Author Archives: James Higham

Fri Mat one

 

Don’t know about you … a film certainly has its points … big budget, panoramas, sets, top stars, top director, highly constructed … yes, nice but sometimes an episode or two of a show is just the ticket for a break from the horrors … and two episodes is just what the doctor ordered, Steve and other sore ole bods. The second is a special Perry Mason mid afternoon with an unusual sidekick indeed, pity she only appeared in the one episode … that may have been partly because it was Raymond Burr’s final episode.

Friday [7 to 10]

(1107) Elevenses going nicely, ipads behaving, got through to the lady with the sick daughter. Cunning plan is for a Simon Templar with Suzanne Farmer. I know some of you prefer Annette Andre. There might be a film too later, see how we go. (1152)

 

10. Moosh corner


9. Why? Just why?


8. More cyber issues


7. Not so interesting but still highly significant over there

Friday [6]

(0844) Nondescript out there. (0944)

 

Bad things come in threes

So “they” say, whoever “they” are … it seems to have been as dusk fell yesterday. It had been a good day, productive. Almost suddenly, three things came through.

a. The news out of Iraq and Trump’s betrayal of those common people will go down in infamy … there are no good constructions to place on it. He’d promised eight times, vehemently. Footage which might be apocryphal but it’s irrelevant but reports confirm from Iraqi sources say people were fleeing into the hills to try to escape the slaughter.

What did Trump weakly accept being fobbed off with? That the 800 condemned to being hanged from cranes had a brief reprieve, while the 12 to 20,000 already dead and about ten thou in jails to be tortured were the reality, the revolution has collapsed, Qatar and other Arab nations happy for now. Even our own readers here are possibly divided … divide and rule, see?

I’m in deep shock, more than I ever thought I’d be … it’s not white Eva Vlaas, is it? So we don’t need to worry about these ordinary Iraqis who acted on a promise from the one world leader remaining … so they thought.

The question is NOT whether he should ever have promised … that’s another question entirely … at a minimum, he should have checked how safe that Qatari launch base was. No, he bigmouthed and bragged … thousands died.

He did promise … then reneged. Zero understanding. Possibly senile. Surrounded by traitors in his own entourage. So I look at our own issues here in Britain … police chief asked why they stand back. “Vastly outnumbered,” was his reply. Many times over. Jawdropping tyranny by the entire Westminster sewer. Jenrick? Who gives a toss? Eva Vlaar? Collateral.

b. A brief interlude where gmail went haywire, crashed twice … and it was someone breaching security. Why? Still shaking the head here. No matter, we got around it. Similar with Julia and I across the way. Again, ways around it … big shout out for MMutR and his assessment.

c. Apple. I know quite a few of you have various issues too, for example IYE and the coldness of the computer area. Julia this morning … Chrome will not load ggl itself. She refuses to use some thingy called Edge. Many of you have persistent health issues, grumbling health … yes.

Apple auto update the ipads and until now, with some reservations, I just let it happen, the difference was not all that noticeable. Not this time. It was my damaged middle pad that started it, the one I keep just for NHS things. Bear in mind how much money is tied up in three pads for this next paragraph.

Pad updated, I entered the code, up came a panel. “To complete the update, just swipe your credit/debit card over this panel or fill in the details.”

You wot?

You bleedin’ wot? Something about Applepay. Ah, for the app shop or whatever … should I want to buy something?

Nope. Looked for the little x to escape. There was none … the panel was frozen there. Ah, but that’s my already damaged pad, damaged by the NHS app. No matter. Though lack of access to the NHS app was a pain. For now. You see, there’s a ladyfriend … daughter had to go to hospital, suddenly. I have to be in touch at intervals today, to just be here.

No matter … went to my trusty first pad from 2022 … working … but noticed that they were updating, whether I agree or not. Install now or install tonight? I ignored it. Went to the new pad I bought recently. Guess what? Ignored that too.

So, for now, two pads working, pending forced update later. You see where this is going, dear reader?

Now, I do have a workable laptop but it only operates from LAN. Whole point of the pads, multiple hubs etc. is the versatility. I could not run HQ except for those pads. There’s a question, you see, about my eyesight now, focal length, shan’t go into it, haven’t told you before, plus sitting on chairs … yep, have never told you that one before either. Actually useful … keeps the bod moving.

That’s just an example of how it’s all ratcheting now, for all of us.

This pad now, the 2022 original, still undamaged. I go into OoL, which is ggl. … remember Julia’s issue? Ok, I want to upload the compressed sshot in the new post this morning (it’s up now, you can see it over there. Won’t upload at this point in the tale though.

No matter, I remember that this first pad was doing this with ggl anyway … try once, rejected. Try twice, won’t even look. Try thrice … usually works.

Not today. Ggl flatly refused to upload images. Panel came up all right, saying images, drag or drop … disappeared … blank window. No matter … refresh, go out, come back later.

Nope … that’s two pads no images possible now. Only the latest I bought … what if I had not, eh?

You do see where all this is going … HQ runs on sshots as you know. Steve had put three X links up last evening, fairly pointless given this new device crisis. The whole thing, let alone the coming forced version update, does threaten to kill HQ, while HQ itself still works fine.

Now … again … there are ways around it … new HQ theme for example, new provider, sky’s the limit, as on July 26th two years ago. Just be prepared, dear reader. Any HQ down prob … check NOWP. After that, UHC-WP. Failing that … Jstack. Failing that … OoL. Failing that … Julia’s own site. Failing that or maybe also … X. If that’s down … Gab. Failing that, email me.

🍿🍿🍿🍿

Friday [1 to 5]

(0506) Posting from bed. (0526)

 

5. And so to Trump’s betrayal and weakness

Whatever he once had, it’s certainly gone now:


This was from downunder but is still universal:


4. All western govts are paralysed right now


3. Steve at 1264

  • Karoline Leavitt Unloads on Reporter for Accusing ICE Agent of “Recklessly” and “Unjustifiably” Killing Renee Good
  • Minneapolis Rioters Destroy and Loot ICE and FBI Vehicles, Steal Sensitive Documents and Ammunition While Local Cops Do Nothing
  • Trump Warns That if ‘Corrupt’ Minnesota Politicians Don’t Stop the Attacks on ICE Agents, He Will Invoke the Insurrection Act (JH: Yet another toothless threat?)
  • Moscow Steps In US Iran Conflict; Trump Backs Off; Kiev Admits Odessa Russian Main Goal; Kiev Crisis
  • Argentina designates Moose Limb Brotherhood a terrorist organisation
  • Much more.

2. Over at OoL

https://orphansofliberty.blogspot.com/2026/01/hr-protectors-of-corporate-wokery.html

1. DAD at 1264

a) In response to heightened US pressure, including repeated statements from President Donald Trump emphasising the strategic necessity of US control over the Arctic island, several European NATO allies have promised to send troops and materiel to the Nordic territory.

b) The British activists are accused of “searching for and destroying small boats,” the small makeshift vessels used by migrants to reach England from the French coast.

c) Germany’s decision to shut down all its nuclear power plants was a “huge mistake” and has come at a high cost to the economy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday….

d) Eva Vlaardingerbroek ban comes under heavy scrutiny, but unlikely to be revoked.

e) Electoral Earthquake in Lisbon: Chega emerges as leading force in Portugal’s Presidential Contest.

Thursday [21 till close of play]

(1601) Approaching evening, got a fair bit done but also some dismaying signs out in the world. (1958) Separate issues suddenly hit. With one, Apple suddenly started demanding money after an upgrade … fortunately it’s the third, old ipad … need to escape that tomorrow somehow. In the other, nearly lost gmail when some interloper tried to take over our correspondence, my friend and I. Why it had to be in the evening as I ran out of steam … who knows?

 

29. Plod


28. This lady would know

The figure I saw was one third of all UK pregnancies are aborted.


27. Norway seems almost as bad


26. Hard to argue with it


25. Iran


24. Thune

23. Have MAGA been duped?


22. Jenrick


21. Steve at 1264

  • Eva Vlaardingerbroek: I Received An Email Out Of The Blue From The UK Government Saying That My Presence Is “Not Conducive To The Public Good Of The United Kingdom.” Just 3 Days Ago I Posted A Tweet About Keir Starmer That It Seems He Didn’t Like
  • Brian Harrison: Our Governor And Other Elected Officials Claim We Have Banned Sharia Law But We Simply Have Not! Republicans in Texas Need To Stand Up And Speak The Truth. We Need Action Now!
  • John Solomon: $700 Million In Suitcases Flew Out Of Minnesota Via A Sophisticated Somali Cash-Courier Network. TSA Confirms $136 Million Was Tracked From Columbus, Ohio, And Funneled To Minneapolis Couriers Who Combined Loads And Shipped It Overseas.
  • Mark Beall: The Idea Of Letting China Have Access To Exquisite American Hardware That They Can Use To Accelerate Their Own AI Industry Is A National Security Threat
  • Natalie Winters: ‘I voted for Mass Deportations Not Mass Regime Change’
  • Sam Faddis: It’s Not As Simple As Just Bombing A Few Sites In Iran And The Regime Will Topple. They’ve Been Bombed Many Times They’re Still In Power. It’s Gonna Take A Heck Of A Lot More Than That To Get Rid Of Them

Thur Mat

 

“The work of Raymond Chandler experienced a resurgence in the 1970s, thanks to Robert Altman’s ‘The Long Goodbye (1973)’ and Roman Polanski’s very Chandler-ish ‘Chinatown (1974).’ The waning career of Robert Mitchum was also revived by two Chandler adaptations, ‘Farewell, My Lovely (1975)’ {previously filmed by Edward Dmytryk as ‘Murder, My Sweet (1944)’} and ‘The Big Sleep (1978) {previously filmed by Howard Hawks}. Though outside the traditionally-accepted film noir period (approx. 1940-1958), the 1970s provided an ideal climate for a resurgence of the style.

The demise of the Production Code in the 1960s had allowed filmmakers the freedom to explore more explicit themes, usually implying an increase in language, violence and nudity. Chandler’s novels – which typically dabbled in themes of prostitution, homosexuality and pornography – could now be adapted faithfully without the threat of censorship, though fortunately, in the case of this particular film, director Dick Richards doesn’t overdo the sleaze. The source material is one of the few Marlowe novels I haven’t read, but ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ nevertheless seems a loyal interpretation of the author’s style.

Philip Marlowe is the sort of role that Robert Mitchum would have nailed in the 1950s, when he always seemed to feel old and weary without actually looking it. Nevertheless – though he lacks the cocky vigour of Dick Powell, or the invincibility of Humphrey Bogart – the aging Mitchum does communicate what is perhaps Marlowe’s most defining characteristic: that of a disillusioned, world-weary private dick looking for something in this world, anything, worth fighting for. In his latest case, Marlowe is hired by fearless lug Moose Malloy (Jack O’Halloran) to find his girlfriend Velma, who vanished while Malloy was serving a prison sentence.

As always, what had initially seemed a straightforward assignment soon gets Marlowe embroiled in a complex patchwork of deceits, murders and double-crossings. Crucial to the mystery is Charlotte Rampling (emulating Lauren Bacall) as the adulterous wife of an old millionaire, and Oscar-nominated Sylvia Myles as an alcoholic performance artist. Also look out for small roles from Harry Dean Stanton as Det. Rolfe, and Sylvester Stallone as a lustful thug.

‘Farewell, My Lovely’ does a fine job of translating Chandler’s pessimistic vision of urban decay and human depravity. The 1940s adaptations are, of course, superbly entertaining, but most of them – particularly ‘The Big Sleep (1946)’ and ‘Lady in the Lake (1947)’ – are clearly filmed on a pristine studio set, somewhat offsetting the grittiness of Chandler’s characters and plot. Richards’ film, to his credit, is incredibly ugly. Aside from Helen Grayle, whose sprawling mansion suffers next to Buckingham Palace, most of Marlowe’s witnesses live in appalling squalor; even his own office is drab and bathed in shadow.

Yet, despite the unpolished milieu, ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ most assuredly has a heart. Marlowe’s wordless interactions with the son of a penniless musician help us see beneath the detective’s front of indifference, hinting at his admiration for the honest working-class, and his fervent distaste towards the decadence of the wealthy. When offered his own wealth, Marlowe unthinkingly surrenders it to someone he deems more worthy, a touching but cheerless ending to a film steeped in the unpleasantness of human existence.”