Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
This is an unusual book by design and it can be confusing and complicated in places, but that seems to be the author’s intention to reflect the absurdity of the war time situations that the characters find themselves in.
‘There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.’
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Playing games…
Dark Matter D20 RPG
This RPG is set in a modern world where the supernatural and mysterious events are known to be real and hidden from the general public by complex lies and conspiracies. The players work for a shadowy organisation called the Hoffman Institute investigating the various bizarre events. We use the Fantasy Grounds virtual desktop and Skype to be able to play and communicate as if we were around a table.
StarWars - star ship battles
This a quick table top game that utilises the collectable Star Wars star ship miniatures, a playing surface showing a grid covered star field and some stat-cards and counters. Two players choose between the Imperial and Rebel forces and move their battle ships and fighters around the star field manoeuvring into positions to enable them to destroy the other’s ships. We also call this our ‘waiting for James to turn up game’.
BloodBowl
This is a fun game that should not be taken too seriously. Loosely based on Gridiron this table top game pits teams of various fantasy races (orcs, goblins, dwarves, elves etc) in mortal competition where the score line is often secondary to the death toll. Although strategy is an important attribute to the game a certain amount of randomness is guaranteed with the use of dice roles to decide outcomes of player’s actions. Teams have different abilities and specialities and so we have tried to pick several teams that have different characteristics to vary the game play.
Myth-Weaver PBEM (play-by-e-mail)
We have decided to start playing a variation of the old play-by-mail type of games utilizing modern technology and are going to use the Myth-Weaver site as a host. The scenario for this game is interesting as it will be a variation on the classic apocalypse setting; called Inherited Earth it depicts a modern world that has befallen the Rapture where the good have gone to heaven, the bad to hell and the ‘meek’ have inherited the earth, though for some reason fiends and angles still battle it out too.
This RPG is set in a modern world where the supernatural and mysterious events are known to be real and hidden from the general public by complex lies and conspiracies. The players work for a shadowy organisation called the Hoffman Institute investigating the various bizarre events. We use the Fantasy Grounds virtual desktop and Skype to be able to play and communicate as if we were around a table.
StarWars - star ship battles
This a quick table top game that utilises the collectable Star Wars star ship miniatures, a playing surface showing a grid covered star field and some stat-cards and counters. Two players choose between the Imperial and Rebel forces and move their battle ships and fighters around the star field manoeuvring into positions to enable them to destroy the other’s ships. We also call this our ‘waiting for James to turn up game’.
BloodBowl
This is a fun game that should not be taken too seriously. Loosely based on Gridiron this table top game pits teams of various fantasy races (orcs, goblins, dwarves, elves etc) in mortal competition where the score line is often secondary to the death toll. Although strategy is an important attribute to the game a certain amount of randomness is guaranteed with the use of dice roles to decide outcomes of player’s actions. Teams have different abilities and specialities and so we have tried to pick several teams that have different characteristics to vary the game play.
Myth-Weaver PBEM (play-by-e-mail)
We have decided to start playing a variation of the old play-by-mail type of games utilizing modern technology and are going to use the Myth-Weaver site as a host. The scenario for this game is interesting as it will be a variation on the classic apocalypse setting; called Inherited Earth it depicts a modern world that has befallen the Rapture where the good have gone to heaven, the bad to hell and the ‘meek’ have inherited the earth, though for some reason fiends and angles still battle it out too.
More of wot I have heard…
Amy Macdonald – This is the Life
It is nice to see more and more talented youngster who can actually play instruments and write a decent song. The new wave of singer songwriters are take influences from both new and old looking at current musicians and revisiting old standards. I think we are very lucky at the moment with the choice and quality of talent out there and Amy Macdonald is one of that group that is well worth investing in.
‘It's all Pete Doherty's fault. No, it's down to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or do we finger Fran Healy of Travis? Nah, sod it, let's blame Ewan McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal. They're movie stars, proper ones. They're used to shouldering serious responsibility.
If it weren't for these artists, Amy Macdonald wouldn't be the teen-sensation singer-songwriter she is now. She'd still be kicking round Glasgow, an undergraduate at university, studying social sciences with an emphasis on geography. The highlight of her year would continue to be her annual pilgrimage to T In The Park, whereat she and her mates would party under canvas for 48 hours, forget their own names, and maybe see some bands. Amy Macdonald would still be a nobody, instead of a somebody out of whom great songs just flood. Amy was 12 when her world wobbled on its axis. She was on a family outing to Rothesay on Scotland's west coast. Her gran gave her some money to treat herself. Instead of buying a tenner's worth of ice-cream she bought a CD: The Man Who by Travis. It was the first album Amy ever owned. She was blown away: simple songs (Driftwood, Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Writing To Reach You), sung brilliantly, roaring powerfully in her ears and in her head.
Inspired, adolescent Amy picked up one of the guitars her dad had lying round the house. He never played them; he'd never been in a band and had only 'mucked about' on the instrument with his pals when he was younger. And Amy just taught herself how to play the thing. There were no genetic influences, nor even lessons. Just a good ear and few chord patterns found on the internet. And a huge, burning, raging desire to write and play songs.’
Pink Martini – Hey Eugene!
We were first introduced to Pink Martini by a friend who had their first album, Sympathique, and we intrigued by the diverse sound. When I heard the title track of their latest album I was hooked. Every song is different and shows the depth of talent that forms this ensemble group as they perform songs with French, Arabic, Japanese lyrics, orchestral, hot club, tea dance style with influences to many to identify. This band is captivating and eclectic and well worth trying if you like your music with a bit of class.
‘“Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s – but with a global perspective which is modern,” says founder and artistic director Thomas M. Lauderdale. “We bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful.”
The Portland, Oregon-based ‘little orchestra’ was founded in 1994 by Lauderdale, a Harvard graduate and classically trained pianist, to play political fundraisers for progressive causes such as civil rights, the environment, affordable housing and public broadcasting. In the years following Pink Martini grew from four musicians to its current twelve, and has gone on to perform its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Canada and the United States.’
Richard Hawley – Lady’s Bridge
I have heard of this artist for sometime, lauded by music critics as one of the country’s best singer-songwriters for those in the know. Richard Hawley is an artist that does not manufacture songs but hand crafts instant classics that once heard seem to have always been there.
‘In an era where next big things, scenes and in-sounds flash by and even our favourite tunes are listened to on shuffle we need music that will stick around for a while, albums that we can go on listening to in one sitting until they wear out like previous generations had done with their Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Smiths records.
Something real. Something timeless. Something proper.
Just as he did with the Mercury nominated Coles Corner, Richard Hawley has risen once again to the challenge of quality in a cheap thrills economy. Recorded between January and June this year his new album Lady’s Bridge is filled with enough classics to last you a lifetime. Great music doesn’t need hype, it makes its own friends. And Lady’s Bridge will find plenty.’
It is nice to see more and more talented youngster who can actually play instruments and write a decent song. The new wave of singer songwriters are take influences from both new and old looking at current musicians and revisiting old standards. I think we are very lucky at the moment with the choice and quality of talent out there and Amy Macdonald is one of that group that is well worth investing in.
‘It's all Pete Doherty's fault. No, it's down to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or do we finger Fran Healy of Travis? Nah, sod it, let's blame Ewan McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal. They're movie stars, proper ones. They're used to shouldering serious responsibility.
If it weren't for these artists, Amy Macdonald wouldn't be the teen-sensation singer-songwriter she is now. She'd still be kicking round Glasgow, an undergraduate at university, studying social sciences with an emphasis on geography. The highlight of her year would continue to be her annual pilgrimage to T In The Park, whereat she and her mates would party under canvas for 48 hours, forget their own names, and maybe see some bands. Amy Macdonald would still be a nobody, instead of a somebody out of whom great songs just flood. Amy was 12 when her world wobbled on its axis. She was on a family outing to Rothesay on Scotland's west coast. Her gran gave her some money to treat herself. Instead of buying a tenner's worth of ice-cream she bought a CD: The Man Who by Travis. It was the first album Amy ever owned. She was blown away: simple songs (Driftwood, Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Writing To Reach You), sung brilliantly, roaring powerfully in her ears and in her head.
Inspired, adolescent Amy picked up one of the guitars her dad had lying round the house. He never played them; he'd never been in a band and had only 'mucked about' on the instrument with his pals when he was younger. And Amy just taught herself how to play the thing. There were no genetic influences, nor even lessons. Just a good ear and few chord patterns found on the internet. And a huge, burning, raging desire to write and play songs.’
Pink Martini – Hey Eugene!
We were first introduced to Pink Martini by a friend who had their first album, Sympathique, and we intrigued by the diverse sound. When I heard the title track of their latest album I was hooked. Every song is different and shows the depth of talent that forms this ensemble group as they perform songs with French, Arabic, Japanese lyrics, orchestral, hot club, tea dance style with influences to many to identify. This band is captivating and eclectic and well worth trying if you like your music with a bit of class.
‘“Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s – but with a global perspective which is modern,” says founder and artistic director Thomas M. Lauderdale. “We bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful.”
The Portland, Oregon-based ‘little orchestra’ was founded in 1994 by Lauderdale, a Harvard graduate and classically trained pianist, to play political fundraisers for progressive causes such as civil rights, the environment, affordable housing and public broadcasting. In the years following Pink Martini grew from four musicians to its current twelve, and has gone on to perform its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Canada and the United States.’
Richard Hawley – Lady’s Bridge
I have heard of this artist for sometime, lauded by music critics as one of the country’s best singer-songwriters for those in the know. Richard Hawley is an artist that does not manufacture songs but hand crafts instant classics that once heard seem to have always been there.
‘In an era where next big things, scenes and in-sounds flash by and even our favourite tunes are listened to on shuffle we need music that will stick around for a while, albums that we can go on listening to in one sitting until they wear out like previous generations had done with their Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Smiths records.
Something real. Something timeless. Something proper.
Just as he did with the Mercury nominated Coles Corner, Richard Hawley has risen once again to the challenge of quality in a cheap thrills economy. Recorded between January and June this year his new album Lady’s Bridge is filled with enough classics to last you a lifetime. Great music doesn’t need hype, it makes its own friends. And Lady’s Bridge will find plenty.’
More of wot I have watched…
The man who lost his head
This ‘made for TV movie’ just aired here in the UK, and it would appear at the same time in New Zealand as the NZ Herald review shows.
Not knowing what to expect as we aimlessly flicked channels on the weekend we were immediately attracted by the recognisable and beautiful scenery of New Zealand that shone out of our TV, though we were somewhat surprised to see Martin Clunes wandering through the countryside view.
This movie is not particularly challenging and the actors often play stereotypes, but for the UK audience the slightly exotic feel of the places, people and politics of a land on the other side of the world was refreshing when compared to our daily serving of reality/cooking/home-buying/soap shows. We thoroughly enjoyed the programme and felt uplifted by the sentimental and romantic storyline and would recommend it for light relief especially for old fashioned family viewing.
This ‘made for TV movie’ just aired here in the UK, and it would appear at the same time in New Zealand as the NZ Herald review shows.
Not knowing what to expect as we aimlessly flicked channels on the weekend we were immediately attracted by the recognisable and beautiful scenery of New Zealand that shone out of our TV, though we were somewhat surprised to see Martin Clunes wandering through the countryside view.
This movie is not particularly challenging and the actors often play stereotypes, but for the UK audience the slightly exotic feel of the places, people and politics of a land on the other side of the world was refreshing when compared to our daily serving of reality/cooking/home-buying/soap shows. We thoroughly enjoyed the programme and felt uplifted by the sentimental and romantic storyline and would recommend it for light relief especially for old fashioned family viewing.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Womad / Womud
This was our third Womad and the first time it has been at it’s new home in the Earl of Suffolk’s front lawn at Charlton Park in Wiltshire near Malmsbury. Unfortunately for everybody the rain came early (more than a month’s rain in 24hours) and turned the site into a mud bath. Still we understand it was not nearly as bad as Glastonbury, and considering the event population was a mere fraction of theirs, we were thankful. The worst of the weather came early on Thursday as we pitched tents and in the evening on Saturday, so it didn’t stop us getting out to the venue. Our party was boosted this year by three new recruits giving us a good, fun, group,
The mud did slow everybody down around the site and resulted in some stages being closed and some artists being stranded and the programme being changed, so we were not able to see all of the acts we would have wanted to. Nevertheless we did get to see a good few, including:
Blind Boys of Alabama and Solomon Burke – they have been around forever and are still going strong. These energetic performers had to be virtually restrained at times.
Dulsori – Korean drumming almost as a martial art, mad, frantic and full on workout.
Peter Gabriel – celebrating 25 years of Womad he was convinced to play this year.
Kronos Quartet – classical music as you have never heard it before.
Warsaw Village Band – folk music from Eastern Europe played with passion.
Ben Taylor – a very cool and mellow singer-songwriter.
Calexico – one of my favourite bands who play a Tex-Mex style.
Seth Lakeman – He is making British folk cool and is young and good looking at the same time.
The Imagined Village – A folk dream-team and the highlight for us at this year’s event.
Along with the music the site boasted a relaxation area (with many alternative therapies on offer), a cooking tent (with demonstrations of exotic fare), the Steam Powered Fairground, many worthy causes had stalls and of course the shop holders and food stalls. Again this year as previous the Pieminster food stall was voted our favourite (chicken Thai curry pie with mash and gravy being the most popular with our crowd). Naturally some drink was consumed too (rather more than any of us care to remember).
The weather and overindulgence combined with our middle aged frames took its toll and we decamped in the afternoon on Sunday rather than staying for another night, and we were glad to be home to a cleansing bath and comfortable bed.
One particular disappointment was not being able to get to see Te Matarae I Orehu, the Maori song and dance troupe. Paul managed to catch some of their act as we were at another tent and said they were brilliant. Young Tom spent much of the next day on the lookout for fearsome tattooed warriors with their tongues sticking out - like the picture in the programme (unfortunately to no avail).
There is a good chance that we will come back next year.
The mud did slow everybody down around the site and resulted in some stages being closed and some artists being stranded and the programme being changed, so we were not able to see all of the acts we would have wanted to. Nevertheless we did get to see a good few, including:
Blind Boys of Alabama and Solomon Burke – they have been around forever and are still going strong. These energetic performers had to be virtually restrained at times.
Dulsori – Korean drumming almost as a martial art, mad, frantic and full on workout.
Peter Gabriel – celebrating 25 years of Womad he was convinced to play this year.
Kronos Quartet – classical music as you have never heard it before.
Warsaw Village Band – folk music from Eastern Europe played with passion.
Ben Taylor – a very cool and mellow singer-songwriter.
Calexico – one of my favourite bands who play a Tex-Mex style.
Seth Lakeman – He is making British folk cool and is young and good looking at the same time.
The Imagined Village – A folk dream-team and the highlight for us at this year’s event.
Along with the music the site boasted a relaxation area (with many alternative therapies on offer), a cooking tent (with demonstrations of exotic fare), the Steam Powered Fairground, many worthy causes had stalls and of course the shop holders and food stalls. Again this year as previous the Pieminster food stall was voted our favourite (chicken Thai curry pie with mash and gravy being the most popular with our crowd). Naturally some drink was consumed too (rather more than any of us care to remember).
The weather and overindulgence combined with our middle aged frames took its toll and we decamped in the afternoon on Sunday rather than staying for another night, and we were glad to be home to a cleansing bath and comfortable bed.
One particular disappointment was not being able to get to see Te Matarae I Orehu, the Maori song and dance troupe. Paul managed to catch some of their act as we were at another tent and said they were brilliant. Young Tom spent much of the next day on the lookout for fearsome tattooed warriors with their tongues sticking out - like the picture in the programme (unfortunately to no avail).
There is a good chance that we will come back next year.
More of wot I have read…
The Judgement of Caesar by Steven Saylor
We picked this book up in the local Oxfam shop and didn’t realise that it is the last in the series of Roma Sub Rosa books. It is an entertaining read, especially if you enjoy historical drama and intrigue – it might be worth finding the first in this series and working from there – the book stands on its own, but it does make pointed references to previous stories.
‘In 48 B.C., Roman generals Caesar and Pompey have long engaged in a battle to rule the world. Now, as Pompey plots a reckless stand on the banks of the Nile, Gordianus the Finder-who has brought his wife Bethesda to the river seeking a cure for her in its sacred waters-finds himself suddenly at the heart of a series of treacherous and history-altering events.
While Caesar and Cleopatra embark on a legendary romance, Egypt remains ravaged by the brutal contest between the Queen and her brother King Ptolemy. Worst of all for Gordianus, his once-disowned son and Caesar's right-hand man, stands falsely accused of murder. Caesar's judgment will decide Meto's fate and it is up to Gordianus to somehow overcome colossal malevolent forces to reveal the carefully obscured truth and spare his son's life.’
We picked this book up in the local Oxfam shop and didn’t realise that it is the last in the series of Roma Sub Rosa books. It is an entertaining read, especially if you enjoy historical drama and intrigue – it might be worth finding the first in this series and working from there – the book stands on its own, but it does make pointed references to previous stories.
‘In 48 B.C., Roman generals Caesar and Pompey have long engaged in a battle to rule the world. Now, as Pompey plots a reckless stand on the banks of the Nile, Gordianus the Finder-who has brought his wife Bethesda to the river seeking a cure for her in its sacred waters-finds himself suddenly at the heart of a series of treacherous and history-altering events.
While Caesar and Cleopatra embark on a legendary romance, Egypt remains ravaged by the brutal contest between the Queen and her brother King Ptolemy. Worst of all for Gordianus, his once-disowned son and Caesar's right-hand man, stands falsely accused of murder. Caesar's judgment will decide Meto's fate and it is up to Gordianus to somehow overcome colossal malevolent forces to reveal the carefully obscured truth and spare his son's life.’
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