Nothing to See Here, it’s Just a Weather Balloon!
by Cliff on Sep.04, 2008, under Err...Stuff
Just a few odds and ends to chuck together, none of which really justify their own post.
NFL season officially kicks off tonight, so I might do a bit of an FF update after the game. However, considering the game will feature a grand total of a whopping 2 guys in my lineup and that of my opponent combined, I may hold off until Sunday night. Depends on how ‘writey’ I feel, I suppose.
I just finished watching the 7-episode miniseries HBO did of Generation Kill. For those who may not know, or are unbelievably stupid, it’s based on a book that I blew through a month or so ago…really, really good read. Basic synopsis…Rolling Stone reporter embedded with a Marine Force Recon unit during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was a fnatastic book, simply because it had a feel of genuineness to it. Anyway, the series was FANTASTIC. IF you aren’t interested in reading the book, check out the show. I really, really enjoyed it. They went with a cast of unknowns, which I think was a smart play here, since it avoids you getting caught up in remembering “Hey, that guy played so and so in that other thing! You know, the one about the guy?”, which not only helps you get in to the series a little better, it also helps prevent you annoying the shit out of whoever you’re blathering away to, and therefore lessens the chances of them murdering you. And I’m all about reducing crime!
So, yes, the series was good. Find it, buy it, download it, do whatever the fuck you want, but check it out.
I also finished reading a book called Long Way Down that I would heartily recommend to anyone with a yen for travel. Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman hop on a couple of bikes in John O’Groats, Scotland, bike down to the South of England, cross to France, bike through Europe, catch a boat in Italy, land in North Africa, and bike until they reach the very southern tip of South Africa. It’s a followup to their first book, Long Way Round, when they traveled across Europe, into Russia, Mongolia and Siberia, crossed to Alaska, biked across North America, and then returned to the British Isles. Both are really good reads. I’ve also…erm…’procured’ the accompanying BBC miniseries/travelogues, but haven’t had a chance to watch them yet, though I’m sure they’re probably also good.
Anyway, that’s about it. Uhhh…yeah.
September 5th, 2008 on 7:17 AM
I’ve read that first book Long Way Round as well, finished that one I think when I went to Jamaica back in June. Very good read like you said Cliff. I started the Long Way Down but have not got into it as much. I think I tried to read both right after the other. The thing I like about the book(s) are they picture both Ewan and Charley as “normal” people instead of their famousness. It really depicts Ewan as this normal guy who loves to ride his bike and all the misfortunes and hardships they encounter which make these books a great read. I saw one of the BBC shows while flying on Air Canada. Looks interesting since I’ve read the book now.
On our trip to Greece I picked up this book called “No Such Thing as a Free
Ride?”. It’s a compilation of hitchhiking stories from various writers. If you like the travel thing and are interested in crazy and interesting hitchhiking stories I highly recommend it. However there was this one chapter in there that just really was totally fucked up. I thought I was on heroin or something when I was reading it, very trippy.
September 5th, 2008 on 2:14 PM
Hmmm…sounds like an interesting book, Guth, I’ll take a look for it when next I am in the market for reading material.
Long Way Down is a pretty good one. It doesn’t have quite the number of…snafus, I suppose, simply because they have experience with doing such a massive trip this time. It is pretty good, though. Actually, the stuff they did in Rwanda has me kinda wanting to maybe take a little journey off that way during my African excursion…the mountain gorillas are supposed to be pretty amazing to see in person. And there IS going to be a third one. Possibly starting at the Southern tip of Argentina and then finishing up in Northern Alaska or the Territories.