A fun movie for me has one of the following characteristics: great dialogue, an unusual plot, something funny, With that said, here is a list of ten fun movies:

1. The Big Lebowski - A million great lines are uttered in this movie. This was the Coen Brothers at their best. There's a t-shirt for sale on the internet proposing The Dude and Walter for President and Veep.
2. Being John Malkovich - One man's weird is another man's fun. I love this movie.
3. Night On Earth - The best of Jim Jarmusch's many great movies.
4. True Romance - Written by Quentin Tarantino the cast included Christian Slater, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Michael Rapaport, Bronson Pinchot, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, and one of those Arquettes.
5. Blue Velvet - David Lynch's masterpiece.
6. Borat - The subtitle says it all, "Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Who wouldn't want to see that. Very nice.
7. Thank You For Smoking - There are always two sides to everything whether it's my divorce or smoking.
8. Clerks - The best of the Kevin Smith flicks.
9. Harold and Maude - A love story for no one in particular.
10. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - and now for something completely different.

Keep in mind, these are fun movies as determined by me. If you don't like 'em, well... it just isn't your day today.

So last week I vowed to give up beer for three weeks to maximise the health gains brought on by running and weightlifting. I lasted about 29 hours. My girlfriend's friends were visiting from the US and I had to show them a good time...and join in. Not very exciting if they come to the UK and their British host isn't even drinking beer, is it? It's ok though, I've learned that it's wrong to just give up things completely. All it does is make you want more, like when they slap an 'Explicit Lyrics' label on a CD and it suddenly becomes a mysterious, alluring piece of material for any 12-year-old with a strict parent. So from now on, things will be consumed in moderation. I'll drink bottles instead of pints, because they're smaller and usually more expensive. Great. 

This last week has been a real social whirlwind actually. Although I moved to Manchester two years ago, I've found it hard to make many friends in my area. There's nothing wrong with me (hopefully) - I'm just a normal guy who does normal stuff. I have one really, really good mate here though, and a couple of friends I've met through various means (no Russian brides) who I think will become really good friends in the long run.  Apart from my lady's friends staying (wasn't overly keen on the girl but her boyfriend was a nice bloke), I've been eating out (at restaurants, ahem), having the odd drink as previously documented, and just generally making a couple of new friends. Tonight we'll be participating in the pub quiz and I'm going to try very hard not to drink. 

Music-wise I've been listening to Elbow's 'The Seldom Seen Kid', which I'm only on the second run through. It's good though, and they're a band I've always promised I'd listen to further one day. After noticing they drink in my local watering-hole, I thought I'd give their new disc a spin. I suppose it fits into alt-rock, but that tag could hold any number of artists with completely different styles. Anyway, it's good stuff and definitely worth looking into.  I've also listened to the Vans Warped Tour '08 compilation album, as a lad at work brought it in from his local library. I have fond memories of my teenage years being peppered with punk and pop-punk from the likes of New Found Glory, Finch, Blink 182 and many, many more. I still love these bands and the music they make, so I was quite disappointed to discover most of the songs on this compilation are, well, crap. It's all very generic emo-tinted punk music that just doesn't stoke the fire for me. Maybe it's because I'm in my mid twenties now, or maybe it really is just ten-a-penny rubbish, I don't know. There are a few great bands on there I love though, particularly Against Me!, Bedouin Soundclash, Motion City Soundtrack and The Gaslight Anthem. Speaking of which, my short article on The Gaslight Anthem has just been published on Clash magazine's site (click here to have a read.) Back then (i.e. the long-gone era of 1998-2001) the bands in that scene all sounded really fresh and fun, whereas today many just sound like carbon-copies of those that came before them. Maybe I am becoming a nostalgic old bastard after all! 

Games-wise I've been playing a lot of the first Saints Row game. I really forgot how much fun that game is! It's like GTA IV but without any of the limiting realism, much like GTA: San Andreas. It's a game that doesn't take itself seriously at all, and because of it is very, very enjoyable. There's screen tear, the framerate isn't great and the graphics are boxy, but it doesn't matter because it's very easy to forget about these things once you're in there. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel this month now. I've also been having a bash at Scene It? Lights, Cameras, Action! which I bought an unused copy of for £17 at Game in the Trafford Centre, bargain! Rubbish to play by yourself, as 99.9% of trivia games are, but get a few mates round and get the drinks flowing and it's as good as any board game. 

At the weekend I watched Being John Malkovich, having never seen it before. One of the best films I've seen in a while. I'm saying nothing about it though, so if you haven't seen it do yourself a favour and grab a copy. I also watched Monty Python's Holy Grail, which I haven't seen in a while. I don't think there's been a British comedy that's beaten it yet in terms of humour and ingenuity. "It's merely a flesh wound!" Brilliant. 

That's about it. I'll promise to update this more frequently, primarily because writing such a long post is a pain in the arse.

That's right, my life has been split down the middle, sociology on the one half and rugby on the other. Its not a bad way to live really, just sort of difficult to find a balance for everything else. I promise you more hard hitting political and social commentary--right after I figure out the nuances of a scrum.

After yoga I decided it was too nice of a day to spend it indoors rather than continuing my mission to rid the house of clutter and dust (of which I put in a good dent yesterday and early this morning).  I haven't been to the park in a while due to a combination of IBS of which the symptoms have miraculously disappeared in the last month (hmm), a stint of biking, and the endless days of drizzle.  The sun was warm and the wind was blowing just below brisk but the air was crisp.  I have lived in this city for 12 years and I have never ever seen a snake, but today nestled between a chain link fence and a stone retaining wall was this fellow also enjoying the sun.  The snake has gotten a bad rap in the Judeo-Christian mythology, but I have a different take on it and have for many years.  When I was in college I bought a snake ring with an onyx eye and I have worn it nearly every day for the last 18 years.  I had read at that time that the snake was a link between nature and "man" (WOman).  I also have heard that the snake guarded the Buddha while he sat meditating by the bodhi tree, since my last name means guardian I really like this reference. The snake also circles the Tree of Life which I have had a fascination with for about a year and have been building creative juice to paint one all this time.  (some paintings take a brief time to imagine but this one needs a more deep internal focus which is germinating).  And of course because a snake sheds it's skin it is also seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. 

It was a really wonderful walk it felt good both physically and spiritually and the dog was pretty happy about it too.  The quaking aspen were lovely, their rattling leaves sounding like  rain shower.   I also heard a duck quack and I swear it sounded like a loud raucous laugh, I just cracked up laughing imagining the ducks telling each other jokes.  "Three humans walk into a pond..." or "Three ducks walk into a bar..." and of course a punch line only a duck would get. 

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/

Regi: Terry Gilliam og Terry Jones

Manus: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones og Michael Palin.

Med: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones og Michael Palin.

Spilletid: 91 minutter

For tredje gang kommer altså Monty Python med på listen, og det er selvfølgelig ikke uten grunn. Omtrent alle som er morsomme i dagens samfunn er blitt kraftig inspirert av Monty Python, i hvert fall kan det virke sånn. Nå har jo da denne sketsjegruppen blitt presentert to ganger allerede på bloggen, så vi går heller rett videre på handlingen.

Vi befinner oss i middelalderen. Kong Arthur går rundt og samler sammen riddere fra hele riket sitt. Grunnen viser seg å være at han vil finne den hellige gral, og da trenger han hjelp. Det skal vise seg å bli et eventyr uten like, der de må motstå en sta svart ridder, trollmannen Tim, brovokteren, ridderne som sier "Ni!" og ikke minst franskmenn.

Et musikalsk innslag fra filmen der. Det å la en sketsj bryte opp filmen på denne måten er noe Python-gjengen er eksperter på, da de også for eksempel har et subplot gående som begynner med at en historiker forteller oss om middelalderen, før han plutselig blir drept av en ridder som kommer forbi. Gjennom hele filmen får vi innblikk i at politiet etterforsker dette drapet, som tilsynelatende ikke har noe med hovedhandlingen å gjøre.

Mange vil nok syns at humoren er litt for merkelig, spesiell, og kanskje kun absurde situasjoner, men dette er sketsjekomikk av ypperste klasse. En kan lett se at det ligger stor kunnskap bak mange av morsomhetene, som for eksempel to sykdomsbefengte fattigfolk som sitter i gjørma og graver, men holder samtidig en innviklet diskusjon om styresett i gang.

Jeg vet egentlig ikke helt hva mer jeg skal si om denne filmen, som altså er den morsomste jeg vet om. Den er ikke spesielt fin å se på, men det gjør absolutt ingenting. Skuespillet er, som jeg sa om Life of Brian, en glede å se på, med perfekt komisk timing. Det er gøy å se dem prøve seg på spillefilm for første gang, noe de da klarer usedvanlig godt.

Slutten er veldig omdiskutert, og uten å avsløre for mye kan jeg si at folk ofte føler seg snytt. Personlig syns jeg den er helt på sin plass, og jeg lo lenge etter at den var ferdig første gang jeg så den. Og senere har det blitt flere ganger, ler like mye hver gang. Har skaffet meg en fantastisk versjon på dvd, som inneholder soundtracket i tillegg. Og om du ikke liker å se filmen alene, så følger det med et kommentatorspor av en som sitter og ser filmen, spilt av John Cleese. Mest grynting og å sette seg til rette, men gøy uansett.

I reklamer for filmen når den kom ut, ble det brukt taglines som "Makes Ben Hur look like an Epic." og "And now! At Last! Another film completely different from some of the other films which aren't quite the same as this one is.", noe som er smågenialt i seg selv. På IMDb har filmen en veldig god rating, 8,5/10 med 124 889 stemmer. Det gjør den til den 61. beste filmen på top 250. Sjekk ut traileren nedenfor (den er morsom), og få sett denne filmen så fort som mulig!

Har du sett den? Si hva du syns i kommentarfeltet!

Pe 5 octombrie `69 se transmite pe BBC primul episod din Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Dupa 4 sezoane ale serialului de comedie, cei de la Monty Python (doi absolventi de Oxgord, doi de Cambridge si un american) mai fac 4 filme (And Now For Something Completely Different, The Holy Grail, Life of Brian si The Meaning of Life).

Americanul trupei, Terry Gilliam, care in `68 obtine cetatenie britanica, renunta in 2006 la cetatenia americana in semn de protest fata de George W. Bush. A facut initial animatii, apoi a jucat in roluri marunte, a scris si regizat pentru Monty Python. Mai tarziu, Gilliam face cateva filme de vazut (Brazil, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas si Tideland).

Fear and Loathing e povestea ziaristului hipiot Hunter S. Thompson, care dupa ce l-a vazut pe Johnny Depp, a hotarat ca doar el il poate juca. In plus, l-a ras in cap si i-a imprumutat hainele lui din anii `70. Filmul e despre o calatorie prin America, o decapotabila, droguri, mai multe droguri si un oras cu lumini.

Pe coloana sonora apare un cover dupa Viva Las Vegas, melodia lui Elvis. Aceeasi melodie e si pe soundtrack`ul de la The Big Lebowski, cu Jeff Bridges in rolul principal. El joaca si in Tideland`ul aceluiasi Terry Gilliam.

Mai multe, maine!

1829	Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, was born in Fairfield, Vt.
1921	The World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time.
1937	President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for a "quarantine" of aggressor nations.
1941	Former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, the first Jewish member of the nation's highest court, died at age 84.
1953	Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.
1962	The Beatles' first hit, "Love Me Do," was released in the United Kingdom.
1969	"Monty Python's Flying Circus" made its debut on BBC Television.
1983	Solidarity founder Lech Walesa was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1986	American Eugene Hasenfus was captured by Sandinista soldiers after the Contra supply plane he was riding in was shot down over southern Nicaragua.
1988	Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
1989	A jury in Charlotte, N.C., convicted former PTL evangelist Jim Bakker of using his TV show to defraud followers.
1990	A jury in Cincinnati acquitted an art gallery and its director of obscenity charges stemming from an exhibit of sexually graphic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.
2001	Former Senate majority leader and ambassador Mike Mansfield died at age 98.
2001	A man died of inhaled anthrax in Boca Raton, Fla.
2001	Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants set a new mark for home runs in a season, hitting his 71st and 72nd in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers to break Mark McGwire's record of 70 set in 1998. (Bonds finished the season with 73 homers.)
2003	Israel bombed an Islamic Jihad base in Syria.
2005	Defying the White House, the Senate voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S. government custody.

Of course, for me, the two most important of these are the wonderful contributions made by our brothers and sisters across the pond in the UK.....Enjoy!

 Let's discuss history.  This is an open thread.

I am amazed at how often people will use 'philosophical' arguments to support unscientific positions, such as creationism/intelligent design. 'Philosophical' arguments also seem to play a central role in theology.

Philosophical and logical arguments have their place. In many ways mathematics can be seen as arguments by logic. The danger lies in using them as a substitute for real experience. Such arguments easily become divorced from reality and can then be used to justify conclusions which conflict with reality. In particular they give free reign to subjective opinions, personal prejudices and emotional commitment to conclusions.

I guess that is why some people prefer 'philosophical' and 'logical' arguments to consideration of emprirical evidence.

Being subjective

Of course, everyone is prone to subjectivism. But objective reality is what keeps science honest. Ideas, hypotheses, theories and speculations are expected to be tested and validated by mapping against reality.

Philosophy and logic are used dishonestly when the discussion is just a game and participants grab at arguments to justify their preconceived positions, or to 'shoot down' opponents arguments. 'You can't even prove that you exist' or 'you can't prove that you are not a brain in a vat' arguments are just ways of avoiding the real evidence.

And there is always the way that words are used. Philosophical categories are usually not defined and very often participants will understand them differently. Consider words like 'matter', 'materialism', 'natural', 'supernatural' and 'naturalism.' I often find that the meaning I would give to these words is different to what some others do. Without common meanings discussion becomes a bit irrelevant so I prefer to avoid such terms.

For example, we used to consider 'matter' in a mechanical way. As something with physical substance. That may have been useful a few hundred years ago but is not adequate for our current scientific knowledge. Consequently 'matter' today has a deeper meaning and use of the term in philosophical debate needs to accommodate this. But it very often doesn't.

How often do we hear science being criticised as 'materialist' where 'matter' is assumed to be only something with physical substance. It's a silly criticism because it is using these words in a very archaic way - matter' today has a deeper meaning. When this deeper meaning is understood the 'materialist' criticism is not relevant to modern science as any simple consideration of the history of science will show.

Substituting logic for reality

Logical arguments are also often used in ways which don't take into account modern knowledge. Consequently such arguments which may be true in their abstraction are used to justify conclusions about reality which may be completely wrong. For example conservation laws today are applied in a very different way to 150 years ago when nuclear transformations and the equivalence of mass and energy were not known. Similarly we often hear the 2nd law of thermodynamics being used inappropriately to 'disprove' evolution.

Evedn where 'logical' arguments are used honestly mistakes can be made by applying abstract principles to real life situations. Without empirical checking it is easy to draw the wrong conclusion. The abstract logic cannot be used as a ‘proof.’

I think Monty Python conveyed the problem of a philosophy divorced from reality in their video of the International Philosophers football game. It's an old clip but an excellent one.

Philosophers' football (3 min 47 sec)

Similar articles:

I should be working on my dissertation and getting ready for the upcoming Abiquiu Studio Tour (more about that soon), but some of the things one finds on the net are just too entertaining to keep for oneself, such as the Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart which you can actually wear on a T-shirt:

P.S.: I just learned who created this fabulous chart: his name is Aden Nak and he blogs at ph33r and loathing. Bravo!

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"

...

And now for something completely different.

Simple.

hyde:

- hyde doeshita: taken from Gackt no Furachi no Otoko tachi radio show.

- aa genki? hyde desu: taken from Gackt no Furachi no Otoko tachi radio show. It should be "aa Gacchan genki?" but I edited it XD

- kohii guhuhu kohii: edited from Cartoon Kattun.

- konbanwa hyde doesu: taken from Gackt no Furachi no Otoko tachi radio show.

ken - tama ni ha denwashite yo: taken from Ontama.

Gackt:

- jijijijin denwa da yo: taken from Iro melomix CM. (also perfect for ringtones)

- hai Gackt desu: taken from U-HA CM.

- hanasou yo... hoge: taken from Iro melomix CM. (also perfect for ringtones)

- kimi no koe ga hoshii: taken from dwango CM.

- kore sekai no kihon desu: taken from Metal Gear Solid 2 CM.

Kagrra,:

- inishie no tobira ga ima hirakaremashita: taken from Hyakkiyakou.

- akaku akaku akaku somare: taken from Kiyuu no Uta.

- kikaikaikaikai: taken from Hyakkiyakou.

Monty Python (yes gotta have one of these):

- message for you sir: taken from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

So that's it. I'll share more if I make new ones. I'm currently looking for a clear version of both L'Arc's NTT Personal CMs especially the one with hyde saying "Kimi ni aitai, kimi ni hanashitai". Oh, if you have any suggestions for a nice sms alerts please tell me. Next I will skim out bytes from Gocha Maze ^^.

Another shout out to tetsu XD HAPPY BIRTHDAY XD

Se você ainda não conhecia, conhece agora. ;)

This is very very funny!

It happens the last two times I flew and went to the toilet, there was announcement to return back to the seat :).

One resource in exploring and addressing the fear of man is Ed Welch's excellent book When People are Big and God is Small.  I can't recommend it enough.

In doing some research for illustrations, I realized I wish I could play this Monty Python clip for them.

Mi viene in mente un corto dei Monty Python dal titolo "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", ve lo ricordate? Lo avete forse visto all'inizio del film "Monty Python, il senso della vita": un gruppo di vecchi assicuratori, stanco delle angherie sucite dalla dirigenza, prende il potere della piccola compagnia di assicurazioni e si lancia all'attacco del mondo della grande finanza, scompaginando tutte le corporations. Se non erro quel corto (con il palazzo che prendeva il largo come una nave trainato dalle vele-ponteggi) è stato anche citato in uno spot televisivo, mi sembra proprio da una banca o un'assicurazione.
Allego un editoriale di Andrea Baranes apparso sulla newsletter di Banca Etica.

Come linea di indirizzo generale, è necessario un nuovo sistema di regole per frenare lo strapotere della finanza e per riportarla alla sua funzione originaria. Non un fine in sé stesso per produrre denaro dal denaro ma un mezzo al servizio dell'economia produttiva e delle attività commerciali, che ponga il rispetto dei diritti umani e dell'ambiente al centro del proprio operato, attenta alle conseguenze non economiche delle proprie azioni e nella quale la trasparenza è un valore fondamentale. Queste richieste sono da anni le parole d'ordine della finanza etica, da molti ancora considerata un'esperienza di nicchia, poco più di una testimonianza di solidarietà e di attenzione all'ambiente. La profonda crisi che stiamo vivendo mostra invece che queste richieste rappresentano oggi una strada obbligata per il mondo finanziario tradizionale travolto dalla mancanza di regole, che ha imposto al mondo negli ultimi trent'anni.

Clicca qui per vedere l'articolo originale

  Two pilots are bored silly up in the cockpit on a long transatlantic flight.  Wanting to break the tedium of staring out at nothing but clouds, sky, and water, the captain grabs the intercom to address the passengers...

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN....MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE....THIS IS THE CAPTAIN SPEAKING.....THERE IS NO ABSOLUTELY NO CAUSE FOR ALARM!!"

He looks over at the co-pilot who is giggling and laughing and remarks "That will get them thinking....What exactly is there nothing to be alarmed about?" "Are the wings on fire?"

The captain grabs the intercom again.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THIS IS THE CAPTAIN AGAIN....THE WINGS ARE NOT ON FIRE...REPEAT..THE WINGS ARE NOT ON FIRE!!"

The captain grins and turns to the co-pilot, "Now their wondering,,,why did he just say that?......"

A flight attendant comes into the cockpit, sees the two pilots laughing, and realizes what they are doing. The captain asks how the passengers are doing and the flight attendant replies that they are all nervous and confused as to what is going on. He then remarks that a passenger has just got up from his seat and has entered one of the plane's bathrooms.

The pilot grabs the microphone..."PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEATS AND FASTEN YOUR SAFETY BELTS IMMEDIATELY PLEASE!!!"

The flight attendant laughs and reports that the man has just bolted out of the bathroom with his pants still down around his ankles and is struggling to get back to his seat. All 3 crew members start laughing hysterically. The flight attendant, wanting to get in on the fun, then announces that he is going to do his "SERIOUS WALK' down the aisle. He puts on a serious, terrified look on his face and bolts from the cockpit.

The pilot then get's back on the intercom.  "LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THIS IS THE CAPTAIN AGAIN...I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER SOME OF THE VITALLY IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WITH YOU.....IN CASE OF EMERGENCY IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REMEMBER TO.......sHHHHHHHH sSSSHHHHHH (Co-pilot simulates LOUD static over the line) ...AS THE WARNING BUZZER SOUNDS"

Both pilots continue to crack up laughing.  The pilot then decides to further confuse the passengers..." THE SCRANSOMS ABOVE YOUR HEAD ARE NOW READY TO FLANGE!! PLEASE UNFASTEN YOUR SAFETY BELTS AND PRESS THE EMERGENCT FOTOSCAMPS ON THE SEATBACK IN FRONT OF YOU!!" "PLEASE FIND THE EMERGENCY SPRILL IN THE WASHROOM AT THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT.....AND RELEASE IT"

The cabin erupts in chaos as confused passengers scramble around the cabin. The pilots are rolling on the floor laughing.

"THE EMERGENCY SPRILL MUST BE RELEASED!!" "DO NOT PANIC!! INFLATE YOUR LIFE VESTS!! TAKE YOUR CARRY-ON BAGS FROM THE BINS ABOVE YOUR HEAD AND MOVE THEM TO THE BINS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT....BUT DO NOT UNFASTEN YOUR SAFETY BELTS!!" "NOW SIT ON YOUR HAND LUGGAGE BUT DO NOT UNFASTEN YOUR SAFETY BELTS!!"

The pilots laugh hysterically until the flight attendant returns into the cockpit.

"They have all jumped out....the passengers have all jumped out!" 

The pilots continue laughing until they realize the flight attendant is not joking. The pilot looks around and whispers to the co-pilot.."You know  I would not be surprised if there is some trouble over this...."

(From Monty Python's Flying Circus)

Item One: a broadcast that I listened to yesterday while driving in the country that discussed the death of the printed word and books in general due to the ever-growing presence of the Internet and the ability to distribute almost any content via the web and other media devices like Kindles, iPods, etc.  The show was a one-hour segment from the always interesting and informative Public Radio program "To The Best of Our Knowledge" - produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and Public Radio International.  The host, Jim Fleming, had several great guests on to discuss whether books are quickly becoming a thing of the past and whether the Internet is "dumbing down" the public at large.  Rather than try to capsulize the entire show, I'm listing the link to the podcast below - unfortunately, it's only available "for free" for one week following broadcast - after that, you have to have an Audible.Com subscription or be a station donor to get it, so if you're at all interested in the topic, I urge you to snag it while you can - it really was a very thoughtful and well-moderated discussion.

To The Best of Our Knowledge Podcast Page (pops in a new window)

Item Two: my post on the Latin language broadcast by Berlin's KISS-FM radio on the European Day of Languages was the most read of any of my blog posts to date.  While I'm glad that I was able to get the word out in a small way on both the broadcast and the idea behind a day to discuss and celebrate diversity of language, culture and traditions, I guess that it also leaves a lot to be said for my rather poor attempts at poetry, haiku and prose!  No matter... I have no illusions as to my talents in that regard - and I was glad that I could participate in the EDL in some small way.  Thanks to my readers, linkers and those that commented for feeding my hit counter, if not my ego!  :)

Item Three: I was sadly reminded of the events that followed the publishing of Sir Salman Rushdie's book "The Satanic Verses" again today.  Once more, another author and her publisher have been threatened with physical harm and violence under the guise of religious piety and in the name of the "Faithful".  American author Sherry Jones has already had one major publisher  (Random House) decide to pull her upcoming novel "The Jewel of Medina" - a fictionalized version of the life of The Prophet Muhammad's favorite wife, A'isha - from the presses prior to its' release ( a gutless and cowardly act if I've ever heard of one! ) --- and now, the UK-based independent publisher Gibson Square, who bravely stepped in and offered to publish the work in Europe has had their London offices firebombed in protest of its' impending release.  In an earlier article published on the BBC's website, the owner of Gibson Square, Mr. Martin Rynja, was quoted as saying that the release of the book was "imperative" and that there must be "open access to literary works, regardless of fear".  Whether Mr. Ryjna now regrets his decision is unclear - the offices of Gibson House are also his personal residence and he is now in hiding after the attack; which saw a Molotov cocktail-like device pushed through the mail slot and into his home- but once again, we see that some of the adherents of "The Religion of Peace" are anything but religious or peaceful.  British Police have several people in custody under terrorism charges related to the attack - and according to a UK website, the publisher is still planning for an October 30 release for the book.

You can, of course, use the Googles to get more information on the book, its' author and the publisher who literally is risking life and limb in the name of free speech - as a courtesy and a starting point, I'm linking below to the BBC article on the impending UK publication of "The Jewel of Medina" and the controversy surrounding it as well as an article from the website of the venerable British newspaper, The Independent.  I hope that you will consider this act to be exactly what it is, an attempt to suppress free thought, personal opinions and freedom of speech - but as always, your comments on the matter are always welcome here.  For myself, I hope it spurs the pre-orders for Ms. Jones' book to the top of the Amazon lists - but that's just one mans' opinion and wish.

BBC News - Muhammad novel set for UK release (pops in new window)
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The Independent - The Making of a Fatwa (also pops in new window)

Item Four: to be burned by an employer is nothing new to many of us, but to find out that you're being made "surplus to requirements" via a classified ad is something new to me! But that's exactly what happened today as I scanned through the Employment section of the local newspaper... listed right there on the inside front cover was a job posting for one of the companies that I work for - along with my employers' home phone number and the specific hours and days that have been my "tour of duty" of late. Nothing like communication between boss and employee, eh? Oh well - to say that I'm less crushed than amused by this turn of events would be an accurate description of my current emotional state - it was a fairly minor boost to my income to begin with and, quite frankly, it wasn't even all that nice of a place to work... it really won't be missed much at all. It's only the circumstances that led to me finding out that are worth noting - that, and the loss of a 20% discount on some of my favorite wines! But as McWatt in Catch 22 was often heard to say: "Oh well, what the hell". Should make for some entertainment on my next scheduled day, if nothing else!

Item Five: there IS no Item Five! ( a nod to you Python fans out there! )

Saving a future bootnote or post-post edit, that's all for tonight. Time to pull the cork out of a nice bottle of Chilean red wine ( Hey Dianne - I bought it cheaper at another store anyway! Hahahaha! )and relax to the sounds of some Dvorak for awhile.

Speech: it's only free if you work to keep it that way...

.g.