Monthly Archives: January 2008

A-braggin’ we shall go

By terje | Published: January 25, 2008
I got the results of my last exam this weekend, and in connection to that I guess I ought to say a little more about why, exactly, it is that I’ve been absent for so long the last couple of weeks. You see, the last month of the Fall term, I spent relatively much time on [...]
Posted in Education, Gloating, Hodge-podge rambling, My microcosmos, Optimism, Pleasant surprises, Pride, Rant, Strategy/Plans, Stress, Wistfulness | Leave a comment

In case anyone cares…

By terje | Published: January 25, 2008
I updated the “About” page yesterday. I thought the old introduction to Terje was a bit too whiny, so I deleted it and wrote a new one. For your bloody convenience, too, you disrespectful ingrates! (Whoa, from whence did that last part come? )
Posted in My microcosmos, This Blog, Why do I think anyone cares? | Leave a comment

Debunking “feudalism”

By terje | Published: January 25, 2008
Today, I learned the details of something I first learned the general idea of two and an half years ago, namely the reality of feudalism in the European Middle Ages. Traditionally — that is, in the tradition of the Brunner Thesis — Feudalism has been perceived and presented as a system where a material reward (the [...]
Posted in History, What I Learned Today | Leave a comment

The Illusionist

By terje | Published: January 25, 2008
What to say of The Illusionist? It’s a very plot-driven and -focused movie, with some great twists and turns, where a young Austrian stage magician struggles to win the love of his childhood darling. Sounds like dull stuff, right? Well, it gets a bit more interesting once we discover that the childhood sweetheart is engaged with [...]
Posted in Movies, Review | Leave a comment

Doctor Who, “season 2″ (Tennant’s first)

By terje | Published: January 24, 2008
So. How long did that take me? Seven months, you say? Man, I’m slow. I guess I ought to write a kind of review of this, but the truth is, I don’t dare. It’s simply been too long since I watched the first four or five episodes, so I’ll limit myself to mentioning a few of [...]
Posted in Impressions, Television stuff, The Doctor | Leave a comment

Enchanters’ End Game by David Eddings

By terje | Published: January 24, 2008
Approximately 445 pages (again!). 1985. Corgi/RandomHouse paperback. I feel like most of what can be said of Enchanters’ End Game has already been said in the reviews of the series’ four other volumes, so I’ll restrict myself to summing up the main points, before going on to comment on more general elements of the series as a whole. [...]
Posted in Literature, Review | Leave a comment

Without Hitch’s art, this isn’t a tenth of as great as it could be

By terje | Published: January 23, 2008
“That said, I think I know who might have released those files.” “Who?” “My evil half-brother, Loki. A messenger from Asgard came to warn me that he escaped from his bonds again and journeyed to Midgard to do everything he could to –” “Thor, please.” “What?” “Just shut up.” [Whispering, as Cap turns his back and leaves:] “You go to church [...]
Posted in Awe, Comics, Quote of the day | Leave a comment

Coming soon!

By terje | Published: January 23, 2008
Posts on or reviews of the following are scheduled to appear shortly: Enchanters’ End Game, wherein I reflect on the whole of Eddings’ classic Epic. Doctor Who, 2006 series, containing a description of that incredible nerdgasm of a final episode. The Illusionist, where much praise for great plots can be found. Music & Lyrics, devoted primarily to a statement made by Drew Barrimore’s [...]
Posted in Lists | Leave a comment

Castle of Wizardry, by David Eddings

By terje | Published: January 23, 2008
Ca. 445 pages. 1984. Corgi/RandomHouse paperback. The Orb of Aldur has been recovered, and is to be returned to Riva, where waits not only the Warders of the Orb, but also a profound change in the life of young Garion. Before I started reading this book, I had received some vague warnings (if they can be called as much) [...]
Posted in Literature, Review, Speculative fiction | Leave a comment

On the occasion of my (relatively) long absence…

By terje | Published: January 23, 2008
On Monday, I learned that the parts in the Iconoclasm dispute — both Iconoclasts and Iconodules — were desperate for something with real authority to lean on, and so started a frantic search for old manuscript in which the authorities of old might have scribbled something that could be interpreted as supportive of the Iconoclasts’- [...]
Posted in What I Learned Today | Leave a comment