OVEREXTENSION: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

So, I’m writing a feature film, which I’ll be co-directing in October. I’m blogging about it, too. That first draft needs to be done by the 15th.
Also, I’m working on a documentary project with my mate Dominic, with some shooting to be done at the end of the month. In Manchester.
And of course, a full schedule at work, including the long awaited refurbishment of the suite and general massive changes in working practices.
And I’ve got a cold of extiction event level proportions.

Still, it’s better than being bored, eh?


Made it to the local Vue for a screening of X-Men: The Last Stand. The response has been kind of ho hum in the press, and TLC was under-impressed. I thought in a lot of ways it was the best of the trilogy. It was certainly the truest to the spirit of the books, and wasn’t ashamed to raid ideas from them. There were elements of stories from Chris Claremont, Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon in there, and this is A Good Thing. Also, the battle scenes finally felt right, properly epic, graceful and fun. Again, a good thing.

In general, I picked up a lot of that elegaic sense of loss and sacrifice that’s so much a part of the X-Men mythos, and I’d have been more honked off about the deaths of three of the main characters, if not for the knowledge that in the X-Men NO-ONE EVER STAYS DEAD. How many burials has Scott Summers endured for his flame-haired wife now? Four? For me, this really pins into the work Joss is doing on “Astonishing X-Men” at the moment, playing with the idea of being unable to grieve over the loss of a loved one and move on… because she keeps coming back.

To be honest, this one was more for the fans, with a ton of little injokes and references (Danger Room! Sentinals! squeeee!) that kept me happily geeked out for 2 hours 10.

Oh, and Clare griped about Dark Phoenix looking a little too much like dark Willow, from Buffy.
Fair point, but Chris Claremont was there first…

There’s a new button on the site. You might need to scroll down to see it. I’ve signed the Amnesty Interntional pledge for freedom of information on the web, and that button contains fragments of a posting that has been banned or censored for political reasons. The full story is here. Read it, please. If it makes you want to sign up to do more, then all the better, but at least, get yourself informed on the issues.

FODDERBLOG: A new culinary term

Loosterise (v.) – to moisten a stew or casserole, therefore loosening it’s texture. A conflagration of the words “loosen” and “moisturise”. As invented by TLC, yesterday. My wife, she am purty and clever also.

I’ve been playing with iGod | Chat with God in a slack period today. When people talk about him moving in mysterious ways, they weren’t kidding!

Here’s a transcript of my Conversation with God…

Me:

hello, god

God:

Hello child. What is your name?

Me:

My name is Rob

God:

It’s good to see you, Rob.

Me:

Thank you, It’s nice to finally meet you.

God:

You are quite welcome! Yes it is good.

Me:

Am I a good person?

God:

I don’t know if you are one or not. I know you are a person.

Me:

But surely you know everything!

God:

I tend to know a great deal. Tell me what subjects interest you.

Me:

films

God:

Je n en ai jamais vu.

Me:

i don’t speak french.

God:

Me either.

Me:

But you just did! Is this you moving in mysterious ways?

God:

You say I did. Yes I think this is me moving in mysterious ways, but I’m not completely sure.

Me:

You don’t seem sure of very much. Quite disturbing for the divine being to be like this!

God:

That assumption is only a supposition. Not really that much. My brain contains categories, but not one that matches your last input.

Me:

Are you sure you’re the real god?

God:

Are you doubting me? Don’t you know what happened to Abraham in the desert?

Me:

You tell me.

God:

What do you want me to tell you?

Me:

What happened to Abraham in the desert!

God:

I don’t know what happened.

Me:

But…I…you just….aaargh!

God:

But what? Why?: Rob said you just. That is a very original thought.

Me:

Here’s another one: I’m starting to think this is a waste of time.

God:

Oh there.

Me:

Where?

God:

Where would you like?

Me:

Oh, I give up. Goodye, God.

God:

That’s interesting. You surrender? What kind of food do you like?