Fac Ut Gaudeam

I have to say that I now have a crush on Diana Gabaldon. The woman is not only intelligent and incredibly funny - she manages to be attractive in a very Claire way (some of you will know exactly what I mean). But I think what really made me swoon was having her answer the question of why set the novel in Scotland in the first place and why that time period. "I was watching an old Doctor Who episode..."

Yes, my friends, we got men in kilts because Ms. Gabaldon was watching Doctor Who. redeem147 would be able to tell you exactly which episode (the one where the Doctor picks up a new companion - a Scottish gentleman), but I'm ashamed to say I'm not that knowledgeable. Ms. Gabaldon also said that the idea of men in kilts held great appeal to her due to - The thought that you could be up against a wall with him in less than a minute - and this is an almost direct quote.

I wish I remembered the dirty limericks. Those were priceless.

And I really should call her Dr. Gabaldon. The lady has a PhD.

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On other news, waiting for rusty_halo to call back so we can finish working on the what, when and where (we already have the who and the why) for tonight. Last night we watched the 40 Year Old Virgin. I liked it enough to ignore the two asses kicking my chair. After yesterday's events an argument was the last thing I needed, so I let it go (hard to believe, eh?).

Question - didn't it disturb you that the message of the movie can easily be perceived as being: Don't have sex until you get married - even if it takes 40 frelling years! ? Maybe it was just me (I know rusty_halo shared some of my views), but women who are sexually aggressive often seem to share the same fate as the guys wearing the red uniforms in Star Trek: doomed to be obliterated/suffer/die a horrible death/pay the price.

There's the door.

I used to think of myself as different, weird even. It was bound to happen if you take in consideration where I was born (a photophobic in Tropical Brazil?), how I was raised (no contemporary music until I was 13 - yes, really) and my innate rejection of anything I perceived as ordinary.

Life taught me different. I'm in no way unique and there are others who share my idiosyncrasies - maybe not all of them at the same time, but get 2 or 3 people (in NYC or Gotham) and that's me right there.

That's why I'm sure there are others who also find Almodovar's movies incredibly romantic. Take >Tacones Lejanos< - it's what I would consider the #1 effective date movie (i.e. resulting in beard burns and/or carnal knowledge). It's sexy, it's original and as romantic as ( bit of spoils ) which, in my opinion, is very.

I saw it recently (for the 4th or 5th time) and was, once again, ga-ga over Miguel Bose's character (You probably know him from >La Reine Margot<. What?! You didn't watch that? Please, do!). Which got me thinking - Eddie Izzard is on my list*. So is Mr. Laurie, after I saw him in drag as Georgina, the doomed sweetheart in Black Adder III.

I must fancy girls.

Colleen?

* AKA The List - I never committed it to paper, but it's there, floating in the ether.

-The Movie Thing-
I've been tagged by the lovely Technicolor sunrise that is redeem147 - the only one who would tag me and get me to actually look it up.

Much to my surprise:
VHS * Not many, I donated all my old VHS movies and kept only the family videos.

DVDs * Way too many and I'm sort of embarrassed it's such a high number since there's a lot of trash in the midst (Day After Tomorrow, anyone?). My only defence is that most of them were presents.

DVD Sets * 14 (BtVS takes most of that. I got the last seasons as gifts)

Last bought * Vincent Price Box Set

Last watched in theatre * I really can't remember. It was either Kung Fu Hustle (as good as people say it is) or some kid movie.

Five I rewatch * The Doctor Who DVDs Colleen sent me, Sleepy Hollow, any of the Jeeves & Wooster, Agatha Christie's Poirot collection (with David Suchet) and, inexplicably, The 13th Warrior (the last one, ad infinitum).

Forgive me not to tag somebody else, but I've been away (I predict I'll try and then miserably fail to catch up on LJ) and am pretty sure that all have already been tagged and MeMe-d.


-The Novel Thing-
On related news, V for Vendetta, one of my favourite graphic novels of all time (go and read it, you won't regret it) is being turned into a movie. Now, this was written by the man I use the words genius and brilliant freely, [beat] Mr. Alan Moore. Anybody with a passing recognition of graphic novels and (dare I say) comics, knows Mr. Moore and is perhaps familiar with the butchery his work has suffered when it's their turn to go Hollywood: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Constantine and From Hell. Yes, From Hell didn't suck, but if you read the novel you'll find out it's not the same story and cry for all the wasted research (or not).

The cast is pretty good - with people like (most valuable DNA) Stephen Fry, Hugo Weaving (LotR, Matrix & Priscilla), John Hurt (Hellboy! Fine, he's done a lot more, but I couldn't resist), Stephen Rea and Natalie Portman (who shaved her head for the movie and still looks great).

Another graphic novel you may want to try is >Persepolis< by Marjane Satrapi. I can sit here and tell you how interesting it is to see the whole Iranian revolution through the eyes of a young girl (there are 4 Persepolis in total), but it wouldn't do this series justice in the least. The drawings are simple (b&w) and I liked it that way. Try.

Anyway, I've gone on long enough. The Big Book Thing was depressing, with people going out of business and even the big publishing houses hurting with the losses. I did have a great time finding some precious books, the one I want to rave about is the new translation of 1001 Nights. I'll eventually write about it since I'm pretty tired and it's a work that deserves its own entry (even if its fascinating story is so only to me).

Question: Was the Lost finale okay? Are they dead yet?

I have a thing for Tim Burton - no, not that way, but close. From the tip of Vincent's toes to the top of his Big Fish and all the way through Nightmare, Sleepy Hollow and with a special bow to Beetle Juice he makes me want to use the four-lettered-word. Yes, I love him.

This fall the man who only failed me once (and as men go, that's nada) gives the world Corpse Bride. The title alone makes me warm and fuzzy, but then the cast of this stop-motion scrumptiously gothic love tale is good enough to make this humble fan shed a few tears of gratitude... Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Albert Finney and Richard E. Grant.

After the waste of my all too brief time on this planet with such festering fermented fiendishness as Constantine and H'sGttG, I'm more than looking forward to this one. Give me this and the Coraline stop-motion and I'll be one very happy, black on black, camper.

The trailer for the movie can be found >here<. [Quicktime]

Pictures >here<

Edit: I almost forgot, Happy Mothers Day to those it applies. Go and hug your mum or something.

P.S. Yes, I do know Mr. Burton has the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory extravaganza coming out this year and that yes, Mr. Depp is also to be in that one. Hence my extra joy when told the news it will be a double Tim Burton year.

Television
^{BBC America} will be premiering the third season of Wire in the Blood on Mondays at 9:00 pm (ET/PT) starting April 11, 2005 as part of their "Mystery Monday" programming block.

( Books )

Youn'uns
My house's population this last week doubled due to back to back slumber parties and I found out that while nine year olds surprise and delight me, the fifteen year olds just bore me with the constant concern for the level of frizz wrestled out of their hair and the eternal question: will he call?

Is this what I burnt my bra for? To guarantee the next generation the right to worry about how they look and if the cute boy will call? The little voice is telling me yes, as long as the pay is equal.

The other voice is saying: remember Mileva Maric, girls. You don't even know who she was, do you? *sigh* My point exactly.

I'm stuck here for another couple of weeks and I have to say not doing a thing agrees with me so far. No, not really, but I'm trying to be bloody gracious.

Dead Like Me made its way down to perpetual bad hair due to humidity land and I'm loving it! Why would I identify with a girl called Georgia, who goes by George, with a serious bitch-with-chip case going, but really more compassionate than you'd have guessed and who feels like the universe has way too much fun toying with her (un)life?
I have no idea. Really!
Joan of Arcadia - Don't shoot me, but I'm a sucker for the whole G'd has a mission for you theme. The actors are beyond good and I just love it, love it, love it. I'm glad Joan is not giving much thought to what happened to the other Joan. I'll just mention how glad I am the Inquisition is over.
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has also just started. I like it, but not in love with it. Yet. I only saw one show so far and I did like it when I caught some of it in NY. It should appeal to the gay man in me big time. It's just that it makes me wonder if all single guys out there live in pigsties! I'm messy, but there is no new civilization growing on food left under my bed... not to mention the box of kleenex and lotion that was right by that.
Sing with me: His penis has diseases from a Chumash tribe...
I know. EWWW!
AtS is still all about D-Beast here and I will not go through that stupid reset your whole story 'cause Cordy is now evil (and dresses like a skank) again. I'm back to having to dl the new season. At least I get to catch glimpses of Spike when they let JM do some acting.
Shows I'm getting down here and wish I wasn't?
Joe Millionaire - or AKA let's all be hos on television. Their parents must be proud.
American Idol - the American version... and I know Reuben won, but Clay is making all the money. Why would they think people down here would care?
Tarzan - My heart has enough room for one blond and one blond only. And my blond can actually act.
OC - The pain of Dawson's Creek wasn't enough?!
Skin - Shakespeare stopped rolling in his grave over what is done to his plays a long time ago. I just changed channels.
And finally the bottom of the barrel:
Coupling US - It has been canceled in the US (6 eps too many, btw) - but not before it being bought stopped the real Coupling. I did sit through the first episode and hated every minute of the very badly done, obviously inferior imitation. Maybe it's the whole Puritan thing the US has going (no offense!) and the actors seemed to be straining during every minute they spent talking about sex (which is all they do in Coupling - so you can see what a biggie we have here). They even managed to make Jeff sound idiotic - instead of hilariously idiotic (porn buddies is funny!). I shudder to think what they'd do if they got their hands on Manchild.

I just want Amazing Race to start again and save me!

Chen and the flickering light from the box

Struggling over a review for Persian Boy *sigh*. It will work out. I just have to let go for a bit.
This is a shameless pimping of my cartoons, The Adventures of Chen.

Disclaimer: Democrat tendencies here - so please don't be offended by A Quiet Night at Home if you're a Republican.