The bomb lives only as it is falling

[zotz]

Whoever returned the copy of The Princess Bride . . . thank you. It's safe and warm, but unfortunately I've completely forgotten who I lent it to. But thanks.


I've been listening to an old Jam B-side called The Butterfly Collector (courtesy of my sister, who got me a Jam box-set for christmas). There's a review online of it as a "warm acoustic ballad", which puzzles me - it's a cold and eerie song, and I like it a lot.

Thanks to grahamb I seem to be in possession of a DVD machine. After a visit to HMV clutching a gift voucher from my cousin in my sweaty palm, I have the recent reissue (ie the good one) of Edge of Darkness, and Hana-Bi.

As well as those two depressing epics, I've also just reread Use of Weapons . . . and it's occurred to me that one scene has similarities to Rashomon. I wonder if that's coincidental? A fine book, and much much sadder once you know all the way through what happens at the end/beginning.

I've also read the new Gene Wolfe ("The Knight") and it's very good too. I've a feeling once I've read the second half (next year, probably) I'll like it more, but for completely different reasons. So it goes.

Addendum : taken from sclerotic_rings' LJ,

"Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from conspiracy."

Tell your friends. All of your friends. And make sure they believe it. It's called "Riddell's Theorem".

Comments

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

What a brilliant motto! I shall use it as often as possible.

[nik-strychnine.livejournal.com]

And it fits into the thread about the Housing Benefit rather neatly...

[zotz]

Oooh, yes. Doesn't it just . . .

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Yes. =:-/

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

I have the recent reissue (ie the good one) of Edge of Darkness, and Hana-Bi.

I think I can guess what we'll be doing this weekend then.

I mean apart from *that*. ;)

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

I found Use of Weapons an *incredibly* depressing book. The epitome of the things I don't like about Iain Banks, really; directionless, bleak and featuring people who just don't develop in any meaningful way. Not that I don't still like him enough to read him anyway, mind.

[zotz]

It's fairly bleak, yes, but I'm not sure about the rest. It definitely has direction (as one of the characters points out, "A story doesn't need to have an ending to have a conclusion") and the protagonist certainly does change during the period covered - possibly more than is entirely plausible, in fact.

Ah well. You're probably right, but I like it a lot anyway.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

Well, as ever I'm expressing an opinion which there is no requirement for the rest of the world to agree with. Bleak is not my thing, and historically at least is yours..

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, have you seen 'A Mighty Wind'? The first time you see Mitch stepping off the Greyhound bus *just* made me think of you..

[reddragdiva]

"Riddell" with two L's.

[zotz]

Corrected. Cheers.

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

"Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from conspiracy."
That's going on the list of t-shirts to be printed.
Along with "Who are you calling a bloody goth?"
I quite fancy "My other T-Shirt is also black." too.

[zotz]

If you do, please put me down for one of each . . . especially the last one.

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

We're planning on putting an order togeather soon. I'm just collecting ideas at the moment. I also want the "If you're a Goth, where were you when we sacked Rome?" one, and possibly "I'm not a Goth, I'm a Merovingian!". I may also steal the "Memes don't exist. Tell your friends!" idea I saw years back.

[zotz]

The last one you can get from Need to Know's shop-thing.

And if you've ever considered becoming a smug Apple user, then this might appeal to you. And, of course, there's always despair.com to keep you on the right side of Corporate Correctness.

[original-aj.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. I think I'd prefer the memes shirt without the logo added to it - it detracts from the purity of the message somehow.

I have never been tempted to the fruity side.

BTW, I like the userpic zoo_music_girl has of the two of you. Very sweet....:-) Seriously, it's good to see you happy.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I'm still wanting:
[front print] Jesus doesn't love me
[back print] He's just using me for sex

[darkstones.livejournal.com]

The Butterfly Collector has always been one of my favourite songs by the Jam. It was the B side of Strange Town. I much prefer the Jam's darker songs to the later 'soul' efforts - oh dear, I'm such a goth ;)

[zotz]

I was hearing exactly that from my ancient-punk friend Andrew the other night. And zoo_music_girl, it turns out, knows the song very well too, although she couldn't remember where she'd heard it all those times. Apparently it must have been on the QMU jukebox when she was in Glasgow.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

I looked up the lyrics as I didn't think the lyrics sounded particularly warm, even if perhaps the sound could be said to. And they're sure not: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jam,-the/68866.html

Great song, thanks for reminding me of it and letting me know what it was.

miss you