(2003) dir Jean-Paul Rappeneau – w/ Isabelle Adjani, Virginie Ledoyen, Gerard Depardieu, Yvan Attal, Peter Coyote, and Gregori Derangere as the hapless writer. Starring some jugs of water as Heavy Water. Synopsis: A scientist and his assistants, an actress, a writer framed for murder and his fellow escapee, a minister… and of course a Nazi […]
Endearing and true
Well, I made up the second part. I enjoy a read over by Tawny Grammar (formerly One Pot Meal) once in a while, and this piece reminded me why. I thought I’d packed a kiwifruit in my lunch, but I guess it was really a wikifruit because just as I was about to slice and eat it a stranger […]
Posted by Ben on September 24, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/endearing-and-true/
If plane tickets were a few hundred (or so) dollars cheaper, this would be completely worth the time and discomfort
Whoniversal Appeal: An Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Conference on Doctor Who, and its Spin-Offs 14-15 November, 2008 (via, of all places, Crooked Timber)
Posted by Ben on September 22, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/if-plane-tickets-were-a-few-hundred-or-so-dollars-cheaper-this-would-be-completely-worth-the-time-and-discomfort/
Birds of the West Indies
I always knew there was a secret reason for my liking James Bond. Secret reason: James Bond was an ornithologist. And Ian Fleming enjoyed birding. Perfect! (Although I realize this may already be semi-common knowledge that I’ve merely evaded up to this point.) (via a silly list in The Atlantic)
Posted by Ben on September 21, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/birds-of-the-west-indies/
A natural progression
As we become too lazy to do our own work, we send technologically augmented turtles and seals to be our detectives and scientists. (via BoingBoing and NewScientist)
Posted by Ben on September 21, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/a-natural-progression/
Ahead of its time?
A sort of Netflix for magazines, Maghound has recently launched — and looks like an intriguing concept. You pay a set monthly fee, and can easily change which magazines you get from month to month (getting the same # each month, relative to your subscription level). Also, they have a great logo: Unfortunately, the selection […]
Posted by Ben on September 19, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/ahead-of-its-time/
The Whole World Is Dark and Funny
“The whole world is dark and funny since the sky melted. I know you know, but there are some what don’t. A man, a famous case—it was on the news, they made a movie about it, or a documentary—thought he was sleep-walking, that the sun never came up ever again.”
Posted by Ben on September 18, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-whole-world-is-dark-and-funny/
I may have posted this already
But it’s so good, it deserves a second posting. Just watch it. (And for those wary of blindly clicking on a link, picture this: a French film from 1907 involving someone in a giant pig suit. Be warned: it’s awesome, but might give you nightmares if you’re easily frightened of strange things.)
Posted by Ben on September 18, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/i-may-have-posted-this-already/
Ridiculous Cow Syndrome
This is one of those ridiculous things that is, well, ridiculous. The power of the market — or stupidity, which may be the same thing — trumping common sense: The Bush administration can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court said Friday. (emphasis added) A premium meat […]
Posted by Ben on September 18, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/ridiculous-cow-syndrome/
Surprisingly compelling
You’d think it would be ridiculously saccharine, or stupid, or… well, bad. But it’s actually kind of quaint, and touching, in an internetty sort of way.
Posted by Ben on September 17, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/surprisingly-compelling/