Well that last post created much excitement. I was particularly touched with the reli nutters reply.
I've recently picked up some of Macs breweries new Low Carb beer, SpringTide. I like the new Macs packaging, it's cool. Anyway a quick beer review: for those of you looking to get tanked it's still 4.5% so thats a tick. Tastewise: very dry sharp lager taste on the first sip. The after taste seems quite nice too. The problem is that its missing the middle. The beer itself is quite quaffable, and definitely better than many of the 'lagers' that get inflicted on the NZ public. But it's not great. The good point is, I guess, the low carb rating. My recommendation: drink a few good quality brews then hit this if you are settling in for a decent drinking session.
Saw Children of Men the other night with my blonde bit (as she's been called). This is really really good movie. I thought the premise was cliched, and the shorts looked crap. Oh how wrong was I. Excellent story, very funny in places, interesting, thought provoking - all the good stuff that movies should be, but so often fail at. Clive Owen was his usual brilliant self. And special mention must be made of Michael Caine. I think he's crap as an actor, but he was good here. Very good in fact. So that makes a sum total of two movies I've liked him in (The Quiet American is the other). The story is basically the world is sterile and no babies have been conceived for 18 years, and then someone gets pregnant. Owen's gets sucked back into the resistance (the British government has become more totalitarian - nice crossovers with Nazi propaganda), and ends up trying to get the pregnant chick to her destination. That summary doesn't do justice to the movie. Watch the backgrounds and settings, very very good - in fact overload of subtle references. And even more impressive it had Deep Purple and King Crimson (21st C schizoid man) in it! Woohoo!
Do yourself a favour, go see it.
Research is rocking along at the moment, wrote a paper detailing human telomere hybridisation to reptiles last week, with some lovely sexy pictures in it.
me xx
4 January 2007
1 January 2007
Silent Hill
Watched this last night. Or at least half of it. It was so bad we couldn't sit through all of it and finished it this morning. Oh god it was appalling. I like bad movies (see many reviews in this blog for evidence), but this, this, this wasn't even B-grade - it was Z-grade. The scripting was shocking, the acting possibly worse. It has some star power in Sean Bean, and he's fine. Good even, although it appears he's sleepwalking through it. It's a crossover from a computer game (which I haven't played). Although the comments on IMDB suggest it's 'finally a good crossover game/movie' I would suggest that may have been written by a 13-15 yo male who thought Doom was a good movie. The movie is crap. It's farcical in ways movies with a good budget shouldn't be.
The scripting is bad, really bad. Which is a shame as the concept is good, and the writer has some good stuff to his credit (Res Dogs, pulp fiction, killing zoe etc).
Special effects are reasonable, but still more funny than scary. This creates a problem for a 'horror' movie.
The last 20 minutes, maybe even 30 minutes, are quite good. But sitting through 90 minutes before you get to the ok bit seems a bit masochistic to me. It even felt masochistic.
How to watch this movie: don't. Even with wine/cognac it sucked. I was in the mood for a bgrade horror. This disappointed on every level. I wonder if it's killed Sean's career...
B.
The scripting is bad, really bad. Which is a shame as the concept is good, and the writer has some good stuff to his credit (Res Dogs, pulp fiction, killing zoe etc).
Special effects are reasonable, but still more funny than scary. This creates a problem for a 'horror' movie.
The last 20 minutes, maybe even 30 minutes, are quite good. But sitting through 90 minutes before you get to the ok bit seems a bit masochistic to me. It even felt masochistic.
How to watch this movie: don't. Even with wine/cognac it sucked. I was in the mood for a bgrade horror. This disappointed on every level. I wonder if it's killed Sean's career...
B.
31 December 2006
Movies, women in kitchens, and happy NY
Hi again all, this particular missive comes to you with the sweet sounds of Marillions 'Afraid of Sunlight' blaring in the background. This is probably my all time favourite album, and I can't begin to imagine how many times I've listened to it.
For those of you who know me, I am now hairless. Well facial hair anyway. Depending on demand, I may post a picture.
In the paper yesterday, a study reported that women who cook and dust a lot are less likely to get heart disease. Go Science!!! So next time you order your wench to the kitchen to cook you some eggs, add 'it'll save your life honey' - should work a treat!!
Movie reviews:
I went and saw Copying Beethoven yesterday. This starred Ed Harris and the delectable Diane Krugar. Ok so it's a fantasy and creative story telling of Beethoven's last year. But its enjoyable. The first 20 minutes or so were a bit clunky, but after that it settled down and focussed on the characters - Beethoven and his copyist (Diane K). The movie takes as its starting point the final few days of composition of the 9th before its premiere. As Ludwig van is deaf and can't hear the orchestra he needs a backup - and his nephew Carl (who looks so emo-kid it's not funny!) doesn't want to do it. So he (LVB) bonds with the copyist - and she helps him. It's fun, music is great (mainly 9th, a bit of the 7th and bits of the late era quartets - might be others but thats what I picked), acting is good - although at times I thought Harris' was sleepwalking a bit - and movie is interesting.
North Country: saw this last night. Eh typical Hollywood fluff. Predictable storyline. Pah. No-one deserved to win anything from this movie. But I have a feeling they did. Stupid awards ceremonies. Even with wine drinking it didn't improve. The only plus was having Warren Zevon and Bob Dylan on the soundtrack - huzzah!
Oh well, off to cook dinner now :-)
smoochies, b.
For those of you who know me, I am now hairless. Well facial hair anyway. Depending on demand, I may post a picture.
In the paper yesterday, a study reported that women who cook and dust a lot are less likely to get heart disease. Go Science!!! So next time you order your wench to the kitchen to cook you some eggs, add 'it'll save your life honey' - should work a treat!!
Movie reviews:
I went and saw Copying Beethoven yesterday. This starred Ed Harris and the delectable Diane Krugar. Ok so it's a fantasy and creative story telling of Beethoven's last year. But its enjoyable. The first 20 minutes or so were a bit clunky, but after that it settled down and focussed on the characters - Beethoven and his copyist (Diane K). The movie takes as its starting point the final few days of composition of the 9th before its premiere. As Ludwig van is deaf and can't hear the orchestra he needs a backup - and his nephew Carl (who looks so emo-kid it's not funny!) doesn't want to do it. So he (LVB) bonds with the copyist - and she helps him. It's fun, music is great (mainly 9th, a bit of the 7th and bits of the late era quartets - might be others but thats what I picked), acting is good - although at times I thought Harris' was sleepwalking a bit - and movie is interesting.
North Country: saw this last night. Eh typical Hollywood fluff. Predictable storyline. Pah. No-one deserved to win anything from this movie. But I have a feeling they did. Stupid awards ceremonies. Even with wine drinking it didn't improve. The only plus was having Warren Zevon and Bob Dylan on the soundtrack - huzzah!
Oh well, off to cook dinner now :-)
smoochies, b.
29 December 2006
Santo - Mysterio ea Las Bermudas
Santo movies are characterised by their lack of acting, reasonable wrestling, poor scripts and dodgy english subtitles. As such, they rock. And this one, Santo and the Bermuda Mystery is no exception. For some reason Saint, Blue Demon and the Man with a thousand masks, are involved in high level discussions concerning nuclear energy. The babes are cute, curvy and sadly clothed. A strike against the movie...oh heres a plus, two people just appeared on screen. then disappeared. weird. here they are again they are wearing silver suits and headbands. A car chase and a boat chase, how lucky am I?! Followed by meeting a whole bunch of silver clad headband wearing people. Most of them with big village people style mustaches. Do silver wearing people have movember? Maybe they do... Goddard (the main bad guy, don't they make silver polish?) is being told off by his aforementioned babes for wanting to kill the person the wrestlers are going to defend. It's hard being the bad cheese. The silver suited people are scientists living in peace. Of course, it's all obvious. Somehow I'm suspicious that all is not what is seems! The princess is a karate expert. She's also funny looking. And just broke some bricks. It's tough being a brick. It ended with 'The end of the world is nigh'.
b x
b x
Pictures!!
Yes I know I promised pictures of the view from my office sometime ago, but like I don't have a camera. And I'm just looks anyway. But following a request to fix a camera/computer I now have some pictures.
First up; looking out towards Wgtn harbour from my window.
And secondly, out towards the cable car and the green stuff:
Love and kisses on your interesting bits, B.
First up; looking out towards Wgtn harbour from my window.
And secondly, out towards the cable car and the green stuff:
Love and kisses on your interesting bits, B.
26 December 2006
Boxing Day Pt II
And so begins Pt II. The swim was good, no cute chicks in bikini's, but relaxing nonetheless. First up is Sin City. I like this movie - nice noir vibe and beautifully shot. Was that McSteamy (GA) in it?
It's surprising how many people comment when you've got a painted fingernail.
And now onto Dream Theater 'Score', I was halfway through this so it's the orchestral section. Now with some bands (Metallica spring to mind here) this is just crap. But I have to admit I like what DT have done. Even if Mike P's stupid t-shirt makes me want to slap the bugger. And can his drum kit get any bigger? I mean really, can anyone say small penis? That's not even mentioning the bloody mirror he's got ...
But aside from that. Damm thats a great band. Scary how good they are really. The orchestral tracks were well chosen, the only comment I could make was that with an orchestra, perhaps a bit less keyboard would be required? Is that bit of Octavium a tribute to GardenParty? Hmmm certainly sounds like it.
WTF is up with jack johnson, why is he so popular and yet so frickin' boring?
And since DT it's been a wild wild ride! The news, Simpsons, Futurama and now Little Britain abroad. Shortly will be an episode of six feet under which I'm finally catching up on. Yes, it's all go here.
b (postus maximus)
It's surprising how many people comment when you've got a painted fingernail.
And now onto Dream Theater 'Score', I was halfway through this so it's the orchestral section. Now with some bands (Metallica spring to mind here) this is just crap. But I have to admit I like what DT have done. Even if Mike P's stupid t-shirt makes me want to slap the bugger. And can his drum kit get any bigger? I mean really, can anyone say small penis? That's not even mentioning the bloody mirror he's got ...
But aside from that. Damm thats a great band. Scary how good they are really. The orchestral tracks were well chosen, the only comment I could make was that with an orchestra, perhaps a bit less keyboard would be required? Is that bit of Octavium a tribute to GardenParty? Hmmm certainly sounds like it.
WTF is up with jack johnson, why is he so popular and yet so frickin' boring?
And since DT it's been a wild wild ride! The news, Simpsons, Futurama and now Little Britain abroad. Shortly will be an episode of six feet under which I'm finally catching up on. Yes, it's all go here.
b (postus maximus)
Boxing Day movies Pt I
Boxing Day, traditionally a relaxing family orientated day. So that means BGRADE MOVIES!!! Yes oh yes oh yes...so in today's movie collection of gorgeous class:
Mystery Science Theatre 3000: Hercules against the Moon men.
An Italian-French 50s (?) flick about with some worryingly cheap effects! With the customary MST commentary - not as good as Briggs' (see Samurai Cop review). The legendary Alan Steel obviously had the title role, he's so heroic!!! Mmm coffee is nice. Watch Herc lift trees, flex his pecs, and beat up people! There's even some guy who was either a early Cyborg, or (more likely) came out of one of the Santos movies. But the great thing about Italian bgrades - as mentioned in the marathon review - is the chicks are hot!! Even if they can't act. At all. Some of them make Keira and Orlando look competent.
Ohh my washing is done. I should hang that out. Then I can be clean and have clothes. Not that I'm naked right now. Honest. Had a fun conversation the other day about acquiring a pre-op bf, nice. Sometimes I'm really impressed by me.
I'm also offering IT support advice while drinking coffee, thinking about my washing, watching hercules' pecs twitch erotically - damm I'm multi talented.
I've been watching six feet under on DVD recently. I've never been that keen on redheads, but she's cute. Mmmmm.
Next up we have Blood Freaks. Hmmm I might have already seen this one at a film fest a few years ago. I'll give it a few minutes, but I think it's the ravenous turkeys 'horror'. Truely a masterpiece, the director/lead actor and music writer/editor/producer appear to monopolise most of the roles and behind camera jobs. Excellent! Yeah I have seen it, but hell why not watch some drug addled hippies vs born again and turkeys.
It appears that there's a larger readership of the blog than I realised!! Exciting times. Oohh the born again just took some dope! and now he's being seduced by his girlfriends sister. Excellent! The one doing the seducing is hotter than his girlfriend so I reckon he made a good call there. Herschel (the main dude, and director) is trying to act. It's not pretty. The turkeys were doing a better job. Ooh plot development: Herschel has had two cigarettes, and is now 'hooked' - must be some type of super THC. In an unsurprising plot development, following eating scientists turkey, Herschel has turned into a giant man eating turkey. You following this? Come on...it's not rocket science...actually he's not a man eater, yet. He's confused, and wants to change back. from the girlfriend 'What would our children look like?' Herschel, the giant turkey, appears to have just put his beak where turkeys dont usually go. The girlfriend didnt seem to mind tho'. He's man eating now! and woman eating. Go the equal opportunist turkey-man-monster. You know those times when people say, no expense was spared, this movie isn't one of them.
Well that's part one of the movie reviews done. I'm off for a swim - or at least to see if the pool is open.
Back later, b x
Mystery Science Theatre 3000: Hercules against the Moon men.
An Italian-French 50s (?) flick about with some worryingly cheap effects! With the customary MST commentary - not as good as Briggs' (see Samurai Cop review). The legendary Alan Steel obviously had the title role, he's so heroic!!! Mmm coffee is nice. Watch Herc lift trees, flex his pecs, and beat up people! There's even some guy who was either a early Cyborg, or (more likely) came out of one of the Santos movies. But the great thing about Italian bgrades - as mentioned in the marathon review - is the chicks are hot!! Even if they can't act. At all. Some of them make Keira and Orlando look competent.
Ohh my washing is done. I should hang that out. Then I can be clean and have clothes. Not that I'm naked right now. Honest. Had a fun conversation the other day about acquiring a pre-op bf, nice. Sometimes I'm really impressed by me.
I'm also offering IT support advice while drinking coffee, thinking about my washing, watching hercules' pecs twitch erotically - damm I'm multi talented.
I've been watching six feet under on DVD recently. I've never been that keen on redheads, but she's cute. Mmmmm.
Next up we have Blood Freaks. Hmmm I might have already seen this one at a film fest a few years ago. I'll give it a few minutes, but I think it's the ravenous turkeys 'horror'. Truely a masterpiece, the director/lead actor and music writer/editor/producer appear to monopolise most of the roles and behind camera jobs. Excellent! Yeah I have seen it, but hell why not watch some drug addled hippies vs born again and turkeys.
It appears that there's a larger readership of the blog than I realised!! Exciting times. Oohh the born again just took some dope! and now he's being seduced by his girlfriends sister. Excellent! The one doing the seducing is hotter than his girlfriend so I reckon he made a good call there. Herschel (the main dude, and director) is trying to act. It's not pretty. The turkeys were doing a better job. Ooh plot development: Herschel has had two cigarettes, and is now 'hooked' - must be some type of super THC. In an unsurprising plot development, following eating scientists turkey, Herschel has turned into a giant man eating turkey. You following this? Come on...it's not rocket science...actually he's not a man eater, yet. He's confused, and wants to change back. from the girlfriend 'What would our children look like?' Herschel, the giant turkey, appears to have just put his beak where turkeys dont usually go. The girlfriend didnt seem to mind tho'. He's man eating now! and woman eating. Go the equal opportunist turkey-man-monster. You know those times when people say, no expense was spared, this movie isn't one of them.
Well that's part one of the movie reviews done. I'm off for a swim - or at least to see if the pool is open.
Back later, b x
25 December 2006
Xmas Day
Christmas Day was nice. Caught up with the the family, culminating in a beer n scotch at my sisters before heading back to town. I even hand delivered the only Xmas card I wrote this year. Yeah go me.
Wandered down to catch up with Mark n Gav, drank wine. Drank scotch. Watched Scrooged and Samurai Cop (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130236/) with Joe Bob Briggs commentary. Damm that was good. Even funnier, we had members of the public watching from the street, and some of them re-enacting the scenes - bloody marvellous!! Great movie, so shockingly bad, it's very very hard to describe the plot. Other than good guy, helicopters, ex-porn stars attempting to act, very little kung fu, a few katanas and very classy directing/editing/writing! Oh and lots of butt shots...
In a random list of cool things:
* macbooks
* bluetooth wireless keyboards
* wireless mighty mouse
* salmon roe
* chicks swimming at the pool in bikini's
There will be another post later today reviewing what movies I'm watching today (boxing day).
me xxxx
Wandered down to catch up with Mark n Gav, drank wine. Drank scotch. Watched Scrooged and Samurai Cop (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130236/) with Joe Bob Briggs commentary. Damm that was good. Even funnier, we had members of the public watching from the street, and some of them re-enacting the scenes - bloody marvellous!! Great movie, so shockingly bad, it's very very hard to describe the plot. Other than good guy, helicopters, ex-porn stars attempting to act, very little kung fu, a few katanas and very classy directing/editing/writing! Oh and lots of butt shots...
In a random list of cool things:
* macbooks
* bluetooth wireless keyboards
* wireless mighty mouse
* salmon roe
* chicks swimming at the pool in bikini's
There will be another post later today reviewing what movies I'm watching today (boxing day).
me xxxx
22 December 2006
This one might be a bit geeky
Having spent the last five days editing images of chromosomes into more traditional karyotypes I'm going to comment on Photoshop. I've been using it since PS3 which was sometime ago. I'm currently playing with the beta for CS3 and I'm happy to report it's good. It's fast on my Intel Mac - a distinct improvement on CS2 which sucks on Intel's.
Have had a quiet few days, karyotyping during the day and chilling in the evenings. My liver and I reached a compromise, and I rested the wee fella for a few days. He's happier about that.
Had a nice dinner on thurs night with friend - although once again I go over to someones place and end up cooking. Oh well, at least it was smoked chicken pasta salad which is quick. Big ups to Marina for making it a relaxing giggly evening.
I've just finished karyotyping a spread which will make it into the paper I'm going to write over the break (yeah how exciting is my Xmas!) with the first demonstration of AluI digestion in reptile chromosomes. And I've printed out the existing chapters to edit bits and pieces.
Xmas day looks like a movie and wine evening - excellent. Not sure who I'll end up boozing with, but at least the plans are there.
I now have some photos of the office and view which I'll get up here in the next day or so. Must be time for some CD reviews soon too. I should also do some Xmas shopping, but I hate crowds and am having such a productive day that I dunno if I'll get downtown...
Me x
Have had a quiet few days, karyotyping during the day and chilling in the evenings. My liver and I reached a compromise, and I rested the wee fella for a few days. He's happier about that.
Had a nice dinner on thurs night with friend - although once again I go over to someones place and end up cooking. Oh well, at least it was smoked chicken pasta salad which is quick. Big ups to Marina for making it a relaxing giggly evening.
I've just finished karyotyping a spread which will make it into the paper I'm going to write over the break (yeah how exciting is my Xmas!) with the first demonstration of AluI digestion in reptile chromosomes. And I've printed out the existing chapters to edit bits and pieces.
Xmas day looks like a movie and wine evening - excellent. Not sure who I'll end up boozing with, but at least the plans are there.
I now have some photos of the office and view which I'll get up here in the next day or so. Must be time for some CD reviews soon too. I should also do some Xmas shopping, but I hate crowds and am having such a productive day that I dunno if I'll get downtown...
Me x
18 December 2006
More Science News!
This time from this weeks Nature update.
It appears doctors have decided that for women on the pill there's no real reason why they should stop taking it for a few days a month - just so they can menstruate. This makes perfect sense and I suspect a fair few women were probably doing that anyway. More info on the test can be found here. There maybe a possible side effect of increased potential for blood clots. Why am I even posting this? Cos my main research interest is sex, and if I have to talk about reproduction it helps to read about it :-)
And in other cool science news a baby Plesiosaur has been excavated in Antartica (see here). Coolness factor? Very cool indeed. A candidate for the reptile cool wall - should Jeremy Clarkson ever move to something a bit slower moving. It's apparently a very well preserved skeleton and its a juvenile (no cool names for juv plesiosaurs sorry!). Juvenile bones don't form fossils very well which is why this is exciting. Why care about Plesiosaurs? Well strangely they are going to feature in the still to be written Anapsid v Diapsid debate blog.
me.
It appears doctors have decided that for women on the pill there's no real reason why they should stop taking it for a few days a month - just so they can menstruate. This makes perfect sense and I suspect a fair few women were probably doing that anyway. More info on the test can be found here. There maybe a possible side effect of increased potential for blood clots. Why am I even posting this? Cos my main research interest is sex, and if I have to talk about reproduction it helps to read about it :-)
And in other cool science news a baby Plesiosaur has been excavated in Antartica (see here). Coolness factor? Very cool indeed. A candidate for the reptile cool wall - should Jeremy Clarkson ever move to something a bit slower moving. It's apparently a very well preserved skeleton and its a juvenile (no cool names for juv plesiosaurs sorry!). Juvenile bones don't form fossils very well which is why this is exciting. Why care about Plesiosaurs? Well strangely they are going to feature in the still to be written Anapsid v Diapsid debate blog.
me.
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