If you are wondering why new posts have been a bit sparse lately it is simple because I have relocated to a new country. I was offered a job in fantastic Barcelona, Spain and had to relocate with short notice. I am now slowly adjusting to my new home and organizing my things, which eats up most of my free time. The normal rate of posts will resume very soon. Bare with me please. (Image)

Need a compilation of some catchy tunes? Well, you’ve come to the right diner! I was hungry for more lounge music and found “Music for TV Dinners: The Sixties.” For those that don’t know many lounge artists, this is a great compilation with a tasty mix of library music. The album includes artists such as Syd Dale, Laurie Johnson, and of course the great Alan Hawkshaw. I never got full from listening to my favorite songs, Beauty Parade and Chase That Car.

Warning: The TV Dinner will be hot, but a swell meal! Click here to taste a sample of “Music for TV Dinners: The Sixties”. Have a story of TV dinners or shopping malls as a kid? Share them in the comments!

The first memory I have of Jane Fonda is from watching my mother’s copy of Jane Fonda’s 1982 exercise video, aptly titled “Workout,” based on Fonda‘s even more aptly titled LP “Jane Fonda‘s Workout Record.“ Hot off the heels of early ‘80s HBO mainstays “Nine to Five” and “On Golden Pond,” Fonda appeared on the video box in leg warmers and promised music by REO Speedwagon, Billy Ocean, and Boz Scaggs. Based on her dowdy appearance in “Nine to Five” and her whiny semi-autobiographical role in “On Golden Pond,” I hadn’t realized Fonda had been a sex symbol until years later when I rented a copy of Barbarella on VHS.

It is the year 40,000 and Barbarella is hot on the trail of Durand Durand and his missing Positronic Ray. Follow along and I’ll answer such questions as: Can Barbarella rescue Durand Durand before the Black Queen destroys him? Will Barbarella out-pleasure the Excessive Machine? Have STDs been cured 38,000 years from now or does Barbarella just have really low self-esteem?

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If you have been craving a well-written period murder mystery, then look no further than Radley Metzger’s The Cat and the Canary. However, if your tastes tend toward lush murder mystery musicals, then take a look at 8 Women. 8 Women has plot twists galore, and since I’m not one to spoil, this review will be short.

Set in 1950s France, Suzon (Virgine Ledoyen – La Ceremonie, The Beach), returns home to her family’s countryside estate while on Christmas vacation from school. In short order, Suzon greets her mother, Gaby (Catharine Deneuve – Repulsion, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), her Aunt Augustine (Isabelle Huppert – La Dentelliere, The Piano Teacher), sister Catherine (Ludivine Sagnier – Water Drops on Burning Rocks, Swimming Pool), housekeeper Louise (Emmanuelle Beart – The Story of Marie and Julien, Mission: Impossible), maid Chanel (Firmine Richard – Romuald et Juliette), and grandmother Mamy (Danielle Darrieux – The Earrings of Madame de…). Later in the film, we are treated to a guest appearance by Fanny Ardant (Vivement dimanche!) as Aunt Pierrette. Shortly after arriving, Suzon’s father, Marcel, is murdered. There are eight possible suspects in the house – all women. Eight women. The murderer could be any one of them, and paranoia quickly sets in as the women accuse each other of committing the murder.

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Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby, is without a doubt one of the biggest fashion icons to emerge from the 1960′s. Her thin frame and big blue eyes became the envy of fashionistas everywhere. The look of drawn on lashes (anything to make the eyes look bigger) and pale lips became a Twiggy staple as girls copied her look to fit in with Swinging London and everything Mod. The geometric patterns and straight cuts of fabric in 60′s fashion fit the Twiggy’s frame as clothes did in the sketches fashion designers put down on paper–making her the perfect model. In a way, Twiggy and her “twig-like legs” (as you’ll see in the video above) brought designs to life in a way other models hadn’t done before.

Twiggy took her style around the world, landing numerous jobs in Europe, the US and Asia. Her success also came with numerous awards including being named “The Face of 1966,” “Woman of the Year,” and a variety of Vogue covers. While the 90′s ushered in the era of the supermodel, including fellow Brit Kate Moss, I think it’s safe to say Twiggy revolutionized the British modeling and fashion scene and inspired girls across the globe to cut their hair short and challenge their own sense of style.

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Animated trailer for Andrew O’Hagan’s new novel ‘The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of his Friend Marilyn Monroe‘. Maf the dog was Marilyn’s constant companion for the last two years of her life. Through the eyes of Maf were provided with an insight into the life of Monroe herself, and a fascinating take on one of the most extraordinary periods of the twentieth century. The book is published by Faber and Faber in May 2010. Animation by Robin Davey.