Author Archives: terje

A lesson to learn from Peter Jackson (or, stating the obvious, part infinity plus eight)

By terje | Published: July 19, 2009
(Disclaimer: The following, while containing at least some opinions the author can sort of be said to hold, is more of an exploration than a presentation of ideas. It should all therefore be taken with a few barrelfuls of salt.) So I’m watching the appendices on the Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition DVD, and as [...]
Posted in Ambiguity, Annoyance, Art, GRRM, Harry Potter, History, Hodge-podge rambling, Impressions, Language, Literature, Malazan, Movies, Opinions, Rant, Scott Lynch, Speculations, Speculative fiction, WoT | 3 Comments

All the King’s Men

By terje | Published: July 18, 2009
This is one of the most realistic portrayals of politics I believe I have ever seen. Sean Penn stars as a populist politician who goes at the corrupt Louisiana state elite, and once elected state governor turns out to be ruthless in his pursuit of his idealist agenda.
Posted in American stuff, Annoyance, Goosebumps!, History, Movies, Recommendations, Review | 2 Comments

The Fog Of War

By terje | Published: July 18, 2009
Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara.
Posted in American stuff, Awe, History, Movies, Politics, Recommendations, Review | 5 Comments

The Awesome Nicknames of European Nobility and Royalty, part 4

By terje | Published: July 13, 2009
Moving a bit forward in history this time, to the age of Metternich and his lot. Julius Jacob von Haynau (October 14, 1786 – March 14, 1853). The Hyena of Brescia. Haynau was a Austrian noble and general whose hatred of revolutionary ideals (and revolutionaries, for that matter) was legendary. He also had an infamously bad temper, so [...]
Posted in History, Links, Lists, Revanche!, The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty | 1 Comment

A piteous handful of movies, January to June 2009

By terje | Published: July 13, 2009
So, I summed up the books I’ve read so far this year in the previous post; now the turn has come to the movies. Same concept, same execution, only this time I’ll skip a hell of a lot more than I did with the novels. Oh, and for those who might wonder, no, Watchmen isn’t [...]
Posted in Lists, Movies, Review | 3 Comments

The books of 2009, so far

By terje | Published: July 13, 2009
As I’ve been fairly absent from my blog in the past six months, to say the least, I thought I’d post a quick summary of any recommendable books — and not only novels this time – I’ve read since I was last observed round this neck o’ the woods. Also, I’ll include some not-so-recommendable books, [...]
Posted in History, Impressions, Lists, Literature, Opinions, Recommendations, Review, Roman stuff, Speculative fiction | 20 Comments

The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty, part 3

By terje | Published: July 7, 2009
It seems I promised you a series of these once, so let’s continue, shall we? Constantine V (741-775) of Byzantium: Kopronymos — the Dung-Named. Constantine was an Iconoclast, and hostile Iconodules referred to him as “the Dung-Named”, as he was to have defecated in the purple cloth in which he was swaddled during his baptism. Imagine how nice [...]
Posted in Byzantium, Greek stuff, Impressions, Irony, Links, Lists, Medieval stuff, Roman stuff, The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty | 17 Comments

So, eh, umm…

By terje | Published: July 7, 2009
I succumbed to the dragon, and if any of you did too, we have an easier way of keeping in touch, yeah? In case you do later, I added the link to my blogroll.
Posted in Ambiguity, Blogroll, Conflicting emotions, Discomfort, Links, My microcosmos, Oh noes!, Pain, Panic, Paranoia, Pessimism, Scepticism, Why do I think anyone cares? | 9 Comments

An Update, Telegram Style

By terje | Published: July 7, 2009
Saw Athens with fun people. Loved it. Stayed home, wrote papers. Got bored. Visited Rome with nice persians. Hated leaving. Wrote paper. Worked. Bought tickets for Dinosaur Jr. Found out 6 months had passed. Wrote this post. Send more money.
Posted in Bliss, Boredom, Conflicting emotions, Education, Gloating, Goosebumps!, Greek stuff, Hodge-podge rambling, Impressions, Language, Laziness, Lists, Love, My microcosmos, Rant, Regret, This Blog, Why do I think anyone cares?, Winter, Wistfulness, Words | Leave a comment

How Things Change — 2009-07-07

By terje | Published: July 7, 2009
“My music taste is pretty limited, mainly ’cause I don’t prioritize it, so my favorite bands/artists are as follows; Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, The White Stripes, ACDC, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Queen. Do you know of any other bands that may fit the genre (I spent a lot of money on a mp3 player and [...]
Posted in Blogroll, Failed attempts at subtility, Irony, Links, Lotta, Music, Nostalgia, Paranoia, Quote of the day, This Blog, Whoa, lol | 2 Comments