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random bits
This weekend Dani and I joined some friends for a last-minute gaming get-together. We played La Cita (my third time, I think), which split interestingly: the winner had 35 points (would have been 40 if he hadn't starved his people in the last round), another player and I had 32 and 33, and the other two were in the high teens. It didn't look like that in play. (I thought I was doing worse and those last two better.) Then we played Rum and Pirates and all clumped within a few points of each other (something like 62-70). I like both of these games and will happily play more.
A few weeks ago I ordered a used DVD set via Amazon Marketplace. (I decided to see what all the Heroes fuss is about.) I chose a seller who had only a handful of ratings, all positive, figuring that someone like that is motivated to give good service. (Also, I noticed that the DVD would ship from PA.) A few weeks passed with no DVDs, so I sent email a couple days ago. This morning the seller wrote back with profuse apologies; he (she?) had accidentally sent my order to someone else who'd ordered on the same day, but now had the set back in hand -- "so I'll drive it over this afternoon". It turns out the seller is in the greater-Pittsburgh area. As promised, the DVDs were waiting for me when I got home from work, so everything worked out just fine. (I never order anything from third-party sellers that I actually need in a hurry.)
Speaking of TV,
the BBC
might bring back Blake's 7 (link from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
caryabend).
Woo hoo! I trust that this will eventually find its way to DVD and,
thence, my TV. Since it's been more than a quarter-century, I do
wonder what they'll do for casting. Of course, they could well do a
"25 years later..." story, even though the final season left things
on a cliffhanger.
(Anonymous) quote of the day, after interviewing a job candidate: "He has a lot of learning to do, and I don't want to pay the tuition".
This sign in a shop made me laugh.
Reusable printer paper looks like an interesting idea; I wonder if it can be developed economically. I'm surprised by the claims about what it costs to (1) manufacture and (2) recycle a piece of paper.
Quote of the
day #2 brings some much-needed context to the flap over Obama's
ex-minister. Excerpt (compiled by dglenn):
"No one likes to hear someone, especially a preacher, criticize our
good country. But Donna Potis [...] and so many others who decry
presidential candidate Barack Obama for having attended the
Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church while he preached prophetically
have very selective memories." The whole thing is worth a read;
it's not long.
Somewhat relatedly, osewalrus pointed me to
this
post pointing out that all the candidates and the voters
have a bigger religious-leader problem than this. Excerpt:
"[I]f I wake up and find that I'm in an America where certain pastors
and certain churches are openly denounced from the White House's
presidential podium, I will suddenly get even more nervous about
freedom of religion in America than I already am." Yes.
I found this
speculative, alternate timeline of the last ten years
by rjlippincott interesting.
Question for my Jewish (and Jewish-aware) readers: Thursday is Yom HaShoah (Holocaust rememberance day), so instead of my usual "daf bit" in the morning service, I'd like to do something on-theme. It has to be a teaching, something that would qualify as torah study, which rules out most of the readings that tend to show up in special services for the day. Any suggestions? I could probably find something in Lamentations, if that's not cliche, but I'm not really sure. And naturally, I do not wish to offend with a bad choice people who are old enough to remember.
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Blake's 7 *****(spoiler)*****
Re: Blake's 7 *****(spoiler)*****
But yes, we know that not everyone survives the episode.
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the BBC might bring back Blake's 7
I would be happy enough with the originals. The first few eps were slow, but once they got Orac everything picked up in a slick 70s style. The last four eps or so were pure gold. But when they put them out it was two shows to a disc, making it insanely expensive.
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I would be happy enough with the originals.
It exists on DVD, one boxed set per season. I ordered them from Amazon. However, they are region-2 DVDs, so you'll need the appropriate hardware.
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Avon certainly was the most interesting character. To borrow from the rusty and bizarre AD&D alignment system, he was chaotic-neutral: everything he did, including following Blake, was done for the sake of Avon and his internal set of rules. The sheer ruthlessness made him stand out, and I would say it was not only uncommon then, but still is. There are shows with conflicted characters (the "vampire wants to be good person" genre is rife with them), but Avon rarely seemed conflicted.
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I have taken an oath: To remember it all, to remember, not once to forget! Forget not one thing to the last generation when degradation shall cease, to the last, to its ending, when the rod of instruction shall have come to conclusion. An oath: Not in vain passed over the night of the terror. An oath: No morning shall see me at flesh-pots again. An oath: Lest from this we learned nothing (Council 49).
-Abraham Shlonsky
I was pleased to note that I remembered most of it, though I'm not sure what "Council 49" means.
There's also the classic Martin Niemoller:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.
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-- Dagonell
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2) Let me know what you think of Heroes. I was encouraged to watch the DVD just as you were (and possibly by the exact same culprits).
3) LOVED the alternate timeline. My favorite part was the thought process of the "righteous Democrat": [he's violated everything we've done to fight sexual harassment in the workplace. Bill may have done a lot of good for the liberal cause, but for this he's got to go.]
4) And now the big one.... First of all, I think that Jeremiah Wright's views on international politics have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the presidential election. It is indeed saddening that, for his own selfish reasons, this clown may well destroy the candidacy of the first serious black presidential candidate. However, attempts to justify Wright's actions can only backfire and increase the racial divide that has been opened here. The existence of extremists such as Jerry Falwell is not sufficient to justify all other forms of extremism. I think that the correct line of reasoning is to conclude that Wright is /irrelevant/, not /acceptable/.
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It looks like one of those confusing year, in which everyone will observe Yom Hashoah on different days.
Here is a relevant quote from about.com:
As a final effort to compromise, it was decided that if the 27th of Nissan would affect Shabbat (fall on Friday or Saturday), then it would be moved. If the 27th of Nissan falls on a Friday, Holocaust Remembrance Day is moved to the preceding Thursday. If the 27th of Nissan falls on a Sunday, then Holocaust Remembrance Day is moved to the following Monday.
< / quote >
I find it odd that it doesn't say what to do if Nissan 27 is Shabbat.
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4) And now the big one....
I think it's acceptable for people, wing-nuts included, to hold whatever opinions they want and to preach them to people who want to listen. This is not to say that I agree with those opinions. Your characterization is better: it's not about acceptability but relevance. I think it's acceptable for Obama's (or Clinton's or McCain's) preacher to hold unpopular opinions -- and unacceptable for that to affect the candidates.
I think it is completely fair to hold candidates accountable for what members of their staff say and do on their behalf; that's why you have campaign staffs, to represent you. But I don't think anybody's preacher, college roommate, next-door neighbor, ex-spouse, or boss is in such a role.
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