Pete’s Friends and Family

Gibsons, Spearses holiday together

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:44:49 +0100

Finally, a celeb decides to extend a hand of friendship to beleaguered celeb Britney Spears:

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0516/spearsb.html

Mel Gibson may slag off Judaism and Jews when drunk but it is high time someone showed some kindness to Britney and her family.
It’s a good move for two celebs who need a bit of a positive boost in the media.

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Life on Mars trailer—the American version

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:25:27 +0100

Here’s the full publicity picture from US Life on Mars, including the American Gene Hunt himself (Colm Meaney), Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) and Annie Cartwright (Rachelle Lefevre).

Life on Mars US

What is American for ‘You great, soft, sissy, girly, nancy, French, bender, Man. United-supporting poof!’?
Here’s another pic from the network:. Question: who’s the old dude on the left? Is this the American Ray?

Cast photo

   And, finally, the trailer, which is of great interest to me. Fans of the original, you’ll notice many things are repeated from the first episode in the UK, except the Americans drive on the wrong side of the road—so Sam stops his Jeep on the right side. (He is, interestingly, struck from left to right, too.) The suspect’s name, Colin Raimes, is the same, Sam’s girlfriend in the present is called Maya, and even the Life on Mars title card looks very much like the original with a few changes for US tastes. IMDB says Edmund Butt, who scored the original, has the same job this time around.
   Gene seems less tough in this incarnation though. Maybe Philip Glenister desensitized us?
   I was laughing through most of it (note the American VO with ‘Back in the nick of time’, used in the second series) but unlike most Brit fans, I am looking forward to this.

Life on Mars USA—first trailer

Un pub pour la nouvelle série américaine Life on Mars, avec les photographies de publicité. Il y a beaucoup de similitudes avec la série originale britannique du BBC.

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Get inspired

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:53:16 +0100

At Wyldreams’ suggestion (or inspiration) I have set up a group for idealists on Vox. The premise: if porn, gossip and related crap can so easily get propagated online, why not inspirational messages and idealist thoughts about how our world can be run? And if we all post our ideas there, and others can read them, then maybe we can start effecting some positive change? Please consider joining and posting.
Note: I know politics may enter it but let’s try to not make things divisive, please.

http://idealists.groups.vox.com

Pass the word!

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They should have worn the family tartan

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:45:20 +0100

There is an urban myth that when Scottish Television’s Taggart was aired in the US, it needed subtitles because American audiences could not understand the accent. I’m not so sure, because I understand this is the norm these days on late night TV on CBS and Americans have no problem understanding this:

"A Visit From Craig's Sister" April 16 (2008)

What a pity The Late Late Show is not aired in the UK or in New Zealand. I think the Scottish humour works down here better than David Letterman’s. Craig Ferguson’s regular comments about living in the US as a foreigner are very Flight of the Conchords. I have been watching it regularly on YouTube.

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Look up! Look out!

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:21:10 +0100

Sometimes when you look up, you see some interesting things. First, on the Terrace in Wellington, when I noticed a lovely blue sky in autumn.

Buildings on the Terrace

Then, when in Auckland:

Abseiling in Auckland

I was heading down to Simon and Marie Young’s office so I didn’t stop to find out what this was all about. Was it training, a fancy way of washing the building, or fans of Police Rescue doing a tribute?

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It’s like I’ve landed on a different planet (yes, Sam, it’s Los Angeles)

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:40:29 +0100

My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident and woke up as an American. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time?

Sam Tyler and Annie Cartwright US style

Here’s the first official image from the US Life on Mars, photographed by Vivian Zink for ABC. It’s not overly American in the casting department: Irish actor Jason O’Mara is Sam Tyler, Canadian actress Rachelle Lefevre is Annie Cartwright. Not pictured is the other Irish expat, Colm Meaney, as Gene Hunt. What is interesting is the image confirms that Annie is a detective from episode one in the States, rather than a uniformed police officer.

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Auto Focus

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:25:10 +0100

Ford Focus 2.0

Ford Focus 2.0 rear view

Here is the Ford Focus that I was lent, but these are not the film shots, just low-res phone-camera ones. It looks a lot nicer than the previous model and is better screwed together. From the front, it has the Ford family look that started with the Galaxy and S-Max, and for the first time in many years, there’s now a consistent grille between Focus, Mondeo and Falcon (E241). It’s a typical Ford strategy to make the base model look more high-line at facelift time, and this is no exception. Plus I love the colour.

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Monarch in May

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 01:17:59 +0100

And here’s another one, letting me come up really close as well. Beautiful—and I still wonder if it’s a sign.

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Airport ’08 (without the disaster stuff)

nobody@vox.com(Jack Yan) — Sat, 17 May 2008 01:05:26 +0100

I was booked on a 7.30 p.m. flight last night, which is why I landed at 11 p.m.
   Fog closed Auckland Airport earlier yesterday so I was stuck waiting for a few hours. But at least I got something out of the fog: thanks to it, we managed to get some good shots of the Ford Focus that FoMoCo lent me.
   Other folks weren’t so fortunate.
   I saw a lady travelling with her two daughters from London, England, who had been flying since Wednesday on London–Dubai–Singapore–Auckland–Wellington tickets, and she only faced a delay when getting to New Zealand.
   And Ray Nelson and his wife, heading to Christchurch for a headstone unveiling ceremony, who had been there for 12 hours all told, flying up from Tauranga.
   Ray, his wife and I had plenty of good conversation about Māoridom and language, which fascinated me.
   I also saw a St Mark’s alumna, who filled me in with what’s been happening at our school. It seems there was another principal v. Synod bust-up.
   I won’t name her in case there are repercussions but she is diplomatic and I am reading between the lines rather than attributing the news directly to her.
   All I know is that as an alumnus I am not delighted with the way the Church sometimes treats the school principals, especially one who has done as good a job as Tina Leach.
   Tina and I worked closely together on various school matters ranging from the alumni groups to the yearbook over her term, and I really felt she managed to stretch the budget and offer the kids amazing opportunities.
   I’m going to pay the school a surprise visit as a long-standing old boy and size up this acting principal, and see if I can find out more. But it sure sounds like petty politics to me, the kind that churches only do so well.

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Violence breeds violence

nobody@vox.com(minks) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:49:48 +0100

The dance of the custard took it out of us both yesterday. I want a custard, mummy. I want that spoon, no not that spoon, I want to eat it there, no there, no I want to open it. No not that way, No mummy I want a custard. Custard mummy, no not there. there. No mummy- All screeched at ear bleeding pitch. It went on for an hour. And that was after my confiscating said custard after the first five minutes of tantrum. Seth is hard. I forsee great things for this one. But perhaps not a happy marriage.

Also, they've taken to battering each other. Despite separating them, and removing treats, and toys and putting them in seperate rooms, they still pummel each other at every possible opportunity. Every game involves some form of battle. Even the teddies end up brawling.

They adore each other and can spend hours building dens and airships and pirate ships. Then make guns and swords and wands from anything they can find and 'do battle.' I really am sick of hearing them cry, because bit of rough play has ended in someone getting hurt. I catch myself saying "well, perhaps you'll think on next time" rather than focusing on the hurt. I have been known to throw them both in the garden in desperation and suggest they 'beat each other to death outside so as not to dirty the carpet.' Only the bemused looks on their faces and my grin emphasise the sarcasm. They might not be so shocked the next time I condone violence. Parenting gone wrong in face of extreme and constant noise and violence. I threatened them with Asbo's the other day. Offering to phone the police if they didn't stop flicking each other. Scary thing is, I remember doing this with my sister, and mum saying exactly the same to me. Though we were threatened with the orphanage and borstal.

Its probably far too much telly, far too many Ben 10 episodes. Probably the bickering that goes on between me and John at all times. Probably the stories we tell them (about pirates, and wizards and magical beasts) are too graphically violent. It does make me stop and wonder why there has to be a battle or struggle in every narrative. Even Smelly Bill fights with Aunt Bleach.

I am one of those mum's that ban guns and swords. When Ez fashions a lazer gun from a straw, I mantra "guns are dangerous, and seriously hurt and can even kill people. They are not toys, and playing at hurting people is not a fun game" to which he replies "don't worry mummy, its a pretend gun, and I'm only pretending to hurt people."

I am giving them mixed messages. Buzz Lightyear can use his lazer blasters all he likes, but Ezra can't pretend to shoot Woody's pistol.

He recently asked. "Mummy, deading someone is naughty. Why do animals get deaded for meat?" I answered honestly, but could tell my skewed moral code, confused him. Needless to say, he is definitely a veggie in the making.

Being a parent is confusing stuff. Sometimes I wish I could think more clearly and broadly before making decisions about what they learn and how we teach teach them. Honestly, it gets a bit boring sometimes, and sanity dictates I take time out otherwise I would go insane. Perhaps my sanity is not important. I should ditch the blogging and hoovering, if favour of even more constructive game play. As I hear Ezra yelling at Seth, "get out of here, young man. I'm sick and tired of hearing you screech" I could shoot myself in the head.

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