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But these people don't believe in multiple governments cooperating (or not) - they believe in a secret illuminati who control everything.

How do you even fight this?

Have you tried a cricket bat?

Coming as not much of a surprise, Van Morrison continues to prove he is an arse of the highest order.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54194408

That we live in a society where people will take the word of a fella talented enough to make music, over the words of experts shows how much of a mess the world is in.

They played a snippet of one of these songs on the radio. It was no 'Brown Eyed Girl', that's for sure.

Funnily enough, I was just speculating the other day that we'd probably have a Gove-ernment for 2021. I can't see him being an improvement on Boris - the only upside is that he's even disliked by the 'Gotta love Boris-lol' brigade, so it will hopefully erode the Tory majority even further. Also, it may take some power away from Cummings.

Surely Cummings would be forced out if Johnson resigns?

Let's hope so. But I have a feeling there's more going on than we know concerning that guy.

Funnily enough, I was just speculating the other day that we'd probably have a Gove-ernment for 2021. I can't see him being an improvement on Boris - the only upside is that he's even disliked by the 'Gotta love Boris-lol' brigade, so it will hopefully erode the Tory majority even further. Also, it may take some power away from Cummings.

Eric Bradbury would've nailed Skizz - it's not a million miles away from Doomlord in many respects.

I'd say Dave D'Antiquis for Button Man. His work on Brigand Doom was amazing.
In fact, I think he may have been an even better fit for the strip than Ranson.

I'd also like to see Bryan Talbot take on Strontium Dog - I think he'd be a great fit for the strip.

Now of course we have a different argument evolving: how to attract a new, younger audience to a product that has appealed so much to a different generation.

In theory, that's simple: make parents aware of comics, and make publications available, appropriate and affordable. The problem is things fall down on the lat off those things. A Beano was 8p in 1985. Pure inflation alone would suggest a price point around 25p today. But circulations have tumbled and production values have increased. A single issue now costs £2.75 (or £1.50 on subscription), putting it out of reach of many families.

Even so, as someone who lives in a middle class town, it's interesting that those who can afford comics are largely oblivious to their existence. We've been lending out mini-IP's Phoenix books and Beano annuals to her friends, who are often not keen on reading. Without exception so far, the kids have been devouring those publications. But the language of comics seems to be something that's fading away, and probably the sheer amount of plastic shit puts parents off. The Beano, of course, does probably two covermounts per year; The Phoenix does none. But the former gets lost on the newsstands and the latter is barely stocked.

Beyond that, there's the issue of "where next"? Once kids want to take the next step, where do they go? Marvel reprints would be one obvious source, but Panini's reprint line is in trouble. 2000 AD feels a bit too targeted at older readers and can be intimidating to newcomers.

For the question of 'where next' after the likes of The Beano - I went to Asterix - an option which still seems viable.
I went on holiday to Greece last year and was amazed by the amount of comic albums in the airport newsagent/book shop. There were plenty of Asterix and Tintin books but also loads of Disney stuff like collected editions of Scrooge McDuck in full colour for an affordable price.
If they'd had English language versions (or if I could read Greek) I'd have bought an armful.

I enjoyed Spider-Man (in fact I've enjoyed most Spider-Man games I've played -  they character translates well to games) but the thing I didn't like was the combat against faceless goons.
Spidey should be able to one-punch these goons. I find it frustrating to be foiled by a normal bloke with a riot shield when Spidey should be able to punch the guy halfway across Manhattan. I'd have liked to have seen more focus on minor super villains for combat or possibly time limits or style points for taking out average bank robbers and gangsters.

I think the trailer is promising, my only problem is that I it seems overly violent.

I'd also like to see a more athletic, less armoured Batman. I think it could work if they approached it like a ninja/martial arts film.

[Demolition Man]

My last movie watched was Demolition Man.

I don't think I'd seen this since the 90s so it all felt pretty fresh to me.
It's a really fun film which I very much enjoyed. Stallone puts his best foot forward with the affable tough guy routine and Sandra Bullock is an absolute joy - loveable and vulnerable but also smart and capable. I really liked her character.
Wesley Snipes is great fun as a pantomine-esque super-psycho villain. He looks like he's having great fun. And then you've got (bizarrely) Nigel Hawthorne chewing a bit of scenery.
The whole package is much better than I'd remembered with a pretty witty script and a great balance of action and humour. It's possibly 15 minutes too long and the subterranean underclass bit didn't quite come off - still a solid effort though.

It's obviously impossible to watch without comparing it to Judge Dredd. Demolition Man is by far the better film - Stallone seems more comfortable and they even manage to keep Rob Schneider on a leash.

I dunno, I thought it was the most Star Trek-y of all three: it's actually about space exploration, strange new worlds, the characters' purpose and what happens to warriors when war is over. The Beastie Boys stuff is overdone, but it's still a fun sequence with great visuals. I love that the utterly crazy starbase elicits the same sense of wonder from my jaded eyes as Spacedock did in ST:III.

I'm a fan.

It certainly had Star Trekky elements and the cast were still good.
It just didn't feel like Star Trek to me.

It's like when you get an English breakfast in a Greek hotel. You get the elements but the scrambled eggs taste strangely sweet, the bacon is wafer thin with little boney bits in the middle and the sausages are like hot dog weiners.

One thing I particularly dislike about most modern Trek is the tendency to make the ship combat like air combat - it's all dog fights and high speed chases like something from Star Wars or Independence Day.
I like my Star Trek combat to feel more Naval. 

Just look at this scene. You've basically got McCoy flying a fucking X-Wing. It's shite.

https://youtu.be/HYctFVhe2Rc

Star Trek 2009 was pretty good. I think they should have left it there.

Into Darkness was shite.

Beyond was an above average Sci fi adventure film but a rubbish Star Trek film. All that Beasty Boys stuff really made me cringe.

Dan Abnett's name on a book is the closest thing you'll get to a cast iron guarantee of quality.
Get well soon and get back to your writing!

I've just been on my favourite Sexy Teen Photos forum and it's full of spam posts about Judge Dredd.
Bloody typical.