Evereything worked out according to the schedule. Surreal, but still good.

After a shower and something to eat, we set out to wander around the city. For me – business as usual, for Bigbro – hell. I dragged him all across Paris on foot and then into the Musee de l’Orangerie, a fantastic place with some stunning pieces by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and many others. We continued our long walk across the city toward Quatre-Septembre and into Book-Off, my favorite bookshop in Paris. For 12€, I picked up the following almost-new books:

Glen Cook – A Cruel Wind: A Chronicle of the Dread Empire; Philip Roth – The Plot Against America; Neal Stephenson – Cryptonomicon; Ann Vandermeer – Best American Fantasy; Orson Scott Card – Ender’s Shadow;  Kathleen Ann Goonan – Light Music; Kate Mosse – Sepulchre.

After that amazing show of luck, we headed back home…on foot. Bigbro promised to kill me for making him walk that much, but hey, what’s life without fun? An outstanding first day.

Tags: paris r2, personal | Print

Autostrada Soarelui a fost închisă pe tronsonul Bucureşti-Lehliu

Şcolile şi grădiniţele din 12 judeţe şi Capitală vor fi închise luni din cauza zăpezii

I SURVIVED IT!

Six bloody hours from Constanta to Bucuresti – with more snow than that used for the filming of ‘The Thing’ and more wind than my civil law teacher – but I managed to get through it. Now, after an epic battle with a wireless router belonging to Mishu’s bunkmate, I’m sitting comfortably at the keyboard of an ancient computer, trying to deliver this message.

The last exam (family law) went extremely well, teach gave me the opportunity to marry a 14 year transexual that cheats on me. Well, she said to write a legally sound marriage annulment… with details of our imagination. Yes, it trully is mind-boggling why I get flunked so often.

Now – tomorrow’s already altered flight plan: wake up with Slayer at 05, arrive at Bd. Expozitiei at 5.15, arrive at Piata Presei Libere (105) at 05.30, arrive at Baneasa (780) at 06.00. Takeoff at 8.15, stop-over at Lyon, arrive at Beauvais at 12.00. Depart Porte-Maillot at 13.30, arrive at Bigbro’s place at 14.00. At least that’s what I’m wishing for, but considering the blizzard, that might unfortunately change.

Tags: personal, rants | Print

– Dollhouse (S2) – after the crapfest that was the beginning of the show, season two was a welcomed change (with the noted exception of the first three episodes which were the same self-contained-story crap I hated the first time around) having an over-reaching theme and truly becoming serialized drama with good twists and turns. The story finally evolved and enriched the fantasy of dolls and their effects, the consequences we foresaw in Epitath One. The cast remained unchanged and their performances were so-and-so (although Dushku remained the weakest link) with the notable exception of the last episode, which, in typical Joss Whedon fashion, broke my heart in part because of the outstanding performances – Kranz, Penikett, Gjokaj, Tudyk & Williams -  I’m thinking of you. The story wrapped itself in a nice little bow having had this opportunity by being cancelled in early December and Joss managed to endear Dollhouse into our hearts. While it remains the worst Whedon-esque show in history – with Angel and Firefly on your resume, you probably have to come to grips with the fact you’ve reached your peak – it’s still a pretty good show and worth a showing or two (although next time I’ll probably just start from 2×04).

– Exams be over. This post is scheduled to be published around the time I finish my last exam and head towards the airport – and instead of spending the night there with Tami Hoag (A Thin Dark Line), I’ll be crashing at Mishu’s, since my flight got delayed and there’ll be a stop-over at Lyon, thus leaving somewhat later. In about 24 hours I’ll be arriving at BigBro’s place in Paris so no posts in the meantime.

– DARPA: BSG was cool. Here’s $6 million, make it happen.

– Turkish Girl Buried Alive For Talking To Boys.

– Dear 24, you suck, I’m leaving you.

– RIP Justin Mentell.

Tags: dollhouse, joss whedon, rants, tv | Print

I used to think the worst thing you could do to a person would be to take away everything they have to live for. Turns out there’s something worse – doing that and then giving them something to hope for – just to take that away too.

Tags: rants | Print

No matter how good you play, the house always wins. Memento: the game is always rigged, stop fighting it.

Tags: rants | Print

The news. The confirmation, a few minutes later. Rest in peace, my childhood friend. A loving husband and father, you will be sorely missed.

Tags: personal | Print

Monday, 18.01, I make my order at BookDepository and today, 29.01, I pick them all up at the post office.

Tuesday, 19.01, I make my order at Millennium Press and today, 29.01, I still have no books. No confirmation of departure, no emails with details, no nothing. No telephone number at their website, just an email. Let’s hope they respond to my mails this fiscal quarter.

Saturday, 23.01, I make my order at Nemira and on 26.01 I find out they don’t have the books in stock anymore, even though they were when I ordered them.

Saturday, 23.01, I make my order at Tritonic and yesterday evening, 28.01, I get a confirmation of departure.

Saturday, 02.01, I make my order at Tritonic. They come back from vacation on 11.01. I call for confirmation on 11.01, they say mine will be shipped on 13.01. On 15.01 I email asking for updates, nothing in response. No books arrive so I call again on 18.01 and they say they had a virus and promise they’ll send them tomorrow. On 19.01 I email asking for updates, nothing in response. I call again on 19.01 and someone promises the shipment will leave that day. On 22.01 I finally receive them.

I’m glad I’m leaving the country for a few weeks of R&R. Come march, I’m never ordering books from romanian bookshops ever again.

Tags: rants | Print

The countdown to February 3rd has begun.

Tags: lost | Print

In case you weren’t sick of these lists:

10. Oldboy/Sympathy for Mr Vengeance/Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
09. A Very Long Engagement/Amelie
08. The Prestige/Memento
07. Before Sunset
06. Big Fish/Corpse Bride
05. Lord of The Rings (Extended Edition, not the theatrical disaster)
04. A History of Violence/Eastern Promises
03. Zodiac
02. No Country For Old Men/O Brother, Where Art Thou?
01. Kill Bill

Tags: movies | Print

Shipping Rates to Romania:

.com: $4 per shipment, $4 per item.
.co.uk: £5 per shipment, £3 item item.
.fr: €13 per shipment, €2 per item.
.de: €6 per shipment plus €0,50 per kg, no cost per item.

Deutschland ftw.

Tags: rants | Print

These past few days I’ve been cleaning Ava and organizing everything for the big burning next week and here are the results:

> 30+ BBC documentaries (previously missing from my collection, most by the one-and-only David Attenborough);

> some filmographies: Dennis Quaid, Leo DiCaprio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sam Peckinpah, Steven Seagal;

> 40+ albums from new power metal and progressive rock bands;

> latest editions of Fedora, Kubuntu, Mandriva & Mint;

> Tattoo – IMDB, Rottentomatoes.

Tags: rants | Print

Dupa cum bine se poate observa, blogul a trecut prin numeroase schimbari. Atat din punct de vedere estetic (tema noua), al hosting-ului (am schimbat serverul in ultimele zile), al continutului (Reading List si Watch List si-au inversat abilitatea, renuntand gradual la filme si mutandu-ma spre carti), cat si titlul (o descriere a noului continut). Asadar o schimbare de directie – deoarece in ultimele luni am incetat sa vad saptamanal cate 50 ore de filme obscure si seriale ignorate (ce e in Watch List si multe, multe altele care nu meritau mentionate) si am inceput sa citesc mai mult, iar blogul a stagnat din cauza asta. Asta va fi ultimul post al blogului in limba romana, iar de acum vor veni doar posturi in limba engleza, > 3/4 despre carti. Acum fiind in sesiune si la 30min dupa ultimul examen plecand spre aeroport, pentru a petrece februarie in Paris, blogul va fi gol pentru ceva vreme, dar imediat ce ma intorc (1 martie), ma pun pe munca. Pana atunci, cititorule unic, iti spun doar lectura placuta.

Tags: personal, rants | Print

Humanitas: Matthew Pearl – Umbra lui Poe; 10ron.

Nemira #1: Gregory Benford – Timperfect; John Brunner – Zanzibar; Stephen King – Christine. 10 + 10 + 10 + 6 posta = 36ron.

Nemira #2: Douglas Adams – Ghidul Autostopistului Galactic; Ken Grimwood – Replay; Marion Zimmer Bradley – Avalon, Negurile, Sanctuarul; Philip K. Dick – Omul din castelul inalt, Ubik. 10 + 10 + 30 + 5 + 5 = 60ron.

Polirom #1: Georges Simenon – Maigret se insala, Spinzuratul de la Saint-Pholien, Cazul Louise Laboine, Maigret si mortul, Maigret si ucigasul, Domnul Gallet a decedat, Prietena doamnei Maigret, Nebunul din Bergerac; Bret Easton Ellis – Lunar Park; Graham Greene – Comediantii; Hari Kunzru – Virusul.
40 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 posta = 60ron.

Polirom #2: Christopher Moore – O treaba murdara; James Ellroy – Marele niciunde; Philip Kerr – Berlin Noir I: Toporasi de martie, Berlin Noir II: Criminalul din umbra; Steven Hall – Amintirile rechinului; Thomas Pynchon – V.; 10 + 10 + 20 + 10 + 10 = 60ron.

Polirom #3: Georges Simenon – Maigret si omul dublu, Maigret si prietenul din copilarie, Memoriile lui Maigret, Cine a ucis-o pe Cecile?, Raspintia mortii, Maigret si gangsterii, Maigret in Arizona; James Ellroy – L.A. Confidential; Jonathan Franzen – Al 27-lea Oras. 35 + 10 + 10 + 5 posta = 60ron.

Tritonic #1: China Mieville – Cicatricea, Consiliul de Fier; Richard K. Morgan – Carbon modificat; Camille de Angelis – Mary renascuta; Jeff Vandermeer – Veniss Underground; Ken Macleod – Vinatorii de fulgere; M. John Harrison – Viriconium. 20 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 50.

Okazii: KJ Bishop – Orasul Gravat; Neil Gaiman – American Gods, Nicaieri. 10 + 20 + 20 + 5 posta = 55.

Okazii: Phillip K. Dick – Cele trei stigmate ale lui Palmer Eldritch; Greg Egan – Carantina (SH); K. Stanley Robinson – Marte Rosu (SH); Ursula K. Le Guin – Mana stanga a intunericului (SH). 10 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 20ron.

BookDepository: Peter F Hamilton – Pandora’s Star, Peter F Hamilton – Judas Unchained, Stephen King – The Talisman, Stephen King – Black House.
30 + 27 + 24 + 24 = 105ron.

Hodder: Stephen King – Cell, Misery, The Shining. 50ron.

PravaliaCuCarti: Chuck Palahniuk – Bantuitii; Paul Aster – Nebunii in Brooklyn; Serge Brussolo – Haita, Krucifix; Phillip K. Dick – Furnica Electrica. 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 40.

606ron, 63 carti. Pozele curand. Aparent am terminat cumparaturile pentru intreg anul. Sunt constient de faptul ca asta intra in contradictie cu dorinta mea de-a avea un Kindle, dar in ultima luna mi-am amintit motivele pentru care nu poti renunta complet la carti: ieftine, flexibile (majoritatea sunt mass market paperback si pot sa iau trei cu mine oricand fara macar sa stiu ca le am intr-un buzunar sau altul, pe cand cu monitorul e-ink… o miscare gresita si s-a dus), pot fi date la schimb sau vandute (o buna parte din tot ce-am luat anul trecut am dat la schimb pentru alte carti de citit, iar din ce am vandut am luat alte carti) pe cand ce iei pe-un e-reader ramane vesnic blocat acolo, pot fi imprumutate (oriunde, oricand, fara fite – din cele sus mentionate deja a luat mama una sa citeasca si doua o amica) si e si mai usor la lecturile gargantuane – ma sperie numai gandul de-a vedea numarul de pagini la ceva de Peter F. Hamilton (pentru amatori – e-reader-ele dubleaza sau chiar tripleaza numarul de pagini al unei opere din cauza ecranului modest). Desigur, am uitat un element crucial, oricat de superficial ar fi – bucuria despachetarii unui colet tocmai ridicat de la posta. Nu e absolut nimic in lume ca asta.

Tags: no social life | Print

– Lost in 8 minutes 15 seconds.

– Colbert interviews the US Olympic Curling Team. Yes, it’s precisely what you expect.

– International Courts: U.S. must follow international law. U.S. Supreme Court: Suck it.

– The Hong Kong truck driver who persuaded  a 19-year-old model he was a Taoist Mao Shan master, with the power to grant her career success in return for sex, has been found guilty of nine counts of “unlawful sexual intercourse under false pretences”.

– Matthew Pearl – Umbra lui Poe – o poveste mult mai buna decat ma asteptam – nu atat cat priveste calitatea ei, de care ma convinsesera numeroase recenzii, ci libertatile pe care si le-a permis autorul cu privire la viata monstrului sacru al horror-ului care este Edgar Allan Poe. Cartea, de fapt, chiar este buna, numeroasele intrigi sunt imbracate foarte elegant intr-o funda de care se poate trage usor cand ai la indemana pe cineva precum C. Auguste Dupin (previzibil, este?). Nu, parol, cartea nu ofenseaza deloc imaginea scriitorului, iar misterul din jurul mortii acestuia este creat cu o notabila iscusinta, chiar daca este un simplu caz de deducere prin “ratiocinare”. Chiar si cu toate partile trase de par, e o lectura placuta, undeva la marginea dintre trei stele si trei stele si jumatate. Despre traducerea lui Alina Carac am numai cuvinte de lauda, pacat de odioasele erori ortografice de la tiparire (am numarat doua duzini).

– E perioada aia a anului, din nou, dupa cum bine se poate vedea in watchlist. Urasc examenele, dar iubesc faptul ca intr-o luna voi fi in Paris, din nou. Revenind – White Collar (S1) e noua mea jucarie, un Catch Me If You Can foarte promitator, care insa a degenerat undeva intre melodrama ieftina si telenovela proasta in ultimul minut din ultimul episod dinainte de vacanta de iarna; Weeds (S5), caruia ii dadusem liber acum un an si ceva, se duce exact unde spuneam – in jos, in jos si mai mult in jos, intreg sezonul mi s-a parut execrabil, dar ultimele episoade au fost ceva atat de cretin incat nu pot sub nicio forma sa le compar cu bijuteria ce a fost Weeds prin S2 cu acel mexican standoff; Stargate Universe (S1) – povesti intunecate, personaje noi, actori buni (Lou Diamond Philips & Robert Carlyle ftw); gimme more, gimme more!; Party Down (S1) – noua jucarie a lui Rob Thomas (care se mai ocupa si de 90210 si Cupid), o comedie lamentabila, mai bine s-ar fi retras in glorie odata cu Veronica Mars; Fringe (S2) – aceeasi tampenie cu care ne-am obisnuit – actori prosti, personaje cretine, povesti ridicole, good times all around; BBC’s Life - alta capodopera marca David Attenborough, la exact 30 de ani de la primul documentar din seria Life, iar acum de cele obscure pana iese The Frozen Planet.

Tags: fringe, no social life, party down, rants, stargate universe, weeds, white collar | Print

N-am mai scris de ceva vreme, motivele fiind undeva prin ultimele posturi – ca intotdeauna – filme si carti intr-o proportie mai mare decat ar trebui sa proceseze creierul uman intr-o perioada atat de scurta, dar si prima relatie serioasa din viata mea hedonistica (78 days and counting; idee la care au ras copios toti cei trei prieteni pe care i-am adunat in ultimii sapte ani), cat si un element nou – viata scolastica – spre surprinderea tuturor, mai ales a profesorilor care m-au intrebat in mod repetat ce caut eu la cursuri si seminarii, dar mai ales ce caut eu cu lectia invatata, analizand spete si rezolvand actiuni. Bine, eu fiind eu, datoriile acumulandu-se vertiginos, au fost si alte distractii. Un an bun, mult mai bun decat ma asteptam.

btw: cel mai recent comentariu de pe blog este cel al Roxei, de pe 31.08.2009. O treime de an fara remarci sarcastice. Wee!

Tags: personal, rants | Print

Ca o continuare a segmentului din 2007 si din 2008, dar si a segmentului minor din 2009, desi anul acesta m-am ocupat mai mult de carti decat de orice altceva, tot a fost indeajuns timp si pentru cele mai bune momente pe care televiziunea le-a avut de oferit:

* BSG (S4), ER (S15), Life (S2) - trei bijuterii pe care le iubesc, dar care insa s-au stins anul asta. S-au stins in plina glorie, cat inca erau marete, iar pentru asta nu putem reprosa absolut nimic, putem doar multumi pentru anii de distractie.

* Castle (S1), Leverage (S1), Lie To Me (S1) – trei seriale cat se poate de diferite, dar cu atat de multe in comun – procedurale atipice ce se bucura de: distributii grozave, povesti proaspete si personaje distractive. Mai greu in ziua de azi. Desi fiecare are magia sa proprie, le iubesc pe toate in mod egal. Castle mai egal decat toti ceilalti, ca Nathan Fillion e totusi un demi-zeu.

* Eureka (S3), Dexter (S4), Psych (S3-S4) – desi au cativa ani la activ de cand m-au incantat pentru prima oara, incat pot sa uimeasca. Toate aduc elemente care sa le intinereasca, concepte noi si schimbari bine-meritate in personaje, iar pe langa minunata treaba pe care o fac dezvoltand personajele (mai putin in Dexter unde sezonul asta si-au batut joc de mai toate personajele cu exceptia celor doi ucigasi), scenaristii produc si povesti mirobolante care ne tin lipiti de ecran.

* Better Off Ted (S1-2) – singurul sitcom nou de anul asta… pardon, singurul sitcom bun. Cu o distributie omogena (Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders, Jonathan Slavin), personaje demente si-un workplace Grimm-esque, acest sitcom isi arata fantasticul potential la care se poate ridica cat de curand.

* Mad Men (S3) – pentru ca se mentine constant ca un mirific amalgam de comedie, drama si istorie. Iar pentru un serial in care nu se intampla nimic, sezonul asta s-au intamplat multe.

* Sons of Anarchy (S1-2) – e o drama despre un club de motociclisti… cu fundatia personajelor in Hamlet si Macbeth, dar si Anarchism al lui Emma Goldman. Sezonul doi, cu o tema mai ampla si mult mai grea de digerat decat in primul sezon, nu face decat sa solidifice pozitia lui SoA in istoria televiziunii. De vazut!

* Swingtown (S1) - distributia geniala, povesti interesante despre trei cupluri implicate in swinging anilor ‘70, personaje adorabil de complexe, o directie buna si o muzica fantastica (Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Kiss, Paul Simon, Rolling Stones, Smokie, Three Dog Night samd) fac din aceasta serie un must-have.

Cat despre toate celelalte seriale… ei, bine, daca nu ti-ai auzit numele inseamna ca ai fost mai prost sau la fel de mediocru ca si anul trecut.

Tags: best of, better off ted, bsg, castle, dexter, ER, eureka, leverage, lie to me, life, mad men, psych, rants, sons of anarchy, swingtown, tv | Print

Via Daisy, o mirifica selectie a motivelor pentru care iubim serialul The West Wing:

Two Cathedrals [2.22]

Bartlet: You’re a son-of-a-bitch, you know that? She bought her first new car and you hit her with a drunk driver. What, was that supposed to be funny? “You can’t conceive, nor can I, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God,” says Graham Greene. I don’t know whose ass he was kissing there ’cause I think you’re just vindictive. What was Josh Lyman? A warning shot? That was my son. What did I ever do to yours except praise his glory and praise his name? There’s a tropical storm that gaining speed and power. They say we haven’t had a storm this bad since you took out that tender ship of mine in the north Atlantic last year, 68 crew. Do you know what a tender ship does? Fixes the other ships. Doesn’t even carry guns, just goes around, fixes the other ships and delivers the mail, that’s all it can do. Gratias tibi ago, domine. Yes, I lied. It was a sin. I’ve committed many sins. Have I displeased you, you feckless thug? 3.8 million new jobs, that wasn’t good? Bailed out Mexico, increased foreign trade, 30 million new acres of land for conservation, put Mendoza on the bench, we’re not fighting a war, I’ve raised three children… that’s not enough to buy me out of the doghouse? Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto? A deo scito? Cruciatus in crucem! Tuus in terra servus nuntius fui officium perfeci. Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem!
[Translation from the Latin: I give thanks to you, O Lord. Am I to believe those were the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with your punishments! I was your servant on Earth - I spread Your word and did Your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you.] Read more »

Tags: best of, outstanding, sorkin, west wing | Print