Tuesday 28 February 2006

Music-Map - The tourist map of music

Found this site whilst looking for some info for some musician or other. You type in a muso's name and it will produce a tag cloud/map of similar artists.

All the usual tag cloud rules apply e.g. distance from name relates to how similar the artists are etc. Great for finding artists that you may not have heard of before.

Read more at www.music-map.com/

Music-Map - The tourist map of music

Found this site whilst looking for some info for some musician or other. You type in a muso's name and it will produce a tag cloud/map of similar artists.

All the usual tag cloud rules apply e.g. distance from name relates to how similar the artists are etc. Great for finding artists that you may not have heard of before.

Read more at www.music-map.com/

Sunday 26 February 2006

I’m more than a bird...I’m more than a plane, More than some pretty face beside a train...

Whilst on a jaunt around London yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Orbital Comics . A comic shop I had been led to believe had closed. Paul & I had just left Gosh and I thought while we were in the area we should check it out. With Paul navigating we soon arrived at an unmarked door, followed by a steep staircase receding into a basement, the entranceway covered with comic memorabilia. I almost expected Joaquin Phoenix (w/ Flock of sea gulls hairdo) to appear and offer us some under the counter goods. I was pleasantly surprised to find the shop well stocked and laid out, focus is on back issues. The team were knowledgeable and did not treat me with the Clerk like disdain usually reserved for us lowly money spending customers.

Browsing a comic shop for the first time is always a bit of a buzz for me. I always live in the hope that I will find an undiscovered gem overlooked by the regular browsers.

To my astonishment I found a copy of the first issue of Comics The Extraordinary League. In its self a decent acquisition, however this particular copy was signed by the man himself, Mr. Allan Moore. Certainly an earlier than expected addition to the portfolio. The only decision remaining, did I store it in a long box with my existing signed AM treasures or in my secure Samsonite portable safe (known as an aluminium briefcase in some circles).

Whilst in the shop I discovered a box of original artwork for a Judge Dredd comic strip (not 2000AD). We also discovered that Paul's initial investment on Marvel's Secret War #1 was showing a healthy return of about 23.3% in the 18 months since he purchased it. Discussion soon lead to the increase in value on comics. We briefly chatted about my Ultimate Spiderman #1 CGC 9.6. I made a mental note to check in on its current value. This morning while trawling through some comic sites to a get big picture on the value of the afore mentioned Spiderman. I came across some comic trivia regarding the writers origins of Superman.
Superman, aka "The Man of Steel", is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and has for several decades been one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons.

The character, created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel for National Comics (today DC Comics), subsequently appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films, and video games. Superman was born Kal-El on the planet Krypton. He was sent to Earth in a rocket by his scientist father Jor-El moments before Krypton exploded, landing on Earth outside the town of Smallville, where he was discovered and adopted by the amiable Jonathan and Martha Kent. As he grew, he discovered that he possessed superhuman powers. When not fighting the forces of evil as Superman, he lives disguised as Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered reporter" for the Daily Planet. Clark works alongside reporter Lois Lane, with whom he is romantically involved. In current comics continuity, they are married. However, he had several other relationships during his years in comics. The character's adventures are today published in a number of comic books.
I grew up knowing Superman was Jewish and was always surprised when discussing Superman with my peers that most were not aware of Superman's origin. Occasionally when faced with disbelieving opposition (Yids as well). I understood why Supes roots may have been blurred. Would he have been as popular if his religious undertones were blatant. Anyway with the new Superman film around the corner I thought I'd look into the facts and explore why I had this belief.

None of the following are my own words I just eclectically copied and strung them together.

Some background:
In 1934 the US was in the midst of the Great Depression and the Nazis were in power in Germany. Joe Shuster, who moved from Canada to Cleveland, met his long lost cousin Jerry Siegel when he was 16. They immediately became close friends as they both shared a passion for science- fiction and comic books. Flash Gordon and Little Nemo were their favourites. Both were Jewish, shy and wore glasses. Joe had already published several cartoon illustrations in his Junior High School paper, while Jerry had published "Cosmic Stories" at 14. The name for their character came from the German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche's book "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" in which he introduces the concept of "Superman". The great-souled hero who transcends the enslavement of Christian morality by his "will to power". The original model for the character was based on the actor Douglas Fairbanks Senior. Both Siegel and Shuster loved the movies he played in, especially "The Mark of Zoro" and "Robin Hood". The actor's stance was used as a model for the drawings of Superman. The pose now famous is that of the hero who stands with his hands on his hips and his feet apart. On the other hand the model for the diminutive reporter Clark Kent was that of Harold Lloyd.

The first mythical analogy that springs to mind is that of Moses' early days. He too was saved by his parents from the murderous hands of the Pharaoh who had ordered to kill all the Hebrew newborn males. Moses' mother put him in a watertight reed basket and set him afloat on the Nile. The child was found by the Pharaoh's daughter who was bathing in the river nearby. She recognized him as one of the Hebrew children and adopted him. Moses grew up in the royal court and he too shared a double identity: as an Egyptian prince and as the great liberator of the Jewish people.

Superman's original name on Krypton was Kal-El and his father's was Jor-El. The suffix of both names has a biblical significance as well. One of the oldest Semitic appellatives of God is "el". The designation has been widely used in ancient Israel. It can be found in words like Isra-el, Ishma-el, Samu-el, Gabri-el, Micha-el, etc... Michael is also the mythical warrior angel who opposed Satan i.e., the "adversary". As such he is Superman's biblical alter ego.

With so much Jewish symbolism inherent in the character it is reported that Joseph Goebbles, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, branding a comic book in his hand during a cabinet meeting, furiously denounced Superman as a Jew. What Goebbels did not understand is that the core of Superman's persona is that of the immigrant: an alien coming from another place. So Goebbels ended up antagonizing not only Jews, like Siegel and Shuster, but all Americans. Because, with the exception of the native Indians, every American was an alien at one point or another.
So there you have it. Some of the above is a bit tenuous, but c’mon Jerry Seinfeld has an image of Superman in every single episode, coincidence I think not.

By the way one of the Comic showcase team could have been the basis for a comic shop version of Joaquin Phoenix's character.

I’m more than a bird...I’m more than a plane, More than some pretty face beside a train...

Whilst on a jaunt around London yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Orbital Comics . A comic shop I had been led to believe had closed. Paul & I had just left Gosh and I thought while we were in the area we should check it out. With Paul navigating we soon arrived at an unmarked door, followed by a steep staircase receding into a basement, the entranceway covered with comic memorabilia. I almost expected Joaquin Phoenix (w/ Flock of sea gulls hairdo) to appear and offer us some under the counter goods. I was pleasantly surprised to find the shop well stocked and laid out, focus is on back issues. The team were knowledgeable and did not treat me with the Clerk like disdain usually reserved for us lowly money spending customers.

Browsing a comic shop for the first time is always a bit of a buzz for me. I always live in the hope that I will find an undiscovered gem overlooked by the regular browsers.

To my astonishment I found a copy of the first issue of Comics The Extraordinary League. In its self a decent acquisition, however this particular copy was signed by the man himself, Mr. Allan Moore. Certainly an earlier than expected addition to the portfolio. The only decision remaining, did I store it in a long box with my existing signed AM treasures or in my secure Samsonite portable safe (known as an aluminium briefcase in some circles).

Whilst in the shop I discovered a box of original artwork for a Judge Dredd comic strip (not 2000AD). We also discovered that Paul's initial investment on Marvel's Secret War #1 was showing a healthy return of about 23.3% in the 18 months since he purchased it. Discussion soon lead to the increase in value on comics. We briefly chatted about my Ultimate Spiderman #1 CGC 9.6. I made a mental note to check in on its current value. This morning while trawling through some comic sites to a get big picture on the value of the afore mentioned Spiderman. I came across some comic trivia regarding the writers origins of Superman.
Superman, aka "The Man of Steel", is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and has for several decades been one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons.

The character, created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel for National Comics (today DC Comics), subsequently appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films, and video games. Superman was born Kal-El on the planet Krypton. He was sent to Earth in a rocket by his scientist father Jor-El moments before Krypton exploded, landing on Earth outside the town of Smallville, where he was discovered and adopted by the amiable Jonathan and Martha Kent. As he grew, he discovered that he possessed superhuman powers. When not fighting the forces of evil as Superman, he lives disguised as Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered reporter" for the Daily Planet. Clark works alongside reporter Lois Lane, with whom he is romantically involved. In current comics continuity, they are married. However, he had several other relationships during his years in comics. The character's adventures are today published in a number of comic books.
I grew up knowing Superman was Jewish and was always surprised when discussing Superman with my peers that most were not aware of Superman's origin. Occasionally when faced with disbelieving opposition (Yids as well). I understood why Supes roots may have been blurred. Would he have been as popular if his religious undertones were blatant. Anyway with the new Superman film around the corner I thought I'd look into the facts and explore why I had this belief.

None of the following are my own words I just eclectically copied and strung them together.

Some background:
In 1934 the US was in the midst of the Great Depression and the Nazis were in power in Germany. Joe Shuster, who moved from Canada to Cleveland, met his long lost cousin Jerry Siegel when he was 16. They immediately became close friends as they both shared a passion for science- fiction and comic books. Flash Gordon and Little Nemo were their favourites. Both were Jewish, shy and wore glasses. Joe had already published several cartoon illustrations in his Junior High School paper, while Jerry had published "Cosmic Stories" at 14. The name for their character came from the German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche's book "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" in which he introduces the concept of "Superman". The great-souled hero who transcends the enslavement of Christian morality by his "will to power". The original model for the character was based on the actor Douglas Fairbanks Senior. Both Siegel and Shuster loved the movies he played in, especially "The Mark of Zoro" and "Robin Hood". The actor's stance was used as a model for the drawings of Superman. The pose now famous is that of the hero who stands with his hands on his hips and his feet apart. On the other hand the model for the diminutive reporter Clark Kent was that of Harold Lloyd.

The first mythical analogy that springs to mind is that of Moses' early days. He too was saved by his parents from the murderous hands of the Pharaoh who had ordered to kill all the Hebrew newborn males. Moses' mother put him in a watertight reed basket and set him afloat on the Nile. The child was found by the Pharaoh's daughter who was bathing in the river nearby. She recognized him as one of the Hebrew children and adopted him. Moses grew up in the royal court and he too shared a double identity: as an Egyptian prince and as the great liberator of the Jewish people.

Superman's original name on Krypton was Kal-El and his father's was Jor-El. The suffix of both names has a biblical significance as well. One of the oldest Semitic appellatives of God is "el". The designation has been widely used in ancient Israel. It can be found in words like Isra-el, Ishma-el, Samu-el, Gabri-el, Micha-el, etc... Michael is also the mythical warrior angel who opposed Satan i.e., the "adversary". As such he is Superman's biblical alter ego.

With so much Jewish symbolism inherent in the character it is reported that Joseph Goebbles, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, branding a comic book in his hand during a cabinet meeting, furiously denounced Superman as a Jew. What Goebbels did not understand is that the core of Superman's persona is that of the immigrant: an alien coming from another place. So Goebbels ended up antagonizing not only Jews, like Siegel and Shuster, but all Americans. Because, with the exception of the native Indians, every American was an alien at one point or another.
So there you have it. Some of the above is a bit tenuous, but c’mon Jerry Seinfeld has an image of Superman in every single episode, coincidence I think not.

By the way one of the Comic showcase team could have been the basis for a comic shop version of Joaquin Phoenix's character.

Saturday 25 February 2006

Soho and its environs

As it has become my custom to do, I frequented my usual haunt Soho this weekend.
Once upon a time, Soho was rolling farmland. In the Middle Ages it became a Royal Park, and the name originated from a hunting cry of the time - "So-Ho". By the 17th century it had been mostly sold off, and underwent rapid development. It attracted plenty of refugees in the 18th and 19th century, which explains how Greek Street got its name.
The remainder of the afternoon was taken up by popping into:

Ray's Jazz & Café at Foyles

John Snow1 - A major event in the history of public health was the study of an outbreak of cholera in Soho by Dr. John Snow. He identified the cause of the outbreak as the public water pump in Broadwick Street (then named Broad Street), and disabled it, thus ending the outbreak. A replica of the water pump, with a memorial plaque, stands near the location of the original pump (next to the John Snow pub).

Cosh - Cosh will showcase work from 13 artists including Airside (who boast Fred Deakin as a member), work from award winning Gregory Gilbert George and also Michael Gillette who is renowned in the UK for his companionable observations of the working lives of pop stars.

The English Maid - The 1933 Dutch barge, which was used in World War II to transport German troops along the Seine, is now home to one of the staples of British culture: a pub.

Soho and its environs

As it has become my custom to do, I frequented my usual haunt Soho this weekend.
Once upon a time, Soho was rolling farmland. In the Middle Ages it became a Royal Park, and the name originated from a hunting cry of the time - "So-Ho". By the 17th century it had been mostly sold off, and underwent rapid development. It attracted plenty of refugees in the 18th and 19th century, which explains how Greek Street got its name.
The remainder of the afternoon was taken up by popping into:

Ray's Jazz & Café at Foyles

John Snow1 - A major event in the history of public health was the study of an outbreak of cholera in Soho by Dr. John Snow. He identified the cause of the outbreak as the public water pump in Broadwick Street (then named Broad Street), and disabled it, thus ending the outbreak. A replica of the water pump, with a memorial plaque, stands near the location of the original pump (next to the John Snow pub).

Cosh - Cosh will showcase work from 13 artists including Airside (who boast Fred Deakin as a member), work from award winning Gregory Gilbert George and also Michael Gillette who is renowned in the UK for his companionable observations of the working lives of pop stars.

The English Maid - The 1933 Dutch barge, which was used in World War II to transport German troops along the Seine, is now home to one of the staples of British culture: a pub.

Wednesday 1 February 2006

Burgernomics

Whilst going through my image archive. I found an old image of the Burger Index. I'ts a man on the steet global currency indicator. An easy way to understand how much your money should be worth in another coutry.

"Burgernomics is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity, the notion that a dollar should buy the same amount in all countries. Thus in the long run, the exchange rate between two countries should move towards the rate that equalises the prices of an identical basket of goods and services in each country. Our "basket" is a McDonald's Big Mac, which is produced in about 120 countries. The Big Mac PPP is the exchange rate that would mean hamburgers cost the same in America as abroad. Comparing actual exchange rates with PPPs indicates whether a currency is under- or overvalued."

Burgernomics

Whilst going through my image archive. I found an old image of the Burger Index. I'ts a man on the steet global currency indicator. An easy way to understand how much your money should be worth in another coutry.

"Burgernomics is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity, the notion that a dollar should buy the same amount in all countries. Thus in the long run, the exchange rate between two countries should move towards the rate that equalises the prices of an identical basket of goods and services in each country. Our "basket" is a McDonald's Big Mac, which is produced in about 120 countries. The Big Mac PPP is the exchange rate that would mean hamburgers cost the same in America as abroad. Comparing actual exchange rates with PPPs indicates whether a currency is under- or overvalued."

Comic stores in London

An out of country friend recently enquired about comic shops in London.I thought it may be worthwhile documenting my guide for reference. In no particular order: (I will however say, support the little man).

The Comicbook Marketplace = Borough Market
Royal National Hotel,Bedford Way, London, WC1 (Russell Square)
I think this happens once a month. I definitely recommend a visit. You will find something for your collection.

Forbidden Planet = Ikea
020 7420 3666
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR (Tottenham Court)
Its big and its expensive. Worth it alone to see the memorabilia section. Oh yes I saw Frank Skinner in here last weekend.

Gosh! = Boutique
020 7636 1011
39 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3BD (Tottenham Court)
Don't miss e hidwen downswairs section. I believe Gosh! is partly owned by Jonathan Ross. (British presenter/funny guy, with a bit of a lisp)

Mighty World Of Comicana = Musty world of comics
020 7836 5630
237 Shaftesbury Avenue, London,WC2H 8EH (Tottenham Court)
Lots of back issues

Comic Showcase = Corner shop
020 7434 4349
63 Charing Cross Road, London , WC2H 0NE (Leicester Square/Tottenham Court)
Focus is on independent titles

Mega City Comics = Think "Clerks"
18 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7HJ (Camden Town)
020 7485 9320
This was the first comic shop I visited in the UK. So it's always on my list of shops to pop into. Has a large variety of trades, back issues and new.

Book & Comic Exchange = Crack House
0845-644 1442
14 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill, W11 3HL (Nottinghill Gate)
If you are desperate pop in otherwise give this a miss. Apparently they excel in out of print, recently published (often untouched preview copies) and hard to find books that are simply really cheap.

30th Century = Library
020 8788 2052
18 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1JP (Putney Bridge)
Asyet I haven't visited yet, but I have heard good things about this establishment.

In a bind most branches of Waterstones,Borders or Foyles will have a collection of well thumbed graphic novels.I should mention it seems as if these shops have a shared belief that people that buy comics have some sort of strange and mixed up secret alphabet. I have yet to decipher their organisational system.

Popular theories run from novels being sorted by spine colour, authors nickname or the "Rain Man" is actually working the shelves.

Comic stores in London

An out of country friend recently enquired about comic shops in London.I thought it may be worthwhile documenting my guide for reference. In no particular order: (I will however say, support the little man).

The Comicbook Marketplace = Borough Market
Royal National Hotel,Bedford Way, London, WC1 (Russell Square)
I think this happens once a month. I definitely recommend a visit. You will find something for your collection.

Forbidden Planet = Ikea
020 7420 3666
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR (Tottenham Court)
Its big and its expensive. Worth it alone to see the memorabilia section. Oh yes I saw Frank Skinner in here last weekend.

Gosh! = Boutique
020 7636 1011
39 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3BD (Tottenham Court)
Don't miss e hidwen downswairs section. I believe Gosh! is partly owned by Jonathan Ross. (British presenter/funny guy, with a bit of a lisp)

Mighty World Of Comicana = Musty world of comics
020 7836 5630
237 Shaftesbury Avenue, London,WC2H 8EH (Tottenham Court)
Lots of back issues

Comic Showcase = Corner shop
020 7434 4349
63 Charing Cross Road, London , WC2H 0NE (Leicester Square/Tottenham Court)
Focus is on independent titles

Mega City Comics = Think "Clerks"
18 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7HJ (Camden Town)
020 7485 9320
This was the first comic shop I visited in the UK. So it's always on my list of shops to pop into. Has a large variety of trades, back issues and new.

Book & Comic Exchange = Crack House
0845-644 1442
14 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill, W11 3HL (Nottinghill Gate)
If you are desperate pop in otherwise give this a miss. Apparently they excel in out of print, recently published (often untouched preview copies) and hard to find books that are simply really cheap.

30th Century = Library
020 8788 2052
18 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1JP (Putney Bridge)
Asyet I haven't visited yet, but I have heard good things about this establishment.

In a bind most branches of Waterstones,Borders or Foyles will have a collection of well thumbed graphic novels.I should mention it seems as if these shops have a shared belief that people that buy comics have some sort of strange and mixed up secret alphabet. I have yet to decipher their organisational system.

Popular theories run from novels being sorted by spine colour, authors nickname or the "Rain Man" is actually working the shelves.