Hot Town, Summer in the City.

Well it's summer and so that means; shit weather, working full time and studying for exams. Oh no, that is just me. well I suppose the weather is nation wide, other people will have resits and many students have full time work over the summer, but it just feels as though all of these things are converging on me. I want to be free of at least the exam, which isn't even a sure thing. So that gives me untill the 19th of August after which my free time will be mine and I feel that I could move from 5 to 4 days a week at work, so only two more weeks and I should be feeling a bit better. Hey two out of three ain't bad, unless I befriend Storm or the Weather Wizard in the next month I get the feeling the weather will remain shit.

My room is getting a bit of a clear out at the min, I am packing up all of the figures and putting them in the attic. A bit sad but my room was starting to look mor childish than when I was actually a child so it was time to move on. I am of course still keeping a few toys and collectibles, NECAs TMNT, Sideshows 12inch Star Wars and Mattel DC Universe classics are all staying but my room will look much more subdued. Gone are; Buffy, Muppets, Family Guy, Simpsons, South Park, DC Direct, King Kong, Star Trek and Old TMNT.

I have been fairly impressed this year with the quality of blockbuster movies. In particular Wall-E and The Dark Knight, both fantastic movies and in certain aspects Oscar worthy. Wall-E was just spectacular; I have not seen a better looking animation stunning does not quite describe how good this movie looks. Also one of the best Pixar films in a while, there is early talk of Wall-E getting nominated for Best Picture, the film is certainly worthy but I just can't see this happening and so unless another animation comes out to top this I feel it is a dead cert for Best Animation. The Dark Knight is another film with early oscar talk, this time for the show stealing performance from the late Heath Ledger, this was for me the best performance in The Dark Knight. Ledgers Joker was scary, intelligent, clearly insane and darkly funny, the voice was perfect as well with moments of the Hammel Joker from BTAS and moments of unforgiving darkness. I loved this movie, story worked great with great performances and fantastic set peices. Jim Gordon played by Gary Oldman was in my eyes Oscar worthy, it would be ashame for this great performance was over looked because of Ledgers, both however could only really hope for Supporting Actor I would think. In fact I think that Bale was out shone by both Oldman and Ledger and looked somewhat uncomfertable as Batman but not Bruce Wayne, interestingly enough in that it often comes across in the comics that Bruce Wayne has been lost to The Batman.

My Birthday on Wednesday, Yipee!!

Towser

Mr T Says

Mr T Says:

'....milk must have been colder than I thought.'

Towser

Watchman, Novels and Iron Man

I have, as regular readers are aware (so that means me), been on holiday now for two weeks (and if I didn't writ this blog I would still be aware of this fact). So for the last two weeks I have been finding the time to do stuff I have no time for when at uni.

1. It all started with Watchmen.

The day after my last exam I got up in the morning had breakfast, opened the door outside and sat reading watchmen until the only thing I could do was read watchmen as my eyes couldn't focus on anything else. This was a good day and I found rather unsurprisingly that Watchmen is still a good book not changing since the last time I read it, though now I perhaps appreciate it more. Certainly this is one of if not my favorite book of all time.

2. Stop the press, 'Iron Man OK' says Towser.

So yeah Iron Man, one of my most anticipated films of the year, was alright. I liked Downy Jr. and I enjoyed the action scenes but it also wasn't as good as I was hoping. I got really excited about some things in it like S.H.I.E.L.D. and SLJ as Nick Fury, and so therefore the prospect of having a Marvel movie-verse. Also the film has produced some pretty good action figures, not great but good for standard movie toys.

3. Novels.

I have started reading for fun again, I like reading books and so like to read as much as possible, but I just don't have time throughout the year, so I usually don't get a chance until I am on holiday with my family and I only have to worry about whether to go swimming in the pool or not. This year however I got a head start and have started reading and now finished two Nick Hornby novels; A Long Way Down and High Fidelity. Both were fantastic. I have noticed that I have made the transition from guy who only reads one book over two semesters to guy who reads every where; at bus stop, on bus, in queue at Starbucks, at work when on break. Now I know none of this sounds that extraordinary because every one else does it, but that is just my point that was every one else not me, never me and I like the change.

Towser

Singing In The Rain!

I hate the rain, I hate it so damn much! Now I know this sounds like I am pointing out the obvious but really rain is awful. Living in the UK gives me an extra reason to hate the rain because it rains all year round here. Today for example it started to rain even though the last three days it has been excellent weather, and today was the day that I arranged a BBQ instead of the cinema. We could have the best sunny weather for say 11 days and it will start raining on the 12th day. We have a phrase in Britain, one that every person here understands in an sort of evolutionary trait. Now not everyone uses it and people may hate the phrase being used (I know I do) but everyone in the UK understands it and knows it is true:

'We are going to pay for this weather'

A rained on Towser, paying for the good weather.

In a while crocodile....

I today bought and wore a pair of Crocs for the very first time, now i know these were most fashionable last year but not being a particularly fashion conscious person I bought them for pure practical and comfort reasons. Let me just say now these things are fantastic, I love them. They are comfy, light weight, they slip on and off easily, and best of all they are absolutely hideous!! That's right they are positively ugly and that is why I love them. I wear them around the house when I am lazing about and they will also be great for the really hot days around town and on holiday.

On a different note I finished re-reading Watchmen again today (the joy of no exams) and this time it was some how better than the previous time I read it. Fantastic!!

Towser

Snap, Crackle, Americana?

I have been a fan of American Pop Culture all my life. Growing up in the 90's world of 24 hour television with American imports filling the children's TV schedule I am clearly just a product of my time. My personality, in a number of ways, gives me greater access to this pop culture world and everything that goes along with it.

I like things, stuff, items, that are there for no other reason other than to entertain and not just physical objects like toys but everything that is created out of the sole purpose to entertain. So there fore TV, Movies, Music, Comics, Toys these are the things that I enjoy. Show me an ornithology book and it would bore me to tears, or gardening, or astrology, or god forbid train spotting. No none of these things interest me, not that I have any problem with the people that are interested in them. The reason I think this is so is because of different personalities, mine is happy to sit and watch a boxset of Star Trek DS9 not for the gained knowledge or because it will some how better me but because of pure enjoyment, I will buy an action figure of say Red Tornado and there is absolutely no reason for me to do this apart from the pure joy that I gain from holding him in my hands.

There also has to be something said about the collector side of my personality as well, I enjoy collecting I could have easily fallen into stamps, model cars or even autographs but they don't fit in with the first part of my personality, the pop culture loving side. Comics, toys and DVD's however do fit in very well. There must be something about nerds and collectors these are the only people in the world who are willing to be shown the up coming products and are happy to wait for there releases on a regular basis. If you showed some one a picture of a toaster, and that person loved it, then told them that they could pre-order it and it would be shipped to them in 6 months time they would laugh in your face.

So perhaps I started out as a child looking at the television and enjoying the pure escapism of superhero cartoons, but that enjoyment combined with my personality turned me into the nerd I am today.

Towser

It's Over!!!!!

That's it they are over!!! My exams have finished. I am now on my summer holiday! So from now until September I have nothing to worry about, I can just relax watch TV, read comics, sun bathe, and perhaps work a few shifts for cash. I am now free until roughly the 8th of September. That is:

18 Weeks

124 Days

2976 Hours

178560 Minutes

Of complete relaxation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Towser

PS I just received my NECA comic style Ninja Turtle action figures, amazing!