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Dec. 25th, 2015
On voting for action on fictional places
Dec. 25th, 2015 09:28 am30% of Republicans are in favour of bombing Agrabah, the city from Aladdin.
44% of Democrats are in favour of accepting refugees from there.
Which, I think, largely tells us that most people answering polls do not expect polls to fuck them around, and that if they are thinking "Hang on, is that really the name of the place that I saw on the news last night?" are likely to assume that they have made a mistake, rather than the poll-makers having got things wrong, either deliberately or accidentally. Which, largely, doesn't seem like a bad bet to make while you're in mid-conversation with them.
44% of Democrats are in favour of accepting refugees from there.
Which, I think, largely tells us that most people answering polls do not expect polls to fuck them around, and that if they are thinking "Hang on, is that really the name of the place that I saw on the news last night?" are likely to assume that they have made a mistake, rather than the poll-makers having got things wrong, either deliberately or accidentally. Which, largely, doesn't seem like a bad bet to make while you're in mid-conversation with them.
My parents have become pheasant farmers
Dec. 25th, 2015 11:27 amShortly after my parents moved in a pheasant started visiting the house from the field next door. And my mum, being my mum, started feeding him. And then feeding him and his girlfriend. And then him, his rival, and their shared girlfriend. And now, when I fed the pheasants this morning (five slices of bread, chopped up into tiny cubes, and a large handful of seeds) I took a photo of the flock that descends upon the garden every morning and demands breakfast.
And they don't even get to eat any of them! The dogs also ignore them 95% of the time, happily watching the intruders wander about from the corner of their eye. And then, about once per week, displaying their dominance by charging across the garden, sending feathered beasties scattering in all directions.
You'll also note the separate bread on top of the pillar on the right, and the bird bath, for the _other_ birds that they attract to the garden.
And they don't even get to eat any of them! The dogs also ignore them 95% of the time, happily watching the intruders wander about from the corner of their eye. And then, about once per week, displaying their dominance by charging across the garden, sending feathered beasties scattering in all directions.
You'll also note the separate bread on top of the pillar on the right, and the bird bath, for the _other_ birds that they attract to the garden.
Star Wars: Comics Reviews
Dec. 25th, 2015 11:57 amPrinces Leia
I wanted to like this a lot. Sadly, it was a mess. A nice idea (following Episode IV the Empire are wiping out the remains of the Alderaanian people), but the writing is overly-complex, tries to cover too much in too small a space, and frankly isn't much good. I was hoping for better from Mark Waid. Looking at his bibliography it seems that I _keep_ expecting better from Mark Waid, but am not actually a fan of much he's written. I should probably remember that in the future.
Star Wars: Skywalker Strikes
Far better. An awful lot of fun, fills in some of the gap between Episodes IV and V, and is fun, well paced, and enjoys having the ability of comics to throw very large special effects at the reader along with fun dialogue. Basically, the Star Wars team gets back together to go hit some Imperial targets in a guerilla fashion. And then things go wrong, in an impressive and fun way. Did I mention that this was fun?
Darth Vader: Vader
Even better. This follows up from Darth Vader escaping the original Death Star, and sees where he goes next. It ties into Skywalker Strikes, although I read it directly afterwards rather than trying to interleave issues. Kieron Gillen captures Vader's dialogue incredibly well, and also the relationship between Vader and Sidious. Everyone actually seems to have motives for what they're doing, the dialogue is incredibly tight, and it's definitely worth reading if you like Star Wars at all. It also finishes with this sequence, which is well worth reading all by itself (and spoils nothing if you've seen the movies), and is basically the reason I decided to pick up the collections in the first place.
I wanted to like this a lot. Sadly, it was a mess. A nice idea (following Episode IV the Empire are wiping out the remains of the Alderaanian people), but the writing is overly-complex, tries to cover too much in too small a space, and frankly isn't much good. I was hoping for better from Mark Waid. Looking at his bibliography it seems that I _keep_ expecting better from Mark Waid, but am not actually a fan of much he's written. I should probably remember that in the future.
Star Wars: Skywalker Strikes
Far better. An awful lot of fun, fills in some of the gap between Episodes IV and V, and is fun, well paced, and enjoys having the ability of comics to throw very large special effects at the reader along with fun dialogue. Basically, the Star Wars team gets back together to go hit some Imperial targets in a guerilla fashion. And then things go wrong, in an impressive and fun way. Did I mention that this was fun?
Darth Vader: Vader
Even better. This follows up from Darth Vader escaping the original Death Star, and sees where he goes next. It ties into Skywalker Strikes, although I read it directly afterwards rather than trying to interleave issues. Kieron Gillen captures Vader's dialogue incredibly well, and also the relationship between Vader and Sidious. Everyone actually seems to have motives for what they're doing, the dialogue is incredibly tight, and it's definitely worth reading if you like Star Wars at all. It also finishes with this sequence, which is well worth reading all by itself (and spoils nothing if you've seen the movies), and is basically the reason I decided to pick up the collections in the first place.
Interesting Links for 25-12-2015
Dec. 25th, 2015 12:00 pm- Minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland: Not yet dead but outcome too hard to call
- John Lewis and Asda accused of being sexist as girls buy sports kit marketed for boys
- A Christmas Computer Bug, and the Future of Files
- These Are The Most-Streamed Beatles Songs So Far
- The evolution of Christmas over the last 20 years (funny, because true)
- Artists Share "Before and After" Evolution of Their Drawing Skills with Years of Practice
- Incredibly impressive (and unorthodox) dance to the Nutcracker Suite
- This Star Wars-related advert actually made my eyes damp