Last night’s cinerama was all about kung fu fighting, 70s style. Double crossing, deadly assassins, and a sexpot who wants it all. Also included are a funky soundtrack, vampire fangs, and a cunning Mexican strongman. Sonny Chiba stars as hardass mercenary Takuma “Terry” Tsurugi, there’s loads of sex, violence, and general wackiness. It’s camp, loaded with bad polyester, and lots of fun. If you like your martial arts with a touch of James Bond, do take a look!

Out on Madman’s Eastern Eye. I picked it up as part of the Sonny Chiba Collection Volume 1 (with The Bullet Train, and Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment). For those who came in late, Sonny Chiba exploded onto the Japanese cinema scene after Bruce Lee’s death. With 125+ films to his credit, he is an ubercool martial arts legend, and an inspiration to (you guessed it) Quentin Tarantino – evident in True Romance and Kill Bill. Watch the trailer here.

I grew up around lots of folks who love to roll back the loungeroom carpet, talc the floorboards and do a little quickstep.This also means I have a great affection for Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra. Whether you waltz, samba, or foxtrot, this LP is a treat.

Found in the $5 crazy records pile at Retro Active today. I don’t know where the cover pic was taken, but I’m betting you can’t buy those balloons any more…

Doing a little Christmas shopping in a post-shiatsu haze recently, when this happened…

“So what do you want me – uh, Santa to buy you? Anything. Anything at all!”

“Really?”

“Well, nothing too exciting – everyone else’s presents will look bad”

Then I looked down at the book in my hand and tried not to giggle…

If you would like to have a similar experience, I thoroughly recommend Dirt Cheap Books on Johnston St.

This nifty application of correction fluid got my attention last week.

Always nice to see places I love getting some press! Joffa et moi celebrated our anniversary at The Estelle last night, with a beautiful beetroot salad, barramundi plate, and sliced beef with capers. Our Italian wine was delicious, the pannacotta sublime, and the Tasmanian sticky very moreish. Fabulous folks looking after us too.

So far, have sampled lunch and dinner here – will be back for breakfast shortly!

As seen in the Northcote Leader, December 16, 2009. Sad that the Northcote Bowl’s lanes are now tables, but at least they are still surrounded by happy Northside types. I had no idea until reading this article that my suburb is actually a “vegetarian stereotype”, or that one “gourmet success” can “stamp out” such a reputation. How many overused descriptors can the average newspaper article contain without self-combusting? Sigh…

Forget the article, get yourself down The Estelle!

Have you ever wondered what fantastic tales Vanessa Berry could tell about Paris? Do you need a to-do list for your next parisian jaunt? This zine is for you! Beautifully illustrated by Leigh Rigozzi, the time you were in Paris is well worth reading. $10 at Sticky. Visit Vanessa Berry’s world here!

The third fruit is a bird: Adam Ford’s most recent poetry chapbook. Smiles, wise words, and mothwing kisses from the guy who brought us Jutchy Ya Ya, Man Bites Dog, and Monkey Punch Dinosaur. Look out for the sweet cover art by Hugh Ford. $5 at Sticky. Swing by theotheradamford.wordpress.com for more!

Plastic Knife 4: more short but perfectly formed prose, pictures of men with signs, and the Olympia Traveller de Luxe manual typewritten style I know and love. This cover features a silvertone plastic knife, from sweatshop hell in China. $3 at Sticky.

okay issue three summer: without a doubt, one of the most beautiful zines! A small calico bag full of circular collages, photgraphs, and typewritten loveliness. Find out more at iloveokay.blogspot.com. $5 at Sticky.

What can I possibly say? A road movie, with winklepickers and pompadours of epic proportions. Great cars, a dead guy, a village idiot, rock and roll (Siberian style), and a million beer cans. Look out for the Jim Jarmusch cameo, enjoy Aki Kaurismaki’s direction, and be ready to laugh. Constantly. Imagine the Blues Bros. in Eastern Europe with tractors, and you’re well on the way…Low-key acting, a simple (and improbable) storyline, an unforgettable Finnish band – what more could you want?

If you haven’t seen this film, you really should.

Learn more about the Leningrad Cowboys here.

Thanks to Mark and Carol for a great nite!

Yet another reason to love this neighbourhood…

Find this racy delight on Rose Street…

…if there was no demo yesterday, and the trams weren’t being diverted, I wouldn’t have walked thru, and I would have missed this.