Ghost of a flea

Savage Flea

New gigs in July and August; details to follow.

Ok, let's look at Madonna. Also, this Madonna. I need to pick up some moves.

Update: What some gothic people do when there´s no one around.

Stigmata Martyr (band practice, 1902)

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance to the musical stylings of Abney Park. The sound quality in this clip is not perfect; I suspect Flea-readers will soldier on through the whole of it regardless.*

* Not safe for Flea-readers with heart conditions due to Magdalene Veen red-lining the steam-valves.

Closterkeller: A Nadzieja

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Argument juice

Triumph still makes a beautiful machine. Just be sure to tick the box for the net option; you are going to need that to catch the parts falling off as you go along.

Tonight only

Savage Garden.

Ok, enough self-promotion for today this morning: Here is some compensatory Kylie.

Only Spartan women give birth to Spartan men

We do not need to venture much further than the lede: "Nepali women rush for Gurkha training".

Berzerker

Viking martial arts may sound impressive but their mightiest headbuts remain as nothing in comparison to a Master of Llap Goch; I admit the third groundbreaking dvd comes close to the edit.

Related internet goodness, and the source of the above image, is The Book of Were-Wolfes by the magnificently named Sabine Baring-Gould. Vampires kick werewolf ass, btw.

Corenell vs Lisa Marie Experience: Keep On Jumping

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Parental Guidance Suggested

Given my reputation for cheesecake and frivolity, I confess I am a little disappointed by this result. This vexing news arrives via the satisfyingly NC-17 rated Villainous Company.

Epica: Feint/Run for a fall/Memories

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Even if He says so Himself

Ricky Gervais discovers the theory of evolution is wrong.

On an obscurely related note: Flea-readers will have noticed I was off-line after 15:35 EST yesterday; this despite/because I had ordered an upgrade to my web-hosting. So that is another premium to "run out of bandwidth" with a week to go in the month and no response from customer service until the next morning. So that is half a day's ad revenue gone and who knows how many frustrated readers with it. Not that I am in this for the money, you understand. This is about the glory.

Now looking for another hosting provider.

Professor Jones

I should have understood how serious was the problem when the Indiana Jones poster disappeared from the grad student office of my anthropology doctoral program. Some committee of my peers had decided the image was inconsistent with the (post)modern discipline, an inaccurate and irresponsible representation of archaeological field practice and sexist to boot. My supervisor, bless, pointed out that tax-payers invest a lot of money in public universities and that anthropology, as a discipline without the obvious immediate return of, say, engineering, should cling to any cool depictions of anthropology as if to a life-raft. We are talking ourselves out of our jobs, he said. He was right.

At least Harrison Ford still kicks ass. He is 65, btw.

Garmarna: Gamen

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Madness? This. Is. Australia!

The Persians tried to take Australians captive five times before they settled on the Royal Navy as a soft target.

Rantburg comments suggests the following - rumoured - highly colourful language: "Get the f*ck back! Get the f*ck back NOW! Or we'll blow your monkey arses away!"

Well said.

Though all this begs the question as to why various corsairs had not been sent to meet their devil god before the hot-house flowers of Her Majesty's Royal Navy sailed into harm's way. Live and learn. Let us pray Canadians will react with Australian aplomb the next time a black flag appears on the horizon.

Great Sage Equal of Heaven

Inspired by the coolest thing on television as they were growing up, Gorillaz' Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are staging a circus-opera, Monkey: Journey to the West. Oh, to be in Manchester.

Sound advice for all occasions. Today on the Beeb has an excellent documentary piece on the subject - I am particularly impressed by the Chinese number magick involved - and Wikipedia offers an extensive backgrounder on the Chinese classic. The Monkey MySpace site has a clip and more pics to set the scene. V. nice for people who enjoy this sort of thing.

Teriyaki Boyz and Jay Chou: Tokyo Drift

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

The Clash: Rock the Casbah

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.*

* And this, of course.

I wish it was like the Humber Bridge

Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Rolls Royce Phantom. Testify.

Angels to some

I have never wanted a backscratcher as much as I want this H.R. Giger backscratcher.

Count-down to smart remark from Sadie in 5... 4... 3...

Related: This angel/demon name generator should come in handy for RenFaire parents stuck for a middle name or three. Also useful for naming cats (angel... demon... who are we simians to judge).

Kamelot feat. Shagrath: March of Mephisto

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Grau de sandice

The Melling Hellcat may be the ultimate supercar.

Al Melling explains what he is up to. Impressive. Seriously. But is this the new hypothetical Flea-mobile? It is not. That imaginary honour goes to the BMW Concept Coupé Mille Miglia. Yes, it is German but bear with me until you have seen the videos. Especially the second one; you may want to be alone for that one. They have replaced the break-lights with a dueling scar.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Dark Knight

The Batman: Still nipple-free and still cooler than Superman.

Nice. Oh, and Batman? Those are some ok boots.

Proptastic Update: Sadie writes with news of the Joker's Clown Car. Nice. Filmwad comments:

Linda: Agoniya

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

The Brixmis Story

The Germans thought they were there to keep an eye on the Soviets while the Soviets viewed them as part of the team keeping a lid on the Germans. Using apples to measure gun calibres, knicking reactive armour off a tank, making off with an advanced radar Hunt for Red October-style*; I think Brixmis officer has to have been one of the most awesome jobs in history.** More like joining the freaking Dúnedain than boring old MI6. Lots of fresh air and cocking around in defense of liberty. Best to listen as soon as one can; I do not know how long Radio 4 keeps these documentaries on-line.

* Details on the Havelsee incident are on-line for those Flea-readers who, like me, had never heard of it.
** BRIXMIS standing for the British Commanders'-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany, established on 16 September, 1946 under the Robertson-Malinin Agreement between the chiefs of staff of the British and Soviet forces in occupied Germany. Much more at the BRIXMIS Association.

Feel the noise

The place: Savage Garden, 550 Queen St. W., Toronto
The time: Thursday, June 28
The event: The musical stylings of Transfer 19, The First Seed, Toronto Noise Company & Ghost of a flea w. the delectable DJ Razorgrrl

There may be dancing.

Doors open at 8:00 and I will be on at 9:00 or thereabouts; so no excuses this is a week-night! Bring hard drinking friends, film/video producers and dangerous women (three-in-one works too).

Camille Jones/Fedde Le Grande: The Creeps

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Related: Camille Jones, will you marry me?

Steampunk Monitor

Once again I face a drain on my hypothetical lottery winnings as a steampunk monitor is a must have addition to the aetheric battle zeppelin's entertainment room. This home decor expense arrives via Brass Goggles, commenting:

The button levers are a thing of beauty.

Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters: Destination Calabria

One. F*ck off. Hook. Arguably the most Flea-ish video ever (and arguably nsfw). Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

For the Love of God

I was less interested to learn of George Michael's supposed interest than to finally see the mother of all paper-weights, Damien Hirst's most extravagant creation and the "most expensive work of art ever", a $99m dollar diamond encrusted skull.

I can think of much better things to celebrate. Presumably Hirst's art-school word-blender was broken. No contest here, btw: Goth.

Kleerup feat. Robyn: Every Heartbeat

K-punk asks an interesting Borgesian question. Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Related: Do check out Rosanna Munter too.

Things will be different

This Grand Theft Auto IV trailer was supposedly produced using the RAGE game engine. Spectacular. I hope they hold on to Philip Glass for more than "Pruitt-Igoe" for the game soundtrack too...

Predictably, New York City officials take exception to all this free publicity; worrying, as usual, more for the care of the simulation than the city.

Because that would not be extremely cool.

In related news: An unexceptional cathedral made far more interesting in its virtuality than ever it had been in its actuality. The Church of England will not sit still for that (hat tip to Mr. Pack).

Zeraphine: New Year's Day

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

The Blob

A lake of ooze is moving around under New York City. Blbg Blog observes.

Which goes to show every cloud has a silver lining.

Almasalsera

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance. Seriously.

Philosophy Major: Anything helps, God bless

With branding and faux urban superpowers we can master those little concatenations that add up into catastrophe or, uhm, apostrophe. Actually, Spin is obscurely satisfying. Besides, we all face Hiro's problems in the end so might as well practice time-travel while the practicing is good.

HMS Pointless

Perhaps one day when the Astute is renamed Shaheed or Umar bin al-Khattab her weapons will be fired in anger. Until such time, one expects this expense to be in the line of new palace uniforms for Louis XIV or embroidered napkins for a Maginot-themed canteen. Pardon my French. We had a navy, once upon a time.

As The Stupid Shall Be Punished has observed, even the christening was a "launch and naming". It would not do to offend our new insect overlords. How a bishop barged in on the proceedings, let alone how to explain the involvement of beer, I cannot imagine.

Satarial: Hure Tod

It is difficult for me to express how much I wish I was responsible for this. Basically I could just die; my work would be complete.* Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

* Because of the awesome.

I know why the caged bird sings

For all the grotesque hyperbole of what passes for news in a culture bound for the abyss it is somewhat astonishing the salient issue should have been overlooked: Who is to play Paris Hilton in the television adaptation of her trial and incarceration? My opening bid is Mischa Barton. If the deal gets hung up on points for a couple years; Dakota Fanning.

Lakeside Plantation

There are times when I ask myself why I have yet to buy enough mansions. I am particularly loving the attic in this special Southern gothic pile; force of habit I expect (via The Wit of the Staircase).

The next two paragraphs feature ooey gooey and a voodoo head found in a third floor ceiling: Just my cup of tea (and especially not to miss the slide show). Hunt Slonem's work can be found by invoking a clicking sound in the inter-aether. His birds and butterflies also bought him Albania and Edgewood Terrace, better known as the Cordts Mansion, too.

Untoten: Nibelungen Treue

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Tragically misguided

Celia Walden considers repeat denim-offenders and the abomination that is ''dress-down Fridays''; casual Fridays to North American Flea-readers (hat tip to the Parental Units of the Flea).

As I type these words it is a somewhat humid Friday* and I am dressed casually having foregone a blazer and sticking to a shirt and tie with waistcoat, Oxfords and a black dress trouser with narrow stripe (by Donna Karan). If I cannot be sat on a veranda with gin-and-tonic in one hand and the King James in the other I shall not at least descend into the Darkness that is denim. Not that this sartorial Rorke's Drift is held without a cost; the nurses seem strangely eager to convince me jeans are a Friday necessity.

* Written, as it was, last Friday.

Once upon a time

Tim Burton is reported to be in negotiations to make a biopic* about the life together of Marilyn Manson and Dita von Teese.** Though given their current taxidermy custody difficulties I cannot see negotiations proceeding quickly.

* Biopic is a word I avoid thanks to having been exposed to someone who pronounces the word to rhyme with "myopic". The word is pronounced bio-pic, viz a biographical picture. But every time I see the word now I wince.
** To feature in her own film debut in "The Boom Boom Room".

The Birthday Massacre: Holiday

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

To Lord Nelson

Gentlemen, to Lord Nelson.

Metallica: Wherever I May Roam

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

For the love of beauty is a deep-seated urge which dates back to the beginning of civilization

It seems impossible that I should somehow have missed a Bela Lugosi classic. It seems inevitable now that Mark of the Vampire should be available in its entirety on the internets.

This is not a terribly well made film; it certainly lacks the wonder of Tod Browning's earlier masterpiece, Dracula (let alone his awe-inspiring Freaks). But at just over an hour this is well worth the time it takes to see how vampire films had achieved self-parody by 1935. It has all been recycling since then. If it gets a bit much track forward to the last five minutes. As I said: Classic.

Mortiis: Parasite God

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

Steam Trek

The glory that is Steam Trek arrives via Brass Goggles who explains:

Alchemists of Sound

"Alchemists of Sound", a history of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, might be a bit much to watch all at one go at work.* Best have a look at this making of the Doctor Who theme clip in the meantime. This is an early '80s version featuring the gorgeous monster that is the Yamaha CS-80.**

* Parts 2 and 4 feature the brutally hot Delia Derbyshire; no one will blame you if you skip ahead. More from "Blue Veils & Golden Sands" and much else here including two interviews.

** "I watched the C beams glitter" is a Flea riff on Vangelis powered by a brilliant CS-80 emulator.

Faithless: Crazy English Summer

Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.

One moment

Margaret Thatcher addresses the sinking of the Belgrano.

Turning Japanese

I love geeks.
He's a geek isn't he?
Yes. And I love him.

The ongoing amazingness of the internets* means Kelly Osbourne provides weekend viewing if off-season cable lets you down; the Maid Cafe gig features in Episode 1 Part 2. She has an awesome laugh, btw.

Not that I should have to point this out but for the sake of clarity and lack of surprises and such: This is not on the same continent as safe for work. Unless you are Kelly Osbourne, obviously. But then what are you doing watching Kelly Osbourne videos in your cubicle in the first place one might ask. On a related note: Japan is utterly baffling to me. Which, I suppose, is the point.

* Yes, YouTube needs to develop better quality control and, probably, a spine.

Frank Chickens: Blue Canary

Many years ago now I made a pilgrimage to the Virgin Megastore - not that I would buy anything there ever again - to find David Sylvian's "Weatherbox" and a copy of "Best of Frank Chickens". Until now I had no idea the latter had ever spawned videos. Now is the time at the Flea when we dance.*

* Equally awesomer: We Are Ninja (Not Geisha).

Back to the Moon

NASA's moon return animation has the right idea: Package the enterprise as a feature and give the public a trailer to wet the appetite (via things magazine). I cannot say the end result inspires me with confidence or, for that matter, inspires me at all. For one thing, is this the best animation NASA can manage? And if Battlestar Galactica can convey realistic action in space while keeping the diegetic sound to a minimum we hardly need to hear NASA's cheesetastic rockets firing or the unconvincing whir of moon buggy engines.

What this video lacks most, however, is drama. Yes, we have gadgets and, look, it's the Moon! But so what. NASA has given us a (not terribly good) special effects teaser when we need a trailer that tells us - minimally - the genre of the film. For the money this is going to cost I expect the American public will want an Oscar entry.