I was reading an interview with a film critic some time ago who lamented the popularity of Star Wars (specifically episode 4), stating it was a rubbish film and didnt deserve the popularity. Interesting, I thought, considering its mass appeal including amongst nerds, who are usually a little more thoughtful regarding what they like than, say, your average Spice Girls fan.
Thinking in more detail about why Star Wars was popular, it was easy to come up with reasons (being a nerd myself), but here are my Top 5:
5 - Space Ships
The movie begins with a massive space ship chasing a little one. This meant that there was a giant space ship shop somewhere offering unique choice to the customer. Even Luke (the whiny kid playing with power converters) has one. Awesome.
4 - Robots with personality
OK, one was a camp English gent and the other seemed like a kid with Aspergus syndrome, but they were far more interesting than an Atari 2600.
3 - Princess Leia
In her day, Carrie Fisher was incredibly hot. On top of this, she rode around in space ships and sometimes just lay around in a bikini (Ive always wondered what Jabba would have done with her - and how?). She was also the closest thing to a woman most nerds would see other than their mother too.
2 - The force
The second scene in which we see Vadar involves him choking a man from across the room using only his mind. For any nerd that has been teased about being puny, any jock who is getting lazy or even any person that has had to sit through an infomercial will attest; this 'force' thing could be really cool.
1 - The hero is a nerd
As mentioned above, Luke is introduced as a nerd who watches sunsets and whines a lot. Methinks that the only reason he wasnt decked out EMO-style is that wearing black in the desert is too crazy, even for the future. By the end of the movie he is destroying space ships the size of planets and being hailed as a hero. This had to give the average audience member, who at this point was primairly concerned with destroying pop-corn, some cause for hope ni their own life.
Monday, 27 October 2008
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Top 5: Travel Websites
With my time in Greece drawing to a close, I realised that I should get at least a little more organised for my next ports-of-call, or at least work out where I will be going. The best starting place I have found for this has not been Lonely Planet (who wants to lug something the size of War and Peace around Europe for 3 months?) but the tinterweb.
Specifically, the following sites have helped enormously:
5) WikiTravel
This one is only getting started, but its a great place to read reviews of cities (including what to say, where to eat etc) and leave reviews of your own. In its infancy, but its at least a lot easier than carrying a book around.
4) Thorn Tree
This is the Lonely Planets site that could end up replacing their publishing arm. Similar to WikiTravel, though edges it at the moment due to having more content. To its detriment, it isn't well organised, but I suppose that's what forums are.
3) Sky Scanner
Enables the user to look up flights to/from almost anywhere - specifically on cheap airlines. Similar to HostelWorld (below) its usually best not best to book flights through the site, but a great way to find how you can get around.
2) Google Maps
One of the great things about the Lonely Planet was that it always had a map (regardless of quality) of the place you are going, which reduces time spent:
a) being lost; and
b) wandering into slightly sketchy areas (unless you like that sort of thing)
Google Maps has (pretty much) smashed that concept and even lets you know what is in the region and whether the streets are one-way. Further, the scary new invention that is 'Street view' can let you even see what the place looks like.
1) HostelWorld
THE place for finding places to stay on almost any corner of the Earth. This is a brilliant site, enabling reviews of the venues on a manner of categories as well as enabling user comments. You can book through the site, or, look the place up on the web and book seperately (avoiding down-payment etc). I have seen this abused though, with people working at the venues standing over guests while they write their reviews, but its generally tip-top.
Specifically, the following sites have helped enormously:
5) WikiTravel
This one is only getting started, but its a great place to read reviews of cities (including what to say, where to eat etc) and leave reviews of your own. In its infancy, but its at least a lot easier than carrying a book around.
4) Thorn Tree
This is the Lonely Planets site that could end up replacing their publishing arm. Similar to WikiTravel, though edges it at the moment due to having more content. To its detriment, it isn't well organised, but I suppose that's what forums are.
3) Sky Scanner
Enables the user to look up flights to/from almost anywhere - specifically on cheap airlines. Similar to HostelWorld (below) its usually best not best to book flights through the site, but a great way to find how you can get around.
2) Google Maps
One of the great things about the Lonely Planet was that it always had a map (regardless of quality) of the place you are going, which reduces time spent:
a) being lost; and
b) wandering into slightly sketchy areas (unless you like that sort of thing)
Google Maps has (pretty much) smashed that concept and even lets you know what is in the region and whether the streets are one-way. Further, the scary new invention that is 'Street view' can let you even see what the place looks like.
1) HostelWorld
THE place for finding places to stay on almost any corner of the Earth. This is a brilliant site, enabling reviews of the venues on a manner of categories as well as enabling user comments. You can book through the site, or, look the place up on the web and book seperately (avoiding down-payment etc). I have seen this abused though, with people working at the venues standing over guests while they write their reviews, but its generally tip-top.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Top 5: Oddities about 'Land down under'
Following on from my previous post, I am still 'house sitting' in a Yoga retreat in Greece, busying myself with the gardening and 'sitting on the beach' requirements. Ive also spent quite a bit of time studying, as I have an exam I am flying back to London for in approximately 3 weeks.
I usually spend my time studying in the lounge room, which is a big room that has yoga mats on the floor (no lounge chairs or tables, thank you), that 'Land down under' by Men at Work came on the radio.
As if my situation wasn't strange enough, suddenly I had ecclectic Australian pop from the early eighties to deal with!
Being in a contemplative place though, I started to think about the song in greater detail, which leads me to my top 5 thoughts regarding it:
5) Use of flute
Where on earth did they get the idea to use a flute from? And where else has it been used (within pop music) so successfully? Reminds me of the use of the Xylophone in 'under my thumb' by the Rolling Stones, though could be even better...
4) It went to number #1
OK, its a catchy tune, but how the hell did it go to number one on the charts? Did all the other artists forget to make records in 1983?
3) Why is this big-guy in Brussels giving out free sandwiches?
Is it some strange flemish tradition to answer questions through the medium of food?
2) Why does the song advocate running and taking cover?
Surely Australians aren't that dangerous? Or were the band warning us about the release of their next album? "Who could it be now" was actually a pretty good song.
1) Come to think of it, what the hell is this song about?
Drug-induced back-packing and loss of identity?
Not sure, time to change radio stations.
I usually spend my time studying in the lounge room, which is a big room that has yoga mats on the floor (no lounge chairs or tables, thank you), that 'Land down under' by Men at Work came on the radio.
As if my situation wasn't strange enough, suddenly I had ecclectic Australian pop from the early eighties to deal with!
Being in a contemplative place though, I started to think about the song in greater detail, which leads me to my top 5 thoughts regarding it:
5) Use of flute
Where on earth did they get the idea to use a flute from? And where else has it been used (within pop music) so successfully? Reminds me of the use of the Xylophone in 'under my thumb' by the Rolling Stones, though could be even better...
4) It went to number #1
OK, its a catchy tune, but how the hell did it go to number one on the charts? Did all the other artists forget to make records in 1983?
3) Why is this big-guy in Brussels giving out free sandwiches?
Is it some strange flemish tradition to answer questions through the medium of food?
2) Why does the song advocate running and taking cover?
Surely Australians aren't that dangerous? Or were the band warning us about the release of their next album? "Who could it be now" was actually a pretty good song.
1) Come to think of it, what the hell is this song about?
Drug-induced back-packing and loss of identity?
Not sure, time to change radio stations.
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Lesson of the Day: Dont take travel tips from Dave
DaveSome six years ago, while I was preparing for my departure to London, a friend took me aside and showed me a map of the tube, pointing out the end of the dark blue line and saying "you have got to go there!".
The place was 'Cockfosters', which is at one end of the Picadilly line, the other end being Heathrow airport. My friend was obviously enchanted with either the name of the place, or the entendre that could be used by saying "I'm going to the other end of the Picadilly line".
With my departure from the UK looming, I managed to convince some good friends to get up early and make the trek with me, not easy considering Cockfosters is a place people usually visit by accident (having fallen asleep on the train etc).
The trip itself was as eventful as the place, if you can imagine the feeling of an early-morning tube ride being converted into a commuter town.
We did though, make it, and made it back to London to take in some more London highlights before my departure, namely; sitting in traffic, standing in queues, drinking at Gordons and being frustrated by bureaucracy.
Dave, if you're out there, don't ask anyone else to go to Cockfosters.
Friday, 15 August 2008
Lesson of the Day: Using a phone
When trying to ring your phone company to cancel your account, ring the number under the line marked 'Customer service and sales' rather than the number on the front of your bill. The number on the front of your bill is your own, and you wont get an answer or your account closed.
Friday, 1 August 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
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