Anne Enright fikk bookerprisen i 2007 for The Gathering. Den er oversatt til norsk, Sammenkomsten (innbundet 2008, heftet 2009, Cappelen Damm).

Anne Enright undervurderer ikke leseren sin. Det er, synes jeg, en ganske krevende bok å lese. Både språklig, men også oppbyggingen av historien som stadig hopper fram og tilbake mellom tre generasjoner.

Selve handlingen er langt fra unik. 9 søsken i Dublin, og en død bror. Det er begravelser, alkoholisme, sorg, traumer fra barndommen, skilsmisser og dager der man går seg vill. Dette er tema vi har lest om mange ganger før, og Enright føyer ikke til noe unikt når det gjelder handling i The Gathering. Forfatteren sier selv om boka i et intervju med Washington post at boka er “…the intellectual equivalent of a Hollywood weepie.” Det er godt sagt, synes jeg.

Styrken til Enright er definitivt språket – det er dynamitt. Hun skriver drivende godt og særegent. Jeg digger pennen hennes, hun er stilsikker, krevende og fortettet. Driv og lite dill.  Mye humor; til tider makaber og fandenivoldsk. 

I look at my hands on the railings, and they are old, and my child-battered body, that I was proud of, in a way, for the new people that came out of it, just feeding the grave, just feeding the grave! (s. 79)

Hun skriver boka som en jeg-fortelling. Hva heter det? Førstepersonsfortelling? Uansett, den som fører pennen gjør det for å minnes det som har skjedd tidligere gjennom generasjoner. Selv om hun fører pennen med stor sikkerhet, tviler alltid hovedpersonen på om hun husker riktig. Var det sånn det skjedde? Eller husker jeg feil? Noen steder fortelles parallelle historier; det kunne ha skjedd på denne måten, eller så kunne det ha skjedd helt annerledes på denne måten. Dette skaper en slags distanse til hendelsene fordi hun alltid tviler på sin egen hukommelse.

“How are you?” he might have said. I don’t think we kissed. The Hegartys didn’t start kissing until the late eighties and even then we stuck to Christmas. “I’m fine,” I would have said back. And he sat in the visitor’s chair and looked at this new scene: mother and child. (s. 53)

Jeg vet ikke om jeg liker det eller ikke. Noen ganger er det stilig, andre ganger blir jeg frustrert: Jeg vil vite akkurat hva som hendte – ikke lur meg med ‘kanskje det var sånn, eller kanskje det ikke var sånn’. Det skaper en distanse til hendelser og personer som irriterer meg litt av og til. Men det er jo bra det også – skjerper meg som leser.

Jeg angrer litt på at jeg leste den på engelsk. Jeg satt med ordboka en del fordi det er mange ukjente ord. Boka hadde også fortjent å bli lest i en periode med mye lesetid. Nå ble det mange avbrekk og oppstykka lesning – det passer ikke denne boka.

Takk til Gøril for anbefalingen. Anbefales!

Devin Townsend nie odpuszcza!

Zaledwie pół roku temu Kanadyjczyk wydał album zatytułowany Ki, a na dniach premierę miał album pt. Addicted, będący drugą częścią projektu Townsenda liczącego łącznie cztery albumy.

Szczerze mówiąc sądziłem, że temu nieokiełznanemu wokaliście i multiinstrumentaliście zabraknie pomysłów po pierwszym albumie. Tymczasem okazuje się, że kontynuator porządnego Ki jest… jeszcze lepszy. Panie i panowie: Addicted to album, którego nie wolno pozostawić milczeniu.

W to święto hard rockowych i heavy metalowych riffów wokalny wkład miała Anneke van Giersbergen z The Gathering, ale określenie jej jako gościa, który użyczył wokali na potrzeby płyty jest niesprawiedliwie. Wszak od strony wokalnej zarówno Townsenda jak i van Giersbergen na tym materiale jest mniej więcej po równo. Tym samym jej udział w całości jest spory, tak jakby była pełnoprawnym muzykiem z chatki Kanadyjczyka.

Addicted otwierają dwie mocne petardy, oparte na ciężkich i solidnych riffach. Z miejsca można tutaj zapomnieć o subtelniejszych momentach z Ki, bo Townsend gra ciężko, a wspierający go na perkusji Ryan Van Poederooyen dodatkowo potęguje to wrażenie. Townsend przy  tych dwóch pierwszych utworach (Addicted! i Universe in a Ball!) krzyczy i warczy, a jedynymi  ich subtelnościami są krótkie wstawki wokalistki The Gathering, może nawet trochę pachnące folkiem?

Większą część albumu stanowią utwory nieco lżejsze od poprzednich jeśli idzie o pokłady gitarowo-perkusyjne.  Nie oznacza to oczywiście, że gorsze, bo w przekroju całego albumu wchodzą częściej w klimat fajnego, bardzo ożywionego hard rocka. O ile van Giersbergen przy pierwszych nutach Addicted była dosyć nieśmiała, o tyle w takich utworach jak: Bend it like Bender!, Supercrush!, Hyperdrive! czy Resolve! jest jej w ilości czasami nawet większej niż Townsenda.

Zresztą Kanadyjczyk też schodzi z mocnego tonu wielokrotnie wprowadzając swoje wokale na wypolerowane ścieżki. Momentami z jego ust wydobywa się trudny do opisania patos z wokalnymi “wysokościami”, którymi chciałby operować niejeden wokalista.

Dopiero przy utworach Ih-Ah! oraz The Way Home!, a więc siódmym i ósmym Townsend na Addicted zwalnia. Pierwszy z nich jest właściwie balladowy. Zaryzykowałbym, że momentami nawet soft rockowy, bo riffy pojawiają się w nim w szczątkach, a Townsend i van Giersbergen tylko sobie podśpiewują, z dużym spokojem i luzem. The Way Home! trochę przyspiesza, ale to wciąż wyjątkowo lekkie horyzonty jeśli idzie o porównaniu do większej część płyty.

Szaleństwo powraca na  Numbered!. Choć w akompaniamencie z delikatną van Giersbergen, to już z silnymi riffami (momentami nawet takimi jak przy początku albumu).

Prawie 10-ciu minutowy Awake! to ukoronowanie całej płyty. Utwór ten stanowi  swobodny miks pomysłów  z poprzednich dziewięciu. Zaczyna się dosyć spokojnie, z wyważonymi wokalami Townsenda, lekkimi riffami i podśpiewującą panią The Gathering.  No, ale po jakiejś jego części zaczyna się robić ciężko, a i Townsend przestaje być wrażliwy na wokalach.  Utwór ma jeszcze kilka podobnych spadków i powrotów nastrojowych, z dosyć ciekawą elektroniczną linią wyciszającą cały krążek.

Przyznam się, że po wysłuchaniu całości byłem bardzo pozytywnie zaskoczony. Podejrzewam, że tak jak i wielu słuchaczy, którzy w bezwarunkowym malkontenckim tonie spodziewali się raczej zniżki formy po Ki.

Ten muzyk to dzisiaj wściekły pies, zerwany ze smyczy, gotowy pogryźć każdego. Tyle, że jego kły mają moc w muzyce. Zajebistej muzyce.

[9/10]

Én “én időmben” persze még nem mix tape volt, hanem válogatáskazetta, illetve ez esetben -CD.

A tracklista:

1. Perfect Symmetry – Tomorrows Out Yesterdays In
2. Katatonia – Chrome
3. The Cult – Rise
4. Fresh Fabrik – Six
5. Pendragon – If I Were The Wind (And You Were The Rain)
6. Pain Of Salvation – Ashes
7. The Gathering – Amity
8. Vanden Plas – Into The Sun
9. Crematory – Take
10. Ignite – By My Side
11. Lacuna Coil – Senzafine

Valamikor 2001 nyarán (július? augusztus?) készült a lemez.

Praise be to Allaah.

Performing the rituals of Hajj has many virtues and there is a great deal of wisdom behind them. The one who is enabled to understand them and do them is blessed with a great deal of good. We will try to list as many as we can here.

1-     Travelling for Hajj to perform the rituals; his journey reminds him his journey to Allaah and the Hereafter. When he travels he leaves behind his loved ones, family, children and homeland, and the journey to the Hereafter is like that too.

2-     The one who goes on this journey takes with him supplies that will help him reach the holy land, and this reminds him that for the journey to his Lord, he must have with him provisions that will help him to arrive safely. Concerning this, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness)” [al-Baqarah 2:197].

3-     Just as travelling is a kind of torment, the journey to the Hereafter is like that too, and many times greater. Ahead of a person there is the agony of death, death itself, the grave, the gathering, the reckoning, the weighing in the Balance, and al-Siraat (a bridge across Hell, over which all must pass), then Paradise or Hell. The blessed one is the one whom Allaah saves.

4-     When the pilgrim wears the ihraam garments (two pieces of unsewn white cloth), this reminds him of the shroud in which he will be wrapped. This motivates him to give up sin. Just as he sheds his clothes, he should also shed his sins; just as he puts on two clean white garments, his heart and limbs should also be clean and untainted with sin.

5-     When he says at the meeqaat (the point at which pilgrims enter ihraam), “Labbayk Allaahumma labbaayk (Here I am at Your service, O Allaah)”, which means that he has responded to his Lord, may He be exalted, how can he remain in a state of sin without saying to his Lord, “Labbayk Allaahumma labbaayk (Here I am at Your service, O Allaah)”, meaning, I have responded to Your prohibition of them. This is the time to give up sin.

6-     When he gives up the things that are forbidden when in ihraam, and keeps busy with the talbiyah and dhikr (remembering Allaah), this shows the state that the Muslim should always be in. This is a means of training and disciplining himself, because he is disciplining himself by giving up what is basically permitted, but Allaah has forbidden it to him in this situation. So how can he transgress the sacred limits that Allaah has set for all times and places?

7-     When he enters the sacred House of Allaah, which Allaah has made a place of safety for mankind, this reminds him ofsafety on the Day of Resurrection, and that no one can attain it without effort and striving. The greatest source of safety on the Day of Resurrection is Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allaah) and avoiding shirk (associating others with Allaah). Concerning this Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their Belief with Zulm (wrong, i.e. by worshipping others besides Allaah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided” [al-An’aam 6:82].

When he kisses the Black Stone, which is the first ritual that he does, this trains the visitor to venerate the Sunnah (the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)), and not to transgress against the law of Allaah on the basis of his flawed reasoning. He knows that what Allaah has prescribed for mankind is wise and good, and he trains himself to submit fully to his Lord, may He be exalted. Concerning that, ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, after kissing the Black Stone: “I know that you are just a stone and you can neither cause harm nor bring benefit. Were it not that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1520) and Muslim (1720).

8-     When he circumambulates the Ka’bah, that reminds him of his father Ibraaheem (Abraham, peace be upon him), and how he built the Ka’bah as a place of safety for mankind and called them to come on pilgrimage to this House. Then came our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who also called people to come to this House. Moosa (Moses) and ‘Eesa (Jesus – peace be upon them both) also came on pilgrimage to this House, which is therefore a symbol of these Prophets. How could it be otherwise when Allaah commanded Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) to build it and venerate it?

9-     When he drinks the water of Zamzam, this reminds him of the blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon people in this blessed water, from which millions of people have drunk for many centuries, and it still has not dried up. He is encouraged to say du’aa’ (supplication) when drinking it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah (3062) and Ahmad (14435). It is a hasan hadeeth which was classed as such by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) in Zaad al-Ma’aad (4/320).

10-The saa’i (running) between al-Safa and al-Marwa reminds him of the great hardship undergone by our mother Haajar(Hagar), and how she ran between al-Safa and al-Marwa looking for someone to save her from the trouble in which she found herself, and especially for water to give to her young son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael). This woman bore this test with patience, and turned to her Lord. In her we have a good example, because when a man remembers the striving and patience of this woman, his problems seem less significant, and when a woman remembers one of her own gender, her hardship becomes easier to bear.

11-Standing in ‘Arafah reminds the pilgrim of the great gathering of mankind on the Day of Gathering. If the pilgrim suffers exhaustion because of the crowding together of thousands of people, then how about when all of mankind are gathered, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised?

12-As we said with regard to kissing the Black Stone, so too when stoning the Jamaraat (stone pillars representing the Devil), the Muslim trains himself to be obedient and to follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Thus he manifests pure submission to Allaah.

13-When he offers the sacrifice, this reminds him of the important incident when our father Ibraaheem submitted to Allaah’s command to sacrifice his only son Ismaa’eel (Ishmael), and that there is no room for compassion which goes against the commands and prohibitions of Allaah. It also teaches him to respond to the command of Allaah, as Ismaa’eel said: “ ‘O my father! Do that which you are commanded, In sha’ Allaah (if Allaah wills), you shall find me of As‑Saabiroon (the patient)’” [al-Saffaat 37:102].

14-When he exits ihraam and that which Allaah had forbidden to him during ihraam becomes permissible to him again, this trains him to be patient, and teaches him that with hardship goes ease, and that the outcome for the one who responds to the command of Allaah is joy and happiness. This joy can only be felt by the one who tastes the sweetness of obedience, like the joy that the fasting person feels when he breaks his fast, or that the one who spends the night in prayer feels after he has prayed.

15-When he has finished the rituals of Hajj and done them as Allaah has prescribed and as He likes, and has completed his rituals, he has the hope that his Lord will forgive him all his sins, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) promised when he said: “Whoever comes to this House and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back as his mother bore him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1449) and Muslim (1350). This motivates him to turn over a new leaf in his life, free from sin.

16-When he goes back to his wife and children, the joy of meeting them reminds him of the greater joy he will feel when he meets them in the Paradise of Allaah, may He be exalted. This reminds him that true loss is loss of oneself and one’s family on the Day of Resurrection, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say (O Muhammad): The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!” [al-Zumar 39:15].

This is what we were able to mention.

And Allaah knows best.

Source: Islam qa

Related Article: The Best 10 days of the Year- The Ten days of Dhul Hijah

Related Article: 50 Things to do in Hajj

UPDATE: Wizards of the Coast lo hace otra vez . . . les comente del lanzamiento para PC y PS3 de Magic: The Gathering Tactics, bueno pues si eres fan ya sabias que para el XBOX360 hace algunos meses se lanzo el juego Magic: The Gathering Duels of the Planeswalkers me acaho de enterar que este juego tambien saldra para PC y PS3 a mediados del 2010. Asi que los fans ya pueden estar contentos.

Y los dueños de un XBOX360 no se preocupen que recibiran via XBOX LIVE 2 nuevas actualizaciones a lo largo del año. Todos contentos.

Hace tanto tiempo que no jugado el TCG que me gusto tanto . . . MAGIC THE GATHERING . . . que hasta me pongo melancolico. En fin, esta nota es para mostrarles a los fans y los nuevos iniciados que SOE lanzara para PC y PS3 este nuevo titulo llamado “Magic: The Gathering Tactics”.

Titulo que segun el blog oficial te llevara por la historia de MAGIC y sus tarjetas retro hasta las expansiones actuales, para que armes tus decks y combatas de forma local y online. Considero que este es un gran paso y ya espero la salida de este juego. Les mantendre informados.

De paso, aprovechare a escribir unas palabras para mi amigo Edgar “El Pollo”, amigo que durante algunos años me acompaño en la escuela y con el cual empece a jugar MAGIC con la expansión de Portal. Recuerdo nuestras largas batallas y nuestra busqueda por tarjetas raras . . . Descansa en Paz mi Amigo.

Esta imagen es un Ebon Dragon tarjeta que durante algunos años buscamos con ansia, “no te preocupes Edgar ya la tengo y se quedara en mi colección hasta el dia en que volvamos a jugar”.

Dedicado a Edgar.

Starting with some singing, including a great rendition of Mary Mary’s “Praise You“, despite the fact that Megan had a really sore throat (excuse the feedback)!

Gathering around to make our prayers out of modelling clay:

Guess who’s this one is?!Another piece of craftsmanship:

David concentrating very hard:

Paul and his “Oreo”:

Ollie & Harry happy with their work, whilst Julie continues to concentrate!

Lego!

Aardvark:

Neil in full flow with the story of Zaccheus

We have another event tonight.

8pm, Weeke Community Centre, Taplings Road, SO22 6HG.

Looking forward to seeing you there, and no, I have no idea what’s in store tonight!

In case you don’t read the comment: “Clay Modelling” is in store tonight!

I’m waiting for your hands
To fold around my wrist
I’m mellowing in warm grass
And the scent of you I’ve missed

(The May Song by The Gathering)

photo by Paige Nolan

The Gathering es una banda Holandesa que se formó en 1989, en sus principios su genero era Death/Doom Metal, actualmente se basa en el Rock/Gothic/Atmospheric.Su primer trabajo musical fue An Imaginary Symphony el disco origen del grupo que los llevó a hacerse conocidos dentro de su ciudad natal.

Poco a poco comenzaron a haber cambios en el grupo, entre ellos, fue integrada Marike Groot (en voz, para el disco Always de 1992), Martine Van Loon y Niels Duffhues (También en voz en el disco Almost a Dance de 1993) tras la partida de Bart.

Tiempo después decidieron audicionar para el puesto de vocalista del grupo, debido que Niels, vocalista procedente del punk, no llenaba las espectativas del grupo. Fue ahí cuando Anneke van Giersbergen, una joven de 22 años con grandes dotes musicales fue elegida para ser la nueva vocalista del grupo. En 1995 Grabaron Mandylion, el primer disco de la nueva era de The Gathering que sería un nuevo, y a la vez exitoso, punto de partida.

The Gathering en 1997 grabó el disco Nighttime Birds entre un arduo período de estudio y de giras para llevar a cabo los conciertos por Holanda. How to Measure a Planet? fue el disco doble grabado en el año 1998, que posee un concepto variado y experimental (que la propia Anneke denomina trip-rock) de mucho valor para la evolución de la banda. De ahí en adelante, The Gathering comenzó un duro trabajo, entre conciertos y discos. Entre éstos Superheat (2000) que se desarrolló en vivo, e If_then_else (2000) un disco algo más emocional que los anteriores.

Tras este álbum, el grupo deja Century Media y establece su propio sello discográfico, Psychonaut Records. En 2003 ve la luz el disco Souvenirs, que sigue los pasos de sus dos discos anteriores en la experimentación de sonidos, y en un ambiente intimista no exento de tristeza. El EP anterior, Black Light District, no hace sino confirmar la evolución de la banda, que ahora se acerca mucho más al sonido de bandas del panorama independiente como Godspeed You! Black Emperor, como puede apreciarse en cortes como el que da título al EP.

Entre tanto, Century Media, poseedora de los derechos de sus discos más emblemáticos, lanza en 2005 un álbum doble llamado Accesories, que contiene rarezas, sencillos y tomas alternativas de los discos pertenecientes a la época entre Mandylion y How to Measure a Planet?. En 2006 la discográfica va más lejos aún editando una edición especial de Mandylion, con diverso material adicional.

En 2006, tras la maternidad de la cantante Anneke, el grupo vuelve a trabajar y aparece Home, otra vuelta de tuerca a su música, en el mismo rumbo que Souvenirs, potenciando un sonido ya muy alejado del metal y con letras intimistas, algunas de ellas incluso de tono más optimista.

Para tristeza de muchos de sus fans, a comienzos de junio del 2007 la vocalista Anneke van Giesbergen anuncia su retirada del grupo a partir de agosto, para concentrarse en su vida familiar y en su proyecto personal Agua de Annique, que cuenta con la participación, entre otros, de ex-integrantes de Celestial Season. Su última presentación con la banda ocurrió el 4 de agosto del 2007, en el Festival Ankkarock de Finlandia.

El 10 de marzo de 2009 The Gathering publicó la identidad de su nueva vocalista: Silje Wergeland, ex-vocalista de Octavia Sperati. Además se han anunciado dos vocalistas invitadas para el nuevo disco, la Holandesa Anne van den Hoogen y la Mexicana Marcela Bovio (de Stream of Passion). Por lo pronto, The Gathering anunció el lanzamiento de su noveno álbum de estudio llamado «The West Pole» para abril de 2009.

Integrantes
Silje Wergeland – Vocalista
René Rutten – Guitarra
Marjolein Kooijman – Batería
Hans Rutten – Bajo
Frank Boeijen – Teclados

Discografía
1992 – Always
1993 – Almost a Dance
1995 – Mandylion
1997 – Nighttime Birds
1998 – How to Measure a Planet?
2000 – If Then Else
2003 – Souvenirs
2006 – Home
2009 – The West Pole

Página Oficial

Descargar Always 1992
Descargar Almost a Dance 1993
Descargar Mandylion 1995
Descargar Nighttime Birds 1997
Descargar How to Measure a Planet? 1998
Descaragr If Then Else 2000
Descargar Souvenirs 2003
Descargar Home 2006
Descargar The West Pole 2009

This Saturday, October 31, is the last Farmer’s Market of the season.  This is your last chance to buy these great items until next Spring.

Tuesday night I spoke at the Women’s Fall Event at The Gathering in Centerville, Ohio.

The theme was Beauty from Ashes.  We had a great time of Fun, Food, Worship and the Word of God.

The Lord really blessed our time together.

Azi a fost o zi destul de faina. In primul rand am avut noroc ca nu am dat test la mate. Apoi m-am bucurat mult ca a fost vreme frumoasa, incat putem sa stau si in tricou. Si am iesit afara, dar tocmai astazi, cand a fost vreme frumoasa, am avut ogramada de teme. Tema la romana mi-am facut-o cand am venit de la scoala si am facut putin si la mate si am iesit afara la ora 6. Si mai inainte mi-am terminat temele la mate (inca 2 pagini).

Ce a mai fost tare, dar totusi ma cam inerveaza oamenii care ma intreaba asa ceva: Esti rockerita? Dar m-am obisnuit.

In continuare s-ar putea spune ca mi-am facut prietene noi, nu oficial, dar sunt dragute. Pe una o cheama Ana si pe cealalta Sara. Defapt pe Ana o cunosc de mai demult dar nu prea am stat cu ea.

De cateva zile tot lucrez la un site. Un site official…website…ca la vedete…ca alui tata. Tata face fondurile, icoanele, titlurile si eu mai stiu ce trebe pe acolo si eu ii dau imaginile pe care as vrea sa mi le puna si scriu articolele, continutul (cum e si aici).

As mai vrea sa vb. despre cea de adoua formatie preferata. Within Temptation. Nu am mai ascultat demult. Defapt la articolul precedent am pus o melodie. Asa ca acum am sa va dau alta melodie, nu de la Within Temptation.

Agua de Annique este formatia preferata a mamei mele. Solista este Anneke, defapt Anneke este fosta solista de la formatia The gathering. Si The gathering este o trupa faina, dar mai fain canta Anneke cu Agua de Annique. Cand am fost la ArtMania 2008, pe atunci am inceput si eu sa ascult Agua de Annique.

Agua de Annique – Day After Yesterday

Bun, asta a fost tot. Ma duc sa ma mai uit si la L. A. ink. Oricum am mai vazut episodul.

Voi reveni cu noi articole. See ya!!!

Cassie M

GHRBI Twitter created.

One of the presents my husband got for his birthday was the DVD box set of the five Babylon 5 movies (The Gathering, In The Beginning, Thirdspace, The River of Souls, and A Call to Arms). We just finished seeing all five of the movies, and I thought I’d take a few minutes to briefly examine each one.

The Gathering – This was the original pilot movie that aired in February 1993, and is set about one year before the events in the first season of Babylon 5. The plot revolves around an assassination attempt on Kosh, the ambassador at Babylon 5 from the Vorlon homeworld. One of the most notable differences are characters who appear in this pilot that do not re-appear in the actual series (except in one case, where the character ends up returning later on). In the pilot, the first officer of the station is Laurel Takashima. She is replaced by Susan Ivanova in the series. Honestly, Takashima’s departure wasn’t a big loss. Personally, I thought the actress was a bit wooden and awkward. I think bringing in Claudia Christian as Ivanova made a huge difference to the series. In the pilot, the ship’s doctor was Dr. Benjamin Kyle. He was replaced in the actual series by Dr. Stephen Franklin. While the actor playing Dr. Kyle wasn’t too bad of an actor, I think Richard Biggs really brought something to the series as Dr. Franklin. In the long run, I’m not entirely sure Dr. Kyle could have pulled off some of the things that Dr. Franklin ended up doing in the series. The final cast change concerned the resident telepath. In the pilot, the telepath is Lyta Alexander. She was replaced at the beginning of the series by Talia Winters (however, in one of the later seasons, Talia leaves and Lyta returns). Also to note is the fact that the makeup and prosthetics for the characters of De’Lenn ad G’Kar are “rougher” looking than how they appear in the actual series. With these differences, The Gathering has a bit of a different feel from the rest of the Babylon 5. It’s not a bad film, but it is definitely meant to establish the station and the characters, as well as to establish the premise of the series. One funny note for those readers who are familiar with Babylon 5: the actor who would portray Morden in the series appears in The Gathering as a member of Babylon 5’s bridge crew.

In The Beginning – This movie tells the story about the Earth-Minbari War (which is war that took place before the start of the series). The narrative structure for this one was kind of interesting. Londo Mollari, the emperor of Centauri Prime, is telling the story to a couple of Centauri children and their caretaker, who are wandering around in the palace. I recognized some of the footage in the movie from flashbacks that appeared throughout the Babylon 5 series. There was some new footage shot besides that of Londo and the children, though. This movie ultimately ties together the bits and pieces of information the audience was learned about the Earth-Minbari War.

Thirdspace – This film centers on the return of a very ancient alien force that had once tried to destroy life in the Milky Way galaxy. Lyta Alexander, the telepath, ends up being really strongly affected by an ancient artifact that’s brought to Babylon 5. A couple of scientists come to check out the artifact, and unleash a force that nearly destroys the station and everything around it. This was an OK film, all things considered.

The River of Souls – This movie brings back the Soul Hunters (who appeared in an episode of the first season of the series). An archeaologist has dug up one of the chambers belonging to the Soul Hunters, and takes with him an orb filled with the souls of a race that was supposedly dying out. The archeaologist brings the orb with him to Babylon 5, and manages to unleash the unhappy souls contained within the orb. A Soul Hunter comes to the station in an effort to reclaim the orb, and it sparks a major debate about whether there is life after death. The subplot about the unsanctioned holo brothel that’s being run in “down below” is actually kind of amusing. And the “Love Bat” is good for a few chuckles.

A Call to Arms – This final movie is actual a setup for a spin-off series, Crusade. It is discovered a race that was loyal to the Shadows wants to destroy Earth on the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Interstellar Alliance. Sheridan leads a band of people to try to stop the Drakh from unleashing a Shadow Planet Killer, which would destroy Earth. While Sheridan and his crew were able to destroy the Shadow Planet Killer, they hadn’t known about the nanovirus weapon they had. The Drakh released the virus into Earth’s atmosphere, infecting everyone on the planet, who would die in five years unless a cure could be found. Crusade was supposed to be a five season series, with the first season or two focusing on finding the cure for the virus. However, Crusade never made it past its thirteenth episode on TNT. Sci-Fi wanted to pick up the series, but couldn’t find money in their budget to do so. I haven’t seen Crusade, and quite frankly, this movie didn’t encourage me to want to go see it. Of course, for me at least, it probably doesn’t help that the idea of something that could destroy the Earth and needing to do something about it within a certain time frame, reminds me a lot of the first season of Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers. By far, A Call to Arms is the weakest of the five films.

Bueno despues de mucho tiempo sin escribir tengo que comentar un poco sobre las razones, son sencillas no tenia mucho que comentar pero tratare de que regrese a lo que era este block, principalmente por que este espacio siempre me ha ayudado a sentirme bien, me desahogo cuando me siento un poco fuera de lugar, tengo tantas cosas que escribir pero empezaremos por algunos eventos recientes.

En esta entrada comentare unicamente de mi emocion personal en lo que se refiere a Magic, verdad como podran ver en el nombre de la entrada. Cuendo salio Zendikar, no quitaba de mi mente tener esa carta repetida 4 veces eso seria genial, cuando victor me dijo que si la queria me senti  bien, por que por fin tendria una seria genial eso, ya en el booster draft tapia me comento que si la queria  y la paso como cualquier basurita ah dije 2 eso se pone bueno, cuando compre los 4 sobres y en el primero me salio jaja dije no manches 1 mas y sere el amo y señor por lo menos de mi casa jajaj xD sobre “days” e iras de dios genial aqui una foto.

Si tengo 3 y mas cartitas buenas para el upgrape del deck blanco, esperemos que todo salga bien, bueno no me extiendo por que aburro jajaja sale se cuidan

As the previous blog entry explained what we were going to do, I have chosen to tell the story of the most recent event in pictures! A number of those attending were happy for their montage’s to be photographed and placed online, although most wanted privacy as to who had done them, so enjoy, and think what you would do – feel free to link to a similar exercise you may have done!

Ok, wrote this a few days ago, but was about to finish the last book and wanted to include it.  BOOOOKS!

The Gathering – Anne Enright

Ok, I’m not going to lie, the first 3/4 of this book was boring.  I actually threw is on the floor on multiple occasions.  Not a ringing endorsement, but the last 1/4 of the book made up for it.  ALmost.

It’s an inner journey, and by that I mean it is the story of what 39-year-old Veronica remembers about her family’s history.  She is one of 9, or ten, kids in the Hegarty family. As she tells the story of her childhood in pieces, each person’s character changes from good, to bad and back… each memory casts a different tint to the stories.

But you don’t figure out why everyone is so messed up until the end, see?  So it is brilliant, with great prose and interesting people, but a 3/4 boring book isn’t one I can fully recommend. At least it was a quick read.

Next.

Darkmans – Nicola Barker Um.  an 850 page book?  Been a while since I picked up one of those… but it came highly recommended so, what the heck! There are about 6 or 7 characters in this book that blunder their way haphazardly through a few chaotic days where nothing makes any sense. It seems like they are, at random times, possessed by an evil spirit, “The Darkmans”.   (Apparently the spirit of a medieval court jester who liked burning people alive, he seems to inhabit each character making them do horrible things.)

Artistically, but annoyingly, the book  omits certain scenes which makes everything else seem even more bizarre and inexplicable. And the end seems a bit unsatisfactory, explaining little of the reason behind everything.

That said, the  book is inventive, witty and well staged, and despite their crazy behavior, each character is charming and lovable.  Until they killed the cat.  Yup.

Next.

On Chesil Beach – Ian McEwan

This was another Booker shortlisted book, and it was incredible.  a newly wed couple is having their wedding night in the early 1960s, and after the ceremony, they’re each alternately eager and incredibly scared to have sex for the first time.  The story is from both points of view, rampant with flashbacks that describe their histories and relationship.

And of course, it’s a disaster.  But the two characters are so intense and easy to understand that it’s like living through it yourself (again.  seriously?  remember how awkward your first time was?  don’t lie.)  but with a little more understanding.

A definite recommendation.

Bad Monkeys – Matt Ruff

Holy Crap this book was good!  Jane Charlotte is being analysed by a psychiatrist because, while being questioned for murder, she claimed to be working for a clandestine organization that is devoted to crime prevention.  She worked in the Department for the Final Disposition of Irredeemable Persons, also known as Bad Monkeys.  Basically, once a person has been deemed truly, irrevocably evil, she and her compatriots would sweep in and get rid of them.

Sounds like a pretty rad book already, right?

But as she tells her story, and the details come out, and it becomes impossible to tell if she’s crazy or not, and later, if she’s good or bad.  It’s exciting and funny and there are vigilantes who dress as scary clowns and who kill people with “natural causes” guns.

It’s not the most literary book ever, but man is it good.

A idéia desse post surgiu lendo isso aqui, de um blog que eu olho de vez em quando, porque me diverte. O cara fez um top divertido de profissões que ganharam uma relevância um pouco maior em alguns determinados filmes e que, por isso, provavelmente influenciaram gerações de pessoas a pensarem em seguir estas profissões. Leia lá se quiser exemplos. Mas extrapolando para séries – aposto que muita gente já quis ser médico por causa de E.R [se você é mais 90’s] ou por causa de House [se você é mais 00’s]. Ok, um post legal, divertido, nada além disso. Daí eis que o link do post foi parar eu não sei onde porras do Yahoo [eu não entendi direito] e uma avalanche de pessoas – na boa, sem preconceitos, mas todos nós sabemos que geralmente quem escreve mais mal na internet, tem menos percepção de ironia e mais critica as coisas sem ler é a galera com mais idade, tipo, mais de 35 anos ou sei lá – foi lá xingar até a 9ª geração que ainda está por vir do cara que postou  só porque ele “desvalorizou” [o título do post tinha o termo “sem graça” para as profissões] determinadas profissões. Nem preciso dizer que 90% das pessoas que foram encher o saco exerce uma das cinco profissões que ele citou – paleontólogos, geólogos, perfuradores [?], técnicos de TV a cabo e metereologistas.

Momentos em que você lembra de um geólogo: a hora em que você não deve correr para as montanhas

E eu tive um vislumbre: falar mal, nem que seja apenas uma ironia ou uma brincadeira, de profissões, é arrumar sarna pra se coçar. E isso é patético. Todas as profissões tem um lado obscuro e inútil, e as pessoas deveria utilizar o fabuloso recurso auto-irônico para se manterem imunes das ridicularizações – porque passível de ridicularização todas as profissões são. Fora que existem profissões que, de tão específicas, de fato tem utilidade prática pra pouquíssima gente.  Falando muito na boa, deixando de lado o meu preconceito com os cursos de humanas, mas eu não enxergo uma utilidade prática imediata em cursos de história e geografia. Não tô dizendo que é inútil, mas a maioria dos formados vai dar aulas pro pessoal passar no vestibular. Ou então fica fazendo pesquisas acadêmicas lindas pra inglês ver. É claro que essas coisas são úteis, mas eu não descobri até hoje porque a gente é obrigado a entender de história.  Pergunte pra vários profissionais inseridos no mercado [e o mercado é o mundo empresarial, não tem muito como fugir disso] se eles usaram história. 1% usou? É muito. Eu tenho seríssimas ressalvas com esse tipo de conhecimento exclusivamente acadêmico e que não influencia diretamente na vida de ninguém. Falar mal de profissões nem é o foco desse post, mas pra não dizerem que eu to só metendo o pau nos outros – eu fiz/faço/não sei Gestão Empresarial, ou seja, administração, ou seja, algo que qualquer Zé Mané faria, sem nenhuma formação. Eu fui obrigado a passar um ano aprendendo a história da administração e nunca usei uma palha dessa merda toda na minha vida. E, como um professor meu mesmo diz, provavelmente nunca usarei. E eu nem vou entrar no mérito de meter pau em marketing.
Síntese do parágrafo: tenha consciência de, que no fim das contas, sua profissão tem coisas babacas e é inútil pra um contingente sem fim de pessoas, seja ela qual for. Porque bem, bem lá no fundo, ninguém gosta mesmo de trabalhar: as pessoas gostam é de dinheiro e reconhecimento.

Ou você acorda cedo, acessa internet bloqueada e lida com mais papeis do que gente com diarréia porque gosta?

Toda esta reflexão sobre o tabu que é falar de profissões me fez pensar em quantos assuntos são também problemáticas sérias na internet. Existem até determinadas opiniões formadas sobre alguns assuntos que não podem ser proferidas, a não ser que você queira arranjar uma dor de cabeça. Se você for falar de bandas, existe sempre um exército de fãs que vão te massacrar no caso de você falar mal. Se você for falar de política, existe uma corja de pseudopolitizados de Orkut pra te dizer que você é ignorante. Se você for falar de filmes, tem uma toneladas de críticos pra falar da fotografia e de mais um monte de termos babacas que desqualificam seu filme preferido.  Todos estes batalhões são diretamente subordinados ao mal do século: o exército dos cults e pseudocults. As pessoas que por terem nascido muito feias e com joanete resolveram projetar toda a sua auto-estima e necessidades do ego no consumo de cultura. Aqueles que não sabem ligar a TV, com uma cerveja, pipoca e ver todas as porcarias divertidas que a globo pode te proporcionar.

Lost - ao vivo

E eu venho percebendo que toco em vários desses assuntos delicados nos meus posts, mas o bom é que quase ninguém lê, então não me enchem o saco. Mas vai que um dia passem a ler? Que é, obviamente, o que eu espero que aconteça um dia. Outro assunto chato e tabu: as pessoas não assumem que querem confete e audiência pro próprio blog. Ninguém quer escrever pra Deus, todo mundo quer alcance.

Então, eu resolvi botar pra fuder de vez e falar tudo que eu sempre quis falar, mas que pouca gente quer ler sem me dar uma porrada:

- Eu cansei da ditadura do Radiohead. O Ok Computer não é tudo isso. É um bom disco, mas não é tudo isso. Thom Yorke tem uma voz chata. Existem milhões de bandas geniais extremamente renegadas porque existe um batalhão de gente ligada à idéia de que genial é Radiohead e tudo que se pareça com. Parem de enfiar essa porra no top #1 de qualquer coisa relacionada à música; E aproveito pra fazer um adendo falando  de um álbum que eu considero extremamente genial e que ninguém conhece – por puro preconceito.

Informe publicitário

 
The Gathering é uma banda que tem algum reconhecimento dentro do Heavy metal, e por isso qualquer cultzinho meleca [porque eles foram metalzinho, mas deixaram de ser em 1998] tem um preconceito fudido contra eles. Mas esse álbum não tem absolutamente nada de Heavy Metal – é um rock progressivo com altas doses de viagem, influências de bandas cults e muito feeling.
Lançado em 98, esse álbum sofre de um sério problema de imagem: Os metalero não gostam, porque não tem nada de heavy metal e nem nada parecido; os cults e alternativos não buscam ouvir, porque no last.fm você verá as tags mais mal colocadas do mundo de “gothic metal” e bandas semelhantes que não tem nada a ver, e isso os afasta, por causa do maldito preconceito musical. Ou seja: acaba que ninguém ouve um álbum genial. Pra mim, não só genial, mas um dos melhores álbuns já feitos no mundo – inclusive melhor que o ó, todo poderoso, salve salve, Ok Computer.
Com uma vocalista absolutamente fora de série, um instrumental muito elaborado e coeso e letras tratando sobre a distância de várias perspectivas, não tem thom yorke e seu acidente de carro melequento que supere. Enfim, ouça só Great Ocean Road e Marooned pra entender a dimensão do álbum.
As pessoas deveriam ouvir mais bandas e menos estilos. Enfim.

Fim do Informe Publicitário 

- Filmes em preto e branco me dão sono e eu não valorizo a mínima o cinema antigo – na verdade, quase não conheço nada. Não tenho nem interesse em ver. Assisti esses dias um clássico da década de 60, chama Z. Achei um porre sem fim.
- Acho os livros do Harry Potter muito inteligentes;
- Entre ficar no Orkut e no MSN e ler um livro, 95% das vezes eu vou escolher a primeira opção; 85% no caso da segunda opção serem filmes. Música eu posso ouvir enquanto estou na internet procrastinando.
- Twitter é um porre e eu só uso porque assumo que é uma forma de se sentir menos sozinho no trampo; ou melhor, usava.
- Detesto velocidade de informação;
- O mundo da publicidade e suas milhares de formas modernas e 2.0 de divulgar marcas é necessário, mas é muito chato;
- Não vejo diferença funcional que justifique a diferença de preços entre o meu celular de 200 reais e qualquer smartphone;
- Estou andando pra Apple;
- Não vejo jornal porque não me interesso pela maioria das coisas que acontece no mundo; não me sinto menos inteligente que você por isso;
- Esquerdistas são babacas; direitistas também;
- A maioria das pessoas discute na internet apenas pra elevar o próprio ego – me inclua dentro dessa;
- Desprezo a maioria dos grupos de pessoas com interesses parecidos. Talvez porque eu não faça parte de nenhum.

E eu disse tudo isso só pra provocar  para alertar as milhares de pessoas que não permitem que se fale de algumas coisas.
E me senti hipócrita várias vezes enquanto escrevia, porque eu também tenho opiniões das quais não permito que digam o contrário. Mas enfim, pelo menos eu tento entender o contrário e não coloco o Radiohead como instituição universal e irrevogável.

.

This Sunday sees another session of our rather experimental church, held in the Weeke Community Centre, with the candles lit, the bar fully open, and some music (can I say rocking away) in the background!

Activity

From the start of the evening the following materials will be made available: magazines, paper, scissors, glue. We will explain more on the evening, but essentially you will recreate yourself (whether with ‘body parts’, pictures or words) from magazine cuttings on a piece of paper. I (Bex) did this at Greenbelt this year, and found it a very helpful experience (you can see my picture), so we are planning that this can be done throughout the evening.

REQUEST: We have a lot of women’s magazines, so if there are some (magazines/brochures) with some more manly interests, that would be helpful!

Biblical Reference
Let’s not forget that this is a church, and the evening will be based around Luke 18:18-23 (Neil will explain how this fits with the activity on the evening, come along and find out!):

¹⁸One day one of the local officials asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?”

^19-20Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don’t you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.”

²¹He said, “I’ve kept them all for as long as I can remember.”

²²When Jesus heard that, he said, “Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²³This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.

Bible Gateway: The Message

As everyone knows I just love playing Control. Control is a bit like playing Chess, only true masterminds can actually endure playing it and master it to the max. This blog will focus not only on Control decks because as I believe Control is an aspect of the game. As Flores used to say Who is the beatdown, I have no problem with that theory but there are so many decks that don’t rely on attacking to win or being the aggressor that I find it an old theory but respectable at least. Control is the aspect of the game where you have the advantage on board or even mentally on the opponent. An aggro player establishes control as he swings while keeping blockers away and having a perfect or accurate mana curve. A combo player establishes Control by going off or preventing opponents to disrupt them, the only difference is that they establish Control in the end game. A control deck establishes control as soon as he has a board advantage and hand advantage over its opponent. Maybe the field is empty but he still has 5-6 cards compared to his opponents 1 or zero.

This is what I think of Control. In this blog series I will focus on Control decks and some other decks that focus on controlling son aspect of the game. Sometimes I will just chit chat about mental aspect of the game, while others I’ll have decklists and theory.

Enjoy.

Y por fin llegó el tributo

La espera ha valido la pena, pues me da gusto ver cómo los amiguis de Red Page y Forgotten Beauty estamos muy emocionados con nuestras respectivas participaciones. Nos ha tomado (a Dark y a Rock -that would be me-, jaja) muchísimo más trabajo que las veces anteriores armar todo esto, pues realmente hemos tenido que abrir espacios entre los “tiempos libres”, aunque en esta ocasión hemos recibido la ayuda de Emelic pues, y el buen Heks, además del enorme apoyo de Gemy y del grupo de rock themselves.

Quedan algunos detalles pendientes por atender, y al pendiente también de la llegada de nuestros amiguis del más allá. This will be a very nice tribute party, I can see it, I can feel it ^^

Todo esto también ha servido para conocer más a fondo a gente tan linda como Michèle y Alex *los abraza*, y será también emocionante realizar este tributo por primera vez fuera de la ciudad. Muchas sorpresitas para ese fin de semana. Aquí los flyers re copados diseñados por FG.

Dada X, D.F. – 13 de noviembre

“A ver, dame otro, porque está bien chido” -Un chavo en el Chopo, jió jió

Rock & Beer, Qro. – 14 de noviembre

More info:

gathering.nl | Last.fm | DarkRock | Red Page | Forgotten Beauty | Ancient Serpent

See you there, my dears!

Remember quand je me suis retrouvé à errer dans Aix cet été ? En fait j’avais été convié par une agence web à jeter un œil au championnat de France de Magic : The Gathering. Faites pas cette tête, j’avais déjà confessé mon addiction au premier jeu de carte à collection du monde. Même que ça va faire plus de dix ans que par intermittence je me chope un ou deux boosters qui brillent, me confectionne un deck pour aller démolir de l’impudent, broyer des points de vie de vingt à zéro à l’aide de grosses bêbêtes qui n’existent que dans mon cerveau un peu trop fertile. Bonjour la réputation de geek que je me traîne depuis le temps. Pourtant, à Aix, ça passait pro. Voir des centaines de mecs luter pour une place pour le championnat du monde (plein de thunes, de gloire et de filles faciles au bout), ça force un peu le respect.

Bon, en vrai, c’est vraiment pas galère d’apprendre à jouer aux Magics. La preuve, quand j’étais au collège, j’avais réussi à expliquer les règles à ma fucking grand-mère ! Certes, ça l’a vite gavée, les dragons, les boules de feu et compagnie. D’après elle, le rami, c’est mieux. Sur le principe ça tend surtout à prouver qu’à partir du moment où on a deux neurones qui fonctionnent, rien n’est perdu. C’est comme tout ce qui est geek, ça bloque un peu, sorte de barrière psychologique. C’est pourquoi c’était assez fun l’autre soir. Wizards, la boîte qui créé le jeu, avait organisé un petit événement pour faire découvrir le jeu à une bande de noobs. Vous seriez surpris des efforts d’apprentissage que sont capables de déployer des bloggeurs quand on leur file un deck préconstruit, des pizzas encore chaudes et des bouteilles de coca zéro. Jouant régulièrement, j’étais sûrement un des invités avec le plus gros level. J’ai donc fait quelques duels avec le mec cool de la boutique qui nous accueillait. C’est alors qu’à débarqué un ancien champion de France.

Depuis l’école primaire, j’ai suivi de près où de loin l’arrivée des trois extensions annuelles, j’ai participé à quelques tournois, lu pas mal d’articles sur le design des cartes et l’univers de Magic. Mais jamais je ne m’étais retrouvé à mélanger mon deck en vue d’une partie avec un Pro Player. Comme prévu, une fois que le bonhomme a maitrisé les nouvelles cartes de Zendikar (la dernière fournée de nouveautés), il m’aura collé une sacrée rouste. Mais j’ai kiffé. Pas la fessée, mais d’être remis à ma place, d’apprendre quelques trucs et surtout de retrouver l’envie de progresser. Magic n’est plus la lubie de geek que je pouvais avoir à une époque, c’est devenu une passe temps, une petite passion qui revient par intermittence. Je ne serai jamais une brutasse, je ne gagnerai pas de trophées, mais une petite partie de temps en temps, une acquisition de boosters récents, quand même, ça fait bien plaisir.

En fait c’est facile de faire du billet sponsorisé quand ça touche les choses qu’on aime vraiment. Ceci expliquant sûrement que j’en fasse pas beaucoup (de là à dire que j’aime rien…). Bon kif tout de même que de repartir l’autre soir en voyant quelques personnes pour qui c’était le premier contact avec Magic, leurs premières parties, investir dans une poignée de boosters, de boîtes de rangement. Les Magics, ça a ça en commun avec les brocolis, faut goûter avant de dire qu’on aime pas (bon, après ça a meilleur goût, c’est plus joli et des fois ça brille, donc ça part d’un meilleur pied que le brocoli). J’aurais sûrement l’occasion de vous en reparler. D’ici là, je vais aller me faire un petit tournoi sur Magic Online. Je me suis auto-hypé. Quel être faible et misérable je fais, la preuve, vous venez de lire un Article sponsorisé.

Demain, je vais d’autant plus vous retourner le cerveau qu’on parlera de sexe et de post-humanité (hard sci-fi dans vos tronches !).

FREE STUFF STAGE !!!

Pour les plus aventureux je ne peux que vous conseiller d’aller faire un tour sur le site promo du jeu. Y’a moyen d’obtenir gratos une trentaine de cartes de démo, histoire de se faire sa propre idée.