I counted 8 smokers on the piazza, today. I envied them. I felt naked. I didn't smoke, I sat and listened to the radio. It was warm, and pleasant out, the students were not as pretty as yesterday. I felt naked without the the ciggerate.

I am waiting for the week to wind down..

This is from a nice lady I know. She lives in Belarus


I'm glad you're fine.Me too.Yesterday i worked with 3 orphants of 3,4 and 5 years old,we went to a shop,bought sweets and on the way to school we met my mother and uncle and they presented to the children more sweets. The xholdren then asked was it holiday or something.

A different world from us..

The 300

The 300

When boyhood's fire was in my blood I read of ancient freemen, For Greece and Rome who bravely stood, Three hundred men and three men; And then I prayed I yet might see Our fetters rent in twain,

Thomas Davis

I studied Ancient history since primary school. I know the story, I know the history. An excellent account of the history is :

Persian Fire :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Persian-Fire-First-Empire-Battle/dp/0316726648

So this is the the story

Its the story. Its the myth of the Battle of  Thermopylae

The film probably is close to Spartan norms in terms of dress. The Spartaides, the 300 are all half naked. People simply don't wear much. Greece is warm, and cloth is expensive.

The Athenians are dismissed as Boy lovers and philosophers.

There is some confusion, or rather the Ephors are depicted as an oracle. They were the council that governed Sparta day to day. Sparta had two kings. -The other king Damaratus, was actually in the Persian camp

Lord of the Rings is a clear influence here. There are scenes that are simply fantastic. The Immortals- of the Persian Army  are in oriental masks.

The Persians are using an early form of Gunpowder-well that is an interesting AH.

Epiatles. the Traitor is shown as deformed. This is how Xerxes, wins him over. Epialties is offered the pleasures of the flesh. Oddly one of Xerxes harem, has a birth mark- 

The film has a strange idea concerning ugliness

Xerxes is a grotesque. He is 8 ft tall, he towers over Leonidas. The Persians, are exotic and strange. Xerxes, kills his generals via an executioner, with bladed hands. The King of Kings, the God, throws a rhino against the Greeks.

Adultery -The Spartans, were supposed to have shared there wives. If someone wished to have a song. Some banter, about the Thessalonians, also points to Spartan tastes

It might be something, but the Spartans here, do not have American accents. There old fashioned. (Leonadias is played by an Australian)

In short its a decent film. Its a fair retelling of the legend of Thermopylae.  It is the legend. In a legend you slay the giants,

The A-team Season 4

The A Team

 I eat jelly/jello with my lunch. I am almost 30 years old. Apparently this is not the done thing. A man of man years should not be eating jello. If that’s the case. Then he certainly should not be watching the A-teams 

The A team, is cheeseburger fries and a strawberry milkshake. It is Tizer, and hoola hoops.

 It is glorious. The premise, a crack commando unit, escapes to the los angles underground. Is simply, a modern way of saying Sir Hannibal Smith and his men, Page Baracus, Murdoch the fool. Friar Peck, The A-Team was nothing more then Robin hood, and his Merry men. In southern California, with rolled up sleeves, and lots of chains. The A-team, rob from the rich, and give to the poor. Well Maybe not. But they certainly ride about the land, righting wrongs. Occasionally singing sons. They could have been on horseback, and My brother bought the 4th series on DVD

 Recently. I caught the season opener. The plot of the episode, was simple enough. A judge’s daughter is kidnapped by a Mafiosi. Who will hold her life over the head of her father. In exchange for an acquittal Well, with no one else to turn to the judge does the only think, he can. He hires the A-team. (Yes that word HIRE, this was the 80s) What follows is one of the series, motifs. The Judge is met by Hannibal, who has used a window cleaners We see a base jump, Hannibal pursued by the ever resolute colonel Decker, leaps from a sky scraper. `1In one might bound’’ Following its classical credentials. The Judges connection with his blackmailers. Is played by George peppard. (There would have been an aha, moment, for the 8 year old viewer) George is playing a Mafiosi Its an over the top performance Well, the gangsters makes his daily, ``Hello your daughters still alive, don’t convict the Cappo’’ call at the judges house, Where he runs into the Judges new butler. Who, seems to have walked off the set of a 50’s b Movie. Igor, has a remarkable resemblance to Murdoch, and having distracted my Cousin Vinnie for long enough. Allows Sergeant Barcus to get the jump on him Thus the Kidnapper is now kidnapped, Hannibal smith, will with the aid, of make up, and the experience of a distinguished Hollywood career. Hannibal will take the place, of the Brigand. The rest of the A-team, will sit on, the villain. In the meantime, Hannibal has become entangled in the life of a soldier in an organized crime factory. The man he replaced, is seeing the Moll, of his colleague, behind his back. Is also seeing the girl, across the street, Hannibal, does manage to locate the judge’s daughter. Loosens her bounds. ( A smart move- If anything happens to him, she will find it easier to escape) Sadly the judges first born is not the first person to regain their liberty. The Mafioso, the A-team picked up. Seizing his chances, leaps out of the van. Rolling in front of two law enforcement officials of Los angles. Well this is not good 

Donny Brasco catches up with ersatz Donny Brasco. Hannibal Smith is discovered. Our wily hhero manages to sow discord amongst the conspirators. Until the A-team arrive. Where they use a converted RV and some accents to blow there way into where the kidnappers have holed up. After the bullets fly Colonel Decker arrives intent on apprehending the A-team. The shooting carries on. The A-team, have almost saved the damsel in distress, but wait. A helicopter, snatches her from out of the sky !!!!

(The Helicopter looks just like Airwolf) 

 TO BE CONTINUED! 

 Turns out that Don Corelones brother in Italy. Older brother has it happens, had heard about his siblings botched attempt to kidnap, the judges girl. He decided to take care of things himself. The A-team then travel to Italy, despite BA notorious fear of flight. Not to mention, Gregory pecks faux Italian accent. The snatch the judges daughter back The rest of the episode. Is set on a cruise ship. The A-team cannot return home by airplane . Face poses as the ships doctor, and helps a bevy of bikinis with their needs. In one scene. He is rubbing sun cream on a rotund woman, and tiring of this, goes to see what else there is to do. Until he finds out that it is a man seeking a suppository Hannibal is consigned to pool boy. The only other position. Where he crosses swords with the ships entertainer. A lounge lizard, in the vein of the brat pack. Someone really does not care for Columbus day at universal, The judges daughter relaxes in a bikini. ( Yes I know) The Mafia get on the same ship. Our Heroes come up with the idea of luring them out by holding a costume party. But all ends happily. The violence was a complaint against the show. Looking back the gunplay, is in fact unnecessary somewhat. The show would work, if it was Sir Hannibal’s knights, or the A riders. Fists and swords, It is an action show, and the enemies of the A-team, are there to be overcome. The  are there to be overcome physically. They are there to be physically and mentally defeated. The enemies of the A-team were never just shot down, they were out thought first, Yes its not sensitive. Murdoch is pretending to be Mad. The other stock scene. The Judges daughter, is wandering around in swimwear. The Mafias attempted Hijack of the ship, made me think this was not made so long after the Achille Lauro. Yes it was an 80’s show Remember A-PLAN a thought. Alright your using the guns. But you are thinking. Remember, Hannibal was a Colonel, an Administrator-A colonel is in charge of up 1000 men. Or is the lowest staff commission , BA a Mechanic Murdoch, a Pilot, and Face Supply-espionage. None of them are trained just as GIs. Armies do not win wars, without mechanics, without supply, without logistics, the shooting is just what happens, when your trying ``to git, thar furthest with the mostest''

This is not a stupid show. Its Jejune. Its Jelly. Its great 

 ``I love it when a plan comes together''

Colonge 2007

Germany I am back from Germany.

 I was there for a brief holiday. Traveling with my brother. I am pleased to report that I did not smoke. Germany seems to be the one place left in the world. Where its possible to light up, without raising anyone's hackles.

 I remember eating an open salami sandwich in the departure lounge I watched sports-Rugby, Cricket, and  Football. 

I enjoyed the local brew. (Kolsch) I ate salami sandwiches. I went up Koln cathedral. Well almost. I will admit to a panic attack, a few flights from the top. I was so close, then I saw the last piece of the puzzle. The spiral staircase. My nerve went. To get up top, one goes up a spiral staircase.

 Which travelers ascending and descending must share. I have never prayed so devoutly then on that staircase. Children passed by me laughing, teenagers, oblique to the world, beyond their mp3 players and phones. I was in terror.

 In the Ludwig museum- As I left, I saw a video. It was a woman enjoying herself in an art gallery. Other exhibits, involved nudes, and a marital aide. Oh and Americana,- plastics. I travelled on the Rhine, sightseeing ferry and it turned so cold. 

I had to come in doors, and hide. I did not get to see my friends

I dodged a bullet a work today. (Metaphorically of course)


Its been raining I woke up this morning at 7am. With the pitter patter of rain, on the roof. I thought of my father working outside. I guess I am getting older.


I have purchased a new phone. I am so disapointed I lost my old phone. I spent sunday going arround the shops. In a vain attempt to find a handset with MSN Messenger. I have gotten used to bantering with people over my lunchbreak.

I am looking for information, about a Roman sword that turned up in the Americas

I need new lenses. They cost more then I want to spend.

Primeval

Primeval.

Not bad, Not bad

To be honest, I am easy sell here. I got the Dinosaurs spotters guide for Christmas.

Well the series is based on a simple premise. Dinosaurs in 2007. Slipping through a portal in time, and probably space. A team lead by a Paleontologist, Nick Cutter, whose wife disappeared a reptile specialist, Abby Maitland. Cutters students Are set up by the Home office. To investigate the problem. Why are Dinosaurs and other extinct fauna, tearing across the country

Well it has some nice touches. A previous episode, has a plesiosaur haunting, a swimming pool.
SPOILERS

(The team, are brought by Cutters ex wife, to a football stadium. Where a portal is about to open, next to a pride of sabretooths. (I am pretty sure sabretooths were solitary ambush hunters) But lets not be snippy. Anyway, Sabretooths and London in the same sentence. Is not something that the Home office cares to hear. So, Mrs Cutter, is released to the care of the Primeval team. So they can find the Portal, and shut it down.

In the meanwhile. Abbie, the Ex S club 7 star. (Hananh) has a subplot with Tom. Tom needs a place to stay, while Hannah, has a room, and is hiding a cute small dinosaur. Tom hitches a lift to Abbie's flat. 

In the company of Conor and Duncan. Geeks, Nerds, Boffins oh my! .

Conor and Duncan, C&D have realised Tom is up to something. So they slip a GPS chip in a Roswell keyring C and D are conspiracy buffs

The portal, is at a soccer stadium. either the New Den, (Millwall), or Loftus road (QPR) The portal, the team is looking for, is hidden, behind a freezer. Or course no one is eager, to open a door, on which the other side lurk Tigers. Mrs. Cutter takes advantage of the confusion. BTW earlier Angela had a knife, which she used to unbolt a freezer. Do people under arrest often get given weapons?

Cutters Missus has had a trick up her sleeve. When Tom, is commenting on the meat pies. Mrs. C screams, hide the pies. The meat will attract the stabbing toothed predators.

With Cutters wife gone through the portal, which leads to a plain, full of portals. A plague of Dodos, is let loose on the kitchen. One swallows Tom's keyring

(There is a cute scene here, mirroring the scene with the raptors and the children in kitchen in Jurassic park) Here, the people chase the newly reborn re-stinct? things.

C&D have been observing this from outside. A dodo, manages to slip outside. Duncan and his pal, slip the Dodo into their van, and they drive away. Hoping to find the scoop of a life time, and stick it to the man

After the Dodo Japes. The primeval team, realize they are a Dodo down. Well they decide to give it a decent send off. Autopsy.

Well Conor and Duncan, have managed to take the Bird back to their flat :) Things are looking up for them. They will be able to forget their student loans. Life will be good. Who cares if the Dodo get sicks, or wrecks and MP3 Player.

Back in the lab, the Dodo is sliced and diced. It was still kicking, and that was more then just result of exposure. To a magnetic field. (These are side effects of the portals)

Its a nasty parasite

Its really bad news. This Parasite, does not keep its host jones-ing it, burns it out. Its spread by biting

At Conor and Duncan's apartment. Dodi, the Dodo- Is going ape. The Avian Dinosaur is getting more and more aggressive. The Dodo breaks the TV, and then it bites Conor. Duncan, sticks the bird in a back bedroom as Conor tries to bandage his wounds.

Back at HQ, Cutter is arguing that his wife, did not try to send, the parasite infected birds. Prehistoric bird flues? back as an act of Malice.

Conor is getting worse. He is acting strangely, He is becoming more and more paranoid. He tries to attack Duncan. Who panics. Duncan goes to the University Library where he knows Tom will be. Tom alerts the team

Conor in a fit of desperation goes to seek help at a   hospital, hiding under sunglasses. At the Hospital the wee Doctor from the North or Ireland. Puts Conor in an MRI for observation. 

Cutters men. Abbie is at home. Get to Chez Connors to late. Duncan makes a comment about

Conor panics once he is shown how badly he is infected with the parasite he is Conor fleeing from the hospital Pausing only to bite the Doctor. The unlucky M.D will be told the truth about the affiar by the Primeval team. Before the sawbones, is sent to well a sawbones. Oh and a cover story will be released, it is a rabies outbreak- That will surely spook more people

Conor is still tracking the dead Dodo. The one that swallowed Toms keyring. Our antagonist heads off to find the ex pigeon. Conor is still convinced, that he could prove a government conspiracy. Indeed he is right. People are out to get him.

With his flashes of clarity. Conor makes it to Abbies flat. Where, he finds Abbie, and the dead dodo. Conor, possessed by the bugs. Threatens and pleads with Abbie. Drifting in out. Abbie takes him to the site of the Portal. She passes an armed guard and does not say.`` Help Help me''.

Well Abbie opens the fridge, but the portal isn't there. Conor believes its a trap. He and the fair Abbie argue, and then chase each other through the Stadia

Cutters team shows up. As Conor is grappling with Abbie on the pitch. Tom manages to get through to his friend. For a few moments. Reminding him, of evenings of BSG and Blakes 7. Conor finally lets go, and dies in his friends arms.

It is almost too much for Tom, but Dr Cutter has a nice wee chat. Tells him to stay on in the team. Its what Conor would have wanted.

The students flat, is too much for London. Its simply to pricy. So is Abbie's flat.

Conor in the hospital, shaking and hiding from the light. Might be lost on a few people. But its quite similar behavior to someone on heroin . I am not sure if this was deliberate

The Parasites, are not dissimilar to the G'ouald from Stargate SG-1. Surely on the Dodo's island, they would have become extinct. Unless of course they do, the Dodo's being the top of food chain in pre contact Mauritius.

Name check for Max Clifford. As the person to break the Dodo story with.- Clifford would later be disgraced

******************  

Its not a bad series. The writing is a bit strange. Cutters speech to Tom, I am not sure if its either very natural, or bad writing

Hannah Spearitt has a nice phalange camelus

On the whole, not so bad. I will be interested to see how the story develops. Does the series ever go beyond the CGI?