A good read

or in this case, a good listen...


Eifelheim

If you like science fiction, you should give this a try. I listened to the spoken word version, as SWMBO has taken it out from the library to listen to while working on an art project. My criticisms are small, mainly of the 'that's just too much of a coincidence' nature, but all-in-all, it is one very good work. As I said, if you like the SF genre, you should read it (or listen to it. 14 CDs.). You won't go wrong with this book.

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A mystery

theme park that isn't, really...

Mystery Park: The theme park that aliens built

A mystery, that is...

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Last night


SWMBO and I went to see a film at the local restored theatre that is our city's repertory theatre. The film was

Happy To Be here.

It was quite interesting, really. A comedy-drama situation about a young man with a passive-aggressive anger problem who is dealing with certain situations in his life and family. While the film held a few good laughs and interesting work, what appealed to us tremendously was the filmmaker's marketing and promotion work. He's doing a lot of promotion on the web, obviously, as an inexpensive tool to promote it. The other thing is that he's taking it on a personal tour of Canada (by personal I mean he's physically taking it from city to city). He introduced the film in person, and also showed a short film by a local filmmaker (whose main character is the daughter of a friend of mine. How coincidental is that?). Then he held a Q&A after the film. It was a personal, almost 'living room intimate' way to do it, and he's a very personable young man. He said that he was turned down by the various festivals and so decided on this way to show his film to audiences. SWMBO had heard him on CBC just the other morning. We love the energy and enthusiasm he's showing, and his faith in himself and his work. What a tough job to do! We decided we had to go see the film, and we weren't disappointed.

He's obviously worked hard, done the film on even more of a shoestring than most indie films, but has both a great love of his characters in this film and of film in general. It was really worthwhile to go see it. We even bought a couple of DVDs of it after, and contributed to his gas fund to get to the next city.

I've seen a lot of worse films by big directors. This one was fun to watch, and I wish Sean MacPherson a lot of luck in his film future!

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You wanted to know the

Little-Known Second Verses of 10 Children’s Songs

I know you wanted to know that. I did. And I found them interesting. More interesting was that I didn't know them, when I stopped to think about it...

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Who ever would have thought...

that these would have a collector's market...


9 Very Rare (and Very Expensive) Video Game Cartridges

But, you know, everything can be collectible. I've collected so many things in my life that I hate to list them all. I've never collected for investment or to make money, just for the sheer joy of collecting.

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A star who knows when to retire

Anne Murray reflects

Along with blazing a trail for female singers, Murray also demonstrates how to age gracefully - such maturity among pop culture figures is rare!

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You might enjoy

some of these sites...


40 Fantastic Time-Wasting Web Sites

"Sure, you should probably be working. But why bother when you can vaporize hours by checking out these engaging Web sites?"

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...and lightening strikes twice

United Loses Bags of David Carroll

After famously breaking his guitar, United Airlines has managed to cause further trouble for David Carroll by losing his luggage — just as the Canadian singer-songwriter was en route to deliver a speech about customer service.

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So, what do you do for fun?

You gotta roll with it

If I want fear I'll try to cross 2nd Avenue on foot around 8 a.m.. Even at a crosswalk!

More reason to watch


Doctor Who? Unknown actor Matt Smith, 26, announced as David Tennant's replacement

And, following their usual tradition, he's not a handsome hunk in the usual sense of Hollywood leading men. Good for them!

Guardians

I just spent a bit of time with a DVD I bought quite a long time ago called 
Gargoyles: Guardians at the Gates, a Time-Life DVD of a television documentary. I've always had a bit of a fascination with gargoyles and with our use of then to guard, instruct, etc. throughout history. While not the absolute best possible show on them and their history, this film is pretty interesting for 'gargoyle buffs'. If you are interested in them, you should give this film about 115 minutes of your time. Like most documentaries, it is fun to come back to once in a while.

'...diverting but forgettable entertainment...'

The Incredible Hulk

Decent Films Guide weighs in on the movie, too...

More evidence that Capitalism infects everything...

My sweet Lord: Top ten religious treats

One can only shake their head...

Music, music, music...

Live music.


The Show Must Go On

It's the old fogies like me who keep the money moving...

For me...

...it was a toss-up between No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

Coen brothers' Oscars seal Hollywood's approval

I can't say that I'm happy either way as both films are downers, but that's not what's being recognized with the Oscar. My favourite was Sweeney Todd which is hardly 2007's Mary Poppins...

Here's a list of all the winners (and, consequently, losers) of the 80th Academy Awards.

Schmaltz-bot? Heh, heh...

Taster’s Choice

There's a wealth of good quotes in this book review. You just have to hear the song the Arrogant Worms wrote and recorded about her. (Lyrics HERE) They lyrics alone don't do it justice. It's a hoot!

A website with a difference

Welcome to Switchback Fair!

And what a difference!

 

A bit of entertainment

THIS was quite fun and a pleasant way to spend part of an evening. The weather was great for the walk.

Ehhhhhh...

Colombian Jesuit says Madonna’s concert “crucifixion” is example of evangelization

To each their own, but I think that this fellow is a little off. Well, he is a Jesuit...

An Episcopal priest...

...loves to Salsa! (Though I have trouble with including the Holy Spirit in it...)

Stepping Out to the Beat of the Holy Spirit