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Belgariad & Mallorean – David Eddings
Took the notion to re-read David Eddings’ Belgariad and Mallorean a few weeks ago. I’d first read The Belgariad when it was published in the 1980’s. It’s very formulaic. Fantasy written to simple recipe. The books towards the end of the Mallorean have a bit more depth. Some of the characters are very likeable, such as Silk. I’ve always seen Eric Idle as Silk. Still do. Some of the dialogue between the characters can be a bit twee and superficial in the books as well. Still, it’s good simple stuff to switch off to. I’ll read it again in another 20 years! Going to try some of Julian May’s later fantasy next. Her Intervention book is one of my favourite books.
Hot Fuzz
Went to see Hot Fuzz last week. It was good. Some really funny parts, in a schoolboy humour kind of way. Maybe a bit long. It reminded me of a Frank Herbert or John Wyndham small town gone bad story.
Smokin’ Aces
Went to see Smokin’ Aces last night. Weird. Bizarre. Strange. Drivel. Funny. Violent. About 2 hours of mindless mishmash. Good for escapism. Some parts try to be profound but fail. Quote from the girl I was with about 10 minutes into the film:
Like watching a train wreck
:-)I didn’t care though as I was in very contented mode after an truly excellent dry roasted chicken with korma sauce and rice at the Indian Ocean Restaurant in Belfast’s Odyssey Complex.
New year fitness
I’m not one for new year resolutions. The fact that the Earth has made another orbit of the Sun doesn’t seem like a reason to make promises that’ll get broken. If you want to do something then just do it irrespective of the date! Having said that it is time for me to get back to doing some exercise. So I’ve zeroed the exercise totals in the sidebar on the right and will start from scratch and record the totals for 2007. I want to get fit and play cricket again this year. For the record the totals before I reset them were:
The total number of miles covered in the fitness drive since 20th July 2006 is:
Miles walked: 23.95
Miles cycled: 107.02
Calories used: 6887
Update: Just did 2.79 miles around the grounds of Stormont.
The Commonwealth Saga – Peter F. Hamilton (reprise)
I’ve posted here about Peter F. Hamilton’s excellent Commonwealth Saga before. Just finished it again. Still very good. Some of the story lines (like the time spent by Ozzie, Orion and Tochee on the Silfen paths) can drag a bit. There is a new trilogy set in the same Universe but 1500 years after the Commonwealth Saga due to appear over the next few years. It’s going to be called The Void Trilogy. Happy days. Looking forward to that. Have ordered a copy of Misspent Youth to complete the Commonwealth Universe canon.
Yearly check-up done
I had my yearly TC check-up today. Is it really a year since the last one? Had the usual physical exam and a chest x-ray. Assuming the x-ray is clear, and it should be, I’ll have another exam same time next year.
Happy days 🙂
Chapter 1 of The God Delusion online
You can now read chapter 1 of The God Delusion online at the NYTimes site. Requires free registration.
There is also a full audio book copy from iTunes UK and Audible USA. I bought the audio version and I’m listening to it rather than reading the book again at present. I’ll read the book again in the future, but the reading pile is huge at present 🙂
A logo for the godless?
There is a thread over on Pharyngula about a suitable logo for the godless to use on websites etc. I like the astronomical symbol for the Sun myself. It is:
I think this is appropriate as we all came from stardust 🙂
The God Delusion – 6 reprints already!
Wow. It seems that Richard Dawkins’ new book has been reprinted 6 times since it was release in September. it’s selling like hotcakes. A quote from the publisher:
Publishing Director Sally Gaminara, who commissioned the book for Bantam Press, said she had always thought the book would be a success. She said: “We have had the book reprinted six times and it was only published at the end of September. That’s an awful lot for a hardback book. I always have high hopes for my books and always tipped this book to sell well since the day I read the manuscript and thought it was absolutely wonderful. The book is very much of its time, with an increasing amount of conflict over religion. I do see this book on top of the bestseller list at Christmas. It is an ideal present — how many people celebrate Christmas for religious reasons?
Happy days.