The good news is, I’m hopefully writing something again. I mean writing as in it being published somewhere other than this Web site. More details when it seems appropriate.
As to my latest project idea: this is maybe my fifth in two years! All dead ducks. Maybe this will be different, but I’m gonna keep it purely speculative. My ability to ‘realise’ ideas has taken one or three knocks.
Read More »The Poison Pen Returns
Should I mention I have another project idea? It might be tempting fate, since in recent years, every idea I’ve had has either been unfeasible or has stalled irrevocably!
But I’m toying with ideas, and again, being drawn to the online PDF format. It’s not a format I prefer, but it’s a question of money. I’ve done small press stuff in the past on a shoe-string, but I like to feel a sense of progression—and printed material is a high-cost kind of progression.
Read More »This Week’s Brainstorm
Films we’ve watched recently:
Wrong Turn… verdict: okay. I think I appreciated it being fairly WYSIWG, no hidden twists or ‘clever’ variations. There were some moments of genuine tension and suspense. Not an original bone in its body, and if you’ve seen Hills Have Eyes et al, why bother? Along similar(ish) lines, Cabin Fever seems to have had good reviews, so I’ll probably check it out whenever.
If this works, it means the site is working again. Lack of postings hasn’t been a sign of apathy, as those who’ve noticed the problems with the comments will know. Just technical trouble.
Damn, and I had so many brilliantly witty and insightful things to say in the last week. Sadly, I’ve forgotten them all now. 🙂
Read More »Testing Testing…
So Matthew has his own domain again: Planet Cutie. It’s a little empty at the moment, but pay him a visit anyway.
What can be affirming on a day when you’re feeling just a little bit insecure? To me, Thursday provided it in the form of a phone call that made me feel a lot more positive… and getting thanked by someone for making a hopefully useful suggestion (you’re welcome, Matthew!)… and best of all, getting an e-mail from a very good friend that had been delayed for several days due to ISP problems—just a little note saying they’re out of town for a while.
Read More »Small Things
We watched Dreamcatcher last night. Was it worth the entry fee? Well, unsurprisingly, not really. But it was okay.
The main criticism going around seems to be, if you’ve not read the book, it might be awfully confusing due to how various elements are condensed. This is largely true: the ‘memory warehouse’ idea, for instance, doesn’t play as important a role here as in the book—in fact, it seems like merely a gimmick—so it probably should’ve been left out completely… and the way in which the gang of four’s history with Duddits is skimmed over quickly lessens his significance overall.
So now Blair is banning Happy Hours in pubs? Have I heard this right? My reaction: at least, for once, this new initiative isn’t one of the endless stream of ploys to screw more money out of people (to consolidate some of Brown’s humongous debts)… but it’s still another instance of asserting a growing degree of control over people’s lives. *sigh*
Can I just briefly say that Tony Blair is a bastard and all politicians are scum? I’ve said it before, but I’m worried I might not be allowed to do it before long. Thanks.
Read More »Your Legal Daily Entitlement to Oxygen is…
I realised in the early hours this morning: yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the death of comic book legend Jack Kirby. I haven’t really read many comics in the last decade or so, but Kirby will always stand tall. Hard to believe it’s been so long.
Read More »Remembering the King
Well, much to my surprise, mom did finally decide to give Lord of the Rings a fair hearing. We watched the first two episodes recently. Not on the same night, okay! 🙂 She hates this kind of thing normally, but all the hype and good reviews weakened her resolve. Of course, she ended up thinking they were terrific, and we plan to see the final part at the cinema soon. (Not right now; we’re both suffering from yet another cold virus at the moment. Lovely.)
Watching The Two Towers a second time helped resolve some of my own reservations about it. I’m told the extended version has better editing, but on the whole, I enjoyed it better than the first viewing. Look, I won’t forgive Jackson for the Christopher Lee thing in a hurry, but that doesn’t mean I don’t admire this work on many levels. It’s a genuine achievement.
Read More »Convert to the Ring
