Downsized

Westbury-sub-Mendip a small village in Somerset, England has opened the reputedly smallest library in the world.
A resident dreamed up the idea when the village lost its phone box and mobile library in rapid succession.
The old bright red telephone booth was purchased for one English pound and remodelled as a book exchange - the smallest library in the world.



The library (booth) holds a collection of over 100 books and a variety of movies and music CDs.

No mention of attendant library staff - must be an honour system. Villagers can use the library around the clock.

Residents line up to swap their books (not much chance of more than one checking out the shelves at a time) with new ones left by other patrons.

If only this phone box were a TARDIS having enough space would not be an issue.

The other extreme

I had forgotten I'd downloaded this from Pixdaus, this shows the dust storm that swept from Outback Australia across New South Wales and Queensland in September 2009. My brother and his family were caught up in it in the Flinders Ranges and were concerned for the rest of their party who'd gone up the Birdsville Track.

It was nearly a month after my dust storm experience at Mutawintji, when the dust swept in while I was out hiking to the gorge.

Extremes

While we swelter in 44 degree heat on Victoria's first ever Code Red (Catastrophic) 100+ fire danger rating day, the people in Britain are shivering through a widespread icy spell.

Awesome ad

Here's the link to how they make the babies it doesn't ruin the charm
This Billie Jean version has a moon walk towards the end - cute as!

Wake in fright

I studied Kenneth Cook's "Wake in fright" at school, and had never seen the film. After attempting to see it in the theatre in Melbourne, (but the session was booked out) I ordered the DVD, just released after the original negative was saved from a rubbish skip in the U.S.

John Grant, a teacher at a remote rural school, is looking forward to his Christmas break in Sydney. Staying overnight, before catching the plane to Sydney, in Bundanyabba a rough mining town, Grant decides to a visit a pub with a Two-up game. After nearly buying out his bond, he loses the lot, and with a number of the town's characters he descends into a Lost Weekend. Five days later he leaves town a broken man, with a single bullet in his gun.
It has been called "stunning, brutal and uncompromising, one of the best films ever made in Australia." Macho with menace and mateship its actors and locations set the scene for a stark depiction of remote Australia and Outback life. It was Jack Thompson's first, and Chips Rafferty's last film. Made in 1971 it was the forerunner of the emergence of an Australian film industry, before Peter Weir, & Bruce Beresford, etc.
Getting a pic of the cover I copied the cover from Fishpond.com which like many sales sites had below the Customers who bought this product also purchased: message, and the customer also bought Susan Boyle's "I dreamed a dream" - find it hard to believe!

Still with music, I believe Wedding, Parties, Anything's "By tomorrow" was inspired by the story:
Well you call it generosity
It's not a word I'd use
You say I'm slightly D and D
I'd say I've been abused
You know I can't resist your shout
You know full well I'm broke
So I sit hear and drink your beer
And laugh at all your stupid jokes

Oh Christ, I hate your dirty town
I hate your dirty street
And I despise your rank hotels
And everyone I meet
If you had a brain in your head
You'd be getting out
If I had a cent to my name
I'd hit the toe, I'd skip my shout
I've got to move, I've got to try
It's not a place I want to live
And I'm too young to die...

75 years on

The king is dead ... long live the king
Today 8th is Elvis' 75th birthday, and here are a few of his memorable performances

Another one bites the dust

On Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, is a crumbling hulk of intricate concrete and brickwork that was once Bannerman's Arsenal.

In 1900, Francis Bannerman VI bought the island to store ammunition outside New York City limits, for his military surplus business The arsenal (referred to as "Bannerman's Castle") was constructed from 1901 to 1908, and was modeled on an old Scottish castle.

A storm in 1950 sunk the ferry that served the island, and the family closed the island and the arsenal was left more or less abandoned.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation took over its administration in 1967, then on August 8th 1969 a large fire destroyed the interior of the castle. The Bannerman Castle Trust, founded in 1993, raised money for preservation of the grounds.

With the parks office, it reopened the island in 2004 for guided tours. Tourists, who arrive by boat, wear hard hats and must stay at a safe distance from the ruins.
On the night of December 26th 2009, an entire corner of the massive arsenal collapsed due to the weathering of the unprotected brickwork and aging mortar.
Stabilising the castle’s shell had been too costly, and money collected through grants and fund-raising was directed to restore the island’s residence in 2010. Dangerous river conditions had prevented a visit to the island to assess the damage.
The castle was shown in the film “North by Northwest”.

Once visible on the approach to the eastern wall of the castle were the words “Bannerman’s Island Arsenal.” Much of the right section had fallen by 1970, leaving just the letters “nal.” Now “Banner” has dropped off, leaving one complete word — “man’s”.

More photos at the Opacity site.

Command crisis

In response to the Secret's out comment - today's Unshelved - Paula is away till Wednesday.

Berry Pav

The Berry pavolova from Christmas!!