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Ultimates 3 - Thumbs Down

I absolutely loved Ultimates and Ultimates 2, and even though I'd heard bad things I still had faith in Ultimates 3, so much so that I bought the hardcover version of it last week. Well, my faith was destroyed when I got round to reading it yesterday. OK, so maybe destroyed is a bit harsh because the artwork was pretty damn good. The story however, well, it was over-complicated and seemed to pay no attention to wha had gone in the previous instalments. Jeph Loeb took over from Mark Millar as the writer and it shows, big time.

Luckily Mark Millar is back on board for the next stage which is Ultimate Avengers - looking forward to it already!

3 Weeks till F1 2009

In just 3 short weeks qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix will be over and we'll know who is kicking off the 2009 season in pole position.

I will of course be supporting Lewis Hamilton but I also want Kubica and Alonso to do well. It could be a very open season with the opportunity for a lot of drivers to score points.

It will also be interesting to see what difference KERS will make.

The latest good news is that team formerly known as Honda has been bought by Ross Brawn and we have Brawn GP, so we are back to 10 teams and 20 drivers again.

Tarzan gone from DLRP

The Tarzan Encounter is gone from The Chaparral Theater in Disneyland Resort Paris, after nine years of almost 5 shows a day. This is particularly upsetting for wifey and I as this was our favourite show in the park. At least we have the memories. There is no word yet on whether a replacement is planned or not.

EDIT: Sunday 8th March - Tarzan is returning this summer, but only for July and August. If it is back next summer then we may be tempted to wait and go in July rather than May as planned - such is the quality of the show that we wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to see it again.

Do Us A Flavour

Do Us A Flavour - the latest marketing drive by Walkers Crisps where we, the general public, get to choose from 6 flavours and vote on which one we'd like to become part of the normal range. The 6 flavours are:

Chilli & Chocolate
Onion Bhaji
Cajun Squirrel
Fish & Chips
Crispy Duck & Hoi Sin
Builder's Breakfast

I managed to find Onion Bhaji, Cajun Squirrel, Fish & Chips and Builder's Breakfast yesterday, while wifey managed to get a pack of Crispy Duck & Hoi Sin. Neither of us is really interested in Chilli & Chocolate but we try it for completeness sake. We tried the Fish & Chips and Crispy Duck & Hoi Sin last night and neither did a great deal for us! The flavours were pretty weak and I can't imagine choosing either of them over old favourites like Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion. Maybe the other flavours will be better, but I have my doubts. God only knows what the Cajun Squirrel will involve, wifey refuses to try that one!

Podcasts

If you read back a few posts you'll see me talking about my new phone, the Nokia 5800. I've since discovered that it's awfully good for podcasts, and I now subscribe to quite a few and listen to them in the car to and from work as the phone's speaker is loud enough to use in the car, even on the M25!

My favourite podcast so far is the Stuff.TV podcast which is a geeky/techy podcast about mobile phones, televisions, MP3 players, gadgets and 'stuff'! The subject matter is right up my street and the presenters are pretty fab too. They also gave my new phone a glowing report so extra marks there!

Others I subscribe to are:

Chris Moyles - low brow humour at it's very best and I miss the morning shows now I listen to podcasts instead. Is there some irony there somewhere?

F1 Weekly - only listened to one show so far and it was ok, though being American based the bias was towards their quest to get a Grand Prix in America rather than the upcoming season. May try to find a suitable replacement.

Jonathan Ross - probably the funniest guy on radio and good to have him back. Always has a procession of great guests with whom he engages in lots of witty banter.

Guardian Tech Weekly - more technical musings with lots of web talk and as an eCommerce bod it's most interesting from a professional and personal standpoint.

I also have Stephen Fry and Mark Kermode's podcasts set up to listen to and am always open to some recommendations of podcasts I should listen to. Two that i didn't particularly like are the Adam & Joe and George Lamb podcasts - just didn't click with me. I also tried the Geek Squad podcast but they guy waffled on for so long about not a lot that I decided my life could be better spent on other things and turned it off.

Brits Breakthrough Act

This year's 'as vote for by Radio One' listeners Breakthrough Act is one of the following five:

Adele - I can't stand her! While I do concede that she has a voice, I find her to be one of the most instantly unlikable people I have ever come across, that I haven't actually met! The sound of one of her songs playing will see me switch stations.

The Last Shadow Puppets - no idea! Maybe I'd recognise their songs if I heard them but as if right now they are not on my radar.

Duffy - really great songs with a fantastic & unique voice. An album I have been meaning to get for a while now.

Scouting For Girls - I have liked every one if their songs that they have released and really should get their album too. Fun lyrics and catchy bouncy tunes, thumbs up.

The Ting Tings - I heard their debut single before they became widely known but couldn't remember what they were called so was unsuccessful in tracking them down. Of course it didn't take long for them to become known by all and Not My Name went on to be one of the songs of 2008. The 2nd single was just as catchy and there is more to this band than meets the eye. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but this is another album I really need to get?

So, 1 I don't like, 1 I don't know and three I really like, who gets my vote? The Tiny Tings - closely edging out Duffy as the band I'd like to hear more of and whose songs I know I like to hear the most.

Au Revoir Buffalo Trading Co.

As detailed in a previous blog post (linkage), the Buffalo Trading Co. in Disney Village, Disneyland Resort Paris was due to shut down and be replaced by a Starbucks. Well the first part of that process has happened and this Disneyland Resort Paris addict is gutted :( Gone is the shop with the most individuality and character, now we await the souless presence of a multi-national coffee shop, oh joy.

New Phone: Nokia 5800

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic to give it it's full and proper name! I picked it up today after ordering it yesterday, on a whim really! I have had a Sony Ericsson K850i for the last year, which despite almost universally bad reports, has served me pretty well. That is until recently when it has decided to turn itself at random, usually when I making a call or writing a text! Having already been to the repair shop once I decided now was the time to admit it has had it's day and move on.

As an iPod Touch user I have been tempted by the iPhone but the lack of video recording and MMS is a big letdown - I have an 8 month old son those features are pretty essential to me. What I do like is the touch screen functionality so have been looking at the Samsung Pixon and Omnia, as well as the LG Renoir - all had their good and bad points but none stood out as a must have and all were on fairly pricey contracts, something I wanted to avoid as I currently use only a small portion of my call allowance.

A quick scan of Avforums drew my attention to the Nokia 5800 and the Carphone Warehouse offer of £15 a month for 100 minutes and unlimited texts. I never thought the day would come when I would be more of a texter than a caller, but it has so this deal seemed perfect for my needs. Add £7.50 for the unlimited web bolt-on and he whole package would be £12.50 less than my current contract and a swanky new phone as well - sold!

It has Wi-Fi, a 3.2" widescreen display, full touchscreen functionality, 8Gb memory card included and all the other bells and whistles I was looking for. I've not used a great deal yet but so far I am very impressed. The touchscreen is very responsive and texting is very easy which is usually the biggest test for a touchscreen phone. Next will be connecting it to my laptop and adding a bunch of songs and pictures, and configuring the phone to pick up my wireless network.

So far so good for Nokia's first foray into touchscreen phones, which for the market leader in mobile phones, some may say they are playing catch-up?

Paddington sold out?

When I was little I had Paddington Bear everything; Pyjamas, Duvet Cover, Curtains, lampshade and even a Paddington Bear bin! Now one of the things Paddington was most known for was his love of marmalade sandwiches. You with me so far? Imagine my shock when I see our beloved Paddington Bear advertising a sandwich filling on TV that isn't marmalade!

Paddington Bear now has Marmite in his sandwiches!!!

Has the credit crunch hit Paddington that much that he sold his soul to the other side? Is it not enough that Opal Fruits and Marathons no longer exist but now Paddington doesn't eat marmalade sandwiches?

*sigh*

Destination Disneyland!

Monday 3rd May 2010 is the day we will hopefully be taking Lucas to Disneyland Resort Paris for the first time. His 2nd birthday is on the 6th so we plan to arrive on Monday 3rd and leave on Friday 7th.

It'll be our first trip since 2007, when Denise was pregnant with Lucas, and our 10th trip overall - can't wait!

Only 1 year, 3 months and 2 days to go!

Idol > X-Factor

While I've watched the odd episode I've never watched a whole series of American Idol, something which is in the process of being rectified as I have tuned in to every episode of the new season, the 8th American Idol, so far.

The quality of the good singers is far superior to what we see on X-Factor and all the people, and the show in general just seems to be a lot more fun and positive. It also does have Louis Walsh and his idiotic pandering to different areas and countries in a shameless attempt to get votes for his poor acts.

The whole format of the show works better with all the judges voting without bias and not mentoring their own set of acts. So far the girls seem better than the guys but we'll have to wait and see if that continues as the show progresses. The new judge Kara is good too, just don't expect me to remember her surname!

Cena's new film - 12 Rounds

Off the back of The Marine, WWE Champion John Cena is back in the cinemas again (though probably not in the UK) with his latest film 12 Rounds. Like The Marine, this looks like a high octane action film which will have Cena's character beating the odds to save the day, at a guess anyway!

12 Rounds at WWE.com

Very cheesy and very predictable, I'll be watching!

90210 - 20 Years On

When Beverly Hills 90210 was first shown back in 1990 I was hooked, and avidly tuned in each week for the first 2 series. Then something happened, well two things actually; I started University and the show moved to satellite TV, as it was then, so no more access to Beverly Hills 90210 for me. Being one of those people who has to watch every episode in the right order, I never watched any more than those first two seasons. Thank goodness for DVDs - I have seasons 1-3 on DVD and have re-watched season 1, with an eye to purchasing season 4 and catching up!

Fast Forward to 2009 and the new 90210 has started - they have dropped the Beverly Hills from the show name but it's all very familiar. We are back at West Beverly High, there's a Zuckerman involved in the school TV show and even Kelly Taylor is a staff member - the guidance counsellor no less!

The main characters are a daughter and adopted brother who move from the country to fast paced Beverly Hills - sound familiar? He's interested in journalism and she makes friends with the most popular girl in school - sound even more familiar? Even Nat is still working at the Peach Pit! I have only watched episode 1 of the 2 shown so far and the credits promise a guest appearance from Shannon ' Brenda Walsh' Doherty at some point.

It's as shallow and trashy as it was 20 years ago, and once again I'm hooked!

Budget Meals: Pasta Bake

Costs from Sainsburys:

200g Pasta = 30p
200g Sweetcorn = 30p
200ml Milk = 20p
185g Tuna = 55p
100g Cheese = 72p
295g Campbell's 99% Fat Free Mushroom Condensed Soup = 53p

Total Cost = £2.60

Cook the pasta! Drain and then add the soup, tuna, sweetcorn and milk. Heat through, stirring regularly. Transfer to an oven dish and sprinkle the cheese on top. Grill until golden brown on top, and serve!

Serves 4

Weebles Wobble...

...but they don't fall down!

That's the little rhyme that used to accompany the advert these when I was a child. I remember having a Weeble garage with little Weeble cars - I had no idea they were still making these. The set in the picture is for 18+ months so we'll have to wait another 8 months before we can buy anything like this for Lucas.

The Weebles themselves seem to have changes a bit, they used to look like this:

Clone Wars Blu-ray

So, over half a year since it appeared in the cinema I finally got to see the Star Wars: Clone Wars film after buying the Blu-ray. As a PS3 owner the choice between Blu-ray and DVD was a no-brainer - not only was there little difference in price, but the Blu-ray has a ton of extras, most in high definition too.

Going into this film I knew it was targeted it kids and that it had bombed in the box office. However, that didn't stop me enjoying was an enjoyable romp with a fun story and some interesting characters, old and new.

At first I wasn't sure about the voices of Obi Wan and Anakin but as the film progressed they became 'their voices' and even started to think they sounded like McGregor and Christianson respectively. Speaking of voices (see what I did there?), anyone spot the guy who looked like a young John Cleese and sounded just like him?

The addition of the new Padawan Learner, Ahsoka Tano, under Anakin was a nice touch and the relationship between the two started to develop nicely and provided us with some humourous moments. It'll be interesting to see how that progresses, and how she inevitably dies - well, she wasn't in Revenge of the Sith, was she?

The animation was top class and the video and audio quality were superb - a great example of Blu-ray quality. I look to forward to watching the extras and the TV series too. Out of 5 stars, Clone Wars gets a pretty damn good 4.

Comic Recommendation: DMZ

Having read volume 1 of DMZ; One The Ground, I can wholly recommend it as a gritty, gripping and emotionally involving (couldn't think of another 'g' word) story with some fantastic artwork.

This is from Wiki:

- - -

The setting is New York City in the near future. A civil war is taking place between the United States of America and the Free States. The Free States are described in the first issue as being "New Jersey and inland"; in issue #8, it is revealed that "the Free States are an idea, not a geographical entity";[3] the movement began in Montana and made its way east. The Free Armies and the U.S. military met at Allentown, Pennsylvania where the Free Armies won, after which the Free Armies descended on New York; the exact chain of events from hereon has yet to be revealed. Manhattan is the location of the demilitarized zone between the two warring parties. In an interview, Brian Wood described the back-history as the citizens of Middle America having risen up against the pre-emptive war policies of the US government, causing a Second American Civil War.

The protagonist is Matthew (Matty) Roth, a naïve photo journalism intern from Long Island, who enters the DMZ with a news-crew. He becomes trapped when the rest of the news crew and the soldiers escorting them are killed in a firefight with "insurgents". Matty becomes the only journalist on the ground in the DMZ and he begins to report on the daily struggle of life for the everyday citizens of Manhattan.

- - -

After finishing Y: The Last Man and reading the latest Fables (War and Pieces) I wanted a new series to get stuck into. After many recommendations from the fine people on the SFX Forum I decided to go for DMZ and got volume 1 from my local library - one of the few graphic novels/trade paperbacks they actually stock. A few pages in and I knew I'd made a good choice - interesting and topical setting with a good lead character and great artwork - a page turner of a comic book which saw me with my heart in my hand towards the end of this volume.

The next 4 volumes are on their way to me now - if only I wasn't so impatient!

Mariusz makes it 5!

Beating the record of 4 World's Strongest Man titles held by Jón Páll Sigmarsson and Magnús Ver Magnússon, Mariusz Pudzianowski won the 2008 World's Strongest Man to get his record breaking 5th title.

As amazing as The Dominator's record was, and it really was, one other story came out of the competition and that is Derek Poundstone, as seen pictured above. The 2008competition was his first World's Strongest Man and he led the competition up until the last event where Pudzianowski beat him in the Atlas Stones. What makes Poundstone's success even more phenomenal is that he only does it part time - his full time job is that of a police officer for the Naugatuck, Connecticut Police Department!

Expect the 2009 competition to be one that Derek Poundstone will not want to lose!

A special mention goes to Magnus Samuelson from Sweden - winner of the 1998 World's Strongest Man and a 13 year veteran of the competition, announced his retirement from World's Strongest Man. Once the best Arm Wrestler in Europe, Samuelson famously broke the arm of professional wrestler and actor Nathan Jones in an arm wrestling match.