CouchSlobs - A Monument To Human Idleness

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Dear faithful readers, happy Stephen Fry Appreciation Day!

Since our lovely Mr. Fry is currently filming the new season of QI (I am trying my best not to be jealous of any of the people who actually managed to get the tickets. Not to mention there is a taping tomorrow, on my birthday of all days! As I said I’m trying not to be jealous)

God how I love those podgrams, they are so interesting and entertaining, you get your muggings of tea or coffee and just relax and enjoy the man talk. But I digrees.
Obviously there is no time for that so I scoured the ever dependable youtube to find something that would be equally interesting for you to sink your teeth in.

And I found it. Clive James Talking in the Library with Stephen Fry.
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. And any of you who are actually going to see QI, you can pinch our lovely Mr. Fry’s cheeks for me (not those cheeks that would be sexual harassment)

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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Well, I’ve just returned from the press screening of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. Here are my first impressions - first because I’m planning to see the movie again, this time with my friends. I tried to cut down spoilers to the minimum.

I simply loved the first part of the movie! I think I was grinning non-stop throughout the first half an hour or so. Beginning has everything Indiana Jones sequel should have: cool location, fast-paced action, whole bunch of nods towards earlier movies (and even the TV series) and that slightly self-mocking humor I always enjoyed.

Ever since I heard that “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” takes place 20 years after the “Last Crusade” I was pleased because this meant that makers at least tried not to cheat their way out of making Indiana older. The Man is definitely older now but he still packs a punch. On the other hand, movie starts almost as a catalog of 1950es clichés that, again, I found irresistible - I was reminded on the first “Back to the Future” movie.

With Cold War and everything, Soviets have – obviously - replaced Nazis. Their crackpot/dominatrix leader played by Kate Blanchett is a villain in the best Indiana Jones tradition. Her character seemed rather underused though, but I admit I’m a bit biased here: Comrade Colonel Spalko can be my new commissar anyday, bay-bee! FNARR! FNARRR!

As for the bad parts… Well, around the middle movie starts to sag and action – just like Indy – winds down. Movie, IMO, becomes unnecessarily cluttered with… stuff. You’ll see. Things are not helped by the Basil Exposition-esque dialogs where characters explain you the things you can already see on the screen. In general, second half of the movie could have used trimming: it would have kept the fast tempo of the first part going. As for the whole nature of the MacGuffin in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” I think it was a great idea – again, very 1950es – but it might have been handled a bit more subtly.

All in all, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull” was fun. IMO, not as good as the “Raiders” or “Last Crusade” but definitely warmer and more charming than the “Temple of Doom” . But then again, these are just my first impressions. I’m totally hoping people will like this movie. Indy deserves it.

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Since the shameful sit-com confessions were so popular I did a little digging just to indulge my own curiosity and see where are they, these people we used to watch day in and day out. And of course it would not be fair if I did not share my findings with you.
Some fared well, some fared not so well, while others went in a completely different direction.
My digging also unearthed that Bronson Pinchot was born on the same day as me. Good heavens!

Golden Girls
Bea Arthur – seems Bea chose her projects wisely, she did a guest episode of Futurama, Malcolm in the Middle and Curb you Enthusiasm.

Betty White – she kept busy after the filming of Golden Girls were over and some of her guest stints included The Practice, Everwood, Boston Legal, Ugly Betty and Bold and Beautiful.

Rue McClanahan – well our dear old Blanche, sorry Rue has also kept busy after the Golden Girls. In fact she has a new series coming out called Sordid Lives and from what I have seen from the promo it does look promising. Rue also did Murphy Brown, the Love Boat – the Next Wave, Safe Harbor and Touched by an Angel.

Estelle Getty – after Golden Girls ended Estelle did Touched by an Angel, Mad about You, Stuart Little and Ladies Man. Ms Estelle has been diagnosed with Parkinson and dementia, I think I speak for all of us that were once entertained by her antics that I wish her more good days then bad days.

Perfect Strangers
Bronson Pinchot
– heavens just realized Bronson Pinchot and I share the same birthday. Honestly!
Anyhow after Perfect Strangers Bronson Pinchot has a guest role on Law and Order – Criminal Intent, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Step by Step, Six Degrees, Law and Order SVU, First Wives Club and the Young and the Restless. Bronson also did Surreal Life and has a movie out called Cluster (that stars Corey Feldman of all people).

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I’ve seen some nonsensical stuff during my lifetime but this one is pretty much one of the most pointless. The thing is called THE Tad and it’s purpose is, well to be quite honest make you spend £3.
The manufacturer claims this thing is intended for people with long fingernails who are unable to type on their phones. Oh, just give me a break! All you people with such long fingernails that you cannot type on your phones here’s a piece of useful advice. Cut your nails! Yes, that’s right cut them. Seriously, what’s the point of having nails that prohibit you from holding stuff in your hands or using your fingers.
You can see THE tad in all of its uselessness below!

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Dear faithful readers,

You all know we reserve our Stephen Fry Appreciation for Mondays and while we do love the escapism of our favorite TV shows, sit-coms and movies, desperate times call for desperate measures so pardon the interruption in our regular programming.

As you probably know Burma has been hit with a cyclone of horrible proportions. Tens of thousands of people are dead, tens of thousands of people are missing and the country is in disarray.
Only some charity agencies have the government permission to distribute the foreign aid.

Stephen Fry has filmed a commercial for DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee) Burma Appeal and any donations you can spare will go to the agencies that do have the government permission to distribute the aid to the people of Burma who do desperately need help. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

You can check out the Burma appeal ad over at tvscoop.tv and thank you Paul for informing the rest of us of this appeal.

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Fellow BSG fanatics,

The latest edition of BSG “So Say We All” Blog Carnival is up.

You can find all sorts of goodness – there are ruminatings about Starbuck and her non-Cylonicity (Amy is that even a word? , reasons some (ahem James) are in love with Roslin, Paul sees the distance between Cylons and humans closing in and… well you just have to check it out.

So head over to Remote Access where our lovely host Amy awaits with the latest blogging goodness on BSG.

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Although a friend recommended me this cartoon almost a month ago, it was only last week that I actually got the opportunity to watch it. I went through entire 50+ episodes in about week’s time and I’m seriously considering watching the series all over again. It’s been awhile that I was as entertained so much by a cartoon.

Story takes place in the fantasy world inspired by old China and divided into four nations based on the classic Greek elements – earth, water, air and fire. In each of them, many people have an inherited ability to “bend” or manipulate one of the elements. All of this monitors the Avatar – Dalai Lama-eque figure that reincarnates each generation and has an ability to manipulate all four of the elements. But things got rough century ago when Fire Nation started conquering it’s neighbours left and right while the new Avatar – 12 year old Airbender named Aangh - disappeared without trace.

Hundred years later, siblings Kattara and Sokku of the Water Tribe stumble upon frozen Avatar while ice fishing in the Southern polar regions. Releasing him from the iceberg, they embark on a perilous journey filled with Fire Nation storm troopers, bounty hunters, spirits and crazy mad martial arts/element bending goodness.

Produced by Nickelodeon, “Avatar” is children cartoon for sure: violence and angst are kept below the level seen in Japanese anime, and groan-inducing “lessons of the day” pop up here and there. But even so, once it gets rolling, “Avatar” is helluva fun to watch.

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Heavens pardon my potty mouth (and I was doing so well), but after watching last week’s BSG well I was left scratching my head yet again. It has to be said it did remind me of the best days of Lost where you do get answers to some questions, but the riddles just keep coming. These are just some thoughts that came to me while watching and I would love to hear what you all think, because quite frankly all these riddles are driving me bonkers.

I was thinking and thinking – we all know Starbucks has been acting well a bit loopy (I know that’s putting it mildly) and in this episode she finally seems back to her normal self – kickass and focused on the mission at hand. But for the life of I could not understand her fascination, attachment (?!) to Leoben. It did turn out he was telling the truth about the base ship, but one would think she would be more vary of him. And then I remember a psychology class in had in high school, could it be that Starbuck has a case of Stockholm syndrome?
Oh heavens – the irony of Roslin leaving Tory in charge. Roslin who is so anti-Cylon, so anti-Baltar leaving everything in hands of Tory who has started embracing her Cylon inner b*tch and is sleeping with Baltar on the sly. Pardon me for being cynical but I don’t think this bodes well.

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Dear faithful readers happy Stephen Fry Appreciation Monday!
As promised last week, here are rest of the clips (well at least the ones I could find) featuring our lovely Mr. Fry on Whose Line Is It Anyway? There are some real treats, lovely Mr. Fry as a contestant in a dating game, a spot of Mr. Fry dancing and we can even spot some underpants!

Enjoy

Lets make a date – oh wouldn’t that be nice?

The Props – honestly where did they find this stuff?

Party quirks – a spot of Mr. Fry dancing (again)

Hoedown – Marital problems

Panel on smoking – I say

Film and Theater Styles (hm if you want to see Mr. Fry’s underpants, well)

Rap – having a baby

Rap – sheep

Stephen Fry tells a story about Tarzan and the Lager Louts

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I do apologize that there is no 80s related post this week, however since Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc was released in 1981 technically it is 80s.
Since I am embracing the geek within and whatnot, I do have a confession to make. I absolutely adore Indiana Jones. When I was younger I actually wanted to be Indiana Jones. But you know with female reproductive system and blond hair. Back in them days there was no Lara Croft plus hot pants I don’t think so. Honestly how can anyone save the world from dark forces with hot pants riding up their bum is beyond me. But I digress.
Yes Indiana Jones. It combined the stuff I loved back then (and still do) – history, archeology, a bit of mystery and great deal of travel to exotic places. And how can you not love Indy? He is like Chuck Norris from the beginning of 20th century. So in my preparation for the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull I have been watching all the Indiana Jones movies. Decidedly geeky, but I am embracing it.
So I present to you 21 things I have learned watching Indiana Jones and by all means if you want to join me and indulge in some Indy love do feel free to add your own contributions.
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