Sunday, September 30, 2007

Happy Birthday Sahara

To my friend and fellow Blogger.

alles Gute zum Geburtstag

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Zodiac

Zodiac,

I don't like slasher movies. I don't want to see a pretty teenager screaming and get covered in a mixture, of tomato sauce and red wine
Its not my thing. I do love cop shows ;The Shield, NYPD Blue, Homicide I love history, and this is a piece about the Zodiac murders. So I gave it a try.


(2021 edit - I now watch a lot more True Crime ) 

Zodiac inspired the Scorpio killer in Dirty Harry. Who was played by Andrew G Robinson.-Who later played Garak, in Deep Space Nine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zodiac_Killer_in_popular_culture

I remember him in Nash Bridges

A pop culture killer. Why did he (Zodiac) get to be this spotlight?

The Zodiac Killer, sent notes, to several San Francisco  newspapers, recounting his deeds.
Threating more murders  if the notes were not published. Zodiac also demanded, the Newspapers print copies of a cypher,
He had  created proclaiming and relishing the murders he had committed

The film starts by recounting the murder of  the Zodiacs first victim. A woman and a teenager.
The teenage boy survives several shots. He then disappears

The killing bothered me. I can watch Princep shoot the Archduke. I can watch him pull the trigger. Killing a man and his wife.An act that will lead to the slaughter of millions. It will bring down Thrones, it will remake the world.
That I can process and be fine.
Here is another shooting. Another death. Another set of parents left to mourn.
Perhaps it the difference between public tragedy and private grief. Perhaps its academic training. Perhaps, we fear murder, but not history. As war is impersonal murder is not

I wondered how the boy and girls parent's, sisters or brothers felt about the film?

The film ends, by pointing out that Jake G's character the cartoonist, has a healthy relationship with his children. This is probably a response to a scene. In which Jake G is using his sons, to
cross reference the killings to lunar cycles- It was a different time 

The San Francisco newspaper offices. are not as smoky as they should be. Yes, I see Robert Downey Jr smoke later on. However there should be a haze of smoke and ash trays everywhere i n remembrance of Nicotine past. Though the film, does remember a time long ago, when people could smoke on the last few rows of an airplane

I find Robert Downey Jnr a touch smug, there is something that annoys me about the man.
( This is before Iron Man)  
Jake Gyllenhaal,(  I prefer his sister:) does a good job. Mark Ruffalo is better. Its a film full of quietly competent performances. ( Two future Avengers, and Mephisto 

The film, Zodiac  most reminds me of is  JFK Another murder. Or set of Murders, if you include the killing or Ruby.
In Mark Bellini, actually acted as defense for Ruby. (He also starred in Star Trek ;the original series)
While JFK investigated the conspiracy. Zodiac is the world of the cock up.
The Murders, happened over several jurisdictions. One Police department did not have a Telefax. Cast of footprints not taken. A Park Ranger destroyed the site.
Evidence was not shared. Evidence was leaked. Time was wasted.

I have actually seen the most ``The Most Dangerous Game''. I caught it during my teens. ``Tartar war bow'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Dangerous_Game_%28film%29

'This a movie the Killer, references in his note.
In short the Zodiac Killer, and so Zodiac  is a study in the Banality of evil. Not only a murderer but someone  may have taken the credit for crimes he did not commit. The shooting of a police officer. He refences, a 1932 movie. His code, was broken by two history teachers. He was almost caught. 
A misreading of the suspect race in the cab murder.
( The events described happen over the turning of the 1960's into the 1970) Zodiac uses a Luger. To commit his crimes.

Then there is the Loss- Like in JFK The feeling of something left undone
 Garrison the DA, in JFK Never got a conviction. Toschi the detective assigned to the case, here never got a collar. Indeed he lost his Police partner due to his obsession' with the case  (BTW Nice to see Antony Edwards again)  Toschi  ended up writing himself fan mail. Driven mad and desperate by the Devil 
Jake G loses another marriage over the case. The teenager, who survived his paramour's slaying.vanishes.

A film about a murderer who wanted to be famous, and the evils of fame, and 

Friday, September 28, 2007

My Boss

I had a problem, at work. The powers that be for some reason neglected to send me, a copy of our latest contract. The Union, and Management have negotiated a new deal. Thus I was entitled to some backpay.

Anyway it took, three weeks, for me to get the piece of paper. Detailing my new contract. This was achieved by Boss calling and cajoling HR until they sent me the form

So I would like to thank her. I complain about my job alot. Its not Hell either

__________

Good luck, to my friends in Arkanes.
___________

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Dinosaur news

The terrifying velociraptors that ripped apart everyone they could catch in Jurassic Park should have been given feathers by the director Steven Spielberg.

Researchers now say that the dinosaurs, which leapt into the public imagination when they were featured in the hit 1993 film, were misrepresented. After analysing fossilised bones they have discovered that the velociraptor was not the smooth-skinned creature portrayed in the film, but had feathers.

The discovery means that as well as being more decorative than the creatures that appeared in the film they could have been an even more terrifying predator because the feathers would probably have been improved their manoeuvrability.

Scientists have suspected for several years that velociraptors were feathered beasts, but only now have they been able to identify what they believe is conclusive proof. Close analysis of a velociraptor forelimb unearthed in Mongolia in 1998 reveals that quill knobs were present on the fossilised bone. Quill knobs, which are found on many modern bird species, are where the flight or wing feathers are anchored to the bone by ligaments.

“A lack of quill knobs does not necessarily mean that a dinosaur did not have feathers,” said Alan Turner, of the American Museum of Natural History, and the lead author of the study. “Finding quill knobs on velociraptor, though, means that it definitely had feathers. This is something we’d long suspected but no one had been able to prove.”

Velociraptors had short forelimbs compared with modern birds’ wings, which has led researchers to conclude that they were flight-less but had probably descended from an extinct creature that had been able to fly. That the velociraptors had retained at least some feathers suggests that they continued to have a role, even if not for flight.

The researchers said that one of the most likely functions of the feathers was to display to other velociraptors, perhaps in courtship rituals or as a show of strength against aggressors. Other functions could have included use as a shield to protect eggs, a temperature control to prevent the dinosaurs from getting too hot or cold, or to help them to manoeuvre while running.

Mark Norell, one of the researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, said: “The more that we learn about these animals the more we find that there is basically no difference between birds and their closely related dinosaur ancestors like velociraptor. Both have wishbones, brooded their nests, possess hollow bones and were covered in feathers. If animals like velociraptor were alive today our first impression would be that they were just very unusual looking birds.”

The fossil analysed for the study came from a velociraptor that was estimated to have been 5ft (1.5m) long, 3ft tall and weighing 33lb (15kg) when it died.

The research was a joint project of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and the Field Museum, Chicago. In their report the authors say: “We present direct evidence of feathers in Velociraptor mongoliensis based on the presence of quill knobs on the posterior forearm. Their absence does not necessarily indicate a lack of feathers. Their presence, however, is a direct indicator of feathers.”

The six quill knobs were found spaced about 0.16 inches (4mm) apart and the researchers estimated that the limb would have had 14 secondary feathers on the forearm, similar to the 12 in Archaeopteryx, which is the earliest known bird.

*********

Of course as every schoolboy knows the Raptors in Jurassic park. They were not based upon the raptor. Rather the Denionyachus.

Saturday, September 22, 2007




A book at work. The cover is inflatated. The book gives a potted history of Ballons, Blimps and other air filled fun

Wednesday, September 19, 2007



A postcard from my friend Joanna.

I watched Heros tonight. Hiro, confronted with a picture of him grasping a sword against a Tyranosaurus. Remembers to hope that he does not step on an insect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sound_of_Thunder

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Nightmares

Nightmare

I had a terrible nightmare last night. I dreamed I was sitting by my computer. I had been on it for too long. Which is not healthy. I know. Anyway, I started to feel my body begin to jerk. As if I had been suffering from a fit. I began to lie down, and I turned off my pc, and my laptop. I felt myself losing control. As if I was going to have a fit.

(BTW I have never had a fit, in my life. )

I then felt someone grab me. At first I thought they where trying to put me in the recovery position. Help me in some way. Then I felt them strap me down. I could feel and out of the corner, of my eyes see straps. I started to shout, and say no, no. Then I was gagged. Which was awful.

At that point I woke myself, up

_______________

I have an awful headache today. I finished watching Battlestar Galatica season 3.
Last night I watched Heroes, and taped them on to shiny Dvd's


More Library art.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Sneaking a break from work



Hello to all my readers from work, I have sneaked off here. Just to say Hello, to my favorite people. My readers. I have two more hours of work left. Then I shall be gone, until Saturday, at 8am. Friday is the busiest day for me, at work. So I am glad, I shall be at my leisure tomorrow

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Heroes

Why everyone needs a Hero

I took notes, on the first episode. The series came highly recommended. I can't seem to find my notes. I mean't to write this up, a while back. I noticed the first episode of the series is on sale. So I'll write here about Hiro and Claire.



Who ever has been writing this, has also been watching lost. It was Lost, that first did the subtitles in prime time. The use of Flash back. The ships passing in the night. ( The leads cross each others paths before there meeting on screen)

There is a little B5 and BTVS here. There is a lot of foreshadowing.

Hiro, the Japanese salaryman who can teleport. Is descended of Jin from Lost. Although he is Japanese rather then Korean. He is an everyman charcter. He is an innocent. Like a child, he must learn to speak. (The series follows his learning of Japanese to English) The references to spock, and Kirk. Star trek,

Claire Bennett. Well she is just a peach. (actually I don't like peaches, water melon, or Pineapple would be my glass of iced fruit tea) However Hayden character is just a joy to watch. A Texan cheerleader.









Yes Texan, from Texas. I have been to Texas. You can see the pics in the Archive
Texas is lovely and warm. Which just like our Clare. Clare is a sweet decent girl. The same typw of girl who is Barmaid, who no one swears arround. The beautiful Kindergarten teacher. The College girl who makes every one feel younger. Claire she wants to be a cheerleader,

Yes, its not the first time a cheerleader has to save the world. (No one has forgotten you Miss Summers)

. She cannot get hurt. We first see her, jumping off bridges, and stabbing herself on camera. She is part of the You tube generation.

( I did opine maybe Claire is just Russian, uzhas! )

What sets Heroes apart. Is thats a story about Fear. Claire, gift. Actually sets her apart. In the opening episode. Claire saves a man from fire. She emerges without a scratch. When the FD of her home town, turn at the school to present the Cheerleader who saved the man with an award. Claire refuses to speak. Letting her friend well, fellow cheerleader take the credit. Claire is faced not only with growing up. The fear of flunking, the Hell, that is High school. Claire has a friend. ( Who maybe Gay) Who films her exploits on camera. Clare is somewhat uneasy about there relationship. As her friend is not ``popular''

Claire is invincible, but she lives in a world of heartache. Oh and she is adopted. The world cannot hurt her, but it can abandon her again.

She also shares the same surname, as a Lady I know. Also reminds me of my good friend Meike

Always nice to see. Greg Grunberg who was Weiss in Alias. He was also the Pilot in Lost. Here he plays an LAPD cop.

The series is not perfect. Some of the earlier episodes had wooden dialogue. Hiros friend, is going to get redundant. As the series progresses

That said, everyone needs Heros

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Numbers

Today is 9-11-2007. The first two numbers, of today's date, will no doubt stir a memory in anyone who reads this. I also remembered something else today, whilst in conversation with my boss. It is also 34 years since General Pinochets coup in Chile.

Numbers. Numbers. Signs borrowed from India, through the Arab world Which represent ideas upon which the universe is built.

Some numbers from my day:

I left for work, at: 1032 am
 
I arrived at work at: 1127am
 
The first book I retrieved was called Accounting, and its shelf number was :8218

I did the Syllable count exercise on my Nintendo DS in: 2.36 minutes

I did the calculations x 100 exercise, on my Nintendo DS in: 3.16 minutes.

I completed the reading aloud exercise on my Nintendo Ds in 1.54 minutes
The amount of Ribena I drank was :330 ml

My Jelly snack is :10 cl
Beef Tomato and Mustard Sandwiches, I ate: 2
 
Number of e-mails I had when I checked my PC at lunch time:4

The number of ICQ messages I had, when I came home today :4

I started to exercise at 8.07
There had been a power cut and so, when I reached my bedroom the alarm clock gave the time as : 7.10 am.
I watched Battlestar Galactica, Season 3

I cycled for :60 minutes.

I finished cycling at 9.07pm

I corrected my alarm clock, at 9.41pm

I have heard a rumor they wish to change our hours : to 12-8pm and 9-5pm

Monday, September 10, 2007

Kasia postcard

Another postcard. From Kasia. Kasia I hope you feel better soon. I love writing and recieving letters. I am going to share some here. I am a bit haggard and ragged today. Long day at work, and short night in a my bed

Saturday, September 08, 2007




A lovely postcard from Paris. Care of Granniog. I like it very much.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Dolphins



Dolphins the clowns of the sea.

Am I the only one who is reminded of cats.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

DVDs

I have bought ``Battlestar Galactica'' season three. Sadly the buxom ensign's chest and pale eyes does not feature. I watched it last night. Its great:

Some spoilers, these are my first impressions

Starbuck- Katie Sackhoff, is almost as pretty as Valya!

Jamie Bamber is fat :)

On a related note ``World at war '' dvds have also turned up

In the debit column. I bought a HD-D DVD recorder from Daewoo yesterday. I still can't get it to work :(

Sunday, September 02, 2007

I am going to go to Washington DC, for my Birthday.

Washington DC was the first place. I ever went to by myself. I had been in college for a year. In fact I had crossed the Atlantic. Yet DC in November 1997, was the first time I was by myself. No meals to miss. No roomate.

It was just me.

This time. I brought help...


(Oh this time, I will be of legal drinking age. I won't be staying a 30 dollar cab ride away from the city center. I won't be eating at Mickey dees all the time either)

Top Secret

  Val Kilmer certainly had star quality, here he plays an action hero, and does a pretty good job as a singer.  I understand now why the gir...