Posts
Loaves but no Fishes
-
One of the biggest expenses for me each weekend is feeding the hungry
little blighters. Maybe if I'd had four girls it would be simpler because
they'd all ...
14 years ago
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Random Story 4
Jaz wandered into the kitchen. He liked it there.
Cooking wasn't a chore for him. He'd grown up around food and had always shown a keen interest in trying out new things.
He shared the apartment with his twin brother Jez.
Jez was due back anytime soon. He worked in the construction industry. They were fortunate to live on the south coast and with all the recent underwater living development he had a good career ahead of him.
In the years since the turn of the millenium new ways had to be found to cope with the threat of global warming and overpopulation. Birth control had helped to turn the tide in western countries, but the war-torn, corrupt countries of the Third World still showed no sign of social responsibility. Thankfully, someone came up with an innovative method of harnessing geo-thermal energy and instead of building hideous monuments that ruined the skyline most new development was now concentrated on building underground habitations. This was of benefit to Africa because they had one of the most stable continental plates in the world and they were rapidly usurping the middle east in terms of energy supply to the western world by running long trenches and insulated pipes to the rest of the world. Hopefully this mean its long term social development would become more stable as well.
Architects rushed to make something of beauty out of this utilitarian concept and thus Riverside living was no longer the fashion. Instead it was Underbay areas that fetched the highest prices on the market. Jez had found a niche here specialising in watertight roof windows that allowed the penthouse Underbay to have views directly under the marina. The water in these new bays was now barraged and filtered to give it an extra clarity in the bright sunshine and afforded spectacular views to those able to pay for them. Jaz thought it was a bit like living in an aquarium.
He looked up as Jez wandered in. Tonight was a special night. Their 21st birthday.
The meal that had taken most of Jaz's time to prepare this evening would soon be ready.
As Jez flopped on their sofa his brother came and sat beside him.
"You look shattered." Jaz said. There was something he wanted to talk to his twin about, but he knew he had to guage his mood first.
"Yeah. We had to vaccum seal the penthouse and then pump the work area dry so we could prepare the roof to accept the first window tomorrow."
"That sounds...involved."
"It's a klick's worth of checklists is what it is. We can build underwater houses, but we can't build a reliable pressurised construction drone to do the dirty work."
"I thought those drones were quite sophisticated now?"
"They are, but down there, the inconsistency of the light through the water plays havoc with their optics. That big collapse in Dubai a couple of months ago was caused by a drones inability to accurately see depth in detail. Sonar can only do so much but the optic recognition program wasn't sophisticated enough."
"Just like the old days huh? 'To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.' "
"You been spending the day reading. Again?"
That was the moment Jaz realised they wouldn't be able to talk about it. Tonight would be their last night.
"My studies are nearly done. I was kind of hoping that I would get to finish them sooner."
Jez shifted uncomfortably at the mention of the future.
"Why have you wasted all this time on something so dumb as anthropology? The world is getting better. We passed the period of environmental short-sightedness years ago. We're in a new dawn of human achievement."
"And what price have we paid for this achievement, Jez." he looked at his brother. They'd had this conversation before. The decision to be made was an impossible one, and it was not in their hands.
"Can I smell something burning?" Jez ended their little chat and turned toward the TV screen that was unfurling against the main wall.
Jaz got up. The food was fine but when Jez didn't want to talk, he just didn't.
He stopped briefly by a mirror on the wall and looked deep into his own eyes, trying to search for some answer to their problem. For some other way. Although they were twins he looked only vaguely similar to his counterpart. There was a definite similarity but they had both developed in different ways. Both physically and emotionally. Jez was by far the more masculine of the two and Jaz, the more sensitive.
The political culture which had brought about the changes that Jez was so enthused over was an unlikely combination. A movement with the voice of the Moral Majority but with Liberal tendencies had finally risen up and drowned out the tired bleatings of socialists, centralists and conservatives. Grass roots frustration with career politicians had finally coalesced into something that worked for everyone. It started in the UK and was now taking hold across most other major democracies in the world especially those with the most disillusioned populace.
With it had come a push for a change in the status quo. With a mandate from the people who put them into power, there were more sweeping changes made than had been since back in the first months of the Blairite government. The old guy even gave his guarded approval to the new movement, which he felt was a natural progression of what he'd tried to do. The UK was now more of a meritocracy than ever before. The class system was disappearing, the welfare program had been all but dismantled by making sure the country had a framework that was sustainable in supporting its citizens and that society had a place for everyone. At 21 is when you became a full citizen.
Jaz drifted over to the cooker and moved things around, finishing off the last few parts of the meal. Their big day was here.
With the cooking done Jaz added a last garnish to Jez's meal and brought it to the dining table.
"It's ready." He announced.
Jez tore himself away from the screen where he was watching a football match from the latest round of the World Champions League. It was a classic grudge match between Liverpool and Barcelona. Barcelona were leading one-nil partway through the first quarter.
"I can't believe Jones got herself sent off in the first five minutes!" Jez complained as he sat at the table facing the screen. "We're down to ten on the pitch now until the second quarter. They're gonna hammer us."
"Eat your food or it'll go cold", Jaz said without looking up.
"Alright, Alright."
Jaz waited until the first quarter of the football match had finished before trying to speak again.
"Jez. I was talking to a man from the Office of Citizenship the other week. He thinks I'm not going to make a full citizen."
Even though there was nothing to distract him, Jez didn't meet his brothers eyes. His voice was downcast as he spoke.
"What did you think would happen, Jaz. You can't just waste your life anymore. This isn't the bad old days."
"Waste my life. That's ironic. I'm not going to be a full citizen Jez."
"Its the way things are. Its how they work now. Everyone has a responsibility for everyone else to a degree, but ultimately you're responsible for your own contribution to society."
"You've bought it hook, line and sinker haven't you."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, you know you're going to get yours and your not going to jeopardise it. Not even for me."
"Hey! I earnt mine! I didn't look for a free pass." The brothers were simmering and the heat was about to go up further.
"I know but I've got a plan. I need your help."
"No."
"You're central to it. I've learned from you. I want to be like you."
"You what?"
"I haven't been doing my anthropology studies for a few weeks now. I've been taking a crash course in Geo-thermal Residential Construction."
"A job! You want me to get you a job! The assessment is tomorrow morning. Graduation is in the evening. There's no way I can get you a...a...ack!" Jez clutched his chest.
"I knew you'd react like this. I'm sorry." Jaz stared across the table at his brother. "I'm not going to die Jez. I've got things to do. A world to change. You're going to help me do that."
"Wh..Whegghh...What...are you...talking about?"
"I don't like the system, Jez. Life isn't all about work. Life is about freedom. Somewhere along the way our liberal oppressors forgot that. In my studies on anthropology I found out what happens to people with power. They start off with good intentions, but power corrupts them. Liberalism should always be in opposition to the status quo, because the status quo tends toward conservatism and it always needs someone to knock the hard edges off it."
"Jaz..." his brother's voice was a strained cry for help as he reached across the table.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't let it be me. I'm going to change things. For the better. The system works because they kill those who aren't good citizens. They're like the old Soviet Union now. They got mixed up and crossed eugenics with euthanasia. As they loosened the requirement for euthanasia they tightened their control on the birth rate. This is how they created your brand new dawn. They have a mandate from the people too, a democratic mandate, to kill off the opposition because they cause too much friction to the smoothly oiled cogs of our shiny new society. I'm 21. My life should be beginning not ending. Someone has to stand up. Something has to change. Jaz died today. Of a heart attack. Stress probably. That's all they'll ever know. But now the life that you would have had becomes mine and I'll do more with it than you ever could. And to think they were going to kill me instead of you. It's just institutionalised murder. There's no justification."
Jaz moved around the table, his brother had fallen to the floor. He knelt beside him.
"I loved you my brother, but sometimes change requires sacrifice. Things that are dear to you can stop you progressing. You can appreciate that I'm sure. We started off with the right intentions. We got rid of things such as cars, we reduced our reliance on fossil fuels and we made progress. Well now it's time for the next step."
He put his hand gently on his brothers face.
"Rest in peace, Jez. Rest knowing that if anything I deserved to live longer. And i'll make it work. In your name and for your memory, this world will change so that a tragedy like this never has to occur again."
Character: counterparts Plot: longer Resolution: mandate
----------------
Now playing: Bob Marley - Sun Is Shining
via FoxyTunes
Cooking wasn't a chore for him. He'd grown up around food and had always shown a keen interest in trying out new things.
He shared the apartment with his twin brother Jez.
Jez was due back anytime soon. He worked in the construction industry. They were fortunate to live on the south coast and with all the recent underwater living development he had a good career ahead of him.
In the years since the turn of the millenium new ways had to be found to cope with the threat of global warming and overpopulation. Birth control had helped to turn the tide in western countries, but the war-torn, corrupt countries of the Third World still showed no sign of social responsibility. Thankfully, someone came up with an innovative method of harnessing geo-thermal energy and instead of building hideous monuments that ruined the skyline most new development was now concentrated on building underground habitations. This was of benefit to Africa because they had one of the most stable continental plates in the world and they were rapidly usurping the middle east in terms of energy supply to the western world by running long trenches and insulated pipes to the rest of the world. Hopefully this mean its long term social development would become more stable as well.
Architects rushed to make something of beauty out of this utilitarian concept and thus Riverside living was no longer the fashion. Instead it was Underbay areas that fetched the highest prices on the market. Jez had found a niche here specialising in watertight roof windows that allowed the penthouse Underbay to have views directly under the marina. The water in these new bays was now barraged and filtered to give it an extra clarity in the bright sunshine and afforded spectacular views to those able to pay for them. Jaz thought it was a bit like living in an aquarium.
He looked up as Jez wandered in. Tonight was a special night. Their 21st birthday.
The meal that had taken most of Jaz's time to prepare this evening would soon be ready.
As Jez flopped on their sofa his brother came and sat beside him.
"You look shattered." Jaz said. There was something he wanted to talk to his twin about, but he knew he had to guage his mood first.
"Yeah. We had to vaccum seal the penthouse and then pump the work area dry so we could prepare the roof to accept the first window tomorrow."
"That sounds...involved."
"It's a klick's worth of checklists is what it is. We can build underwater houses, but we can't build a reliable pressurised construction drone to do the dirty work."
"I thought those drones were quite sophisticated now?"
"They are, but down there, the inconsistency of the light through the water plays havoc with their optics. That big collapse in Dubai a couple of months ago was caused by a drones inability to accurately see depth in detail. Sonar can only do so much but the optic recognition program wasn't sophisticated enough."
"Just like the old days huh? 'To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.' "
"You been spending the day reading. Again?"
That was the moment Jaz realised they wouldn't be able to talk about it. Tonight would be their last night.
"My studies are nearly done. I was kind of hoping that I would get to finish them sooner."
Jez shifted uncomfortably at the mention of the future.
"Why have you wasted all this time on something so dumb as anthropology? The world is getting better. We passed the period of environmental short-sightedness years ago. We're in a new dawn of human achievement."
"And what price have we paid for this achievement, Jez." he looked at his brother. They'd had this conversation before. The decision to be made was an impossible one, and it was not in their hands.
"Can I smell something burning?" Jez ended their little chat and turned toward the TV screen that was unfurling against the main wall.
Jaz got up. The food was fine but when Jez didn't want to talk, he just didn't.
He stopped briefly by a mirror on the wall and looked deep into his own eyes, trying to search for some answer to their problem. For some other way. Although they were twins he looked only vaguely similar to his counterpart. There was a definite similarity but they had both developed in different ways. Both physically and emotionally. Jez was by far the more masculine of the two and Jaz, the more sensitive.
The political culture which had brought about the changes that Jez was so enthused over was an unlikely combination. A movement with the voice of the Moral Majority but with Liberal tendencies had finally risen up and drowned out the tired bleatings of socialists, centralists and conservatives. Grass roots frustration with career politicians had finally coalesced into something that worked for everyone. It started in the UK and was now taking hold across most other major democracies in the world especially those with the most disillusioned populace.
With it had come a push for a change in the status quo. With a mandate from the people who put them into power, there were more sweeping changes made than had been since back in the first months of the Blairite government. The old guy even gave his guarded approval to the new movement, which he felt was a natural progression of what he'd tried to do. The UK was now more of a meritocracy than ever before. The class system was disappearing, the welfare program had been all but dismantled by making sure the country had a framework that was sustainable in supporting its citizens and that society had a place for everyone. At 21 is when you became a full citizen.
Jaz drifted over to the cooker and moved things around, finishing off the last few parts of the meal. Their big day was here.
With the cooking done Jaz added a last garnish to Jez's meal and brought it to the dining table.
"It's ready." He announced.
Jez tore himself away from the screen where he was watching a football match from the latest round of the World Champions League. It was a classic grudge match between Liverpool and Barcelona. Barcelona were leading one-nil partway through the first quarter.
"I can't believe Jones got herself sent off in the first five minutes!" Jez complained as he sat at the table facing the screen. "We're down to ten on the pitch now until the second quarter. They're gonna hammer us."
"Eat your food or it'll go cold", Jaz said without looking up.
"Alright, Alright."
Jaz waited until the first quarter of the football match had finished before trying to speak again.
"Jez. I was talking to a man from the Office of Citizenship the other week. He thinks I'm not going to make a full citizen."
Even though there was nothing to distract him, Jez didn't meet his brothers eyes. His voice was downcast as he spoke.
"What did you think would happen, Jaz. You can't just waste your life anymore. This isn't the bad old days."
"Waste my life. That's ironic. I'm not going to be a full citizen Jez."
"Its the way things are. Its how they work now. Everyone has a responsibility for everyone else to a degree, but ultimately you're responsible for your own contribution to society."
"You've bought it hook, line and sinker haven't you."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, you know you're going to get yours and your not going to jeopardise it. Not even for me."
"Hey! I earnt mine! I didn't look for a free pass." The brothers were simmering and the heat was about to go up further.
"I know but I've got a plan. I need your help."
"No."
"You're central to it. I've learned from you. I want to be like you."
"You what?"
"I haven't been doing my anthropology studies for a few weeks now. I've been taking a crash course in Geo-thermal Residential Construction."
"A job! You want me to get you a job! The assessment is tomorrow morning. Graduation is in the evening. There's no way I can get you a...a...ack!" Jez clutched his chest.
"I knew you'd react like this. I'm sorry." Jaz stared across the table at his brother. "I'm not going to die Jez. I've got things to do. A world to change. You're going to help me do that."
"Wh..Whegghh...What...are you...talking about?"
"I don't like the system, Jez. Life isn't all about work. Life is about freedom. Somewhere along the way our liberal oppressors forgot that. In my studies on anthropology I found out what happens to people with power. They start off with good intentions, but power corrupts them. Liberalism should always be in opposition to the status quo, because the status quo tends toward conservatism and it always needs someone to knock the hard edges off it."
"Jaz..." his brother's voice was a strained cry for help as he reached across the table.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't let it be me. I'm going to change things. For the better. The system works because they kill those who aren't good citizens. They're like the old Soviet Union now. They got mixed up and crossed eugenics with euthanasia. As they loosened the requirement for euthanasia they tightened their control on the birth rate. This is how they created your brand new dawn. They have a mandate from the people too, a democratic mandate, to kill off the opposition because they cause too much friction to the smoothly oiled cogs of our shiny new society. I'm 21. My life should be beginning not ending. Someone has to stand up. Something has to change. Jaz died today. Of a heart attack. Stress probably. That's all they'll ever know. But now the life that you would have had becomes mine and I'll do more with it than you ever could. And to think they were going to kill me instead of you. It's just institutionalised murder. There's no justification."
Jaz moved around the table, his brother had fallen to the floor. He knelt beside him.
"I loved you my brother, but sometimes change requires sacrifice. Things that are dear to you can stop you progressing. You can appreciate that I'm sure. We started off with the right intentions. We got rid of things such as cars, we reduced our reliance on fossil fuels and we made progress. Well now it's time for the next step."
He put his hand gently on his brothers face.
"Rest in peace, Jez. Rest knowing that if anything I deserved to live longer. And i'll make it work. In your name and for your memory, this world will change so that a tragedy like this never has to occur again."
Character: counterparts Plot: longer Resolution: mandate
----------------
Now playing: Bob Marley - Sun Is Shining
via FoxyTunes
Friday, 12 December 2008
Salut, Edwin Van der Sar
Edwin Van der Sar has been one of the most consistent and important players for Man U over the last few years.He came and rescued United from a dangerous slide after Peter Schmeicel left and we went through a few 'Next big thing' keepers who, whilst they had talent, were still relatively inexperienced and didn't have the temperament for the big time.
His last couple of summers at Fulham had been rife with specualtion about him moving to United and, in all honesty, I think Fergie made a mistake in not signing him sooner. He was one of the reasons Fulham were still in the Premier League and able to think about European qualification.
My oldest son, who is also a Man U fan, loves Van der Sar too. He rates him with Ronaldo and Scholes. I think thatgoes to show howimportant he is to United.
He's one of the players that makes a difference. You know that it will rarely be because of him that you concede a goal. It also shows the importance of having a top notch goalkeeper in giving your side confidence. The fluctuations of personnel in United's defence this season have been minimised when he's in the side, but have been exposed when one of the other keepers have been in.
At least he'll be around for another couple of years in order to smooth the transition. Kuszczak and Foster have talent for sure, but I think Fergie has learnt hislesson from last time and wants to make sure that these guys are left to sink or swim and take the team with them.
If they've got the cahunas for the big league then they'll listen to everything Van der Sar can teach them and seize every opportunity that comes their way and maybe they'll become regulars before his contract finally ends in 2011.
Even so, at least he'll be around for the really big matches.
I think that for his part in the club's recent successes, especially the Champions League final, he will go down as one of the legends.
Salut to you, Edwin Van der Sar!
----------------
Now playing: Lord Tanamo - I'm in the Mood for Ska
via FoxyTunes
Welcome to the World of Crime
Well, today it finally happened.
I lost my virginity.
At the grand old age of 35 I am officially a victim of crime.
I have a crime number and everything.
Okay, so it was only my bike being stolen from my garden, but I've been surprised at just how much I feel about the whole thing. It's one thing to know how victims feel, but something else to experience it yourself.
It's only been a few hours since we discovered it (yes, we do get up that early!), but already i've been through the ringer.
At first I started of with nonchalance. It's only a bike (albeit an expensive one for us). It's just a thing. It doesn't matter in the scheme of things. At least it wasn't one that belonged to the kids.
Then I got angry. How dare they come into my garden and take my possessions! When I find them I'm going to skin them alive and hang their guts out to dry! Just you wait! If I see you riding my bike i'll... The whole revenge fantasy kicked in something rotten as I walked the streets at 6am in the ice and rain looking for any sign of thief or bike.
Once I got back from my journey I sat down and felt some grief for the thing. I would miss that bike as it had been my friend during a pretty intense period of my life when I had separated from my wife and got a new job in a different part of the country. There were a lot of memories attached to that 'thing'.
Now, at this moment, I'm going through paranoia. I'm sat at the dining table with my laptop, looking through the window, straight down the garden at the back gate. I think I've looked through the window about 30 times whilst writing this post. Every little noise that seems to come from the garden has me looking for some mysterious person who's greedy enough and stupid enough to return to the scene of the crime a few hours later for more.
The bike wasn't in the best shape, it had some spokes missing, worn tyres, a puncture and a slightly bent rear axle that made it work a bit harder. At one point I hoped that while they were riding it away that the thief pushed the bike too hard in these conditions and it failed them and they fell under a lorry! If that didn't happen then it was going to be one of those daftest robberies ever as they'll have to pay out for a new rear wheel and new front and rear tyres too if they want to bring it back to life. Although I guess you wouldn't expect a thief to pay for anything really would you.
Maybe it was better gone anyway. Not just for its mechanical failings, I would have been happy to restore my old friend back into working condition if I had had the money. No, I meant more for what it represented.
It was from a part of my life that was full of 'what ifs' now. Not a good place to have when you're trying to rebuild a relationship. Maybe it not being here will help draw a line under that period and help me live more in the now and for this future rather than one that might have been.
I was supposed to have gone into Pontypridd today for my course, but I can't stand the thought of leaving the house until I've made it secure. I'm not sure I'll get planning for 20-foot high, 2-foot thick walls though.
I know I'll probably never see the bike again. The person who stole it will probably never return again. But it happened once. It could happen again.
Welcome to the world of crime.
----------------
Now playing: The Bee Gees - Too Much Heaven
via FoxyTunes
I lost my virginity.
At the grand old age of 35 I am officially a victim of crime.
I have a crime number and everything.
Okay, so it was only my bike being stolen from my garden, but I've been surprised at just how much I feel about the whole thing. It's one thing to know how victims feel, but something else to experience it yourself.
It's only been a few hours since we discovered it (yes, we do get up that early!), but already i've been through the ringer.
At first I started of with nonchalance. It's only a bike (albeit an expensive one for us). It's just a thing. It doesn't matter in the scheme of things. At least it wasn't one that belonged to the kids.
Then I got angry. How dare they come into my garden and take my possessions! When I find them I'm going to skin them alive and hang their guts out to dry! Just you wait! If I see you riding my bike i'll... The whole revenge fantasy kicked in something rotten as I walked the streets at 6am in the ice and rain looking for any sign of thief or bike.
Once I got back from my journey I sat down and felt some grief for the thing. I would miss that bike as it had been my friend during a pretty intense period of my life when I had separated from my wife and got a new job in a different part of the country. There were a lot of memories attached to that 'thing'.
Now, at this moment, I'm going through paranoia. I'm sat at the dining table with my laptop, looking through the window, straight down the garden at the back gate. I think I've looked through the window about 30 times whilst writing this post. Every little noise that seems to come from the garden has me looking for some mysterious person who's greedy enough and stupid enough to return to the scene of the crime a few hours later for more.
The bike wasn't in the best shape, it had some spokes missing, worn tyres, a puncture and a slightly bent rear axle that made it work a bit harder. At one point I hoped that while they were riding it away that the thief pushed the bike too hard in these conditions and it failed them and they fell under a lorry! If that didn't happen then it was going to be one of those daftest robberies ever as they'll have to pay out for a new rear wheel and new front and rear tyres too if they want to bring it back to life. Although I guess you wouldn't expect a thief to pay for anything really would you.
Maybe it was better gone anyway. Not just for its mechanical failings, I would have been happy to restore my old friend back into working condition if I had had the money. No, I meant more for what it represented.
It was from a part of my life that was full of 'what ifs' now. Not a good place to have when you're trying to rebuild a relationship. Maybe it not being here will help draw a line under that period and help me live more in the now and for this future rather than one that might have been.
I was supposed to have gone into Pontypridd today for my course, but I can't stand the thought of leaving the house until I've made it secure. I'm not sure I'll get planning for 20-foot high, 2-foot thick walls though.
I know I'll probably never see the bike again. The person who stole it will probably never return again. But it happened once. It could happen again.
Welcome to the world of crime.
----------------
Now playing: The Bee Gees - Too Much Heaven
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, 11 December 2008
TV Meview 9.12.2008
Gosh! Doing these TV reviews is positively cathartic!
I was about to dismiss an evening in front of the telly this Tuesday in favour of a return to Sims 2. Much more drama there, I thought.
Sat at the dining table at the other end of our room Stargate Atlantis came on the tv and I felt no desire to go and watch it. It didn't help that this was another episode of the interminably boring 'wraith become human' saga that was trotted out. It kind of opened my eyes to what ultimately leads this sort of show in need of a reboot.
When you get such a small group of people going up against the kind of odds that the Atlantis crew do, week in and week out, always coming out on top, then they start to gain a mythical status.
Nothing can touch them and the type of adventure that would challenge us mere mortals would come across as a minor distraction to them.
Therefore the obstacles the Atlantis team now face each episode have become more and more epic in scale, such as finding some sort of redemption for the wraith. They are now benevelont gods. And as usual whenever we imperfect humans try to convey some kind of altruistic concept we make it so bland and devoid of life and excitement (is that what we really think totally good people are like?) we make it totally uninteresting.
Maybe that's why I liked the episode last week. It was relatively small scale and focused about the problems between people and showed character.
Once Stargate had finished I was quite prepared to stay at the table but in order to propose engagement to Titania Summerdream but my longsuffering wife reminded methat Survivors was coming on.
This programme has now become the highlight of my week in the absence of any new Fringe episodes until the new year. Another strong episode saw our band go their separate ways as it looked like they had found a place to settle. Abby went off chasing a rumour of children on a nearby estate (not the kind of estate I thought it would be!), Greg and Anya stayed back at the house to wait for Abby whilst the rest of the gang went off to the new community we first saw in the last episode.
As usual nothing goes according to plan and Abby is attacked by a group of boys as she tries to rescue a mysterious stranger from their untamed wrath. Greg and Anya are attacked by another group of Foragers and Anya shows her strengths as she resists and turns the tables on them. Meanwhile, all is not as it seems in paradise and the high standards of the community make them wary of the newcomers as they don't all quite fit into this fledgling society. One incident in particular shows the true colours of a couple of the cast that I'm sure we'll need to bear in mind for future episodes.
Upon Abby's return Greg looks forlorn as yet another opportunity for him to open up to her about his obvious feelings for her are thwarted yet again.
There are only two episodes left of this series now and I can't wait to see what happens next. Will they lose or gain anyone else before the finale. Is there a betrayal on the cards? Surely this has got to get a second series?
----------------
Now playing: Kenny Larkin - Morph
via FoxyTunes
I was about to dismiss an evening in front of the telly this Tuesday in favour of a return to Sims 2. Much more drama there, I thought.
Sat at the dining table at the other end of our room Stargate Atlantis came on the tv and I felt no desire to go and watch it. It didn't help that this was another episode of the interminably boring 'wraith become human' saga that was trotted out. It kind of opened my eyes to what ultimately leads this sort of show in need of a reboot.
When you get such a small group of people going up against the kind of odds that the Atlantis crew do, week in and week out, always coming out on top, then they start to gain a mythical status.
Nothing can touch them and the type of adventure that would challenge us mere mortals would come across as a minor distraction to them.
Therefore the obstacles the Atlantis team now face each episode have become more and more epic in scale, such as finding some sort of redemption for the wraith. They are now benevelont gods. And as usual whenever we imperfect humans try to convey some kind of altruistic concept we make it so bland and devoid of life and excitement (is that what we really think totally good people are like?) we make it totally uninteresting.
Maybe that's why I liked the episode last week. It was relatively small scale and focused about the problems between people and showed character.
Once Stargate had finished I was quite prepared to stay at the table but in order to propose engagement to Titania Summerdream but my longsuffering wife reminded methat Survivors was coming on.
This programme has now become the highlight of my week in the absence of any new Fringe episodes until the new year. Another strong episode saw our band go their separate ways as it looked like they had found a place to settle. Abby went off chasing a rumour of children on a nearby estate (not the kind of estate I thought it would be!), Greg and Anya stayed back at the house to wait for Abby whilst the rest of the gang went off to the new community we first saw in the last episode.
As usual nothing goes according to plan and Abby is attacked by a group of boys as she tries to rescue a mysterious stranger from their untamed wrath. Greg and Anya are attacked by another group of Foragers and Anya shows her strengths as she resists and turns the tables on them. Meanwhile, all is not as it seems in paradise and the high standards of the community make them wary of the newcomers as they don't all quite fit into this fledgling society. One incident in particular shows the true colours of a couple of the cast that I'm sure we'll need to bear in mind for future episodes.
Upon Abby's return Greg looks forlorn as yet another opportunity for him to open up to her about his obvious feelings for her are thwarted yet again.
There are only two episodes left of this series now and I can't wait to see what happens next. Will they lose or gain anyone else before the finale. Is there a betrayal on the cards? Surely this has got to get a second series?
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Now playing: Kenny Larkin - Morph
via FoxyTunes
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