Killer meatloaf Whoa whoa whoa! It's all go yet again (when ios it not?) for this weekend coming is the beginning of a new epoch, the start of an age, the spark of a conflagration: the move to Bristol. So I'm packing and all that shit, and well, I'll tell y'all how it is when I get there.

This weekend gone I headed up to Cambridge (after having Mareike to stay in Croydon for a few days, she's now fluent in RudeGirl and emancipated from her white-girl shackles) to catch up with everyone before term got going proper. It was quite strange to be back in Selwyn, it felt like I'd never left, but at the same time it was a sweet feeling knowing that I didn't have to think about impending essay crises and examples papers. A guilty pleasure I suppose. As ever, it was super to see Selwyn chums and have a natter over some shisha or a pint in the bar.



I put up a few photos of my summer internship a couple of posts back, but now I have uploaded more to a special page dedicated to the geekery of the Underground. Over time I may well add more stuff about signalling, should anyone be so interested to read it. Til then, check out these pictures.
In more cinema going action (I think I've been more in this past year than I ever have before), I went off to see Children Of Men with Michael. Very good indeed. It's based on the PD James novel of a London in 2027 after single-issue rebel groups have basically upset the temperament of the world to the point of England rounding up all "foreigners", putting them in refugee camps or deporting them. Meanwhile, the population has become infertile, except for one woman, a Fujian, who is pregnant. Scary stuff, and quite plausible too. The film style I was rather impressed by, as it all focussed on the main character, Theo, played by Clive Owen, and didn't get bogged down by a multitude of irrelevant subplots. It's quite a short film, but felt much longer than the 109 minutes in a good way, and even left a wanting for more. Fast-paced action and no time to blink. Another recommended film this year.

I think it's been bandied about by quite a few people now, but a conversation I had with my brother last night really hammered home the thought that The Killers' new single easily could be something churned out a decade ago by that Big Man of Power Ballads, Meatloaf. Come to think of it, most of their stuff sounds a little bit too similar for comfort. For curiosity, I did a little bit of Computer Magik and came up with the picture below, a merge of the two faces, as you do. It's a like a crazy eye thingy (or whatever they're called), you can switch between the two of them, if you squint and whatnot. You know. And what if that lovely young man Brandon does turns out like Meatloaf in a few years? Will the world end?

Reassuringly, there's always some good music lurking in the background, and lately I've been noticing a young Jamie T since Mr Butler introduced me to the sound. Imagine a Streets but with cleverer lyrics and far, far, far better melodies. A boy version of Lily Allen if you will. Go Google. Do it now.

Signing off.
Brandon Flowers && Meatloaf = true Brandon Flowers && Meatloaf = true

Posted: 29-09-06 14:25 :: Permalink: http://ben.corale.co.uk/archive/v1/236.html


Comments Use the form at the bottom to post your comments. Here is the feedback:

Wolfie writes Well, it's been quite the bumper month for me, Benwise. Not only did you invite me to nibble on your Fat Rascal, but now I finally get to see pictures of your underground signals.

It's like Christmas and birthday rolled into one. Commented: 29-09-06 15:23

Wolfie writes And to top it all off (top! geddit?) you've just verified me. The authentication was all the better for its swiftness.

Oh, good luck at Bristol. Don't forget to be best chums with Chris, and I'll send you beautiful James's details so you can be chums with him, too. There are those of us who would thank you for, er, showing him the light. Commented: 29-09-06 15:26

The blog author writes Chris has been telling me that you're not a fan of the cake (other than the Fat Rascal). Is this true? Is it?!

(I will reply to your email super-pronto!) Commented: 29-09-06 15:40

Wolfie writes There comes a time in every man's life when he realises that those whom he thought were his friends are, in fact, morally bankrupt worthless scum with no more right to live on God's clean Earth than a weasel.

My friendship with Chris was rapidly terminated on discovering his fetish for cake. And now I see the gilded marble likeness of Ben in my I Love Ben shrine is starting to wobble on its pedestal. I knew you were too perfect to be true.

Cake mix: good. Cake: almost invariably a colossal waste of time and good saliva. The rare exceptions are carrot cake and Christmas cake, though both are, in effect, merely not unpleasant vehicles for icing. Commented: 29-09-06 19:16

The blog author writes "...merely not unpleasant vehicles for icing": possibly the best definition of cake I've heard! But still, cake is good. (I'm glad you like carrot cake, as that is one of the finest.) Commented: 30-09-06 10:47

Wolfie writes When you said "super-pronto" what exactly was it that you meant? :P Commented: 06-10-06 18:46

The blog author writes It's been sent :) Commented: 08-10-06 15:09

Wolfie writes Speaking for -- and on behalf of -- your public, I note (with grave concern) that it is now one month and one day since you have updated your blog.

When last you addressed us you promised (ipsissima verba) "I'll tell y'all how it is when I get there."

Since then . . . nothing! How are we to know that you arrived safely? How are we to know what has befallen you? Your silence echoes unhappily and it makes our hearts heavy with dull pain. Commented: 29-10-06 17:28