Call me Aslan
 

More importantly - there's going to be a re-release of Nilsson's "The Point" on DVD sometime soon.

(Oblio and Arrow - together again!)

Call me Aslan
 

If you liked the Wrinkle series (one of my favorites), you would probably like the Golden Compass books. It's a triology by Philip Pullman that takes place in an alternate universe (with some cross-over into our world) where people have "daemons." Daemons are never precisely defined but they seem to be something like an animal manifestation of a person's soul. The kind of animal is fluid during childhood and reflects the daemon's mood state and then around puberty set into an unchangeable form.

The third book is a little lame in its attempts to be an original sin allegory but they're fun reads.

Atkins Dead -- Not from the Diet
 

Robert C. Atkins, 72, Creator of Controversial Diet, Dies
By DOUGLAS MARTIN

Dr. Robert C. Atkins, a cardiologist who devised a controversial diet favoring pork chops over pasta and butter over bran, which more than 30 million Americans have tried, died today at New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center. He was 72.

Dr. Atkins fell and suffered head injuries on April 8 in front of his Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine in Manhattan, where he also lived. The center offered an eclectic mix of traditional and alternative treatments for many illnesses and conditions, including obesity.

Full text: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/ob...partner=GOOGLE

Call me Aslan
 

Wow. Just like in real life.

Eldest Bagguette seems to have "set" as a sloth.

Golden Compass Series
 

I just read these books within the past month. The first two in the series are good. I was very disappointed with the ending of the trilogy and how everything resolved. I also had a major problem with how strong the religious aspects were in the 3rd book.
The person who recommended them to me said they were a darker more mature version of Harry Potter. They certainly are darker and deal with religion in a more complex way whereas the Harry Potter books are more about good versus evil. I find the Harry Potter books more creative.













SPOILER: Seriously, don't read this if you have any plans to read the series.




So how was the girl the new Eve, merely because they shut up all the rips between worlds? Also, What a bleak version of heaven! What's up with that? I kept thinking of it as purgatory which is obviously Catholic theology, but then why was the church so bad. (note: I am not trying to get into a discussion of the Catholic church and its theology).

I was ready to be finished with the books so I may not have read them as closely as I should of to have figured this out. But oh well.
RL

Vacations
 

There's a really funny effect on the south shore of PEI, which is that the water between PEI and the Amherst shore of Nova Scotia is like bath water. They say it's the warmest salt water north of the Carolinas. The channel is shallow and broad, not much wave action, and this lets it warm right up.

Summer in PEI is beautiful. High 70s, grass greener than Ireland. Bring a 12 year old girl with you (hopefully your daughter) and she'll go crazy over the Anne of Green Gables stuff, but I'm afraid that theme means that the island kind of has one visit in it before it gets tiring.

BUT, if you go there and take a ferry to the Magdalene Islands, you will find one of most enchanting places you've ever been.

Call me Aslan
 

Ah, my favorite album from childhood! Thx for the news, Bilmore!

n(down down down down down down down down down down... to the bottom bottom bottom bottom [okay, you get the jist]... below)cs

Golden Compass Series
 

To tell you the truth, I can't remember enough about the third book right now to comment further. I read it several years ago (and in the early part of bar review). Plus I'm brain dead from an overly stimulating week. I'll try to look at it over the weekend and will PM you to keep from boring the others.

(Is it time to go home yet??)

Call me Aslan
 

This reminds of an amusing dinner party game that could be a Thurgreed-esque poll: what kind of animal would you be?

I've always thought I would be an otter.

Golden Compass Series
 

Don't bother, I really don't care that much. I just thought maybe someone around here had a little more reading comprehension than I do. But thanks for the offer.

RL

Atkins Dead -- Not from the Diet
 

In honor of the great doctor, I think that instead of refusing bread to keep Kosher for Pesach, all of my fellow jews should refuse bread on account of all the carbs.

str(carb free in '03)8

2 down (sigh), 14 to go (sigh).

Matisse Picasso Query
 

Has anyone been to the "Matisse Picasso" juxtaposition exhibit at MOMA Queens? Is it as amazing as it sounds? I am a devout Picasso fan, and a semi-devout Matisse fan, and have been to countless exhibits of each. I am concerned I am building myself up for a letdown.

neigh(closet art buff)sayer

Call me Aslan
 

They were doing a version of A Wrinkle In Time recently as a mini series. I think that it's slated to air sometime in the fall. http://us.imdb.com/Title?0290382 They were also doing a version of A Ring of Endless Night, which may possibly be my favorite book of all time. I don't think I could bear to see anyone else's vision of that book.

ETA: And it appears that this information has already been imparted by several people before me. I do have to say that L'Engle was my favorite author as a kid, and I continue to reread her stuff every couple of years. With the exception of a few of her poetry books, I"ve read everything she's written several times.

Call me Aslan
 

Amen. Cupid. Sports Night. Miracles. I'm surprised they've held on to Alias as long as they have.

Matisse Picasso Query
 

I have been to it. If there were about 50,000 fewer people in the exhibit with me it would have been more enjoyable. WAaay too crowded.

Like you I am a devout Picasso fan and a semi-devout Matisse fan. I would say it was a very good (but not great) exhibit. I really liked seeing the juxtaposition and it was weird - I always thought of Picasso as the more subversive one, but when you see them together, Matisse looks more subversive because Picasso goes for the shock and Matisse is subtle (except for one portrait of his wife, which is downright scary). There was some stuff I had never seen or heard of before. Overall I really enjoyed it but the people there were really pissing me off - rude and way too many of them. Grrr. The audio commentary was also ok - it was a conversation between experts rather than a straight narrative. One of the experts was annoying. I would definitely recommend, but don't expect the earth.

Call me Aslan
 

Don't get me started on Sports Night. I hold such a grudge.

But, given what's happened to WW over the years, I am almost happy it went bye-bye before Sorkin had a chance to destroy his creation completely.

I have started watching Alias from time to time since the Superbowl. It's surprisingly entertaining.

Call me Aslan
 

After a completely non-satisfying day trying to deal with utter dolts, I have decided that I am that first small furred creature that ventured out into the world of dumb-as-rocks dinosaurs.

Now excuse me, I'm going to go eat their eggs. One small step, but that much closer to extinction . . .

What about Geriatrix?
 

Asterix and Obelisk. Read 'em all. Great books. Who knew the French could be so brave and strong?

Those and Tintin were in heavy rotation back in the day.

Thurgreed(could use some potion right now)Marshall

Call me Aslan
 

Call me Aslan. I'd be King of the jungle. Alpha male of a lion pride. Sleep all day. Sex with all the lion bitches whenever I want. First dibs on all the food. And a stylin' fur coat.

Thurgreed(instead of "king," it should be "pimp" of the jungle)Marshall

What about Geriatrix?
 

Same here. I think my brother has custody of all those books now, and they're probably missing pages because we all read them so much. I heard a rumor that Spielberg wants to make a Tintin movie.

What about Geriatrix?
 

I still have custody of my collection (which is in pretty bad shape) and still read them. I lobbied to call our dog Dogmatix but was outvoted by my retarded sisters. Did you ever watch the Tintin animated series? I used to watch it Saturdays during law school when I was hungover and attempting to clean my apartment.

Matisse Picasso Query
 

What's the matter? You don't like art with a sense of visual depth?

Is the show travelling or are you coming up here?

TM

What about Geriatrix?
 

You know, I think I may have seen one or two episodes of the animated series, but it would have been years and years ago. I did see most of the animated movies that they did for Asterix, but I didn't think they were as funny as the books were.

I used to watch the X-Men animated series and Pinky and the Brain when I was in law school. That's also the time period where I started reading comic books, because they were short and I could justify the time it took to read them instead of other books.

What about Geriatrix?
 

Who could play Tintin? Jude Law? Ryan Phillippe? Somone who could do the hair tuft thing.

Captain Haddock? The key to any Tintin movie.

Professor Calculus?

Thomson & Thompson?

And which story would it be?

TM

Call me Aslan
 

Perfect. I know that feeling exactly.

A new vacation spot for TM.
 

The best quote from the article: "Some fans follow the top exotic-dancer contests around the country, going from show to show, Kent said. 'It's like NASCAR; it's like the Daytona 500,' he said."

I did see Lucky last week. It's a very good show. Did they run a new episode this week, or just the pilot?

What about Geriatrix?
 

My favorite is the Calculus Affair. Powerful weapons, kidnapping, daring rescues, Bianca Castafiore - what's not to like?

Those moon ones were overrated.

Is The Calculus Affair the first half with this as the second:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/03...1.THUMBZZZ.jpg ? Because The Seven Crystal Balls had that scary skinny guy in it. Good readin'.

My favorites were:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/03...1.THUMBZZZ.jpg

and

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/03...1.THUMBZZZ.jpg

But, this one was good too:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/03...1.THUMBZZZ.jpg

Who am I kidding? I loved them all.

Thurgreed(Billions of Blue Blistering Barnacles!)Marshall

Tintin Rocks your Socks
 

I can't even believe I'm saying this, but I much preferred the books in the original French.

str(ducking for cover)8 outa west-hollywood, and going to see Foo Fighters tonight!!!

What about Geriatrix?
 

I think that it'd be cool if they kept the main character European, so I'd be looking at British actors. No one too old though. Someone sort of geeky too, and he's not necessarily a heart throb, tough Hollywood is bound to change that.

Agreed. You know, it's a departure, but I could sort of see Harrison Ford doing it. I wonder if he'll be on or off the wagon for the movie?

What about Geriatrix?
 

Though it saddens me to say it, I think Frankie Muniz is the obvious choice.

What about Geriatrix?
 

you know, this could be the great opportunity for Sean Biggerstaff, the hottie Quiddich coach in the Harry Potter movies. I am going to hell for lusting after him.

What about Geriatrix?
 

You say that because he is the only kid actor you can think of . . .

What about Geriatrix?
 

Took me a minute to find him--I assumed a name like that was a character, not the actor himself. Lust in peace, RT, he turned 20 on March 15. And he has his own website, http://www.seanbiggerstaff.com

tm

What about Geriatrix?
 

I had to IMDB this because I thought you were kidding about the name. And his character was [snicker] Oliver Wood! It's no wonder England has such a low birthrate when their matinee idols sound like gay porn stars.

He was 18 when the first HP movie came out, and 20 today. So lust away, my friend. Perfectly legal.

Edited to add: Goddamn it! Always a day late and a dollar short.

Tintin Rocks your Socks
 

They were better in French.

Speaking of books in French, my family acquired a really funky out of print illustrated kids book on the history of cycling. Everyone tries to steal it from our mother's house every time we go home.

What I really wish I had is a copy of my 4th grade French book where we learned such helpful dialogue as "Regardez, les voleurs a gauche."

Matisse Picasso Query
 

I saw it, though not in NY but last year when I was on vacation. I assume it's the same exhibit.

Certainly worth seeing, though the crowds really do suck. If you've spent lots of time in the MOMA, you'll have seen most of the best paintings in the exhibit. But there are a few real gems that have rarely if ever been in the US before, including one of Picasso's most beautiful paintings. (I can't remember the title, but it's the reclining woman, mostly in white, which has been housed in Russia/USSR for the past several decades).

What about Geriatrix?
 

I was WAY into Tin Tin as a kid. I still have a box of them somewhere...

What about Geriatrix?
 

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan

Did you ever stop reading the comics version of the assigned reading?

Call me Aslan
 

Originally posted by bilmore

I always thought your age was prehistoric.