Due to the many positive reviews that I've stumbled across during the last couple of days, I've gotten quite interested in watching State of Play's US movie adaption. Surely one of those cases where curiosity will win over better knowledge, but I'd really like to see how the original mini series' plot and characters are being transformed to fit with the much shorter amount of screen time.

As for the actors...

Am I crazy if I think that the American cast list actually sounds promising makes sense, even though Crowe and Afflek appear to be the complete anti-thesis to their British counterparts?

Woke up at about 5:15 a.m., and after watching the gradual onset of daylight I found myself in front of the computer, searching my hard drive for something nice to pass the time until breakfast.

Spontaneously ended up with the pilot to Ashes to Ashes, which is kind of odd, since I've yet to finish the second season of the original "mother show", LoM. Well, so much for the systematic approach ;-)

As for Ashes to Ashes, I must say that I quite enjoyed it. Apparently more Chris, which is good in my book; plus I liked Alex' distanced, partly sarcastic reaction to the 1980s surroundings she perceives as a continuation of another man's fantasy.

So far, so curious how things will continue...

...as spotted over at astrogirl2's.

Name a fandom, and I'll tell you:

1. The first character I fell in love with:
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:
3. The character I would shag anytime:
4. The character I'd slap:
5. Who are my 3 favorite characters.
6. What are my 3 favorite pairings.
7. The coolest thing about the canon:
8. The lamest thing about the canon:
9. My guiltiest pleasure in this fandom:
10. What story I wish I could read (or art I wish I could see):
11. What story I wish I had written/still want to write:

Just waving to say that thesis of doom has been successfully handed in :-)

About 100 pages, 16 illustrations. And one grand final battle with MS word, 'cause apparently Word likes eating graphic layouts and formats for breakfast ...

But, yay, it's done!

The average life expectancy of the snow flake in north-western Rhineland is brief.
Snow falls out of the skies, meets moist, above zero grounds,
melts away,
dies.

But, hey people, listen:

For the fourth day in a row we are under a thick, glistening blanket!
Real snow, proper snow
that is not wet at all and makes dry, crunchy noises
under your feet.

When you walk

down at the river bank, in the low standing sun
snow is golden.

A desert of diamonds.

And the fog, rising from alien plains,
how milky and soft.

Christmas: The time of the year when even the sweetest, fluffiest of Cocker Spaniels turns into a ( ruthless, cake-stealing monster )

Belated Christmas Wishes and a happy New Year!

I don't know if anyone else on my f-list ever has ever experienced this, but sometimes, when watching classic movies, I catch myself thinking: "This so should have a fandom!"

The latest case in a long row is Gunfight at the OK Corral, US 1957, by John Sturges. Based on the legendary historical shoot out, it's got everything that it needs to capture one's imagination, starting with an intriguing plot, great visuals, fabulous direction, soundtrack and eye candy acting. Young Kirk Douglas. Burt Lancaster. Very young Dennis Hopper. Oh and did I mention DeForest Kelley as additional bonus for Trekkers?

The characters and the messed-up dynamics they have with each other are a real treat for the sophisticated angst fan. Just imagine a terminally ill gambler and occasional gun fighter, haunted by a tragic past, flying on auto-destruct, and, due to circumstances, befriended by an outwardly doubtless and pitch-perfect law man.

Amazing potential for shippers, regardless whether of the slash or het conviction, as central facets of both male protagonists are also reflected in relationships they have with women. In the case of the law man, Wyatt Earp, the film grants you a melancholic, little, never-quite fulfilled romance, a story of "If Not's" and "Could Have Been's." Doc Holliday and mistress Kitty Fisher, in contrast, are painted obsessive and dark, their screwed-up dynamics tragic and almost painful to watch.

As both Earp and Holliday, against all odds, actually do survive the great show-down, there's enormous potential for continuation, either backed up by historical canon, or as AU as one pleases, depending on taste.

Just imagine the possibilities for debate, alternate interpretations of characters and history. Or, on the not so nice side, the flame wars initiated in order to silence defenders of Kitty's actions…

This film so should have a fandom. And some of my favourite authors writing Holliday stories ;-)

( Only makes sense if you are able to read and understand German... )

In other words: We are having a major plumbing leak. Yesterday night, water dwelled out of our freshly renovated living room wall. Source of leak so far undetected.

Last weekend I went to see Grace is Gone,  one of my more successful attempts at catching a a quiet little movie while it is still being played on the silver screen. I guess, one cannot even blame theatre managers for pulling non-major, non-blockbuster productions so very quickly, because the audience acceptance turns out so disappointing. If cavendish had not decided to accompany me, the altogether number of viewers on that Sunday evening would have been three, as there was another couple sitting close to the front row while we had chosen to take seats at the back.

There was a detailed, rather favourable review of Grace in German at Spiegel Online. The film has won/is nominated for several prizes. Music by Clint Eastwood, Sundance Festival audience liked it. An American critic over at Rottentomatoes.com called it: A late entry in last year's parade of war movies that nobody saw, James C. Strouse's "Grace Is Gone" is a beautifully acted and terribly sad film that never makes a case for its own existence.

Despite the mixed judgment (terribly sad, too subdued and slowly paced, too inevitable and painful the ending), her review provides a rather adequate idea of the film itself, and the performances of the actors involved. John Cusack, far from the "cute guy with darker streaks" roles he has played in the past, struck me as particularly impressive in all the helplessness and confusion that he conveys, turning his character into one of those flawed, disturbingly average  people that one wants to alternatively slap and hug at the same time.

My  Dad phoned. The furniture guys have just arrived. Wish me and those cherry wood cupboards some luck, yes?

I'm so glad I'm not there to watch the whole "let down via balcony" business.

At least I hope so....

Gone are the days of nicotine stains and grayish yellow. Three walls done in creamy pastels. A fresh, white ceiling. One wall still to go.

All the granny furniture that we had no intention of keeping is already gone, well, apart from the sofa which will be replaced by cavendish's way prettier one. My own cupboards are due to arrive on Friday, and hell, am I nervous about this. As it's impossible to carry the big one down the stairs, it will be let down via the balcony by a professional company.

Not enough time  to reply to all the good, thought-provoking entries on my f-list. But I'm reading and very much enjoying! :-)

Bless you for posting!

Watching  DW 3x012, Stolen Earth, after a full day of fighting with furniture, electronics and curtains felt incredibly good

( My two cents on the episode's ending... )

Go here. Keep refreshing until you've collected five quotes that really resonate with you, then post them to your journal.



You know, I think that if parents would spend less time worrying about what their kids watch on TV and more time worrying about what's going on in their kids' lives, this world would be a much better place.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Death, 1997


I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn't wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.

Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)



First things first, but not necessarily in that order.

Doctor Who



Chase after truth like hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coat-tails.

Clarence Darrow (1857 - 1938)



You try to give away what you want yourself.

Lois McMaster Bujold, "Memory", 1996

it was only a matter of days until I headed off, cavendish in tow, to see Indy IV ...

A nice-looking character meme, as seen over at astrogirl2's:


Give me a character from any fandom you know I know and I will tell you:

a. My favourite thing about that character.
b. My least favourite thing about that character.
c. One person I would ship them with in their own verse.
d. One crossover ship for them I think would be neat.
e. One crossover universe for them I think would be even neater.
f. Their ship from hell :)
g. Their Song.
h. The title of their biography or autobiography.
i. The last bad dream they had.
j. How they're gonna shuffle off the mortal coil, if they haven't already :)

If the city of London were an artwork, I bet it would be a true Jackson Pollock. A huge, breathtaking canvass, filling space, filling time. Bustling with the energy captured, of one million paint sprays. Throwing the full force of motion, of colour, right into your face.

Orientation only comes from looking at traces and layers and axes. Find your fixed points yourself, navigate, rotate along your interests and passion. Regardless whatever excites you, tickles your brain or simply amuses, just follow along and enjoy, because on each street corner there’s plenty.

To pay full respect to all the places we went to, or to cover at least half of the amazing things we have seen, would take me hours.

So just this:

Weather was fine (mostly), and we walked quite a lot. There’s a nice little company offering guided tours. Themed walks, walks through various parts of the city. Altogether highly recommendable.

Yay for compulsive collectors, because they are the source of amazing museums!

Meeting with kathyh at Sir John Soane's was priceless, and so was chatting with vastan at Piccadilly Circus, out in the rain.

A much too short visit to the Tate Modern. The entrance hall completely blows me each time I’m there.

I had the most wonderful time, tracing the 18th century. Paintings, houses and street fronts. A harpsichord in action. Historically correct naval uniforms and port wine. The sunny meadows of Greenwich.


Movies and Theatre:

I’m Not There (Bob Dylan biopic, as fascinating as it is flawed)

Glengarry Glenn Ross (Which had mostly raised my curiosity, because I had seen the movie version of it some years ago. Also, the additional benefits of very fine actors live on stage, including Papa Swann as Shelley Levene. cavendish, though, didn't nearly enjoy Mamet's play as much as I did)

What I almost forgot in the midst of Christmas and post-Christmas business:

cavendish and I will be making a brief holiday trip to London from January 2 to January 6. So if any of you London-based folks would love to meet up with us while we are there, just yell ;-)

As the end of the year is fast approaching and I've seen several people taking the opportunity to post self-reflexive entries on their writing: What do you do with the stories that never quite made it? I am not speaking about the unfinished ones, but rather the ones that you finished but chose to hold back for one reason or other.

There's this silly, old PotC ficlet that has rummaging around at the back of my mind ever since I re-read it and tinkered with it a couple of days ago. The story is taking place in the same future universe as Distant Figure, only about fifteen years earlier, during the late 1780s, and we've got Gillette in London, all on his own and not very happy. Doubtlessly an absolute niche piece, so disjointed and overladen with historical references that I didn't really wish to inflict it on any beta, just for the sake of the two or three readers that this particular story might eventually get.

And still the whole affair continues to bug me...

Having raised my head only here and there in the comments to other folks' entries lately, I thought this character meme I found at astrogirl2's would be just the thing to get back into the posting saddle again:

Name a character from one of my fandoms and I'll give you (a) three facts about them from my personal canon/fanon, (b) a reason he/she sucks, (c) a reason she/he is awesomecakes, (d) five things that never happened to that character or (e) five people that character never fell in love with and why. You pick the character. I pick the letter.

Oh, and I'm currently reading Feuchtwanger's The Lautensack Brothers which I am enjoying immensely for its superb, nuanced depiction of power dynamics, be it the interplay of politics, industry and art in the late Weimar Repuplic or the complex web of relations and dependencies between the characters. Feuchtwanger's rich, evocative and quite exuberant language is one of the best counter proofs to the good old "If you spot an adjective, kill it" rule that I've ever seen. Just like with Jew Suess and The Ugly Duchess, the other two Feuchtwanger novels that I have read, I am fascinated by the stylistic parallels between Feuchtwanger and some of my favourite Anglo-Saxon Modernist writers. As far as the literary representation of individual thought/consciousness goes, Feuchtwanger does what they do, and thus provides an impressive, at times quite creepy peek into the mind of his all too human, flaw-ridden and often also agenda-following characters.


As for my stance on the flagging issue (which I would have missed completely if it hadn't been for my f-list): I'll boycott. Should I ever chose to make an artsy post about Rembrand's Rape of Ganymede or to discuss the latest Nip/Tuck episode in all its glorious, clothes-reduced and quite graphic detail, I won't flag it. Nor will I under any circumstances flag the entries of others.

Broadband DSL-Modem: Fine, all lights blinking just as they should.

Router: Running perfectly. All settings correct. Connection can be separated and re-established without any trouble.

Programs reliant on functioning internet connection, but working independently from Windows: Running as fine as ever.

So broadband is definitely there and yet Windows/browsers/e-mail are blocked from talking to it.

Any ideas which diagnosis might fit internet troubles like that? Calling the support line of our much adored low cost provider will only lead straight into eternal waiting queue hell and is therefore not really an option.


ETA: Located and eradicated the source of my connection problems. A Trojan, of all things floating around in the web... *sigh*