Cassini mission. Saturn fly-by.

Why is it that classical music is just perfect for scenes like this.  An animation made up of composite images from Cassini.  No cgi involved.

Simply breathtaking.


5.6k Saturn Cassini Photographic Animation - Expanded, Improved from stephen v2 on Vimeo.

Rambling about rambling

There was more ramblings in the countryside again at the weekend.

Saturday saw us heading to Lochwinoch, but taking a detour to Glennifer Braes, when the weather took a turn for the worse.  By the time we reached the Braes, the rain was off, and stayed off until we'd done our walk and were back at the car.  Result.

On Sunday, Simon came over, and the three of us headed to Aberfoyle again, to do another walk that started from the car park, Doon Hill.

From the name, you'd expect a hill, but it's more of a "bump", as it's really not that big, and there's no slog involved getting up it.
At the top, there's a tree that local legend says the spirit of the Rev Robert Kirk is imprisoned in, when it was captured by the faries, when he died at that spot in 1692.  Apparently he incurred their wrath by publishing a book about them (Secret Commonwealth).
The route also passes the remains of the church where he preached, and his grave can be found at the back of the church.  Meanwhile, out front, there's two mort safes, which were used to stop resurectionists from stealing freshly interred bodies.

All in all a great wee walk, and we had a really nice day for it.

An open letter to George Lucas

Dear George.

I hope you don't mind me calling you George, Mr Lucas sounds so formal, especially since I've lived with your magnus opus since I was at school.  Yes, Star Wars changed my life, and is probably one of the reasons I have grown up with a love of science fiction.

I loved the original trilogy.  So you can imagine my delight when I heard that episodes 1 - 3 were actually going to be made.  I was like a little kid again, waiting impatiently for the movies, and when they came......oh dear. What can I say.  Three little words that really spoiled these movies for me. Jar Jar Binks.

Yes, the floppy eared, obviously thick, creature from Naboo was an utter abomonation.  The hate sites sprang up (Jar Jar Binks must Die), and I completely understood where they were coming from.

Binks aside (please lets leave him aside), I didn't think they were bad movies.  I enjoyed watching Anakins' journey to becoming Dark Helme.....Darth Vader.

Then there was the "special editions" of the original trilogy.  Utter travesty.  The races and creatures cgi-ed in, to tie in with the new movies, stuck out like a sore thumb.  I own them, of course I do, but do I watch them?  Nope.  I watch the original editions.

Now the point of this letter George.  You're releasing the movies in 3D.  In fact, as I type this, The Phantom Menace is already out.  Now, I know everyone in the movie business seems to have a hard-on for 3D, but believe me, if it's not been shot on a 3D camera, it pretty much sucks.

You're dry humping the cash cow now George.  Seriously, stop it.  Please.

Now here's the hypocritical part of this letter.  Will I go and see the movies in 3D?  Hell yeah.  You know I will.  I've bought into Star Wars since I was 12, and I'm almost 46.  Like a junkie I'm hooked. (I've managed to avoid the Clone Wars, but only because I hate the style of animation).  There's also the fact that the attack on the Death Star in A New Hope (if the 3D is done well) will be utterly amazing.  Just make sure it doesn't suck like the cgi additions to the special additions. And hey, if I'm going to see one, I may as well see the set.

So there you have it George.  A Star Wars addict pleading with you to please stop messing with my childhood memories.

Thank you and goodnight.

Climb every mountian (come on, sing along)

Yesterday started of with a karate class.  Saturday classes involve bo staffs, and the occasional bruised shins, and are really good.

After karate, there was some film noir, in the shape of Murder My Sweet.  Plots in these movies can be (a) convoluted, and (b) tenuous at best.  But what the hell, they're fun, usually overacted, and are a great way to kill a couple of hours.

Fast forward a couple of hours, and it's off the the Green Chilli Cafe for a really nice meal.  They were even happy to deviate from the set menu to give Karen greater choice (she's coeliac), at no extra charge.  Brownie points for that guys.

Back home, and the night was rounded off with more martial arts, as Wesley Snipes roundhouse kicked vampire ass.  Result.

Today, we headed to Aberfoyle, and went a walk up Craigmore.  It's a nice wee hill, and it's a decent walk.  Just shy of the summit is as wall that used to support a tramway that was there way back in the mists of time. I can't remember off-hand why there was a tramway halfway up a hill (some local industry), but if I find out I'll update this post.

Anyway, from the top of Craigmore, there were some stunning views.  I think this is Ben Ledi.  I checked the direction and looked on a map, and it's in the right direction.  As with the tramway, if I'm wrong, I'll correct when I edit it later.

Fire alarm - This is NOT a test

I was in Strathclyde Uni last night when the fire alarm went off.  We were in the Royal College, but the nearest/quickest exit was in the Weir building.  Through a set of swing doors and down two flights as opposed to walk along a corridor, and down six flights, so it seemed like the obvious way to go.

Down one flight and we were met by fire fighters coming up!  Looks like the alarm that side of the building went off a good bit before the alarm where we were!

When we got outside, fire engines were there with hoses already into hydrants and snaking into the building.  You could smell the smoke.

When we walked round and go to George Square, you could see the smoke coming from the building.

Smoke from the Fire at Strathclyde University

This morning, the fire crews are still there.  Hopefully no-one was hurt.

Fail

When I got in from work last night, K was knackered and bailed from going to karate.  I went from being psyched up to flatlining in about 3 seconds, and replied with "Stuff it, lets have a tv night".  So we did.

The souvenir book for Odyssey 2010 also dropped through the door.  I've only had a quick skim through it, but it looks good.

Today I'm reading in a old-skool-stylee.  ie I've brought a real book out with me instead of the kindle.  Hey, I never said having a kindle would stop me buying dead tree editions now, did I?

*BOING!*

Yup, had a fantastic sleep last night, and after lunchtime karate, I'm totally buzzing.  Great wee adrenaline buzz right after.

Now I'm chilling in the house with a beer, waiting for K to watch her soaps, then we'll stick a movie on.