1        MY TOP SURVIVAL TIPS AND QUOTES OF THE PAST DECADE
2        AUTHORS I HAVE ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF ON LONELY NIGHTS IN WITH ONLY A FOREST OF WOOD TO HAND   
3        MY TOP ALBUMS OF THE CENTURY
4        TOP BAND WEBSITES TO VISIT

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MY TOP SURVIVAL TIPS AND QUOTES OF THE PAST DECADE

“Never eat yellow snow”

“Only dead fish float” (cheers for this one Frankie, I’d be dead without it)

Trevor Morais -  “All the hitting things done in a live, loose and sexy way not dissimilar to drumming, but much better.”!  I still haven’t figured out what he was talking about.

“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” -  Horace Warhole.  Very profound.

“Love between a man and woman can be a beautiful thing …you’ve just got to find the right man and woman to get between.”  – My mate Joe stole this from some famous guy, but he probably never used it to the extent that Joe does.

“Non omnia possumus omnes.”  A first installment by Craig Kearns the famous classic guitarist.  Closely translated “We can’t all do everything”.

A sign on the Gleave’s sittingroom wall drew my attention: “Nobody ever damaged their eyes looking on the bright side”.  How nice.

A quote from the woman in my life (The Queen of Metaphors): “She looked like a rottweiller with lipstick.”  I would like to mention who she was talking about.

A quote from her Ma, written next to the WC in her house – “I aim to keep this bathroom clean, your aim will help.”  Was that a threat or a challenge?

“Nothing to do but work, nothing to eat but food, nothing to wear but clothes, to keep one from going nude.”  A second installment by Craig Kearns the famous womaniser, looking for a wife.

“You know what word describes you my friend, a word that describes your being, your essence, your whole existence, reticent, that’s it, Stephen Reticent Haigh!”  “Oh, maybe.” I replied reticently to his great summing up.  The third installment of Craig Kearns the famous Father of all that is comedy and profoundness.
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AUTHORS I HAVE ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF ON LONELY NIGHTS IN WITH ONLY A FOREST OF WOOD TO HAND

Raymond E. Feist – The Riftwar saga; Krondor.
In my experience the best author of medieval-style fantasy novels (tell me if you know of anyone better).

J R R Tolkien – The Lord of the rings; The Hobbit; The Silmarillion.
What more can I say about this man than has already been said by others, a goliath among philistines.

Anne McCaffrey – The Chronicles of Pern; Acorna; Freedom’s choice/challenge; Nimisha’s ship.
A brilliant technical novelist, she makes sure she gets every detail perfect, could do with a laugh every now and then though.

Tad Williams – Otherland.

Isaac Asimov – The Robot, etc.
One of the greats.

Terry Pratchett – The Discworld novels - The colour of magic; Light fantastic; Equal rites; Mort; Sourcery; Wyrd sisters; Pyramids; Guards!Guards!; Eric; Moving pictures; Reaper man; Witches abroad; Small gods; Lords and ladies; Men at arms; Soul music; Interesting times; Maskerade; Feet of clay; Hogfather; Jingo; The last continent; Carpe Jugulum.
Comedy genius.  All hail this man.  If you’ve never read one of Pratchett’s before, what are you waiting for, turn off this PC immediately and get back to the entertainment of the 20th Century until you are prepared for the up and coming 21st century.

Tom Holt – Wish you were here.
If there was ever a man to come anywhere near what Pratchett does, it’s this man.

H.G.Wells – War of the Worlds; The time machine; The invisible man.
Probably the most famous author ever, check him out.

Franck Herbert – Dune.
What, you’ve never heard of this guy either, where have you been?
www.duneworld.spaceguild.com

L.Ron Hubbard – Mission Earth.
This guy is your Terry Pratchett of America, a bit cheesy in places but still a great laugh.

Here’s a few other authors I rate:

Julian Atterton
Cecilia Holland
Melanie Rawn
Sile Rice
T.H.White
Helen Hollick
David Wingrove
Angus Wells
Nina Kiriki Hoffman

http://www.sff.net.com 
http://www.sfsite.com/isfdb 
http://www.battlefieldearth.com 
http://www.starwars.com 

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MY TOP ALBUMS OF THE CENTURY

Stone Roses – Stone Roses
Need I say more!

Stone Roses – Second Coming
Ok, the original Stone Roses album was great but this is poetry in motion to drum and bass, with a backing of rock guitar.  I want to die to this album.

Jeff Buckley – Grace
I listen to this album religiously every week, so I don’t forget about it and him.  What a voice, backed with Radiohead riffs and feeling.  I want to dedicate the song “I should’ve come over” to everyone in the whole world who has split up with the person they loved.

Charlatans – Melting Pot
They’ve copied the Roses alright, but it’s still good, and they’ve produced a lot more of it, and the best of it’s on this compilation album.

James – The best of
Tim Booth may sing like some one out of Erasure at times but it hasn’t stopped them producing some of the best pop songs ever.

Free – The Free Story
Another compilation, because it’s got all their best stuff on.  My dad introduced me to them, along with the Wrigleys advert of course, but in my books they’re one of the greatest bands of the late sixties/early seventies.

Shed Seven – A maximum high
Pure indie rock with a great singer and some great lyrics.

Massive Attack – Mezzanine
So dramatic, translucent, simple and yet moving.

Primal Scream – Vanishing Point
My favourite album from the group who have influenced a lot of today’s damce music.

Stereophonics – Word gets around
Ok, so the Welsh are good for something.  I’ve only just bought their new album so I can’t really comment on as of yet.

Smashing Pumpkins – Adore
A lot mellower than their other stuff, and disliked by their hardened fans.  I don’t really know why I bought it but I did and I don’t regret it now.  It is a brilliant album with some excellent tunes and some well thought out lyrics.

Bluetones – Return to the Last chance saloon
Huh!  I wish they would just keep this stuff rolling, it is so good.

Travis – Good Feeling
These Scots will be the next big thing if I’ve got anything to do with it.  Bigger and better than Oasis will ever be, without the bad attitude as well.  Real rock stars.

Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
Perfect for the summer, with the top down, crusing along with your mates.

Prodigy – Fat of the Land
Yes!  Big beefy bass, a mean attitude and everything else you could ask for in an auntie.

The Black Crowes – Shake your money maker
Pure old school american rock, the best of.

Greenday – Dookie
So happy, mad, and sad.

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Ash – http://www.ash-official.com
Beastie Boys – http://www.grandroyal.com/beastieboys 
Bluetones – http://www.bluetones.co.uk 
Charlatans – http://www.roadkill.com 
Chemical brothers – the-raft.com/chemicalbros/
Feeder – http://www.echo.co.uk/feeder 
Hurricane#1 –  http://www.creation.co.uk/hurricane 
Ian Brown – http://www.ianbrown.co.uk 
Massive Attack – http://www.massiveattack.co.uk 
Blur – http://www.blur.co.uk 
Mansun – http://www.mansun.co.uk 
Primal Scream –  http://www.creation.co.uk/primal/ 
Radiohead –  http://www.radiohead.co.uk 
Reef –  http://www.reef.co.uk
Shed Seven –  http://www.shedseven.co.uk 
Stone Roses –  http://www.geffen.com/sroses.html 
                         http://www.freestyle.com/roses/ 
Travis – http://www.scooter.demon.co.uk/travis 
Stereophonics –  http://www.stereophonics.co.uk 
 
 
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