NAME

Some people ask me in regards to the one word ‘NAME’ I choose to present my blogs and journals in.

It is merely a simple introductory Narrative I like to represent my musings with. Almost like an episode to a TV show, the one word thing is just simply easy to remember. As much as I like to call something along the lines of ‘ATTACK OF THE 30 FT PIZZA MONSTER’ I prefer the one word simplicity of giving the text a ‘name’ rather than a ‘title’.

I may or may not keep up with this style. It depends if I get bored of it eventually, but it currently stands out right now.

SCENARIO

I ponder sometimes as to whether or not I belong in this existence.

Maybe I am in the wrong reality, timeline or just misplaced in a universe I don’t slot into.

Maybe it isn’t worth knowing for a grassy patch in any alternate reality is probably not any greener than the other.

Maybe the possible Shattered Glass, Ultimate, Age of Apocalypse versions of me would kick more rear in this harsh reality of apathy. Heck, maybe I indulge in comic books and sci-fi too much but I would imagine all the same.

I wonder what things would be like if I was never around. And in that case I am daring for a revelation, a Scrooge like revelation to put my perspective into place.
Ok… A ‘Same as it Never Was’ style revelation more like.

The curiosity is playing heavily on my mind.

I am not suicidal btw.

I want to know… Not if this world would be better off without me but if things would be better for those around if I never existed to start with.

I am Ken Flatt, the third attempt after two miscarriages, a miracle baby, a prize result after 7 years of trying. What if either of those before me would have entered the world instead? They may have been more of a success in life than I will ever be. Maybe they would have been more compatible with the here and now than I will ever be either. I don’t feel like I fit in on this version of Earth sometimes…

I want a revelation…

“Be careful what you wish for…”

SPACED

So today I want to talk about my favourite sit-com, well favourite short lived sit-com ‘Spaced’.

Spaced is mainly centred on two strangers Tim (Simon Pegg) and Daisy (Jessica Hynes) who lie about being a professional couple in order to obtain a middle floor flat based in a large London house. I can sort of relate to the scenario myself when I also pretended to be a couple with a girl so a group of our mates could get a flat (That tale I will save for another time tho)

Anyways, Tim is an aspiring comic artist and sci-fi nut who also loves skateboarding and video games. Tim’s girlfriend of 5 years has given him the flick and has kicked him out of the house. Daisy on the other hand is an aspiring writer and currently out of work. Daisy’s living situation isn’t a bed of roses either which is when out of chance she and Tim end up bumping into each other at a local café. This is where the friendship and antics start. They both need somewhere new to live, and advertised in the local paper a charming place in 23 Meteor Street up for grabs. The only snag “ Professional Couple Only”.

Spaced also features other key characters such as: depressed artist Brian (who rents the basement downstairs), flirtatious, drunk landlady Marsha, Army fanatic Mike, and ditzy self-centred fashion snob Twist. Oh, and not forgetting Colin the Dog.

What really makes Spaced special is the surrealism, the homage factor and the incredibly slick editing. In fact Spaced is made up of much more and has to be seen to be believed. The comedy does also go beyond the flat too where some of the storylines involve: clubbing, breaking into the Darkstar Comics building, rescuing Colin from a testing lab, fighting Agent Smith a-likes at the local pub, and stealing a tank.

I found it a shame that this sit-com only lasted for two 7 episode seasons, but looking back this is a real display of quality over quantity. I only discovered this show after watching the films Shaun of the Dead & Hot Fuzz and then immediately looked for other works by Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and co. I certainly felt like a missing void from 1999-2001 and had been filled in 2007 when I borrowed the disc set from my friend Virginia and didn’t give it back to her for months. A week ago from this blog I end up getting my own and I can’t stop watching it to death.

Spaced is definitely the best 20-30 something comedy around. If you haven’t seen it yet, do look it up. The DVD set is now only ten quid in most places and is being released stateside on July 23rd.

OWEN

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the tragic death of Owen Hart.

I didn’t actually watch the WWE: Over the Edge 1999 PPV at the time as I was working a harsh twilight shift job for Tescos. I only heard the heard the news from a friend the next day in passing.

I can’t say I was Owen Hart’s biggest fan not that I hated him either; the guy was an excellent in-ring performer and a great underdog babyface that transitioned into a very nasty heel as he progressed in wrestling. I can think far back and seeing Owen wrestle as ‘Brono’ Owen Hart on ITV WoS Wrestling and other moments such as beating Skinner, High Energy, Winning the 1994 King of the Ring and also his eventful turn on big brother Bret, a change which changed his career forever.

During 1999 Owen was on the verge of a face turn and gave the fans a comedy angle to laugh about when he returned to wrestle under his old Blue Blazer gimmick. The Blue Blazer was funny and nothing more, this was comedy packaging wrapped around a talented wrestler who was otherwise taken seriously, a character that unexpectedly lead Owen to his death. Owen was due to take on The Godfather for the Intercontinental Championship and tragically his high flying ring entrance backfired when his rope harness failed. I can only try and imagine the horror of the fans who were watching this event at the arena to have seen an in-ring death like this. I can only imagine the other wrestlers carrying on with the show despite what had happened and having to cope. I also don’t think I can even imagine the horror felt by Owen Hart’s family watching at home.

It would seem Wrestling especially has seen a lot of fallen comrades over the last few years especially in premature circumstances. Last year for me saw a few of my best liked grapplers head up to that big squared circle in the sky before their time. 2007 was a sad year especially. Bam Bam Bigelow, Crush, Mike Awesome and Chris Benoit; all who were favourites of mine had all died prematurely, these all were workers I admired and inspired to be like (even Benoit at one time).

Owen Hart’s death particularly was something that could have easily been avoided. I could go into chaos theory about this but bereavement is something I don’t like to delve to into. I much prefer to talk about what that person did in their lifetime and reflect on their impact they had on those and places around them.

Now I said Owen was not one of my favourite wrestlers but I recognised how good he was and maybe I should have recognised more during his lifetime. You ever see the guy cut a promo? His heel stage when he spoke reminded me so much of Johnny from Karate Kid part 1. Another thing I should have mentioned earlier in the list of memories was the feud with Ken Shamrock which I thought was something truly hard hitting and even involved the use of the infamous Hart Family Dungeon. Wrestlers don’t leave that Dungeon the same as they came in.

From what I also gather Owen was a well liked person in the locker-room and well known for his fun pranks and ribbing on others. Owen was a family man too with a wife and two children aside from being the baby brother of the Hart siblings. The RAW episode that aired after Over The Edge was one of the most tear jerking pieces of television I had ever watched. Just watching that episode was evident of how well liked the man was by everybody.

So I will close now and hope that this blog has turned a few heads and has hopefully encouraged a few other grappling fans to reflect on the life and career of Owen.

“I’m not a nugget!!”

Owen Hart
May 7th 1965 – May 23rd 1999

SELECTION

A pick and mix selection of goodies from the world of myself.

I don’t know where to begin…

*cue the Murder She Wrote theme and I start typing*

I finally hammered the Essay of Doom on the head this week, only the essay wasn’t actually about Doom although I rambled on for 4,000 words about video games being made into movies. I mainly covered Super Mario Brothers and Resident Evil.

I recently acquired the complete series of Spaced which I think was a void filling investment. I will ramble about this rather excellent series in another blog entry, but I certainly will state that watching this makes me want to graduate fast from university and grab the world by the balls and make some of my own stuff.

This week also marked the 60 Day Suspension of William Regal from the WWE. Whatever he was exactly suspended for, my opinion on the guy doesn’t change. I am certainly disappointed to hear of the news but I look forward to his eventful return to TV.

===Other thoughts processing… ===

Zack turning heel on the Bones Season 3 finale was a shocker!

Smallville season 7 finale was by far the weakest cliff-hanger ending so far of the series. Despite that I have high hopes for season 8. Doomsday!!!!

Scotty 2 Hotty seminar on the 7th. Looking forward to that.

TF:Animated Prowl and Lockdown on their way from Hong Kong.

I need to do some clothes shopping soon. I am shrinking out of everything.

Exam to repeat next month. I hope I take it to the cleaners this time (not literally mind).

===HERO/KEN

REGAL

I am really stoked to see on TV Steve 'William' Regal getting the character push in the WWE he so justly deserves. First off being the General Manager of RAW, then the 2008 King of the Ring and thirdly being used in top level feuds against stars like HHH and Mr Kennedy.

I grew up watching Regal on ITV World of Sport Wrestling, as well as Fit Finlay and Robbie Brookside. I've been watching wrestling since I was 6 so you can guess how long I have been watching Regal plus other classic British stars and wrestling in general.

Regal was the first wrestler I shook hands and stood in a wrestling ring with. I am talking here about a time around 17 years ago when All Star Promotions ran shows fortnightly at the Colston Hall in Bristol. The occasion was a tag team main event which involved The Liverpool Lads (Regal and Brookside) VS Doc Dean and some other dude who I forgot. At this time the Liverpool Lads were well over with the crowd as a babyface tag team whilst Doc Dean was a much hated heel and also a former Liverpool Lad himself (His storyline is basically similar to that of Shawn Michaels betraying Marty Jannetty and ending The Rockers). Basically the Liverpool Lads scored the win and the arena went nuts, so much so a few of us kids stormed the ring to congratulate our heroes.

It was very cool that later on Regal joined WCW and even though he was a heel he was in a good position to represent the UK in the USA and teach some of them ‘yanks’ a thing or two ;) There was even a time when Regal made the mighty Bill Goldberg work for his pinfall as opposed to being part of a cliché of a 3 minute match opponent. Regal refused to job so easily like many others did and it got him in trouble. At least Goldberg got took to school British Strong-style that was the main thing.  That match is viewable here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POjGbzOYDOg

There is many other Regal stuff I could go on about, but I just don’t have the time and energy to spit it all out in one day. Regal is the man and that’s what matters.

Now in this present day, William Regal is ruling the WWE with an iron fist and is definitely the main in charge despite a current anti-UK vibe on WWE programming (well last weeks RAW was definitely anti-UK). I hope the character push will last for a long time to come.

All hail King Regal! Rule Britania!

DOWNFALL

Looks like after a big mix up with the hand in dates it would seem that I should have handed in my large 4,000 word Contemporary Screen Media assignment in a week ago.

I've made a real dogs dinner of this and that's like 50% of my final grade down the sewers.

I will still have it finished and handed in but a third of the mark that this paper is worth will be amputated as punishment by whoever is marking it. Rules is rules I am afraid.

I smell a repeat assignment over the summer.

Totally Bogus!

Still... If anyone can help and feels they have a good opinion in regards to video game licenses being made into movies please drop me an e-mail ASAP to ken@melted.com. I need contact to be by e-mail for quoting in my bibliography at the bottom of the paper. The University will need it to be that way in case they check up I have not made up someone online to get some leverage with the work.

In the meantime I have an evaluation that needs finishing for handing in by 2pm tommorrow.

Must press on.

SCRAP

My creative flow has taken a little trip down Crap Creek as of late. I have a huge writers block right now that is slowing me down with uni assignments but I still must drag on.

I don’t know which to finish first… The Documentary Evaluation (2,000 words), The Interactive Evaluation (2,000 words) or the Research Essay (4,000 words!!!!). It’s all got to be done by the middle of next week and I feel stuck in a tar pit.

There goes my friggin’ weekend 

As Hercule Poirot would say “Rest the little grey cells”. I’ve done that over and over and it helps to a degree. Perhaps it is the heat we’ve been having here in blighty lately.

I must battle on. It will take more than a little energon and a lot of luck to get through this torrent of workload oppression. I need to work at the pace of Jessica Fletcher *cue the Murder She Wrote music* to get the assignments done and if that is what it takes I will have to practise. .

BTW - Anyone living in the Bristol area and knows where Paintworks is will be able to see some of my group project work on display from May 16th onwards. It sort of feels like parent visitors day at senior school all over again. :P.

Also, Word up and well done to my pals down at Welsh Wrestling Organisation for a corker of a show yesterday - and sorry I couldn’t make it. I hope Tommy Dean gets another date arranged soon cos Hero wants a piece of the Treharris action 

INSPIRED

Last Fridays Celtic Wrestling event left me feeling in good spirits. Not only did I return to some announcing work but I have future stuff in the pipeline such as my interview and involvement with The Best of The System DVD, some possible appearances for Welsh Wrestling Organisation and... a few other things I won't reveal yet.

It's good to be back.