I'm writing this having literally just put this book down. Whisper Of Waves by Phillip Athans is the first book of The Watercourse Trilogy, a trio of novels set in the Forgotten Realms shared world, of which I am very fond. While there are lots of novels set in that world, few really change the world to much degree. Every now and then though comes a series that is referred to as an RSE, or Realms Shaking Event. These books (they are usually a trilogy) detail something major happening, that impacts the world and changes it forever. This book is the start of just such an event.
The book is written in dozens of short chapters (none are longer than 8 pages), that flow in chronological order, and they cover a period of nearly 40 years. It is an interesting way to write a novel, and I've certainly never read another book structured in this manner. The trilogy as a whole details one mans efforts to build a canal to link the seas of the continent of Faerûn, as there is no route by which a ship might travel from the land-locked Sea of Fallen Stars to the outer seas and oceans. This first novel though builds the groundwork for the books to come, and it is not until the last chapter that work begins on the great project itself, described as "a hole in the ground, forty miles long, and a thousand feet wide."
The man in question is Ivar Devorast, an engineering prodigy. Ivar is arguably the single most arrogant character I have ever read about, yet his utter conviction in his superiority is borne out because he is right. He really is smarter than everyone else around him, especially his friend Willem Korvan who is another engineer who graduated at the same time. Both men end up in the city of Innarlith, a small trade port of little importance. Ivar working for a shipwright who appreciates his apprentices amazing intellect, and Willem working for the city's Master Builder and quickly finding himself not up to the task.
And so he comes to rely on Ivar, bringing him plans and ideas which Ivar draws up into immaculate blueprints, wanting nothing in return. For Ivar solving a problem is it's own reward, a view completely lost on Willem, who relentlessly works to advance himself into high society, slowly but surely growing more resentful of Ivar, whom he must rely upon to keep his world from collapsing.
For his part Ivar doesn't care about such things, he lives in a hovel. His inventions and plans could make him a very rich man, but he doesn't want any of that, he simply wants to build the things he can imagine, or have others build them. That they are built is what drives him, his need to prove that the incredible things he draws can be made real.
There are other characters of course, an ambitious wizard by the name of Marek who seeks to rule from behind the throne of Innarlith, several scheming senators, a pair of wily women (both of whom are wrapped up in Willem's affairs in one way or another), Ivar's two dwarven stonemason friends (Vrengarl & Hrothgar) and Willem's overbearing mother too!
The book is very well written, with characters who are consistently portrayed. I found myself having a lot in common with the authors depiction of Ivar, to the extent that I often knew what he was going to say before reading it, because it is precisely what I'd have said in a similar circumstance. It shouldn't be any surprise that this book gets a 5/5 rating from me, and I am now eagerly looking forward to Lies Of Light, the second book in the trilogy. Damn shame it's not out until September 2006!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Quotes From Another Three Movies
Well I like movies, and I liked how the first of these posts looked on the site, so I'm going to add this format to the list of semi-regular articles, and post one now and then.
The Fifth Element (1997)
Leeloo: Everything you create, you use to destroy.
Korben Dallas: Yeah, we call it human nature.
Police: Are you classified as human?
Korben Dallas: Negative, I am a meat popsicle.
Korben Dallas: Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English.
[Demonstrating a weapon]
Zorg: Voila! The ZF-1.
[The weapon opens, and Zorg picks it up]
Zorg: It's light. Handle's adjustable for easy carrying, good for righties and lefties. Breaks down into four parts, undetectable by x-ray, ideal for quick, discreet interventions. A word on firepower. Titanium recharger, three thousand round clip with bursts of three to three hundred, and with the Replay button - another Zorg invention - it's even easier.
[The lights illuminate a mannequin dressed in Police armor]
Zorg: One shot...
[He spins on his heel and shoots the mannequin once]
Zorg: And Replay sends every following shot to the same location!
[He sprays bullets at the Mangalores, but all of them turn around and hit the mannequin]
Zorg: And to finish the job, all the Zorg oldies-but-goldies. Rocket launcher...
[A missile streaks out and destroys the mannequins riot shield]
Zorg: Arrow launcher, with exploding or poisonous gas heads...
[A set of darts hit the mannequin in the face]
Zorg: Very practical. Our famous net launcher...
[A net flies out and ensnares the mannequin]
Zorg: The always efficient flame-thrower...
[A stream of flame burns the mannequin]
Zorg: [grins] My favorite. And for the Grand Finale, the all new Ice Cube System!
[A cloud of liquid nitrogen envelops the mannequin, causing it to burst into pieces and collapse to the floor. The Mangalores applaud]
Zorg: I don't like warriors. Too narrow-minded, no subtlety. And worse, they fight for hopeless causes. Honor? Huh! Honor's killed millions of people, it hasn't saved a single one.
Priest Vito Cornelius: You're a monster, Zorg.
Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg: I know.
[Father Cornelius and Ruby Rhod see the bomb stuck to the door]
Priest Vito Cornelius: It's a - it's a - it's a - it's a - it's a - it's a...
DJ Ruby Rhod: No no no no no no. 'Cuz if it was a bomb, the alarms would go off 'cuz all these hotels have bomb detectors, right?
[The alarms go off!]
Gladiator (2000)
Maximus: At my signal, unleash hell.
Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
Proximo: [addressing his new recruits] I am Proximo! I shall be closer to you for the next few days, which will be the last of your miserable lives, than that bitch of a mother who first brought you screaming into this world! I did not pay good money for your company. I paid it so that I might profit from your death. And just as your mother was there at your beginning, I shall be there at your end. And when you die - and die you shall - your transition will be to the sound of...
[claps his hands]
Proximo: Gladiators... I salute you.
Sahara (2005)
Admiral James Sandecker: [tracking Dirk and Al] Where would they go? Where are they headed?
Carl: Well, based on their behavior so far... I have no idea.
Dirk Pitt: I'm sorry, I don't speak English.
Gunboat Officer: You are speaking English right now.
Dirk Pitt: No no, I only know how to say, "I don't speak English" in English.
Admiral James Sandecker: [after being ignored on the phone] They're ignoring me. I can't believe they are ignoring me.
[turns around to see that no one is listening to him on his ship]
Admiral James Sandecker: Everyone's ignoring me. Pick up the damn phone!!
Rudi Gunn: But I was hoping to meet a girl on the Australian trip!
Al Giordino: No, African Warzone; Ship of Death!
General Zateb Kazim: Don't worry. It's Africa. Nobody cares about Africa.
The Fifth Element (1997)
Leeloo: Everything you create, you use to destroy.
Korben Dallas: Yeah, we call it human nature.
Police: Are you classified as human?
Korben Dallas: Negative, I am a meat popsicle.
Korben Dallas: Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English.
[Demonstrating a weapon]
Zorg: Voila! The ZF-1.
[The weapon opens, and Zorg picks it up]
Zorg: It's light. Handle's adjustable for easy carrying, good for righties and lefties. Breaks down into four parts, undetectable by x-ray, ideal for quick, discreet interventions. A word on firepower. Titanium recharger, three thousand round clip with bursts of three to three hundred, and with the Replay button - another Zorg invention - it's even easier.
[The lights illuminate a mannequin dressed in Police armor]
Zorg: One shot...
[He spins on his heel and shoots the mannequin once]
Zorg: And Replay sends every following shot to the same location!
[He sprays bullets at the Mangalores, but all of them turn around and hit the mannequin]
Zorg: And to finish the job, all the Zorg oldies-but-goldies. Rocket launcher...
[A missile streaks out and destroys the mannequins riot shield]
Zorg: Arrow launcher, with exploding or poisonous gas heads...
[A set of darts hit the mannequin in the face]
Zorg: Very practical. Our famous net launcher...
[A net flies out and ensnares the mannequin]
Zorg: The always efficient flame-thrower...
[A stream of flame burns the mannequin]
Zorg: [grins] My favorite. And for the Grand Finale, the all new Ice Cube System!
[A cloud of liquid nitrogen envelops the mannequin, causing it to burst into pieces and collapse to the floor. The Mangalores applaud]
Zorg: I don't like warriors. Too narrow-minded, no subtlety. And worse, they fight for hopeless causes. Honor? Huh! Honor's killed millions of people, it hasn't saved a single one.
Priest Vito Cornelius: You're a monster, Zorg.
Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg: I know.
[Father Cornelius and Ruby Rhod see the bomb stuck to the door]
Priest Vito Cornelius: It's a - it's a - it's a - it's a - it's a - it's a...
DJ Ruby Rhod: No no no no no no. 'Cuz if it was a bomb, the alarms would go off 'cuz all these hotels have bomb detectors, right?
[The alarms go off!]
Gladiator (2000)
Maximus: At my signal, unleash hell.
Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.
Proximo: [addressing his new recruits] I am Proximo! I shall be closer to you for the next few days, which will be the last of your miserable lives, than that bitch of a mother who first brought you screaming into this world! I did not pay good money for your company. I paid it so that I might profit from your death. And just as your mother was there at your beginning, I shall be there at your end. And when you die - and die you shall - your transition will be to the sound of...
[claps his hands]
Proximo: Gladiators... I salute you.
Sahara (2005)
Admiral James Sandecker: [tracking Dirk and Al] Where would they go? Where are they headed?
Carl: Well, based on their behavior so far... I have no idea.
Dirk Pitt: I'm sorry, I don't speak English.
Gunboat Officer: You are speaking English right now.
Dirk Pitt: No no, I only know how to say, "I don't speak English" in English.
Admiral James Sandecker: [after being ignored on the phone] They're ignoring me. I can't believe they are ignoring me.
[turns around to see that no one is listening to him on his ship]
Admiral James Sandecker: Everyone's ignoring me. Pick up the damn phone!!
Rudi Gunn: But I was hoping to meet a girl on the Australian trip!
Al Giordino: No, African Warzone; Ship of Death!
General Zateb Kazim: Don't worry. It's Africa. Nobody cares about Africa.
Santa Baby
Heh I love this song. I know Kylie didn't sing the original version of it, but she sure sang the version I remember watching on the Xmas Day Top of the Pops a couple years back. Course her being dressed in a really tiny Santa outfit (and with two dancers who were actually wearing less as if that were possible), does help fix her rendition in the mind. As for the lyrics they crack me up, a girl using all her wiles to get what she wants (which is a lot), from the one guy who can bring her anything.
Santa Baby by Kylie Minogue
Santa Baby,
Just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby,
A '54 convertible too
Light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the Fella's that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check out my Christmas list
Santa Baby,
I want a yacht and really that's not
A lot
Been an angel all year
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa honey,
One little thing I really need
The deed
To a platinum mine
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie,
Fill my stocking with a duplex
And cheques
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa cutie,
And hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let´s see if you believe in me, too
Santa Baby,
Forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry...tonight
Santa Baby by Kylie Minogue
Santa Baby,
Just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby,
A '54 convertible too
Light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the Fella's that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good
If you'll check out my Christmas list
Santa Baby,
I want a yacht and really that's not
A lot
Been an angel all year
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa honey,
One little thing I really need
The deed
To a platinum mine
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie,
Fill my stocking with a duplex
And cheques
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa cutie,
And hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let´s see if you believe in me, too
Santa Baby,
Forgot to mention one little thing
A ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry...tonight
Thursday, December 01, 2005
An Intriguing Blend
I'm a coffee lover, as you might have guessed from reading through my backposts. I'm not a regular coffee drinker though, and by that I mean I don't stick to one brand, nor am I a coffee snob who only drinks freshly ground or some such thing. I like granulated coffee. I have a coffee maker, it was a present from my sister Suzanne and her then fiance (my mate Mads) last Xmas. It was a nice present, it still is, but it's not who I am.
I'm not the kind of person who wants to bother with all the fuss and hassle of making a freshly ground cup of coffee, what with the waiting ages for the machine to brew it and drip it into the jug. And the coffee being warm, not hot, so that when the milk is added (and I like a lot of milk in my coffee), it is practically cold. Plus, theres the expense. Ground coffee costs more, you get a lot less of it for your money and you use a lot more of it at a time. All in all for a guy on a tight budget, it's not good.
Thank the various divine ones then for granulated coffee, my saviour! Only I don't stick to one brand then either, instead I have what I term "The Blend". The Blend is a 300gram glass coffee jar that began as a jar of Maxwell House. Ever since that ran low, I've taken to buying a couple 100gram jars of coffee, usually two different brands and emptying them in to fill the jar up. Then I'll shake it all about, until the granules are well and truly mixed up.
Which brings me to the current blend I'm drinking as I type this. Currently it is made from about 50grams of the dregs of the last blend, with a 100gram jar of Buendia Columbian coffee and a 100grams of Kenco Rappor. It was nice but it seemed a little lacking. Tony however, has decided to give up caffeine (I have no idea why), so I've helped him out by adding the couple small jars of coffee he had into the blend. After all if he doesn't have the coffee, he can't be tempted to drink it. They were 50grams of Tesco dark roasted (though there was maybe 20grams left of it tops), and a 50gram jar of an Amaretto flavoured coffee, which went in as well.
The resulting mix is arguably the nicest blend I've yet managed to put together. It is certainly not the strongest blend I've made (the one that had 100grams of Rocket Fuel coffee in it takes that prize with ease), but it has to be the best tasting one so far. It won't last of course. I drink at least a pint of coffee a day. And it would cost too much to make it again, also it would never be exactly the same a second time around. But then that's part of what I like about my coffee, it is ever changing.
I first started making a blend when I was at University, and when I moved into my old flat back in 2002 it just seemed like a good tradition to pick up and continue with. It is part of what makes me who I am.
I'm not the kind of person who wants to bother with all the fuss and hassle of making a freshly ground cup of coffee, what with the waiting ages for the machine to brew it and drip it into the jug. And the coffee being warm, not hot, so that when the milk is added (and I like a lot of milk in my coffee), it is practically cold. Plus, theres the expense. Ground coffee costs more, you get a lot less of it for your money and you use a lot more of it at a time. All in all for a guy on a tight budget, it's not good.
Thank the various divine ones then for granulated coffee, my saviour! Only I don't stick to one brand then either, instead I have what I term "The Blend". The Blend is a 300gram glass coffee jar that began as a jar of Maxwell House. Ever since that ran low, I've taken to buying a couple 100gram jars of coffee, usually two different brands and emptying them in to fill the jar up. Then I'll shake it all about, until the granules are well and truly mixed up.
Which brings me to the current blend I'm drinking as I type this. Currently it is made from about 50grams of the dregs of the last blend, with a 100gram jar of Buendia Columbian coffee and a 100grams of Kenco Rappor. It was nice but it seemed a little lacking. Tony however, has decided to give up caffeine (I have no idea why), so I've helped him out by adding the couple small jars of coffee he had into the blend. After all if he doesn't have the coffee, he can't be tempted to drink it. They were 50grams of Tesco dark roasted (though there was maybe 20grams left of it tops), and a 50gram jar of an Amaretto flavoured coffee, which went in as well.
The resulting mix is arguably the nicest blend I've yet managed to put together. It is certainly not the strongest blend I've made (the one that had 100grams of Rocket Fuel coffee in it takes that prize with ease), but it has to be the best tasting one so far. It won't last of course. I drink at least a pint of coffee a day. And it would cost too much to make it again, also it would never be exactly the same a second time around. But then that's part of what I like about my coffee, it is ever changing.
I first started making a blend when I was at University, and when I moved into my old flat back in 2002 it just seemed like a good tradition to pick up and continue with. It is part of what makes me who I am.
Rise Of The Snakemen
Back in August 2004 I began running a D&D campaign titled Rise of the Snakemen. I had grand plans for it, but even so I figured it wouldn't last more than a couple months, as for some reason or other none of my previous campaigns ever had. So imagine my surprise to find myself still running it well over a year later!
The plot began with the groups characters hired by a merchant named Morn Buckman to protect his warehouse, as theives had been targetting it for a string of bizarre thefts that had the owner baffled, as the burglars were taking ingredients for spellcasting that had little real value. Still theft is theft and Buckman as a sensible businessman was not going to put up with it. From that innocent start, the characters have found themselves enmeshed in a plot of staggering scope, woven by the sinister yuan-ti, a race of snakelike humanoids.
The group (who are now known as The Party With No Name as they couldn't settle on a name to call themselves), have travelled over half a continent in pursuit of a renegade yuan-ti scientist by the name of Esau Enoch, who has devised an alchemical process which allows him to mass produce super-strong fanatical clone soldiers, which he has termed Megalomen. And as they have recently found out having just caught up to him, the snakemen's plot is just the tip of a far larger and worse plot, to reshape a planet!
I have added a link to the sidebar today for anyone who wants to read this story, which I post on the EN World message boards. If you read it and like it leave a comment here, or there. I always enjoy reading feedback. And for those of you who have been reading it for some time now, yes I have updated it today!
The plot began with the groups characters hired by a merchant named Morn Buckman to protect his warehouse, as theives had been targetting it for a string of bizarre thefts that had the owner baffled, as the burglars were taking ingredients for spellcasting that had little real value. Still theft is theft and Buckman as a sensible businessman was not going to put up with it. From that innocent start, the characters have found themselves enmeshed in a plot of staggering scope, woven by the sinister yuan-ti, a race of snakelike humanoids.
The group (who are now known as The Party With No Name as they couldn't settle on a name to call themselves), have travelled over half a continent in pursuit of a renegade yuan-ti scientist by the name of Esau Enoch, who has devised an alchemical process which allows him to mass produce super-strong fanatical clone soldiers, which he has termed Megalomen. And as they have recently found out having just caught up to him, the snakemen's plot is just the tip of a far larger and worse plot, to reshape a planet!
I have added a link to the sidebar today for anyone who wants to read this story, which I post on the EN World message boards. If you read it and like it leave a comment here, or there. I always enjoy reading feedback. And for those of you who have been reading it for some time now, yes I have updated it today!
Santa Can You Hear Me?
Okay I don't have any any great memories of this song at all, it is far too recent for that. I just really like the lyrics and the tune they are sung too. Miss Spears dancing too it wearing one of her trademark next to nothing outfits doesn't hurt either! I figured as it is the start of Advent today, that I'd post something Christmas related, as I don't have a calendar to open. I was tempted to post the lyrics to a Xmas song every day from now until Xmas Eve... and then I realised that I like maybe 10 Xmas songs tops, so finding lyrics for 24 of them that I liked would be an impossibility.
Santa Can You Hear Me? by Britney Spears
Ooh yeah
Last night I took a walk in the snow
Couples holding hands, places to go
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa, can you hear me ?
I sent my letter that I sealed with a kiss
I send it off and just said this
I know exactly what I want this year
Santa, can you hear me ?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me someone to hold
Maybe, Maybe
Be all my own in a big red bow
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year.
Christmas Eve, I just can’t sleep
Will I be wrong just taking a peek ?
Cause that I heard that your coming to town
Santa, can you hear me ?
I really hope you're on your way
With Something special for me in your sleigh
Ooh please make my wish come true
Santa, can you hear me ?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me someone to hold
Maybe, Maybe
We'll be all alone under the mistletoe
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year
I hope my letter reaches you in time
Woooo yeah
Bring me a love that I can call all mine
Cause I have been so good this year
Can’t be alone under the mistle toe
He's all I want in a big red bow
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Ooh Santa
Can you hear me ?
Ooh santa
Well he's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here..
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Santa Can You Hear Me? by Britney Spears
Ooh yeah
Last night I took a walk in the snow
Couples holding hands, places to go
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa, can you hear me ?
I sent my letter that I sealed with a kiss
I send it off and just said this
I know exactly what I want this year
Santa, can you hear me ?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me someone to hold
Maybe, Maybe
Be all my own in a big red bow
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year.
Christmas Eve, I just can’t sleep
Will I be wrong just taking a peek ?
Cause that I heard that your coming to town
Santa, can you hear me ?
I really hope you're on your way
With Something special for me in your sleigh
Ooh please make my wish come true
Santa, can you hear me ?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me someone to hold
Maybe, Maybe
We'll be all alone under the mistletoe
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa that’s my only wish this year
I hope my letter reaches you in time
Woooo yeah
Bring me a love that I can call all mine
Cause I have been so good this year
Can’t be alone under the mistle toe
He's all I want in a big red bow
Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Ooh Santa
Can you hear me ?
Ooh santa
Well he's all I want just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I’ll be waiting here..
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Santa, that’s my only wish this year
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Look... New Links!
I've added a couple more links to the sidebar and thought I'd point them out. The first is a webcomic called Pet Professional, which updates every Wednesday (but so far not today it seems). The comic is about a contract killer with a twist. He only takes out contracts on animals! Despite sounding really grim, it is really funny. The comics have a loose overall story arc running through them, though most of the strips can be enjoyed as stand-alones. Still, I recommend going into the archive and reading from the beginning (which won't take you that long, it is a fairly new comic) to fully appreciate it.
The second new link is to another blog, named The Movie Review Diary. The guy who writes this got the idea to simply watch DVD's and review them. And he is really good at it. His writing is solid, his opinions well thought out, and I find myself agreeing with most of what he has to say, about the films he reviews. And there are a lot of reviews to read, if you are so inclined as to read through his archives.
The second new link is to another blog, named The Movie Review Diary. The guy who writes this got the idea to simply watch DVD's and review them. And he is really good at it. His writing is solid, his opinions well thought out, and I find myself agreeing with most of what he has to say, about the films he reviews. And there are a lot of reviews to read, if you are so inclined as to read through his archives.
The Blur That Was Wednesday
So today went by pretty fast. This is due in the main part to my sleeping through much of it (I woke up at about 6pm), though in fairness to myself I didn't go to bed until 8am. This was because of sleeping most of yesterday, so that by about 9pm last night I couldn't sleep a wink more. Indeed I'd been awake for about an hour by then, just lying in bed.
I spent a lot of last night talking to various people online, including my mate Dan who was on his third successive night of insomnia (ouch). I also played a lot of Civ III where I fought a second war with the Inca and handily won it, taking back the city I lost in the first Spanish-Incan war, and destroying 3 others, all without losing more than a half dozen units and not a single city of my own. True the Incan civilization is still there, but it is now considerably reduced in size, and at war with like 4 other nations as well, so I don't imagine they'll be around much longer.
Spent most of this evening roleplaying online and listening to music. Tomorrow I have to erase the details off the four battlemats we use for D&D and draw out the map on them (yes on all four of them), for an encounter I've wanted to run since I began my current campaign in August 2004. Not touched any of my miniatures that stand mutely on my painting desk needing work, nor done any more on my model Tarrasque this holiday, nor have I typed up the half dozen or so session logs of my D&D campaign that I have on the To-Do pile. I've just not been feeling very inspired at all.
I spent a lot of last night talking to various people online, including my mate Dan who was on his third successive night of insomnia (ouch). I also played a lot of Civ III where I fought a second war with the Inca and handily won it, taking back the city I lost in the first Spanish-Incan war, and destroying 3 others, all without losing more than a half dozen units and not a single city of my own. True the Incan civilization is still there, but it is now considerably reduced in size, and at war with like 4 other nations as well, so I don't imagine they'll be around much longer.
Spent most of this evening roleplaying online and listening to music. Tomorrow I have to erase the details off the four battlemats we use for D&D and draw out the map on them (yes on all four of them), for an encounter I've wanted to run since I began my current campaign in August 2004. Not touched any of my miniatures that stand mutely on my painting desk needing work, nor done any more on my model Tarrasque this holiday, nor have I typed up the half dozen or so session logs of my D&D campaign that I have on the To-Do pile. I've just not been feeling very inspired at all.
Headache Attack!!
Woke up yesterday at noon, and within minutes I had a headache. It was mild to begin with, but grew stronger through the day, and as a result I didn't eat anything, as I knew it'd end up being hurled down the loo anyway. I was still sick though, throwing up a pint of water I'd drunk, so I've been careful to only drink small amounts since then.
I spent most of yesterday asleep, which wasn't easy after sleeping for like 10 hours the night before, and finally I couldn't sleep anymore. So I distracted myself for a couple hours by watching X-Men the movie, which helped me (mostly) forget the pain in my head, until of course it finished and the headache came back.
By then I'd had enough, and got dressed, pulled on my sheepskin lined denim jacket (a xmas present from my mate Jon last year, very useful it is too!) and headed out to the supermarket down the hill, which is open 24 hours. I don't think I've ever been shopping at gone midnight before, but it was a weird experience. I don't think there was another customer in the store, I know I didn't see one. Lots of staff filling shelves though. It was bizarre, but at least I didn't have to queue at the tills (heck I had to call someone to open a till so I could buy my goods).
The walk there and home again did me some good, it is late November and the air is brisk, which was nice. I bought some Nurofen Meltlets, which are these clever painkilling tablets that dissolve on the tongue, so no water needed. Also they are lemon flavoured so no bad taste in the mouth afterward. I bought a few other bits for my cupboard and the fridge (I can't ever go into a supermarket and come out with just the item I went in for it seems), as well as a can of Heinz Roast Chicken soup, as I was by then ravenously hungry and figured that if I couldn't keep solids down, I should be able to manage soup at least.
The soup was really good, and I had a couple slices of bread with it, broken up into small pieces and dunked in to give the soup a bit of texture and to test just what I could keep down. Thus far no problems, the tablets seem to be doing the trick in ridding me of this wretched headache, and the food is staying where it should. Here's hoping Wednesday is nicer to me!
I spent most of yesterday asleep, which wasn't easy after sleeping for like 10 hours the night before, and finally I couldn't sleep anymore. So I distracted myself for a couple hours by watching X-Men the movie, which helped me (mostly) forget the pain in my head, until of course it finished and the headache came back.
By then I'd had enough, and got dressed, pulled on my sheepskin lined denim jacket (a xmas present from my mate Jon last year, very useful it is too!) and headed out to the supermarket down the hill, which is open 24 hours. I don't think I've ever been shopping at gone midnight before, but it was a weird experience. I don't think there was another customer in the store, I know I didn't see one. Lots of staff filling shelves though. It was bizarre, but at least I didn't have to queue at the tills (heck I had to call someone to open a till so I could buy my goods).
The walk there and home again did me some good, it is late November and the air is brisk, which was nice. I bought some Nurofen Meltlets, which are these clever painkilling tablets that dissolve on the tongue, so no water needed. Also they are lemon flavoured so no bad taste in the mouth afterward. I bought a few other bits for my cupboard and the fridge (I can't ever go into a supermarket and come out with just the item I went in for it seems), as well as a can of Heinz Roast Chicken soup, as I was by then ravenously hungry and figured that if I couldn't keep solids down, I should be able to manage soup at least.
The soup was really good, and I had a couple slices of bread with it, broken up into small pieces and dunked in to give the soup a bit of texture and to test just what I could keep down. Thus far no problems, the tablets seem to be doing the trick in ridding me of this wretched headache, and the food is staying where it should. Here's hoping Wednesday is nicer to me!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Star Trekkin
Okay this is one of the silliest songs that I know of. I can remember that it rocketed straight to the top of the charts when it was released. I know this because I was on holiday in Jersey at the time, and the then Number 1 single was Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Jefferson Starship. And I really liked that song (and still do, and yes the lyrics will be turning up in a post here someday). So we (meaning my brother, sister and I) had gone to the TV room in campsite to watch Top of the Pops to see either the band playing, or the video for the song. Only the song had been knocked off top spot by this song, which had entered the charts at number one. The video was incredibly silly, to match the song itself. I'm not that big a Star Trek fan, but this song does nicely summarise the flavour of the Kirk era shows, perfectly capturing the characters of Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura and Scotty. A shame they couldn't have fitted in Chekhov and Sulu really to complete the cast, but ohh well.
Star Trekkin' by Dr. Demento
Star Trekkin', across the universe
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
Lt. Uhura, report!
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim.
Analysis, Mr. Spock!
Spock:
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, still can't find reverse.
Medical update, Doctor McCoy
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim, Dead.
Spock:
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim!
Starship Captain, James T. Kirk
Kirk:
Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill,
shoot to kill.
We come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill, men
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim, Dead.
Spock:
Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
scrape them off, Jim!
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk!
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, and things are getting worse!
Engine Room, Mister Scott
Scotty:
Ye canna change the laws of physics,
laws of physics,
laws of physics!
Ye canna change the laws of physics,
laws of physics, Jim.
Kirk:
Ah, we come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill,
shoot to kill!
We come in peace, shoot to kill,
Scotty, beam me up!
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim!
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim, Dead!
Spock:
Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim!
Scotty: Ye canna change the script, Jim! Up ta you, Jimmy!
McCoy: It's worse than that, it's physics, Jim!
Kirk: Bridge to engine room, warp factor nine!
Scotty: Ach! If I give 'er any more she'll blow, Captain!
BOOM
Star Trekkin' by Dr. Demento
Star Trekkin', across the universe
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
Lt. Uhura, report!
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim.
Analysis, Mr. Spock!
Spock:
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, still can't find reverse.
Medical update, Doctor McCoy
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim, Dead.
Spock:
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim!
Starship Captain, James T. Kirk
Kirk:
Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill,
shoot to kill.
We come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill, men
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim.
Dead, Jim, Dead.
Spock:
Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
scrape them off, Jim!
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
On the Starship Enterprise, under Captain Kirk!
Star Trekkin', across the universe,
Boldly going forward, and things are getting worse!
Engine Room, Mister Scott
Scotty:
Ye canna change the laws of physics,
laws of physics,
laws of physics!
Ye canna change the laws of physics,
laws of physics, Jim.
Kirk:
Ah, we come in peace, shoot to kill,
shoot to kill,
shoot to kill!
We come in peace, shoot to kill,
Scotty, beam me up!
McCoy:
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim!
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim!
Dead, Jim, Dead!
Spock:
Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it,
not as we know it.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it,
not as we know it, Captain.
Uhura:
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow,
starboard bow.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, Jim!
Scotty: Ye canna change the script, Jim! Up ta you, Jimmy!
McCoy: It's worse than that, it's physics, Jim!
Kirk: Bridge to engine room, warp factor nine!
Scotty: Ach! If I give 'er any more she'll blow, Captain!
BOOM
Woke Up Late
Well I continue to get plenty of rest on my holiday that's for sure, been sleeping for 10+ hours a night every night, so I guess my body must need it. Woke up at the stroke of noon today, not done anything as yet other than roleplay in a chatroom.
Did a bit of shopping yesterday and went back to the Market House to recover my £10 that the barmaid had shortchanged me on Saturday night. Only I didn't get it back, as the till balanced at the end of the night. What a shocker. So I'll have words with that barmaid when I see her next, I do not take kindly to being stolen from.
Walking past Krackers Games Shop, I saw that the shop was shut and that a delivery guy was waiting outside with about 30 large parcels. Thankfully Tony Peach (who owns the shop) was walking about 50' behind me, and unlocked it. I gave him a hand bringing the delivery inside, which didn't contain anything I was interested in, just a load of sci-fi movies figures (Alien, Predator, Star Wars etc), and a few other things. I've got enough of such things already. Hung out there for an hour or so chatting, and then got a few groceries from Iceland and made my way home.
Didn't do much else yesterday other than watch the movie Mousehunt and play a lot of Civ III, in which I'm doing rather well as the Spanish, though just fought a total stalemate of a war with the Inca. So now I'm building up my military and next time I'll wipe the floor with them! I'm also having a lot of fun sinking French and English shipping with my massed fleet of pirate ships. So that was yesterday, dunno what today has in store for me. Guess I'd better find out!
Did a bit of shopping yesterday and went back to the Market House to recover my £10 that the barmaid had shortchanged me on Saturday night. Only I didn't get it back, as the till balanced at the end of the night. What a shocker. So I'll have words with that barmaid when I see her next, I do not take kindly to being stolen from.
Walking past Krackers Games Shop, I saw that the shop was shut and that a delivery guy was waiting outside with about 30 large parcels. Thankfully Tony Peach (who owns the shop) was walking about 50' behind me, and unlocked it. I gave him a hand bringing the delivery inside, which didn't contain anything I was interested in, just a load of sci-fi movies figures (Alien, Predator, Star Wars etc), and a few other things. I've got enough of such things already. Hung out there for an hour or so chatting, and then got a few groceries from Iceland and made my way home.
Didn't do much else yesterday other than watch the movie Mousehunt and play a lot of Civ III, in which I'm doing rather well as the Spanish, though just fought a total stalemate of a war with the Inca. So now I'm building up my military and next time I'll wipe the floor with them! I'm also having a lot of fun sinking French and English shipping with my massed fleet of pirate ships. So that was yesterday, dunno what today has in store for me. Guess I'd better find out!
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Aaarrgghhhh!!!!
*breathes out slowly* Hmmmm, I do feel a bit better after that. The cause for the scream would be this evening's trip to the pub. I decided on a different look to normal (usually go with jeans and a couple t-shirts, one tucked in, the other worn over the top and loose), so tonight I wore my "My brain is hung like a horse" T-shirt, with my red Ben Sherman shirt over the top of it, as from previous weeks I've noticed that most of the blokes tend to wear shirts, so figured I'd give it a try.
So I headed into town, and drew 20 pounds out of the ATM in the form of a 20 quid note, and made my way into the Market House, where en route to the bar I run into some of my work colleagues of past and present. I belly up to the bar, order a pint of Guiness and hand over my 20... and get back the change from a 10. So I point this out to the barmaid, who of course doesn't believe me, she reckons I'm trying to pull a fast one. She talks to her Bar Manager, and is told to give me paper and pen. This is so I can leave them my name, address, and phone number so that if the till is wrong at the end of the night when they cash up, then they'll contact me and reimburse me.
I'd been in the place less than 10 mins and I was already 50% down on my funds for the night. I barely had time to drink any of my pint of Guiness though, before the lovely Lauren dragged me onto the dancefloor for a few tunes worth of dancing. She used to work in Morrisons, but now has a better job declaring people bankrupt! She and the Morrisons crew soon leave and as songs come on that I like so I dance too them... and quickly find myself in what I can only describe as an infringement of territory.
Seems the trio of blondes that I was happily dancing and chatting with (they loved the T-shirt!), and who were doing likewise in return, were the "prey" of a group of guys (about 5-6 of them) stood to one side of the dancefloor, and they really didn't appreciate me being there. So I soon found myself getting shunted to the side, what space I had to move in would close up. As there was a bouncer watching the floor at all times, they were careful not to actually push me, but they did a pretty efficient job of isolating me away from the girls anytime I set foot on the floor. What really pissed me off though, was that they were fucking terrible dancers, I don't think a single one of them had more than 2 moves to his name. The girls were clearly not interested in them at all, going as far as to roll their eyes and stop dancing themselves, and just drink their drinks whenever these fuckwits did this.
Having had enough of this, I went to get a drink and that took ages. By the time I got back to the dancefloor the guys were gone, but the DJ wasn't playing anything I wanted to dance too (or anyone else for that matter), and the blondes left a few minutes later. Taking a look around then, I realised just how empty the place was. It was not even 11pm, and there were maybe 20 people left in the pub (not including staff). Figuring the night tobe a loss, I headed home and watched the movie Sahara on DVD with Tony.
I should probably be asleep right now, but I sat down to check messages and my ex-girlfriend was online, so stayed awake to talk with her, and figured I'd write this while the events were still fresh in my mind.
So I headed into town, and drew 20 pounds out of the ATM in the form of a 20 quid note, and made my way into the Market House, where en route to the bar I run into some of my work colleagues of past and present. I belly up to the bar, order a pint of Guiness and hand over my 20... and get back the change from a 10. So I point this out to the barmaid, who of course doesn't believe me, she reckons I'm trying to pull a fast one. She talks to her Bar Manager, and is told to give me paper and pen. This is so I can leave them my name, address, and phone number so that if the till is wrong at the end of the night when they cash up, then they'll contact me and reimburse me.
I'd been in the place less than 10 mins and I was already 50% down on my funds for the night. I barely had time to drink any of my pint of Guiness though, before the lovely Lauren dragged me onto the dancefloor for a few tunes worth of dancing. She used to work in Morrisons, but now has a better job declaring people bankrupt! She and the Morrisons crew soon leave and as songs come on that I like so I dance too them... and quickly find myself in what I can only describe as an infringement of territory.
Seems the trio of blondes that I was happily dancing and chatting with (they loved the T-shirt!), and who were doing likewise in return, were the "prey" of a group of guys (about 5-6 of them) stood to one side of the dancefloor, and they really didn't appreciate me being there. So I soon found myself getting shunted to the side, what space I had to move in would close up. As there was a bouncer watching the floor at all times, they were careful not to actually push me, but they did a pretty efficient job of isolating me away from the girls anytime I set foot on the floor. What really pissed me off though, was that they were fucking terrible dancers, I don't think a single one of them had more than 2 moves to his name. The girls were clearly not interested in them at all, going as far as to roll their eyes and stop dancing themselves, and just drink their drinks whenever these fuckwits did this.
Having had enough of this, I went to get a drink and that took ages. By the time I got back to the dancefloor the guys were gone, but the DJ wasn't playing anything I wanted to dance too (or anyone else for that matter), and the blondes left a few minutes later. Taking a look around then, I realised just how empty the place was. It was not even 11pm, and there were maybe 20 people left in the pub (not including staff). Figuring the night tobe a loss, I headed home and watched the movie Sahara on DVD with Tony.
I should probably be asleep right now, but I sat down to check messages and my ex-girlfriend was online, so stayed awake to talk with her, and figured I'd write this while the events were still fresh in my mind.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
A (Mostly) Quiet Saturday
Today has been pretty routine thus far, just taken it easy. Watched Smallville to get caught up on that, until the early hours of this morning, then some sleep for a few hours. Got some laundry done (mostly T-shirts cos I was running low on them), and played Civ III for a few hours this morning, but no significant progress made in any of my saved games as yet.
Had the idea to go and see the new Harry Potter movie, so had to endure a truly terrfying ride down to the cinema on the back of Tony's motorbike (the roads are a bit slippery right now!). Grabbed a ham, cheese and pepperoni baguette thing from the Drive Thru McDonalds, which was really good as I was quite ravenous (had forgotten to eat thus far today... again). Ever since the government started making life harder for the junk fast food chains, they've really put some effort into changing their unhealthy image. To me, this is a very good thing.
The film was visually stunning, if a little jumpy storywise, as huge chunks were left out of the plot. This was to be expected given that the book is 500+ pages long, and fitting all of that into 2.5 hours, simply isn't possible. Still, the film does visit a few plot threads and then not resolve them (most notably Herminone vs Rita Skeeter). A cold bike ride back (must remember gloves for next time), brings me to where I am now, cooking a stir fry and debating whether or not to go out tonight. I know I said last week that I'd give it a miss, but I do enjoy going out, it's the coming back that I hate.
As for the (Mostly) part of the title... well that refers to the noise coming from the room below me as I write this, where Gareth is watching a Rugby match and snarling, bellowing and shouting at the television all the while. I can't make out a lot of the specific words, but the intent is obvious.
Had the idea to go and see the new Harry Potter movie, so had to endure a truly terrfying ride down to the cinema on the back of Tony's motorbike (the roads are a bit slippery right now!). Grabbed a ham, cheese and pepperoni baguette thing from the Drive Thru McDonalds, which was really good as I was quite ravenous (had forgotten to eat thus far today... again). Ever since the government started making life harder for the junk fast food chains, they've really put some effort into changing their unhealthy image. To me, this is a very good thing.
The film was visually stunning, if a little jumpy storywise, as huge chunks were left out of the plot. This was to be expected given that the book is 500+ pages long, and fitting all of that into 2.5 hours, simply isn't possible. Still, the film does visit a few plot threads and then not resolve them (most notably Herminone vs Rita Skeeter). A cold bike ride back (must remember gloves for next time), brings me to where I am now, cooking a stir fry and debating whether or not to go out tonight. I know I said last week that I'd give it a miss, but I do enjoy going out, it's the coming back that I hate.
As for the (Mostly) part of the title... well that refers to the noise coming from the room below me as I write this, where Gareth is watching a Rugby match and snarling, bellowing and shouting at the television all the while. I can't make out a lot of the specific words, but the intent is obvious.
All I Wanna Do...
I think I first heard this song on the radio, back when I used to listen to the Top 40 charts on a Sunday night on BBC Radio 1. Ahh youth. Anyway, I liked it immediately, for the story the lyrics tell, of a woman who is in love with a man who cannot give her the child she wants. So she spends a night with a stranger (and possibly more than one such stranger, the song says that she knows the hotel they spend the night at very well), and gets herself pregnant by him. Years later, he encounters her again and meets the child he fathered who has his eyes. Part of what I loathe about modern music is that the lyrics say nothing and mean nothing most of the time (and thats when the songs even have lyrics these days). There should be more songs like this I feel. The kickass rock tune it is sung too is also good!
All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You by Heart
It was a rainy night
When he came into sight,
Standing by the road,
No umbrella, no coat.
So I pulled up alongside
And I offered him a ride.
He accepted with a smile,
So we drove for a while.
I didn’t ask him his name,
This lonely boy in the rain.
Fate, tell me it’s right,
Is this love at first sight?
Please don’t make it wrong,
Just stay for the night.
All I wanna do is make love to you
Say you will
You want me too
All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to
So we found this hotel,
It was a place I knew well
We made magic that night.
Oh, he did everything right
He brought the woman out of me,
So many times, easily
And in the morning when he woke
All I left for him was a note
I told him
I am the flower you are the seed
We walked in the garden
We planted a tree
Don’t try to find me,
Please don’t you dare
Just live in my memory,
You’ll always be there
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to
Oh, oooh, we made love
Love like strangers
All night long
We made love
Then it happened one day,
We came round the same way
You can imagine his surprise
When he saw his own eyes
I said
"Please, please understand
I’m in love with another man
And what he couldn’t give me
Was the one little thing that you can"
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
Come on say you will, you want me too
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
Say you will baby, you want me too
All night long
All night long
All night long
All night long
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew, yeah
All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You by Heart
It was a rainy night
When he came into sight,
Standing by the road,
No umbrella, no coat.
So I pulled up alongside
And I offered him a ride.
He accepted with a smile,
So we drove for a while.
I didn’t ask him his name,
This lonely boy in the rain.
Fate, tell me it’s right,
Is this love at first sight?
Please don’t make it wrong,
Just stay for the night.
All I wanna do is make love to you
Say you will
You want me too
All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to
So we found this hotel,
It was a place I knew well
We made magic that night.
Oh, he did everything right
He brought the woman out of me,
So many times, easily
And in the morning when he woke
All I left for him was a note
I told him
I am the flower you are the seed
We walked in the garden
We planted a tree
Don’t try to find me,
Please don’t you dare
Just live in my memory,
You’ll always be there
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
I’ve got lovin’ arms to hold on to
Oh, oooh, we made love
Love like strangers
All night long
We made love
Then it happened one day,
We came round the same way
You can imagine his surprise
When he saw his own eyes
I said
"Please, please understand
I’m in love with another man
And what he couldn’t give me
Was the one little thing that you can"
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
Come on say you will, you want me too
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew
All I wanna do is make love to you
Say you will baby, you want me too
All night long
All night long
All night long
All night long
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
All I wanna do is make love to you
One night of love was all we knew, yeah
Friday, November 25, 2005
Snow!!
As I write this (having just been woken up by a message on MSN) so I am watching the heaviest snowfall that I have seen in years out the window. The ground is already a couple inches deep in the stuff (it is actually settling for once), and plenty more is dropping from the skies. I've read statements from the Met Office that predict this winter is going to be colder than 1963, which is the coldest since modern records began. Outside right now, is the beginning of the proof that they might just be right. This is certainly the first time since since 1986 that I can recall it snowing (and settling) in November.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Quotes From Three Movies
Thought I'd share some of my favourite bits from a trio of good movies with you. I like lots more than just these snippets from the following films though.
Superman the Movie (1978)
Superman: Easy, miss. I've got you.
Lois Lane: You, you've got me? Who's got you?
Perry White: Lois, Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen, not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect, not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style, but he is, in my forty years in this business, the fastest typist I've ever seen.
Perry White: Now look. The Post: "It Flies." The News: "Look, Ma, No Wires." The Times: "Blue Bomb Buzzes Metropolis." The Planet. We're sitting on top of the story of the century here! I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption.
Lex Luthor: This is Lex Luthor. Only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superman, and that's you.
Spaceballs (1987)
Dark Helmet: Careful you idiot! I said across her nose, not up it!
Laser Gunner: Sorry sir! I'm doing my best!
Dark Helmet: Who made that man a gunner?
Major Asshole: I did sir. He's my cousin.
Dark Helmet: Who is he?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole sir.
Dark Helmet: I know that! What's his name?
Colonel Sandurz: That is his name sir. Asshole, Major Asshole!
Dark Helmet: And his cousin?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole too sir. Gunner's mate First Class Philip Asshole!
Dark Helmet: How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
[Entire bridge crew stands up and raises a hand]
Entire Bridge Crew: Yo!
[Dark Helmet looks around in amazement]
Dark Helmet: I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes!
[Dark Helmet pulls his face shield down]
Dark Helmet: Keep firing, assholes!
The Princess Bride (1987)
Buttercup: You mock my pain.
Westley: Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
Westley: Give us the gate key.
Yellin: I have no gate key.
Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
Yellin: Oh, you mean *this* gate key.
Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Westley: There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours.
Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death.
Westley: No. To the pain.
Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase.
Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.
Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me.
Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.
Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.
[slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince]
Westley: DROP... YOUR... SWORD!
[Prince Humperdinck mouth hanging open, drops sword to floor]
Superman the Movie (1978)
Superman: Easy, miss. I've got you.
Lois Lane: You, you've got me? Who's got you?
Perry White: Lois, Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen, not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect, not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style, but he is, in my forty years in this business, the fastest typist I've ever seen.
Perry White: Now look. The Post: "It Flies." The News: "Look, Ma, No Wires." The Times: "Blue Bomb Buzzes Metropolis." The Planet. We're sitting on top of the story of the century here! I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption.
Lex Luthor: This is Lex Luthor. Only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superman, and that's you.
Spaceballs (1987)
Dark Helmet: Careful you idiot! I said across her nose, not up it!
Laser Gunner: Sorry sir! I'm doing my best!
Dark Helmet: Who made that man a gunner?
Major Asshole: I did sir. He's my cousin.
Dark Helmet: Who is he?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole sir.
Dark Helmet: I know that! What's his name?
Colonel Sandurz: That is his name sir. Asshole, Major Asshole!
Dark Helmet: And his cousin?
Colonel Sandurz: He's an asshole too sir. Gunner's mate First Class Philip Asshole!
Dark Helmet: How many assholes do we have on this ship, anyway?
[Entire bridge crew stands up and raises a hand]
Entire Bridge Crew: Yo!
[Dark Helmet looks around in amazement]
Dark Helmet: I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes!
[Dark Helmet pulls his face shield down]
Dark Helmet: Keep firing, assholes!
The Princess Bride (1987)
Buttercup: You mock my pain.
Westley: Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
Westley: Give us the gate key.
Yellin: I have no gate key.
Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
Yellin: Oh, you mean *this* gate key.
Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
Westley: There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours.
Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death.
Westley: No. To the pain.
Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase.
Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.
Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me.
Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.
Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.
[slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince]
Westley: DROP... YOUR... SWORD!
[Prince Humperdinck mouth hanging open, drops sword to floor]
A Few Of My Favourite Things
I thought that I'd re-post here a list of my favourite things from my old information page that I keep online at a website I no longer bother with. Figured I'd update it at the same time also. So here goes:
Colour: Blue (though I definately prefer Black for T-shirts)
Food: Lasagne (Pizza comes a close second, Chilli con Carne is in third place)
Hair colour: Brunette (not that I have anything against redheads or blondes though!)
Movie: Return of the Jedi (First movie I can remember seeing in a cinema. I've watched it dozens of times, never get bored of it)
James Bond Movie: The Living Daylights (There are enough of them to warrant their own category, and this is the best of Timothy Dalton's 2 films as the superspy)
Character from a Movie: Emperor Palpatine from the Star Wars Saga. (The guy is pure evil, he doesn't say his lines, he spits them!)
Quote from a Movie: Lo there do I see my mother. Lo there do I see my sister and my brother. Lo there do I see the line of my people stretching back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them. In the Halls of Valhalla, where the dead, live, forever! (The 13th Warrior)
Album: Superman the Movie Soundtrack by John Williams (I own a copy of the deluxe 2 CD version, pure listening heaven!)
Pastime: Writing (Specifically my blog. Followed by roleplaying in Gorean chatrooms. Dungeons & Dragons comes third)
Novel: Dancer of Gor by John Norman
Series of Novels: The Book of Words Trilogy by J.V. Jones (her first books, they THRASH The Lord of the Rings!)
Character from a Novel: Fitzchivalry Farseer from the Farseer Trilogy & Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb (Brilliant, and often tragic figure, expertly written)
Computer Game: Call to Power 2 (Superior in every way to every other version of Civilisation thus far produced)
Classic TV Show: Babylon 5 (Though Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dawson's Creek all rank very highly)
Current TV Show: Stargate Atlantis (Though I also avidly follow The West Wing, Stargate SG-1, Smallville, Lost and the new Battlestar Galactica).
Colour: Blue (though I definately prefer Black for T-shirts)
Food: Lasagne (Pizza comes a close second, Chilli con Carne is in third place)
Hair colour: Brunette (not that I have anything against redheads or blondes though!)
Movie: Return of the Jedi (First movie I can remember seeing in a cinema. I've watched it dozens of times, never get bored of it)
James Bond Movie: The Living Daylights (There are enough of them to warrant their own category, and this is the best of Timothy Dalton's 2 films as the superspy)
Character from a Movie: Emperor Palpatine from the Star Wars Saga. (The guy is pure evil, he doesn't say his lines, he spits them!)
Quote from a Movie: Lo there do I see my mother. Lo there do I see my sister and my brother. Lo there do I see the line of my people stretching back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them. In the Halls of Valhalla, where the dead, live, forever! (The 13th Warrior)
Album: Superman the Movie Soundtrack by John Williams (I own a copy of the deluxe 2 CD version, pure listening heaven!)
Pastime: Writing (Specifically my blog. Followed by roleplaying in Gorean chatrooms. Dungeons & Dragons comes third)
Novel: Dancer of Gor by John Norman
Series of Novels: The Book of Words Trilogy by J.V. Jones (her first books, they THRASH The Lord of the Rings!)
Character from a Novel: Fitzchivalry Farseer from the Farseer Trilogy & Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb (Brilliant, and often tragic figure, expertly written)
Computer Game: Call to Power 2 (Superior in every way to every other version of Civilisation thus far produced)
Classic TV Show: Babylon 5 (Though Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dawson's Creek all rank very highly)
Current TV Show: Stargate Atlantis (Though I also avidly follow The West Wing, Stargate SG-1, Smallville, Lost and the new Battlestar Galactica).
My Throat Hurts
Well the back of it anyway, up at the top of the neck. I think I have a bout of Tonsilitis. I get one about every year or so, and I am kinda overdue for one. Still, knowing what it is doesn't stop it hurting everytime I swallow, and generally throbbing even when I'm not doing anything. I normally just dissolve 4 aspirin in water, and then gargle with the solution. Has always cleared it up before, the only problem is that I'm out of soluble aspirin. Time to head to the shops, even though I really don't feel like leaving the house.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Vampire Of The Mists: A Book Review
I finished reading this book a few days back, but what with a hectic weekend and then the past couple days of work in Clevedon, I've not had the time or energy to write up this review before now. Vampire of the Mists by Christie Golden is a Ravenloft shared world novel. Ravenloft is a dark demiplane of gothic horror, that is linked via the Mists to other worlds, drawing travellers and such into its confines. It is much easier to get into Ravenloft than it is to get out!
The story however, begins on the Forgotten Realms world of Toril, where we meet the books main "hero" Jander Sunstar. I put the word hero in quote marks, because Jander is a vampire. A gold elf vampire to be precise, turned when he was 200 years old, he has been undead for five centuries. He is not evil, and he hates his existence, but is scared to take his own life, for fear of becoming a creature known as a Crimson Death (which are suppossedly formed from the spirits of vampires), which would be a far worse existence, than the one he is already condemmed too.
During his travels he arrives at the growing city of Waterdeep, and there he feeds on the residents of the insane asylum, when the need to feed can no longer be slaked on the blood of animals. In the asylum he meets Anna, a woman driven mad by some event in her past, but one strikingly beautiful and untouched by time, she has been a resident for over a hundred years when Jander finds her. Touched by her beauty and the hope that he can restore her mind, he spends decades nurturing her, only to lose her to fever. In the time he has known her, she has spoken little, but he has gleaned a name, Barovia, and he swears revenge on the one who drove her mad. The mists hear him and gather him from that world, drawing him into the demiplane, and to the nation of Barovia.
There he soon meets the enigmatic ruler of that forsaken land, Count Strahd von Zarovich, a cold, cruel man who rules Barovia with an iron grip. He too is a vampire, though one far younger than Jander and the two come to an uneasy alliance. Jander needs the Count's library and resources to track down any mention of Anna, and what happened to her there, to make her as he had found her. Strahd, newly undead, has much to learn from the elder vampire.
The book is amazingly well written, and is highly regarded amongst affiando's of gothic horror novels. I don't go in for the Anne Rice whiny vampires, who spend their undead existences bemoaning their tragic fates. Vampires are monsters, pure and simple. They are the walking dead. They are parasites, and they are very powerful. Few writers seem to get that right, but in her first novel, Miss Golden absolutely nails it, and this is a novel that ranks up there with Dracula itself, as one of the very best in the genre. The contrast between Strahd and Jander is the soul of the book, as Jander spends years as the Count's guest in his crumbling castle, learning more about the land and it's past, as well as the Count's role in it, and slowly but surely becoming more distant from his host.
This book easily gets a 5/5 from me, and while it has been out of print for many years (it was first printed in 1991), it is well worth tracking down a copy. You won't be disapointed!
The story however, begins on the Forgotten Realms world of Toril, where we meet the books main "hero" Jander Sunstar. I put the word hero in quote marks, because Jander is a vampire. A gold elf vampire to be precise, turned when he was 200 years old, he has been undead for five centuries. He is not evil, and he hates his existence, but is scared to take his own life, for fear of becoming a creature known as a Crimson Death (which are suppossedly formed from the spirits of vampires), which would be a far worse existence, than the one he is already condemmed too.
During his travels he arrives at the growing city of Waterdeep, and there he feeds on the residents of the insane asylum, when the need to feed can no longer be slaked on the blood of animals. In the asylum he meets Anna, a woman driven mad by some event in her past, but one strikingly beautiful and untouched by time, she has been a resident for over a hundred years when Jander finds her. Touched by her beauty and the hope that he can restore her mind, he spends decades nurturing her, only to lose her to fever. In the time he has known her, she has spoken little, but he has gleaned a name, Barovia, and he swears revenge on the one who drove her mad. The mists hear him and gather him from that world, drawing him into the demiplane, and to the nation of Barovia.
There he soon meets the enigmatic ruler of that forsaken land, Count Strahd von Zarovich, a cold, cruel man who rules Barovia with an iron grip. He too is a vampire, though one far younger than Jander and the two come to an uneasy alliance. Jander needs the Count's library and resources to track down any mention of Anna, and what happened to her there, to make her as he had found her. Strahd, newly undead, has much to learn from the elder vampire.
The book is amazingly well written, and is highly regarded amongst affiando's of gothic horror novels. I don't go in for the Anne Rice whiny vampires, who spend their undead existences bemoaning their tragic fates. Vampires are monsters, pure and simple. They are the walking dead. They are parasites, and they are very powerful. Few writers seem to get that right, but in her first novel, Miss Golden absolutely nails it, and this is a novel that ranks up there with Dracula itself, as one of the very best in the genre. The contrast between Strahd and Jander is the soul of the book, as Jander spends years as the Count's guest in his crumbling castle, learning more about the land and it's past, as well as the Count's role in it, and slowly but surely becoming more distant from his host.
This book easily gets a 5/5 from me, and while it has been out of print for many years (it was first printed in 1991), it is well worth tracking down a copy. You won't be disapointed!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
I Drove All Night
I think is one of the most purely sexual songs I have ever heard. While I believe it was originally sung by Roy Orbison, I much prefer the version by Cyndi Lauper. Orbison's voice just isn't suited to this song, whereas Lauper's oozes sensuality, adding another level entirely to a song about a woman who has done exactly what the title says, in order to slip into her lovers bed and wake him with sex. The lyrics are the same either way, but there is a BIG difference between the tracks if you listen to them. Gotta admit, part of me is wickedly curious as to what it would be like for a woman to wake me like that.
I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper
I had to escape
The city was sticky and cruel
Maybe I should have called you first
But I was dying to get to you
I was dreaming while I drove
The long straight road ahead, uh, huh
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
What in this world
Keep us from tearing apart
No matter where I go I hear
The beating of your heart
I think about you
When the night is cold and dark
No one can move me
The way that you do
Nothing erases the feeling between me and you
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
I drove all night... to hold you tight
I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper
I had to escape
The city was sticky and cruel
Maybe I should have called you first
But I was dying to get to you
I was dreaming while I drove
The long straight road ahead, uh, huh
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
What in this world
Keep us from tearing apart
No matter where I go I hear
The beating of your heart
I think about you
When the night is cold and dark
No one can move me
The way that you do
Nothing erases the feeling between me and you
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Could taste your sweet kisses
Your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright
I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you
I drove all night... to hold you tight
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