Topic: Happy and Random Thoughts!

[Gneisenau]

I like LotR, very much, and Tolkien was in many ways quite progressive for his time. (Exhibit A: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/i-have-no-ancestors-of-that-gifted.html) At the same time, the values dissonance is amusing when read from a 21st century perspective.

"Watership Down" is another fine example of this. Good book, just some values are a bit dated.

Then again, LotR features a bunch of white people invading a country full of swarthy folk to prevent the resident tyrant getting his hands on a weapon of mass destruction. And by killing said tyrant they leave a power vacuum, and I'm quite sure they didn't spend any thoughts on nation building when they went home with their airforce and their heads full of "Mission Accomplished!"

Who's going to feed ten thousands of orcs, now without a leader? What kind of jobs are they supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go? We better find an answer to these questions, otherwise we'll have to deal with Orkaida in a few years.


And think about that some more, while we're there. How do we know that Sauron wanted to get his hands on the One Ring in the first place? Is there any sort of documentation on that? That is: public documentation, not some dubious reports which only Gandalf has seen. You know, that old geezer last seen amusing himself in a bedroom with some manchilds.

So we have his word that Sauron wants WMDs, and Elrond's word, and... that's pretty much it. Oh, wait: Galadriel, too. Two Elves. Who's the one who is to profit the most from Sauron's demise? Elves. Who has, for thousands of years, harbored a deeply racist dislike against orcs? Elves. Who turn's up at Helm's Deep just before the walls blow up? Elves.

Who was suspiciously absent from Barad-Dur when the tower fell?


Wake up, people. Entwood can't bend steel girders. Orthanc was an inside job. (The guy there was called Saruman the White, ffs.) Watch this space for more - unless the pointy-ears get me first.

As usual I am completely amused by gneisenau's take on things. I really like that bit from the hobbit.

Thank you!

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

I like LotR, very much, and Tolkien was in many ways quite progressive for his time. (Exhibit A: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/i-have-no-ancestors-of-that-gifted.html) At the same time, the values dissonance is amusing when read from a 21st century perspective.

I could not agree less - Tolkien was a true conservative. But some of the values he (as a conservative) disagreed with were the modernist (but not progressive) flavour of his day, and others are the [post-]modernist (and progressive) flavour of our days.

[rufus sparkfire]

"Watership Down" is another fine example of this. Good book, just some values are a bit dated.

I think most of the characters were rabbits. Don't project your values onto them.

[Gneisenau]

I coul not agree less

I could not be less surprised.

I think most of the characters were rabbits. Don't project your values onto them.

Modern rabbits are much more enlightened, I'm telling you.

[Darknight]

Tolkien not being an anti-Semite isn't progressive or conservative. It is just him not being a dick.

[Gneisenau]

Absolutely.

Unfortunately, at the time this letter was written, it was socially acceptable to be one - and not only in Germany.

[Darknight]

But "being socially-acceptable" and "the norm (and therefore it is progressive to dissent)" are different.

Anti-Semite vs non-anti-Semite was not like (for example) being a royalist vs a republican-anarchist in 1930s England. If you were at a dinner party and someone said "So, the Jews?" and you said "I have no animus towards them and consider the stances of Mosley and Hitler flawed" people would have said "Fascinating - allow me to stroke my mustache and drink more port while we discuss this". If you were asked "So, the King?" and you said "I think the Bolsheviks have many excellent points vis-à-vis their killing of the Tsar and his family" the reaction would have been different.

Tolkien was holding a view that was not universal, but hardly rejected or even outside the mainstream. The country went to war with the Nazis and, once the truth of the Holocaust were known, reacted with horror. The fact the Nuremberg trials were held rather than "Meh, they were Jews - 'nuff said" suggests anti-Semitism wasn't generally approved of.

[Gneisenau]

My my, it seems "progressive" triggers a lot of emotions here.

Fair enough though, I see your point.

[BAWTRM]

Then again, LotR features a bunch of white people invading a country full of swarthy folk to prevent the resident tyrant getting his hands on a weapon of mass destruction. And by killing said tyrant they leave a power vacuum, and I'm quite sure they didn't spend any thoughts on nation building when they went home with their airforce and their heads full of "Mission Accomplished!"

Who's going to feed ten thousands of orcs, now without a leader? What kind of jobs are they supposed to do? Where are they supposed to go? We better find an answer to these questions, otherwise we'll have to deal with Orkaida in a few years.


And think about that some more, while we're there. How do we know that Sauron wanted to get his hands on the One Ring in the first place? Is there any sort of documentation on that? That is: public documentation, not some dubious reports which only Gandalf has seen. You know, that old geezer last seen amusing himself in a bedroom with some manchilds.

So we have his word that Sauron wants WMDs, and Elrond's word, and... that's pretty much it. Oh, wait: Galadriel, too. Two Elves. Who's the one who is to profit the most from Sauron's demise? Elves. Who has, for thousands of years, harbored a deeply racist dislike against orcs? Elves. Who turn's up at Helm's Deep just before the walls blow up? Elves.

Who was suspiciously absent from Barad-Dur when the tower fell?


Wake up, people. Entwood can't bend steel girders. Orthanc was an inside job. (The guy there was called Saruman the White, ffs.) Watch this space for more - unless the pointy-ears get me first.

   
   
   
   
   

[Artobans Ghost]

Introducing our Cardiac Cat. Mademoiselle Fluffy Latouche! One day while I was in the hospital I looked at the patients pet board and saw this pic of a cat and a number. Ripped it off the wall and handed it to my wife and said take care of this. The cat was at home in  a day and fit in well with our other calico. Ever heard the expression " enough to make a cat laugh" ? I think we can.



http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/brigadierinc/media/Cardiac%20cat/IMG_0170_zpsuc7vcixr.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

[Xathrodox86]

Well I've been painting again and it seems that my mojo is back. Perhaps it's the pills or just the influence of some of my mates. Anyway I'm feeling rather good with that, so you know - it's cool.

[Aldaris]

Just watched the trailer and the intro of the Ghost in the Shell live action remake.

Although I will retain some healthy scepticism until I actually see the movie, much in those two clips was remarkably close to the original (although they do seem to go for their own plot, judging from those brief scenes) - in case of the intro even leading in with the old main theme. And although I still don't think Scarlett Johannson looks particularly Japanese, seeing her in the role has calmed my concerns a little. I'm now cautiously optimistic it won't be complete dogshit. Yay!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5amv-vqUFo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4VmJcZR0Yg

[patsy02]

Looks suprisingly promising. Still would have liked to see a Jap main character, and Scarlett has a bad track record. Maybe they can make it work.

I'm mostly worried about the screenwriters and director.

[BAWTRM]

It looks like they dropped the Japanese name though. Scarlet refers to her character as 'Major', not 'the major' or 'major Kusanagi'.

[Aldaris]

We'll see. I really like what I've seen of the art design so far, and at my heart I WANT to like this movie. Like please. Hollywood. Can I have one remake of a classic that doesn't suck sweaty donkey balls? Maybe this will be it.

[Gneisenau]

Still would have liked to see a Jap main character,

Me too. Meisa Kuroki would have come to mind (okay, she's from Okinawa, but close enough).

and Scarlett has a bad track record.

She does?

[Gneisenau]

Kevin, stop being a c***.

(Foul language ahead, obviously.)

[patsy02]

and Scarlett has a bad track record.

She does?

Well, Fantastic 4 and that Luc Besson 10% brain power film. But generally I don't think her acting is great.

[Gneisenau]

Well, we have to disagree on something

[Xathrodox86]

and Scarlett has a bad track record.

She does?

Well, Fantastic 4 and that Luc Besson 10% brain power film. But generally I don't think her acting is great.

I think you meant Jessica Alba. She played in F4 1 & 2.

[patsy02]

Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson are the same person, right? Also, The Island is bad, so I'm completely justified in my judgement.

[Xathrodox86]

Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson are the same person, right? Also, The Island is bad, so I'm completely justified in my judgement.

I've watched it in german, without understanding a single word, and still managed to get the whole movie.

[patsy02]

To be fair though, that could be a compliment.

[Xathrodox86]

Never thought that I'd compliment a Michael Bay movie.

[Gneisenau]

I've been spending too much time on imgur, so I'll just leave this here: http://imgur.com/gallery/6vQhD