The whirlwind adventures of a desperate Scottish gentleman

Youth Football Scotland

2011-07-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have currently been in talks to come on and work with Youth Football Scotland. A great site that provides the Scottish football scene at youth level with the best platform to present itself, get people involved and constantly develop the game in this country.

I'm very pleased to be involved, there are so many benefits that come with contributing to a site that highlights all the people that tirelessly and thanklessly try to promote the game and help young players enjoy football.

Take a look at the site, the forums and the great work that is ongoing over at YSF by clicking on the title or clicking here:

http://youthfootballscotland.co.uk/

Time out on the blog front

2011-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

Since the last post my work has taken me back to my roots, the sole reason I got into the journalism game. Youth football, the movie scene and stories that matter on a social level to the people affected by the current cultural climate in the UK.

It's not been easy or highly paid but it had to be done in order to make one end meet the other.

After a number of horrendous articles, incredible experiences and tremendous let downs and pick me ups, it's time to get back in the saddle web-wise.

The main reason for the radio silence is the same reason I got into this game. To perform, to make my bills go away and to do what needed to be done to make my career stay more on the rails than than the job adverts...I'll write, pour pints and fight to the last just to keep my head up above the water mark.

Catch ye Versace :(

BDM

BAD PRESS

2010-07-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Bad Press is based in a great studio in Glasgow, great people and great talent reside there in abundance. As well as the dimension bending coffee, the place is graced with a welcoming busy atmosphere. The friendliness of all the guys who frequent the studio is one of the first things you recognise when visiting.

In the past I've mentioned 'WASTED'. It is a British adult humor comic with two of the most experienced heads at the front of the ship, 2000AD's Alan Grant and Northern Lights and Eisner Award winner Jamie Grant as Editors.

I will be taking on an in-house role at the magazine and hope to bring even more success to the publication and if you click on the title of this post you will be whisked over to their website for more info on the future of the magazine as well as the who, what and indeed the why...

Happy reading true believers!

EIFF

2010-06-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Edinburgh International film festival is generally billed as a stage for the UK's best and brightest young talent in the UK film industry to take center stage. However the reality is an altogether different beast. I had just finished covering it for a number of publications and was amazed at the amount of petulant and utter failures that shuffle around the event trying to get their names noticed, bags full of CV's, CD's and anything else to grab the attentions of the money men that have turned their positions at the festival into rescue boats for the eager young failures of tomorrow.

For the lucky few who are scouted and drafted to be the next big things in film. Scotland, Edinburgh and this film festival is generally left behind, never to be graced again as Hollywood and London await. A part of their careers that is referred to the 'spring board' or the 'big break'. However for the grand majority of those who aren't so lucky or indeed talented, they have the joy of becoming faded outlines that wander the festival like attention starved children. They are the radiation burns on the wall, next years volunteers, then the next and the next until they finally give up hope of ever making it in film. It's competitive in the film industry, just as it is in my profession of journalism and especially that of writing in general.

Degrees mean nothing if you can't, on your own initiative get your product, point or piece out there and make people take notice. It won't be handed to you and it certainly won't be easy, but the rewards are incredible for anyone with the determination to make their voices heard.

In short, the festival is an opportunity for the young directors and writers of the UK to make their mark. It is competitive and a frenzied market, that is both intimidating and incredibly pressured. If you can't stand the heat, hand out fliers...

Just a thought!!

A big yellow tea pot at the end of the earth

2009-10-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Upon meeting a fellow writer of note at the weekend, a proposal was made to continue the fine night we had been having. Little did we know that the further down the rabbit hole we stumbled, the more adventure would seek us out.

From sitting drinking peppermint tea with the psychotic mega rich solvent abusers of Edinburgh's upper crust to standing in the maelstrom of a bad night in a bad house on what seemed at one point to be the end of the world. Columbus was staring back at us, dothed his cap and put one foot forward into the abyss. Our hearts sank, rose and sank again as we knew it wouldn't end well for the two travelers that only wanted to look in on this house of opulence.

The fat black bodied flies at the base of the building looked over their shoulders at us as we made our approach, before starting anew at the miasma that waved above the trash heaps. For a minute I thought I could see writhing bodies in the muck, a single hand reached out to us as we came upon the intercom, a punished trespasser or a man seeking his luck at recording the insides of what must be the most insane scene in a long time.

Drugs, drink and the occasional violent sexual encounter sprang up sporadically and without warning. Men straying too close to a parlor that held any vice were draw, beckoned or forcibly taken into these warren like vents.

The eye of the storm is the most secure place in a cyclone, which after gaining the relevant provisions is where we set up our base camp. In the eye my friend, where the stretched out angular faces of the rich whirled past with high giddy laughs in our direction, their tongues clicked and whirred and some made the sound that only beaks can, or the chitinous hides of a grasshopper can chirp.

Like in all dens of iniquity there is a prize, a gift or an offering that no man can resist in large volumes. That very instrument of our downfall and rebirth came in the form of a massive yellow teapot. The biggest ever seen, a bright painful yellow shot back at us in the middle of the room. Some men came and tasted the contents and left, never to be seen again...did the dogs, the abyss, the flies or something more sinister envelop them?

To this day I will never know. But all I do know is I drank the contents and held onto the last vestiges of my ever dwindling sanity. The room grew dense and the floor had some how come to meet me with lurching vellocity, my eyes snapped shut as I seen my companion fall likewise from the safety of the eye and into the maelstrom and warp that was a constantly mutating warp of shape and shadow...

Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went on: `But why did they live at the bottom of a well?'

`Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.

`I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, `so I can't take more.'

`You mean you can't take LESS,' said the Hatter: `it's very easy to take MORE than nothing.'

2009-09-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joann_Sfar

The Harlots House

2009-09-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

We caught the tread of dancing feet,
We loitered down the moonlit street,
And stopped beneath the harlot's house.

Inside, above the din and fray,
We heard the loud musicians play
The 'Treues Liebes Herz' of Strauss.

Like strange mechanical grotesques,
Making fantastic arabesques,
The shadows raced across the blind.

We watched the ghostly dancers spin
To sound of horn and violin,
Like black leaves wheeling in the wind.

Like wire-pulled automatons,
Slim silhouetted skeletons
Went sidling through the slow quadrille.

They took each other by the hand,
And danced a stately saraband;
Their laughter echoed thin and shrill.

Sometimes a clockwork puppet pressed
A phantom lover to her breast,
Sometimes they seemed to try to sing.

Sometimes a horrible marionette
Came out, and smoked its cigarette
Upon the steps like a live thing.

Then, turning to my love, I said,
"The dead are dancing with the dead,
The dust is whirling with the dust."

But she--she heard the violin,
And left my side, and entered in:
Love passed into the house of Lust.

Then suddenly the tune went false,
The shadows wearied of the waltz,
The shadows ceased to wheel and whirl.

And down the long and silent street,
The dawn, with silver-sandalled feet,
Crept like a frightened girl.

Toth

2009-07-23T22:28:00.001-07:00

Looking

2009-07-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

It's not worth thinking about...

2009-07-23T22:08:00.001-07:00

Ricard!!

2009-07-23T22:07:00.001-07:00

Plain burgers

2009-07-23T22:06:00.001-07:00

Get up and jump!

2009-07-23T22:04:00.001-07:00

Who Indeed has the MK Dons?

2009-07-23T21:59:00.002-07:00

2009-07-23T21:59:00.001-07:00

I have a new computer

2009-06-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yas!! new computer today!! All thanks to the mission control man that is Mark Gallagher,
Should be getting some of his art work up soon as he shall be dedicating his time to new projects in the coming summery months.

Mark Hamill as Wolverine

2009-05-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

I played this game years ago but never seen the voice acting and the interview with Mark Hamill,
I have to say the man looks good with the old coupon warmer

Millwall stop for Rustlers et apple pies

2009-05-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

After a pitch invasion by a 'few' Millwall fans and the arrests and trouble caused at their first leg tie against Leeds have forced tickets to be reduced to just 1,000 by the FA.

In addition to this Millwall fans wil have to pick up their tickets from a nearby service station. A ploy by the Yorkshire police to search and detain anyone they think is causing trouble, or cherry picking the numpties.

Check out the BBC interview...

BALTIMORE

2009-05-14T11:32:00.001-07:00

I'm currently reading this from Mike Mignola and Chris Golden. It's something I just picked up the other day and the track record of the two writers, for me have been good with the Bones of Giants and the other Hellboy novels.

Plus it's beautifully illustrated by Mignola, which is a big part of me spending big for it.

http://www.christophergolden.com/baltimore.html

2009-05-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

I Give You FOOM All Day

Mignola FF

2009-05-11T05:25:00.001-07:00

Images of Mike Mingnola's Fantastic Four bad guys that look immense!!

Floor Fillers Edinburgh

2009-05-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Short 600 word artcile on the Floor Fillers at Ocean Terminal-JOY!!

FloorfillersBrian d Morgan16/04/09

By Brian D Morgan

FLASHING lights, thumping beats and hundreds of dancing bodies all gyrating together. Just the ingredients you need for a perfect night in any club across Edinburgh. Tomorrow, like many of those clubs, the doors at Floorfillers Live will open at 10pm and close at 3am.

However, most nightclubs aren’t retail outlets by day. In another night of hard hitting dance tunes, Forth’s dance music supremo Krystle Weaver will head up the posse of her Friday night radio show in Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal, a place where people are more likely to buy their music rather than dance to it.

The award winning DJ says, “Ocean Terminal has been a great venue for me before. I was here with Jingle Ball a while ago and the reception from the crowd was terrific. I can only hope we get a similar atmosphere for Floorfillers Live.”

The vast shopping mall will become centre stage for this one night of dance, techno and club tracks. Morphing the usually normal surroundings into a massive club night that is sure to turn the interior on it’s head.

Weaver, who can usually be found hosting Forth one’s Friday night dance music show Floorfillers, also produced and organised the event.

"To think, this place is a shopping centre one minute and then it is magically turned into a night club. How weird is that? All I know is that it is a great place to play and we always have fun with the fans from our show,” she enthuses.

The Leith venue isn’t your regular set up, with performers playing both inside and outside, as Weaver explains, “Out on the terrace we have Forth 1's own DJ Andy Waugh, I hope for his sake he won't get soaked if it starts to rain. But I'm playing inside so the weather won't bother me too much. If it does start to pour, then everyone can jump in with The Freemason's, N-Trance and me." Both N-Trance and The Freemasons will be performing DJ sets inside the cavernous mall. N-Trance are best known for the mid-nineties Top 10 hit Set You Free and their world-renowned remix of the Bee-Gees’ Stayin’ Alive.

N-Trance DJ Michael Lewis says, “Scotland has always given N–Trance a huge amount of support over the years. We have played countless gigs in Edinburgh but never in Ocean Terminal. The venue has an excellent reputation throughout the UK as a top class club night. Playing there and being a part of the first Floorfillers live event is a big thing for us. I’ll be there to cover the old skool classics and I’m sure we can go out and make it a great gig.”

The Freemasons, who have enjoyed great success in both Britain and abroad as remixers, boast five UK hit singles, including Uninvited and their remix of Beautiful Liar. Regular guest performers on Weaver’s radio show, member Russell Small says, “Krystle's Friday Night Floorfillers has really supported us over the past few years. I'm really looking forward to being part of the first ever live event. It's a great line up and I'm delighted to be included in what promises to be a night to remember.”

So while bored dads, shopaholics and kids alike will all be missing from Ocean Terminal tomorrow night the influx of dance fans guarantee the Leith mall will be buzzing and busier than ever.
Forth one Floorfillers Live, Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, tomorrow, 10pm, £15, 0131 475 1306

ENDS

I want Money

2009-04-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

Not just any money folks, I want to be taking the type of money all men dream about...bookies money.

That means the accumulators will be getting scribbled on, T.V being called chutney enforcers and the odd bookie taking a swift one in the crown jewels on the morrow! But only if Arsenal can do it at Old Trafford/The Trad Brick Stadium tonight.

Yesterday's game could have been blown wide open but goal scorers for Chelsea make less frequent appearances than Fred Goodwin in an RBS in Nidrie, Pilton or Shots. And big Grace Jones had more than enough attempts to stick it in yonder pokey. If Pep wants to see the lands of milk and honey, he better get a swift size 9 up that Cameroonians back fanny.

Morgan out!

Bang your head like a gong,

2009-04-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

Line Up for Tommy Burns' testimonial

2009-04-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.celtic-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=445022

I can't Fucking spell anymore!!

2009-04-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

For some reason my usual two day stint at the Evening News has turned into a disaster as my usually decent punctuation has gone all to fuck,

I can hardly keep my eyes open and the thought of going through anything bores the fucking life out of me.

What has happened to my game sharpness?

Clu b Roundup

2009-04-27T03:07:00.000-07:00

Club VoxBrian D Morgan24/04/09

“I really like going to We Are Electric at Cabaret Voltaire on Wednesdays. Its the only place to go to hear really good electro in Edinburgh. I love that its on a Wedendsay because its a really fun carefree crowd that go and I’m not worrying about Uni the next day as I have no classes. And it’s the perfect place for Jaegerbombs.”

Ashley Anderson
Student Journalist
Bruntsfield

“Eh ok, I love going to The Egg at the art school because it's never too crowded and the music is always great, plus you can do some serious style spotting there. I'm also really excited about the number of new nights that have popped up on Wednesdays since the fire at the Liquid Rooms, including the nights at the Wee Red Bar and the Citrus Club.”

Gemma Steele
Designer
Leith

"The best night I enjoy in Edinburgh is a tough one, I like to mix it up by going to Headspin at the Bongo Club and sometimes listening to more mainstream stuff at places like Faith's Evol night and the majority of stuff anywhere down at the Grass Market"

Alan Waits
It Engineer Stockbridge

"I like the the Hive night Misfits, it's one of the only places that you can listen to rock or punk music in the capital. I wish there were more clubs or nights like it on a regulat basis. But at a push I can go to places like the Citris Club and still ahve a good night out."

Steven Bowcott
Call Centre Manager
Corstorphine

Where the Wild things are at

2009-03-19T11:16:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite childhood books has come to life and looks like it might live up to the hype and secrecy surrounding the release.

Canny beat it

2009-03-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/129788/football-is-not-just-a-matter-of-life-and-death-its-now-about-litigation

Celtic Captian

2009-03-03T06:41:00.000-08:00

I think so

2009-02-22T01:38:00.000-08:00

TONGS!!!!

Balakov

2009-02-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, there is no tinkering at work here, just a farewell game for Balakov years ago at his faithful Stuttgart in Germany. Spot Andy Hinkel on that boys shoulders about to get his face tanned with the ball.

Anyway good photo
Bad and sorry state for the Bulgarian national team;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balakov

Albion Rovers by Mikel Manninen

2009-02-22T01:07:00.000-08:00

I think the only record that the Wee Rovers hold is that they are the only club to be sponsored by a demolition company and to have more fans outside than inside their ground. Keep on shining you plucky upstarts and we might even see the Carbunckle come back like a fucking boomerang with such valiant attempts at changing Coatbridge's image/

El Mickey Rourke est Loco

2009-02-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

De acuerdo a la historia de los comics, el primer Crimson Dynamo es, además, el creador de la armadura: El Professor Anton Vanko.

It's on the wing

2009-02-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

Even if you never visit this place;

Visit this place in stead for more of that behavior-------------->

http://lastheplace.com/2007/12/21/words-on-paper-advice-for-writers-from-living-legend-richard-matheson/

It's your call

2009-02-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

A

B

OR

C

Making it so since 1986

2009-02-21T23:26:00.000-08:00

"Come away with me" he said as we ran down the clock
What a time in which we chose to be born

Wishing we were jamming the day away with Spock

The days don't fall as idly as the leaves
Pulling down our sleeves and pulling up our socks

B

2009-02-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.

I hope you are sitting in relative comfort

2009-02-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

Finding the Monster Times

2009-02-18T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sometimes on bin raking and foraging through ridiculous material for an influence you get thwarted by absolute rubbish. But sometimes you get the Monster Times. On days like this you sit back with a full quota of the 1970's publication and kick your feet up.

After looking at all of them, I think something special will come out of it,

watch this space,

Andy Hinkel

2009-01-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

Andreas Hinkel on his time at Celtic Park

2009-01-28T21:10:00.000-08:00

Just me and the cameras

Actual Snake skin shoes

2009-01-28T21:04:00.000-08:00

They have the heads on, tongues still on them. That is what I would expect to see Stringfellow donning when and if i get my interview with him

How to tell your neighbour he's an arsehole

2009-01-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

In Verona I was puzzled to find these things next to most buildings. I thought that they were post boxes but after I walked up to a native after a 'molto lieto' in their direction the old boy then told me they are for complaints.
I asked him to go on about the subject of filing one and how they are resolved. He replied by using the back of his hand, sliding it off his chin and shouting Ragazza!!
So i take it that once the guy gets the mail it is sorted, probably in the same way a scheme kicking is administered.
May you live in interesting times...

Coatbridge in need of heroes

2009-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

This one is for you Leuitenant Kirkwood as I snapped a local Wishy young team as I believe that is the correct colloquial phrasing, mounting up for a raid of the Coatbridge Aldi's supply of Bull Gut and Polish tomato sauce...
Me thinks that their machinations are to be stopped lest Coatbridge fall into perlilous surcumfuge.

What say you? Shall we round up the whislte brigades, the shanty bandits and the tin puppets and take flight?

Lord General of the High Coats, Brian Damascus Morgan the 3rd

2009-01-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

The Days of Yore

2009-01-28T19:57:00.000-08:00

Kids these days need games where you can choose every accessory for a player, boots, hair-cut..the lot. I remember the days when free-kicks didn't look flash but did the job, there was chance of banging them in, now its impossible. See the guy in the Norway top, that's Ole Gunnar Solskjær, you can tell that by the strip and the face, nuff said, but to a kid these days it's shite.
But anyway to settle a few bets and to appease some old mates;

Show me a man who does not shed a tear at the bellow pictures and the role of honor and I will show ye a coward!! I'm taking it back to when dutch players were called Orange07 and such!!

Bruxelles

Real team name: Rsc Anderlecht

Prague

Real team name: Sparta Prague

North London

Real team name: Arsenal

West Midlands Village

Lloyd

Real team name: Manchester City

Trad Bricks

Real team name: Manchester United

Tyneside

Real team name: Newcastle United

Languedoc

Real team name: Marseille

Ill De France

Real team name: Paris St German

AC Milan

Real team name: AC Milan

AS Roma

Real team name: AS Roma

Emilia Sud

Real team name: Bologna

Longobardi

Real team name: Brescia

Veneto

Real team name: Cheivo Verona

Lomabardia

Real team name: Internazionale

Juventus

Real team name: Juventus

Real team name: Ajax

Old Firm Green

Real team name: Celtic

Old Firm Blue

Real team name: Rangers

Guardalquivir

Real team name: Real Betis

Galicia Sur

Real team name: Celta Vigo

Galicia Norte

Real team name: Deportiva La Coruna

Cataluna

Real team name: Barcelona

Chamartin

Real team name: Real Madrid

Donosti

Real team name: Real Sociedad

Naraja

Real team name: Valencia

2009-01-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

Paul Giammati
David Hyde-Pierce

Il Capitano

2009-01-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I wasn't too interested in players like your Premier league nonsense at the time, they were fat, covered in Brillcream and had middle sheds. So, the Italian league bore a special place in my heart. Not for the flamboyant cordino of Bobby Baggio or the unique qualities of players like Tommasi, Nedved, Nakata or Davids. It ws Paolo Maldini that became my moniker in world-Cuppy down the grass with the rest of my mates who were all Cantona's, Van Bastens, Ginolas and some bastards were even Hatleys or McCoists. But I digress... the reason for me mentioning the great man is his upcoming retirement, (sniff) for good from football and I believe that the world will suffer because of it. Milan don't have an Italian they can build their defence on, which is a scary thought as they have dominated like so many Italian teams by having a gradual successor to the throne. It was easy back in the day for Milan but now they will have to fill this gap with a player that sadly should have been groomed for the top without any extra expense to the Milanese.
The problem is Baresi had his heir in Maldini, he knew he could pass on all his knowledge in the younger more able player. But Nesta is a poor canvas to paint on, he has rode the pine more times than a rent boy and has done it winning medals with an immaculate kit. Whereas Maldini, Costacurta, Ferrara, Illiano, Montero and Costacurta couldn't have looked more heroic with their individual ways of fighting for their teams.
He is like king Kong, David Attenbourgh, Caramacs and Spira's, he is a dying breed with his best moments only to be seen in Serie A best of VHS, that goal against Liverpool that should have sent them tumbling down or in his famous fashion shoots with H&M and Massimo Ambrossini.
Well I might have to unlock him in pro evo in the legends team, but he deserves to be there along with Hofu, Van Bolsean, Hootlebenk, Baggrio, Fillol, Passella and Marrado...and Valqerna.
If you want to see him off in style then support him by adding your name to the large list of people attempting to coax him from retirement to beat Brazil on Feburary 10th at Goal.com:
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=1081041
Also here is an article that makes him the mac daddy that loves his team:
http:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-456485/Everything-perfect-world-Milans-Maldini.html&usg=__1QMtXdxZKjyFy-vDdLY1PJg-59A=&h=445&w=468&sz=62&hl=en&start=26&um=1&tbnid=T2_J_9UK5ly0xM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpaolo%2Bmaldini%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3DVFA_enGB225GB275%26sa%3DN

Things to look forward to in 2009

2009-01-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

The new year is bringing in a host of movies, games and comic runs that I am eagerly anticipating and there will be a few things that I will be covering that look like they could be as good as Taste Good Prawn Toast.

Work Related:

Paris

2009-01-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

Just Paris in December

Rue Moufftard

Work is thiner on the ground than Rodger rabbit post steamroller

2009-01-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

In today's financial climate it's easy to see that we as journalists are fighting to keep our places at papers like no tomorrow.
In days gone by you would saunter from university to local paper to national paper if you kept your head down and got a few by-lines. Sadly for guys like me it looks like the tooth-and-nail mentality is going to be broken out to compensate for the lack of work out there for us jouno's.
Writing a blog like this is a chance to hurl bile into the abyss that is the internet and some drunk student looking for free porn or a guy looking for Byron-Damien Morgan gets to clap eyes on a disparate man looking for work.
But hey, at least we get a soap box to hammer it down and forget about it when I'm good and drunk in bars across the expensive expanse that is Edinburgh.
To be honest I think I was born in the wrong climate, I wish I was sitting there on the eave of the Moon Landing or when that idiot Suffaragette jumped in front of the King's horse, just to have something to write about. I'm lucky these days if I get to catch an interview with a musician gracing Glasgow or Scotland's capital. Or I get to scribe how Trisha McDuff whitnesses a Post office robbery and how her one-eyed cat isn't as mobile any more...
Anyway just a rant to ge the cobwebbs shook off and the winning mentality fired up!!!!

Good hunting my student freind and I hope you also find Byron on your travels...

B

Tommy Burns

2008-05-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Tommy Burns

2008-05-15T14:54:00.002-07:00

Earlier today Tommy Burns, the longtime coach at Celtic FC passed away from cancer, he is one of Celtic's legends and a true great. I was asked to write a small piece about Tommy for the football fancast at http://www.footballfancast.com/. I was honored to pay respects to a true footballing legend and an influential figure in Celtic's history that gave 100% to his family, his club and the supporters.

Some of my earliest football memories happen to be from the team Tommy Burns created in 1994/95, he ended the trophy drought by winning the Scottish cup against Airdrieonians. His style of football was truly a joy to watch. The three amigos; Van Hooijdonk, Cadete and Di Canio were the trident that gave me such an outlook on football growing up. Plus Paul McStay the club captain and talisman was in his final season at this time.Celtic were being battered and bruised by a mechanical Rangers team that ground out results scarily akin to their performance this season.

I can remember going to an away game at Motherwell that season, the tickets on the away end were sold out but pockets of Celtic fans banded together to form little islands of green and white in a maroon and yellow sea. I remember George Cadete launching himself in the air from a corner, we were right behind the goal and I thought at that age he was about to clatter down into us. The game ended a draw like so many of the games that season, but not for lack of attacking prowess or the commitment of the team to provide fluid, beautiful football.

Burns famously even played four up-front in Europe against Hamburg in the Uefa cup such was his swashbuckling style of all out attack.That team was a joy to watch and Burns' attacking influence can be seen in all the teams he was involved in, most if not all of these teams have borne some kind of success because of his style and attitude. He did all he could for the supporters, he is 'Mr Celtic' and always gave 100% for the club.

That 1994/95 Celtic team was Tommy Burns' and to me they played football like the way my friends, family and all the 'old faithers' love to see it played in the East End...The Glasgow Celtic way.

God rest you Tommy.

Tommy Burns

2008-05-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

Earlier today Tommy Burns, the longtime coach at Celtic FC passed away from cancer,

Some of my earliest football memories happen to be

Tommy Burns

2008-05-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Earlier today Tommy Burns, the longtime coach at Celtic FC passed away from cancer,

Some of my earliest football memories

Quiteley on Downthetubes

2008-05-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hello to all you people out there!

Here is a link to my article on downthetubes.net

Hope you enjoy the article, Mr Quiteley is a very nice man,

Brian

http://www.downthetubes.net/features/interviews/artists/frank_quitely_0508.html

Missing Manninen hosts channel 4 show

2008-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Please the APB is out there for a big Scandinavian with a grudge, against house prices as after recent sightings on channel 4 and a suspicious English accent, our spies have given us a target to investigate. 'Phil Spencer' as he calls himself these days was once a revolutionary Finish/Swedish poet and soldier...now he is relocating relocating Frazer and Margo from Milport. I hope this is the greatest undercover investigative report of our modern times.

The man who played the drums and with the motherwolf

2008-05-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

A really good friend of mine alerted me to this guy and his story is quite incredible if it is all true so check it out and see if it you believe it yourself.

Thanks Henrik for getting me into the tribal sounds of Abdul here, I wonder if he played with Marcos Assuciao?...

http://www.abdoul-art.com/

2008-05-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

ooo

Black Cape

2008-05-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

Frazer Campbell and Iain Laurie set out with Cheery banana's a few years back with the intention of producing a self published comic for humours sake. Within this publication lay a dormant idea that has now began to generate a buzz with anyone who comes into contact with it.

Black Cape is a genuine unique idea that is from two guys creating their own form of humour for the love of putting it out there. The situations get bleaker for their heroes as the scripts go on, the humour gradually gets darker and more surreal, to be honest it could be compared or attributed to a number of influences that both creators will talk at length about. However, it shows that self published comics can make an impact and give a stage for their authors to run amok, in this case to great affect and is a joy to read.

The best stuff on the web is from these two hard working guys, who also have day jobs so for the both of them to collaborate and have this number issues under their belt is tribute to their love of creating comics.

Please if you have spare time check it out as one look will probably have you hooked,

http://iainlauriedrawsstuff.blogspot.com/

Quite Frankly a good night had by all

2008-05-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

The National library of Scotland has been running an immensely popular exhibit for the last month. The Exhibition centres around the inclusion of comic books in the set up of Scottish literature, sadly this only happened after the adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy. Comic books have been an integral part to literature in Scotland in the form of Dudley D. Watkins' Oor Wullie to The Broons or Bud Neil's Lobey Dosser.. Thankfully these hard working and talented creators are getting the credit that they deserve after a long time cult status amongst the Scottish people.

Those other talented Scottish artists and writers that have held talks are Frank Quietly, Metaphrog and manga creator Mel Gibson (not the alkie form Australia). Gary Erskine is to follow on the 6th of May.I will have links to my articles on downthetubes.net soon, so watch this space for interviews with Frank and also Mr. Erskine in the very near future.

Also, all the art from Cam Kennedy's Kidnapped adaptation are there for all to see as well as all the current published work of the major Scottish comic creators of this and last century. As an added bonus it is entirely free, so what more do you want?

Get in about it like a tramp eating soup!

http://www.nls.uk/events/index.html

Wasted

2008-05-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

Wasted is the new comic from the minds that brought you Northern Lights and Judge Dredd, Jamie Grant and Alan Grant respectivley (no relation). This intriguing new comic is aimed at every possible set of laughing gear in the UK, no one is spared in their attempts to ignite laughter so epidemically there might be a sanction on the comic due to the rapid outbreak in busted sides come the 17th of May.

When it does become available, the media including myself expect the hysteria levels to rise in major cities and newsagents to invest in sawn off shotguns to cull the numbers of shambling rabid people demanding more.

Get your laughing gear round it,

http://www.wastedcomic.com/

Introduction to the new blog

2008-05-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello to you all,

I am a freelance journalist that is currently working on a number of projects and articles ranging from sport to comic books to my own writing and producing. I am very lucky to have the ability to do all the things that I get involved in and cherish working with the people i do because without them, truly there would be no work for me. So God bless those individuals who give me the time of day or a couple of quotes to further my career and write something nice about them...hopefully.

Well I hope that you can enjoy the posts to come and that the content is something that you can relate to or even correspond with me on, if you like it or if you don't. All replies are welcome.

Brian