Frost and Fire

I feel as though I almost burnt the house down today. I probably didn’t; but the fire did get a bit out of control. It was far too hot to get near which made turning it down a struggle, but I did it. It is an old solid fuel fire that heats the houses water. The issue was to much air got into the closed system so it burnt through the coke fast and violently.

By the time I had realised it was over an hour since I have stoked it up so it had plenty of time to run away. I turned the heating on and well as ran off some tap water which both helped. Strange that I got distracted but I'm not sure it would have been a disaster. All sorted now and all that was lost was half a load of coke and some of my nerves.

 Outlined

One Song, its a thing I hope I can keep going. I have been looking for excuses to write more and this has been around in my mind most of the year. I will focus on one song that I like and do a small write up on it. My first plan was to go into some detail but I feel its more important to say what it means to me rather than what it is at a technical level.

As I said I have had plans for a while and even started a write up on 39' by Queen. I'm not sure where that file went but my plan is different now so I will do it some other time. The next one I think I will tackle will be: 'And Then There Was Silence' by Blind Guardian. If I keep this streak up it could come soon.

Winter Coat

I have binged my way through a new podcast over the weekend. The Mental Podcast. It is by a comedian I found early this year and went through his other podcast [The Parapod] it was a treat and since following him on twitter I have gained an understanding of his work. It is a podcast that takes a look at mental well being. HE talks through events and issues with people who have suffered or helped others.

It may not be an easy listen for some but I found it very interesting and well presented. Issues like the ones from the show have been something I have been aware of and its interesting to see from the eyes of people who deal (or try to deal) with mental issues.

Frozen Firework

I have started on my winter path and bought some cough sweets and the like. I have had a bit of a sore throat for week or so, its one that hasn’t affected me much but has just been annoying. It makes swallowing something I notice and I have been hacking up some flem but not a disruptive amount.

Wow look at me being wordy today. I may just be on a writing upswing but I think I will capitalise on it. The is so much I want to get down in words but the last month was a struggle. Its coming easy today and my typing speed is fast, I'm not thinking much its just flowing out. I can feel sentences arranging in my head and even change last second before my fingers tap it out.

Anyway I think I should end this off and move onto something a different.

One Song - Tides of Time [Epica]

Track 09: 'Design Your Universe' by Epica

Released in 2009

Written by Mark Jansen

Performed by Simone Simons

Epica have become of my me favourite bands this year. They are known as a Symphonic Metal group who produce long and powerful pieces. I have had them around for a few years but this year I took a dive into their discography and haven’t surfaced yet.

In this ongoing blog series I will look at one song that I like, then try and say why. Don't expect overly detailed analyses, all it is is me saying what I like and why.

Tides of Time is atypical Epica song in some ways. It limits its use of instruments for a long portion and is only sung throughout by a female vocalist. It starts off quiets and calm but builds up to something a bit more powerful.

This song has a power to it from the piano to the very high singing it has a sharp presence. The comes a crash towards the end that brings in the full power of the song. You are hit with a wave of powerful but calming music.

You were always there to hold my hand

When times were hard to understand

But now the tides of time have turned

They keep changing

- - -

Seasons range, but you remain the same

A steady heart, a sun to rain

You'll be the light that's shining bright

High above me

The lyrics have an autumnal feel to them, with the turning of the seasons showing a mental turn. The is a hope to the words which though don't stand out run throughout song. People grow apart or are lost even in memory. Can it be accepted?

I can get so much from just reading the Lyrics and again more when I hear them sung. The energy put into the words by Simone Simons is outstanding.

This is a song that I think is beautiful. Beauty is more than looks, it encompass feel and sound. The sound is obvious but what this song makes me feel can only be described as beauty.

We are leaves meant to fall

There is a meaning to all

That fades

- - -

2016 The Year of Films [December]

Here we go last month of the project. The Index is HERE

01. 20th Century Boys (02.12.16)
I think this may be the first live action Japanese film I have watched. It has been sat on my shelf for years after picking it up off the market. I am well versed in the manga and read it back in 2008 I think. The story is great and very well told, this is a almost perfect adaptation of the manga up to the end of the first arc.

02.  Full Metal Jacket (03.12.16)
This may seem a bit odd but this is the first time I have watch this a a Kubrick film. Before it was a army film. I watched looking into the direction and story telling. Like 2001 or Clockwork Orange it is a collection of parts, The are two very apparent parts but the whole film is almost a run of vignettes. Very unsettling at times and I'm not sure what Kubrick's theme was (duality of man?) but it is a great film.

03. Valkyrie (04.12.16)
To know the details of a film before it was written is a somewhat odd thing. I have a deep interest in the world wars and in the plots and machinations within them. My first time seeing this; not sure why, perhaps I know that unlike most war film you can't put a spin on it. Very well made film, the tension build wonderfully. Very compelling and an interesting look from the other side.

04. Tank Girl (05.12.16)
Crazy. Its like Mad Max but turned up to 11. Where Mad Max is restrained this takes 90s action and shoves it into a world of crazy. Nice direction and production, some of the acting is a bit suspicious but its the type of film that gets away with it. On another note why hasn't Malcolm McDowell been a Bond villain?

05. On Your Mark [Short] (07.12.16)
A short film slash music video by Studio Ghibli. It's setting is very interesting being a weird high density sifi world. The plot is fairly simple but the narrative is slightly more complex. It  has a bunch of different plots all interesting in different aspects. The animation and art is very Ghibli and the song is fantastic.

06. Tokyo Godfathers (11.12.16)
So much to say, and now I've rewatched this I will do a post on Kon. This is a fantastic film, the pacing and plot runs smoothly and all the points in the film hit well. Its also so damn funny, from the outset just the premise of homeless people caring for a baby is odd but how the film plays with all its aspects its a riot at times. At other times it very introspective.

07. Escape [Short] (12.12.16)
A Christmas themed short. Its a nice little simple story shown with no speaking. The art style of paper craft silhouettes is very well realised. The were some nice little moments to the animation that showed extra depth to the story. The sound design and music were on point and all in all it a very good film.

08. Premier Automne [Short] (14.12.16)
A film that personifies the seasons. It is about the meeting between winter and spring and the resulting impact on the world. The story is nice and simple but very well made, with a cell shaded look and some very smooth animation. The puppy's were especially great even the skeleton ones. Loved the music which helped set the feel and the end was perfect.

09. Rogue One [Cinema] (16.12.16)
It's very very good! Story wise it ties some stuff up nicely with nothing overly surprising. The characters are interesting and well portrayed, loved the cg work on Tarkin even if it is a little uncanny valley. The look of the film is amazing. A wide range of locations helped but the cinematography is awesome. Overall it's a great film and a nice addition to Star Wars.

10. Batman - Year One (18.12.16)
Batman's first year compressed into a shortish film. This story has been told many times over the years with only slight variations. This one deviates a fair bit and is far too much of a rush to get through it. The overall plot is a mess and the characters are changed. The art and animation are very simple and plane. Not terrible but could have done with a focus and breathing space.

11. One Winters Night [Short] (19.12.16)
A  low budget short film but it makes the most of it. The art is very janky almost reminds me of old shockwave stuff. The story is told as a poem, the narrator is a bit hard to understand but the poem is ok. It seems to emulate the style of Poe but its far short of him. Nothing special.

12. Summer Wars (22.12.16)
Showing the internet on film is hard, many films have done odd metaphors for hacking and the like. Here Hosoda has gone with a cool second life type style. The plot is a odd meandering one with a bunch of strands running through. The characters are diverse and well portrayed. As I have come to expect from Hosoda the animation is great. the are lots of intricate things I could go into but all I will say its it's well put together.

13. Memoirs of a Geisha (23.12.16)
A wonderful film, the cinematography and set design were outstanding. The overall plot it a simple tale of growth and finding love but the setting and style made the film truly great. The performances are all top notch and the score is one of John Williams' best. The are some stand out moments both awe inspiring and others shocking but it is all tied together brilliantly.

14. Fargo (24.12.16)
This counts as a Christmas film right, there is snow and everything. A damn good film, very well made and in a style that works well even though is not one I find interesting. The acting is very stylised but it works with the slightly absurd story. The are some great moments and the is space to let it all sink in. Even though it is not a long film it uses its time well and feels fuller than most modern films.

15. The Exorcist (26.12.16)
It's 43 years to the day since it was first released, so what's a better night to watch it for the first time? Going in I wasn't sure of what to expect, parts are ingrained into culture and cinema legend. I loved the build up in the first act and the rest of he film flowed nicely. It's all around amazing. Oh and  Tubular Bells is awesome.

16. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (27.12.16)
Is there a more perfect film than this? It is fantastic on so many levels, world building, story, animation, characterization, music, theme and the direction that bundles it all up. Strong characters with good motivations and a world that not just makes sense but very easily could be in our future. I love it to bits and will watch it over and over again.

17. The Zero Theorem (28.12.16)
How do you go about disproving a meaning to life? How dose Terry Gilliam make such wonderful films? It's great, from wonderful performances by Christoph Waltz to surprising bit from Tilda Swinton. I loved how the film asks so many questions but strays from giving full answers, it looks at them but leaves the deeper meaning to us. Fantastic.

18. Planet Unknown [Short] (29.12.16)
A very well made short about two rovers searching a planet for a place to grow life. It takes a few too many cues from Wall-E but it is very well animated and the direction is nice. The music though a bit over the top at times works well. Not much of a story as such but a nice little film with good action and likeable robots.

19. The Garden of Words (30.12.16)
Every frame is a work of art. The animation and art shines. Makoto Shinkai is now becoming a household name like Ghibli, his work is so fantastic and this shortish piece is next to perfect. The story is a nice little but complex character piece with some heartbreaking moments and a great climax. But again its the art that stands out. I need to see 'Your Name' in the cinema.

20. Star Trek Beyond (31.12.16)
A film of ups and downs. The are some things that just didn't work but luckily they were only minor things. The two major twists worked well with the last one being great. Its a solid sifi film with some nice future architecture but the were places they could have gone further. I felt the enemy were too strong and numerous and like a lot of modern action films were dealt with too easy. Other than that one of the better trek films.

End of the month end of the year. A solid year for films and I have seen some very good ones. Best of this month? meh, so many good ones, if I were to narrow to ones I watched for the first time it would be Memoirs of a Geisha. So onto next year.

Dazed Thoughts

I have got a small lump on my head. Its just in the hair line and is tender. The problem is; I don't have a clue where it has come from!

I got my hair cut in town in the morning and the were no issues then. When I got back home I spent about an hour doing some bits and bobs and clearing up the leaves (for the third time and I will need to to it again sometime) Later just raking my fingers through my head I felt a bit of pain and a small lump.

It has almost been a day and it is still there and still hurts. My best guess it that a bug bit me whilst I was clearing the leaves. Its something I could have done without.

Merlin and his texts

I have decided to change my blog on Millennium Actress into a long form one on Satoshi Kon. I will be watching Tokyo Godfathers sometime soon. Then I will only have one more film of his to watch before I have seen them all this year alone. So I will wait give some detailed views on his works until then.

It shouldn’t take too long after I watch Tokyo Godfathers to get the post out since I have done a fair bit already. My biggest issues is going to be how to format it. The is less films than the Ghibli post but I can go into so much more detail.

Millennium Actress - The Interview

I heard a Christmas song on national radio this morning... Kill me now.

I don't get it; why would anyone want to risk getting sick of something weeks before the event. Then you get an almost total drop off before then end of the year even though Christmas lasts a week into the new year. I think its one of those things that I will never get.

On a stranger note I had put a few hours into a blog that wont go up. The evening after Trump was elected I wrote a 'thought piece' on the situation and it turned very abstract. It may see the light of day but very changed. I made some interesting points but they can be applied to just about any subject.

So long for now.

Remember Remember

A podcast has just ended that I have very much enjoyed. Its a podcast by the minds behind 'Welcome to Nightvale'. It only lasts ten episodes but uses a very interesting concept, relaxation/self help tapes. The help they offer is odd but they also get over some other things. The are hints at a larger story and an odd world.

A mix of weirdness and world-building with a fantastic narrator makes this a very worth wile series. I like how the arching story unfolded from with the concept of the self help tapes. The were time I felt for the narrator as she described her role and what she saw. They are doing a season two but I doubt it is a direct squeal. Very worth the time.

Marina

A bit of a phone update; I am liking it, a lot. The battery seems to last for a long time even with the increased use I am getting out of it. I have decided to use a full cover case for it it as opposed to a rubber backing. It gets in the way a bit but I will get used to it and it offers a damn sight more protection.

I have made an effort to use this phone better than my last. I have more data per month to use so I have been using it wisely. I also plan on using the contactless pay options and stuff as well. And I am using the damn calendar, lets see how long that lasts for...

Almost Ready To Fall

I have completed my Goodreads challenge of 40 books in a year a few months early; this is due to using audio books. Though an audio book takes almost twice as long to listen to as to read; I can fit in in better. ( I have got three stared dead tree book on my desk to finish) From walks to before bed at night or doing chores and mindless stuff.

I have listen to a lot over the last few years mainly fantasy and I could just be lucky but they were all great. Almost done with the third book of the 'First law trilogy' its pretty good. I wish I knew a bit more before going in book one. It would have been better at the time, but now I am where I’m at it makes sense.

Rear Guard

November the month of darkness and remembrance. Its going to be a busy one and one; I will have to manage it well but I should be ok. As a last aside I have signed up for Reddit's secret Santa again this year, it should be a bit of fun.

2016 The Year of Films [November]

November. Dark nights are perfect for staying in and watching films.
Here is the INDEX

01. Piper [Short] (01.11.16)
Pixar shows its skill in both short form story telling and their prowess in making a beautiful looking film. One of their best shorts and by far the best looking cg I have seen.

02. Coda [Short] (02.11.16)
A film about death and the parts of your own life you don't get to see. (You lived what anybody gets. A lifetime -Sandman) Interesting take on the grim reaper.  Nice bit of voice acting. LINK

03. Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (03.11.16)
A documentary about the work of Kubrick and his method in preparing for a film. His organization and preparation reaches crazy levels of work but he was far from the mad man he gets portrayed as. Nice little film, a bit odd in presentation but it got its points across.

04. Westworld (04.11.16)
A nice high concept but it fails to do much with it. The are some holes to the story that would make the whole better if they were filled. For a kind of short film it some how drags in the final act. Other than that is was enjoyable but very much of it's time.

05. The Backwater Gospel [Short] (05.11.16)
Very distinctive look to the film, it is cg but looks dirty. Odd story and one that make little sense, it meant to be a horror story but come off as more of a bash on religion. The was no pay off.

06. Road to Perdition (06.11.16)
I read the comic back in about 04 and pick up the film not long after. This is my first time watching it. Some big name involved who maybe weren't so at the time. It is a great film, the score is fantastic and the direction though a bit noticeable is great. Some awesome shots.

07. Little Match Girl [Short] (09.11.16)
A Disney short and a damn good one. Love how the is no sound other than a simple piano score. A old story (well it is Disney) but very compelling and with a sad ending.

08. The House of Small Cubes [Short] (12.11.16)
Man i need to find some uplifting short films. Very well executed film, from story to art and music. I loved the dive back i time being kind of literal. The metaphors were on the nose but that was the point.

09. Millennium Actress (13.11.16)
So mush to say, and I'm not sure how too. One of the best films I have seen, so complex and yet the story flows so well and the acting is top notch. The animation and art quality is fantastic as well. A inspired story and told in a way only achievable through animation. (a full review will come soon)

10. Riddick (18.11.16)
Why did they have to tie it in so close to the other films? Why did they rehash the first one? why do the effects look so bad? Other than that its a fun film, it is great when Riddick is doing his Batman style stuff and the intro was cool. A bit much exposition at times but solid over all.

11. Redline (19.11.16)
Oh boy where to start? It looks amazing, the art and animation is out of this world as is the design choices. Stylistically it is perfect. The story though, its just damn bad. To make things worse it is told very poorly. Far too much bad dialogue and lazy story telling. It could be so much better. Watch it for the racing and animation only.

12. Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (20.11.16)
Crazy and very of it time. I don't know much about Max Headroom but this was a fun little film. Nice setting, they sold a gritty dirty future.

13. Angel's Egg (21.11.16)
A early work by Oshii and a very stylistically surreal one. I have very little in the way of dialogue or even story but it exudes style and feelings. It is more of a work of art than a film in the way Fantasia is. Very interesting and I will have to give it a second watch sometime.

14. Memento (25.11.16)
Very solid film. The narrative is what makes it great but the acting and story stands up with it. I'm not sure if a rewatch would make it clearer or not. Very interesting.

15. Akira (27.11.16)
Nothing to say. Still one of the best films ever made.

A solid month of films. Best? Millennium Actress, by a hair. worst? well most disappointing would be Redline.
On to the end of the year.

Autumnal Feelings

October is here and Autumn has come crashing in. It has been a slow creep this year building over the past few weeks. I love this time of year, especially a nice warm afternoon.

The change of season has brought about some other changes. We now need to heat the house and water more, this requires for the fire to be used for the first time since about May. The fire in the kitchen heats the house and for now is only needed in the evening and night but in a few weeks if the weather turns it will be in most of the day.

So from now until next spring I have more stuff to do as I am more often than now to one who makes and cleans the fire. I have to bring in the wood and coke (like coal but cleaner) and starting it up. As well as cleaning it out.

I emptied it out for the first time this season a few days ago; I used the handle to lift the full ash pan and carried it outside to the dustbin. The odd thing being I used on hand and didn't balance it against my body. I carried it out one handed with no struggle.

Have I gotten stronger over the summer? It is likely that I have but by how much and how? Its not like I work out and the most exercise I get comes in the fashion of walking. Granted I have felt pretty good this year about my body image, even through a few weeks of trouble in July.

Something seems to have gone my way, is it just small gains or is it my new dedication to posture?

The more I think on this the more I see I have never been weak, yes I have issues with Asthma but my core strength has been there since I left childhood. Heck I have been doing hard work since I was an early teen including chopping logs with an axe.

Now the main thing is to take this as a good sign and to try and get better.

Froglet

Some random stuff.

I have just listened to all 15 Dresden Files books since September 10th and wow are they good. They hold up well and the last few were nice to re-read for a first time. I will do a blog on the series and perhaps even a post on 'Changes' (boot 12).

Last Monday I got back from wandering around Sheffield and Meadowhall and my left ankle hurt a bit. Then all week is has been a massive issue, the tendon has been giving me pain enough that I have been limping. It has faded the last day or tow but if I tweak it it huts. Hope it clears up.

I managed to get a new phone (Moto G4 play) and I got an awesome deal. I will be paying about £3 a month less for more features and a better tariff than my last phone. And as a big upside I have a phone with a working audio jack now. I wont have to use the bloody awful Bluetooth thing.

The are some interesting things on the horizon, from films to books and I am working on getting some of my photos displayed.

Next post coming soon(ish)