Lament for a Computer

My old Dell at home has seemingly died. Around two months ago Sean was given a green light to use the same on his own after school for games and a little schoolwork. He has had a Noddy game, with word, number and logic puzzles for around two years, but had previously only been allowed access to the hallowed machine under supervision. He's also into Escape from Monkey Island, Warcraft III and sundry other PC games. Mostly Noddy though.
( Computer conclusion, films )

Several of the old flist had this, and it seems quite similar to one of a few months ago. Number 4 of the instructions is only left in for anyone taking this for their own blog. It should not apply to too many people, at least I would hope, but of course there are those who don't read, at least so I'm led to believe. Actually one is my wife, who wouldn't have read a single one of the below, but she is not on LJ so won't likely be tracked down by that sinister 'we'.

( Terms and List )

Largely for my own benefit I have been compiling a sequence of online literary resources. I have a tendency to print many short stories and the occasional novel and read them offline. During the course of the last several months I've found large numbers of such resources, some of which are just bibliographical references without any available texts. What follows behind the cut is by no means exhaustive and any other references would be welcomed in replies. They are in no very particular order.

Mostly these are out of copyright works, with one or two notable exceptions. I make no judgement on the legality of those sites carrying in copyright works, but obviously couldn't advise that use be made of said sites, because I haven't.

( Online Literary Resources )

I decided to put forward something that others out there may be interested in for their blogs. 100 books for children and young adults follow, in three age categories. The ages I inserted, because in the original source the edges were blurred, being early, middle and later childhood. This started from an article in The Daily Telegraph e-bulletin entitled roughly: "100 books children should read". The books come from the article and are the choice of the newspaper named above.
( More explanation and meme behind the cut )

Hannukah is over and Christmas fast approaches. Something that the rest of the world could learn from Fiji is a little religious tolerance. The breakdown of religions here is something like this:
( Come on in )

I've just finished reading Treasure Islands by Pamela Stephenson, which is her story of following in the wake of Fanny Stevenson aboard a yacht. She's apparently now a pschyhiatrist, a fact I didn't know. I did know her from Not the Nine O'Clock News and latterly as the wife of Billy Connolly. She doesn't mention the former much at all, although the latter is mentioned quite often.
( Read More )

The hot season, or more accurately the cyclone season, is now upon us in Fiji. I know this because the wasps have begun to flock in large numbers to the eaves of my house to build their nests. These are not your average social wasp, they build one nest each and lay their eggs. If you open one the little developing wasps look like aeroplanes in a hangar.

As long as they don't come inside the house they don't really bother me. They do, however, like to use the interior space of my bookcases when they can. I, thus, kept an eye out and spray the occasional trespasser. Two have been dispatched this morning. These are not small wasps, they have a large head, a thin attachment and a large back end; altogether probably three inches long.

( Recent and Current Reading / Viewing )

There's a low pressure system over Fiji just now, which is making the rain fall in excessive amounts. Bucketing down would describe it well enough. I'm on the cusp of a decision over what course of action to take in the near enough future. The wife is pressing me into opening a cafe business or a bar / restaurant, and I think it might just work. The only two problems are, (i) I'm undecided if I want to stay in Fiji, and (ii) the money. At least it's not Nigeria, or any number of other, more troubled, countries.

( Enough of me for now, here's some other things )

Borrowed via horridporrid from others.

These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing's users (as of 30 September 2007). As usual, bold what you have read, italicise what you started but couldn't finish, and strike through what you couldn't stand. Add an asterisk to those you've read more than once. Underline those on your to-read list.

That is, of course, if you are interested in doing so.
( Those 106 books )

For quite a long time now I've been on a Greek history binge. It all started when I read The Battle of Salamis by Barry Strauss (no relative). It's a terrific account of the battle, considered one of the turning points in world history. Had the Greeks not prevailed at Salamis and on land at Mycale, or was it elsewhere, hmmm, then we in the western world at least, may all have ended up with a strong Persian influence. That may not have been an altogether bad thing really. It's not a point worth dwelling on as nothing might have changed had the Greeks lost the Persian Wars, I'll leave that kind of thing to historians to debate. At least I will as long as they stick to the pseudo facts of which many of them seem fond.

( Don't muck around with Epaminondas )

It's that time of year again. The Booker Prize nominees, that is the long list as it now is, have been announced for the 2007 Booker Prize. The Booker is as old as yours truly for what it's worth. There are two nominated novels from this year's long list that I'll certainly seek out and read.

( The Isle of Man )

First, I am a Harry Potter fan. I enjoy the books, they are well written and contain some great adventures. They will not change anything about the world and there seems to me to be so little in any contention that Ms. Rowling is trying to impress her world system on anyone that it is almost amusing. Almost, but not quite.

( Read more, unless you are particularly sensitive, in which case, best not )

The Victorians were very down on Sir Walter. ( Some Thoughts )

This theory has been stewing within me for some time and has little, if any, canon support. What it does is explain a possible scenario that would put the entire Harry Potter series in a cocked hat and in some way put those who had not thought of this possibility on the alert for it (assuming it does unravel JKR’s little secret).( Read more )

One argument that has been used in favour of Dumbledore's making a pact with Severus to be killed or otherwise disguise his killing (I am firmly of the view that Dumbledore is dead) is that Fawkes never stepped in to prevent the AK. ( Read more )

Have been absent a lot lately, both physically and mentally.

Had a trip to Taveuni for work and pleasure recently. I had forgotten how pleasant Fiji could be until this trip, normally being stuck in Suva with all the bullshit that goes down here.

Am currently wading through Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes and agreeing with a lot of it, however certain bits seem rather obvious. If you do not appreciate this read it and see what I mean.

Taken in the context of the times in which he wrote you would have to appreciate the accuracy of the thought. It was written and devised in the period leading up to and in the aftermath of the Civil War in England in the seventeenth century.

What a ponce eh? (do I mean me or Hobbes)

This time Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes.

This book, which I read in translation in Penguin Classics, is justifiably superb. Each episode is full of incident and rich dialogue between the protaganists (for the few of you who may not know they are the good Don and Sancho Panza).

If, as I did before I read the book, you think you know it from "lore" then think again. Other than the famous tilting at windmills and fighting wine skins there are numerous other delights contained in the adventures. The various Knights the Don fights, his time in jail and the various tangents of other peoples' stories all add up to a particularly rewarding read.

Duscussions on the various episodes with your favourites would be welcome.

Recent reading includes the last three books in the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series, Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges, Monsignor Quixote by Grahame Greene and Leeds United: Trials and Tribulations.

The first of these are exceptionally good, as is the film with Jim Carrey.

Borges should only be read by people who have read just about everything else as his references abound.

Monsignor Quixote is very enjoyable and should be read after reading Cervantes original for best effect.

The Leeds book was given me by my sports mad Uncle, who is also a Leeds fan, as are my brother and was my Grandfather. I support Crewe as my family was transplanted across the Pennines after my brother was born. The book is of interest for anyone who wants to see arse covering by those involved in putting Leeds into severe financial trouble.

This is obviously brief but discussion would be welcome.

Some reading recommendations and otherwise.

Anyone with a vestige of religiosity in them is referred to "The Blind Watchmaker" or indeed any other book by Richard Dawkins. There is a flaw in the argument and I would be interested to know if anyone else has spotted it or others I may have missed.

Unless you are particularly interested in the thoughts of a sixteenth century nun I would suggest you avoid "The Life of St. Theresa of Avila" by herself.

The important thing is to have as eclectic reading as possible.