h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well done, Pierce!!




lil xx

Thank you one and all

A genuine !

Does this mean you'll have more time for discussing music and movies with me, Pierce?

In another thread, you mentioned some "foreign" films that were likely to be nominated for Oscars. "Royal Affair" didn't get shown in more than a handful of theaters in the U.S. I didn't get to see it in my area. I did see "Amour" a few days ago. Just remember that this was a 2012 movie that people didn't get to see until late February of the *next year*. The other nominated films -- "Kon-Tiki," "No," and "War Witch," I've never heard of, and haven't seen in any theaters in my area. There was earlier speculation that "The Intouchables" [which I did see] would be in contention, but it did not get nominated.

There's a some very strange thinking in Hollywood when the Academy Awards are being mulled over. Ben Affleck won the best director award at the Golden Globes and BAFTA ceremonies, but wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. That's got to hurt his chances of getting an Oscar.

Of course I will have more time and of course I will discuss music and movies (and a lot of other issues)

I must add though that I expect to cut down on my interweb-activities - periodically at least. I will be free to travel more and I don't have portable devices to go online with

But let us postpone the crossing of this bridge until we get to it



PS: I totally agree, that nominations of films often follow patterns that are sometimes very very hard to understand. Why "A Royal Affair" has not been shown more frequently and in more US cinemas is beyond me. More than one expert has been quoted for saying "a film like this is right up the alley with the americans, who are intrigued by royalty and European history".
But alas, no Oscar for Denmark this time.

I haven't seen "Amour" yet, but "A Royal Affair"s director Nikolaj Arcel admits it's a great film and says it's no shame to lose to a film like that.

"The Intouchables" totally deserved a nomination and why it didn't get that is incomprehensible. In particular because it looks so much more like a Hollywood film than a classic French film.

I have seen a trailer for "Kon-Tiki" and will go watch the film shortly. Thor Heyerdahl is a hero of my boyhood. I remember watching a black and white (Oscar-winning!) documentary he filmed himself while drifting across the Pacific Ocean all those years ago.

I'm lucky in that there's a an art film theater within walking distance of my house. I tend to see at least two-thirds of the films that it shows. I can't see the films that it doesn't show, though. The other art film theaters in the Boston area are harder to get to, and I don't really have a strong motivation to overcome the inconvenience until the awards ceremonies start being advertised. By then, it's cold weather.

I have no problem enjoying to foreign-language films. Some get dubbed, some have subtitles added. I'm not a purist. I just like a good story and some good camerawork and performances. I'm not fond of depressing films. I never understood why "Take Shelter" was nominated a year ago. I'm not sure why "Moonrise Kingdom" was nominated this year, but it was quirky and fun to watch.

meanwhile in the US on March first we have something new to deal with- sequestration. It seems last year the President put a poion pill in the budget negotiations to force congress to act. I didn't work so next week all Americans get a taste of the poison.
ie things like no federal aid to pre-schoolers, fewer military bases, fewer contracts to make things for the military, and possibly the ones running the computers and printing presses that process pension checks will get furlough time They say it only involves three percent of federal spending but that is enough to SNAFU everything while the US Congress sits there with their SEP blinders up.

Congratulations on your retirement.

Did you mean "poison" instead of "poion," Shagbark? Yes, I've heard of sequestration. Apparently, everybody who takes flights on commercial airlines will be affected, due to cuts in the Federal Aviation Agency.

But what does that have to do with Pierce's retirement, Shagbark?

It's only fitting that someone derails my thread, I certainly deserve it, as you well know, dearest Mala

But in a (perhaps vain) attempt to get it back on track I can tell you that I only have two half days of w*rk left now (yay me! ) because tomorrow afternoon there will be small luncheon in my honour and th*rsday afternoon there will be a small reception for all other co-w*rkers.

They wanted to throw a proper reception for all and sundry to come and give speeches and whatnot but that's just not me. I'm not a hero returning from war, I just minded my business as long as I had to. And that's that.

What does it have to do with Pierce? In post 14 someone mentioned his pension not paying, which reminded me that soon in the US a lot of things might not get paid. anyway Captain I wish you a good retirement and iff you are ever in Lansing I will buy you an

The idea of Social Security checks being delayed because of federal staff cutbacks makes my blood boil

Many of the people in my neighborhood are retirees who depend on those checks so that they can get the rent paid. There are some who are 29 days late in paying because they need those checks. It's a sad situation.

Got my first pension yesterday and will receive my last paycheck today - SINCE THIS IS MY LAST DAY AS WAGE SLAVE!

Very jealous!

you have to leave the office building swinging from a mainsheet (or something, I'm not nautical) waving your cutlass and shouting "AVAST!"

hooray.

Must be party time

"Speech!"

Avast, me hearties, the deed is done. The safe but dull haven of steady employment is in our wake and we shall now spend the remainder of our time seeking new frontiers - not to mention a lot of ports

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39fihkwHKJs