Last five movies watched

Pick of the bunch: "Leviathan" is a masterpiece - utterly immersive and frickin' haunting.

Dwarf lord

This one's hazy because it was about 33-34 years ago... How I picture it now is that three of us kids walked into the dingy video arcade ("pinnie parlour" in the parlance of the time) adjoining a local takeaway joint, and there was a little person standing on a stool to play an upright machine. Kid #3, who I wasn't really friends with and who had no filter, thought this was hilarious and stood there pointing and laughing at the bloke. Kid #2, who I was friends with, recognised the dwarf as someone who, despite his size, had a reputation for being a badass. (Whether accurate or not, I have a mental image of a black belt with silver metal studs.) Without breaking from his game, the bloke turned around and growled, "GET HIM OUT OF HERE." Kid #2 hurriedly ushered kid #3 from the room, and I went with them.

Last seven movies watched

Pick of the bunch: "The Purge - Anarchy" is a strong sequel. If you haven't seen the 2013 original, the premise is that America's totalitarian government has instituted an annual 12-hour period when nothing is illegal (unless it threatens them) and emergency services don't operate - a policy that has boosted the economy, lowered unemployment and reduced crime rates during the rest of the year. "Anarchy" shifts the action from a suburban to an urban setting, while introducing a conspiracy angle. The acting is decent and so are the twists.

Unusual proposition

I was due for a haircut and a classmate had recommended a certain barber shop, so I went there on the way to uni.

While the barber was snipping away, the twice-my-age, twice-my-size dude in the chair next to me began making chitchat. His cut was finished first, but he hung around. I assumed he was one of those folks who love a natter.

Then my cut was finished, and I paid and left.

The chap followed. "What are you up to now?" he enquired.

"I've gotta buy some cheap sunglasses," I answered truthfully, if - in hindsight - extremely naively.

"I might come along."

That made me slightly nervous, but we were on a main street, in broad daylight...in a free country. Anxious to get away from the dude and onto a bus ASAP, I wasted no time once we reached the bargain store in selecting a pair of black plastic shades.

"They look good," he commented.

After handing over the $10 (or whatever the sunnies cost), I was ready to bolt to the bus stop.

"I've gotta go to uni now."

"You don't want to come back to my place and watch dirty videos?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

And that was that. Well, except for the wondering.

Had my classmate suggested a barber shop that was a pick-up joint? Was the chap an undercover cop trying to catch hustlers? Or was I just sending the wrong signal in my Doc Martins, skinny black jeans, faded band T-shirt and flano?

Nah, we all wore that in the early '90s.

Last eight movies watched

Pick of the bunch: "Craigslist Joe" is about a guy attempting to survive for a month on the kindness of strangers he contacts via the Craigslist bulletin board. Taking no money and only a backpack, laptop, phone and single set of clothes - and shadowed by a similarly deprived cameraman - he manages to travel all around the US (and even over the border), engaging in a myriad of activities and meeting a myriad of people, who provide him with shelter, food, transportation and some hope for modern society. But that's not to say that Joe doesn't have any uncomfortable moments on the way...

Torus heresy

A conversation at work yesterday reminded me of a childhood chum, MG, whose mother owned a donut shop. There were always bags of donut mix stacked alongside their house - on concrete and under cover, but somewhat exposed to the weather. They generously gave away loads of leftovers to friends and neighbours. Occasionally, my buddy would rock up to our place in the evening with a box full. The best were filled/topped with caramel and cream. Everybody adored those. Iced with sprinkles (dollar fives) were the #2 choice, though you were most likely to receive "plain", i.e. cinnamon. At his birthday bash, donuts functioned as both games and prizes. There was a challenge where you had to try to make it through a warm plain one without licking your lips. It's harder than it sounds, as doing so is instinctive. Anyway, even if you lost, you still got to eat a donut. Whenever my buddy and I dropped in to the shop in person - rare, since it was 30 minutes away by his mum's Volvo - we were allowed to choose any variety we wanted. So, yeah, caramel and cream for me, thanks. At the time, it was unbelievable that any kid could be so lucky as to have an effectively unlimited supply of donuts. On my current anti-sugar crusade, I wouldn't touch one of the things if you paid me.

Linkage

(Via DL on FB) WWE star Paul "The Big Show" Wight's desperate, farcical foray into boxing. No surprise to find Hogan as the instigator.

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2016/1/20/10785762/paul-wight-wwe-boxing

Behind the music-to-my-ears title - "Let's Kill All The Mosquitoes" - lurks a neat summary of how insect threats have been and might be controlled.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2016/01/zika_carrying_mosquitoes_are_a_global_scourge_and_must_be_stopped.html

Jorge Luis Borges' curious little tale "The Book Of Sand" made hypertext puzzle. Solve, reread, then wish the Hall Of Fame section wasn't broken.

http://bookofsand.net/hypertext/

10-part, full-cast BBC radio serial "Tumanbay", inspired by the highly progressive, ultimately doomed Mamluk dynasty that ruled Egypt from the 13th to the 16th century.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06qcrhv/episodes/player

Lastly, if you can get your fingerless woollen gloves on the January ish of "Fortean Times" mag, there's a very personal appreciation of the folkloric fantasy novels of Alan Garner by Bob Fischer. If you aren't already a fan of AG's books, this will have you seeking them out.

Last five movies watched

Pick of the bunch: Since watching the inspirational "That Sugar Film", I've cut all sweet foods/drinks besides fruit from my diet.