I propose we move to new thread. The 90 posts make the last one hard to open. I don't know how your browser likes it but mine shows empty space instead of the last comments and I have to highlight them for display. So, I propose from now on, anyone who posts 60th post opens immediately a new thread (all of us have guest writer privileges, right?).
To recap what's going on:
- Hints about IKEA in films: indeed it's cheating, but you are not going to tell, are you? So post them! ;^)
- Hero: very controversial and beautiful film, I'm eagerly awaiting when you all see it. Dimarec, I think for now I'm the only one here fascinated with wuxia.
- Venn indeed had a website and we may have a link to it in the archives, which I didn't have time to work on, but I'll do it and soon.
- Posting info about us on Lem website – very good idea. And then we wait to be slashdotted. (Which reminds me, could you post a counter on the page Glimmung? – I'm just curious how many times I hit reload ;^) )
- Lots of comments on astronomy due to "the giant Mars phenomenon".
- Schrödinger's Cat paradox – indeed a philosophical paradox, except not as it was stated in the article on multiverse.
- Lots of LOTR discussions, which I can't comment on because I completely don't understand the fascination...
- Jury duty discussion: revealed a deep dissonance between Justice and everyday American practice. And lots and lots of juicy details about Glimmung's personal life. };^)
- Lots of engineering jokes that exposed me as a party pooper. An honor I am willing to bear with dignity! :^D
- The animals: especially the giant rat. But also cats, buzzard, coyotes and turtles. This led us to politics of Baghdad zoo and Glimmung's another personal revelation that the dogs in his care are for Dean… I still resent his statement that my cats are apolitical... ;^)
- The blackouts: we still don't have an answer to Dimarec question (was Milky Way visible during the blackout), but we can confer with Italians now...
- Obituaries of people we admired, liked, or simply heard of. Mondrian, indeed Plimpton... What are we going to do without wisdom?
- But, there is no more "us" Yeti, the barking moonbats from Bush's administration made sure of that... There is only America with The New Europe against The Old Europe. This is why proliferation of nukes (including and perhaps foremost in the US) and continued devaluation of their threat in mass media is really worrisome...
- Actually, Yeti, your IKEA experience reminded me of George from Seinfeld: "Every time I think I'm out they pull me back in..." ;^)
- Lem's "Peace on Earth" - some of us are reading it now...
Anything I forgot?
P.S.: Michael and anyone who is into Anime topic, could you post the most famous films in the genre again – without comments? I've been looking thru the posts trying to find where they were listed and I had hard time locating them. A list should stand out more and be a useful reference later on. Thanks!
What's a repuse? ;^)
What I'd like to know is, what do all the other congressmen in California think about Arnold. After all, they are the ones who are going to have to deal with him. Imagine how Minnesota congressmen felt when Jesse Ventura was elected!
Think about how it would be if that happened in the corporate world. You go to work one day, and you're doing some data modeling or something. Maybe calculating some chemical equation or something, and you find out that your boss can't make the budget balance and he's been known to go golfing at lunch time once in a while with some folks who aren't too well liked in the media. Marv Albert, or Dr. Kevorkian, or Robert Blake or someone. Maybe Tanya Harding.
So, the board of directors gets rid of your boss, and they decide to replace him with Martin Sheen. After all, he plays the president on TV! Certainly he must have gained some knowledge about how to run a company from reciting all those lines in which President Bartlett makes some tough choices. (He even does a good job looking troubled by them.) And, he must have at least a working knowledge of the legal system, having had to bail his drug-addict son out on more than one occasion, but boys will be boys, right?
Of course, he knows nothing about data modeling or chemical properties. He couldn't tell you the difference between Vanadium and Viagra, or Boron and Moron, but he sure has a nice smile. And so now, you're the one who is stuck dealing with an incompetent boss while the board of directors goes off and smokes cigars at the club, trying to decide if they want halibut or welsh rarebit for lunch. --You know, the really important things.
But I guess there is a bright side to all of this. At least the voters of California can get back to their everyday lives now. You know, living in an overpriced apartment, breathing that smoggy L.A. air, driving yet another car down the overcrowded interstate, hooking up with your floozie and going to the Jack-in-the-Box for lunch, crusing the sunset strip, hanging out with your bro's, scoring an 8 ball off Jackson, and then hittin' a massive after the bars close. --it's the american way! And how cool, having the Terminator as their governor! Yeah buddy, I'll bet he'll get in there and kick some @$$! ---Woo Hoo!
How's that for stereotyping?
Posted by: Yeti | Oct 10, 2003 at 11:58 AM
Absolutely, Yeti. People should be judged on merit but the issue of merit shouldn't be used as a way of "sticking it" to the opposite party - that is just ill-spirited. Frankly, Bob Dole is a Republican but as a person I like him much more than Bill Clinton.
I don't know what sort of a governor Arnie will be, maybe he will turn out to be a big mistake, but if he is ready to take into his hands the California mess now - and he obviously cannot treat this as a showcase of his talents on his way to the presidential elections - then maybe in fact he really DOES want to do some good? Maybe it is more than an inflated ego? He's a Republican married to a Democrat (a rather smart gal I might add) - sounds pretty open-minded and not at all dumb to me. He did do well for a very poor boy from the middle of nowhere in Austria, doesn't that say something for the strength of his character?
I know all Democrats here will cringe but Ronald Reagan did prove himself to be a pretty skillful politician, no matter what you think about his home policy, he did manage to wallop some Russian @$$ like no president before him, and I as a Pole am eternally grateful to him for that. Okay, Reagan had some practice before he became a governor in the actor's union or something but that still didn't make him a such a seasoned politician when he became California's governor.
I guess people are so tired of politicians and the mess they blame them for that they just want a John Wayne that will come to their small town and fix the situation. Arnie certainly looks the part. I don't know if he's got what it takes to be a politician but do we really have reasons to completely trash him?
Bush Jr. had a political carrer before he became a president. That doesn't change the fact that he is very unremarkable. Maybe even if it does help, being a politician isn't everything after all...
Isn't America built on the faith that even the lowliest Joe Shmoe can become the president, be whatever he or she wants to be? Arnie is living the American dream. He's acting more like an American than the true-born Americans. I think that in those rants about Arnie there is also an element of envy - that he has the guts to reach for what he wants and believes in himself. If he's right about himself then we could be in for a surprise. Let's hope that is the case.
Posted by: michael | Oct 10, 2003 at 06:50 PM
This is a very un-intellectual aside but I really like "The West Wing." I would love to believe that the President of the United States could be someone like the character of Bartlett. I would love to believe that his advisers were as well-meaning, intelligent, and humane as Leo, Josh, Tobey, and CJ. I don't have any broadcast television, but I have been given the series tapes by a friend so I get to see it without interruption by commercial (I can't over-emphasize the pleasure of this.) You become immersed in this world of brilliant interaction, thought and writing and it creates the illusion of a political reality that is worth pursuing— almost as though politics could have some consequential nobility in it.
Posted by: mondrian5 | Oct 10, 2003 at 11:13 PM
Bigfoot always sings along to the opening music when we watch West Wing.
I know what you mean. Bigfoot and I once spent a weekend in a rental cottage up in Ontario, and it rained all day, so we ended up thumbing through the video collection that our hosts had, and they had the complete first season of the Sopranos. We had heard of the show, but had never watched it. So, we popped in the first tape just to see what the big deal was, and we were hooked. (Whenever I hear the theme song, now, it takes me back to that rainy evening in Ontario) But you are right. It's WONDERFUL to be able to sit and watch an entire episode uninterrupted. Very addictive, though. We kept saying we would turn it off after the next episode, and I think we ended up watching four or five episodes back to back. It was really a very pleasant evening. No car ads, no sitcom previews, just good writing and interesting characters.
Yes, I think we would all like to think that the president is well-educated, decisive, articulate, and a true well-meaning statesman who surrounds himself with advisors who are patriotic and concerned. West Wing definitely gives an idealized image of the modern day presidency. Plus, it's just darned good entertainment. As you say, Mondrian, it is very captivating.
Posted by: Yeti | Oct 11, 2003 at 10:58 PM
Hey, for some reason, I tried to include a piece of Mondrian's post, and it didn't get included in my message. Instead half of it is italicized.
Gryka, what did I do wrong?
Posted by: Yeti | Oct 11, 2003 at 11:00 PM
Yeti, I don't know what you did wrong because I don't know what you did... I viewed the source on the screen but it's unrevealing. Just go on and we'll all pretend it didn't happen. ;^)
Mondrian, I also loved West Wing. Alas, that show is no longer what it used to be. My husband and I watched the first episodes of this season (with commercials, we couldn't tape it as we tape Angel at the same time) and we thought we were watching soap. There will be no more terrific writing on West Wing because Aaron Sorkin, the creator and head writer, was forced to leave the show. Why? Among other things for saying this about our real president: "My God!, On September 12th he woke up as Teddy Roosevelt! He became the Rough Rider!" The other reason was that West Wing wasn't competitive with Joe Millionaire. Yeah...
Josh from West Wing: When the president's got an embassy surrounded in Haiti or a keyhole photograph of a heavy water reactor or any of the fifty life-and-death matters that walk across his desk every day, I don't know if he's thinking about Immanuel Kant or not. I doubt it. But, if he does, I am comforted, at least, in my certainty, that he is doing his best to reach for all of it and not just the McNuggets. Is it possible we would be willing to require any less of the person sitting in that chair? The low road? I don't think it is.
Is that why you guys like West Wing? I like it because of this as well: Bartlet: You know, I was watching a television program before with a sort of a roving moderator who spoke to a seated panel of young women who were having some sort of problem with their boyfriend, apparently because the boyfriends had all slept with the girlfriends' mothers. Then they brought the boyfriends out and they all fought right there on television. Tell me Toby, these people don't vote do they? and this: Bartlet to Ritchie (his opponent in presidential race): "In the future, if you're wondering, 'Crime. Boy, I don't know,' is when I decided to kick your ass." (he's referring to Ritchie's comment on the recent violent death of White House employee)
If you want to read some quotes from the show try here
Yeti, I loved your corporate allegory. (Sidebar: and it seems you're familiar with that scenario at work, I am too, and I empathize!) That is exactly how I felt. To the last moment I believed that people in California would not vote for recall. This is such a dangerous and pointless (from the constituency’s perspective) precedent that I thought even the complete idiots wouldn't vote for it. Was I wrong!...
Michael, Ahnuld isn't going to be a good governor. No one after the recall (except a replacement from the same party) could do a good job. It's like playing with marked cards when everybody knows the marks. What's the point? Ahnuld the Republican is heading Democratic admin in much divided reality. He's creating a conflict by simply walking into the room. He's an idiot because he allowed himself to be played by his own ambition, people from the national GOP, and put himself out there in the first place. There was a reason why all these crazy people run in the recall. There was a reason why "smart" politicians didn't want to be involved. Bustamante was forced to stick around; he didn't want the nomination in these circumstances. McClintock would have had a chance only if Dems didn't present any candidate. Which was Issa's original plan, wasnt it?
Every time I think we hit the bottom of cynicism and stupidity (oh, yeah these two things are related) in politics of this country I get surprised by even a lower bottom. You know, I read Buchanan's article recently and (I'm heaving chest pains here... ;^) ) he made sense! OMG! How primitive the political discussion must be if Buchanan makes sense!
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 12, 2003 at 11:31 AM
Yeti, it seems italics is haunting us... ;^) I'll check some more stuff out...
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 12, 2003 at 11:33 AM
OK, just testing something here
Let's see
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 12, 2003 at 11:36 AM
NO MORE ITALICS! :^)
html formats text when tags are put around it. Tags are these: < >. They come in pairs:
the front tag < >
the end tag </ >
Please notice the forwardslash in the end tag: "/". It denotes the end of formatting. All that's left is to put the commands inside the tags and text within the pair will be formatted accordingly:
for italics: <i> your text here </i> gives this: your text here.
"i" for italics,
"b" for bold,
"blockquote" for quote.
The important thing is the forwardslash. In your first comment, Yeti, there was an opening tag but not a closing one. I looked for it at first but I couldn't find it. Then I posted and then I found it. ;^) NO MORE ITALICS! ;^)
Preview your posts, all formatting will show in them. (Unless something was opened before your post and not closed; that command will jump in after preview). Does the above make sense?
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 12, 2003 at 12:07 PM
West Wing wise;
Gryka, thanks for the Blog help.
Alas, poor Aaron, we knew him well...
There's this part where Tobey, awaiting the birth of his twins, says he's worried that he might not be a good father. He knows that everybody says the world drops away and nothing else is important after your kids are born, but he likes what he does. He wants it to stay important. That was an excellent moment. The resolution was also really exquisite.
I won't bore everyone else here with the million other exceptional moments in the show...
I had heard that Sorkin was having trouble with deadlines and some drug problems although I wouldn't doubt what you say could have prompted his leaving. I haven't seen anything since they kidnapped Zowie Bartlett. How disappointing...
Yeti, you are right these shows on disc or tape are addictive. Just one more episode...
Posted by: | Oct 12, 2003 at 01:09 PM
I am the Octoberist above...
Posted by: mondrian | Oct 12, 2003 at 01:31 PM
I fixed Yeti's post. Sorry I wasn't any quicker to notice the problem.
Gryka's advice to use the Preview button is excellent. Even though I "know" some html, I always use it to be on the safe side!
Posted by: Glimmung | Oct 12, 2003 at 01:37 PM
Mondrian you can retell the West Wing in entirety and I will not be bored! Mamet, Sorkin, Whedon – love them all and the reason is they wield the language so well and with such knowledge and wisdom...
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 13, 2003 at 01:42 PM
Gryka, I do love language. Sorkin's writing can be astounding.
Isn't David Mamet a Chicago-an?
Posted by: mondrian | Oct 14, 2003 at 07:19 AM
We've only seen a couple episodes of West Wing, and it's on that list of shows that I know are really good but there's only so much one can schedule for each week!
We (Glimmette especially) really liked Sports Night, Aaron Sorkin's previous series. I happily followed actor Peter Krause to Six Feet Under, which I enjoy very much.
Posted by: Glimmung | Oct 14, 2003 at 11:02 AM
Mondrian, Mamet is actually from Flossmore, Illinois (I don't exactly understand why and what's in it, but not being born in Chicago means something and that something is important, at least here in Chicago). He returned to Chicago in 1970s and, together with Bill Macy and Steven Schachter, he co-founded St. Nicholas Theater (near Lincoln on Halsted) not only helping/starting the revival of Chicago theatre (which is by now dead again) and spurring creation of many other theaters in the city, but also revitalizing the neighborhood. The area around St. Nick became very bustling and hip. St. Nick gave home to actors like Mahoney and John Malkovich (of Steppenwolf fame). BTW, St. Nick because he's the saint patron of Russia, the motherland of Stanislavsky.
Glimmung, I was going to mention Sports Night – of course my husband and I loved it! "If you've had half as much fun watching the show as we've had doing it, well then we've had twice as much fun doing the show as you've had watching it." – something Casey said once. Very simply put. ;^) I heard of Six Feet Under, but having no satellite or cable tv, I have never seen it.
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 14, 2003 at 01:02 PM
Hello, all. Glimmette here. Thought I'd pop in for a moment to tell you that tomorrow is a very special day. It is Glimmung's fiftieth birthday. Do what you will with this information!
Posted by: Glimmette | Oct 14, 2003 at 02:04 PM
I thought you might enjoy the "news" from BBC. Read the readers comments - some are very funny.
Posted by: | Oct 16, 2003 at 01:45 PM
Ups, that was me above, sorry! 8^(
Posted by: Gryka | Oct 16, 2003 at 03:37 PM
Another proof that human stupidity has no limits, Gryka. D:)
Posted by: michael | Oct 17, 2003 at 12:02 AM
Hey guys,
Has anyone thought about sending Krzys an e-mail inviting him to join our discussion?
Posted by: Yeti | Nov 03, 2003 at 05:56 AM
Interesting thought. I doubt he's interested, though. We're not talking about Lem or Solaris much, and he had every chance to jump in on Channel One if he wanted to talk but never did (except very early on, way before my time). And that was before we started bitching about him censoring us!
I archived a few of those old topics which prominently feature GlennGhoul (Geez, I remember thinking, and they complained about viragpali??). I'll get those posted here one of these days.
Posted by: Glimmung | Nov 03, 2003 at 12:27 PM
Yeah. I wonder what ever became of Viragpali? I suspect that Michael and Viragpali may, in fact, be the same person. Michael seems to be well versed in psychology. Could it be that he suffers from Jeckell/Hyde syndrome? :>)
Glenn Ghoul did have his moments. He was very negative about the prospect of the Solaris remake. Unfortunately, he didn't stick around long enough to say "I told you so" or something like that. He was annoying, but entertaining as well. Unwavering in his obsessions, much like Viragpali.
By the way, Happy Sandwich Day, everyone!
Posted by: Yeti | Nov 03, 2003 at 01:48 PM
You think I could be like Viragpali, Yeti? That's possible to a certain degree. I'm not a saint but Viragpali was a serious piece of work... You should watch out with comments like that. They are hurtful. Didn't you notice?
Did GlennGhoul yell at other forum members the way Viragpali did? Viragpali was just looking for an occassion (or as he would put it, was reacting to others provoking him) and once he got someone into a fight, he would escalate the argument, not try to make peace. Either you backed down or he would just go on in a covert or overt way. There was no way he would take responsibility for his actions. He was just finding excuses for further hostile act outs, picking on everyone, one by one. That's a very bad sign. GlennGoul was opinionated but he wasn't outright abusive, as far as I can recall. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention because the Tarkovsky forum didn't interest me that much. I could have missed out on the heavier bits.
I was writing on the Solaris forum at its very beginning. Krzys was trying to convince me that Cameron was a good choice to make "Solaris" while I was proving to him the exact opposite. I made a lot of fun of Tarkovsky then. Soderbergh wasn't in the picture at that time. Now I really think Cameron would be better than Soderbergh because at least the film would be entertaining and I bet we'd get to see planet Solaris the way Lem described it. I would really forgive him any sappiness just for a chance to see a symmetriad or a mimoid...
I also doubt Krzys would be interested in this website. He later wasn't interested in his own, as Glimmung pointed out.
I've watched the "Alien" on the big screen during the weekend. Amazing. After so many years I still cannot watch the chestburster scene, which is the best proof of its effectiveness! Ebert placed "Alien" on his greatest movies list last week. Right about time, I'd say! D:)
Posted by: michael | Nov 03, 2003 at 08:56 PM
Michael,
I don't think Yeti was saying you were "like" viragpali. I think (correct me if I'm wrong, Yeti) he was just making a joke, as if you had invented viragpali as an alter ego, a prank on the forum. Or if it's a Jekyll/Hyde situation, he's actually saying you're the opposite of viragpali, not "like" him.
And Michael, if you were a saint, you wouldn't be any fun at all! :^)
Oddly, this is something I was tempted to do on the old USA Today forums! What fun, I thought - call myself names, agree with people who flamed me, argue with myself, just generally stir the pot. That was a much less civil and enlightened place than this.
GlennGhoul flamed some folks pretty thoroughly - and in much better english than viragpali ever did. I'll try to look for an example to quote if I can't get to an entire topic.
I would love to see the re-released Alien! I might even get Glimmette to go. She knows the cat survives... and she's never seen any version of it from start to finish. I agree, what a terrific movie. Ridley Scott got his knighthood, you know!
Posted by: Glimmung | Nov 04, 2003 at 11:55 AM