Film review: United 93

It’s that horrible time of year when we all remember the sad atrocities in Lower Manhattan. I recently watched the film United 93 - a very sobering account into what the hijacked airline passengers and staff must have gone through and how the military and air traffic controllers had to deal with the total meltdown and take over of the US east coast by Al-Qaeda. It certainly brings it all back around this time but I think that’s a gentle reminder to us all to stop and remember those who died. Never forget. One of the best cities in the world. We love you New York.

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Affinity lays down yet another marker

Almost two decades since Adobe launched Indesign to rival and ultimately knock QuarkXpress off its perch, Affinity Publisher you could argue is looking to do the same to the giants that brought us the Creative Cloud.

I’m sure they’ll be Affinity fans looking to migrate across and drop their CC subscriptions... but not just yet.

Affinity Publisher was launched end of August

Affinity Publisher was launched end of August

It’s early days as Publisher is still in BETA but with Designer and Photo getting rave reviews Publisher looks to follow in its siblings footsteps. No doubt the team at Affinity are well into production on extending the family with video and web applications too although, they may have upset their neighbours.

Never judge a book by its jacket

Back at the start of the year I was asked by my best mate if I would be his best man at his wedding. Naturally I would be chuffed to return the favour he had done for me 3 years prior but at the same time the dreaded thought of doing a speech sprung to mind.

Fast forward a few months and the stag do had gone really well -  Part 1 accomplished and a very happy stag.

So now it's time to concentrate on the wedding and the composing of my speech. It's almost written and includes a prop - a mock dust jacket that will hopefully go down a ‘storm’.

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I know, it’s only a logo but I like it, like it, yes I do

And it’s all thanks to a 25 year old art student Jon Pasche. He was paid £50 for his design - money we’ll spent I’d say.

So I recently went to see the greatest rock and roll band in the world on their latest tour - no filter. Of course they were nothing short of great in my eyes, but then again I expected nothing less. It was my first Stones gig and I loved every minute.

I thought the artwork for the latest tour was great too with striking colours and edgy textures. 

The logo’s longevity has been just as remarkable as the five band members it represents. Long may it continue.

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Whoops!

It seems I kinda photobombed myself in a funny kinda way this morning, but can you guess what the photo is all about? 

Am loving the grey texture btw.

#hapkneefriyay

 

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What ice beneath?

Nat Geo does it again with an amazingly simple but powerful message to the humans of this Earth. 

Just the tip: We’re only just beginning to clean up our act.

Just the tip: We’re only just beginning to clean up our act.


Ive always been a fan of the perfect bound yellow magazine. Perfect in so many ways. As much an icon of colour as the Yellow Pages or the red and black leather covers of Encyclopaedia Britannica with content and photography to rival any current affairs or travel pub out there. The size has always been a big appeal to me too, large enough to hold and read comfortably, but with a light paper stock, perfect to fold in half and store in your travel luggage at the airport - which is where I normally pick mine up.

Of course, many a copy of NG have been picked up at boot sales or charity shops - that’s the kind of following this treasured title has been recognised for if not only for the cover photo- any and every issue becomes a collectors item because of that . The latest issue is no different, and in some ways is more valuable than any other.

Wrongly Sacked Writer?

A Beatle of wills between copywriter Aubrey Malden and Ogilvy himself. A strong idea is sometimes too good to ignore based on old-fashioned principles.

This is an extract from his book Between the Briefs by Aubrey himself which I’ve added to my wish list.


https://tinyurl.com/ybp4veht

Shock horror! 😱

I feel slightly embarrassed to say it’s taken me 36 years to finally sit down and watch Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

This fantastic story written by Robert Bloch adapted by Hitchcock way back in ‘60 blew me away particularly with its very clever cinematography. Amazing.

I’m definitely a sucker for the oldies. I’d say I only watch a handful of the latest releases, most of which I find to be either money spinners (Fast and Furious) or just have weak story lines; action films that quite frankly have camera motion on roids. Don’t get me started on muffled dialogue.

I have rules too. Well one really, and a fair one at that - all films I watch have to be reviewed 7+ on IMDB unless my wife wants to watch a chick flick (arrrgghhhh!).

We’ll that's ok then, Physcho is rated 8.5/10. However, still not high enough in my opinion.

If you haven’t seen it you should be embarrassed, if you’ve reached 36 or not. Still better late than never, (unlike Fast and Furious cough).

 

 

 

Supergroup Loop #2 Whitney Houston

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Thought it was about time for another Loop. Listen responsibly 🎧

 

 

 

1. Whitney Houston Queen of the night

2. Queen Killer queen

3. Queen of the Stone Age  I sat by the Ocean

4. Frank Ocean Pink + white

5. The White Stripes Seven nation army

6. Shed Seven Chasing rainbows

7. Rainbow The temple of the king

8. Carole King I feel the earth move

9. Earth Wind and Fire In the stone

10. The Stone Roses Fools gold

11. Andrew Gold Lonely boy

12. Naughty Boy La la la

13. The La’s Feel in’

 

 

 

14. The Feeling Feel my little world

15. Little Mix Black magic

16. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Echo

17. Echo and the Bunnymen Scissors in the sand

18. Scissor Sisters Skin this cat

19. Cat Stevens Matthew & son

20. Dave Matthews Band Jimi thing

21. Jimi Hendrix Dolly dagger

22. Dolly Parton I will always love you

23. Whitney Houston I will always love you

FCK!

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KFC has taken a blunt and humorous approach to a chicken supply crisis that forced it to shut down restaurants across the UK.

A print ad by Mother rearranges the letters of the fast-food chain's name to spell "FCK" on a chicken bucket. The apology spot ran in The Sun and Metro and pointed viewers to a website with status updates on local outlets. KFC’s fiasco started after it switched to a new delivery supplier, which experienced "operational issues" leading to a chicken shortage and KFC temporarily closing most of its UK stores. But the brand’s honesty and humour in response to the disaster is likely to help it in the long term.