I am currently finishing a book called “The Black Angel” it is a really nice Mystery Thriller and the Ossuary at Sedlec in the CZ plays a big role in it.
Flickr has some photos from it (like the above one), I really would like to visit it and take some pictures.
[Currently listening to: Savanna Dance from the album "Deep Forest" by Deep Forest]
Went on a book buying binge today.
I had watched “The Rules of Attraction” and wanted to read “American Psycho” again, and while I was at it, I figured picking up “Less than Zero” wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Okay, so Bret Easton Ellis is a little bit fucked up in his head, but hey, who isn’t?
So while I was there, I also picked up the new Battle Tech book, as well as the new MYTH book by Robert Asprin (MYTH-Taken Identity) and and old one I hadn’t bought yet named “Something M.Y.T.H. Inc.”. I am sure they will be funny.
And then I also came across a book by John Connolly “The Black Angel” which sounded really really good. So I ended up picking it up.
The interesting thing about the book (besides the story) is that he also included a soundtrack. I just spent the last hour listening to it and already found a new favourite “Hollow” by Hem. I need to get their album Eveningland, they have some music on their website. Go, check it out.
[Currently listening to: Chank from the album "A Go Go" by John Scofield]
So I tried to create a photo book as a present for someone. I created the book, sent it off to Apple, got a note three days later that it was being shipped and….
Nothing. No book was arriving. So I emailed Apple, trying to find out when the book (costs over $100) would finally arrive, as it was shipped on June 29th.
Well, this is what I got from them:
Dear Michael,
Thank you for contacting iPhoto Customer Support.
Based on customer feedback, we are focusing our energy on providing world-class online support for iPhoto. The support page provides answers to the most commonly asked questions, offers tutorials and provides access to email support. Emails submitted there will be responded to within 24 hours.
Upon further investigation of your issue, we have found that your order was returned to Apple due to a shipping error. This error should not occur again and you have been refunded in full. Currently, we are unable to reship iPhoto orders that have been returned to our warehouse.
We sincerely apologize for any confusion this error may have caused. Apple is aware of the issue and is working to resolve it as soon as possible. Should you reorder again, to ensure a fast delivery, please take a moment to check that your shipping address is correct.
Sincerely,
The iPhoto Team
So not only did they not tell me that the book got returned, but they basically are not going to ship it to me either. I got the money back but I don’t have the present.
This was my first attempt at trying to get a book ordered from Apple, obviously it didn’t work and the response I received doesn’t make me happy either.
I am starting to get a bit annoyed with some of the reactions Apple is showing as of late. This is really not acceptable to me, they should at least have told me that the book got returned.
Bad Apple
Two weeks ago I bought a new leather jacket. It is a cool one, think Indiana Jones. It has been pre”aged” for my convenience.
This sort of made me think. Is there anything authentic there anymore? I mean the jacket clearly is “authentic” it is just not old and has not been worn for 30 years, and definitely has not been to any jungle or other “hostile” place (Edmonton does definitely not count as an urban jungle).
But yet, I bought it, not only because of the look but also because of what the look is saying, what it is saying about me. That I am an adventurer, getting around in the world etc.
This ties nicely into me wondering for the last little while on why we are so fascinated with destruction and decay. Be it movies, books, photos… The slow process of decay is what appeals to a large group of people. The rust on the bike frame is what catches our eye, not the frame in and on itself.
Back in Europe you can find “aged building”, I grew up in one, it was modernized, restored, upgraded, but the essence was still at least 150 years old, who knows, maybe even older. It had a two level basement with the first level featuring a concrete floor and old, worn out stone steps leading down to it.
But on the second level it was almost like a dungeon. I wonder who and when they dug it. Remembering back now it was clearly older than the upper level, or at least it looked that way.
But here in north america, nothing seems to be authentic. If you can fake it, someone will, and it’ll be good enough. “Old’ means from the 50s (and mostly it also means ugly, but that’s just me).
I just wish people would hold onto things more instead of seeing everything as “throw away” as it seems to be the way these days.
The Walmartization of society.
General, dein Tank ist ein starker Wagen.
Er bricht einen Wald nieder und zermalmt hundert Menschen.
Aber er hat einen Fehler:
Er braucht einen Fahrer.
General, dein Bombenflugzeug ist stark.
Es fliegt schneller als der Sturm und trägt mehr als ein Elefant.
Aber es hat einen Fehler:
Es braucht einen Monteur.
General, der Mensch ist sehr brauchbar.
Er kann fliegen, und er kann töten.
Aber er hat einen Fehler:
Er kann denken.
von Bertolt Brecht
and I am probably the last one on the net to notice.
So I would like to add a link here to Salon which features a list of the interviews and other “Thompson Related” articles they have published over the years.
It wasn’t a natural death, he apparantly shot himself…. Gotta wonder if his past caught up with him or if he just saw a future he didn’t want to be part of?
I am currently reading “The Handsmaid’s Tale” by Margareth Atwood and I am a bit wondering where she came up with the idea.
The book was written in the early 1980s but some of the concepts seem to be happening right now… The backstory of it anyways. Ironically enough she is placing the story in the US as well with Canada being a “shining beacon of hope”.
Will it play out like in her imagination or will america not fall prey to it? It could get interesting.
Review to follow.