Interesting Links for 08-12-2014

• Britain could drift towards a police state, says one of Britain’s top police officers
  (tags: politics police rights freespeech uk )
• Retired vampire hunter offers cursed sword for sale
  (tags: vampires swords )
• Stop Mocking Gluten-Free Faddists They’re just trying to feel better.
  (tags: gluten food )
• Scottish Devolution Proposals Fatally Flawed by Inadequate Attention to Feasibility
  (tags: Scotland devolution tax )
• How to keep yourself motivated
  (tags: motivation advice )
• Tom Stoppard talks about what his plays are _really_ about
  (tags: play theatre writing meaning )
• Zombies are, apparently, done. Like, completely.
  (tags: zombies writing shortstory )
• In world first, researchers convert sunlight to electricity with over 40 percent efficiency
  (tags: solarpower efficiency )
• This is every active satellite orbiting earth
  (tags: space visualisation )
• A fantastic probability map showing the different possibilities following the next election.
  (tags: politics uk statistics )

The Little Prince trailer looks magical. And I don't even speak French!

"THE LITTLE PRINCE International Trailer" (Watch on YouTube)

via amuseoffyre

Thoughts on seeing The Extended Desolation of Smaug

a) Yes, Peter Jackson continues to take out the interesting bits of the films and leave in the battle scenes when it comes to the cinematic release.
b) Yes, the film is definitely better for all of the bits that were put back in, particularly the section around Beorn, the dwarves crossing Mirkwood, an early scene of the dwarves in Laketown, and the extra bits in Dol Guldur. The film felt more rounded, and I definitely enjoyed it more.
c) Yes, I am now looking forward to the extended Battle of the Five Armies more than I am to the theatrical release, which is exactly how I felt just before I saw the Return of The King.