I've just seen the last episode of the Wire, and what can I say?

It was certainly worth the ride.

I've often said that The Wire is the best TV show ever filmed and I don't really think I'm exaggerating a bit: It's touching, discomforting, and yet, at the same beautiful.

Now, every time I look at the city at night, through the windows of my living room, I can see it alight, but in a deep silence, with the dark sea looming on the background. And all of that reminds me of The Wire, because watching it was looking through a window into the archetypal modern city. Except for that through that window we could see into places usually forbidden and catch a glimpse of how our Universe really worked (at least on a local level).

I wish I can someday create such a masterpiece.

For the moment this just means getting back to writing. And of course, waiting for Dexter to come back and fill that huge vacuum in my waking hours ;D.

... but also because: whut?

Ever since Monday I've felt a little queasy. Yesterday the headache of doom developed at work and by 4:30 I'd taken 3 aspirin and it didn't get better. I went home at 5, straight to bed, and slept until just now. I can still feel the headache lurking at the back of my head (just like yesterday) but not bad enough to qualify for sick leave. not good enough to say I'm fine either...

Also, I'd hate to spend the last two days before my vacation at home. There's so much left to do.

Today and tomorrow and then... hopefully not sick.

Cats, sorry, I didn't call back last night. On account of being asleep... I'll try today or tomorrow. We'll find a time.

This morning at the gas station I had a sweet encounter. A dog (I'd say it was a young Doberman, but he seemed very big for that - up to my hip with his head) came jumping after our car when we rolled to the filling post. He wouldn't let me touch him, kept jumping back, but he brought a teeny-tiny little stick, about 5 cm long, and dropped it in front of me and jumped back. I threw it. He caught it and brought it back. Dropped it, I threw it, leather, rinse, repeat. We did that until J had filled the tank and I had to go in and pay. Turned out he belongs to the station and plays catch with the cars and fetch with everyone who'll do that with him. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!! I wish I'd had the camera ready.

Last night we watched Hogfather! I can't believe I hadn't noticed that there was actually a movie of that yet. J spotted it on Amazon and bought it. It is SO well done! Every character is exactly like I imagined them. Susan and Death are especially well done. Susan is so cool and distanced, but not unfriendly at all (except with the monsters) and Death tries so hard to be human and understand humans. He's also so very tricky with humans and with Albert (who also is a great character and well done). I *love* it.

Tonight we'll watch part II.

Oh, and, never attempt to watch it in German. The very first translation boggles the mind:

"Hogswatch is near, and it is a feast surprisingly closely resembling your Christmas. Our story starts in a small alley. It is the night before Hogswatch..." [...] "Is the Hogfather coming tonight?"

And they made of it:
"Hundswacht rückt näher. Es ist ein Fest, das erstaunlich unserem Weihnachten gleicht. Unsere Geschichte beginnt in einer kleinen Gasse. Es ist die Nacht vor Silvester" [...] "Kommt der Schneevater heute Nacht?"

Whut??? Hog=Dog, Hogfather=Snowfather, and Christmas=Silvester? Who thought out that crap? we swtiched to English right away and it's so much better.

I finished the final touches on the lead and windowcolor work on our back door and window, so I thought I'd share.
( click images to enlarge )

Also, we started to build the high terrace. I can't believe how easy it is. If J didn't chicken out today so as "not to disturb the neighbours" we could have had the platform ready. Alas. It'll have to wait now.

( click images to enlarge )

( ETA: Who needs men...? )

Just came home from watching Batman "The Dark Knight". Fantastic. Full of speed and tension and humour and good actors.
And now I am going to crash.

I've added one ( more on 100animals )

Basic Accounts
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Announcing lj_advisory
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RTE + Opera and Safari = <3
RTE stands for Rich Text Editor, which is the default method of posting entries from the Post an Entry page. Our Rich Text Editor is based on the open-source FCKeditor code. It allows you to make links or LiveJournal user tags, insert photos or videos, and format your entries without needing to know HTML. That is, unless you use Opera or Safari as a browser, in which case you couldn't use the RTE.

That will be changing today. We are pleased to announce that the RTE has been upgraded to the latest version of the FCK code, which includes support for Opera and Safari! In addition, many of the bugs in the old version have been fixed. If you've been using RTE, you will most likely need to clear your browser's cache in order to use the new version.

<strike> vs. <b>
Last year we changed the visual display of deleted and suspended usernames from a line through the username to a bold font. This had the effect of making the name unclickable - which meant that no one could easily determine whether the username had been deleted or suspended. We've reversed this display, returning deleted and suspended usernames to a struck-through and clickable state.

Flash Fiction Contest Update
The deadline to submit your flash fiction entry to "Quick Tales," LiveJournal's partnership with Caferati in India is fast approaching. Users who wish to find out more about this exciting contest should take a look at our india_writing community. Be quick! Entries must be received by midnight, September 7th, 2008 and the contest is open to all who have a mailing address in India, regardless of where they currently reside or citizenship.

aryana_filker gave me a C. Now I have to find 5 fictional characters with C and write a comment about them. If you comment, you get a letter, too.

Caesar (from Asterix): I know he is not as such a fictional character, but as they show him in Asterix, he is. He's still a great emperor and not an idiot like his centurios. I love how they got him across as a great king and still loosing against the Gallians.

Cedric Digeroy: I had to have a Harry Potter character, right? So, he's the tragic hero. We don't learn enough of him to know if he's bright or lovely, or nasty deep down. Possibly a typical nice guy. Nice and boring. Except that he died. That makes him kind of interesting, but then, dead.

Calvin (and Hobbes): Weeeeeeeeh! Marvelous humor.

Chekov, Pavel: The humorous one in Star Trek. "Where are see nuclear vessels?" Loved him!

Clouseau, Inspector: I loved the films as a kid. I never liked the cartoon figure, but the movie Clouseau always made me laugh out loud.

Have I said that we finally booked our vacation? I seem to have told everyone in the company because they keep asking me why I am still there. Truth be told I still have a week to go.
We are going to the domenican Republic in September. We'd chosen a hotel, booked, got charged, then told the hotel is not available, but here is your replacement. That caused quite some hick-ups and cancelling and re-booking and so on and so on. Anyway, vacation starts September 6th and for three wekes my company has to live without me. And so have you, my dear flist, but I'm sure you'll keep the internet busy.

Cantwaitcantwaitcantwait...

crossposted to doorwindowwall

( Only in Germany, Revolutionaries are polite )