Raithe

Heh, and of course we have the latest Clarkson blowup on the news here, but for all the social justice ranting that goes on, this article makes an interesting twist Sympathy for the Devil - Why I feel sorry for Clarkson

Okay, to throw in for the weird thing that partially relates: They keep talking about doing a film remake of the Dambusters story. WW2 squadron of bombers that dropped the bouncing bomb. The squadron leader had a dog that was called "Niger-dog", because it was literally, a black dog. However every time they keep talking about doing the film, it comes up that they always say they'll rename the dog to be "sensitive" to modern thought. So to throw down that question, political correctness running wild? The dog was called that not be offensive or racist, but because it was a black dog. Like calling a tabby cat "Ginger" or a Dalmatian "Spot". For the other side, if you're re-telling a historical event, should you change even minor details like that just to be politically correct, or is that just being revisionist?

Heh, a somewhat annoyed customer decided to publish the amusing complaint letter they sent to Ryan Air online, and it's gone somewhat viral..

On that subject of the Biggest Loser that came up in one of the other threads.... NYPost - Contestant Reveals Brutal Secrets

Stonehearst Asylum. Based on one of Edgar Allen Poe's short stories about a young doctor who goes to an obscure asylum to study and get clinical hours, it turns into one of those "have the inmates replaced the staff?" sort of twisted stories. Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, Kate Beckinsale and a few others doing quite good portrayals. It had a nice little twist to the end as well. Although I will say, it was a lot less darker and suspenseful than the trailers made it appear, or that Poe's work usually tends to. It's entertaining in it's genre way, but doesn't really push the madness of the moment.

For all those folks out there who liked the Dredd movie have asked about the sequel... http://youtu.be/kWP88WKVBKs

There's actually a fun few articles and editorials out about the Biggest Loser. Several of the contestants have come forward to talk about how bad it is. The bullying, the lack of care about healthy exercise and proper nutrition through it, and the serious amount of ill-health they've suffered as a result of achieving weight loss through the show. it's actually interesting how many have also ended up re-gaining weight due to stress and not being able to keep up some form of steady exercise post-show. But apparently they're under some seriously heavy NDA's which most won't break for fear of legal bullying.

Happy birthday TN. Just because the celebration gets delayed, doesn't mean it shouldn't be fun. Just make sure it's fun enough without being TOO fun.

Kingsmen. Head-poppingly entertaining. A touch silly in ways, but an amusing film to watch with a variety of good performances and various call backs on the spy genre. Now, for those who like the Heinlein, this article might be somewhat interesting What the Left Doesn't Get About Robert Heinlein

The interesting thing is, I know about 3 women who say they know its terrible but still enjoy it, and a whole bunch of others who loathe it to the utter foundations because it's terrible. Although several of the women who loathe it have been in abusive relationships before so they really recognise all the manipulative behaviours the male character pulls. Also for the point of interest, I know a few people who are into the BDSM lifestyle, and they loathe it on the grounds of it being horrible, unsafe BDSM and they are scared of how the book paints BDSM, and how many of those tittilated women fans are going to try experimenting based on the books and get taken in by some of the abusive posers out there. But, this is wandering a fair bit from the Random Games News thread now..

50 Shades is subpar because if you ever try reading it, the editing is awful, the prose is as written by a 14 year old teenager, the bdsm is BAD bdsm, and the romance is much more of an abusive manipulation than actual romance. But for some reason a large portion of the female population have found that titillating and romantic. Then again, a chunk of the population found the stalkerish behaviour of Edward Cullen in Twilight romantic. "I'm over 100 and you're 17, I'll break into your room because I like to watch you sleep...."

I haven't noticed that much grief from Eagles, there have only been a few attacks I've suffered. Although I do keep hearing the screams from random folks "Eagle!!" The trouble I keep having is being sneaky in a mission or outpost liberation attempt and suddenly finding a tiger jumping on me. That and multiple Karma Missions opening up around the same space of time. Or Karma missions appearing in locations you can never actually get to in time because they're up several impassable cliff sides (or some 5-10 minute windy-ass road route). But having Royal Convoy, Courier, Save the Hostage, and something else all turning up at the same time gets a bit irritating.

If you like a slight turn of city guardsman and world building, Michelle Sagara's "Chronicles of Elantra" series can be entertaining, but if you want that sprawling, intertwined fantasy epic, she also writes under Michelle West and has done the House War and Sunsword series which twist around together. Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn set have their anti-hero aspects, although personally I felt the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy weren't quite as great as the first. Trudi Canavan's Black Magician set has a few things to recommend it. Gail Z William did the Chronicles of the Necromancer - although I enjoyed the first two of the series, I just haven't been able to get myself in the right mood / frame of mind to run through the rest yet.

Since Far Cry 4 was down low price already, I decided to pick it up to satisfy some general pretty death-dealing urges. I have to say that it certainly has some nice backgrounds , and its a very pretty game. I will also say I am swiftly coming to have a hatred for tigers. I can be in the middle of a great stealth clear of an Outpost..and just as I'm about to take out the last few guys, I suddenly have a random tiger pounce on me. Once or twice I'd think "cool, the random animal thing is neat..." However, when it happens about 7 times in a row at different outposts, I'm thinking the tigers have a personal hate-on for me. (and no, there were no Hunters controlling said tigers.)

On the film and tv related news.. Leonard Nimoy has passed on. NYTimes - Leonard Nimoy Dies at 83

A few bits and pieces that might catch some interest.. GamesRader - Batman Arkham Knight Preview

That "Oldtown" cover version.. http://youtu.be/rjRlJvOxIY0