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Directories
The Heart
The Heart by Stephen Crane
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, “Is it good, friend?”
“It is bitter - bitter,” he answered;
“But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart.”
This was my favorite poem in high school and college. Yes… I was a very depressed teenager. Prior to this my favorite was Annabelle Lee by Edgar Allen Poe (just further evidence). I might post a poem at some point, but mine are very disturbing and I’m not sure y’all could take it. I have had plans for years to submit my poems to a poetry journal, but I still haven’t got around to it. I really should do this at some point. Ah well.
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I’m melting! I’m melting! Oh what a world!
Well, summer is officially over in Hansestadt Rostock. It was a nice month I suppose, but a bit depressing now that I have 10 months of winter to look forward to. It’s been raining for about 4 straight days and it’s so cold that I need to wear slippers in the house. I never had slippers before moving to Germany. Oh the humanity!!!
I have almost completed the project that has taken quite a bit of my spare time. I’ve got most of my CDs copied to my hard drive, only got Classical, Soundtracks and Compilations left to go. This way I can just open my jukebox and press shuffle. So far I’ve got 3,597 songs which is 10 days of music and 12.5 GB. Woohoo! I’m very surprised at how much of my collection I actually know pretty well. When I shuffle, I rarely come across a song I don’t know. I really thought they’d be more with all the CDs I have and don’t listen to often.
I rented some videos today that were pretty good, but given pretty poor reviews in general (if I remember correctly): Irreconcilable Differences, Calendar Girls, Mona Lisa Smile, and What a Girl Wants. Not great films that will go down in cinematic history, but all entertaining. Still have Bulletproof Monk to watch tomorrow.
Oh and Harry Potter 6 will be called “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.” Hmmm… wonder what this will be about. Is the Half Blood Prince Voldemort (his father was a Muggle) or is it a new character (or a new name for an old character)? There are rumors that history will repeat itself and one of Harry’s friends will betray him the way the Wormtail betrayed Harry’s parents. Can’t guess who this could be. I can’t imagine it being Ron or Hermione (or Neville). Percy is a prat, so it could be him, but that’s too obvious and he’s not a good friend of Harry anyway. I guess Percy will turn out to be a good guy and do something heroic eventually (Neville will also I think). Anyway, I can hardly wait for the next book.
What I really want to know… what I really want to say I can’t define. Well it’s love that I need!
VMAs, movies, etc.
Am I getting old or was the VMA (MTV Video Music Award Show) really lame? I found the performances unexciting and the banter stupid. I thought Chris Rock was supposed to host, was I just mistaken or did he get sick or something? There are also way too many commercials. It really broke up the momentum if the show actually did get interesting for a moment or two.
I just watched Freddy vs. Jason. It was actually not that bad. Of course, it was not as good as the original movies of both series. I couldn’t sleep for a week after my first viewing of Nightmare on Elm Street! I’ve heard they are planning to make a sequel and would like to do something like Freddy vs. Jason vs. the guy from Evil Dead and Army of Darkness (Bruce something, I think). Not really sure how that would work out. Okay, the guy is in a cabin in the woods, so Jason is after him, but where does Freddy come in. Does the guy have a bunch of teenagers with him or something, or is Jason still carrying around Freddy’s head? My question: wasn’t Jason blown up in a space ship in Jason X? How did he get buried back on earth? Or was Freddy vs. Jason a prequel to Jason X? In which case, we know Jason survives whatever battles he has with Freddy in order to be reanimated in the future after earth turns into a desert. By the way, Jason X sucked big time.
I watched Frida last night. This movie is about the Mexican artist Frida Carlo and it is a really, really good movie (but if you object to lesbianism, don’t watch it). She had a really tough life and I wish things had been better for her. I’m not sure I really get her art, but I highly recommend seeing this film.
Movies I may have to make a special trip to Berlin to see: The Village, Collateral
Harry Potter
So, I recently read the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter (Analysis of Books 1-4). I found much of the information can be gathered upon a second reading of the books, particularly clues to the outcome of the book, such as in book 5, Sirius is often described with words having to do with death, while the other characters are not. Some things the authors point out are interesting, like that Hermione’s specialty is waterproof portable fires, or that characters are often described as having long, thin fingers, but I’m not sure if these will play any special part in future books. I think their possible endings to book 7 are probably not going to pan out (it was all a dream, Voldemort was reborn as Harry through using a shrinking potion).
A theory I at first thought was stupid, but then decided could very well be true, is Snape is a vampire. Evidence: he’s pale, lives in the dungeon, prefers the dark, is often described as being batty or “flitting around in his dungeon.” Maybe he is taking some kind of potion like Lupin to allow him to lead a normal life, or maybe he is just a bat animagus.
Overall, if you’re really into Harry Potter books, I’d say this is worth a read, but maybe not a buy. I will be perusing their guide to Book 5 at Barnes and Noble during my next trip to the US.
Something I noticed in book 5, is after Harry has the dream about Mr Weasley and goes to Dumbledore’s office, Dumbledore conjures a “smoke snake,” then says, “naturally, naturally, but in essence divided?” at which point the smoke snake splits into two snakes. I think this will play a big part in the next 2 books. I am assuming it has something to do with Harry and Voldemort, but does it mean they are the same person? Or was he talking about Voldemort and Nagini? Hmmmm…..
Hamming it up
American Paul Hamm was awarded the gold medal for individual all-around men’s gymnastics, however, due to an error on the part of the judges, the Korean bronze medalist was scored incorrectly. If the Korean had been given the correct starting score, he would have won the gold, with Hamm winning the silver. According to the rules, appeals can no longer be made once an athlete starts on the next apparatus. So, the Korean will not be awarded the gold and Hamm says he won it fair and square and won’t give it up.
On the one hand: Hamm did technically win. You can’t go back after a basketball game and say, well the ref called that one shot wrong, so the other team have won.
On the other hand: Hamm didn’t really win. The Korean performed better. Every time people talk about Hamm’s gold, they will talk about how the Korean should have it.
Do the right thing… give up the gold Hamm!
Lazy Blogger Bum
Yes, I know, I haven’t written in almost a week.
Germany needs more doctors. I was at the orthopedist today and I had to stand in the waiting room because all 15 seats were full. Rainer says going to the doctor is old person sport here. This is the downside of full medical coverage. I’m pretty sure half of the people didn’t need to be there. This is a pretty common situation in doctor’s offices here in Germany.
I had acupuncture for the first time today. Is it supposed to hurt? I don’t think I like it very much. About halfway through the treatment my hip really started hurting. It’s weird having needles stuck in you and I’m not that fond of it. I would rather go to the chiropractor, although I suppose getting your bones adjusted is equally strange, but I like it better. I will give it one more try at least, then I may reconsider this course of treatment.
My doctor was telling me that he wants to practice English with me because a lot of people get off the cruise ships and come to see him and they don’t speak German. Today he was asking me about the Red Sox and the White Sox. Don’t see how this comes up in a therapeutic sort of way, but whatever.
Product of the Day: The Doggie Thong
Does your dog have a slight digestive problem? Are you tired of all that gag-inducing doggy gas? Here is the solution to all your problems.
Hehe, the picture looks like our dog Chow Chow’s butt. She really does need a solution to her digestive problems.
- thanks to Dave Barry’s blog
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