Over the last year or so I've scrimped and saved, and then, after my not-really-unexpected windfall at Christmas, splurged, in an effort to turn my palatial imitation apartment* into something that looks like it belongs to an adult and not a college freshman. So, let's see what I've accomplished and what's left.
-New couch: technically it's a "love seat," but it's as big as a couch.
-New bed: a real bed, it cannot be folded up into anything else.
-New mattress: it's a top of the line futon style one, but that's what my back likes.
-New shelving units: they are the cheap "build yourself" type, but they're an improvement.
-New receiver: hey, a stereo upgrade is still an upgrade!
-New PS3: I need my games, and, a big "sorry about that" to those who went for HD-DVD.
From the "addition by subtraction" category:
-My two HUGE crappy/ugly CD racks have been replaced leather CD books that fit on a shelf.
-My old futon and mattress are now in my brother's basement and I have more storage room.
-My closet now has plenty of room in it.
Still to do:
-A table and two chairs for the kitchen.
-A movable island/counter for the kitchen.
These items have been located, I just need to wait until I'm back from vacation to make the trip to IKEA to get them.
*bonus points to anyone who can identify the source of that quote.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
VACATION!!!
I've tried to remain somewhat calm about my impending trip to Scotland, but with less than two weeks to go I can no longer contain myself! So with out getting into way too much detail, here's the trip:
March 4
After a changeover in Amsterdam I'll arrive in Glasgow. I'm staying in the West End again, which is nice. The West End has the University, the Kelvingrove Museum, and is picturesque and low-key. My plan is to walk to some of the football stadiums I have not visited before- there are three (Parkhead, Ibrox, and Firhill) within 4 miles of my b & b.
March 5
Only one task for my second day and that is to go to nearby Bellshill where I will visit my grandmother's birthplace for the first time. This will also be my first trip to Scotland since her death, I'm imagine that it's going to be an emotional morning. After that, I'll spend the afternoon on the bus as I make my way up to Aberdeen for the first time.
March 6
For my full day in Aberdeen I plan to visit the Maritime Museum, the Gordon Highlanders Museum, and another football stadium (Pittodrie).
March 7
Ahhhh, Inverness, capital of the Highlands. This is one of my favorite cities. Just the right size, nice people, one of my favorite restaurants, and ten minutes outside the city and you are in the middle of postcard-like beauty. Only one task for my first afternoon and that is to visit Caledonian Stadium, which literally sits at the edge of Beauly Firth.
March 8
Today is the first "big" day of the trip! I'll be hopping on the bus (hopefully the RCFC Supporters' Bus!) and making the short ride up to Victoria Park in Dingwall to watch Ross County v. Brechin City. Ross County are currently on a hot streak and looking likely to get promoted back to the SFL First Division- 'mon the Staggies!
March 9
Sunday in Scotland...so there won't be any-thing going on. Thus, I'll take a nice leisurely walk along the River Ness and the Ness Islands and maybe up to the Pictish fort that I've managed to miss each other time I've visited.
March 10
Day seven brings me to Ullapool where I'll catch the ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. This will be my first time in the Outer Hebrides and I can't wait! Once there, I'll go to the Museum nan Eilean (Western Isles Museum) and then rent myself a bike and pedal myself either to the Callanish standing stones or the Black House Museum in Arnol.
March 11
My goal today is to bike from Stornoway to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (about 35 miles). If this isn't possible I'll take the bus to Tarbert and hike up Glen Ulladale in the afternoon.
March 12
Today will be a travel day, but a scenic one. I'll take the ferry across The Minch from Tarbert to Uig on the Isle of Skye. This is said to be a breathtaking trip visually and if it's anything like the ferry trip from Mallaig to Skye in the south, it promises to be spectacular. Once on Skye, I'll make the 15 mile walk from Uig to Portree. Not only are there plenty of nerdy historical stops along the way, but Skye is beautiful and wandering around it for five or six hours will be fun.
March 13
Day two on Skye will see me trying to get out to Orbost to Rebel's Wood, a forest planted in memory of the late Joe Strummer. If I can't get there, I'll walk around Portree- especially the harbor. Then it's off to Ballachulish!
March 14
I'll be spending this day in Ballachulish. It will be my first visit to the birthplace of my great-great grandfather, Duncan Livingston, and the second stop on my family history tour. With this in mind, I'll be visiting the slate quarry where he worked, the Miner's Museum, and hopefully getting some information on his/my older ancestors.
March 15
From Ballachulish it's on to Ayr for my first visit to Burns' country and the final stop on my family history tour. However, before I do either of those things, I'll be going to see Ross County v. Ayr United. And yes, since you asked, I did plan my trip so that I could see RCFC play a second time!
March 16
Again, it's Sunday, so I'll be making my own "fun." I may walk along the beach, I'll probably walk to Alloway to see the Burns Monument & Garden, but something else will take priority over both of these things. I will find some way to get to Patna. Once in Patna, I'm going to find a place that doesn't exist, called Tongue Row- birthplace of my great grandmother. Tongue Row disappeared when the iron works that built it for it's workers closed.
March 17
On my last full day I'll be back in Glasgow for a visit to the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum and the Scottish Football Association Museum. After that, I'll need to get to bed early as my flight out is at 6:00am.
March 18
I will depart Glasgow for home...or will I?
March 4
After a changeover in Amsterdam I'll arrive in Glasgow. I'm staying in the West End again, which is nice. The West End has the University, the Kelvingrove Museum, and is picturesque and low-key. My plan is to walk to some of the football stadiums I have not visited before- there are three (Parkhead, Ibrox, and Firhill) within 4 miles of my b & b.
March 5
Only one task for my second day and that is to go to nearby Bellshill where I will visit my grandmother's birthplace for the first time. This will also be my first trip to Scotland since her death, I'm imagine that it's going to be an emotional morning. After that, I'll spend the afternoon on the bus as I make my way up to Aberdeen for the first time.
March 6
For my full day in Aberdeen I plan to visit the Maritime Museum, the Gordon Highlanders Museum, and another football stadium (Pittodrie).
March 7
Ahhhh, Inverness, capital of the Highlands. This is one of my favorite cities. Just the right size, nice people, one of my favorite restaurants, and ten minutes outside the city and you are in the middle of postcard-like beauty. Only one task for my first afternoon and that is to visit Caledonian Stadium, which literally sits at the edge of Beauly Firth.
March 8
Today is the first "big" day of the trip! I'll be hopping on the bus (hopefully the RCFC Supporters' Bus!) and making the short ride up to Victoria Park in Dingwall to watch Ross County v. Brechin City. Ross County are currently on a hot streak and looking likely to get promoted back to the SFL First Division- 'mon the Staggies!
March 9
Sunday in Scotland...so there won't be any-thing going on. Thus, I'll take a nice leisurely walk along the River Ness and the Ness Islands and maybe up to the Pictish fort that I've managed to miss each other time I've visited.
March 10
Day seven brings me to Ullapool where I'll catch the ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. This will be my first time in the Outer Hebrides and I can't wait! Once there, I'll go to the Museum nan Eilean (Western Isles Museum) and then rent myself a bike and pedal myself either to the Callanish standing stones or the Black House Museum in Arnol.
March 11
My goal today is to bike from Stornoway to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (about 35 miles). If this isn't possible I'll take the bus to Tarbert and hike up Glen Ulladale in the afternoon.
March 12
Today will be a travel day, but a scenic one. I'll take the ferry across The Minch from Tarbert to Uig on the Isle of Skye. This is said to be a breathtaking trip visually and if it's anything like the ferry trip from Mallaig to Skye in the south, it promises to be spectacular. Once on Skye, I'll make the 15 mile walk from Uig to Portree. Not only are there plenty of nerdy historical stops along the way, but Skye is beautiful and wandering around it for five or six hours will be fun.
March 13
Day two on Skye will see me trying to get out to Orbost to Rebel's Wood, a forest planted in memory of the late Joe Strummer. If I can't get there, I'll walk around Portree- especially the harbor. Then it's off to Ballachulish!
March 14
I'll be spending this day in Ballachulish. It will be my first visit to the birthplace of my great-great grandfather, Duncan Livingston, and the second stop on my family history tour. With this in mind, I'll be visiting the slate quarry where he worked, the Miner's Museum, and hopefully getting some information on his/my older ancestors.
March 15
From Ballachulish it's on to Ayr for my first visit to Burns' country and the final stop on my family history tour. However, before I do either of those things, I'll be going to see Ross County v. Ayr United. And yes, since you asked, I did plan my trip so that I could see RCFC play a second time!
March 16
Again, it's Sunday, so I'll be making my own "fun." I may walk along the beach, I'll probably walk to Alloway to see the Burns Monument & Garden, but something else will take priority over both of these things. I will find some way to get to Patna. Once in Patna, I'm going to find a place that doesn't exist, called Tongue Row- birthplace of my great grandmother. Tongue Row disappeared when the iron works that built it for it's workers closed.
March 17
On my last full day I'll be back in Glasgow for a visit to the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum and the Scottish Football Association Museum. After that, I'll need to get to bed early as my flight out is at 6:00am.
March 18
I will depart Glasgow for home...or will I?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Kosovo
Congratulations to the Kosovars for declaring independence from Serbia! Especially given that they did so in the face of continuing and not-so-thinly-veiled threats from both the Serbians and the Russians.
I was especially happy to see that their parliament ratified the declaration unanimously, that there are specific guarantees for the equality of the ethnic Serbs, and that they recognized the need and worth of having international troops in the country.
Maybe the Balkans have finally, FINALLY, sorted themselves out.
I was especially happy to see that their parliament ratified the declaration unanimously, that there are specific guarantees for the equality of the ethnic Serbs, and that they recognized the need and worth of having international troops in the country.
Maybe the Balkans have finally, FINALLY, sorted themselves out.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Today's Developments
First and foremost, I'm typing on my new black MacBook...it's kind of like the "Darth Vader" of MacBooks- and I like that.
Second, my new"Norton Motorcylces" inspired Reverend Horton Heat t-shirt also arrived via FedEx today.
Third, Curt Schilling has an injury that will keep him out until at least the All-Star break, if not end his career. Might have been nice to know this before Johann Santana became a Met.
Finally, Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race today, leaving John McCain- the most palatable of the Republicans the defacto nominee- sorry Mike Huckabee. That being said, as much as I admire Senator McCain, I don't see myself voting for him.
Alright, time to put the new machine through its paces!
Second, my new"Norton Motorcylces" inspired Reverend Horton Heat t-shirt also arrived via FedEx today.
Third, Curt Schilling has an injury that will keep him out until at least the All-Star break, if not end his career. Might have been nice to know this before Johann Santana became a Met.
Finally, Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race today, leaving John McCain- the most palatable of the Republicans the defacto nominee- sorry Mike Huckabee. That being said, as much as I admire Senator McCain, I don't see myself voting for him.
Alright, time to put the new machine through its paces!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!
I just ordered my new, upgraded, super sexy black, iBook!
I was going to get the new MacBook Air, but it has no optical drive, so if you can't get what you need (music, movies, games, etc.) on-line or have a second computer that you can install programs on and transfer them to the MacBook Air via wireless network, you're pretty much out of luck.
The best part? Add together my tax refund and the money from the sale of my current iBook, and I'll actually make 45¢, because, as we all know, your tax refund is "free money!"
"3-5 Business days"...
:)
I was going to get the new MacBook Air, but it has no optical drive, so if you can't get what you need (music, movies, games, etc.) on-line or have a second computer that you can install programs on and transfer them to the MacBook Air via wireless network, you're pretty much out of luck.
The best part? Add together my tax refund and the money from the sale of my current iBook, and I'll actually make 45¢, because, as we all know, your tax refund is "free money!"
"3-5 Business days"...
:)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Famous?
So, what the heck, here are the "famous" people I've "met." Some of them won't mean anything to you until I explain them, some won't mean anything even after I explain them!
Direct-
Robert Vaughn, star of "The Man from Uncle" and the "Helsinki Formula" infomercials: Talked to him on the phone.
Peter Jennings, late anchor of ABC News: Talked to him on the phone.
Chevy Chase, actor...you know, FLETCH!: Met him when his daughter toured a school at which I was teaching.
Bill Murray, actor...so, you know, he's got that going for him: Met him when he came to watch his son play football for the rivals of a school at which I taught.
Ally McCoist, member Scottish National Team: One of only two professional athletes I've asked for an autograph.
Bode Miller, Olympic/World Cup skier: I knocked him on his ass during a men's league soccer game about 8 or 9 years ago. I might not have done so if I'd known that's who it was beforehand!
Egon Zimmerman, Olympic/World Cup skier: Was my ski school instructor when I was about ten.
Al Barr, lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys: Of course, when I knew him, his name was still "Alex." We went to high school together for a couple of years, his dad was my German teacher during my freshman year.
Chris Sheridan, director, producer, writer, etc. for "The Family Guy": All this is based on what my mom has told me, but if it's true (there's definitely a "Chris Sheridan" in the credits), Chris and I overlapped for a couple of years in high school, worked on the school newspaper together, and his mom is still (I think!) the school nurse.
Indirect-
Mo Vaughn, professional baseball player: I coached his niece for one season, and she was the team manager for two more after that.
George Soros, international "financier": I taught one of his sons for a year.
And, for what it's worth, I regularly see Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, and J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. around town.
Anyway...
I could probably list a hundred soccer players (male and female) that I've worked clinics and camps with over the years, but that would take forever, so I'll just leave this list as is until I remember somebody that I've left off!
Direct-
Robert Vaughn, star of "The Man from Uncle" and the "Helsinki Formula" infomercials: Talked to him on the phone.
Peter Jennings, late anchor of ABC News: Talked to him on the phone.
Chevy Chase, actor...you know, FLETCH!: Met him when his daughter toured a school at which I was teaching.
Bill Murray, actor...so, you know, he's got that going for him: Met him when he came to watch his son play football for the rivals of a school at which I taught.
Ally McCoist, member Scottish National Team: One of only two professional athletes I've asked for an autograph.
Bode Miller, Olympic/World Cup skier: I knocked him on his ass during a men's league soccer game about 8 or 9 years ago. I might not have done so if I'd known that's who it was beforehand!
Egon Zimmerman, Olympic/World Cup skier: Was my ski school instructor when I was about ten.
Al Barr, lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys: Of course, when I knew him, his name was still "Alex." We went to high school together for a couple of years, his dad was my German teacher during my freshman year.
Chris Sheridan, director, producer, writer, etc. for "The Family Guy": All this is based on what my mom has told me, but if it's true (there's definitely a "Chris Sheridan" in the credits), Chris and I overlapped for a couple of years in high school, worked on the school newspaper together, and his mom is still (I think!) the school nurse.
Indirect-
Mo Vaughn, professional baseball player: I coached his niece for one season, and she was the team manager for two more after that.
George Soros, international "financier": I taught one of his sons for a year.
And, for what it's worth, I regularly see Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, and J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. around town.
Anyway...
I could probably list a hundred soccer players (male and female) that I've worked clinics and camps with over the years, but that would take forever, so I'll just leave this list as is until I remember somebody that I've left off!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
HERE'S your problem!
I rarely, if ever, resort to foul language here on my lame little blog, but after reading this story (click on the title of this post for the link) my first thought was, "You've got to be fucking kidding me..." I didn't say it aloud, my "inner voice" wasn't even raised. It was "said" with sadness and disappointment. With all the things that deserve more time, attention, and funding, our federal government- in this case, the FCC- felt it was important to spend five (FIVE?!) years and who knows how many hundreds of thousands (if not MILLIONS) of dollars waging a battle against ABC because NYPD Blue showed a woman's buttocks. Five years...
I'm glad my government has it's priorities in such crystal clear order.
I'm glad my government has it's priorities in such crystal clear order.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Managers in the Premier League
The data:
Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson: Scottish
Arsenal: Arsene Wenger: French
Chelseaa: Avram Grant: Israeli
Liverpool: Rafael Benitez: Spanish
Evertona: David Moyes: Scottish
Aston Villa: Martin O’Neill: Northern Irish
Manchester City: Sven-Goran Eriksson: Swedish
Blackburn Rovers: Mark Hughes: Welsh
Portsmouth: Harry Redknapp: English
West Ham United: Alan Curbishley: English
Newcastle United: Kevin Keegan: English
Tottenham Hotspur: Juande Ramos: Spanish
Reading: Steve Coppell: English
Middlesbrough: Gareth Southgate: English
Bolton Wanderers: Gary Megson: English
Birmingham City: Alex McLeish: Scottish
Wigan Athletic: Steve Bruce: English
Sunderland: Roy Keane: Irish
Fulham: Roy Hodgson: English
Derby County: Paul Jewell: English
Things to think about:
Whereas:
Alex Ferguson alone has won:
Premier League: (9)
FA Cup: (5)
League Cup: (2)
FA Charity/Community Shield: (7)
UEFA Champions League: (1)
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: (1)
Intercontinental Cup: (1)
UEFA Super Cup: (1)
FA Premier League Manager of the Year: (7)
FA Premier League Manager of the Month: (19)
UEFA Champions League Manager of the Year: (1)
World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year: (3)
And that doesn't include what he did with Aberdeen before coming to England:
Scottish League: (3) Of the four they've won.
Scottish Cup: (4) Of the six they've won.
Scottish League Cup: (1) Of the five they've won
European Cup Winners Cup: (1) Their only one.
UEFA Super Cup: (1) Their only one.
I'm just sayin'...
Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson: Scottish
Arsenal: Arsene Wenger: French
Chelseaa: Avram Grant: Israeli
Liverpool: Rafael Benitez: Spanish
Evertona: David Moyes: Scottish
Aston Villa: Martin O’Neill: Northern Irish
Manchester City: Sven-Goran Eriksson: Swedish
Blackburn Rovers: Mark Hughes: Welsh
Portsmouth: Harry Redknapp: English
West Ham United: Alan Curbishley: English
Newcastle United: Kevin Keegan: English
Tottenham Hotspur: Juande Ramos: Spanish
Reading: Steve Coppell: English
Middlesbrough: Gareth Southgate: English
Bolton Wanderers: Gary Megson: English
Birmingham City: Alex McLeish: Scottish
Wigan Athletic: Steve Bruce: English
Sunderland: Roy Keane: Irish
Fulham: Roy Hodgson: English
Derby County: Paul Jewell: English
Things to think about:
- No English managers currently managing teams that will qualify for Europe next year.
- Of the three non-English managers in the bottom half of the table, two were mid-season replacements.
- Two of the three managers of teams trying to avoid relegation are English.
- With the exception of Kevin Keegan's brief tenure as England manager*, none of the English managers has achieved anything on the national or international stage.
Whereas:
Alex Ferguson alone has won:
Premier League: (9)
FA Cup: (5)
League Cup: (2)
FA Charity/Community Shield: (7)
UEFA Champions League: (1)
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: (1)
Intercontinental Cup: (1)
UEFA Super Cup: (1)
FA Premier League Manager of the Year: (7)
FA Premier League Manager of the Month: (19)
UEFA Champions League Manager of the Year: (1)
World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year: (3)
And that doesn't include what he did with Aberdeen before coming to England:
Scottish League: (3) Of the four they've won.
Scottish Cup: (4) Of the six they've won.
Scottish League Cup: (1) Of the five they've won
European Cup Winners Cup: (1) Their only one.
UEFA Super Cup: (1) Their only one.
I'm just sayin'...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I practical use for my blog!?!?
I don't know that I've recorded all of them here, but according to my blog, today's migraine is my first since November 4- not bad.
I only wish it wasn't working in hellish combination with the pulled muscle in my neck.
I think it's time to turn out the lights and stay very still...
I only wish it wasn't working in hellish combination with the pulled muscle in my neck.
I think it's time to turn out the lights and stay very still...
Friday, January 11, 2008
NINJAS!?
Today I went to the movies.
I went to see "No Country for Old Men."
Somewhere between buying my ticket and getting something to drink I decided that I didn't want to see something so "serious," so I looked at the other listings and decided to see "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale."
Oops.
Apparently this movie was based on a video game. Had I known that, I might have stuck with my original choice- let's just say that Roger Ebert's views on movies that are based on games are right on target. I can imagine this movie having been written on a laptop, during study halls, by an inhaler-dependent 9th grader who plays too many video games and/or Magic: the Gathering.
I also wish I'd known that this movie was directed by Uwe Boller, but that's another topic for another day.
Anyway, here are my thoughts on this movie- or at least as many as I could jam onto the back of my ticket stub in a dark theater.
The Plot
There really isn't a single "plot," there are many- none of them well-developed. There's the long-lost son of the king, the nephew who wants to overthrow the king, the evil magician who's trying to overthrow thing king, and some other stuff.
There are also subhuman warriors- controlled by Gallian, the evil magician- who run some sort of slave-populated underground mines (complete with flowing lava). They are called "Krugs." "What do they mine? Why must it be mined? These are details the viewer apparently does not need to know. Another question lingers too: the first time I saw this plotline weren't they called "Orcs," and didn't they appear in three other small movies as masters of underground mines? I'm just asking...
The Script
I'm not sure there was one. And if there was, my hat is off to the actors for not bursting into laughter after some of the lines they had to deliver.
The Setting
The movie is set in medieval "somewhere" (in this case, British Columbia) at some "medieval time." Apparently there must have been some disagreement about these things. There is a church and there are some references to Christianity...but then at the end of the movie there is all kinds of talk about "The Gods." Who knows...
The Mistakes
Okay, I'm only going to point out one. There's a scene where two characters are digging some graves with shovels that could have been purchased at your friendly neighborhood ACE Hardware store- I am surprised that they actually remembered to remove the labels from them. Hint to those who make movies about the medieval period in European history- metal was hard to come by and expensive, dirt poor farmers would have wooden shovels.
The Cast
As an historian I know that medieval Europe was a much more multicultural and multiracial society than the modern world assumes, especially in southern Europe, larger cities and where trade routes intersected. Therefore, if a movie about medieval Europe contains some "people of color" in one or more of the contexts, I not only understand it, but I also applaud it for its accuracy. This movie did none of these things, and yet...
...and yet there is one major character and one minor one who are African- no explanation given. There are also several Asian faces seen behind the helmets of the king's soldiers.
And then there are the Ninjas.
During the major battle scene(s) there is a small group of Asians clad in loose black clothing who attack the enemy while spinning, kicking, and brandishing swords in both hands.
Ninjas. Really?
I went to see "No Country for Old Men."
Somewhere between buying my ticket and getting something to drink I decided that I didn't want to see something so "serious," so I looked at the other listings and decided to see "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale."
Oops.
Apparently this movie was based on a video game. Had I known that, I might have stuck with my original choice- let's just say that Roger Ebert's views on movies that are based on games are right on target. I can imagine this movie having been written on a laptop, during study halls, by an inhaler-dependent 9th grader who plays too many video games and/or Magic: the Gathering.
I also wish I'd known that this movie was directed by Uwe Boller, but that's another topic for another day.
Anyway, here are my thoughts on this movie- or at least as many as I could jam onto the back of my ticket stub in a dark theater.
The Plot
There really isn't a single "plot," there are many- none of them well-developed. There's the long-lost son of the king, the nephew who wants to overthrow the king, the evil magician who's trying to overthrow thing king, and some other stuff.
There are also subhuman warriors- controlled by Gallian, the evil magician- who run some sort of slave-populated underground mines (complete with flowing lava). They are called "Krugs." "What do they mine? Why must it be mined? These are details the viewer apparently does not need to know. Another question lingers too: the first time I saw this plotline weren't they called "Orcs," and didn't they appear in three other small movies as masters of underground mines? I'm just asking...
The Script
I'm not sure there was one. And if there was, my hat is off to the actors for not bursting into laughter after some of the lines they had to deliver.
The Setting
The movie is set in medieval "somewhere" (in this case, British Columbia) at some "medieval time." Apparently there must have been some disagreement about these things. There is a church and there are some references to Christianity...but then at the end of the movie there is all kinds of talk about "The Gods." Who knows...
The Mistakes
Okay, I'm only going to point out one. There's a scene where two characters are digging some graves with shovels that could have been purchased at your friendly neighborhood ACE Hardware store- I am surprised that they actually remembered to remove the labels from them. Hint to those who make movies about the medieval period in European history- metal was hard to come by and expensive, dirt poor farmers would have wooden shovels.
The Cast
- Jason Statham: I like Jason Statham. No, he's not Olivier, but then, to the best of my knowledge, he has never attempted Hamlet either. If you need a fit, more or less handsome, working-class Englishman to deliver raspy, B-grade, Clint Eastwood dialog in an action movie, he's your man. Keeping that in mind, I cannot fault his performance here, he did the job he was hired to do.
- Leelee Sobieski: I don't even know if she's a good actress or not, I'm simply to consumed with trying to figure out if she is breathtakingly beautiful, or just really odd looking? Also, as an historian, she gets a partial "pass" for being related to Poland's royal family- particularly national hero Jan III Sobieski, who saved Vienna from the Turks.
- Jonathan Rhys-Davies: This man has been making films for over 40 years- what on Earth is he doing in this film? Here are just a few of his prior credits: I, Claudius, Shogun, The Merchant of Venice, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and all of the Lord of the Rings movies. In this movie, he plays a cut-rate Merlin type character.
- Ron Perlman: Once again, let's look at the best of this actor's previous work: The Name of the Rose, Enemy at the Gates, and Hellboy. He plays what there is of his part- grizzled, aging, but wise, soldier, just fine.
- Claire Forlani: This would have been a better movie if all 124 minutes had been spent on her, sitting in a chair, doing nothing but looking at the camera.
- Kristianna Loken: She was in the last Terminator movie, she's beautiful, but her role in this movie is so small that I suspect (and there are lots of other things in this movie that lead me to this conclusion) that large parts of this movie were left on the proverbial "cutting room floor." (Confirmed: according to the film's Wikipedia page, the DVD release will be 45 minutes longer)
- Matthew Lillard: This is the "level" of actor this movie deserved. Take a look at his IMDB entry and you'll see that I don't mean that as a compliment.
- Ray Liotta: Ray, you were Henry Hill in "Goodfellas." GOODFELLAS!! Now you're an evil wizard in a movie based on a video game?! I'm going to assume this film was made just prior to Ray's February 2007 DUI arrest, it would explain a lot.
- Burt Reynolds: Again, Burt has never been an Oscar caliber actor, but this movie? He was in Gator, Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Semi-Tough, Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, and Sharky's Machine. He couldn't possibly have needed the paycheck this badly, could he?
As an historian I know that medieval Europe was a much more multicultural and multiracial society than the modern world assumes, especially in southern Europe, larger cities and where trade routes intersected. Therefore, if a movie about medieval Europe contains some "people of color" in one or more of the contexts, I not only understand it, but I also applaud it for its accuracy. This movie did none of these things, and yet...
...and yet there is one major character and one minor one who are African- no explanation given. There are also several Asian faces seen behind the helmets of the king's soldiers.
And then there are the Ninjas.
During the major battle scene(s) there is a small group of Asians clad in loose black clothing who attack the enemy while spinning, kicking, and brandishing swords in both hands.
Ninjas. Really?
Monday, January 07, 2008
Why I didn't do it.
I walked around the store for almost twenty minutes holding a collapsible snow shovel that I was going to throw in my trunk so that the next time it snowed I could use something other than my feet to clear a path to get my car out.
It was only $6.99
Just in time, however, I realized two things.
First, if I bought it, I would become confident about it and it would then surely break the first time I attempted to use it, angering me greatly.
Second, if I bought it, it would never snow again for as long as I owned it. I like snow, and I didn't want this to happen.
Clear-headed logic- no?
It was only $6.99
Just in time, however, I realized two things.
First, if I bought it, I would become confident about it and it would then surely break the first time I attempted to use it, angering me greatly.
Second, if I bought it, it would never snow again for as long as I owned it. I like snow, and I didn't want this to happen.
Clear-headed logic- no?
Friday, January 04, 2008
Just because it popped into my head...
...here are some TV shows I've never watched, and never plan to.
- Friends
- E.R.
- Desperate Housewives
- Scrubs
- Law & Order (any variation)
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
Top Albums of 2007
Yahoo posted it's list today.
I own NONE of them.
I would consider buying three of them.
My "outsider status" remains intact.
I own NONE of them.
I would consider buying three of them.
My "outsider status" remains intact.
Perhaps the greatest website ever created
Even if you are not a football (soccer) fan, you will find this sight irresistible:
http://hudsonia.blogspot.com/
Ray Hudson's enthusiasm for the sport and his creativity with the English language make me happy to be alive. Dick Vitale wishes he was Ray Hudson!
http://hudsonia.blogspot.com/
Ray Hudson's enthusiasm for the sport and his creativity with the English language make me happy to be alive. Dick Vitale wishes he was Ray Hudson!
Thank you...
...that five figure check I deposited came to me as a result of the sale of my grandparent's house.
I will put it to the best use I can.
And I would give it back in an instant to have either or both of them back for even another day.
I will put it to the best use I can.
And I would give it back in an instant to have either or both of them back for even another day.
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