Nope, saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Much better than the reviews I've seen would lead one to believe. The whole audience broke out into applause at the end, which is a rarity.
"'Is that a hat or someone's uncovered head?' Ex said it was a head."
Are we not supposed to talk about Ogg's eyesight?
When I was in Taiwan one of my coworkers was a natural blonde, rosy-cheeked Brazilian of Polish-Jewish and German descent. Her temperament was Brazilian. Her Jewish mother was an atheist, but her German father converted to Judaism out of guilt. Something like that.
She would have stopped traffic even in the US, and there were few Caucasians of any kind in Taipei then. I could spot her on her scooter 3 blocks away, but think what the Chinese were thinking. Anime in the flesh.
You know, now that I think about it more, the correct Unfogged reference for me to make to sum up my feelings about Harry Potter would be to this post.
And I don't know why baa is asking about R.A.B., but now I'm curious too.
Mitch, I think I've said much the same elsewhere on here, but I sorta get you. I've been assured #3 is good, but #2 was bad enough that I just haven't had the spirit to pick up #3 yet. The allure, though, is perhaps not so difficult: Rawling has concoted a world people want to live in.
No doubt ogged will be back at some point to convince us of the merits of the series, only he'll be using words in completely unfamiliar ways and the argument will fail to win adherents.
Harry Potter and the Aptly Named Danger , all of them, remind me of Star Wars . Great attention to detail, some genuinely unique world-creation, but in both fictional universes the dark matter is plot holes.
I've read the first five and the bad writing and plot holes seriously grate on my nerves, but unfortunately if I'm to be able to slag them off properly, the price to be paid is reading the darn things.
Re 5: I am informed it might be the supposedly deceased brother of a character killed in a previous episode. Or not.
And, as for the rest of my weekend, economists evaluations of the impact of living wage ordinances my friends, those have a lot more plot holes than Harry Potter.
Much as I hate to say anything that might give our ben a big head, I have to acknowledge that his prescience in this thread is worthy of acknowledgement:
9
No doubt ogged will be back at some point to convince us of the merits of the series, only he'll be using words in completely unfamiliar ways and the argument will fail to win adherents.
Posted by: ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 05:47 PM
10
What makes the Potter books great is that they're so formidable. Imagine your favorite opera, without the music; that's Potter.
Posted by: ogged | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 05:53 PM
Also, I'm curious to know ogged's ex's opinion of why the Potter books are so popular.
I'd like to know too Mitch, but whenever she sees this post, she starts singing "The Ex met the Swede" to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell. It's like that sometimes.
oh, I read that one. Some dude cuts his feet and head off, right?
Procrustes? That story was written by Hemingway? I thought that name sounded too perfectly villainous to be a real Greek myth. I can't wait to tell the (Greek) fiancee!
Now if only it were discovered that it was actually the Albanians or the Turks built the Parthenon.
I'm embarrassed to admit I don't remember how it ended. There also may be more than one story with this feature. I'm thinking of the one made into a film three times, once by Tarkovsky, once with Burt Lancaster, and once with Ronald Reagan (this is the value of a Netflix education).
I'm not thinking of something that resembles a myth.
While I was in Scotland I had the acquaintance of this Bulgarian woman who was wont to insist (primarily to her Greek acquaintances) that Alexander the Great was actually Bulgarian but that, as usual, the true glory of her nation was being suppressed.
Fine, it doesn't resemble that myth. I don't think the killing occurs in the original text version (which I'm reading on Amazon right now. I really need to find some better way to pass the time.)
Just finished the story. I guess Tarkovsky was pretty faithful to it; the other two versions add all kinds of stuff. In one of them a main character is referred to as "the Swede"; in the story he's just a "big Swede."
I couldn't find it at the online books page; I doubt it's old enough to be public domain and I couldn't find any illegal copy on google. That's how I ended up abusing the amazon search inside the book feature. It's pretty short.
But what about the possibility that, if Harry does what he says he is going to do, #7 might not be the last? I'm not sure that I'd keep going with them, but then again, I might be more hooked than I thought.
Oh, I think it will definitely be the last. She has said it will be many times, and she'll stick to it--otherwise it will look like she caved into pressure from the publisher to keep it going.
"Tonight, we read Harry Potter. Hope you're doing the same."
Nope.
Posted by rilkefan | Link to this comment | 07-16-05 10:20 PM
For MY, it's Jagged Little Pill. For ogged . . .
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 7:08 AM
Nope, saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Much better than the reviews I've seen would lead one to believe. The whole audience broke out into applause at the end, which is a rarity.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 10:13 AM
"'Is that a hat or someone's uncovered head?' Ex said it was a head."
Are we not supposed to talk about Ogg's eyesight?
When I was in Taiwan one of my coworkers was a natural blonde, rosy-cheeked Brazilian of Polish-Jewish and German descent. Her temperament was Brazilian. Her Jewish mother was an atheist, but her German father converted to Judaism out of guilt. Something like that.
She would have stopped traffic even in the US, and there were few Caucasians of any kind in Taipei then. I could spot her on her scooter 3 blocks away, but think what the Chinese were thinking. Anime in the flesh.
Posted by John Emerson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 10:46 AM
Who is R.A.B.?
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 12:27 PM
You know, now that I think about it more, the correct Unfogged reference for me to make to sum up my feelings about Harry Potter would be to this post.
And I don't know why baa is asking about R.A.B., but now I'm curious too.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 3:42 PM
Perhaps R.A.B. is a character in the Harry Potter books?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 4:01 PM
Mitch, I think I've said much the same elsewhere on here, but I sorta get you. I've been assured #3 is good, but #2 was bad enough that I just haven't had the spirit to pick up #3 yet. The allure, though, is perhaps not so difficult: Rawling has concoted a world people want to live in.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 5:40 PM
No doubt ogged will be back at some point to convince us of the merits of the series, only he'll be using words in completely unfamiliar ways and the argument will fail to win adherents.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 5:47 PM
What makes the Potter books great is that they're so formidable. Imagine your favorite opera, without the music; that's Potter.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 5:53 PM
That's a lot of sex!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 5:59 PM
It's kind of like this.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:00 PM
That's not what I meant.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:01 PM
I don't have a favorite opera, anyway.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:02 PM
Harry Potter is a melodrama pantomimed by obese, self-regarding vocalists. Huh. Reminds me a little of being on crack.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:05 PM
Bridgeplate gets it.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:06 PM
That's not quite right, though. Andrea Bocelli is pretty trim.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:10 PM
As is Renée Fleming. Though I don't
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:20 PM
like finishing my sentences in the same comment in which I begin them.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:21 PM
Harry Potter and the Aptly Named Danger , all of them, remind me of Star Wars . Great attention to detail, some genuinely unique world-creation, but in both fictional universes the dark matter is plot holes.
Posted by Cala | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 6:42 PM
Are there more plot holes if I read further? If you say yes, I may never do so.
To 10: I think I almost completely don't get it.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 8:04 PM
I think the esteemed Dr. Holbo has a pretty convincing explanation.
I've read the first five and the bad writing and plot holes seriously grate on my nerves, but unfortunately if I'm to be able to slag them off properly, the price to be paid is reading the darn things.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 8:11 PM
Re 5: I am informed it might be the supposedly deceased brother of a character killed in a previous episode. Or not.
And, as for the rest of my weekend, economists evaluations of the impact of living wage ordinances my friends, those have a lot more plot holes than Harry Potter.
Posted by benton | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 9:41 PM
Much as I hate to say anything that might give our ben a big head, I have to acknowledge that his prescience in this thread is worthy of acknowledgement:
Also, I'm curious to know ogged's ex's opinion of why the Potter books are so popular.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 10:31 PM
I'd like to know too Mitch, but whenever she sees this post, she starts singing "The Ex met the Swede" to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell. It's like that sometimes.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 10:44 PM
Maybe this can be the post that finally brings her to comment.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 10:57 PM
Every time I read this post I think of that Hemingway story where the guy's too tall for his bed.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:03 PM
oh, I read that one. Some dude cuts his feet and head off, right?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:04 PM
oh, I read that one. Some dude cuts his feet and head off, right?
Procrustes? That story was written by Hemingway? I thought that name sounded too perfectly villainous to be a real Greek myth. I can't wait to tell the (Greek) fiancee!
Now if only it were discovered that it was actually the Albanians or the Turks built the Parthenon.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:11 PM
I'm embarrassed to admit I don't remember how it ended. There also may be more than one story with this feature. I'm thinking of the one made into a film three times, once by Tarkovsky, once with Burt Lancaster, and once with Ronald Reagan (this is the value of a Netflix education).
I'm not thinking of something that resembles a myth.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:12 PM
"The Ex met the Swede" to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell.
And the last verse goes:
Ogged stands alone,
Ogged stands alone,
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
Ogged stands alone.
Shit. I should be careful in my taunting.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:16 PM
Oh! I know the movie, and therefore the story, you're talking about, despite never having seen any version! It ends with him getting killed.
And you're wrong, it does resemble a myth.
Now if only it were discovered that it was actually the Albanians or the Turks built the Parthenon.
It was the Macedonians.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:16 PM
It was the Macedonians.
While I was in Scotland I had the acquaintance of this Bulgarian woman who was wont to insist (primarily to her Greek acquaintances) that Alexander the Great was actually Bulgarian but that, as usual, the true glory of her nation was being suppressed.
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:19 PM
Fine, it doesn't resemble that myth. I don't think the killing occurs in the original text version (which I'm reading on Amazon right now. I really need to find some better way to pass the time.)
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:19 PM
If I have the movie/story apprehended correctly, it's called "The Killers".
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:21 PM
Um, doesn't the Bulgarian ethnicity - at least by that name - date from about the 8th-9th century AD, if not later?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:21 PM
Yep.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:22 PM
See, that's how they keep the truth down, eb.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:22 PM
Just finished the story. I guess Tarkovsky was pretty faithful to it; the other two versions add all kinds of stuff. In one of them a main character is referred to as "the Swede"; in the story he's just a "big Swede."
I'm sure everyone wanted to know that.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:30 PM
Is it online? I don't mean on amazon.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:34 PM
Re #25: When I read "The Ex met the Swede," nursery rhymes were the genre my mind skipped to as well.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:36 PM
So did they actually meet, or just view each other through a car window?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:37 PM
I couldn't find it at the online books page; I doubt it's old enough to be public domain and I couldn't find any illegal copy on google. That's how I ended up abusing the amazon search inside the book feature. It's pretty short.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-17-05 11:37 PM
Coupling audit: it still blows.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 12:24 AM
I just got a random piece of spam titled "Go wakeup in Swede riposte." Make of that what you will.
Posted by chris | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 4:23 AM
Waking up in a Swede seems like it must, somewhere, be a rich genre of amatuer fetish text pron.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 9:34 AM
I guess I'm the only one who thinks of American Pastoral. But then, ogged's Swede is not, so's we know, Jewish.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 9:48 AM
I hope the fact that nobody's nibbled on my Bocelli bait reflects poorly on my bait qua bait, and not poorly on yinz qua judges of musicianship.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:02 AM
My sole knowledge of Bocelli comes from The Sopranos.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:05 AM
We are models of restraint.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:08 AM
Actually, I was pretty insulted you didn't hit that hanging curveball. I was trying to make you feel good.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:13 AM
What's an opera?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:20 AM
I think you mean, "What's Opera, Doc?".
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:23 AM
Bocelli was on The Sopranos?
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:27 AM
Was that a merry melody or a loony tune?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:28 AM
#5: I think they're the initials of a pseudonymously named character we already know, rather than a new character.
also:
OH, MY GOD.
Posted by mk | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 10:31 AM
I think it's a little creepy that Ben chimes in with a story about the Swede getting killed. What'd she do to you, Ben?
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 11:31 AM
Meiner, eb is the one who brought that story up.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 12:10 PM
Like you're not actually the same person posting from his mom's basement. Me too.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 12:12 PM
Hey, I'm above the garage.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 12:13 PM
R.A.B.=Sirius' brother Regulus, no?
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 1:32 PM
61: oh, you're TOTALLY right.
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 07-18-05 1:40 PM
61: That was my theory, too.
But what about the possibility that, if Harry does what he says he is going to do, #7 might not be the last? I'm not sure that I'd keep going with them, but then again, I might be more hooked than I thought.
Posted by Doug | Link to this comment | 07-19-05 5:56 AM
Oh, I think it will definitely be the last. She has said it will be many times, and she'll stick to it--otherwise it will look like she caved into pressure from the publisher to keep it going.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07-19-05 6:43 AM