TET.Life (The Extraordinary Tourist Life)

Listening to an interview with Nicole Kidman on the radio the other day, Nicole mentioned that she doesn't watch her own movies and even tries to avoid watching them. I've heard this from so many actors when interviewed. They don't like to watch themselves in their own movies. I presume it may be because they look at their performance in a self critical manner that may negatively affect their future performances. There are two points I'd like to make about this. Firstly, on some level, isn't not watching your own movies an insult to the director, editor, special effects crew, musicians, musical director and everyone else who came to work on the movie after the actors have finished shooting? Many of these people have probably seen the actors performance over and over again, to the point where it becomes slightly monotonous, as they fine tune the work they're doing to the footage shot. Yet the actor isn't actually interested in seeing how everyones hard work c...

Robin is arguably the most famous superhero side kick of them all. Introduced into Batman's world in April 1940 (DC Comics No#38, see image below), almost a full year after the very first Batman story was published. In general Batman fans are divided about Robin. There are those who like the character and there are those who feel Batman is better when he works alone. Rumors have been around for a while now that a pilot episode for a TV show based on Robin's early years (pre-Batman) was in the works. To be called The Graysons the show, by television network CW , is seen as a possible predecessor to Smallville , the long running TV series about the young, pre-Superman, Clark Kent. However, according to E! Online , the show has been canned due to the concept not being in line with Warner Brothers current Batman strategy. Whatever the reason I have to say I'm a little happy about that. The idea that most of the major Superman characters seem to have either lived in or passed ...

At the side of a major road in my home town, I'm sitting with a group of friends chatting. Taking a moment to look up into the overcast sky I notice a lone pelican gracefully gliding at a fairly low altitude. My eyes track its path when suddenly it flies through some power lines. The bird is large enough to connect the wires, its beak rests on one cable whilst its wings and body touch another. There are sparks and flashes and the bird shakes from the voltage coursing through its body. Electrocution. The Pelican is stuck for only a moment then it manages to break free. Flying to one of the wires it lands and holds its perch. My friends and I all watch, amazed that the bird seems okay. We are about to return to our conversation when the pelican drops to the ground. Landing in a turn right feeder lane, safe from the immediate flow of traffic. It's still alive but lying on its back. Stunned perhaps? "Who wants to save a pelican?" I comment to my friends. One of them leaps...