Random Quote #20

Haines: I always say worse things happen at sea.

Captain Crowther: We are at sea you land locked nit.


Carry on Cruising (1962)

Nifty Fifty Blogfest - My Top Ten

First let me just say I am very eclectic. And my fashion sense isn’t much different. I draw from several different decades one of which is the 1950s. I listen to the music, am inspired by the fashion, hair, make up etc.

I think it is in my blood. My Grandparents all grew up in the 50s. Well they were all born before the 50s, but that decade was really when they went out and about, meeting people until they came across each other and fell in love etc.

So for the Nifty Fifty Blogfest over on Impossible Dreams in which you had to write a post based of the theme of the number 50, I have decided to tell you some of my favourite songs from the 50s.

By the way the artists might not be the original recording artist this is just the version or one of the versions that I prefer from the 1950s [the links should take you to Youtube so you can have a little listen]. And it took me ages to decide what order to put them in - I couldn't decide which I preferred.

10. Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis [1957]

9. That’ll be the Day – Buddy Holly & the Crickets [1957]

8. At the Hop – Danny & the Juniors [1957]

7. Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris [1957]

6. Shake, Rattle n’ Roll – Elvis Presley [1956]

5. Splish Splash – Bobby Darin [1958]

4. The Great Pretender – The Platters [1955]

3. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley [1956]

2. Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin [1959]

1. See Ya Later Alligator – Bill Haley & his Comets [1956]

So there you have it - my entry in to the Nifty Fifty Blogfest - Enjoy!

Random Quote #19

The worst thing you write is better than the best thing you didn't write.

Unknown

Nifty Fifty Blogfest

I come bearing news of another blogfest that is coming soon to a blog near you. The 26th February in fact. All you have to do is write a blog post that is based on the theme 'Fifty'. It can be anything as long it is based on that theme. So get your thinking caps on - there isn't long to go.

It is being hosted on the blog Impossible Dreams so click here to sign up.

Bernard Pivot Blogfest!

As hosted by Nicole Ducleroir at her blog One Significant Moment at a Time. It's very simple. All you have to do is fill out Bernard Pivot's questionnaire.

So here we go with my wonderfully random answers.

1. What is your favourite word?

I could just cheat and use Homer Simpson’s favourite word from when The Simpsons were on Inside The Actor’s Studio. Which if I remember correctly was ‘marshmallow’.

But I think I’m going to have to go with ‘snaffle’. Which I didn’t realise was a real word. I looked it up and it is a type of bit that goes in a horse’s mouth.

I use in the informal way which means to ‘purloin’, ‘filch’...or in other words ‘take’.

2. What is your least favourite word?

I don’t like the word ‘fail’. Both in the ‘you’ve failed’ way and in the slightly annoying way that some folk say ‘fail’ when you have said/done something incorrectly.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Music - there are certain songs that can do all three.

4. What turns you off?

Shouting in general. But specifically arguments that involve shouting.

5. What’s your favourite curse word?

B*llocks. You can put as much joviality or venom in to that word as you want...depending on your mood. There is a similarly pronounced and spelt word in the US that isn’t a curse word. But in the UK it is a curse word.

6. What sound or noise do you love?

The glugging sound that liquid makes just before it starts to pour out of the bottle [it doesn’t have to be wine but it helps].

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

The sound of a door slamming. Not a car door, they have to be slammed otherwise they don’t quite shut properly. I mean a door being slammed on a building. It is sudden and abrupt...and rarely good.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

A fashion designer.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

I would not like to work in a call centre. I wouldn’t like to call people knowing that they now hate me for having called them.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Welcome to heaven. Yes we have chocolate. So who do you want to meet first?

Random Quote #18

The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes.

Agatha Christie

Getting Your Fingers Burnt

One of the bulbs in my light fitting has just gone. I knew it was going to go soon. It was flickering a couple of days ago so I knew our time was short.
Now changing the bulb in a light fitting that only has one bulb is fairly simple.
You suddenly find yourself sat in the dark, you swear, you go and fix problem etc.

Now as you can see my light fitting has three lights and the bulbs are halogen bulbs. Which seem to get even hotter than ordinary bulbs and take longer to cool down.

This brings me on to the point of this post. Something that I learnt the hard way. I can't remember how long ago this happened, it was over a year ago for definite, but one of the bulbs in the aforementioned light fitting blew. I didn't have a new bulb so I had to wait until the next day to get one.
When I got home it was dark so I put the light on. Then knowing I had to change the bulb I went and got a step ladder and a torch. I then switched off the lights, to avoid blinding or electrocuting myself.

So because the bulb had gone the day before it wasn't hot, so I removed it and put the new bulb in.

But it seemed a little loose.

'I wonder if the other bulbs sit in the fitting in the same way,' I said to myself. So I reached round and put the index and middle fingers of my right hand on one of the other bulbs to see if they were sat in the fitting in the same way.

The same bulb that had been switched on not two minutes before. I discovered that the bulb I had put in was in correctly but then nearly fell off the step ladder when I burnt my fingers on the still hot bulb that hadn't blown. I then went tearing off to the bathroom to put my fingers under cold water - it hurt a lot but at least I knew my nerve endings were in tact.

So a word to the wise - light bulbs get very hot!

Blogging Leapfrog!

I've just had a little game of 'blogging leapfrog'. It's simple enough if you want to play.

1. Go to a blog that you follow.
2. Find where they have a list of blogs that they follow.
3. Click on one.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3...as many times as you like.

It takes you to some far flung places, and some not so far as well. The only problem is if you get to a blog where they don't have a list of blogs that they follow on their actual blog. That tends to stop you in your tracks.

And I've discovered a 'glitch in The Matrix'. On a couple of occasions I have been leapfrogging and have arrived at a blog that I find I like. I've clicked the follow button. It then prompts me to sign in to Google Friend Connect...but then won't let me sign in.

However if the blog in question has a 'follow' link at the top, up there with the 'dashboard' and sign in/out' buttons, then it lets me follow the blog straight away.

And Googling the problem only brings up people who are having the same problem...no solution.

But then I gave up looking pretty quickly...maybe someone with a higher level of patience when it comes to irritating problems would have better luck.

Random (Extended) Thought #20 - Rules of Horror

I was recently watching trailers for new movies that are coming out soon. I came across the trailer for 'Scream 4' which is due out this year.

I had heard before now that they were making a fourth Scream film therefore bumping the trilogy up to a quadrilogy.

Now here is where my 'random thoguht' comes in, and if you haven't seen any of the Scream films, specifically the second and third films I am about to spoil them ever so slightly for you.

Anyway in the first Scream the character 'Randy', who is a horror film fanatic, tells everyone the 'rules' that you have to follow to survive a horror movie. In the second film he lays down the rules for sequels. Then in the third film the main characters find a video tape with a message from Randy on it which tells them the rules of trilogies. Now in that message he clearly says that the rules of trilogies and sequels are very different.

So in the third film it followed the rules for the trilogy...but now what? They've made a fourth film. So the film that made it a trilogy should now be classed as another sequel...so the rules that the third film followed were technically incorrect.

And what about this fourth installment? Will another tape surface. Or will Randy have nothing to do with it now that they have ruined his theory? On the poster it says 'New Decade. New Rules.'  but are they just throwing the rules to one side to cash in on the franchise?

But there is one question yet to be answered...well two questions.

1. Will the fourth film be any good?

and in keeping with the quadrilogy.

2. What's your favourite scary movie? :-)

Another Day Another Blogfest!

Coming up on 16th February is the Bernard Pivot Blogfest hosted by Nicole Ducleroir on her blog One Significant Moment at a Time.

All you have to do is sign up, fill out the questionnaire and post it on your blog on 16th February.

For more information just click the Bernard Pivot link above.

Random Quote #17

Melchett: Ah Blackadder, talking to yourself I see.

Blackadder: Yes, it's the only way I can be sure of intelligent conversation.

Blackadder II - Potato (1986)

Top Ten Horror/Science Fiction Movie Quotes Blogfest Part 2 - Science Fiction

Round 2 - ding ding ding!

And so here we are with part 2 of my horror/science fiction movie quotes. This time Science Fiction.

Now until I started listing quotes I had never thought of myself as a sci-fi fan...which was why I originally was going to have one list of both genres, as I figured that I wouldn't have enough sci-fi quotes for them to have their own list...clearly I was wrong. Again some are classic, some a fairly random. But I did notice that a certain actor kept cropping up. He already featured in my horror list and he shows up three times in my Sci-fi list!

So off we go again...

10. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. 

Morpheus - The Matrix (1999)


 9. I'll be back!

The Terminator - The Terminator (1984)


8. From the moment the invaders arrived, breathed our air, ate and drank, they were doomed. They were undone, destroyed, after all of man's weapons and devices had failed, by the tiniest creatures that God in his wisdom put upon this earth. By the toll of a billion deaths, man had earned his immunity, his right to survive among this planet's infinite organisms. And that right is ours against all challenges. For neither do men live nor die in vain. 

Narrator - War of the Worlds (2005)


7. Stans: Wow, what a s**thole. You live here?
    Noland: Oh, no. No. This is my summer home. I winter in the Riviera. The schools are so much nicer there. And the men... Ooh, la, la! By the way, you're welcome. 

Predators (2010)


6. Okay, now come up with a plan that doesn't involve your 10-year-old sister joining the Army! You got anything like that? 

Ray Ferrier - War of the Worlds (2005)


5. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you. 

Yoda - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)


4. Hold my pie. *man looks at him blankly* Sir, hold it or wear it.

Detective Del Spooner - I, Robot (2004)


3. *holds up badge* See that? NYPD, means I will Knock Your Punka** Down!

James Edwards - Men in Black (1997)


2. Agent J: Let's put it on.
    Kevin Brown: What?
    Agent J: The last suit you'll ever wear...again.

Men in Black II (2002)


And so here comes my number one most memorable sci-fi quote. I once saw on the Internet, somewhere out there in cyber space, someone asking for someone to explain this quote to them. In my opinion if you don't understand this quote in the context of this film then you haven't much chance of understanding any of the film. It is difficult for me to explain...but if you have seen this film...and you understand it...then you will understand what I mean when I say that this quote is more or less the whole basis of the film. I know what I mean, hopefully you will too!


1. There is no spoon.

Boy - The Matrix (1999)

Top Ten Horror/Science Fiction Movie Quotes Blogfest Part 1 - Horror

Welcome to part 1 of my entry in the Horror/Science Fiction Movie Quotes Blogfest brought to you by Ellie Garratt and iZombie!

Before I let you read my selection of quotes I should explain a bit. I was originally going to have one list of ten quotes that would be a mixture of horror and sci-fi films.

But the list grew and grew until I have ended up with ten of each genre so I now have two lists, which I decided to put in two separate posts. 

Now for those of you who have visited my blog before you will know that I like things to be random. So a couple of these quotes are classic quotes and the rest are memorable but...random.

So in some cases if you have seen the film in question you will probably know what was going off when the quote was said in that particular film. But some of you may feel like a late comer at a Ross Noble gig - very confused.

There are also the odd quote where the film could be classed as both horror and sci fi but I have put them in to the genre list that I think they are most like.

So here is list number one - horror...

10. Here's Johnny!

Jack Torrance - The Shining (1980)


9. Kate: Are you okay?
    Seth: Peachy, Kate. The world's my oyster, except for the fact that I just rammed a wooden stake in  my brother's heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don't believe in vampires. Aside from that unfortunate business, everything's hunky-dory. 

From Dusk Til Dawn (1996)


8. Children: One, two, Freddy's coming for you. 
                  Three, four, better lock your door. 
                  Five, six, grab your crucifix. 
                  Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. 
                  Nine, ten, never sleep again. 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)


7. Welcome to my world, b***h!  *decapitates Freddy with Jason's machete*

Lori Campbell - Freddy Vs Jason (2003)


6. Sidney: Oh, my God. Randy I thought you were dead.
    Randy: I probably should be. I never thought I'd be so happy to be a virgin.

Scream (1996)


5. What's the matter David? Never taken a shortcut before? *tries to vault fence but it collapses under him*

Shaun - Shaun of the Dead (2004)


4. Stu: Did you really call the police?
    Sidney: You bet your sorry a** I did.
    Stu: My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me!

Sceam (1996)


3. Hannibal: We call ourselves the Nightstalkers.
    Blade: Hmm. Sounds like rejects from a Saturday morning cartoon.
    Hannibal: Well, we were gonna go with the Care Bears, but uh, that was taken.

Blade Trinity (2004)


2. Okay. But dogs CAN look up!

Shaun - Shaun of the Dead (2004)


And now for my number one most memorable quote in the horror top ten. I chose this quote for a couple of reasons. One...it is memorable. Two, it shows the characters desperation and mental stability. And even though you shouldn't laugh...it is kind of funny in a way...or maybe that is just me. It is one of the quotes where if you haven't seen the film you will have no idea what is going on...at all.

So without further ado [and before you head over to read part 2 - science fiction]...drum roll please...

1. What the hell are you doing out here, Fred? Fred, if you're real, you better tell me right now!
 Robert Neville - I Am Legend (2007)

A is for April...

I haven't even taken part in my first blogfest - Top Ten Horror/Sci-Fi Movie Quotes Blogfest - and I'm already preparing for another.

Hosted by the blog 'Tossing It Out' this blogfest involves writing a blog post everyday in April, one post for each letter of the alphabet.

But Chippy, there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but there are 30 days in April.

Aah yes that is true, disembodied voice, but the host of this blogfest has thought of that so you don't post on Sundays. Of which there are 4 in April 2011, so we are then back to 26.

You can post about anything you like. Anything at all as long as corresponds to whichever letter we are on that day.

To sign up just click here