Mask of Death

At some point when I get near my paints I'll flesh this one out.

Film posters from Poland

This is the Smokey and the Bandit Film Poster from Poland. You can find more here. Just how cool is this? It's not apparently clear why these posters were used instead of the Hollywood ones. In the comments section of the website, someone claims it's because posters were not subject to official censorship, allowing artists to hide political commentary.

Hmmm, not quite convinced by that arguement. But what's interesting is what the artists have added. Suddenly Smokey and the Bandit looks like a Peter Sellers satire.

Steve Guttenberg sci-fi Saturday afternoon stalwart, Short Circuit 2 could be a futurist CCCP propaganda feature. And apparently Critters isn't some lame Gremlins rip off. It's an art house film. My favourite is the simple sexual frisson of the Fatal Attraction image.

Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

There are loads of people who reckon the TV series was a load of old rubbish. Yes, the effects let it down. Yes, the humor is glib. And yes, Zaphod's makeup makes him look like he's got AIDS. But it's partly nostalgia. I grew up on bad BBC sci-fi effects - Blake's 7, Dr Who, The Adventure Game and Tripods (which really was awful). But HHGTG was my favourite. Especially the 'cutting edge' computer graffix! Gosh, I'm such a geek.

Here's the first show. The rest of the series is upon YouTube and pretty easy to find.









And yes, the radio show was much better.

Man on Beach

China - week 1

In China for the next four weeks or so...

Good things

Everyone is very helpful and friendly

Everyone is really social

The food is good, cheap and plentiful

Sleeper trains

It's just so different from anything I've ever experienced

Bad things

The toilets

Eating offal (so far I haven't)

Smokey smoke everywhere and everyone smokes - even on the toilet

My inability to Chinese. I try and say thanks and end up saying beer, or much worse

KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks

But so far the Chinese are great at just getting on with it. Be it eating meat or smoking. They just ride up on their bikes, squat and finish everything until there us nothing left.

Butterfly