Saturday 15 November 2003

Fans angry at Jackson According to Ananova, 10,000 'fans' of the Lord of the Rings have signed an online petition to persuade Peter Jackson to reinstate a seven minute segment featuring the final battle between Saruman, played by Christoper Lee, and Gandalf, played by Sir Ian McKellen. Readers of the books will of course know that this scene appears at the end of the Two Towers, however, Jackson decided to hold it over until the third film. Now, however, on viewing the third film he has made the decision to hold it back until the DVD release as it interrupts the flow of the movie. It's a tough decision, but that's what he's paid to do and his ability to make tough decisions is why he was entrusted with the multi-million dollar budget to make the movie in the first place. It should be pointed out that none of the 10,000 people who signed the petition on the basis that the scene's absence diminshes the move have seen the film. There are also reports that Christopher Lee is to boycott the film's premiere. I somehow doubt that. Mr Lee is a professional and he knows that sometimes, actually quite often, scenes end up the on the cutting room floor. I personally will be very surprised if he doesn't attend the premiere. 6:26:37 PM    comment []  Google It!

Steve Ballmer loves his iPod (allegedly) Check out this funny iPod/Microsoft parody. Thanks to Onlineblog for noticing it first. 5:48:56 PM    comment []  Google It!

Cassini Snaps Best Jupiter Image Ever Cassini is still on its way to Saturn and isn't due to arrive there until next year. In the meantime however, NASA, has released this picture of Jupiter, taken almost three years ago and which they are calling the 'best ever.' Taken from a distance of 62 million miles when it was about a day away from its closest approach, the picture consists of 27 different images taken with the probe's narrow angle camera. [SPACE.com] 5:27:50 PM    comment []  Google It!

So much for zero tolerance I have always felt that part of the reason for the high level of anti-social behaviour in this country has to do with lack of respect for the Garda Siochana. After all when confronted with lawlessness they very often do nothing. Take the taxi-drivers dispute for instance when the taxi drivers protested against deregulation they brought the city to a standstill and denied other citizens the right of access to their elected representatives by blockading Kildare Street. They also flagrantly breached at least one court order preventing them from blockading Dublin Airport. Despite all of this the Gardai did nothing I assumed the reason for this was squeamishness and a desire not to cause any trouble. Now however I can see I was wrong. Yesterday, a judge threw out a case against a number of people arrested after trouble outside the Parnell Mooney pub in Dublin's Parnell Street. Despite video footage of one of the accused attacking the Gardai and despite evidence that he actually managed to assault a Guard the judge threw out the case because the gardai "rose to the bait." From my reading of the report in the Irish Times the "bait" was illegal activity.The message the judge is sending to the Gardai is: 'don't bother arresting anyone' while for the drunken louts who make the streets unsafe for decent people at night the message is "do what you like." In my view the judge should be removed or at least censured. 4:57:01 PM    comment []  Google It!

© Copyright 2003 David Stewart. Last update: 01/12/2003; 00:07:26.