Axver ([info]axver) wrote,
@ 2005-09-16 21:03:00
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Current music:'She Will Have Her Way' by Neil Finn
Entry tags:generork, importance, internet, news, relevance, society, television, weather

And in the news today ...
OK, I normally keep my utter hatred of Harry Potter to myself (especially considering I'm outnumbered about Everyone to 2 on the friends list), but for goodness' bloody sakes, a movie preview is not deserving of being on the news, and definitely not deserving of being on one of those 15-second headline update segments they play during ad breaks! In fact, this doesn't just apply to movies I don't like: I don't care if the movie's LOTR, The Passion, or Why Axver's Right About Everything, a simple preview is not even remotely newsworthy. I don't care how insanely popular (re: over-hyped) a fandom is, there's just no excuse for giving something as mundane as a movie preview time on the news while racially-motivated rape and murder in Darfur and child starvation in Niger are thoroughly ignored. Now, if something important relating to the fandom has happened - actor died in mysterious circumstances, box office record was smashed, a street fight broke out between supporters of rival fandoms - then chuck it on the news. But quite frankly, I don't give a flying blue walrus about a preview, and even if you do, I am failing to see any justification for giving it headline or even newsworthy status, unless you're running an entertainment rag. I suppose it's just a ploy to gain viewers and boost ratings, which in my opinion is not what the news is about. I'll take my facts with a side of importance and a glass of relevancy, thanks.

In other, uh, news, 90km/h winds are predicted for tonight (for you Americans, that's not even 60mph). Now, while that seems rather pansytastic compared to some winds I experienced in Windington Wellington - and is, if I remember correctly, 30km/h short of gale force - it has become a source of concern for me. Why? Because after previous bad experiences, I have entirely no trust in the stability of the electrical network or in the ability of Energex to timely rectify any outage. Now, I don't know about you, but I am generorky enough to have a U2 setlist party to attend tomorrow, and anything that dares threaten my electrical and Internet connections is worthy of concern. You really do know you're a generork when you look forward to online setlist parties. Or when you make the icon I'm using with this entry.


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[info]liamtreasure
2005-09-16 11:10 am UTC (link)
80kph is gale speed, so thus, that's 10kph above gale speed.

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[info]axver
2005-09-16 11:12 am UTC (link)
Is it now? Then what rating does 120km/h fall under? Because I could've sworn that was what wind had to be to be rated as 'gale force'. Is there maybe a different standard in New Zealand ...?

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[info]liamtreasure
2005-09-16 12:20 pm UTC (link)
120km/h is hurricane force.

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mezziekins
2005-09-16 11:18 am UTC (link)
90km/h winds here?
It's dead calm, albeit raining quite heavily, here.

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[info]axver
2005-09-16 11:20 am UTC (link)
That's what they're forecasting, and the Surfer's Paradise Friday night markets were cancelled because of it.

Now the weather forecasters are saying it's going to miss us and hit northern NSW, but we all know the story about forecasting the weather: it's the only job where you're paid to be wrong 98% of the time.

The wind was picking up earlier here but now it's gone calm again.

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mezziekins
2005-09-16 11:22 am UTC (link)
It might have been windy here. I had my headphones on. For shame.

Why would you cancel markets because it might be a tad windy? We need to employ some Wellingtonians in the City Council. Or whoever made that decision.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-16 11:34 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - mezziekins, 2005-09-16 11:38 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-16 11:40 am UTC (Expand)

[info]palinurus
2005-09-16 10:08 pm UTC (link)
Not the only one... there's economic forecasting too. I think it was John K. Galbraith who said that "the only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable." XD

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(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-17 09:16 pm UTC (Expand)

mezziekins
2005-09-16 11:20 am UTC (link)
Oh, and how did the preview get on the news? It's been out for yonks. For goodness' sake.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-16 11:22 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - mezziekins, 2005-09-16 11:24 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-16 11:36 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - mezziekins, 2005-09-16 11:37 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-09-16 11:41 am UTC (Expand)

[info]loony_bob
2005-09-16 11:45 am UTC (link)
Unless I'm the 2nd in that "Everyone to 2", you can make it "Everyone to 3".

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:17 pm UTC (link)
Hallelujah! The count is now remarkably up to Everyone to 4. My friends list is twice as sane as I thought!

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[info]ellytoad
2005-09-16 02:42 pm UTC (link)
Aside from the Harry Potter movie preview being on the news, I've been meaning to ask you about something you mentioned on a previous entry about the books. You said that the author has a lack of talent, I believe... could I ask how you you came to that conclusion?
Every time I read one of the books, I come closer to agreeing completely with you. I mean, the characters seem reasonably developed, and the author's vision of what a separate 'wizarding world' would be like, along with its own PriMe Minister and different magical societies in cultures all over the world, seems pretty creative and well-thought out. But there is just something unavoidably... FLAT about it all. The books are enjoyable to read for the very first time, but it just isn't interesting enough to read for a second or third without getting bored. The latest book has plot points in it that hint at the possibility of Rowling's having read too much fanfiction during her free time. And can I mention Lord Voldemort's rebirth in the fourth book? It was less frightening or dark than it was lame.
So what do you think?

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[info]centreofmylife
2005-09-17 08:48 am UTC (link)
The latest book has plot points in it that hint at the possibility of Rowling's having read too much fanfiction during her free time.

I agree!

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(no subject) - [info]ellytoad, 2005-09-17 12:45 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]centreofmylife, 2005-09-17 12:57 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ellytoad, 2005-09-17 11:59 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:30 pm UTC (link)
'You said that the author has a lack of talent, I believe... could I ask how you you came to that conclusion?'

Firstly, the entire plot, premise, and general idea is ridiculously unoriginal and uncreative. How many more books about wizards and witchcraft and dragons do we need? It's throw-away pop literature that appeals to the masses but much like many other crazes will be soon forgotten (geez, Pokemon was only 5-6 years ago and does anyone still remember that?). I remember when I was first introduced to Harry Potter, I was about twelve or so at the Wellington airport bookshop. My father pointed it out as the latest popular book and wanted to know what I thought, so I picked it up, read the description, and put it down with a remark something like "doesn't sound interesting, it's been done before".

I have now read books 1-4 twice and let me say, J. K. Rowling's writing style is - to be polite - less than impressive. The first book in particular is a complete disaster of plot/sub-plot confusion, and that problem plagues all of her writing. She's now taken advantage of her popularity to write excessively long novels that ramble while lacking in direction, and perpetuating the plot/sub-plot confusion, introduce irrelevant side events that could've and should've been cut to enhance the general tightness and cohesivity of the plot. As much as the wizard world is supposedly established brilliantly, many of the characters populating the novels are stereotypical and thus appeal to the lowest common denominator. And let's be honest, J. K. Rowling has neither the vision nor the talent to create a fictitious world as complex as J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth.

Frankly, I think part of Harry Potter's popularity in the US is based on the fact it's British, which is just plain lame. And at the end of the day, the books are mass-marketed writing that appeals on a shallow level but has no meritable depth, no serious value, and thoroughly no innovative quality. The Harry Potter series is the Britney Spears or Ashlee Simpson of literature.

'The latest book has plot points in it that hint at the possibility of Rowling's having read too much fanfiction during her free time.'

All I have to say to that is that fanfiction can burn a nasty death in the depths of Hell.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ellytoad, 2005-09-18 12:24 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-10-01 11:06 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]screendoor3
2005-09-16 03:29 pm UTC (link)
I'm sure your internets will be fine.

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:33 pm UTC (link)
They weren't, but only as a fault of the power not being fine. We had about 4.5 hours of no electricity yesterday due to four separate outages.

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(no subject) - [info]screendoor3, 2005-09-18 12:11 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-10-01 10:59 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]ntpack2
2005-09-16 03:41 pm UTC (link)
I like Harry Potter, but I definitely agree about movie previews. I just shake my head and laugh to myself whenever someone tells me about the latest "awesome preview."

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[info]divinecirinde
2005-09-16 08:56 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I agree, movie trailers on the news are stupid.

Andre, you'll be fine. A little wind won't hurt you. :P

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:34 pm UTC (link)
Any self-respecting Wellingtonian would be appalled at the wind-wimpiness of people here. We lost power for about 4.5 hours spread out over 4 separate outages, but the high winds were rather fun. A wee reminder of home.

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(no subject) - [info]divinecirinde, 2005-09-17 09:38 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]cat_incarnate
2005-09-16 11:15 pm UTC (link)
News? Who cares about news these days?

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA icon.

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:35 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, why focus on the news when we can just turn it into a thirty minute slot to entertain the masses and boost ratings?

*gives the icon an encore*

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]cat_incarnate, 2005-10-16 03:30 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-10-16 08:46 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]cat_incarnate, 2005-10-17 02:02 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2005-10-17 04:38 am UTC (Expand)

[info]purplicious
2005-09-17 12:05 am UTC (link)
I already told you all there was to say, regarding the entry and icon and my positive feelings toward them both. Hurrah!

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:36 pm UTC (link)
Actually, I don't recall you really elaborating a whole lot ... ;)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]purplicious, 2006-02-13 03:00 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]axver, 2006-02-13 11:44 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]eruditz
2005-09-17 01:30 am UTC (link)
Killjoy :P

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stdivine
2005-09-17 02:45 am UTC (link)
Harry Potter is taking over the world *runs for the movie theatre*

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[info]axver
2005-09-17 09:36 pm UTC (link)
*hides under a rock deep in a cave in New Zealand's Southern Alps*

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2005-09-18 03:36 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - stdivine, 2005-09-18 03:40 am UTC (Expand)

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