Noise of art

Andrew Graham-Dixon's three-part doco "Art Of Russia" was so well researched and well told, I watched the whole thang twice. Turns out he's made similar shows about Spanish, Italian, German, American and BeNeLux art. In Oz, "Art Of Germany" starts screening on BBC World News this Sunday, at various times (I'm recording it at 8.10am). Here's the trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30-RGUByysA

REC-reation

Been getting through some movies. Finished Spain's "REC" trilogy this morning. Now there's an example of how to (a) keep a horror series fresh, and (b) use handicam footage to enhance the plot, rather than merely cloud the audience's vision and/or allow you to get away with low-budget effects. A worthwhile horror sequel does not equal just throwing in a new group of obnoxious teenagers and having them expire in slightly different ways. Am keen to see how Balaguero mixes things up in "REC 4: Apocalipsis".

A jab in the dark

Main-card predictions for UFC 159 on Sunday: Jon Jones, Alan Belcher, Roy Nelson, Phil Davis and Jim Miller. Of those, I'm least confident about Miller as Pat Healy has defeated some top competition (albeit early in his/their careers). The only dude I have money on is Belcher, and that's nothing personal against his opponent, Michael Bisping - it's 'cos he's paying $2.35 while the rest of my selections are favourites.

Hiya, education

Will be resuming my degree in Semester 2. Have picked out a creative writing subject and a history of science one. Sem. 2 doesn't commence until late July, so I might do an adult ed. course between now and then. Am thinking maybe introductory hieroglyphics. Gotta stay busy.

Fionna & Cake

Have a squiz at SC's comedy website, why don'tcha? http://whatsoncomedy.com/


TV: "Veep" Season 2, "Girls" Season 2

Umami

Spent the w/e with a few of my fave peeps. PG crashed at mine on Friday, ahead of a business trip, and we ate "game-changing" Domino's pizzas (that weren't) while witnessing the Roosters and SBW annihilate the Doggies. Post-Saturday chores, I lunched with AZ at newish local eatery V Cuisine. Does anything taste fresher than a Vietnamese noodle salad (washed down with chamomile tea)? We checked out Aussie arthouse fillum "Sleeping Beauty" (2011), which was can't-look-away weird from beginning to end. On Sunday, I went over to MR's place for the live finale of "The Ultimate Fighter 17". Sick fights. We scoffed Domino's-beating Lebanese pizzas and gradually accounted for most of a case of Carlsberg. In an ideal world, I'd catch up with a different friend every day.


7WMR: "Iron Sky" (2012) - Succumbed to metal fatigue after 15. Dud!

Oh, it's appropriate

Casual gig proving enjoyable (ta, LA). Youse should follow me on Twitter at /_Addster_

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2013/apr/08/great-american-bender-john-ohara/

http://www.historytoday.com/jane-draycott/cleopatras-daughter (WORTH THE SLOG)


TV: "Toy Hunter" (2012)

Brain donor

Had a freebie to "Oblivion". Couldn't muster the energy. Leftover Chinese was calling. And "TUF 17" (gutted for Dylan).

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/07/searching_for_bill_watterson_partner/

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/04/andy_watkins_harvard_inside_the_biggest_scandal_in_quiz_bowl_history.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2013/apr/08/how-we-made-knightmare (AND THE COMMENTS)


7WMR: "Exit Through The Gift Shop" (2010) - Riveting, hilarious, but no Blek Le Rat.

6. Damaged

You defer your university studies for a year to accept an awesome job offer...then that position ceases to be midway through Semester 1. Tiny plus: you can watch "WrestleMania XXIX" live on a Monday morn without burning vacation time or - heaven forbid - chucking a sickie.

Praise Vectron!

Walked to Angelo's Portugalia in Kensington with an appetite that'd been building for eight hours. Began with a Sagres pale lager and a bowl of garlic mushrooms in a chilli cream sauce garnished with spring onions. The mushies were mindblowing and I spooned up every skerrick of sauce. Next was a Sagres Preta dark ale and a plate of "bacalhau a bras", a Lisbon dish of scrambled eggs mixed with shredded cod, potato and onion, topped with black olives and parsley. Hearty and delicious - I could eat it on a regular basis. (On the side, perhaps unnecessarily, a bowl of pea and carrot rice that I believe was cooked in chicken stock.) Dessert was a glass of port and a creme caramel that had a hint of orange about it. What a meal! I'm still on a high. Can't wait to return there and try the peri-peri chicken livers, the homemade pickles, the char-grilled rump, the rest of the booze menu...


TV: UFC Sweden 2
CD(s): "E For Everyone" (2010) by Kirby Krackle and triple-disc special "Doctor Who - Love And War" (2012) adapted by Jacqueline Rayner. Lisa Bowerman's voice, will you marry me?
iPad: "Broken Sword - The Shadow Of The Templars (Director's Cut)". Been meaning to point'n'click my way through this mature mystery since Conan were a lad. Quite challenging.
Fat gut: Half-price Easter choccies

Tooheys nuisance

Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast Suns @ SCG. Was hoping for a close contest and for Gary Ablett Jr to be at his best for the visitors. The first quarter was competitive, but only because it poured down (fortunately, I was under cover in the Trumper Stand). Nobody could hang onto a mark, kicks went awry, the ground was too dead for bouncing the ball, and the GCS led 14-13 at the break. However, as the rain eased and the field dried, the Bloods took control. We were ahead 40-22 at the halfway mark, then 76-54 at three-quarter time, and the score had blown out to 114-73 by the final siren. As for Ablett, he barely got going - no repeat of his brilliant performance against St Kilda here. On the positive side: we won! The 20k+ fans made a decent amount of noise and we were treated to the unfurling of the 2012 premiership flag. Remind me to show you my crap photos.

Options are optional

Did a day's subbing on a celebrity gossip rag. The digs were modern and well-organised, and the staff were friendly. Unlike when I was (briefly) an editor, there was zero stress - all I had to do was arrive on time, smash as many layouts as possible, then leave. I'll be back there again next week.


iPad: "Goatup 2"
Fat gut: Mango and coconut bread

Mentalist arithmetic

---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlGWxR277Sk <---


7WMR: "Margin Call" (2011) - Dodgy finance is the new Cold War.


Awful news about Iain Banks :-(

7WMR

"American Reunion" (2012): Some people are better off being apart.
"30 Minutes Or Less" (2011): Like "Speed" crossed with "Pineapple Express", dude.
"Liberty Heights" (1999): Race, religion, rackets, romance in '50s America.
"The Avengers" (2012): If Hawkeye'd died, it woulda been perfect.
"Anton Chekhov's The Duel" (2010): Skip the other four before this one.


When RS flew out in Jan., he left behind five MTG decks based around specific themes - B/G scavenge, B/R unleash, U/R overload, U/W detain and G/W populate. I decided to fight them in a "winner stays on" format, starting with G/W vs. B/R. Well, G/W won that duel 2-1, then proceeded to defeat each of the remaining decks by the same margin. The combination of abundant 3/3s or 1/1 flyers, plus fog/indestructibility effects, was always strong. And if the vigilant 8/8 Risen Sanctuary hit the table, it was generally game over.

Peg-Leg Antoine's treasure map

The Eyecon gaming convention with TC and LPO... "Never Alone", a deep-space salvage mission run using the "Cold And Dark" sci-fi horror RPG. "Expanding Horizons", a systemless module about psychically gifted teenagers from Canberra. Too tired to elaborate.


TV: "Who" 7.7, Oxford And Cambridge Boat Race 2013, "Thrones" 3.1

Destrier

"War Horse" @ The Lyric. Can't compare it to Michael Morpurgo's YA novel or Steven Spielberg's blockbuster as I haven't read/seen those. But as far as stageshows go, it ranks near the top - a beautifully presented, utterly captivating tale of a boy and his horse, family rivalries and the futile hell of WW1. The movements of the lifesize animal puppets are so realistic you soon ignore the presence of their operators. (Expecting animatronics, I'd originally intended to call this post "Clockwork steeds".) Also stylishly simple and simply effective are the pencil-sketch backdrops. The cast, costumes, set design, lighting and comedy goose all deserve a mention. The play's greatest strength, of course, is its universality - neither pro-British nor anti-German, it's about the joy and suffering felt on both sides of any conflict, and the magical bond that can exist betwixt man and beast. Arguably the lone weak element is the folksy songs - mostly unaccompanied, sometimes with accordion/concertina - though they're undoubtedly appropriate to the setting, and they may hold more meaning for you than they did me. Regardless of that gripe, I highly recommend catching "War Horse". And if you find yourself a bit weepy at the intermission or conclusion, make a beeline for the bar, where there are containers of black napkins :-)