I am still off to London tomorrow, and my plans will barely change. (Due to the fact some tube lines aren't operating, there is by necessity some alternate travel plans needed.) Kudos to those who are going with me, and piss on those who backed off solely due to fear. Shame will turn your heart black and you will wither as a result. FIE, I say!
Yeah, whatever.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Screw The Terrorists Redux
Oh boy, here we go again*. I am getting tired of exploding trains.
Another series of bombs went off in London this morning. This time there were no fatalities and only one injury, not apparently serious. One was a 'bomb and run' where the bomber tossed a rucksack inside a tube train as the doors closed and then took off running. Passersby tried to grab him but he escaped. Subsequently, two arrests have been made.
Again, it could have been much, much worse but in this case, no real harm done other than total chaos in terms of local transportation.
I have a trip scheduled for me and a few friends next week and I'm still going. I will admit that I am now a bit apprehensive, but if fear gets the better of you, then the bastards have won and I cannot and will not accept that under any condition.
"I absolutely am going on this trip. I will not let some terrorist hiding under the cover of darkness change my mind. I will not cow to the will of some scum-sucking, bottom-dwelling sack of shit. They will not win and I will not let them win. I will ride the tube and the bus. I will be cautious, but I will not be afraid. It's very impressive blowing up a bunch of innocent people to try and prove a point. It only makes civilised people not have any sympathy for your cause." (Quote from previous "Screw The Terrorists" post)
-- Eric
* Apologies to Ronald Regan
Another series of bombs went off in London this morning. This time there were no fatalities and only one injury, not apparently serious. One was a 'bomb and run' where the bomber tossed a rucksack inside a tube train as the doors closed and then took off running. Passersby tried to grab him but he escaped. Subsequently, two arrests have been made.
Again, it could have been much, much worse but in this case, no real harm done other than total chaos in terms of local transportation.
I have a trip scheduled for me and a few friends next week and I'm still going. I will admit that I am now a bit apprehensive, but if fear gets the better of you, then the bastards have won and I cannot and will not accept that under any condition.
"I absolutely am going on this trip. I will not let some terrorist hiding under the cover of darkness change my mind. I will not cow to the will of some scum-sucking, bottom-dwelling sack of shit. They will not win and I will not let them win. I will ride the tube and the bus. I will be cautious, but I will not be afraid. It's very impressive blowing up a bunch of innocent people to try and prove a point. It only makes civilised people not have any sympathy for your cause." (Quote from previous "Screw The Terrorists" post)
-- Eric
* Apologies to Ronald Regan
Monday, July 18, 2005
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (SPOILERS)
This post (and subsequent comments) has many spoilers.
If you haven't read the book, STOP READING NOW!
Yeah, so I got it Saturday*and started reading all 652 pages of it that evening. I got the last little bit today, right after work. I found one irritating as hell typo "site" instead of "sight" on page 12 which really irritated me, but other than that, it was done well from a mechanical standpoint.
First, it's a good book. It reads very fast and seems much shorter than the weight of the volume would have you believe. It's also a page-turner.
Second, there have been criticisms that Jo Rowling has been trying to wrap things up tidily in this novel. I think, yes, some things do get wrapped up nicely. Many things get left open.
The book is decidedly more British. Many of the things they used to change "pudding" for "dessert" are left unchanged now. Yet, they still insist on "bathroom" which in the UK is the room in which one takes a bath. It almost seems out of place. The more English feel is an asset for this book and I'm glad the publisher decided to have a little more faith in the intelligence of their readers.
Last chance. Book-ruining spoilers follow.
1. That Snape is really evil and not to be trusted will surprise no one, however what he does in this book will surprise everyone. Well, "to thine own self be true" is certainly accurate.
2. The death of Dumbledore will surprise nobody. I was relieved, actually. I was so worried the whole book that they were going to kill Ron Weasley, I couldn't stand it. When Dumbledore died instead, I was almost relieved. And to be honest, I had Hagrid or Ginny pegged as the 'gonner' for most of the book. Of course, this is caused because Harry once again withholds information, only this time with fatal consequences. He had proof that Snape was bad, but rather than let himself get in trouble, he hides the potions book with the proof. Harry is not flawless, and I am disappointed in him. This is not the first time he does this, and I am confident it will not be his last.
3. Harry gets Ginny, gets to snog, etc. Yawn. Ron finally ends up with Hermione, which will surprise nobody and leave you wondering what took so long. What little sexual tension this book has is between those two.
4. And last, but not even remotely least, is Mr. Draco Malfoy. Malfoy is revealed to be the frightened, little snivelling scared child we all know him to be. And it is the first time I am truly irrate at Mr. Potter. You ever realize you're at defining moment that will forever alter the future course of events? Well there was one in this book, whether or not Rowling put it there. When Potter walks in on Malfoy who is crying** his heart out to Myrtle, Harry could have offered him comfort, or any number of other things. Harry could have been a big person, but he wasn't. Harry could have gone to Malfoy while he was recovering from his wounds and tried to fix things, then and there, but he didn't. And ultimately, when Malfoy can't kill Dumbledore, if you didn't realize Draco still could be saved, you knew it when Dumbledore tells him. However, you should have figured it out early on. I am so terribly disappointed in Harry, I am not sure how to express myself. (I wish I knew how to get in touch with Ms. Rowling so I could tell her how much I think she blew it in this one scene.)
The book gets better as it goes along -- no question about that. The whole Horecrux bit is a little over-convoluted, but not distracting at least. But I have no real complaints about the book, yet some frustrations that characters don't act how I think*** they should act.
Everyone says the book is dark, but it isn't any darker than any of the other books. And, unlike Goblet of Fire, you don't need a forklift to carry it. Kudos to the Canadian publisher for using recycled paper instead of virgin trees for the printing. All-in-all, I am happy. I can't wait for the penultimate book in this wonderful oeuvre!
-- E
* Thanks, Mo!
** That alone is a shocker
*** Yeah, I know the author gets to decide
If you haven't read the book, STOP READING NOW!
Yeah, so I got it Saturday*and started reading all 652 pages of it that evening. I got the last little bit today, right after work. I found one irritating as hell typo "site" instead of "sight" on page 12 which really irritated me, but other than that, it was done well from a mechanical standpoint.
First, it's a good book. It reads very fast and seems much shorter than the weight of the volume would have you believe. It's also a page-turner.
Second, there have been criticisms that Jo Rowling has been trying to wrap things up tidily in this novel. I think, yes, some things do get wrapped up nicely. Many things get left open.
The book is decidedly more British. Many of the things they used to change "pudding" for "dessert" are left unchanged now. Yet, they still insist on "bathroom" which in the UK is the room in which one takes a bath. It almost seems out of place. The more English feel is an asset for this book and I'm glad the publisher decided to have a little more faith in the intelligence of their readers.
Last chance. Book-ruining spoilers follow.
1. That Snape is really evil and not to be trusted will surprise no one, however what he does in this book will surprise everyone. Well, "to thine own self be true" is certainly accurate.
2. The death of Dumbledore will surprise nobody. I was relieved, actually. I was so worried the whole book that they were going to kill Ron Weasley, I couldn't stand it. When Dumbledore died instead, I was almost relieved. And to be honest, I had Hagrid or Ginny pegged as the 'gonner' for most of the book. Of course, this is caused because Harry once again withholds information, only this time with fatal consequences. He had proof that Snape was bad, but rather than let himself get in trouble, he hides the potions book with the proof. Harry is not flawless, and I am disappointed in him. This is not the first time he does this, and I am confident it will not be his last.
3. Harry gets Ginny, gets to snog, etc. Yawn. Ron finally ends up with Hermione, which will surprise nobody and leave you wondering what took so long. What little sexual tension this book has is between those two.
4. And last, but not even remotely least, is Mr. Draco Malfoy. Malfoy is revealed to be the frightened, little snivelling scared child we all know him to be. And it is the first time I am truly irrate at Mr. Potter. You ever realize you're at defining moment that will forever alter the future course of events? Well there was one in this book, whether or not Rowling put it there. When Potter walks in on Malfoy who is crying** his heart out to Myrtle, Harry could have offered him comfort, or any number of other things. Harry could have been a big person, but he wasn't. Harry could have gone to Malfoy while he was recovering from his wounds and tried to fix things, then and there, but he didn't. And ultimately, when Malfoy can't kill Dumbledore, if you didn't realize Draco still could be saved, you knew it when Dumbledore tells him. However, you should have figured it out early on. I am so terribly disappointed in Harry, I am not sure how to express myself. (I wish I knew how to get in touch with Ms. Rowling so I could tell her how much I think she blew it in this one scene.)
The book gets better as it goes along -- no question about that. The whole Horecrux bit is a little over-convoluted, but not distracting at least. But I have no real complaints about the book, yet some frustrations that characters don't act how I think*** they should act.
Everyone says the book is dark, but it isn't any darker than any of the other books. And, unlike Goblet of Fire, you don't need a forklift to carry it. Kudos to the Canadian publisher for using recycled paper instead of virgin trees for the printing. All-in-all, I am happy. I can't wait for the penultimate book in this wonderful oeuvre!
-- E
* Thanks, Mo!
** That alone is a shocker
*** Yeah, I know the author gets to decide
Thursday, July 7, 2005
Screw the terrorists....
First, and foremost, my thoughts are with those in London who are reeling from the terrorist attack today 7-7. It is truly a tragedy and I'm sorry any human being has to go through that sort of ordeal. The only solace is that it could have been much, much worse. Those that have perpetrated this heinous crime are not humans and do not deserve to live. Show no more mercy to them than you would a cockroach. They are barbarians, the lot.
I have a trip scheduled for me and some friends for my 40th birthday party later this month and I'm still going. I ain't scared of some cowardly sack of shit that thinks this is going to beat anyone into submission, especially not me. If your fear gets the better of you, then the bastards have won.
I absolutely am going on this trip. I will not let some terrorist hiding under the cover of darkness change my mind. I will not cow to the will of some scum-sucking, bottom-dwelling sack of shit. They will not win and I will not let them win. I will ride the tube and the bus. I will be cautious, but I will not be afraid.
I feel London will be safe now. The terrorists' plan so far seems to be to hit a major city, wait a year, and then find a new city to lay waste to: New York, Madrid, and now London: in other words, keep everyone unbalanced and in fear. It's very impressive blowing up a bunch of innocent people to try and prove a point*. It only makes civilised people not have any sympathy for your cause.
-- Eric
* sarcasm, duh.
I have a trip scheduled for me and some friends for my 40th birthday party later this month and I'm still going. I ain't scared of some cowardly sack of shit that thinks this is going to beat anyone into submission, especially not me. If your fear gets the better of you, then the bastards have won.
I absolutely am going on this trip. I will not let some terrorist hiding under the cover of darkness change my mind. I will not cow to the will of some scum-sucking, bottom-dwelling sack of shit. They will not win and I will not let them win. I will ride the tube and the bus. I will be cautious, but I will not be afraid.
I feel London will be safe now. The terrorists' plan so far seems to be to hit a major city, wait a year, and then find a new city to lay waste to: New York, Madrid, and now London: in other words, keep everyone unbalanced and in fear. It's very impressive blowing up a bunch of innocent people to try and prove a point*. It only makes civilised people not have any sympathy for your cause.
-- Eric
* sarcasm, duh.
Tuesday, July 5, 2005
I don't wanna' be an American Idiot*....
http://tinyurl.com/an97r
I am deeply amused and deeply appalled at the same time. However, I must side with Toyota, because deep down I know they are right. And deep down, you know they're right too. This speaks volumes about our country and where our priorities are -- and have been for some time. We're not educating our citizens and look what it's brought us.
I will spare you the rant on what uneducated people do to our society, how they are more prejudiced, more this, more that, etc. You can go look up those facts: it's nothing to do with politics and all about if you're smart or stupid. And, frankly, more and more Americans are just plain pig ignorant. It's sad.
* Subject line is a gratuitous yet apropos Green Day reference.
I am deeply amused and deeply appalled at the same time. However, I must side with Toyota, because deep down I know they are right. And deep down, you know they're right too. This speaks volumes about our country and where our priorities are -- and have been for some time. We're not educating our citizens and look what it's brought us.
I will spare you the rant on what uneducated people do to our society, how they are more prejudiced, more this, more that, etc. You can go look up those facts: it's nothing to do with politics and all about if you're smart or stupid. And, frankly, more and more Americans are just plain pig ignorant. It's sad.
* Subject line is a gratuitous yet apropos Green Day reference.
Saturday, July 2, 2005
Live8 -- Pink Floyd Rocks -- MTV Blows
I watched Live8 on MTV/VH1 (same feed) -- missing parts for various reasons. However, I must say MTV which is, in theory, a music channel should be removed from the air for their atrociously horrendous and offensive coverage. Every single artist was shown disrespect by the VJs talking over one or more of the artists' songs. Further, they cut away from many mid-song -- not to show another artist -- but to listen to vapid hosts blather banalities about nothing. Or worse, to cut to a commercial. HEY! GUYS! If you wait another 90 seconds the song will be over and you can still go to a commercial. ABC's clip show was much better and I got to see a few missing items in their entirety.
The highlight for me (and I suppose many others) was Pink Floyd reuniting with Roger Waters for the first time since 1981. They sound as good as their CDs if not better. Amazing. The Who tore up the stage as did Bon Jovi, Green Day, and some other artists. Most were astoundingly average.
I'm a huge Paul McCartney fan, but the ending just blew chunks. Sorry.
More later if I'm in the mood.
The highlight for me (and I suppose many others) was Pink Floyd reuniting with Roger Waters for the first time since 1981. They sound as good as their CDs if not better. Amazing. The Who tore up the stage as did Bon Jovi, Green Day, and some other artists. Most were astoundingly average.
I'm a huge Paul McCartney fan, but the ending just blew chunks. Sorry.
More later if I'm in the mood.
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