Kung Fu Panda 2

Here begins my summer or lack lustre movies. First off, Kung Fu Panda 2.

Considering how thoroughly entertaining and wise the first one was, I was hoping for a something equally moving and tickling. However the jokes barely had a pulse. At one point, a little girl in the audience just blurted, "That's not funny," which nicely contained the entirety of the film.

In keeping with kung-fu movies, training ever continues. However, this falls short as Po is only required to sequester the art of inner peace. Which he overcomes with relative little, so not much for the audience to absorb there. The story also reveals Po's origins and how he ended up being adopted by a noodle selling goose.

The strongest point of the movie, very emotional for yours truly, is the confrontation of both Po and his dad when he finds out he's adopted and the images of a baby panda so helpless and dependent just pulls at your heartstrings.

The movie does pick up around the midpoint with a generous offering of action, thereby not completely denigrating the experience. However, this sequel pales like a nausea induced visage to the original.

Related articles

• Must Watch! : Kung Fu Panda 2 (ahdalin.wordpress.com)
• Kung Fu Panda II (itchythroat.wordpress.com)

Thor, the movie

Image via WikipediaFinally a movie that lends to the capabilities of 3D rather than film makers exploiting the medium to further sales, even though it wasn't primarily shot in 3D.

Thor was an exquisite blend of mythology, marvel comic-dom and the cinematic. The early split narrative, mixed with stunning, stunning visuals, appropriate smattering of comedic relief, and proper story-telling made the movie thoroughly enjoyable. 

The movie by itself, and as a continuum of the spring/summer movie offerings, is a massive respite from the horde of movies which have failed to deliver. And deliver it has.

On a side note: The mingling of S.H.I.E.L.D. and mention of Stark, as in Tony Stark of Iron Man fame, in this and a few other marvel movies, foreshadows, hopefully, a cumulative movie with all avengers characters. So here's to hoping and probably a sequel to Thor and/or any other Marvel offering.

Related articles

• "'Fast Five' races ahead of 'Thor' overseas" and related posts (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• Filming Begins on 'The Avengers'; Chris Evans Wraps Up 'Captain America' & 'Thor' Leaks Early (moviefone.com)
• Some Thoughts on Kenneth Branagh's THOR; Plus Video Blog Review (collider.com)
• New Thor Images! (geeksyndicate.wordpress.com)
• 'Thor': The Early Reviews Are In! (mtv.com)

And the winner is: Amazon's Kindle Wifi

So without blogging further details about other e-readers (first), I decided to go ahead with the Kindle Wifi.

For a variety of reasons I chose the Kindle over the others, primarily because of value. Even though being in Ireland means I had to put up with ridiculous shipping and import charges (estimated) from the US Amazon site,

                [ note: It's not possible to purchase from Amazon.co.uk if you're in Ireland or other countries; 

                       it is a good deal for UK residents though. ]

it still only cost me around € 147 in total. Comparing that to other top brands with 6 inch screens, it's a bargain. ****The only comparable pricing (€ 100-150) I could get was with the Sony PRS - 600 touch and pocket models available at Hughes & Hughes in the Stephen's Green Shopping Center in Dublin. But that's last year's model with glare issues.****

On a side note, I did have use for my laws of purchasing in deciding. The first one was completely fulfilled since it's been a good few years since I came across the [my] first ever e-reader. I'm assuming it was the Sony PRS 300 from youtube videos. It looked like a novel idea but the price was inhibitive and the refresh rate for pages was painful. The second rule was hard to follow at first, but, eventually, international shipping and duties made it a hell of a lot easier. I had wanted (still do) the Kindle DX, which is more suitable for textbooks and content with diagrams, reference material etc. but factoring in the extra costs drove it to the upper limits of € 300 mark. Not to mention that with upcoming technological advances such colour e-readers, simliar to e-ink technology, virtue of companies like mirasol (Anticipated to enter the fray and with larger screens with more features inevitably becoming cheaper within the next year or so) the Wifi only model seems a very prudent purchase.

The Kindle's built-in Wifi was a strong selling point. Even though the primary use isn't web-browsing, it does enable searching for books and getting more information possible on the go and without being tethered to a computer.The only difference between the Wifi and 3G models is the 3G and that isn't very compelling to pay a higher price. A larger screen on the other hand would've warranted it. Now I just have to wait to get my hands on it to review and read like a mad scientist, or some other person who likes reading, madly.

Exam 2

So far I've finished two exams out of four. Today was supposed to be a really wonderful day of hanging out in the library, getting on top of things - looking for post graduate degrees and applying, making new cv's studying for the final two. But instead, I went to DCU to find out about postgraduates knowing full well I wouldn't be interested in anything outside the city center in a big state run institution that would charge through the nose. Right now i'm run down, entirely unmotivated, distraught for no apparent reason and without using a library computer.

Image via Wikipedia

Now don't get me wrong, i love working on a large flatscreen with a powerful new machine. It is however not the most ergonomically designed work desk i'm sitting on and I cannot personalise it with all my software tools. Zemanta being the notable primary.

Zemanta basically gives suggestions for content and imagery that it believes is relevant to what you are typing in almost real-time. So far I haven't had the opportunity to customize it too well but it does lend a fair share of imagery that although not too relevant does come in handy.
Well that's enough of that I need to get productive. Ciao

Spring really? Summer, you don't say.

Image by Pensiero via Flickr

Now I love the warmth and light of Spring come summer. But I do not understand people who start walking around in shorts and tank tops when it's barely reaching double digits. It's fine on a sunny day, but when it's chilly and overcast, not to mention windy, do not stare at me like there's something wrong.
I'm from a hot part of the world so barley 10 degrees does not equate to oh my god, I must wear linen and shades or I will die of a heatstroke.

Maybe it's my genetic prediposition and lack of body fat but i'm comfortable and oh so glad to be walking around wearing a jacket and scarf. It's not 30 degrees so pardon me for not breaking out the beach towel and sunscreen. Speaking of sunscreen here is a very motivational yet sombre video: Everybody is free to wear sunscreen

Yet another breaking point

Tis that time again, which seems like a recurring constant throughout the year. Time to find a new place to move into, which entails negotiating the ethereal realm between the old place and the new place. Meaning, getting the deposite from ye olde place and funneling it into the new place. Now getting blood from stone or alchemy are less draining on the body or soul when compared to these tenuous of tasks. Precision, financial dexterity and manoeuvring reminiscent of a world class jewel thief are called for.

Added to that mix is the fact of trying to find a decent accomodation in a big city.

Image via Wikipedia

Dublin would be no different from any other city on the planet, except the prices here are stark ravingly high in comparison to the dearth of modern living accomodations. The country side boasts much fancier abodes at a fraction of the cost. I DON'T LIVE THERE unfortunately.

Some of the living arrangements entered into would not be altogether out of place in a third world country but somehow, it was quite suprising and vexing to find it in an european city. Two or sometimes three people sharing a bedroom, although not quite near 5-6 or more people sharing a room found in certain countries, is still off putting. Shared lodging ah what a concept. I cannot wait to be done with that. Atleast this year i'll get to live with people I know, hopefully. Here's to a happy future turning it the way you want it with the people you want in it.

I moofed!

After being stuck in Tallaght for the greater part of the last 3 months, I have finally hauled myself 15 mins away from Dublin City Center (woot). The transition was tricky in that I had to manoeuvre myself so that someone would replace me in my old place while I found a new one for myself. Ireland is a tricky country to find good housing in with the majority being overpriced or room sharing - sometimes even bed sharing. I managed to find some good deals online only to find that many of them had been taken instantly or there was virtually no response.
After much pains and wonder at why I even undertook such a task (well I know exactly why I did; Tallaght is too far, too dead and too of everything not good oooh oooh oooh) I found my very own room. It's not the best but the location and price are hard to come by. Roomies seem cool to. Alls i have to do is turn my paranoia vision lower and get some furniture and utensils in the coming months and booyeah.