2 Way Mirror

Gig Review:

For the first time since the Datsuns played waaaay back we arrived at Face Off by 10 - the place looked deserted and it took a while to find our way into the underground new third room - which is pretty cool as it turned out. The reason for this unearthly time? A new metal band, 2 Way Mirror. Unconvinced but driven by loyalty and curiousity I wait for the to take the stage. After only having heard a few tracks a few hours before I wasn't sure what to expect, and was really expecting more FFAF than 'Tallica.

After a less than convincing opening track they warmed up, playing all bar one original track - and the cover was glam-metal all the way and went down well (although I didn't catch who it was). They stormed through some other songs, although left out the excellent 2Die4 from the set, which I though was a shame. The final track, Bullethole (?) was a stormer though and really gave them a great finale - if more of their tracks were this good they would go further quicker, but as a band they are keen to experiment and broaden their influences, which in an age dominated by the Triviums and such like of this world is only to be commended.

Again, like Trivium, some of the vocals tended to work against the awesome riffs and solos, but when it hit it, hit dead on - a new (not Nu!!) metal band that I actually like? Surely not? Perhaps I'm an oldie, but a bit more snarl and a bit less whimper in the vocals works for me - mean it! Otherwise they risk turning away from a poromising metal background with interesting intertwinings of Emo and indie to more coheed-and-cambria style whine. I don't think they will fall into this trap though, and should draw more on their G'n'R and Pantera influences to counterbalance the creeping tide 'emo'.

Harder & heavier - the buzz words for all metal bands!

Check out the band and download the EP tracks at www.2waymirror.co.uk

2Die4 is the pick of these, although the others are well worth the listen (don't be put off by the Fortune Faded style guitar intro on Nothing Left to Say it gets heavier).

Better yet check em out live:

30.03.06 - Tom's bar, Pontypridd with Tobias
01.04.06 - The Black, Aberdare with Beyond Afterlife

Greg "the dark horse" Barber

In addition to being the SMS Technician and running a paper company, Greg also finds the time to be both an international ice hockey player and a Basketball Legend!


Who'd have thought it!

Swansea's Housing Crisis - the REAL reason

Swansea Herald leak why affordable family housing is so scarce in Swansea!

Stalin for SUSU President

On Campaign day for the Student Union at Swansea I came across this taped to the wall - a small amount of amusement on an otherwise irritating day. Amongst Uncle Jo's campaign pleadges are

"Introduce a cheaper sandwich shop"

"Divert University funding to tracking down the elusive Bigfoot" (which is probably better science than half the reserahc projects at the moment)

"Strike fear into the hearts of our ooponents with our 5-year plan for the future of Swansea University"

and most importantly

"Collectivise all AU societies into one efficient and productive society"

Sensible policies for a sencible Union

....all run by a power hungry loon who lost the plot.

Hang on a minute......!

Guns don't kill people - little foam balls do

Cath and I discovered these in the Next discount store for a fiver each - all the fun of paintball, most of the pain but none of the mess! So we have been pelting each other with deceptively hard foam balls recently - already half of them are wedged somewhere!

Soap Display: project filler

My next project is to recreate the full shop display on this beast - 7x12 bars of soap, 36 bottles of bubble bath and 36 bottles of shampoo. So a nice cheap project then :-

More Shuttle Conundrums

Picture this in your head if you will:

it's 1985, you are a 6 year old with a new baby sister (unwanted), a massive star wars collection and fascination and an obsession with toy collecting. On an outing to Salisbury to obtain an ornage Tri-ang ride on tractor, in the Toyshop window you see the greatest toy ever - one you have never seen before or will ever see in a toyshop again: the Imperial Shuttle. It was £40, you beg your mum and dad - who, having just forked out for the aforementioned tractor and with a finance sapping infant mysteriously refuse - much to your amazement as parents never refuse you Star Wars toys. You are gutted. Years later you get back into Star Wars collecting as an adult passtime to discover that gleaming shuttle you missed out on for £40 as a child is now worth over £450!! Many opportunities to obtain one go by as lack of funds and unhelpful fathers refuse to allow the purchase. 21 years after your first sighting, you finally obtain the object of your desire. Now the real question:

Do you

a) Keep it in mint sealed condition to preserve it as a valuable collectable

or

b) Carefully unseal one end, remove and assemble the shuttle for display and play.

Normally, as an experienced collector, I wouldn't even be dreaming of this and would stab anyone who even suggested as such. However this is special to me. This is the one that got away. Something I have never held or played with or gone "Arrrroooowwwn" with whilst lugging it through the air to a simulated endor landing site on the sofa. being able to do this would bring a lot of childhood memories back and erase some of the demons installed by my spiteful parents, who in refusing to buy me toys have twisted me into the evil psychotic person you see before you, bitter and resentful. perhaps opening this shuttle may turn me into some saintly character, although I am sure it is too later for that, Luke.

The flip side of all this positivity is rather worrying - if I give in to my impulses and open it, would I then have a nervous breakdown after effectively destroying the inherent value in a MISB toy and by losing the respect of the collecting community, or simply forever regret doing something THAT stupid. At this stage I still favour opening it, but the final decision will take a lot of considering.

Any ideas?

Transformers, Easter Eggs and the "Last 12"

4 Easter Eggs so far - still haven't found the money bank one I saw in Waitrose in Barnet though :-(

3 of the first 4 Star Wars Transformers - looking for Luke/X Wing

I've just found out there are loads more to come - they are pretty cool though

On an annoying note, after a forum tip off I legged it (via Greg's car) down to TRU to check for the ROTS final 12 wave which were supposed to be in - only to find an empty rack where they had obviously all been poached. I refuse to ask - this is breaking the rules of engagement for collectors

(or something - not that I don't just want to look like a sad loser buying toys with a suit on)

Autograph Hunting

Gerald Home - Squid Head and, I believe, the guy from the Mr Muscle ads

Toby Philpott, Jabba's left hand and legendary inspiration for one of my nicknames (my name being Phil obviously). We chatted about this for a while and it transpired he works in Cardiff library! We also chatted about the derivation of the name Philpott - as in filler of pots.

John Coppinger (Jabba Sculptor) and Richard Le Parmentier (Motti). Both really friendly and funny guys. John looked shocked when he shook my hand and I screamed like a girl (it was the hand I had sprained a few days before - it hurt). Poor bloke, he caught up with me later on to ask if I was ok and I explained the whole thing. He asked me to let him know if I enjoyed his book - of which I will post a review later (Promise). John's website is cool too www.johncoppinger.com

Rusty Goffe (of Umpa Lumpa and bouncing dwarf weatheman from live TV fame) and Alan Harris (Bossk and Anthony Daniels' stand in)

A couple of reasonable Star Wars conventions in cardiff have produced some pretty obscure autographs. Toby Philpot was lush though. Check the randoms out here http://www.fantasymania.co.uk/cardiff12thmarch2006.html

"A Stormtrooper", "Naboo civilian" and "Massassi Temple Guard" were my favourites (who I didn't bother to give £10 to). I think they had "Yavin medal bearer" there too! Next time in Newport they have the guy who played the Incom Engineer you see checking Luke's X Wing on Yavin - HE IS NOT AN ACTOR?!!?!? Alex and I have met the guy and he is as mystified as we are as to why people give him money because he was in Star Wars for a microsecond if you freeze frame it and zoom in!

Star Wars Update

Some cool Sigma place mats and box I picked up from the US, some splits on the fragile cover but it is such a cool item.

After spending ages trying to fill a box I bought a full one -

now I'm trying to get rid of the 20 I bought!!

Really cool Clark's Tusken Raider Shoes. If they were bigger I'd wear them.

Adam Joseph R2 D2 Bank

MISB Vader's Tie Fighter from the 1983 Collector Series reissue to compliment my Landspeeder and Dewback

Trilogo Yoda and AT ST Driver C9 MOC

Barada C9 UP MOC - a steal at £35 from a guy in France!!

Well fans... I've been busy (or can't be arsed, one or the other).

Check out what I've bought with my time though!

SHUTTLE!

At last the beginning of the end of my childhood psychoses. Will I open it?

Stay tuned.....

Quantum Leap

Joey (Matt LeBlanc)

Jimmy from Quantum Leap

I have been watching a lot of Quantum Leap a lot recently after getting seasons 1-3 on DVD, and have been reminded of why I love it so much (aside from the - "hang on, if he changed that why doesn't his life change" and the "tiny ripples make huge changes" problems). I did notice, however, that in the classic "Jimmy" episode, the guy playing Jimmy when Sam looks in the mirror looks just like Matt LeBlanc! Spooky.

People on Ebay are stupid - here is the proof!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Amanaman-MINT-But-No-Arms-Last-17_W0QQitemZ6041295723QQcategoryZ50277QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYY?

Who would buy this? What purpose would it serve?

Finally, there is proof that not all vintage Star Wars can be sold.

Although I'm sure AFA would grade it 80 NM (NA) and someone would pay £80 for it.

I like the description:

Tight Limbs, Excellent Paintwork
No Staff & No Arms
As You Can See From The Photo Hes Armless But Mint
God Only Knows Why Hes Got Like This!!
Could It Have Been Luke Or Darth????

The fact that someone is willing to pay £2.73 for it even more impressive!

Ow

Sorry about the lack of posts, I ballsed my wrist up playing football last week and had to look like a twat in a sling for a day or two.

I have some exciting posts though (not least my new Imperial Shuttle arriving tomorrow!)

I will put some up tonight so stay tuned (that is, if anyone actually does tune in....)

Absolute Genius!!

http://rrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnhhhh.blogspot.com/

I Love Swansea in the Springtime.....

A Blizzard? In Swansea? IN MARCH!?!?!?!?!?

What the hell is going on?

Yesterday it managed to rain, sleet, hail, snow and icy rocks fell from the sky - interspersed with brilliant sunshine and blue sky. And Bush says there is no such thing as Global Warming and climate change?

Pretty - but lethal!