Puppets!

Quantum of Mirrors

Just watched the new James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace (the missus and I are finally returning to cinema going, we have to alternate). I have to say that I liked it very much and may well return to a full review when time allows.

For right now I want to float a couple of tidbits out into the blog.

1. Is it possible that the name "James Bond" is as much an assumed identity as the code number 007? (Ask me about the history of the 007 rating someday.) If you allow that the name is false then all the Bond actors can be placed in a single mostly coherent universe rather than having each actor being a representation of an iconic character that always updates to the present day. It's not that implausible given that there is a conversation in the middle of QoS in which it is established that Mathieu is  not that character's actual name. One might also assume that Felix Leiter is similarly a title and not an individual name.  This means that Judi Dench as M has had to deal with more than one Bond (as did her predecessor Bernard Lee).

2. Were there a lot of reflective surfaces in the movie or did I just exaggerate a personal obsession? I'd like to think that there were and that this is important in a movie about surface appearances versus truthful realities (if there could be such a thing in a spy fiction).

No Black Hole

Well if you're reading this then the Hadron Accelerator did not punch a hole in the space-time continuum or open a stable black hole within Earth's gravity well.

Unless we are all within the Schwarzschild radius already and falling infinitely within the bounds of the even horizon.

I need to work on my Sony account :)

Qu'est-ce que?

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Amusingly Accurate

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Wizard (6th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-11

Dexterity-12

Constitution-15

Intelligence-16

Wisdom-12

Charisma-12


Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard's strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

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Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (29)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (29)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (17)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXX (5)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaos --- XXXXX (5)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Evil ---- (0)

Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf ---- XXXX (4)
Elf ------ XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Gnome ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Half-Orc - XX (2)

Class:
Barbarian - (-6)
Bard ------ XXXX (4)
Cleric ---- (-2)
Druid ----- (-6)
Fighter --- (0)
Monk ------ (-27)
Paladin --- (-15)
Ranger ---- (-2)
Rogue ----- (0)
Sorcerer -- XXXX (4)
Wizard ---- XXXXXXXX (8)

Chronicles of Wa-Ha?

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is on Indian TV tonight and I just watched the opening which serves to define that it is historical (in times of war) and to define the personalities of the four children.

In the opening a German air raid begins on London and the children are rushed to an air raid shelter. Edmund runs back to try to save his father and failing to do so grabbing a precious photo of his father and mother. He is roundly castigated, especially by Peter.

Now moving forward we know that Peter is the hero and Edmund the traitor. However let's look at this for a moment. The character that cares most about family is Edmund, Peter argues that Edmund should follow orders ("Why can't you do what you are told?").

Excuse me? Following orders is more important than love? Now Lewis has problems (ask me about Susan one day) but promoting doctrine over love was never one of them ....

Who would you vote for:

Mad! They called me mad!

Follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM

Really? You can buy uranium ore from Amazon?

Thousands of uses around the house.

Fight!

24

Yes We Can

It's not the New Frontier but it's getting closer.