between dream and reality. (That was the same email in which I learned that we weren't going to have the scene in the Tardis Swimming Pool because Karen Gillan couldn't swim

Also, about the erasing of Tennant's control room:

Of course it exists. The TARDIS keeps it archived. House deleted it, but I have no doubt that, once they were in a place where that could happen, the TARDIS undeleted it, tidied it up and put it somewhere out of the way, along with the other things she keeps close to her chest.

CALVIN N HOBBES

2011-06-11T18:20:00.003+01:00

OK Since I've been slack I have been wondering round the blogs that I follow, catching up on this stormy afternoon and I found this wonderful tribute to Calvin and Hobbes by Tom Fowler on Comic Twart - a bunch of unseemingly talented gits that I ooze jealousy at their skills every time I check them out! ; )

MEANWHILE

2011-06-10T13:41:00.000+01:00

David Cameron is trying to be common

NICK CLEGG LOOKING SAD

2011-06-10T13:26:00.000+01:00

Just brilliant

GEEK HITS

2011-06-07T13:56:00.004+01:00

Seems ages since I did one of these:

26 years of Tetris

HT: Geeks

DARTH DISNEY

2011-06-06T12:08:00.003+01:00

OK, silly and an add, but enjoy

ht: Geeks

IT'S ALL BECOME CLEARER

2011-06-03T13:03:00.001+01:00

EU CREEP

2011-06-03T10:40:00.003+01:00

So it beings again.
What is it about the EU technocrats and their mission creep. One step at a time they creep, grabbing bits and pieces subtlely until you wake up with no roof over your head and a bill for the privilege of losing it.

The one area that patently doesn't work in EU-world is fiscal policy. It is for the Northern economies of Germany and Netherlands not the PIGS.

While they scream out for some leeway, the North is concerned about over-heating.

So why on earth should it be a good idea for a finance ministry that can make decisions about a nation's fiscal policy - especially one that isn't even in the Euro?

Please can someone explain how the technos can make these leaps of logic that presumes that all will jump up and down applauding saying Capitol?!?

WHY...

2011-05-27T14:56:00.004+01:00

...haven't I got one of these?

;)

SO WHERE WAS I?

2011-05-27T14:38:00.002+01:00

Ah yes, as a consultant I managed to get plenty of time to blog but I have now gone back into journalism as an editor.

I wil try and post a bit more frequently here but if you are interested in finance in general and the issue of risk in particular, pop over here for my mag's blog!

DOCTOR WHO TRAILER

2011-03-31T13:49:00.000+01:00

Here you go

Captain America

2011-03-23T23:59:00.002Z

sorry, haven't been around. I have been given a brilliant opportunity to create a new title so have been snowed under - I hope to make amends!

Anyway, here's the Captain America trailer:

NICOLAS COURTNEY RIP

2011-02-24T13:12:00.003Z

GEEK HITS

2011-01-19T23:11:00.003Z

been busy, hopefully get a bit more regular on posting.

Here's some geek hits:

First up - Stormtrooper detention

href="http://blog.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/st-detention.jpg">

Star Trek goes acid (ish)

Cap America

ht: Geeks

DOCTOR WHO - US STYLEE

2010-12-29T11:11:00.001Z

Here's the US trailer for S6, enjoy

ht: Bleeders

DOCTOR WHO 2011

2010-12-27T12:18:00.001Z

Here's the trailer

CHRISTMAS GEEK HITS

2010-12-24T09:58:00.005Z

Hope you all have a great day tomorrow. Merry Christmas.

First up:
Zombie Santa

How to survive a Zombie Christmas

Star Wars Christmas Special (no not that one, I wouldn't be so cruel!)

HT: Geeks, Adam Hughes and Combom

SNOWTROOPERS

2010-12-22T14:15:00.003Z

Apparently it wasn't just the rebels which made the Empire go to Hoth:

More here