Something for you

Well it's time to say some words about the "weird" days that are coming every year just abut this time.

I made this snowflake for everyone here (I know it's not much, my first thing in Illustrator on my new computer).

I wist to everyone to realize one of his dreams so that some will left for later times.

As this snowflake is very square I hope your life will bu much more smooth.

Happy new year 2007, wherever and whoever you will spend it with.

p.s.
Don't forget the right ones, and please forget those who you don't want to remember.

Triglav 2006

Like many years before, we have joined our fellos the catholic scouts in bringing the fire of peace to the Slovenia's highest mountain - Triglav. Because this year the Xmas is on Monday, they started on Fridey (not really good day for us, because of jobs and studies).
That was the main reason that we have started out expedition the next day - on Saturday.
We started on 5AM from Velenje. on 8:20 we have started walking from Krma Valley.
On our way up we encountered the catholic scouts.
The first of us we have reached the mountain cottage on Kredarica (about 2500m high) after 4h and 28 min :). Our last members came just before sunset after 7h of walking.
We have had a great evening with lot of talking and enjoying the beautiful way up.
The weather was great.
The next day we waked really early - before the sunrise. Seven of us (there were 11 altogether) started the accent to the top of the mountain (2864m high). The sunrise started when we were on small Triglav. On top of the mountain we had some photo-shooting and we turned around.
There was not much snow up there so the ascend and descent were quite easy, but really enjoying.
When we got back to Kredarica we packed out thing and went to the Valley. The fastest of us reached the cars in 1h and 40min and the latest took only 2h.

It was really great expedition. The weather was cloudless and not really cold. There was only some lack of snow. Few years back there was much much more.
You can view my photos from expedition no the right

Eragon

Well, I really don't know why I did not write this sooner.
It's been quite a time since I read this book and I was sure that I have written something about it.
I didn't.

So here it is.
This book (one of three - third one is not written yet), form very young but talented writer Christopher Paolini tell us a tale abut dragon riders in a beautiful world of Alagaesia. Long ago there were dragon riders who helped people. They have protected and lived with them and there were many tales of them and their adventures.
However one day a bad dragon rider has gathered few of them and betrayed all the others. In a great war he wanted to kill them all, but they didn't know that one of them survived. There were also three eggs that waited to be legged. He ruled the kingdom and tried to kill all who opposed him.
A dragon egg legged only when it felt the right man by.
The story begins in a small village just before the winter. A young far boy went out on a hunt, to get some meat for the winter.
Meanwhile far from there an elf Arya and her company was ambushed by a dark wizard and his forces. She carried one of the eggs that was stolen from a new king. She only had time to send an egg far away with her magic before she was overtaken by the shadow.
The egg appeared right in front of Eragon and that is but the only thing that he gets back from his hunt.
Later on he realizes what that "stone" really is and becomes himself a dragon rider.
He accidentally encounters the last other dragon hunter which tells him all many things of dragons and that he must run.
Here the story is really starting and I just don't want to spoil it for you. You really should read it..

Eragon

It's been a long time since I last visited the cinema. And I had a really good reason for this. There was a movie that bases on the book with same name from young American writer (I wrote about it here).
Since the story is same, I will not write about it here. The movie itself was quite good, but if you have read the book you will find it very very shortened (I would say Instant). But this is just the price that it takes when you want to show more than 500 pages of story in a 2 hour time.
It just can't be done as good as it is in the book.
I was impressed by special effects, but a little disappointed of acting and representation.

p.s.
Mmmmm. It looks like I have forget to write something about this book. I'll surely do it later today.

I finally have it

I've been waiting for this for a long time, I've been gathering the money for it for about a year now, and a mont ago I have finally ordered it.
I'm writing this post from my new toy - MacBook Pro.
It is great stuff. Everything just works. I mean everything. It connects beautifully to my existing Windows network, he knows where the Internet is and how to connect to it. He has found all my gadgets first time. My Blue tooth keyboard, mouse and mobile phone. It is great to watch the movies on 17" wide screen.
I just love it.

Paper for course Robotics

Course Robotics is a part of greater course Selected chapters from Computer Software.
The goal of this exercise was to get a feeling how is it like to work with real industrial robots that are actually used in practice.
We were divided into groups of three and were issued a goal to program a robot to pick the bottle stoppers from a desk and screw them on the bottles near by. And moreover we had to use black and white video camera to get their positions.
It was really amusing exercise and took us only two hours to complete.
We also had to write a report about our work. And you can find it here again in Slovene.

The Amber Spyglass

Third and last book from trilogy from trilogy His Dark Materials from Phillip Pullman. It is the longest from all three and it contains more action then both other two books combined.
Here we find out what Dust really is, what are angels who is God and why is he so week. Where do all the dead go and much much more.
Lyra and Will are traveling through different worlds and discover things that they did not know about. Through all the book they are bending the destiny of the world. Her mother and father even kill the first maid (archangel) of God itself that possesses all the power that God once had. God himself is but a mere shadow of what he used to be.
The book is great and I really enjoyed reading it.

The LOTR extended weekend

Yes we did it.
Me and my roomies planes this for quite some time and last weekend we have done it. We borrowed the projector and cleared out schedules. We started on Saturday evening and it took all night to get through all three extended movies.
There were five of us, but only me and another make to to the end. Everybody else fell to sleep or went home sleeping.
We did it, and it was great.

coming soon ... StarWars weekend (well maybe).

The concert of Vlado Kreslin

Tuesday night was pure pleasure. I went on a concert of Vlado Kreslin in Cankarjev Dom - Ljubljana. He has three concerts every year in December and it is almost always sold out.
He one of the most known and popular Slovenian singer that has combined the old etno music with popular and rock music. And one of very few that make it through.
Almost every year he does something new and connects with new and old composers and singers. He is a son in singing family and every year he invites his parents to sing with him on the stage.
I adore his work.
This year he had also published the book. I might even read it.

The Winter Night Orienteering (ZNOT)

Last Saturday we went to Kamnik on winter night orienteering (Zimsko nočno orientacijsko tekmovanje). That is a scout race where a team of four or five people is trying to get a fast as it gets from Start to Finish over all the check points.
Before the start there is a Topographic test were a teams knowledge is tested. On the course there are different tasks on check points (CPs) from IQ tests to different sketches and other stuff.
I went there with four of my friends. We were racing for RHP (Rod Hudi Potok) from Šmartno ob Paki.
It was really great. We were not really good, but we had good time.

A Good Year

An English broker inherits a vineyard estate after his uncle. He is his only known relative. In his youth he spent much great time by him, playing tennis, swimming in his pool, playing chess and exploring the country. He loved it. But after he has grown he did not make the contact for more then ten years.
He became a very good broker and enjoyed his work. When he finds out that he has inherit an estate he had to fly to France to sign the papers.
At first he wanned to get rid of everything. However he had changed his mind after some pleasant moments. He had to stay in France longer then he anticipated. He met a woman that he felt in love with and everything has flipped around.

At the end everything runs well and everybody is happy.
Nice relaxing romance.

The Subtle Knife

Second book from trilogy The Dark Materials from Philip Pullman (you can find the post of the first one here) is great sequel of the story.
The young Lyra has just stepped through into the other world. And meanwhile in the third world a young boy Will is trying to solve the problem that is bothering him for some time now. After his father disappeared (he was a baby then) his mother estranged from the real world. At first he thought that she is playing, but soon he realized that she is not and starred to take things in his own hands.
So he learned very young how to take care for him and his mother. And protect her from many people.
They did not have peace, because two men were visiting them and wanted to know many things. And one day Will took action and engaged them. By accident he killed one of them and ran away. He went to Oxford and accidentally discovered the window into the new world. He went through and realized that in this world there are no adults. For a few hundred years there were strange beings that attacked them and killed them. Only the children were left alone.
It was in this world that he met Lyra and they became best friends. He took her into his world to help her find out what Dust is. She did find a scientist that helped her and explained her what she knew.

This just a opened beginning of a story and you really should read it all. There is the third part as well.

Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer

Do you know why some people are serial killers?
Well in this movie you can find out one of many reasons. The Perfume shows us how a man named Jean-Baptiste becomes a serial killer in France.
He was born to a poor fish seller who wanted him dead. But as it shows he wanted to live and because of this incident her mother was hung. He was given to orphanage and when he was five he was sold to a merchant where he had to work really hard. But there was something different about this boy. Hes nose was so sensitive that he could smell so many different things that no other man.
When he grows older he gets obsessed with the smell. He wants to smell every possible smell in the world. And that is when he unintentionally kills a women. He adores her smell.
Later on he gets educated by a perfume maker and learns hoe important a collection of smells is to a true worshiper.
This is reason why he is going on the killing spree. He is making a collection of woman smells and wants to create a unique smell.

The conclusion is queer. But the movie it self is really good.

Open Seasson

Great animated movie. It is about a grizzle bear that was raised and trained by park keeper. She took care of him trained him to do do many things. He was living in her garage and he had everything he wanted.
One day he rescues annoying deer and after that people do not feel safe around him anymore.
This when she decides that is best for everyone that he is sent to the wild.
Grizzle wakes up in the wild and does not have a clue about what is going on. He wants to go back to the city - to his home and his friend. All this happened only few days before the open season. This is the very bad time for all the animals in the forest because the raid of crazy hunters its on the killing spree. And nobody can stop them from killing everything they come across.
Great movie, and fun watching.

Adventure Race Slovenia 2006 - The conclusion

Yes it is truth. The ARS team (I am part of it) has concluded the 2006 . We have finished all the tasks about the 2006 competitions and are preparing for the 2007 season. There are all new episodes of:
Winter adventure
City adventures (Celje and Maribor)
Adventure race Slovenia

More about all of this competitions you can find out here.
There are also some photos from the event at the right.

The Northern Lights

One of three in trilogy The Dark Materials from Philip Pullman. It is great stuff.
It all starts in another world, it is very similar to ours, but quite different as well. The one thing is that every human has daemon. Daemon is creature that is bounded to his master and until the child is mature enough it is shifting shape. When child is mature enough, his daemon is "frozen" in same shape. Master and his daemon are bounded so hard that no daemon can go very far from his master.
In this world there are also witches and bears that also has consciousness and can communicate with each other.
The story is telling us about life of a young girl named Lyra. She does not know who her father and mother are. She was told that they both died. And she is living in the university where she is educated by scientists and personnel. She is living enjoyable life with her friends.
One day The chancellor gives her away to a beautiful and smart lady to be her assistant and that she could learn from her. At that time she did not know that she is really her mother.
Meanwhile there were many mysterious disappearing of young children all over the country. Nobody really knows what they are all about.
While Lyra lives by her mother she realizes that she is deeply evolved in this and that is when she escapes.
She came across traveling people that took her under their protection. They told her about her father and mother. One of theirs was her wet nurse. They decide that they will save the missing children and that is when they start traveling north.
In the north they meet bear that was exiled from his kind. He helps them. There are many battles and obstacles in front of their goal. But they reach it.
One of the girls goals was to rescue her father. When she is so far she realizes that her father also wants a child to complete his experiment.
Al the experiments were about Dust, a new kind of elemental particles that are sent to this world from a parallel universe through the Aurora Borealis (northern lights). The scientists believe that one could build the bridge that would lead right to the other universe.
In the end her father goes through and after him Lyra runs as well.

There is so much more about this book and story but too much to write it all here. Just can't wait to finish whole trilogy.

John Tucker Must Die

Very easy movie that shows the life of a guy that has more girlfriends at the same time. He is the most wanted guy on school and all the girls want him.
But when one day a teacher is absent all three of his girlfriends meet. And when they find out that they are all dating the same guy they almost kill each other. At that time another girl suggests to take revenge and teach John a lesson.
All the girls come together and make John fall for THE girl. He is trying really hard to get her and makes fool of him self many times. But he gets away many times until finally at his birthday party she tells him the truth.
And he realizes what he is doing and never lies to a girl again.
Fairytale, but fun to watch.

An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore, the man who should be the next president of USA instead of Bush, was, and still is a great anti-pollution fighter. Since he was not elected for the president he is giving the lectures about global warming.
The documentary is about the latest scientific results about what could and will happen if we do not take any actions at all. It is also about why the USA is world greatest producer of green house gases.
He tells us how stupid the American politicians and how they are all payed by the biggest CO2 producers. He also shows how the scientific opinions can be bought and altered.
It is great movie that opens your eyes and shows how far we are in polluting our atmosphere and how much higher are the CO2 and Temperature rates in comparison to many many thousands of years (about 600 .000). The rates are twice as high as they were ever in Earths history.
I recommend everyone to watch this movie to see what are we doing to our planet and to realize what must we do to make it all better again.

The concert of Siddharta

Last Friday there was a bigger concert in Velenje again after a long while. It was a concert of very popular Slovenian group Siddharta.
The fore group was Naio Ssaion a metal group from Velenje. It all took place in Red Hall, the standard place for bigger events in Velenje. Even thou we in Slovenia have laws that prohibits smoking in closed public places there were too many people who did not obey that law. I really don't know why they all get away without consequences.
I really hate smoking. It's awful and disgusting.
The concert was great, really great but too short. It was all over before midnight.

I still have 7 exams left. And yes that means I was not lucky by the last one.

Eragon

Great book from Christopher Paolini. It has great plot and it describes the world of Alagaësia very precise.
The story is happening in a fantasy world, where young boy at age of 15 finds a dragon egg. Since there were no dragons around for several hundred years it is very odd that he has one. But not just that he found it, the dragon was born in his room and was bound with him.
The only other known dragon was in kings possession. He was from the Riders - people who took care for other people in the land and watched out for those who couldn't defend them selves. However he was one of few that fell on the dark side that has betrayed the elves, dwarfs and all other people. They wanted power and they wanted it only for themselves. And some time ago, they have got it.
Luckily for boy - Eragon there as old storyteller living in their village that was really a Rider. He was teaching Eragon how to become a Rider himself. He thought him how to craft magic, how to fight with a sword and even how to read. Eragon's uncle was slaughtered by two of kings most dreadful creatures. He wanted a revenge and that is when Broom and he went into the world. They have traveled a great part of Alagaësia and they fell into many bad situations. One was so bad that Broom lost his life int it.
That is when Eragon gets to know a guy that was very much like him, Murtagh. One great difference was that he was not farmer boy, but was from the king's castle.
In a mean time dragon Saphira also grown. She was quite the fighter herself.
Later in the story Eragon meets dwarfs and humans that were fighting against the tyrant.

The story is very well written, especially if you know that it was written by a 15 years old boy. It is a must read for all fiction lovers. And one more thing, there will be a movie after this book very soon (here).

Paper for course RECS

At last, I have completed the paper for course Reliability and evaluation of computer systems, titled Comparison of free and trial virtual machines for Windows running Ubuntu Linux Server distribution.
I have tested six different products and came to the answer that I will use VMware Server. It is free powerful, platform independent and easy to use. I have used this product for quite a time and I must say I am pleased with it. It runs great, it does not crash and has many parameters to set that man would like to have to set his virtual machine.
You can find the pdf here. But I must warn you that it is written in Slovene so all you may want to look at are graphs near the end and resources.

Brave New World

I must say this quite popular book in Slovenia for last couple of years form Aldous Huxley. I must also say that it is very good.
It talks about a new social order of civilization. People are separated in more casts (from Alpha to Epsilon). People from different cast have different capabilities. Let’s tell for start that all people are grown in artificial process in laboratories. Because the new order requires people to do different stuff but they still want all to be happy they determine hw the specific subject will evolve. They are intentionally making some people less developed and mentally inferior. From “birth” on they are teaching different people different stuff so they are prepared for their cast when they grow up.
The story tells us about an untouched part of the world where an old civilization is living. Well they don’t call it civilization really. They are Indians that have preserved their way of living and habits. And here the people are still born the natural way. Some time in past a woman from new world is lost here and over the years she gets a son. Some years later she is brought back to the new world, all old (the people in new world didn’t age by sight) and dirty. She was called whore by the Indians, because she was having more guys just like it was natural in new world. There was no marriage or other bonds in new world. Anybody could have anyone if they were both willing.
The main stuff that keeps the new world running is a drug called “soma”. This is the stuff that keeps people from desperation, anger, strong emotions and other things that would harm the system. And this is also the stuff that makes all people so happy.
Book faces you with a very different order where anyone can find a place for himself. If he can’t than there are many islands for people for his kind.

Quantum Reality (Beyond The New Phisics)

An Excursion into metaphysics...
... and the meaning of reality.

What is quantum reality? How do different people see the world? What is quantum theory all about? …and many many more.
The book tells us about eight (yes 8) different views of quantum reality and how different groups of people are interpreting the world. Can anything travel faster than light? Are all the objects in the universe interconnected? What is particle entanglement and how does it work?
In here we find many answers to questions like this and many facts about quantum reality. We find out why there are so many different interpretations of same theory and why they are so different and yet so connected and based on same presumptions.
Nick Herbert explains the purpose of this quest in search for final answer to the question how the world really looks like and how shall we see or not.
It was quite hard reading for me since it was my first scientific book that I read in English. That was the reason why I needed quite more time to get through it and to understand what it says.
The book is great and if you are interested in quantum theory and you have some physics knowledge you should read it. It opens some new windows to look through.

Trip to Trenta

Yesterday I went on a trip with my girl's family. We went to Trenta valley, a really beautiful place in Julijske Alpe. We went from Velenje to Kranjska Gora, over the Vršič (we made short walk up there), to Mlinarščica and Soča beds. We also visit some gorge (really beautiful). The weather was great and there were not a lot of people there.
It was really beautiful. You can look the photos in my gallery (on the right).

Her Majesty

In this movie we are sent back in fifties of 20th century. It takes place in New Zeeland in a small town which is known by its cheese and rhododendron park.
In this town the camera is following the life of young girl Elisabeth (yes just like the princess) that adores Princess Elizabeth (yes she was princess back then). She really wants to meet her some day and that was the reason why she wrote her so many letters.
While she is waiting on her meeting with princess she is living her life with her family. Her father is a cheese factory owner, her mother is a housewife (and a member of city woman community) and her evil brother that is teasing her all the time.
One day she meets an old native (Maori) woman that is banned from everyday life and disrespected by anyone form the town. She is a descendant of Maori chief of this region.
We found out the horrible story of her father, who was ambushed and killed by newcomers because he got a present from king (two precious pistols) for his courage and faithfulness. The pistols were stolen from him and were now in possession of a town most known lady (who had a secret relationship with mayor).
One day the princess announces her arrival to the town. Everybody is excited and they all want to meet her.
The town Bitch (oops. Lady) wants to show her the rhododendron garden. However Elizabeth’s mothers wants to let princess see the cheese factory that has supported England during the war.
In the end it all runs well so the princess tries the cheese and she meets the old Maori woman and shows her respect. She does not visit the rhododendron garden. And the most important, young Elizabeth meets her bellowed princess Elizabeth.

Go-Carting

Yesterday we went to go-carting in BTC. This was my first time doing it. It was fun, really fun. There were four of us. I was the only rookie.
It goes like this. The man explains you how it all works. You have two paddles first is acceleration and the second is brake. The cars are all electrically powered, but they are still quite fast. Even thou I was a rookie I did not do so badly.
In eight minutes (yes that’s it) I managed to make my fastest lap in 33.650 sec. The track record is 27sec and something. The best from us had 31 sec and something more, only some hundreds of a second faster than the second form us. I was third and I believe it was not bad for the first time.
My roomy and I got these tickets for our birthday. We have one more each, so we will go back there soon.

World Trade Center

Well, how should I begin... I've watched movie in two parts (it was too late to watch the whole movie the first time) so I can say that the first part was about the day when the tragedy occurred it introduces the people that we will follow later on and what are their jobs. But not only this, it also shows the very moment of the tragedy.
The people did not know really what happened at first. The camera is following the police officers as they are commanded to go to WTC. At first they didn’t even know why, they just know that something bad happened and that a plane crashed into one of the towers.
When they arrive to the spot we follow the police commander (Nicolas Cage) and his crew as they are going into the tower one trying to help evacuating the people.
Soon after they enter the building they experience the worst thing – its crash. We can say that here is where the part one ends and part two starts.
In second part we see the two survived officers in the ruins. They can not get out by them selves so they are waiting for the rescue.
In the mean time the families of casualties are trying to find out what happened with their relatives. Are they alive? It shows their desperation and sadness.
The and is typically Hollywood like. Both of injured officers survive and one year later they have a picnic to celebrate their living.
I did not like the movie very much.

The Departed

Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, great trio.
The movie is about a group of well organized criminals that are infiltrating the man into police forces to protect them from the police. But on the other hand the police is infiltrating their own men into this same group, so they would get inside information about what is going on in the gang.
The underground boss (Jack) is living his debauched life in peace, because he was having it all; much money, pretty girls, and no trouble from police. He pushed his nephew (Matt) into police school, then into Special Forces and then into detective school. So he knew what the police was doing all the time.
Meanwhile the police chief and his right hand recruit a guy (Leonardo) for a special task. He went undercover and joined the Jack’s gang and followed them everywhere. He even done bad things so he would not e recognized as a rat.
The funny thing was that both “rats” had the same shrink and they both fall for her. Matt even married her.
The movie shows the life of both “rats”. How they are giving up information and how they are hiding their real intensions. How they are doing things they would newer done in any other situation, and how they are afraid to get caught.
Good movie with lots of action and even some romance; but very sad ending.

Pary in Fužine

Yes. We had a little party at our place in Fužine (Ljubljana) on Wedensday. There were nine of us and we were playing a very own table strategy game “Saving the Galaxy” (I’ve just came up with this name).

GAME:
The game it self was quite good but there were too few of us (there should be more). The players were divided into three groups. Each group represents a civilization in a Galaxy. The story goes like this.
In the galaxy far far away there were three civilizations. The galaxy they were living in is running to its end. It is on collision course with another galaxy and that means definite end of all civilizations in the galaxy.
The civilizations are not aware of each other so they can not communicate (until they realize they are not alone and they invent interstellar communication device).
The goals of the game are to rescue the civilization out of dying galaxy to another one. To accomplish this, they must find the proper galaxy and build the ship that is capable of moving whole civilization.
That is why they must search the galaxy, gather new knowledge and resources.
The game is made so that rescue is possible only if all three civilizations are working together. They have different tasks and questions on their way to rescue.

We did not really finish the game (it took to much time), so we watched a movie Over the hedge and afterwards another movie Click.
The next day we tried how is to play PS2 on projector. It’s great, really great. BTW Soul Calibur III rox.

Dragon Storm

Well I just need the fiction fix. And that is why I have to look some fiction movies. Here is another one for today. It is a low budget movie so the action is much improvised. The story talks about dragon eggs that are falling from the sky and on the Earth the dragons are born. The story is taking place in 12th century and on ground of two kingdoms. One king that is longing for power and wealth and another one that is rightful and good to his people.
The dragons attack the first kingdom and the king flees to his neighbor for help and care. The second king gathers a group of adventurers to seek and slay the dragons. There are five dragons that are threatening the land. In the first run they kill two of the dragons.
While the group of dragon slayers is fighting for whole land the first king shows his greedy side and tries to take the crown of the second king. For a short time he even succeeds.
However later on the dragon slayers help the second king and he gets his kingdom back. But not just this, while they are rescuing the kingdom they kill the last dragon too.
There is also a love romance in the movie for all those who need one.

Legend of Earthsea

Do you remember the book from Ursula K. Le Guin that I wrote about (here). Well recently I discovered that SciFi had made a movie after that same book.
The story is not the same, but we can still recognize the characters and events from the book. It is a big difference how fast the things are going in the book and in the movie. In the movie the time flies by like mad, just as you would read the book on steroids. There are also many parts from the book that are missing in the movie and many parts that are totally different.
Even thou, the story is good and the effects are great. The play is good as well.
If you are a fiction lover it is a must see movie.

Farscape - The Peacekeeper Wars

Now that we found out about Babylon its right to tell something about another great SciFi original series Farscape. Since I haven't watched the series yet I can not tell you much about the series it self. But I have watched the very long movie that was filmed after the series and I believe takes place after the series too.
The movie is very long. Two main characters are also playing in newer episodes of Stargate SG1.
The story is great. Its about two great civilizations that are battling with each other just to prove who has bigger (ahm...) who is stronger. The main character from the movie is capable of spotting wormholes that could be potential weapons. However he does no yet poses the knowledge how to do that. Since no other means can convict the battling sides to stop fighting he asks his knowledge-manager (space-time ruler or something like that) to unlock the knowledge of wormhole weapon.
After heavy struggle for his survivor the main character uses the new knowledge and creates the destroying wormhole. He threats that all will be lost if they do not agree to peace treaty. Under thepressure of destroying wormhole both sides agree to make peace with each other. That is what the main character stops the doom. By doing that he loses all the knowledge about wormholes.
The end is happy. The main character gets a baby and they all live in peace.

Babylon 5 - The Legend of The Rangers

Some time ago there was a TV series named Babylon 5. There were also some mini-series with the same story background. And this is one of them.
The whole series (all five seasons) is great. Its about the fifth space station build by men to form alliance and provide space for marker and meeting of different races from all over the universe. It is also place where the main alliance meetings are and where the decisions are made that affect most of known universe.
During series we find out many things about history of different races and how they are living now. Later on there is a battle between alliance and dark forces.
In this perticular movi we are joining the rangers on one of their mission. and we find out the new enemy in the space. The story is quite good and the special effects are much better then in original series.

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Eventhou the style of title is borrowed from Hawkings book Short history of time; it really does not have much in common with that book. Well yes some parts of content from Hawkings book is explained in here as well. But that is just one very small part.
The book is truly about what the title says but is not short. It has over 400 great pages. It is about nearly everything. Now let us make short review of the book itself.

In the first part the book explains how the space was created. What are the newest theories about "The Beggining". What all could happened if there were just slightly different conditions. Why there should be the possibility of multiple universes and much more.
After that it explains the beginning of out solar system. Why are all the planets here? Another lucky moment that was needed for creation of solar system is described. And at the end of this part it tells us how big the space really is and how old it is.

In the second part we find out where Earth is. Why is that good for us? How big is the Earth? Well if we look it from our point of view it’s enormous, but if we compare it with other planets, stars of even galaxies its so small that no one can really imagine. We also find out how old is the Earth and how do we know that.

The third part tells us about world of small. It takes us to the journey to atoms and beyond. How did we find out that everything is made from really small pieces? Pieces so small that you can't see them even wit the microscope. And why this little pieces (atoms) are build even from smaller and smaller particles. We also find out that the atom is almost empty. There is a very small nucleus and far from it a surrounding cloud of electrons. All in between is empty. That means a lot and lot of empty space in the entire universe. We also get to meet some of finest scientists from this area of expertise (Einstein & Co.).

Part four tells us about structure of our planet. Why is it so warm, what are continents. How do we know that earth is liquid beneath the coat and has a solid core? When did the humankind realize that the continents are moving and why are they moving. Where do all the mountains come from? Why are there so many fossils on top of world highest mountains? What are Volcanoes and what caused many extinctions in Earths history.


Part five is the part where we meet the phenomenon of life. When did it appear? Why and how? Are we really all connected to our ancestors? How did the life evolve from its appearance to the latest days? Is the Darvins theory of evolution real? How did he came to that idea? The book describes the life from its smallest to its largest instances. Are microbes always bad for us? Are we really built from small living cells?

Last - sixth chapter is about evolution of modern human. Where did we come from? Was there single line from our departure from apes to modern human or were there many paths that intersected each other. When can we say that human really departure from our common ancestor (our as human and apes)? Why are we the "ruling" spices on the planet? Do we really make many other spices extinct?

And this is the end. Really great book. It makes you remember many things and teaches many new things too. It is instant dose of knowledge for all who wants it.

Dungeon Siege II - The Broken World

Yes, it is true. I play games. Rarely really, but I do. But I only play really good games. At least for my taste and my taste is very picky.

My favorite games are FRP (Fantasy Role-Playing Games). The best ones from these sack are arcade small party games with strong and good stories. My favorite ever from this sack is still Baldur’s Gate II: The Shadows of Amn. Let’s list some of these games:

Diablo II with expansion Lord of Destruction

Baldur’s Gate II: The Shadows of Amn with expansion Throne of Bhaal

Neverwinter Nights with expansions Shadows of Undertide and Hordes of The Underdark

Dungeon Siege with expansion Legends of Aranna

Dungeon Siege II with expansion The Broken World

Icewind Dale with expansion Heart of The Winter

Icewind Dale 2

World of Warcraft

These are my really favorite games of all times. And now at beginning of October I finished with DS2: The Broken World.

It was very good game. I enjoyed it every second. I did not do all the quests because I wanted to finish it as soon as possible (don’t have much time you know). It was still excellent.

I just don’t know what to add.

GREAT GAME

The Ark Sakura

The Ark Sakura is a book from Kobo Abe, a Japanese Sci-fi author.

It is very chaotic book about a man that believes that world is going to end very soon. He commits his life to build a shelter that will withstand the disaster of nuclear war. In the abandoned mine, he created almost all things man would need to survive such thing. He also gathered lots of food, drink and other necessities that a group of people would need. The main thin is toilet. But it is not the only one.

In book the main thread is weaved around his search for people that are worthy of surviving and would accept his leadership and his conditions. He find sectarian that fits his profile. He offers him a ticket on his “boat”. But because he was not careful enough two more people find out about his “thing”. And that is when all gets complicated. Things get more complex when we find out who is the owner of the “ship”, where did mole (nick of ship’s captain) get all the founds for things he has. Who is really a young beautiful girl that was deceiving him. What would he do just to be alone with her. Why is ha as fat as he is. Did he really rape a woman when he was young. Who are other people that live in abandoned mine. Where goes everything from his toilet. Why are traps that guards his “ship” disabled. Who is deceiving who. And in the end; did the nuclear war really started.

The book is quite good. But it doesn’t have much to do with Sci-fi. Well except the nuclear war. It explains relations and thoughts of individuals.

The Ant Bully

Well I don't really know how to say it. It was not good. Don't really know why. I've tried to watch it. Two times. But I couldn't get to the end of it.

Don’t know if I was too tired. But even if I was I would not fall in sleep if it would be good movie. As far as I watched it goes like this.

There is a young boy that is excommunicated by all other guys in the neighborhood and that is why he discharges his anger on anthill on their backyard. Some day the ant shaman creates a magic potion that makes boy smaller then the ants are.

For all the ants he is “The Destroyer”, killer of many ants. But now he is nothing. Most of ants despises him for what he has done. But some ants teach him about ants, their life their community, their habits, their food and many more.

Well this is as far as I can remember. Afterwards I blacked out in peace of sleep.

Garfield - A Tale Of Two Kitties

Do you remember small orange funny cat? Named Garfield? Well he’s back. This is second movie about this funny spoiled cat and it’s happening in London.
This time there is more then just one cat. In fact there are two of them and they both look just the same. The difference between them is that one is our well known Garfield but the other is royal cat called prince. After Prince’s owner dies she leaves great fortune to her cat. Se however has nephew who wants the fortune for him and that is why he wants to get rid of Prince.
He almost succeeds but his plans are thrown apart by Garfield, Prince and all the other castle animals. They work together to prevent him to get the fortune. And they succeed.
But they are not the only one that succeeds. Garfield’s owner finally finds guts to propose to love of his life. And so the end is just perfect.

Crank

Action movie with Jason Statham (Transporter 1 & 2) in main role.
The main actor is drugged with some “Chinese cocktail” that should make him dead in one hour. But there is one thing that keeps him running. It’s adrenalin. Because he produces so much adrenalin his heart does not stop and so doesn’t he until he gets the man who tried to kill him.
The camera effects are incredible in this movie. What all can men do just by setting camera at the right spot and take the right angle. It’s insane.
In the movie he tries to get rid of his job, a professional killer, and tries to spend more time with his girlfriend. But now he just can’t do that. He’s on the move all the time just to keep the adrenalin pumping.
In the end he dies by killing his own killer, he pulls him out of the helicopter.
If you like fast movies with lots of action and you have good stomach, and then this film is for you. If you want to see crazy camera this one shows that too.

Jack London's tales

Jack London, the author of world famous White Fang and Call of The Wild wrote many novels and books. Recently I read these novels.

The Sunlanders
The White Silence
The Faith of Men
In the Forests of the North
The Seed of McCoy

All but last on are talking about north America and people who discovered it and people who lived there for long time before that (that means north American Indians). He tales are written very well and describe the adventures and events very realistic. They show us what life was in his times and how different people are seeing same thing. The adventures that are described are some times not pleasant and rebound the hardness of life so far north.

Academic dance

Our student club, Šaleški študentski klub (ŠŠK), organized traditional academic dance last night. There were young, old and those in between. We gathered to recollect the memories on students’ years.
We, which are still students, organized the party that shows how new, young students (bruci) are accepted in community of other older students. The ritual of christening with honored most illustrious infallible green stardom which consist of honored most illustrious green czar, left spade, right spade, bruc mayor and fiskus. Those guys run the process with different tests tasks and in the end the oath.
The dance succeeded. There was even a secret guest – Oto Pesner. Like all the other years there was auction for different things: some pictures, grill, Montefiori towel and washing machine WOM (without motor). The auctioning was in wine bottles.
Before the dance there was pompous dinner.
It was quite great.

The Word For World Is Forest

Book from Ursula K. Le Guin.
Some time in the future, when people on Earth run out of wood they sent ship to planet where forest covers most of land. On this planet there are also people, much smaller then humans and covered with green fur all over the body. Humans enslave all of them that they encounter. They use them for working force to help humans chopping trees and shipping them back to earth.
Planet lies 27 light years away from Earth. That is why they do not have any contacts with their home planet and no explicit instructions how to or how not to handle race on this planet.
Even though the people here are much different and smaller then humans, the man are raping women, because there are no human women there yet. The autochthon people are harmless and do not show any signs of aggression until …
One day when homey pupil Sam finds out that some commander has raped and killed his wife. And that is when the forest people start to show signs of aggression. Sam tries o kill his wives killer but he fails. He sure is half as tall as human but his will is very strong. He manages to run away from sure death. And after some time he returns with army of his own and burns down whole camp, kills all the humans and frees all of his kind.
Soon after a ship arrives to the planet that brought an interstellar communication device that enables immediate communication with Earth and many women for workers and soldiers on the planet. They told them that the world alliance was established and that all the known worlds were connected in this alliance.
The commanders from Earth order that there must be no killing any more from their side, and that all the slaves must be freed. The chief commander obeyed the order but one of his inferior commanders did not. He continued to kill forest people. Meanwhile the space ship continued to its destination.
That is why it happened. Soon an assault was carried out in which the main human base was demolished, all the women were killed and many man to. Survivors were imprisoned.
The disobedient commander was not captured so the killing wasn’t ended. They hunt him and his team down and put him on a devastated island. They made peace with others and they were allowed to stay on the planet.
In three years time the great spaceship returned. There was another ship with them. All the humans were embarked on the ships. There were also two members of alliance on the ship and they talked with some of forest people. They told them that they have their peace back.

Miami Vice

You know that America is fighting drug criminal with undercover cops. Well this is one of those stories about that.
Some day many undercover cops are killed because their identity was uncovered. This is when two really good cops come in. They infiltrate the drug business by offering transport to the USA at great efficiency and low cost. The problem is that one of them falls in love with a girl that is property of great drug boss. The supervisor of their business gets jealous of him and is making their living very hard.
At some point in the movie he, well his colleges, kidnaps the other mans wife. They have luck and find her pretty soon, but their luck changes when she is badly injured and is lying in the come for some time.
When the big boss finds out that his girl is not only his he tells to get rid of both cops, he still does not know that they are cops. The jealous guy tries to take care of that, but he fails and ends dead with all his helpers. The “drug” lady is set free and escorted to safe place. However she never sees her love again and neither does he.
Great thriller with fast cars, fast boats and lots more.

The Wild

Do you remember Madagascar? Sure hope you do. This one is on the same topic. It also has lion in the main role and they are going to The Wild again.
Only this time they have different reason. This time they are in the rescue of the lion’s son who wanted to know what the wild looks like.
The characters are more detailed and the story is great too. The gang is not entirely same. So the adventures are great. The chameleons are the best. They just know what fun is. There is also weird love between giraffe and a squirrel.
Its fun. Makes you feel good.

You Me And Dupree

Another great romantic comedy in a short while.
It’s about young fresh married couple that starts to live together. His best man Dupree, also best friend loses roof over his head and starts to live with them. While husband is working his ass of at working for wives father he’s doing nothing.
Dupree is just like an immature man that has never left his teenage life. He can’t find a job isn’t good at anything at all, except talking, that he is good at. He makes great mess while, acts improbable and does things without asking.
Wives father is pushing hard on his new son in law. Combining all that husband is very pissed off and doesn’t really know what to do. He sees only bad things and becomes much stressed.
However in the end Dupree cleans up all the mess and they live happily ever after.
Even Dupree finds him self a suitable job.

Click

Yea that can become from our lives. But we'll make sure that it doesn't.
So get out there and stop clicking.
Adam Sandler still rox. Great comedy about what may become of your life when you just want to work. It makes you thing about some other things too.
It shows how other life companions are seeing the life you’re living. So look around and listen to surroundings. That is how you will what and when to do. And all will be happy.
Great comedy.

Lolita

Not pretty story really.
It talks about child abuse in first half of 20th century. About a man who loved young girls. It also explains why.
When he was young, of age 14, he fell in love with a girl he got to know during summer holydays. They were young and they both loved each other. But tragedy happened and she died few months later. He never recovered the loss. That is why he fell in love with 14 year old child many years later.
He moved to a house with lady and her daughter. He spotted her soon after his arrival. Mean while the lady fell in love with him and he married her just to be closer to her daughter – his Lolita.
The daughter knew he had feelings for her and provoked him many times. Some time after the wedding his wife found notes where he describes his feelings. She waned to get away. But she doesn’t succeed. She dies in a car accident.
Lolita is in a summer camp all this time. So he packs the things and goes to her. He takes her with him and they made love. He tells her about her mother.
They travel all over the country and do the forbidden things. Until one day Lolita gets lost. Well, she was not lost. She ran away with another, even older, man. He searches her but never finds her. Few years later she writes him for money. She was with another man and pregnant. She tells him what happened back then.
He gives her money and kills the man who stole Lolita from him. In the end he gets arrested and imprisoned.
Film is shot after a book Vladimir Nabokov. Can not believe that some people are so different.

Series

Now that the StarGate series is on pause for few months the other great series are starting again.
Battlestar Galactica
Lost
Desperate Housewives
Great to have you all back and can't wait for SG's to come back.

Done with exams for now

Well yes. I'm done for now. Not as good as I hoped but still. Seven exams left to finish my undergraduate study. Really can’t wait for graduate study.
It’s probably even better this way so that I’ll have higher average mark. It’s better for my scholarship.
Now I’ll focus on the next semester and work in A.I. Lab. I shell work on Orange or something connected with the Orange. Great stuff really.
Soon I’ll buy myself a notebook. I’m waiting for apple to bring up the new MacBook Pros.
Another thing; I’ll start to play WoW again.
But most important I’ll have more time to share with my girlfriend.

Over The Hedge

This is really great animated comedy.
It talks about animals that live near civilization. In particular about those who had been surrounded with new grown suburbs. They slept over the winter and the whole neighborhood was build around them. When they woke up in spring they start gathering food for next winter. But that is where all began. A raccoon that had a depth to a bear convinced them to go out and gather human food. He however didn’t tell them that it is not really for them.
So they gather all the food with some problems, but their head – a green turtle took it back so that people wouldn’t hurt them. But raccoon was not happy with that so he convinced them to do it again. These time all the animals but raccoon get captured. He however brings food back to bear.
In the end he changes his mind and saves the band. So he becomes a part of the family too.
Happy ending after all. Those animals do some hell of tricks getting food.

Asterix And The Vikings

Do you remember Asterix and Obelix?
They are back, in yet another adventure. This time they are dealing with the Vikings. The Vikings are mighty fighters and every one is afraid of them. They do not have any hard goal any more. So they want to try something new. Their shaman tells their people that a champion exists, in the world out there, which can teach them how to fly. Something exciting to do after all. They prepare for a journey to the Gallia where the champion lives, which is what shaman said.
In the mean time there is a visitor in the Gauilsh village, chieftains’ nephew. He came to the village to learn how to become a man and a warrior. But he is a very tender soul who does not like fighting and eats only vegetables. He is afraid of everything. And he fits perfect to description of a champion that the Vikings are looking for. One day they catch him and take him with them to their homeland.
And here all the good stuff begins. Let’s put it in short. He is not the champion and Asterix and Obelix rescue him with his newly found love and they go back to the Gallia. They make a fest there. And we are waiting for another adventure of theirs.

The Time Machine

I don't know why I did not watch it before. It is great movie. Sci-Fi of course. That is why I like it even more.
It all starts at the beginning of 20th century when young physicist loses his beloved one. He starts to study really hard and in 3 years he makes a very real time machine. He decides that he will change the past and save his maid from dieing. But he fails. He realizes that he can not change the past, at least not with his knowledge. So he decides to go to future and tries to find solution there. But they don’t know what time travel is in the future. They are high tech and that stuff. He tries to even further in the future and at his next stop he realizes that the mankind has destroyed the moon and let it self to edge of the extinction.
He accidentally travels far in to the future for as much as 800.000 years. And at that time the human civilization is divided in two parts, one that lives on the surface and one that lives below it. Those living below are creatures organized in a working community like ants and they eat upon those that live on surface.
Our young time traveler realizes what is happening and how disgusting that is, so he decides to help the people on the surface to get rid of their hunters. He also finds another love of his life there. He succeeds and they live happily ever after.
The other thing I like about this movie is the music. It’s really great, so I’ve got my self a soundtrack album.

Seom

Jet another Korean movie. This one is really ugly. I do not know where they get ideas.
It is about a floating brothel where men can bring prostitutes and enjoy in peace of big river. They can also fish.
The story is about a man that runs from law and hides in one of the floating houses. The owner is a young woman who is taking care for the guests. But not only for food and drink, she also takes care for all other needs they have.
The runner and the owner fall in love. But they are both quiet and they do not want to show it to each other.
Because of jealousy she also kills a prostitute that also falls in love with him. And when her pimp comes to find her she kills him too.
Later in the movie some guest loses something in a river and he calls for divers. They discover the bodies and their rides. That is why they have to run and they run with a floating house down the river.
The end is very open and we do not know what exactly happen.

Samaria

A Korean movie about two young girls, that are prostituting to get money for them to go to Europe. Once a police almost catches one but she escapes by jumping through the window. She dies in a hospital few hours later. The other doesn’t want to accept the fact that the other is dead and she also doesn’t want to go to Europe any more. She believes that she will feel better if she returns the money to all the customers. But this time, she will pay them for everything they do.
One time her father, who is a cop, sees her in a motel room with a man. He can not believe his eyes and so he starts to follow her. He ensures that no one gets his girl any more. However he fails by the last customer from the list. He was too late. The guy went to the men’s room and he gets him there and kills him. Afterwards he finds his daughters diary and realizes why was she doing all of that.
The same evening he goes on a last trip with his daughter to her mothers’ grave. While they are returning home, he teaches her how to drive a car. And while she is practicing he gives his self up to the police.

It is not very nice movie to watch. It shows how the youngsters in Korea should not live their life.

The Lake House

This is a romance in Chicago with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.
Story is about a couple that is living two years apart. Their connection through the time is a post box by the lake house. The lake house was built by his father. They used to live there as a family, until parents got separated. He moved in a few years later and found out a strange thing about mail box. It was sending messages to the future where a very nice doctor read them and replayed. They start to write to each other and fell in love, even thou they can not get together at that time.
At the end they finally meet four years after he got the first letter. And they lived happily ever after.
A very nice and romantic movie, that almost makes your eyes wet.

Seven Swords

A Chinese story that tells us how could have life in Chine look like in time of swords.
The emperor orders to kill all who practice martial arts. His army is paid to kill people. More they kill more they get. But greedy as they are, they do not kill only those who are practicing martial arts, but are killing all even women and children, just to get more money. However the old legend comes back to life and seven swords are back in action, helping people.
The group of seven people, with seven powerful swords, fights whole armies of emperors’ people. They are so skilled that no one is match for them.
There are also some love stories behind.
If you liked Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon then you should also like this one.

The Fast And The Furious - Tokyo Drift

Another action movie from this series. It’s not bad. Makes you relax and tries to compel you to go and play Need For Speed (great game by the way).
This time it’s not Vin Disel in main role. It’s a new, young face that makes nothing but troubles. That is why he must leave the States and moves with his dad in Tokyo. When he was in states he was trying the muscular cars, but they are not “in” in Tokyo. There they adore drifting, something new for our youngster.
He must teach firs, because he doesn’t really know what it’s all about. And that is how he gets in the trouble at first place. Trying to race in drifting, he smashes a borrowed car, so he must repay it.
However this is only the beginning of his drifting career.
At the and we see Vin for a second. How he is giving the racing to the next generation of drivers.
Movie worth watching.

My Super Ex Girilfriend

Comedy. At last.
I really needed one. And it's not bad either. It’s about a guy that meets a super-girl. But he does not know that until she tells him. After a time he realizes that he doesn’t really love her. But he is too afraid to break up with her. She is very controlling, demanding and emotional. He is afraid what might she do to him.
However he does it any way.
And that is where the show begins. Because she does not appreciate the break up, she is teasing her ex. So something strange happens to his car. He makes complete fool of him self at work. She even throws the shark at him.
Meanwhile he realizes that he is in love with another woman. A coworker of his. But lets leave something for pleasure.

Totem

Taborniško Odbojkarsko TEkmovanje na Mivki or in English Scout Beach Wolley Tournament in Ilirska Bistrica.
Yes we were there this weekend. And we were 4th. The other RJZ (Rod Jezerski Zmaj) team was 3rd.
The day did not start well for us, because a car hit us in the back, nothing serious, but not a good sign at all. Firs day we were playing preliminary round in two groups. We ended second in our group and we continued to playoffs. We lost the first game and played for 3rd place with our second team.
The weather was windy on Saturday but sunny on both days.
It was great. Can’t wait for next years tournament.

The Elegant Universe

This documentary takes us on beautiful journey through modern physical theories and on the quest for final theory of everything.
The host is Brian Greene, author of Book with same title and contents. Great book by the way.
It explains some things that are hard to imagine. It explains why the world of small and world of big are so different and what is wrong with quantum mechanic and theory of relativity.
The string theory is explained from the birthday to modern days. We can follow the evolution of string theory, how and why were there five of them and to their conjunction to M theory. We meet the author of M theory that tells us what he has done. Eleven dimensions are explained. Where they are and why we need them. We also find out why are string so small, how should they look like and why they are. At the and the (mem)branes are also explained. It is shown why and how could there be more parallel universes. And what could be the Big Bang.

You can watch whole series free online here.

Dispossessed

Just can't stop. I'm reading books from Ursula K. Le Guin like they were meant for me.
They are just so good that I can't stop reading them.

This one is about two twin planets. One has life on it but the other doesn't. The first planet called Urras is much like Earth (yet is not like we realize from book). There are many nations and they have conflicts (wars in common language). Most of the planet is hierarchic so there are great differences between poor and reach people.

But in a point of time many people wants to have anarchy, so they emigrate to the other planet, Annares. There they live in peace. They do not have any kind of authority they are all the same. No money, no property. They all do what it takes to survive. They Share. They even have their own language.

The story is telling us about a young physicist that is researching a new field of science that no other has discovered yet. He runs in to "trouble" when his mentor publishes his work as work of both of them. The mentor is being selfish and that should not happen in society like this. A young scientist wants to share his research with people on Urras that know at least something about domain he is working on.

The story is leading us through his life on Urras and Annares and shows us the differences between both of the planets.

I enjoyed the book very much.

Lady in The Water

Good one.
I just love fiction tales like this one.

It brings to life an old story about water people and how they used to help us to know what to do. They told ordinary people what they should do so they will live in peace and harmony. But their paths separated. And the ordinary people had forgotten about water people and their advices. That is when the war started and people start to kill each other. However water people did not give up, so they sent their children to us, to tell us what and how to do. Children were young and many dangers awaited them in world of ordinary people. This is one of them. It shows us how some people are still willing to believe in fairy tales and what happens when a tale is true.

I've enjoyed it very much

Mountain Expedition 2006

Well it's about time that I write something about it. It was great

I went on expedition during my staying in Ribno (we had a Scout camp there from 29.6. - 8.7.). It took me five days to cross the following track (10.7. - 14.7.):
Day One:
Ribno - Pokljuka (Rudno polje) - Vodnik cottage - Triglav cottage (Kredarica)
Day Two:
Kredarica - Triglav - Trst cottage (Dolič) - Kanjevec - Zelnerca - Tičarca - Cottage by Triglav lakes
Day Three:
Cottage by Triglav lakes - Komna - Vogel
Day Four:
Vogel - Rodica - Črna prst - Soriška planina
Day Five:
Soriška planina - Ratitovec - Jelovica - Radovljica (Hitchike from Jelovica to Radovljica) - Ribno

It was altogether around 100km. I slept on mountain cottages and ate there too.

p.s.
I've also added photos from my mobile phone that I made along the way.

The Left Hand Of Darknes

Another great book from Ursula K. Le Guin.

A story describes how the league of 81 worlds is expending and trying to join new worlds in union. It is not story of war but story of slow process where one man tries to convince the governments of many nations to join the league of worlds.
What it should be easy job (it looks like that at beginning) changes into struggle for survival.
The main character is Genly Ai. A delegate from Earth. He is a dark tall man and does not completely merge with planets society. The most unusual is that he is always a Man. The people on Gethen are bisexual. And they take one sex (if we can call it like that) only once a month. Most of the time they are somewhere in the middle and they do not know what sexual desire is. But once a moth they convert to "man" or "woman" so they can mate.
Gethen is very cold planet. There is snow almost through all the year. Winters are very cold. That is the environment that Ai is in.
There are much more strange things on the planet but you should find them out by yourselves.

The story is very tense. There is always something happening.

Great reading.

What The Bleep Down The Rabbit Hole

Just wonderful.
Very good documentary. It's about many aspect of science. From quantum physics to neuro-biology to trans-humanism, consciousness and religion. It literally takes you down the rabbit hole.
As well as connecting all this fields of science and culture together it also explains some pretty advanced stuff at very simple way. So it is good also for people who do not know much about any of these fields.

A really worth watching documentary. Opens up your mind and makes you thing broader.

A Wizzard Of Earthsea

Great book from Ursula K. Le Guin.

A book about Earthsea and about a boy that becomes great and powerful wizard. The story runs in a world where some people are born with magic skill. In this world a boy with great power is born. A great wizard is teaching him how to control his magic power. On boys wish he goes to the magic school. In this school he experiences a accident. After the accident the shadow is hunting him.
The rest of the story is about running away from shadow. And later on about pursuit of the shadow to the End of the world. There are great adventures along the path.

The end is good, but too short.
I'm waiting for new parts (they are not yet translated to Slovene).

The Brokeback Mountain

A film about gays in mid 20th century living in US. Very unusual movie for Ang Lee.

Two gays are trying to live in society that does not appreciate to have them at all. The story guides us through problems that guys have in those time. Most of them do not want to admit who they are. Some because they thing is not right. The other because they are afraid what will happen to them if people find out what they are.

It's a good movie worth watching even in theatres.

Poseidon

Good movie with Kurt Russell.
The giant wave flips the Ocean Liner top to bottom at new years evening. There are many survivors at first. But only few of them are going the right way. Others are waiting to be rescued.

Not very strong story, but enough. It's not a soap :)
Few survivors are trying to get to the bottom of the ship (it is the top now) to get to the surface.

It's pretty adventures.
And so sinks another ship.
It's not worth paying for but it's worth watching it.

p.s.
Kurt doesn’t survive. And so don't many.

The Superman Returns

I've watched it day before yesterday. I was disappointed.

The story is just another Hollywood soap. Nothing new, nothing of interest. So he gets a son. So what. Place for another part of Superman.

The special effects are quite good. Particularly part where HE stops a bullet with his eye. But on the other hand it is very obvious when the superman is real and when it is computer product. The character animation could be much better.


Let's stay by this. Movie not worth paying.

It is a new day today

Studying is going well. As planned.

I'm thinking about maiking short book and movie reviews of stuff I read and watch. This will be useful when I'll try to rememer some stuff.

I'll start soon.

note:
I found labels. That's great :)

let's turn a page

Beginning of Fall examination period

Today I'll start to study for few (let's say 2) examinations. That is the reason I'll be away from computer more than usual. That also means I won't have enough time to do other stuff. (Sorry home page, you'll have to wait again). I'll try to make all the examinations. Hope I won't have problems with assistant again.

That's it for now. Hope I'll find some time to write some good stuff up here and to read a book as well. Can't wait to finish undergraduate part of my study :)

Expedition to Spain and Portugal

This august we were on Scout expedition through Spain and Portugal.
We've seen a lot of very beautiful things. Many church complexes, castles, plazas, museums. Beaches were beautiful. Waves were big in Mediterranean and huge in Atlantic ocean.
Weather served us very well. Sometimes it was really hot.
Cities are great. From Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Lisbon, Porto, Madrid and all others smaller cities.
We cooked meals our selves, so they were great. The food in cities was also great. (Palea's are delicious, Tapas are not very cheep). We tried McDonalds as well.

Let it stay by this.

p.s. The gallery is on the right ->

Email test to my blog

If u can read this than it works.
This is action. :)

The start is hard ...

Here I am.
I did my first blog a while ago. But it didn't live.
So I am starting again.
I hope I'll make this one more complete and useful.