Oct 24 2008
links for 2008-10-24
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The difference between fantasy and magic realism?
May 03 2006
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
The flatmate bought a shiny new dvd-harddrive-recorder thingy recently, and I have discovered that it will play at least one of my “borrowed” episodes of Veronica Mars , which is great, because the laptop won’t. But now I can still rewatch, and on the big screen of a tv as opposed to a little Pavlovian screen. Its also good news because I’ve sort of decided to put off buying a new laptop for a couple of months. I do want a shiny new one, but, they[1] do say that patience is a virtue.
Anyways, as the flatmate was out last night I recorded Desperate Housewives and so was flicking around the stations after BSG when my attention was caught by a programme on RTE about the hunger strikes in Northern Ireland.
And I was going to post something about them, and how although you have to respect their strength of conviction, it is hard to think about them without thinking about the fact that they were paramilitaries who murdered and bombed people. But I’m not going to. It is such a grey, emotive issue. But I will say that the programme was very interesting and well made, and I’ll have to remember to tune in next week for the second part.
However, am doing a bit of research into the Black and Tans for B#5 at the moment, as he is thinking of doing his special topic for the leaving Cert on them. And you know that old saying about the past repeating itself? Well, its amazing to read some of the views of the likes of Lloyd George and his views on the IRA back then. And whatever anyone says, the IRA/Volunteers of the war of independence are not the same thing as the IRA of the seventies and of today, not even close. In one article David Leeson[2] says that
The insurgency was defined as a threat to law and order. The insurgents were characterised as criminals…law and order had broken down in Ireland, threatening the conditions of civilised society. The men responsible for this breakdown were murderers, not soldiers ‘The very fact that an attempt is made to describe murder by another name, and to make excuses for it as if it were political action, must demoralise the whole life of any country where such excuses can be made’ [quoting PM Andrew Bonar Law, August 1920]
How easy would it be to replace Ireland with Iraq[3] And can’t war be described as mass murder with a political reason?
Obviously the situation in Iraq is very different to that of Ireland in the 1920’s, but I doubt very many of the Iraqi insurgents would see themselves as nothing but criminals. This doesn’t make their actions and less terrible or horrific, but wouldn’t you think that people could look at history and see that you can’t fight ideals with nothing but violence.
Well, from Desperate Housewives to suicide bombers, interesting[4] how that all happened. Feel free to ignore any of the political ramblings. We’ll get back to more interesting things by bring up Battlestar Galtactica. I mean, whats going on back on Caprica? Will Show Spoilers ▼
And whats the story with the half-toaster kid? Poor Sharon and Helo, thinking their daughter is dead. Is el presidenta being a bit harsh? And what the frack is the deal with Caprica Six having visiony things of Gaius? Does that mean that the thing he sees isn’t a Cylon device? Can I ask more questions? Will BSG turn as mysterious and silly as Lost?
Linknotes:
Tags: 1970s, Black and Tans, BSG, history repeats, hunger strikes, insurgency, IRA, Iraq war, Ireland - 1920-21, irish history, Northern IrelandRelated posts
Feb 19 2006
The Case of the Missing Books
ISBN: 0007206992
Book 1 in The Mobile Library ‘verse.
Author: Iain Sansom
823.92
First line:
No. No, no, no, no, no. This was not what was supposed to happen
Israel Armstrong has left England, and a job in a discount bookshop, for a job as a librarian in Northern Ireland. Slightly overweight, Jewish and vegetarian, he really doesn’t seem to fit in. And lets not mention that the library job he was hired to fill doesn’t seem to exist anymore as the library has been closed. Instead the council want him to run the mobile library. But there is problem there too; it seems that the stock of in and around fifteen thousand books has gone missing.
The plot of this book is that silly, but it is all good fun. And it is nice to read a book about Northern Ireland that doesn’t revolve around the Troubles.
The characters are all as strange as the plot. There is Ted, the Taxi-man who used to drive the mobile library before that service was suspended. Let us state now and for the record, that he didn’t steal that van, he simply hid it, before selling it back to the council when the decided to restart the mobile library. And then there is the fact that the barns seem to be decorated with religous slogans, and that Israel is living in a chicken coop.
A light, easy read, The Case of the Missing Books isn’t as funny as it wants to be, yet it is still very readable, and enjoyable.
Tags: 6 Stars, Iain Sansom, library, Mobile Library, mystery, Northern Ireland, series, The Case of the Missing BooksRelated posts
Sep 08 2005
The Mighty Celt
- Gillian Anderson …. Kate
- Robert Carlyle …. O
- Tyrone McKenna …. Donal
The opening scene of this film makes sure we know who the bad-guy is, Good Joe, the greyhound trainer. We first meet him throwing a bag, full of what we are not certain but are given to understand that it is unwanted pups, into the lake. And he never really improves from that opening.
The film is set in Northern Ireland, with the troubles serving to create a history for some of the characters, while others certainly don’t want to see the Peace Process continue.
Tags: 7 Stars, drama, Gillian Anderson, greyhound, IRA, Northern Ireland, Robert Carlyle, The Mighty Celt, Tyrone McKenna, violenceRelated posts
Sep 07 2005
He’s a lovely geezer, but don’t forget that he’s from Swe-den
So, in a shock to the footballing world, Northern Ireland beat England. 1-0. This is only their second victory in four years of international competition. The previous being last week against Azerbaijan.
Guess that diamond formation really isn’t working for Mr. Eriksson is it?
Anne, you can just shut-up now 
*mumbles about bloody french footballers*
And Switzerland you didn’t help us much either did you? Had to go and bloody well win didn’t you.
