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(All Saint's Day in Sweden -- this by the way is but one
instance where the Outlook 2000 imported Swedish holidays file is incorrect,
since it places the holiday Monday 1 Nov.)
A very autumn-like day. Again, I have been feeling something flu-ish doing
nasty things to my well-being. Thus, nothing computer related until now,
this evening.
Through somewhat fortuitous circumstances, I at a local rental shop Thursday
found the video of What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams et al.
Originally at the movies in Sweden last May, it played only a single week
in two cities, which I found out only later. Given that I have the book by
Richard Matheson it was based on, I was keenly interested in seeing the movie
version ever since I first heard about it last year at this time. Long wait,
and I might have missed the video as well -- the shop only had one copy (of
two) tucked away in a dark corner of the "new releases" shelves. Anyway,
I grabbed it once I realized what it was (approx "World of (the) Dreams"
was the translated cover title, so it took a moment before it clicked).
Ah dear, definitely something that should be seen on the large screen, not
the tube. No matter, it was an enjoyable and profoundly moving film, but
would clearly not be to everyone's liking or understanding. Sweden as a whole
was probably not receptive to this sort of thing at all. (I was told by the
cinema rep when I asked this summer that the single week's run had been for
largely empty seats, and the critics had totally trashed it.) Perhaps they
were expecting a RW comedy? While the "Spirit" thing has proven a timely
shift for e.g. Oprah, and we over the years have seen any number
of "afterlife" movies of varying quality (and thought), many people remain
at best very ambivalent, especially to something that speaks more directly
to emotions. There are several messages here, archetypical in nature, but
many are afraid of the entire subject.
I will refrain from detailed commenting on the MS ruling, only note that
most of the other Daynoters have expressed clearly what this is all about,
and how it is no victory for anyone. The sagest advice to US policymakers
at this time would seem to be the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't
fix it". Between inane regulation attempts on one side, and nonsensical
but lawyer-lucrative class-action and private lawsuits on the other, it paints
a dismal picture of things to come. Perhaps, as in the marketplace, society
as a whole needs free competition -- a plurality of systems where the citizen
may choose to abide by (virtually live in) the one of his or her free choice.
In a sense, this would be the logical extension of the Internet society --
just as it less and less matters where we physically are in terms of our
work and interests, and the people we regularly have contact with, so would
it less and less matter in terms of which society we wish to claim allegiance
to. Virtual nations... hmm...
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Hi,
welcome to this week's journal. The update-link
(above) points to where I last added some text, which should simplify your
keeping up to speed. Of course, this assumes I remember to move it, and you
may still have to scroll back a bit and see if I've updated more than once
since you last visited, but that is easily done.
LeufNet
.
Open yours now!
